Grisel Sempill

GRISEL SEMPILL

Ane honourable Lady, Gryssell Sympill, Lady Stanehous

According to Sir James Balfour Paul, Lord Lyon King of Arms, Grisel Sempill is the eldest daughter of Robert, third Lord Semple. The Scots Peerage VII: 545 Her paternity is confirmed by a warning recorded in the protocol book of Mr. Gilbert Grote on 27 March 1562. Protocol Book of Mr. Gilbert Grote: 205 but it should be noted that her father would have been identified as the Master of Sempill in the period before 3 June 1552, when his own father died, and it follows that Grizel Semple is correctly noticed as the daughter of Robert, Master of Semple, in a deed dated 7 May 1551 NRS: GD20/1/836 and in another dated 9 October 1551. RMS 1546-1580, 637

According to Sir James Balfour Paul, Robert, third Lord Semple, had a number of bastard children, including another daughter named Grissel Sempill The Scots Peerage VII: 550 This second Grissel Sempill married John Blair of that Ilk. She should not be confused with Lady Sanehous.

Death

Grisel Sempill died in October 1575. The Scots Peerage, vii, page 547 In her testament dative she is styled "ane honourable Lady, Gryssell Sympill, Lady Stanehous."' Her testament dative and the inventory of her goods and gear was given up by her daughter Elizabeth Hamilton, lady Closeburn. [National Records of Scotland, Commissary Records of Edinburgh, Testament Dative of Grissell Sympill, reference CC8/8/4 pp. 76-8]

The place of her death is unknown. However, an inventory of her property, made shortly after her death, makes mention of a small quantity of oats and bear that was stored in her barnyard of Blair, and certain household goods belonging to her in the place of Blair. In view of this and in view of the fact that William Hamilton, her eldest son by John Hamilton, archbishop of St. Andrews, was laird of a place named Blair which is located near Culross in the County of Fife, it might be suggested that she probably died there. [National Records of Scotland, Commissary Records of Edinburgh, Testament Dative of Grissell Sympill, reference CC8/8/4 pp. 76-8]

Her Testament Dative

The testament dative and inventory of the goods and gear belonging to: "ane honourable Lady, Gryssell Sympill, Lady Stanehous" was given up by her daughter Elizabeth Hamilton, lady Closeburn on 20 June 1576. Elizabeth was recognized as her mother's executrix dative and confirmation was granted to her on 24 February 1576. [National Records of Scotland, Commissary Records of Edinburgh, Testament Dative and Inventory of Grissell Sympill, Lady Stanehouse, reference CC8/8/4]

1. Image of Testament Dative 1
2. Image of Testament Dative 2
3. Image of Testament Dative 3

Marriage and Divorce

Grisel Sempill married James Hamilton of Stanehouse. Hamilton Memoirs: 384 They were married before 10 March 1539-40. RMS 1513-1546: 2120 Before 21 February 1545-46 she became the misstress of John Hamilton, bastard son of James Hamilton, Earl of Arran, who was abbot of Paisley and afterwards Archbishop of St. Andrews, and she and James Hamilton of Stanehouse were subsequently divorced. The Scots Peerage VII: 545-6

Mistress of John Hamilton

Grisel Sempill became the misstress of John Hamilton before 21 February 1545-46. He was the bastard son of James Hamilton, Earl of Arran. The Scots Peerage VII: 545-6

Children by James Hamilton of Stanehouse

1. Robert Hamilton, elder, Merchant in Edinburgh
2. John Hamilton of Stanehouse
3. Lady Elizabeth Hamilton
4. Grizel Hamilton

Bastard Children by John Hamilton, Archbishop of St. Andrews

1. William Hamilton of Blair
2. John Hamilton
3. James Hamilton of Stanehill
4. David Hamilton
5. Margaret Hamilton
6. Jane Hamilton

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

10 March 1539-40: A charter by which the King confirms possession of the two and one merk land of Kittemure and Kingis-holme to Jacobo Hammiltoun de Stanehouse and his wife Grissillidi Sympill. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A. D. 1513-1546, charter number 2120 on pages 476-77

                   2

27 September 1543: A charter by which the Queen confirms possession of the barony of Stanehouse (all the lands thereine specified) to Jacobo Hammiltoun de Stanehouse and his son Jacobo Hammiltoun. James junior holds in fee and his father retains the liferent. Grissillidis Symple, the wife of James senior, gives her consent for the lands of Kittemuir and Kingis-holme. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A. D. 1513-1546, charter number 2960 on page 693

                   3

7 May 1551: Letter of tutory under the Quarter Seal in favour of Mr Thomas Marjoribankis of Ratho, Lord Clerk-Register, as tutor to John Hammiltoun younger and William Hammiltoun, natural sons of Grizel Sympill, daughter of Robert, Master of Sympill. [Tongue and tie]. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Earls of Glasgow (Crawford Priory), reference GD20/1/836

                   4

9 October 1551: Regina etc,, dedit literas legitimationis Johanni Hammyltoun juniori, bastardo, filio naturali Grisillidis Sympill filie Roberti magistri de Simple, et Willelmo Hammyltoun ejus fratri, etiam bastardo. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A. D. 1546-1580, charter number 637 on page 142

                   5

4 February 1560: Letters of regress under the Privy Seal in terms of letters of reversion by John Hammiltoun younger, son of Grizel Symple, daughter of Robert, Lord Semple, in favour of Hugh Crawfurde of Kilbirny, in respect of the twenty pound lands of Drumry. [Privy Seal on tongue, damaged] National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Earls of Glasgow (Crawford Priory), reference GD20/1/644

                   6

26 January 1562-63: Letters under Quarter Seal to John, Archbishop of St. Andrews, ordering infeftment of Henry Wardlaw of Torre in lands of Torre; which lands were wadset to Grisel Sympill, daughter of Robert, now Lord Sympill, in liferent, and to William Hammiltoun, her natural son, whom failing to John Hammiltoun, also her natural son, etc., under reversion for sum of 4000 merks Scots. National Records of Scotland, Erskine family of Cardross, Perthshire, reference GD15/397

Evidence from the Protocol Book of Mr. Gilbert Grote

27 March 1562: Gressell Sympill, daughter to Robert, Lord Sympill, and liferentrix of the lands of the barony of Torre, together with William Hammiltoun and John Hammiltoun, her natural sons, is warned to appear at the parish kirk of St. Geill in Edinburgh on Whitsunday-even (16 May 1562), in order to receive five thousand merks for the redemption of the barony of Torre. Protocol Book of Mr. Gilbert Grote, 1552-1573, protocol number 205 on page 46

Evidence from the Protocol Books of the Town Clerks of Glasgow

29 May 1565: Hammyltoun Ferme. Alan Fische, attorney and in name of Jonet Hammiltoun, spouse of Gavin Craufurd of Fermes (conform to letters by Queen Mary, under her great seal, dated at Edinburgh, 28 October last), produced a precept whereby John Mure of Caulduell, superior of the lands aftermentioned, charged Alexander Woddrop, as bailie in hac parte, to give to the said Jonet Hammiltoune, as heir of q. Robert Hammiltoun (son of q. James Hammiltoun of Stanhous and Grisill Symple) sasine of the west half of the fifth part of the lands of Knokmeid, extending to a £5 land, old extent, with the pertinents, lying in the parish of Dunlop, bailliary of Conyghame and shire of Aire. The precept narrates that, by authentic documents, it clearly appeared that Robert Hammiltoun died vest in the lands, that Jonet Hammiltoun was served in the sheriff court of Renfrew as one of his three sisters and heirs portioners, that the lands were held of the superior for payment of a penny yearly in name of blench farm, and with reservation to him of an aimualrent of £3. Precept subscribed and sealed at Glasgow, 31 January, 1564-5, in presence of Hugh Ralstoun of that Ilk, David Craufurd of Fermes, John Steward of Bowhous, David Lyndsaye of Kittoksid, and Robert Steward of Nelstonsyd. Sasine given to the attorney in name of Jonet Hammiltoun of one third of the lands. Done on the ground of the lands at the dwelling house of Thomas Andersoun. Witnesses : Gavin Craufurd of Fermes, Thomas Andersoun in Fyftpairt, and Patrick Hendersoun in Ruglyn. Glasgow Protocols V: protocol number 1517

Genealogy

1. Sir James Balfour Paul, Lord Lyon King of Arms, The Scots Peerage etc. (Edinburgh 1910), vii, pp. 526-68 for Sempill, Lord Sempill
2. John Anderson, Historical and Genealogical Memoirs of the House of Hamilton, etc. (Edinburgh, 1825), 495 pp.

Additional Notes and References

1. Stirnet: Sempill 02 membership needed to view 5. Grisel Sempill (d 10.1575) m1. (1532) William Wallace of Craigie m2. (before 10.03.1539-40, div before 21.02.1545-6) James Hamilton, 1st of Stonehouse (d 1548, younger of Raploch) m3. (sp) Sir Patrick Learmonth of Dairsie (d by 1593, 'Provost for Life' of St. Andrews) comment: it appears this marriage never happened, Isobel Balfour was Sir Patrick's wife according to Great Seal Register, charter 298 in 1581
2. Stirnet: Wallace 03 membership needed to view (i) Sir William Wallace of Craigie (b c1507, d 1538) m1. Margaret Kennedy (dau of Alexander Kennedy of Bargany) m2. (1532) Grisel Sempill (d 10.1575, dau of Robert Sempill, 3rd Lord) comment: it appears this marriage never happened, Margaret Kennedy was Sir Williams's widow according to Book of Wallace
3. Historical and genealogical memoirs of the house of Hamilton : with genealogical memoirs of the several branches of the family by John Anderson
4. Clan MacFarlane and associated clans genealogy