Michael Forbes Tweedie. Published 1902.
CHAPTER V
At the beginning of the 18th Century a Captain Burt visited Scotland and in a book describing his journey he gives his impressions of Tweeddale which help to bring the scenery of the district vividly before us.
The landscape was a bleak and bare solitude, destitute of trees, and abounding in heather, morass, and barren hills. Cultivation was found only in dirty patches of crops on ground surrounded by heather and bog. The inhabitants spoke an uncouth dialect and the poor lived in hovels.
This condition of things seems to have so depressed Captain Burt that in vain did nature present to his gaze her finest and grandest aspects. The roaring torrents; the towering mountain height; the boundless moor, rich, then as now, in purple glory, all were powerless to obliterate the impression of the dreary solitude.
The number of modest estates was great and smaller gentry abounded. A gentleman might have a property wide in range of land, but producing rents miserably mean, all in kind, so many sheep, eggs, poultry; so many bolls of barley, meal and pease.
Mansion houses, of course, varied greatly in style and dimensions according to the rank and income of their owners. The massive castellated buildings of nobles and chiefs, generally dating from the sixteenth century, looked down upon the more homely dwellings of two storeys with corbel stepped gable roof. Clumps of trees were planted for shelter; ash, elm, and sycamore clustered so close to the walls that they blocked out light and air from the small narrow windows, with their tiny three cornered panes of glass. Beside the house was the inevitable dovecote, or pigeon house. The courtyard was usually formed by the house having a projecting granary and byre on one side, and a projecting barn and stable on the other. In the garden behind or beside each house grew a great variety of shrubs and flowers, partly for pleasure, but mainly for use. Within doors arrangements were of the plainest. The rooms were low ceiled, paper hangings were unknown, and only in large mansions were the walls covered with tapestry, panels of wood or gilt leather. On the dining table lay the handbell, no carpets covered the floors, while but few of the chambers were what were called "fire-rooms", most of them being destitute of fireplaces. The beds, generally, were closed like a box in the wall, or in recesses with sliding doors, but in great houses they stood out in the room, with heavy curtains of plaidings which the household had spun.
Except on state occasions, the dining room in average sized country houses was unused, left dark, dull and musty, unventilated by the sashless windows, while dingy ancestral portraits stared vacantly from their frames on the empty apartment.
It was in the great bedroom that the family lived chiefly. There they took their meals, there they saw their friends, there at night the family gathered round the hearth, there the girls spun; and it was only after "family exercises" that the household dispersed and the heads of the family were left to rest and sleep in the exhausted air. By five or six o'clock in the morning the laird was up, having taken his "morning" - a glass of ale or brandy - before he visited his "policies" and his stable and fields. At eight o'clock breakfast was served, consisting of oatmeal cakes or barley bannocks and perhaps mutton, washed down with ale. At twelve or one o'clock came dinner at which the Master of the house presided with his hat on his head. Each person was served with a wooden or pewter plate, and it was only later that china or earthenware plates appeared.
Only in summer or autumn could fresh meat be had, at all other times the family subsisted on salted meat with occasional game. Vegetables were not served on table, sweets there were none, and the drink was ale and sometimes sack or claret. At seven or eight came supper, a substantial meal of the same type with ale and claret, but before that repast was the essential "four hours" at which ale and wine, and later on tea, was drunk.
A bowling green was the usual adjunct to every country house. The country gentry dressed in a plain, homely and even coarse way, all clothes being home-made; while but one suit or costume formed the wardrobe of a lady for long years. Even in Edinburgh society, young ladies, daughters of country gentlemen of good position and means for those times, were content with one silk gown and the occasional use of their mother's which she had got when she was as young as they. Packmen came round with their packhorses laden with a small assortment of wares for cottage and mansion. Thus the quaint homely life went on, and the friendly contact of the laird with his people and the lady with her servants over the spinning, wrought a kindliness and attachment to the family which was a marked and pleasant feature in the old stay-at-home Scottish Society. The Tweedies, for instance grew their own flax on Oliver, and the ladies of the family made it into thread on the small spinning wheel of the day. The laird was called by the name of his land and not by his own surname, while his wife bore the title of "lady" not "Mrs" and was spoken of as her "Ladyship" in full deference and addressed as "My Lady so and so" naming the name of the estate and not the family surname.
There was little coin in circulation; gold being never seen, while silver was exceedingly scarce; the openings for sons of gentlemen were very few. It was not yet the fashion for Scots to enter the army and fight the battles of the English; the eldest son not infrequently went into a lawyer's office for a while to pick up some knowledge useful for his future estate, and it was in trade that the youngest sons of good family often sought a livelihood. It was not considered beneath their dignity to become apprentices to "merchants" (or shopkeepers) or even to joiners and ship carpenters, or they became tenants of small farms on the family estate where they lived humbly in a small thatched farmhouse and tilled a poor hundred acres or so, though they were members of the best families in the land.
According to the parish registers and other extant records, at the end of the 17th and beginning of the 18th centuries there were Tweedies in Oliver, Badlieu, Tweedhopefoot, Cockieland, Kingledoors, the Wrae, Stanhope, Dreva, Patervan, Wester Oliver, Hawkshaw, Over Oliver, Easter Oliver, Hairstanes or Hearthstones, Quothquan, Nether Menzion, Edmonston, the Beild, the Crook, Nether Oliver, and other places. Many of their men the farm servants and such like, were also Tweedies and the parishes of Drummelzier, Tweedsmuir, Stobo, Kilbucho, Broughton and Glenholm and the adjoining districts were full of persons of the name; besides which there were many Tweedies resident in the burgh of Peebles, where members of the family rose to eminence and from time to time held the important offices of Provost, Treasurer of the Burgh, seats on the Council and other posts.
AD 1704
Thomas Tweedie of Oliver and Robert Tweedie of Kingledoors are among the Commissioners of supply nominated for 1704 by Act of Parliament.
AD 1706
Following out the not uncommon usage of the times, Thomas Tweedie of Oliver, on the 10th April 1706, apprenticed his younger son John Tweedie for five years to Robert McKinley, a merchant burgess of Edinburgh, to learn "his art and trade of merchandise". What the trade was or the premium paid is not shewn in the quaint articles which are yet in existence, but among other things it is stipulated that John Tweedie, for "his better insight in the said art and trade of merchandise" shall be sent at least "one voyage to Holland or Norroway as best shall please the said Robert McKinley" who also undertakes to keep and entertain his apprentice sufficiently at bed, board and washing, but apparently no provision is made for clothing. Walter Tweedie of Hairstanes is a witness to these articles which were not discharged until 16th April 1713.
AD 1712
James Tweedie of Kingledoors is served heir to his father the late Robert Tweedie of Kingledoors, who died June 1711, as heir special in Chapel Kingledoors and half of Over Kingledoors on April 18th 1712.
Some misfortune seems to have overtaken the laird of Oliver (Thomas Tweedie) in August 1713, in Edinburgh, judging from the following letter:-
MOSSFENNAN, 5th of August 1713
SIR, - I have sent this servant to know how you have rested last night and I shall be to see you my self tomorrow. I shall trouble you no furder at present but to beg your pardon and forgiveness for my sad misfortune and assure you that ever after this I shall be a ready servant of yours and all your family in whatever lyes in my power and I doe hereby obleidge myself to satisfy all expences you have been or may be att upon this sad occasion and I am
Dear Sir, in great concern
Very much your most humble and
obedient friend and servant
WM. SCOTT
The Laird of Olifoure,
Edin:
It is difficult to speculate what had happened; there is nothing whatever, curiously enough, to afford any clue further than to show that William Scott felt himself in some way to blame, and that Thomas Tweedie had suffered some personal physical injury. Can it have been a duel? If so were Scott and Tweedie the principals? or had Tweedie acted as Scott's second and been wounded in his own encounter with the second on the other side? it being a not infrequent practice for the seconds to fight as well as the principals. Or had it been a brawl over the wine the night before? Possibly some day evidence may turn up to show how entirely wide of the mark the surmise is.
A quarrel of some sort broke out in 1714 between Thomas Tweedie of Oliver and James and Thomas his sons on the one side, and the Hunters of Polmood on the other; the Hunters found it necessary to call in the aid of the law, such as it was; and the Tweedies were bound over in heavy penalties to keep the peace, and to appear and answer the complaint. The proceedings were dated 20th January 1714, while at the same time the Tweedies took similar steps against the Hunters, alleging that they invaded their lands and did much damage, and threatened them daily with bodily harm and slaughter. What it was all about and whether there had been any fighting is not very clear, but the idea not unnaturally suggests itself that the event referred to in William Scott's above letter of August 1713 had something to do with it.
Joan, daughter of Thomas Tweedie of Oliver, married James Kello of Westborrow at Biggar, the marriage contract being dated 7th April 1715, and Thomas Tweedie finally discharged his liability under it on the 30th July 1720.
AD 1718
Amongst the Oliver papers are many shewing the difficulties which the laird of Oliver suffered, in common with all other lairds, owing to the scarcity of actual coin, although possessing plenty of goods and security; and for many years the regular borrowing and paying back went on. Paid as the lairds chiefly were in "kind" there was little money at their disposal; some shopkeepers lent money on security, but the chief means of raising funds was through the country "writers", and hardly a laird or Lord was free of debt, or had an estate unburdened; he could not borrow a few pounds without getting two or three neighbours to become security as "Cautioners". There was many an interview in the taverns of Edinburgh, or of country towns, when business was transacted with the lawyer, anxiously discussing ways and means.
AD 1719
Thomas and James Tweedie of Oliver, father and eldest son, came to an arrangement in 1719, under which by a deed dated the 14th May, in that year, the lands of Oliver and Beild were made over to the son, who in return engaged to pay his father an annuity partly in cash and partly in kind, and entered into certain covenants for the upkeep of Oliver House and the Beild.
AD 1720
In the year 1720, on the 29th April, James Tweedie the younger of Oliver rode into Moffat, and having put up his mare at a tavern, kept by one James Welsh, went about his business, or his pleasure, which ever it may have been. On returning, however, between eleven and twelve o'clock at night, he found his mare gone.; neither Welsh, his wife, nor his serving man Adam Glendinning was to be found, but he learnt from Joan Waugh, a woman he met in the house, that John Graham, the "regalitie" officer, had taken the mare away "violently, under cloud of night", out of the stable. James Tweedie procured two friends, Patrick Aichinson and John Williamson, and went at once and called Graham up and demanded his mare, to which the officer replied he had a warrant for it. What the upshot of it was, or why it was done, does not appear; Tweedie laid an information that very night, but the result is not known.
AD 1724
Thomas Tweedie of Oliver having got into trouble, in 1724, for non-payment of his Doctor's bill, was "apprehended prisoner by virtue of letters of captione raised at the instance of John Blair, Chyrurgeon," and others for non-payment of 1,800 merks. James Tweedie of Oliver became surety for him, and he was released on 25th February 1724, the bill being paid on the 4th June 1724.
AD 1727
In 1727, James Tweedie the younger of Oliver, who appears to have been the moneyed man of the family, made arrangements with one John Hislope to rebuild Beild, or rather to build a house there instead of the old Tower. The contract is dated the 30th March 1726, and it is curious that, except at the commencement , the parties are throughout referred to by their Christian names only; it contains an exact specification of the work. The contractor is to have the use of the great timber and the iron work of the old tower, and to be furnished with sand and stone, by James Tweedie. The latter also had a further contract with Alexander Brunton for part of the work on this house, and fell out with him, or as the record says "happened to disagree" on certain points, and went to arbitration at Edinburgh on the 13th February 1739.
Thomas Dooly was put to the horn and denounced a rebel on 4th September 1727 at the instance of James Tweedie the younger of Oliver.
Among the Quarter papers there yet remains the contract of marriage entered into between Thomas Tweedie then in Kingledoors and afterwards of Quarter, with his wife Mary, daughter of Alexander Stevenson of Dreva; it is dated 1st March 1728, and it is noticeable that for the last time the name is written Olifer instead of Oliver, as it came afterwards to be spelt.
AD 1731
James Tweedie of Oliver was admitted to the Freedom of the Burgh of Peebles on the 15th October 1731, in due form before the Provost, Officers and Council of the Burgh.
There was a William Tweedie in Eastoun, of Stobo, who was befriended by James Tweedie of Oliver, and a debt paid for him by the latter on the 1st February 1732, to James Murhead the creditor.
AD 1735
James Tweedie of Oliver (Oliver being spelt thus for the first time) had some trouble with one Alexander Wright in 1735, which resulted in a lawyer's bill running from 16th October 1735 to 25th May 1737, as due to William Johnson, a writer in Edinburgh; the amount of the account is £181 9s and it ends with the item "To my pains £50 8s". It was finally discharged in 1741.
John Tweedie in Symington formally made over all his property to his sons James Tweedie and John Tweedie subject to certain annual payments by a deed dated 30th December 1735, from the details of which it is shewn that his daughter Grissell was the wife of James Lowrie of Symington; and his daughter Janet was married to Mark Braidwood, in Kilnpatlees, and that his youngest daughter's name was Marion.
AD 1738
The Edinburgh apprentice John Tweedie, the younger son of Thomas Tweedie of Oliver seems to have prospered, and married Helen, the daughter of John Brown and Margaret Pursell, to the latter of whom Helen is served heir general on the 14th March 1738.
AD 1740
Thomas Tweedie, the second son of Thomas Tweedie of Oliver by his wife Christian Williamson, was born 6th December 1691; he took his portion from his brother James Tweedie the younger of Oliver, on 22nd December 1719, exonerating him from all liability, and unlike the prodigal son, who had done the same, he evidently did well, for he purchased the house and estate of Quarter in the year 1740. This may be said to be the beginning of a new branch of the family, and it is from him that the present line of Quarter and Rachan descends. He married Mary, the daughter of Alexander Stevenson of Smithfield in Peebleshire, and on the death in 1837 of the last Tweedie of Oliver the male representation of the family passed to his descendants the Tweedies of Quarter. Oliver itself, however, yet remains in the possession of the Tweedie-Stodarts of Oliver, who are the direct descendants on the female side of the Oliver line.
According to the not uncommon practice of those days, to which reference has been made, it would appear that James Tweedie of Oliver apprenticed his youngest daughter Margaret, to Margaret Lindsay, a milliner of Edinburgh to learn the business, the indentures being duly endorsed and discharged with a certificate of faithful service in April 1743. This was, in those days thought in no way beneath the dignity of a family, and the fact that the younger sons and daughters of good families and even of nobles followed the calling of a village tradesman is the clearest proof of the poverty of the gentry. Lady Balgarran and her daughters were instances of this, they even advertised as makers of sewing thread, and the papers in which they put it up had the family coat of arms printed upon it. They made it themselves and sold it retail; Mrs Fletcher, wife of Henry Fletcher, the brother of the famous Fletcher of Salton, wove Holland linen and sold it herself; and old Lord Kirkcudbright, the glover, thought it no disgrace to himself to stand at the entrance of the ball room in the Assembly Close, off the High Street, at the top of the stairs selling white gloves to the dancers as they entered. At the election of peers for the House of Lords his lordship claimed his right to vote, and at the ball which closed that ceremonial the old glover joined his brother peers and on his death the title was legally confirmed to his son.
AD 1741
James Tweedie of Oliver was declared a rebel under letters of horning issued by one Michael Anderson on the 23rd December 1741, and from the same papers it appears that there had been dealings between Anderson and Tweedie earlier in the year about the leasing of some land, out of which the difference probably arose. On the same day, 23rd December 1741, James Tweedie obtained letters of discharge, having apparently satisfied Anderson and also paid his lawyer, one John Douglas £1 10s 9d for law costs.
AD 1745
In the momentous year 1745 there is but little record of the Tweedie family and nothing to show that they took any active part. Their day for disturbances seems to have been over, and there appetite for rebellion gone. John Hay of Restalrig, a direct ancestor of a later generation of the Quarter family was "out" and filled the office of Treasurer to Prince Charles Edward throughout the rising. He was one of the last to take leave of the Prince when he embarked for France again. When the Prince bid John Hay farewell he presented him with his snuff box, still in the possession of Hay's descendants, the Tweedies of Rawlinson, and tradition says that it was the last article of any value except clothing, that the Prince had about him. It is a small round box of dark tortoiseshell with silver mountings.
The Tweedies of those times, in common with most of the Lowlanders, appear to have been unfavourable to the enterprise, and when the Highlanders came through, Thomas Tweedie of Quarter with his family abandoned his house and retired up Tweeddale to Kingledoors, which he had a lease of at the time, in order to escape from the Highland army, whose invasion was regarded much as an inroad by the hill tribes of Afghanistan would be looked upon in India at the present day. We get a glimpse of him from the records of the family of Burnett of Barns. Captain John Burnet, of Colonel Grant's regiment of the Highland Army, was taken prisoner at Carlisle in 1745, and carried up to London, from whence on August 30th 1746, he wrote an appeal to his kinsman Burnet of Barns, whom he had protected when the Highlanders marched through, begging him to use all his influence to preserve his life. "I must repeat I've a dependence on you, farewell, and expect you'll lose no time." In answer to this appeal the following certificate was promptly returned:-
"These are declaring that when the rebells were in this country, Mr John Burnet of Campfield was along with them, who not only did all in his power to prevent the Highlanders from committing any abuses, but obliged them to pay for what they got particularly; they took both corn and straw from other tenants as well as me, for which Mr Burnet procured payment. They likewise carried off some horses and carts, which the said Mr Burnet caused to be returned. That his deportment in general was civil and obliging, and that the country was much obliged to him is attested by
'Thomas Tweedie, Tennent in Kingledorse,
Andrew Murderson, in Drumelziar.'
That Thomas Tweedie, Tennent in Kingledorse, and Andrew Murderson, in Drumelziar, are well affected to Government in Church and State is attested by me -----, Minister of the Gospel at Drumelziar, September, 1746."
It is satisfactory to know that Captain John Burnet of Grant's Regiment was acquitted and returned to the North in September 1748.
There is still in existence an old wine merchant's account for wines and spirits supplied to James Tweedie of Oliver in the years 1745-1747; the items being claret, sherry, shrub, brandy (in ankers), Lisbon (in mutchkins), mountain and whiskey, and the total amount for the two years, £50 16s 2d, a considerable sum for a Tweeddale laird to spend on anything in the way of luxury in those days. Tweedie appears to have kept a running account ordering in whatever he wanted and paying whenever he could.
James Tweedie of Beild (the son of Tweedie of Oliver) was apparently a studious man as the place and times went, for he had an account with one Gideon Crawford a bookseller, and regularly took in The Scot's Magazine, beside purchasing a volume of Warberton's sermons for more solid reading. There is a bill for the supply of the former for the years 1746, 1747 and 1748, paid in July of the latter year.
AD 1751
David Tweedie of Broughton Mains married Janet, the daughter of the late Richard Burn of Knock in Skirling, in 1751, as appears from the agreement or contract dated 21st February 1751, at Wintermuir; it is in the usual form with the customary provisions.
Something quite after the fashion of the good old days happened to Thomas Tweedie of Oliver in 1753. It seems that he had some difference with the Crawfurds of Muttonhall, and on the 10th July in that year they "insidiously and violently attacked" him as he was riding on the high road to Linton, a little to the North-east of Hairstanes. Andrew Crawfurd, his two sons William and another, whose name is not mentioned, with several other, laid in wait there for Thomas Tweedie, who had nothing but his riding whip to defend himself with and was seriously hurt, and his horse as well. The Crawfurds rushed upon him shouting "Knock him dead!" and he would, it is said, have been murdered had not help arrived. Thomas Tweedie lodged a complaint before the Sheriff Deputy of the Shire of Peebles, but what redress he obtained is not known.
A succession of documents of family interest is found in the Quarter papers, among them being the contracts of marriage between Alexander Welsh of Hearthstone and Marion, eldest daughter of Thomas Tweedie of Quarter, dated 8th June 1750, in which the young lady writes her christian name as "Marrion" and Humphrey Welsh, the father of the bridegroom, signs his as "Umphra"; the Dispositions, dated 22nd February 1753, under which Thomas Tweedie of Quarter settled his earthly affairs with his son Alexander and made provision for the care of his children generally, in which his surname is given as "Tweidie", and his wife's name is written "Steinstoun" instead of Stevenson; the contracts of marriage dated 9th June 1754 between Christian, the second daughter of Thomas Tweedie of Quarter and John Tweedie of Nether Minzon; 18th June 1766, between Ann the third daughter, and the Rev. Charles Nisbet of Montrose; 1st April 1769, between Jean, the fourth daughter and George Stodart of Walston; 5th December 1771, between Mary the 5th daughter and David Stodart of Eastoun.
Some curious old love letters yet exist written by Thomas Copland of Leith to Margaret Tweedie, the third daughter of James Tweedie of Oliver. She was born in 1724, and the letters are interesting as illustrating the manners and customs of the time. They extend over the years 1753-1764, some time after which she appears to have rewarded her persistent admirer by marrying him. The gentleman's attachment, however, seems to have begun even before 1753, for in that year, in the first of the letters he apologises for his long silence, preserved because he had understood her affections were already engaged and he would not embarrass her by advances. Death, however, has now rid him of that rival; he feels "at liberty again to put in to supply a vacancy," and continues:-
"Dearest on earth, should I attempt to describe the strength of my passion for you I might soon exhaust my fund of eloquence but not come up to the truth of the case. May heaven prove propitious to my earthly treasure! O how my heart akes when surly winter threatens so soon to lay his icy hand on our world where you reside in so inclement a place!"
He concludes by wishing that she and her mother would come to town for the winter, sends her some books for her leisure hours, and subscribes himself "Your unalterable lover, Thos. Copland."
The lady seems to have taken time to consider, and eventually decided not to reject him altogether, for he writes again on 31st March, 1754, addressing her as "Fairest Charmer", and begging for an answer to his suit. He encloses a poem and concludes "I an, comely Fair, Your captive begging a liberation, Thos. Copland".
It is interesting to note from this letter that the post took a month to go and come from Leith to Tweeddale in the year of grace 1754, and it is a matter of regret that the poem referred to has disappeared. The next existing letter is two years later in January 1756, and we give it as an example of the love letter of the period:-
DEAR PEGGY,- I received or rather saw your - I do not know what to call it, where you said I was like a green wood &;c, but in the image you have assigned me the wrong part, for the bellows seems only to be laid to my hand . . . When the frame of nature is labouring in agonizing pangs and the Princes of the Earth breathing war and desolation, when both natural and moral world seem to be in a sickening ferment, 'tis you only can give me happiness and tranquility in a conscious security of your intimate affection . . . Let me have an epistle at large from your own hand; be not always haughty and niggardly to one who hates the shut hand and the narrow heart, and cannot live on crumbs. But being just now in a hurrie I am oblidg'd to subscribe myself, Dearest,
Your invareable adorer,
THOS. COPLAND
LEITH, January 22nd, 1756
Miss Peggie Tweedie, att Moffat.
The two remaining letters are dated some seven years later; the first, dated 5th October, 1763, is addressed "Miss Peggy Tweedie at Moffat with a pound of tea, "and begins "Dear Miss"; the other dated 3rd October 1764, is addressed similarly, but only "with half a pound of tea" in it he remarks: - "I found great alteration in Leith by death at my return, some persons not the least considerable being carried off; death is shutting his arrows everywhere and mankind ought to be preparing against his attacks. Make my compliments to Lady Oliver." and concludes "I am, with all imaginable esteem, Dear Miss, Your most obedient humble servant, Thos. Copland".
Notwithstanding the falling off in the fervour of the address and the amount of the gift an "insurmountable reason" referred to in the letter amount of 5th October 1763, must have been shortly after surmounted, for it is evident that about that time the lady became Mrs Thomas Copland. The marriage does not appear to have been a success from a worldly point of view at all events, as by the autumn of 1767 the husband was dead, leaving his affairs in great confusion. Mrs Copland was obliged to go back to live again with her mother, "The Lady Oliver", at Moffat, and Thomas Tweedie of Oliver had to go up to Glasgow to settle her concerns and keep her clear of the creditors of her late husband. He writes from Oliver to her on the 29th January and the 15th and 22nd February 1768 giving an account of what he had done and the difficulties he had experienced, and also referring to a terrible storm that was then raging, which he says makes him unmindful of everything but that he is her affectionate brother. This Thomas Tweedie of Oliver married Jean Brown, a daughter of James Brown of Edmonstone, and a letter from her to him yet remains, written during their courtship:-
MY DEAR TOM, - I did not expect that I was to be a bride so soon, but I fancie you liked to be called bridegroom my dear, I reade over your letter very seriously and was very well pleased with what you wrot me, as for Mr Couston I am not set on him mor then another man but Mr Brown spake of him that was all my reason for my part you may teake any body you please. I had a visit from Mr Court and he told me that Mrs Court was not well. Writ the next week but do not call me a bride. Let me know if Christy be come home. I would have made you a longer letter but I am in heast so you mun excouse me.
My Dear Tom,
Your constant friend
EDIN. 12th September, 1754
JEAN BROWN
Thos. Tweedie, Esq., of Oliver.
About the time that Thomas Copland was paying his addresses to Margaret Tweedie, an unhappy affair occurred which caused much trouble. The eldest daughter in the Oliver family, Marion (May), the widow of a Mr. Inglis, by whom she had two daughters, eloped with and married a man named George Miller. John Tweedie, her uncle, the merchant in Edinburgh, writes to her sister, Margaret Tweedie "at her mother's lodging in Moffat," as he addressed the letter, dated 3rd July 1755 in indignant terms and says he had found Mr and Mrs Miller in Edinburgh. They afterwards went to England leaving the two daughters behind in care of Margaret Tweedie, their Aunt, and this charge may have been the "insurmountable reason" of Thomas Copland's letter of 5th October 1763, which was afterwards removed, for about that time the two daughters were started by their aunt to earn their own living, and both later on were married; the one Margaret to James Ramadge, a merchant in Edinburgh, and the other Wilhelmina (Mynie) to Archibald Ranking of Moffat.
The letters written from England by Mrs Miller reveal the troubles she suffered. Writing from London on 27th November 1768, she begs for monetary help, saying: -
"I am determined to go along with him (her husband) go where he will . . . What you intend to let me have, for God's sake Mamma, let me have it, and do not lett me be utterly ruined . . . Had you only sent me thirty pounds at Micklemiss it might have been fourty by this time, and prevented all these hurries and troubles I have been involved in; for often the stud starves while the grass is growing, and so has been the case with us".
Later on in 1769, George Scot, a Wharfinger at Pickleherring Stairs, Southwark, and George Miller's brother-in-law, wrote to Mrs Copland on behalf of the Millers begging for means to give them a start in some business. He writes as follows under date 16th March 1769 -
"Notwithstanding I have a large family of my own would be willing to contribute something my self, to promote this laudable purpose; finding their conduct in life to be honest, industerous and sober which reflects no disgrace on their family, tho' labouring under the frowns of hard fortune."
Money was apparently sent and Mr and Mrs George Miller pass out of sight, let us hope settled as comfortably as may be, and at all events, enabled to raise themselves beyond the fear of actual want for the future.
Robert Tweed, or Tweedy, is recorded as owning in the year 1760, the Hoo High Land in Essex, which passed on his death to his daughter who married John Blatch Whally.
Amongst the Quarter papers are to be found many matters relating to Alexander Tweedie of Quarter and the management of the Quarter Estate; he also appears to have been a Writer to the Signet, a Burgess of the towns of Dumfries and Peebles, and of some importance in the district generally.
A curious letter from Adam Ewart of Newbigging to his sister Mrs Tweedie of Oliver, dated 2nd October 1765, ends thus:-
"Writ me all your news and how you and the damsels keeps your health. My wife is both tender and frail we are now both of us well stricken in years but alas we have spent our days in vanity and our years as tales that hes been told. Oh what shall we say for this upon a death bed. Is that a fit time for repentance and returning to God from whom we have so deply rebelled and rebeled. O sister up and be doing the work of the befor darkness surrounds us now is the accepted time and the day of Salvation. May God give you grace to imploy the remainder of your time in the worship and servis of your God and my God which is the prayer of your affectionate brother."
The address is to "The Lady Oliver at her house in Moffat."
What effect this letter had is not ascertained, but at any rate the Lady Oliver , in spite of her age, did not until the 3rd October 1767 even think it necessary to make her own will, under which she gives an annuity to Mrs Miller, legacies to her other daughters and her two granddaughters (Mrs Miller's children by her first marriage), her furniture to her daughters Christian and Margaret, and the residue to her son Thomas Tweedie of Oliver; and she did not die for several years after that, but lived to hear of the death of Adam Ewart himself, and to take, in 1768, her share of his property, in respect of which a discharge was taken, dated 4th June 1768, which is useful in that it tells us that Mrs Miller's daughters Margaret and Wilhelmina were at that time married as has been said, the one to James Ramadge and the other to Archibald Ranking.
John Tweedie in Broadfield of Symington made his will, dated 15th August 1769 and begins it as follows:-
"Considering that there is nothing more certain than death and nothing more uncertain than the time and manner thereof and that it is the duty of all Christians so to order their worldly affairs in their own lifetime as that all differences that may fall out amongst their friends may be obviate and prevented".
From this will it appears that John Tweedie had married first Jean Gladstone (Gladstanes) and by her had a son John Tweedie and three daughters, Margaret, Janet and Marion, and that he married secondly Marion Weir. From the discharge endorsed, dated 16th May 1785, it is shewn that his second wife survived him, and that his daughter Margaret had married John Marchbanks in Kilpotlees, that Janet had married John Brown in Symington, and that Marion was yet unmarried. John Tweedie the son does not join in the discharge, and was therefore possibly dead by that time.
Thomas Tweedie of Oliver was no doubt a just man, but also an arbitrary, for in writing to his sister Mrs Copland, on the 18th April 1776, with an account of some fund which he was administering among the family, he says:-
"I generally find it necessary to preserve my transactions lest a back question be put. I subjoin a perfect state of our affairs which I hope you'll take the trouble of reading with attention and then be convinced. I make no reflections nor am I to hear any."
"The Lady Oliver", the widow of James Tweedie of Oliver, had evidently, on the death of her husband some years before, left her son Thomas in possession at Oliver and gone to live at Moffat with her daughters Christian and Margaret (Mrs Copland). She died in 1772, and her daughters, who followed her within three years, carried out in death the charge they had fulfilled in life, for they left all their property to their nieces Wilhelmina Ranking and Margaret Ramadge by a joint disposition dated 20th July 1773, which was confirmed by Christian the survivor, in her will dated 10th March 1775. The Rankings apparently lived at Moffat.
AD 1776
Thomas Tweedie of Oliver was served heir in general to his sister Christian on 21st May 1776, registered 6th June 1776.
It was probably at some time during this century that Mary Tweedie, the daughter of David Tweedie, a farmer in the valley of Gala Water, was miraculously raised from the dead, of which the legend is yet told in the country side. She was about 22 years old and engaged to be married to William Ramsay of the same place, when one day she suddenly fell ill and to all appearance died. The body laid two days, and on the evening of the second day the coffin was brought to the house, where William Ramsay and her father and mother were sitting in silence, when they were startled by a noise from the bed where the corpse was lying, Mary was sitting up in her grave clothes. The mother fainted and it was only due to the presence of mind of William Ramsay that she received the attention and care that the emergency demanded. In a few days she was well again, and two years after she married William Ramsay. She had a large family and made an excellent wife and mother but was always sober and sedate, scarcely ever laughed, and died at last at a very advanced age.
A Richard Tweedie is named as one of the active opponents of Mr. Robert Pearson, the minister of Biggar, and in forming the "relief congregation" there about 1778-1780.
Some time prior to 1778 John Tweedie, the merchant in Edinburgh died, as Thomas Tweedie of Oliver, his nephew, is served heir in general to him in December of that year.
Adam Ewart Tweedie, the eldest son of Thomas Tweedie of Oliver, seems some time prior to 1778 to have joined the 75th regiment as a gentleman volunteer with the view of obtaining a commission, a very usual custom. He was disappointed in this, as appears from some correspondence that passed in the autumn of that year between his father and Captain John Edwards of that regiment, in which Colonel (afterwards the famous Sir Thomas) Picton is referred to as being in command of the regiment. Captain Edwards did not think young Tweedie "adapted for the army", and advised his trying some other profession, but he was not to be so easily deterred. After considerable trouble his father succeeded in purchasing a Commission for him in the 12th Regiment and notwithstanding Captain Edwards' opinion, he did well in the service. The 12th Regiment was then forming part of the garrison at Gibraltar, and the young officer writes to his father on 3oth March, 1779, from London, saying:-
"I called this day upon Cox and Mair and got my commission; they told me that the Fleet had sailed for Gibraltar Saturday last but that there was another to sail very soon..... I am quite wearied going up and down this town, which is very perplexing to a stranger. Mr. Inglis and I have travelled at least forty miles this day."
He did sail within a short time for Gibraltar, and arrived there just before the declaration of war by the Spanish King in June of that year, 1779, which was immediately- followed in July by the memorable siege or rather blockade of Gibraltar by the Spanish and French forces, which lasted on till the year I783. Contemporaneous records shew that the investiture was never complete, for from time to time, at all events at first, limited supplies were got in, and communication was never entirely interrupted for any great period ; though it seems to have always been much easier to get out than in. The privations suffered, however, were very great indeed, the bombardment was heavy, and there were many engagements between the besieged and besiegers. On the land side stupendous batteries were erected against the fortress, mounting 200 pieces of heavy ordnance, supported by a well appointed army of 40,000 men. On the sea side were the combined fleets of Spain and France numbering 47 sail of the line, besides numerous frigates and smaller vessels and 10 battering ships of formidable strength. Sir George Rodney partially relieved the place early in 1780, but from that time the efforts of the besiegers were redoubled and the difficulty of supplying the Garrison was continually increasing. On the night of the 6-7th June, 1780, Don Barcelo, the Spanish admiral, made a determined attack which was entirely defeated by the garrison. All through 1781 the garrison were in great straits ; the meat, the allowance of which was reduced to a pound and a half per man per week, had become so bad as to be scarcely eatable; bad ship biscuit full of worms sold at 1s. the pound; flour in no better condition at the same price; the worst salt, half dirt, the sweepings of ships' bottoms and storehouses, at 8d.; old Irish salt butter at 2s. 6d.; and English farthing candles at 6d. apiece. It was computed that for a long time the enemy continued regularly to expend at least a thousand barrels of gunpowder and to fire from four to five thousand shot and shell in every 24 hours upon the fortress.
No power of supply could long support this expenditure. After discharging 75,000 shot and 25,000 shells in the course of firing, it was then lowered to about 600 of both in the twenty-four hours. Several expeditions were despatched from England to the relief from time to time, and although they did not entirely succeed, the fury of the bombardment seemed spent towards the end of the summer of 1781, so that General Elliot determined on striking a blow for himself. At 3 o'clock in the morning of the 27th November, 1781, a strong detachment issued from the garrison. The troops were divided in three columns, the left, including the 12th Regiment, Lieut. Colonel Ing, their own Colonel being in command of the column, and the whole was under command of Brigadier-General Ross. The sortie was successful beyond hopes, the entire works and guns of the enemy were destroyed, the magazines blown up, and everything set on fire and consumed. The whole service was performed, and the detachment returned to garrison before daybreak, not two hours from their departure. The loss on the British side was too inconsiderable to be mentioned here were it not that Lieut. Adam Ewart Tweedie happened to be the only officer wounded.
The following letters which reached home front Adam Ewart Tweedie, written during this siege, are interesting from a historical point of view:-
GIBRALTAR, 17th June, 1780.
DEAR FATHER,-I take this opportunity of acquainting you that Colonel Picton has been so good as to recommend me for the purchase of a Lieutenancy vacant by Captain Hasting's appointment.... It is with great pleasure that I assure you of my happiness in this Regiment. Colonel Picton has hitherto been as a father to me. He is a man of whom I shall ever entertain the highest opinion....
You can be no stranger to the situation we are in at present, which is by no means agreeable, as we are just now blocked up by sea and land by many more than double our forces; however, some small boats loaded with sheep have made shift to get in here. Fresh meat is about two shillings per pound. My bare dinner at the regimental mess costs me all my pay. Shoes are no less than 10s. 6d. a pair, which generally lasts three weeks - in short every article we buy here is more than three prices - all the subalterns here are very much in debt. I was obliged to draw upon Sir Wm. Forbes's house for forty pounds. Believe me, that I live in as economical a plan as possible.
Don Barcelo, the Spanish Admiral, on the 7th of this month, at 1 o'clock in the morning, sent over ten fire ships into the middle of our fleet, but happily no damage was done. You will see an account of the whole affair in the newspapers as the Governor hath sent over dispatches.
I am wearing exceedingly to hear from you....
I am,
Dear Father,
Your most loving Son,
THOMAS TWEEDIE, Esq., of Oliver,
Adam Tweedie.
by Beild,
near Edinburgh.70
In the next letter, dated Gibraltar, 27th May, 1781, after referring to many home matters of little importance, in mentioning one of his home friends, he says:-
"I hope to be once more happy in his company if I escape this damnd affair," and continues: "You will no doubt expect to hear a long and particular account of this distant siege and bombardment in which the enemy have already expended 150,000 shot and shells without being one point nearer taking the place. However, they have reduced the town to ruins, which obliges us to encamp at the Southward, which we find very expensive and unconvenient. They still continue fireing away upon us pretty briskly both by sea and land ; by sea I mean the gun and mortar boats who come by night and fire into the camp not without doing considerable damage. Our amount in killed and wounded does not exceed three hundred. To say I am sorry for the loss of Mr. Cunnynghame, of the 39th Regiment, is a faint description of my feelings upon the occasion. He was wounded on the head the third day after the firing began by the splinter of a shell the surgeons thought it was very slight and gave themselves little trouble about him and, indeed, I thought he would soon recover, but in eight days they observed him to be very stupid and look'd wild. Upon examination they found his scull was fractures, and had him immediately trepanned, which operation they were obliged to perform 5 different times, but he died a few days afterwards. I beg you will excuse my uncorrectness as I am in great haste."
Another letter is as follows ..-
GIBRALTAR, 9th October, 1781.
DEAR FATHER, - In my last letter of the 12th September I mentioned Mr. Robert Clerk of the 56th Regiment being in a very bad state of health. He about that time took the advices of the surgeons of this place. Most of them were of the opinion that he could not recover in this climate, on which he desired the commanding officer of the regiment to represent his case to the Governor and apply for his leave to get home. I called upon him some time after the application had been made to know the Governor's answer, when he spoke to me as follows : Tweedie, I had not the smallest doubt of being able to recover provided I had got leave to go home, the advice of Dr. Cullen and my native air would have made me quite well; the two ships sail I suppose this night, here must I remain in this situation, I never can recover, this place never agreed with me. The Governor's answer to Colonel Craig was that he could not think of allowing any officer to leave the garrison. Certainly he cannot have the common feelings of a man and he must be totally destitute of humanity.
I am sorry to acquaint you that poor Clerk died on the 26th of September very much regretted.
The situation of this place at present is truly miserable. No prospect of relief. We do not even know what is going forward in England. The Governor makes it a point to keep everything secret from the officers. Every article of fresh provisions is at a most unreasonable price. Mutton sells for 5s. a pound, and fish, which is almost our whole support, we pay for at the rate of 2s. 6d. a pound. I cannot eat provisions that have been salted I suppose two or three years; I chiefly dine upon fish because I am convinced that if I was to eat salt meat I could not live six months, and I know you do not wish that I should die a lieutenant. I will be under the necessity of drawing upon you very soon for some money. If you would be pleased to lodge 50 or 60 pounds yearly (during my confinement on this rock) in the agent's hands and desire him to write to the paymaster to pay it out to me monthly it would be of more service to me than drawing upon you for £100 a year.
The enemy still persevere to fire upon us. They generally fire 11 or 12 hundred shots and shells in 24 hours. We lose about a man every day. (Unreadable) made another work which we suppose to be a (unreadable) battery, and I believe we will have a little hot work this winter. Please present my dear mother with my best wishes, remember me in the kindest manner to all the family.
I am,
Dear Father,
Your loving Son,
HOMAS TWEEDIE, Esq., of Oliver,
Adam Tweedie.
by Beild,
Edinburgh.
Next he writes:-
GIBRALTAR, 2nd December, 1781
MY DEAR FATHER,- I have the pleasure of acquaint you that on the morning of the 27th ult., the British and Hanoverian Grenadiers, the Light Infantry with the 12th and Hardinberghs Regiments sallied out upon the enemy's advance works, which we set on fire and totally destroyed; two of their officers and ten men were taken prisoners besides a considerable number killed. The loss on our side was very inconsiderable, only six killed and missing and about twenty or more wounded; in the last list I have the misfortune to be one. Towards the conclusion of the affair I received a grape-shot through my right thigh a little above the knee; I have the strongest reason to believe the bone is riot much destroyed, and the surgeons assure me that I will in time recover; however, my cure will take a considerable time and be attended with great expense. My dear father, I am not able to write any longer, don't make yourself uneasy upon my account; take a proper opportunity of letting my dear mother know. Tell her I have got a slight scratch in a successful affair against the Spaniards.
I am,
THOMAS TWEEDIE, Esq., of Oliver.
Yours most sincerely,
by Beild,
Adam Tweedie.
Edinburgh.
It is worthy of note that this last letter is written in very shaky handwriting, quite unlike his previous letters. In Sayer's History of Gibraltar (p. 364) it is stated that a pencil note in Heriot's account of this sortie says of the shot that wounded Tweedie: "This was a dropping shot from a mortar which the enemy had loaded with grape, having no means of firing on the troops during the sortie." A picture painted by John Trumbel, and engraved by William Sharp in 1799, illustrating this sortie, shows General Elliott and a group of officers, all evidently portraits, with a wounded officer lying at their feet with a shot wound just below the right knee, and as there was no other British officer killed or wounded on this occasion, this would seem necessarily to be intended for Adam Ewart Tweedie, though the wound actually was above the right knee according to his own letter. He was invalided home to England as soon as possible, and appears to have had no difficulty in evading the blockade, for the next letter is dated from Bath, England, on 27th January, 1782.
In a letter dated 5th July, 1784, and written from Windsor, he says:-
The Duke of Queensbury's letter I should have delivered before this time, but have not been able to get to town owing to the scarcity of officers doing duty here at present. However, His Grace made his appearance on our terrace last Saturday and had a long conference with His Majesty. Dr. Grieve, Dr. Lind and I - all Scotsmen - were standing together when the Duke of Queensbury came up to us; the King ask'd me some questions about the Regiment which I very readily answered; then, what parts of Scotland Drs. Grieve and Lind came from, with a number of other trifling things, which I do not at present recollect. The Duke gave His Majesty a description of Dumlanrig Assemblies. The King enquired respecting the music. He answered that all the fiddlers of the country were collected, some good performers, others capital, particularly a gentleman whom I afterwards understood to be Mr Sharp of Hoddam. After the King had retired Dr Grieve introduced me to the Duke as a son of Mr Tweedie's of Oliver. He said he was very happy to see me, that he had had the pleasure of drinking some glasses of wine with you at Dumfries, and was informed you on that occasion sat up all night. He then asked me if the Regiment had been at Gibraltar - if I was there. Here the Doctor interfered and assured him that I had been, and very badly wounded at the sortie. We then parted.
The Regiment remained in England for the next three years, during which, in a letter written from Manchester to his father, Adam Ewart Tweedie, now a Captain says:-
I was favoured with yours by Mr Robert Bell; he spoke much of your civility, etc. You would find him a pleasant companion and a sensible man. He regretted your taking the trouble of seeing him home, as you and he were rather unlucky at the little bridge.
A sly poking fun at his father, a good steady man. He then performed a tour of duty in Jersey and Guernsey, and at Portsmouth.
In a letter from Hilsea Barracks, near Portsmouth, dated 29th March 1790, he says:-
. . . . I find the old stupid tool, Musket, is as obstinate as ever. William Jamieson, corporal in our Regiment, a remarkable handsome lad, and from Scotland, attacked Major Montgomery (on the day before they left Guernsey), knock'd him down and wounded him in several places with his bayonet, and would have put an end to his existence had not someone come to his assistance; however the Major is getting better, but the Corporal is to be tried by a General Court Martial, and ten to one will suffer death. He says the Major struck him several times first, but I am afraid that this cannot be proved.
The Regiment was next employed as Marines for six months, and on the 21st December 1790 he writes:-
Thank God the Regiment is relieved from that most disagreeable duty, altho' for my own part I passed the last six weeks in a very pleasant manner. Admiral Eliot behaved with every civility and attention, when he understood that I came from Tweeddale.
In November 1793, the Flank Companies of the 12th Regiment commanded by Captain Perryn and Captain Adam Ewart Tweedie, embarked for the West Indies; and in January 1794 were engaged in the sharp fighting which resulted in the capture of the Island of Martinico from the French. From there they sailed with the expedition against St Lucia, and were present at the reduction of that island and in the subsequent capture of Guadaloupe and its dependencies. They were in the attack on Grand Terre, and being in garrison at Guadaloupe, when that island was recaptured by the French in October 1794, they were annihilated, with the exception of Lieut. O'Brien, one sergeant, and one private, who rejoined the Regiment at Gosport on the 12th May 1795, "being the only surviving individuals of the two fine flank companies which proceeded to the West Indies in 1793."
So died Captain Adam Ewart Tweedie of whom it has been said originally that he was "not adapted for the army"; he was "succeeded" on the 1st December 1794 in the War Office registers as "deceased", but a search in the records has failed to disclose the details of his death. The news of it appears to have reached Oliver late in December 1794, for on the 20th of that month, William Ewart of Middlegill, writing to Thomas Tweedie of Oliver says, "Yesterday I received your letter and mourn the occasion of it. The loss of that brave young man I feel most tenderly, and I pray God may support his mother and you under so trying a dispensation; the subject is too melancholy to be prolix upon." It is curious that since the above lines were written, Lieutenant H. C. Tweedie of the 2nd North Staffordshire Regiment, serving at the time with the 8th Regiment of Mounted Infantry during the Boer War, upwards of one hundred years afterwards, in the year 1900, sent home from the Orange Free State, now Orange River Colony, an old copy of the Evening Mail, dated 29th December 1794, which contains the following in the obituary:-
"Lately at Guadaloupe, Captain Adam Tweedie of the Grenadiers of the 12th Regiment, in consequence of the wounds he received at the attack of Point-a-Petre."
Returning to the year 1782, we find that on the 3rd October in that year, another Adam Tweedie, son of James Tweedie of Gateside of Culter, was served heir general to his grand uncle Alexander Tweedie in Temple.
Adam Ewart, the writer of the letter of pious exhortation to "The Lady Oliver" dated 2nd October 1765, died shortly after, but it is not until the 30th June 1783 that his nephew Thomas Tweedie of Oliver, is served heir to him as portioner in general.
Alexander Tweedie of Quarter was admitted a burgess of the towns of Peebles (in 1769) and of Dumfries (in 1784), as the "tickets" or admissions on vellum shew, and he received on the 23rd June 1766, the "diploma Montisrosae" as appears from the ancient document itself with the quaint seal still attached.
The original house of Oliver is said by tradition to have been on very high ground 1000 feet above sea level; this was probably the house built by Patrick Tweedie, in 1649, when the family moved from Oliver Castle itself, which was in a ruinous state and past all repair. Later on about 1731 or 1734, another house appears to have been built at or near the site of the present house of Oliver, and in 1786, Thomas Tweedie of Oliver began to think of building himself a new house. In the correspondence that passed between him and his son, Captain Adam Ewart Tweedie, there are frequent references to the work, and the son took a great interest in the building of the house which he was never to occupy. This is the house which still stands at Oliver, and which it is hoped will be occupied by the family for many generations to come.
The attention of one's admirers sometimes involves public responsibilities as the following will show:-
SIR, - I am desired by the inhabitants of this village to beg of you the liberty to drag you thro' the street of this town in a chaire as a token of their high esteem they have of you for the active part you have taken in the business on their behalf, if such may be agreeable to you. Shall be glad to know your mind of the affair. Depend upon it it shall be done with the greatest regularity and decency as a small tribute of gratitude for your great attention and good wishes for the village
I am, Sir
Yours,
With the greatest esteem
Moffat,
JNO. MUIR
Thursday, 11 o'clock, 1796.
N.B. - Begs you'll consider the within state of facts. J.M.
THOMAS TWEEDIE, Esq., of Oliver Castle
at Moffat.
This letter is the last record of any note in the century, to which it forms a fitting close. It is to be hoped that the enthusiastic Mr Muir saw to it that the chair was carried, and not dragged (as he suggested in his letter), through the streets of Moffat.
With the kind permission of his descendants, this information is reproduced from the book privately published in 1902 by Michael Forbes Tweedie. This highly regarded book includes many references to the original sources of the information, extracts from parish registers and some detailed family trees.
Copies of the book are known to be in the British Library, Edinburgh Central Library and the New York Public Library.
Information on this site is subject to copyright but may be reproduced for personal use. It may not be sold under any circumstances.