The Douglas Archives

A collection of historical and genalogical records

The Drysdales of Dollar

The 1998 publication - 'History of Dollar' contains a lot of information concerning early Drysdale feuars & tenants in Dollar i.e. residents of Dollar prior to 1605 & thereafter:

https://archive.org/details/historyofdollar0000bail/page/10/mode/2up

"In 1605, probably in need for currency due to the court's move to London, the Earl [Campbell of Argyll] feued out the Mains and Bank lands to his "kyndly" - related or long resident - tenants"

There are a number of Drysdales listed, however one of these early Feuars was a "John Drysdaill, alias Gregorsoune"

This gives rise to a possible link between Drysdale, Grierson & Douglas

Gressone of Lage

https://www.scotclans.com/blogs/clans-g/grierson-clan-history

Also one Robert Greresoune in Drumfreis had a remission for the slaughter of Sir John Mcbrare, chaplain, in 1502 - Pitcairns criminal trials vol 1

Best regards

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ronald Drysdale on February 10, 2025 at 2:24

Regarding 'Kyndly tenants:

Please see our previous discussion on this topic and the 1600 last will & testament of William Dryisdaill in Schirdale, Parish of Dolour (who appears to be the father of the Williame Dryisdaill of Scherisdaill that is mentioned in the above 1605 source)

https://douglashistory.ning.com/group/drysdale-connections/forum/to...

Note the trial date in the previous post should have been August 13 1504 - maybe the crime happened in 1503?

Best regards

Permalink Reply by Ronald Drysdale on February 11, 2025 at 4:03

For discussion

The first map is not really true to scale but the second map is Ordnance Survey from 1862.

Best regards

Permalink Reply by Ronald Drysdale on February 11, 2025 at 15:55

The Testament Dative of James Drysdaill of Dollar [and Lochleven] who died in 1588 is attached as a pdf - although not mentioned in his will, James had other children including William Drysdaill in Sheardale (died 1600).

24-3-1588 James Drysdaill of Dollar 1588 -Testament transcription +...

Best regards

Permalink Reply by Ronald Drysdale on February 13, 2025 at 14:50

A partial print from Bruce Baillies book - History of Dollar

History of Dollar - the lands of Dollar - Fuears & owners in 16...

Best regards

Permalink Reply by Ronald Drysdale on February 19, 2025 at 18:10

Some final thoughts on the Drysdales of Dollar:

See also attached pdf with active links to source material:

Summary Drysdales of Dollar & 1503

Best regards

Permalink Reply by Ronald Drysdale on February 26, 2025 at 21:16

Crichtons & Drysdales  - 1581 - Dumfriesshire

Family feud - heard in Edinburgh before the Council - Christian Dalzell against her son Robert Crichton & his Drysdale friends.

https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/The_Register_of_the_Privy_Co...

In 1581, Robert Crichton of Ryhill and his friends Yvie Drysdale, John Drysdale, Alexander Thomsoun and Johnne Makquharrie, all heavily armed, took forcible possession of Ryhill Castle (a Medieval tower near Sanquhar) from his mother Cristein Dalzell, the widow of Johnne Creichtoun of Ryhill. Two servants were initially held captive and thereafter the tower was fortified with men, munitions and victuals, Robert & his friends obviously wishing to keep possession.

On 6th May 1581 the Council in Edinburgh ruled that the Tower be must returned to the Widow Cristein Dalzell by Robert Crichton & his friends within 24 hours, or they must appear before the Council to show cause, otherwise they will be denounced as rebels, put to the horn and their goods confiscated.

Best regards

Permalink Reply by William Douglas on February 26, 2025 at 22:51

Ryhill Castle is a new one to me.

Permalink Reply by Ronald Drysdale on February 27, 2025 at 2:24
Permalink Reply by Ronald Drysdale on March 15, 2025 at 20:34

....1503, We, Thomas, William, and James Douglas, sons of the late departed Thomas Douglas of Brushwood Haugh......

Could the Tho. Dowglas, mentioned in the document below in 1490, be the father of the three Douglas/Drysdale brothers in the 1503 story? 

Permalink Reply by Ronald Drysdale on March 17, 2025 at 20:44

I'm reasonably confident that the 1482 court case - see below - provides fodder for yet another construction in the 1503 Douglas/Drysdale story - i.e. the dispute over the water supply to the Johnstone watermill.

Crichtons, Douglas and also a Greresone would be aware of this story.


Best regards

Permalink Reply by William Douglas on March 18, 2025 at 10:26

I have a note that Hew Douglas born about 1523 in Dalvine Or Cowsowgill Dumfries Scotland
was the son of
Archibald Douglas 1502 - 1557 and Janet (Jonet) Napier 1503 - 1575
Cowsowgill, otherwise known as Cashogle, i think.
https://www.douglashistory.co.uk/history/families/douglas_of_cashog... 

Permalink Reply by Ronald Drysdale on March 18, 2025 at 14:20

Hi William,

Thank you for this reference, I think you are correct with regard to Cowsowgill/Cashogle

And yes, according to the 'Douglas of Cashogle' page, Archibald Douglas (1502) was the son of Archibald Douglas of Cashogle & Dalveen and Christian Johnstone (a Johnstone connection!).

And this Archibald Douglas in turn, was the son of William Douglas, 4th Lord Drumlanrig (d. 1484) and Elizabeth Crichton, daughter of Robert Crichton; Lord Sanquhar!

So it slots together quite neatly.

Best regards

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Making conections

The more information you can give about the people you mention, the more chance there is of someone else connecting with your family.

Dates and places of births, deaths and marriages all help to place families.

Professions also help.

'My great-grandmother mother was a Douglas from Montrose' does not give many clues to follow up! But a bit of flesh on the bones makes further research possible. But if we are told who she married, what his profession was and where the children were baptised, then we can get to work.

Maybe it is time to update the information in your profile?


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