Parentage of Elizabeth Stewart, wife of Sir George Campbell of Loudoun
The...@aol.com
Hello (and a Happy Thanksgiving) to All,
In a prior thread, I suggested the possibility that Elizabeth
Stewart, wife of Sir George Campbell of Loudoun (d. bef 9 Mar 1491)
may have been of the family of the Lords of Lorn [1]. In
re-examining the chronology and onomastics of various Stewart
families and of the Campbells of Loudoun, it subsequently appeared
more likely that Elizabeth Stewart belonged to the family of the
Stewarts of Darnley. The name Elizabeth came into that family with
Elizabeth of Lennox, wife of Sir John Stewart of Darnley (d. 1429).
Further, Galston (one of the major holdings of the Stewarts of
Darnley) is bordered on the north by Loudoun, so that a familial
relationship would not be surprising. The chronology would make
Elizabeth potentially a child born late in the marriage of John
Stewart of Darnley and Elizabeth of Lennox.
I discussed both of these theories with Andrew B. W. MacEwen,
who immediately discounted any possibility of the Lorn relationship.
However, he indicated that his notes reflect Elizabeth as
(tentatively) the daughter of Sir Alan Stewart of Darnley (son of
Sir John mentioned above) by his wife Catherine Seton. Mr. MacEwen
has since forwarded several extracts (see below) concerning the
Stewarts of Darnley and the Campbells of Loudoun, noting:
' As I mentioned, there seems to be a good possibility
that Elizabeth Stewart, wife of Sir George Campbell of
Loudoun, was a daughter of Alan Stewart of Darnley and
his wife Catherine Seton. I am enclosing a few notes
on Sir George which show him in association with John,
Earl of Lennox - his presumed brother-in-law, on
several occasions. So far, I have found no conclusive
proof, but it may exist. '
Significantly, the tenure of one of the holdings of the
Campbells of Loudoun (discussed in the previous thread), the lands
of Raith, can be traced to Sir George Campbell (husband of
Elizabeth Stewart) but no earlier. Raithhill has been located in
the parish of Coylton, co. Ayr. Also located in the same parish
is Loch Martnaham [2], the location of a manor house where George
Campbell resided prior to his succeeding to his father's lands at
Loudoun [3]. The possibility exists that the lands of Martnaham
(and perhaps also Raithhill) came to George Campbell with his
marriage to Elizabeth Stewart.
Any comment, criticism or added documentation concerning this
alleged connection would be most appreciated. In particular, other
evidence concerning Martnaham or Raithhill would be especially
significant.
Cheers,
John *
_________________________________
Documentation re: Campbell of Loudoun and Stewart of Darnley
(courtesy Andrew B. W. MacEwen):
1466, March 29. " It is represented for the part of George Campbell
of Martnaham [Martinharme], layman, and Elizabeth Stewart,
laywoman, spouses, d. Glas., that they, not ignorant that they were
related in third and fourth degree of consanguinity, and that the
father of Elizabeth had baptised [sic] George at the font,
contracted matrimony per verba de presenti and, without any
preceeding banns, solemnised it in the face of the church,
consummated the same and had offspring. But the said spouses are
not able to remain in matrimony without the dispensation of the
apostolic see, and if they should divorce, strife and scandals
would break out. It is therefore supplicated that the Pope
absolve them from excommunication on account of the foregoing,
and give mandate to dispense them to remain in matrimony and
to contract it anew, decreeing offspring born and to be born
legitimate.
Concessum. Rome, St. Mark's. Dispensatio 593.81. (James
Kirk, Roland J. Tanner & the late Annie I. Dunlop, eds.,
Calendar of Scottish Supplications to Rome, Volume V, 1447-1471
Glasgow, p. 332, no. 1114).
1466, May 7. From GEORGE CAMBEL AND YSABETA his wife, Glasgow
diocese, by their own hands, as composition for dispensation
of matrimony in third and fourth degrees of consanguinity.
fl. xij. (Annie I. Cameron, The Apostolic Camera and Scottish
Benefices, 1418-1488, Oxford University Press, 1934, p. 284).
1472, June 1. Torbolton. Bond of reversion by Robert of
Crechtoun of Kynnowle, son and apperand heir to Schir Robert
of Crechtoun of the Sangquhar, knycht, in favor of JHone Lord
Dernlee, "befor thir wytnes, Schir George Campbell, yungar,
schirafe of Are, knycht,: and others. (William Fraser, The
Lennox, ii. 83, no. 58)
1473, Oct. 12. "Acta sunt hec apud Ballach, in quadam curia
ibidem per dictum comitem tenta (viz., Johannes comes de
Leuenax et dominus Dernle), presentibus, nobilibus
honorabilibusque viris, Roberto domino Lile, dominis Georgeo
Cambell de Lovdone Roberto Sympill de Elyotistoun, Johanne
Houstone de eodem Villelmo Striuelynge de Cadar, Alano
Lokert de Le, militibus, Leone Herhaldo (& ors., named).
(The Lennox, ii. 102, no. 68).
1477, July 13. "Geo. Campbell de Mertname vicecomite de Are..
milit(e)." (RMS, 2:378, no. 1786).
_______________________________
NOTES to thread
[1] J. Ravilious, <Re: Parentage of Elizabeth Stewart, wife of Sir
George Campbell of Loudoun>, SGM, 5 June 2004.
[2] One variant spelling. Other forms noted: Martinham, Martinhaim,
Martnam, Mertname, Martinharme.
[3] See text of dispensation, 1466, above. The Gazetteer of Scotland
(II:329) says under "MARTINHAM (Loch)":
' On the bosom of the lake is an islet so completely wooded,
as to look like a basket of foliage; amidst its woods are
the ruins of an ancient manor-house, 100 feet long, and
30 feet wide; and both the ruined walls and the trees
which surround them are thickly overrun with ivy. '
* John P. Ravilious