John Mure of Rowallan

JOHN MURE OF ROWALLAN

John Mure of Rowallan is the son of Mungo Mure of Rowallan and his wife Isabel Campbell. Historie, pp. 79-80 A date and place of birth has not been identified for him but he is reported to have died in 1591 aged 66, and if his age at death is accepted as being correct, then it might be suggested that he may have been born in 1524 or 1525. Historie, p. 83

The Murder of Hugh, Earl of Eglinton

John Mure of Rowallan's son Mungo was implicated in the murder of Hugh Montgomery, the fourth Earl of Eglinton. Historie: 82 It is not clear if John Mure of Rowallan himself was involved, or if he conspired with the murderers in the lead up to the cruel slaughter of the young earl, but it seems to have troubled him greatly. So much so that he felt compelled to deny any involvment when he was lying on his death bed: "Anent the slauchtr of hew erle of eglintoun [he] declairis on his consience befoir god to quhome he man mak compt tht he was nayt airt nor pt on the [counsall] nor [ded he have] fornawlege of the same". [National Records of Scotland, Commissary Records of Edinburgh, The Testament Testamentar of Johnne Mure of Rowallane, reference CC8/8/23 pp.210-14] Image of Testament page 213 Image of Testament page 214

Death

According to the editor's note in Sir William Mure of Rowallan's Historie: "This Johne muire 3 of yat name delytit in policye of plainteing and bigging, he plaintit ye oirchzarde and gairdein, sett ye vppir and nethir bank ye birk zaird befoir ye zett, he bigit ye foir vark frome ye grounde ye bak uall and vomanhous, he leuit graciouslie and deit in peice anno : 1591 : of aige 66." Historie, p. 83 He made his last will and testament on 7 April 1591 and died on 13 April 1591. [National Records of Scotland, Commissary Records of Edinburgh, The Testament Testamentar of Johnne Mure of Rowallane, reference CC8/8/23 pp.210-14]

His Last Will and Testament

John Mure of Rowallan made his last will and testament on 7 April 1591. He nominated and appointed his wife Marion Cunningham as his executor testamentar. He left all of his free gear to his wife Marion: "to be usit be hir sua lang as she levis and eftir the samn to be equallie dividit amangis his haill bairnes sones and dochtrs". He also transferred to his wife an annuity held by their son Mungo: "Item [John Mure of Rowallan] ordaines the lyfrent escheit of his sone Mongo Mure to be usit be his said wyff [Marion Cunningham] induring the tyme of his now being the kingis man and tht be the advyse of his bairnes". He also left a number of small legacies, including the following. (1) He left one hundred merks to his brother Robert Mure: "to be tane of the haill heid of his geir and ordains the said Rot to byd wt his wyff [for as long as] she leives and also to m[ain]taine him in meit & fie honestlie qlk she has promist to do". (2) He also left ten merks to his bastard son James Mure. Among the debts outstanding at the time of his death was eighty merks owed to his son-in-law John Wallace of Dundonald. [National Records of Scotland, Commissary Records of Edinburgh, The Testament Testamentar of Johnne Mure of Rowallane, reference CC8/8/23 pp.210-14] Image of page 213

1. Image of page 210
2. Image of page 211
3. Image of page 212
4. Image of page 213
5. Image of page 214

Marriage

According to Sir William Mure of Rowallan: "Johne succeided to his father Mongow. He married Marione Conyngham daughter to the Laird of Conynghamehead, whose moyr was daughter to Williame earle of Glencarne, Shee bare wnto him Williame who succeided, Johne of Cassin Carie, & Mongow. And daughters the lady Adametoune, the lady New-Wark, secondly married on the laird of Lochnaw schereff of Galloway, and lady Collellane, secondly married on the gudman of Dundonald." Historie, pp. 82-83

In his last will and testament dated 7 April 1591 John Mure of Rowallan appointed: Marioun Cunynghame his spous" to be his only executor. [National Records of Scotland, Commissary Records of Edinburgh, The Testament Testamentar of Johnne Mure of Rowallane, reference CC8/8/23 pp.210-14]

Children

1. Robert Mure, younger of Rowallan
2. William Mure of Rowallan
3. John Mure of Cassincarie
4. Mungo Mure
5. Elizabeth Mure
6. Agnes Mure of Rowallan
7. Jean Mure

Bastard Child

John Mure of Rowallan also had a bastard son named James Mure. The name of his mother is not known. NRS: RH6/2868

1. James Mure

Evidence from the Protocol Books of the Town Clerks of Glasgow

13 November 1574: Redemption by William Mwre sone and appeirand air to Jhone Mwre of Rowallane. Witnessed by Jhone Mwir, sone to the said Jhone Mwir of Rowchallane and a number of others. Abstracts of Protocols of the Town Clerks of Glasgow, iii, protocol number 1041 on page 22

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

25 March 1577: Johanni Mure de Rowallane paid thirty-two pounds of relief for the five merk land of old extent of Warnokland and the forty shilling land of old extent of Glassoche, both part of the barony of Rowallan. Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, Volume XX, A.D. 1568-1579, page 528

                   2

30 December 1577: Contract of marriage between William Earl of Glencairn taking burden upon him for Margaret Cunningham his daughter on the one part and Lauchlan Maclean of Dowart on the other part by which the said Lauchlan Maclean becomes obliged to marry the said Margaret Cunningham between the date of the contract and the last day of March then next, and to make certain provisions to her therein mentioned. (By Lauchlan Maclean 10,000 merks to be paid, 4000 before Whitsunday 1578, 4000 at Whitsunday 1579, 2000 at Martinmas 1579. The Earl gives as "tocher" 4000 merks, of which 2000 to be paid at Whitsunday 1578 and 2000 at Whitsunday 1578, the whole to be invested in land in the sheriffdom of Lennox, Renfrew, Bailliary of Cunningham or adjacent lands thereto). Witnesses, John Mure of Rowallan, Adam Cunningham of Clolynau, Mungo Mure of Altonburn, John Smollet of Kirkton, Mr John Angus, Parson of Icolmkill and Gavin Nasmyth Notary. At Irvine. (Margaret C. signs by proxy). National Records of Scotland, Eatls of Glencairn, reference GD39/1/95

                   3

2 July 1582: Instrument of sasine given propriis manibus by Alexander Miller of Ormisheuch to William Mure son and heir apparent of John Mure of Rowallan of the foresaid lands of Armisheuch lying in the parish of Irvine and bailliary of Cunningham and sheriffdom of Ayr Witnesses: Patrick Mure, rector of [Ferne] and others Gavin Nasmyth, notary National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Montgomerie Family, Earls of Eglinton, reference GD3/1/7/18/3

                   4

4 July 1582: Charter by which James VI, King of Scots, confirms that Alexandri Mure [Note] de Ormisheuche has sold the five merk lands of old extent of Ormisheuche in Cunningham to William Mure, younger of Rowallan. The charter followed from a contract of sale entered into by Alexander Mure of Ormisheuche [Note], on the one part, who had the consent of his curators, viz. Robert Mure in Woll, his brother, and Quintigernum Mure, son of John Mure of Rowallan, and William Mure, younger of Rowallan, on the other part. The charter was witnessed by Patrick Mure, rector of Ferne, John Mure, brother of Alexander Mure of Ormisheueche, and John Mure, son of the deceased John Mure in Woll. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1580-1593, charter number 423 on pp. 130-31

[Note] A typographical error seems to be indicated here. Alexandri Mure de Ormisheuche should perhaps be read as Alexandri Miller de Ormisheuche.

                   5

22 July 1583: Instrument of renunciation by David Blair, son and heir of deceased David Blair of Adamtoune [Adamton], and Elizabeth Muir, relict of the said deceased David, and tutrix testamentar to the said David, to John Cathcart of Carletoune [Carleton], after payment by him of 500 merks, of the 40s land of Pynmore [Pinmore] conform to the decreet of 22 July 1583 (GD117/52). Done at Richartoun [Riccarton] in the dwelling house of Robert Stewart there at 11 a.m. Witnesses: John Muir of Rewallane [Rowallan], Hew Wallace of Carnell, William Muir, apparent of Rewallane, William Campbell of Glesnok [Glaisnock], Mungo Muir of Hallowchappell and William Wallace of Brighous. Notaries: Robert Aitken and John Foullar [Fowler]. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Cathcart Family of Carleton and Killochan, reference GD117/53

                   6

2 December 1586: Letters of Reversion by John Mwre of Rowallan and Marion Conyghame, his spouse granting that an annual rent of 44lib Scots sold to them by John Conyghame of Conyghameheid, by virtue of a contract dated at Rowallane 11th October 1585 should be redeemable by payment of 400lib Scots in the parish kirk of Kilmarnock on 40 days' warning. Consignation if necessary to be in the hands of a responsible landed gentleman; and John Conyghame being bound to redeem if required thereto on 80 days warning. At Rowallane, 2nd December 1586. Witnesses William Mure younger of Rowallane, son and apparent heir of the granters, James Mure, son natural of said John Mure, William Lowdoun, servitor of the granters, Gavin Nasmyth, notary. Signed by the granters (Marion Conyghame signing with hand at the pen led by the notary) and by the first two witnesses. National Records of Scotland, Register House charters, 1st series, reference RH6/2868

                   7

[no date but before 1591]: Instrument bearing that John Mure of Rowallan and Marion Cunningham his wife for the sum of 200 merks resigned in the hands of Hugh Cunningham prebendary of Kilmaurs as procurator for Alexander Earl of Glencairn, all right which the said John Mure and Marion Cunningham had to the 5 merk land of Davidston lying in the barony of Finlayston formerly wadset by the Earl. Witnesses, Adam Cunningham of Clolynau, John Mure son of the Laird of Rowallan, Kentigern Mure his brother, and Alexander Cunningham burgess of Irvine, John Cunninghame in Clonbeith. National Records of Scotland, Earls of Glencairn, reference GD39/1/77

                    8

(1685) 3 June 1630: Dominus Willielmus Mure de Rowallane, miles, haeres Joannis Mure de Rowallane, avi. xi. 20. Inquisitionum Ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, etc., Vol. II. Inquisitionem Generales

Genealogical Accounts

1. The Historie and Descent of the House of Rowallane by Sir William Mure, Knight, of Rowallan. Written in, or Prior to 1657 (Chalmers and Collins, Glasgow, MDCCCXXV), 141 pp.
2. Genealogics: John Mure of Rowallan

SmartCopy Reference

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Sep 13 2016, 3:59:23 UTC