Graham of Montrose: a Keith/Barclay Connection
The...@aol.com
Hello All,
The SP account for the Grahams of Montrose, as discussed
recently, is notable (as are many) for the number of spouses either
unnamed or with unidentified parentage. Sir Patrick Graham (d. aft
6 May 1400) married 1stly Matilda, parentage unknown, and 2ndly
Egidia Stewart (parentage known). His eldest son and heir (by
Matilda), Sir William Graham (d. 1424), had a known 2nd wife
(Mary/Mariota Stewart, daughter of King Robert III) and an alleged
earlier wife of the Oliphant family (deemed erroneous), but
certainly had an early 1st wife whose name and family to date have
escaped notice [1].
A relationship with the Keiths, Marischals of Scotland, has come
to notice which serves to identify one of the two unidentified
Graham ancestresses as belonging to the Keith family. The dispensa-
tion for the marriage of Elizabeth Graham to Walter Stewart, earl of
Caithness, dated at Marseilles, 1 Aug 1404, is given in McGurk:
' Reg Vat 326, 220-220v
To Walter, earl of Caithness, and Elizabeth, daughter of
Sir William Graham, Dunblane diocese. Indult is granted
dispensing Walter to marry Elizabeth notwithstanding their
being related in the third degree of affinity in that Walter
had been married to the late Margaret who was related to
Elizabeth in the third degree of consanguinity, and also
because the late Robert de Keyth, kinsman of Walter, had wished
to marry Elizabeth but had been unable to do so as they did not
have a dispensation. On the consummation of the marriage
between Walter and Elizabeth they are held to pay 10 merks
sterling to the fabric fund of the church of the Friars Minor
of Dunfres, Glasgow diocese.
St. Victors, Marseilles, Kal. Aug., anno 10.
SRO, Vat. Trans., iv, no. 74. ' [2]
This marriage evidently never took place, as a dispensation was
recorded 3 1/2 years later for Elizabeth Graham to marry Walter’s
half-brother, Sir John Stewart of Dundonald [3]. Fortunately, the
ancestry of Margaret Barclay, 1st wife of Walter Stewart, and of
Robert de Keith are well known, and point clearly to Sir Edward de
Keith (d. 1340) and Isabella de Synton as the common ancestors of
Margaret Barclay, Robert de Keith and Elizabeth de Graham [4].
Two good possibilities present themselves:
1. Matilda, wife of Sir Patrick Graham, was a sister of Sir
Edward Keith (the ’younger’) and his siblings; or
2. The unnamed wife of Sir William Graham, and mother of
Elizabeth Graham, was a daughter of a sibling of Sir
Edward Keith (the ‘younger’). This appears most likely:
she was probably a daughter of Alexander Barclay of
Mathers (d. bef 1352) by Katherine de Keith, sister of
Sir Edward et al.
The second description above appears most likely, given the
introduction of the names Alexander and Katherine into the Grahams
of Montrose at this generation (Sir William Graham’s son and heir
by his alleged Barclay wife was Alexander Graham, who dvp before 8
Jan 1422 and was the father of Patrick, the first Lord Graham).
I would hazard that she was likely named Katherine Barclay, but
this appears likely again only based on the infusion of the name
'Katherine' amongst her Graham issue.
The following chart reflects the relationships as now
conjectured:
[NOTE: the following includes a certain conjectured
relationship, denoted thus: _ _ _ _ _ _. Additional
direct evidence is presently being sought.]
Sir Edward de Keith = Isabella de Synton
‘the elder’ d. 1340 I
________________________________I___________
I I I
Sir Edward Katherine = Alexander Sir William = Margaret
de Keith de Keith I Barclay de Keith I Fraser
‘the younger’ I I
= Christian I I
de Menteith _ _ _ _I I
I I I
I I I
Janet NN = SIR WILLIAM I
= 1) Sir Barclay I GRAHAM I
David ?? I ______I________
Barclay I I I
I ________________________ _________________ I
I I . I I . I I
I I I I I I I I
MARGARET = WALTER * ELIZA- = SIR ROBERT = MURIEL Jean = John
BARCLAY I STEWART BETH JOHN D of I KEITH I
I E of GRAHAM STEWART ALBANY I I
I Caithness of I I
I Dundonald I I
V V ROBERT
KEITH
d. bef 1
Aug 1404
The above chart shows Margaret Barclay and Elizabeth Graham as
being related in the 3rd and 3rd degree, as stated in the 1404
dispensation. Further, the relationship of Robert Keith (called
‘kinsman’ of Walter Stewart and his half brother Sir John Stewart
in the dispensations of 1404 and 1407) is defined as their nephew,
and - not defined in the dispensations other than as ‘kinsman’ of
Elizabeth Graham - as 2nd cousin, or 3rd degree of consanguinity,
to Elizabeth Graham.
Should anyone have additional documentation, comment or
criticism, please do chime in.
Cheers,
John *
NOTES
[1] SP VI:215-7.
[2] McGurk, ed., Calendar of Papal Letters of Benedict XIII of
Avignon (1394-1419), p. 122.
[3] dispensation dated at Porto Venere (Genoa), 3 Feb 1407/8
[CPL 1394-1419, p. 170]:
' Reg Aven 330, 436v
To the bishop of Dunkeld. Mandate to dispense the
nobleman, John Stewart of Dundonald, doncel, to marry the
noblewoman, Elizabeth, daughter of the nobleman Sir William
de Gram, Glasgow and Dunblane dioceses, since an impediment
exists in that the late Robert de Delkeyth [Keith], kinsman
of John and the said Elizabeth, had contracted marriage per
verba de futuro, although they had not carnally known each
other.
Porto Venere, Genoa diocese, 3 Non. Feb., anno 14.
SRO, Vat. Trans., iv., no. 80 '
[4] Robert de Keith (d. bef 1 Aug 1404) was the son of Sir John
de Keith by Jean Stewart (m. 2ndly Sir John Lyon), daughter of
Robert II, King of Scots and Elizabeth Mure. Sir John de
Keith (dvp bef 27 Dec 1375), a younger son of Sir William de
Keith and Margaret Fraser, was a first cousin of Janet Keith,
mother of Margaret Barclay.
A short AT for Margaret Barclay shows as follows:
1. Margaret Barclay, m. (as first wife) Walter Stewart of
Caithness
2. Sir David Barclay, d. bef 8 Sept 1368
3. Janet Keith
4. Sir David Barclay, murdered 25 Jan 1350/1.
5. Margaret de Brechin
6. Sir Edward de Keith, of Sinton, probably d.v.p.
7. Christian de Menteith, heiress (in her issue) of Menteith
8. NN de Barclay
9. NN
10. Sir David de Brechin, ex. Aug 1320
11. Margaret de Bonkil
12. Sir Edward de Keith (d. 1340)
13. Isabella de Synton
14. Sir John de Menteith of Knapdale and Arran (d. bef 1344)
15. Elen of Mar, dau. of Earl Gratney of Mar and Christian Bruce
Given the ancestry of Margaret Barclay and Robert de Keith
is mutual only by common descent from Sir Edward de Keith
and Isabella de Synton, this is clearly the mutual link with
Elizabeth de Graham.
* John P. Ravilious
WJho...@aol.com
<< Sir Edward de Keith = Isabella de Synton
‘the elder’ d. 1340>>
This is not the one who died at the Battle of Neville's Cross 17 Oct 1346 ?
Will Johnson
John P. Ravilious
I have not myself attempted the solution re: the two Sir Edwards
(de Keith), but I believe the elder Sir Edward succeeded his brother
Sir Robert, and was the one who fell in battle in 1346. His eldest
son, Sir Edward, I believe d.v.p. in 1340, so that his brother Sir
William succeeded their father as Marischal of Scotland.
Andrew MacEwen is the one who found that SP had conflated two
Edward Keiths into one. Following are the Keiths as I currently have
them, at least from Sir William (son of Marjory, or Margaret, Comyn)
down to the children (and grandchildren) of Sir Edward de Keith.
Hope this is helpful.
Cheers,
John
1 Sir William de Keith
----------------------------------------
Death: bef 1293[1]
Father: Sir John de Keith (-~1270)
Mother: Marjory [or Margaret] Comyn
Marischal of Scotland
cf. SP VI:29-30[1]
Children: Sir Robert (-ca1345)
Sir Edward (-1340)
1.1 Sir Robert de Keith
----------------------------------------
Death: ca 1345, d.s.p.[2]
Occ: Marischal of Scotland
Marischal of Scotland
led resistance to English invasion of July/August 1300 (the
Caerlaverock campaign);
captured by English forces in Galloway, Aug 1300
supporter of King Robert the Bruce - attended the Scots Parliament at
St. Andrews, March 1308/9 (Barrow p. 265)[2]
received lands in Aden and elsewhere in Buchan following forfeiture of
the Comyn earldom (Barrow, pp. 384-5)[2]
1.2 Sir Edward de Keith
----------------------------------------
received lands in Methlick, Monquhitter, New Deer, Ellon, Longside
and Foveran, Buchan following the forfeiture of the Comyn earldom
(Barrow, pp. 384-5)[2]
probably the Edward de Keith who d. in battle at Neville's Cross, 1346
Spouse: Isabella de Synton
Father: Alexander de Synton
Children: Sir Edward
Sir William (->1407)
John
Andrew
Katherine
1.2.1 Sir Edward de Keith
----------------------------------------
of Sinton
probably d.v.p. in 1340
(conflated in most accounts with his father, who is thereby assigned
two marriages)
Spouse: Christian de Menteith
Death: abt 1386
Father: Sir John de Menteith (-<1344)
Mother: Elen of Mar, heiress [in her issue] of Earldom of Mar
Children: Janet (-1413)
1.2.1.1a Janet Keith*
----------------------------------------
Death: 1413[3]
heiress (in her issue) of Earldom of Mar
she m. 1stly Sir David Barclay,
2ndly (as 2nd wife) Thomas Erskine[1],[4]
Spouse: Sir David Barclay, of Brechin
Death: bef 8 Sep 1368[1]
Father: Sir David Barclay (-1350)
Mother: Margaret of Brechin
Children: Margaret (-<1404), m. Walter Stewart, Earl of
Caithness
1.2.1.1b Janet Keith* (See above)
----------------------------------------
Spouse: Sir Thomas Erskine
Death: 1403[1]
Father: Sir Robert de Erskine (-1385)
Mother: Beatrix de Lindsay (-<1355)
Marr: bef 13 Apr 1370[3]
Children: Christian (-<1396), m. Sir James de Valoins
Robert (-<1452), 1st Lord Erskine
Elizabeth, m. Duncan Wemyss
1.2.2 Sir William Keith
----------------------------------------
Death: aft 13 May 1407[5]
Occ: Marischal of Scotland
Marischal of Scotland
record of an indult, dated at Fondi, 4 Jan 1378/9:
' Reg Aven 220, 500
To William de Kethe, marshal of Scotland, and Margaret his wife,
Aberdeen diocese. Indult for a plenary remission of their sins to be
granted at the hour of death by a confessor of their own choice.
Fondi, 2 Non. Jan., anno 1. ' [CPL 1378-1394, p. 20[6]]
Spouse: Margaret Fraser
Death: aft 4 Jan 1378[6]
Father: John Fraser
Children: Margaret
Muriel (->1414)
Elizabeth
Sir John (-<1375)
Robert
1.2.2.1 Margaret Keith
----------------------------------------
defended her castle of Fyvie in the Garioch against her nephew Robert
Keith, 1395 (her husband Sir James defeated Robert Keith in battle at
Bourtrie)[7]
cf. Boardman, p. 199[7]
Spouse: Sir James Lindsay of Crawford,
Death: bef 6 Mar 1395[7],[1]
Father: Sir James de Lindsay (-<1358)
Mother: Egidia Stewart
Children: Euphemia
Margaret (-1411)
1.2.2.2 Muriel Keith
----------------------------------------
Death: aft 1 Feb 1414[8]
faculty to dispense her marriage to Reginald de Cheyne, dated at
Fondi, 14 Jan 1378/9:
' Reg Aven 215, 50
To the bishop of Moray. Faculty to dispense Reginald Cheyn, donzel,
and Murielle, damselle, daughter of Sir William de Keth, of Moray and
Aberdeen dioceses, from the impediment to marriage arising from the
third and fourth degrees of consanguinity.
Fondi, 19 Kal. Feb., anno 1.
SRO Vat. Trans., iv, no. 46. ' [CPL 1378-1394, p. 21[6]]
her marriage to Reginald le Cheyne likely never took place.
she m. (1stly or 2ndly, as 2nd wife) Robert Stewart, duke of Albany
Spouse: Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany
Birth: 1339
Death: 2 Sep 1420[3]
Father: Robert II, King of Scots (1315-1390)
Mother: Elizabeth Mure (-<1355)
Children: Marjory (-<1422), m. Duncan Campbell, Lord Campbell
Elizabeth, m. Malcolm Fleming
Isabel, m. 1) Alexander Leslie, Earl of Ross
2) Walter Haliburton
1.2.2.3 Elizabeth Keith[1]
----------------------------------------
4th daughter [1]
Spouse: Sir Adam Gordon
Death: 14 Sep 1402, Battle of Homildon[1]
Father: John Gordon (-<1361)
Mother: Elizabeth
Children: Elizabeth (-1438), m. Alexander Seton (of Gordon)
John (-<1408)
1.2.2.4 Sir John Keith
----------------------------------------
Death: bef 27 Dec 1375, d.v.p.
1st husband of Jean Stewart (she m. 2ndly Sir John Lyon,
3rdly Sir James Sandilands)
Spouse: Jean Stewart
Father: Robert II, King of Scots (1315-1390)
Mother: Elizabeth Mure (-<1355)
Children: Robert (-<1404)
1.2.2.4.1 Robert Keith
----------------------------------------
Death: bef 1 Aug 1404[8]
evidently sought to marry Elizabeth Graham before his death:
dispensation for marriage of Walter Stewart, earl of Caithness,
to Elizabeth Graham dated at Marseilles, 1 Aug 1404:
' Reg Vat 326, 220-220v
To Walter, earl of Caithness, and Elizabeth, daughter of Sir William
Graham, Dunblane diocese. Indult is granted dispensing Walter to
marry Elizabeth notwithstanding their being related in the third
degree of affinity in that Walter had been married to the late
Margaret who was related to Elizabeth in the third degree of
consanguinity, and also because the late Robert de Keyth, kinsman of
Walter, had wished to marry Elizabeth but had been uanble to do so as
they did not have a dispensation. On the consummation of the marriage
between Walter and Elizabeth they are held to pay 10 merks sterling to
the fabric fund of the church of the Friars Minor of Dunfres, Glasgow
diocese.
St. Victors, Marseilles, Kal. Aug., anno 10.
SRO, Vat. Trans., iv, no. 74. ' [CPL 1394-1419, p. 122[8]]
1.2.2.5 Robert Keith
----------------------------------------
1.2.3 John de Keith
----------------------------------------
faculty to dispense marriage, dated at Fondi, 22 Jan 1378/9:
' Reg Aven 215, 49v
To the bishop of Glasgow. Faculty to dispense John de Keeth,
donzel,
and Mary de Cheyn, damsel, of Aberdeen and Moray dioceses, from the
impediment to marriage arising from the third degree of affinity,
with absolution from the excommunication incurred through attempting
marriage without a dispensation, and with legitimation of their
offspring.
Fondi, 11 Kal. Feb., anno. 1.
SRO Vat. Trans., iv, no. 47. ' [CPL 1378-1394, p. 22[6]]
Spouse: Mariota de Cheyne
Father: Sir Reginald le Cheyne (-<1353)
Mother: Helen of Strathearn
Marr: bef 22 Jan 1378[6]
Children: John
1.2.3.1 John de Keith
----------------------------------------
1.2.4 Andrew de Keith
----------------------------------------
1.2.5 Katherine de Keith
----------------------------------------
Spouse: Alexander de Barclay of Mathers
Father: Andrew de Barclay (-1322)
Marr: bef 1352[9]
Children: NN, m. [conjectured] William Graham of Montrose
David (-ca1411), of Mathers
1. Sir James Balfour Paul, ed., "The Scots Peerage," Edinburgh: David
Douglas, 1904-1914 (9 volumes).
2. G. W. S. Barrow, "Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of
Scotland," Edinburgh University Press, 1976 (2nd ed.).
3. Frederick L. Weis, Th. D., "The Magna Carta Sureties, 1215,"
Baltimore: Gen Pub Co., 5th ed., 1997 (W. L. Sheppard Jr & David
Faris).
4. G. E. Cokayne, "The Complete Peerage," 1910 - [microprint,
1982 (Alan Sutton) ], The Complete Peerage of England Scotland
Ireland Great Britain and the United Kingdom.
5. "Genealogics," website by Leo van de Pas, http://www.genealogics.com
cites Europäische Stammtafeln, J.A. Stargardt Verlag Marburg,
Detlev Schwennicke, Editor, [ES], and other sources, ES VII 81,
for Arnoul III, comte de Guines.
6. Charles Burns, ed., "Calendar of Papal Letters to Scotland of
Clement VII of Avignon, 1378-1394," Edinburgh: T. and A. Constable,
Ltd., 1976, Pub. of the Scottish History Society.
7. Stephen I Boardman, "The Early Stewart Kings: Robert II and Robert
III, 1371-1406," East Linton: Tuckwell Press, 1996, (The Stewart
Dynasty in Scotland Series, Vol. I).
8. Francis McGurk, ed., "Calendar of Papal Letters to Scotland of
Benedict XIII of Avignon, 1394-1419," Edinburgh: T. and A.
Constable,
Ltd., 1976, Pub. of the Scottish History Society.
9. Robert Barclay, "A genealogical account of the Barclays of Urie,"
London: Printed for the editor by J. Herbert, 1812.
Terry
Thanks for any help
Terry L. Mair
Mair's Photography
158 South 580 East
Midway, Utah 84049
435-654-3607
www.mairsphotography.com