Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-05-02
ON THE FOUL FORDS.
A GHOSTLY BAND OF RICERS ON THE
SCOTTISH BORDERS.

SCOTTISH BORDERS.
Tale of Spooks and Spirits Which Origi-
mated Century Ago-How Henry NeaIe
Made to His Father.
AT the beginning of the century q
blacksmith named John Neale lived
with his family in the secluded and ro-
mantle village of Longformacus, on the
border. He was by that time man of
middle age, with sons approaching man
hood. He was known all through the
country for his dissolute habits and in
temperate language. One day he went
to Greenlaw, about eight miles off, to
attend the funeral of sister, fully in
tending to be home in the course of the
afternoon. AS time wore on and nothing
was seen of him his wife and family be-
came somewhat alarmed, and they sat
up all night to wait for him. In the
early hours of the morning a heavy
weight was heard to fall against the
door of the house, and opening it to see
what was the matter Neale was 'discoy-
cred lying i'll fainting fit ON the thresh
old. He was put to bed and means were
used for his recovery, but when con-
sc1ousness returned he was raving mad
and talked of such terrible things that
his family were Mortified He continued
till next day in the same state, but at
length his senses came back, and he de-
sired that the minister might be sent
for, and when he came insisted ON see-
ing him alone. After long conversa-
ton with Mr.. Ord, Neale called his
family round his bed and required from
his wife and children in turn solemn
promise that none of them would ever
pass over that particular place on the
moorland track between Longformacus
and Greenlaw, known as the Foul Fords.
He assigned no reason for this demand,
and the required promise was given.
After this he spoke no more, but died
the same evening.
About 10 years after his death his
son, Henry Neale, who had succeeded
to his business of blacksmith and farrier
and had led as bad life as his father
had done, had occasion to go to Green
law.
1t was late in the afternoon before he
was ready to return home. The last per-
son who saw him as he was leaving the
little town was John Mickie, the Spottis-
woode shepherd. Neale tried to persuade
the latter to accompany him home,
which Mickie refused to do as to do so
would take him several miles out of his |
way. Neale begged him most earnestly |
to go with him, as he said he must pass
the Foul Fords that night, and then
used the strong expression that he would |
rather go through hellfire than to do |
what was before him. Mickie asked him
why he said he must pass the Foul
Fords, when by going little to the east
or to the west he might easily avoid
the place altogether, but Neale persisted,
and the other left him at last, good
deal surprised, for the circumstances Of
old Neale's death and the promise he
had extracted from his family were we'll
known throughout the country Henry
Neale was never seen alive again Next
a laboring man named Adam
Redpath, who was on his way from Cat
tiesh1els, the nearest farm, to his daily
sheep drains on the
moor-found him lying stone dead at
the Foul Fords. There was no mark of
violence on the body. He appeared to
have run for his life, for his hat, coat
and waistcoat were lying about 100
yards distance on the Greenlaw side of
the fords. His death made great stir
in the neighborhood, and Mr.. Orr, the
of Longformacus, feeling that
since the sons death his pledge of Sc
,recy was removed, told what the father
lad related to him, which was as fol
OWs:
Neale said that just as he had reached
'he Foul Fords on his return from Green ,
aw after attending his sisters funeral
lis attention was suddenly reused by {
hearing the tramping of horses behind
Inn. Looking around, he saw large
company of riders coming down the
noorland track two by two AS they i
approached, what was his horror to per- 1
elve that one of the two foremost was l
he sister whom he had seen that day
aid in her grave!
Among other riders he recognized
many friends and relations long since
lead. When the last two horses came
Up, he saw that one horse was ridden
y dark man whose face he had never !,
'efore seen. He was leading the other
lorse, which, though saddled and bri- +
led, was riderless, and on this horse r
he whole company tried to compel him
o mount Neale struggled violently, he
aid, for some time, and at last only
his freedom by promising n
hat the first of his family who should
ross the Foul Fords should go instead
f him.
Years have passed away, and nothing
says the writer, to tell of this
hastily struggle but tall gray stone
et up by my great grandfather, Mr.. a
pottiswoode, to mark the place. "a :
olume of Family History" by Miss
Varrender.