The Maclellans despite their grievance with the King over Bombie where ever faithful to the crown during this time were among the beneficiaries of the redistribution of wealth and titles and would receive key positions in the years that would follow.
William is best known for dispatching Black Morrow, sometimes referred to as Black Murray, an outlaw who was terrorizing the area that prompted James II of Scotland to promise the Barony to Kirkcudbright to the Maclellan family should William capture the man’s body, dead or alive.
William gathered his followers and defeated the band of marauders, carrying the beheaded head of their leader Black Murray on the end of his sword to King James to prove the success of what was asked.
The King in his delight commended William for his deed but whether purposely or not forgot to mention the reward that was promised.
The crest which the new provost was an erect right arm grasping a dagger, on the point of which was Black Morrow's head.