Margaret Cunningham

MARGARET CUNNINGHAM (aka MARGARET CUNNINGHAME)

Margaret Cunningham, here treated, is the daughter of Sir James Cunningham of Polmaise. NRS: GD39/5/20 She was one of the heiresses of Polmaise. NRS: GD15/749 Her father's estate of Polmaise is misidentified as Polonaise in at least one account of her family. Cunninghams of Southwest Nova Scotia: Margaret Cunningham

Margaret Cunningham, here treated was one of the three daughters procreated between James Cunningham of Polmaise and his wife Agnes Bruce. Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum. The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1546-1580, charter number 1078 on pp. 239-40

Marriage

Margaret Cunningham, here treated, married Andrew Cunningham of Corsehill. She is noticed as his wife in a charter dated 4 September 1536. NRS: GD39/5/19

Children

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

4 September 1536: Charter by William Cunninghame, kt., Master of Kilmaurs, in favour of Andrew Cunninghame, his son, and Margaret Cuninghame, wife of said Andrew, of subjects as in GD39/5/16, following on resignation by said Andrew in favour of himself and his wife conjointly. Witnesses: Alexander Cunninghame, son and heir of said William, provost of Trinity College, Edinburgh, Robert Bruce of Auchenbowie, Duncan Cunninghame, sir Ninian Cunninghame, vicar of Kilmaurs, John Crawford, James Benne, William Hardy, Cuthbert Riche and John Grahame, notaries public. National Records of Scotland, Earls of Glencairn, reference GD39/5/19

                   2

17 October 1536: Instrument of Sasine following on GD39/5/19; with addition of lands of Hillhouse. Margaret Cunninghame, spouse of Andrew Cunninghame is described as daughter of Sir James Cunninghame of Polmaise. Witnesses: James Cunninghame of Polmaise, Hugh Cunninghame, son of Sir William Cunninghame, James Souter, William Herde, Alan Cunninghame, James Lindsay, John Davidson and John Fergusson. National Records of Scotland, Earls of Glencairn, reference GD39/5/20

                   3

5 November 1536: Discharge by William Cunninghame, kt., Master of Kilmaurs, in favour of Andrew Cunninghame, his son, and Margaret Cunninghame, wife of said Andrew, and heirs male or eldest female, of payment of 1/2 the feu contained in his Charter to them, of lands of £3 6s. 8d. lands of Dowera; £4 6s 8d. lands of Potterton; 33s. 4d. land of Robertland; £4 land of Cuttiswrayis; £4 land of Clerkland, in sheriffdom of Ayr. 1/2 feu amounts to £26 13s. 4d. Scots. Also discharge of double-entry due by said Andrew and Margaret to said Sir William at their first entry; payment being confined to a sum equal to double of feu contained in Crown Charter of said lands granted to said William, and to be paid upon entry of Sir William's heirs. Witnesses: Alexander Cunninghame, son and apparent heir to said William Cunninghame, kt., William Cunningham, provost of the Trinity College, his brother, Robert Bruce of Auchenbowie, Duncan Cunninghame, sir Ninian Cuninghame, vicar of Kilmaurs, John Crawford, James Beiny, William Hardy, & Cuthbert Rich and John Graham, notaries public. [Seal, fragment]. National Records of Scotland, Earls of Glencairn, reference GD39/5/21

                   4

14 January 1539: Crown Charter in favour of Andrew Cunninghame of Little Robertland and Margaret Cunninghame, his spouse, of 5 merk lands of Dowera; 6 merk lands of Cottiswra; 2 1/2 merk lands of Little Robertland; 6 merk lands of Clerksland and Hillhouse, with mill thereof; and 5 merk lands of Potterton lying in bailiary of Cunninghame and sheriffdom of Ayr. Registered R.M.S. xxvii, 12. National Records of Scotland, Earls of Glencairn, reference GD39/5/27

                   5

5 August 1541: Crown Charter in favour of Andrew Cunninghame, son of William, Earl of Glencairn, and Margaret Cunninghame, spouse of said Andrew, of the 6 merk lands of Cuttiswray; 6 merks lands of Clerkland and Hillhouse and mill thereof; 2 1/2 merk lands of Little Robertland; 6 merks lands of "tua Corshillis"; 5 merk lands of Blacklaw; 5 merk lands of Hartshaw; 10 merk lands of Dowywray and Potterton; lying in lordship of Stewarton, bailiary of Cunninghame and sheriffdom of Ayr, formerly held by said Andrew. Registered R.M.S. xxviii, 54. National Records of Scotland, Earls of Glencairn, reference GD39/5/31

                   6

21 February 1555-56: Instrument of Sasine following on precept of sasine furth of Chancery, dated 19 Feb., 1555/6, to Margaret Cunygham as heir portioner to deceased James Cunygham of Polmais, her father, in portion of lands in barony of Polmais Cunnygham. National Records of Scotland, Erskine family of Cardross, Perthshire, reference GD15/746

                   7

27 May 1556: Charter by Margaret Cunynghame, daughter and one of the heirs of deceased James Conynghame of Polmais, to John Conynghame of Drumquhassill and Isobel Conynghame, his spouse, of lands in barony of Polmais Conygham, reserving her liferent furth of said lands. National Records of Scotland, Erskine family of Cardross, Perthshire, reference GD15/749

                   8

31 May 1556: Charter under the Great Seal of Scotland which confirms an earlier charter, issued by Margaret Cunningham on 27 May 1556. Margaret Cunningham is identified as one of the three daughters and heirs of the deceased James Cunningham of Polmaise, procreated between him and his wife Agnes Bruce, and as one of his five heirs. Margaret's charter confirms that she has sold to John Cunningham of Dromquhassill and his wife Isobel Cunningham, one third of the lands in the barony of Polmaise that belonged to the three daughters of Agnes Bruce, and one fifth of the other lands in the barony of Polmais that belonged to her deceased father. Margaret's charter was witnessed by her son and heir Robert Cunningham and others. The Great Seal charter also confirms that Katherine Cunningham, also one of the three daughters and heirs procreated between James Cunningham of Polmaise and his wife Agnes Bruce, has sold her share of her inheritance to John Cunningham of Drumquhassill and his wife Isobell Cunningham. Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum. The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1546-1580, charter number 1078 on pp. 239-40

                   9

22 September 1556: Charter under the Great Seal of Scotland which confirms possession of part of the lands of Bochaldy in the barony of Polmaise to Duncan Cunningham, brother german of James Cunningham of Polmais. The land is said to be held of the crown by Margaret, Katherine, Isobel, Janet, and Agnes Cunningham, daughters and heirs of James Cunningham of Polmaise. Janet and Agnes Cunningham were evidently still minor children because their interests were represented by Henry Orme of Muckdrum, who is identified as their curator. Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum. The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1546-1580, charter number 1102 on 244-5

Genealogy

Cunninghams of Southwest Nova Scotia: Margaret Cunningham