The book Arran; - Cook Clan

THE OWNERS OF ARRAN 55
and the FuUartons were much patronised with gifts by both
Robert ii. and Robert iii.^ At some date before he became
king in 1371, Robert, Steward of Scotland, granted to Sir
Adam of Foularton, knight, heir to the late Reginald of
Foularton, Lord of that ilk (=' same,' i.e. Foularton), the
lands of Knychtislands, with pertinents, in Arran, ' to be
held to Adam and his heirs of the granter and his heirs
in fee and heritage for ever,' on the usual feudal terms,
' performance of common suit of court at the Castle of Bradwok
(Brodick), and for ward and relief as they happen.' ^ Common
suit of court or attendance at courts of justice was no mere
form any more than a jury summons ; absence involved a
heavy penalty ; the grantee was expected to give his assistance
in the administration of justice. From later charters we
gather that ' FuUarton ' was also Lord of Corsby, and that
' Knightslands ' were also known as ' Drumrudyr ' and as
' alias Tonreddyr ' ^ : all these names have disappeared, but
the district is that behind Kildonan —' Tonereacher was the
term applied to the land between Kildonan and Levencorroch
inclusive.' * The ' nine merklands of Drumrudir,'
in the early sixteenth century, returned £6 annually ; in 1515
' Robertson's Index of Charters, etc. , passim. As will be noted, there are various
slight variations in the spelling of the name.
* Hist. MSS. Commission, Report xi. Appendix part vi. pp. 21-22. ' ^Vard ' is the
period during which an heir is under age, when the rental went to the superior or
his nominee, subject to a provision for the heir; 'relief is a sum, usually a year's
rental, payable on his entering upon the property and receiving sasine.
2 ' Tonroc(?e)der That is to say Knight bottome and in English Knight land.
And this land remained a Considerable time with the family^ Till it Seems from the
Inconveuiency of its remoteness and Sometimes hazardous Access thereto they have
thought fit to part with it to the family of Hamilton present proprietors there (1760)
of [sic, probably should read "thereof"] the Lands are now in value about 2000
merks per annum.'—Macfarlane's Genealogical Collections, i. p. 343.
* Private communication from Kildonan, adding ' but nobody knew of it having
any connection with Kildonan Castle.' In the Session Records of Kilmorie it appears
(1712) as ' Donriddeor,' the district in question. Tonn is a ' wave ' in modern Gaelic,
from its fuller meaning of a swelling or rising part ; ridir (' rider') is a knight. A local
form with rideal, 'a, riddle,' must have arisen from misunderstanding. The land
does suddenly curve upwards.