Sir William Montgomery

William Montgomery, 1st Baronet Montgomery (1717-1788) was born on November 19, 1717 the son of William Montgomery of Magbiehill and Barbara Montgomery.

He died on December 26, 17880

On 01.07.1750 He married Hannah Tomkyns, daughter of Alexander Tomkyns of Prehen.

He and Hannah Tomkyns had the following children:

• Anne Townshend
• Elizabeth Gardiner
• William Stone Montgomery
• Barbara Beresford

On 09.01.1762 He married Anne (d 19.06.1777, daughter of Henry Watt of Evatt of Mount Louise.

He and Ann Watt of Evitt had the following children:

• George Montgomery, 2nd Baronet Montgomery
• Robert Montgomery
• Jane Reynell
• Amelia Montgomery
• Harriet Byng

Ref: StirNet

Montgomery was, like his father, skilled in farming, and in 1763 bought a half-reclaimed estate of Lord Islay's in Peeblesshire, originally called Blair Bog, but afterwards 'The Whim,' which eventually became his favourite residence. In 1767, he bought for £40,000 Stanhope and Stobo in Peeblesshire, part of the estates of Sir David Murray, which had been confiscated for their owner's complicity in the rebellion of 1745.

He thenceforward chiefly resided in the country, where his good methods of farming and the improvements which he promoted, notably the Peebles and Edinburgh road in 1770, gained for him the title of 'The Father of the County.

Ref: Wikipedia