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;.

MACLELLAN Lord KIRKCUDBRIGHT.

THE sirname of MacLellan is of very great antiquity in the south of Scotland. They had vast possessions in lands, and were very numerous and powerful.

David MacLellan is mentioned in a char∣ter of king Alexander II.* 1.1 the third year of his reign, which was anno dom. 1217.

All our historians agree, that the Mac∣Lellans of Bombie were heretable sheriffs of Galloway,* 1.2 flourished with great lustre for ma∣ny ages; and there were twelve knights of that sirname in the south of Scotland at one time, of which Bombie was the chief.

But as there are few of them mention∣ed in our publick records, before the reign of king James I. we shall from that aera be∣gin to deduce their descent.

I. Sir PATRICK MACLELLAN of Bom∣bie, lived about 350 Years ago,* 1.3 and married a daughter of sir Andrew Gray of Broxmouth, ancestor of lord Gray, by whom he had a son and heir,

II. Sir PATRICK MACLELLAN of Bom∣bie, who flourished in the reigns of king James I.* 1.4 and II. and having been prevailed upon to take part with lord Herries his rela∣tion against the earl of Douglas, was besieged in his own castle of Raeberry, and being at last forced to surrender, was put to death an∣no 1452, leaving issue a son,

Sir William, of whom afterwards.

The clan MacLellan were so incensed at their chief's being slain, that they all joined, took up arms,* 1.5 and committed vast depreda∣tions upon the Douglases territories, in de∣fiance of all law and justice, for which king James outlawed and forseited them, and the estate of Bombie was thereupon annexed to the crown.

About this time the county of Galloway was greatly infested with a company of rob∣bers or gypsies from Ireland, whereupon the king issued a proclamation, promising a con∣siderable reward to any who would disperse them, and bring in their captain dead or alive; which was at last performed by the said sir William,* 1.6 son of the last sir Patrick of Bombie, who, with the assistance of his friends, dispers∣ed that lawless crew, killed their chiestain, and brought his head upon the point of his sword to his majesty; for which gallant behaviour the king put him immediately in possession of his barony of Bombie: and to perpetuate the memory of that brave action, he took for his crest, a Moor's head on the point of a sword, with Think on for his motto.

III. Sir WILLIAM MACLELLAN now a∣gain of Bombie, was ever after in great favour both with king James II. and III.

He got charters under the great seal,* 1.7 Wil∣lielmo MacLellan de Bombie, of the lands of Lo-fergus, &c. &c. inter 1470, et 1474.

He left issue a son and successor,

IV. Sir THOMAS MACLELLAN of Bom∣bie, a man of great worth and honour, and a faithful and loyal subject, both to king James III. and IV.

He was possest of a vast estate,* 1.8 which ap∣pears by his charters under the great seal, Thomae MacLellan de Bombie, militi, of many different lands and baronies, inter 1488, et 1501.

He married Agnes, daughter of sir James Dunbar of Mochrum, by whom he had three sons.

1. Sir William, his heir.

2. Gilbert, of whom the present lord Kirk∣cudbright is lineally descended, as will be shown hereafter.

3. John MacLellan of Achlane, whose male line is extinct, and his estate returned to the family.

He died anno 1507, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

V. Sir WILLIAM, who got charters un∣der the great seal,* 1.9 Willielmo MacLellan de Bombie, of several lands and baronies, inter 1507 et 1512.

He was in great favour with king James IV.* 1.10 whom he accompanied to the fatal field of Flowdon, where he lost his life, anno 1513, leaving issue, by Elizabeth Mure his wife, a son and successor,

VI. Sir THOMAS, who got charters un∣der the great seal,* 1.11 Thomae MacLellan de Bom∣bie, of the lands of Plintoun, Blackmark, and several others, inter 1516 et 1520.

This sir Thomas had the misfortune to be killed in the street of Edinburgh,* 1.12 in a fami∣ly feud between him and his neighbours the barons of Drumlanrig and Lochinvar, in Ju∣ly 1526, leaving issue a son,

VII. Sir THOMAS who succeeded him.

He got a charter, under the great seal,* 1.13 of all the lands that his father sir Thomas, and his

grandfather sir William died possest of, do∣mino Thomae MacLellan de Bombie, &c. anno 1542.

He married Helen,* 1.14 daughter of sir James Gordon of Lochinvar, by whom he had a son,

VIII, Sir THOMAS who succeeded him, and got charters under the great seal,* 1.15 domino Thomae MacLellan de Bombie, of several lands and baronies, inter 1590, et 1595.

He married Grizel Maxwell, daughter of John lord Herries, by whom he had three sons.

1. Sir Robert, afterwards lord Kirkcudbright.

2. William MacLellan of Glenshannoch, whose son Thomas succeeded to the honours of Kirkcudbright, of whom afterwards.

3. John MacLellan of Bourg, whose son John succeeded also to the lordship of Kirkcud∣bright, as will be shown hereafter.

Sir Thomas died anno 1607, and was suc∣ceeded by his eldest son,

IX. Sir Robert, who, in his father's life∣time, got a charter under the great seal,* 1.16 Ro∣berto filio et haeredi apparenti domini Thomae MacLellan de Bombie, terrarum baroniae de Bombiae, &c. anno 1595.

He was served and retoured heir to his fa∣ther sir Thomas,* 1.17 anno 1608.

He got a charter under the great seal,* 1.18 do∣mino Roberto MacLellan de Bombie, militi, of several lands, anno 1610.

He afterwards got charters under the great seal,* 1.19 of many other lands and baronies, inter 1612, et 1616.

He was a man of great worth and merit, and highly esteemed by king James VI. who conferred the honour of knighthood upon him, and made him one of the gentlemen of his bed-chamber; and being in no less favour with king Charles I. was by that prince first created a baronet, then raised to the dignity of the peerage, by the title of lord baron of Kirkcudbright,* 1.20 25th May 1633, by patent to his heirs male general, they carrying the name and arms of MacLellan, &c.

He married, 1st, Margaret, daughter of sir Matthew Campbell of Loudoun, by whom he had a daughter.

Marian, married to sir Robert Maxwell of Orchardtown.

He married, 2dly, Mary Montgomery, daughter of Hugh viscount Airds, of the king∣dom of Ireland, by whom he had no children.

And dying without issue-male anno 1641, his estate and honours devolved upon his ne∣phew and heir-male,

X. THOMAS MACLELLAN, son of his brother William of Glenskennoch before mentioned, who was next brother to the pa∣tentee.

He was enrolled,* 1.21 and sat in the parliament as a peer, from 1641, to 1647, and was second lord Kirkcudbright.

He also got charters under the great seal,* 1.22 Thomae domino Kirkcudbright, of several lands inter 1642, et 1645.

He married lady Janet Douglas, daughter of William earl of Queensberry; but dying without issue, anno 1648, was succeeded in his estate and honours by his cousin-german and heir-male;

X. JOHN MACLELLAN, son of his uncle John of Bourg, before mentioned, who was youngest brother to the patentee.

This John was served and retoured heir to Thomas last lord Kirkcudbright,* 1.23 his uncle's son, anno 1648, and was third lord Kirkcud∣bright.

He was a great loyalist, and raised a regi∣ment of foot, upon his own charges for the king's service, whereby he greatly incumber∣ed his estate, and suffered many other hard∣ships during the usurpation.

However, he lived to see the restoration,* 1.24 was entered upon the rolls of parliament as a peer, by the title of lord Kirkcudbright, anno 1661.

He died anno 1664, and having never been able to repay the heavy debts he had contracted during the civil war, his estate was evicted by his creditors.

By Anne, daughter of sir Robert Max∣well of Orchardtown, he left issue an infant son,

XI. WILLIAM, fourth lord Kirkcudbright, who succeeded to nothing but an empty title; and dying a child soon after his father, the honours devolved upon James MacLellan, the next heir-male, being nephew to John the third lord. Accordingly,

XI. JAMES MACLELLAN designed of Ach∣lane,* 1.25 was served, retoured and cognosced heir to John lord Kirkcudbright his uncle, anno 1729, and was the fifth lord Kirkcudbright.

But he dying also without male issue, in him ended the whole male line of William, eldest son of sir Thomas MacLellan of Bom∣bie, who married Agnes, daughter of sir James Dunbar of Mochrum, as before nar∣rated, in N^o. IV. of this account.

The representation therefore devolved up∣on William MacLellan of Bourness, being li∣neally descended from Gilbert, second son of the said sir Thomas. To him therefore we now return.

V. GILBERT MACLELLAN was second son of sir Thomas of Bombie, by the foresaid Ag∣nes Dunbar. In a tack in the public register, this Gilbert is designed second son of sir Tho∣mas MacLellan of Bombie,* 1.26 anno 1503; and in a charter to John Dunbar of Mochrum, he is designed brother-german to sir William MacLellan of Bombie, &c. anno 1506.

He married a daughter of lord Herries, by whom he had a son,

VI. WILLIAM MACLELLAN. There is a lease or tack of the lands of Grange-San∣nick, to the above Gilbert MacLellan and this William, then designed his son and ap∣parent heir, anno 1534.

After Gilbert's death,* 1.27 William gets the tack renewed, and is then designed son and heir of Gilbert, &c. anno 1565.

He afterwards acquired the lands of Grange∣Sannick, alias Balmagan, upon which he got a charter under the great seal, anno 1588, and is then designed William MacLellan of Balmagan, &c.

By Margaret Gordon his spouse, he had a son,

VII. THOMAS MACLELLAN. In a char∣ter by Elizabeth MacInsterre to her son,* 1.28 William MacLellan in Balmagan, and Tho∣mas his son and apparent heir are witnesses, anno 1573.

There is a charter of the said William MacLellan, then designed of Balmagan, with consent of Margaret Gordon his spouse,* 1.29 to Thomas MacLellan his son and apparent heir, of the lands of Balmagan, &c. anno 1605; and this Thomas immediately after, is retour∣ed heir to his said father, in the lands of Bal∣magan, alias Grange-Sannick, &c.

He married—daughter of—, by whom he had a son,

VIII. JAMES MACLELLAN. In an ob∣ligement granted by John Gordon of Gillies∣toun,* 1.30 to Thomas MacLellan of Balmagan, this James MacLellan, designed younger of Balmagan, his son and apparent heir is a wit∣ness; and in a sasine following upon a charter granted the said Thomas, this James designed as above, consents thereto, anno 1622.

He married—daughter of—, by whom he had a son,

IX. ROBERT MACLELLAN. In a tack granted by Florence MacGhie to Gilbert Gourlay,* 1.31 James MacLellan of Balmagan and Robert his son and heir are witnesses, anno 1637.

John lord Kirkcudbright ratifies a dispositi∣on on to Robert MacLellan of Balmagan,* 1.32 oye, heir and successor to Thomas MacLellan of Balmagan, his grandfather, anno 1655.

There are several other vouchers of this Robert in the public register, anno 1662, &c.

When the lands of Balmagan were appris∣ed from him by a decreet of the lords of ses∣sion,* 1.33 anno 1666, he is then designed of Bour∣ness, &c.

He married—daughter of— by whom he had a son,

X. WILLIAM MACLELLAN of Bourness. There is a contract of marriage, the parties contracters whereof are, Robert MacLellan of Bourness and William his son and heir,* 1.34 on the one part, and Agnes, daughter of Wil∣liam MacCulloch of Nether-Ardwell with consent of her father, on the other part. By which contract this William and the said Ag∣nes his spouse, are put in possession of the lands of Bourness, &c. anno 1672.

By the said Agnes MacCulloch, he had a son and heir,

XI. WILLIAM MACLELLAN of Bour∣ness, who was retoured and cognosced heir∣male to his father, anno 1696.

This William, upon the death of James MacLellan, fifth lord Kirkcudbright, without male-issue, claimed these honours as next heir∣male, anno 1734, hath voted as a peer at se∣veral elections for members of parliament since, and is the sixth lord Kirkcudbright.

He married Margaret Murray, by whom he hath a son,

John, master of Kirkcudbright, an officer in the army.

ARMS.

Or, two cheverons sable.

SUPPORTERS; on the dexter side, a man armed at all points, holding a batton in his hand; and on the sinister, a horse furnished.

CREST; a naked arm, supporting, on the point of a sword, a Moor's head.

MOTTO; Think on.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Chartulary of Murray.
• * 1.2

  Crawfurd's peerage.
• * 1.3

  Charta penes dom. Gray.
• * 1.4

  Crawfurd's peerage,
• * 1.5

  Ibidem.
• * 1.6

  Ibidem. Mac∣Kenzie, Nis∣bet, &c.
• * 1.7

  Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.8

  Ibidem.
• * 1.9

  Ibidem.
• * 1.10

  Crawfurd's peerage.
• * 1.11

  Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.12

  Crawfund's peerage.
• * 1.13

  Ibidem.
• * 1.14

  Chart. in archiv. fam. de Kenmure.
• * 1.15

  Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.16

  Ibidem.
• * 1.17

  Retour in Chancery.
• * 1.18

  Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.19

  Ibidem.
• * 1.20

  Diploma in pub. archiv.
• * 1.21

  Records of parliament.
• * 1.22

  Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.23

  Retour in chancery.
• * 1.24

  Records of parliament.
• * 1.25

  Retour in chancery.
• * 1.26

  In the general register.
• * 1.27

  All these writs in the general regist.
• * 1.28

  Ibidem.
• * 1.29

  Retour in chancery.
• * 1.30

  In the general register.
• * 1.31

  Ibidem.
• * 1.32

  Ibidem.
• * 1.33

  Ibidem.
• * 1.34

  Ibidem.