History of the Fife Pitcairns

48 THE FIFE PITCAIRNS.
Fife, extending to 53 sol. 4 den., 1 chalder of wheat, 10 bolls,
yi firtolas orden, and 24 capons for the said David in feu-firme
to 26 sol. 8 den. to augment the rental held by the said David and
Elizabeth, and their male heirs after them, and if there are no
male heirs, then the heirs-female by seniority ; the town is to deliver
annually £4. and a double when the heir enters into possession of
the said mills and the policies elsewhere. They also hold the lands
under the King, who bound the village of Kingskettle, in the lord-
ship and seneschal of Fyfe, into one freehold of the said mills, with
1 animal and 6 firtolas as the share or measure of the village of
Newtown of Falkland, and village and lands of Freuchy, which also
gives 1 animal and 3 firtolas. Dated at Perth 29th Sept. 1541. 1
In 1551 David Pitcarne sold a great part of the estate of
Forthar-Ramsay to his son, Mr Robert Pitcarne, who be-
came afterwards Commendator of Dunfermline, was distin-
guished in history, and whose life is given in full later on.
Charter by David Petcarne of Forthir, 2 whereby he sold to Mr
Robert Petcarne, his son, the lands of Forthir, with tower, fortalice,
manor, gardens and orchards, and lands of Dunfield or Downfield,
with tower, fortalice, manor, yards, and orchards in the shire of
Fife. To be holden to the said Robert and the heirs-male of his
body lawfully begotten, which failing, to John Petcarne, son of said
David, and his heirs-male, &c, of the Queen, by the service of ward.
Reserving to the said David the frank tenement of the lands, and
to Elizabeth Dury the conjunct fee of the half of Dunfield, and
the quarter of the 32 nd part of Forthir, with a reasonable 3rd part
of the remaining lands. Dated at Forthir 25th Jan. 1551-52.
Confirmed by the queen at Edinburgh 27th Jan., same year. 3
Charter by Mary, Queen of Scots, to David Petcarne of Forthir
and his heirs, of the lands of Dunfield in the shire of Fife, of which
the one part was resigned by John Wemyss of Pittencrief, and the
other by the said David. Reserving to Elizabeth Dury, wife of
said David, her liferent of one - half. Dated at Jedburgh, 8th
Nov. 1 55 1. 4
David Pitcairn had therefore sold to his second son
Robert a great part of Forthar, although the freehold of
the old house and some lands he still held for his lifetime,
with his wife Elizabeth. He no doubt had made this dis-
position of his property to ensure it going in the male line
1 Reg. Mag. Sig., lib. xxviii. No. 131.
2 Forthar is often spelt Forthir.
3 Reg. Mag. Sig., lib. xxx. No. 733. 4 Ibid., No. 637.