Isobell Lyon

ISOBELL LYON

Spurious Pedigree

The name of Isobell Lyon, here treated, is known only from the pedigree drawn up in about 1710 by: "Mr. Crawfoord, Historiograher and Antiquarie". According to him, she was the: "daughter of Archibald Lyon a younger son of the Lord Glam's family that are now Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne in Scotland". Genealogical Collections II: 181 Crawford went on to say that she married Marcus Knox and with him had an eldest son named Thomas Knox and a younger son named William Knox. Ibidem: 281 John McUre, the Glasgow historian, followed Mr. Crawfoord's propositions. History of Glasgow: 115

The Evidence Reviewed

1

Marcus or Mark Knox, the husband claimed for Isobell Lyon by Mr. Crawfoord, is first noticed in the protocol books of the town clerks of Glasgow on 16 February 1584-5. On that date his future spouse Margaret Greinleis resigned an annualrent of ten merks in his favour. Glasgow Protocols IX: 2675 There is no mention of him in the earlier protocols, the first of which is dated 2 March 1547-8, Glasgow Protocols I: 1 and there is no mention of Isobell Lyon in the whole series, the latest of which is dated 29 December 1600. Glasgow Protocols XI: 3727

2

Concerning Thomas Knox and William Knox, the children awarded to Marcus Knox and Isobell Lyon by Mr. Crawfoord. Marcus Knox did have a son named Thomas but he was his youngest son by Margaret Greinleis, rather than his eldest son by Isobell Lyon. He is identified as such in his mother's last will and testament dated 16 July 1604. [National Records of Scotland, Commissary Records of Edinburgh, The Testament Testamentar of Margaret Greinleis, reference CC8/8/40 pp. 39-43] Image of Testament The name of Margaret Greinleis's eldest son is not mentioned in her will but it may well have been William Knox, who, according to the Reverend Charles Rogers, was the eldest son of Marcus Knox. Genealogical Memoirs of John Knox and the Family of Knox, p. 20

3

As previously mentioned, It has been claimed that Isobell Lyon, here treated, is the daughter of Archibald Lyon, but no proof was offered. History of Glasgow In this regard it should be noticed, however, that Archibald Lyon had no sons to succeed him when he died in 1587, and, consequently, all of his property in Glasgow passed to his three surviving daughters, Marion, Jonet and Helen Lyon. Glasgow Protocols It would appear, therefore, that Isobell Lyon was not actually the daughter of Archibald Lyon. Certainly, she did not succeed to any of Archibald’s property in Glasgow, and evidence which can confirm, or might otherwise tend to suggest that she had children who might have inherited in place of her has not been found

Bogus Genealogy

1. Genealogical Collections Concerning Families in Scotland made by Walter MacFarlane 1750-1751 etc. in two volumes. II (Scottish History Society, Edinburgh, 1902), 605 pp. including index. See pp. 276-84 for an account of the families of Knox of Ranfurly and Knox of Selvieland by 'Mr. Crawfoord, Historiographer and Antiquarie'
2. The History of Glasgow by John McUre. A New Edition, With Notes and Illustrations, and an Appendix (Hutchison & Brookman, Glasgow, MDCCCXXX), pp. 101-110 for McUre's account of Archibald Lyon and his descendants

Genealogy

1. Reverend Charles Rogers, LL.D., Genealogical Memoirs of John Knox and of the Knox Family (Grampian Club, London, 1879), 184 pp. including index