Todshawhill

courtesy Don Grant

THE SCOON FAMILY lived on land belonging to the Duke of Buccleuh for 250 years. The first farm was called Branxholm(town), and Robert Scoon was born there in 1674. He married Agnes Elliot (1688-1736) in 1688. He died in 1762 at Todshawhill Farm. Some descendants immigrated to America in the early 1800’s and settled in Seneca, New York.

BRANXHOLM, a mansion, formerly a feudal castle, in the parish of Hawick, Roxburghshire. It stands in the valley of the Teviot, about 3 miles above the town of Hawick. It possesses great celebrity as the ancient seat of the ducal family of Buccleuch, as the central point of vast military strength in the roystering period of the border forays, as the key for ages to all the strong places in Teviotdale, and as a prominent locality and brilliant figurant in Scott’s Lay of the Last Minstrel. It was long the scene of great baronial splendour, and it is classical alike in old balladry and in some of the finest modern songs and lyrics. The original pile – or rather that of the most sumptuous period – was burnt down in 1532 by the Earl of Northumberland, and blown up with gunpowder in 1570 during the invasion of the Earl of Surrey; and a successor to it was commenced in 1571 by its owner Sir Walter Scott of Branxholm, and completed in 1574 by his widow. The present structure is very much smaller than the ancient one; and, with the exception of an old square tower of immense strength of masonry, it looks less like a castle than an old Scottish mansion-house.

But its situation is strong and beautiful, and must evidently have invested it with mighty importance in the olden troublous times. The site is a bold bank, overhanging the river, surrounded by a fine young thriving wood, and shut suddenly in by heights which give the vale for some distance the narrowness of a dell; and so abruptly does the place burst on the view of a traveller from either above or below that he would be perfectly charm-struck with it, even were it unaided by any historical association; and so sternly did the ancient castle overawe the gorge, and hold armed men in readiness to defend it, that any attempt of English marauders to pass through without subduing the garrison must have been absolutely hopeless.

Branxholm quotation from the Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, edited by John Marius Wilson and published in 1868. This reference was found in volume I, p.196:

* * * * * * *

Branxholm Tower

Extracted from a paper written by Mr. M. Robson, the new curator of the Hawick Museum as of January 1976.

Histories of Border Hill Farms

Todshawhaugh – Branxholm – Borthwick – Roxanxholm
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(“Haugh” is a flat area along a river or stream and is pronounced like “ha”. Todshawhaugh is pronounced tod-jaw-ha’)

Todshawhaugh lies on the southside of the lower Borthwick water. With it, at sometime in its history, have gone other lands known as Todshawhill and Whelmen.

The earliest reference to Todshawhaugh seems to be that of 27 Feb 1426, when a William Turnbull “de Todgishalch” was witness to a document relating to Eildrig. The lands of “Todshawhaugh” and of “Todshawhill” were among those conveyed to the Scotts by Thomas Inglis of Manor in 1446, and hereafter a close link continued between them and the neighboring lands of Roxanxholm. The Scotts of Branxholm and Baccleuch probably allowed Todshawhaugh to a new kinsman, and in 1484 Robert Scott of Togehaugh witnessed the charter of the lands of Whitchester by Davis Scott in favor of his son Robert…………………..(Various “Scotts” owned or actually rented the land from the Baccleuch’s – many years for services rendered)………….

On Pont’s map of about 1590 Todshawhaugh, in its modern like, was represented by “Hauch”, while on higher ground to the north there lay “Todshawhill”, and westward toward Withop was “Whomms”. There are few detailed records of these farms before the 18th century. However, in the received accounts of the decade beginning in 1625 there is some information about occupants and stock……….(it goes on to list from 1625 to 1649 various amounts received from various people – primarily Scotts).

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The tenancy of Todshawhill by John Scott was replaced by that of “John Renneck and Pail(sp) Murray” in 1650, at a rent of L250. ………..1632-1672 Adam Scott and William Scott in Todshawhill.

In 1699 the houses on Todshawhill were moved (and rebuilt) “to a more convenient location. Two houses were built, each 42 feet long, in one of which there are two stone chimneys, a door and eight windows”. This was done by Thomas Sheila. …………..”The next tenant to be mentioned after Sheila was John Ailed, in 1745.

Then came the first of the Scoons. In 1749 Robert and John Scoon were in arrears for Todshawhill (53). It seems the farm was divided between them in 1756.

Todshawhill – Half to Robert and John Scoon

Half to John and Robert Scoon (54)

and if that appears confusing and confused, the record of arrears in 1764 was more so – the tenants were John and John Scoon. (55)

The family remained well into the century. In 1792 Robert Scoon was tenant for L 44 (55), and he was succeeded by another John, who died in 183?. A herd, George Michie, lived at a house mentioned in 1799 for the first time – Todshawhillshield. (57) The rental of 1836 gave “John Scoon’s Heir” as tenant, for a rent of L 94 (58). A letter from William Ogilvie(sp) to the Duke of Buccleugh of 7 May 1842 refers to the situation at Todshawhill after the Scoons. Various farmers and others were interested.

“Both Grieve and Ogilvie (at least the brother of the latter) have each two or three farms from Your Grace already, therefore in that respect they stand on equal footing. Thompson never was a farmer and his claims rest on political influence through Mr. Pringle. Boston is in the same situation, but know nothing personal of either.”

Ogilvie considered that the farm was not of economical size; that the landlord would have to pay on buildings, and the tenant would, like the last Scoon, who ran off to America with embezzled money, try to compete with bigger men and fail. (Note: “embezzled” in this context means owing money – probably for rent.) He suggested Chappelhill and Todshawhill should be made one, though the farmers was still in lease for another seven years. The only man who could take Todshawhill on a yearly basis was Grieve, tenant of Branxholm Roxle(sp). The Duke’s decision was brief: “To be let to Grieve of Branxholm from year to year.” Notice would be 6 months or a year, and the farm would be joined with its neighbors as suggested. (59)

Roberton Cemetery