Help with 1732 Sasine

[goldie61]

Hi guys
This one from 1732 is much more difficult – the writing is even more cramped and the letters not so well formed . I believe they had to buy their own books – hence the vested interest in cramming as much as possible on every page!
Going to need some help with this please.

I’ve also done it in two halves so the resolution is better, but they will be on the next post as it won't let me post all of them together on this one.

Got as far as this :

‘with the rest of that therein just and equal half of the eight  (?) shilling land in Strathaven which belonged to the decease Michael Marshall which half being a part of the croft(?) of Strathaven  and the right and (?) of casteing yearly on dark (?) of ? and faill and ? ? ? for upholding the said house ? ? of ? groats is presently possessed by James ? merchant  John Thomsone

“Casteing’ – casting may have something to do with the peat mosses that were around there. ‘Casting’ is stacking them up to dry I think.

Many thanks experts 

[goldie61]

Two halves so they can be blown up better

[GR2]

eight is right
n.b. deceast, pairt, croaft
servitud
divoat necessarly
howse on the moss of [should probably be followed by a name]

Fail and divots might be burned as fuel, but they were also commonly used for building house walls.

[goldie61]

Thanks GR2.
I thought it might be something to do with the peat mosses around there.

What do you think the name of the moss might be?  - that first letter is a bit odd - it looks like 'Toray groats' ? I think I might have to find some local knowledge - can't get anything from Google.

Can you make out what the couple of words after 'casting' are? - do you think it might be 'dark of peits' - peats ? There are many instances where there the letter 't' has no cross on it. I have been reading about the black peat mosses around that part of the country. That would fit with 'faill and divoat'

Cheers

[GR2]

Can't quite make out the name of the moss.

The other bit is "on darks of peits". He has made "dark" plural by mistake.

"on" = one

"dark" = darg = a day's work

He has, as part of the servitude, to do one day's work at the peats.

[goldie61]

gosh! How fascinating. Thanks GR2.

I have found another bit much later on that gives the name of the moss again - attached.
'Coray groats"?

Also, what is he 'free' of ?  'to be holden of them in free bl...?
 

[GR2]

I does look like Coraygreats.

"in free blensh".

Ultimately "blench/ blensh/ blanch" comes from a word meaning "white". Just like "blank". "Blench ferme" was rent paid not in kind, but in money - i.e. in white money = silver. If you held land "in free blench", the rent was nominal, perhaps a penny, just as a way of the vassal acknowledging his superior.

[goldie61]

Gosh GR you are a font of knowledge!
I would never have got that.
That's brilliant!

I have just a couple more bits in this one - it has been quite a struggle, not just the tiny cramped ill-formed writing, but he periodically runs out of ink before getting more on his pen, plus he gives up trying to write in straight lines!
Will post the other bits soon.

Many thanks again

[goldie61]

‘& requiring on John Thomsone mason in Strathaven & each of …………
…………………..in that part specially’

John Thomsone was the bailie in Strathaven.
I think it’s the part in the Sasine where he is asking the witnesses ‘singly and jointly’,  but it doesn’t seem to be those words here.
The line carries on from ‘each’ at the end of the first line, to ‘of ……….‘
at the bottom of my second clip, and the line curves upwards.

Cheers