Douglas of Mains
The family produced minor nobles in the Scottish court, perhaps the most notable of which was Malcolm Douglas, the 8th Laird, executed for treason in Edinburgh for conspiracy in the Raid of Ruthven.
The title become extinct (in 1928) when the last heir (Archibald Vivian Campbell Douglas) was granted a disposition to break the hereditary ownership of the estate (and therefore enabling him to sell it).
The Galbraiths were a great family in the shires of Stirling and Dumbarton, and in 1296 "Arthur de Galbrait" was one of the principal Barons of the nation who swore fealty to King Edward I.
In 1700 Balvie was sold to Robert Campbell, Writer to the Signet in Edinburgh, and it afterwards formed part of the Dougalston estates, which were purchased in 1767 by John Glassford, one of the most successful and respected merchants of his time.
The lands of Balvie were originally of large extent, but they had been gradually subdivided by sales and otherwise, and at the time of their purchase by the Mains family they were considerably smaller.
When John Campbell Douglas acquired Balvie, he made the house there the mansion-house of the family, changing its name to Mains, and extended it.
An Act of Parliament was passed on 28 August 1571 in favour of "Johnne Cuningham of Drumquhassel, Matho Dowglas of Manys, Captain Thomas Crawford of Jordanhill, and others takeris of the Castell of Dumbartane," discharging them of any criminal or civil liabilities incurred in the recapture of the castle.
[21] Malcolm Douglas of Mains was allegedly involved in an intrigue to recover debts owed to William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie by nobles in the king's court and to influence the Scottish monarchy.
Douglas of Mains and others including John Cunningham of Drumquhassle (a member of his wife's family[22] were brought before an assize, on 9 February 1584, for conspiring in the Raid of Ruthven.
[26][27] The story has been romanticised over time by many authors, including Sir Walter Scott, with Malcolm Douglas being described as a "gentleman of considerable property, and universally respected" and (by his enemies) "dreaded on account of his courage and independence of spirit".
The second witness, James Edmonstone of Duntreath was allegedly put on a false charge to make him corroborate the evidence in exchange for a pardon.
A West African slave from Guinea, named Scipio, was apparently taken as a child into the ownership of Andrew Douglas for three years before being transferred to Jean after her marriage, possibly to work as a page.
