Who was Thomas Gibson, Portioner in Bordland?
He was a TENANT of Sir Archibald Murray of Darnehill, twice mentioned in a Confirmation charter (20th Dec 1621, Reg. Great Seal, No. 248) only in order to clarify parts of the geographical areas legally defined in the charter. Some of the relevant land was resigned by Sir William Hay of Linnplum, master of Yester, with the consent of his wife Anne Murray (no doubt related to Sir Archibald Murray) and the consents also of his mother, Lady Yester, and step-father. Before the Reformation other Gibsons had been tenants, or rather "rentellers" of the bishop of Glasgow, with which the Ecclesiastical "Barony" of Eddleston had been associated in the middle ages before it passed into secular hands. Such rentellers were expected to be well-disposed to the mediaeval church and in return were allowed to lease land with a large element of fixity of tenure.
The Mill at Eddleston does not seem to have been contained in the lands occupied by Thomas Gibson in 1621. In Eddleston parochial registers his heir, also named Thomas is termed Thomas Gibson YOUNGER. At least from the time of Robert, the eldest son of the younger Thomas, the mill had passed into Gibson hands and the family was recognised as having some local political prominence. This is shown by the fact that the same Robert Gibson, milner, (1644-1714) on 22nd March 1678 was recorded as Having "subscribed the bond for the peace") pp. 654 Reg. Privy Soucil Sc 3rd Series v.5) This was on the grounds that he was, if not exactly a heritor, at least a life-renter within the shire of Peebles.
Report on MSS in various Collections vol.v the Mss of Col Mordaunt Hay of Duns Castle Historical MSS Commission = GRH 5/55 v. V in Nat Lib of Scotland:-
1616 Nov. 22 Edinburgh 4/10 of North Schields and lands in Skiprig in the barony of Eddleston and the Sheriffdom of Peebles sold to James Lawsone of Cairnmure and Elizabeth Scott his spouse. A charter was granted on the same date and was confirmd by James Archbishop of Glasgow. Sasine was taken hereon on 12th May 1617; witnesses Thomas Gibson, portioner of Bordland, Patrick Scot there, Mr George Lausone lawful son of the grantee Mt. Haarla bank in Skiprig, Thomas Brown in Harcass, John Swan ther and Thomas Duddingstoun in North Schiell.
[Patrick Gibson a witness to a sasine on 18th February 1547 = what was in a precept and a charter whereby lands in the White Barony of Eddleston were sold toRobert Horsbruk in Horsbruk.]
[Earlier still an Archibald Gibson was a member of a jury in 1515]
John Nimmo of Bridgehouse
Young of Hillibank
John Brodie of Windyhills.
1048. Henry Erskine 1stLord Cardross
1st Lord Cardross, bother to James Erskine sixth Earl of Buchan.
Sir Thomas Hope King's advocate to Charles I.
Of Craighall, Edinburghshire (sic).
By patent 31 Jul 1631 it is he who was quoted ratifying his title of honour to the Earl of Monteith.CF DNB 27 pp. 326-7
Sir James Campbell of Aberuchill. He was a devoted royalist and was created a baronet of Novia Scotia by Charles I on 13 Dec 1627.
Sir John Mackenzie of Tarbat.
Co-heiress.
Robert Dempster of Balbougie and Pitliver.
Sir John Erskine of Balgonie, 2nd Baronet.
Alexander Nisbet of Craigentinny (GRS. ci. 274).
1084. William Bennet Rev. of Ancrum
M.A. Edinburgh 30 July 1614. Pres. to Ancrum by James VI 25th July 1622.
Member of Commission for maintaining Church Discipline 21st Oct. 1634.
As Laird of Grubet he took part in the election of a commissioner from the countyto the Convention of Estates. The Assembly found this to be incompatible with his calling 10Aug 1643 and recommended him to desist from civil courts and meetings. He died between 3rd feb and 1st Sep 1647, aged about 54.
1216. Thomas Collyns The Revd.
See Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy.
B.A. Exeter College Oxford 10 June 1624. Fellow 1626-34. M.A. 13 May 1628. Prebendary of Exeter 1633. Rector of Sampford Peverel and incumbent of Colyton. Ejected 1647 from the vicarage of Colyton (still standing and cocupied 1997)He was born in Exeter and was collated to Prebend there 3 Nov 1632, on the resignation of Randolph Manwarring. He lost Colyton officially in 1652 (although John Wilkins was signing registers from 1649.
The grounds for his deprivation from office were:- "insufficiency and and not being also to pray by the Spirit". But he did not lose Sampford Peverel until the end of the year 1657, on the grounds that he had equipped two troopers in Charles I's army.In 1654 there was an attempt to appoint John Wilkins after his resignation, which may have been due in fact to the Act against Pluralities.
He was often imprisoned and his house plundered to the extent that "they left him hardly a dish and a spoon". He was often obliged to keep out of sight to avoid further imprisonment.
His monetary income was as much as 60 Pounds per annum (not sequestered) but was still forced to sell his many books to support his family of wife with at least ten children. His wife, grand-daughter of Bishop Cotton, was considered to have died around this time partly through the stress brought on by his persecution at the hands of the Puritans. He did not receive his dues as a deprived minister, so that a servant and two weavers husbands of their nurses took care of three of his younger children.
Collyns was so popular at Sampford that his successor, Stephen Cover, a relatively ill-educated man, possibly not even ordained but only a ship's joiner, was pelted by parishioners in his pulpit.
He settled temporarily at Ninehead, Somerset and kept a small school there until the Restoration. He was succeeded in his Prebend by Martin Blake, B.D. in June 1665.
There is a memorial inscription to her at Sampford Peverell.