Claud Alexander of Newton

CLAUD ALEXANDER OF NEWTON

Memorial, ii, p. 26

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

20 January 1671: Signature of the lands of Newton granted to Claud Alexander and Robert Alexander. National Records of Scotland, Register of Signatures, boxed series, reference SIG1/2/14

                   2

3 October 1673: Disposition and assignations by Sir Thomas Wallace of Craigie, knight, baronet, Senator of the College of Justice, to Mr William Eccles of Kildonane, on payment of the said Mr William of 1000 merks, of his ward and non-entry of the lands of Bennane. At the castell of Newtoune besyd the burgh of Ayre". Witnessess: Allan Cathcarte of Waterheid, John Fergusson, writer in Ayre, and Claud Alexander of Newtoune, son to Robert of Blaknous (writer hereof). National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Family of Bennan and Finnarts, reference GD60/81

                   3

6 February 1685: Letter from Commissioners for Renfrew [As in GD26/7/13: See Note] to the Duke of Hamilton stating they had found that Robert Alexander of Blackhouse and Claud Alexander of Newton, his son, had had dealings with James Spreull [Sproul] "ane declard rebell and fugitive" and whether the punishment should be absolute forfeiture or an arbitrary fine. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Leslie family, Earls of Leven and Melville. State and Official Papers, reference GD26/7/14

[Note] GD26/7/13 Letter from Commissioners for Renfrew date 5 February 1685 [signed by Glencairne [Glencairn], Rosse [Ross], William Hamilton and John Schaw [Shaw]] to the Chancellor informing him that Lord Ross had captured 3 of the rebels who had since been executed and requesting instructions regarding Alexander Millar [Miller] "a notorious villain and father in law to Captain Patton [Paton]" who had been found guilty but offered to "abjure the late Declaration and to pray for the King". Commissioners suggest such persons should be banished to the plantations [Virginia, Carolina, Jamaica]. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Leslie family, Earls of Leven and Melville, State and Official Papers, reference GD26/7/13

                   4

Poll Tax Rolls of Renfrewshire for 1695, he is entered thus : "Claud Alexander of Newtoune for himself, 4 lib. 6sh. ; Jean Ralstoune, his spouse, 6sh. ; Robert, Claud, Ursula, and Marion, Alexander's children, each 6sh,, with three servants." Memorial, ii, p. 26

                   5

October 1703: Confirmed testament dative and inventory of deceased Claud Alexander of Newtoun [Newton] in parish of Paisley. Commissary of Glasgow. National Records of Scotland, Boyd Alexander. reference GD393/100

Biographical Summary

Claud, second son of Robert Alexander of Blackhouse, by his first wife, Marion Hamilton, was born in 1645. By a disposition, dated 24th September 1669, he received from his father several subjects in the town of Paisley.* In 1671 his father granted him the lands of Newtoun (Reg. Mag. Sig., lib. Ixii., 288). A zealous supporter of Presbyterianism, he became obnoxious to the Government, and was imprisoned at Edinburgh. According to Wodrow (vol. iv., 215), he was, on the 3d August 1686, liberated " under a bond of a thousand pounds sterling, to live regularly, and answer when called to anything that is to be laid to his charge." In 1677 Claud Alexander of Newtoun married Jean, third daughter of William Ralston of that ilk, and his wife, Ursula Mure of Glanderstoun, by whom he had two sons and two daughters. In the Poll Tax. Memorial, ii, p. 26

Genealogy

Memorials of the Earls of Sterlinhg and the House of Alexander by the Reverend Charles Rogers, LL.D. (Vol. II. (william Paterson, Edinburgh, 1877), 264 pp. including index