Stirlings of Keir

134 STIRLING OF CRAIGBARNET.
Mary, married to George Graham in Shannochill, great grandfather of the
present Major Graham Stirling of Craigbarnet. Mary Stirling died in 1759,
aged ninety years and upwards. 1 Her husband, George Graham, prede-
ceased her in 1736, as in a letter from Captain John Stirling of Auchyll to
Sir Henry Stirling of Ardoch, dated 14th June 1736, he mentions the death
of ' George Graham in Shannochyle.'
Mungo Stirling of Craigbarnet died of ' a cold and asthma,' on 7th January
1733, aged seventy-three years. 3 ' Marjory Stirling, Lady Craigbarnet' also
died of a ' cold and asthma/ on 18th January 1733, aged sixty-three years. 3
Mungo was succeeded by his only surviving son,
X. James Stirling of Craigbarnet. James Stirling, ' only lawful son to
' the deceased Mungo Stirling, late of Craigbarnett,' had a tack from John
Stirling of Keir of the Mains of Craigbarnet, dated 20th July 1730. 4 He
was ' out' in the Kisings of 1715 and 1745. In the latter, he captured
eleven dragoons, without assistance, after having received many . shots.
While in concealment for his participation in these events, he occasionally
deceived those in pursuit of him, by hiding in the plantations of Wood-
head, opposite to Craigbarnet, dressed as an old woman spinning. Along
with James Stirling of Keir, he was taken prisoner, and confined in the Castle
of Dumbarton in May 1746. 5 He married Catherine, daughter of James
1 Airth Peerage Evidence, p. 59. ' the inhabitants of the nether world, nothing was
2 Campsie Parish Records. 3 Ibid ' seen, but frequently a warning voice was heard to
4 Craigbarnet Writs. ' repeat —
5 ' Old Craigbarnet' usually went by the nick- ' ' Barry, Burry, big your house in a bog,
name of ' Burry,' from having a burr in his speech. ' ' And you'll never want a fou cog.'
There is a superstitious tradition regarding the ' The Laird listened to the admonition, and built
building of the old House of Craigbarnet by this ' the old Castle of Craigbarnet as low in the bog
James Stirling. ' He proposed to erect a new house 'as possible, which was finished without further
' on the banks of Finglen, midway between Glen- ' molestation from his invisible councillors.' [The
' mill and Baillie, where was said to be an opening Scotsman's Library, pp. 714-15.]
' which led under ground to Keirhill, an artificial On one occasion, after dining at Keir, and pass-
' mound or sepulchral tumulus. It was this ancient ing the same night to Garden, ' Burry' came to a
' mound the Lord of Craigbarnet had fixed upon ; new toll at the Ford of Frew over the Forth. Dis-
' when the progress of the building, as soon as com- daining to pay the imposition of toll for his horse,
' menced, was interrupted by the little fairy elves, he spurred the animal into the river, -Mid swam
' who instigated by their wicked propensity to mis- across with difficulty and danger. He arrived at
chief, issued from their subterraneous abode, and Garden in a very drenched state, and the late
' demolished in the night what had been built Mr. Stirling of Garden remembered him sitting in
' during the day. With this unequal warfare with the dining room there very wet and uncomfortable.