Helen Stewart

DAME HELEN STEWART (aka HELENE, HELENOR or ELENE STEWART)

According to Peter D. Andersen, Helenor Stewart, here treated, was sometimes referred to as Elizabeth Stewart [Peter D. Andersen, Robert Stewart, Earl of Orkney, Lord of Shetland, 1533-1593 (John Donald, Edinburgh, 1982), p. 157]

Dame Helen Stewart, here treated, is the only daughter of John, Earl of Lennox, and his wife Elizabeth Stewart. According to A. Francis Steuart, writing in his 1908 account of Stewart, Duke of Lennox, she: "bore a son to King James V., and was married first to William, Earl of Erroll, and secondly, in August 1548, to John, sixth Earl of Sutherland". The Scots Peerage V: p. 353

Death

Dame Helen Stewart is reported to have died shortly before 25 November 1564. The Scots Peerage VIII: p. 342

First Marriage

According to Francis J. Grant, writing in his 1906 account of Hay, Earl of Erroll, William, sixth Earl of Erroll, married: "Helen Stewart, only daughter of John, third Earl of Lennox, who survived him . . . . . and married secondly, in August 1548, John, Earl of Sutherland". The Scots Peerage III: p. 568

Child of the First Marriage

1. Jean Hay

Second Marriage

According to Sir William Fraser, the Countess of Errol, married John, Earl of Sutherland, in August 1548. He said this of her: "She was the only daughter of John, Earl of Lennox, and had previously been married to William Hay, sixth earl of Erroll, who died in April 1541, in his twentieth year, leaving a daughter by her. She had also borne a son to King James the Fifth". The Sutherland Book: p. 107

Children of the Second Marriage

1. John Sutherland
2. Alexander, Earl of Sutherland
3. Margaret Sutherland
4. Janet Sutherland
5. Eleanor Sutherland

Bastard Child

1. Adam Stewart

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

8 Marc h 1541: Charter by which George, Earl of Erroll, confirms a liferent grant to Elene Stewart, widow of William, Earl of Erroll. A charter of confirmation under the Great Seal of Scotland was issued on 9 March 1541-2. Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum. The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, 1513-1546 (H.M. General Register House, Edinburgh, 1883), charter number 2616 on pp. 602-3

                   2

21 November1544: Summons, at the instance of Dame Helen Stewart, Lady Erroll, proprietrix of the lands of Crookistoun and lands of Inchinnan, against Robert Master of Simpile, for preventing her from intromitting with the corn of the said lands. Given under the Signet, at Stirling, in the 2nd year of the Queen's reign. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Graham Family, Dukes of Montrose, reference GD220/2/1/150

                   3

6 August 1548: Charter by which John, Earl of Sutherland, confirms a liferent grant to Helene Stewart, widow of the Earl of Erroll. A charter of confirmation under the Great Seal of Scotland was issued on 10 August 1648. Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum. The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, 1546-1580 (H.M. General Register House, Edinburgh, 1886), charter number 241 on p. 59

Genealogy

1. The Scots Peerage etc. Edited by Sir James Balfour Paul. Volume III (David Douglas, Edinburgh, 1906), 617 pp.
2. The Scots Peerage etc. Edited by Sir James Balfour Paul. Volume V (David Douglas, Edinburgh, 1908), 639 pp.
3. The Scots Peerage etc. Edited by Sir James Balfour Paul. Volume VIII (David Douglas, Edinburgh, 1911), 606 pp.
4. The Surtherland Book by Sir William Fraser, KCB. LL.D. In Three Volumes: Vol. I - Memoirs (Edinburgh, 1892), 520 pp.