Alexander Seton of East Lothian

SETON

1. ALEXANDER-

Alexander witnessed a charter to lands in Roxburghshire, granted by King David I to Walter de Riddale about 1150.(1)

The origin of the Seton famly is unknown. From a manuscript at the British Museum from the 16th century it states that "their surnam came home with King Malcolme Camoir foorth of Ingland".(2) Chalmers in his "Caledonia" states that the first Setons were members of a Norman family named Say and that they obtained from David I land in East Lothian which were called Say-tun. No authority was given for these statements and no evidence on the subject seems to exist. Sir Richard Maitland of Lethington wrote a "Historie or Chronicle of the Hous and Surename of Seytoun" down to the year 1559. He was of the opinion that King Malcolm Canmore "gaif to the predecessour and forebear of my Lord Seytoun the surename of Seytoun... appearandlie be ressoun that the gentilman... possessit the landis of Seytoun for the tyme... thay landis ar callit Seytoun for ane grit caus, becaus thay ly hard upon the Sey cost and the Toun thairof is neir to the Sey."(3)

Alexander was the proprietor of Seton and Winton in East Lothian and of Winchburgh in Linlithgowshire.(4)

Issue-

  • 21. PHILIP- m. ?Alice, daughter of Waldeve, Earl of Dunbar, ? Matilda Corbet, d. after 1184

    Ref:

    (1) "Early Scottish Charters"- Sir Archibald Lawrie, Glasgow, 1905, p.179
    (2) British Museum, Harleian MSS, 1423, fol. 60
    (3) Issued by the Maitland Club, Glasgow, 1829- pp.15-6
    (4) "The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh, 1880

    "The Scots Peerage"- Vol. VIII, pp.559-60


    2I. PHILIP (ALEXANDER 1)

    m. ?Alice, daughter of Waldeve, 4th Earl of Dunbar
    ?Matilda Corbet (m.2. Patrick de Ridale)
    d. after 1184

    Philip had a charter from King William the Lion between 1177 and 1185 confirming the lands of Setune, Wintune and Winchelburgh which had been his father's.(1) Maitland in his genealogy states that Philip died in the 14th year of the reign of King William (1178/9), however, he seems to have witnessed a Crown charter which cannot be given a date earlier that 1184.(2)

    Philip is said to have married Alice, daughter of the 4th Earl of Dunbar, however, it seems probable that he was the husband of Matilda Corbet as her son Alexander de Seton became security for her in 1216.(3) There is an undated charter by Matilda Corb renouncing the claim by her husband Patrick Ridale to her part of the lands of Lillesclive which was witnessed by Alex de Setun her son.(4)

    Issue-

  • 3I. ALEXANDER-
  • II. Thomas-
  • III. Emma- m. Adam de Pollisworth

    Ref:

    (1) Eglinton Charter Chest- quoted in "The History of the Family of Seton During Eight Centuries"- George Seton, Edinburgh, 1896, Vol. I, p.68
    (2) Registrum de Dunfermelyn- Bannatyne Club, 1842, p.39
    (3) "The History of the Family of Seton"- Vol. I, p.63; Liber Sancte Marie de Melros- Bannatyne Club, 1837, Vol. I, p.249
    (4) Liber Sancte Marie de Melrose: Munimenta Vetustiora Monasterii Cisterciensis de Melros, Bannatyne Club, Ediburgh, 1837- Tome I, 282, p. 249

    "The Scots Peerage"- Vol. VIII, pp.560-1


    3I. ALEXANDER (ALEXANDER 1, PHILIP 2)

    d.c. 1246

    Alexander was given a charter to the lands of Setune, Wintune and Wincelburgh at Forfar by King William the Lion about 1195 as son of Philip de Setun.(1) Alexander de Seton, knt, occurs frequently throughout the reign of Alexander II. He was a witness to a charater dated 12 Feb. 1236 by Alexander II to Kinloss Abbey.(5) He made a donation to Dunfermline Abbey for the benefit of his soul before 1246 and probably died shortly afterwards.(2)

    Dunfermline Abbey

    Alexander's estate was not settled for many years. A decreet of the Court of Sessions registered 10 Feb. 1620 gives the names of the alleged ancestors of George, third Earl of Winton (the plaintiff in the case), up to Alexander's father Philip. It has been assumed that this judicial proceeding proves each link in the chain, however, this is not the case as the decreet merely embodied the summons and the pleadings of the parties as was customary and the line of succession was neither proved before the Court nor accepted in any way by the judges.(3) "Bartine Seytoun" was said by Maitland to have "succedit to Alexander, his father" which is possible. There is a Bertram, son of Alexander de Settone, who had a grant from Patrick of Dunbar, Earl of March, of the lands of Richelkellach in East Lothian about 1201. Sir Robert Douglas in 1769 said that he had examined "the whole papers of the family of Winton" when he wrote his Peerage of Scotland and he omits him from the line of succession.(4)

    Issue-

  • ?I. Bertram-
  • ?4II. SERLO-

    Ref:

    (1) Eglinton charter chest- quoted in "The History of the Family of Seton"- Vol.II, p.842; see also Harleian MSS 4693, fol. 11a by Sir James Balfour at the British Museum.
    (2) Registrum de Dunfermlyn- 101
    (3) Reg. of Acts and Decreets- cccxxxvii, 352 at HM Gen. Reg. House
    (4) Harl. MSS- 4693, fol. 11a; Peerage of Scotland- Edinburgh, 1764, p. 702
    (5) Records of the Monastery of Kinloss- J. Stuart, Edinburgh, 1872- p. 114

    The Scots Peerage- Vol. VIII, pp.561-2


    ?4II. SERLO (ALEXANDER 1, PHILIP 2, ALEXANDER 3)

    Seyer de Seton had a charter of an annual rent from the mill and mill lands of Tranent, granted by Roger de Quincy, Earl of Winchester about 1246. He seems to be identical with Serlo de Seton whose name occurs in several charters along with Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan. In 1264 he accounted to the Exchequer for the rents of 2/3 of the Lothian estates of the deceased Roger de Quincy as he was his attorney.(1) About 1260 Serlo de Seton witnessed, along with his son Alexander, a charter to the Monastery of Holyrood by Sir Fergus Comyn, Lord of Gorgyn.(2)

    In Douglas' Peerage, 2nd edition, it is stated that Barbara, daughter of Serlo was married to William de Keith, however, there seems to be no early authority for this statement or for this lady's existence.

    Issue-

  • 5I. ALEXANDER-

    Ref:

    (1) Exchequer Rolls- I, 33
    (2) Liber Cartarum Sancte Crucis, Munimenta Ecclesie Sancte Crucis de Edwinesburg- Bannatyne Club, Edinburgh, 1840- 87, p. 75

    The Scots Peerage- Vol. VIII, p. 562


    5I. ALEXANDER (ALEXANDER 1, PHILIP 2, ALEXANDER 3, SERLO 4)

    m. ? MARGARET GIFFARD

    Alexander de Seton, knight, son of Sir Seyer de Seton, may have been the representative of Bertram de Seton for about 1271 he granted, for the good of the souls of himself, his wife, and his heirs, a charter to the Abbey of Melrose or the lands mentioned above which were granted to Bertram by the Earl of March in Richelkellach.(1) An Alexander Seton was in the Holy Land with the King of England's son Edward in 1270.(2) He swore allegience to Edward I in 1296.

    Issue-

  • 7I. ALEXANDER- m. CHRISTIAN of Straloch

    Ref:

    (1) Liber Sancte Marie de Melrose: Munimenta Vetustiora Monasterii Cisterciensis de Melros, Bannatyne Club, Ediburgh, 1837- Tome I, 223, p. 199
    (2) Chronica de Mailros

    The Scots Peerage- Vol. VIII, pp.562-3


    1. ADAM-

    Lord of Seton, Hinderwell in 1246 and 1272.

    Issue-

  • 2I. ROBERT-


    2I. ROBERT (ADAM 1)

    Issue-

  • 3I. ADAM-


    3I. ADAM (ADAM 1, ROBERT 2)

    In 1284/5 18d. was paid by Adam de Seaton to the King's bailiff for the lands in Hinderwell as the heir to Robert de Seaton. In 1287/8 the Escheator was ordered to seize all tenements of Adam de Seaton who held of the heir of Robert de Thweng. (1)

    Issue-

  • 4I. JOHN-

    Ref:

    (1) A History of the County of York North Riding- William Page, Ed, Victoria County History, 1923- Vol. II, article on Hinderwell at: British History Online at: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=64675


    4I. JOHN (ADAM 1, ROBERT 2, ADAM 3 )

    m. ? ERMINIA LASCELLES
    d. before 1299

    St. Mary's Church- Kirkburn

    Norman Font- St. Mary's Church

    John de Seaton was a knight of Robert de Brus of Annandale and was indicted for offences in Cumberland in 1285. He granted the vills of Gamblesby and Unthank, Cumberland to Robert de Brus and Christine his wife, with reversion to himself.(2)

    Inquisition made by order of the king directed to the Escheator, before the Escheator at Driffelde, on the Nativity of the Blessed Mary, 27 Edw. (8 Sept. 1299), by Richard de Brunne, John de Crouncewyk, Adam le Stabeler, Alan de Pokethorp, Walter de Cotum, Thomas de Carliolo, Thomas de Wymthorpe, William Fossarde, John Sommonur of Lokguton, William de Northorpe, Thomas Walran, and William Marshall of Ake, who say upon their oath that John de Seton held nothing of the King in chief in the Wapentake of Harthill (Herthylle) in the county of York, but he held in Suz Brune [Southburn, Kirkburn], in the said Wapentake, seven and a half tofts, with fifteen bovates of land, of which each bovate, with the said tofts, is worth by the year 13s. 4d. in all its issues, paid half yearly at Whitsuntide and Martinmas. Total �10. There is no other approvement John held the land in Kirkburn of William le Latimer, son of William le Latimer by homage and foreign service, where eight carucates makes one knight's fee. John's son, Christopher, was 21 years of age at Lady day last. The Inquisition Post Mortem for John's Cumberland property was held on 11 Sept. and showed that he held one-third of the manor of Skelton in chief by the service of cornage, and another third by a rent of 26s. and homage and fealty. A similar inquition was taken at Stokesley on Monday, the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (14 Sept.) by Robert de Ackelom, John de Merske, John de Malteby, William Humette, William del Hou, Robert de Elredley, Walter de la Chaumber, Hugh de Stunstale, Alan de Bolleby, John, Jon of Thomas of Hylderwelle, Thomas de Boington, and John du Vale, stated that John de Seton held the manor of Seton [near Whitby] in his demesne as of fee of William le Latimer and Lucy his wife by the service of the fourth part of a knight's fee for all service, and hel held nothing there of the King. There is a chief messuage, worth 3s per year in herbage.There are 224 acres of land in demesne with each acre worth 6d. per year for a total of �6 12s. Five acres of meadow at 2s per acre for a total of 10s and a watermill worth 13s. 4d. per year. John de Dale holds one toft, worth 16d a year and 24 acres at 6d an acre for a total of 13s. 4d. John, son of Thomas holds 2 bovates of land at 3s each. Agnes, daughter of Yvo holds one toft worth 2s. Alan Glede holds one toft and one bovate of land worth 3s. Robert Foreman holds one toft worth 12d. Robert Warand hold one toft worth 16d. Marjory de Redding holds an assart worth 4s a year. Henry Piper holds an assart worth 4s. John de Rome holds a toft worth 8d. These firmars pay their farms, the said sums by equal half yearly payments at Whitsuntide and Martinmas. Total �9 13s. 8d. (1)

    Issue-

  • 6I. CHRISTOPHER- m. CHRISTIAN BRUCE (m.1. Gratney, Earl of Mar, 3. 1326 Sir Andrew Moray of Bothwell, d. 1357, bur. Dunfermline), executed Oct. 1306
  • II. John- executed Oct. 1306(2)
  • III. Humphrey- executed Oct. 1306

    Ref:

    (1) Yorkshire Inquisitions- William Brown, Ed, The Yorkshire Archaeological Society Record Series- Vol. XXXI, pp. 99-100
    (2) A History of the County of York North Riding- William Page, Ed, Victoria County History, 1923- Vol. II, article on Hinderwell at: British History Online at: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=64675


    6I. CHRISTOPHER (ADAM 1, ROBERT 2, ADAM 3, JOHN 4)

    b.c.1278
    m. CHRISTIAN BRUCE (m.1. Gratney, Earl of Mar, 3. 1326 Sir Andrew Moray of Bothwell, d. 1357, bur. Dunfermline)
    executed Oct. 1306

    Sir Christopher was the son of Sir John de Seton, of Seton, Yorkshire and not the son of the above Alexander as stated by Anderson as "Cristofor son and heir of John de Seton" did homage for his father's lands on 24 Oct. 1299 at Westminster. Master Richard de Havering, the Escheator ultra, was ordered to restore his land.(1) On 13 June 1300 the King ordered the same Escheator to partition the lands, which had been held in dower by Sarra, widow of Richard de Levyngton, between Richard de Kirkbride, Adam de Twynham, Gilbert de Sutheyke, and Walter de Corry, nephews and heirs of the said Richard, and Maude de Karrigg and Emma de Karrigg, sisters, neices and co-heirs, and Christopher de Seton. The inheritance was to be divided into six parts, but the share of Maude and Emma, who were staying in Scotland with the Scots, enemies and rebels to the King, was to be retained in the King's hand.(3)

    A document dated 3 Mar. 1304 confirmed that "Christopher de Setone" was in the king's service and "will remain with him throughout the war".(2) On 12 Oct. 1305 Richard Oysel, the Escheator ultra, was ordered to hand over to Christopher de Seton the vills of Gamelsby and Unthank in Cumberland, which is father, John de Seton, had granted in tail to Robert de Brus and Christina, his wife, who had died without heirs.(4) He evidently changed sides and Christopher was subsequently a supporter of his brother-in-law, Robert the Bruce and was at his coronation at Scone 27 Mar. 1306. King Edward seized his lands and granted them in Apr. 1306 to Edmund de Mauley in fee for his good service.(5) At the battle of Methven 13 June 1306 he rescued King Robert when he was thrown from his horse by Philip de Mowbray. Christopher afterwards locked himself up in Loch Doon Castle and after its surrender he was hanged, drawn and quartered by order of Edward I at Dumfries along with his brothers John and Humphrey.

    Loch Doon Castle

    The ruin of Loch Doon Castle is now on the banks of the loch. It was formerly on an island in Loch Doon, however, with the construction of the hydro plant in the 1930's the castle was moved off the island, stone by stone, before the area was flooded.

    Issue-

  • 8I. MARGARET- m. JOHN de ELPHINSTONE

    Ref:

    (1) Calendar of Documents Relating to Scotland Preserved in the Public Record Office- J. Bain, Scottish Record Office, 1884- Vol. II, 1102, p. 279; Rot. Fin., 27 Edw. I, m. 4
    (2) Ibid- 1464, p. 382
    (3) Rot. Fin., 28 Edw. I, m. 7
    (4) Ibid- 33 Edward I, m. 2
    (5) A History of the County of York North Riding- William Page, Ed, Victoria County History, 1923- Vol. II, article on Hinderwell at: British History Online at: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=64675

    The Scottish Nation-


    7II. ALEXANDER (ALEXANDER 1, PHILIP 2, ALEXANDER 3, SERLO 4, ALEXANDER 5)

    m. CHRISTIAN, d. of Cheyne of Straloch

    "Alisaundre de Seton, Vallet, del Counte de Edeneburgh" did homage to King Edward on 28 Aug. 1296.(1) His lands, which had been in the King's hands, were restored to him on 5 Sept. 1296.(2) The English occupation of the Lothians continued for many years intermittently and Alex was forced to accept employment from King Edward and his son. He seems to have gone on the King's business to the Isles with John de Mowbray in 1306 but must have fallen out of favor as a royal order directed that he and his property were to be seized and he sent to the King. On 18 Aug. 1306 he put forward a petition for his forfeited lands.(3) Sir Alexander succeeded to his brother's/cousin's estate after his execution.

    Sir Thomas Gray stated that Alex was in the service of England and accompanied King Edward II to Bannockburn, but that on the night before the battle he went over to King Robert the Bruce and assured him that the English were demoralised, and guaranteed on pain of suffering a traitor's death that if an attack were made upon them the following day that they would be easily defeated. Sir Thomas probably received this information direct from his father who on the eve of the Battle of Bannockburn was a prisoner in the Scottish camp.(4) Between 1315 and 1317 he served in Ireland under Edward Bruce.

    The Declaration of Arbroath

    Alex signed the Declaration of Arbroath, a letter to Pope John XXII on 6 Apr. 1320 which asserted the independence of Scotland.(5) He had several grants from King Robert including Tranent manor and other possessions of the forfeited estates of De Quincy. He also received Falside or Fawside Castle which was forfeited by Alexander de Such.(6) Sir Alex had safe conducts to England 7 Jan. 1320 and 21 Mar. 1327 to negociate a treaty.

    Fa'side Castle- Tranent, East Lothian

    Alex had the town of Berwick in feu-farm before Jan. 1327/8 when he was appointed Governor of the town, the Earl of March being Governor of the castle and he was for a time Steward of the Household of David, Earl of Carrick, Prince of Scotland.(7) He was governor of Berwick when it was besieged by the English in 1333, but seems to have been replaced by Sir William Keith a few days before the place was surrendered. His son Thomas was executed by Edward III in sight of the castle. Thomas was a hostage in their hands for the conditional surrender of the town whose life, they said, was forfeited by reason of the non-fulfilment of the surrender. The day after the defeat at Halidon Hill 19 July 1333, Berwick surrendered. On 15 Dec. 1333 an inquiry from King Edward III was addressed to Sir Alexander as to the value of the castle, town and county of Berwick.(8) Alex's lands had been forfeited by Edward Baliol after the battle of Dupplin but he was on of the few at Baliol's Parliament 10 Feb. 1333/4 and he was one of the signatories of the deed of cession of Berwick.(9) He had a safe conduct to England 15 Oct. 1337 and in Aug. 1340 he was one of the hostages for John, Earl of Moray.(10) He seems to have entered a religious order as "Frater Alexander de Seton miles, hospitalis sancti Johanis Jerusalem in Scotia" and had a safe conduct to England 12 Aug. 1348 to visit King David II in the Tower of London which related to arrangements for the King's ransom

    Issue-

  • I. Alexander- killed 6 Aug. 1332 battle of Kinghorn, Fife
  • II. Thomas- executed 1333
  • III. William- drowned July 1333 in the Tweed while engaged in setting fire to some of the enemy's ships
  • ?9IV. MARGARET- m. ALAN De WYNTON-
  • V. John- d. after 1327

    Ref:

    (1) Instrumenta publica super homagiis 1291-96
    (2) Rotuli Scotiae- I, 29a
    (3) Foedera- II, 1013; Docs and Recs- Palgrave- I, 310
    (4) Scalacronica- Maitland Club- 1836 p. 142
    (5) His seal is still appended to the duplicate preserved in H.M. General Register House- Edinburgh
    (6) Reg. Mag. Sig.- fol. vol. 11, No. 56; Harl. MSS- 4693, fol. 7, 11b, 13a, 14a; Exchequer Rolls- I, 206
    (7) Exchequer Rolls- I, 64, 141, 451
    (8) Rot. Scot.- I, 260b
    (9) Cal. of Docs.- III, 224, 333, 337; Rot. Scot.- I, 692b; Acta Parl. Scot.- I, 542b; Foedera- IV, 595
    (10) Rot. Scot.- I, 599

    The Scottish Nation
    The Scots Peerage- Vol. VIII, pp. 563-9


    ALAN De WYNTON

    m. 9IV. MARGARET SETON

    Margaret is often listed as a child of Alexander and Christian, however, she may have been a grand-daughter of Sir Alex and the daughter of John.

    Andrew de Wyntoun tells of the abduction in 1347 of the young lady of Seton by Alan de Wyntoun and states that "for the marriage fell gret stryffe". Wyntoun's War was such that "in Lowthyane as men sayde Ma than a hundyr plwys war layde" and adds that William of Murray in Edinburgh Castle supported and aided Alan. Alan was brought before the King's Court at the insistence of the yound lady's relatives to answer for the forced abduction and that the fate of the culprit was left to her decision, a sword and a ring being presented for her choice, and she chose the latter. Alan assumed the cross, apparently while still a young man owing to the ingtrigues against him on the part of her relations and he died in the Holy Land.(1)

    Issue-

  • 10I. WILLIAM- m.1. ?, 2. JONET FLEMING
  • II. Margaret or Christiana- m. George, Earl of Dunbar

    Ref:

    (1) Cal. of Docs.- III, 337; Orygynale Cronykil- Book VIII, chapter xli; Scotichronicon- book XIII, chapter li

    The Scottish Nation
    The Scots Peerage- Vol. VIII, pp. 570-1


    10 I. WILLIAM (ALEXANDER 1, PHILIP 2, ALEXANDER 3, SERLO 4, ALEXANDER 5, ALEXANDER 6, MARGARET 7)

    m.1. ?
    2. JONET FLEMING

    Seton Palace- Alexander Keirincx 1635

    William de Seton, Lord of that Ilk and of Tranent granted the lands of Wester Fausyde to John de Fausyde, his esquire, in 1367.(1) He granted the lands in Longniddrie to John Maitland and John de Paynston by a charter confirmed by King Robert II on 18 Jan. 1380/1.(2)

    William was a distiguished soldier and took part in the Holy War with his father and was in Jerusalem before 1383 when he served with the Scottish army raiding the north of England in that year.(3)

    He was called "Baron, lord of Seton" in a petition to the Pope which was granted 27 Oct. 1394 but was called a Knight in a charter of the lands of Borde granted by him to Patrick Fleming dated 14 May 1402.(4)

    William was taken prisoner by the English at the battle of Homildon Hill on 14 Sept. 1402 and seems to have remained unransomed for some years as a William Seton was in captivity in the Tower along with the King of Scotland's son in 1406.(5)

    Homildon Hill

    A charter of confirmation was granted at Perth on 27 Mar. 1408 by Robert, Duke of Albany, Governor of the Kingdom, ratifying the grant of an annual-rent made by William de Seton, Knight, with consent of the Duke's beloved cousin, John de Seton, Knight, his son and heir, to Walter de Haliburton of Dirleton, in consideration of the transfer to William of the gift of the ward and marriage of Elizabeth de Gordon, daughter and heir of the deceased Adam Gordon, Knight.(6)

    Sir William died before Mar. 1409/10 and was buried in the Cordelere (Franciscan) friars at Haddinton to whom he was a benefactor.(7)

    St. Mary's Collegiate Church c.1380- Haddington

    Maitland states that William "was the first creatit and maid lord in the Parliament and he and his posteritie to have ane voce yairin and be callit Lords." This is probably an error as that data that this statement is founded upon is erroneous and the arguments inconclusive.

    Issue- first child by first wife, last two by Jonet

  • 11I. JOHN- m. before 8 Mar. 1392/3 CATHERINE SINCLAIR, d. before 1434
  • 12II. ALEXANDER- m. ELIZABETH GORDON
  • III. Janet- m. before 3 Mar. 1413/4 George Dunbar, Earl of March

    Ref:

    (1) Reg. Mag. Sig.- fol. vol. p. 97, No. 9
    (2) Ibid- p. 143, No. 83
    (3) Chronicles- Sir John Froissart- II, 20
    (4) Cal. of Papal Reg., Petitions 1342-1419- p. 590; Wigton Charter Chest, copy in H.M. General Register House- Edinburgh
    (5) Cal. of Docs.- IV, 403, 727
    (6) Reg. Mag. Sig.- fol. vol., p. 232, No. 25
    (7) Harl. MSS- 4693, fol. 8b

    The Scottish Nation
    The Scots Peerage- Vol. VIII, pp. 571-2


    11I. JOHN (ALEXANDER 1, PHILIP 2, ALEXANDER 3, SERLO 4, ALEXANDER 5, ALEXANDER 6, MARGARET 7, WILLIAM 8)

    m. before 8 Mar. 1392/3 CATHERINE SINCLAIR, d. of Sir William Sinclair of Herdmanston
    d. before 1434

    John was a hostage in the hands of the English for the return of Archibald, Earl of Douglas in 1407.(1) On 24 Mar. 1410/11 he had a charter from Robert, Duke of Albany, Governor of Scotland confirming the baronies of Seton and Tranent and the lands of Winchburgh.(2) He was one of the commissioners appointed to treat for the liberation of King James I and he was nominated a hostage for the payment of the King's ransom by the treaty of 4 Dec. 1423. His annual income was then estimated at 600 merks. He was also on of the conservators of the seven years truce concluded on 28 Mar. 1424.(3) On 28 Mar. 1450 Catherine had a charter of confirmation dated 20 June 1449 by George, Lord of Seton and Langniddrie, Knight, grandson of her late husband.(4)

    Issue-

  • 13I. WILLIAM- m. CHRISTIAN DUNBAR
  • II. Christian- m. Norman Leslie
  • III. Janet- m. Robert, Master of Keith

    Ref:

    (1) Cal. of Docs.- IV, 729, 736
    (2) Harl. MSS- 4693, fol. 13b
    (3) Foedera- X, 266, 308, 332
    (4) Reg. Mag. Sig.

    The Scottish Nation
    The Scots Peerage- Vol. VIII, pp. 573-4


    13I. WILLIAM (ALEXANDER 1, PHILIP 2, ALEXANDER 3, SERLO 4, ALEXANDER 5, ALEXANDER 6, MARGARET 7, WILLIAM 8, JOHN 9)

    m. CHRISTIAN DUNBAR (m.2. after 1433 Adam Johnston of that Ilk), d. of George, Earl of March
    killed at the battle of Verneuil 17 Aug. 1424

    William was a witness to a charter granted 2 Dec. 1423 by Archibald, Earl of Wigtoun, which was confirmed by King James I on 8 Jan. 1424/5. He seems to have been knighted and is decribed as of lofty stature and powerful build as were his father and grandfather. He was killed at the battle of Verneuil, Normandy fighting on the side of Charles the Dauphin of France against the English.

    Battle of Verneuil from "Vigiles de Charles VII"- 15th century

    Issue-

  • I. George- m.1. Margaret Stewart, countess of Buchan, 2. Christian Murray of Tullibardine
  • II. Catherine- m.1. c.1429 Sir Alan Stewart of Darnley, 2. Herbert, Lord Maxwell of Caerlaverock, d. before 7 Feb. 1477/8
  • 14III. JANET- m.1. JOHN HALYBURTON, 2. John Congaltoun of that Ilk, living in 1492

    Ref:

    The Scottish Nation
    The Scots Peerage- Vol. VIII, pp. 574-5


    12II. ALEXANDER (ALEXANDER 1, PHILIP 2, ALEXANDER 3, SERLO 4, ALEXANDER 5, ALEXANDER 6, MARGARET 7, WILLIAM 8)

    m. ELIZABETH GORDON, d. of Sir Adam Gordon, Kt.

    Upon his marriage to Elizabeth Alexander assumed the name of Gordon and was called Lord Gordon and Huntly.

    Alex and Elizabeth received a charter from Robert, Duke of Albany on 20 July 1408 of the lands of Gordon and Huntly and others in Berwickshire, Strabogie, and Beldy-Gordon, Aberdeenshire and other lands which belonged to her father.(1)

    In 1411 Alex was at the battle of Harlaw against Donald of the Isles and in 1421 he was one of the Scots sent to France to the aid of the Dauphin against the English. At the request of James I who was still a prisoner of the English, Alex and several other Scots left the French service and he was appointed one of the commissioners to negociate the King's release. He was also one of the hostages for James' release and his annual income was stated to be 400 merks.

    Issue-

  • 15I. ALEXANDER- m.1. Jean Keith (d.s.p.), 2. Egidia Hay of Tulliebody, 3. ELIZABETH CRICHTON, d. 15 July 1470

    Ref:

    (1) Reg. Mag. Sig.- fol. vol., p. 235, No. 32

    The Scottish Nation
    The Scots Peerage- Vol. VIII, pp. 572-3


    15I. ALEXANDER (ALEXANDER 1, PHILIP 2, ALEXANDER 3, SERLO 4, ALEXANDER 5, ALEXANDER 6, MARGARET 7, WILLIAM 8, ALEXANDER 9)

    m.1. Jean Keith (d.s.p.)
    2. Egidia Hay of Tulliebody
    3. ELIZABETH CRICHTON, d. of William, Lord Crichton
    d. 15 July 1470, bur. Elgin

    Huntly Castle

    Sir Alexander was one of the commissioners selected to negociate the release of King James and was one of the hostages. In 1437 he was one of the ambassadors to negociate a truce with the English and was sent to England again in 1439. He went with Princess Margaret to France in 1436 on her marriage to the Dauphin. In 1449 he was made Earl of Huntly. Between 1451 and 1458 he was at the court of England as ambassador.

    During the rebellion of the Douglases, Sir Alex was appointed by James II Lieutenant General of the kingdom and was intrusted with the task of suppressing the rebellion of the Earls of Crawford and Ross who had entered into an association with the Douglas. On 18 May 1452 he defeated the Earl of Crawford who had rebelled against James II at the battle of Brechin. "The battle was fiercely contested, and for a considerable time the issue was very doubtful; but it was decided against the Tiger Earl, as Crawford was called, by the desertion in the heat of the fight of one of his most trusted vassals, Collace of Balnamoon, at the head of three hundred men. Huntly lost two of his brothers, and Gordon of Methlic, ancestor of the Earl of Aberdeen, in this sanguinary conflict. A brother of Crawford, and sixty other lords and gentlemen who fought on his side, were among the slain. The Earl and his discomfited followers fled to Finhaven Castle. On alighting from his horse, the savage Earl called for a cup of wine, and declared with an oath that �he wad be content to hang seven years in hell by the breers o� the e�en [eyelashes] to gain such a victory as had that day fallen to Huntly.�"(1)

    Two years later the Earls of Moray and Ormond, brothers of the Earl of Douglas, revolted and Sir Alex attacked them at Dunkintry but lost which was commemorated in a song:

    �Where did you leave your men,
    Thou Gordon so gay?
    In the bog of Dunkinty,
    Mowing the hay.�

    Soon after, however, he forced them to retreat to the Western Iles.

    Tomb of Alexander, Earl of Huntly- Elgin Cathedral

    Issue- first child by Egidia, other children by Elizabeth

  • I. Alexander de Seton- inherited his mother's estate, ancestor or the Setons of Touch
  • II. George de Gordon- m.1. Princess Annabella (m.1. Earl of Angus), 2. Lady Elizabeth Hay (m.1. Patrick, Master of Gray), d.c.1502
  • III. Alexander de Gordon- of Midmar
  • 16IV. CHRISTIAN- m. WILLIAM FORBES

    Ref:

    (1) The Great Historic Families of Scotland- James Taylor, 1887- at: http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/families/gordons.htm

    The Scottish Nation-


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