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.)
7. This Robert of Earnock married Margaret, daughter of John
Hamilton of Torrance, by whom he had
8. John, his son and heir, who succeeded his father, and
married Elizabeth, daughter of Alexander Cleland of that ilk, an ancient family
in Lanarkshire, whose mother was of Lord Sommerville. He married, secondly, Margaret, daughter of
Allan Lord Cathcart by Helen his wife, daughter of William Lord Semple, and had
issue John, his eldest son and heir, and Roberto, who went abroad and settled
in France.
9. John Robertoun, next in succession of this family,
married Margaret, daughter of James Hamilton of Torrance, by who he had James,
his heir and successor; John, whose descendants succeeded to the estate; and
Archibald of Stainhall, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Baillie of
Jervieston, by whom he had James Robertoun, who became of the the Senators of
the College of Justice, and first of the family of Bedlay, in the parish of
Cadder. Archibald had also several
daughters. One married the Rev. David Dickson, of whom was descended the
Dicksons of Carberry. John Robertoun of Earnock had also several daughters, of
whom Abigail was married to Mr. David Forsyth of Hallhill, commissary of
Glasgow; and Margaret or Janet, to
Robert Hamilton of Little Earnock, whose second son, James, was founder of the Bangour family in Linlithgowshire.
10. James Robertoun, next of the house of Earnock, married
Christian, daughter of John Dundas of Newliston, and widow of Rober Dalzell of that ilk. By
her he had James, who succeeded, and a
daughter, Isabella, married, in 1567, to Gavin Hamilton of Airdrie, another
married to Blair of Braxfield, and a third to Muirhead of Lynbank, of who was
lineally descended Mr. John Muirhead, minister of
Cambusnethan, and William his brother.
This James Robertoun was a partisan of Queen Mary, and, in 1572, he was
indicted, along with fifty other gentlemen, as being accessory to the murder of
Darnley, and the regents Murray and Lennox. In 1579, he became a cautioner, to
the extent of £1000 Scots, for the appearance of James Hamilton of
Bothwellhaugh before the King and Lords of Council. He appears to have had some
connections with the Hospital of St. Nicholas, in Glasgow, founded by Bishop
Muirhead, and was possession of the
original charter of foundation, as is shown by the following minute of
Presbytery: - “June 1, 1586. – It is
ordained that the Laird of Earnock be summoned to produce the foundation of the
Almshouse of Glasgow, given to him by Sir John Moyne, if he have it to this
day.”
11. James Robertoun succeeded his father, and married
Alison, third daughter of George Hamilton of Rossaven and Preston, by who he
had a numerous issue of sons – John, Matthew, James, George and Andrew. Several
of these went abroad, and served under
the Marquis of Hamilton in his expedition to Germany in 1631, in the service of
the renowned Gustavus Adolphus, King of
Sweden, against the Imperialists.
Matthew, the second brother, inclining to settle abroad, obtained from the
marquis a certificate of his birth and family, which was drawn up in the form
of a birth-brief certifiying the said Matthew to be a younger son of James
Robertoun of Earnock. John Robertoun (by
corruption called Robtoun in France) was his grandson, and was a councillor in
the Parliament of Paris. He left behind him a son, John, who was secretary to
His Majesty George I, when Elector of Hanover.
He died in 1731, and left a son, George Robertoun, who was his heir.
In the commissary records of Glasgow, James Robertoun, Laird
of Earnock, appears as cautioner in the testament of James Baillie of
Jervieston, and Ellison Hamilton, Lady Earnock, occurs in February 1620, and in
November, 1624. From James, eleventh of
the house of Earnock, the estate appears to have passed to the heirs of John,
second son of John Robertoun, ninth representative of the family, whose wife,
Margaret, was a daughter of James Hamilton of Torrance.
This John got an annuity out of the lands of Allirstocks, in
the barony of Kilbride, from William Bannatyne of Corehouse, dated in 1586. In the deed he is designed John Robertoun,
brother-german to James of Earnock. It is taken to himself in life rent, and to
Bartholomew, his eldest son, in fee, and to his heirs, which failing, to
Robertoun, his second son. John
Robertoun married Christian, daughter of Robert Dalziel of that ilk, by who he
had John, his eldest son, who died young and without succession , and
Bartholomew, his heir and successor. For vouching the descent there is a
precept of Clare Constat by Roberton
Lord Semple: - “To Jas. Robertoun of Earnock, of the lands of Shawtoun, in the
barony of Glassford, and to his lawful heirs, male; which failing to Jno., son
and heir of Jno. Robertoun and his former wife Christian Dalziel,
brother-german and sister-uterine of the said Jas. of Earnock; which failing to
Bartholomew, their second son, and his heirs; which failing to the heirs
whatever of their father, Jno. Robertoun; which failing to Archibald Robertoun
of Stainhall, and his heirs, brother-german of the said Jas. and Jno. Robertoun.”
This deed bears the date September, 1598.
John Robertoun, after the death of Christian Dalziel, his first wife, married Margaret,
sixth daughter of John Hamilton of Orbieston. The contract of marriage is dated
at Blantyre Kirk, 16th May, 1594. Her brother, John of Orbieston, is
her cautioner and witness to the contract.
John Robertoun had issue by his second wife – John, who was
Sheriff-Clerk of Lanarkshire, of whom the Robertouns of Whistleberry, Kennedies, and others were descended;
and James, who also held the same office. This James mortified a considerable sum of
money for the poor of Hamilton, which is managed by the Town Council. John Robertoun had also a daughter Anne, who
was second wife of James Hamilton of Torrance.
She is described as “Sister of Bartholomew Robertoun, Sheriff-Clerk of
Lanark, and afterwards Laird of Earnock.”
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