BUTTERDEAN 363 



October 1668 John Hay of Aberlady is served heir to his 

 father, Mr John Hay of Aberlady, in the same lands."^ At 

 or about this period the lands pass out of the hands of the 

 Hays, for on 23rd December 1669 Sir Andrew Fletcher of 

 Aberlady obtains a Ratification from Parliament of certain 

 rights which Mr Patrick Douglas of Kilspindie obtained 

 from James VI., on r2th July 1589, including the lands 

 and Barony of Butterdean,''^ which had then been resigned 

 by John Hay of Aberlady, with consent of his uncle, Harry 

 Ha}', commissary of Edinburgh, his Tutor at Law, who was 

 served Tutor to him on 24th July 1668.'"' John Hay must 

 have died in pupillarity, for he was succeeded by his 

 brother, William Hay, who was served heir to his grand- 

 father, William Hay, on 26th April 1676." 



On 31st October 1676 Archibald Fletcher, as heir of Lord 

 Andrew Fletcher of Aberlady," is served heir in the lands. 

 He was, however, a pupil, for on 1st March 1676 Andrew 

 Fletcher of Saltoun, son of Robert Fletcher of Saltoun, is 

 served Tutor to Archibald, John, and Margaret Fletcher, 

 children of Andrew Fletcher of Aberlady, his uncle." 



On 1 8th May 1686 John Fletcher, as heir of his brother, 

 Archibald Fletcher of Aberlady, is retoured to the lands. ^* 

 John, in turn, is succeeded by his son, Andrew Fletcher, 

 who, on 1st September 1691, is served heir to the lands." 



On 9th September 1719 Beatrice, Margaret, and Mary, 

 daughters of Sir Andrew Fletcher of Aberlady, are served heirs 

 portioners special in the lands of Butterdean, etc., to their 

 nephew, Andrew Fletcher of Aberlady, who died April 1710.'^ 



The lands finally pass into the hands of James Balfour 

 of Whittinghame, second son of John Balfour of Balbirnie, 

 grandfather of the present owner. 



^'' Berwickshire Retours, No. 353 ; Haddington Retours, No. 296. 



69 Acts of Pari., Vol. vii., p. 652. 



'0 Inq. de Tutila, No. 935. 



^^ General Retoars, No. 5904. 



" Berwickshire Retours, No. 392. 



" Inq. de Tatila, No. 1009. 



''^ Berwickshire Retoars, No. 422. 



■* Do. No. 438. 



■'6 Index Service of Heirs. 



