John Cunninghame of Drumquhassill

JOHN CUNNINGHAME OF DRUMQUHASSILL

Chief Advisor to the Earl of Lennox (for which he was called 'the Regent's Right Hand') He also held the office of Master of the Household to James VI, King of Scots

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

6 February 1575-76: Charter Under the Great Seal by King James VI, with consent of James, Earl of Mortoun, regent of the kingdom, granting to John Cunynghame, son and heir-apparent of John Cunynghame of Drumquhassill and Elizabeth Boyd, his spouse, and the longer liver of them in conjunct infeftment, and the heirs male lawfully procreated or tobe procreated between them, whom failing, to the lawful and nearest heirs male of the said John whomsoever, the lands of Killermond, Blairford and one-half of the Manis of Drumquhassill of old extent lying in the earldom of Levenox and sheriffdom of Striuiling: which lands the said John Cunynghame, elder, resigned (viz: Killermond and Blairfod as principal and one-half of the Manis of Drumquhassill in warrandice of the lands of Parkstoun and Portnellen in said earldom) at Halyrudehous in favour of his said son and Elizabeth Boyd, his spouse, in terms of the contract of marriage between Robert, Lord Boyd, and Elizabeth, his daughter, on the one part, and the said John Cunynghame, elder, and his son, on the other part: To be held de nobis rendering therefor the rights and services used and wont. At Halyrudehous 6 February 1575-6. Witnesses, Adam, bishop of Orkney, commendator of Holyrood near Edinburgh, William, Earl Marischal, John, Lord Glammis, chancellor, Robert, commendator of Dunfermeling, the king's secretary, Mr. George Buquhannane, pensioner of Corsragwell, keeper of the Privy Seal, John Bellenden of Auchnoull, knight, justice clerk, Mr. James Makgill of Rankelour Nethir, clerk of the Rolls, Register and Council and Alexander Hay, director of chancery. National Records of Scorland, Sir William Fraser Charters, reference GD86/243

                   2

24 March 1577-78: Letters of procuratory by Alexander Erskin [Erskine] of Gogar, Master of Mar, to James Seytoun [Seaton] of Tullibody and John Cunnynghame [Cunningham] of Drumquhassill [Drumquhassle] for receiving on his behalf from William, Lord Ruthven, HM Treasurer, and Patrick, Lord Lindsay of the Byris [Byres], commissioners of the King, the castle of Edinburgh, 'with his hienes jowellis, plenissingis of his houss and clothing, artaillierie and invintioun ... upoun inventair', of which castle he has been constituted captain and keeper during the minority of the Earl of Mar, the granter's nephew. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Erskine Family, Earls of Mar and Kellie, reference GD124/12/5

                   3

20 June 1582: Charter a me by John Cunyghame of Drumquhassill and Isobel Cunyghame, his spouse, to William Cunyghame, their eldest son, of lands of Arthmullar with ½ bovate of land in Hallis of Airth, £10 lands of Slamannanmuir, Levelandis, Polmais Cunyghame otherwise called Polmais Merchell, and other lands in sheriffdom of stirling, reserving to said John Cunyghame and his spouse their liferent furth of said lands. [National Records of Scotland, Erskine family of Cardross, Perthshire, reference GD15/752]

                   4

4 July 1582: Instrument of sasine in favour of Andrew Cowan, burgess of Striviling, and Isobel Alschunder [Alexander], his spouse, of annualrent of 50 merks Scots from lands of Polmais Merschell [Polmaise Marshal], in sheriffdom of Stirling, following on charter, 26 Jun 1581, by John Cunynghame [Cunningham] of Drumquhassill [Drumquhassle], with consent of Isobel Cunynghame, his spouse. Notary - James Duncansoun [Duncanson], clerk, St Andrews diocese. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Erskine Family, Earls of Mar and Kellie, reference GD124/1/645

                   5

20 Juy 1583: Tack by William Cunningham of Polmaise, tacksman of the teinds of the parish of Strathblane lying in the diocese of Glasgow and sheriffdom of Stirling with consent of John Cunningham of Drumquhassle his father and with consent of the provost and prebendaries of the college kirk of Dumbarton, patrons of the same, in favour of John, Earl of Montrose, of the teinds of Ledrigreen, Drumbrock, Edinhill, Mildavie and the Acres within Strathblane, the Peitch, New Park, Old Park, Craigaillen, Auchingillan, Quinleoch, Carbeth, Woodend of Mugdock with the acres all lying within the parish of Strathblane and pertaining heritably to the Earl for 19 years from Lammas 1583 for £35 annually of teind tack duty. At Craigavern. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Graham Family, Dukes of Montrose (Montrose Muniments), reference GD220/1/A/5/1/3

                   6

27 April 1585: Letters under the Great Seal taking William Cunynghame of Polmais-Cunynghame, his lands and possessions, under the king's protection and according to him, his heirs and successors, the benefit of a lawful subject, notwithstanding the forfeiture of umquhile John Cunynghame sometime of Drumquhassill, his father for acts of treason of which said William was altogether innocent. so ratifying all evidents made to said William by his father before the perpetration of said acts, and by all other persons; and granting to said William all the king's rights by reason of said forfeiture. At Halieruidhous, 27th April 1585 anno regni 18. National Records of Scotland, Register House charters, 1st series, reference RH6/2789

Evidence from the Elphinestone Family Book

5 June 1590: John Elphinstone of Selmes was about this time in the service of the Duke of Lennox. In a contract, dated at Elphinstone, 5th June 1590, he is so described. The contract is between John Kunynghame of Drumquhassill and John Elphinstone, "sone lawchfull to Robert, Lord Elphinstoun, and serwitour to the Dwik of Lennox." It narrates that by a contract made by vmquhil Robert, Lord Boyd, and Elizabeth Boyd, his daughter, and vmquhil John Cunningham of Drumquhassil and the said John Cunningham, his son, John Cunningham of Drumquhassil obliged himself not to sell or wadset any of his lands and baronies. These were to be left free to his son John to succeed to after his father's decease. This, however, had not been carried out, as several of the lands and heritages in question had been sold, with the result that John Cunninghame of Drumquhassill had found it necessary to receive for his own use " in nwmerrat and tauld money " from John Elphinstone the sum of 2000 merks. In respect of this, he now sold to the latter, and his heirs, the right and title of the whole lands and annual rents mentioned in his father's contract, and to which he ought lawfully to have succeeded. Seeing he could not infeft him in those subjects which had been sold by his father until such infeftments were reduced, he constituted John Elphin- stone his irrevocable assignee and procurator in rem suam in and to the contract and all actions of reduction competent to John Cunninghame himself. The Elphinestone Family Book II: 119