Marion Cunningham

MARION CUNNINGHAM

The Question of Identity

James Paterson, the nineteenth century Ayrshire historian, identified Marion Cunningham as a daughter of the Laird of Craigends: Sir William (Mure of Rowallan) married Jonet Maxwell, daughter of the Laird of Newark, whose mother was a daughter of the Laird of Craigends History of the County of Ayr, ii, p. 190 but the proposed relationship has not been satisfactorily proved.

Half a century or so later, the Reverend Doctor William M. Metcalfe misidentified Marion Cunningham as: "Margaret Cunningham, relict of George Maxwell of Newark. According to him, "auld Lady Newerk" was a daughter of William Cunningham of Craigends. A History of the County of Renfrew from the Earliest Times, p. 236 He had probably read James Murray's account of the family for he too was of the opinion that: George Maxwell married Marion Cunningham of Craigends. According to him, Gabriel Cunningham of Carncurran was the nephew of Lady Newark, who was herself the daughter of William Cunningham of Craigends. Kilmacolm: A Parish History, 1100-1898, pp. 228-29

Birth

A date of birth has not been identified for Marion Cunningham. According to Clan MacFarlane Genealogy she was born in about 1480 but they do not say where this information came from. Clan MacFarlane and associated clans genealogy What does seem certain is this. Marion Cunningham was still alive on 13 June 1605, and it is true that she is described as "auld Lay Newerk" on that date, but it seems extremely unlikely that she would have been one hundred and twenty-five years old. A History of the County of Renfrew from the Earliest Times, p. 236

Death

A date of death has not been identified for Marion Cunningham. She was alive when her husband, George Maxwell of Newark, made his last will and testament on 21 November 1585, for he nominated her as his only executor and intromitter with his goods and gear. [National Records of Scotland, Commissary Records of Edinburgh,Testament Testamentar of George Maxwell of Newark, reference CC8/8/16 pp. 386-94] and she appears still to have been alive on 13 June 1605. Kilmacolm: A Parish History, 1100-1898, p. 229

Marriage

Marion Cunningham married George Maxwell of Newark. [National Records of Scotland, Commissary Records of Edinburgh,Testament Testamentar of George Maxwell of Newark, reference CC8/8/16 pp. 386-94]

Children

Marion Cunningham may be the mother of the following:

1. Patrick Maxwell of Newark
2. Master Alexander Maxwell of Kilmacolm
3. John Maxwell of Blairfill
4. David Maxwell
5. Margaret Maxwell
6. Janet Maxwell
7. Euphemia Maxwell
8. Dau. Maxwell

Genealogical Accounts

1. Clan MacFarlane and associated clans genealogy
2. Darryl Lundy's Peerage: Marion Cunningham
3. Stirnet: Maxwell 04
4. James Murray, Kilmacolm: A Parish History, 1100-1898 (Paisley, Alexander Gardner, 1898), 267 pp.
5. FamilySearch: Alexander Leckie

SmartCopy Reference

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Mar 4 2017, 22:59:48 UTC