Isobell Elphinstone

ISOBELL ELPHINSTONE (aka ELIZABETH ELPHINSTOUN)

The name of Isabel Elphinstone's father cannot be identified with certainty from published genealogy. She is mentioned in two family histories, one for the Maxwell family, Maxwell Memoirs I: 469 and the other for the Elphinestone family. Elphinestone I: 33 In the account of the Maxwell family produced for the Scots Peerage, Isabel Elphinestone is identified as the eldest daughter of Alexander Elphinestone, first Lord Elphinestone. Maxwell Memoirs, i, p. 469 However, in the account of the Elphinestone family, which was completed thirty-four years later, the Scots Peerage identified her as the daughter of Sir John Elphinestone of Pittencrief. The Scots Peerage III: 529-30 No proof was oferred for either proposition. The Elphinestone Family Book, pp. 33-4

Nurse to James, Prince of Scotland

Isobell Elphinestoun served in the household of James IV, King of Scots, as nurse to the King's infant son, Prince James. On 9 March 1507-08, for her good service, he gave her, for her lifetime, the rents from various lands. The Elphinestone Family Book, ii, pp. 243-44

First Marriage

Isobell Elphistoun married Peter Colquhoun, citizen of Glasgow RMS: 2431 He died before 9 September 1512. RSSS: 2431

Second Marriage

Isobell Elphinestone married David Lindsay of Dunrod. The Elphinestone Family Book, pp. 33-4 She was his wife on 13 March 1516. RSS: 2726 and is referred to as lady of Dunrod on 7 August 1516. RSRS: pp. 193-94 and again on 12 March 1523. RSRS: pp. 56-7

Third Marriage

Isobell Elphinestone married Robert Maxwell of Calderwood. The Elphinestone Family Book, pp. 33-4

Children of Peter Colquhoun

1. Peter Colquhoun

Children of David Lindsay of Dunrod

The Elphinestone Family Book makes no mention of any children from this marriage. The Elphinestone Family Book, pp. 33-4

Children of Robert Maxwell of Calderwood

1. Robert Maxwell of Calderwood
2. Sir John Maxwell of Calderwood, Kt.
3. Elizabeth Maxwell

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

9 March 1507: Charter in favour of Isobelle Elphinestoun. Rotuii Scaccarum Regum Scotorum.. Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, VOL. XIII, A. D. 1508-1513, pp. 40-41

                   2

9 March 1507-08: Charter by which Registrum Magnii Sigilli Regum Scotorum. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A. D. 1424-1513, charter number 3204 on p. 684

Elphinestone Family Book, ii, pp. 243-44

                   3

9 September 1512: A Lettre of Tak maid to Isobell Elphinstoun, the spouse of umquhile Petir Colquhoun, citinar of Glasgow, and hir assignais, ane or maa, - of all and hale the assise hering of the west sey and lowis of the realme, for the termez of xiii zeris nixt tocum eftir the date hereof, quhilk salbe hir entre, etc., payand thairfor zerely sex lastis of hering gude and sufficient stuf, at sic termez as umquhile the said Petir pait of befor, etc. Subscripta per Regum. gratis iv 208 Registrum Secreti Regum Scotorum. Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland, Vol. I., A. D. 1488-1529, entry number 2431 on p. 370

                   4

22 December 1512: Preceptum carte confirmationis in vitali redditu ISOBELLE ELPHINSTOUN super carta sibi facta per David Lindesay de Dunrod, in sua vidutate de terris de Philpishill Ovir et Nethir, cum molendino et suis pertinentis, Warnox Thorntoun, le Aldhouse cum pertinentis, in baronia de Kirkbrid infra vic. Lanerk; unacum terris de Dunrod, australia parte aque de Kip, etc. in baronia et vic. Renfrew, etc.nPer Signatum. iv. 210. Registrum Secreti Sigilli Regum Scotorum. Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland, Vol. I., A. D. 1488-1529, entry number 2459 on pp. 374-75

                   5

14 March 1515-16: Ane lettre maid with consent [etc.] to ISOBELL ELPHINSTOUN and David Lindsay of Dunrod, his spouse, Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland, Vol. I., A. D. 1488-1529, entry number 2726 on pp. 420-21

                   6

7 August 1516: Isabella Elphinstoun, lady of Dunrod, her account as lessee of the assise-herring of the western seas and lochs: "Isabelle Elphinstoun, domine de Dunrod, arrendatarie allecum assise maris et lacuum occidentalium, Edinburgh, 7 August 1516, from 9 September 1513, 3 years." Rotuii Scaccarum Regum Scotorum. The Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, VOL. XIV., A. D. 1513-1522, pp. 193-94

                   5

17 December 1516: Ane speciale Protectioun made with consent of the governour to DAVID LYNDESAY of Dunrod and ELIZABETH ELPHINSTOUN his spouse, etc., in the commoun forme. Deliberat. per dominum. V. 84. Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland, Vol. I., A. D. 1488-1529, entry number 2848 on p. 445

                   6

12 March 1523:Isobella Elphinestoune domina de Dunrod. Rotuii Scaccarum Regum Scotorum. The Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, VOL. XV., A. D. 1523-1529, pp. 56-7

                   6

17 March 1523: "Compotum Isobelle Elphinstoun, domine de Calderwod, arrendatrie allecum assise maris et lacuum occidentalium. redditum per eundem (Edinburgh, 17 March 1523, from 7 August 1516 to 1 July 1522)" Rotuii Scaccarum Regum Scotorum. The Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, VOL. XV., A. D. 1523-1529, p. 60

                   7

On 14 January 1524-25: Isobelle Elphinstoun, domine de Dunrod, et Roberto Maxwell de Caldirwod ejus sponsa Registrum Magnii Sigilli Regum Scotorum. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A. D.1513-1546, charter number 294 on p. 66

                   8

10 July 1526: Ane lettre of Tak to ROBERT BOYD in Kilmarnock

                   9

12 July 1526:

Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland, Vol. I., A. D. 1488-1529, entry number 3429 on 518-19

                  10

12 July 1526:

Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland, Vol. I., A. D. 1488-1529, entry number 3430 on p. 519

                  11

On 15 August 1530 the King cancelled a charter made in favour of Robert Maxwell of Calderwood and his wife Isobelle Elphinestoun Registrum Magnii Sigilli Regum Scotorum. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A. D.1513-1546, charter number 959 on p.209

                   9

22 October 1530: Letter about the mailing of Blacklaw, from Robert Maxwell of Calderwood and his wife Isobelle Elphinestoun: Rotuii Scaccarum Regum Scotorum. The Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, VOL. XV., A. D. 1523-1529, p. 585

                  10

1 June 1537: Reference is made to the cancelation of a charter in favour of the late Robert Maxwell of Calderwood and his wife Isobelle Elphinestoun. Registrum Magnii Sigilli Regum Scotorum. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A. D.1513-1546, charter number 1667 on pp. 370-71

                  11

1 February 1540: Extract by the Lords of Council, annulling the decree given against Elizabeth or Isobel Elphinstone, Lady of Calderwood and Robert Maxwell of Calderwood, her son. National Records of Scotland, Boyd Papers, Burgh of Kilmarnock, reference GD8/108

                  12

18 March 1540: Extract by the Lords of Council, annulling the decree given against Elizabeth or Isobel Elphinstone, Lady of Calderwood and Robert Maxwell of Calderwood, her son. National Records of Scotland, Boyd Papers, Burgh of Kilmarnock, reference GD8/109

                  13

9 May 1559: Extract Decree in the action persued by the King and Queen, against John Maxwell of Calderwood, and John, Archbishop of St Andrews, for entering production of the pretended charter of infeftment of Feu Ferme, made by King James V to the late Robert Maxwell of Calderwood, Elizabeth Elphinstone, his spouse, as the price of the 5 mark lands of Chapelton, the 5 mark land of Bollinschaw, and others, and certain other writs to have them reduced. The writs reduced accordingly. National Records of Scotland, Boyd Papers, Burgh of Kilmarnock, reference GD8/166

Evidence from the Protocol Books of Michael Fleming

5 July 1536: Vyolet Elquhynston Esbell Elquhynston The Protocol Book of Michael Fleming, protocol number 1252 on p. 94

Evidence from the Protocol Book of Cuthberti Simonis

                   1

25 June 1509: protocol number 374 on pp. 292-93

                   2

25 June 1509: protocol number 375 on pp. 294-95

                   3

19 December 1511: protocol number 559 on pp. 430-31

Evidence from the Rental Book of the Diocese of Glasgow

22 June 1513: Vicecimo 2d Junii, anno decimo tercio, Elezabet Elphinstoun et Petrus Choquhon, eius filius, rentalizantur in xls terrarum de Bowrrowfeild. Glasgow Rentals I: p. 48

Published Record Evidence

1. Joseph Bain, FSA (Scot) and Reverend Charles Rogers, LL.D. (editors), Liber Protocollorum M. Cuthberti Simonis Notarii Publici et Scribae Capituli Glasguensis, A.D. 1499-1513. Also Rental Book of Diocese of Glasgow, A.D. 1509-1570, VOL. I (Grampian Club, London, 1875) 563 pp. including index
2. Joseph Bain, FSA (Scot) and Reverend Charles Rogers, LL.D. (editors), Liber Protocollorum M. Cuthberti Simonis Notarii Publici et Scribae Capituli Glasguensis, A.D. 1499-1513. Also Rental Book of Diocese of Glasgow, A.D. 1509-1570, VOL. II (Grampian Club, London, 1875) 537 pp. including index

Genealogical Accounts

1. William Fraser, Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollock, Vol. I. Memoirs & Charters (1863), 497 pp.
2. William Fraser, Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollock, Vol. II. Correspondence (1863), 453 pp.
3. Sir William Fraser, KCB, LLD., The Elphinestone Family Book of the Lords Elphinestone, Balmerino and Coupar (1897), i, Memoirs, 345 pp.
4. Sir William Fraser, KCB, LLD., The Elphinestone Family Book of the Lords Elphinestone, Balmerino and Coupar (1897), i, memoirs. 401 pp.
5. The Scots Peerage, iii, pp. 529-30

Biographical Account in the Elphinestone Book

Isabella Elphinstone. This lady was highly esteemed at the Court of King James the Fourth, and on the birth of Prince James, his first son, on 21st February 1507, she was appointed, by the royal parents, to the responsible office of nurse to the young prince. This ofiice she fulfilled to the perfect satisfaction of the king and queen. The prince died in infancy, on 27th February 1508, and, in recompense for her service, King James the Fourth gave to her, for the term of her life, the fermes of the 5 merkland of Chapeltoun, during the leases of the tenants, and after the end of the leases, the lands themselves; and the ferms of the 5 merklands of Bonischaw and Dririg, 5 merklands of Myltoun Crevauche, 5 merklands of Ormyllisheuche, 5 merklands in Blaklaw, and 5 merklands in Riddinghill and Holhouse, extending in the king's rental to 20 lib., in the bailiery of Cunynghame, and shire of Ayr. This ample gift was bestowed, as the king states, on Isobel Elphinstoun, “nurse of the deceased James, our son, for her faithful and thankful service in her diligent and assiduous labour by her undertaken, and done in tender nursing of the said James.” The charter is dated at Edinburgh, 9th March 1507-8.

Isabella Elphinstone was first married to David Lindsay of Dunrod. She was his second wife, as he and Eufamia Stewart, his first spouse, receive a charter of a £20 land in the Isle of Bute on 16th June 1498. Isabella Elphinstone, lady of Dunrod, was married, secondly, to Robert Maxwell, sixth of Calderwood. In her account to the exchequer, following the one just mentioned, and extending from 7th August 1516 to 1st July 1522, dated 17th March 1523, she is styled Isobella Elphinstoun, lady of Calderwod. Her marriage to Robert Maxwell may have taken place between the 12th and 17th of March 1523. Robert Maxwell died in 1540, and his wife seems to have predeceased him. She had issue by her second husband, two sons and one daughter. The Elphinestone Family Book, pp. 33-4

Biographical Account in the Scots Peerage

The Scots Peerage, iii, pp. 529-30