Strathendrick, and its inhabitants from early times

246 HISTOR Y OF STRA THENDRICK
ten younger children (she had three more afterwards), Archibald, the eldest son,
being excepted. 1 Ten or twelve years after this time Robert Bontein, who still
held Mildoven, got into embarrassed circumstances, 2 and in 1745 had a litiga-
tion with his eldest son Archibald. The report of the case says: "Robert
Bontein of Mildovan, by an agreement with Archibald, his eldest son, settled
upon him jQzo stg. yearly in name of aliment, afterwards falling into bad cir-
cumstances and being incarcerate for debt, he pleaded against his son, who was
in a good way, the beneficium competentiae" to which the Lord Ordinary, on 14th
January 1744, found him entitled. The Court adhered. Lord Kilkerran adds
in his report, "although the son was thereby reduced to want." 3
The joint family of Mildovan and Balglas was, however, now near its end.
In 1746 Mildovan, the estate of the husband, was sold to the Bonteins of
Ardoch 4 ; and Balglas, the estate of the wife, to which her eldest son Archibald
had succeeded, was sold in 1751 to Major David Cuninghame of Seabeggs in
liferent, and to Captain, thereafter General Robert Cuninghame, his eldest son,
in fee. In 1761 Major Cuninghame and his son sold Balglas to John Napier
of Ballikinrain, 5 and it is still a part of the Ballikinrain estate.
The Place of Balglas stands on the west side of the Balglas burn in a com-
manding situation, and near it are a few fine old trees. The remains which
still exist show that it must have been a place of some strength and extent.
A hundred years ago it was standing, and is said to have been "a large dwelling
house or castle of an antiquated construction." 6 Within the old walls a small
farm house and offices have been erected, and over one of the windows looking
south an old stone has been built in, on which is cut in relief some letters and
figures, but all that can be deciphered is :
1602
M.S
Another stone is built into one of the chimneys, on which is cut :
RB MB
1732
The builder of the castle is unknown. Tradition says that it once afforded a
refuge to Sir William Wallace when pursued by his enemies. The date on the
1 Ballikinrain Writs.
2 In 1744 he was a prisoner in the Tolbooth of Stirling, and on the 18th August of that
year he made a complaint to the Town Council of Stirling that the jailer had been guilty of
"severall uncevilities towards him," and that he could not see his friends as he was entitled to
do. His complaints were attended to, and better regulations made (Burgh Records of Stirling,
Vol. II., p. 269).
3 Morrison's Diet, of Dee., 2895, e ' c - 4 Irving's Dumbartonshire, p. 429.
5 Ballikinrain Writs. 6 Old Statistical Account of Scotland, Vol. XVI., p. 104.