Sir John Houston of that Ilk, Baronet

SIR JOHN HOUSTON OF THAT ILK, Baronet

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

22 June 1722: Charter of Resignation under the great seal of George I, with consent of the Barons of Exchequer, granting to James Grant of Grant, Sir Colin McKenzie of Coull, advocate, Alexander Cunninghame yr. of Craigends, George Houstoun of Johnstone and George Houstoun, merchant, Glasgow, one-half of the town and lands of Wester Whittburn, with mill, mill-lands etc., extending to a 50 shilling land, one-half of the lands and barony of Easter Whittburn, and one-half of the lands of Little Blackburn, with an annualrent of 12 shillings Scots furth of the lands of Carribber, all lying in the sheriffdom of Linlithgow, the right of patronage of the parish church and parish of Houstoun, with the teinds thereof, and the lands of Haircragy and Fodstoun otherwise called Griffcastle and Montfode lying in the sheriffdom of Renfrew, in warrandice and security to them until the heirs of Sir John Houstoun of that Ilk relieved them from such debts as they contracted on his behalf; reserving the liferent rights of Dame Ann Houstoun alias Drummond, mother of Sir John, and Dame Margaret Shaw, his relict, and providing for the extinction of the grantees right on payment of the debt due to them: which lands were resigned into the hands of the Barons of Exchequer on 22nd June 1722 in terms of procuratory of resignation in the disposition (dated 5 December 1721) of said lands granted by Sir John Houstoun, as an instrument under the hand of Hugh Somervell, W.S., notary public, testifies: To be held de nobis for payment of the customary duties and services: with precept of sasine. At Edinburgh 22nd June 1722. National Records of Scotland, Sir William Fraser Charters, reference GD86/861

                   2

12 February 1741: Signature of the lands of Gallowtouns granted to Margaret Shaw, widow of Sir John Houston (Houstoun, Houstoune). National Records of Scotland, Register of Signatures, boxed series, reference SIG1/155/52

Biographical Summary

Sir John Houston, Baronet [S. 1668], of Houston, only s. and h; suc. to the Baronetcy, 11 Feb. 1722, and sold the much encumbered estate of Houston in 1740. He (though impotent) m. 12 Feb. 1744, at Edinburgh, his cousin Eleanora, 1st da. of Charles (Cathcart), 8th Lord Cathcart [S.], by his 1st wife, Marion, only child of Sir John Shaw, 3d and last Baronet [S. 1687], of Greenock. She, who was b. in Edinburgh, 3 March 1720, brought him £3,500, but (though aware before her marriage of her husband's state) sued for a divorce.(c) He d. s.p. in London 27 and was bur. 31 July 1751, at St. Martin's in the Fields.( a ) His widow d. 3 Nov. 1769, in her 50th year." Complete baronetage IV: 268-69

Genealogy

Stirnet: Houston 01

Biographical Summary

"Sir John Houston, Baronet [S. 1668], of Houston, s. and h. ; was M.P. for Linlithgowshire (three Paris.), 1708-15 ; Commissary of Glasgow ; suc. to the Baronetcy in Dec. 1717. He m. Margaret, da. of Sir John Shaw, 2d Baronet [S. 1687], of Greenock, by Margaret, da. of Sir Thomas Nicolson, 2d Baronet [S. 1637] of Carnock. He d. 11 Feb. 1722, " in the flower of his age," leaving his estate burdened with some 200,000 debt. His widow d. (a year before her son) 29 Jan. 1750."

SOURCE: Complete baronetage; Cokayne, George E. (George Edward); 1904; Vol. IV; page 268