Walter "Auld Wat" Scott of Harden, 2nd Laird

WALTER SCOTT OF HARDEN

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

12 September 1621: Extract antenuptial contract of marriage between David Pringill, eldest son of Sir James Pringill of Gallascheills, and Margaret Scott, only child of Walter Scott of Harden by Margaret Edger, his [?second] spouse. With ratification, 22 November 1625, by said Margaret, relict of said David, now spouse of Sir William McDougall by McKerstoune, kt., and Sir William Scott of Harden, and other papers, 1621-30. Papers of the Scott Family of Harden, Lords Polwarth, Berwickshire, reference GD157/1549

Genealogy

1. Stirnet Edgar 1
2. Stirnet: Scott 07
3. The Scots Peerage : founded on Wood's ed. of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland; containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom. Edited by Sir James Balfour Paul, Lord Lyon King of Arms. Volume VII. (David Douglas, Edinburgh, 1910), 592 pp. See pp. 73-5 for the family of Walter Scott of Harden

Biographical Summary by Wikipedia

Walter Scott of Harden (b. bef. 1563 - d.1629), also known as Auld Wat, was a notorious Border Reiver. Wat was born before 1563 when he was recognised as his father's heir by precept of clare constat, by Alexander Home, 5th Lord Home, his father's feudal superior, and died "at a great age" in 1629.

• from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Scott_of_Harden

An infamous freebooter, he led raids across the Border and against his fellow countrymen. In 1592 he was one of those charged with taking part in the attempt to capture King James VI at Falkland Palace, led by the Earl of Bothwell, and was declared rebel and outlaw. Scott also participated in the rescue of Kinmont Willie Armstrong, under his chief, Walter Scott of Buccleuch from Carlisle Castle in 1596.

Biographical Summary by The Scots Peerage

WALTER SCOTT of Harden had a precept of clare constat from Alexander, Lord Home, as heir of the deceased Walter Scott of Harden, his father, on 13 April 1563, and was seised in the lands of Harden as such on 22 June 1566.9 He, presumably from the great age to which he lived, was commonly known as 'Auld Wat,' and was the hero of various marauding expeditions, which were the theme of many a border ballad and tradition.

Page 74
Walter, Francis and Hew, his sons
He died at an advanced age in 1629.
He married (contract dated at Selkirk 21 March 1567) [other sites have 1576] Mary or Marion, called ' The flower of Yarrow,' daughter of John Scott of Dryhope,11 and, secondly (contract dated 9 April 1598), Margaret, daughter of John Edgar of Wedderlie and relict of William Spotswood of that Ilk.

https://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/families/scotts_harden.htm
"the original contract for the marriage, which bears date at Selkirk, 21st March, 1576, and the parties to it are Walter Scott of Harden, and John Scott of Dryhope, for his daughter, Marion Scott. Walter and Marion became bound to celebrate their marriage before Lammas [Aug.1] then next" This contract date may be an error.

Dates of children's births on this site are based on marriage dates.

He had issue by first marriage : —

1. WILLIAM, his heir.

2. Hugh, second son, in Greenhead, was cautioner for John Quhyte in Greenhead 12 February 1623.2 He married (contract dated at Selkirk 17 March 1621) Jean, daughter and heiress of Sir James Pringle of Galashiels,3 and was ancestor of the Scotts of Gala.

3. Walter, in Essinside, killed in a fray at a fishing by Symon Scott of Bonny toun and others.4 He married (contract 22 April 1614) Elspeth, daughter of John Hay of Haystoun.5 She survived him and married, secondly, William Scott.8 His sisters Jean and Margaret were served heir to him 18 February 1641.7

4. Francis, had a charter to his father in liferent and himself in fee, of the lands of Howfuird from Walter Scott of Howfuird 26 May 1624,8 and another charter in 1627 of the lands of Sinton from Walter, Earl of Buccleuch, with consent of George Scott of Synton, Isobel Douglas his mother, and Mary Gladstaines his wife.9 He married, in 1624, Isobel, sister of Sir Walter Scott of Whitslaid, and was the ancestor of the present family of Corse-Scott of Synton.

5. Margaret, called 'Maggie Fendy,' married to Sir Gilbert Elliot of Stobs.

6. Esther, married, first, to Elliot of Falnash, and secondly, to George Langlands of that Ilk.

7. Janet, married (contract dated at Selkirk 23 October 1613) to Thomas, son of Walter Scott of Whitslaid.

Issue by second marriage : —

8. Margaret, only child, married, first (contract dated at Selkirk 12 September 1621), to David Pringle, younger of Galashiels, and second, before 22 November 1625,to Sir William Macdougall of Mackerston.

He is also said to have had three other daughters, married to Geddes of Kirkurd, Scott of Tushielaw, and Porteous of Headschaw.

The Scots peerage : founded on Wood's ed. of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland; containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom. Edited by Sir James Balfour Paul (David Douglas, Edinburgh, 1910), see pp. 73-5 for the Family of Walter Scott of Harden

Scott, 1118-1923 : being a collection of Scott pedigrees containing all known male descendants from Buccleuch, Sinton, Harden, Balweary, etc. page 152

This site adds additional children - George and Isobel
William
Walter
Hugh
Francis
George
Margaret
Ester
Janet
Isobel

Property

• http://genforum.genealogy.com/harden/messages/1039.html

Before Cowdenknowes became a Barony by Royal Charter of January 15th, 1634, It was a stronghold of the Homes, (pronounced 'hume') they were allies of the Kerrs who were enemies of the Scott's. Sir John Home of Cowdenknowes had actually been responsible for the murder of Scott of Buccleuch in Edinburgh high street is 1552. Walter Scott (Auld Wat O' Harden) had owned the land up to the border of Cowdenknowes which was the river Leader leading down to the Tweed at Melrose.

• Dryhope

The castle belonged to the Scotts of Dryhope, and a daughter of the House , Mary Scott was known as the "Flower of Yarrow" and was also an ancestor of Sir Walter Scott. Mary was given in marriage to Wat Scott of Kirkhope, a notorious Border Reiver. The property passed to Wat Scott's family, the Scotts of Harden, and Scott took possession of Dryhope following his marriage. However, in 1592, Wat Scott fell out of favour with King James VI due to his association with Francis Stewart, 1st Earl of Bothwell. King James levied an army and proceeded through the forest and slighted many houses of his opponents. Wat Scott did not get off lightly and Dryhope was amongst Scott of Harden's fortalices that were slighted. The tower seems to have been rebuilt by 1613.

• Harden Castle

Boltfoot’s son was the renowned Walter Scott of Harden, commonly called ‘Auld Wat,’ whose marauding exploits have been commemorated in many a Border tradition and ballad. The old castle of Harden, the stronghold of this renowned freebooter, which is still in good preservation, stands on the very brink of a dark and precipitous dell, through which a scanty rivulet steals to meet the Borthwick, a tributary of the Teviot. Leyden, in his ‘Scenes of Infancy,’ has given a description, as accurate as it is spirited, of the appearance of the mansion, and its surrounding scenery.

In the recess of the glen on the edge of which the mansion stands, Wat of Harden kept his spoil, which served for the maintenance of his retainers. When the supply was exhausted the production of a pair of clean spurs in a covered dish, was a significant hint to the hungry band that they must seek a supply of beeves from the Northumbrian pastures to replenish the larder. (Electric Scotland)

Family

• The son of William Scott of Harden, Wat was born before 1563 when he was recognized as his father's heir by precept of clare constat, by Alexander Home, 5th Lord Home, his father's feudal superior.

Married

1. In 1567 [or 1576], Wat Scott contracted to marry Mary Scott, daughter of John Scott of Dryhope, and known as the "Flower of Yarrow". When supplies were low she allegedly presented a set of spurs on a platter instead of meat, implying that the Scotts should ride out and replenish them from their neighbours' herds.[1]
2. He married again in 1598 to Margaret Edgar, widow of William Spottiswoode of that ilk, and daughter of John Edgar of Wedderlie.

Wat Scott had eight legitimate children by his two wives.

By his wife Mary Scott:

1. Sir William Scott
2. Hugh Scott
3. Walter Scott
4. Francis Scott
5. Margaret Scott
6. Esther Scott
7. Janet Scott

By his wife Margaret Edgar:

1. Margaret Scott

He is also said to have had three illegitimate daughters.[2]

Biography-

WALTER SCOTT OF HARDEN

The short biographical account which follows was copied from the following website:

www.houseofharden.com/cowdenknowes/auldwat.htm

One of the most famous border Reivers was Walter Scott of Harden, commonly known as “Auld Wat”, he was a renowned marauder and many of his exploits have been commemorated in Border traditions and ballads. His stronghold was the old castle of Harden just to the west of Hawick which is still in a good state of preservation, it stands on the very edge of a dark and precipitous dell, through which a small rivulet runs to meet the Borthwick, a tributary of the Teviot. Leyden, in his “Scenes of Infancy”, has given a description both accurate and lively, of the appearance of the mansion, and it’s surrounding scenery;

‘Where Bortha hoarse, that loads the meads with sand,

Rolls her red tide to Teviot’s western strand,

Through slaty hills, whose sides are shagg’d with thorn,

Where springs in scattered tufts the dark green corn,

Towers wood-girt Harden, far above the vale,

And clouds of ravens o’er the turrets sail;

A hardy race, who never shrunk from war,

The Scott, to rival realms a mighty bar,

Here fixed his mountain home—a wide domain,

And rich the soil, had purple heath been grain.’

In the dark recess of the glen on the edge of which the mansion stands, Auld Wat kept his ill gotten gains, which helped to feed and maintain his followers, Legend has it that when the food supply was running low, Auld Wat would be served a clean pair of spurs under a covered dish, as a hint from his followers that they were getting hungry and that it was time to replenish the food supply with fresh beeves from Northumbria, very romantic, but I have my doubts as to the truth of this legend, it seems incongruous to me that a man possessing such powerful leadership quality’s and hard nature , would allow himself to be told by his followers in this way.

‘And loud and loud, in Harden tower The quaigh gaed round wi’ mickle glee; For the English beef was brought in bower, And the English ale flowed merrilie. They ate, they laughed, they sang and quaffed, Till nought on board was seen, When knight and squire were boune to dine, But a spur of silver sheen’. Sir Walter Scott the celebrated poet and novelist, who was probably the most famous of the Hardens, relates in connection with this custom “Upon one occasion when the village herd was driving out the cattle to pasture, the old laird heard him call out loudly to drive out Hardens cow. “Hardens cow”! Roared their affronted chief. “Is it come to that pass? By my faith, they shall soon say Hardens Kye” (cows). With that he blew hard on his horn, set out with his followers, and the next day returned with a bow of kye and a bassened (brindled) bull.

Upon returning with his gallant prey, he passed a large haystack and it occurred to the old laird that the haystack would be extremely convenient to fodder his new cattle, but as no means of transporting it were available to him, “he was fain to take leave of it”, with the apostrophe, which has now become proverbial, “By my saul, had ye but four feet ye should not stand long there”, As Froissart says of a similar class of feudal robbers, nothing came amiss to them that was not too heavy or too hot.

Auld Wat’s bugle-horn is often referred to, and an engraving of it is given in the “Scotts of Buccleuch”, it shows it’s surface completely covered in initials, cut or burned into the horn.Sir Walter Scott, who must have often seen this interesting relic, describes it in the “Reivers Wedding”;

'He took a bugle frae his side, With names carv’d o’er and o’er, Full many a chief of meikie pride That Border bugle bore. He blew a note baith sharp and hie, Till rock and water rang around; Three score of moss-troopers and three Have mounted at that bugle sound.’ In the spirit-stirring ballad of ‘Jamie Telfer’ there is a most picturesque description of old Harden weeping for very rage when his kinsman, Willie Scott of Gorrinberry, was killed in the fray.

‘But he’s taen aff his gude steel cap, And thrice he’s waved it in the air; The Dinlay snaw was ne’er mair white, Nor the lyart locks of Harden’s hair. "Revenge! revenge!" Auld Watt ‘gan cry; "Fye, lads, lay on them cruellie! We’ll ne’er see Teviotside again, Or Willie’s death revenged sall be."’ Sir Walter evidently had this striking picture in his eye when he wrote the famous description of Hardens appearance at Branksome, in the ‘Lay of the Last Minstrel’;

'An aged knight, to danger steel’d, With many a moss-trooper came on; And azure in a golden field, The stars and crescent graced his shield, Without the bend of Murdieston. Wide lay his lands round Oakwood tower, And wide round haunted Castle-Ower; High over Borthwick’s mountain flood, His wood-embosom’d mansion stood; In the dark glen, so deep below, The herds of plundered England low; His bold retainers’ daily food, And bought with danger, blows, and blood. Marauding chief! his sole delight The moonlight raid, the morning fight; Not even the Flower of Yarrow’s charms In youth, might tame his rage for arms. And still, in age, he spurn’d at rest, And still his brows the helmet press’d, Albeit the blanched locks below Were white as Dinlay’s spotless snow. Five stately warriors drew the sword Before their father’s band; A braver knight than Harden’s lord, Ne’er belted on a brand.’ Sir Walter Scott writes in a note to the ballad of “Jamie Telfer”, that Walter Scott of Harden (Auld Wat) was married to Mary Scott, celebrated in song by the title of the “Flower of Yarrow”, and reputed to be the most beautiful woman of her time.

By their marriage contract the father of that lady was to supply Sir Walter with horse meat and mans meat for a year and a day at his tower of Dryhope; but five barons pledged themselves that at the end of that period the son-in-law should remove without attempting to continue in possession by force--- a strange condition which was referred to as a curious illustration of the unsettled character of that age. According to another traditionary account, sir Walter, for his part agreed to give Dryhope the profits of the first Michaelmas moon. In his writings Sir Walter adds that the original contract is in the charter-chest of the present Mr Scott of Harden, and that a notary-public signed for all the parties to the deed as none of them could write their names. By the “Flower of Yarrow” the laird of Harden had six sons, five of whom survived him, and his extensive estates were divided among them. It is said that the sixth son was slain, at a fray in a hunting match, by the Scotts of Gilmanscleugh, and that his Brothers “flew to arms”, but the old laird afraid for their lives and also wishing to stop a feud from starting, locked them all in the dungeon of his tower, he then rode post haste to Edinburgh, reported the crime, and as compensation received a gift of the lands of the offenders from the crown. Upon his return to Harden with equal speed, he released his sons from their confinement and showed them the charter, the old savage worrier then cried “To horse lads and let us take possession, the lands of Gilmanscleugh are well worth a dead son”. Once obtained, the lands remained in the family until the beginning of the last century, when they were sold by John Scott of Harden to Anne, Duchess of Buccleuch.

Another of the many interesting stories of this redoubtable man which, like so many others has been passed down and preserved in tradition, tells of yet another of the forays made across the border into Cumberland by Harden retainers. Upon their return laden with spoil, which lay scattered in heaps around the hall, the beautiful lady of the mansion heard a wailing sound from one of the bundles, and upon unwrapping it Found an infant, who flung his arms around her neck, and clung to her breast. She subsequently took charge of the little captive, and brought him up as her foster-child. Although he spent his life at Harden, he had no taste for the wild and adventurous enterprises of its marauding inmates, and spent his life in the quiet scenes of pastoral pursuits. He is said to have been the author of some of the most beautiful songs and ballads on the Borders. Leyden, in his “Scenes of Infancy”, has written this touching story in the following beautiful lines;

‘The waning harvest-moon shone cold and bright, The warder’s horn was heard at dead of night; And as the massy portals wide were flung, With stamping hoofs the rocky pavement rung. What fair, half-veiled, leans from her lattice hall, Where red the wavering gleams of torchlight fall? ‘Tis Yarrow’s fairest flower, who through the gloom looks wistful for her lover’s dancing plume. Amid the piles of spoil that strew’d the ground, Her ear, all anxious, caught a wailing sound With trembling haste the youthful matron flew, And from the hurried heaps an infant drew. Scared at the light his little hands he flung around her neck, and to her bosom clung; While beauteous Mary soothed, in accents mild, His fluttering soul, and clasped her foster-child. Of milder mood the gentle captive grew, Nor loved the scenes that scared his infant view; In vales remote, from camps and castles far, He shunned the fearful shuddering joy of war; Content the loves of simple swains to sing, Or wake to fame the harp’s heroic string. His are the strains, whose wandering echoes thrill The shepherd, lingering on the twilight hill, When evening brings the merry folding hours, And sun-eyed daisies close their winking flowers. He lived o’er Yarrow’s Flower to shed the tear, To strew the holly leaves o’er Hardens bier; But none was found above the minstrel’s tomb, Emblem of peace, to bid the daisy bloom; He, nameless as the race from which he sprung, Saved other names, and left his own unsung.’ Auld Wat of Harden died about 1629, at a great age, his eldest son, Sir William, succeeded him as Baron of Harden; his second son, Walter, was killed by the Scotts at Gilman’scleugh. His third son, Hugh, was the progenitor of the Scotts of Gala. The old and ancient estate of Sinton passed in his will by Auld Wat to his fifth son, who is the ancestor of the modern family of Sinton. Wat’s six daughters, who almost certainly inherited their mother’s great beauty, all married Border lairds. Margaret, the eldest, married Gilbert Elliot of Stobs, who for reasons now lost was called “Gibby with the Gowden (golden) Garters”. The fourth daughter married the famous freebooter, Scott of Tushielaw, who was later know as “King of the Border”.

Sources

1. Borland, Rev. Robert,Border raids and reivers. Dalbeattie, 1898. pp247-248
2. Balfour Paul, Sir James, The Scots Peerage IX vols. Edinburgh 1904. vol vii, p75

Links

1. House of Harden: Auld Wat
2. Electric Scotland: The Scotts of Harden
3. http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=jimscott&...
4. https://deriv.nls.uk/dcn30/9671/96715542.30.jpg
5. https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/215859/?offset=#p...

“Auld Wat” of Harden was a notorious Reiver in his day. He famously remarked, as he passed a haystack on returning from a raid, “Aye if ye had fower legs ye wouldnae stand there lang”. A later and more celebrated Walter Scott, “The Bard of Abbotsford”, was a descendant of Wat of Harden.

Wat’s stronghold at Harden overlooked the Harden Glen; traditionally a hiding place for cattle reived by the Scots from across the Border. His old tower was demolished in 1592 on the orders of James VI and its exact location is now uncertain. The present mansion of Harden dates only from the 17th century.

In 1595 Wat of Harden and several Elliots stole 2 mares and a foal from the Gelt in July and 60 head of cattle from Triermain later in the year. In the following year his foray into Gilsland with 400 men netted 300 cattle and 20 horses; he burned 20 houses, stole £400 of goods and “mutilated” several people. In 1597 he raided Bellingham with 300 riders, killing 3 men and driving off 400 cattle.

The bare facts of these raids are stark reminders of the turbulent state of the Borders in the 16th century. Wat was involved in the rescue of Kinmont Willie from Carlisle and took part in the Raid of Falkland in 1592 when Bothwell tried to capture James VI. It was this exploit that led to the demolition of Wat’s stronghold at Harden.

A popular tale about Wat is that at his marriage to a noted beauty, Mary Scott, his father-in-law agreed to keep him for a year and a day provided that Wat undertook not to forcibly take possession of the father-in-law’s house at the end of that period.