William Mure of Rowallan

WILLIAM MURE OF ROWALLAN

William Mure of Rowallan is the son of John Mure of Rowallan: "Williame succeided to his fayr Johne." A date and place of birth has not been identified from him Rowallane Historie, p. 84 but he is noticed as "William Mwre sone and appeirand air to Jhone Mwre of Rowallane" on 13 November 1574 when he redeemed which was secured on the lands of Drowallane. Abstracts of Protocols of the Town Clerks of Glasgow, iii, protocol number 1041 on page 22

His Last Will and Testament

William Mure of Rowallan made his last will and testament on 3 September 1616. [National Records of Scotland, Commissary Records of Glasgow, The Testament Testamentar of William Mure of Rowallan, reference CC9/7/14 pp. 199-208] Paterson published a full transcript in volume two of his history of the county of Ayr. Ayrshire, p. 190

Death

William Mure of Rowallan died in November 1616. [National Records of Scotland, Commissary Records of Glasgow, The Testament Testamentar of William Mure of Rowallan, reference CC9/7/14 pp. 199-208] According to his descendant, Sir William Mure of Rowallan, writing in about 1657: "This Wm was of a meik & gentle spirit, & delyted much in the studie of phisick wch he practised especiallie among the poore people wt very good successe. he was a religious man & died gratiouslie in the yeare of his age 69, the yeare of our lord 1616." Rowallane Historie, p. 86

First Marriage

William Mure of Rowallan was married first to: "Jonet Maxwell daughter to the laird of New-wark whose moyr was daughter to Conynghame laird of Craigends." Rowallane Historie, p. 85

Children of the First Marriage

Jonet Maxwell: "bure to him Sr Wm who succeided, Johne of Blacklaw, who was slaine at a Combat at beith, and Hugh of Skirnalland; and daughters the lady Caldwell, the lady Langshaw, the lady Skeldone Campbell." Rowallane Historie, pp. 85-6

1. Sir William Mure of Rowallan
2. John Mure of Blacklaw
3. Hugh Mure of Skirnalland
4. Margaret Mure
5. Marian Mure, lady Lainshaw
6. Issobell Mure

Second Marriage

William Mure was married second to Lady Elizabeth M'Gill, the lady of Culzean. She called his fuuture wife in their marriage contact dated 15 May 1605. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1609-1620, charter number 1456 on p. 529 See also Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1609-1620, charter number 1534 on p. 554

Evidence from the Protocol Books of the Town Clerks of Glasgow

13 November 1574: "William Mwre sone and appeirand air to Jhone Mwre of Rowallane" redeemed an annual of one hundred pounds that William Dowglas of Keysowne held over the lands of Drowallane. The deed was witnessed by "Jhone Mwir, sone to the said Jhone Mwir of Rowchallane" and others. Abstracts of Protocols of the Town Clerks of Glasgow, iii, protocol number 1041 on page 22

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

30 June 1582: Contract between Alexander Mur, Robert Mur in Woll, his brother and Kentigern Mure. Contract between Alexander Mur, Robert Mur in Woll, his brother and Kentigern Mur son of John Mure of Rowallan his curators for their interest on the one part and William Mur, younger of Rowallan on the other part whereby Alexander Mur with the consent of his curators agrees to sell to William Mur the foresaid lands National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Montgomerie Family, Earls of Eglinton, reference GD3/1/7/18/5

                   2

2 July 1582: Instrument of sasine given propriis manibus by Alexander Miller of Ormisheuch to William Mure son and heir apparent of John Mure of Rowallan of the foresaid lands of Armisheuch lying in the parish of Irvine and bailliary of Cunningham and sheriffdom of Ayr. Witnesses: Patrick Mure, rector of [Ferne] and others Gavin Nasmyth, notary National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Montgomerie Family, Earls of Eglinton, reference GD3/1/7/18/3

                   3

1 February 1592: Instrument of Resignation by Neil Montgomery of Lainshaw, in the hands of David Campbell of Skeldon his superior by which in implement of a Contract Matrimonial entered into between him the said Neil Montgomery and Neil Montgomery his son and apparent heir on the one part and William Mure of Rowallan and Marian Mure his daughter on the other part, he resigns in the hands of the said David Campbell, the 8 and a half merk land of Aird alias Nether Skeldon, with the manor place, orchard, mills, and salmon fishing thereof, lying in Kyle regis, for new infeftment of the same to be granted to the said Neil Montgomery younger and Marian Mure his wife in conjunct fee and liferent, and the heirs procreate between them, whom failling the said Neil Montgomery Elder his heirs and assignees whatsoever. Witnesses - Robert Master of Eglinton, William Mure of Rowallan William Mure his son and apparent heir Robert Mure in Finickhill and Gilbert and William Mures servants to the said William Mure of Rowallan. Dated at Castle of Giffin. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Kennedy Family, Earls of Cassillis (Ailsa Muniments), reference GD25/1/1020

                    4

24 February 1591-92: Ballivus de Cunynghame respondebit pro £400 de firmis totarum et integram terrarum ei baronie de Rowallane, cum turre, fortalicio, domibus, eddificiis, hortis, molendinis, multuris, silvis, piscariis, tenentibus, tenandriis et libertenementium servitiis earundem, partibus et pendiculis, extendentium ad centum marcatas terrarum antiquie extentus, jacentium in ballia sua infra vicecomitatum de Air, existentium in manibus supremi domini nostri regis terminorem Penthecostes de Sancti Martini ultime pretertiorem sasina non recuperata, et pro £400 de relevio earundem; regi debetis per sasinam datam Wilelmo Mure, nunc de Rowallane [Edinburgh, 25 February]. Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, Volume XXII, A.D. 1589-1594, page 463

                   5

2 August 1594: Summons at the instance of William Mure of Rowallan, oy and heir of deceased Mungo M. of R., narrating Decree arbitral pronounced by the Lords of Council on 13 March 1539-40 decerning the muir of Rowallan called Mathernokmure to pertain heritably to said Mungo to the extent of 900 "sowmes gerse", and allowing deceased William Cunyngham of Cunynghamheid, possessor of the 26 merkland of Pokellie, to pasture thereon to the extent of 200 "sowmes gerse"; but Alexander C. of Craganis, donator to the ward and nonentry of Powkellie by decease of John C. of Cunynghamheid, and John C., his brother german and others are pasturing more cattle on the muir than they are entitled to, besides geese and swine, and have broken lawborrows which they were enjoined to find on 20 May 1593. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Cuninghame Family of Craigends, Renfrewshire, reference GD148/246

                   6

1605: A charter by which William Mure of Rowallan and his son and apparent heir William Mure of Rowallan, junior, confirm that they have given certain lands in liferent to Lady Elizabeth M'Gill, the lady of Culzean, the future wife of William Mure of Rowallan, senior. The charter, which was issued at Rowallan, follows from a contract of marriage dated at Kilmarnock on 4 April 1605 and at Grenane on 15 May 1605. For greater security Lady Elizabeth M'Gill obtained a charter of confirmation under the Great Seal of Scotland on 20 June 1616. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1609-1620, charter number 1456 on p. 529

                   7

6 September 1614: Charter granted in implementation of contract of marriage between Lady Anna Livingston and Alexander, Earl of Eglinton granted by Alexander, Earl of Eglinton in favour of Lady Anna Livingston, then Countess of Eglinton, his spouse in life rent for all the days of her life of the said baronies, to hold of the King and his successors, as Princes of Great Britain, France and Ireland, and Stewarts of Scotland for payment of services used and wont. Dated at Irvine (Irving) Witnesses: Alexander, Lord Livingston, James Dunlop of that ilk, William Barclay of Perston, William Mure, apparent of Rowallan, and others, and subscribed by Dame Margaret Montgomery, Lady Winton as consenter at Seyton, 17 Oct in the same year. Witnesses: George Seytoun of Northrig and others. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Montgomerie Family, Earls of Eglinton, reference GD3/1/1/1/11

                   8

16 June 1615: A charter by which William Mure of Rowallan, senior, and William Mure of Rowallan, junior, his eldest lawful son (afterwards Sir William Mure of Rowallan), confirm that they have given a liferent of one third of the baron of Rowallan to Sara Brisbane, the widow of Archibald Kelso of that Ilk, younger, who is identified in the charter as the future wife of William Mure of Rowallan, junior.The charter was witnessed by William Mure, the eldest son of William Mure of Rowallan, junior: "Wil. Mure filio legit. natu maximo dicti Wil. junioris." For greater security Sara Brisbane obtained a charter of confirmation under the Great Seal of Scotland on 12 June 1629. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1620-1633, charter number 1419 on p. 480

                   9

19 October 1616: A charter issued under the Great Seal of Scotland by which Prince Charles, Stewart of Scotland, Duke of Rothesay and Earl of Carrick, confirms that he has given a new grant of the barony of Rowallan to William Mure, apparent of Rowallan, and his wife Anne Dundas, in conjunct fee and liferent. The barony was to pass to their heirs male, whom failing to William Mures heirs male. The liferent of William Mure of Rowallan, junior, father of William Mure, apparent of Rowallan, was reserved, as was the liferent of William Mure of Rowallan, senior, and his wife Lady Elizabeth M'Gill Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1609-1620, charter number 1534 on p. 554

                  10

31 May 1616: Marriage contract between Thomas Boyd of Pinkhill and Mariote Mure, daughter of Sir William Mure of Rowallan, William Mure his son (afterwards William Mure of Rowallan, senior), and William Mure his grandson (now called William Mure of Rowallan, junior). Thomas Boyd of Pinkhill entered into the contact with the consent of his mother Jonet Kennedy. For greater security Mariote Mure obtained a charter of confirmation under the Great Seal of Scotland on 19 December 1628. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1620-1633, charter number 1337 on pp. 454-55

Genealogical Accounts

1. The Historie and Descent of the House of Rowallane by Sir William Mure, Knight, of Rowallane.Written in or prior to 1657 (Chalmers and Collins, Glasgow, 1825), 141 pp.
2. James Paterson, History of the County of Ayr with a Genealogical Account of the Families of Ayrshire, volume II (Thomas George Stevenson, Edinburgh, M.DCCC.LII.), 528 pp. including Appendix. See pp. 182-95 for Mure of Rowallan
3. Electric Scotland: Mure
4. Genealogics: Sir William Mure of Rowallan
5. Clan MacFarlane and associated clands genealogy: Sir William Mure of Rowallan