Dame Marion Montgomery, Lady Sempill

DAME MARION MONTGOMERY Lady Sempill

Dame Marioun Montgomery, Lady Semple (1547) Dame Mariota Montgomery, Lady Symple (1555) Lady Marion Mungumry (1559) Marian Montgomery (1559) Marion Mungumry (1560) Marion Montgomery (1560) Dame Marioun Montgumrie lady Sempill (1581) Dame Marioun Montgomery lady Sympill (1581)

Disputed Ancestry

Documentary evidence for the ancestry of Dame Marion Montgomery, Lady Sempill, here treated, has not been found, and verifiable evidence of relationship is not cited in any of the earliest published genealogies, 1833-1911.

Robert Pitcairn, WS., writing in 1833, in Ancient Criminal Trials in Scotland, claimed that Marion Montgomery, here treated, was the same person as ‘Dame Mariota Montgomery, Lady Sempill'. Without producing evidence of relationship, she is said by him to have been the daughter of Hugh, Earl of Eglinton, and his wife Mariota Seytoun, the Mistress of Borthwick. Ancient Criminal Trials I - II: 381*

Sir William Fraser had a different opinion. Writing in 1859, in Memorials of the Montgomeries, he identified Dame Marion Montgomery, Lady Sempill, here treated, as the daughter of Hugh, Earl of Eglinton, and his wife Helen Campbell. Again, evidence which proves the proposed relationship is not offered. Memorials of The Montgomeries I: 35

John Burke disagreed with Pitcairn and Fraser. Writing in 1835, in his History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, he claimed that Marion Montgomery, here treated, was the daughter of Montgomery of Hazlehead. Unfortunately, he did not say which of the Montgomery’s of Hazlehead he had in mind, and he did not offer evidence which proved the proposed relationship. Commoners: 553

James Paterson went further than Burke. In 1847, writing in his History of the County of Ayr, he identified Marion Montgomery as the daughter of Sir John Montgomery of Hazlehead. According to him her father was killed in action at Flodden Field on 9 September 1513, fighting under the Standard of James IV, King of Scots. Ayr: 290 In 1863 Thomas Harrison Montgomery followed Paterson, although, he cited John Burke’s Commoners in error, rather than Paterson’s History of the County of Ayr. Montgomery History: 134

Ignoring the claims made by Pitcairn and Fraser, the Reverend John Anderson’s account of the family of Montgomerie, Earl of Eglinton, written in 1906 for the Scots Peerage, makes absolutely no mention of Marion Montgomery, here treated. The Scots Peerage III: 423-65

John MacGregor, WS., writing in his 1911 account of the family of the Lords Sempill for the Scots Peerage, identified Marion Montgomery, here treated, as the daughter of Hugh Montgomery of Hazlehead, although he did not say which Hugh Montgomery of Hazlehead he had in mind, and he did not offer evidence of relationship. The Scots Peerage VII: 536

The Question of Identity

It does not seem possible to identify the paternity of Dame Marion Montgomery, Lady Sempill, here treated, from the genealogies that were published during the period 1822-1911, or from the primary evidence reviewed here.

Death

A date and place of death has not been identified for Dame Marion Montgomery, Lady Sempill, here treated. At least one pedigree published by MyHeritage claims that she died on 24 June 1580, MyHeritage This is wrong. She was still alive on 1 December 1581, the date upon which her daughter, Margaret Crawford, gave up the testament dative and inventory of her deceased husband, Robert Hunter of Hunterston. Hunter Papers: 32

First Marriage

Marian Montgomery, here treated, is reported to have married Thomas Crawford of Auchinames, who is said to have died in 1541. The Scots Peerage VII: pp. 536

Children of First Marriage

1. John Crawford, 8th Laird of Auchinames
2. William Crawford of Auchenames
3. Patrick Crawford, 10th Laird of Auchinames
4. Margaret Crawford

Second Marriage

Marian Montgomery, here treated, married William, Lord Semple. The Scots Peerage VII: pp. 536-37 She is noticed as Dame Marioun Montgomery, Lady Semple, on 21 June 1547, Hunter Papers: pp. 24-5 and as Dame Mariota Montgomery, Lady Symple on 8 November 1555. Ancient Criminal Trials I - II: 381*

Third Marriage

Marion Montgomery, here treated, married John Campbell of Skipnish, Provost of Kilmun On 8 June 1559 she and her husband had a charter for the ten merk lands of old extent of Liandcross in the barony of Renfrew. Glasgow Protocols V: 1349

Children of Third Marriage

1. Jane Campbell
2. Mary Campbell of Skipnish

Probable Children of Third Marriage

1. Archibald Campbell
2. Duncan Campbell

Evidence from the Hunter Papers

                   1

21 June 1547: Letter by William, Lord Semple, and Dame Marioun his spouse, undertaking on pavment of a certain sum to reconvey to MUNGO HWNTAR OF HUNTERISTOUN the teyne shilling land of HOLHOUS AND BLAKFALD, the lands callit MYLNEAKYR and meadow callit QUHYTTOCH MEDOW, with the pertinents, in the lordschip of Hunteristoun, with Charter and Sasine maid to them thereupon by the said Mungo Huntar, dated and sealed by William, Lord Semple, and by Sir David Neill, Notar Public, for Dame Marioun Montgomery, Lady Semple, with her hand on the pen led by him, the 21st June 1547. Hunter Papers: pp. 24-5

                   2

1 December 1581: The Testament-Dative and Inventar of the goods geir soumes of money and dettis perteining to Umquhile Robert Hunter of Hunterstoun within the Sherefdome of Air the tyme of his deceis quha deceist upoun the nynt day of August the yeir of God l m vc lxxxj yeirs Faythfullie made and gevin vp be Margaret Craufurd Lady Hunterstoun his relict In name and behalf of Jane, Marioun, Katherine, Elizabeth, and Hew Hunteris, yr lauchtfull barnes by the air and executours Dativis decernit to their said Umqle. father be decreit of the Commissars of Ed r. as the samyn decreit of the dait the first day of December the yeir of God i m v c lxxxj yeirs at lenth proportis. . . . . . Followis the dettis awand to the deid. . . . . . Item be Dame Marioun Montgumrie lady Sempill ane hundreth merk. Item mair be hir of Lent money fiftie merk and Johne Gray in Corsbie myln and Thomas Scyir in Corsbie cautioun thairfore. Item mair be the said Dame Marioun Montgumrie lady Sympill tua hundreth and fiftie merk qlk. soum she confest befoir witnesses . . . . . Item mair be the said Dame Marioun Montgomery lady Sympill of byrun annuellis ane hundreth merk mair be hir of lent money ane hundreth merk. Hunter Papers: 32

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

8 November 1555: Dame Mariota Montgomery, Lady Symple, [Note] Came in the Queen's Will for Ratihabition of the Slaughter of Gilbert Rankyne in Lecheland, committed by the fervants of the faid Lady, Mar. 17, 1553, under filence of night: And for Ratihabition of the cruel Hurting and Wounding of John Fynn, and Mutilation of his arm; and for Hurting and Wounding of John Roger in fundry parts of his body, to the effufion of his blood, committed at the fame time — by Refetting of her fervants, who had committed the faid crimes, red-hand, that fame night, within THE Castle of Laven, immediately after the perpetration thereof: And alfo for Ratihabition of the taking and apprehending of Humphry Malcolmefoun and Archibald Scherare, they being conducted by her fervants on the fame night to the Caftle of Laven, feeing she received them into her faid Caftle; Item, for Incarceration and fubjection of the faid perfons in the forefaid Caftle by the fpace of twenty-four hours, without food or drink; thereby Ufurping the Queen's authority.

Note by Robert Pitcairn: She was eldest daughter of Hugh first Earl of Eglintoun; and was, at the time of this Trial, relict of William second Lord Sempill, who died anno 1548. There seems no doubt that her name was Mariota, she having been named after her mother, Mariota Seytoun, Mistress of Borthwick, and sister of Gerge Iord Seytoun. Ancient Criminal Trials I - II: 381*

                   2

22 June 1559: Reversion by John Campbell of Skippininche and Marian Montgomery, his spouse, to Hugh Montgomery of Hasilhead, and Margaret Fressell, his mother, of the 10 mark lands of Lyoncros, containing the reversion price of 250 marks. National Records of Scotland, Boyd Papers, Burgh of Kilmarnock, reference GD8/164

                   3

7 August 1569: Procuratory by Marion Montgomery, widow of late William Lord Semple, with consent of John Campbell, provost of Kilmun, now her husband, for renouncing all claims to lands of Spango Campbell. National Records of Scotland, Montgomerie Family, Earls of Eglinton: Titles, reference GD3/2/7/15

Evidence from the Protocol Books of the Town Clerks of Glasgow

                   1

8 June 1559: Charter by which Hugh Mungumry of Hasilhead confirms that he has sold the ten merk lands of old extent of Liandcross in the barony of Renfrew to John Campbell of Skippinche and his wife Lady Marion Mungumry. Glasgow Protocols V: 1349

                   2

2 January 1559-60: Acknowledgement by John Campbell of Skippinche and his wife Marion Mungumry, that they had received from Hugh Mungumry of Hasilheid, 250 merks in a reversion for the redemption of the ten merk lands of old extent of Lyencors. Witnessed by George Mungumry, brother of Hugh Mungumry of Hasilheid. Glasgow Protocols V: 1352

Evidence from the Commissary Records of Edinburgh

Dame Marion Montgomery, Lady Sempill, was still alive when her husband John Campbell of Skipnish, Provost of Kilmun died on 18 September 1573. He did not refer to her by name in his last will and testament, which was made shortly before he died, but he left legacies to "my spous" and to "my lady my spous." [National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Commissary Court, The Testament Testamentar and Inventory of Johne Campbell, Provost of Kilmun, reference CC8/8/3]

Printed Evidence

1. Criminal Trials in Scotland, from A.D. M.CCCC..LXXXVIII to A.D. M..DC.XXIV, embracing the entire reigns of James IV, and V, Mary Queen of Scots, and James VI/ Ccompiled from the original records and mss. with historical notes and illustrations. By Robert Pitcairn, Esq., Writer to His Majesty's Signet, FSA. Scot., and Hon. FSA. Perth etc. Volume First - Part Second (William Tait, Edinburgh, M. DCCC. XXXIII.), 400 pp.
2. Abstracts of Protocols of the Town Clerks of Glasgow. Edited by Robert Renwick, Depute Town Clerk. Vol. V. Henry Gibsone's Protocols, 1555-68 (Carson & Nicol, Glasgow, MDCCCXCVII), 140 pp. including indices

Genealogy

1. Ancient Criminal Trials I - II: 381*
2. Burke's Commoners: 553
3. James Paterson, History of the County of Ayr: With a Genealogical Account of the Families of Ayrshire, Vol. I (John Dick, Ayr, MDCCCXLVII), pp. 290-92
4. Memorials of the Montgomeries Earls of Eglinton by William Fraser, Volume II. (Edinburgh MDCCCLIX), 400 pp.
5. Memorials of the Montgomeries Earls of Eglinton by William Fraser, Volume II. (Edinburgh MDCCCLIX), 424 pp. including index
6. A Genealogical History of the Family of Montgomery, pp. 134-36 for Montgomery of Hessilhead
7. The Scots Peerage, etc., edited by Sir James Balfour Paul, Lord Lyon King of Arms, Volume III (David Douglas, Edinburgh, 1906), pp. 421-65 for Montgomerie, Earl of Eglinton

Biographical Summary by Darryl Lundy's Peerage

Widow of Thomas Crawford of Auchinames. Marion Montgomerie. b. before 1550. Marion Montgomerie was born before 1550. She was the daughter of Hugh Montgomerie She married, thirdly, John Campbell, 2nd of Skipness, son of Archibald Campbell,1st of Skipness and Janet Douglas. She married Thomas Craufurd of Auchenames. Child of Marion Montgomerie and John Campbell, 2nd of Skipness: Jane Campbell. Darryl Lundy's Peerage