Series 3 > Papers from the collection of Sir William Fraser

PAPERS RELATING TO THE MEARNS 79
the Nicolsons of Laswade1 first purchased Mergie and after¬
wards sold it and purchased Glenbervie from the husbands
of the heiresses of Mr. Douglas.
In 1746 he was very zealous for Government, while his
Lady was as much so for the Pretender. Lord Ancrum
on his way to Culloden sent two dragoons to Glenbervie
intimating to Sir Wm his relative 2 that he intended to call
there on his return. The appearance of the Dragoons
at first much alarmed Sir Wm who reckoned the language
his lady was in the practice of uttering had brought him
into a scrape. But after their departure she still adhered
to her resolution of making their son (then about 18 years
of age) join Earl Marishal on his coming over.
After Lord Ancrum had returned from Culloden to
Glenbervie, where he staid three days and nights, happen¬
ing to talk of the manner the rebel scoundrels were tumbled
in heaps. Lady N. observed with a sigh she hoped their
souls were safe. On this Lord A. said I wd not give the
soul of my horse in the stable for the souls of all the rebels
in the Nation. In a few minutes her Ladyship retired to
her bedroom lamenting in the presence of her maid for her
Prince in some such words as ‘ Oh ! my Royal hereditary
King what will become of him ? ’
Sir Wm had a practice of keeping a candle burning in
his Bedroom at night, observing that a house was never
known to be robbed if light was noticed in it. But the
country people rather concluded that Sir Wm had been
guilty of some crime which made him afraid to sleep in
the dark.
John Young the Sheriff before mentd had lodged with
Lord Ancrum an information against Sir Al. Bannerman
of Elsick as to his connection in the rebellion. But on
1 There were several families of the name who all originated in Aberdeen and
attained to considerable eminence, e.g. Lasswade, Carnock, Tillicoultry, and
Glenbervie. Sir William was the second son of Sir George Nicolson of Cluny,
etc., who as Lord of Session was known as Lord Kemnay, and he succeeded his
brother Sir Thomas in 1728.
2 His niece, the daughter of Sir Thomas Nicolson, married the 3rd Marquess
of Lothian. Her son Lord Ancrum was accordingly Sir William’s grand¬
nephew.