John Montgomery of Hessilhead

JOHN MONTGOMERY OF HESILLHEAD

According to James Paterson, John Montgomery of Hessilhead was the son of Hugh Montgomery of Hessilhead. History of the County of Ayr I: p. 290 Thomas Harrison Montgomery followed Paterson. History of the Family of Montgomery, p. 134 The date and place of his birth is not known.

His Last Will and Testament

John Montgomery of Hesillhead made his last will and testament on 4 January 1559, at Hessilhead in the parish of Beith, in the Cunningham division of North Ayrshire. He nominated his wife Margaret Fraser and his eldest son and heir Hugh Montgomery to be his executors. [National Records of Scotland, The Testament Testamentar and Inventory of John Montgomery of Hessilhead, Glasgow Commissary Court, reference CC9/7/2]

1. Image of Testament p. 135
2. Image of Testament p. 136

Death

John Montgomery of Hessilhead died at Hessilhead. A date of death has not been identified for him. He was alive on 4 January 1559, the date upon which he made his last will and testament, and probably died very soon thereafter. [National Records of Scotland, The Testament Testamentar and Inventory of John Montgomery of Hessilhead, Glasgow Commissary Court, reference CC9/7/2] He certainly died before 22 February 1559. Glasgow Protocols V: 1352

Marriage

John Montgomery of Hessilhead married Margaret Fraser. She is noticed as his wife on 21 April 1548, the date upon which they took possession of a burgal tenement in Glasgow. Glasgow Protocols I: 4 She was still alive on 4 January 1559 when her husband made his last will and testament. He nominated her and their eldest son Hugh to be his executors and intromitters with his goods and gear. [National Records of Scotland, The Testament Testamentar and Inventory of John Montgomery of Hessilhead, Glasgow Commissary Court, reference CC9/7/2]

Children

1. Hugh Montgomery of Hessilhead
2. George Montgomery
3. William Montgomery
4. Alexander Montgomery

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

13 March 1556: Extract registered contract between Hugh, Earl of Eglinton, Lord Montgomery etc, with advice, consent and authority of Robert, Lord Sempill, Dame Marion Seytoun, Countess of Eglinton, Richard Maitland of Lethington, his curators on the one part and Neill Montgomery, son and heir to unquhile Sir Neill Montgomery of Langschaw, who had the gift of the ward of the lands of Eglintoun, Tarboltoun and Galstoun and of the office of bailliary of Cunningham etc on the other part, whereby the said Neill Montgomery, as heir foresaid, assigns to Hugh, Earl of Eglinton, the foresaid ward and the said Earl binds himself to pay to Neill the sum of 560 merks at the terms therein mentioned, and also yearly 4 score merks during the minority and lesser age of the said noble lord, until he should be 21 years complete, and the sum of 40lib yearly in all times coming thereafter during their lifetimes, and Neill should instantly give and deliver a sufficient discharge of the sum of 560 merks to Dame Marion Seytoun, Countess of Eglinton, which she was bound to pay to him by a contract made between them, dated 14th February 1550, and registered in the Books of Council, and consented that the part of the said contract should be deleted furth of the said Books; the cautioners thereto for the said Earl were Robert Ker of Kerisland, John Fraser of Knox, John Montgomery of Hesilheid, and Alexander Hammill of Ruchwod, and for the said Neill Montgomery Hugh Montgomery of Auchinheid, John Mure of Caulduell, John Montgomery of Hessilheid, John Kennedy of Skeldoun, and David Blair of Adamtoun. Dated at Strivelin and registered in the Books of Council at Edinburgh 14 May 1557. Witnesses: John Mure of Caulduell, Archibald Mure, his brother and others. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Montgomerie Family, Earls of Eglinton, reference GD3/1/1/20/9

                   2

18-19 February 1559: Instrument of sasine following 2 precepts in favour of Hugh, Earl of Eglinton of the lands and lordship of Ardrossan, the fishings of East Saltcoats etc, as heir to his grandfather, Hugh, Earl of Eglinton in the island of Selcrag in the Bailliary of Cunninghame.Witnesses: John Montgomery, young Laird of Hessilhead, Hugh Montgomery, George Montgomery, his sons, sir John Michel, curate of Ardrossan and others. John Ra, notary National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Montgomerie Family, Earls of Eglinton, reference GD3/1/1/1/1

                   3

25 September 1602: ROBERTUS MONTGOMERIE de Hessilheid, haeres Joannis Montgomerie de Hessilheid, avi, - in 10 mercatis terrarum antiqui extentus de Lyandcorce (vel Lyandcorne), jacentibus in parochia de Neilstoun, regalitate de Kilwynning, et baronia de Renfrew, - 7l. 13s. 4d. - (Vide Ayr.) ii. 177. Inquisitionum Ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, etc. II

Evidence from the Protocol Books of the Town Clerks of Glasgow

                   1

21 April 1548: Archibald Maklawchlane of Eskok sold to John Monthtgumry, younger of Hesilheide, and Mergarete Frissel, his spouse, and longest liver of them, his fore and back tenement, with yard, close, and pertinents, lyiny t.c. in the street passing from the place of the Friars Preachers to the Market Cross, between the tenement of the deceased Archibald Mwre on the north, the tenement of q. William Laing on the south, the end of the garden of q. William Laing on the west, and the street on the east. Sasine given by David Lyndesay, bailie. Witnesses: Mr. David Done, Sir John Brady, Mr. William Wynzet, Robert Lyile, Robert Monthgumry, and John Androsoune, serjeant. Glasgow Protocols I: 4

                   2

13 June 1558: John Mwngwmry of Hesilheide resigned in favour of his son, George Mwngwmry, a tenement of land, with yard and pertiments, lying t.c., in the street leading from the Metropolitan Church to the Market Cross, on the west side thereof, between the lands of q. Archinbald Mwre on the north, the lands of Mr. John Lainge on the south and west, and the street on the east. Sasine given by George Herbisoune, bailie. Witnesses: Mr. Robert Mwngwmry, Mr. James Blair, David Landes, Malcolm Done, and William Younge, serjeant. Glasgow Protocols II: 441

                   3

13 June 1558: John Mwngwmry of Hesilheide resigned in favour of his son, George Mwngwmry, a tenement of land, with yard and pertiments, lying t.c., in the street leading from the Metropolitan Church to the Market Cross, on the west side thereof, between the lands of q. Archinbald Mwre on the north, the lands of Mr. John Lainge on the south and west, and the street on the east. Sasine given by George Herbisoune, bailie. Witnesses: Mr. Robert Mwngwmry, Mr. James Blair, David Landes, Malcolm Done, and William Younge, serjeant. Glasgow Protocols II: 441

                   4

22 February 1558-59: Precept by whch Gavin, Commendator of the monastery of Kilwinning, confirms that he has instructed his bailie to give sasine to Hugh Mungumry, as heir of John Mungumry, his father, of the ten merk land od old extent of Lyencors in the barony of Renfrew, and the twenty shilling land of old extent of Willieyard in the barony of Beith, regality of Kilwinning, bailliary of Cunningham and shire of Ayr. Glasgow Protocols V: 1352

                   5

2 July 1560: Resignation in favour of Robert Layng.The lands of q. John Mungumry of Hassilheid are mentiioned in this protocol. Glasgow Protocols V: 1376

                   6

2 July 1560: Resignation in favour of John Layng.The lands of q. John Mungumry of Hasilheid are mentiioned in this protocol. Glasgow Protocols V: 1378

                   7

4 November 1560: Mergaret Frissall, relict of q. John Mwngumry of Hesilheid, renounced all right of liferent she had in a tenement of land, with yard and pertinents, lying t.c., in the street leading from the Metropolitan Church to the Market Cross, on the west side thereof, between the lands of Mr. John Lang on the south and west, yje lands of q. Archinbald Mwre on the north, and the street on the east; and George Mwngumry, her son, and fear of the property, sold the same to Adam Hall, burgess of the burgh of Renfrew. Sasine given by David Lyoune, bailie. Witnesses: James Nicolsoune, Andrew Mertyne, Andrew Nevyng, and William Young, serjeant. Glasgow Protocols II: 585

Genealogical Accounts

1. James Paterson, History of the County of Ayr: With a Genealogocal Account of the Families of Ayrshire, Vol. I (John Dick, Ayr, MDCCCXLVII), pp. 290-92
2. A Genealogical History of the Family of Montgomery, pp. 134-36 for Montgomery of Hessilhead
3. The Montgomery Manuscripts etc
4. Memorials of the Montgomeries Earls of Eglinton by William Fraser, Volume II (Edinburgh MDCCCLIX), 400 pp.
5. Memorials of the Montgomeries Earls of Eglinton by William Fraser, Volume II (Edinburgh MDCCCLIX), 424 pp. including index
6. The Scots Peerage, etc., edited by Sir James Balfour Paul, Lord Lyon King of Arms, Volume III (David Douglas, Edinburgh, 1906), pp. 421-65 for Montgomerie, Earl of Eglinton

Short Account of the Family of Montgomery of Hessilhead

When Hugh Eglintoun of that Ilk, her father, died soon after 1378 the Montgomerie family inherited the lands and hereafter Hessilhead's history is bound up with that family.[11][13] Sir John Montgomerie of Hessilhead and Corsecraigs inherited the estate from his father, Hugh Montgomerie of Bawgraw (Balgray). John was slain at the battle of Flodden in 1513 and the estate passed to his son Hugh, who died on 23 January 1556. Hugh's heir was his son John who was appointed one of the tutors to Hugh, third Earl of Eglintoun. John married Margaret Fraser of Knock and was succeed in 1558 by his son Hugh. This young Hugh was a member of the Convention Parliament of 1560, at which the Protestant Confession of Faith was established. In around 1576, Gabriel Montgomerie of nearby Scotston was slain by adherents of the Montgomeries of Hessilhead. Hugh had a son Robert who inherited in 1602, passing the estate on to his son Robert circa 1623. This Robert was a Commissioner of Supply for Ayrshire and his son, also Robert, succeeded in 1648 and was one of the representatives for Ayrshire in the first parliament of King Charles II. He had a daughter, Mary, who married MacAulay of Ardincaple. Robert Montgomerie sold Hessilhead to the seventh Earl of Eglinton's (1613–1669) second son, The Right Hon. Francis Montgomerie inherited the nearby Giffen Castle and lived an eventful life. He was one of the Lords of the Privy Council, and a Commissioner of the Treasury, in the reign of William III and Queen Anne. He was appointed in 1706 as one of the Commissioners for Scotland for the Treaty of Union. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hessilhead

Source References

Montgomery and Rowantree Families Genealogy

• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Mar 21 2021, 3:16:50 UTC