Lady Janet Burnett

JANET HAMILTON

According to the Burnett website: In 1543 a marriage was arranged between the 9th Laird, another Alexander, and Janet Hamilton, the natural daughter of Canon Hamilton of the Abbey of Arbroath. As her dowry Janet brought a substantial amount of church lands. In later years, much land was added to Janet’s dowry through arranged marriages and outright gifts. In 1560 Alexander and Janet decided that a better home was needed for their family, so the building of Crathes Castle began (taking 40 years). In 1563 Alexander fought for Mary, Queen of Scots, at the Battle of Corrichie.Official Burnett Website

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

5 November 1543: Charter by which Master Robert Hammiltoun, canon of Aberdeen and prebendary of Kincardin, confirms that he has sold the lands of Stronduff, located in the barony of Kincardin O'Neill and sheriffdom of Aberdeen, to Alexander Burnett of Leyis and his wife Jonete Hammiltoun, and to their son Andrew Burnett. The lands in question were to be held in feu ferme, in conjunct fee and liferent by Alexander and Jonete, and their son Andrew Burnett and his lawful heirs, whom failing by the lawful heirs of Andrew's brother Archibald Burnett, whom failing by John Burnett, son and heir of Alexander and Jonete. The charter was confirmed under the Great Seal of Scotland on 24 February 1543-44. RMS 1513-46: charter number 2996

                   2

5 November 1543: Charter by which Master Robert Hammiltoun, canon of Aberdeen and prebendary of Kincardin, confirms that he has sold the lands of Estir Slowy, located in the barony of Kincardin O'Neill and sheriffdom of Aberdeen, to Alexander Burnett of Leyis and his wife Jonete Hammiltoun, and their son William Burnett. The lands in question were to be held in feu ferme, in conjunct fee and liferent by Alexander and Jonete and by their son William and his lawful heirs, whom failing by Alexander Burnett, bastard son of Alexander Burnett, and his lawful heirs, whom failing by John Burnett, son and heir of Alexander Burnett of Leyis. The charter was confirmed under the Great Seal of Scotland on 24 February 1543-44. RMS 1513-46: charter number 2996

                   3

26 November 1554: Charter by John, archbishop of Saint Andrews, legatus a latere, abbot of Paisley, to Alexander Burnet of Leyis and Janet Hammiltoun, his spouse, of lands of Invery, and half lands of Kirktoun of Banquhary. National Records of Scotland, Papers from Crathes, reference RH1/4/13

Printed Evidence

Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum. The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1513-1546. Edited by James Balfour Paul, FSA. Scot., and John Maitland Thomson, MA., Advocates. (H. M. General Register House, Edinburgh, 1883), 1067 pp. including indices and errata

Genealogy

Stirnet: Burnett 01

Biographical Summaries

In 1521 a marriage was arranged between the 9th Laird, another Alexander, and Janet Hamilton, the natural daughter of Canon Hamilton of the Abbey of Arbroath. As her dowry Janet brought a substantial amount of church lands. In later years, much land was added to Janet’s dowry through arranged marriages and outright gifts. In 1560 Alexander and Janet decided that a better home was needed for their family, so the building of Crathes Castle began (taking 40 years). In 1563 Alexander fought for Mary, Queen of Scots, at the Battle of Corrichie. Offical Burnett Website

A different site http://history.wdgordon.com/gedcom/p25.htm#i743 puts the marriage date as 1521 which makes more sense considering the ages of their children.

Date of death might be 1557 or 1567.
From The Burnett of Leys on Burnett: The Official Site:

http://www.burnett.uk.com/leys.htm

In 1543 a marriage was arranged between the 9th Laird, another Alexander, and Janet Hamilton, the natural daughter of Canon Hamilton of the Abbey of Arbroath. As her dowry Janet brought a substantial amount of church lands.

George Burnett in "The family of Burnett of Leys" writes: "Robert Hamilton held the wealthy prebend of Kincardine and belonged to the influential Sorne and Sanquhar branch of the house of Hamilton.... Prebendary Hamilton had a daughter, and, that lady being richly endowed, it seems to have been thought no scandal that she become the wife of the baron of Leys. The marriage of Alexander Burnett and Janet Hamilton took place as far back as 1540 (in fact, probably 20 years earlier).... In 1542, Hamilton's kinsman the Earl of Arran, being regent...." This relation was James Hamilton (c 1516 - 1575) 2nd Earl of Arran who was the great grandson of James II of Scotland. In 1542 he was regent for the infant Mary, Queen of Scots and also next in line to the Scottish throne after her.

The name Robert Hamilton was asserted in a citation on the Lawrence Family History:

Eileen A. Bailey, James C. A. Burnett, Charles J. Burnett and Ian B. D. Bryce, Crannog to Castle, A History of the Burnett Family in Scotland (Station Road, Banchory, Kincardineshire AB31-5YJ: Leys Publishing-St. Nicholas House, 2000).

http://www.lawrencefamhis.com/burnett-o/g1/p1336.htm#i33388

Entitled "Canon of Kircardine" by the Ancestors of Brigadier General Henry L. Burnett, without citation.

http://www.iment.com/maida/familytree/burnett/genealogy.htm

It should be noted that the title "canon," meaning priest or even senior parish priest, are normally not equivalent to an abbot. Since John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Hamilton, and the only Hamilton to have been Abbot of Arbroath in this period, was documented to have been born around 1533, and Janet received her dowry in 1543, it is unlikely that "canon of the Abbey of Arbroath" (in Angus) is accurate, though it could well be likely that he was a significant cleric in the area near Crathes Castle in present Aberdeenshire (Kincardine).