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d’Anstrude: Descendants of Robert II of Scotland?
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Josiah de la Motte
Mar 26, 2021, 7:39:22 PM3/26/21
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Hello everyone,
Some time ago I posted in this group regarding the possible origins of the d’Anstrude Family of Paris and Bourgogne, France. Admittedly, that post was a bit of a mess. Since that time, further research and analysis has seemed to disprove some of what I posted then. It has also raised new questions, and I’d be grateful for input from anyone reading this
In my last post, I linked to a Latin treatment on the Anstruther Family dated 1730 which I found in the “Cabinet des Titres”, and was purportedly copied from an original from the Lyon’s Court in Scotland. In part it states the following (beginning with a reference to a Richard Anstruther who was living in 1362):
“Ricardo successit ejus nepos Dús Robertus Anstruther, Baro ejusdem. Is in matrimonium recepit Isabellum Balfuriam, ex inclitâ Balfurium familia, in câdent regione Fifanâ ortam; quae ei tres peperit fihos, Andræam nempe, Robertum, et Davidem. Duo postremi, Robertus nimivum, et David, de Scotiâ in Galliam migrarant annum circiter 1515. Robertus primiem Regiorum satellitum scoticorum Eques vexillarius creatres est. Postea vivo ejusdem turme Ductoris legatus; tande, domum revertibus, eique frater ejus David successit. Ibique sedem fibi sortitus est. Abes Anstrutherii Bierii, comites in Gallie Regne originem deducent”.
Which I believe translates as:
“To Richard succeeded his [descendant or collateral descendant], Robert Anstruther, Baron of the same, who married Isabel of Balfour, of the Balfour family of Fife. They bare three sons named Andrew, Robert, and David. These last two came from Scotland to France about the year 1515. Robert was made an ensign in the Scottish Guards, and afterwards became a lieutenant in the same company. He eventually returned to his home-country and was succeeded by his brother David. From him descend the d’Anstrude, Counts of Bierie in France”.
No evidence was provided to verify these claims.
Nouveau d’Hozier no. 10, digital images, 135-138/370, Gallica.bnf.fr (https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b100834355/f135.item)
In the 1737 letters of erected for the Barony of Anstude in France, it is evident that the juges d’armes believed that this David Anstruther was the one whose wife, Claude de Mussi, made her will in 1581 and who was the father of David who married in 1575. This hardly seems possible if he was an adult in 1515, and would imply an unusually long lifetime. Based on the documentation below, I believe that David and Robert Anstruther came to France closer to the year 1530.
Dossiers Bleus no. 25, digital images, 161-162/305, Gallica.bnf.fr https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b100812884/f161.item)
The first actual evidence that I have found for the presence of any Anstruther in France is an entry for “David Ancetuddre” in a muster roll of the Scottish Company of the king’s bodyguard dated 1532. He was enumerated as one of seventy-seven “Archers de la Garde”.
William Forbes-Leith, The Scots Men-at-Arms and Life-Guards of France, 2 vols. (Edinburgh: William Paterson, 1882) 2:124 https://archive.org/details/thescotsmenatarmsandlifeguardsin1/page/n173/mode/2up
On 21 September 1537, David d’Anstrude and his wife Claude de Mussy exchanged a piece of property for a house belonging to his father-in-law, Jean de Mussy, and his wife Lugnette Caillot.
Carrés d’Hozier no. 28, digitital images, 166 of 453, Gallica.bnf.fr (https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b10080048c/f166.item) BNF, MS. FR. #30257
In a muster roll dated January 1542, “Robert Ancetuddre” was enumerated for the first time among the “Archers de la Garde” in the Scottish Guards.
Forbes-Leith (cit. above) pg. 136 (https://archive.org/details/thescotsmenatarmsandlifeguardsin1/page/n185/mode/2up)
There were enumerations for either Robert or David “Ancetuddre” or “Anstrude” or both of these individuals in subsequent muster rolls dated 1544-1578, and Robert appears to have been made ensign of the guard in 1559. 1561 marks the first enumeration of a second Robert Anstrude, 1569 that of a second David Anstrude, and 1572 that of an Arnault Anstrude. In 1578 an Adam Anstrude is listed. In muster rolls dated 1571 and 1582, the two entries for David Anstrude are qualified “l’aîné” and “le jeune” (the elder and the younger). In muster rolls dated 1575-1578, David Anstrude “l’aîné” is marked down as “excempt”.
Ibid., pgs. 139-183
On 6 September 1575, Claude de Mussy, widow of Davide d’Anstrude, écuyer and Archer des gardes du Roi, gave consent to the marriage of her son David d’Anstrude to damoiselle Allienor de Lescluses and arranged for a dowry of fifty livres tournois. David’s two brothers Robert and Arnoul were present. If the David d’Anstrude who was the husband of Claude de Mussy was indeed the David Anstrude “l’aîné” enumerated in the muster rolls above, it is puzzling that he was enumerated in 1556-1558 as well. I suppose the term “excempt” could have something to do with the fact that he has died?
Carrés d’Hozier no. 28, digitital images, 188 of 453, Gallica.bnf.fr (https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b10080048c/f188.item) BNF, MS. FR. #30257
On 1 September 1581, Claude de Mussy, widow of Davide d’Anstrude, écuyer and Archer des gardes du Roi, made her will. Her legatees were granddaughters Marye de Gourdon and Claude d’Anstrude; grandchildren Gabrielle and David d’Anstrude, children of Arnoul d’Anstrude; Robert de Carriere her grandson; and sons Robert, David, and Arnoul d’Anstrude.
Ibid, image 208 of 453 (https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b10080048c/f208.item)
In Paris on 23 April 1580, Robert Anstrude, Ensign in the Scottish Company of the king’s bodyguard, left a will which (in part) stated the following:
Par devant Jehan Olarti et Guille Payen notaires du Roy nostre Sire en son chastelet de Paris fut present en sa personne Robert Anstrude Escquier Enseigne de la garde Ecossaise du corps du Roy... ne...voulant deceder intestant a faict son testament.... la somme de trois mil trois cent livres qu'il a declaré estre entre les mains de son nepveau Jehan Beton Seigneur de Ballefour en Escosse en a donné et donne au dit Sieur de Balfour et a Robert Beton son frere ayant le fief de la dite Seigneurie... le dit testateur donne a leur frere Jacques Beton et a leurs trois sœurs le reste de la dite somme trois cent livres tournois... laisse a Robert Strang de Balquesque son nepveu et a Agnes Beton sa niepce et a leurs enfans... declare le dit Robert Strang avoir entre ses mains la somme de mil livres tournois... donne et laisse a Robert Anstrude son nepveu demeurant en en Ecosse et a Jehan Duffins la somme... legue a Jehan Anstude son autre nepveu en Ecosse la somme de quatre cent livres tournois et a sa sœur Marguerite Anstrude... donne et legue a Florent Strang son nepveu et a ses deux sœurs damoiselles nomees Jehanne et Margueritte... donne a Emond Strang son petit nepveu fils de Alexandre... legue au Sieur Anstrude son cousin... laisse a Recepvoir a ses nepveulx Arnoul, David, et Robert Anstrude toutes... a legue a Robert Anstrude son petit cousin a present Paige avec Monseigneur le Conte de Saulx... [note by the copyist: comme la derniere page manque on ne peut savoir le reste anvin d'avoir recours à la minutte passé a Paris].
Ibid, image 198 of 453 (https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b10080048c/f198.item)
The last document I have found placing this Robert d’Anstrude in France is a “procuration” dated 20 April 1581 in Paris and which made his nephews Arnoul, David, and Robert sole executors of his estate. It is specifically stated that Robert (the uncle) was present.
Ibid, image 202 of 453 (https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b10080048c/f202.item)
As part of an entry describing the General Assembly of the Scottish Church at Dundee in July, 1580, this account is from a published diary (or memoirs) written by Scottish Divine James Melville:
“At that Assemblie, Captan Robert Anstruther, father brother to the present Lard of Anstruther, wha haid spendit his haill lyff in the warres in France, and haid atteined ther to honour and ritches, moved of conscience, cam hame to end his lyff in his awin countrey, in the Reformed Kirk therin, and offerit himselff as a penitent to the said Assemblie, for being sa manie yeirs present at Mess with his maister, the King of France, knawin the ydolatrie therof, and professing the trew religion in his hart. The Assemblie remitted him to the Synod of Fyff and Presbyterie of St Andros, to be receaued in the favour of the Kirk, as he was the wintar therefter, and within a yeir died happelie full of dayes. He was a verie wyse and valiant man in armes, spendit all his tyme in the warres with grait honour, and yit haid the hape never to sched blud with his awin hand, nor to haiff his blud schede. He left to the pure of the congregation of Kilrinny, where he was born, and where he died, the soum of a thowsand marks”.
The Bannatyne Club, The Diary of Mr. James Melville, 1556-1601 (Edinburgh: 1829), 62 (https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Diary_of_Mr_James_Melville_1556_1601/0p40AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0)
On 27 January 1589 (old style) the following inventory pertaining to a debt owed by Robert Anstruther was registered in the Commissary Court in Edinburgh by John Beton of Balfour. It’s written in Scots and is very hard to make out. Many thanks to a UK member of the “Paleography Society” Facebook group who made the following transcription:
“The testiment Dative and Inventorie of ye Guids given... of Lawes and Dettes? perteining to biugle? and? honorabell Man Capitane Ro't anstruder.... to ye scotts Garde in france ye tyme of his decess? in first uppon ye [space left blank] day of november ye yeir of god M vc lxxxiij... up be his honoll Man Johnne Betonn of Balfour... sister sone to ye said biugle Capitane Ro't and..... Dative DePint? to him? be which? of Mr Thomas Mathwes of tomgtoun?.... the second? day of July ye yeire of god M Lxxix... yeires at lenth proportid... In ye first ye said buigle Capitane Ro Anstruder ensenye to the scottes gard in france had in? by Guids the dett bye written? pretende to hi as his .....dett ye tyme of his death? foursaid Vizt Item ye ......to ye said buigle Capitane Rot be Johne Anstruder of yt Ille ... to his obligationn substance? wt his Guid........ye xv Day of September ye Year of god M vt lxxij heires? one Hundreth crownes of? of late pece Liijs iiijd and xliiij frankess pieces? of the same xviijs Su a in scottes moy iijC vj lib vs iiijd
Su a of ye Inventorie- iijC vjlib iiijd Na Dunstoun
The inventory states that the registrant is “sister-sonne” to Captain Robert Anstruther, Ensign in the Scottish Guards in France, who died in November of 1583, and who owed a number of French pieces of money to John Anstruther of that Ilk by a bond dated 15 September 1572. This John Anstruther could well be the “Jehan Anstrude en Ecosse” identified by Robert as nephew in his will in 1580. At any rate, there is enough information in the inventory above to positively identify this Robert Anstruder as the man who made his will in Paris in 1580. This timeline of Melville’s narrative doesn’t fit perfectly with the presence of Robert d’Anstrude in Paris on 20 April 1581 and his having died in November 1583, but it is pretty close. I think it is very likely that all three individuals are the same.
Wills and Testaments, index with images (pay-per-view), 1590 entry for “Capitane Robert Anstruder” Scotlandspeople.gov.uk (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/record-results?search_type=People&surname=Anstruder&forename=&forename_so=starts&from_year=&to_year=&surname_so=exact&record_type=wills_testaments) Edinburgh Commissary Court, 1590, images 166-167 (Wills and Testament Reference CC8/8/21).
I have uploaded a pdf of the original document here:
https://photos.geni.com/p13/1c/1b/2e/8c/5344485e6529cbcf/scotlandspeople_cc000800008-00021-00166-_original.pdf
In conjunction, the documents above prove that Robert Anstruther or d’Anstrude, Ensign in the Scottish Guards in France, was the uncle of both the children of David d’Anstrude, was a maternal uncle of John Beton who was Laird of Balfour, was an uncle to a John Anstruther who lived in Scotland and whose sister was named, Marguerite, and a cousin to someone he termed “Sieur Anstrude” in his will. Perhaps by this he meant the current Laird of Anstruther? If so, that would be another contradiction to Melville’s story in which he is an uncle.
The Beton or Bethune of Balfour connection is interesting because several sources (primary and secondary) mention an Agnes Anstruther, wife of John Beton Laird of Balfour.
A published 18th Century manuscript genealogy by a Mr. Martin of Clermont states that John Bethun, 8th Laird of Balfour, married Agnes Anstruther, a daughter of a Laird of Anstruther, and that they had sons John, Robert, and James, and daughters Christian, Margaret, Agnes, and Catherine. The children named here are very close to the nephews and nieces described in the 1580 will of Robert d’Anstrude, who named John, Robert, James (Jacques), and their three sisters. The manuscript supposedly based on an account from the then Laird, which of course makes it untrustworthy.
Scottish History Society, edited J.T. Clark, Publications of the Scottish History Society (Edinburgh: T. and A. Constable, 1900) vol. 33, 12 (https://www.google.com/books/edition/Publications_of_the_Scottish_History_Soc/Lo8xAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0)
A court summons dated 26 February 1563 mentions Agnes Anstruther, relict of “umquhile John Beton of Balfour”.
edited J.H. Stevenson, The Scottish Antiquary (Edinburgh: William Green and Sons, 1902) vol. 16, 82 (https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Scottish_Antiquary_Or_Northern_Notes/zpAeAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0)
There is a published version of a manuscript said to have been copied in 1612 from the diary of a Lord Moncrief of Carnby. An entry dated 14 February 1582 (old style) states that “Agnes Anstruther, Ladie of Balfour, diet, of age 76”. This would give her a birth date of about 1506.
No editor given, The Diary of Mr. J. Lamont of Newton (Edinburgh: James Clarke and Co., 1830) 226 (https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Diary_of_Mr_J_Lamont_of_Newton/rcU_AAAAcAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0)
From the sources above, it seems that the sister referred to in the 1580 will of Robert d’Anstrude was very likely this Agnes Anstruther, wife of John Beton, 8th of Balfour, born about 1506. If the account of Clermont is correct, she was a daughter of a Laird of Anstruther, and, by extension, so were David and Robert Anstruther or “d’Anstrude” who came to France before 1532.
The Scots Peerage states that Christian Sandilands of Calder was married sometime after 1498 to Andrew Anstruther of that Ilk who was killed at Flodden in 1513.
edited Sir James Balfour, The Scots Peerage 9 vols. (Edinburgh: David Douglas, 1911) 8, 384 (https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015008828462&view=1up&seq=412)
No source is given for this supposed marriage, which also appears in Douglas’ Baronage. Douglas states that this couple were the parents of John Anstruther of that Ilk, who married Margaret Douglas of Lochlevan.
Sir Robert Douglas, The Baronage of Scotland (Edinburgh: Bell and Bradfute, 1798) 314 (https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Baronage_of_Scotland_Containing_an_H/wapeAAAAcAAJ?q=&gbpv=0#f=false)
Is it possible that Agnes was a daughter to this couple as well? This certainly seems a much more likely scenario given her date of birth than the parents given for Robert and David in the latin document. If anyone has any sources that help to prove Agnes’ parentage, I’d love to know.
Christian Sandilands’ descent from King Robert II of Scotland is well documented in the Scots’ Peerage, and is as follows:
Sir James Sandilands of Calder = Joanna, Princess of Scotland
Sir James Sandilands of Calder = Jonet
Sir John Sandilands of Calder = Christian Dundas
Sir James Sandilands of Calder = Margaret Kinloch
Balfour, cited above, pgs. 380-384
Thanks so much,
Josiah de la Motte
Some time ago I posted in this group regarding the possible origins of the d’Anstrude Family of Paris and Bourgogne, France. Admittedly, that post was a bit of a mess. Since that time, further research and analysis has seemed to disprove some of what I posted then. It has also raised new questions, and I’d be grateful for input from anyone reading this
In my last post, I linked to a Latin treatment on the Anstruther Family dated 1730 which I found in the “Cabinet des Titres”, and was purportedly copied from an original from the Lyon’s Court in Scotland. In part it states the following (beginning with a reference to a Richard Anstruther who was living in 1362):
“Ricardo successit ejus nepos Dús Robertus Anstruther, Baro ejusdem. Is in matrimonium recepit Isabellum Balfuriam, ex inclitâ Balfurium familia, in câdent regione Fifanâ ortam; quae ei tres peperit fihos, Andræam nempe, Robertum, et Davidem. Duo postremi, Robertus nimivum, et David, de Scotiâ in Galliam migrarant annum circiter 1515. Robertus primiem Regiorum satellitum scoticorum Eques vexillarius creatres est. Postea vivo ejusdem turme Ductoris legatus; tande, domum revertibus, eique frater ejus David successit. Ibique sedem fibi sortitus est. Abes Anstrutherii Bierii, comites in Gallie Regne originem deducent”.
Which I believe translates as:
“To Richard succeeded his [descendant or collateral descendant], Robert Anstruther, Baron of the same, who married Isabel of Balfour, of the Balfour family of Fife. They bare three sons named Andrew, Robert, and David. These last two came from Scotland to France about the year 1515. Robert was made an ensign in the Scottish Guards, and afterwards became a lieutenant in the same company. He eventually returned to his home-country and was succeeded by his brother David. From him descend the d’Anstrude, Counts of Bierie in France”.
No evidence was provided to verify these claims.
Nouveau d’Hozier no. 10, digital images, 135-138/370, Gallica.bnf.fr (https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b100834355/f135.item)
In the 1737 letters of erected for the Barony of Anstude in France, it is evident that the juges d’armes believed that this David Anstruther was the one whose wife, Claude de Mussi, made her will in 1581 and who was the father of David who married in 1575. This hardly seems possible if he was an adult in 1515, and would imply an unusually long lifetime. Based on the documentation below, I believe that David and Robert Anstruther came to France closer to the year 1530.
Dossiers Bleus no. 25, digital images, 161-162/305, Gallica.bnf.fr https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b100812884/f161.item)
The first actual evidence that I have found for the presence of any Anstruther in France is an entry for “David Ancetuddre” in a muster roll of the Scottish Company of the king’s bodyguard dated 1532. He was enumerated as one of seventy-seven “Archers de la Garde”.
William Forbes-Leith, The Scots Men-at-Arms and Life-Guards of France, 2 vols. (Edinburgh: William Paterson, 1882) 2:124 https://archive.org/details/thescotsmenatarmsandlifeguardsin1/page/n173/mode/2up
On 21 September 1537, David d’Anstrude and his wife Claude de Mussy exchanged a piece of property for a house belonging to his father-in-law, Jean de Mussy, and his wife Lugnette Caillot.
Carrés d’Hozier no. 28, digitital images, 166 of 453, Gallica.bnf.fr (https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b10080048c/f166.item) BNF, MS. FR. #30257
In a muster roll dated January 1542, “Robert Ancetuddre” was enumerated for the first time among the “Archers de la Garde” in the Scottish Guards.
Forbes-Leith (cit. above) pg. 136 (https://archive.org/details/thescotsmenatarmsandlifeguardsin1/page/n185/mode/2up)
There were enumerations for either Robert or David “Ancetuddre” or “Anstrude” or both of these individuals in subsequent muster rolls dated 1544-1578, and Robert appears to have been made ensign of the guard in 1559. 1561 marks the first enumeration of a second Robert Anstrude, 1569 that of a second David Anstrude, and 1572 that of an Arnault Anstrude. In 1578 an Adam Anstrude is listed. In muster rolls dated 1571 and 1582, the two entries for David Anstrude are qualified “l’aîné” and “le jeune” (the elder and the younger). In muster rolls dated 1575-1578, David Anstrude “l’aîné” is marked down as “excempt”.
Ibid., pgs. 139-183
On 6 September 1575, Claude de Mussy, widow of Davide d’Anstrude, écuyer and Archer des gardes du Roi, gave consent to the marriage of her son David d’Anstrude to damoiselle Allienor de Lescluses and arranged for a dowry of fifty livres tournois. David’s two brothers Robert and Arnoul were present. If the David d’Anstrude who was the husband of Claude de Mussy was indeed the David Anstrude “l’aîné” enumerated in the muster rolls above, it is puzzling that he was enumerated in 1556-1558 as well. I suppose the term “excempt” could have something to do with the fact that he has died?
Carrés d’Hozier no. 28, digitital images, 188 of 453, Gallica.bnf.fr (https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b10080048c/f188.item) BNF, MS. FR. #30257
On 1 September 1581, Claude de Mussy, widow of Davide d’Anstrude, écuyer and Archer des gardes du Roi, made her will. Her legatees were granddaughters Marye de Gourdon and Claude d’Anstrude; grandchildren Gabrielle and David d’Anstrude, children of Arnoul d’Anstrude; Robert de Carriere her grandson; and sons Robert, David, and Arnoul d’Anstrude.
Ibid, image 208 of 453 (https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b10080048c/f208.item)
In Paris on 23 April 1580, Robert Anstrude, Ensign in the Scottish Company of the king’s bodyguard, left a will which (in part) stated the following:
Par devant Jehan Olarti et Guille Payen notaires du Roy nostre Sire en son chastelet de Paris fut present en sa personne Robert Anstrude Escquier Enseigne de la garde Ecossaise du corps du Roy... ne...voulant deceder intestant a faict son testament.... la somme de trois mil trois cent livres qu'il a declaré estre entre les mains de son nepveau Jehan Beton Seigneur de Ballefour en Escosse en a donné et donne au dit Sieur de Balfour et a Robert Beton son frere ayant le fief de la dite Seigneurie... le dit testateur donne a leur frere Jacques Beton et a leurs trois sœurs le reste de la dite somme trois cent livres tournois... laisse a Robert Strang de Balquesque son nepveu et a Agnes Beton sa niepce et a leurs enfans... declare le dit Robert Strang avoir entre ses mains la somme de mil livres tournois... donne et laisse a Robert Anstrude son nepveu demeurant en en Ecosse et a Jehan Duffins la somme... legue a Jehan Anstude son autre nepveu en Ecosse la somme de quatre cent livres tournois et a sa sœur Marguerite Anstrude... donne et legue a Florent Strang son nepveu et a ses deux sœurs damoiselles nomees Jehanne et Margueritte... donne a Emond Strang son petit nepveu fils de Alexandre... legue au Sieur Anstrude son cousin... laisse a Recepvoir a ses nepveulx Arnoul, David, et Robert Anstrude toutes... a legue a Robert Anstrude son petit cousin a present Paige avec Monseigneur le Conte de Saulx... [note by the copyist: comme la derniere page manque on ne peut savoir le reste anvin d'avoir recours à la minutte passé a Paris].
Ibid, image 198 of 453 (https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b10080048c/f198.item)
The last document I have found placing this Robert d’Anstrude in France is a “procuration” dated 20 April 1581 in Paris and which made his nephews Arnoul, David, and Robert sole executors of his estate. It is specifically stated that Robert (the uncle) was present.
Ibid, image 202 of 453 (https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b10080048c/f202.item)
As part of an entry describing the General Assembly of the Scottish Church at Dundee in July, 1580, this account is from a published diary (or memoirs) written by Scottish Divine James Melville:
“At that Assemblie, Captan Robert Anstruther, father brother to the present Lard of Anstruther, wha haid spendit his haill lyff in the warres in France, and haid atteined ther to honour and ritches, moved of conscience, cam hame to end his lyff in his awin countrey, in the Reformed Kirk therin, and offerit himselff as a penitent to the said Assemblie, for being sa manie yeirs present at Mess with his maister, the King of France, knawin the ydolatrie therof, and professing the trew religion in his hart. The Assemblie remitted him to the Synod of Fyff and Presbyterie of St Andros, to be receaued in the favour of the Kirk, as he was the wintar therefter, and within a yeir died happelie full of dayes. He was a verie wyse and valiant man in armes, spendit all his tyme in the warres with grait honour, and yit haid the hape never to sched blud with his awin hand, nor to haiff his blud schede. He left to the pure of the congregation of Kilrinny, where he was born, and where he died, the soum of a thowsand marks”.
The Bannatyne Club, The Diary of Mr. James Melville, 1556-1601 (Edinburgh: 1829), 62 (https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Diary_of_Mr_James_Melville_1556_1601/0p40AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0)
On 27 January 1589 (old style) the following inventory pertaining to a debt owed by Robert Anstruther was registered in the Commissary Court in Edinburgh by John Beton of Balfour. It’s written in Scots and is very hard to make out. Many thanks to a UK member of the “Paleography Society” Facebook group who made the following transcription:
“The testiment Dative and Inventorie of ye Guids given... of Lawes and Dettes? perteining to biugle? and? honorabell Man Capitane Ro't anstruder.... to ye scotts Garde in france ye tyme of his decess? in first uppon ye [space left blank] day of november ye yeir of god M vc lxxxiij... up be his honoll Man Johnne Betonn of Balfour... sister sone to ye said biugle Capitane Ro't and..... Dative DePint? to him? be which? of Mr Thomas Mathwes of tomgtoun?.... the second? day of July ye yeire of god M Lxxix... yeires at lenth proportid... In ye first ye said buigle Capitane Ro Anstruder ensenye to the scottes gard in france had in? by Guids the dett bye written? pretende to hi as his .....dett ye tyme of his death? foursaid Vizt Item ye ......to ye said buigle Capitane Rot be Johne Anstruder of yt Ille ... to his obligationn substance? wt his Guid........ye xv Day of September ye Year of god M vt lxxij heires? one Hundreth crownes of? of late pece Liijs iiijd and xliiij frankess pieces? of the same xviijs Su a in scottes moy iijC vj lib vs iiijd
Su a of ye Inventorie- iijC vjlib iiijd Na Dunstoun
The inventory states that the registrant is “sister-sonne” to Captain Robert Anstruther, Ensign in the Scottish Guards in France, who died in November of 1583, and who owed a number of French pieces of money to John Anstruther of that Ilk by a bond dated 15 September 1572. This John Anstruther could well be the “Jehan Anstrude en Ecosse” identified by Robert as nephew in his will in 1580. At any rate, there is enough information in the inventory above to positively identify this Robert Anstruder as the man who made his will in Paris in 1580. This timeline of Melville’s narrative doesn’t fit perfectly with the presence of Robert d’Anstrude in Paris on 20 April 1581 and his having died in November 1583, but it is pretty close. I think it is very likely that all three individuals are the same.
Wills and Testaments, index with images (pay-per-view), 1590 entry for “Capitane Robert Anstruder” Scotlandspeople.gov.uk (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/record-results?search_type=People&surname=Anstruder&forename=&forename_so=starts&from_year=&to_year=&surname_so=exact&record_type=wills_testaments) Edinburgh Commissary Court, 1590, images 166-167 (Wills and Testament Reference CC8/8/21).
I have uploaded a pdf of the original document here:
https://photos.geni.com/p13/1c/1b/2e/8c/5344485e6529cbcf/scotlandspeople_cc000800008-00021-00166-_original.pdf
In conjunction, the documents above prove that Robert Anstruther or d’Anstrude, Ensign in the Scottish Guards in France, was the uncle of both the children of David d’Anstrude, was a maternal uncle of John Beton who was Laird of Balfour, was an uncle to a John Anstruther who lived in Scotland and whose sister was named, Marguerite, and a cousin to someone he termed “Sieur Anstrude” in his will. Perhaps by this he meant the current Laird of Anstruther? If so, that would be another contradiction to Melville’s story in which he is an uncle.
The Beton or Bethune of Balfour connection is interesting because several sources (primary and secondary) mention an Agnes Anstruther, wife of John Beton Laird of Balfour.
A published 18th Century manuscript genealogy by a Mr. Martin of Clermont states that John Bethun, 8th Laird of Balfour, married Agnes Anstruther, a daughter of a Laird of Anstruther, and that they had sons John, Robert, and James, and daughters Christian, Margaret, Agnes, and Catherine. The children named here are very close to the nephews and nieces described in the 1580 will of Robert d’Anstrude, who named John, Robert, James (Jacques), and their three sisters. The manuscript supposedly based on an account from the then Laird, which of course makes it untrustworthy.
Scottish History Society, edited J.T. Clark, Publications of the Scottish History Society (Edinburgh: T. and A. Constable, 1900) vol. 33, 12 (https://www.google.com/books/edition/Publications_of_the_Scottish_History_Soc/Lo8xAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0)
A court summons dated 26 February 1563 mentions Agnes Anstruther, relict of “umquhile John Beton of Balfour”.
edited J.H. Stevenson, The Scottish Antiquary (Edinburgh: William Green and Sons, 1902) vol. 16, 82 (https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Scottish_Antiquary_Or_Northern_Notes/zpAeAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0)
There is a published version of a manuscript said to have been copied in 1612 from the diary of a Lord Moncrief of Carnby. An entry dated 14 February 1582 (old style) states that “Agnes Anstruther, Ladie of Balfour, diet, of age 76”. This would give her a birth date of about 1506.
No editor given, The Diary of Mr. J. Lamont of Newton (Edinburgh: James Clarke and Co., 1830) 226 (https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Diary_of_Mr_J_Lamont_of_Newton/rcU_AAAAcAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0)
From the sources above, it seems that the sister referred to in the 1580 will of Robert d’Anstrude was very likely this Agnes Anstruther, wife of John Beton, 8th of Balfour, born about 1506. If the account of Clermont is correct, she was a daughter of a Laird of Anstruther, and, by extension, so were David and Robert Anstruther or “d’Anstrude” who came to France before 1532.
The Scots Peerage states that Christian Sandilands of Calder was married sometime after 1498 to Andrew Anstruther of that Ilk who was killed at Flodden in 1513.
edited Sir James Balfour, The Scots Peerage 9 vols. (Edinburgh: David Douglas, 1911) 8, 384 (https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015008828462&view=1up&seq=412)
No source is given for this supposed marriage, which also appears in Douglas’ Baronage. Douglas states that this couple were the parents of John Anstruther of that Ilk, who married Margaret Douglas of Lochlevan.
Sir Robert Douglas, The Baronage of Scotland (Edinburgh: Bell and Bradfute, 1798) 314 (https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Baronage_of_Scotland_Containing_an_H/wapeAAAAcAAJ?q=&gbpv=0#f=false)
Is it possible that Agnes was a daughter to this couple as well? This certainly seems a much more likely scenario given her date of birth than the parents given for Robert and David in the latin document. If anyone has any sources that help to prove Agnes’ parentage, I’d love to know.
Christian Sandilands’ descent from King Robert II of Scotland is well documented in the Scots’ Peerage, and is as follows:
Sir James Sandilands of Calder = Joanna, Princess of Scotland
Sir James Sandilands of Calder = Jonet
Sir John Sandilands of Calder = Christian Dundas
Sir James Sandilands of Calder = Margaret Kinloch
Balfour, cited above, pgs. 380-384
Thanks so much,
Josiah de la Motte
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