Elizabeth Makgill, Lady Culzean

DAME ELIZABETH MAKGILL (aka ELIZABETH M'GILL) Lady Culzean

Her Last Will and Testament

Dame Elizabeth Makgill made her last will and testament at the Coiff on 26 December 1621. [National Records of Scotland, Glasgow Commissary Court, Testament Testamentar of Dame Elizabeth McGill, lady Culzeane, parish of Kirkosuall, reference CC9/7/18 pp. 499-504]

Death

Dame Elizabeth Makgill, lady Culzean, died in January 1622. [National Records of Scotland, Glasgow Commissary Court, Testament Testamentar of Dame Elizabeth McGill, lady Culzeane, parish of Kirkosuall, reference CC9/7/18 pp. 499-504]

First Marriage

Dame Elizabeth Makgill married Robert Logan of Restalrig. They were married before November 1576 but they must have divorced before 16 March 1579, when she was living in her father's household. The Scots Peerage II: 486

Child of the First Marriage

1. Robert Logan

Second Marriage

Dame Elizabeth Makgill married Sir Thomas Kennedy of Culzean. They were married between 16 March and 28 April 1579. The Scots Peerage II: 486

Children of the Second Marriage

1. Thomas Kennedy of Culzean
2. James Kennedy of Culzean and Blairquhan
3. Sir Alexander Kennedy of Culzean
4. David Kennedy
5. Helen Fergusson
6. Margaret Agnew
7. Margaret Agnew

Third Marriage

Dame Elizabeth Makgill married Sir William Mure of Rowallan. They were married before 7 September 1605. NRS: GD25/9/73

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

12 February 1580: Contract between Thomas Kennedy of Culean Tutor of Cassillis and Elizabeth Makgill his wife on the one part, and George Lockhart burgess of Ayr on the other part bearing that the said George Lockhart shall infeft the said Thomas Kennedy and his wife their heirs and assignees in the 40 shilling land of Glenalloway and 40 shilling land of Auchaltan lying contiguous, within the Earldom of Carrick but redeemable upon the said George Lockhart making payment to them within the Church of Mayboll of the sum of 2000 merks money of this Realm, and they on the other hand to grant a Letter of Reversion declaring the same redeemable upon payment of the said sum. As also to grant a Letter of Assedation of the said lands of Glenalloway and Auchaltan to the said Geo. Lockhart during the not redemption for payment yearly of 200 merks at the terms of Whitsunday and Martinmas by equal portions. Witnesses Mr David Makgill of Nisbet Advocate, Robert Cathcart his servant and Gilbert Kennedy servant to the Tutor of Cassillis. Dated at Edinburgh. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Kennedy Family, Earls of Cassillis (Ailsa Muniments), reference GD25/1/876

                   2

20 December 1587: Procuratory by the said William Kennedy of Gilespie to [ ] to resign in the hands of John Earl of Cassillis and Thomas Kennedy of Culean his Tutor, the 40 shilling land of Craigoch, 20 shilling land of Cairniston 5 shilling land of Tradonach and half merk land of Knockin, extending to a 5 merk and 20 penny land, with all right and title which he the said William Kennedy had thereto, in favor and for new infeftment thereof to be granted by the Earl and his Tutor to Elizabeth Makgill wife of the said Tutor in liferent, and Thomas Kennedy their eldest son and his heirs male in fee. Witnesses - John Kennedy of Greenan, Thomas Hay of Park, Uthtred Makdowall of Garthland, and William Baillie of Blairskinnoch. Dated at Inch. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Kennedy Family, Earls of Cassillis (Ailsa Muniments), reference GD25/1/947

                   3

18 July 1597: Extract Registered Contract between John, Earl of Cassillis, and Sir Thomas Kennadie of Culzeane, his uncle, with Elizabeth McGill, spouse, and Thomas K., son, of the said Thomas, ratifying certain bonds, charters and decreets, etc. granted to and by the said Thomas as tutor to the Earl, and incorporating various renunciations and re-grants, all covered by GD25/1/849-1094. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Kennedy Family, Earls of Cassillis (Ailsa Muniments), reference GD25/2/284

                   4

7 September 1605: William Mure, elder of Rowallane, and Elizabeth Makgill, lady Culzeane, his spouse, to Laurence M'Gill, advocate. Dalmostenok and Tonochhill, parish of Kilmarnock, bailiary of Cunningham. (With assignation thereof). National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Kennedy Family, Earls of Cassillis (Ailsa Muniments), reference GD25/9/73

                   5

2 January 1617: Discharge by Gilbert Ross, provost of Maybole, in name of Sir Andrew Melvine of Garvock (Garua), to Elizabeth McGill, lady Culzeane, of £22, being few maills for 1616. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Kennedy Family, Earls of Cassillis (Ailsa Muniments), reference GD25/3/81

                   6

6 July 1621: Contract of Alienation by James Kennedy of Cullane Elizabeth McGill, relict of Sir Thomas K. of Cullane, his mother, James K., his son, and Alexander Kennedy of Craigoch, containing procuratories for service of heir and resignation. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Kennedy Family, Earls of Cassillis (Ailsa Muniments), reference GD25/4/2

                   7

22 December 1621: Feu-Charter by James Kennedie of Culzeane and Elizabeth McGill, relict of Sir Thomas K. of Culzeane, his mother, to David Kennedie of Garrihorne, following on contract of 29 November 1621 and containing precept of sasine. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Kennedy Family, Earls of Cassillis (Ailsa Muniments), reference GD25/4/3

                   8

26 December 1621: Extract Confirmed Testament Testamentar and Inventory of Elizabeth McGill, lady Colzeane, in parish of Kirkoswald. Confirmed 1 May 1622. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Kennedy Family, Earls of Cassillis (Ailsa Muniments), reference GD25/8/104b

                   9

7 February 1622: Discharge by John Fergussone of Kilkerran, in name of Agnes Mvir, daughter of James M., younger of Auchindrain, to Alexander Kennedy of Cragoche, as executor to Elizabeth McGill, lady Culzeane, his mother, of 600 merks Scots left to her (whom failing, to John M., her brother) in legacy by the said Elizabeth, her grandmother. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Kennedy Family, Earls of Cassillis (Ailsa Muniments), reference GD25/4/5

                  10

1 May 1622: Extract Confirmed Testament Testamentar and Inventory of Elizabeth McGill, lady Colzeane, in parish of Kirkoswald. Confirmed 1 May 1622. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Kennedy Family, Earls of Cassillis (Ailsa Muniments), reference GD25/8/104b

                  11

c. 1652: Discharge at the desire of Sir Alexander Kennedy of Culzeane, Kt, by James Craufurd goldsmith in Edinburgh as assignay named on the advice of deceased Dame Elizabeth Makgill, Lady Culzean, to decreets of 4 February 1597-8 and 21 July 1598 against umquhile Thomas Kennedy, brother to Hew Kennedy of Bennan, for spoliation committed against umquhile Richard Makgill, sometime in Ferdinrioche and umquhile Uthrid Makgill, his brother, to [blank] Kennedy, son to said umquhile Hew Kennedy of Bennan. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Family of Bennan and Finnarts, reference GD60/57

Genealogical Accounts

1. The Scots Peerage, etc., Edited by Sir James Balfour Paul, Lord Lyon King of Arms, Volume II (David Douglas, Edinburgh, 1905), pp. 486-88 for the family of Elizabeth Makgill and Thomas Kennedy of Culzean
2. The Historie and Descent of the House of Rowallane by Sir William Mure, Knight, of Rowallane.Written in or prior to 1657 (Chalmers and Collins, Glasgow, 1825), 141 pp.
3. Electric Scotland: Mure
4. Clan MacFarlane and associated clans genealogy

Notes and Comments

Links

• http://www.clanmacfarlanegenealogy.info/genealogy/TNGWebsite/getper...

We know the father married first in 1576 to Elizabeth McGill, they divorced in 1577/78. Then we have a blank period of 8 or 9 years until Logan marries (Jonet Ker) in 1586. Logan Home places the births of George and John as 1587 and 1588, respectively. This wife, Jonet, is apparently mother also to Alexander (1590) and Jonet (bef 1596). Jonet Ker dies in 1596, and it is her tombstone that still exists in the St. Triduana Chapel in Edinburgh (a picture of her stone is on my web page: http://www.cyberramp.net/'rscmf/Triduana.htm>)

Logan is said to have then married Marion Ker (relation to wife Jonet, unknown) who lived to be his widow and was mother to Anna (her birth would be between 1597-1606). I think Logan Home is missing a wife in there. If George and John were not minors in 1600, this would place their births before 1587 and 1588; probably more like 1580 and 1581.

As John married before 1606, I think my hypothesis is the correct one. If Logan Home is correct, John would have been 16 or 17 at the time of his marriage. This is unheard of back then. The average age for a man of wealth to first marry was about 26, the girls first married around 20 or 21 years of age. If John were born about 1581, he would have been 25 at the birth of his first child; this is more likely the case.

Since John's first child was born in May 1606, this is prior to the death of his father and the forfeiture, therefore eliminating the need for John to marry as a teenager.

I discuss this in depth because this is the critical information needed if you are to trace your tree back to the last Laird. I hope you are all still with me at this point . The crux of it is that these kids need sorted out if any of us are going to be able to connect to the Last Laird.

That said, I'll repeat my family history for you: my line supposedly ...descends from the eldest son of the last laird...- this should be Robert (B. 1577) unless there was an illegitimate son and my family historian conveniently forgot to mention that part. I have proof of my Logan line back to a marriage that took place in Aberdeen, SCT in 1635 between John Logan and Margaret Wat.

So obviously I have a gap and have been unable to prove John's parentage. Since I am stuck in trying to move backwards, I have spent years trying to move the last Laird's children forward, hoping my gamble would pay off. Since the eldest two wandered off from Edinburgh it has been very difficult. But I think this is a very important part of the puzzle. One son quite possibly could have wandered off to Ireland......... Regards, Stephanie Plano, TX USA 

Notes from www.stirnet: Makgill 01

Elizabeth Makgill (d 05.1622) m1. (before 1576, div by 03.1578) Robert Logan of Restalrig (b 1555, d 07.1606) m2. (1578-9) SIr Thomas Kennedy, 1st of Culzean (d 11.05.1602) m3. (mcrt 04.04.1605) William Mure of Rowallan

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