James Erskine, Lord Barjarg and Alva

From Wikipedia - James Erskine, Lord Alva NOTE: needs to be updated

James Erskine, Lord Barjarg and Alva (20 June 1722 – Friday, 13 May 1796) was an 18th-century Scottish lawyer who rose to be a Senator of the College of Justice. For convenience his name was usually contracted to James Erskine, Lord Alva.

Life

He was born in Edinburgh, the son of Charles Erskine, Lord Tinwald, Lord Justice Clerk of Scotland, and his wife, Grisel Grierson.

He became an advocate in 1743 and made Sheriff-Depute of Perthshire in 1748. In 1754 he became a Baron of the Exchequer and in 1758 Knight Marshal of Scotland. In 1761 he replaced Patrick Boyle, Lord Shewalton as a Senator of the College of Justice.

In 1772, he changed his title to Lord Alva when he inherited the estate of the Erskines of Alva, Clackmannanshire. He lived at Drumsheugh House in western Edinburgh. In 1758, he was appointed Knight Marischal.

He died on Friday, 13 May 1796 at Drumsheugh House in western Edinburgh and was buried in St. Cuthbert's Churchyard. The grave lies on the first dividing wall north of the church, just west of the large monument attributed to Alexander Murray, Lord Henderland.

His place as Senator was filled by Robert Cullen, Lord Cullen.

Drumsheugh House was demolished around 1860 to build the link road between the Moray Estate and the Haymarket area, now called Drumsheugh Gardens.

Family

He was married to Jean Stirling (1719–1797), daughter of John Stirling of Herbertshire.

[ERROR Their CORRECTION His] daughter, Isabella Erskine (died 1827), married Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Tytler, son of Lord Alva's legal colleague, William Tytler and grandson of Alexander Fraser Tytler.

His older brother was Charles Erskine (1716–1749).

From An Historical Account of the Senators of the College of Justice from its Institution in 1532 by George Brunton and David Haig Published 1832 Page 526

Thursday, 18 June 1761 — James Erskine of Barjarg and Alva,

Son of Charles Erskine of Tinwald, Lord Justice Clerk, was admitted advocate 6 December 1743, [Footnote: Books of Sed.] and constituted sheriff- depute of the county of Perth in 1748. In 1754, he was appointed one of the Barons of Exchequer; in 1758, Knight-Marshall of Scotland, in the room of the Earl of Kintore, deceased; [Footnote: Scots Mag. xx 552] and on the death of Patrick Boyle of Shewalton, nominated one of the Judges of the Court of Session, and took his seat on the Thursday, 18 June 1761, [Footnote: Books of Sed.] by the title of Lord Barjarg. His Lordship died on the Friday, 13 May 1796, in the seventy- third year of his age. [Footnote: Scots Mag. lviii. 362]

From Scotland's People - Old Parish Records - Marriages and Banns

• 11 June 1749 marriage or banns of James Ereskine to Margaret Maguire, in the parish of Edinburgh
• 19 June 1749 marriage or banns of James Erskine to Margaret Maguire, in the parish of Kilmacolm

From Scotland's People - Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms

Possible list of 4 children of James Erskine and Margaret MacGuire from first: 25 June 1751 Charles Erskine to last: 15 June 1761 Isabella Erskine

• 25 June 1751 birth or baptism of Charles Erskine, son of James Erskine and Margaret MacGuire [child 1], in the parish of Alva
• 13 July 1756 birth or baptism of Jean Erskine, daughter of James Erskine and Margaret MacGuire [child 2], in the parish of Edinburgh
• 25 December 1758 birth or baptism of John Erskine, son of James Erskine and Margaret MacGuire [child 3], in the parish of Edinburgh
• 15 June 1761 birth or baptism of Isabella Erskine, daughter of James Erskine and Margaret Maquine [child 4], in the parish of Inveresk and Musselburgh

From Scotland's People - Old Parish Records - Marriages and Banns

• 26 January 1772 marriage or banns of James Erskine to Jean Stirling, in the parish of Edinburgh
• 31 January 1772 marriage or banns of James Erskine to Jane Stirling, in the parish of Alva

From Ancestral Scotland

Ralston Estates, Renfrewshire

Woodside-Ralston and Auchingown near Beith in Ayrshire were sold by the last Gavin Ralston of that Ilk in 1771 to Dame Jean Stirling of Auchyle, wife of the Honorable James Erskine of Alva, Lord Barjoy of Session and later one of the Senators of the College of Justice under the title Lord Alva. The residence served as their summer home until their death at which time her cousin, General Alexander Graham Stirling of Duchrae and Auchyle was heir.

From Woodside House 55.76361, -4.63528

From The Sterling genealogy by Albert Mack Sterling, Volume 1 Published 1909 Page 108

Sir James Stirling of Glorat, Third Baronet. ... Sir James's widow, Jean Stirling, married secondly, James Erskine, a lord of Session, by the title of Lord Alva.

From Complete Baronetage 1665 to 1707 by George Edward Cokayne Volume 4 Published 1904

Sir James Stirling, Baronet ... He married secondly, on 28 January 1751, Jean Stirling, only daughter of Captain John Stirling, of Herbertshire [Qy. Hertfordshire]. He died sine prole [without issue] 30 April 1771, at Glorat. His widow married (as his second wife) James Erskine, a Lord of Session, styled Lord Alva, who died Friday, 13 May 1796, aged 74, [Footnote: see Page 251, note "a"] and died 1797.

From Monumental Inscriptions in St. Cuthbert's Churchyard, Edinburgh by John Smith Published 1915 Page 12

55. Large Monument divided into three Tablets, centre one of marble.

Shield of Arms with Crest in Arch on Top.

Over the body of the Honourable James Erskine, of Alva, Senator of the College of Justice, who died the Friday, 13 May 1796, aged 73 years, this small erection is placed by his widow, Dame Jean Stirling of Auchyle, only daughter of John Stirling of Herbertshire, Esquire. The said Dame Jean Stirling of Auchyle having died Sunday, 24 September 1797 aged 78, is also interred under this stone.

Lower Panel in Centre.

Here also lies buried Isabella Clementina Tytler, daughter of Lieutenant Colonel Tytler and granddaughter of Lord Alva, who died 16 November 1815, aged 19 years.

Right Tablet.

Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Tytler, third son of William Tytler of Woodhouselee, died Wednesday, 14 March 1849, aged 89 years; Jane Tytler, daughter of Lieutenant Colonel P. Tytler, and spouse of James Erskine of Aberdona, died Wednesday, 10 November 1852, aged 64 years; Margaret Tytler, eldest daughter of Lieutenant Colonel P. Tytler, born Thursday, 15 December 1785, died Sunday, 1 June 1873.

Left Tablet.

Isabella Erskine, daughter of the Honourable James Erskine, Lord Alva, and spouse of Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Tytler, died Wednesday, 19 September 1827, aged 66 years; James Erskine of Aberdona, grandson of Lord Alva, died in Jersey, Wednesday, 21 February 1849, aged 61 years, and is buried in St. Saviour's Churchyard, St. Heliers, Jersey.

Image from National Galleries Scotland

• Artist: Allan Ramsay, Scottish
• Title: James Erskine, Lord Barjarg and Alva, 1722 - 1796. Scottish judge
• Date created: 1750
• Materials: Oil on canvas
• Measurements: 76.20 x 63.80 cm
• Object type: Painting
• Credit line: Bequeathed by the 13th Baron Elibank 1973
• Accession number: PG 2216
• Gallery: In Storage
• Depicted: Lord James Erskine
• Subject: The law