John Chisholme of the Aird

From History of the Chisholms with genealogies of the principal families of that name

https://archive.org/stream/historyofchisho00mack#page/23/mode/1up

Sir Robert de Chisholme was succeeded by his eldest son

VII John de Chisholme

Designated "de la Aird," or "of the Aird." He is repeatedly on record during his father's lifetime. We find him described in the reign of Charles II (1660-1685) by Sir George Mackenzie of Rsoehaugh, Lord Advocate of Scotland, in his notice of the family of Chisholme, as "John Chisholme of that Ilk in the shyre of Roxburgh." In 1389, he receives a grant of the lands of Lower Kinmylies near Inverness, from Alexander of the Isles, Lord of Lochaber. These lands were at once claimed by William, Bishop of Moray, who on the 20th of November in the same year (Nov. 20, 1389) issued a warning against their occupation by "John de Chisholme de la Airede," and charging him to quit claim and to restore the Church's patrimony (Invernessiano, pp. 93-94). He is again mentioned in that year as "John of Cheshelm of the Arde" (Register of Moray, p. 211). On Apr. 24, 1420, he granted a charter to his relative John Rose, VII, of Kilravock, of the lands at Cantrabundy and Little Cantray.

He married Catherine Bisset, daughter of Bisset of that Ilk, in right of whom he succeeded on the death of her father to a portiion of the Bisset lands in the Aird. By this lady he had issue: an only child, Morella, who married Alexander Sutherland, Bishop of Duffus, grandson of Nicolas Sutherland, second son of Kenneth, Earl of Sutherland, who was killed in the Battle of Halidonhill in 1333. In right of Morella Chisholme, Alexander Sutherland obtained the following lands of Chisholme: Quarrelwood, Clunie, and Clova in Moray; Paxtoun in Tweedale; Kinsterrie in Nairnshire, and other extensive possessions. She is on record in 1424. From this marriage, the House of Duffus is said to carry the addition to the armorial coat armour, azure a boar's head erazed, or. Dovach, a daughter of this union, married Dunbar of Westfield, who, in her right, succeeded to the lands of Clova and Clunie in Moray, which his wife had inherited through her mother, Morella Chisholme.

If further proof be required that Sir Robert de Chisholme of Quarrelwood, and Constable of Urquhart Castle, who came from the south and settled in the Highlands early in the 14th century, was at the same time progenitor of the Chisholms of Strathglass and the head of the Chisholmes of the South, it will be found in the documents after given. The lands which he then undoubtedly possessed on the Borders, as well as several of his estates in the counties of Inverness, Moray, and Nairn, are shown by these summonses and pleadings quoted below to have been carried on her marriage by Morella Chisholme, only child and heir of line of his successor, John de Chisholme "de la Ard," or of the Aird, to her husband Alexander Sutherland, Baron of Duffus, whose family inherited them after his death. In the first summons, William Sutherland, Alexander's successor, is described as "of Duffus and Quarrelwood, heir and success to the umquhile Sir Robert Chisholme of Quarrelwood," and the lands of the two Cantrays and others conveyed by Sir Robert Chisholme to Hugh Rose of Kilravock, as the dower of Sir Robert's daughter, Janet, on her marriage to Kilravock in 1364 are referred to in the same connection.

In the second summons, Chirstian Sutherland, wife of the late William Urquhart of Berriedale, in Caithness, is also described as "heir and successor to the umquhile Sir Robert Chisholme of Quarrelwood." The pleadings, which are endorsed Apr. 20, 1512, are still more conclusive. In them most of the Chisholme lands, north and south, are mentioned. Christian of Sutherland, lady of Berriedale, is shown to be the granddaughter of Alexander Sutherland, Laird of Duffus, who "married Muriel (Morella) of Chisholme, daughter and heir to umquhile John of Chisholme of all and whole his lands" of Chisholme and Paxton, in the South; Quarrelwood and Greshop, in Moray; Kinsterrie in Nairn, and Brightmony, "the clune Clava, and the half of Ouchterurquholl and the overlordship of the two Cantrays and the other half of Ouchterurquholl," in the County of Inverness.

"Christian Sutherland, Lady of Berriedale, is heir of line to follow and pursue the lands of Chisholme in Teviotdale, together with the lands of Paxton and other lands of which she is the very heir to," while "William Sutherland, now Laird of Duffus, may never have entry to the said lands of Chisholme (in Teviotdale) nor to any pertinents thereof but to so much as his said granddame, Muriel of Chisholme, gave to him in her widowhood by resignation." This is conclusive.

The first summons, which is as follows, bears the messenger's execution upon William Sutherland "at his dwelland place of Duffus," on July 15, 1511 -

"James... charge William Sutherland of Duffus and Quarrelwood, heir and successor to the umquhile, Sir Robert Chisholme of Quarrelwood, Kt., to compear before us and our Council at Edinburgh, or where it shall happen us to be for the time, the 8th day of August next (Aug. 18, 1511), to come, if it be lawful, and failing thereof, the next lawful day thereafter following, in the hour of cause, with continuation of days, to answer at the instance of our lovite Hugh Rose of Kilravock, heir and successor to the umqihile Hugh Rose of Kilvarock, his grandsire, to hear him be decerned by the decreet of our Lords of Council, to warrant, acquit, and defend to the said Hugh, as heir and successor to the said umquhile Hugh, his grandsire, the lands of the two Cantrays, and the half of the lands of Uchterorquhoil with the pertinents, lying within our sheriffdom of Nairn, after the form and tenor of the charter and infeftment made by the same umquhile Sir Robert Chisholme's predecessor, to the said umquhile, Hugh's grandsire, and his heirs, with cause of warrandice inserted in the same, like as the said charter and infeftment more fully purports, and also to make the said lands free of all recognition made of the same in our hands, to be enjoyed by the said Hugh as heir aforesaid, after the tenor of the said infeftment in time to come, etc. Given under our Signet at Elgin, the 10th day of June, and of our reign the 23rd year (June 10, 1511).

The second summons is served upon Christian Sutherland, Lady of Berriedale "at her duelland place of Aldweke," on the same day.

"James... greating. Our will is and we charge you that you peremptorily summon, warn, and charge Christian Sutherland, the spouse of the umquhile William Oliphant of Berriedale, heir and successor to the umquhile Sir Robert Chisholme of Quarrelwood, Kt., etc. Given under our Signet at Elgin, the 10th day of June, and of our reign the 23rd year."

The pleading has not title, but is endorsed "anno, etc. VCXII years, the 20th day of April," and commences with the pious invocation:

"Jesus, Maria"

"Item, where it is alleged that Christian of Sutherland, Lady of Berriedale, that she has no entry, nor her forbears, Lairds of Duffus, in he Chisholme's land of Chisholme and Quarrelwood, nor to no other lands that might pertain to them; the ontrary of that is well known for her grandsire Alexander of Sutherland, Laird of Duffus, married Muriel (Morella) of Chisholme, daughter and heir to umquhile John of Chisholme, of all and whole his lands of Chisholme, Paxton, Quarrelwood in Moray, the Greschip, Brechtmont, Kinsterry, the Clune, Clava, and the half of Ouchterurquholl and the overlordship of the two Cantrays, and the other half of Ouchterurquholl; to the taking the forsaid Alexander gave of the forsaid Muriel's lands, pertaining to her in heritage, to Sir Alexander Dunbar of the Westfield knight in marriage with his daughter and the said Muriel's lands of Clune, Clava, and the half of Ouchterurquholl, with their pertinents. And also the said Alexander Sutherland wadset the lands of Greschip, and took upon them 12 score marks and gave that in marriage to another daughter of his called Dovach Sutherland with umquhile Alexander Ross, son and heir to the Laird of Balnagown in Ross. And also the said Alexander Sutherland gave in wadset to John Nicolson, Burgess of Forres, the lands of Brounyscruk and the Milnfield, pertaining to the said Muriel in heritage. And also the said Christian Sutherland, Lady of Berriedale, is heir of line to follow and pursue the lands of Chisholme in Teviotdale, together with the lands of Paxton and other lands of which she is very heir to; and William of Sutherland, now Laird of Duffus, may never have entry to the said lands of Chisholme nor to any pertinents thereof but to so much of his said granddame, Muriel of Chisholme, gave to him in her widowhood by resignation. And by this reason the foresaid Christian Sutherland as heir foresaid out to free, relieve, and keep the Baron of Kilravock scaithless and to relive him at the King's hands, and all others, of his lands of the two Cantrays, and the half of Ouchterurquholl, with their pertinents, after the form of the charters and evidence made by her forbears to him and his forbears thereupon. (General Register of Deeds, Vol. 408, contract recorded on Nov. 3, 1628)"

On the death of John de Chisholme de la Aird, in 1436, without male issue, he was succeeded in the remaining lands belonging to the family in the Highlands and as head of the house by his next brother, Alexander de Chisholme, who married Margaret, described as "Margaret de la Ard and Lady of Erchless," daughter and heiress of Weyland of the Aird by his wife Matilda, eldest daughter and co-heiress of Malise Dei indulgentia Earl of Stratherne and jure usoris Earl of Orkney and Caithness, by his wife Isabella, eldest daughter and co-heriress of John, Earl of Orkney and Caithness, by his wife, a daughter of Patrick Graham of Lovat and the Aird.