History and genealogy of the family of Wauchope of Niddrie-Merschell

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chest of Cumming of Culter, these lands were confirmed by Alexander II. to
Robert Wauchop, son to Allan Wauchop — " nos dedisse concessisse et hac nostra
charta confirmasse Roberto de Waluchop filio Alani de Waluchop pro homagio
et servicio suo terram de Tulmacboy per has divasas," &c. This charter is
dated 16th October, in the 33d year of his reign— 1247. Robertus de Walohop,
and Dominus Robertus de Walichope, who witness charters by Alexander Gum-
ming, Earl of Buchan, to the Priory of St Andrews,* were probably one and the
same person. The lands of Culter went with a daughter of Sir Adam Wauchop
to Cummin of Inverlachie, " of whom," says Nisbet, " is lineally descended Cum-
min of Culter."
Mackenzie, in his " Lives of Eminent Scotsmen," derives the Wauchopes
of Niddrie-Merschell from the Aberdeen branch, but neither he nor Nisbet offer
any proof of the fact, although it is probable enough. Both the properties in the
soiith and north passed by heirs female ; but as these were the only known
branches of the family,f they must have sprung from the one or the other ; and
are now unquestionably the chief of the name.
The difficulty of tracing the first of the Wauehopes of Niddrie-Merschell has
been aggravated by the destruction of their more ancient muniments. " The
family of Nidrie-Marshal," says the MS. notes, " was forfaulted in James the 2d's
time, for making an inroad into England, so that by that means most of the old
charters and evidents were lost." The estate was again forfeited in Queen Mary's
time, the lairds, elder and younger, having espoused her cause ; and the house was
afterwards burned by their neighbours, who were at feud with them — " at which
time a fatal blow was given to our charters. The few that were left were after-
wards destroyed, when the English came to Scotland in Cromwell's time. They
were closed up partly in a cellar, built up with stone and lime, which an old rug
discovered, partly were carried to Dundee by my grandfather, Sir John, and after
the town was taken by General Monk, were lost or destroyed. Sir John kept
only bonds." In corroboration of this statement, it may be mentioned that there
is a small bundle of charters and other documents in the charter chest at Niddrie
House, which have evidently been recovered from the flames, most of them being
partially burned and blackened, and otherwise injured. The oldest of these, in
direct connection with the family, is a charter of the two merk lands of Gilmerton,
* The charters in the cartulary of the Priory of St Andrews are all dated prior to 1413.
t The Aberdeen Wau'diopes were no doubt transplanted, like the Gordons, Frasers, Lindsays, &c,
from the south.