Alexander Montgomerie, 6th Earl of Eglinton

Alexander Seton, sixth Earl of Eglintoun, styled Greysteel by his contemporaries, who succeeded, was, as already stated, the cousin-german of his predecessor. He was the third son of Robert Seton, first Earl of Wintoun, and of Margaret Montgomerie his Countess was born in 1588, and was before his accession styled Sir Alexander Seton of Foulstruther. On 20 October 1612 he was retoured heir to his cousin in the earldom of Eglintoun, assuming the surname of Montgomerie, and after the usual infeftment on 30 October 1612, he took the style and title of Earl of Eglintoun, Lord Montgomerie, etc.
A week before this, however, Parliament interfered with his possession of Kilwinning. That abbacy and barony had never been legally dissolved from the Grown, and the Estates now declared it to be in the King's hands, and dissolved it from the property of the Grown that it might be conferred on Michael, Lord Balfour. Two years later Bal/our received a Grown charter of the lands, but an arrangement was come to between him and the Earl, who paid a sum of 8000 merks, and received a charter on 26 April 1615.
The Earl's assumption of the title of Eglintoun was also objected to by the King, who opposed the transfer of titles by infeftments of entail, but after much trouble and correspondence for about two years, and a formal surrender of the honours, he obtained the royal recognition of his dignity, with a charter confirming the former grant of 28 November 1611, and of new erecting all his lands, etc., into the earldom of Eglintoun, of date 24 March 1615. After this the Earl became a favourite with the King, whom he entertained in his house at Glasgow in 1617, while the King was in Scotland. He attended the King's funeral, and became one of the Privy Councillors of King Charles I. The Earl carried the spurs at that monarch's coronation, but in the dispute which arose between the King and his subjects he took the popular side and became a prominent adherent of the Covenant.
In 1639 he led a considerable force to join Sir Alexander Leslie near Kelso, in the following year at Newburn, when the Scots army invaded England. He is said to have been in Ireland on duty during the rebellion there in 1641, and he was in England with the Scots army at York, and in the conflict of Marston Moor. The Earl opposed the Engagement on behalf of King Charles I. in 1648, but he was one of the first Scottish nobles to welcome King Charles II. to Scotland in 1650. He and many other royalists were expelled from office and military service under the Act of Classes; but in 1651 the Earl was again in the King's service in Dumbartonshire, and was there seized by a party of Cromwell's horse, being carried first to Hull then to Berwick, where he was imprisoned until the Restoration. He wrote various letters for mitigation of his imprisonment, but without result. He was released only in 1660, and died on 14 January 1661.
The sixth Earl of Eglintoun married, first, on 22 June 1612, Anna, eldest daughter of Alexander Livingstone, first Earl of Linlithgow, by whom, who died on 12 November 1632, he had issue five sons and two daughters; secondly, between November 1642 and March 1644, Margaret, daughter of Walter, first Lord Scott of Buccleuch, and widow of James, Lord Ross, without issue.
She died at Hull 5 October 1651.

The Earl's issue were:
1. Hugh, who became seventh Earl of Eglintoun.
2. Sir Henry, of Giffen, born 26 June, and baptized on 21 August 1614, Queen Anne being his godmother. He was a student in Glasgow University in February 1628, and travelled abroad in 1632, returning to Scotland in 1634. On 31 July 1636 he had a charter of the lands of Giffen, and on 21 September 1640 (contract dated 25 and 29 January) he married Jean, daughter of Archibald, seventh Earl of Argyll, widow of the first Viscount of Kenmure, but died without issue on 3 May 1644.
3. Alexander, born 8 November 1615. He was educated with his elder brothers at Glasgow and in France, staying abroad until near the close of 1635, when he returned to Scotland and served with the army. He rose to the rank of colonel, and was made a knight, as he is styled ' Sir Alexander the Golonell. He served in the Scots army against the rebels, and died unmarried in July 1642, leaving issue a natural daughter Katherine.
4. James, who was enrolled as a student in Glasgow University on 1 March 1637. He took military ser- vice and became a colonel. He acquired the estate of Coilsfield from Patrick Houston of that Ilk in the year 1662. He died in March 1674, and was buried in the New Kirk of Edinburgh on the 18th of that month. He married (contract dated 1 and 6 June 1659) Margaret, daughter of John Macdonald in Kintyre and Elizabeth Stewart his spouse, and by her, who survived him, had issue.
5. Robert, fifth son of sixth Earl, was enrolled as a student at the University of Glasgow on 1 March 1637. He entered the army, distinguished himself in the Civil Wars, and became a major-general. He commanded a brigade at Worcester in 1651, and was forced to retreat. He was confined in Edinburgh Castle, from which he escaped in 1658, and retired to Holland, whence he returned with the King. After the Restoration he was appointed one of the Gentlemen of His Majesty's Bedchamber. He died in December 1684. He married (contract dated 4 September 1662) Elizabeth daughter of James Livingstone, Viscount of Kilsyth, who survived him and married, before 24 January 1688, Captain George Douglas, brother of Sir James Douglas of Kelhead. They had issue two sons, Alexander and James, and a daughter, who all died without issue.
6. Margaret, born 20 February 1617; married, first, in 1642, to John, first Earl of Tweeddale, as his second
wife, secondly, to William, Earl of Glencairn. She died at Edinburgh 27 January 1665.
7. Helenor, born 26 July 1618, but died young.
8. Anna, referred to in 1633, 1642, and 1649. Died unmarried.
Source: "The Scots Peerage" Vol 3, page 445.

From Darryl Lundy's Peerage page for Alexander Montgomerie:

http://thepeerage.com/p2070.htm#i20698

Alexander Montgomerie, 6th Earl of Eglinton [1]

• M, #20698,
• b. 1588,
• d. 7 January 1661
• Last Edited=24 Mar 2011
• Consanguinity Index=2.05%

Alexander Montgomerie, 6th Earl of Eglinton was born in 1588.[1]

He married, firstly, Lady Anne Livingstone, daughter of Alexander Livingstone, 1st Earl of Linlithgow and Lady Helen Hay, on 22 June 1612.[1]

He married, secondly, Margaret Scott, daughter of Sir Walter Scott, 1st Lord Scott of Buccleuch and Mary Ker, between November 1642 and March 1644.[3]

He died on 7 January 1661.

He was baptised with the name of Alexander Seton.[1]

He was the son of Robert Seton, 1st Earl of Winton and Lady Margaret Montgomerie.[1],[2]

• He gained the title of 6th Earl of Eglinton [S., 1507] on 4 September 1612.[1]
• He succeeded to the title of 7th Lord Montgomerie [S., 1445] on 4 September 1612.[1]
• On 24 March 1615 he resigned his titles, and had a regrant.[1]
• He fought in the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644, for the Parliamentarians.[1]
• He fought in the Captain in 1650, Horse Guards. for King Charles II.[1]
• Between 1651 and 1660 he was imprisoned.[1]

Children of Alexander Montgomerie, 6th Earl of Eglinton and Lady Anne Livingstone

• 1. Colonel James Montgomerie+2 d. 18 Oct 1675
• 2. Maj.-Gen. Robert Montgomerie+4 d. 1684
• 3. Hugh Montgomerie, 7th Earl of Eglinton+1 b. 8 Apr 1613, d. Feb 1669
• 4. Sir Henry Montgomerie5 b. 26 Jun 1614, d. 3 May 1643
• 5. Lady Margaret Montgomerie+4 b. 20 Feb 1616/17, d. 27 Jan 1664/65

Citations

• 1. [S37] Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 1, page 1280. Hereinafter cited as Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition.
• 2. [S37] Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition.
• 3. [S37] Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition, volume 1, page 560.
• 4. [S37] Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition, volume 1, page 1284.
• 5. [S37] Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition, volume 1, page 1281.

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From the biography of Robert Baillie, his regimental chaplain during the Bishop's War:

http://www.british-civil-wars.co.uk/biog/baillie-robert.htm

Despite his opposition to war against England, Baillie was persuaded to serve as chaplain to the regiment of his patron the Earl of Eglinton during the Bishops' Wars (1639-40).

From the Order of Battle for Marston Moor:

http://www.british-civil-wars.co.uk/military/oob-marston-moor.htm

The Scottish Army of the Covenant

Lord-General: Alexander Leslie, Earl of Leven (senior Allied commander)

Lieutenant-General of the Horse: David Leslie

The Horse

• Earl of Leven's regiment (Lord Balgonie c.350)
• Earl of Dalhousie's regiment (c.350)
• Earl of Eglinton's regiment (c.350)
• Lieutenant-General David Leslie's regiment (c.350)
• Earl of Balcarres' regiment (c.350)
• Lord Kirkcudbright's regiment (c.350)

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From 1644: The York March and Marston Moor:

http://www.british-civil-wars.co.uk/military/1644-york-march-marsto...

The Covenanters provided the largest contingent in the Allied army, so Lord Leven was given overall command. The Allies occupied cornfields on the low northern slopes of Marston Hill between the villages of Long Marston and Tockwith. An area of hedged enclosures and rabbit warrens around Tockwith hampered the deployment of cavalry on the Allied left flank, which was commanded by Lieutenant-General Oliver Cromwell. The first two lines consisted of around 3,000 men of the Eastern Association horse, including Cromwell's regiment of Ironsides. They were supported by a third line of around 1,000 Scottish horse, commanded by Major-General David Leslie. The Swedish tactic of interspersing detachments of musketeers between divisions of horse to disrupt attacking cavalry was used by both sides in the battle. A force of 500 Scottish dragoons occupied the extreme left of the Allied position.

The Allied centre comprised around 11,000 foot in four lines supported by a few pieces of field artillery. In the first line, soldiers from the three Allied armies were interspersed, with Major-General Lawrence Crawford commanding the English and Major-General William Baillie commanding the Scots. Four Scottish brigades commanded by Major-General James Lumsden occupied the second line, while Lord Fairfax and the Earl of Manchester commanded their brigades in the third line. A reserve Scottish brigade occupied the fourth line.

The Allied right wing of around 5,000 cavalry and musketeers comprised mainly the horse of Lord Fairfax's Yorkshire army in two lines, the first commanded by Sir Thomas Fairfax, the second by Colonel John Lambert. Three Scottish regiments under Lord Eglinton formed a third or reserve line.

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On the (right) wing, however, the Royalists were triumphant. Sir Thomas Fairfax's cavalry came under heavy fire from Goring's musketeers as they struggled to cross the ditch, which was a more significant obstacle on the eastern side of the battlefield. When Goring's cavalry charged, Fairfax's front line was routed with heavy losses. Colonel Lambert's second line was apparently diverted to another part of the battlefield and was unable to support Fairfax. Although Lord Eglinton's Scottish reserve resisted for some time, the Allied right wing was finally routed under the impact of a charge from Sir Marmaduke Langdale and the Northern Horse. While some of the Royalist cavalry swept over Marston Hill to plunder the Allied baggage train, Sir Charles Lucas rallied others to wheel right and attack the flank of the Allied infantry. Sir Thomas Fairfax found himself surrounded by the enemy and tore off his field sign to avoid recognition before fighting his way across the battlefield with a few steadfast troopers to join Cromwell on the opposite flank.

From The Engagement, 1647-8:

http://www.british-civil-wars.co.uk/glossary/engager.htm

The Whiggamores

The defeat at Preston was followed by a Covenanter uprising against the Engagers in south-western Scotland known as the Whiggamore Raid. Towards the end of August 1648, several thousand Whiggamores ("Whigs") marched from Ayrshire, Kirkcudbright and Wigtownshire towards Edinburgh on a wave of popular support. Noblemen who had opposed the Engagement, including Lords Loudoun, Eglinton and Cassillis, put themselves at the head of the uprising; Argyll, Leven and David Leslie declared their support for the movement.

Engagers on the Committee of Estates ordered Major-General Monro to gather his forces at Berwick to resist the Whigs while the Earl of Lanark mustered the Scottish home army at Jedburgh. The Committee sent representatives to negotiate with them, but when they refused to halt their advance, the Committee fled from Edinburgh to join Lanark and Monro on the Borders. The Whigs occupied Edinburgh on 5 September. Lanark and Monro were in favour of fighting and when terms for a treaty were rejected, Engager forces marched around Edinburgh to capture Linlithgow on 10 September. Two days later, the Engagers routed the Marquis of Argyll's Campbell clansmen and occupied Stirling. By mid-September 1648, however, Cromwell and the New Model Army, fresh from the victory at Preston, had advanced to the Borders. Cromwell demanded that the Engagers hand back Berwick and Carlisle to the English Parliament or be prepared to suffer the consequences. The Whigs sent representatives to assure Cromwell that no treaty would be made with the Engagers unless they agreed to disband their forces and relinquish power but this did not prevent Cromwell from marching into Scotland on 21 September.

Supported by Cromwell and the English army, the Marquis of Argyll and the Whig leaders in Edinburgh demanded the disbandment of Engager forces. Despite the unpopularity of the English occupation, the Engagers gave way and signed the Treaty of Stirling on 27 September 1648, which brought Engager dominance in Scotland to an end. When the Scottish Parliament met In January 1649, the Act of Classes was passed which excluded supporters of Hamilton and the Engagers from public office in Scotland and ensured the supremacy of the covenanting Kirk Party.

"Whiggamore" is said to be derived from "whiggam", the cry used by the insurgents to encourage their horses. At first only fundamentalist Covenanters were called Whigs but by 1689, the name was applied to the political party that supported the exclusion of the Catholic James, Duke of York, from the succession to the throne, as distinct from the Tories who supported him.

From the 1648 Timeline for the British Civil Wars, Commonwealth, and Protectorate:

http://www.british-civil-wars.co.uk/timelines/1648.htm

(Mid-March) A number of duels fought between leading opponents and supporters of the Engagement in Scotland: David Leslie against Lord SInclair, Lord Eglinton against Lord Glencairn, the Marquis of Argyll against Lord Crawford-Lindsay. No serious bloodshed occurs.

Source: Revolution and Counter-Revolution in Scotland 1644-1651, David Stevenson (Newton Abbott 1977)

From the 1650 Timeline for the British Civil Wars, Commonwealth, and Protectorate:

http://www.british-civil-wars.co.uk/timelines/1650.htm

July 29

• Cromwell advances towards the defensive lines around Edinburgh but cannot draw the Scots out into the open.
  • Sources:
    • History of the Commonwealth and Protectorate vol. i, S.R. Gardiner (London 1903)
    • Dunbar 1650: Cromwell's most famous victory, Stuart Reid (Osprey 2004)
• Charles II joins the Earl of Eglinton at Leith near Edinburgh. He hopes to win the support of Scottish nobles and army officers against the Kirk Party.
  • Source: History of the Commonwealth and Protectorate vol. i, S.R. Gardiner (London 1903)
• Commonwealth warships bombard Leith.
  • Source: Cromwell's Generals, Maurice Ashley (Oxford 1954)

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He was given the name of Alexander Seton at birth. He gained the title of 6th Earl of Eglinton on 4 September 1612.1 He succeeded as the 7th Lord Montgomerie on 4 September 1612.1 On 24 March 1615 he resigned his titles, and had a regrant. He fought in the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644, for the Parliamentarians. He fought in the Captain in 1650, Horse Guards. for King Charles II.1 Between 1651 and 1660 he was imprisoned.

Children of Alexander Montgomerie, 6th Earl of Eglinton and Lady Anne Livingstone

   Colonel James Montgomerie+2 d. 18 Oct 1675

   Maj.-Gen. Robert Montgomerie+2 d. 1684

   Hugh Montgomerie, 7th Earl of Eglinton+1 b. 8 Apr 1613, d. Feb 1669

   Sir Henry Montgomerie2 b. 26 Jun 1614, d. 3 May 1643

   Lady Margaret Montgomerie+2 b. 20 Feb 1616/17, d. 27 Jan 1664/65