LAIRD & DOG: TITLE DEEDS of February 1710
Transcribed by Marion Richardson of the Local Studies Library, Loanhead

In the name of God amen be it known to all men by this present publick instrument that upon the twentie fourth day of December 1709 years and of the reigne of our soveraigne ladie Anne by the Grace of God Queen of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith the eight year. In presence of me nottar publick and witnesses under subscryving. Compared personallie upon the ground of the houses and yeard underwryten ane discreet man John Mortain taylor in Lonhead Baillie in that part specialle constitute by vertew of the precept of seaseing after insert as also compeared personallie upon the ground of the said houses and yeard James Mitchell tennent in Easter Melvill and Elspeth Gibsone his spouse haveing and holding in their hands ane chartour of feu ferme made and grant to them by Sir John Clerk of Pennecook heretable proprietor of ye houses and yeard underwryten in favours of themsaid James Mitchell and Elspeth Gibsone dated ye twentie eight day of January 1709 whereby ye said Sir John Clerk for ye causes

and disponed to ye said James Mitchell and Elspeth Gibsone his spouse and longest liver of them two in conjunct fie and to ye aires procreat or to be procreat betwixt themwhich failzeing to the said James Mitchell his other nearest aires or assigneyes whomsoever of higher degree nor himself heretablie and irredimablie. All and haill thesse four houses with ye kaill yeard lying in the back thereof three elms trees and one pie tree groweing therein lying upon the west side of the high street of Laswead which formerly was possest by William Dicks mealmaker William Craick litster and James Fram all indwelleres there which houses in ye bailly twentie seven elles on ye east syde twentie nyn elles and one quarter of an ell on ye south syde twentie five elles and one half on ye west and sixtein elles on the north extending in ye whole to nyntie seven elles and threequarters. Ye hail circumferance including ye said houses and yeard lying and bounded as followes viz haveing on ye east ye causay or high street of Laswead and upon ye south William Ramsayes stable and ane kaillyeard which belongs to ane old house which wes formerly possest by James Hall shoemaker there and upon ye west the Minister of Laswead’s gardin and barnyard dykes and upon ye north ye backwynd all lying in ye Barronie village and Paroch of Laswead and Shirrefdome of Edinburgh as ye said chartour containeing ye precept of seaseing afterinsert therein all clause of warrandice and severall other clause more fullie bears. Which chartour containeing ye precept of seaseing afterinsert ye said James Mitchell and Elspeth Gibsone spouses presented and declared to ye said John Mertain baillie in that part forsaid desyreing and requireing him to execute ye office of baillie theirby committed to him which desyre ye said John Mertain thought reasonable and therefore received ye said chartour containeing ye said precept of seaseing in ye end there in his hands and delivered ye same to me nottar publick undersubscyveing to be publickly read in presence and of him and ye witnesses subscryveing (which I did) and of ye which precept of seaseing ye tennor followes and is thus. Attour to John Mertain taylor in Lonhead and

of you conjunctly and severaillie my Baillies in that part speciallie constitute. Greiting. Its my will and I requyre you that incontinent after sight hereof

ye grounds of ye said houses and there give hereetable state and seaseing actual reall and corporall possession off all and haill the forsaid houses with tys yeard belonging thereto lying upon the west syde of ye causay or high street of Laswead and as they are above disponed all lying within ye Barronie paroch in and Shirrefdome forsaid bounded merthed and marched in maner particullarie above exprest to ye said James Mitchell and Elspeth Gibsone his spouse or longest liver of them two in conjunct fie or to their certain attorney (assigney?) in their name bearer hereof by deliverance of earth and stone of ye ground of ye said lands in their hands as useit to be holden and under ye provisiones allways above mentioned

in my favours and this in nowayes ye ye which to (doeintromitt?) you and whilk ane of you my baillies in that part forsaid conjunctlie and severaillie my full power by this my precept of seaseing directed to you theiranent in witnes whereof thir presents wryten by William Mackall schoollmaster in Lonhead of Laswead are subscryved by me and my seall affixed thereto at Lonhead the twentie eight day of January 1709 years before these witnesses the said William Mackall and James Mackie clerk grieve to the said Sir John. Sic Subscriv John Clerk, William Mackall witnes James Mackie witnes After the reading and publishing of which chartour and precept of seaseing abovewryten on theirin contained the said John Mertain baillie in that part forsaid by vertue thereof and of his office as baillie rie thereby committed gave and delivered heretable state and seaseing actual real and corporall possessione off all and haill ye forsaid houses with ye yeard belonging thereto lying upon the west side of ye causay of heigh street of Laswead and within the Barronie Paroch in and Shirrefdome forsaid bounded merthed and marched in maner particullarlie above exprest to this said James Mitchell and Elspeth Gibsone his spouse and longest liver of them two in conjunct fie and that by deliverance in their hands personalie present and of accepting of ye samen of earth and stone of ye ground of ye lands housesand yeard as users to beholden on and under the provisions above mentioned after ye forme and tennor of ye forsaid chartour and precept of seaseing aboveinsert therein contained to all poynts Wherupon and upon all and sundrie the premessess the said James Mitchell and Elspeth Gibsone spouses asked and took instruments in ye hands of me nottar publick undersubscryveing thir things wer doneat and upon the ground of the said houses and yeard betwixt the hours of three and four in the afternoon day (moneth?) year of God and giveing right in the forsaid prescence of Thomas Brown ventener in Laswead John Campill there John Minelawes (Manelaus?) wright there and George Minelawes taylour there and James Simpsone merchant there witnesses to the premesses to ye - - .

In this third day of February 1710 years ye sasine presented to James Wastoun nottar

and is registered in the books of the new particular register of sasines reversions within ye of Edinburgh Haddington Linlithgow and Bathgateand in the 342:343:& 344 of ye samen.

John Minelawes George Minelawes Thomas Brown

Witnes Witnes Witnes