Muniment - Hill 65 1742
Muniment Hill 65 was created by William Ross on July 20th, 1742, in Edinburgh. It documents a bond (debt) from Walter McFarlane of that Ilk, the 19th Baron of Arrochar, and the 16th Chief of Clan MacFarlane. This debt refers to two Helens. The first Helen was his mother Helen Arbuthnot who was later Mcfarlane after marriage to Walter’s father Col. John Mcfarlane, then after the death of Col. John, Helen Spottiswoode after marriage to her second husband John Spottiswood, of that Ilk. What confuses this document somewhat is that the second Helen is also Helen Spottiswoode, the stepsister of Walter because they have the same mother which was the first Helen mentioned. Walter’s stepsister Helen Spottiswoode was appointed to be the Sole Executrix (female executor) and Legatrix (female legator who receives a legacy) and Intromissatrix (female intromitter or someone who manages property) for their shared mother who at the time of her death was again a relict (widow) for the second time.
It is fortunate that Walter was not named John after his father Col. John because the eldest son of Helen and John Spottiswoode was named John Spottiswoode of Spottiswoode and that would have complicated family documents even more. Apparently the fourth child of the union of Helen and John Spottiswoode of that Ilk was named Macfarlane Spottiswoode which is also interesting.
Walter was chief from 1705 until his death on the 5th of June 1767 and he was buried in the Greyfriar’s Cemetery, Edinburgh. From what I understand Greyfriar’s cemetery is the same place as Greyfriar’s Kirkyard which is easily recognizable by a statue of Greyfriar’s Bobby with a pub of the same name nearby. It has been transcribed/translated and is now available for CMW members to read on the website under Muniments.
Be sure to login at the website first, then select "Clan MacFarlane" from the menu and then select "Muniments". The actual .pdf file will be available for you to open at the bottom of the page. Cheers!