The Pringles of Newhall and Stichill

(Newhall was originally called Craiglatch or Craigleith)

The Lineage of the Pringles of Newhall

William Hoppringill the 1st of Craigleith is believed to be the second son of Alexander Hoppringill, the second son of Adam Hoppringill of that Ilk who was the son of William Hoppringill the 1st to be designated of that Ilk.

William Hoppringill, 1st of Craigleith and Whitton, Constable of Cessford Castle
- Alexander Hoppringill, 2nd of Craigleith
  - Robert Hoppringill, 3rd of Craigleith, died at Flodden in 1513.
    - Alexander Hoppringill, 4th of Craigleith and Williamhope.
      - George Hoppringill, 5th of Craigleith, died 1602.
        George Hoppringill, 6th of Craigleith
        James Hoppringill, Master of Craigleith, predeceased his father
        Robert Pringle, 7th of Newhall, died in 1667. Succeeded by his uncle Robert in Caverton.
        Robert Hoppringill in Caverton, 8th of Newhall. Dispones the lands of Newhall to Sir Robert Pringle of Stitchill, 1st Bart.
        George Hoppringill, apprentice Surgeon in Edinburgh.
        William Hoppringill
        James Hoppringill, born 1642.
        Thomas Hoppringill
        Robert Hoppringill of Baitingbush, 1st of Stitchill – see his descendants below.
        John Hoppringill, died 1627
        James Hoppringill, apprentice tailor in Edinburgh.
        Thomas Hoppringill
      - Robert Hoppringill
        George Hoppringill, legitimised in 1577.
    - George Hoppringill

Badge of a Baronet of Nova Scotia

Badge of a British Baronet

The Pringles of Stichill, Craigcrook, Lochton, Edgefield and Weens

Robert Pringill of Baitingbush (now Batenbush), 1st Laird of Stitchill, born 1581, died 1649. MP Roxburghs 1639 and 1641. Ratification in favour of Robert Pringle of Stichill.
- John Pringill, Master of Stichill, predeceased his father in 1646.
  - Sir Robert Pringill, 2nd Laird and 1st Baronet (Nova Scotia) of Stitchill, so created 5th Jan 1682/3. MP Roxburghshire 1678 and 1682. Succeeded to Newhall in 1667. Died 1692.
    - Sir John Pringle, 3rd Laird of Stitchill, 2nd Baronet. (1662-1721).
      - Sir Robert Pringle, 4th Laird of Stitchill, 3rd Baronet. (1745-1779) Heir to his brother Gilbert Pringle of Torsonce.
        
        John Pringle, died in 1840 whilst at Edinburgh University.
        
        Colonel Sir James Pringle, 5th Laird of Stichill, 4th Baronet. Colonel in the 21st Regt. Royal Scots Fusiliers. Also served in the Royal Company of Archers of Scotland. H.M. Master of Works Scotland, MP Berwicks 1761-79. (1726-1809). His Portrait can be seen on the Royal Company of Archers website.
        
        Robert Pringle, Lieut. in the 2nd Dragoon Guards. Died 1809.
        
        Sir John Pringle, 6th Laird of Stichill, 5th Baronet. (1784-1869). Sold the house and lands of Stichill.
        
        James Pringle, died unmarried in 1865.
        
        Norman Pringle, drowned at Woolwich.
        
        John-Robert Pringle, died on a ship from India in 1847.
        
        Major Sir Norman Pringle of Newhall, 6th Baronet, of the 21st Regt. Royal Scots Fusiliers. (1787-1870). British Consul in Stockholm and Dunkirk.
        
        Colonel Sir Norman William Drummond Pringle of Newhall, 7th Baronet. 1st Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment. JP Selkirk. Member of the Royal Company of Archers. (1836-1897).
        
        Captain Sir Norman Robert Pringle of Newhall, 8th Baronet. (1871-1919). 16th and last Laird of Newhall, which was sold by his widow.

- - - - Sir Ronald Steuart Pringle, de jure 9th Baronet.(1905-1968).
        
        Sir Norman Murray Archibald MacGregor Pringle, 10th Baronet of Stichill. (1941-present). Recognized as Chief of the Clan Pringle by the Lord Lyon King of Arms, in February 2020.
        
        Alastair Steuart Ronald Pringle (1972-present).
        
        James Bruce Pringle
        
        Andrew Pringle
        
        James Drummond Pringle, born 1906.

- - - - Francis John Pringle, a Lieut. in the army, died unmarried.
        
        Walter Louis Pringle, a Senior Clerk in the Privy Council, died 1884.
        
        Francis Pringle, W.S. Died unmarried in 1760.
      - Gilbert Pringle of Torsonce. Married the heiress of the last Hoppringle of that ilk.
      - Walter Pringle, Advocate and Sheriff-depute of Roxburgh.
      - Dr. Sir John Pringle of Pall Mall, London, 1st Baronet. Physician to George III. President of the Royal Society. Born 1707, died 1782.
    - Sir Walter Pringle of Lochton, Lord Newhall

Robert Pringle of Lochton. Lands passed to Stitchill.

- - - Robert Pringle, Under Secretary of State for Scotland for King William III.

Robert of the Middle Temple, no issue.

- - - Thomas Pringle W.S.

Robert Pringle, Lord Edgefield, of the Court of Session. Sheriff-Depute of Banffshire.
- Sheriff John Pringle, Advocate, Sheriff Depute of Stirling in 1780, of Edinburgh in 1790, and a Principle Clerk of Session in 1793. Died unmarried in 1813. .
- Thomas Pringle, Major in the 13^thDragoons and Lieut.-Colonel in the 67^th
- James Pringle, a Major-General in the I.Co.. Left two daughters.
John Pringle W.S.
- John Pringle who died in Paris in 1772.
Captain Francis Pringle, Lieutenant in the Earl of Drumlanrig’s Regt. Later Lieut. Of the 62^ndRoyal American Regt. Of Foot. Died in London in 1805.
Walter Pringle, Merchant, drowned in the West Indies.
- Vice-Admiral Thomas Pringle of Weens. [See picture to the right]In 1794 he was promoted to Rear-Admiral of the Blue, and of the Red in 1795. Appointed Vice-Admiral of the White in 1799 and of the Red in 1801. He bought the estate of Weens in Roxburghshire in 1796, but it was sold by his trustees in 1804. Obituary. Wikipedia. More info.

- - - Dr Francis Pringle of Newhall

- - - - George Pringle, died unmarried in 1759.
    - Captain Archibald Pringle of Colonel Hamilton’s Regiment of Foot. Died unmarried in Edinburgh.
  - Walter Pringill of Craigcrook, Advocate, died 1685.
    - John Pringle of Craigcrook, writer in Edinburgh
    - Walter Pringle
    - Robert Pringle, writer in Edinburgh.
  - Francis Pringill of Rowiston, Greenlaw.
    - Alexander Pringle, Ensign in the Army. Died 1702 in Edinburgh.
    - Professor Francis Pringle, one of the Regents of the College of St Andrews. Commonplace book of Francis Pringle.
  - James Pringill
  - Wiliam Pringill
- Walter Pringill of Greenknowe – for his descendants see our Greenknowe page.

Relatives who were incorrectly registered as Baronets of Stichill:

Norman Hamilton ‘Pringle’, 9th Baronet; (1903-1961) Squadron Leader RAF during WW II.- Illegitimate uncle of present Baronet.
Lt-Gen Sir Steuart Robert ‘Pringle’, 10^thBaronet, KCB. (1928-2013) Commandant General of the Royal Marines and an honorary Admiral of the Texas Navy. Obituary in the Scotsman Newspaper and Telegraph Newspaper. – First cousin of present Baronet.

Note by James Bruce Pringle (brother of Sir Murray Pringle of Stitchill):

I was persuaded in 2000 to the view that we were probably descended from Smailholm and I ‘corrected’, that is to say I removed Stichill’s second crest and motto from Burkes Peerage. I have since revised my views and returned to my original understanding due in part to the family’s Bonds of Manrent and their application e.g. the feud between Stewart v Pringle and the close involvement that the Newhall/Stichill family had with Hoppringill of that Ilk between 1581 and 1737, during which time Newhall/Stichill were treated as the senior cadet by that Ilk.

NEW CLAN CHIEF

Sir Norman Murray Archibald MacGregor Pringle of that Ilk and of Stichill, 10th Baronet,

Chief of the Name and Arms of the Honourable Clan Pringle.

In 2009, Murray Pringle officially petitioned the Lord Lyon, King of Arms (the Heraldic Authority in Scotland), for recognition as the Chief of the Name and Arms of the Honourable Clan Pringle, however the case was delayed until the his claim for the Stichill Baronetcy was resolved. After he successfully claimed his Baronetcy, he attended the Lyon Court on 27th June 2019 in Edinburgh, where the Lord Lyon heard Sir Murray’s petition. Sir Murray’s case was successful and the Lord Lyon has recognized his entitlement to the chiefship.

We invite all Pringles to read the official documents from the Lyon Court.

Petition to the Lord Lyon, King of Arms (4/10/2018)

Official Notice from the Lyon Court (3/12/2018)

Interlocutor from the Lord Lyon (28/03/2019)

Lord Lyons decision: Pringle Findings and Reasons (18/02/2020)

The Lord Lyons judgment also appears here: CourtOfTheLordLyon.scot.

The Pringle of Stichill Baronetcy

The Pringle of Stichill Baronetcy (Nova Scotia) was created by HM Charles II on 5th January 1682/3 for Sir Robert Pringle of Stichill, the MP for Roxburghshire. In 2013 there arose a legal dispute between Simon Pringle and Murray Pringle, as to whom was legally entitled to be enrolled as the Baronet of Stichill. HM Queen Elizabeth II personally referred the case to The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (which also acts as the UK Supreme Court) for a legal ruling. They decided in favour of Sir Murray Pringle who became enrolled as the tenth baronet.

The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council:

‘In the matter of the Baronetcy of Pringle of Stichill’ – Transcript of the Judgment (20/06/2016).

YouTube Video of Judgment: https://youtu.be/gHH614eK8W8

25/11/15 – BBC News: Legal dispute over Pringle of Stichill baronetcy.

26/11/15 – BBC News: Pringle of Stichill baronetcy decision “finally” sought.

20/06/16 – BBC News: Pringle of Stichill baronetcy battle won by accountant

To fame let Flatt’ry the proud column raise,

And guilty greatness load with venal praise,

This monument for nobler use design’d

Speaks to the heart, and rises for mankind;

Whose moral strain, if rightly understood,

Invites thee to be humble, wise and good.

Learn here of life, life’s ev’ry sacred end,

Hence form the father, husband, judge and friend:

Here wealth and greatness found no partial grace,

The poor look’d fearless in th’ oppressor’s face;

One plain good meaning thro’ his conduct ran,

And if he err’d, alas! he err’d as man.

If then unconscious of so fair a fame

Thou read’st without the wish to be the same,

Tho’ proud of titles, or of boundless store,

By blood ignoble, and by wealth made poor,

Yet read; some vice perhaps thou may’st resign,

Be ev’n that momentary virtue thine,

Heav’n in thy breast here work its first essay,

Think on this man, and pass unblam’d one day.

Online book: The poems and songs of William Hamilton of Bangour

Online book: Records of the Baron Court of Stitchill, 1655-1807; (1905)

Online book: Diary of George Ridpath, minister of Stitchel, 1755-1761

Online book: Memoirs of Walter Pringle of Greenknow, Edinburgh 1751.

Online book: The Memoirs of Walter Pringle, ed. by Rev. Walter Wood, with notes and an appendix. Edinburgh 1867.

Online book: Commonplace book of Francis Pringle

Online book: Our Journall into Scotland, Anno Domini 1629, 5th of November, from Lowther.

Online book: Royal Letters, Charters, and Tracts, Relating to the Colonization of New Scotland, and the Institution of the Order of Knight Baronets of Nova Scotia, 1621-1638.

Online book: A History of the Baronetage, by Francis Pixley

The Standing Council of the Baronetage – www.baronetage.org.

www.debretts.com/people/essential-guide-peerage/baronetage

www.debretts.com/forms-address/titles/baronet

RedBookOfScotland.co.uk – The Red Book Project – Scottish Genealogy

www.cracroftspeerage.co.uk/online/content/pringleb1683.htm

Major Sir Norman Pringle of Stitchill, 6th Baronet (22nd chief of the clan) was instrumental in protecting civilian properties along Pennsylvania Avenue during the Burning of Washington by the British Army in the 1812 War.

Letters by Major Norman Pringle, late of the 21st Royal Scots Fusileers: vindicating the character of the British Army, employed in North America in the years 1814-15, from aspersions cast upon it in Stuart’s “Three Years in North America” Second version here.
Refutation of aspersions on “Stuart’s years in North America.” by James Stuart
Three years in North America, vol 1, by James Stuart
Three years in North America, vol 2, by James Stuart
A biographical sketch, by William Winston Seaton of the “National intelligencer.” (On pages 117 and 118 there are complimentary references to Major Norman Pringle, later 6th baronet, in regard to the British burning of Washington D.C. on 24th August 1814.)
The Burning of Washington by Anthony S. Pitch. (there is a reference to Major Pringle on page 13.)

The cap badge of the 21st Regiment, the Royal Scots Fusiliers

Name meanings:

Craigleith – Creag = hill ; leith = side.

Craiglatch – Craig = Rock/hill; Latch = OE for ‘Boggy land’.

Stitchell/Sitchel/Stychill = Steep hill.

Newhall or Craigleith Tower:

The Book ‘The Stow of Wedale’ by Rev Thomas Wilson, published in 1924, states on page 66, “A few yards to the north of the farmhouse of Newhall, it is still possible to trace the foundations of the old keep, which, like the typical Border peel, must have been very substantially built.”

Williamhope

Williamhope is named for Sir William Douglas, the Knight of Liddesdale, who died at Williamhope in 1353 (His biography can be read here). The Pringles of Craigleith held Williamhope since at least 1541 for a few generations. As can be seen from this picture, Williamhope looks allot like Hoppringle. Williamhope later became the property of the Stoddart family, however their descendants have Pringle DNA according to findings in the Pringle DNA Project.

See:

Online books by Thomas Tod Stoddart, some of which contains a history of the family: