James Somerville of Cambusnethan, 'Velvet Eye'

JAMES SOMERVILLE OF CAMBUSNETHAN "Velvet Eye"

James Somerville of Cambusnethan, here treated, who was nicknamed Velvet Eye: "was eldest sone and heir to John with the Plaides and Katherine Carmichaell, the captain of Crawfuird's daughter". Memorie II: 88

His Last Will and Testament

James Somerville, elder of Cambusnethan, here treated, died in September 1613. He made his last will and testament at the place of Cambusnethan on 6 September 1623. The witnesses present were Claud Cleland, brother of James Cleland of that Ilk, Arthur Hamilton son of Robert Hamilton, and James Somerville in Chapellhall. The inventory of his moveable estate, including the money owed to him and the money owed by him, was given up by his grandson, Sir James Somerville of Cambusnethan, knight, who had been nominated and appointed as his executor testamentar. At the time of his death James Somerville, elder of Cambusnethan, owed one thousand pounds to his bastard sone James: "James Someruell his sone natural".

James Somerville, elder of Cambusnethan, nominated and constituted his grandson, Sir James Somerville of Cambusnethan, knight, to be his only executor and universal intromitter with his goods, gear and debts. He left his soul to God and ordered that his corpse was to be honourably buried. He also left one half of his free goods and gear to two granddaughters, Jean Cleland and Marion Cleland, daughters of James Cleland of that Ilk. Sir Robert Hamilton of Goslington, knight, acted himself as cautioner for Sir James Somerville of Cambusnethan, and confirmation was granted to him on 2 January 1624. [National Records of Scotland, Glasgow Commissary Court, The Testament Testamentar and Inventory; Protestations, of James Someruell, elder, of Cambusnethame, parish thereof, reference CC9/7/19]

1. Image of Testament
2. Image of Testament
3. Image of Testament
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Death

Stirnet reports that James Somervell of Cambusnethan, here treated, died in September 1613. Stirnet: Somerville 02 This conflicts with the Memorie, where he is reported to have died in September 1623. Memorie II: 91 He was alive on 6 September 1623, the date upon which he made his last will and testament, but he probably died on that date, or very soon thereafter. [National Records of Scotland, Glasgow Commissary Court, The Testament Testamentar and Inventory; Protestations, of James Someruell, elder, of Cambusnethame, parish thereof, reference CC9/7/19]

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

12 April 1571: Extract contract by which Mr Alexander Sym, advocate, and Katherine Boithuell, his spouse, assign to James Somervell, apparent of Cambusnethane, a tack of the lands of Gutheris in the lordship of Gilmertoun occupied by George Hill and formerly redeemed by the said James from the said Mr Alexander and Katherine, the said James make payment on his side and grant a heritable security therefor over the lands of Drummis in the said lordship. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Kerr Family, Marquises of Lothian (Lothian Muniments), Somerville Writs, reference GD40/4/144

                   2

13 March 1593: Licence under the Privy Seal to James Someruile of Cambusnetham to absent himself from hosts etc. for life because of ill health. Papers of the Kerr Family, Marquises of Lothian (Lothian Muniments), Somerville Writs, reference GD40/4/153

                   3

18 April 1595: LIBRI RESPONSIONUM. ..... Vicecomes respondebit pro £333 6s. 8d. de firmis omnium et singularum terrarum et baronie de Cambusnethaine, cum turre, fortalicio, molendinis, multuris, piscariis, lie outsettis, partibus, pendiculis, toftis, croftis, cottagiis, annexis, connexis, tenentibus, tenandriis, liberetenentium servitiis, advocatione et donatione ecclesiarum, capellarum, et capellaniarum earundem, jacentium infra balliam suam, existentium in manibus supremi domini nostri regis per spatium duorum annorum et unius termini aut eocirca ultime elapsorum sasina non recuperata, que firme extendunt annuatim ad £133 6s. 8d. ; et pro duobus paribus calcarium deauratorum per duplicationem albefirme earundem ; regi debitis per sasinam datam Jacobo Somervell [Edinburgh, 18 April.] The Exchequer Rolls of Scotland XXIII:: p. 363

                   4

26 March 1598: Extract Contract between James Hamiltoun of Libertoun on the one part, and James Somervell of Cambusnethan, with consent of John Somervell his son and apparent heir, on the other part; whereby the said James and John Somervells, for the price of 9,000 merks, dispone to the said James Hamiltoun, his heirs and assignees whatsomever. The lands of the Overtoun of Quodquen, and a cotland of the Nethertoun of Quodquen, and 44 acres of land lying on the north side of the Common of Quodquen, called the Newmanis, lying within the Barony of Carnwath and Sheriffdom of Lanark: To be holden of the said James Somervell and his heirs in free blench, for payment of a penny on the ground of the said lands yearly, at the feast of Whitsunday, if it be asked allenarly. Registered in the Books of Council and Session the 13 Feb 1598. Witnesses, Mr James Lokhart Younger of Lie, Hew Hamilton, brother to the said James Hamiltoun of Libbertoun and others. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Chancellor family of Shieldhill, Lanarkshire, reference GD118/67

                   5

(43) 4 October 1603 JACOBUS SOMERVILLE de Cambusnethan, haeres Joannis Somervell de Cambusnethan, patris, - in annuo reddito 20 m. de terries dominicalibus lie Maynes de Crawfurde et Midlo, in baronie de Crawfurde-Douglas. Iii. 41. Inquisitionem Ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum etc. II

                   6

4 February 1604: Charter issued by William Wardlaw, elder of Rickartoun. Witnessed by James Somerville of Cambusnethan and others. RMS 1593-1608: number 1508

                   7

6 February 1619: Charter by James Sommervell of Cambusnetham in fulfillment of bond, [blank] January, to Sir John Sommervell of Kerswell Hamiltoun, his grandson, disponing lands and barony of Cambusnetham, in sherrifdom of Lanerk, reserving liferent. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the family of Dalrymple-Hamilton of Bargany, Ayrshire, reference GD109/1206

                   8

23 December 1620: Charter by JAMES SOMERVELL OF CAMBUSNETHEM, with consent of John Somervell, his son and apparent heir, and James Somervell, son of said John, in favour of Jean Somervell daughter of deceased Sir John Somervell of Kerswell, kt., of annualrent of £50 scots from lands and barony of Cambusnethem, in sheriffdom of Lanerk. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the family of Dalrymple-Hamilton of Bargany, Ayrshire, reference GD109/1207

                   9

23 December 1620 x 15 February 1642: Extract bond (dated 23 December 1620) by JAMES SOMERVELL, ELDER OF CAMBUSNETHAN, John Somervell, his son, and James Somervell, his eldest son now living, to infeft Jean Somervell, said JAMES, ELDER'S pronevoy, daughter of deceased Sir John Somervell of Kerswell, kt., eldest son of said John, in annualrent of £500 from lands and barony of Cambusnethan, reg. B. of C. and S., 24 January, 1624; with bond of relief (dated 15 February 1642) by said Sir James Somervell [Note] to Sir John Hamiltoune, elder, of Bargany, kt., Sir John Hamiltoune, younger, of Carridden, kt., his eldest son, Sir James Hamiltoune of Broomhill, kt., and Gavin Hamiltoune of Raploch, his cautioners, over £4 land of Nethertoun of Cambusnethan, premonition, renunciation, and ratification thereof, with consent of James Kincaid of that ilk, her spouse. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the family of Dalrymple-Hamilton of Bargany, Ayrshire, reference GD109/1208

Note 1: Two quite separate documents are mentioned here. The first is an extract or copy of a document that was dated 23 December 1620, and registered on 24 January 1624. The second document is a bond of relief dated 15 February 1642.

Note 2: Sir James Somervell, mentioned here, ls the grandson of James Somervell "eldest son now living" of James Somervell, elder of Cambusnethan.

                  10

28 March 1621: Charter by which James VI, King of Scots, confirms that he has given certain lands in the barony of Cambusnethan to John Somerville, junior of Cambusnethan, the son and apparent heir of James Somerville, senior of Cambusnethan, his father, to be held by him in liferent following the death of his father: “in vitali redditu post decessum dicti Jac”. The charter reserved the liferent interest in these lands that was held by James Somerville junior, also the son of John Somerville, junior of Cambusnethen: “reservando JACOBO SOMERVELL, juniori, filio dicti Jo.,heredibus ejus”, who also had a grant of the lands and barony of Cambusnethan, which land and barony had been resigned in his favour by his grandfather, James Somerville, senior of Cambusnethan. His grandfather also reserved his own liferent interest in the barony, as well as that of his son and apparent heir, John Somerville, junior of Cambusnethan, and John junior’s wife Marie Hamilton. The King also subscribed anew to incorporate these lands in the free barony of Cambusnethan, which lands and barony was to be held by James Somerville, junior, and his lawful male heirs, whom failing by his brother Thomas Somerville and his lawful male heirs, whom failing by his brother Patrick Somerville and his lawful male heirs, whom failing by the nearest male heirs whomever of James Somerville, junior, who bear the name and arms of Somerville. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, 1620-33, charter number 148

                  11

14 April 1629: Precept of Clare Constat granted by John, Earl of Mar Lord Erskine and Gareoche etc, liferenter of the barony of Carnewathe, and by James, Earl of Buchen, Lord of Ouchterhous, his son, fiar thereof, for infefting JOHN SOMERVELL OF CAMBUSNETHANE, SON OF THE DECEASED JAMES SOMERVELL OF CAMBUSNETHANE, as heir of his said father, in the lands of Carswell, lying within the barony of Carnewathe and sheriffdom of Lanark, the Over Lands of the town of Quodquen, and one cottage land of the lower town of Quodquen, those 44 acres of land lying in the north part of the common pasture and ground of the lands of Quodquen commonly called Newmaynes, and also in those 2 oxgates of land commonly called Haisties Land, in the town of Newbiging, all lying within the said barony and sheriffdom. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Chancellor family of Shieldhill, Lanarkshire, reference GD118/147

Printed Evidence

The Exchequer Rolls of Scotland. Edited by George Powell McNeill, MA., LL.B. Advocate. Vol. XXIII. A.D. 1595-1600. (H. M. General Register House, Edinburgh, 1908), 601 pp. including index

Genealogy

1. Memorie of the Somervilles etc. Vol. I., 497 pp.
2. Memorie of the Somervilles etc. Vol. II., 487 pp. plus errata
3. The Scots Peerage VIII., 606 pp. For Somerville Lord Somerville see pp. 1-45
4. Stirnet: Somerville 02
5. The Baronial House of Somerville etc.
6. Our Royal Ancestors

Note

His stepmother was a suspect in the shooting incident that lost him an eye.

His Last Will and Testament

SOMERUELL
JAMES
2 / 1 / 1624
ELDER, OF CAMBUSNETHAME, PARISH THEREOF
TESTAMENT TESTAMENTAR AND INVENTORY; PROTESTATIONS
GLASGOW COMMISSARY COURT
CC9/7/19