But the Lords once more reversed their decision, and gave it in favour of
John Johnstone in 1718, whereupon he paid off those creditors who had obliged
the Beatties to leave Scotland. Richard Beattie was dead in 1718, but the
case was not finally ended till 1724, when James Johnstone was deputed by his
brother and his cousin Janet to make an amicable settlement with the other
creditors to avert any more legal suits. On Oct. 30, James wrote to his
brother, in a letter addressed "for John Johnstone of Galabank, in Annan,
Dumfries Bagge, North Britain," that he had made with some expenditure an end
of the whole affair, and obtained a receipt from Mrs Orr, his cousin, but a
creditor, and also an order to her lawyer to deliver up into John's hands all
the family papers she had received as a pledge, and the various legal
documents connected with the suit. James Johnstone wrote again on Nov. 2,
and stated that he was going to Chippenham. He died four and a half years
later (July 23, 1729), at the Blue Anchor Inn, in Little Britain, a part of
London much frequented by Scotsmen at that time. He was thirty-six, and was
buried in the St. Botolph's churchyard, Aldgate, but his name is inscribed on
one of the family monuments in Annan churchyard. He owned a small piece of
land in Annan, which he left to his brother, but debts amounting to £ 340 4s
English, which his brother paid. His funeral expenses were £ 17 4s 6d,
exclusive of the luncheon at the Blue Anchor, and the bill contains items now
long disused at the quiet funeral of a private gentleman, such as fourteen
men with wax lights two men with flambeaux to light the door, hire of
fourteen silver sconces and satin favors. There were sixteen mourners.
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A similar luncheon:
Painting an escutcheon to put over the house door cost one pound ten
shillings, and the frame four shillings and sixpence. The funeral luncheon
which was held at the Queensberry Arms, the only hotel in Annan, consisted of
a leg of roast mutton, a pigeon pie, fish and flounders, veal cutlets,
chicken, ham, and tarts, for sixteen gentlemen and four ladies, and cost one
guinea, exclusive of wine; ten tenants dined in another room for five
shillings, and the porter they all drank also cost five shillings.