Grizel Rattray

GRIZEL RATTRAY

Griselle Rettray (1517) Grizel Rattray of that ilk (1533) Grissilde Rettra (1537-38)

According to the late A. Francis Steuart, Grizel Rattray, here treated, is the daughter of Sir John Rattray, 11th of that Ilk The date and place of her birth, and the name of her mother, is not identified. The Scots Peerage I: p. 443

On 24 May 1517 Grizel Rattray, here treated, had a precept of sasine for one half of the barony of Rattray, and other lands located in the sheriffdom of Perth, by virtue of an act made on the field of Flodden in Northumberland by the deceased James IV, King of Scots. On the same date her sister Elizabeth Rattray had a precept of sasine for the other half. RSRS 1513-22, p. 594

Death

A date and place of death has not been identified for Grizel Rattray, here treated. She was alive on 17 March 1537-38, RMS 1513-46: 1752 but it would appear that she predeceased her husband, who is reported to have married for a second time to Janet Forbes, daughter of John, sixth Lord Forbes, before he died in about November 1542. Janet Forbes, who is noticed as the Countess of Atholl on 9 January 1547, RMS 1546-80: 188 is said to have been married to John Stewart, 3rd Earl of Atholl for less than six months before his death. The Scots Peerage I: 443

Marriage

Grizel Rattray, here treated, married John Stewart, 3rd Earl of Atholl She is noticed as his wife on 20 December 1533. NRS: GD385/225 According to the late Alexander Nisbet: John Stewart, 3rd Earl of Atholl "married first Grizel, daughter and at length sole heir of Sir John Rattray of that Ilk, a very ancient family in the County of Perth, by whom he had only one son, his heir, John Master of Athol, and six daughters." A System of Heraldry: 178

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

Liber Responsionum. 24 May [1517]. Perth. Vicecomes respondcbit pro 233 it. 6 s. 8d. de firmis bine partis terrarum et baronie de Rettray cum pertinen. tenen. etc. jaccntis infra balliam suam, existentis in manibus regis per spatium 3 1/2 annorum sasina non recuperata, et pro 66 Ii. 13 s. 4 d. de relevio ejusdem bine partis, et pro 7 Ii. de firmis bine partis tertie partis terrarum de Innerquhorske, tertie partis terrarum de Murthle, tertie partis dimedie partis terrarum de Dalkern, tertie partis terrarum de Dalmay, et tertie partis terrarum de Leonach, existentium in manibus regis per dictum tempus ratione qua supra, et pro 40 s. de relevio earundem, regi debitis per sasinam datam Griselle Rettray de bina parte baronie et terrarum prescriptarum apud Edinburgh 24 Maii a.r. 4, per dispensationem et actum factos per dominum regem ult. defunctum in campo bellico in Northumbirland. RSRS 1513-22: p. 594

                   2

Liber Responsionum. 24 May [1517]. Perth. Idem vicecomes respondcbit pro tanta summa de relevio prout prescribitur de alia bina parte baronie et terrarum predictarum, regi debitis ut supra per sasinam datam Elizabeth Rettray de eadem, sorori predicte Griselle, apud Edinburgh die et anno predictis per dispensationem et actum predictos. RSRS 1513-22: p. 594

                   3

20 December 1533: Precept of clare constat by Grizel Rattray of that ilk, wife of John, earl of Athol, in favour of Silvester Rattray as heir of deceased John Rattray, his brother, of lands of Bredwellis, Ottirburn and others in barony of Rattray, sheriffdom of Perth, 20 Dec. 1533. HMC 4th report p.536. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Rattray Family of Craighall, Perthshire, reference GD385/225

                   4

17 March 1537-38: Charter under the Great Seal of Scotland by which James V, King of Scots, confirms that he has given possession of certain lands to JOHANNI COMITI ATHOLIE and his wife GRISSILDE RETTRA . The lands in question included the lands of Bowmakellok and others in the Sheriffdom of Banff, one half of the mense land of Rettray, one half of the Mill of Rettray, together with one half of the lands of Estir-Rettray and other lands in the barony of Rettray and Sheriffdom of Perth, all of which had previously been resigned by JOHANNI COMITI ATHOLIE in order to obtain a new grant in favour of himself and and his wife GRISSILDE RETTRA and their heirs. The lands conveyed were to be held in conjunct fee and liferent by the Earl and his wife, and after their deaths by their lawful heirs, whom failing by the nearest lawful heirs of the Earl. RMS 1513-46: charter number 1752

                   5

9 January 1547-48: Charter by which Johannis Leslie de Balquhane confirms that he has sold the lands of Knokcallochy and others in the Sheriffdom of Aberdeen to JONETE FORBES, comitisse de Athole, who obtained a charter of confirmation under the Great Seal of Scotland on 20 February 1547-48. RMS 1546-80: charter number 188

Note: Jonete Forbes was the second wife of John, Earl of Atholl. It follows, therefore, that his first wife, Grizel Rattray, must have predeceased him. According to the late A. Francis Steuart, the Earl died in about November 1542.The Scots Peerage I: 443

Printed Evidence

1. Rotuli Scaccarii Regum Scotorum. The Exchequer Rolls of Scotland. Edited by AE. J. G. McKay, MA. Oxon., LL.D. Edin., Honorary Fellow of King’s College, London, Sheriff of Fife and Kinross. VOL. XIV. A.D. 1513-1522. (H. M. General Register House, Edinburgh, 1893), 836 pp. including index and corrigenda
2. Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum. The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1513-1546. Edited by James Balfour Paul, FSA. Scot., and John Maitland Thomson, MA., Advocates. (H. M. General Register House, Edinburgh, 1883), 1067 pp. including indices and errata
3. Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum. The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1546-1580. Edited by John Maitland Thomson, MA., Advocate. (H. M. General Register House, Edinburgh, 1886), 1180 pp. including indices and errata

Genealogy

1. The Scots Peerage I: p. 443
2. A System of Heraldry, Speculation and Practical, etc. By Alexander Nisbet, Gent. A New Edition. Vol. II. (William Blackwood, Edinburgh, 1816), 49 pp. plus index and illustrations
3. Stirnet: Rattray 01

Biographical Summary by Medieval Lands

Grizel Rattray (->1533)
d/o JOHN Rattray of that Ilk
x 1521 JOHN STEWART (1507-1542) Earl of Atholl

• BARBARA x 1536 JAMES Menzies
• ISABEL x 1552) WILLIAM Stuart
• MARGARET (-1540) x 1539 JOHN Grant
• HELEN x JOHN Macfarlane
• JOHN (-1579) Earl of Atholl x <1547 ELIZABETH Gordon xx1557 MARGARET
• JEAN x JOHN Otterburn xx GEORGE Crawford
• NN x Lord Balfour
• NN x WALTER Wood

Medieval Lands

The Life Summary of Grizel

When Grizel Rattray was born on 6 October 1511, in Rattray, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, her father, John Rattray, was 32 and her mother, Margaret Abercrombie, was 30. She married Sir John Stewart 3rd Earl of Atholl in October 1523, in Perthshire, Scotland. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 4 daughters. She died in May 1542, in Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland, at the age of 30.

Source: familysearch.org
Added to Geni by Janet Milburn 9/24/22
Grizel Rattray is our 16th great grandmother.

Biographical Summary

After the decease of Sir John, a calamitous and almost ruinous contest arose between his younger sons and their brother-in-law, the Earl of Athol. Tradition affirms that the Earl, having married Sir John's only daughter, deemed himself entitled to a portion, at least, of the Rattray estate, and being a person of great power and authority, came, with a considerable body of men, took possession of the castle of Rattray, and carried off the family writs; while Patrick Rattray, the second son, totally unable to resist so potent a nobleman, retired to the castle of Craighall, winch he gallantly defended, and succeeded in holding, together with the lands of Craighall and Klnballoch; the Athol family continuing to possess the greater part of the lands of Rattray. until they were evicted from them by an appraising, at the instance of Sir Robert Crichton, of Clunie, about the beginning of the seventeenth century.

Source: Burke's genealogical and heraldic history of the landed gentry, Volume 2, By John Burke, p. 1100

Grizel Rattray married John Stewart, 3rd Earl of Atholl, who murdered Patrick for the Rattray lands.

• Dawn Stapylton-Adkins. James Rattray & His Descendants in South Africa 1822-1992, self-published, Cape Town, 1992

History

History of Blairgowrie

Using Neil's kindly supplied links: https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue/details.aspx...

GB
Repository code 234
Repository National Records of Scotland
Reference GD385/225
Title Miscellaneous writs
Dates 1253-1572
Access status Open
Location Off site
Description Including:

Copy agreement between abbot and convent of Aberbrothoc on one part, and Thomas Rattrie, kt., on the other, 1253. Taken from cartulary of Arbroath abbey in the Signet Library, Edinburgh.

..

Instrument of sasine following on precept, 20 April 1478, by Silvester Rattray of that ilk, in favour of John Rattray, his eldest son, and Elizabeth Kennedy, his spouse, of lands of Kinballach in barony thereof, sheriffdom of Perth, 23 July 1479. Notary: Partick Barry, clerk, St Andrews diocese. cf Sir Silvester Rattray, 10th of that Ilk; Sir John Rattray, 11th of that Ilk; Elizabeth Kennedy

Charter by John Rattray of that ilk, kt., to John Rattray, his son and apparent heir, and Margaret Abbircromme, his spouse, of lands of Bredwellis, Ottyrburne and Clayhillis and others in barony of Rattray, sheriffdom of Perth, 15 Jan. 1506/7. Seal damaged on tag. With precept and sasine following. cf Sir John Rattray, 11th of that Ilk; John Rattray, younger of that Ilk; Margaret Abercrombie

...

Discharge by Donald Rollok of Polcak, son of deceased Robert Rollok in Polcak, to David Rattrie of Craighall, of 500 merks Scots, as assithment and amends for murder of said Robert and David Donald in the Grainge, and of 45 merks from William Rattray, brother of said David, 8 Nov. 1572.

Letters by James, abbot of Scone, and convent thereof, appointing John Rattray of that ilk, kt., and Andrew Abbircromme of Innerpeffery, brother of said James, as bailies of regality of Scone, 18 May 1506. HMC 4th report p.536. cf John Rattray, younger of that Ilk; Andrew Abercrombie of Innerpeffray

Copy special retour in favour of Silvester Rattray as heir of deceased John Rattray, kt., his father, at Dundee, 10 Nov. 1533. cf Sir John Rattray, 11th of that Ilk; Silvester Rattray, of Craighall. 13th Laird

Instrument narrating that Michael Tullo of Hilcarny, sheriff of Perth in that part, compeared in tolbooth of Dundee at instance of procurator for Silvester Rattray, and produced a commission under quarter seal for service in favour of said Silvester as heir of deceased John Rattray, his father, and deceased John Rattray, his brother, which commission was read aloud and said procurator required the necessary breives for expeding the service, 22 Oct. 1533. HMC 4th report p.536. cf Silvester Rattray, of Craighall. 13th Laird; John Rattray, younger of that Ilk; Sir John Rattray, 11th of that Ilk

Precept of clare constat by Grizel Rattray of that ilk, wife of John, earl of Athol, in favour of Silvester Rattray as heir of deceased John Rattray, his brother, of lands of Bredwellis, Ottirburn and others in barony of Rattray, sheriffdom of Perth, 20 Dec. 1533. HMC 4th report p.536. cf Grizel Rattray; John Stewart, 3rd Earl of Atholl; Silvester Rattray, of Craighall. 13th Laird; John Rattray, younger of that Ilk; Sir John Rattray, 11th of that Ilk

https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_History_of_Blairgowrie/l2Y...