John Elphinstone

JOHN ELPHINSTONE

Disputed Ancestry

The ancestry of John Elphinstone here treated is disputed. The Elphinstone Family Book identifies him as the son of Henry Elphinstone of Pittendreich and his wife Jean Cuninghame, Elphinstone Family I: 19 and Clan MacFarlane claims that he is the son of John Elphinstone, bailie of Glasgow, and his wife Elizabeth Douglas Clan MacFarlane genealogy The Scots Peerage followed the Elphinstone Family Book The Scots Peerage III: p.527 and Darryl Lundy's Peerage follows Clan MacFarlane Darryl Lundy's Peerage

The Evidence Reviewed

It is difficult or impossible to construct a pedigree using the evidence listed below, although it would appear that at least two men named John Elphinstone, possibly three, were active during the period 1485-1510. Henry Elphinstone of Pittendreich had a grandson named John Elphinstone, who is named as one of the heirs of entail in a charter dated 12 August 1502, a charter made in favour of another of his grandsons, that is John Elphinstone of Pittendreich, but the name of his father is not mentioned and remains to be discovered. His father may be the man named John Elphinstone, evidently one of the bailies or magistrates of Glasgow, who is noticed in the witness list of another charter dated 25 February 1485, but this suggestion is hardly much more than just a guess, albeit it is founded upon the Elphinstone family's continuing connection with the burgh of Glasgow .

It may be the bailie of Glasgow who is noticed eleven years or so later, as one of the heirs of entail named in a charter dated 21 December 1496 and made in favour of John Elphinstone of Pittendreich, after all he is identified as a citizen of Glasgow. It is equally possible, though, that this is the grandson mentioned on 12 August 1502.

Evidence from the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland

                   1

Bailie of Glasgow

25 February 1485:Charter made in favour of Margaret Edmonton, wife of Walter Ogilvy. Witnessed by Joh. Elphinston, ballivis Glasgw. and others. This charter was confirmed under the Great Seal of Scotland on 3 March 1485-6. Registrum Magni Sigili Regum Scotorum. The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1424-1503 (H.M. Register House, Edinburgh, 1882, charter number 1644 on p, 346

                    2

Citizen or Burgess of Glasgow

21 December 1496: Charter made in favour of Johanni Elphinstoun de Pettindreich. Johanni E[lphinstoun] civi Glasguen is named as one of the heirs of entail. This charter was confirmed under the Great Seal of Scotland on 1 February 1496-7. Registrum Magni Sigili Regum Scotorum. The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1424-1503 (H.M. Register House, Edinburgh, 1882, charter number 2341 on p. 498

Note: Johanni Elphinstoun de Pittindreich is the same person as Johanni Elphinstoun de Erth. This charter was printed in full in the Elphinestone Family Book. See below.

                  3

Son of the Uncle of John Elphinstone of Ptttendreich

12 August 1502: Charter made in favour of Johanni Elphinstoun de Erth. Joh. Elphinstoun filio avunculi dicti Joh. is named as one of the heirs of entail. This charter was confirmed under the Great Seal of Scotland on 27 August 1502. Registrum Magni Sigili Regum Scotorum. The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1424-1503 (H.M. Register House, Edinburgh, 1882, charter number 2662 on pp. 565-66

Note: This charter was printed in full in the Elphinestone Family Book. See below.

Evidence from the Elphinstone Family Book

                  1

Citizen or Burgess of Glasgow

21 December 1496: Charter made in favour of Johanni Elphinstoun de Pettindreich. Johanni E[lphinstoun] civi Glasguen is named as one of the heirs of entail. This charter was confirmed under the Great Seal of Scotland on 1 February 1496-7. The Elphinstone Family Book of the Lords Elphinestone, Balmerino and Coupar. By Sir William Fraser, KCB., LL.D. In Two Volumes: Vol, II - Memoirs etc. (Edinburgh 1897), charter number 16 on pp. 235-37

                   2

Son of the Uncle of John Elphinstone of Ptttendreich

12 August 1502: Charter made in favour of Johanni Elphinstoun de Erth. Joh. Elphinstoun filio avunculi dicti Joh. is named as one of the heirs of entail. This charter was confirmed under the Great Seal of Scotland on 27 August 1502. The Elphinstone Family Book of the Lords Elphinestone, Balmerino and Coupar. By Sir William Fraser, KCB., LL.D. In Two Volumes: Vol, II - Memoirs etc. (Edinburgh 1897), charter number 18 on pp. 239-41

Evidence from the Protocol Book of Cuthbert Simonis

                   1

Possible Bailie of Glasgow

10 May 1503: Instrument on the acknowledgement by John, Lord Symple, that he had received at the hands of Sir Amdrew Merschell, chamberlain to Robert, archbishop of Glasgow, the sum of 360 merks as part payment of 1360 merks , which the said archbishop was bound to pay to the said Lord Symple for the lands of Cragrossy, which were to be sold by the latter to the former, after the redemption thereof in the hands of John Elphinstoun, on the 20th day of the month of May then current; and (2) on the reatification by Lord Symple of a letter of assignation made by him to the said archbishop and his chamberlain, and of an indenture made between them respecting the sale to be made to the archbishop of the said lands of Cragrossy. Done in the house of Mr. David Chonigham, official of Glasgow about 3 o'clock p.m., 1oth May 1503. Liber Protocollorum M. Cuthberti Simonis Notarii Publici et Scribae Capituli Glasguensis A.D. 1499-1513. Also Rental Book of the Diocese of Glasgow A.D. 1509-1570. Vol. I (Grampian Club, London, 1875), protocol abstract number 55 on p. 292

                   2

Citizen or Burgess of Glasgow

3 February 1506: Instrument on the declaration by John Elphinstoun, citizen of Glasgow, before Cuthbert Aimson, notary, and witnesses, that Sir Thomas Forsith had said of him, in his absence, in presence of several trustworthy witnesses and in public, "John Elphinstoun is a defamit persone perpetuall, and ane verray erratik, and a Jow, or words to that effect; and on the protest by the said John Elphinstoun for remedy of law against the said Sir Thomas Forsith thereanent. Done in the chamber of Patrick Hamiltoun, 3d February 1506. Liber Protocollorum M. Cuthberti Simonis Notarii Publici et Scribae Capituli Glasguensis A.D. 1499-1513. Also Rental Book of the Diocese of Glasgow A.D. 1509-1570. Vol. I (Grampian Club, London, 1875), protocol abstract number 201 on p, 359

                   3

Son of Agnes Forsyth

19 March 1506: Instrument on the tack granted by Agnes Forsith, spouse of Patrick Hamiltoun, having the frank tenement and usufruct of a tenement in Glasgow, on the east side of the street as you go from the cathedral to the cross, in favour of John Elphinstoun, her son and heir, for her lifetime, of a chamber situated above the kitchen of the said tenement, on condition that the said John should build and give to her for her lifetime a house near at hand in which she could confortably brew and bake bread for her own family and strangers. Done in the said tenement on 19th March 1506. Liber Protocollorum M. Cuthberti Simonis Notarii Publici et Scribae Capituli Glasguensis A.D. 1499-1513. Also Rental Book of the Diocese of Glasgow A.D. 1509-1570. Vol. I (Grampian Club, London, 1875), protocol abstract number 164 on p. 342

Evidence from the Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland

Citizen of Glasgow

20 September 1510: A protectioun maid to Jhone Elphinstoun, citinare of Glasgw, in the common forme, etc. Gratis eidem dominum. iv. 7. Registrum Secreti Sigilli Regum Scotorum.The Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland. Vol. I. A.D. 1488-1529 (H.M. General Register House, Edinburgh, 1908), number 2127 on p. 324

Genealogical Accounts

1. The Elphinstone Family Book of the Lords Elphinstone, Balmerino and Coupar. By Sir William Fraser, KCB., LL.D. In Two Volumes: Vol, I - Memoirs etc. (Edinburgh 1897), 345 pp.
2. The Elphinstone Family Book of the Lords Elphinstone, Balmerino and Coupar. By Sir William Fraser, KCB., LL.D. In Two Volumes: Vol, II - Memoirs etc. (Edinburgh 1897), 401 pp. including index
3. The Scots Peerage tc. Vol III (David Douglas, Edinburgh, 1906), 617 pp. See pp. 525-54 for Elphinstone Lord Elphinstone
4. Darryl Lundy's Peerage: John Elphinstone
5. Clan MacFarlane and associated clans genealogy: John Elphinstone