Frasers of Philorth > Volume 2

32 THE ABERNETHIES OP SALTOUN, LORDS SALTOUN.
in 1343, and also to the confirmation of this last by William, prior of
St. Andrews, 1 and to various other charters, sometimes accompanied by that
of his brother Sir Laurence. 2
The date of his death is uncertain, but it probably took place about the
middle of the century.
He left a son,
SIE GEOEGE ABERNETHY, fourth of Saltoun.
In the account of this family given in Douglas Peerage, the name of
George Abernethy is said to be mentioned in a charter to the Monastery
of Dryburgh, granted by Walter, the Steward of Scotland, who died in 1326 ; 3
but if that document was extant when the peerage was written, it has since
been lost, for a search through Macfarlane's collection of original writs, in
which it is stated to have been found, shows only one charter from Walter
the Steward to Dryburgh Abbey, and in that the name does not occur. It is
quite possible, however, that the statement in Douglas may be correct, for
George Abernethy was probably born during the first fifteen years of the
fourteenth century, and with his father supported the cause of David n.
through the second war of independence.
He accompanied King David on his invasion of England in 1346, and at
the battle of Durham was taken prisoner by Thomas de Eokeby the younger,
and with others sent to the Tower of London for safe custody, by order of
Edward HI. 4
How long he remained a prisoner, and what was his future career, cannot
be ascertained. A charter was granted by Georgius de Abernethy, miles,
dominus de Saltoun, to John de Kench, recognising his right to a tenement
in the town of Nether Saltoun, and ratifying his license to grind corn grown
within the same tenement at the mill of Saltoun, as established by the
verdict of an assize of honest men, presented " in plena curia mea ibidem
tenta ;" 5 and though the charter is without date, it appears to have been given
1 Book of Carlaverock, by W. Fraser, vol. ii. 3 Douglas Peerage, vol. ii. p. 46S.
pp. 409, 410. 4 Rotuli Scotise, vol. i. p. 67S. Rynier's
2 Cart. Newbottle, Nos. 43, 55, 208 ; and Foedera, vol. v. p. 534.
Carta Originales at end of Newbottle Cartu- 5 Original Charter at Salton Hall [Mr.
lary. Fletcher],