Kirkpatrick of Closeburn

56 KIRKPATRICK
defray their charges going and returning, and give each volunteer eight pence a day
while they attended the camp. At this time Sir Thomas' services were required in
his own county, for it was determined to call out the Militia, and for this end the
Marquis of Annandale, Lord Lieutenant, appointed Sir Thomas Kirkpatrick, Sir
William Johnstone of Westerhall, Baronet, Alexander Fergusson and others, Deputy
Lieutenants, with instructions for convening the Fencible men in order to raise the
mihtia. Shortly after this the rebels rose in Dumfriesshire and Kirkcudbright,
headed by the Earl of Nithsdale and Lord Kenmuir. They threatened Dumfries, but
so firm a front was shewn, that after some time they were compelled to retire into
the north of England, and join the forces under Lord Derwentwater.'
Upon this occasion the men of Closeburn carried a Banner, still preserved by the
family, five feet long and four deep, the colour of the family livery (blue with yellow
facings), with the Baronet's arms fully blazoned, surmounted by an inscription:
FOR KING GEORGE
LIBERTY AND RELIGION ACCORDING TO
SCOTS REFORMATION.
"William, the third son of the second Baronet, had the estate of Alisland bequeathed
to him by his father. He represented the Boroughs of the Dumfries district in Parlia-
ment several years, and married Jean, third daughter of Charles (son of Sir Charles
Erskine of Alva, Baronet) Lord Justice Clerk of Scotland, descended from the illustrious
family of Mar. John, Earl of Mar, Treasurer of Scotland, and the Lady Maria Stuart,
daughter of Esme, first Duke of Lenox, being his great-grand father and mother, and by
the said Lady Maria, he was related to the Royal family of Stuart. In 1747, the Duke
of Queensbury received compensation for his office of hereditary Sheriff of Dumfriesshire,
and Mr. "William Kirkpatrick of Alisland was made the first Sheriff under the new
regimen. He died in 1777. His son Charles changed his name to Sharpe, according
to the will of Matthew Sharpe, Esq. of Hoddam, his mother's grand-uncle, who be-
queathed to him his whole estates. He married Eleanora, daughter of John Benton, Esq.