Agnes, 1st wife of Sir Patrick Hepburn (d. ca. 1402): a conjecture

[The...@aol.com]

Wednesday, 12 October, 2005

Hello All,

In 2003, I had proposed a slight correction to the relationship given
in SP between Sir James de Lindsay and his wife Egidia Stewart [1]. No
further relevant documentation concerning this suggestion has been
found to date, but there is another conjectured relationship which this
proposal supports.

In discussing this and other matters with Andrew B. W. MacEwen, he
noted a conjecture of his own would identify Agnes, first wife of
Sir Patrick Hepburn of Hailes (d. aft 22 June 1402), as either the
daughter or granddaughter of Patrick, Earl of Dunbar (d. aft 25 Jul 1368)
and his wife Agnes Randolph [2]. By coincidence, my suggested solution
for the relationship of Sir James de Lindsay and Egidia Stewart supports
Andrew’s conjecture, if in fact Agnes (1st wife of Sir Patrick de
Hepburn) was a daughter of Earl Patrick and Agnes Randolph.

Sir Patrick de Hepburn was married (2ndly) ca. 1376 to Eleanora
Douglas, widow of (amongst others) Alexander Bruce, Earl of Carrick
(d. 1333) and thereafter known as the ‘Countess of Carrick’. For this
marriage, Sir Patrick and Countess Eleanor received a dispensation based
on affinity, as she and his first wife Agnes were related in the 4th
degree [3]. This relationship has hitherto been unresolved given Agnes’
lack of identified parentage, but Andrew MacEwen’s identification would
provide the following relationship (note: conjectured relationships
indicated _ _ _ _ _ ):

Alexander le Steward = Joanna [not Jean of Bute]
_______________________I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

I I

Sir John le Stewart = Margaret NN le Steward
of Bonkil, k. 1298 I de Bonkil I
I I
I I
Thomas Randolph = Isabel Sir Alexander = NN
E of Moray I le Stewart de Lindsay I______
I_______ I
I I
Patrick De Dunbar = Agnes Archibald Douglas = Beatrix
E of Dunbar I Randolph k. 1333 I Lindsay
I_ _ I
I I
(1) Agnes = Sir Patrick = (2) Eleanora
de Hepburn C of Carrick

The foregoing is clearly a composite of conjecture, and needful of
proof. Andrew agreed that the suggested identification of Agnes, and the
relationship as identified between Agnes and Countess Eleanora of
Carrick, could be presented to the list in the hope that one or more list
members might either note relevant documentation in hand or relationships
bearing on the above, or that additional findings of list members would
serve to either confirm or disprove these assertions. If validated, the
ancestry of the Lords Hepburn and their myriad descendants (the Earls of
Bothwell, Prince William, several list members and many more besides)
would be better defined.

To that end, any relevant comment, criticism or documentation will
certainly be appreciated.

Cheers,

John *

[1] SP III:11, citing Papal Letters, iii.225, states
' a papal dispensation for this marriage was granted at Avignon
3 Ides of April 1346, which describes the spouses as within the
third and fourth degree on the father's side, and in the fourth
degree on the mother's.' In my post to SGM of 11 June 2003 entitled
<SP Correction: Sir James de Lindsay and Egidia Stewart>, I stated
in part,

‘ The following more correctly illustrates their relationship
' within the third and fourth degree on the father's side ':

Alexander le Steward = Jean of Bute
_______________________I________________

I I

James le = Egidia (Giles) NN le Steward

Steward I de Burgh I

_________I I

I I

Walter the = 2) Isabel de NN = Sir Alexander
Stewart I Graham I de Lindsay

I ____________I

I I

I Sir David de = Maria

I Lindsay I Abernethy

I __________I

I I

Egidia Stewart = Sir James de Lindsay

The relationship, 'third and fourth degree on the father's side',

actually means in this case that, on their fathers' side the third

degree relationship is that of Egidia Stewart, and therefore the

fourth degree relationship is that of Sir James Lindsay, as shown

above. ‘

[2] Aside from the various issues concerning this Earl Patrick of Dunbar,
discussed on SGM in the past, Andrew MacEwen noted that the Earldom of
Dunbar (or March) was not a male fief, but was rather inheritable by a
direct heir. We know from the SP account for Dunbar that Earl Patrick
resigned the lands and Earldom of March in favor of his cousin
[elsewhere called nephew] George Dunbar, which was confirmed by charters
dated 25 July 1368 [SP III:270]. The resignation has the hallmarks of
transferring the lands and title of the Earldom to a male of the Dunbar
family, with the possible intent (and definite effect) of disinheriting
any direct heir of Earl Patrick. Amongst other evidence, Sir Patrick
Hepburn of Hailes had a notable place in the following of Earl Patrick,
including precedence before George Dunbar in witnessing charters of
the Earl [one such charter was

‘ the charter of Patrick V of Dunbar, Earl of March and Moray confirming
that the monks of Coldingham are to hold Ederham and Nesbit free from all
annual rent, as set out in the charter of Gospatric, Earl, brother of
Dolfin [Misc.Ch. 778] and relaxing his claim for 10/-, one pair of boots
and one skin garment.
Witnesses: Lord Patrick de Hepburn, Lord of Hales, George de Dunbar,
the Earl's cousin, Alexander de Ramsey, Alexander de Rykklynton,
constable of Dunbar, Robert Leche, steward, Richard de Ellam, & many
others.
Confirmed with the assent of Agnes the countess.
At his castle of Dunbar 24 May 1367. ' [Durham University Library
Archives & Special Collections: Misc. Charter 793. Printed: Raine ND
App. CXLII]

Andrew suggests that Agnes, the otherwise unidentified 1st wife of Sir
Patrick de Hepburn, was either the daughter or granddaughter of Earl
Patrick, and his direct heir, which would explain (prior to 1368) the
precedence of Sir Patrick de Hepburn before George Dunbar. Her
(conjectured) disinheritance in favor of George Dunbar would also explain
the hostility found thereafter between the Hepburns and the Earls of
March.

[3] 'Eleonora de Bruys, Comitissa de Carrick', dispensation to marry
Patrick Hepburn, she being related to his 1st wife Agnes in the 4th
degree, April 1376 - see SP, sub Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell; the text
of the dispensation is given in Andrew Stuart, Genealogical History
of the Stewarts, pp. 440-1.