[1700/10/257]¹

Ratification in favour of Sir James Scougal [of Whitehill]

Our sovereign lord and estates of parliament ratify, approve and perpetually confirm the charter under the great seal of the date at [...], 12 January 1699, granted by his royal majesty for himself as king and as prince and steward of Scotland, duke of Rothesay, lord of the Isles and baron of Renfrew, to and in favour of Sir James Scougal of Whitehill, one of the senators of the college of justice, and his heirs and assignees mentioned in the said charter, whereof the tenor follows:

[King William etc., with the advice of Patrick [Hume], earl of Marchmont, chancellor, James [Douglas], duke of Queensberry, Archibald [Campbell], earl of Argyll, William [Johnston], earl of Annandale, Adam Cockburn of Ormiston, Sir John Maxwell of Pollok, and the lords of the treasury, grants to Sir James Scougal of Whitehill and his heirs, (a) the lands of Nether Boddam including Bass and Over Boddam, with the mill, mill lands, etc. and their ten rectories and vicarages, lying within the parish of Insch and the sheriffdom of Aberdeen, formerly belonging to the inheritance of Alexander Gordon, son of the late Master Thomas Gordon in Kethocksmill, which were resigned with the consent of Dr George Middleton, principal of the College of Aberdeen, in favour of Sir James Scougal on 22 June 1698, along with any claim thereto on the part of Alexander Gordon or his heirs, the resignation being received by William, earl of Annandale and registered on 8 July 1698. The king once again grants the foresaid properties to Sir James Scougal and his heirs, along with any rights the king or his successors may have had or shall have in them. Sir James Scougal and his heirs are to make an annual payment of £60 Scots in two equal amounts, at Whitsunday [May/June] and Martinmas [11 November], along with other sums. The king promises to have this charter ratified in a later session of parliament. Witnessed by Charles [Hamilton Douglas], earl of Selkirk, Sir James Maxwell of Pollok, and Sir Charles Kerr. At [...], 12 January 1699, and in the tenth year of the King's reign.]

As also, his majesty and estates of parliament foresaid ratify, approve and confirm the precept of sasine foresaid contained in the charter above, and instrument of sasine following thereupon, in favour of the said Sir James Scougal, under the hand of William Johnston, notary public, of the date the [...] day of [...] 1700, and registered in the particular register of Aberdeen and Kincardine kept at Aberdeen, upon the [...] day of [...] 1700, in all and sundry the whole heads, points, articles, circumstances, clauses, tenors and contents of the charter foresaid, after the form and tenor thereof in all points. And moreover, our sovereign lord and estates of parliament will and grant and, for his majesty and his royal successors, discern, ordain and declare that the same shall be good, valid, effectual and sufficient rights and securities to the said Sir James Scougal and his foresaids, in manner and conforming to the said charter above-mentioned, for bruiking and enjoying the foresaid whole lands and others particularly and generally above-mentioned, and taking up the whole mails, duties, kanes, customs, casualties and profits of the same, and using and disposing thereupon at their pleasure in all time coming, without any clag, claim, stop, trouble or impediment whatsoever to be asked or moved by his majesty or his royal successors, excepting only the taxed ward duties above-specified, mentioned and set down in the foresaid charter, for now and forever, dispensing with the generality foresaid and with the not inserting of the sasine following upon the foresaid charter hereto word for word and at length, and which is held herein as repeated for the sake of brevity and with all other faults, defects and imperfections of the said charter and infeftment, or which may be proponed, objected or alleged against the validity thereof, or of this present ratification of the same.