Sir Matthew Stewart of Minto

SIR MATTHEW STEWART OF MINTO

Provost of Glasgow

Marriage

Sir Matthew Stewart of Minto married Janet Stewart, daughter of Archibald Stewart of Castlemilk and his wife Janet Stewart. Stirnet: Stewart 09

Assault on Mr. Howie

In 1581 the king promoted Robert Montgomery, minister at Stirling, to be Protestant Archbishop of Glasgow, on the understanding that the larger portion of the temporalities were to be paid to the Lennox family, an appointment and arrangement in the highest degree distasteful to the people. It was resolved to oppose his induction by sending Mr Howie, one of the Presbyterian preachers, to take prior occupation of the pulpit of the cathedral. Howie went, but while he was, on the day set apart for the induction of the prelate, engaged in the ordinary service of the day, Sir Matthew Stewart of Minto, provost of the city, determined to enforce the royal warrant, pulled him out of the pulpit, and in the course of the struggle a handful of hair was torn from the minister's beard, some of his teeth were knocked out, and his blood was shed. This assault was regarded by the citizens of Glasgow as a most sacrilegious one; and as Mr Howie denounced the judgment of God upon Sir Matthew and his family, it was remarked that in seventy years this once potent race had been reduced to impoverished circumstances in the city in which for many generations they had been lords.

Monumental Inscription in Glasgow Cathedral

HEIR AR BVRIET Sr WALTIR Sr THOMAS Sr JOHNE Sr ROBERT Sr JOHNE AND Sr MATHIEV BY LINEAL DESCENT TO VTHERIS BARONS AND KNICHTS OF THE HOYS OF MYNTO Wt THAIR VYFFIS BAIRNIS AND BRETHEREIN A View of the City of Glasgow, p. 298

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

5 May 1573: Instrument of resignation and sasine by one of the bailies of Glasgow to Matthew Stuart, eldest son to Sir John Stuart of Minto, and Janet Stuart, spouse to Matthew, upon the resignation by Sir John of a tenement in the city of Glasgow on the south side of the Drygate, between the lands of the archdeacon of Glasgow and John Spruell on the west and the lands of the laird of Kincaid and the manse of the prebend of Cambuslang on the east, and the High Street on the north. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Graham Family, Dukes of Montrose , reference GD220/1/E/5/5/2

                   2

8 January 1593-94: Instrument of sasine given propriis manibus by Sir Matthew Stuart of Minto to Dame Jane Colquhoun, his spouse, in liferent of tenement contained in GD220/1/E/5/5/2. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Graham Family, Dukes of Montrose , reference GD220/1/E/5/5/5

                   3

29 October 1656: Extract antenuptial contract of marriage between Walter Stewart, eldest son of Sir Matthew Stewart of Minto, and Christian Craufurd, eldest daughter of James Craufurd of Fermes, 25 January 1598-9. Extract order by justices of the peace at Hamiltoune, in action between town of Rutherglen and Archibald Fleming over situation of his mill and dam, 29 October, 1656. National Records of Scotland, Fleming of Ferme, reference RH15/67/16

Evidence from the Protocol Books of the Town Clerks of Glasgow

5 June 1599: Glasgow Protocols XI: charter number 3413 on pp. 47-8

Genealogical Accounts

1. Stirnet: Stewart 05
2. Darryl Lundy's Peerage: Sir Matthew Stewart of Minto
3. Scottish Places: Glasgow