James Edmonstone of the Newtoun

JAMES EDMONSTONE OF THE NEWTOUN

James Edmonstone of the Newton, here treated, is the bastard son of Sir William Edmonstone of Duntreath. RMS: 1906 Duntreath: 36 On 4 February 1539 he had letters of legitimation from James V, King of Scots. RMS: 2079 Strathblane: 111

James Edmonstone of the Newton, here treated, had a charter for the lands of Newtoun of Down, in the Stewartry of Menteith and sheriffdom of Perth, from James V, King of Scots, on 20 January 1538-39. RMS: 1906 The king also gave him the lands of Wester Rowis there. His charter is dated 17 November 1540. RMS: 2218 He was one of the heirs in remainder mentioned in the charter by which his brother William resigned the lands of Duntreith and others in favour of his second son James. The king's charter confirming the transfer was issued on 18 March 1568-69. RMS: 1838

His Last Will and Testament

James Edmonstone of the Newton made his last will and testament at Newton, probably at his house there, on 19 April 1575. The witnesses present included his sons-in-law, David Home of Argadie, and William Muschett of Spitteltoun. He nominated and appointed his wife Marion Forester as his executrix, and charged her to intromit with his goods and gear, including the house, for her own benefit and for the benefit of their four youngest children: "To wit Andro, James, Marion and Marjorie Edmestoun". At the time of his death he owed one hundred pounds to William Muschett in Spitteltoun: "for his tocher guide wit Mgratt Edmestoun dochter to the defunct" and eighty pounds to David Home of Argadie, money that was still owed to him: "for his tocher guide wt Cristiane Edmestoun his spous". Eighteen pounds was also owed to: "Mungo Edmestoun, sone to the defunct" for a horse that he had purchased for his father. Confirmation was granted on 26 November 1589. [National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Commissary Court, Testament Testamentar of James Edmestoun of the Newtoun, parish of Kilmadok, sheriffdom of Perth, reference CC8/8/20]

1. Image of Testament
2. Image of Testament
3. Image of Testament

Death

James Edmonstone of the Newton, here treated, died in April 1575. [National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Commissary Court, Testament Testamentar of James Edmestoun of the Newtoun, parish of Kilmadok, sheriffdom of Perth, reference CC8/8/20]

Marriage

James Edmonstone of the Newton. here treated, married Mariote Forester. On 16 March 1544-45 he and his wife had a charter under the great seal of Scotland confirming their possession of the five merk land of Wester Rowis located in the Stewartry of Menteith and sheriffdom of Perth, to be held by them in conjunct fee and liferent, and thereafter by their lawful male heirs, whom failing by James Edmonstone's own heirs and assignees. James had previously resigned this land to the crown in order to obtain a new grant to him and his wife. RMS: 3078

Children

1. Mungo Edmonstone
2. Andrew Edmonstone
3. James Edmonstone of Newton
4. Margaret Edmonstone
5. Cristiane Edmonstone
6. Marion Edmonstone
7. Marjory Edmonstone

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

20 January 1538-39: Charter by which James V, King of Scots, confirms that he has give the lands of Newtoun of Down, located in the Stewartry of Menteinth and sheriffdom of Perth, to his familiar servant, JACOBO EDMONSTOUN, son natural of the deceased William Edmonstoun of Duntreith. RMS: 1906

                   2

4 February 1539: Apud Edinburgh.Rex dedit literas legitimationis JACOBO EDMONSTOUN bastardo, filio naturali quondam Willelmi E. de Duntreath militis. xxvi. 294. RMS: 2079

                   3

17 November 1540: Charter by which James V, King of Scots, confirms that he has given the lands of Wester Rowis, in the Stewartry of Menteith and sheriffdom of Perth, to his familiar servant JACOBO EDMONSTOUN, brother german of William Edmonstoun of Duntreith. RMS: 2218

                   4

5 April 1541: Charter by which James V, King of Scots, confirms that he has give the lands of Newtoun of Down, located in the Stewartry of Menteinth and sheriffdom of Perth, to his familiar servant, JACOBO EDMONSTOUN, son natural of the deceased William Edmonstoun of Duntreith. RMS: 2324

                   5

16 March 1544-45: Charter by which James V, King of Scots, confirms that he has given the five merk land of Wester Rowis, in the Stewartry of Menteith and sheriffdom of Perth, to JACOBO EDMESTOUN, brother of William Edmestoun of Duntreith, and his wife MARIOTE FORESTER. James Edmestoun previously resigned this land to the king in order to obtain a new grant to himself and his wife, which was to be held by them in conjunct fee and liferent, and by their lawful male heirs, whom failing by James's own heirs and assignees. RMS: 3078

                   7

18 March 1568-69: Charter by which James VI, King of Scots, confirms that he has given the lands of Duntreith and others in the sheriffdom of Stirling to JACOBO EDMESTOUN, second son of William Edmestoun of Duntreith, which land had been resigned in his favour by his father. The lands in question were to be held by James and his lawful heirs, whom failing by Archibald Edmestoun of Spittaletoun and his heirs, whom failing by James Edmestoun of Ballintone and his heirs, whom failing by JACOBO E[DMESTOUN] DE NEWTOUN and his heirs. whom failing by the nearest lawful male heirs of James Edmestoun, son of William Edmestoun of Duntreath, bearing the name and arms of Edmestoun, including his nearest heirs female. William Edmestoun of Dunteith reserved his own liferent and the liferent of his wife Margaret Campbell. RMS: 1838

Genealogy

1. Sir Archibald Edmonstone of Duntreath, Baronet, Genealogical Acount of the Family of Edmonstone of Duntreath (Privately Printed, Edinburgh, MDCCCLXXV), 95 pp.
2. John Guthrie Smith, FSA (Scot).,The Parish of Strathblane and its Inhabitants from Early Times : A Chapter of Lennox History (Glasgow : James Maclehose and Sons, Publishers to the University, 1886), 394 pp. including index