Historical and genealogical essay upon the family and surname of Buchanan

210 ACCOUNT OF THE
Dunnach, or Thomas the mischievous. The king
is said to have offered this gentleman a pardon at
the place of execution, which he refused, disdain-
ing to live after so many of his name, who had
lost their lives through his influence, and in his
quarrel. After the subversion of these Arrals,
Buchanan, in reward of his service against them,
obtained Drumikill, Easter and Wester Ballats,
and some other parts of their lands, lying most
contiguous to his own estate, which the lairds of
Buchanan retained in their own hands, till the one-
half of Drumikill, with Easter Ballat, was given
to Carbeth's ancestor, as the other half, with
Wester Ballat, was given to DrumiknTs, at the
times the ancestors of these two families came off
that of Buchanan.
There is a current tradition, that the laird of
Buchanan gave the half of the estate of Drumikill,
with Wester Ballat, and some other lands, former-
ly belonging to the Arrals, to one of his sons
long before the ancestor of the present family of
Drumikill came off Buchanan's family, and that
Thomas, the first of this present race, for his first
lady married the heiress of the principal person
of the old family. And that which favours some-
what this account is, that the ancestors of the
Buchanans of Drumhead and Wester Ballat, though
always reputed cadets of Drumikill, can produce
some evi dents of their lands of a date not long
posterior to the most ancient now in custody of
Drumikill. But having found no document either
among the late Buchanan's or Drumikiirs eviden-
ces that can in any measure clear this allegation,