Sir Thomas Henryson of Chesters

SIR THOMAS HENRYSON OF CHESTERS

Advocate in Edinburgh; Commissary of Edinburgh; Senator of the College of Justice, where he sat as Lord Chesters

Sir Thomas Henryson of Chesters, here treated, is the son of Master Edward Henryson, LL.D., Advocate in Edinburgh and his wife Helen Swinton Diary: 4

His Mother's Last Will and Testament

Helen Swinton died on 1 July 1580. She made her last will and testament three days earlier, on 29 June 1580, at Edinburgh in Midlothian, Scotland, probably at her house there. The witnesses present included her brother Thomas Swinton. Her widowed husband, Mr Edward Henryson, gave up the inventory of their goods and gear in name and behalf of their three children, viz. Mr William Henryson, Thomas Henryson and Elizabeth Henryson. In her last will and testament she nominated and appointed her husband and their three children, to be her only intromitters with her goods and gear. On 29 May 1574 confirmation was granted to Mr. Edward Henryson and his three children, including his daughter Elizabeth Henryson and her husband John Nicholsoun, for his interest. [National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Commissary Court, Testament Testamentar and Inventory of Helene Swyntoun, sometime spouse to Mr. Edward Henryson, advocate, and one of the commissers of Edinburgh. reference CC8/8/13]

1. Image of Testament
2. Image of Testament
3. Image of Testament
4. Image of Testament

His Last Will and Testament

Sir Thomas Henderson of Chesters died on 3 February 1638. He made his last will and testament on 27 December 1637, at Edinburgh in Midlothian, Scotland.

Confirmation was granted on 26 February 1642. [National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Commissary Court, The Testament Testamentar of Sir Thomas Hendersoune of Chesteris, Knight, Lord and Senator of the College of Justice, reference CC8/8/60]

Death

Sir Thomas Henryson of Chesters, here treated, died on 3 February 1638, probably at Edinburgh in Midlothian, Scotland. [NRS: CC8/8/60]

First Marriage

Sir Thomas Henryson of Chesters, here treated, married Margret Hay

Second Marriage

Sir Thomas Henryson of Chesters, here treated, married Rebecca Weir NRS: GD6/1820

Children

1. Sir Thomas Henryson of Chesters, here treated, is reported to have had a daughter named Elizabeth Henderson The name of her mother has not been identified. Stirnet: Elphinstone 04
2. Sir Thomas Henryson of Chesters, here treated, had a daughter named Anna Henryson The name of her mother has not been identified. RMS 1483

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

22 June 1598: Procuratory of resignation by Robert Swyntoun of that ilk in hands of the King as his superior, of the lordship and lands of Mekle Swyntoun and Little Swyntoun and others in the barony of Coldinghame, the kirklands of the kirk of Swyntoun, lying in the lordship of Swyntoun, the lands of Cranschawis, the lands of Thornieburn, Howbog and Doighous, all in the sheriffdom of Berwik, in favour of the said Robert Swyntoun and his heirs, whom failing to George Swyntoun, his brother german, George Swyntoun, his uncle, Johne Swyntoun, eldest son to deceased Mr David Swyntoun, parson of Cranschawis, George Swyntoun, his brother, Mark Swyntoun in Innerkething. Witnesses: MR. THOMAS HENRYSOUN, one of the commissaries of Edinburgh, Mr Wm Kellie and Alexander Swyntoun and James Chirnsyde, servants to the granter. Signed by Robert Swyntone of that ilk, J Henrysone and V Kellie. The seal of the granter is attached entire. On a chevron between three boars heads erased in a crescent. Legend: S Robert[I] Svinton de eodem'. Indorsed: at Halyrudhous, 25 Jun 1598. Witnessed by: Wm, earl of Angus; [James], earl of Glencarne; [John], lord Fleming; David Murrey; Wm Murrey, varlett and John Stewart Ischer. National Records of Scotland, Title deeds of the Swinton Family of Swinton, Berwickshire, reference GD12/159

                   2

2 April 1603:

RMS 1593-1608: charter number 1437

                   3

21 November 1607:

RMS 1609-20: charter number 771

                   4

26 January 1609:

RMS 1609-20: charter number 11

                   5

20 November 1609:

RMS charter number 436

                   6

1618-32: Discharges (6) by William, Earl of Tullibardine, and Sir Thomas Henryson of Chesters, on his behalf, to James Spittal of Leuchat of payments for the sustentation of Barbara Henderson, his spouse, during their non-reconciliation conform to GD172/1438. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Henderson Family of Fordell, reference GD172/1439

                   7

27 May 1619: Bond by Sir John Ker of Jedburgh, John Ker of Litildane, Mr William Ker of Milnerig, Gilbert Ker of Lochtour, Alexander Dick, writer, and George Gibsoun, bower burgess of Edinburgh, to Mr Thomas Henrysoun, advocate, one of the commissaries of Edinburgh, and Rebecca Weir, his spouse. [B of C & S 11 June 1621]. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Brooke Family of Biel, East Lothian, reference GD6/1820

                   8

27 June 1620:

RMS 1620-33: charter number 43

                   9

29 June 1621:

RMS 1620-33: charter number 225

                  10

5 July 1622: Assignation by Mr Thomas Henrysone of Chester, SCJ, and Marion Weir, his spouse, to the said John Ker of bond (no 1820). National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Brooke Family of Biel, East Lothian, reference GD6/1833

                  11

10 March 1623:

RMS 1620-33: charter number 432

                  12

25 October 1626:

RMS 1620-33: charter number 1007

                  13

1 December 1627:

RMS 1620-33: charter number 1833

                  14

24 June 1628: Discharge by Sir Thomas Henryson of Chester, kt, senator of College of Justice, and others on behalf of James Henryson, son of deceased Sir John Henryson of Fordell, in favour of John Henryson of Fordell of 1,000 merks as annualrent of 10,000 merks in obligation dated 9 March 1627. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Henderson Family of Fordell, reference GD172/283

                  15

12 July 1628:

RMS 1520-33: charter number 1287

                  16

31 July 1629:

RMS 1620-33: charter number 1483

                  17

11 October 1631:

RMS 1520-33: charter number 1655

                  18

4 July 1642: Anna Wemyss [relict of Mungo, 2nd Viscount Stormont,], Scone, to the laird of Grant. On bond by the laird of Glenmoriston, with her deceased husband and recipient's father as cautioners, to deceased Sir Thomas Henderson of Chesters. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Ogilvy family, Earls of Seafield (Seafield Papers), reference GD248/46/3

                  19

[ 1637 ]: T. Henryson [Henderson], Lord Chesters, to King Charles I, wishing to be allowed to resign from his post of advocate depute because of his "great aage and last seiknes." National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Douglas Hamilton Family, Dukes of Hamilton and Brandon, reference GD406/1/1997

Monumental Inscription

" Sanctae et individual Trinitati solas, honor et gloria in seternum. Amen. D. Thomas Henryson a Chesters eques. Mors unius vita omnium. Beati qui moriuntur in domino. Christus in vita et morte lucrum. Jugum jugo valide excussum. Felicissimse memorite clarissimorum virorum, ingenuorum adolescentium, innoxiorum, infantium, lectissimanim, fcemmarum sanctissimarum matronarum, hie sparsim recubantium, gloriosum servatoris Domini nostri Jesu Christi adventum expectantium, et generalem universse carnis restirrectionem in Domino opperientium, Dominus Thomas Henrysonus, Eques, senator, vi. Calend Octobres posuit mcestissimus: anno Christi ciciccxxxvi." Monuments and Monumental Inscriptions in Scotland. Volume I: p. 24

Genealogy

1. An Historical Account of the Senators of the College of Justice : from its institution in MDXXXII: 265
2. The Diary of Sir Archibald Johnston, Lord Wariston 1639. etc. (Scottish History Society, Edinburgh, 1896), note 6 on page 4
3. Stirnet: Elphinstone 04

Biographical Summary

Sir Thomas Henderson, of Chesters. Son of Dr Edward Henryson also a senator. He was one of the commissaries of Edinburgh prior to 1600, and acted as advocate depute in 1606, in certain processes of forfeiture before the Parliament. He was knighted and admitted an Ordinary Lord on the 6th June 1622, in place of Sir Lewis Craig of Wrightslands. This promotion was the reward of his services to the Episcopalian cause, and was gratefully acknowledged by Spotswood, the primate, in a letter which is subjoined. In 1633 he was appointed one of the Commissioners for revising the laws and collecting local customs. He resigned his seat in the beginning of 1637, and obtained a letter from the king, dated the 2d February that year, whereby his Majesty, upon the narrative that the Ordinary Senators of our College of Justice who had worthily behaved themselves in that charge, and thereafter by age and infirmity finding themselves unable to discharge that service any longer, demitted the same in the hands of our royal predecessors, were still allowed to enjoy the privileges of the house during their lifetime, ordered that Sir Thomas should retain and enjoy during his life, the title and privileges due to his place. His possession of these was however short, as he died on the 3d February 1638. An Historical Account of the Senators of the College of Justice: From Its Institution in MDXXXII, By George Brunton (David Haig, 1832), page 265