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

Chapter 30

THE LAW

IN 1538 Laurence Oppringill appears as a notary public ; followed by James Hoppringill, who appears five times between 1568 and 1580 (MS., R.). George Hoppringill appears thrice as a messenger-at-arms between 1595 and 1610.

ROBERT OF TEMPLEHALLS AND WOODHEAD, W.S. (See PENCAITLAND)

In 1654 George Pringle, writer, appears as agent of James of Torwoodlee. In 1695 an action is raised re a tenement in the Cowgate against Christian, daughter of the deceased James Pringle, writer, who was son of George, servitor to the Earl of Haddington (A. P.).

WALTER OF CRAIGCROOK, EDINBURGH (ADVOCATE)

Walter Pringle was the second son of John, fear and son of Robert first, of the House of Stitchill. He appears first in the office of James Allan W.S. In 1661 he graduated at Leyden University. In 1665 he appears as advocate for Mr John Pringle, minister of Eglingham, Northumberland (A. D., Dalrymple), and at various times for other Pringles, as Walter of Greenknowe, Marion wife of John Hunter of Cousland, Jean wife of Walter Scott of Satchells, Mark in Nenthorn, Jean wife of John Buchanan of that Ilk, Robert Merchant in Rouen, and Robert of Symington. In 1674 the leaders of the bar were suspended from practising for asserting the right of appeal from the decisions of the Court of Session, Walter was re-admitted in 1677. In 1681 he subscribed the Test. He was one of the advocates for the Earl of Argyle who subscribed an opinion that the Earl's explanation of the Test contained nothing treasonable; for which they were threatened with deprivation, but having interviewed the Duke of York, its framer, they were excused by him (L. H. N.). For the escape of the Earl from prison, see Torwoodlee.

In 1684 the Newmills Cloth Co. pursue several persons, including Walter (now of Craigcrook), for buying, contrary to Act of Parliament, imported English cloth (P. S.), In 1685 as a noted pleader on the side of Covenanters he defended Sir Hugh and Sir John Campbell of Cessnock on their forfeiture by Parliament for alleged participation in the Ryehouse plot, and in December 1684 was one of the council for the defence of Robert Baillie of Jerviswood.

Walter died in August 1685, and was buried in Greyfriars. By his firs wife Rachel, daughter of James Deans, he had issue: John, his heir, Walter, Elizabeth, and Rachel; by his second, Jean Deans, he had Robert and Jean. He left to his widow 15,000 merks, and to his five children 2000 merks each to be paid out of his lands by his heir John (T. E., 1687). Jean his widow died in 1700.

In 1703 John Pringle, writer in Edinburgh, gets sasine of £60 yearly furth of Angelraw, Berwickshire. In 1727 and 1729 George and James Pringle, writers, Edinburgh, are quoted. In 1747 died Robert Pringle, writer, Edinburgh (see Kelso).

SIR WALTER (LORD NEWHALL OF THE COURT OF SESSION)

Walter Pringle was the second son of Sir Robert, first, Baronet of Stitchill. He graduated at Edinburgh in 1682, and at Leyden in 1684. Walter appeared as advocate in too many cases to quote here. Though he had become one of the leaders of the Bar, his promotion to the Bench was long delayed, and he was passed over in the interests of several advocates of inferior standing. It was not until Sir Gilbert Elliot's death in 1718 that he was made a Judge, and took his seat with the title of Lord Newhall from the family estate of the name. He was knighted at the same time.

On 24th June 1725 the hated Malt Tax, which during the late reign occasioned several motions in Parliament to dissolve the Union, led to an insurrection in Glasgow when the citizens sacked their M.P.’s house, and expelled the King's troops. The ringleaders and magistrates were carried to Edinburgh and tried before the Court. Some of the rioters were sentenced to be whipped, and some to be transported to the Plantations. Anent the trial the President wrote to the Secretary of State, " I find four of the Judges inclined to do all they ran, and more than there is any shadow of law to warrant, to screen the criminals from justice. Those I mean are Lord Newhall, who is a Whig, and the best lawyer among them, and consequently does most harm, so far as to influence Lords Polton and Pencaitland, both Whigs ; the other is Lord Dun '' (Chalmers Caledonia).

In 1726 Lord Newhall got sasine of Lochton, Berwickshire.

He died on 14th December 1736. A unique tribute was paid to his remains, his funeral being attended by his judicial colleagues in their robes of office. The faculty of advocates engrossed in their minutes a special eulogy on him, written by Sir Robert Dundas of Arniston, then Dean. His portrait now in Parliament House was painted by Allan, and engraved by R. Cooper. Hamilton of Bangor, the poet, wrote a poetical epitaph on him.

Lord Newhall married first, in 1698, Helen, daughter of Sir John Ayton of that Ilk ; second, a daughter of Johnston of Hilton, Berwickshire, and had issue : (1) Robert of Lochton, his heir, who in 1637 sold the paternal house and garden in Potterrow to the Duke of Douglas (L. Ch.). 2. Joseph, who entered the army in 1739, and as captain in the Earl of Drumlanrig's regiment died at Bergen-up-zoom in Holland in 1753 (S. M.), 3. Walter also in the army, and at Fontenoy, who died, captain in Holmes's Foot, at Aberdeen in 1756 (S. M.). 4. Margaret, who married Mr Andrew Handyside, writer, and died a widow in 1742, leaving £25,300 Scots to her nieces Lilias and Mary Weir and their husbands (T. E., 1744). The estate of Lochton passed to the second son of Sir James Pringle of Stitchill.

ROBERT (UNDER SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND)

Robert was the third son of Sir Robert Pringle 1st Baronet of Stitchill. He graduated at Edinburgh University in 1683, and at Leyden in 1687. He is quoted two or three times before 1694, and in December of that year he was recommended to king William as his Secretary for Scotland, for which his knowledge of the Dutch language specially fitted him. In October 1695 he is granted £500 for attending the King in his absence from Britain; also of £130 yearly as Treasurer Clerk of the Register of Investments and Confirmations, Scotland, to which office he is appointed as exactly qualified, the said Robert to have all the fees and privileges pertaining thereto, and taking responsibility for his deputes (P. C.). In the H. H. Campbell MSS. there are upwards of a dozen letters from Robert while Under Secretary on the topics of the day to Lord Polwarth from Holland and London; and in that of 8th March 1702 he announces the death of King William at 8 that morning.

At the suggestion of Queen Anne the English and Scottish Parliaments authorised the appointment of Commissioners to treat of a union between the two countries, and Robert was appointed Secretary to the Scots Commissioners. They met at Whitehall on 10th November 1702, and continued their sittings still 3rd February following, when they were adjourned, never to meet again. On 17th March following, the Duke of Queensberry, royal commissioner, wrote to Lord Seafield, now chancellor, " Mr Pringle has gone for Scotland, and I'm told very angry. He has all that passed in the affair of the union. He has given some old addresses to Mr Nairn, but no other papers, which pray tell him must be given before the sitting of Parliament. 1 hear that he has been very free in his talk of the Queen's affairs in censuring her servants and none more than yourself, and brags much of his power to do mischief. If he has he wants not inclination, so take care of him " (MSS, Lord Seafield).

In September 1704 Mr Carstairs, the adviser of the late King, a, much more competent witness as to Robert's qualities, wrote to Harley the English Tory leader recommending him for employment as an Envoy, and in November 1707 he writes further, " Mr Pringle, whose just character I have sometimes taken the liberty to give you, is now in London. . . . If he were employed in any station abroad, 1 can confidently say, Sir, you will find no man more faithful and true to you than he would be '' (MSS., Duke of Portland).

In December 1714 Robert appears as Clerk in she Secretary of State's office in Whitehall. The Bubb MSS. contain some two dozen of his dispatches written to Spain, and other of the Historical MSS. a few to our Envoys elsewhere. The Carstairs papers contain five of his letters and many references to him.

On 18th May 1718 Robert was appointed Secretary of War. He held the office, however, only until 24th December following. His next appointment was that of Registrar General of Shipping, the office to be held for life.

On 13th September 1736 Robert died at Rotterdam, on his way home from the Spa, aged 80 (G. M.). Had he kept a Journal what a light it might have shed upon his times!

By his spouse, a London lady named Law, he had a son Robert, of the Middle Temple, Counsellor at Law, who died unmarried in 1768 (S. M.).

THOMAS, W.S.

Thomas Pringle was the fourth son of Sir Robert 1st baronet of Stitchill, and brother of Lord Newhall and Robert, Under Secretary for Scotland, He was born in 1667, apprenticed to John McFarlane, and in 1693 admitted a W.S. In 1697 he was appointed Treasurer, in 1702 Clerk to Privy Council, and in 1716 Depute Keeper of the Signet, an office he held till 1725. In 1729 Thomas was appointed Distributor of Stamp paper, Edinburgh, at the established allowance of poundage (Treasury Papers).

Thomas died in December 1735 (T. E., 1736). By his wife Rebecca, daughter of Thomas Hay, a Clerk of Session, he had four sons, Robert, John, Thomas, James, and two daughters, Ann and Margaret.

ROBERT, LORD EDGEFIELD of the Court of Session, was the eldest son of Thomas, W.S. He was admitted advocate in 1724. In 1741 he was appointed an Assessor to the magistrates of Edinburgh. In 1748, on the abolition of hereditary offices, as Sheriffs, Coroners, in 1748 he was appointed Sheriff-Depute of Banffshire (S. M.). In 1754 he was raised to the Bench as Lord Edgefield, the title being taken from a property five miles south of Edinburgh (S. M.). Lord Edgefield died on 3rd April 1764 (G. M.). By his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Clerk of Penicuik, he had issue : 1. John, advocate, successively Sheriff- Depute of Stirling 1780, Edinburgh 1790, and a Principal Clerk of Session 1793 (S. M.). He died unmarried in 1813. A portrait of Sheriff Pringle appears in Kay's Edinburgh Portraits. 2, Thomas, in the army. While Major in the 13th Dragoons he exchanged into the 67th Foot of which in 1780 he became Lieut.-Colonel. He died unmarried in Edinburgh in 1810 (S. M.). 3. James, a Major-General in the service of the E.I. Co. He died at Bath in 1810, aged 53 (G. M.), leaving by his wife Charlotte daughter of Sir John Halkett of Pitferran, two daughters who both married. Some of his dispatches are included in the British Museum MSS. 4. and 5. Ann and Margaret, both died unmarried.

John, 2nd son of Thomas Pringle, W.S. Admitted a W.S. in 1741 Died in 1784 at Caroline Park, near Edinburgh (S.M.). " The dwelling on the first floor of the east half of the tenement on the south side of the Canongate, a, little below St John's Cross, consisting of five rooms and closets, with part of the ground poor, with entry from the Canongate by the common stair, and from St John Street by gateway 13 ft. wide, and high enough for a coach," John left in liferent to his sister Ann, widow of Colonel Young (T. E.). By his wife Mary, sister of George Drummond of Blair Drummond, he had a son, John, who died in Paris in 1772. His widow, Mary Drummond, died in 1804 (S. M.).

Francis, 3rd son of Thomas, W.S., entering the army as Ensign in 1742, was in 1747 appointed Lieutenant in the Earl of Drumlanrig's Regt., then being raised in Scotland for service in Holland, and he was sent over as Quarter-master to inspect the barracks at Bois-le-duc and arrange for the reception of the regiment. In 1756 Francis of the Scots Dutch was appointed Lieut. of the 62nd or Royal American Regt. of Foot to be raised for service in North America under Major General the Earl of Loudon (S. M.). In 1805 died at her house at the head of St John Street, Edinburgh, Jean Chalmers, widow of Captain Francis Pringle (G. M.).

Walter, the 4th son of Thomas Pringle, W.S., was a Merchant in St Kitts, West Indies. A letter from Dominica dated 19th April 1768 tells how he came to be drowned. He had gone with friends on a visit to the Phoenix war-ship which lay off the island, and on returning ashore at night in the Customs boat, it leaked so badly that those who could swim took to the water, while three of them, including Walter, were drowned (S. M.). Walter by his will left all his estate real and personal to his five children, share and share alike, his body to be buried as near as possible to his wife's (T. E., 1776). By her, Eleanor, daughter of David Lidderdale of Torrs, Kirkcudbright, he had issue : 1. Thomas, who became an Admiral (see the Navy). 2. Eleanor, marr. Adam Fairgrieve, merchant. 3. Rebecca, died unmarried in Edinburgh in 1815 (S. M.). 4. Ann, marr. in 1774 John Dalrymple, late Lord Provost of Edinburgh, brother of Lord Hailes, the historian (S. M.), and had issue, two sons, Sir James Dalrymple, 4th Bart., and Major-General Sir John Pringle Dalrymple, 5th and last Baronet of Hailes, who died at Bath in 1829, aged 51 (G. M.).

Ann, daughter of Thomas, W.S., marr. Lieut.-Colonel Young and left no issue.

Margaret, daughter of Thomas, W.S., marr. Mr Lockhart, Advocate, who became Lord Covington of the Bench. They had issue: Rebecca, who marr. the Earl of Errol ; Ann, who marr. his brother the Hon. Charles Boyd ; and William Lockhart, Captain in the Navy, who marr. a daughter of R. Henderson of Fordel, and had a daughter who marr. Count Riario of the Kingdom of Naples.

JOHN, LORD HAINING of the Court of Session (see the Haining).

ANDREW, LORD ALEMOOR of the Court of Session (see the Haining).

John Pringle, who was born in Edinburgh, was admitted a W.S. in 1811, and having continued in business eight or nine years was appointed Sheriff-substitute of Banff in 1821, where he died in 1853, aged 68 (G. M., 1854).

Many others connected with the Law have been noticed above under the surnames of which they were scions.