Dame Elizabeth Cunningham

DAME ELIZABETH CUNNINGHAM

According to Stirnet, Dame Elizabeth Cunningham is the daughter of John Cunningham of Cunninghamhead and his wife Mary Edmonstone. Stirnet: Cunningham 04

First Marriage

Dame Elizabeth Cunningham married Colonel Sir George Cunningham. The Scots Peerage VIII: 391

Second Marriage

Dame Elizabeth Cunningham married Master William Sandilands of Hilderstoun. The marriage was booked on 1 January 1641, at Mid Calder in Midlothian, Scotland, [National Records of Scotland, Mid Calder Marriages, reference OPR.694/1]

Children of the Second Marriage

1. Elizabeth Sandilands
2. Mary Sandilands
3. Elizabeth Sandilands
4. James Sandilands
5. Anna Sandilands

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

8 February 1640: Extract registered bond by Sir George Cunninghame to Dame Elizabeth Cunninghame, his spouse, her heirs or executors or assignees for 16000lib Scots in full satisfaction to her of all her rights to his estates except the insight plenishing of his house, and assignation in security thereof in her favour, of £16000 due to him by Sir William Cunninghame for which he had a wadset of the lands of Auchinbeg and certain others within the barony of Uchiltree, extending to an 8 merk land or thereby and of the said lands of Skeoch and in Maynes of Coilsfield. Dated at Edinburgh and Recorded in the Books of Council and Session, 30th October 1640. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Montgomerie Family, Earls of Eglinton, reference GD3/1/9/24/7

                   2

29 October 1641: Disposition by James Cunninghame in implement of a bond and alienation in favour of Master William Sandilands, tutor of Torphicen and Dame Elizabeth Cunninghame, his spouse and the longest liver of them two in conjunct fee, and the heirs lawfully procreated or to be procreated between them which failing to Mr William Sandilands his nearest and lawful heirs and assignees whomsoever of the foresaid lands under the same reversion. Dated at Edinburgh. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Montgomerie Family, Earls of Eglinton, reference GD3/1/9/24/11

                   3

30 October 1641: Instrument of resignation by James Cunninghame of the foresaid lands in the hands of Sir William Cunninghame as superior in favour of Master William Sandilands, his spouse and their foresaids. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Montgomerie Family, Earls of Eglinton, reference GD3/1/9/24/12

                   4

22 August 1646: Contract between Mr William Sandilands and Dame Elizabeth Cunninghame his spouse with consent of Sir William Cunninghame on the one part and Robert Haliburton, merchant burgess of Edinburgh on the other part whereby in consideration of 5500 merks of principal and 1350 merks of by run tack duty Mr William Sandilands and his spouse with consent aforesaid dispone to Robert Haliburton his heirs and assignees whomsoever the lands of Skeoch, and in Maynes of Coilsfield under reversion in favour of Sir William Cunninghame on payment by him of the said principal sum of 5250 merks
Dated at Edinburgh. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Montgomerie Family, Earls of Eglinton, reference GD3/1/9/24/13

                    5

22 August 1646: Charter granted in implement of GD3/1/9/24/13 by Mr William Sandilands and Dame Elizabeth Cunninghame his spouse with consent of Sir William Cunninghame in favour of Robert Haliburton his heirs and assignees whomsoever of the foresaid lands; to hold of James, Duke of Lennox, Earl of Darnlie, Lord Tarbolton etc, his heirs and successors for payment yearly of services used and wont under the said reversion Dated at Edinburgh. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Montgomerie Family, Earls of Eglinton, reference GD3/1/9/24/14

                   6

22 August 1646: Charter granted in implement of GD3/1/9/24/15 by Mr William Sandilands and Dame Elizabeth Cunninghame his spouse with consent of Sir William Cunninghame in favour of Robert Haliburton his heirs and assignees whomsoever of the foresaid lands; to hold of Sir William Cunninghame his heirs and successors in free blench farm for payment yearly of 2 pennies Scots on the ground of the said lands at the feast Whitsunday in name of blench farm if asked only under the said reversion Dated at Edinburgh. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Montgomerie Family, Earls of Eglinton, reference GD3/1/9/24/16

3. Mr. William Sandilands of Hilderstoun, M.A. Edinburgh, 1617; served tutor of Torphichen 1 November 1637.1

He married, first, Grizel Bannatyne,2 anno 1626 ;

secondly, 1 January 1641, Dame Elizabeth Cunningham,3 relict of Colonel Sir George Cunningham.4

By his first wife he had : —

(1) Walter, his heir,6 who assumed the surname and arms of Hamilton of Westport.
(2) William.6
(3) Margaret.
(4) Susanna.9
(5) Isabel.9

His issue by his second wife was : —

(6) Elizabeth, baptized 3 September 1641.
(7) Mary, baptized 26 January 1645.
(8) Elizabeth, baptized 29 March 1646.
(9) James, baptized 28 February 1647.
(10) Anna, baptized 28 May 1648. 10

“ William of Hilderston was a tutor of Calder during the minority of his nephew (John Sandilands, 5th Lord Torphichen), a gentleman distinguished for his attachment to Presbyterian principles and who both struggled in defence of, and suffered with the persecuted Church of Scotland in the days of Charles II. In the parish records, under the date of 1st January 1641, we see "This day mr. Wm. Sandilands and dame Elizabeth Murray war married;" (notes indicate this was a "misprint". It should have read Cunningham.).

Further, the baptismal record of their son James Sandilands indicates his mother’s name as “Elizabeth Cunningham”:
““ James Sandilands, Feb 28,1647. [Christening Record; Mid Calder, Midlothian Scotland; Father: William Sandilands, Mother: Elizabeth Cunningham]].

Genealogy

1. The Scots Peerage etc. Volume VIII (Edinburgh: David Douglas, 1911), p. 391
2. Stirnet: Cunningham 04
3. The Scots Peerage etc. Volume VIII (David Douglas, Edinburgh, 1911), Page 390-391. < Archive.Org >
4. https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/collaborate/LHPW-22G