| On 18. June 1738. he presented the following petition to the Court of Session, from which the then state of the family may be learned:
Unto the Right Honourable the Lords of Council and Session. The petition of Theodore Cheyne, eldest lawful son alive of the deceased Thomas Cheyne, and grandson and heir served of the deceased Mr Patrick Cheyne of Valley in Zetland, Humbly Sheweth, that the said deceased Mr Patrick Cheyne of Valley, your Petitioner's grandfather on the father's side, and Gilbert Gifford of Hogsetter, his (great) grandfather on his mother's side, died possest of considerable estates in Zetland, to both whom your petitioner has served heir in special. That the said Thomas Cheyne, your petitioner's father, never was entered heir to his predecessors, and that his eldest son Patrick, your petitioner's eldest brother, was born blind, and was a weak facile man, and addicted to drinking, whereby he was easily imposed upon to dilapidate his substance, which your petitioner is informed put away without any just or onerous causes, his creditors adjudged and got into possession, are long since paid by their intromissions. That your Petitioner is advised to bring a process of Reduction, Improbation, and Declarator before your Lordships, against the pretended possessours of these estates, but he being now reduced to great straits by the meaness of his circumstances, is not in a condition to defray his charge and expense of this process, as appears by a certificate of severalls of the Justices of the Peace and other gentlemen in Zetland herewith given in. May it therefore please your Lordships, &c.--THEODORE CHEYNE."4 |