James Edmonston of Broadisland, tutor of Duntreath

JAMES EDMONSTON OF BROADISLAND

James Edmonstone of Broadisland is the second son of William Edmonstone of Duntreath and Isobel Haldane. Strathblane: 96 When his older brother Archibald Edmonstone of Duntreath died in 1637 he was appointed tutor to his sons William and James Edmonstone, who were still minor children at this time. Duntreath: 49

According to Sir Archibald Edmonton of Duntreath, Baronet, the author of the Duntreath family history, in 1641 "Edmonstone of Broadisland among the officers under Lord Claneboye opposed to the Irish Rebels. Mr. Edmonstone of Broadisland dispatched by Lord Chichester and others to purchase muskets, swords, and pikes at Edinburgh, with a commission to 'James Edmondstoune of Broadyland, Esquire,' delivered to him ar Edinburgh, dated 21st January 1642". Duntreath: 85

Death

James Edmonstone of Broadisland was alive in January 1643 RPC VII: 605 but he must have died in or before the end of 1644, for in that year his next younger brother, Mr. John Edmonstone of Broich, afterwards of Bailliebentrone in County Antrim, Ireland, was appointed tutor to the children. Duntreath: 49

Marriage

James Edmonstone of Broadisland is reported to have married Jean Cuninghame, daughter of John Cuninghame of Cuninghamhead. Stirnet: Edmonstone 1 Stirnet: Cuningham 04

Children

James Edmonstone of Broadisland and Jean Cunningham are said to have had issue, but the number of issue and their names are not identidied in the Stirnet report. Stirnet: Edmonstone 1

Possible Descendants

1. On 23 March 1629 Archibald Edmondson of Ballcarry was granted a licence to hold a weekly market at 'Ballycarry' in 'Bradin's island' in County Antrim. Ireland: 514 He may be the man identified as Archibald Edmondston of Ballybrian when he received Letters patent of denization on 5 July 1631. Ireland: 591
2. Archibald Edmonstone of Broadisland

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

3 December 1641: Letter from the Earl of Chichester and other Protestants in Ireland requesting that arms may be sent to enable them to defend themselves against the Irish rebels. "Right honorable and our very good Lords, . . . . . RPV VII: 499-500

                   2

5 January 1642: Letter from Viscount Chichester anent British soldiers in Ireland. A letter to the Councell from the Vicount Chichester and some others in Ireland anent the furnishing of some armes to James Edmonstoune, Esquire, upon his band, for the use of the British in Ireland aganis t in Ireland requesting he Yrish ; quheranent ordains the Generall of the Artillerie to be warned to the morne at 2 houres, quherof intimation wes made to the said James Edmonstoun. RPC VII: 176

                   3

6 January 1642: "Forsameikle as the Lords of Privie Counsell, haveing at lenthe hard Permission to and considerit the missive letter direct unto thame be Eduard, Vicount Chichester, Captane Arthur Chichester, his eldest sone, Sir Arthure Tirringhame, knight, one of his Majesties Privie Counsell of Ireland, and Arthure Hil of Kilwalden in the countie of Doune, Esquyre, togidder Iwith the letter of attorney given be thame to M' James Edmestoun of Brodiland in Antrim, to bargan and buy for thair use aganis the rebells in Ireland, ane thousand muskets with bandeliers, tua thousand swords, fyve hundreth and fiftie picks, fyve hundreth horsemen peeces with snaphances, or, for want of suche, fyve hundreth carabynes and three feild peeces of three or foure pund bullet, upon suretie to be given be the attorney in thair names to suche as sail furnish the saids armes within this kingdom, that the saids Lords, in regarde of the present necessitie for his Majesties good subjects in Ireland, finds it expedient that they be furnished with suche armes as may be best spaired furthe of the publict magazen, and recommends to the Committee for the common burdens to condiscend anent the quantitie and nomber of armes to be given and prices quhairof, and to take suretie thairfore as they sail thinke fitting, and accordinglie to give warrand for delyverie of the armes condiscendit on." RPC VII: 177

                   4

January 1643: At Edinburgh the - day of Januar, 1643. The Lords of Secreit Counsell, having at length read, heard and considerate the missive letter direct unto thame be Edward, Vicount of Chichester, Captane Arthure Chichester, his eldest sone, Sir Arthure Tyninghame, knight, one of the Privy Councell of Ireland, and Arthure Hill of Kilwalden, in the countie of Downe, Esquire, together with the letter of attourney given be thame to Mr James Edmonston of Bradyland, in the counrie of Antrim, to bargane and buy for thair use aganis the rebells in Ireland the armes following, viz. 1000 muskets with bandeleirs, 2000 swords, 540 picks, 500 horsemens peeces with snaphances, or for want of such, 500 carbynes, and three feild peeces of three or foure pund bullet, upon suretie to be givin be the said attourney in their names to such as sall furnish the saids armes within this kingdome, the saids Lords, in regard of the present necessitie of his Majesties good subjects in Ireland, finds it expedient that they may be suppleed of the armes forsaids furth of the common magazen with all convenient diligence. And for this effect ordans and commands the Generall of the Artillerie to deliver to the said attourney furth of the said magazen the armes following, viz. ane thousand muskets with bandoleirs, 500 swords, 500 picks, [horsemen peeces (deleted)], or three field peeces of three or foure pund bullet to be transported be him to Ireland for the use of his Majesties good subjects foresaids there, whereanent thir presents sall be to the said Generall of the Artillerie ane warrant, Because the said attourney, in name of the persons foresaids, hes givin suretie to the saids Lords for payment of the prices of the armes foresaids in manner and at the time conteanned in his band. RPC VII: 605

Secondary Source Evidence

1. The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland. Edited and Abridged by P. Hume Brown, MA., LL.D. Second Series. Vol. VII. A.D. 1638-1643. (H.M. General Register House, Edinburgh, 1906), 808 pp. including index and Errata
2. Calendar of the Patent and Close Rolls of Chancery in Ireland, of the Reign of Charles the First. First to Eighth Year, Inclusive. By James Morrin, Clerk of Enrolments in Chancery. (HMSO., Dublin and London, 1863), 700 pp. including index

Genealogy

1. Sir Archibald Edmonstone of Duntreath, Baronet, Genealogical Acoount of the Family of Edmonstone of Duntreath
2. John Guthrie Smith, FSA (Scot).,The Parish of Strathblane and its Inhabitants from Early Times : A Chapter of Lennox History (Glasgow : James Maclehose and Sons, 1886), 394 pp. including index. See pp.pp. 95-100 for Edmonstine of Ballewan and Spittal