Page 387
KEITH Earl of KINTORE.
WILLIAM, sixth earl Marishal, the twentieth generation of that most noble and antient family, married lady Mary Erskine, daughter of John earl of Mar, by lady Mary Stewart, daughter of Esme duke of Richmond and Lennox, by whom he had issue three sons.
1. William.
2. George.
These two were successively earls Marishal.
3. Sir John, afterwards earl of Kintore.
1. Sir JOHN de KEITH, third son of Wil∣liam sixth earl Marishal, a man of great loy∣alty, honour, and integrity, a firm and steady friend both to king Charles I. and II.
He had the principal hand in preserving the regalia of Scotland (viz. the crown, sword, and scepter) from falling into the hands of Oliver Cromwel: they had been private∣ly conveyed from the castle of Edinburgh to that of Dunotter for safety.
At last when Oliver Cromwel became possessed of the whole country, except some few castles, of which Dunotter was one, tho' it was also besieged; but before it's surren∣der to the English, this sir John, with the assistance of some trusty friends, got the re∣galia conveyed away, and deposited them un∣der ground in the church of king Kenneth, (commonly called Kineff,) about four miles from Dunotter.
Sir John made his escape beyond seas, and immediately, upon his landing, wrote to his friends in Scotland, that he was safely arriv∣ed with the regalia, &c. which letter being industriously suffered to fall into the hands of the English, they thereupon gave over all further hopes of finding them.
King Charles II. immediately upon his re∣storation, in consideration of sir John's con∣stant loyalty,* 1.1 was pleased to create him knight maris••••••, anno 1600, which office was made hereditary in his family, with an annual pen∣sion sui••••ble to the office.
He afterwards ••••ot a charter under the great seal,* 1.2 domino Johanni Keith, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mar•• scallano, terra•••••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 de Ca••kie••en, &c. anno 1661.
King Charles appointed him one of the lords of his privy council,* 1.3 and raised him to the dignity of the peerage,* 1.4 by the title of earl of Kintore, lord Keith of Inverurie, and Keith∣hall, on 26th June 1677.
He was also appointed ••reasurer-depute, anno 1682, in which office he continued till the treasury was put into commission in the reign of king James VII.
He married lady Margaret Hamilton, daughter of Thomas earl of Haddington, by whom he had a son,
William, his heir,—and two daughters.
1. Lady Jean, married to sir William Forbes of Monimusk.
2. Lady Margaret, married to Gavin Ha∣milton of Raploch, Esq;.
He was succeeded by his son,
II. WILLIAM, second earl of Kintore, and knight-marishal of Scotland, who marri∣ed Catharine Murray, daughter of David vis∣count Stormont, by whom he had two sons, and two daughters.
1. John, his heir.
2. William, who succeeded his brother.
1st daughter, lady Catharine, married to David lord Halkerton, to whom she had a nu∣merous issue.
2. Lady Jean.
He was succeeded by his eldest son,
III. JOHN, third earl of Kintore, who married miss Erskine, daughter of James Er∣skine of Grange, Esq; one of the senators of the college of justice, and brother of John late earl of Mar; but hedying without issue, his estate and honours went to his brother,
III. WILLIAM, fourth earl of Kintore, who also dying without issue, anno 1761, the honours became extinct; but earl Marishal succeeded to his estate as heir of entail, &c.
ARMS.
Quarterly, first and fourth gules, a s••epter and sword saltyre ways, with an imperial crown in chief, all proper, within an orle of eight this••les or, as a coat of augmentation for preserving of the regalia; second and third argent, a chief pallee of six pieces gules and or, the paternal coat of Keith.
SUPPORTERS; two ••hevaliers compleatly armed, with pikes in their hands, all proper.
CREST; an aged lady, from the middle upward, holding in her right hand a garland of laurel proper.
MOTTO; Quae a••issa salva.
CHIEF SEAT.
At Kirkhall near Inverury, Aberdeen-shire.