Volume 3

167
signifies the clay-pool (b); but the Saxon speech does not furnish an intimation
which could lead us to suppose that the Northumbrians gave a Saxon name to
Crailing. In the days of David I. we may perceive in record, two adjoining
manors, two villages, two churches, and two parishes, which, were distinguished
by the names of Crailing, and Upper Crailing. The abbot of Jedburgh acquired
those churches from Gospatrick, the sheriff, whose munificence was confirmed
by David I. and his children (c). The old parish of Crailing is intersected from
south to north by the river Oxnam, which here enters the Teviot, the common
receptable of so many mountain torrents. Immediately above on the Oxnam
lies the barony of Upper Crailing which is now included in Jedburgh parish (d).
The origin of the name of Nisbet parish is somewhat doubtful, though there
cannot be much doubt whether it was imposed by the Saxon settlers here. In
the ancient documents it is variously spelt, Nesbet, Nasebet, Nesbyte and Nisbet.
In this parish there are two places of this name, Over, and Nether Nisbet.
Several places both in Scotland and in England bear the same name (e). This
appellation seems generally to be connected with a hill. In Culter parish there
is a hill called Nisbet Nape, and in Alva parish there is Nisbet hill. The position
of all those places called Nisbet, seems to intimate that we must look for its
origin in the Saxon (f). Nes, Nese, Naese, in this language, signifies a pro-
montory, a projection, the nose ; and bit, a piece, as we know from Somner.
So Nesebit would signify the nose-piece. The village of Upper Nisbet in this
parish, stands on a ridge of land which projects from the base of a hill. From
the foundation of the monastery of Jedburgh, the tithes of the manor and parish
(b). O'Brien and Shaw.
(c)  Berenger de Engain granted to the same abbot a mark of silver from the mill of Crailing, and
two bovates of land, " Cum uno villano," with other property near the church, for sustentation of the
chaplain of the chapel of Crailing.    David Oliphard granted to the abbot the tithes of the mill of
Crailing.    Orom granted him a carucate of land in the other Crailing.
(d)   On the 23rd October 1612, an act passed declaring the kirk of Crailing to be a parish kirk.
Unprinted Act of that date.     The old church which stood near Crailing-house has been demolished,
but the people continued to use its cemetery.     A new church for the united parishes of Crailing
and Nisbet, was built between the Teviot and Oxnam.     Stat. Acco., ii. 329,    Ruddiman conjec-
tured in his Index to the Diplomata Scoti�, that Traverlin, which was granted by David I. to Kelso,
was the same as   Crailing that was conveyed to the abbot of Jedburgh.    Chart. Kel., No. 1.    So
record evinces that two several places, which were given to different monasteries, cannot be the
same.
(e) Adam's Villare.
(f) There are several places of this name in Northumberland.    Speed's Map.