Records of the Pringles of the Scottish Border, by Alex Pringle

Chapter 22

PEEBLESSHIRE

THOMAS OF MILKISTON AND HIS SONS

Milkiston and Windilaws lie on the east side of Eddleston Water within four miles of Peebles. Thomas Hoppringill first appears in 1558. He was a son of Robert, Sheriff-depute of Peeblesshire. In 1561 he appears as a Curator of John Lows of Manor. In the same year the Gladstones of Cocklaw offer to the town of Peebles and the son, brother, and relict (Margaret Hoppringill) of the late William Bell, £200, and to the relict of the late Thomas Peebles £100, in satisfaction for their slaughter in the struggle between the citizens and them for Cademuir. The town rejected the offer (Renwick). In 1564 Thomas protested against a certain sale as prejudicing his right to the chaplaincy of St Martin in the parish church of Peebles (Renwick). In 1565 died Margaret Dalgleish, Thomas's spouse, and her testament was given up by him as administrator for their bairns Andrew, John, Marion, and Margaret (T. E., 1575). In 1568 a dispute having arisen about the escheat of the goods of a person who absented himself from the levy ordained to assemble at Lamington in 1565 with 20 days provisions, which had been granted to William Hoppringill, Thomas acted as for him (A. D., Scott). In 1570 the Council give orders arbiter to pursue all petty thieves according to the Acts made in the time of the late Robert Hoppringill, bailie.

In March 1572 it is ordained " that the whole town (Peebles) walk nightly,'' James Hoppringill (Thomas's brother) and three others to be quarter-masters, every man without exception when a fray occurs to be ready upon the Highgate with his arms, on warning given by the watch, under a penalty of £10 for the first offence, and £20 for the second. This was during the struggle for Edinburgh, which was held by Kirkcaldy and the partisans of Queen Mary. Coal was not allowed into the city; and when James got a licence to carry two tons of wine from Leith to Peebles he had to find caution not to take it into Edinburgh. In May a wapenshaw was held, and James appears in the list as "armit'' (Renwick).

In 1573 David Hoppringill, student, was appointed to the chaplaincy of St Martin's in the parish church, for seven years by Thomas Hoppringill of Milkiston, undoubted patron thereof, and the Lords ordain the feuars and occupiers to pay him the duties for 1573 and in time to come (A. D.). In 1573 Thomas Hoppringill of Milkiston and John of Chapelhill were amongst the twelve Hoppringills summoned to appear before Regent Morton and the Council anent the feud between them and the Elliots, under a penalty of £100. In 1586 a contract of marriage was made between Andrew, Thomas's son, and Elspeth daughter of Thomas Ker of Kippilaw, and in return for infefting them in all his lands, burgh and landward, Ker was to pay Thomas £800 and an annual rent of 30 merks, and for security infeft him and his sort David in his lands of Kippilaw and Smailholm: thereafter Thomas assigned the contract to his said son Andrew (A. D.). In 1591 George Hoppringill in Hattonknowe is cautioner in 1000 merks that Thomas, as a Border laird, would keep the King's peace.

In 1597 David, Thomas son, appears as the husband of Marie, daughter of William Veitch of Dawick, who by her first husband James Geddes was infefted in the lands of Glencotho (A. D., Hay).

In 1601 Andrew, Thomas's son, having been guilty of oppression done to a fellow portioner of Windilaws, was committed to the tolbooth of Edinburgh till he found 500 merks for his indemnity; whereon John Spottiswood of that Ilk became security for him (P. C.).

Thomas was alive in 1607. He had issue: -

1. Andrew, his heir.

2. David, successor to Andrew.

3. William, marr. Agnes Lowrie.

4. John, chaplain.

5. Marion. 6. Margaret.

ANDREW

The part that Andrew Pringill, his son John, and his brother David took in the dispute between Charles Hoppringill and Gavin Thomson in Peebles is given above. In 1610 he obtained an order for the removal of the tenants from his lands in Smailholm, which he had apprised from Ker of Kippilaw for refusing to fulfill the marriage contract quoted above. Andrew does not appear to have left a son; and was succeeded by his brother,

DAVID

who, according to the marriage contract referred to, undertook to pay Andrew's female heirs, if any, 800 merks. David married Marie, daughter of William Veitch of Dawick, who by her first husband James Geddes was infefted in the lands of Glencotho. In 1621 he sued Sir Gideon Murray of Darnhall to fulfil a contract made in 1581 with Sir John Murray, but the contract was declared faulty (A. D., Scott).