Wedderburn book; a history of the Wedderburns in ... - waughfamily.ca

64 THE WEDDERBURN BOOK.
Parti. 4 Dec. 1595 (D.B.R.302 e), and the lands of Ci-aigio are often de^icnbud as
Cbap. III.
been his.i
Laving once
In 1596 he got into difficulties, and was accused of the murder both of Robert Lindsay
of Balhall and of James Leiteh. Tlie.se events are recorded 13 Aug. 1596, when "John and
Katharine Lindsay, children of Ilaihall, get a gift of the escheat goods of Joim W'edderbuni,
burgess of Dmidee, now at the horn for not compearing to answer to the charge of the
slaughter of Robert Lindsay 19 .luly 15'JG. and al.so as rebell denounced for the slaughter
of James Leiteh, Irelandiuan" (R.W.S. 25>, and the "murder committed hy John
Wedderburn " is also mentioned in a letter, 12 Oct. 1596, from Robert Bower at Edinburgh
to Lord Bnrghley (.-j.P. 9). He no doubt had to fly the country and seems to have come
South, as in a letter, 17 July 1597, from Ralph, Lord Eure, to" Lord Burghley (8. P. 10),
there is an account of the arrest of a suspicious cliaracter in the person of " a Scottishe
gentleman, called Mr. John Wedderburn, disguised in mariner's apparel and that of the
meanest sort."
According to this letter, AVedderburn professed to be a follower of Lord Bothwell.
and to have been employed by him to compass the death of Sir Robert Kerr, by blowinoup
his castle at Halleden. He also claimed to have been employed by the King of France
and is described as having " the Frauche tongue reasonable well," aud also is said to have
" served in Fraunce on pleasure not under anie charge." The grounds of suspicion ou
which he was detained by Lord Eure were "his wise carriage, his birthe and manner of
disguising, yealding apparaunte suspicion of more devilish practises then he revealeth."
Lord Eure gives a close description of him, as "of reasonable stature, verie square bodved,
bigg legged, one or two scarres on the hight of his foreheade, faire complexioued, yelfowe
berded, the haire of his heade like unto white amber," and adds that he " seemeth to be
verie cunning in state matters " and " is an ingyner, preferring to make petares and
ganiettes, ingynes of war." In a second letter from Lord Eure to Lord Bursfhley,
21July 1597, John Wedderburn is mentioned again (S.F. 11), but the sequel to his arrest
does not appear. He died, however, before 3 March 1599, when there is a summons by
John and Katharine Lyndsay, children of Balhall, v. Elizabeth (lic) Strachin, relict of
John Wedderburn, burgess of Dundee, and Elizabeth, his daughter and heir, claiming
the escheat of the goods of the said John, who, 6 Aug. 1596, was put to the horn for not
finding caution to underlie the law for the slaughter of Robert Lindsay of Balhall ou
11 July 1596 and also of James Leiteh (R.A.D. 36).-
He had mariied. 15S2-S3, Margaret Strathauchin.^ relict of Robert Jackson*
(D.B.R. 2e9, 298), and by her, who died 1620-22, and whoso will, dated
(P.B.X. 4), was confirmed 9 May 1622 (Br. Test. 4), had issue one daughter,
i May 1620
Elizabeth Wedderburn, only child and heiress of John Wedderburn of Craigie
and Margaret Strathauchin. She was born about 1586, as she «as presumably
fourteen years of age when, 25 April 1600. she ("lawful daughter of umquhillJohn
Wedderburn, sometime portioner of Craigie") chose her curators (D.IBR. 33-t).
The earliest mentions of her, however, are 30 Aug. 1589, when her father charges
Craigie in her favour (D.P.B. 278), and 6 Xov. 1591, when Craigie is alienated in
implement of a contract made by her parents, herself, and Alexander, the clerk,
with John Scharp of Houstouu (G.S.R. 51;^. tihe married, l60i-5, James Ki/nnaird,
'
Thus, 19 Jan. 1599, Jolm Oyilvy gets part of Craigie Hiltoun, " once John Wedderburu's," from Christopher
Traill (D.P.B. 3.31) ;
19Aug. 160-3, a charter (•J-3 .Aug. 1596lofJame3Schar|i to hisaon Ale.xander
of the land-i of Craigie, acquired from the late (< e. at that date of the confirmation) John Wedderburn
is confirmed (G.S.U. 64). See aUo S.W. 165 ; D.P.B. 446 ; G.S.R. 107 ; F.S. 14 a i,35 ; from which it
appears that part of Craigie pa.^sed, in 1646, to James Kyd of Grange of Barrie, whose son Patrick Kvd
of Craigie m. (1655) Margaret, daughter of Sir Alexander Wedderburn of Blackness (post. Part III)
having been di.sponed to James Kvd (1646) bv James Durham of Kinaell, who had obtained a royal
charter of it 15 Nov. 1641 (G.S.K". vol. 1634-51, §S 1020, 1660).
* Tliis entry varies slightly from that already quoted (R P.S. 25). In the one the date of Balhall's death
is given as 11, in the other as 19 July, and again in the one John Lindsay is c;illed his fourth and in
the other his second son.
' The date is not quite clear. She is first named as his wife 13 Aug. 1582, when there is a decree v. Marion
(sic) Stralhaucliin, wife of James (sic) Wedilerliurn (D.B.R. 261 6). On the other hand she is named
as his "future wife" (although after tht;ir marriage contract) 26 Sept I5S3 (D.P.B. 220 6). In
another entry, 20 Sept. 1 5S3, James ( iic) Wedderburn settles his Seagait land on llariot Strathauchin
his wife (Dundee .Minnte.-i of Sasine. v. s.d , orig. MS.).
* She had a son, Robert Jackson, by her first marriage, who is named 3 Aug. 1590 (D.B.R. 289). A bond
6 Nov. 1594, by Jolm Wedderburn of Ciaigie to her is also recorded (i4. 298).
' See also S.W. 165, wliere. Slarch-May 1608, she and her husband ratify this contract, in respect of which
she is stated to have received (in 1602) £1,000 scots.