Sir William Cockburn of Langton, 2nd Baronet

Biographical Summary

"Sir William Cockburn, Baronet [S 1627] of Langton, 1st son and heir; succeeded to the Baronetcy, on the death of his father to whom he was retoured heir 21 May 1629. M.P. [S] for Berwickshire, 1640-41. In 1641, while he question of Usher was being discussed, he seized the rod and took his place, for which conduct he was, by the King's order, imprisoned, but was released after a few days on the remonstrance of the House. He subsequently alienated a moiety of his office. He married Margaret, daughter of Sir Archibald Acheson, 1st Baronet [S 1628] by his wife, Agnes, daughter of (--) Vernor."

SOURCE: Complete baronetage; Cokayne, George E. (George Edward); 1900; Vol. II; page 328

Other References

• The House of Cockburn of that Ilk, and their cadets by Thomas H. Cockburn-Hood (Edinburgh 1888) pages 87-92

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"In the retour to his father, Sir William, Knight of Langton, 31st May 1626, is styled miles Baronettus (soldier baronet) having had the hereditary title conferred upon him immediately after his father's death, who perhaps did not care to acquire either it or land across the Atlantic.

With the title, Sir William had [in common with all "Nova Scotia Baronets," as they came to be usually designated] an estate granted to him in that province, which might have proved very valuable. The grant comprised eighteen square miles of the very finest part of it, on the west side of the Bay of Fundy, bounded by the River St. John for three miles, erected into the barony of "Cockburn", with most ample privileges. Infeftment was duly taken out as prescribed in the patent. [This was allowed to be done in Edinburgh.] There certainly appears to have been grounds for dissatisfaction amongst the recipients of these grants in the new colony. By the arrangements made by King Charles with the French Government, the value of their acquisitions must have seemed seriously deteriorated, if not altogether gone. A thousand pounds was a large sum at that time, and the possession of great territories in the New Scotland could have been the only temptation to men of name and position like Sir William Cockburn to pay it. The novel dignity of Baronet, to which time has given value, did not present much attraction to an old hereditary Baron of Scotland."
Acceded 27 Nov 1627 [5] Baronet by Charles I Legal 21 May 1629 [6] was retoured heir to his father Legal 10 Sep 1641 [4, 7] was ordered into custody by King Charles In July 1630 the King wrote to the Privy Council of Scotland to the effect that there was a controversy between him and the French "concerning the title of lands in America, and particularly of New Scotland, it being alleged that Port Royal, where the Scottish Colony is planted, should be restored, as taken since the making of the peace," and asking the Council to consider the matter.

On the 10th July 1631, the King writes to Sir William Alexander that "there is a final agreement betwixt us and our good brother the French King, by which we have condescended that Port Royal shall be put in the estate it was before the beginning of the war," and therefore granting warrant to Sir William to give orders to Sir George Home, Knight, to demolish the fort which was built by the son of Sir William Alexander, and to remove all the people, goods, ordnance, &c., leaving the bounds altogether waste and unpeopled, as it was at the time your son landed first to plant there by virtue of our commission."

Again, on 14th June 1632, His Majesty writes to the Lord Advocate, rehearsing the preceding warrant, and in case his loving subjects should misunderstand the meaning of the transaction, orders the Advocate to draw up a warrant to pass the Great Seal, to the effect that it was not His Majesty's intention to give up the title to the said bounds, although they were now to be abandoned by the colonists, which warrant was given to the Sir William Alexander, created Viscount Stirling [to whom was granted in 1628 the Lordship of Canada], for the encouragement of him or such others as might "hereafter" wish to go on with these plantations. It must be confessed that the King's diplomacy seems very peculiar, and few would be encouraged by his promise to proceed to establish themselves upon their territories in Nova Scotia, now under the French flag. However, the £1000 premium continued to be paid into his Majesty's treasury, by aspirants to the possession of a hereditary dignity, whose position at the time was not an important one. Their representatives to-day may deem that their ancestors received a sufficient quid pro quo.

There is little doubt that the sovereign's dubious conduct rankled in the minds of some, and amongst them in Sir William Cockburn's who is found afterward on the parliamentary side and was appointed one of their committee, 16th November 1641. Smarting under the chagrin for this disappointment, it is probable that the circumstance which took place in Parliament in that year finally influenced him in his subsequent action – a dispute having occurred about the office of usher, he carried himself in such a manner in the house in the presence of the King, that Charles ordered him into custody on 10 September 1641...

It is to be presumed that the duties of the office had not been very assiduously performed, otherwise it is scarcely likely that an encroachment upon the rights of the Baron of Langton would have been made, by giving temporary holding to James Maxwell of Innerwick, William Maxwell of Kirkhouse, and Robert Cunningham.

Although he had displayed so much irritation, and conducted himself in so very unseemly a manner, as to cause the King to sign a warrant then and there for his being committed as a prisoner to Edinburgh Castle [which, however, at the intercession of the House was not carried into effect], Sir William did not in reality attach much importance to the office so long held by his ancestors, except in so far that it had a marketable value, for he alienated the moiety of it to Colonel Robert Cunninghame, brother of the Earl of Glencair, and became join Usher with him. One result of the scene in the Parliament-House was to secure the members from arrest during the time of session, Charles the First having on the following day guaranteed this privilege for himself and his successors in all time coming.

Legal 2 Jan 1646/47 [4] confirmation of the ancient grants of the Office of Usher afterwards from the Government, with all the advantages enjoyed by his predecessors since 1370 to the date of confirmation to himself and his heirs for ever Political associated himself with the rebels who put their sovereign to death. [8]

Name William Cockburn [6]