Sir John Nisbet of Dean, 3rd Baronet

From Complete Baronetage 1665 to 1707 by George Edward Cokayne Volume 4 Published 1904 Page 275

Sir John Nisbet, Baronet [S. i.e. created 1691], of Dean, 1st son and [heir] by 1st wife; succeeded to the Baronetcy, August 1713. He married (contract 23 August 1717) Anne Myrton, daughter of Sir Andrew Myrton, 1st Baronet [S. i.e. created 1701], of Gogar. He died 30 March 1728. His widow living 13 March 1749 [1748/9]. She possibly died 13 June 1768, at Edinburgh." NOTE: death date conflicts with Newspaper below 25 March 1728

From Nisbet families in Scotland Volume 1

• John Nisbet, Baronet and Anne Myreton or Morton, married 24 August 1717, Edinburgh
• Jane Nisbet born 21 January 1719
• Christian Nisbet born 9 July 1720
• Ann Nisbet born 25 August 1721
• Eupham Nisbet christened 15 November 1722
• Henry Nisbet, Baronet born 22 August 1724
• Sarah Nisbet born 12 May 1726
• Joanna Nisbet christened 31 July 1728

From Scotland's People: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms NOTE: can't find JOHN

From National Records of Scotland

12 April 1733: Extract of a marriage contract, dated at Gogar on 23 August 1717, between John Nisbet, younger of Dean and Ann Morton, daughter of Sir Andrew Morton of Gogar, by which Nisbet agrees to grant her sasine of the Western Place of Dean, and an annuity of 1000 merks, following the marriage. Edinburgh. Damaged. Castle Gogar, 180 Glasgow Road, Ingliston, Edinburgh EH12 9BQ 55.94306, -3.33833

From Scotland's People - Old Parish Records - Marriages and Banns

• 24 August 1717 marriage or banns of John Nisbet to Ann Myretoun, in the parish of Corstorphine
• 24 August 1717 marriage or banns of John Nisbet to Anna Myretoun, in the parish of Corstorphine
• 24 August 1717 marriage or banns of John Nisbet, Baronet, to Anne Myrton, in the parish of St Cuthbert's

From Scotland's People - Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms

Possible list of 7 children of John Nisbet and Ann Myrton Or Morton from first: 21 January 1719 Jane Nisbet to last: 31 July 1728 Joanna Nisbet

• 21 January 1719 birth or baptism of Jane Nisbet, daughter of John Nisbet and Ann Myrton Or Morton [child 1], in the parish of St Cuthbert's
• 9 July 1720 birth or baptism of Christian Nisbet, (U) [daughter] of John Nisbet and Ann Myrton Or Morton [child 2], in the parish of St Cuthbert's
• 25 August 1721 birth or baptism of Ann Nisbet, daughter of John Nisbet and Ann Myrton Or Morton [child 3], in the parish of St Cuthbert's
• 15 November 1722 birth or baptism of Eupham Nisbet, (U) [daughter] of John Nisbet and Ann Myrton Or Morton [child 4], in the parish of St Cuthbert's
• 22 August 1724 birth or baptism of Henry Nisbet, Baronet, son of John Nisbet and Ann Myrton Or Morton [child 5], in the parish of St Cuthbert's
• 24 August 1724 birth or baptism of Henry Nisbet, Baronet, son of John Nisbet, Baronet and Anne Myrton [child 5], in the parish of St Cuthbert's
• 12 May 1726 birth or baptism of Sarah Nisbet, daughter of John Nisbet, Baronet and Ann Myrton [child 6], in the parish of St Cuthbert's
• 31 July 1728 birth or baptism of Joanna Nisbet, daughter of John Nisbet, Baronet and Anne Myrton [child 7], in the parish of St Cuthbert's

From The book of the Old Edinburgh Club by Old Edinburgh Club Volume 1 Published 1908

Sir John Nisbet of the Dean was served heir to Sir Henry Nisbet in 1713, the year preceding the Hanoverian succession, and in 1717 he married Anna Morton or Myrtoun, daughter of Sir Andrew Myrtoun of Gogar and of Dame Jean Murray. Her daughter, it is stated, was 16,000 merks. The death of this lady is recorded to have taken place in 1769 in Gosford's Close, so that she survived her marriage more than fifty years, and the death of her husband (who died in 1730) nearly forty years. This is the Sir John Nisbet who has been reproached first for purchasing an addition to his family honours from his remote kinsman the Heraldist, and, more recently, for prompting the vitiation of the text of Nisbet's book.

It is somewhat curious that his father-in-law, Sir Andrew Myrtoun was concerned in a dubious heraldic transaction of a somewhat similar character. On being created a baronet in 1701, he changed the coat which he had registered in 1688, bearing three tortoises, to "argent, a chevron, sable, between three roundels, gules," with the self-complacent motto "Virtutis Praemium." Dissatisfied with this he entered into a bargain with his kinsman, Sir Robert Myrtoun or Myreton, son of Sir Patrick Myrtoun of Cambo, 'by which the Myretouns of that Ilk (whose family had fallen upon evil times), for "certain weighty considerations and motives," renounced, in favour of Sir Andrew of Gogar, their ancient coat of arms. The arms thus conveyed are, argent, three roundels, gules.[Footnote: Mr. G. U. Selway's "A Midlothian Village," Page 30] The Myrtoun of Gogar arms, as recorded in 1775, are, 'argent, a chevron sable between three pellets.'

A stone lying in the Dean rockery bears the initials 'A. M.' and the chevron, with three roundels — or pellets, or bezants, as the device has otherwise been described (Figure 17).

There need not be hesitation in assigning it to Anna Myrtoun, Sir John Nisbet's wife. It appears to have formed the base of a round-headed dormer, and Wilson and Grant have described it as surmounted by a sculptured group representing a judge seated in his throne of justice, holding in his hands the sword and scales, with a lamb in his arms which he is apparently defending from two lions, which ramp on either side. This curious piece of symbolism, or of sacred history, is no longer attached to its base or to be found at the Dean Cemetery, 63 Dean Path, Edinburgh EH4 3AT 55.95333, -3.22222. It has, however, been set into a place above a window in an upper story of the Dean Bridge Toll House, looking towards Bells Brae, and can be conveniently studied from the level of Lynedoch Place (Figure 18). See [2 Dean Path, Edinburgh EH3 7UA 55.9523735, -3.2140435]

Mr. Black states that the two parts of this memorial of the old Dean House were taken down from the terrace wall when a new monument was erected, and that while the late Mr. Stewart obtained leave to remove the pediment to the reconstructed toll house, the base, with its bold armorial carving, was thrown aside. The companion group in relief is still in position in the wall. It has been described as showing "a man armed with a thick pole with a hook at the end, by which he grasps it; a goat is running towards him, as if in the act of butting, while a bear seizes it by the waist with his teeth, and another is lying dead beyond" (Figure 19).

The episode is obviously that of David rescuing his father's lamb from the lion and the bear. The two groups, as suggested by the rescue of the lamb, may be intended to illustrate parallel and symbolic passages in the life of the Shepherd King. The scales on one of the panels are somewhat reminiscent of the crest and motto adopted by Sir John of Dirleton. In the other sculptured group the form and attitude of the lion are strangely frog-like, and the treatment is rude and archaic. The stone below is blank, and, as in the other case, its appearance suggests that it is of later date than the pediment to which it had been fitted.

Sir John Nisbet of the Dean died in [ERROR 1730 CORRECTION 1728], leaving his son Sir Henry Nisbet a minor under the guardianship of his brother Alexander, a merchant who afterwards settled at Charleston, South Carolina.

From British Newspaper Archive: Caledonian Mercury Thursday 28 March 1728 Page 4 Edinburgh

And on Monday 25 March 1728 died Sir John Nisbet of that Ilk, at his Seat of the Dean; much regretted.