Persecution, when military were quartered in Sanquhar, were killed by the blow of a sword in the High Street, in a disturbance that had arisen among the soldiers.

Generations of Sanquhar Hairs have passed away without special record, save the stray memorials in their burying-ground. We have, however, certain knowledge of the family in the 18th century. We find that ARCHIBALD HAIR, who possessed property in the town, married Dorothea Bramwell, and died in 1789. His eldest son was JOHN HAIR, better known as Laird Hair, who married Isabella Ferguson, and died in 1830 at the age of seventy.

Laird Hair had in his day a high reputation as a curler, and some of his sons were also experts in that winter pastime. He was well known in Sanquhar as a kindly, genial, good-natured man, much liked by old and young. David Hair, the last of Orchard, and Laird Hair were contemporaries, and fast friends. Attached to each other in life they now rest together in the same burying-ground. The eldest son and heir of Laird Hair was ARCHIBALD HAIR, M.D., who, in 1812, entered the service of the Army as Assistant Surgeon to the 43rd Regiment of Light Infantry. That renowned regiment was then serving in the Peninsula as part of the operating British force under the command of the Duke of Wellington, then Lord Wellington. We may give some account of interesting incidents in Dr Hair's career.

On the 27th February, 1814, the battle of Orthes was fought, which resulted in a decisive victory over the French, commanded by Soult. At this battle the fifth Duke of Richmond, then Lord March, in leading a charge, was dangerously wounded, having been struck on the chest by a musket ball. Surgeon Hair, who happened to be near assisting with the wounded on the field-his regi

ment not being actively engaged-was suddenly summoned to render medical help to his lordship. It is stated in Kent's "Reminiscences of the Dukes of Richmond" that it was by the prompt action of Surgeon Hair in opening a vein to relieve the internal hemorrhage that the young nobleman's life was saved. Surgeon Hair superintended the removal of his lordship to the town of Orthes and attended him through a time of great anxiety and until he was out of danger.

Another of Dr Hair's experiences at Orthes may be noticed. It is drawn from the same authority. In the course of the battle the Commander-in-Chief, Lord Wellington, was himself wounded, having been struck on the thigh bone by a spent ball. He reached the town disabled, and suffering severe pain. As it happened that his quarters were on the opposite side of the street from where Lord March was lying, Surgeon Hair, being at hand, was called on to attend to the wounded chief. He at once had prepared, and applied with his own hands, a poultice to the bruised limb, which gave relief. Next day Lord Wellington was to be seen on crutches crossing the street to visit Lord March, then lying in a most critical condition, and Dr Hair observed that the great captain gave way to an outburst of tears, for he did not expect to see the son of one of his dearest friends again alive. Happily Lord Wellington was able on the same day to follow the army, as he was most anxious to do, which was pressing hard upon the retreating French. In his many battles Wellington was never wounded except at Orthes, and it is an interesting circumstance that on that occasion he was medically attended to by a Sanquhar man. Lord March ultimately recovered, but carried the French bullet in his person till the day of his death.

Dr Hair's time of active service in the Peninsula was from 1812 till the end of the war. He received the war medal with four clasps for the battles of Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, and Orthes. He served with his regiment also in America, and took part in the action before New Orleans. Just before the return of the 43rd from America the battle of Waterloo was fought, but the regiment, although too late for the fight, was able to join the victorious forces and take part in the capture of Paris.

Dr Hair was appointed Head Surgeon to the Royal Horse Guards (Blue) in 1826, and this appointment he held until his retirement from the Army in 1843. His services to the fifth Duke of Richmond on the battlefield of Orthes led to a very cordial friendship with the Duke and his Duchess.

When Dr Hair retired from the Army he was induced to become a member of the Richmond family. For many years he acted as medical attendant and confidential adviser, giving his services solely as a friend, and without receiving fee or pecuniary reward of any kind. Feeling the growing infirmities of age, he at length retired to his own residence in Sanquhar, where he quietly spent the few remaining years of his life. He died unmarried on the 14th December, 1869, in his 85th year, and was laid in the family burying ground.

Dr Hair was skilled in his profession; he had seen much of the world and society, yet he remained a modest and genial man, ever ready to oblige whenever he could do so. The main features of his character were a high feeling of honour, a sound judgment, and

rare common-sense.

The oldest representative of the Sanquhar Hairs now living in this country, and the owner of the family pro

perty in the burgh, bequeathed to him by his uncle, Dr Hair, is JOHN HAIR, a grandson of Laird Hair and a retired official of the Pay Office of the Court of Chancery. He resides in London.

We may also mention that Mr Robert Nivison, the founder of the Nivison Trust for the benefit of the poor of Sanquhar, is a great-grandson of Laird Hair.

There is now no male member of the family resident in Sanquhar.

ARMS-Azure, two bars, or, a chief indented of the

last.

CREST:--TWO daggers in saltier, proper.

MCCALLS OF GUFFOCKLAND.

THE property of Guffockland lies on the east side of the Nith, in the old barony of Sanquhar, and parish of Kirkconnel. The lands, although in the barony of Sanquhar, were held from the Crown. The residence of the lairds was a tower or small fortalice, on the site of which the present farmhouse of Tower stands.

The chief of the McCalls was styled of that Ilk. He was of Cauliston, in the barony of Tibbers. The McCalls were probably of the stock of the Highland clan MacAulay, and held a good social position in Dumfriesshire.

IVIE MCCALL of Guffockland married Janet Carmichael, of Spoth. He died in August, 1585, leaving a daughter Janet. His will was given up by himself, 11th August, 1585. He had two brothers, Edward and William, and a sister Margaret.

JOHN succeeded. He is mentioned in deed of 1588 as of Guffockland. He was sometime of Spango or Spank, and also of Corsebank. His daughter married John McMath, son natural to John McMath of Dalpeddar. There is an obligation by John McMath in Auchensow to John McCall for 600 merks, 24th October, 1596. His eldest son was named William, to whom he gave a discharge for certain large sums of money, 7th May, 1610. William was in Boghouse. He must have died before his father, for

PATRICK MCCALL on 7th May got from his father a discharge for "all ye gone debts."