Helen Swinton

HELEN SWINTON (aka ELIN or HELENE SWYNTOUN)

Her Last Will and Testament

Helen Swinton died on 1 July 1580. She made her last will and testament three days earlier, on 29 June 1580, at Edinburgh in Midlothian, Scotland, probably at her house there. The witnesses present included her brother Thomas Swinton. Her widowed husband, Mr Edward Henryson, gave up the inventory of their goods and gear in name and behalf of their three children, viz. Mr William Henryson, Thomas Henryson and Elizabeth Henryson. In her last will and testament she nominated and appointed her husband and their three children, to be her only intromitters with her goods and gear. On 29 May 1584 confirmation was granted to Mr. Edward Henryson and his three children, including his daughter Elizabeth Henryson and her husband John Nicholsoun, for his interest. [National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Commissary Court, Testament Testamentar and Inventory of Helene Swyntoun, sometime spouse to Mr. Edward Henryson, advocate, and one of the commissers of Edinburgh. reference CC8/8/13]

1. Image of Testament
2. Image of Testament
3. Image of Testament
4. Image of Testament

Death

Helen Swinton died on 1 July 1580, probably at her house in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. [NRS: CC8/8/13]

First Marriage

Helen Swinton married Robert Heriot of Lymphoy. Diary: 4 She is noticed as his widow on 14 May 1566. Rental: 186

Children of the First Marriage

1. Lady Helen Heriot
2. Agnes Heriot

Second Marriage

Helen Swinton married Mr. Edward Henryson. Diary: 4 She is noticed as his wife on 19 February 1570. NRS: GD122/1/343

Children of the Second Marriage

Evidence from the Rental Book of the Diocese of Glasgow

14 May 1566: The fourteint day of Mairche, 1566, Agnes Heriot is rentellit in xxxs iiijd land of Ramishorne and Medoflatt, and liijs iiijd land in Cardarrow, waikand be deces of M. Robert Heriot, hir father, last rentailler thairof, Elin Swintoun, hir mothir, brwkand it induring hir lyftyme. Rental Book of the Diocese of Glasgow, A.D. 1509-1570, p. 186

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

19 February 1570: Precept of sasin, Robert Lauder, of Popill, knight, to James Harlaw, W.S. in favour of Mr Edward Henryson, Advocate, and Helen Swyntoun, his wife. Dated at Cunyngham. Seal. A wyvern, Crest a dragon's head erased S Robertila.... National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Gilmour family of Craigmillar and Liberton, Midlothian, reference GD122/1/343

Genealogy

1. The Diary of Sir Archibald Johnston, Lord Wariston 1639. etc. (Scottish History Society, Edinburgh, 1896), note 6 on page 4
2. Stirnet: Heriot 1