XIV. William Dennistoun, son of Archibald, minister of Campsie, and grandson of the above John, being but a boy at the time he was named provisional heir of the Colgrain estates, by the settlement of the last laird, was unable to preserve his rights intact against the interference of a number of interested individuals, who combined to take advantage of his father's weakness and the unprotected state of Colgrain's orphan daughters. The principal leader of this cruel conspiracy appears to have been William Semple of Fulwood, whose object was, by embarrassing the affairs of the Dalchurne family, to force them to sell to him that property which lay adjoining his estate of Kirkmichael, and to this policy he sacrificed the natural affection as well as the moral duty he owed to the daughters of Colgrain, as their uncle and guardian. With him were joined James, the brother of the late Colgrain, naturally anxious to overturn an arrangement which cut him off from his succession as heir male of the family ; and also Stewart of Scotstoun, who being donator of the marriage of the heiress, was enraged at being prevented from controlling her choice of a husband. The most formidable
opponent of these three was ere long silenced by the death of James, the heir male ; but the machinations of the others, besides occasioning much annoyance and expensive litigation, evicted the estate of Dalchurne in 1669, and landed the laird of Colgrain in a load of embarrassments which a long life was not sufficient, with the utmost prudence, entirely to clear.
"His hours hang be a har,
Duill and distres almaist to deid him draive."
It has been observed that marriages of convenience destined by relations long before the parties can judge for themselves are rarely accomplished, and still more rarely turn
out happily. That, however, of William Dennistoun with Margaret, the eldest daughter of the last Colgrain, proved an exception to this remark, perhaps owing in part to the obstacles latterly thrown in the way. It took place privately, by license from the Archbishop of Glasgow, 5th November, 1667, in a barn at the Faddens of Colgrain, by Mr. Hew Gordon, minister of Row. The mansion house of Camis-Eskan having been left unfurnished by the last laird, the young couple entered into possession of their estate with but a melancholy and desolate prospect. By dint of prudent management they were nevertheless able during many years in some degree to maintain the credit of the family, which had for several generations been declining. Precluded by his straitened circumstances from taking an active share in the convulsions which during his time agitated the political world, the Laird of Colgrain was forced to cherish in private life those feelings of loyalty which would otherwise have rendered him an active supporter of the high Tory party. His papers contain proofs of these sentiments as well as of a taste for literature, which appears to have been checked by the misfortune of defective education. He was named as Commissioner for the county of Dunbarton in the Acts of Supply for the years 1678- 1685 and 1704. In 1674 he was engaged in a scuffle with John Maxwell of Blastoun, in Paisley, and having been wounded, the matter was brought under the cognizance of the High Court of Justiciary; but the diet was deserted of consent, the matter having apparently been compromised. By his wife, Margaret Dennistoun, eldest daughter of the last Colgrain, who died 20th November, 1718, he had sixteen children, "of blooming beauty and promising wisdom and virtue," of whom only three grew up, and only one survived his parents
1. John, who succeeded him.
2. James, who died abroad, 29th October, 1720.
3. William, who died, 20th November, 1719.
