Kirkpatrick of Closeburn

70 KIEKPATETCK
present have slight traditions, except that he contended bravely and successfully
against all difficulties, and having gained the affections of Ann Hoar, the only child
of a clergyman at Romsey, he married and received with her a dower deemed at that
time considerable. They removed to the Isle of Wight, and in 1704, as appears by
the Title Deeds, purchased ' a capital Messuage or Dwelling-house, with a large garden
and appurtenances,' in the best situation in Newport. Here there was little chance
of his ever coming in contact with any of his family. This island, now the annual
resort of thousands of Felicity hunters, as they are there called, was then an unknown
land. Many years afterwards, Dr. Johnson, when blaming the Government for their
mismanagement of the war, wrote with indignation at their permitting the troops
destined for Canada, to waste their time in the pathless deserts of the Isle of Wight.
The last house in England in which General Wolfe slept before his departure to the
scene of his glory and death, was the house of James, the son of this James Kirk-
patrick, who entertained him during the time he was detained in the Isle of Wight.
The tale of this wedding day dispute and consequent self-banishment and perma-
nent alienation, was handed down from father to son with a tenacity and interest
worthy of a Border tradition. Widely and completely separated from the old home,
it was never forgotten, but fondly cherished in the memory of his children and chil-
dren's children, and in all the struggles of life doubts were dispelled and difficulties
vanquished, under the never forgotten rallying cry, ' I mak sicker.'
James the exile died in October, 1719, leaving his only son James, and daughter
Jane, the wife of Matthew E-olleston, Esq. amply provided for. James the son; married
Esther Williams, by whom he had three sons, James, John, and Joseph, and a daughter.
Anne, who married Dr. Silver, and died in 1841, aged 89. In her retentive memory
the flight from Scotland was but the tale of yesterday.
James the grandson died in 1819, leaving several children; John died in 1810,
also leaving several children ; Joseph died in 1826, leaving two sons, the eldest of whom
married as above-mentioned Maria Isabella, daughter of John Kirkpatrick of Conheath,
and first cousin of the Countess de Montijo. Their daughter Isabella, by marrying
in 1856, her cousin Roger Kirkpatrick of Lagganlees, grandson of Sir James Kirk-