Alexander Stirling

Disposition and Deed of Settlement

Alexander Stirling, tenant in Craighead of Wester Feddale with consent of Margaret MacLaren his spouse

To eldest son John Stirling, the lands of Arneybog, Cumbernauld parish, county of Dumbarton purchased from William Hay and its rents and duties, under the burden of £20 annually to widow Margaret McLaren. If she remarries, then the annuity will be £5.

To spouse, the press she brought with her at marriage, all uncut horn and linen with sheets and blankets necessary for two beds, all china and plate and her paraphernalia, £20 for mournings and to purchase furniture for the house at Ardoch where she is to liferent a part

To Robert, son of first marriage £150
To Alexander, other son of first marriage £50
To each of Elizabeth, Lillias, Mary, and Amelia, daughters of first marriage, £50 which with the several sums paid to them discharged 16 July 1805, 24 May 1799, and 10 July 1813 are in full that they can have through his death or the death of their mother

To James, third son of present marriage, the tack and possession and full stocking of Craighead. If James dies before the end of the tack, then to immediate younger brother Peter
James and Peter are under age, so will be managed by their Mother

To son James, the remainder not already bequeathed of the household furniture and plenishing and failing him, to Peter, excepting the press which belonged to Ann Anderson (his first wife) which is left to daughter Elizabeth

Trustees and Executors and also Tutors and Curators to under age children:
John Stirling, William Finlayson and James Finlayson (sons of Matthew Finlayson at Waterhead), William Brydie (son of Andrew Brydie in Dochlowan) and James Reid son of James Reid in nether Cambushinnie

To pay sickbed and funeral expences and any debts

To pay the £20 to spouse and the other legacies to the children of the first marriage

To divide the residue among Donald, Margaret, Christian, Ann, James, and Peter, children of the present marriage:

Sons shall have double the share of daughters and if they continue unmarried, and remain in family on the farm with their mother and brothers, they shall be entitled to their meat and clothing for their work

The share to Margaret and Christian is to be managed by the trustees.

Amounts already given to younger children to be deducted from their share.

Gives precept of sasine [authorizes transfer] of the lands of Arnybog to John Stirling, but always with and under the real & preferable burden in favor of the said Margaret McLaren

Signed by Alexander Stirling and Margaret MacLaren, both at Waterhead in the parish of Cumbernauld 21 August 1823
Witnesses: John Telfort, chaise driver to John Dumbreck, Cumbernauld Inn, Robert Rankine residing in Greenside, and John Young son of and residing with Robert Young in Tannoch Mill

Extracted by (Signed) Tho Peat – Glasgow 4 November 1826.⁵

6 November 1826, Dunblane.
Inventory of the personal Estate of Alexander Stirling, Farmer in Craighead of Wester Feddal Perthshire who died at Craighead 11 August 1826. Amounts include principal and interest at that date.

1^st     Cash in the house £14
2^d     Promissory Note to the deceased by Robert Stirling Farmer Tamano £66.15d.-
3^d     Bill by the Revd Robert Stirling Galston and Henry Stirling in Cloag £103.15.-
4^th     Holograph obligation by John Stirling Surgeon in Glasgow     £303. 5s.1d
5^th      Promissory Note by Jas Moray Esquire of Abercairney £197.5s.8d.     
6^th     Promissory Note by James Johnston of Alva Esquire £1214.6s.-.                    
7^th     Personal Bond by the Honorable George Abercromby of Tullibody to John Stirling residing at Craighead dated 2 September 1808 and assigned by the said John Stirling to the deceased £101.4s.1d.
8^th     Bill by Alexander Stirling Farmer in Boreland. Principal £100     
9^th     Bill or promissory note by the said Alexander Stirling in Boreland. Principal £200
10^th     Bill by the said Alexander Stirling. Principal £128
     Interest due on this sum of £428 – at 5 per cent twenty two pounds          
N.B. The last three Bills are dubious from the circumstances of the Debtor, and of which £450 it is thought not one half will be recovered.           £225

11^th     Bill by John MacGrigor and Colin Macnab both in Callock & now deceased dated 24 January 1816 for £10 but of which only Three pounds are due and which is not expected to be recovered owing to the death and doubtful circumstances of the Debtors          £3
12^th     Bill by the now deceased Michl Stirling late victualler in Crieff. Principal £60          
13^th     Bill by Donald Cameron then farmer in Dundurn. Principal £40                     
14^th     Bill by the said Donald Cameron and by Alexander Cameron both then in Glenmake. Principal £60
15^th     Holograph obligation by the said Donald Cameron. Principal £5.14s.6d
N.B. It is not known what interest is due on this sum of £165/14/6 but the debts are desperate and no value can be put on them, the debtors being all utterly insolvent and some of them dead

16^th     Five deposit Receipts of the Stirling Company
     1^st     12 August 1825 £274      
     2d     12 August 1825 £100          
     3d     27 May 1826 £230          
     4^th     27 May 1826 £200           
     5^th     27 May 1826 £30
     Total with interest                £852.15s. 9d
17^th     Deposit Receipt by the Stirling Banking Company in name of Margaret MacLaren Relict of the deceased dated 19 May 1826 £50.9s.2d

N.B. The Stirling Banking Company being Bankrupt and under Judicial Sequestration, the whole amount of these six Deposit Receipts may not ultimately be available. The last noted Deposit Receipt is in name of the deceaseds widow but here associated for in case it should be held to come under the Executors administration

18^th     Household furniture Bed and Table and Linen crop, farming stock, implements of husbandry utensils and other effects valued by Messrs Robert Stirling, James Reid, and Lewis Kinross – conform to Inventory & valuation dated 7 October 1826 – Part of the said furniture &c is by the Testator bequeathed to his said widow and his daughter Elizabeth, and the Stocking and the Remainder of the furniture and plenishing is by the Testator bequeathed to James Stirling his son whom failing to Peter Stirling his son £301.8s.6d           

[Total]     £3433.4s.3d Sterling


John Stirling Surgeon in Glasgow and James Finlayson Writer in Glasgow son of Matthew Finlayson of Waterhead were the only accepting Executors from those nominated in Alexander Stirling’s deed of settlement.⁵