Sir Archibald Napier, 7th Laird of Merchiston

Archibald, seventh Laird of Merchiston, eldest son of the sixth Laird. Archibald was only 14 when his father died. He obtained permission to feudalise his rights to his paternal barony, although still a minor, in contemplation of his marriage to Janet Bothwell, which took place in 1549 when he was only 16. They had three children: John (of Logarithms) who was born in 1550 when his father was only 17; Francis; and Janet. During the civil troubles in the 1560s and 1570s, Archibald, who had been knighted by this time, was in trouble, was imprisoned and Merchiston Castle (or Tower as it was usually called in those days) was under siege. However he was back in favour by 1587 when he was appointed Master of the Mint with sole charge of all mines and minerals within the realm. He married his second wife, Elizabeth Mowbray, in 1571 and they had ten children, (Sir) Alexander (of Lauriston); Archibald (of Wowmet); Walter; William; Susanna; Abellina; Agnes; Helen; Marion; and Elizabeth. It is a curiosity that Agnes married, as her third husband, John Ogilvy, son of James, sixth Lord Ogilvy of Airlie, and Elizabeth married James, sixth Lord Ogilvy of Airlie, as his second wife. This made Elizabeth step-mother-in-law to her own sister! Archibald died in 1608.

pumpman34added this on 25 Feb 2011according to: http://www.clannapier.org/merchnap.htm 

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archibald_Napier_(landowner)

Family
By his first wife Janet (died 20 December 1563), only daughter of Francis Bothwell, lord of session, by his first wife Janet Richardson,[4] Napier had two sons and one daughter:

John Napier the scientist and mathematician who developed logarithms (1550 –1617)
Francis Napier, appointed assayer to the cunzie-house 1 December 1581
Janet Napier.
By his second wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Mowbray of Barnbougle, Linlithgowshire, he had three sons and two daughters:

Archibald Napier of Woolmet (1575-1600), ambushed and slain on 8 November 1600 in revenge for the murder of Scott of Bowhill in an argument over a horse, widowing his young wife Alison Edmonstone of Edmonstone House
William Napier (1577-1622)
Alexander Napier, Lord Laurieston (1578-1629), appointed a Senator of the College of Justice 14 February 1626
Helene, married to Sir William Balfour
Elizabeth, married, first, to James, lord Ogilvie of Airlie, and, secondly, to Alexander Auchmoutie, gentleman of his majesty's privy chamber.

Lauriston Castle in 1775.
On 8 February 1588 the king granted to Napier, Elizabeth Mowbray, his second wife, and Alexander, their son and heir, the lands called the King's Meadow. On 16 November 1593 he obtained a grant of half the lands of Lauriston, where he built Lauriston Castle.

SIR ARCHIBALD NAPIER OF EDINBELLIE

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

19 July 1570: Obligation by Archibald Bruce of Powfoulis to Sir Archibald Napier of Edinbellie, kt, and Marion Napier, his sister, Bruce's future spouse. When required, he will appear before the minister at the parish church to solemnize marriage and for proclamation of banns. He has received from them 1500 merks Scots as tocher; and he has infeft her and heirs to be born between them in lands of Taylorton, Cortebrook, Newton, Haughs of Airth, and Pocknave, in sheriffdom of Stirling, and 400 merks of lands of Watston [in sheriffdom of Perth]. If he obtains in heritage or wadset 600 merks Scots more than said lands, he will infeft her and their heirs therein. National Records of Scotland, Papers of Napier Family, reference GD430/162