John Cunningham of Drumquhassill

JOHN CUNNINGHAM OF DRUMQUHASSILL

John Cunningham of Drumquhassill is reported to have died before 6 June 1590. The Scots Peerage V: 163

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

6 February 1575-76: Charter Under the Great Seal by King James VI, with consent of James, Earl of Mortoun, regent of the kingdom, granting to John Cunynghame, son and heir-apparent of John Cunynghame of Drumquhassill and Elizabeth Boyd, his spouse, and the longer liver of them in conjunct infeftment, and the heirs male lawfully procreated or tobe procreated between them, whom failing, to the lawful and nearest heirs male of the said John whomsoever, the lands of Killermond, Blairford and one-half of the Manis of Drumquhassill of old extent lying in the earldom of Levenox and sheriffdom of Striuiling: which lands the said John Cunynghame, elder, resigned (viz: Killermond and Blairfod as principal and one-half of the Manis of Drumquhassill in warrandice of the lands of Parkstoun and Portnellen in said earldom) at Halyrudehous in favour of his said son and Elizabeth Boyd, his spouse, in terms of the contract of marriage between Robert, Lord Boyd, and Elizabeth, his daughter, on the one part, and the said John Cunynghame, elder, and his son, on the other part: To be held de nobis rendering therefor the rights and services used and wont. At Halyrudehous 6 February 1575-6. Witnesses, Adam, bishop of Orkney, commendator of Holyrood near Edinburgh, William, Earl Marischal, John, Lord Glammis, chancellor, Robert, commendator of Dunfermeling, the king's secretary, Mr. George Buquhannane, pensioner of Corsragwell, keeper of the Privy Seal, John Bellenden of Auchnoull, knight, justice clerk, Mr. James Makgill of Rankelour Nethir, clerk of the Rolls, Register and Council and Alexander Hay, director of chancery. National Records of Scorland, Sir William Fraser Charters, reference GD86/243

Evidence from the Elphinestone Family Book

5 June 1590: John Elphinstone of Selmes was about this time in the service of the Duke of Lennox. In a contract, dated at Elphinstone, 5th June 1590, he is so described. The contract is between John Kunynghame of Drumquhassill and John Elphinstone, "sone lawchfull to Robert, Lord Elphinstoun, and serwitour to the Dwik of Lennox." It narrates that by a contract made by vmquhil Robert, Lord Boyd, and Elizabeth Boyd, his daughter, and vmquhil John Cunningham of Drumquhassil and the said John Cunningham, his son, John Cunningham of Drumquhassil obliged himself not to sell or wadset any of his lands and baronies. These were to be left free to his son John to succeed to after his father's decease. This, however, had not been carried out, as several of the lands and heritages in question had been sold, with the result that John Cunninghame of Drumquhassill had found it necessary to receive for his own use " in nwmerrat and tauld money " from John Elphinstone the sum of 2000 merks. In respect of this, he now sold to the latter, and his heirs, the right and title of the whole lands and annual rents mentioned in his father's contract, and to which he ought lawfully to have succeeded. Seeing he could not infeft him in those subjects which had been sold by his father until such infeftments were reduced, he constituted John Elphin- stone his irrevocable assignee and procurator in rem suam in and to the contract and all actions of reduction competent to John Cunninghame himself. The Elphinestone Family Book II: 119