1617 Indentures by Robert McClelland of north Londonderry
Author: Robert McClelland
Date: 1617
Source: Abstracts of two Indentures made by Sir Robert McClelland, Laird of Bombie, from his London Company (Haberdashers’ and Clothworkers’) estates at Artikelly and Articlave in north Londonderry in 1617.
a) 1617 to David Cunningham (PRONI T.640/7, Miscellaneous Papers, Box 181, vi, 7).
b) 1617 to Gavin Kelso (PRONI T.640/14, Miscellaneous Papers, Box 182, 14).
Comments: Sir Robert McClelland, originally from Kirkcudbright, was the Agent for several London Company estates in the newly-created County of Londonderry (formerly County Coleraine). His career in Ulster is well documented in: Perceval-Maxwell, M., The Scottish Migration to Ulster in the Reign of James I. Only abstracts of linguistic interest to the text-base have been included here.
Doc. ref. no.: USLS/TB/Doc/1200-1699/007
a) 1617 to David Cunningham
I Sir Robert McClellane of Bomby knight be thir presentis dois faithfullie promeiss to my gud freynd David Cunynghame of Heurt his airis and assignayis to set to thame ane sufficient Laice of twell scoir aikeris of land that I haif of the Happerdaschers portioun of Londary … exceptand and reservand the stone hous and mannis his toun village and mylne and toun lands lyand thairto that the said Sir Robert pleiss chois best quhilk twell scoir akeris of land sall ly all and togidder guid arrabill and pastuirabill Payand thairfoir yeirlie for ilk aiker the sowme of tuell penis sterling money and that for all uther rent and dewtie can be askit be me the said Sir Robert or his foirsaids and gif thair be not peit and turff within the said xij scoir aiker of land I the said Sir Robert promissis that David Cuningham and his foirsaids shall haif sufficient peit and turff yeirlie in the nixt adjacent moss thairto with ane sufficient way for carrying thame to thair houssis As also gif it salhappin me the said Sir Robert and my forsaids to obtene ane Laice of the teithes of these Landis the said Sir Robert and my foirsaids promissis faithfullie that the said David his foirsaids shall haife ane sufficient richt thairoff of the cheapest rent that only uther my friends sall haiff possessours of these landis As also I the said Sir Robert binds me and my foirsaids for the guidwill and favour I beir to the said David Cunynghame to gif hym and his foirsaids ane hundreth aikers of the said twell scoir aikers frie in a coppyhold gif he pleis to accept thairof payand thairfor yeirlie for ilk aiker of the said hundreth a grote sterling money and sall gif hym and thame a sufficient richt thairoff. And further I the said David obleis me and my foirsaidis to cum to the said Sir Robertis mylness nixt adjacent thairto and pey the multouris thairto as utheris his freyndis and coppyholderis dois and to keip his courtis and giff obedience thairto as becummis being halden within the said proportioun and further I obleys me to build ane sufficient and strang hous of the Ingliss forme or ellis with stone gif I can haif thame esily As also I bind me and my foirsaidis to serve the said Sir Robert and his foirsaids in all his and thair lesum effair quhen I and my foirsaidis guidlie may without harme to our selffis Also I the said Sir Robert promissis that the said David and his foirsaidis sall haif libertie in lyme … and for the suretie of thir presentis I the said Sir Robert obleis me at quhat tyme soever I perfyte my richt of the said landis.
b) 1617 to Gavin Kelso
[Be] it kend till and men be thir presene letters me Sir Robert MacClelland of Bombie knyght to haiff sett and in tak and assidatioun letten lyke as I be thir presents sects and in tak and assedatioun for the dewtie efter speifyit ….
the samyne lyis in lenth and breid with … bigginis … for thair awin use … calling quhatsumever payand thairfore yeirlie the said Gawand Kelso … of ilk aiker therof yeirlie … the said Gawand Kelso … of ilk aiker therof yeirlie … and for ilk aikir of the said fourtie aikers tua schilling sterling of maills … ilk aiker extending the haill entres silver foresaid to the sowme of sevine scoir of marks Scots mony foresaid Quhilk sowme … silver foresaid I be thir presents grants me to haiff resaiffit fra the said Gawan Kelso and exonirs and discharges him his airs executors and assignayes therof be thir presents for evir and for ilk aiker of the said sax aiker tua schillings sterling of maills … pence for the teind baith personage and viccarage of ilk aiker therof and also the said Gawan and his foresaids buildand sufficient howssis on the foresaid fre tenement the said silver dewtie to be payed in tua termes in the yeir May day and Awaldhallis.
