Sir James Falconer, Lord Phesdo

Sir James Falconer was born in August 1648. He was the oldest son and heir of Sir John Falconer, a Scottish nobleman, and his wife, Lady Agnes ("Spens" aka "Spence") Falconer.[1]

Sir James Falconer was educated in Edinburgh and admitted an advocate at the Scottish bar on January 6, 1674. He left the bar when a dispute arose about certain appeals but was re-admitted, January 8, 1676. His father had ceded his lands at Phesdo, Scotland, to his oldest son in 1672 (at James' marriage to Elizabeth Trent).

In November 1682, Sir John Falconer, one of the wardens of the Scottish Mint, on learning that he was to be pursued for malversation in office, suffered a massive heart attack and died suddenly at the family estate in Phesdo, Scotland.

After his death, the crown imposed a fine of five years and a half rent of his whole estate. Sir James, his son, whom the authorities held liable as his father's successor, and because he had earlier refused to pay a composition on his inheritance, was also fined in six years rents of his whole fortune.

Sir James Falconer was appointed an Ordinary Lord after the Glorious Revolution of 1688 that brought William & Mary to the English/Scottish throne. He took his seat in the House of Lords as Lord Phesdo, on November 1, 1689. He was nominated a Lord of the Justiciary, on January 27, 1690. He represented the shire of Kincardine, Scotland, in the Parliaments of 1703-4.[2]

Sir James Falconer married Elizabeth Trent, b: 7 Jan 1655, in 1672 in Scotland. The couple had 13 children:[3]

John Falconer, b: 21 October 1674; d: 1764 without issue Alexander Falconer, b: ca. 1676 Elizabeth (Falconer) Arbuthnot, b: ca. 1685 Mary Falconer b: 1687 Margaret (Falconer) Arbuthnot Patrick Falconer James Falconer b: 1689 Maurice Falconer b: 21 December 1697 William Falconer Charles Falconer David Falconer Catherine Falconer Esther Falconer He died at Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, on June 9, 1705. His wife survived his passing. She died in Scotland in July 1748.[4]

Sources ↑ "Scottish Notes & Queries...", pg. 77. A Google Book. ↑ "An Historical Account of the Senators of the College of Justice: From Its Institution in MDXXXII;" by George Brunton, David Haig; 1832; Page 445. Cited on - See next Note. ↑ Sir James Falconer on Geni.com ↑ Willey-Markle Family Tree on RootsWeb - Elizabeth Trent Acknowledgments Thanks to William Arbuthnot for creating WT profile Falconer-153 on June 4, 2013. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by William and others.

Biographical Summary

"Was the son of Sir John Falconer, one of the wardens of the Mint, who upon learning that he was to be pursued for malversation in his office, died suddenly of creve coeur, at Phesdo, in November 1682...

...The gift of his moveable escheat was given by the treasurer to Hugh Wallace for his majesty's behoof upon a report of his having been felo de se, and a fine imposed of five years and a half rent of his whole estate. Sir James, whom they held liable as his father's successor, and for having refused to pay a composition on his escheat, was also fined in six years rents of his whole fortune. He was admitted advocate, 6th January 1674, and having left the bar when the dispute arose about the appeals, was re-admitted, 8th January 1676. He represented the shire of Kincardine in the parliaments of 1703-4...

...He was appointed an Ordinary Lord at the Revolution and took his seat as Lord Phesdo, 1st November 1689, nominated a Lord of Justiciary, 27th January 1690, and died at Edinburgh, 9th June 1705."

SOURCE: An Historical Account of the Senators of the College of Justice: From Its Institution in MDXXXII; by George Brunton, David Haig; 1832; Page 445