Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

MARRIAGE WITH SOPHIA FAIRHOLM OF CRAIGIEHALL. cclv
29th July 1680, is followed by a precejit from cliauccvy in his favour, dated
6th, and instrument of sasiue following thereon, 13th September 1680, and
recorded in the general register of sasines.^ The earl gave a dinner on
28th July on tlie occasion of his service,- and thereafter returned to Newbie,
his stay at which place has already been d^scribed.^
After completing his feudal title to his extensive territories, the young
earl resolved on taking another important step in his life. "With his hand-
some personal appearance, as brought out in later life in his portrait by Sir
Godfrey Kneller, his many historical peerages and almost boundless Border
baronies, and his close relationship to the premier duke of Scotland, Annan-
dale was a noble youth, fitted to charm and captivate his female eon-
temporaries. Even at the early age of sixteen, he was already in
correspondence with the parents of a young wealthy and attractive heiress.
She was the only child of John Fairholm, owner of the estate of Craigiehall,
in the county of Liulithgow, which had been acquired by his father, also
John Fairholm, in business, and of additional personal wealth. Sophia,
his only child, although in her fourteenth year, had already become an object
of attention, not only to the young Earl of Annandale, but to other
1 Original Precept audS.i=ine in Annandale cation. William, Marquis of Annaudale, re-
Chartcr-chest. signtd the £10 land of Stajileton in favour
. _, ,. ... , of Mr. John Johnstone, his brother-frerman,
- The dinner, which v-as a sumptuous one, . . ... ' , , ,
. , , , ,„ , „ , , , 1 r as a provision for him. These lands were to
included 12 solan geese, 3 boiled legs of , , ,, , ,, ., t , , ., ,
.. _„ , , .^ , be bolden to the said John and the heirs of
mutton, -l venison pasties, 36 rabbits, and , . , , ,.,,.,. ,,
„. .
' , . , , , ... his body, which ,, , failinE, to the inarriuis and
£146 "for wine and seek and aill, etc. ,. , . ,. . ,
., , . , , , ^., , , i T his heirs sueceedmr' i i the estate of Annan-
1 Account m Annandale i^harter-chest. I
, , ^ ,, ^ . ,. , .
dale. Un that resignation a crown charter
^ Th^ Hon. John Johnstone, the earl's under the great seal was passed on 23rd
brother, left the Grammar School at Glasgow September 1702, and sasine followed thereon
when the earl left the universitj-, and was on 1st, and registered in the Register of
sent to the Grammar School at Haddington, Sasiues for Dumfriesshire 5th October 1702.
then kept bj- Mr. Herbert Kennedy. From John Johnstone of Stapletou died without
Haddington Mr. John Johnstone proceeded lav.fiil issue, and t)ie lands of Staplcton
to St. Andrews to complete his education at reverted to the Marquis of Annandale in
the universitj-. He was still there on Sth terms of the charter of 1702 [Writs in
February 16S5 when he was studying fortifi- Annandale Charter-chest.]