Lord Thomas Livingston

From The Livingstons of Callendar, etc. by Edwin Brockholst Livingston 1920: He is mentioned in the Stirlingshire sasines of the early part of the 17th century as 'the late owner' of the lands of St. Alexander's Chapel, commonly called "The Kirklands," situated in the barony of Herbertshire and parish of Dunipace, Stirlingshire, is evidently the same person as the Thomas Livingston of Kirkland, who is stated in a brithbrief in the Lyon Office to have been the ancestor of William Livingston, merchant of Aberdeen circa 1700. This Thomas Livingston, according to the same authority married Janet, a daughter of Sir John Forster of Forrester of Nydry. In which he can be identified with the Thomas Livingston whose father entailed upon him seven oxgangs of the Halls of Airth on July 2, 1529 or 1530. These lands were in the barony of Bothkennar, Stirlingshire. and in Mar. 1541-2 this Thomas obtained a new grant of these lands, under the Great Seal, in conjunct infeftment to himself and his wife, Janet Forrester, and their legitimate male heirs, failing whom to Master Alexander Livingston, son natural of the late David Livingston of Bantaskine, whom also failing to Alexander Livingston of Bantaskine. (huh?-I'm not sure I'm following all that). Janet predeceased her husband and he then married Agnes Menteith, daughter of Alexander Menteith, on whom was settled, in her pure virginity, on Oct. 22, 1551, the above 7 oxgangs of the Halls of Airth, which were now entailed on Agnes Menteith and her legitimate heirs, failing whom on the heirs of the body of Thomas Livingston, failing whom on Alexander Livingston of Bantaskine and his heirs whateoever, which settlement was confirmed by a crown charter dated Dec. 28, 1554. In 1566 he had to pay a composition to the Exchequer for his seven oxgangs of the Halls of Airth.

"entail" means "to settle on a series of heirs, so that the immediate possessor may not dispose of the estate." It appears that Thomas' father wanted to make sure the land would stay in the family and not be sold off. an "oxgang" is a measure of land, as much as an ox could gang over or cultivate; and it varied from as little as 8 acres to as much as 20 acres. In Scotland, it was generally about 13 acres; so Thomas had about 90 acres.

By his wife Janet Forrester he had a son John, who succeeded to Kirkland.

Thomas married his second wife Agnes Menteith, a daughter of Alexander Menteith before October 22, 1551 on which date he entailed to her and her legitimate issue the seven oxgangs of the Halls of Airth.

Thomas and Agnes had a son:

Alexander Livingston of the Halls of Airth and Falkirk

Origins

Alexander Livingston also had four "natural" sons who are referred to in Charters of the years 1525, 1530 and 1542. It appears that Alexander and the unknown mother(s) of these children didn't bother to undertake the formality of a church ceremony:

1. John Livingston
2. Laurence Livingston
3. Matthew Livingston
4. Thomas Livingston, founder of the Livingstons of Kirkland and Airth

The last named seems to have been his father's favourite, and he was the founder of the cadet line of the Livingstons of the Kirklands of Dunipace, or "of Kirland,' which was the designation mostly used by this brance of the House of Dunipace