The peerage of Scotland: containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that Kingdom. ... By George Crawfurd, Esq;.

STEWART, Lord Ochiltree.

THE first of this Branch of the illustrious Family of Stewart, was Sir Andrew Stewart, Knight, Grandchild of Murdack Duke of Albany, by the Lord James Stewart his Son, who being a Person of great Courage and Merit, was by King James II. toward the End of his Reign taken into his immediate and eminent Favour; and first in the 1458c 1.1, constituted Warden of the East Mar|ches toward England, and made a Kt. But this being judged too low an Ho|nour for his illustrious Birth and Qua|lity, his said Majesty did confer on him the Title of Lord Evandale, An|no 1459d 1.2, a Barony the King gave him, and which came to the Crown by the Forfaulture of the Earl of Douglass.

In the Beginning of the Reign of King James III. the Lord Evandale was constituted Lord High Chancel|lor, Anno 1463, and he held the Office for the Space of Nineteen Years, till the 1482e 1.3, he was removed, and the Bishop of Glasgow made Chan|cellor in his Room, and dying with|out Issue Male of his own Body, in the 1488, his Estate and Title devol|ved to

Alexander Stewart Esq his Nephew, Son of Walter Stewart of Morphy, his Brother-German.

He married Margaret, Daughter of Sir John Kennedy of Blairquhan, by whom he had Andrew his Successor, Henry Lord Methven, and Sir James Stewart of Beith, Ancestor to the pre|sent Earl of Murray, on the paternal Line.

Which Andrew was in great Favour with King James IV. to whom he was Groom of the Stool, then called Primus Hostiarius Camerae Regisa 1.4, and thereafter made Captain of His Majesty's Castle of Dunbartonb 1.5.

This Lord in the 1534c 1.6, exchan|ged the Lordship of Evandale with Sir James Hamilton of Finnart, for Sir James's Barony of Ochiltree, and the Exchange of the Title of, Lord Evan|dale to Lord Stewart of Ochiltree, was ratified by Act of Parliament by the Regent the Earl of Arran, Anno 1543. He married Margaret, Daughter of James Earl of Arran; and dying An|no 1548, left Issue Andrew his Suc|cessor; and several Daughters, Mar|jory married to Mr. Knox the great Reformer, and Christian to John Bos|wel of Auchinleck.

Which Andrew, for Distinction, call'd, The good Lord Ochiltree, was a very glorious and happy Instrument in our blessed Reformation from Po|pery, when the Light of the Gospel began first to shine in the Western Parts, in the Minority of Queen Mary.

He married Agnes, Daughter of John Cunningham of Caprington, by whom he had Andrew Master of Ochil|tree his eldest Son, Sir James Stewart, who was Chancellor, and Earl of Arran, in the Minority of King James VI. he was looked on to be one of the evil Councellors of those Times, Sir William Stewart of Monktoun, Sir Henry Stewart, Kt. Robert Stewart of Wester-Bracko.

Andrew Master of Ochiltree, in the Lifetime of his Father, married Mar|garet, Daughter of Henry Lord Meth|ven, by whom he had Andrew, who succeeded his Grandfather, Josias Stew|art of Bonnietoun; likewise several Daughters,

Anne married to Sir. Andrew Ker of Ferniehirst, thereafter Lord Jed|burgh.

Margaret to Sir George Crawfard of Liffnorris, and had Issue.

Isobel to Gilbert Kennedy of Bargeny.

Mary to John Stewart of Trequair, Junior and had Issue.

Martha to Nicol Rutherford of Hun|dely, and had Issue.

To Andrew Lord Ochiltree succeed|ed Andrew his Grandson and Heir, who was one of the Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber to King James VI. General of the Ordnance, and Gover|nor of Edinburgh Castle in that Reign. He married Margaret, Daughter of Sir John Kennedy of Blairquhan, by whom he had Andrew Master of Ochil|tree, with whose Consent he alienated his Estate, and with his Majesty's Ap|probation and Acceptation, the Title of Lord Stewart of Ochiltree to Sir James Stewart of Killeth, Kt. his Uncle the Chancellor's Son, which the King ratified by a Charter under the Great Sea••, 9th of Jane 1615d 1.7, in Lieu whereof King James created the other Lord Stewart of Castle-Stew|art in the Kingdom of Ireland, by Letters Patent, 9th November, 1619.

This James Lord Ochiltree did af|terward in the Reign of King Charles I. accuse the Marquis of Hamilton of Treason; but when the Affair came to be try'd, the Story appear'd to be a Piece of the most notorious Folly and Forgery that ever was invented; for which he was condemned to per|petual Imprisonment in Blackness-Castle, where he continued for Twen|ty Years till the 1652, the English set him at Liberty; and he dyed before the Restauration, leaving a Grand|son to succeed him in the Honour,

William Lord Ochiltree, a very hope|ful young Nobleman, who died a|bout the Age of Sixteen at the Uni|versity of Eainburgh, the 12th of Febru|ary, 1675, with many Circumstances of Regret, of which this was not the least, that with him did the Honour

of this illustrious Family expire, and come to an End. I have been told by some who knew this Lord Och••l|tree, that he was a most hopeful Scholar, a great Friend to the Muses; and there are some Fragments of his Poetical Fancy extant, which very much discover the Excellency of his Genius that Way.

Notes

• c 1.1

  Charta in Rotulis Jacobi II.
• d 1.2

  Ibidem.
• e 1.3

  Lives of the Lords Chancellors, penes me.
• a 1.4

  Rymer's Foedera Angliae ad Annum 1503.
• b 1.5

  Charta in Pub. Arch.
• c 1.6

  Ibid.
• d 1.7

  Ibid.