Strathendrick, and its inhabitants from early times

174
HISTORY OF STRATHENDRICK
The following entry in the Records of the Privy Council shows the way the
laird of Culcreuch ejected his tenants :
12 Feb. 1612. — At a meeting of the Privy Council, this date, Cuthbert
Cunynghame in Gonnochane, and Katherine Kincaid, his spouse, laid a com-
plaint against Robert Galbraith of Culcreuch, Harie Galbraith his son, and sundry
other persons for hamesucken, in so much as they, on 23rd October last, came
" to the complainer's house in Gonnochene, put violent hands on them, and
perforce ejected them and their five young bairns furth of the said house, after
which they demolished the house and destroyed the whole timbers thereof, and the
plenishing within the same valued at £600."
The Lords assoilzied the defenders, the pursuers having failed in proof. 1
Robert Galbraith was the last of this turbulent race who possessed Culcreuch,
and he was certainly dead before 5th February 1642, for on that day there is a
general service of James Galbraith, "haeres Roberti Galbrayth, aliquando de
Kilcreuch patris."
Robert Galbraith's wife was Margaret Seton, and they had at least two sons —
James, who is styled "younger of Culcreuch," 22nd June 160S, 2 and Henry,
or Harie. He had also a natural son, Walter. 3
In 1630 Robert Galbraith — who had already been obliged to dispose of his
other lands — severed his connection with Strathendrick by selling Culcreuch to
Mr. Alexander Seton of Gargunnock, one of the Lords of Session. It is believed
that after this sale he went to Ireland, and some years afterwards died there.
Sir Alexander Seton of Culcreuch and Gargunnock, who thus purchased Cul-
creuch, was a son of James Seton of Touch, from whom he received the Barony
of Gargunnock. He had been made a judge in 1626, and in 1633 he was knighted
by King Charles I., but before this date he had parted with Culcreuch, for in
May 1632 he sold it to Mr. Robert Napier, second son of John Napier of
Merchiston, by his second wife Agnes Chisholm.
i£tg. P. C. of Scot., Vol. ix., p. 335.
•" Robert Galbraith of Culcreuch, and James Galbraith, younger thereof, were infeft in
Temple lands of Millig, purchased from George Cunninghame of Hag, 22nd June 160S " (Dennis-
toun MS. quoting from Dunbarton Records).
3 1606. Robert Galbraith of Culcreuch, Sheriff of Dunbarton, owed to Helen Galbraith,
widow of Robert Galbraith, elder, burgess of Dunbarton, "for twa zeirrs susteinment and
buirding furnished and susteim-d be her to Walter Galbraith, his soune naturel, with twa paire
of shoon and ane stand of gray claith whilk she bought and bestowed upon him at his saide
father's airnest desire and command, three score sax punds money" {Com. Rec. Glas. 1606,
quoted from Dennistoun MSS.).