Estate: Kilbucho

Kilbucho, Peeblesshire
1525 - 1609

The barony of Kilbucho, in the hills south-east of Biggar, was held by the Flemings of the Earls of Morton. For most of the century in which they held it, the Flemings and the Douglases of Morton were disputing its ownership.

Acquisition

Malcolm, 3rd Lord Fleming, had charters including Kilbucho in 1525 and a charter of the barony in 1538. It was held blench of the Earls of Morton and included the patronage of the parish church.

A disputed holding

In July 1535 Malcolm granted James, Earl of Morton, a reversion of Kilbucho, which Morton later assigned to King James V. James, 4th Lord Fleming, was infeft in 1550, but Morton obtained a decreet of redemption in January 1567, and a royal letter later that year ordered the lands to be returned to him.

John, later 1st Earl of Wigtown, obtained a decreet of reduction against the Earl of Morton on 20 July 1583 and had sasine of the barony in April 1584. The dispute continued, and in 1594 the courts found in favour of the Earl of Morton.

Disposal

After a decreet of declarator in Morton’s favour in July 1594, the 1st Earl of Wigtown renounced Kilbucho in 1598, and on 20 June 1609 he formally renounced the lands to William, Earl of Morton.