History and traditions of the land of the Lindsays in Angus and Mearns

PERNE — THE CARNEGIES OF SOUTHESK. 199
Earl James, who figured so conspicuously in the unfortunate
transactions of " the fifteen," for which he was forfeited, was
the only son of Earl Charles. He was at the battle of SherhT-
muir, and in the enumeration of the heroes of that field, is termed
" Brave generous Southesk," and was the hero of the fine Jaco-
bite ballad of " The Piper o' Dundee."* After the defeat of his
party, he escaped to France, where he died in 1729, and his
only son, a mere boy, having pre-deceased him, the representa-
tion of the family devolved on the Pittarrow branch, as descen-
dants of the fourth son of the first Earl. The Southesk estates
were the third largest of those forfeited, and were scattered over
no fewer than seven counties, and estimated at the annual rent of
£3,271, 10s., besides services ; but the value of property in Scot-
land has increased so much since then, that these and most other
estates are worth seven or eight times the rental here stated.
On the insolvency of the York Buildings' Company, in the
year 1764, they were re-purchased by Sir James Carnegie of
Pittarrow, the great-grandfather of the present baronet, for
£38,870, 14s. 2d. Long prior to this, however, he had pro-
cured an assignation to a lease of Kinnaird, and making it
his residence, he improved the lands to a vast extent, without
any positive idea of their ever becoming his own ; and it was
mainly by his enterprise that the general sale of the forfeited
estates of Scotland was effected. In early life he served in
the Flemish wars, and married Christian, daughter of David
Doig of Cookston, who survived him for the long period of
fifty-five years, dying in 1820, at the great age of ninety-one.
His son, Sir David, disposed of the barony of Arnhall in the
Mearns, and Leuchars in Fife, and purchased the fine estate of
Old Montrose, adjoining Kinnaird, in 1791, from Sir James
Stirling, Lord Provost of Edinburgh. f
Balqubadlie, Brucetoun, Shan-foord, New milne, Old-milne, Wak-milue, Balquharn and Cor-
nablews, Fermertown, Kirk-den, Boggie, Reid-foord, Dubbytown and Courtfoord, Cathro-seat,
Waterstown, Milne of Waterstown, Easter Hiltown, Wiudsour, Ladinhendry, Auchlochie, and
Trustoe. The number of tenants iu these farms were fifty-two ; and the gross rental amounted
to 388 bolls, 1$ firlot, 3 pecks, and J lippie, bear ; 565 bolls, J firlot, 2 peeks, and 1J lippie, meal ;
£1538 Is. money Scots ; 18 capons ; 30 poultry ; and 5 swine. — Old Rental Book of Southesk,
quoted ut sup. p. 102.
" In *' Jacobite Minstrelsy," Glasgow edit., 24mo, p. 118, Carnegy of Finhaven is erro-
neously said to be the subject of this popular ballad.
f This was the ancient patrimony and messuage of the noble family of Graham, from
which they were designed " Doininus de Aid Munros," so early as 1360. It was also the birth"
place of " the Great Mapquis," whose portrait, in his wedding dress, is at Kinnaird Castle.