Patrick Halkett

PATRICK HALKETT (Sometimes written as Halkheid), despite a holograph will of 1542 he is stated to have died intestate and procurators had to be appointed to take inventory so that Patrick’s actual succession was delayed. He was already married (before 1544) to Margaret, daughter of William Ogilive of Balfour and secondly, but there appears to have been no issue of this marriage to Anna Durie, daughter of Sir James Durie of Durie, near Leven, the family of the last abbot of Dunfermline, and whether from that connection or not he benefited from being on good terms with Robert Richardson, the Commendator of the Abbey lands. It had become the practice in the later days of the Medieval Church to hand over the administration of church lands to a lay man or Commendator for an annual rental, and he could feu off these lands for his own benefit or the benefit of the crown.

Thus, even prior to the Reformation of 1560, Patrick acquired the remaining third of Pitfirrane as well as shorter term leases of Pitliver and Broadleys, and had further interest in Pitconnochie.

Patrick seems to have been on good terms with the Commendator of Dunfermline. Robert Richardson, who had been given the permission to feu off the Abbey lands, for we find that in 1559 Patrick receives a feu of the lands of Primrose, Knockhouse and Pitfirrane (i.e., the Abbey third). There is also a tack of 1566 of Pitliver and Braidleys to a Katherine Halkett. This gave rise to a lawsuit to decide the rightful possessor as Patrick had apparently some claim, having had a lease as early as 1553. From this we learn of the existence of David Adam Halkett, killed at Flodden, who had married a Helen Mason and had possession of Pitliver. Henry, his son, had allowed his mother to retain the lands along with his sister Katherine when the lease was renewed. Henry, with Patrick of Pitfirrane intervening was now suing Katherine and her husband Charles Danielson, for possession. Katherine was allowed to retain possession for a time, but the lands passed to Pitfirrane shortly afterwards.

Patrick was associated with his father in a lease of Knockhouse, wherein mention is made of the coal deposits. This is the first mention of coal mining in the Dunfermline are since 1291, though from later sources it is obvious tht the coal deposits were being exploited before 1542, the date of this lease. Coal was to play a major part in the finances of the Halkett family, a connection which was to last down into the early 20th century. We to know that the monks of Dunfermline had the right to mine in Pittencrieff since 1291 and it is likely that they would seek further supplies from elsewhere on their lands. All the mines would be surface mines, or at most very shallow pits, but the extent to which Pitfirrane developed the coal on their lands is show on by the grant by Mary Queen of Scots of a monopoly of exporting smithy coal, a monopoly which was in force until 1788 when it was purchased from the Halketts for a sum amounting to £40,000. The coal would be exported from Limekilns, where the Halketts developed salt pans as well as shipping facilities, though the latter would be dependent on loading from small boats. The whole area was well explored and developed. Much of the land around Cairneyhill and Crossford was undrained and marshy. In fact the shallow loch existed near Keavil and Logie which accounted for the name Crossford, and Pitfirrane itself may well have had a marsh as part of its defences in its early days.

These lands around Pitfirrane were all valuable for the surface seams of coal, now coming to be worked as a regular industry. It is not clear whether the Pitfirrane family had the full right to work the coal on lands other than from Pitfirrane, for the tack of Knockhouse may have expired, as we find that in 1560 George, Commendator of Dunfermline, grants Patrick a gift of the ninth load from that holding. Later, the Halketts of Pitfirrane had obtained a Charter in 1814 to export coal free of customs . This was renewed on 2 July 1865.

Ballingall is still held in superiority, though in possession of Robert Porterfield, son of Henry Poterfield, while Lumphinnans is held from Wardlaw of Torrie. Half of Pitconnochie is secured from Alan Cowtis, Chamberlain to the Abbey of Dunfermline, and burgess of that town, and is disponed to him again in 1569 and 1576. Patrick also retained the intimate connection with Dunfermline by being Provost from 1549 to 1553 and was also Bailie of the Regality of the Abbey in 1548.

Patrick was succeeded in July 1573 by his son, George, who was absent at his father’s death and was represented by his sister Margaret.

Issue -

1) George Halkett, who succeeded.

2) Margaret Halkett, who was married John Houston of Lanye in Renfrew.

Seventh Laird of Pitfirrane