Wrangholm

Pringle of Wrangholm

For far too long the historians have been misidentifying Robert Pringle of Wrangholm. Because the farmstead of Wrangholm is located within the Barony of Smailholm, historians and genealogists have made the mistake of assuming that Robert was the son of Robert Pringle of Smailholm, the first laird, when he was probably a son of Alexander Pringle, a Douglas squire.  The Pringles of Smailholm only possessed the eastern part of the Barony of Smailholm and not all of it. The Pringles of Wrangholm rented Smailholm Tower, known as the tower at Smailholm Craigs from the Pringles of Smailholm and Gala. The Pringles of Smailholm and Gala lived at Old Gala House and not at Smailholm Tower. Robert Pringle of Wrangholm obtained sasine to Wrangholm in 1459, probably as payment for the office of Ranger of the Ward of Tweed in the Selkirkshire Forest. In 1460 he succeeded George Pringle, the Douglas squire, as Master Ranger of the Ward of Tweed.

Note by James B. Pringle

(late brother of Sir Murray Pringle of Stichill):

Robert of Wrangholm

The Index in Libros Responsionum (page 667) shows that Roberti Pringill obtained sasine to the lands of Wrangham, Smalhame in 1459. The actual document has been confirmed lost. But it is clear that Robert  obtained sasine to Wrangholm only (which was within the barony of Smailholm). Parts of east Smailholm had already be granted to Cranston and Ker of Cessford (1404) and the majority of the west of the barony had been given to Robert Pringill, Douglas squire, in November 1408.

I believe that the above Robert (master ranger) was the son and heir of Alexander, Douglas squire, who was last recorded as a juror in 1456. Robert could not have been the son of George, Douglas squire, as he was still alive and was still master ranger in 1460-1. George was attainted in 1460-1 and his son (I believe) Thomas resigned his (father’s) Philiphaugh lands shortly afterwards. 

The lineage of the Pringles of Wrangholm:

  1. Robert Pringill of Wrangholm, Master Ranger of the Ward of Tweed – got sasine of Wrangholm in 1459.
  2. Thomas Hoppringill of Wrangholm
  3. Thomas (2) Hoppringill of Wrangholm
    1. George
    2. John
    3. Thomas
    4. James
  4. George (1) Hoppringill of Wrangholm. Died in 1576.
  5. John Hoppringill of Wrangholm (his brother). Died in 1580.
    1. Thomas
    2. James. Tutor to his brothers children. 
  6. Thomas (3) Hoppringill of Wrangholm. Died in 1595.
    1. George
    2. John
  7. George (2) Pringill de Wrangholm – last of Wrangholm
  8. John Pringill, minister of Eglingham, Northumberland. In 1551 got a sasine of Boyd’s lands in Smailholm. Died in 1586.
    1. Thomas
    2. Andrew
  9. Thomas Pringill of Boyd’s lands in Smailholm
    1. Alexander
  10. Alexander Pringill of Boyd’s lands in Smailholm. Known as the “Laird of the Hill.”

This map shows the location of Wrangholm: