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

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heuchis, and uthers, pertaining to his said umqukill fader, and being verray will-
ing that, be vertew of our letter of rehabilitatioun, the said Frances be presentlie
repossest to the same, his landis, coilles, coilheuchis and uthers pertaining to him,
we have thoght goode hereby to will and desir you to be present yourself, and sie
him repossest to his saids lands, rowmes, and coilhewis, conforme to our letters and
charges of horning direct for the samyn effect, as you will do us guid pleasour and
service. Thus we commit you to God. From Winchester, the xxix th day of
September, 1603."
The estate of Niddrie-Merschell was formerly conveyed over by Sir James
Sandilands of Slamannon, to Francis Wauchope (usually styled Sir Francis) in
1608,* and the restitution of the House of Niddrie was confirmed by Act of
Parliament in 1609.
Sir John Wauchope, son of Sir Francis, may be regarded as the chief restorer
of the House of Niddrie. The family MS. notes say : — " Sir John, by his frugal
way of living, pay'd the 200,000 merks of cautionry, either by selling of land, (viz.
Pdmour, Revelrigf and Berney, in West Lothian, and the Cold-coats, now belong-
ing to Edmiston,) or by the effects of the rest of the estate. He liv'd with my
Lord Lauderdale, and was his bed-fellow. It was he that built this present house,
and cover'd the tower head with copper, which the English tirred and carried of
with them."
Sir John had a charter from Charles I. of the lands and barony of Niddrie-
Merschell, 21st January 1632 ;J and he was knighted by that sovereign when he
visited Scotland with great pomp in 1633.§ In the subsequent misunderstand-
ings between the King and his subjects, Sir John engaged on the side of the
Covenant. He was a Member of Parliament in 1641 — one of "the commissioun
for the plantatioun of kirks" — one of "the commissioun for regulating and settling
of the debtis, compts, and commoun burdingis of the kingdome" — one of "the
committee of estates" — and one of " the commissioune for trying the incendiaries
and plotters."
In the same year (1641) Sir John had a ratification, by Parliament, of his
Majesty's charter of 1632.||
* Niddrie Charter Chest,
t Arthur Temple, chirurgeon, had a ratification of the toure and lands of Kavelrig and Pilmour,
within the barony of Niddrie-Marshall, in 1672.
t Niddrie Charter Chest. § Balfour's Annals.
] | As this document embraces the entire lands to which Sir John succeeded, it may not be unin-
teresting to quote it as it stands : —
" In the Parliament haldin att Edinburgh, the seventeine day of November, the yeir of God j m vjc
and fourtie ane yeiris, oure soveraine Lord and estaittis of this present Parliament hes ratified and
approvin, and be thir presentis ratifies and approvis the chairtoui' grantit be his Majestie, with consent