Report on the Talk by Sir Hew Dalrymple

Life and Love in North Berwick
and London

Society President, Joy Dodd, welcomed member Sir Hew Hamilton-Dalrymple Bt DL to give the December lecture at Holy Trinity Church in Haddington. His grandfather had been an early member of the Society and his father was a former Vice – President.

The topic was the story of an earlier Sir Hew and his wife Margaret (nee Sainthill) who were married in July 1743. He was the 2nd Baronet of North Berwick who succeeded his grandfather to the title at the age of 25. She was the daughter of a London surgeon. Sir Hew had hoped for a 10,000 pounder wife but Margaret came with a respectable dowry of £4000 per year.
Sir Hew was the Whig MP for Haddington Boroughs which included North Berwick, Haddington, Dunbar, Lauder and Jedburgh. He had studied for the law in Edinburgh and Leyden but he had opted for a political career. This disappointed his grandfather, the 1st Sir Hew, who was the 3rd son of the Earl of Stair and Lord President of the Court of Session.
Although based in London, Sir Hew inherited the family estate at Leuchie. The lands included the Bass Rock and Tantallon. At that time North Berwick was a sleepy Royal Burgh. The area was mostly agricultural and moving from a landscape of runrigs to one of enclosed fields. The estate was managed by Sir Hew’s stepmother, Anne who frequently badgered him to repair the property.
The story of Sir Hew and his new wife was told through a series of letters which they sent to each other as they were parted whilst he went to visit his Scottish property, his constituency and a number of relatives. She and her parents went to stay at their country retreat in Wandsworth. During 4 months they wrote around 80 letters which are kept at the Edinburgh Records Office. Margaret, who he called Peg, would have liked more letters but the post from Dunbar to London could take a week! They show a clear devotion to each other but also the minutiae of life in the period.
Sadly, Margaret died in 1747 leaving a devasted Sir Hew with young sons Bob and Hew. He married again to Martha Edwin. He continued his political career as the MP for the Haddington County seat from 1747-61 and then again for Haddington Boroughs from 1761-68. He died in 1790 and was succeeded by the 3rd Sir Hew who changed the name to Hamilton-Dalrymple.

Society Events Co-ordinator, Ian Hardie, thanked Sir Hew for the fascinating talk which brought the lives of his ancestors to life.

The next lecture will be on the Peebles Hoard. 2.30 pm on 31st January at Holy Trinity Church, Haddington.

Report by Jacquie Bell