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Leswalt is a village and civil parish in Dumfries and Galloway,
south-west Scotland. It lies between Portpatrick and Stranraer in the
Rhins of Galloway, part of the traditional county of Wigtownshire. The
parish covers around 8 square miles.
In the Middle Ages, the area was probably divided into feudal baronies,
each controlled by a Baron of the Court, under the overall control of
the Sheriff of Wigtownshire. In ancient times it belonged to the monks
of Tongland Abbey.
In 1390 Archibald Douglas, 3rd Earl
of Douglas, granted lands at Leswalt to his illegitimate son or
relative, William Douglas
of Leswalt. William Douglas was self-styled "Lord of Leswalt", and
Sheriff of Wigton, but was dismissed by Margaret, Duchess of Touraine,
daughter of King Robert III of Scotland and wife of Archibald Douglas,
4th Earl of Douglas, as part of a power struggle in south-west Scotland.
Under duress he transferred lands at Lochnaw to Andrew Agnew, constable
of Lochnaw Castle, receiving Cruggleton Castle in exchange.
Andrew Agnew had been made hereditary constable of Lochnaw Castle by
William Douglas of Leswalt in 1426. He received several charters from
James I of Scotland, including one of 31 January 1431, confirming to him
and his heirs the office of heritable constable of Lochnaw, with the
whole lands and "Barony of Lochnaw". In 1451 Andrew Agnew was confirmed
as Hereditary Sheriff of Wigtownshire. In 1458 he was paid as sheriff.
In 1463 when George Douglas of Leswalt (son of William Douglas of
Leswalt and Katherine Maxwell) died, the lands of Leswalt and Cruggleton
reverted to the Crown, as a consequence of the forfeiture of all of the
properties of the Earl of Douglas in AD1456. They were appropriated by
Mary of Guelders, the Queen Mother, widow James II of Scotland, and were
subsequently claimed by Gilbert Kennedy (later Lord Kennedy), a
half-brother to George Douglas, for his son, John Kennedy. These passed
to his son, Alexander Kennedy, who made them over to his brother, David
Kennedy, 3rd Lord Kennedy, from whom the Earls of Cassilis are
descended.
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