A  precept  of  clare  constat,  dated  at  Edinburgh,  16th
November  1723,  was  granted  by  Sir  James  Campbell  of
Auchinbreck  and  others  as  commissioners  of  John  Campbell
of  Calder,  in  favour  of  William  Dallas  of  Cantray,  as  nearest
heir-male  of  the  deceased  Alexander  Dallas  of  Cantrey,  his
grandfather,  in  the  lands  of  Cantrayleis  and  Drummoir
{Cantray  Chart),  and  to  the  sasine  following  on  5th  December
1723,  James  Dallas  in  Galcantra  is  a  witness,  Mr.  Hugh
Dallas  being  notary.  {Reg,  Sas,,  Inverness,  viii.  fol.  161.)
There  is  recorded  another  sasine  dated  17th  August  1724,
in  terms  of  a  precept  from  Chancery  dated  at  Edinburgh,
3rd  July  1724,  which  states  that  the  late  Alexander  Dallas
of  Cantra,  father  of  William  Dallas,  now  of  Cantra,  bearer

M


178  THE  FAMILY  OF  DALLAS

of  these  presents,  died  last  vest  and  seased  in  the  lands  of
Croy  :  one  of  the  witnesses  is  James  Dallas,  indweller  in
Galcantray.     (Cantray  Chart)

The  laird  had  for  many  years  neglected  to  make  provision
for  his  wife,  as  contemplated  in  his  contract  of  marriage,
but  on  12th  September  1724  sasine  was  given  to  Isobel  Dallas,
spouse  to  William  Dallas  of  Cantray,  in  terms  of  a  disposition
by  him  to  her  in  fulfilment  of  their  contract  of  marriage,
whereby  he  dispones  to  her  in  liferent  the  lands  of  Cantrey,
Ballafreis,  Croy,  and  Drummoir,  which  is  to  be  void  if  she
marry  again  after  his  death.  Reservation  is  also  made  of  the
liferent  of  Christian  Dallas,  his  mother.  The  disposition
is  dated  at  Cantray  also  on  12th  September  1724,  and  is
witnessed  by  John  Dallas,  son  to  Bessie  Dallas  in  Galcantra,
James  Dallas  there,  and  Hugh  Dallas,  Town  Clerk  of  Fortrose,
while  to  the  sasine  the  same  John  and  James  Dallas,  and
WiUiam  Dallas  of  Cantray  himself,  are  witnesses.  {Reg.  Sas,,
Liverness,  viii.  fol.  196.)

Between  the  years  1714  and  1725  there  are  a  large  number
of  protests  and  inhibitions  against  the  laird,  always  with
relation  to  small  sums.  One,  of  30th  July  1714,  is  interesting
as  being  at  the  instance  of  William  Duff  of  Dipple,  the  amount
in  question  being  the  trifling  sum  of  £27, 15s.  7d.  ;  and  another,
dated  10th  July  1723,  by  Angus  M'Intosh  of  Culilachy,  is  for
'  quantity  of  fifty  boals  good  and  sufficient  well  winewed  and
dight  bear  of  the  growth  of  the  lands  of  Cantray.'  But
generally  the  proceedings  are  entirely  wanting  in  interest.
