The peerage of Scotland: containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom, ... collected from the public records, and ancient chartularies of this nation, ... Illustrated with copper-plates. By Robert Douglas, Esq;.

CRICHTON Lord CRICHTON, Viscount FRENDRAUGHT.

THE noble and ancient sirname of Crich∣ton is mentioned by our historians, in the reign of king Malcolm Canmore, and some antiquaries trace their origin even higher; but it is probable their sirname is local, and was first assumed by the pro∣prietors of the lands and barony of Crichton in the shire of Edinburgh, which has been long in the possession of this family.

The first of them we find upon record is Thurstanus de Crichton,* 1.1 who is witness to the soundation charter of the abbacy of Holy∣roodhouse, anno 1128; tho' it appears from our histories, that there were several great men of this sirname, betwixt the time that this Thurstanus lived and the reign of king Alexander II. yet as we cannot exactly con∣nect them, we shall deduce their descent, by authentic documents, from

I. WILLIELMUS de CRICHTON, who flourished in the reign of king Alexander II. and in a charter of Maldwin earl of Lenox,* 1.2 to Stephen de Blantyre, is designed Willi∣elmus dominus de Crichton, &c. the charter is without date, but by the witnesses must have been before 1240.

He lived after the year 1260, and was succeeded by his son,

II. THOMAS de CRICHTON, who was one of those great barons or freeholders that swore fealty to king Edward I.* 1.3 for lands ly∣ing in Mid-Lothian, anno 1296.

By Eda, his wise, he left issue three sons,

1. Nicholaus de Crichton.

2. William, ancestor of the Crichtons of Sanquhar and Dumfries. Vide Title Dumsries.

3. Thomas Crichton, burgess of Berwick,* 1.4 whose son William makes a donation to the abbacy of Newbottle, for the safety of the souls

his father, Eda his mother, Nicholas, sir John de Crichton,* 1.5 &c. The charter is dated 27th May 1388.

Thomas died about 1300, and was succeed∣ed by his eldest son,

III. NICHOLAUS de CRICHTON, who flourished in the reign of king Robert Bruce,* 1.6 and left issue a son and successor,

IV. Sir JOHN, designed dominus de CRICH∣TON,* 1.7 who is mentioned in the above dona∣tion of his cousin Thomas, and is witness in several charters of king David Bruce, where∣in he is designed Joannes de Crichton, miles, &c.

In a charter of Radulphus dominus de Cra∣nyston,* 1.8 Johannes dominus de Crichton is a witness, circa 1340.

And dying before the year 1358, left issue two sons.

1. William de Crichton.

2. John Crichton, who obtained the ba∣ronies of Hounam and Crailing,* 1.9 in vicecomi∣tatu de Roxburgh, upon the resignation of Wil∣liam Landales, bishop of St. Andrews, anno 1367.

Sir John was succeeded by his eldest son,

V. Sir WILLIAM de CRICHTON, who is designed dominus ejusdem,* 1.10 in a charter of A∣lexander Lindsay of Ormiston, confirmed by king David II. anno 1368.

He obtained from king Robert II.* 1.11 a char∣ter of the lands of Breadwood, anno 1375.

And is witness in a charter of Alexander de Ramsay,* 1.12 together with William earl of Douglas, anno 1382.

He left issue two sons.

1. Sir John.

2. Stephen Crichton of Cairns, father of George earl of Caithness, and James Crich∣ton, first of the family of Ruthven.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

VI. Sir JOHN CRICHTON of that ilk,* 1.13 who married Christian (but of what family we know not) by whom he had a son and successor,

VII. Sir WILLIAM CRICHTON of Crich∣ton, who was a consummate statesman, and made a great figure in the reigns of king James I. and II.

He got charters, under the great seal, of a vast number of lands and baronies,* 1.14 inter 1430 and 1450.

The first public appearance he made was in 1423, when he went to England, with some others of the young nobility,* 1.15 to con∣gratulate king James I. upon his marriage, where he got much into that prince's favour, and received the honour of knighthood be∣fore the solemnity of his coronation, anno 1424, and was soon thereafter appointed one of his majesty's privy council, and gentleman of his bedchamber.

Upon king James II's accession to the crown, he was constituted chancellor of Scot∣land, by the estates of the kingdom, and had the tuition of the young king during his non-age. He was made governor of the castle of Edinburgh, and created lord Crich∣ton, anno 1445, &c.

He founded and endowed the collegiate church of Crichton,* 1.16 with consent of sir James Crichton of Frendraught, his son and heir, anno 1449.

As the life and actions of chancellor Crich∣ton,* 1.17 are fully set forth in the lives of the of∣ficers of state, to that we reser our readers.

By Agnes, his wife, he left issue a son,

James,—and two daughters.* 1.18

1. Elizabeth, married to Alexander earl of Huntly.

2. Agnes, married to Alexander lord Glammis.

And, dying in 1455, was succeeded by his son,

VIII. JAMES, second lord Crichton, who was knighted by king James I.* 1.19 at the chri∣stening of his son, king James II. anno 1430.

He married Janet, daughter and co-heir of James Dunbar earl of Murray,* 1.20 by whom he got the lands and barony of Frendraught, and was appointed great chamberlain of Scot∣land, under the designation of dominus de Fren∣draught, anno 1440.

And, dying in 1469, left issue three sons.

1. William, lord Crichton, his heir.

2. Gavin, who married Margaret—, by whom he got a great many lands in the barony of Kirkmichael,* 1.21 in Dumfries-shire.

3. George Crichton.* 1.22

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

IX. WILLIAM, third lord Crichton, who married lady Margaret Stewart,* 1.23 daughter of king James II. but having joined his brother-in-law, Alexander, duke of Albany, in his unnatural rebellion against his own brother, king James III.* 1.24 he was tried by parliament, found guilty of treason, and forfeited, anno 1483.

By the said lady Margaret Stewart he left issue a son,

James,—and a daughter,

Margaret,* 1.25 married to George earl of Ro∣thes.

X. Sir JAMES, only son of William, third lord Crichton, got the estate of Frendraught, upon the resignation of Janet Dunbar, heiress thereof, his grand-mother, which being vest∣ed in her person, could not fall under the forfeiture of William, lord Crichton, her son, anno 1483, before-mentioned.

In this deed,* 1.26 which is dated anno 1492, he is designed James, son and heir of the de∣ceast William lord Crichton, &c.

He got afterwards a charter, under the great seal,* 1.27 Jacobo Crichton de Frendraught, militi, of the lands of Hilton, Malar, Kirk∣toun-Malar, &c. dated 13th December 1511.

Also a charter of the lands of Conzie, and others,* 1.28 in Aberdeen-shire, dated 15th May 1531.

And another charter, Jacobo Crichton de Frendraught, militi, et haeredibus suis masculis, taliae, &c.* 1.29 of the lands and barony of Fren∣draught, of the lands and barony of Inver∣keithing, and several others in the shires of Aberdeen, Banff, and Perth, dated 19th No∣vember 1535.

He married Catharine, daughter of Willi∣am lord Borthwick, and died betwixt 1535 and 1539, leaving issue a son,

XI. WILLIAM, who succeeded him, and got a charter, under the great seal,* 1.30 Willielmo Crichton de Frendraught, of the lands of In∣verkeithing (alias Convith) in the shire of Banff, to him and Agnes Abernethy his spouse, &c. dated the 15th day of August 1539.

By the said Agnes Abernethy, daughter of Alexander lord Salton, he left issue a son and successor,

XII. Sir JAMES, who got charters under the great seal,* 1.31 Jacobo Crichton de Frendraught militi, of the lands of Bognie, and others in the shires of Aberdeen and Banff, inter 1547 and 1569.

He married lady Janet Keith, daughter of William earl Marshal, by whom he had two sons, and one daughter.

1. James.

2. George,* 1.32 who got from his father part of the lands and barony of Frendraught, which he afterwards resigned in favours of his ne∣phew sir James.

His daughter Agnes, in a charter under the great seal,* 1.33 is designed daughter of sir James Crichton of Frendraught, future spouse of John Lesly, son and apparent heir of William Lesly of Tullieferry, dated 8th September 1572.

Sir James lived to a great age, and died inter 1592 and 1594.

XIII. JAMES, first son and apparent heir of sir James Crichton of Frendraught, was designed by the title of Auchingowl, and married Janet,* 1.34 daughter of Alexander Gor∣don of Lesmore, by whom he had a son,

Sir James,—and a daughter,

—, married to the laird of Meldrum.

He died before his father, and was succeed∣ed by his son,

XIV. Sir JAMES, who succeeded also to his grandfather, and got a charter under the great seal,* 1.35 domino Jacobo Crichton de Fren∣draught militi, villae et terrarum de Darbey, &c. in the shire of Aberdeen, 4th January 1594.

He got likeways another charter, under the great seal, of the whole lands and barony of Frendraught in Aberdeen-shire, the lands and barony of Convith in Banff-shire; also all and sundry the lands of Auchingowl,* 1.36 Mar∣toun, Badneyn, Bognie, &c. &c. to him, his heirs-male, and assigneys whatsomever, dated 10th of August 1599.

He left issue a son,

Sir James, his heir,—and a daughter,

Mary, married to Patrick lord Oliphant▪

He was succeeded by his son,

XV. Sir JAMES CRICHTON of Fren∣draught, who got a charter from king Charles I. Jacobo Crichton de Frendraught militi,* 1.37 villae et terrarum de Monkshill pro principali, et ter∣rarum de Lachintully et Tullieben in speciali, warrantum, &c. dated in 1633.

He was a great loyalist, and firm friend of king Charles I. who raised him to the digni∣ty of the peerage, by the title of lord vis∣count Frendraught,* 1.38 to him and his heirs∣male. The patent is dated 20th August 1642, haeredibus masculis et successoribus quibuscun∣que.

He married lady Elizabeth Gordon,* 1.39 daugh∣ter of John earl of Sutherland (in January 1619) by whom he had four sons, and three daughters.

1. James, his heir.

2. William.

3. George.

4. Francis.

1. Daughter, Elizabeth.

2. Isabel.* 1.40

3. Margaret.

XVI. JAMES, second viscount Frendraught, in his father's lifetime, got a charter of the lands and barony of Frendraught,* 1.41 to and in favours of James Crichton younger of Fren∣draught, and the heirs-male of his body; which failing, to William Crichton, his se∣cond brother-german, and th•• heirs-male of

his body; which failing, to George Crich∣ton, his third brother-german, and the heirs-male of his body which failing, to Francis Crichton, his fourth brother-german, and the heirs-male of his body; which all failing, to his father's nearest heir-male whatsomever, &c. The charter is dated in the month of August 1441.

He married, 1st, lady Margaret Lesly, daughter of Alexander earl of Leven, by whom he had a daughter,

—, married to sir James MacGill of Rankeillor.

He married, 2dly, Marian, daughter of sir Alexander Irvine of Drum, by whom he had two sons.

1. James, his heir.

2. Lewis, afterwards viscount Frendraught.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

XVII. JAMES, third viscount Frendraught, who married—, daughter of—, by whom he had a son, and successor,

XVIII. WILLIAM, fourth viscount Fren∣draught, who dying without issue, his estate and honours devolved upon his uncle,

XVII. LEWIS, fifth viscount Frendraught; second son of the second viscount, who fol∣lowed the fortune of king James VII. with whom he went to France,* 1.42 and was attainted by parliament; with lord viscount Dundee, in July 1690.

James Crichton of Auchingowl, is now the heir-male of this family, and would have been sixth viscount Frendraught, had it not been for the last lord's attainder.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.2

  Chartul. of Levenax, pen▪ MacFarlane, p. 44.
• * 1.3

  Prynne's col∣lect. vol. III p. 659.
• * 1.4

  Chartul. of Newbottle penes Mac∣Farlane, p.
• * 1.5

  Chartulary of Newbottle,
• * 1.6

  Ibidem.
• * 1.7

  Ibid. & Nis∣bet, vol. I. p. 284.
• * 1.8

  Chartul. of Soltray, chart. 54.
• * 1.9

  Chart. penes MacFarlane.
• * 1.10

  Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.11

  Ibidem.
• * 1.12

  Chartul. of Newbottle, p. 54.
• * 1.13

  Lives of the officers of state, p. 26.
• * 1.14

  Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.15

  Rymer, tom. X. p. 308.
• * 1.16

  Keith's cata∣logue of bi∣shops, p. 285.
• * 1.17

  Lives of the officers of state, p. 26, &c.
• * 1.18

  Ibidem.
• * 1.19

  Fordun, vol. II.
• * 1.20

  Lives of the officers of state, p. 113. & Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.21

  Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.22

  Ibidem.
• * 1.23

  Stuart's hist. of the royal. family.
• * 1.24

  Records of parliament.
• * 1.25

  Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.26

  Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.27

  Ibidem.
• * 1.28

  Ibidem.
• * 1.29

  Ibidem.
• * 1.30

  Ibidem.
• * 1.31

  Ibidem.
• * 1.32

  Ibidem.
• * 1.33

  Ibidem.
• * 1.34

  Ibidem.
• * 1.35

  Ibidem.
• * 1.36

  Ibidem.
• * 1.37

  Ibidem.
• * 1.38

  Ibidem.
• * 1.39

  Hist. of the family of Su∣therland, pen▪ comitem de Sutherland.
• * 1.40

  Ibidem.
• * 1.41

  Chart. in pu•••• archiv.
• * 1.42

  Records of parliament.