This is my seventh blog post in a series about some old papers of the WALKER family, from Kirkliston, West Lothian, Scotland. See a list of these papers HERE.
Below is one of several documents from an envelope labeled “Old Wills etc. of the Walker family”, which is part of a box full of family papers that I received from my aunt at a family gathering in January 2014. The contents of this envelope all date from the 1700’s.
I have already posted those documents that are by, or speak directly about my Walker ancestors. In this, and the following documents, I am unsure of the nature of the connection to the Walker family. Please see my notes at the bottom.
This is a Disposition by John Lishman to his wife, Isobell Gray. John was a witness to the marriage contract of my ancestors; William Walker and Elizabeth Barron, in 1728.
Please click on the images to see the scans at full resolution. Transcribed text appears in a Maroon colour below each scanned image. At the bottom I’ve made some notes of my own about the document.
Cover; 
Transcription of cover;
Disposition and
assignation
John Lishman
to
Isobell Gray, his
spouse
======
1749
======
155
200
520
140
220
——–
1235
276
——–
1511
213
63
——-
276
Page 1; 
Transcription of page 1;
Be it known to all men by these presents me John Lishman tenent in Craigie for as much as #
there was no contract of marriage betwixt me and Isobel Gray my Spouse the time of our ~ #
marriage that we have no children existing thereof And that the said Isobel Gray my spouse #
by her frugality and industry has been very Instrumentall in acquiring what means and effects #
we are possest of Therefore and for the love favour and affection that I have and bear to my #
said spouse and other grave and weighty considerations moving me Wilt ye me to have given #
granted assigned and disponed Like as In case she shall survive me and with and under #
the reservation and provision aftermentioned I by these presents Give grant assign and dispone #
from me my heirs executors and all others my assignoys To and in favours of the said Isobell #
Gray my spouse her heirs executors and assigneys whatsoever All and sundry debts and sums #
of money one addebted and resting or that shall be one addebted and resting to me the time #
of my decease by bond bill ticket accompt decreed paction promise or any other way whatso #
ever together with the haill voutchors and instructions of the said debts haill tenor and ~ #
contents thereof and all that may follow thereupon As also all and sundry my cropt and cornes #
of all kinds and denominations; haill Instruments of husbandry and labour with all goods gear and #
horss, nolt sheep household plenishing and furniture outsight and insight gold silver banknotes #
and all other moveables and execurtory as well heirship as others of whatsoever kind quality #
name of denomination the same be presently pertaining and belonging to me or that shall #
pertain and belong to me the time of my death Dispensing with the generality of these #
presents and declaring the same to be as sufficient valid and effectual in favours of my sd #
spouse and her foresaid As if every particular debt and haill other effects above Disponed had been #
herein specially and particularly in sort and disponed or as if the same had been disponed #
conform to a signed inventory And for that one I surrogat and substitute my said spouse and – #
her forsaids in my full right and place of the promisses for ever In case she survive me ~ #
with full power to her and them to ask crave receive intromelt with and uplift sell use and #
dispose upon the moveables and executry in my own possession and if need bees to call and #
pursue the debitors in the sums of money foresaid and to obtain decreets and use all maner of diligence #
for recoverie thereof compone transact and agree thereanent and upon payment to grant #
receipts and discharges which shall be sufficient and generally all and sundry other things #
necessary [aneul] the promisses to do and [exorce] amply and freely That I could do in my #
own lifetime or before granting this present Disposition and assignation which with #
and under the […] and provision after mentioned I bind and oblige me my heirs executors #
Page 2; 
Transcription of page 2;
and successors whatsoever to warrand to my spouse and her foresaids from my own property #
fact and deed allennerly done or to be done in prejudice hereof Reserving nevertheless #
to me my own liferent use and enjoyment of the haill promisses during my lifetime #
And full and free power to me at any time or upon sickbed or the paynt of death to alter #
innovat recall or change these presents in haill or in part as freely in all respects as if these #
presents has never been made or granted But in case these presents be not so changed and #
recalled by me and be found either in my own custody or in the keeping of any other – #
person for my behoove I declare the same shall be held and repale a delivered and valid #
evident in favours of my said spouse notwithstanding of any law or practisce in the #
contrary And in that case by her using and accepting of these presents she shall be bound #
and obliged to pay and [defray] all my sickbed and funeral charges servants fees and all #
other my just and Lawful debts Consenting to the registration hereof in the books of #
Council and session or other Judges books competent therein to remain for preservation #
To which effect I constitute.
My [prors..]: In witness whereof (Written upon stamped paper by #
Robert Blair Clerk of Queensferrie) I have subscrived these presents. Att Queensferry #
the Twenty fifth ~ day of March – One Thousand Seven hundred and #
fourtie nine years before these witnesses. Edward Ramage – ye merchant in #
Queensferrie and the said Robert Blair
John Lishman
Edward Ramage, junior witness
Robt: Blair, witness.
Notes;
Craigie; a farm laying southeast of South Queensferry, and northeast of Kirkliston village.
John Lishman (Leshman/ Leishman/ Lieshman); I have found a record from the parish registers of a marriage in Dalmeny, on 4th July 1705, between John Leechman and Isobel Gray. John Leishman was a witness to the marriage contract of my ancestors; William Walker and Elizabeth Barron, in 1728. I don’t have any firm evidence for a family relationship, but a suspicion that John Leshman might be a cousin of William Walker.
Parish records for Walkers in the Corstorphine area (compiled by Norman Walker) include a marriage between a Robert Walker and Janet Leshman, on 11th June 1691. They then had one daughter, Janet, christened on 16th July 1693. Could they also be the parents of my ancestor, William Walker? And could Janet Leshman be a sister or aunt of John Lishman?
If anyone knows of evidence that can prove (or disprove) my theories here, I would be very interested to see it. If you do, please leave a comment below, or use the Contact Page to get in touch. Thanks.
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