Sir Thomas Nicolson of Carnock, Baronet

SIR THOMAS NICOLSON OF CARNOCK

Sir Thomas Nicolson of Carnock, here treated, is not the same person as Master Thomas Nicolson of Cockburnspath although they were probably members of the same family, For example, Master Thomas Nicolson of Cockburnspath acted as tutor to Sir Thomas Nicolson of Carnock, here treated, following the death of Carnock's father in 1605

The Ancestry of Sir Thomas Nicolson of Carnock

Helen Swinton married Master Edward Henryson. In her last will and testament dated 29 June 1580, she nominated and appointed her husband Edward and their three children to be the only intromitters with her goods and gear. On 29 May 1584 confirmation was granted to Helen's husband and their three children, who are identified in her will as William Henryson, Thomas Henryson, and Elizabeth Henryson. The name of Elizabeth's husband John Nicolson was included for his interest. [NRS: CC8/8/13] Elizabeth’s husband John was Master John Nicolson of Lasswade, who died intestate on 2 January 1605. Elizabeth and her eldest sons, Mr James Nicolson and Thomas Nicolson, gave up his testament dative and inventory in name and behalf of her youngest son Robert Nicolson. [NRS: CC8/8/40] Elizabeth’s son Thomas is the Master Thomas Nicolson who, with the consent of his curator Mr. Thomas Nicolson, Commissary of Aberdeen, acting in his own name and in name and behalf of his brothers, Mr James Nicolson and Robert Nicolson, gave a receipt to Gilbert Menzies of Petfoddels for £36 that he had owed to Thomas's deceased father John Nicolson of Lasswade. [NRS: GD237/11/147] Mr. Thomas Nicolson, Commissary of Aberdeen, is the same person as Mr. Thomas Nicholson of Cockburnspath. [NRS: GD39/1/212] It follows, therefore, that Elizabeth Henryson’s son Thomas is the same person as Sir Thomas Nicolson of Carnock.

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

The testament dative and inventory of the deceased John Nicholson of Lasswade was given up by Elizabeth Henryson his "relict spous" and Mr. James Nicolson and Thomas Nicolson his "lawll sones" in name and behalf of Robert Nicolson their lawful brother. Mr James Nicolson and his brothers Thomas and Robert were recognised as executors dative to their deceased father by the Commissary Court of Edinburgh and confirmation was granted to them on 10 June 1605. [National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Commissary Court, The Testament Dative and Inventory of Johnne Nicolsoun of Lasswade, reference CC8/8/40]

1. Image of Testament
2. Image of Testament
3. Image of Testament
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5. Image of Testament

                   2

2 August 1604 [1605]: Discharge by Mr Thomas Nicolsone, son of deceased Mr John Nicolsone of Laswaid, advocate, one of commissars of Edinburgh, with consent of Mr Thomas Nicolsone, commissar of Aberdeen, granter's curator, in name and behalf of Mr James Nicolsone and Robert Nicolsone, sons of said John, and curators to said Mr James and Robert, to Gilbert Menzies of Petfoddels, of £36 scots as price of a barrell of salmon owed by said Gilbert to said Mr John, as pension for the year 1604. National Records of Scotland, Menzies of Pitfoddels, reference GD237/11/147

                   3

17 April 1645: Contemporary Copy of Extract of Contract between George, Lord Frroster (Forrester) of Corstorphine, and SIR THOMAS NICOLSOUNE OF CARNOCK, KNIGHT BARONET, heritable proprietor of the lands and barony of Plaine and superior of the lands aftermentioned, whereby the latter confirms the following writs viz:- (1) Disposition by Sir William Ros of Muristoune knight, (who had right from Dame Margaret Frroster, his spouse) in favour of Lord Forrester of 2/7 parts of the lands of Carbrock and 2/7 parts of the lands of Carincaber, in the sheriffdom of Striviling, (2) Disposition by Patrick Fleming of Balloche to said Dame Margaret Frroster and Marie Frroster, her sister, daughters of Sir James Frroster of Torwoodheid, knight, (3) Mutual Bond of Disposition between the said two sisters providing that the survivor should inherit the property (4) Decreet of Adjudication obtained by the said Dame Margaret Frroster against umquhile Alexander Frroster, her brother, lawfully charged to enter heir to the said Marie Forrester, (5) Assignation by the said Patrick Fleming of Balloche to the said two sisters of a bond granted by their said brother to him, obliging himself to dispone said lands to Fleming, (6) Decreet obtained by the said two sisters for fulfilling said bond, (7) Contract (dated [ ] 1630)(1613 is afterwards given as date of contract.) between Sir Johne Morray of Touchaddame, knight, and the said Alexander Frroster (8) Decreet of the Lords of Council and Session obtained in March 1635 by the said Dame Margaret Frroster against Sir William Murray, son and heir of Patrick Murray of Touchaddame, who was decerned to infeft her in said lands: to which lands Jas. Edmistoune of Newtoune who had comprised the same from Sir John Murray had acquired right from/Sir James Frroster of Gardane, knight, who was infeft therein as heir to his father Alexander Froster of Gardane, who was infeft therein in 1590 (1690 inserted per incuriam.) by David Somervell of Plane. Further, he of new grants to Lord Forrester the said lands together with all rights competent to him (the granter) or to the said David Somervell of Plane, Alexander Somervaill of Plaine, his son, or James Somervell of Plaine, son of the said Alexander therein, through the decease of the said Sir James Frroster and binds himself to infeft him therein for payment of 40 shillings Scots of feu-farm and the other duties specified in the charter (dated 28th December 1590) granted by David Somervaill of Plaine to Alexander Frroster of Gardan: With precept of sasine. At Edinburgh 17 April 1645. National Records of Scotland, Sir William Fraser Charters, reference GD86/577

                   4

8 July 1647: Decreet of registration before the Lords of Session at the instance of ELIZABETH NICOLSON, eldest lawful daughter of deceased SIR THOMAS NICOLSON OF CARNOCK against Sir James Rollo of Duncrub, for registering a bond granted by James, Earl of Montrose as principal and the said Sir James Rollo as cautioner, in favour of the said Sir Thomas Nicolson for 3000 merks dated at Edinburgh and Duncrub, 30 Aug and 6 Sep 1638; and for registering an assignation of the said bond (written on the reverse thereof) by SIR THOMAS in favour of ELIZABETH, his daughter, dated at Edinburgh 13 Jan 1644. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Graham Family, Dukes of Montrose (Montrose Muniments), reference GD220/1/B/8/6/1

SIR THOMAS NICOLSON OF CARNOCK

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

2 August 1604: Discharge by Mr Thomas Nicolsone, son of deceased Mr John Nicolsone of Laswaid, advocate, one of commissars of Edinburgh, with consent of Mr Thomas Nicolsone, commissar of Aberdeen, granter's curator, in name and behalf of Mr James Nicolsone and Robert Nicolsone, sons of said John, and curators to said Mr James and Robert, to Gilbert Menzies of Petfoddels, of £36 scots as price of a barrell of salmon owed by said Gilbert to said Mr John, as pension for the year 1604. National Records of Scotland, Menzies of Pitfoddels, reference GD237/11/147