While looking for the author of The Robertons – A Noted
Lanarkshire Family which appears in three previous posts (originally printed in
the Hamilton Advertiser on August 7th, 1943), a librarian at the
South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture Center also found another piece on
Roberton history, again from the Hamilton Advertiser, but published in July
1874. Entitled Earnock and its Early Proprietors, it is another lengthy
writing that I will present in a number of postings.
Earnock and its
Early Proprietors (continued)
(from the Hamilton
Advertiser, July 1874)
The Robertouns (cont.)
5. John de Robertoun, the first designed of Earnock,
possessed the lands of Auchenback, in Renfrewshire, which he disponed to John Ross of Hawkhead. The charter of
alienation is confirmed by Robert II in 1380.
That which proves that this John Robertoun had a near alliance and
relation by blood to the family of Earnock. “By John de Hamilton, Lord of
Cadzow, to our dear kinsman (dilecto
consanguineo suo), John de Roberton, son and heir of quondoam Symon de Roberton, of the lands of Earnock Sansay, lying
in the barony of Cadzow and valley of Clyde, together with the land which is
called Le Woolshaw, with its pertinent, to be held by the said John de
Robertoun, and his legitimate heirs male, which failing, to Robert de
Robertoun, brother of the said John de Robertoun.” To this deed the granter, Sir John Hamilton of
Cadzow, appends his seal: - “In presence of these witnesses, Robert of
Dangleton, Jno. De Hamilton of Ingleton, Alex. Hamilton, Jno. De Hamilton of
the Ross, and Alex. De Hamilton, Knights; William de Hamilton, Rotal de Weir,
Simon de Nisbet, David de Hamilton, and John de Allanson, Esquires.” The
charter has no precise date but from the names of some of the persons
mentioned, and other concurring writs, it was probably about 1390-91. [“Le
Woolshaw”, mentioned in the charter as having been granted along with Earnock
is now called Wellhall, but where was “Sansay”? Was it what is now denominated
Allanshaw, or was it the designation of the property granted? As there was a
Meikle and Little Earnock, a Kennydie’s and Taits Earnock, perhaps this may
have been Sansay’s Earnock, or Earnock-Sansay, as in the charter.] This John of
Earnock, allied in marriage with the family of Sommerville, had a son, John,
his heir, and a daughter, Isabella, who married Sir Walter Scott of Murdiestoun, the direct and immediate
ancestor of the Duke of Buccleuch, as is vouched by the original contract of
marriage in the charter chest of the house of Cleland.
6. John Robertoun of Earnock succeeded his father, and
married Margaret Hamilton, by whom her had issue a son, John, who was his
father’s heir-apparent but died before him.
He left a son, Robert, who was served and retoured to his grandfather, of
date 17th February, 1486.
