Does anyone have access to "Langholm as it Was." by John and Robert Hyslop, 1912? The only copies I see for sale are around $1000 and the Library of Congress does not have the book. I am looking for information on Archibald Beattie, Town Drummer of Langholm [1732 -1823]. Thanks, Laurel Baty, L252

Hi Laurel: I have the book here in Fort Wayne. I checked the index for Archibald Beattie, but there is no reference. This is a wonderful volume nonetheless and every Beatty should see it for its many references. There was some discussion about the coat of arms on the tombstone. Hyslop says this: "Some of the gravestones in Westerkirk, Canonby, and Ewes churchyard, and also that of Carruthers, bear the arms of the Beattison clan, and these sculptured arms are similar to those of the different families of Beattie, or its synonyms, found in most churchyards of the Borders. In virtually all of the arms, the cross-keys and the 'draught-board' design are found, but it does not necessarily follow that both or either of these indicate an armorial bearing. The cross-keys are found in many ecclesiastical coats and are the emblems of St. Peter. In mediaevil times they were a common sign of inns attached to religious houses. A local illustration of this is the Cross-keys hostelry in Canonby, a name which doubtless came down from the days of the old Priory." I also checked for Archibald in "The History of Liddesdale, Eskdale, Ewesdale, Wauchopedale, and the Debateable Lands" by Robert Bruce Armstrong. Only volume 1 was apparently ever produced. There is no index, but there is much on the prehistoric and medieval ruins of the area. Another great book for our clan but I suspect hard to find. The Batisoun arms, with checkerboard and crossed keys, appears opposite p. 174. On page 184, note 2, he states: "The arms illustrated are from a monumental stone in Westerkirk churchyard. On the Beate monumental stones in the border cemeteries the cross keys are generally to be found, but the lozenges occasionally appear in the base. Stacey gives Beatie of old, gules three lance heads, three points toward the chief argent, ms. Lyon office; and on a stone to the memory of Richard Beaty, 1734, in Pennersaughs churchyard, Middlebie parish, there is a shield with three lance heads. We find the name in connection with Berwick-on-Tweed in 1334 ..! . and with Northumberland in 1335." John L-24 >>> [email protected] 7/31/2007 2:55 PM >>> Does anyone have access to "Langholm as it Was." by John and Robert Hyslop, 1912? The only copies I see for sale are around $1000 and the Library of Congress does not have the book. I am looking for information on Archibald Beattie, Town Drummer of Langholm [1732 -1823]. Thanks, Laurel Baty, L252