Dame Margaret Melville, lady of Reres

Comments:

”Based on the chronology, I would agree that Margaret Ayr was not a good fit as wife of Thomas Wemyss. However, it is certain that his wife was "Margaret Melville" (parentage unknown to me). And her second husband was Baldred Blackadder, whose fraternal nephew may have been Andrew Blackadder of that Ilk.”

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This is a follow-up to the Melville discussion: https://www.geni.com/discussions/235676?msg=1495174

https://archive.org/details/memorialsoffamil01fras/page/117/mode/1u...

Page 60 of the text:

Duncan Wemyss of Reres and Elizabeth Erskine, had a son,

Thomas, who, as son and heir of Duncan Wemyss, is a witness to charters by Sir Robert Erskine of that ilk, his uncle, in 1433 and 1437. He succeeded his father before 1443, and became, before 1466, Sir Thomas Wemyss of Reres, knight.

He married Margaret Melville, and had issue five sons, named Michael, John, Thomas, Alexander and Andrew.

Sir Thomas Wemyss died about 1478, survived by his wife, who married, about 1480, Baldred Blackadder. She and her second husband were alive in 1494.

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So this would be his father: Duncan Wemyss of Reres

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http://redbookofscotland.co.uk/blackadder-of-that-ilk

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A prominent member of the family about this time was Sir Baldred Blacader, Marischal of the King’s household. His nearest and lawful heir in 1511 was Andrew Blacader of that ilk, his brother’s son. He appears to have been a good deal in Glasgow about the Archbishop as he is a witness to many of his deeds and charters. He was likewise a retaller of the Diocese holding forty shilling land of Ryglat in the barony of Carstairs. He was married 1478 to Dame Margaret Melville, widow of Sir Thomas de Wemyss laird of Reras in Fife, who seems to have been an extensive landowner. This Sir Baldred appears to have been continually at law with regard to his wife’s and his own possessions, as is shown by the frequency of his name occurring as a litigant in the Acts of the Lords Auditors and those of the Lords of Council. In 1478 there was a suit at his instance anent a tack of the lands of East Barns set to him by the Earl of Argyle.

In the Acta Com: Auditorium appear the following entries regarding him; 19 October 1479. Before the Lords Auditors compeared John of Wemys summoned at the instance of Baldred of Blakater anent the spolation taking and withholding of certain ‘vitales’ pertaining to him by reason of his wife, the lady Reras, and her mails of the barony of the Luchre (Leuchars). Eo.die. Before the Lords Auditors compeared David Wemys summoned at the instance of Baldred Blakater anent the waytaking of three oxen jurth of the lands of Myrcarny taken for his annual thereof.

1st December 1497. In presence of the Lords Auditors, Patrick Lindesay of kirkforther ‘forepeaker’ for John Inglis in Logymurtho protested that since he had called Baldred Blakater and Dame Margaret Melvele, lady of Reras, to warrand his lands of Logymurtho with pertinent and the said Baldred was present and no his spouse thst it should turn him to no prejudice anent his warrant.

In the Exchequer Rolls of 1490 appear sundry payments to Baldred Blacader for his fees as marishal of the household.

On 12 June 1507 Sir Baldred was present at a meeting of the Chapter of Glasgow Cathedral. In 1509 from an entry in the rental book of the Diocese we find that Sir Baldred was lately deceased.

http://www.blackadder-history.com/the.blackadder.history.htm

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