Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

I was favoured with yours ^of the 28^th of May
1744 in July or aug^t y^rafter And would have returned
you an Answer sooner had I known of any oppor-
tunity For as I pass the most part of my tyme
here being 20 miles South of Ed^r I lye intirely
out of the way of knowing how to Convey any
Letters to your party, unless by sending them to my
friend Mr John Anderson or by some accidentall
occasion as this.

I assure you nothing can give me [illegible] greater
pleasure than the cultivating a correspondence
with my Cousins or any who have their intrest
So much at heart As I perceive you have And
by the requeste you make me in yours of
knowing some what of my family & concerns
I am affraid I shall ^{in this} transcend in this the
ordinary bounds of a Letter.

As the practiques of the Laws of Scotland
are not now amongst the General's books I have
herewith sent a Coppie of them As a small
present to my cousin John, The Law part of it
will be of Little use to him being too deep for
one who is not Some what founded in our Laws
and forms of procedure, But in it he will see
the Antiquity of my family ^{from which he is descended} And the tryall
and procedure ag^t his Great Grand Father & mine
But Let him not from the sequel rashly Con:
clude that our Laws are unjust For I believe
there is no Country in the world where one has
more Indulgence allowed in either Civil or Criminal
Cases, But when Tyrany and Rebellion get the
upper hand of Religion Justice, and Loyalty—
Great and good men are generally the sacrifises
these too furious^es take most delight in, And
I am pretty sure that all Impartial people
will allow That Sir Robert's Loyalty & personal
endurements was ^were his greatest Crimes, Sed tali
tempore Crimina erant, But I must not
dwell upon this melancholly Subject which
was so fatall both to the publick in general
And to my family in particular.

In the memoirses of Sir Robert's Life
Annexed to the practiques You will find
The Antiquity of the family of Spottiswoode
Sufficiently Vouched from the Antient records
of this Kingdome, You will likewise observe
in these memories James Spottiswoode of y^t
ilk forfeited ^{in the Reign of K. Jas 4th} for adhering to the Intrests of
King James the 3-^d This James married a
Daughter of my Lord Johns [loan] And fast [illegible]
Ancestor to the present Marquiss of Annandale
And had Issue W^m Spottiswood of that
Ilk who married Eliz: Hope: pringle Dau^r
To Henry Hope: pringle of that Ilk, He was
killed at the Battel of Floudon and left
Issue John Spottiswoode parson of Calder, Ther
-after Superintendant of the Three [Lolhrans]
Merse and Tivioldale, He married Beatrix
Crighton Daughter to the Laird of Lug town and
Gilmertoun And had Issue two sons Doctor
John Spottiswoode of Deirsy And
Spotiswoode Bishop of Clogherm Ireland
Of this branch of the family I know very
Litle Only that Joan Spottiswoode a descend:
-ant of the Bishop of Clogherp was first married
to one Hay of Drumboot a Scotsman And
therafter to Sinclair of Rossline And was
Grand:Mother to the present Rossline.x

As for Doctor John Spottiswoode of Dairsy
who succeeded his father in the parsonage of
Calder And was first Arch: Bishop of Glas gow
and y^rafter Arch Bishop of Saint Andrews and
Chancelor of Scotland I need neither mention
his marriage nor Issue here [illegible] his history
which You have and the practiques I have sent
alongst with this And my Letter to you in

March 1744 sufficiently sett furth the same
only I think it necessary to tell you That
beside that history, he wrote a small Traetise
in Latine (Dedicated to King Charles the 1^st
then Prince of Wales) Intitled against the
Presbiterians Intitled Refutatio Libelli
De Regimine Eules ie Scoticane printed
at London 1620, I would likewise have sent
a Coppie of it, But I u unless I had sent the
Coppie I have myself I could not procure an
other it is [so scearce], I have likewise sealt
sermons ^{of his} in manuscript in his own hand
writing, And his Testament in his own hand
dated at New castle 14^th Janry 1639, I have
also a manuscript Coppie of his history, It
is not wrote with his own hand, But there are
a great many Notes and additions upon the
Margine write by himself.

As for the Eldest son for John you have
an account of him in my last, only I must beg
of you to Correct an error in my last to you, anent
his sons death being absent from this, and not
having any of my books or papers with me
I told you that he fell a sacrifice to the Rage
of the times about the year 1646 wheras I
observe from the practiques and Monterth
of Samondy ^et history, It was in the year 1650
In theMy Coppie of Salmonet page 57 hers called
Of Derby which should be read Deursey

As for Sir Robert you have a particular
amount of his Marriage, Children, & fortune
in the practiques, But ofr a further Illustra
-tion of that book, I have thought it necessary
to subjoyne here an amount of the family so
far as is not mentioned In these Memoirs
And to send [her melosed] to my Cousin John
Coppies of some private papers of the family
arr^t a Coppie of a Letter for Ro^t wrote to his Children
after he was sentenced to dye (Together with
an account of his Marriage and Children their
Births &c In which my Cousin will see the
tyme his Grand father was born) And a Coppie
of his Hymn which he Composed at his death
all in his own hand writing and in my Custody
Together with the ^a Coppie of an Epitaph he
Composed upon the death of his Lady which
my father recoverded some where, for it is not
affixed upon her Burial place.

Sir Robert after he was sentenced wrote
Likewise to the Marques of Montrose the heads
of which Letter you have in the practiques, and
I see there is a full and Exact coppie of it In
Salmonet page 231,—I observe from the ^{3rd Volume of ye} Life
of the first Duke of Ormond (writen by Thomas
Carte an published at London 1735) Vol: 3^{d
This Volume} Being a Collection of his Graces Letters He takes
notice in a Letter to the marquese of Montrose
page 460 N^o/ 442, "That he could not write
"Safely being in doubt that the Cypher sent
"by Sir Robert Spottiswoode was with him taken"
By which it would seem That Sir Robert when
he was taken at Philiphaugh was carrying
a Cypher from Montrose to be sent to Ormond
(who was then Lieutenant of Ireland) for their
more safe Correspondence, For it appears by a
former Letter from Ormond to Montrose in
the above Cited Vol: page 380 N^o/ 363, That
^wherein He tells Montrose He was Commanded by the
King to hold frequent Correspondence with him
(Montrose) And in regaird he was a stranger to
the Kingdome of Scotland, He desires to have
a Cypher proper for the bussiness, This is
but a Trivall Circumstance But I thought
proper to mention it However I thought I
could not committ it.

Alex^r my Grand father after King Chas 2^d

Came to Scotland followed his fortunes And went
into England with his Majesty But as the Kings
forces were [Routed] at Worchester He was left
to shift for himself being both destitute of friends
and Estate He returned into his own Country And
came to Sir George Home of Wedderburn's house in
this County who had married Catharin Morison
his mothers second sister and stayed with her &
his oy^r friends And admitted Advocat upon the 4^th
December 1655 As appears by his act of Admission
in my Custody, By staying at Wedderburn he fell
acquent with Sir John Home of Crumstone who
had one only Daughter whom he married she bore
him seall Children But when she dyed there was
only one son alive Called Alexander.

About the year 1666 He married for his 2^d wife
Helen Troller Daughter to John Troller of Morton
-hall and Chesterhall who bore him seall Children
and at his death in the 1675 There was ^were two sons
and two Daughters of this marriage alive Viz^t
John, Robert, Janet, and Cathrine, Robert and
Cathrine dyed young, several years after y^r father
as Lykewise Alex^r the only Child in life of the first
marriage, Janet married Sir George Brown of
Gherny dykes Baronet but had no Issue she is still
alive. ^N.L. John my Father followed the Law And
was admitted Advocate in the 1696 And was prosessor
of the Roman and Municipal Law here during a
good part of his life It would be thought partiality
[in me] or a too great Byass of Filiall duty to say
any thing of the Knowledge and reputation he
acquired in his profession, The books he published
upon that [science] sufficiently Evidences the first
And the noble defence he made for Cap^t Tho: Green
(Commander of the ship Worcester) And his Crew
in the 1705 added no less to the latter altho it brought
upon him the odium of a powerfull party here
Nevertheless he was much admired for it every where
else X The detail of which would take up too much
room here, I shall only give you a paragraph of
a Letter just laying before me from the General to
my father at that tyme, And is so now here when the ^{in that head dated from London the 17th Aprile 1705}
world is come to a more sober way of thinking anent
that

at y^t tyme And is
so now here when
the word is come
to a more sober
way of thinking
anent y^e affair

6

that affair dated from London 17^th Aprile 1705
In which he is giving my father an account of
the wounds he had got at Hockslott He begins
thus,— "As it pleases me to find my behaviour
"has merited you approbation, So at the same
"tyme does it still more rejoice and make me
"proud to hear how singularly well you distinguish
"yourself in the world upon all occasions given you
"in your profession, And particularly (as I am In:
"formed) in the sate tryal of Captain Green And
"his Crew, where they tell me you were of Councill
"for the prisoners.—The Shining Virtues of Ancestors
"when they have been Clouded over by time, do too
"often prove feeble Ex^hortations to their distant
"posterity, But I'm happy in having so affectionat
"and able a Cotempory to guide me in the paths of
"our Ancestors and ^to Excite me in so patheticall a
"maner to an Imitation of them."&c—

In the year 1710 He married Helen Arbuth
-note Widdow of John MacFarlane of that ilk
and Daughter to the Viscount of Arbuthnote
By whom he had two sons and two Daughters—
My younger Brother Robert was unfortunatly
killed by a fall from a high Rock near Edin^r
some years before: my father dyed, So that at the tyme
of his death in the 1728 There was myself and
two Daughters ^alive Viz^t Helen and Ann,—Helen
is Unmarried

In the year 1737 Ann married James Dundas
Doctor of Medicine in Ed.^r His father Charles
was an officer in the Army And a Cadet of the house
of Armstoun, And for himself He is a very much
esteemed for his knowledge in his profession And
(without disparagement of any) There are few of
the whole Colledge of [Phisitrans] more regarded
or acquittes th^'emselves better in their publick
Character, And in his private He is kind parent
a Generous friend and a very pious man, And

a great Enemy to Presbitry, she dyed in the year
1740 And Left two sons Charles and John, But
John dyed some short tyme after, And the Doctor
Still continues a Widdower, And both he and his
young Son Charles with my Sister Nelly Desire to
be kindly remembered to our Cousins.

When my father entered upon the practise of his profession
he Laboured under several disadvantages The Crown never having
given any recompence for the severe losses and suffrings of the
family. The Estate of Crumstane which my Grand father got by
his wife had been Carried off during my fay^ra minority by a thing
that is very Common here in Scotland Called old debts However God
Almighty blessed his endeavours so as he was enabled to Leave
Competent Scots [Teachers] for his two Daurs And me in possession of the
old Inheritance of the family.

I was but very Young at his death, However my friends look
Care to Educate mem the prosession of the family Viz^t the Law
But I never entered upon the practise. In the year [1738] I brought
an Action X agt the Crown for the Barony of Newabbey (The way my
Great Grand fay^r was divested of the possession of it You will see fully
Stated in the practiques) And by the providence of God almighty
And the assistance of the Earle Right Honourable The Earle of Isla
(now Duke of Argyle) And the Right Honourable The Earle of
Morton I obtained possession of it
^{before our Sup-
ream Court here}

In the year 1740 I married Mary Thomson Eldest Daughter
to John Thomson of Charlestoun writer to his Maties Signet (a ^Gentle Man
very well known in this place And one who acquired a very ^opulent large
fortune by his profession And dyed with a very fair Character)
By whom I have two Sons and two Daurs Viz^t John born in March
1741, Thomson Spottiswoode born in Febry 1742, Rachael Born
in Aug^t 1743 And Helen born in July 1744.

I should be glad to know If the Generalsl mothers name
was Mercer For I observe In writing to my father She signes
her name Cathrine Mercer, I know She was first married to
one of the name of Elliot, and I observe from the Generalls Letters
to my father that She had a Son who was a Brigadeer & Governour
of Giberalter And that She herself dyed in Ireland about the end of
the year 1709 or beginning of 1710, I Lykeways Learn from the
Generall's Letters That he had a Sister (And that She was Settled in
Ireland) But whether She was his full Sister or not I^'a^m uncertain

I'll take it kind if my Cousin will Inform me of these
particulars And if he can Inform ^me wh me ^of what family his
Grand moy^rs first husband was descended From for the name
of Elliot abounds for the most part in the County of Tivioldale
which is the next adjacent County to that of Berwick or the
Merse In which I Live And for your Letters have putt a
thought into my head which I never once dream'd of And that
is to frame a Genealogicall Tree of My family.

I beg Leave to be Solved of one thing In yours to M^r Andrew
Anderson in July 1743, You write That the Generall was first
Ensigne And then Lieutenent in the Earle of Baths regament
wheras he tells ^writes my father that "he had a Company In the
"Lord North And Gray's Regiament of foot which was an old
"Regiament And the same he had all along served in," Now
I would know if that Regiament was first the Earle of Bath's.

As to what you mention in the above Letter to M^r Anderson
of the Generall's being C[deleted]s Appointed Lieutenent ^Governour General of
Virginia I have a pretty full amount of it from himself ^{in a letter to my father}
dated from your parts the 20 March 17[deleted] 1710/11 Wherin he
tells him How after the Battle ^of Tarsniere He was
provock'd to throw up all his Commissions And how
Generally that Step was approv'd of by the Chieff officers
of the Army, And that a forreign Prince (But he does not
name him) made him a private offer to enter into his
Service &c—

Reverend Sir If you are to ^write any memoirs of the
General's life I beg you will favour me with a Coppie of
them And as I keep all his Letters to my father as So
many relicts of the family What is in them It ^that would Serve
to illustrate any passage might be added, And it will not
be Improper to Subjoyne Lykewise the good Character given
him by Salmon in his modern History, And Sir W^m also
by Sir W^m Keith in his History of Virginea, I observe
he had been dangerously wounded at Hirckstet after he
writes to my father that he had his uppermost ribb and
his Collar and Shoulder bones brocke And that he continued
a long tyme under the Surgeons hands, And that in Aprile
1705 he was obliged to ^{go to} Aixla Chapelle for the
recovering the use of his Shoulder which was the Left
one.

The Letters you mention of an old date are certainly
from my father, And from what is said above you will see
That the Generall and him were [illegible] Cousin germans, And
Lykewayes you will observe he had no other kinsman of the
name Save my father, His subscription was much the same
with mine only the J, and S, were Cyphered in one another.

I hope you will be so good As Let me know—
What Education your parts affoords as to young
Ladies and Gentlemen And if you be well Supplyed w^t
able masters, For one is never so Sensible of the loss ^want
of Education Untill ^{one arrived at} he be so far in years [deleted] y^t
large ^stage of Life that it is Impossible to retrive it.

I am Sory to Learn by yours That my Cousin Should
be so much Imbassassed in an affair of so great Import
ance Consequence to him, And with Such a power full:
party, I cannot Say that I am so well versant in the
Government of the Collonies As to presume to give my
Judgement in the matter, Only I think were Such a
tryall here, It would be thought a very absurd ome

Any Intrest I have is but very Small for I live in
a private may not medleing with publcik affairs, But if
he is So unLuckie as ^to be obliged to bring his Case over to London
You and he may depend upon all the Assistance that lyes
in my poor Sphere, I believe I can Sett you in the way
how to address yourselves to our Scots people that are of the
Council or have any intrest pretty well, for it is not long
Since I trode rgar path myself, In the mean tyme I
desire you woul Send me Somestate of the Case So as I
may be Capable to Speak or write upon the Subject for
it is both our Intrests to Contribute all wee can to the
Support of each other, and My Cousin may depend upon it
there is no requeste he can make to me, that I Shall not
most readily comply with, I wish him and the rest
of my Cousins all maner of health and happiness And
would be glade to be Instrumentall in any degree towards
helping thein to the Least Share of either.

P.S. ^{I take ye freedom to recommend to your favour} The Beaver John Nasmith he is a distant
Relation of My Cousins & mine & y^e Son of a very
Worthy Honest man a writer in Edinb^r
This is y^{t his} first adventure being still not a having
on account of his Master for he has not Served the
full time of his apprenticeship I shou'd not have
taken this Liberty had he not been a Relation
and a young Lad just entering upon the stage
of the world & as this is the first part thing of
any consequence he ever was Concerned in it is but
doing a piece of Charity to help him to act it
well. I desire you'll be so good as Send me
by the Beaver how I shou'd address to you or
my Cousin for I observe I [illegible] in my last thro'
Ignorance w^ch I hope you will pardon

Copie of a Letter
To M^r Robert Rose
Virginea
1745