William King

WILLIAM KING

William King is the son of David King of Warbuster. Diplomatarium Orcadense II: 29 His mother is Mary Stewart. On 28 May 1618 he is noticed in the witness list of a charter by which his father and mother confirm that they have given their two penny land of Grind to James Baikie, merchant in Kirkwall. William is identified therein as: "William King o[ur]r lawfull sonne". [Orkney Archives, reference D24/6/2]

William King is not mentioned by name in the Scots Peerage account of the King family, in view of which it might be suggested that he may be that unnamed son who is said by Sir James Balfour Paul to have been killed in Sweden. The Scots Peerage, iii, p. 590

William King was the brother of James, Lord Eythin. He predeceased his brother, and, consequently, he is not mentioned by name in his will, but he is probably one of the two deceased brothers who is referred to there. Speaking about his regrets, James Lord Eythin says this about Christina, Queen of Sweden: "I have not been so fortunate as to show any sumpton of gratitude to hir Sacred Maj. the Queen of Sweden for all hir M.'s gracious and royall favours showed me, yet in tocken of my desyres to have done Hir services I wish all that appertains to me may die in and for Hir Maj.'s services, not douthing of Hir M.'s gracious protection to my brother's childreing in respect I and twa of my Brethrein dyed in Hir M.'s service." The Last Will and Testament of James, Lord Eythin

The Last Will and Testament of James, Lord Eythin

1. First Page
2. Second Page
3. Third Page

Death

A date and place of death has not been identified for William King. However, he is said to have "died in the Swedish service" The Scots Peerage, iii, p. 590 and it seems possible, therefore, that he is one of the two brothers of Lord Eythin who are said by him, in his last will and testament dated 10 April 1651, to have died in the service of Christina, Queen of Sweden. The Last Will and Testament of Lord Eythin, Second Page

The Last Will and Testament of Lord Eythin

1. First Page
2. Second Page
3. Third Page

Evidence from the Orkney Archives

28 May 1618: Charter by whi ch David King of Warbuster and his wife Marie Stewart confirm that they have given to James Baikie, merchant in Kirkwall: "all and haill our twa penny land of Grind with howssis, biggings,, partis, pendicles, annexis, connexis and pertininentis belonging thairto, togidder with the towmell or quoyes of Grind adjacent thairto lyand in Tolhope within Sanctandrois parochin, Mayneland and Schirefdome of Orknay". The charter was issued at Warbuster in Hoy on 28 May 1618 and it was witnessed by: "Mr. Andro Dischingtoun, minister at Hoy, William King o[u]r Lawfull sone, and Johne Baikie, brother german to the said James Baikie, with certain utheris".The charter was signed by the following: "David King" "Mary Stewart" "A Dischingtoune" "Johne Baikie and "William King" [Orkney Archives, Kirkwall, reference D24/6/2]

Evidence from the Orkney Sasine Register

22 June 1618: At Kirkwall 22 June 1618 is registered a sasine dated 20 June 1618 given by John Diksone in Kirkwall on a charter by David King of Warbuster and Mary Stewart his spouse. The charter confirms that David King of Warbuster and Mary Stewart his wife have given the two penny land of grind, lying in Tolhoip in St. Andrews parish to James Baikie, merchant in Kirkwall, together with any right they may have there from Patrick, Earl of Orkney and Lord of Shetland, and Alexander Loutit.The charter was issued at Warbuster in Hoy on 28 May and the sasine was registered on 22 June 1618. Diplomatarium Orcadense et Hialtlandense etc., Vol. III., Orkney Sasines, 1617-1621 (Viking Society for Northern Research), sasine number 29 on pp. 24-5

Biographical and Genealogical Accounts

1. Sir James Balfour Paul, The Scots Peerage etc. Volume III (David Douglas, Edinburgh, 1906), pp. 588-94 for the family of King of Barra and pp. 591-93 for Lord Eythin
2. Th. A. Fischer, The Scots in Sweden (Otto Shulze, Edinburgh, 1907), 278 pp. including index