William Kerr of Ancram

WILLIAM KERR OF ANCRUM AND WOODHEID

William Kerr of Ancram and Woddheid, here treated, is not the same person as William Kerr He is his half brother.

William Kerr of Ancrum and Woodheid, here treated is the son and heir of Robert Kerr of Woodheid NRS: RH1/5/6 His mother is Isabel Home National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Earls of Airlie, reference GD16/41/69

Death

William Kerr of Ancrum and Woodheid, here treated, died on 20 December 1590. NRS: GD40/2/11/55 According to the Scots Peerage: "He was assassinated, by night, in Edinburgh, by Sir Robert Ker, younger of Cessford, afterwards first Earl of Roxburghe, for what cause is not apparent except the long jealousy between the houses of Cessford and Ferniehirst. The Scots Peerage V: 462

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

30 November 1576: Componitour for remission to Thomas Ker of Caveris dwelling in sheriffdom of Roxburgh for resetting of William Ker, son and apparent heir of Robert Ker of Ancrum Wodheid, and other rebels guilty of crimes of slaughter, etc against inhabitants of the burgh of Jedburgh in time of the latest troubles. [Componitour for remission to Thomas Ker of Caveris dwelling in sheriffdom of Roxburgh for resetting of William Ker, son and apparent heir of Robert Ker of Ancrum Wodheid, and other rebels guilty of crimes of slaughter, etc against inhabitants of the burgh of Jedburgh in time of the latest troubles. NRS: RH1/5/6

                   2

16 July 1588: Extract from the sheriff court books of Roxburgh of letters of four forms at the instance of Sir John Maitland of Thirlestane, kt., chancellor and commendator of Kelso, against John Ker, called of Brumlandis, pretended tenant of the lands called the Brumlandis and an onsett in Kelso, James Turner, William Ker of Ancrum and Isobel Home, his mother, pretended tenants of the 8 merkland of Redden, James Ker in Kelso, brother to the laird of Greinheid, pretended occupier of an onsett in Kelso and 2 yards called the Monkis yards and Walter Oppringle in Kelso and Helen Pott, his spouse, pretended tenants of 2 merklands in Kelso. With executions following thereon. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Earls of Airlie, reference GD16/41/69

                   3

20 December 1590: Gift to William Ker, second lawful son of the late William Ker of Ancrum of the escheat of Sir Robert Ker, younger of Cesfurde, and Mungo Bennet of Chesteris, for art and part of the murder of the above William Ker of Ancrum in December. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Kerr Family, Marquises of Lothian (Lothian Muniments), reference GD40/2/11/55

                   4

13 March 1592-93: Discharge by Andrew, Commendator of Jedburgh, to Margaret Dundas, widow of William Ker of Ancrum, and George Douglas, fiar of Morintown, now her spouse, for £20, to be allowed in part payment of the feu-duties of Over Ancrum. [https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue/details.aspx...

                   5

10 July 1596: Charter by Andrew Ker of Phairniherst to Helen Grymslaw, Lady of Newtoun, widow of Robert Ker, brother german of deceased William Ker of Ancrum, of an annualrent of 20 bolls of oatmeal from the lordship and barony of Oxname. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Kerr Family, Marquises of Lothian (Lothian Muniments), reference GD40/1/315

Genealogy

Stirnet: Ker 02