The Dollar Magazine March, 1909 (Vol. viii., No. 29) contains an article entitled "The Drysdales of Dollar and their Dumfriesshire Origin" by R. Paul (1909)

https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12402858474?pro...

This article gives a slightly different viewpoint on the 1503 Douglas/Drysdale story and quotes a gentleman called Mr Kerr who suggests that Lammonbie Mill on the Dryfe, may be the scene where the drama played out:

- while it has not been possible to find out whether Lammonbie Mill was the actual Mill of the 1503 Douglas-Drysdale ‘brothers’ story, or even whether this mill was in existence some 500 years ago, it has been possible to do some background checks on Mr Kerr, the narrator of the above story from 1909.

Mr Kerr was christened ‘John Rogerson Kerr’ when born on 25th May 1849 in Dryfesdale, Dumfriesshire and in 1874 he married Annie Bell (of Wamphray) in Tundergarth but they had no children.

In the 1901 Scottish Census, Mr and Mrs Kerr were recorded as residents of Carstairs in Lanarkshire, where he was employed by the Railway company as a “Permanent way Superintendent”.

In the 1911 Scottish Census at Dryfesdale, Mr and Mrs Kerr, 62 and 65 years old respectively, were then retired and living in Lockerbie, Mr Kerr also reported his occupation as “Retired Superintendent of Way, Engineering Department, Caledonian Railway Co.”

Mr Kerr died in 1918 and photographs of his family memorial, in Dryfesdale Cemetery, may be seen here:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/238465400/john-rogerson-kerr

Mr Kerr’s Grandfather, Charles Kerr, was indeed born in 1777, in Dryfesdale, but it has not been possible to find out whether he was a ‘Baron officer’ to Mr Johnstone-Douglas of Lockerbie. Nevertheless, Mr Kerr’s Grandmother on his mother’s side was called Nicholes Johnston and his Great Grandmother was called Rachel Johnston - so the family connections were there - there is no real reason to doubt Mr Kerr’s information about his Grandfather’s employment on the Johnston-Douglas estate .

Charles Kerr died in 1859, so he did have some opportunities to speak to Mr Kerr, his Grandson (until he was 10 years old) his gravestone is in Applegarth & Sibbaldbie Churchyard, Dumfriesshire and the inscription reads as follows:

In Memory of

James KERR in Lockerby Mill [Hill], 4th August 1806 aged 80 years
Also Raghall [Rachel] JOHNSTON, his spouse, who died 12th January 1802 aged 66 years
Also James KERR, son of Charles KERR in Lockerby, who died 23rd February 1804 aged 7 months
Also Jannet KERR, daughter of said James KERR, who died 11th July 1819 aged 52 years
Also James KERR, son of the said Charles KERR, who died February 3rd 1829 aged 23 years
Erected by Charles KERR, son above James KERR and Rachel JOHNSTON

[Reverse of stone]
In Memory of

Helen WILLIAMSON, spouse of Charles KERR, Lockerby, who died 2nd January 1837 aged 60
Also above Charles KERR, who died 22nd August 1859 aged 82 years
Also William KERR, their son, who died at New York 19th November 1835 aged 36 years

From this inscription we can see that Mr Kerr’s Great Grandfather was called James Kerr and that, as advised by Mr Kerr, he resided in Lockerby Hill [farm].

It was not possible to find any relevant information about Mr Kerr’s Great Great Grandfather and Lammonbie Farm.

Regards