Genealogical account of the family of Edmonstone of Duntreath

THE FA MIL Y OF EDMONSTONE. 19
parte qui ducit de villa de Noddriff (Niddry), ad ecclesiam de Libertoun
quas Henricus de Edmondston de me tenet.' This is dated 1252. 1
There is another document, however, yet, a few years earlier as it
would seem, but without a date, referring to a generation one degree farther
back. An indenture between ' Dominum W. Abbatem et conventum de
Dunferlin ex una parte et H. filiiim E. ex alia, super multura de
Edmundistun,' whereby it is settled that the said H. and his heirs, to
preserve peace, 'et jam mota lite sedanda,' should pay every year twenty
shillings ' in domo ipsius H. apud Edmundiston,' to the aforesaid abbot and
convent. There is further permission for the erection of a mill, smithy, and
brewhouse. To this deed the seals (signa) ' Domini Nessi de Rames et
Magistri Petri de Rames,' together with the seals or signatures of
' memorati Henrici,' are appended. 2 As Henricus is herein designated as
the son of E., this may not improbably be the Edmund with whom the
family commenced. Films, however, does not necessarily imply son, as
it is not unusual to apply it to a more distant descent in the direct line. 3
The next hundred years there is a blank in the family history, and so
far may be said to its honour, that its name is not found in the ' Ragman
Rolls ' — the list, namely, which has been preserved of those, comprising a
great proportion of the nobility and gentry of Scotland, who subscribed
their submission and fealty to Edward I. at the end of the thirteenth
century. From whatever cause this may have arisen, it is a circumstance
that cannot be regretted.*
The next notice we have is a retour or inquest before the Bailie of
Musselburgh in 1359, tempore David II., declaring that 'Henricus de
Edmundiston,' formerly ' Dominus ejusdem,' had died, and that Johannes
de Edmundiston was his legitimate son and heir, and then it is added, they
held of the Abbey of Dumfermline, and that the said land, valuit tempore
bonae pacis, xiii. lib. vi. sol. viii. d., and now values ten pounds thirteen
shillings and fourpence. John, too, is stated to be of lawful age, but the
lands had been in ward, the grant of which was to Sir John Preston,
evidently of Craigmillar, which is close by.
This document connects the links of the broken chain, for we find the
1 Note 25, Appendix. s Chartnlary of Dunfermline, Bannatyne Club, p. 140.
* Note 26, Appendix. ' Note 27, Appendix.