Alexander Charles Stedman

About 1540, during the reign of King James V (1513-1542) of Scotland, Alexander Barton was appointed Burgess of Edinburgh for life, Deputy Collector of Edinburgh, and Searcher of Merchandise on the shore of Leith. His son John Barton was given similar appointment with and succeeding his father. Alexander Barton and his father were granted the freehold estate of Hall-Tacis, which he sold in 1557. Following his marriage to Susan Stedman, an heiress, he changed his arms to join his and his wife's. The joined arms (arms of alliance) denoted the alliance which Alexander and Susan had contracted by marriage. Arms of this character are to be borne in an "escutcheon of pretense" by those who have married heiresses, but the separate escutcheon is not allowed until the death of the father of the lady. Alexander and his wife Susan were the parents of three sons and 2 daughters. One daughter died young, and the other one married before 1565. The eldest son was Alexander. On the death of Susan (Stedman) Barton, in 1565, Alexander applied to Queen Mary (1542-1567) of Scotland and was granted "arms of adoption" by which he was empowered to obtain the estate bequeated to his wife by her father, on the condition that he assume the name and arms of the deceased father. Alexander Barton thus became "Charles Stedman." In 1565 the children also changed their surname to Stedman. In the attack on the city of Edinburgh, in June 1572, the English burned the house of Charles Studeman/Stedman at Cannongate Port, or Leith, the port city of Edinburgh.

“On the death of Susan (Stedman) Barton, in 1565, Alexander applied to Queen Mary (1542-1567) of Scotland and was granted "arms of adoption" by which he was empowered to obtain the estate bequeated to his wife by her father, on the condition that he assume the name and arms of the deceased father. Alexander Barton thus became "Charles Stedman." In 1565 the children also changed their surname to Stedman.” “About 1540, during the reign of King James V (1513-1542) of Scotland, Alexander Barton was appointed Burgess of Edinburgh for life, Deputy Collector of Edinburgh, and Searcher of Merchandise on the shore of Leith… Alexander Barton and his father were granted the freehold estate of Hall-Tacis, which he sold in 1557. Alexander and his wife Susan were the parents of three sons and 2 daughters. … The eldest son was Alexander. In the attack on the city of Edinburgh, in June 1572, the English burned the house of Charles Studeman/Stedman at Cannongate Port, or Leith, the port city of Edinburgh." See: http://www.electricscotland.com/history/nation/stedman.htm The Scottish Nation (1863) by William Anderson, pp. 507-508