Inquiry into the origin, pedigree, & history of the family, or clan, of Aitons in Scotland

of this pamphlet is referred to. The Aitons of Avondal^ lioW-^
ever, continued for more than a century after they left Fife,
to write their surname Aytonn, or Ayton ; the grand father of
the writer of this Inquiry, signed his name " Aytoun,'^ but by
far the greatest number trf the colohy; have changed the Y into
/: and the names of many otliiCr families, have undergotl^
similar, or still greater changes. Though there may be ^ome
doubt, as to which of tlie families of Aytouns in Fife, thtese
settlers in Avondale came from, and though the y&dV in whicli
they crossed the Forth, has not been exactly ascertained '. yet it is
well known to some people still alire, that the Avondale Aitons,
paid many friendly visits to their reflations in Fife, within th^
last eighty or ninety years. While the Reverend Thomas Ai ton j
on« of the Waleslie family, tb be afterwards noticed, was miri'^
istefr of Alyth, from 1720 to 1735, and of the parish of Kilcon-
quhar in Fife, from 1735 till his death, in 1739 ; some of his
relations in Avondale generally visited hini the one year, and
he came to see them in Avondale the next year alternately. And
on the Waleslie family going north, they frequently visited some
of the families of Aytouns in Fife, and were well received and
entertained by them, as distant relations and clatismen. Mrs
Jean Aiton, one of the Waleslie family, and reliet of JameS'
Hamilton, Esquire of Falla and Parkhead, who is still alive,,
in the 95th year of her age, remembers having accompanied her
father, on a visit to the widow and family of the Reverend
Mr Aiton, and they also visited some respectable families in
Fife, of the name of Aytoun, who received them as relations or
kinds-folks. And she, and others yet alive,, remember to have
heard Miss Margrat Aiton, her older sister, mention that when
she had accompanied her father, and some of the Waleslie
family, on a visit to the Rev. Mr Aytoun, they were-invited to
a party in the house of a gentleman of the name of Aytoun, who
on that occasion had twenty one persons of that name, dining >
at his table. And the writer of this account, was informed hyu
his grand father^ that he had made a trip or two to Fife, along
with his intimate friend the laird of Waleslie, and that they