14-2-1600 William Dryisdaill in Schirdale Parish of Dolour Clackmannan Testament Dative & Inventory

[Ronald Drysdale]

I have a Scotlandspeople image for the Testament of one William Dryisdaill of Dollar dated 1600 which I have had professionally transcribed.

There are quite a few Drysdales mentioned in this Testament:

His children - William, Symon, Johne, Jonet, Ewffame, Agnes and Cristiane Dryisdaill.

Alexander Dryisdaill in Forrest, his brother, George Dryisdaill, portioner of Balhartie & Johne Dryisdaill his servant.

A part copy of the will is posted here:

and a full pdf of the will and transcription is enclosed as an attachment for any with an interest in Drysdale history.

Regards

[William Douglas]

I had a look through to see if there were any connections with the supposed origins of the Drysdales:
http://www.douglashistory.co.uk/history/Septs/drysdale.html 
and found:

...the deceased William Dryisdaill in Schirdaill,...
'in Schirdaill' indicates that he was a tenant. and we see  'Lord Argyle, his master' These lands were owned by the Campbells, hence Castle Campbell. Lord Argyle was a Campbell.

Wester Sheardale House [Wester Scherdail 1615], part of the lands of Sheardale [Schirdaill 1561, possibly Gaelic siar + dail ‘west haugh’]. Further along to the right can be seen Haugh Farm [Sherdale Haugh 1783, Lower Sheardale 1866, containing Scots haugh ‘low-lying land by water’, similar to Gaelic dail].

[Ronald Drysdale]

Hi William,

Many thanks for your input, 

It would appear that the lands of Dollar were originally held by the Church (Dunfermline Abbey) and these were let to ‘kindly tenants’ who, as well as having the right of tenure had the ability transfer or pass on this right to their heirs. Following the reformation, church lands were annexed by the Crown and thereafter gradually transferred to the local nobility.

Ref. Annals of Dunfermline A.D. 1501 - 1601

……….1581  THE PRESBYTERY OF DUNFERMLINE INSTITUTED THIS YEAR.—The following is a list of places declared by the General Assembly to be “within its bounds”:--Carnock……………Wemyss, Methell, Kinglassie, Culrosse, Crumbie, Torrie, Saline, Cleish, Muckart, Dolor, ………….. Extent about 28 miles from east to west, with an average breadth of twelve miles from north to south.

Ref. The Argyll Papers

……….Feu contracts dated 8th November 1605 were entered into between Archibald 7th Earl of Argyll  and the possessors of the Mains of Dollar, over [upper] and nether [lower], the Banks of Dollar, two quarters of Sheardale and half of the miln of Dollarbeg, then held by the Earl from the Commendator and abbacy of Dunfermline, in agreement with the Acts of Parliament permitting church lands to be feued to their "native and kindly tenants". [In post-Refomation Scotland, as the church powers waned and the Lords acquired their former lands, in this case they appeared to also inherit the feuing families].……………… The original feuars of the Banks of Dollar were: one sixth each to Gavin Marshall, Thomas Kirk, John Drysdail [Drysdale] …………

Unfortunately the Argyll papers (Lordship of Campbell) do not have any readily accessible (online) documents relating to Dollar prior to this time period.

Regards

[William Douglas]

Interesting!
The Campbells have an excellent archive in Inveraray.
https://www.inveraray-castle.com/estate/argyll-papers 

[Ronald Drysdale]

An update to yesterday's message:

The lands of Dollar and Gloom & Gloom Castle

It would seem that before the reformation took place (about 1560) the rights to the lands of Dollar were split between the Churches of Dunkeld and Dunfermline and that the Campbells had in fact secured a large portion of this estate from Dunkeld in 1465.

 

Bishops of Dunkeld - From the Dollar Magazine September 1914

………..Moreover, so far as I know, apart from this claim of superiority in a feudal sense over the lands described as “the ecclesiastical lands of Doler and Glum,” there is no evidence that any of the bishops of Dunkeld had any other interest in or profit from the lands so designated, while we know that in 1236 the Scottish king, Alexander II., was so absolutely in control and possession of some at least of those lands that he was able to grant, and did grant to the Church of Trinity at Dunfermline and the monks serving there, what he calls “ totam terram nostram de Dolar,” a grant that was later confirmed by Alexander III., ………….. and as this grant, thus early made, continued to be enjoyed by the Dunfermline monks till the Reformation, it seems a fair inference that the lands entitled “ the ecclesiastical lands of Doler and Glum ” represent a possession of the old Celtic Church, which at the time of the erection of the feudal system came to be known as “the Barony of Dunkeld,” and to be recognised as feudally held from the Church dignitary belonging to the Romish hierarchy who represented the old abbots of Iona, and that dignitary, of course, was the Bishop of Dunkeld. Certain at least it is that in the deed of date 1465, by which the Argyll family were secured in possession of their Clackmannan estate, the lands of Doler and Glum are said to form part of the “Barony of Dunkeld.”

 

Argyll Papers

On 4th April 1579 Colin 6th Earl of Argyll obtained a Charter of the lands of Over and Nether Mains of Dollar, and the lands of Glencairnie and others, from Robert the Commendator of Dunfermline Abbey with the consent of the convent thereof, for a yearly feu duty, Charter confirmed by King James VI, 25th December 1580.

Castle Gloom Inventory 1599

One Duncan Drysdaill appears as an official witness to an Inventory of Archibald, the 7^th Earl of Argyll’s, Castle of Campbell (Castle Gloom) in the lands of Dollar and Gloume

https://electricscotland.com/history/articles/review/review20.htm

[Ronald Drysdale]

Sorry that should be Castle Gloom Inventory 1595

Another reference re land ownership from National Records of Scotland:

1466 March 28 

Papal bull by Paul II addressed to Bishop, Dean and Archdean of Lismore, narrating complaint from Colin Cambel, earl of Argyll, and Isabella Stewart, his wife, that Walter Stewart, lord Lorne, and others unspecified have demolished tower of the place of Glowm in territory of Dolar, diocese of Dunkeld, which said Isabella had in feuferme from the bishop thereof; this is to be looked into and said Walter summoned, etc.

https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue/details.aspx...