Ancestry of Archibald Thomson (1749-1819) of Scotland and Canada

[Michael Marston]

The abovementioned Archibald Thomson immigrated from Scotland to Canada in the 18th century and left many descendants, including the current Baron Thomson of Fleet.

There is a purported ancestry on WikiTree that connects Archibald to the Scottish aristocracy. The link would seem be via the Cranstoun family. One of the alleged connections that would go back into antiquity if true goes like this:

1. Francis STEWART, 5th Earl of Bothwell, born abt 1562, died about 1612
+ Margaret DOUGLAS, born abt 1553, died in 1640, daughter of David DOUGLAS, 7th Earl of Angus, and Margaret HAMILTON.
2. Elizabeth STEWART, born abt 1590
+ James CRANSTOUN, “Master of Cranstoun”, born abt 1585 in Crailing, Roxburgshire, Scotland, died February 8, 1634 in Edinburgh, son of William CRANSTOUN, 1st Lord Cranstoun, and Sarah CRANSTOUN
3. William CRANSTOUN, 3rd Lord Cranstoun, abt 1613 in Crailing, died aft July 29, 1664
+ Mary LESLIE, born in 1622, daughter of Alexander LESLIE, 1st Earl of Leven, and Anna RENTON
4. Margaret CRANSTOUN, born abt 1654 in Dumfries, Scotland, died April 19, 1685 in Allhallows, Cumberland, England
+ Sir Adam THOMSON, born March 14, 1652 in Langholm, Dumfries, Scotland, died on June 30, 1710 in Westerkirk, Dumfries, Scotland, son of Archibald THOMSON and Rosina GRAHAM
5. William THOMSON, born on March 4, 1680 in Langholm
+ Helen BEATTY, purported birthdate on WikiTree must be incorrect
6. Andrew THOMSON, born of February 5, 1713 in Nethernock, Westerkirk, Dumfries, Scotland, died on December 21, 1792 in Nethernock
+ Jannett SCOTT, born in 1717 in Westerkirk, died on February 2, 1803 in Nethernock
7. Archibald THOMSON, immigrant ancestor, born on May 7, 1749 in Westerkirk, died on January 22, 1819 in Scarborough, Canada
+ Elizabeth McKAY, born in 1762, died on April 22, 1817 in Scarborough, daughter of Hugh McKAY and Mary EMBLING

Archibald and Elizabeth (McKay) Thomson had many children and have descendants throughout Canada, the United States and elsewhere.

I am wondering if the purported ancestry of Archibald has any validity. Thank you for your time.

[Olivier]

Le mardi 26 septembre 2023 à 03:42:39 UTC+2, Michael Marston a écrit :
> The abovementioned Archibald Thomson immigrated from Scotland to Canada in the 18th century and left many descendants, including the current Baron Thomson of Fleet.
>
> There is a purported ancestry on WikiTree that connects Archibald to the Scottish aristocracy. The link would seem be via the Cranstoun family. One of the alleged connections that would go back into antiquity if true goes like this:
>
> 1. Francis STEWART, 5th Earl of Bothwell, born abt 1562, died about 1612
> + Margaret DOUGLAS, born abt 1553, died in 1640, daughter of David DOUGLAS, 7th Earl of Angus, and Margaret HAMILTON.

Edward IV, King of England 1442-1483
&1464 Elizabeth, Queen of England ca 1437-1492
|
Elizabeth Plantagenêt 1466-1503
&1486 Henry VII, King of England 1457-1509
|
Margaret Tudor 1489-1541
&1503 James IV, King of Scotland 1473-1513
|
James V, King of Scotland 1512-1542
& Elizabeth Carmichael †1531/
|
John Stewart, lord Darnley 1531-1563
&1562 Jean Hepburn †/1599
|
Francis Stewart, earl of Bothwell 1563-1613
&/1592 Margaret Douglas †1640
|
Elizabeth Stewart 1590
&1616 James Cranstoun †1616/
|
William, Lord Cranstoun †1664
& Mary Leslie 1622
|
Margaret Cranstoun 1654-1685

[Will Johnson]

What is the evidence that Mary Leslie was born exactly in 1622?

[Michael Marston]

I checked the Scots Peerage and The Melvilles, Earls of Melville, and the Leslie’s, Earls of Leven - the two sources for her on WikiTree and found no mention of a birthdate. My guess is that the contributors to her page extrapolated an age based on the date of her marriage contract to William Cranstoun (which is referenced in the Scots Peerage)… but I am not sure on that point. The sources really thin out when it comes to the Thomsons.

It would be interesting to take a look at “A backward look at the Forfolk of Lord Thomson” supposed to be written by William A. Porter in 1976. They cite that as a source for Archibald Thomson, the immigrant. It could be that this illustrious ancestry was drawn up to gratify a rich patron - namely the Lord Thomson of Fleet. Or it may be legit. I’m not sure at this point because I only just started to research this.

My descent from Archibald is via his daughter Elizabeth McKay Thomson (1787-1873). She is a 4th great-grandmother on my mother’s side.

[Will Johnson]

The problem with sites like Wikitree is that many profiles are written up or modified by people who *have no clue whatsoever what they are doing* :) So any and everything on there should be verified by credible sources.