Sir Charles Murray of Cockpool, Sir

The Scots Peerage VIII: 19

Biographical Summary

"(401) Sir Charles Murray of Cockpool, bom 1528; died 22nd May 1605. Will recorded 29th November 1605 (Edinburgh). He married, after 28th January 1547-48, Margaret, daughter of Hugh, fifth Lord Somerville, and had issue :

• Cuthbert Murray, died before 8th May 1577.
• James (No. 402).
• Adam Murray, presented to Vicarage of Troqueer 4th October 1577.
• Sir George Murray, died about 1606. Married Bridget, daughter of Sir William Fleetwood.
• Sir David Murray of Clonyaird, died 16th August 1613. He married Marion Maclellan. He had a natural son :
  • Charles Murray, who obtained the church lands of Kirkmichael 21st December 1615.
• Charles Murray, died 1st November 1605. Will recorded 29th November 1605 (Edinburgh). He married Giles, and had a daughter.
• Sir Richard (No. 403).
• Robert Murray, presented to the Vicarage of Anwoth 5th January 1585-86.
• John (No. 404).

ARMS in Sir David Lindsay's MS., 1542. Argent, a saltire engrailed azure ; on a chief of the last three stars of the first. [Plate VII., fig. 5.]"

SOURCE: The heraldry of the Murrays: with notes on all the males of the family, descriptions of the arms, plates and pedigrees, by G. Harvey Johnston, 1910, page 98, paragraph 401
* Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Aug 18 2016, 5:39:06 UTC

GEDCOM Note

He had sasine of the lands of Cockpool and others in 1547. He added to the family property by purchasing from his ward Marion Carruthers some of the Mouswald estates, and also by the acquisition of Church lands in Dumfriesshire and Kirkcudbright. Sir Charles is often referred to in the public records of his time. He was a conservator of the treaty of peace following the Lennox and Wharton invasion, which, according to Lesley, 'Cockpulii Virtus' had vigorously opposed, and it seems was also imprisoned at this period in Carlisle, as were the Lairds of Maxwell and Johnstone. In 1567 he was intrusted by Parliament with the keeping of wappenschaws, and some years later was instructed to undertake 'sic ordour and direction' as is necessary 'for the weill and quietness of the country'; whilst another entry relates that he and John Murray of Murraythwaite were ordered to find surety for the good behaviour of all those for whom they were responsible. In 1570 there was a battle at Cockpool between Lord Maxwell and some of Scrope's followers, when the Scots being defeated, Maxwell, Holmains, and others escaped 'by the strength' of Sir Charles's house. He attended King James VI upon his visit to Dumfriesshire in 1597.19