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

hjid visited as clansmen, and hunted with some of the Aytouns
in Fife. And from his own recollection of what his grandfather
aaid, and which has been since repeated to him by his own
father, and uncle, the writer of this account is certain, that his
grandfather mentioned the Inchdairney family, as one of those
to whom he was introduced, by the Reverend Mr Aiton : and
where they were kindly treated as kinsmen of that respectable
family. And the author has often heard William Aiton, last
of Waleslie, who lived to the beginning of this century, mention
the Inchdairney family, as having paid attention to his father
and uncle, and treated them as relations.
Tradition bears, that the name of the founder of the Waleslie
family, who came from Fife, and settled first at Hookhead,
was John Aytoun, and that the name of the founder of the
Tilloch family, who first settled at Langrighead, or Stonnyhill,
was Andrew Aytoun. As his son James Aiton, who was born
about 1630, and lived till after 1720, informed his family, and
particularly told William Ayton, who was his youngest son,
that his grandfather's name was Andrew; and as William
Aiton said so to the writer of this inquiry, who was his grand-
son, the author concludes with confidence, that the name of
the founder of the Tilloch family, was Andrew Aiton : from
whatever family he may have sprung.
That John Aytoun was descended of the Inchdairney family,
is so far instructed, by the traditions and intercourse of tlie
families that have been mentioned ; and these traditions are
corroborated, or rather confirmed, by recent communications
from that family. A letter from one member of the Inchdairney
family, to the author, dated 28th August 1829, bears " There
*' is a John Aytoun mentioned in our Tree, the second son oi
"■ Robert Aytoun the first laird of Inchdairney ; and hi»
" brother's charter is dated 1560. Neither of these gentlemen
'* (meaning John and Andrew aftermentioned) are accounted
*' for, which makes it probable, that they left descendants. But
" I do not see in any part of the Tree, two brothers John and
"Andrew." Another member of the Inchdairney family >
E