Laidlaws of Chapelhope
In an old, two volume set called "The History of Selkirkshire or the Chronicles of Ettrick Forest," by T. Craig-Brown, 1886, a copy of which is in the University of British Columbia Library, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, the following entry refers to Chapelhope, Selk.:
For two centuries and more Chapelhope has been tenanted by a family bearing the honoured Forest name of Laidlaw. It is said that when Claverhouse first approached Yarrow in search of conventicle-haunters Laidlaw's wife asked him and his troop to Chapelhope, where she provided such liberal entertainment as satisfied them of their host's undoubted loyalty.Yet Chapelhope was quite a noted refuge for threatened Covenanters, on whose behalf the Laidlaws incurred heavy expenses, to the impairment of their fortunes.Nor were the Laidlaws less eminent farmers."I wish," says Mr. Wight in his survey of 1777, "to be particular upon Robert Laidlaw, tenant of Chapelhope, a very young man, extremely industrious, and well educated by his father in the knowledge of sheep. ...His steers, after being wrought in the plough till seven years of age, frequently draw L. 18 the pair."
Hope at the end of such names would have been pronounced "oop," as in Will o' Phaup, or Phauhope, pronounced "Faw-oop."
Alan Fish
More Replies:
-
Re: Laidlaws of Chapelhope
Rodger Reedy 10/05/13