Strathendrick, and its inhabitants from early times

3 i 4 HISTORY OF STRATHENDRICK
Walter Buchquhannan, as brother to the late Robert Buchquhannan, of the lands
of Drummikill, with the croft called Browistaris Croft, etc. ; also a sasine in
favour of Walter Buchquhannan, broth er-german and lawful and nearest heir to
the late Robert Buchquhannan of Middell Ledlewan, of the lands of Middell
Ledlewan — Alexander Buchanan, in Blairinvad, and Alexander Buchanan, in
Ballavoll, being among the witnesses. 1
These infeftments and notarial instruments all prove that this laird was the
elder brother of Walter Buchanan, next of Drummikill. This Robert could not
have been Robert Buchanan, No. IV. of Drummikill, as Mr. Dennistoun and
others believe; for, as we have already shown that Robert was dead before 29th
August 1525, Robert IV. was no doubt uncle of Robert VI.
V. Walter Buchanan, seventh of Drummikill and Moss, succeeded his
brother Robert. Auchmar mentions 2 a precept of clare constat and charter
thereon in favour of him and Janet Buchanan, his spouse, in liferent, and
Thomas Buchanan, their son, in fee of the lands of Drummikill, dated 1536.
This date is wrong, being too early, and the Dennistoun MS. is right ; though
it is wrong in another point, in making his succession to his brother in 1544.
Walter Buchanan of Drummikill was on an assize in 1560, 3 and he is mentioned
as one of the freeholders of the Earldom of Lennox, 27th August 1567. 4
In the account of the Drummikill family in the Dennistoun MS., as I have
already pointed out, and in Auchmar, this Walter Buchanan is made brother
of Robert Buchanan, IV. of Drummikill, and not nephew, as I have it, and there
is in neither of them Thomas Buchanan, V. of Drummikill. In the old Buchanan
Tree at Leny, on the other hand, Walter is made the son of Thomas, as I have
it, and Robert, his brother, No. IV., is missed out altogether, possibly because
his only son died young and without issue, Robert's line thus becoming extinct.
Mr. Dennistoun's account of Drummikill is certainly wrong in some points, and
a large part of it is taken from Auchmar. While right in saying that Walter
Buchanan was infefted in Drummikill 25th January 1544, he has been in-
cautiously following Auchmar when he says he succeeded Robert IV. He
thus makes him succeed his uncle, and not his brother. As at present advised,
I believe my account of the family is correct, for George Buchanan himself says
distinctly he had four brothers, and I have shown that these were Robert,
Thomas, Alexander, and Patrick. Auchmar, who I think does not wilfully
mislead, though he very often makes mistakes, says 5 that he saw a charter in
which Thomas Buchanan is called brother of Robert Buchanan of Drummikill,
and, if we make Walter brother, and not nephew, of Robert of Drummikill,
'John Graham's (MS.) Protocol Book, Stirling, 1543-1575. " P. 6S.
3 Reg. Mag. Sig., 1546-1580, No. 1388 n., 18 Mar(ie), 1560.
4 Reg. P. C. of Scot., Vol. I., p. 553. 5 P. 70.