David Muirhead, WS

MR. DAVID MUIRHEAD, WS

Mr. David Muirhead, WS., here treated, is not the same person as David Muirhead According to the History of Clan Muirhead they were brothers, sons of the same father by different mothers. History of Clan Muirhead

Writer in Edinburgh; Burgess of Edinburgh Writer to the Signet

David Muirhead. WS., here treated was admitted to membership of the Society of Writers to the Signet in 1606. History of the Society of Writers to the Signet: 151

David Muirhead, WS., here treated was admitted as a burgess of Edinburgh on 8 October 1606. Roll of Edinburgh Burgesses, 1406-1700, p. 366

His Last Will and Testament

Confirmation was granted on 26 March 1614. [National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Commissary Court, The Testament Testamentar and Inventory of David Mureheid, W.S., reference CC8/8/48]

Death

David Muirhead WS., here treated is reported to have died in January 1614. History of the Society of Writers to the Signet: 151

Evidence from the Burgess Records of Edinburgh

8 October 1606: Mr. David Muirhead, B., writer, by r. of w. Marioune, dr. to umq. John Lowsoune, chirurgiane, B. Roll of Edinburgh Burgesses, 1406-1700, p. 366

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

14 March 1622 x 12 January 1627: David Muirhead, WS. [Particular Register of Sasines for the Sheriffdom of Lanark, reference RS40/IIB/328]

                   2

16 August 1627: Marriage Contract. Richard Dobbie, merchant in Edinburgh, eldest son and apparent heir of John Dobbie, flesher burgess there, and Euphame Murehead, eldest daughter of deceased Mr. David Murehead, W.S. National Records of Scotland, Marriage Contracts, reference RH9/7/7

Evidence from the Minutes of the Society of Writers to the Signet

19 April 1648: Given from the box, £20 to Mr. David Mureheid's relict, and four dollars to the relict of William Neilsoun, both wrirers to the signet. History of the Society of Writers to the Signet: 271

Biographical Summary by Clan Muirhead

David Muirhead, the son of James Muirhead of Lauchope and his first wife, Janet (Hamilton), left Lauchope and made a living for himself in Edinburgh as a printer. David Muirhead, son of James Muirhead and his first wife, Janet (Hamilton), married Marion Lawson / Lowsoune, the daughter of John Lowsoune, a surgeon. In 1606 David Muirhead was made a burgess in right of his wife, Marion. His name is included in the Edinburgh Burgess Roll of 1606. Entries for two documents (bonds of caution, i.e. surety) are to be found in the Register of the Great Seal in the first part of the year 1601 which appear to have been drawn up by David Muirhead, son of James (and Janet) Muirhead of Lauchope. The first was recorded on 28 January, 1601 (1.65) and noted that James Muirhead of Lachop stood as cautioner to Elizabeth Logye, relict of James Finla in Lochwod for 500 merks not to harm Robert Boyd of Badinheath. The document was witnessed by Claud and David Muirhead ‘sons of James Muirhead of Lachop’. The second entry was dated 04 February, 1601 (1.66) and noted that James Muirhead of Lachop stood as cautioner for his son, Claud Muirhead and John Muirhead, burgess of Glasgow for 500 merks not to harm Robert Boyd in Baddinhaith. This document was written by David Muirhead. It would seem apparent that, in view of the fact that David Muirhead wrote the documents, he must have practiced as a lawyer, in addition to his printing career. He is claimed to have been a founding member of the Writer to the Signet Society, which would tend to confirm the idea of his having been a lawyer. The Signet Society was so-named because the members used a special signet ring to seal the legal documents they prepared. To the union of David and Marion were born five children: Arthur (born on 07 November, 1596), John (born on 27 April, 1600), James (born after 1600), Euphane (born on 28 November, 1612) and Margaret (born after 1612), as named in David’s will. He had made out his will on 09 December, 1613, in which he named his relict spouse, Marion, his executrix. It is assumed that he died in January, 1614. The will was recorded in the Edinburgh Commissary Court on 26 March, 1614.(1.67) In addition to naming his widow and their children as beneficiaries of his estate, David named James Muirhead, younger of Lachop, Thomas McMichael, William Lawson, William Heroun and Robert Muirhead, elder merchant burgess of Edinburgh to act as tutors to his children who were under age. Because his sons, Arthur and John were ‘of age’, David named James Muirhead of Lachop, James Muirhead of Schawfute and Braidholme, and William Lawson (his wife’s brother) to act as curators to Arthur and John. History of Clan Muirhead