AUCHTERLONY,
the surname of an ancient Forfarshire family, who formerly
possessed the barony of Kelly in the parish of Arbirlot. Rather
more than two miles west of Arbroath, on the edge of a precipice,
at the side of the river Elliot, are the ruins of the castle of
Keily, otherwise Auchterlony. The first proprietor of Kelly
noticed in history was Roger de Moubray, an adherent of Edward the
First of England, who, in the distribution of the estates of the
Scottish barons opposed to his pretensions as lord paramount of
Scotland, bestowed these lands upon him. In 1321, Moubray was
declared a traitor, and his barony forfeited. Kelly was then
conferred on the steward of Scotland, the son-in-law of Bruce. In
the reign of Robert the Second we find Alexander Auchterlony
designed of Kelly. This Alexander Auchterlony married Janet,
daughter of Sir William Maule of Panmure, knight, and got with her
the lands of Greenford, in the same parish. It would seem that the
barony of Kelly had passed from him or his successor, for it is
recorded that William Auchterlony acquired Kelly in the year 1444,
and from that date till 1630 it remained in possession of the
family of Auchterlony. At the Reformation the chief of the
Auchterlonies, according to tradition, was very active in the
destruction of the abbey of Arbroath. Being indebted to the abbey
steward, at the head of three hundred men he attacked the abbey,
and setting fire to it, burnt all evidence of a claim against him.
Among the witnesses to a charter of a donation to the hospital at
Dundee, dated 2d May 1587, appears the name of David Auchterlony
dom, de Kelly, who is supposed to have been either the
incendiary or his son. Kelly now belongs to Lord Paumure, and the
ancient family of Auchterlony is represented by John Auchterlony
of Guynd, Esq— See OCHTERLONY.