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RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
RECORDS OF A
FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON
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RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
INTRODUCTION
THE SURNAME OF STEVENSON
FROM the thirteenth century onwards； the name； under the various
disguises of Stevinstoun； Stevensoun； Stevensonne； Stenesone； and
Stewinsoune； spread across Scotland from the mouth of the Firth of Forth
to the mouth of the Firth of Clyde。 Four times at least it occurs as a
place…name。 There is a parish of Stevenston in Cunningham； a second
place of the name in the Barony of Bothwell in Lanark； a third on Lyne；
above Drochil Castle； the fourth on the Tyne； near Traprain Law。
Stevenson of Stevenson （co。 Lanark） swore fealty to Edward I in 1296；
and the last of that family died after the Restoration。 Stevensons of
Hirdmanshiels； in Midlothian； rode in the Bishops' Raid of Aberlady；
served as jurors； stood bail for neighbours … Hunter of Polwood； for
instance … and became extinct about the same period； or possibly earlier。
A Stevenson of Luthrie and another of Pitroddie make their bows； give
their names； and vanish。 And by the year 1700 it does not appear that
any acre of Scots land was vested in any Stevenson。 （1）
（1） An error： Stevensons owned at this date the barony of
Dolphingston in Haddingtonshire； Montgrennan in Ayrshire； and several
other lesser places。
Here is； so far； a melancholy picture of backward progress； and a
family posting towards extinction。 But the law （however administered；
and I am bound to aver that； in Scotland； ‘it couldna weel be waur'） acts as
a kind of dredge； and with dispassionate impartiality brings up into the
light of day； and shows us for a moment； in the jury…box or on the gallows；
the creeping things of the past。 By these broken glimpses we are able to
trace the existence of many other and more inglorious Stevensons； picking
a private way through the brawl that makes Scots history。 They were
members of Parliament for Peebles； Stirling； Pittenweem； Kilrenny； and
Inverurie。 We find them burgesses of Edinburgh； indwellers in Biggar；
Perth； and Dalkeith。 Thomas was the forester of Newbattle Park； Gavin
was a baker； John a maltman； Francis a chirurgeon； and ‘Schir William' a
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RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
priest。 In the feuds of Humes and Heatleys； Cunninghams；
Montgomeries； Mures； Ogilvies； and Turnbulls； we find them
inconspicuously involved； and apparently getting rather better than they
gave。 Schir William （reverend gentleman） was cruellie slaughtered on the
Links of Kincraig in 1582； James （'in the mill…town of Roberton'）；
murdered in 1590； Archibald （'in Gallowfarren'）； killed with shots of
pistols and hagbuts in 1608。 Three violent deaths in about seventy years；
against which we can only put the case of Thomas； servant to Hume of
Cowden Knowes； who was arraigned with his two young masters for the
death of the Bastard of Mellerstanes in 1569。 John （'in Dalkeith'） stood
sentry without Holyrood while the banded lords were despatching Rizzio
within。 William； at the ringing of Perth bell； ran before Gowrie House
‘with ane sword； and； entering to the yearde； saw George Craiggingilt with
ane twa…handit sword and utheris nychtbouris； at quilk time James Boig
cryit ower ane wynds； 〃Awa hame！ ye will all be hangit〃 ' … a piece of
advice which William took； and immediately 'depairtit。' John got a maid
with child to him in Biggar； and seemingly deserted her； she was hanged
on the Castle Hill for infanticide； June 1614； and Martin； elder in Dalkeith；
eternally disgraced the name by signing witness in a witch trial； 1661。
These are two of our black sheep。 （1） Under the Restoration； one
Stevenson was a bailie in Edinburgh； and another the lessee of the
Canonmills。 There were at the same period two physicians of the name
in Edinburgh； one of whom； Dr。 Archibald； appears to have been a famous
man in his day and generation。 The Court had continual need of him； it
was he who reported； for instance； on the state of Rumbold； and he was for
some time in the enjoyment of a pension of a thousand pounds Scots
（about eighty pounds sterling） at a time when five hundred pounds is
described as 'an opulent future。' I do not know if I should be glad or
sorry that he failed to keep favour； but on 6th January 1682 （rather a
cheerless New Year's present） his pension was expunged。 （2） There need
be no doubt； at least； of my exultation at the fact that he was knighted and
recorded arms。 Not quite so genteel； but still in public life； Hugh was
Under…Clerk to the Privy Council； and liked being so extremely。 I gather
this from his conduct in September 1681； when； with all the lords and their
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RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
servants； he took the woful and soul…destroying Test； swearing it 'word by
word upon his knees。' And； behold！ it was in vain； for Hugh was turned
out of his small post in 1684。 （3） Sir Archibald and Hugh were both
plainly inclined to be trimmers； but there was one witness of the name of
Stevenson who held high the banner of the Covenant … John； 'Land…
Labourer； （4） in the parish of Daily； in Carrick；' that ‘eminently pious
man。' He seems to have been a poor sickly soul； and shows himself
disabled with scrofula； and prostrate and groaning aloud with fever； but
the enthusiasm of the martyr burned high within him。
（1） Pitcairn's CRIMINAL TRIALS； at large。 … ＇R。 L。 S。＇ （2）
Fountainhall's DECISIONS； vol。 i。 pp。 56； 132； 186； 204； 368。… ＇R。 L。 S。＇
（3） IBID。 pp。 158； 299。 … ＇R。 L。 S。＇ （4） Working farmer： Fr。
LABOUREUR。
‘I was made to take joyfully the spoiling of my goods； and with
pleasure for His name's sake wandered in deserts and in mountains； in
dens and caves of the earth。 I lay four months in the coldest season of
the year in a haystack in my father's garden； and a whole February in the
open fields not far from Camragen； and this I did without the least
prejudice from the night air； one night； when lying in the fields near to the
Carrick…Miln； I was all covered with snow in the morning。 Many nights
have I lain with pleasure in the churchyard of Old Daily； and made a grave
my pillow； frequently have I resorted to the old walls about the glen； near
to Camragen； and there sweetly rested。' The visible band of God
protected and directed him。 Dragoons were turned aside from the
bramble…bush where he lay hidden。 Miracles were performed for his
behoof。 ‘I got a horse and a woman to carry the child； and came to the
same mountain； where I wandered by the mist before； it is commonly
known by the name of Kellsrhins： when we came to go up the mountain；
there came on a great rain； which we thought was the occasion of the
child's weeping； and she wept so bitterly； that all we could do could not
divert her from it； so that she was ready to burst。 When we got to the top
of the mountain； where the Lord had been formerly kind to my soul in
prayer； I looked round me for a stone； and espying one； I went and brought
it。 When the woman with me saw me set down the stone； she smiled； and
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