against him before the Sheriff for certain sums. (Will of Abraham Crichton given up by Phillis Grant, spouse to the said Robert Alison). Abraham Crichton died in 1746, the result of a fall from his horse near Dalpeddar. He it is who has been made famous by the stories of the wonderful doings of his ghost. He does not appear to have had any sons, and had seemingly only one daughter, who after her father's death went to reside in Whitehaven. James Kennedy, the Sanquhar poet, in the edition of his works published in 1848, quotes an interesting document drawn up by this daughter, who was named Janet. It is dated 1750, and is a legally stamped document by which the said Janet Crichton sells a pew in Sanquhar Church to her uncle, Provost Charles Crichton, "as only child and heir to Abraham Crichton, late of Sanquhar, deceased, who was brother and heir to my uncle, John Crichton of Carco, late Provost of Sanquhar, in consideration of the sum of one pound one shilling, all that pew or seat, late the said John Crichton's and Abraham Crichton's situated in the body of the Parish Church of Sanquhar fronting the heritors' seat there."

CHARLES CRICHTON, above mentioned, the brother of Abraham, was Provost of Sanquhar, 1742 and 1743. He was a merchant in the burgh, and held in much esteem by the townsfolk. He left several descendants, who latterly were in but poor circumstances. Charles, Peter, and Marion Crichton, his great grand children, were the last known living representatives in a direct line of the house of Carco. All three died a little over

fifty years ago, Charles and Marion in Sanquhar, and Peter in a cottage near Dumfries House, to which some years before his death he was removed by his noble kinsman, the Marquis of Bute, who as well as former holders

of the title, to their lasting honour be it said, on several occasions sent kindly help to the less fortunate scions of an ancient and honourable family.

To the house of Carco, although not in the direct line, belonged James Crichton, who was Provost of Sanquhar from 1764 to 1772. He had two sons, John and James. John Crichton was a writer, and was town-clerk of Sanquhar from 1789 to 1807. He was married to Barbara Kennedy of Knocknalling, daughter of Robert Kennedy of Knocknalling, by his wife, Margaret Alexander. He lived in the dwelling-house near the Sanquhar Council House, dignified by the name of "" Crichton Hall." James Crichton, his brother, was a medical man. He made a large fortune in China and India, where for many years he was in the service of the East India Company. Returning to Sanquhar in 1808, he purchased the estate of Friars' Carse, and in 1810 married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Robert Grierson, fifth baronet of Lag. He left no children. Dr Crichton's considerable fortune went mainly to found the Crichton Royal Institute for the treatment of the insane, and a portion also went for the erection and endowment of the Crichton School at Sanquhar.

ARMS. The arms of the Crichtons of Carco were those of Lord Sanquhar, with a crescent for difference, viz.— Argent, a lion rampant, azure. Crest-A dragon's head, couped, vert, spouting fire. Motto:

"God send Grace."

CRICHTONS OF GAIRLAND.

The property of Gairland, or Gareland (" short land," from the Gaelic gearr, really means a slip of fertile land in a barren situation), was one merk of old extent. It is sometimes called Garglen. It is in the parish of Kirkconnel, and occupies the uplands north of the upper reaches of the Water of Spango lying in Robert Moor.

The superior of the lands in 1569 was Kirkpatrick of Closeburn, who granted, February 1st, 1569, a charter to Andrew Wilson for the payment of 18 merks yearly feu duty. These lands were resigned by Andrew to Kirkpatrick for the use of his nephew, Andrew Wilson, July 28th, 1594. On May 24th, 1656, Andrew Wilson grants a charter of alienation to William Crichton of Spoth, and also to Crichton's son, who is styled

WILLIAM CRICHTON of "Gairland." This William, as his tombstone in Sanquhar Kirkyard shows, reached the patriarchal age of 103 years.

WILLIAM CRICHTON, son of the preceding, has on March 23rd, and July 6th, 1667, a charter and seisin of Gareland granted by the Earl of Queensberry upon the resignation of his father. He died aged 84 years, and was succeeded by his son,

ABRAHAM CRICHTON, who, September 7th, 1686, resigned the lands of Gareland to the Duke of Queensberry, who had become superior, and had a charter from the Duke, and a consequent precept and seisin as heir, June 9th, 1705, and July 2nd, 1706. Abraham Crichton was Provost of Sanquhar from 1714 to 1718; and is famous on account of his having raised a body

of the townsmen to assist in repelling the '15 Rebellion. The Rev. Peter Rae of Kirkconnel, in his History of the Rebellion, says that an alarm was raised that the rebels were about to seize the town of Dumfries, and that help being asked, assistance came in from all parts of the country, "Amongst whom was Abraham Chreighton of Gareland, Provost of Sanquhar, with a company of Foot from thence, who being informed that the Enemy had invested the Town, mounted themselves on Country Horses, for the greater Expedition, and arrived at Dumfries on Friday," October 14th, 1715. Abraham died, aged fifty years. His wife, Grizel Maitland, lived to be eighty. He was succeeded by his son,

ALEXANDER CRICHTON, who, as heir to his father, had precept and seisin of the lands of Gareland and also Castle Robert, granted by the Duke's Commissioners, May 2nd, 1743, and July 12th, 1746. He is retoured as heir to his father Abraham and grandfather William, August 5th, 1746. He resigned to His Grace the Duke of Queensberry the lands of Gareland, Castle Robert, &c., July 15th, 1746. Registration at Dumfries, July 17th, 1746.

The lands belonging to this family, in addition to Gairland, were a sixteenth part of the church lands of Durisdeer, except the third part of a rood reserved to the Rector, disposed to Crichton of Gairland, April 1st, 1717. Crichton of Gairland had sasine of the lands of Castle Robert, July 19th, 23rd, 1703. Gairland had given £6026 for it, and had the Duke of Queensberry's charter, &c., April 26th, 1711, and May 2nd, 1743.

A disposition was granted Crichton of Gairland by Helen Crichton in right of her mother Janet Heuk, and by her husband, James Crichton, of the lands called Drycroft, with the adjacent meadows, both under pledge

to them for payment of 100 merks. On January 23rd, 1707, disposition was granted to Crichton of Gairland by William Jameson, glazier, in Edinburgh, of Dubbesland, Cowfoot Hill, Pulvernock, Boyd's Land, Jameson's Land, and divers other pieces of ground and houses in and about Sanquhar. A disposition was granted by Robert Park, Provost of Sanquhar, September 14th, 1708, of a meadow called Longcleuch. There is disposition to Crichton of two great tenements in Sanquhar called Jameson's land, and both parcels of land called Burnt Land, Loaning Croft, Rowantree Dale, Goosedubs, Roddings, Drycroft, and the meadow adjoining, from Bailie William Jameson, for payment of £220 Scots. Also there are dispositions by Mary, daughter of George Kerr, sometime Chamberlain of Sanquhar, containing four dales of land at Blackadge, October 19th, 1713. Likewise dispositions by Alexander Crichton, late Bailie of Sanquhar, of another dale of land on the south side of Sanquhar, given in exchange for half an acre on the east and north side, May 12th, 1716.

On the 21st July, 1725, Gairland made an adjudication of all the lands mentioned to William Tait and other creditors for the sum of £7285 Scots.

Alexander Crichton of Gairland disposed to the Duke of Queensberry, April 21st, 1746, all his lands of Gairland, Castle Robert, Blackadge-39 acres, 2 roodssixteenth part of church lands of Durisdeer, with all other lands, houses, and parcels of ground belonging to him. Registered as already stated, at Dumfries, July 17th, 1746.

Alexander Crichton was a merchant in Sanquhar, and occupied a house which stood in the High Street, nearly opposite the Royal Bank, called "The Great House of Gairland."