Isabel Hoppar

ISABEL HOPPAR

Isabel Hoppar is the daughter of Richard Hoppar, Merchant in Edinburgh. Biographical Summary by Wikipedia

First Marriage

Isabel Hoppar, here treated, married John Murray of Blackbarony. They are noticed as man and wife on 4 May 1507. NRS: GD32/11/3

Children of First Marriage

1. Andrew Murray of Blackbarony
2. Margaret Murray
3. Agnes Murray

Second Marriage

Isabel Hoppar, here treated, married Archibald Douglas of Kilspindie. They are noticed as man and wife on 10 June 1526. Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, 1513-1546, charter number 356

Children of Second Marriage

1. Archibald Douglas of Kilspindie

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

4 May 1507: Crown charter of resignation in favor of John Murray of Blackbarony and Isobel Hoppar [Hopper], his spouse, of his lands and barony of Haltoun, also called Blackbarony, and mill thereof. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Viscounts and Barons of Elibank, reference GD32/11/3

Note: This charter is printed in full in Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, 1424-1513, charter number 3096

                   2

17 June 1512: Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, 1424-1513, charter number 3751

                   3

4 November 1512: Crown Charter by James IV in favour of John Murray of Blackbarony and Isabella Hoppar [Hopper] his wife, confirming Charter 6/7, and uniting the half of Kingslands to the Barony of Halton-Murray, also called Blackbarony [Black Barony]. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Viscounts and Barons of Elibank, reference GD32/7/1

Note: This charter is printed in full in Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, 1424-1513, charter number 3779

                   4

9 November 1512: Sasine in favour of Mr John Murray of Blackbarony and Isabella Hoppar [Hopper], his wife, in Margaret Weir's half of said lands. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Viscounts and Barons of Elibank, reference GD32/7/2

                   5

30 July 1515: Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, 1424-1513, charter number 3871

                   6

10 June 1526: Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, 1513-1546, charter number 356

                   7

30 June 1527: Charter by Andrew Murray, son and heir of deceased Mr John Murray, Lord of Blackbarony, and Lord Superior of the lands of Eist-louch [Eastloch], with consent of his dearest mother and curator Elizabeth Hopper and Sir Archibald Douglas, Theasurer of the King, now her husband, of 1/2 of Est Louch to John Ray (Rae). Signed by the said Andrew Murray and having the seals of himself and his mother entire. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Viscounts and Barons of Elibank, reference GD32/4/1

Note: Elizabeth Hoppar is Isabel Hoppar.

                   8

July 1527: Feu charter by George bishop of Dunkeld to Archibald Douglas, provost of Edinburgh, Isabel Hoppar, his spouse, and Archibald Douglas, their son, of Manis of Crawmond [Cramond], with island of Crawmond and rabbit-warrens therein, and burgh maills 'firmas burgales' and annualrents of town of Crawmond, in barony of Abirlady [Aberlady] and limits of Nethir Crawmond; also making said Archibald and his son bailies of town of Crawmond. Signed by bishop. National Records of Scotland, Writs of Inglis of Cramond, Midlothian, reference GD243/23/3

                   9

1 September 1527: Letters of Gift by James V. to Adam Boyd, his servitor, of ward, relief and non-entry of lands held by deceased John Kennedy of Giletre of Gilbert, Earl of Cassillis, following on resignation of the same by Archibald Douglas of Kilspindy, His Majesty's Treasurer, and Isobel Hoppar, his spouse. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Kennedy Family, Earls of Cassillis (Ailsa Muniments), reference GD25/2/50

                  10

1 September 1527: Instrument of Resignation by Archibald Douglas, His Majesty's Treasurer, and Isobel Hoppar, his spouse, donators, of ward, non-entry and relief belonging to deceased Gilbert, Earl of Cassillis, of lands pertaining to John Kennedy of Giletre. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Kennedy Family, Earls of Cassillis (Ailsa Muniments), reference GD25/2/51

                  11

28 September 1531: Instrument narrating that Alexander Napier of Merchiston made declaration that, as a minor, he had 'ex sinistra machinatione' of certain of his relatives, received the sum of 1,200 merks Scots from Archibald Douglas, Isobella Hopper, his spouse, and Agnes Murray, latter's daughter, in prospect of marriage to be made between him and said Agnes. This was set out in an indenture between James, Bishop of Dunblane, Janet Chisholm, spouse of Ninian Seton of Tullibody, kt, said Ninian for his interest and said Alexander, on one part, and saids Archibald, Isobella and Agnes, on other part, 18 June 1525, by virtue of which discharge was also granted for said sum. Napier had not received this sum in fact (which was to have been set out on marriage of Janet Napier, his sister german, whom failing another of his sisters), and now annulled it and his acquittance for the sum. In like manner he annulled a further clause in the indenture, which stated that he was to discharge Ninian Seton and Janet, his spouse, of all intromissions with goods, rents and duties from his lands up to making of the marriage. These clauses were to his great loss and were made without consent of one of his tutors and curators. Further, he protested that he would take action against any persons for the fermes, money and goods mentioned above at a suitable time. Witnesses: Andrew Murray of Blackbarony; Master William Blackstock; Master Thomas Slimon; sir William Macdowall; and sir Thomas Cairnie, chaplains. Notary: James Denniston, priest of St Andrews diocese. National Records of Scotland, Papers of Napier Family, reference GD430/189

                  12

18 July 1536: Discharge by Isobel Hopper relict of Archibald Douglas of Kilspindy to William Abbot of Crossragwell of the sum of 100 merks money of Scotland, in full of a greater sum promised by the Abbot to her husband, for the duties of ward and relief of the ward lands belonging to the Earl of Cassillis, and that conform to obligation by the Abbot to her husband dated at Edinburgh 20th Decemb. 1527. Dated at Edinburgh. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Kennedy Family, Earls of Cassillis (Ailsa Muniments), reference GD25/1/340

                  13

31 January 1537: Extract decree of lords of council in summons for reduction of an indenture raised by Alexander Napier of Merchiston against Ninian Seton of Tullibody, kt, Janet Chisholm, his spouse, Janet Napier, Alexander's sister german, Andrew Bruce of Powfoulis, her spouse, William, Bishop of Dunblane, Archibald Douglas, sometime of Kilspindie, and Isobella Hopper, his spouse. The cause is continued until 20 February next, when parties are to produce their evidence. Extracted by Master James Foulis of Colinton, Clerk of Rolls, Register and Council. On paper, watermarked. National Records of Scotland, Papers of Napier Family, reference GD430/197

Printed Sources

1. Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A. D. 1424-1513. Edited by James Balfour Paul, Advocate, FSA. Scot. (H. M. General Register House, Edinburgh, 1882), 1153 pp. including indexes and Errata
2. Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum. 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 indexes and Errata

Genealogy

1. The Scots Peerage III: pp. 501-2
2. Wikipedia

Biographical Summary by Wikipedia

Isobel Hoppar or Hopper, (born c.1490) Scottish landowner and governess of Margaret Douglas. She was said to have been a powerful political figure in Scotland during the youth of King James V until 1528, her wealth and influence attracted misogynous comment from her faction's enemies. Witnesses - Mr James Kennedy, Andrew Murray and William Little. .

Family background

Isobel Hoppar was the daughter of an Edinburgh merchant Richard Hoppar. Katrine Hoppar who married Andrew Moubray of Moubray House in Edinburgh was probably her niece. The family connections are shown in a 1510 transaction when Katrine Hoppar's father William Hoppar, Isobel's husband John Murray of Barony and the royal secretary Adam Otterburn husband of Eufamia Moubray were witnesses together.[1]

Richard Hoppar exported some goods to Andrew Halyburton at Middelburg in Zeeland. One of Andrew Halyburton's ledgers survives. It mentions Isobel's brother, William Hoppar, as Richard's agent and Halyburton's 'gossop' (colleague and relative) in Antwerp and Bery, perhaps Bergen op Zoom. In September 1498 Richard sent wool in a ship belonging to Andrew Barton. Barton returned with silverware for Richard Hoppar, destined for Thomas Tod the Provost of Edinburgh, the Archdean of Aberdeen, and 'our Warden.' The case for the silver was paid for by William Hoppar.[2]

'Dik Hoppar' also sold fur and imported velvet to James IV of Scotland.[3] In January 1505, Richard handed a newly built house on the north side of the Royal Mile to his other son, Master Henry Hoppar. Richard Hoppar also had a house on the west side of St Mary's Wynd, which was occupied by William Hoppar in 1507, and a part was inherited by his daughter Katrine in 1530.[4]

Richard Hoppar's own dwelling was a 'great mansion.' [5] The house on the north side of the Royal Mile, behind the 'foreland' on the street front, descending towards the Nor' Loch or Trinity College Kirk passage, was described in 1508 as having hall, chamber and kitchen with lofts and a straight stair running north (called a gallery), over three cellars. The plan was similar to the surviving Moubray House.[6] The tenement building plot had belonged to Patrick Frog.[7]

Isobel's nephew, Katrine's brother, Adam Hopper (d. 1529), was master of the Edinburgh Merchants Guild, established by "seal of cause" in 1518 when it was given the Holy Blood Aisle in St Giles Kirk. A banner of the Holy Blood Confraternity made at this time, the "Fetternear banner" is kept at the National Museum of Scotland.[8] Adam was married to Katherine Bellenden the seamstress of James V of Scotland.[9]

Isobel Hoppar married, before January 1504,[10] Master John Murray of Barony or Blackbarony near Peebles, a clerk of the exchequer, who was killed at Flodden in 1513.

Rise and fall of the Douglases

After John Murray's death at Flodden, in 1515 Isobel was described as a "rich widow of Edinburgh" by Baron Dacre.[11] Isobel's second husband was Archibald Douglas of Kilspindie, called Greysteil, brother and advisor of the Earl of Angus.[12] By the King's gift in 1526, Archibald Douglas of Kilspindie and Isobel Hoppar were given another property on the south side of the High Street, when Kilspindie was Lord High Treasurer and Provost of Edinburgh. The house had belonged to Isobel's former husband and to James Forstar or Forrester, son of Jonet Halyburton and a grandson of Sir Duncan Forrester of Garden.[13] At this time the Earl of Angus had gained sole custody of the young James V, and the power and influence of the Angus Red Douglases was at its height. In 1527 Isobel as "executrice" of her husband received £100 for an old royal debt to Murray.[14] Her contemporary, the Jedburgh monk Adam Abell reflected on the career of Kilspindies' wife at this time in his chronicle The Roit and Quheil of Tyme, surprised by her involvement in public affairs;

"His pridefull wife Dik Oppar's douchter of Edinburgh wes callit my lady thesaurer, and it is saide sche wes ane compositor in the justice airis. And the common voice is that had not been hir heichness (haughtiness), the noble erll of Anguss had been peaceably now in Scotland."[15]

When James V reached his majority and escaped from the Douglases in 1528, Archibald and Isobel lost the Forrester house, and the lands she held near Peebles. On 5 September 1528 the Earl of Angus shouted over the Tweed to the Earl of Northumberland's steward that he should expect them and the young Earl of Huntly as refugees at Norham Castle. If his family was forced into exile, Isobel Hoppar would wait on his daughter Margaret Douglas. Margaret Douglas was the daughter of Margaret Tudor and the Earl of Angus and became the mother of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. Margaret was delivered to England at Norham in October. Isobel continued to serve Margaret as her "gentlewoman" at Berwick Castle.

The English diplomat Thomas Magnus noted that Isobel was a powerful character in the Douglas family dynamic. He wrote, sharing the opinion of the 'common voice' recorded by Adam Abell, that Isobel "totally ordoured" Kilspindie, and in turn Kilspindie and George Douglas had brought the Earl of Angus to his troubles;

"the Erle of Angus was ... I suppoos of trouth, totally ordoured not of hym self but by his frendes, and specially by George his broder, as is Archebalde by his wiff. Which twayne, by reporte, have brought thaym all to this trouble and busyness."[16]

Kilspindie's Edinburgh house was given to the new royal treasurer Robert Cairncross. In February 1529 Isobel's lands at Staneburn near Linlithgow were given to Gavin Hamilton, and her rents, crops, and livestock at Blackbarony were given to Patrick Hepburn of Wauchtoun.[17]

Isobel was described as Kilspindie's widow in 1536.[18] In 1538 she was pursuing a legal dispute with James Spens, a servant of James V. The King asked the judges to delay proceedings until he gave his personal opinion. The lawyer acting for Isobel as her 'procurator' was Hugh Rig of Carberry, whose wife, Janet Hoppar, was Isobel's niece.[19]

Children

Isobel's children included;

Andrew Murray of Blackbarony (d.1572), married Elizabeth Lockhart Archibald Douglas of Kilspindie II, Provost of Edinburgh in 1554, 1559 and 1562.