Memoranda relating to the family of Forbes of Waterton

FORBES OP WATERTOWN. 9
Sir John Forbes. Her portion was £4000, in consequence whereof she
was infeft in sundry parts of the lands of Barra. If there was one daughter,
she was to have 6000 marks, if two they were to have 9000 marks, and if
there were three or more, they were to have 12,000 marks divided between
them.
1676. Alexander Forbes of Saach grants discharge to Dame Jeane
Gordon, relict and heir of Sir John Forbes of Watertoun, for sundry sums
she had given him, in order to acquit the interest due on several bonds and
debts contracted by the said Sir John Forbes, amounting, in the whole, to
35,400 marks, at 6 per centum per annum.
1678. Thomas Forbes, eldest son of Sir John Forbes and Dame Jeane
Gordon, his wife, chose the said Dame Jeane Gordon as his sole curatrix, the
nearest relations on both sides being summoned, viz. — Sir Alexander
Forbes of Tolquhon, Knight Banneret, and James Forbes of Saach, on the
father's side ; and Sir George Gordon of Haddo, Baronet, one of the
Lords of Session, and Patrick Gordon of Nethermuir, on the mother's
side.*
* It does not appear by what title Sir Alexander Forbes of Tolquhoun is ranked with
James Forbes and Sir George Gordon, the uncles, and nearest relations of Thomas Forbes,
unless, perhaps, he married Jeane, his father's sister, or was summoned on this occasion as
the chief of the family. The history of this Sir Alexander, as often related to me by my
grandfather, is so peculiar as to deserve recording: — In his father's lifetime, he led a
party of horse to the assistance of Charles 2d, and was present at the battle of Worcester.
When the battle was lost, he saw the King flying on foot, gave him his horse, and made a
stand with a few followers, in order to give the King time to escape. He, himself, was left
wounded on the field, but escaped with his life, and, his father being alive, had no lands to
forfeit. When the King received his horse from him, he asked his name, and, on being
informed of it, said, in parting — " Adieu, Sir Alexander." He was not among the first who
made their court at the Restoration ; but, being prosecuted and imprisoned at Edinburgh,
by the clergy, for refusing to do penance for having a bastard child, and other contempts of
their authority, for which they had condemned him to a fine of 10,000 marks, he procured
bail, and went up to London, where he made himself known to the King, who, notwith-
standing the opposition of Lauderdale and the Presbyterian party, granted him a remission
of his fine, and a nolo prosequi, and established his rank as a Knight Banneret, which he
claimed as being knighted on the field of battle, the King observing to those who opposed
it, that if the usual ceremonies had been omitted on the occasion, it was not owing to Sir
Alexander's want of merit, but to his Majesty's want of time. He soon after retired to his
estate in Scotland, and it does not appear that he either asked or obtained any other favor
for himself or his friends.
B