• General Notes

  Yvone DE KIRKPATRICK, ,of Nithsdale
  
  Yvone was witness to a charter of Robert de Brus ,the Elder, prior to 1141,granting the fishing rights at Torduff to the monks of Abbeyholm.It was confirmed by Robert the Bruce's son ,who was Lord of Annandale 1141-1171.At this time,Robert also again granted fishing rights to Yvone for Blawode and Eister.
  
  I will add the legend of the Closeburn Swans at this point of the family story - there is mention of this legend in the records of Sir Thomas ,the 1st Baronet of Closeburn,later in this history.
  
  In days gone by, the lake of Closeburn Castle was the favourite resort during the summer season of a pair of swans, their arrival always being welcome to the family at the castle from a long established belief that they were ominous of good fortune to the Kirkpatricks.
  
  A young heir of Closeburn Castle(a lad of not quite thirteen years of age)in one of his visits to Edinburgh attended at the theatre a performance of "The Merchant of Venice," in the course of which he was surprised to hear Portia say of Bassanio that he should "Make a swan-like end, Fading in music."
  
  Often wondering whether swans really sang before dying he determined, at the first opportunity, to test the truth of these words for himself. On his return home, he was one day walking by the lake when the swans came sailing majestically towards him, and at once reminded of Portia's remark. Without a moment's thought, he lodged in the breast of the foremost one a bolt from his crossbow, killing it instantly. Frightened at what he had done, he made up his mind it should not be known; and, as the water drifted the dead body of the bird towards the shore, he buried it deep in the ground. No small surprise, however, was occasioned in the neighbourhood, when, for several years, no swans made their annual appearance, the idea at last being that they must have died in their native home, wherever that might chance to be. The yearly visit of the swans of Closeburn had become a thing of the past, when one day much excitement was caused by the return of a single swan, and much more so when a deep blood-red stain was observed upon its breast.
  As might be expected, this unlooked-for occurrence occasioned grave suspicions even amongst those who had no great faith in omens; and that such fears were not groundless was soon abundantly clear, for in less than a week the lord of Closeburn Castle died suddenly. Thereupon the swan vanished, and was seen no more for some years, when it again appeared to announce the loss of one of the house by shipwreck.
  
  The last recorded appearance of the bird was at the third nuptials of Sir Thomas Kirkpatrick, the first Baronet. On the wedding-day, his son Roger was walking by the lake, when, on a sudden, as if it had emerged from the waters, the swan appeared with the bleeding breast. Roger had heard of this mysterious swan, and, although his father's wedding bells were ringing merrily, he himself returned to the castle a sorrowful man, for he felt convinced that some evil was hanging over him. Despite his father's jest at what he considered groundless superstition on his part, the young man could not shake off his fears, replying to his father, "Perhaps before long you also may be sorrowful."On the night of that very day the son supposedly died..
  (Research): The name given to the valley of the River Nith, Nithsdale is the westernmost of the three ancient divisions of Dumfries-shire and was sometimes referred to as Strathnith or Stranith. It stretches from South Ayrshire to the Solway coast and includes the settlements of Dumfries, Thornhill, Closeburn, Sanquar and Kirkconnel.
  
  The Kirkpatrick family possessed estates in Nithsdale and Annandale as early as the 8th century. Situated on the border ,they were continually engaged in fights and fueds,which make a family historian's task somewhat difficult.
  
  In 1570 the Earl of Sussex entered Nithsdale with an army of 4000,and sacked Closeburn.
  
  In 1646 Douglas and others plundered Closeburn and removed "what was anyway transportable"
  
  In 1748 Closeburn was burnt to the ground,all family portraits and furniture,with the greatest part of all papers and documents were consumed.
  
  There are still ,however,sufficient documents,private and public,to enable a fairly accurate pedigree.
  
  In 1685 the Kirkpatricks' loyalty to Charles I of England was rewarded with a baronetcy,of Nova Scotia.
  
  In the late 17th century the Kirkpatricks moved out of Closeburn Castle to an adjacent, newly built manor house. However, this burned down in 1748, with the castle sustaining some damage. Renovations were made to the castle, and the family moved back into the Keep. The Kirkpatrick family finally sold Closeburn in 1783 to a local minister Dr James Stewart-Menteith. It has since changed hands several times, but is still occupied as a dwelling house. Today it is back in Kirkpatrick hands after being purchased by Don Luis Guillermo Kirkpatrick - O'Donnell of the Spanish family.

Details of Yvone's family