Andrew Murray of Blackbarony

ANDREW MURRAY OF BLACKBARONY

Contrary to what is claimed by Heraldry of the Murrays and followed by Stirnet and Darryl Lundy's Peerage Andrew Murray of Blackbarony, here treated, did not hold a knighthood. Certainly, the Scots Peerage account of him and his family makes no mention of him having held this dignity, The Scots Peerage III and the view that he did hold a knighthood is not supported by the record evidence reviewed here, including, most significantly, perhaps, his testament dative and inventory. [NRS: CC8/8/2] Image 1 and Image 2

Andrew Murray of Blackbarony, here treated, is the eldest son and heir of Master John Murray of Blackbarony and his wife Isabel Hoppar NRS: GD32/11/6

A date and place of birth has not been identified for Andrew Murray of Blackbarony, here treated. According to the Scots Peerage, he was served heir to his deceased father on 15 February 1513 (sic), being of lawful age by dispensation, but was still under tutelage as late as 1517, if not later, having been seised of the lands of Ballencreiff on 29 November 1514, and Blackbarony on 29 October 1515. The Scots Peerage III: 502

Death

Andrew Murray of Blackbarony, here treated, died intestate on 1 September 1572. The place of his death is not mentioned in his testament dative. [NRS: CC8/8/2]

His Testament Dative and Inventory

Andrew Murray of Blackbarony died on 1 September 1572. His testament dative and inventory was given up by Agnes, Andro, Gideon and William Murrays: "lauchfull bairnis to the said umqle Andrew," with the advice and consent of Dame Grisel Beaton their mother, who were recognised as nearest of kin and executors dative to their deceased father by the Commissary Court of Edinburgh. Confirmation was granted to the executors dative on 3 June 1573. [National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Commissary Court, The Testament Dative and Inventory of Andro Murray of Blackbaronie, reference CC8/8/2]

1. Image of Testament
2. Image of Testament

First Marriage

Andrew Murray of Blackbarony, here treated, married, as his first wife, Elizabeth Lockhart

Second Marriage

Andrew Murray of Blackbarony, here treated, married, as his second wife, Grisel Bethune

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

15 February [1514]: Retour of the service of Andrew Murray of Blackbarony, as heir of his father John Murray who died in the field of battle at Twiselhauth in England, along with King James IV on the 9th day of September last by past, held , within the Court House of the Burgh of Edinburgh, serving him heir in special, under Letters of Dispensation of non age, made at Northumberland in England by the King and Lords of Council granting the ward, marriage and relief duties to the heirs of those who might be slain under his royal standard there, to his father in the following lands and heritages, vizt: the lands and barony of Halton, called Blackbarony Mills etc. and lands annexed thereto, vizt, Kingsland, the fourth part of Culrop [Courhope], over menzian and pertinents also the lands of Castlerig, vizt. the east half thereof extending to eight acres and one acre called holl acre, and one croft called Brufurdland in liberty of burgh of Kinghorne [Kinghorn] and shire of Fife and the half of le steid of Ploro [Plora], le Hemlok called Presthop [Priesthope] and the place and lands of Glenpot with pertinents in the ward of Tweed, within the lordship and forest of Ettrick and sheriffdom of Selkirk, and four husbandlands of Ballencrieff [Aberlady pa.] which the deceased Adam Nesbit had in liferent, and one husband-land in Ballencrieff possessed by James Newton and three quarters of a husbandland possessed by Elizabeth Sincler [Sinclair], with dovecot etc. with an aker behind the garden on the north part of the Doukat aker and the mill of Ballincrieff and 28 akers with cottages of the town of Ballincrieff with thirlage multures, and suk kin of the said lordship, town and lands of the maynes of Ballincrieff, Gossfurd [Gosford], and Spittale [Spittal], along with the office of bailliary of the same and pertinents, lying within the sheriffdom of Edinburgh and constabulary of Haddington and duplicate thereof. [2 fragsments] National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Viscounts and Barons of Elibank, reference GD32/11/6

                   2

30 June 1527: Charter by Andrew Murray, son and heir of deceased Mr John Murray, Lord of Blackbarony, and Lord Superior of the lands of Eist-louch [Eastloch], with consent of his dearest mother and curator Elizabeth Hopper and Sir Archibald Douglas, Theasurer of the King, now her husband, of 1/2 of Est Louch to John Ray (Rae). Signed by the said Andrew Murray and having the seals of himself and his mother entire. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Viscounts and Barons of Elibank, reference GD32/4/1

                   3

8 February 1551: Extract Registered Contract of Marriage between Andro Murray of Blackbarony and Dame Grissale Betoun [Beaton] relict of umquhile William Scott of Kyrkhurd [Kirkurd], kt, whereby the said Andro resigns for new infeftment in favour himself and his said wife "his gret lugeing bak land and foreland under and above with the pertinents lyand in Bells wynd within the Burgh of Edinburgh also the lands of Ballincrieff [Ballencrieff, Aberlady pa., East Lothian] and Pvray (Poverhouse) with their pertinents". It contains an obligation by Walter Scott of Branxholm [Branxholme], kt, and Robert Betoun of Creith [Creich] to pay 1200 marks to the said Andro Murray. Recorded in the Books of Counsel. Witnesses: John Bellenden of Auchnoull, Justice Clerk, Robert Betoun of Creith, Patrick Murray of Fallowhill [Falahill], Archybald Douglas of Kilspyndi [Kilspindie], Maister John Scrymgeour [Scrimgeour] of the Myris, Maister Thomas Westoun [Weston] and James Nicolsoun [Nicholson]. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Viscounts and Barons of Elibank, reference GD32/2/2

                   4

24 September 1573: Contract of Marriage between Johnne Murray son and heir of umquhile Andro Murray of Blackbarony with assent of Sir Walter Scott of Branxholm [Branxholme], kt, Patrick Murray of Falayhill [Falahill] and James Borthwick of Glengelt, his curators for their interest and Alexander Hamiltoun [Hamilton] now of Innerwick, Margaret Hamiltoun his sister german, with consent of George Home of Broxmouth and Mr John Scharp [Sharp], advocate, curators to the said Alexander for their interest, whereby the said Johnne binds himself to infeft the said Margaret and himself in conjunct fee in "the haill the land and tenement perteining to him lying upon the South side of the South gait of Edinburgh, the lands of Preistishope [Priesthope], Kings acre, Haltoun and Miln thereof and Fala", on the other hand the said Alexander Hamiltoun bound himself to pay to the said John Murray 3000 merks and gave in security therefore John Pennycuik [Pennycook] elder of that ilk and John Aitchison, Maister Cuncheour (coiner). National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Viscounts and Barons of Elibank, reference GD32/2/3

Genealogy

1. The Scots Peerage III: pp. 502-04 for the Family of Andrew Murray of Blackbarony
2. Stirnet Murray 07
3. The heraldry of the Murrays: with notes on all the males of the family, descriptions of the arms, plates and pedigrees, by G. Harvey Johnston, 1910, page 78, paragraph 334

Biographical Summary Copied from Darryl Lundy's Peerage

Sir Andrew Murray of Blackbarony married Grizel Bethune, daughter of Sir John Bethune, 2nd of Creich and Janet Hay, on 8 February 1552. He died on 1 September 1572. Child of Sir Andrew Murray of Blackbarony and Grizel Bethune. 1. Sir Gideon Murray, Lord Elibank+4 d. 28 Jun 1621. Children of Sir Andrew Murray of Blackbarony 1. Sir John Murray of Blackbarony 2. Elizabeth Murray, d. c Nov 1612

Biographical Summary Copied from The Heraldry of the Murrays

(334) Sir Andrew Murray of Blackbarony, died 1st September 1572. Will recorded 3rd June 1573 (Edinburgh). He was served heir to his father 14th February 1514. He married, first, about 1533, Elizabeth, daughter of William Lockhart, and had a daughter. He married, second, contract dated 8th February 1551, Grizel, daughter of Sir John Bethune of Creich, Fife, and had:- (1) John (No. 335 below) (2) Andrew Murray.(3) Gideon, ancestor of Lord Elibank (No. 355 below) (4) William, ancestor of Murray of Dunerne, Baronets (No. 375 below). ARMS on Seal, 1565. - A fetterlock; on a chief three stars (Macdonald's Seals). [Plate VI., fig. 5.] The heraldry of the Murrays: with notes on all the males of the family, descriptions of the arms, plates and pedigrees, by G. Harvey Johnston, 1910, page 78, paragraph 334