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;.

NAPIER Lord NAPIER.

THO' the sirname of Napier is of very great antiquity, and were proprietors of several lands and baronies in the West of Scotland, in very early times, yet there are few of them to be found upon record, before the reign of king Alexander III.

The immediate ancestor of this noble fa∣mily, was,

I. JOHN de NAPIER, who had conside∣rable possessions of lands in Dunbarton-shire, and is mentioned in a charter of Malcolm, third earl of Lennox, to Patrick, son of sir Patrick Lindsay, anno 1280.

He is witness in another charter of the same earl, anno 1294.

He afterwards, as a baron of the shire of Dunbarton, was forced to swear fealty to king Edward 1. of England, together with Mat∣thew de Napier, anno 1296.

This John de Napier, with several others of the Scotch nobles, oblige themselves to de∣liver up the castle of Stirling to king Edward of England, anno 1304.

He died in the end of the reign of king Robert Bruce, leaving issue a son,

II. WILLIAM de NAPIER, who succeed∣ed him, and got a charter from king David Bruce of the lands of Pitfour, Picknot, &c. in Perthshire, with several others in Dunbar∣tonshire.

He was proprietor also of some lands in Haddingtonshire, as will be shown hereafter.

He was father of,

III. JOHN de NAPIER, who being a man of parts, had been employed in several ne∣gotiations with the court of England, and had a pension of fifty merks sterling per annum settled upon him for life, Johanni Napier, de regno Scotiae, armigero, &c. anno 1368.

He left issue a son and successor,

IV. WILLIAM, who got a charter under the great seal, confirming Willielmo filio quondam Johannis de Napier, the lands of Ea∣ster Garmilton, in the constabulary of Had∣dington, which formerly pertained to umquhil William, son of John de Napier, &c. the con∣firmation is dated anno 1377.

He got another charter under the great seal from king Robert III. of some lands in king's Cramond in the shire of Edinburgh, anno 1391.

He was witness also in a charter of Duncan sixth earl of Lennox, anno 1394.

He was governour of the castle of Edin∣burgh, as in a charter Alano Laudre, in which Willielmus de Napier, custos castri de Edin∣burgh, is a witness, anno 1401.

He died soon thereafter, leaving issue a son,

V. ALEXANDER NAPIER, who made a great figure in the reign of king James I. and was provost of Edinburgh, anno 1437.

He acquired the lands of Merchiston, which afterwards became the chief title of his fami∣ly.

He was succeeded by his son,

VI. Sir ALEXANDER NAPIER of Mer∣chiston, a man of good parts and learning, and in great favour with king James II. who appointed him comptroller of Scotland, anno 1450.

He went a pilgrimage to Canterbury in England, for which he obtained a safe con∣duct, anno 1451.

He was also provost of Edinburgh, in the year 1455.

He was appointed one of the Scotch com∣missioners to treat with the English, anno 1459, and is then designed Alexander Napier de Merchiston, miles.

And being also in great favour with king James III. was by that prince constituted vice∣admiral of Scotland, and one of the ambassa∣dors extraordinary to the court of England, anno 1461, and again in 1464.

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

John, his heir,—and a daughter,

Janet, married to sir James Edmonstone of that ilk.

He was succeeded by his son,

VII. JOHN, who was provost of Edinburgh,

anno 1484, and got charters under the great seal, Johanni Napier de Merchiston, of many dif∣ferent lands and baronies, particularly one up∣on his own resignation, of the lands of Balcor∣mo, in the county of Fife, dated 15th August 1487.

He married Elizabeth, daughter and co∣heiress of Murdoch Menteith of Rusky, son of John Menteith of Rusky, by lady Margaret Menteith, his spouse, daughter and one of the co heiresses of the sixth earl of Lennox, by whom he had two sons and two daughters.

1. Archibald, his heir.

2. John Napier, who got from his father the lands of Balcormo, which he disponed to sir Robert Abercrombie, 22d January, 1492.

Ist daughter, Janet, married to William Adamson of Bonally, in Edinburgh-shire, by a charter in 1535.

2. Margaret, married to—Corrie of Kelwood, by a charter in 1542.

Elizabeth Menteith, lady Rusky, spouse to John Napier of Merchiston, with consent of Archibald Napier her son, dispones to Archi∣bald earl of Argyle, the half of the lands of Inchinnan-Rusky, anno 1494.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

VIII. Sir ARCHIBALD, who got charters under the great seal, Archibaldo Napier de Merchiston, of many lands, particularly the lands of Gartness, in Dunbarton-shire, which pertained to Elizabeth Menteith, &c. inter 1493 et 1503.

This Archibald, with consent of Elizabeth lady Rusky, his mother, for the safety of the souls of Alexander Napier his goodsire, and E∣lizabeth Laudre his goodam, John his father, his own, and Catharine Douglas his spouse, &c. mortifies to a chaplain at St. Salvator's altar in St. Giles's kirk, an annualrent of ten merks yearly, 9th November 1493.

He afterwards got a new charter of the lands of Gartness, Edinbillie, &c. in Dunbar∣ton-shire, the lands of Ruskie, and others in the stewarty of Menteith, upon his own re∣signation, all erected into one free barony, to be called the barony of Edinbillie, 25th May 1509.

By the said Catharine Douglas, a daughter of the family of Lochleven, he had issue three sons.

1. Sir Alexander, his heir.

2. John.

3. William.

The two last are both mentioned in a char∣ter hereafter narrated.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

IX. Sir ALEXANDER NAPIER of Mer∣chiston, who got a charter of the whole ba∣rony of Edinbillie, to him and Janet Chif∣holme his spouse, and the heirs-male pro∣create betwixt them; which failing, to John, then to William, his brothers-german, and the heirs-male of their bodies; which failing, to the other heirs-male of his father's body; which all failing, to his own nearest heirs-male whatsomever, dated 12th June 1512.

By the said Janet, daughter of Edmund Chisholme of Cromlix, he had a son,

Alexander, his heir,—and two daugh∣ters.

1. Helen, married to sir John Melvil of Raith, ancestor of the earl of Melvil.

2. Janet, married to Archibald Bruce of Pitfouls.

He accompanied king James IV. to the fa∣tal field of Flowdon, where he was slain with his majesty, anno 1••13, and was succeeded by his only son,

X. ALEXANDER NAPIER of Merchi∣ston, who married Margaret, daughter of sir Duncan Campbell of Glenurchie, by whom he had three sons.

1. Sir Archibald, his heir.

2. Alexander, who settled in the county of Bedford in England, where his posterity still subsist with lustre.

3. Andrew, who is mentioned in a char∣ter anno 1546.

He was slain at the battle of Pinkie, anno 1547, and succeeded by his eldest son,

XI. Sir ARCHIBALD, who got charters under the great seal, Archibaldo Napier de Merchiston et Edinbillie, of many lands and baronies, inter 1548 et 1558.

He got another charter from queen Mary, declaring, that albeit the lands of Balnavade in the isle of Inchinnan, and fishing on Loch∣lomond, were holden of the earl of Lennox, and fallen to the crown by his forfeiture, yet her majesty considering, that this Archibald and his predecessors were in no sort guilty in the crimes of the earl of Lennox; and that the said Archibald, his predecessors, had accompa∣nied her majesty and her predecessors at Flow∣don and Pinkie, and were there slain; there∣fore her majesty gives to the said Archibald, the saids lands of Balnavade, with the isle, fishings thereof, &c. 14th June 1558.

He afterwards got several other charters, in which he was designed by the title of E∣dinbillie, inter 1578 et 1584.

He was in great favour with king James VI. who first conferred the honour of knight∣hood upon him, and then made him master of the mint, anno 1587.

He married, 1st, Janet, daughter of Mr. Francis Bothwel, one of the senators of the college of justice, and ancestor of lord Holy∣rood-house, by whom he had a son,

John, his heir.

He married, 2dly, Elizabeth, daughter of —Moubray of Barnbougal, by whom he had likeways a son,

Sir Alexander Napier of Lauriston, one of the senators of the college of justice, in the reign of king Charles I.—and two daugh∣ters.

1. Margaret, married to James lord O∣gilvie.

2. Agnes, married to sir Patrick Gray of Innergowric.

He died anno 1608, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

XII. JOHN NAPIER of Merchiston, a man of exquisite fine parts, great learning, and a surprizing genius for the mathematicks.

His logarithms, and other works that have been published, are lasting monuments of his sublime judgment, knowledge and penetration.

In his father's lifetime he got charters un∣der the great seal, Johanni Napier feodotario de Merchiston, of many lands, inter 1595 et 1599.

He afterwards got charters of several other lands, inter 1612 et 1618.

He married, 1st, Margaret, daughter of sir James Stirling of Keir, by whom he had a son,

Sir Archibald, afterwards lord Napier.

He married, 2dly, Agnes, daughter of sir James Chisholm of Cromlix, by whom he had five sons, and five daughters.

1. John Napier of Easter-Torrie.

2. Mr. Robert, ancestor of the Napiers of Kilcroich.

3. Mr. Alexander Napier of Gillets.

4. William Napier of Ardmore, of whom also the Napiers of Craiganet are descended.

5. Adam, progenitor of the Napiers of Blackston.

1st daughter, Margaret, married to James Stewart of Rosythe, in the county of Fife.

2. Jean, married to James Hamilton of Kilbrackmont, in the same county.

3. Elizabeth, married to William Cun∣ninghame of Craigends.

4. Agnes, married to George Drummond of Balloch.

5. Helen, married to Mr. Matthew Bris∣bane, parson of Erskine, an eminent divine. [They all had issue.]

He died anno 1617, and was succeeded by by his only son of the first marriage,

XIII. Sir ARCHIBALD, who got many charters under the great seal, domino Archi∣baldo Napier de Merchiston, of different lands and baronies, inter 1618 et 1621.

He was also a man of good parts, great pro∣bity and honour, and highly esteemed by king James VI. who appointed him one of his pri∣vy council.

In the year 1622, he was made treasurer∣depute, one of the judges of the court of ses∣sion, and lord justice-clerk.

Upon the accession of king Charles I. to the crown, he was continued in the offices of treasurer-depute and the court of session, and was, by that prince, raised to the dignity of the peerage, by the title of lord Napier of Merchiston, dated 4th May 1627, the ho∣nours being limited to the heirs-male of his body for ever.

He married lady Margaret Graham, daugh∣ter of John earl of Montrose, and sister of the great marquis, by whom he had one son,

Archibald, his heir,—and one daugh∣ter,

Elizabeth, married to sir George Stirling of Keir.

He was a great loyalist, and invariably at∣tached to the interest of the royal family, and having openly declared his dislike to the proceedings of the covenanters, was by them, without any crime alledged, imprisoned first in the castle of Edinburgh, then in the tol∣booth of Linlithgow, where he continued till he was liberate by Montrose, after the battle of Kilsyth.

He accompanied that great man to the battle of Philiphaugh, though then very old; and after their defeat he retired to the North, where, opprest with age, and grief for the troubles in which he saw his king and country involved, he died at Fincastle in A∣thole, in November 1645.

He was a man of a most unblemislied life and character, yet the covenanters threatened to have him forfeited after he was dead; but upon his friends paying to them five thou∣sand pounds, anno 1647, it was prevented.

He was succeeded by his son,

XIV. ARCHIBALD, second lord Napier, who inherited all his father's virtues, was ol∣so a firm and steady friend of the royal fami∣ly, suffered many hardships on that account, and was particularly excepted out of Crom∣wells act of indemnity, anno 1654.

He then retired to Holland, where he died in the beginning of the year 1660, having married lady Elizabeth Erskine, daughter of John earl of Marr, by whom he had two sons, and three daughters.

1. Archibald, his heir.

2. John Napier, Esq; a youth of great hopes and spirit, who was killed in the sea-fight against the Dutch, in the year 1672, without issue.

1st daughter, Jean, married to sir Thomas Nicholson of Carnock, whose son succeeded to the honours of Napier.

2. Margaret, who carried on the line of this family, as will be shown hereafter.

3. Mary, died unmarried.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

XV. ARCHIBALD, third lord Napier, a man of great integrity and honour, and high∣ly esteemed by king Charles II.

There being no male issue of the paten∣tee's body alive, and this lord being unmarri∣ed, he made a resignation of his estate and ho∣nours in the king's hands, who received it, and granted him a new patent with the for∣mer precedency,

"to him and the heirs male of his body; which failing, to the heirs female of his body, the eldest succeeding without division; which failing, to his three sisters successively, and the other heirs contained in the settlement of the e∣state."

And in case of an heir female so succeeding, they and their heirs are obli∣ged to carry the name and arms of Napier, &c. The patent is dated 7th February 1677.

He dying a batchelor, anno 1683, his e∣state and honours, in virtue of the above pa∣tent, devolved upon his nephew,

Sir Thomas Nicholson of Carnock, only son of his eldest sister, who was fourth lord Napier; but he dying unmarried in June 1686, the estate and honours then went to the second sister,

XV. MARGARET, baroness of Napier, second daughter of the second lord, who mar∣ried John Brisbane, Esq; secretary to the roy∣al navy, and resident from king Charles II. to the court of France, by whom she had a son,

John, designed master of Napier,—and a daughter,

Elizabeth, of whom more afterwards.

John master of Napier, only son of Mar∣garet the baroness, was bred in the navy, and appeared to have a great genius for that ser∣vice, but died on board the Deptford man of war on the coast of Guinea, anno 1704, with∣out issue, whereby the representation devolv∣ed upon his sister,

XVI. ELIZABETH, only daughter of Mar∣garet the baroness, who, after her brother's death, was designed mistress of Napier.

In the year 1699, she married sir William, son and heir of sir Francis Scot of Thirlestane, Bart. to whom she had a son,

Francis, now lord Napier,—and two daughters, who both died young.

Elizabeth, mistress of Napier, died anno 1705. And her mother Margaret, baroness of Napier, dying in 1706, the estate and honours devolved upon her grandson,

XVII. FRANCIS, son of sir William Scot by the said Elizabeth, and great-grand-son of the second lord.

Upon the death of his grand-mother, the baroness, he succeeded to the honours, and as∣sumed the sirname of Napier, in terms of the last mentioned patent, and is fifth lord Napier.

He married, 1st, lady Henriette Hope, daughter of Charles earl of Hopeton, by whom he had five sons, and one daughter.

1. William, master of Napier.

2. Charles, a captain in the royal navy.

3. Francis, a captain of marines.

4. John, a lieutenant in the 25th regi∣ment of foot, who died in Germany the day after the battle of Minden.

5. Mark, a captain of foot.

His daughter, Henriette, died an infant.

He married, 2dly, Mary, daughter of cap∣tain George Johnston, by whom he hath four sons, and three daughters.

1. George.

2. James, who died in 1760.

3. Patrick.

4. James-John.

1st daughter, Elizabeth, died an infant.

2. Esther.

3. Mary.

His eldest son, William, master of Napier, a captain in the royal Scotch dragoons, mar∣ried Mary-Anne, daughter of Charles eighth lord Cathcart, by whom he has one son, Francis, and two daughters, 1. Mary-Anne, 2. Henrietta.

ARMS.

Quarterly, 1st and 4th argent, a saltire engrailed between four roses gules, for Napier: 2d and 3d or, on a bend azure, a star between two crescents of the first, within a double tressure counterfloree, with flower de lis of the second, for Scot of Thirlestane.

CREST; on a wreath, a right arm coup∣ed below the elbow, and erect, grasping a crescent.

SUPPORTERS; on the dexter side, an eagle proper; on the sinister, a chevalier in a coat of mail, holding a launce with a penon, all proper, and below the shield by way of com∣partment,

a mural crown argent, masoned sable, out of which issue six launces, disposed in sal∣tire as the former.

MOTTO; R••ady, ay ready.

CHIEF SEATS.

At Ballenton in Perth-shire, Thirlestane in Berwick-shire, and Edinbillie in Stirling∣shire.

Notes

• Chartulary of Lennox, pen. MacFarlane, p. 32 and 59.
• Prvnne, vol. III. p. 655, and 65••.
• Rymer, tom. II. p. 950.
• Crawfurd's peerage, and Haddington's collections.
• MacFarlane's collect. vol. I. p. 119.
• Chart. in ro∣tul. Robert II.
• Chart. in ro∣tul. Rob. III.
• Chartulary of Levenax.
• Chart. penes comitem de Lauderdale.
• Chartulary of Newbottle.
• Chart. in pub. archiv.
• Rymer, tom. XI. p. 302.
• Chartulary of Cambusken∣neth, p. 12••.
• Rymer, tom. XI. p. 421.
• Ibid. p. 576, and 537.
• Chart. penes dominum Cathcart, et chart. in pub. archiv.
• Chart. penes dom. de Glen∣eagles.
• Chart. in pub. archiv.
• Scotstarvet's collect. p. 573.
• Ibid. p. 692.
• Ibid. p. 307.
• Chart. in pub. archiv.
• Sootstarvet's collect. p. 330.
• Ibid. p. 150.
• Ibid. p. 261, & chart. in pub. archiv.
• Charta penes comitem 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Leven.
• Crawfurd's peerage.
• Ibidem.
• MacFarlane's collect. vol. II. p. 300.
• Chart. in pub. archiv.
• Ibidem, and Scotstarvet's collect. p. 874.
• Ibidem.
• Balcarras's memoirs.
• Crawfurd's peerage.
• Chart. in pub. archiv.
• Ibidem.
• Crawfurd's peerage.
• Ibidem.
• Chart. in pub. archiv.
• Diploma in pub. archiv. haered. masc. ex corpore suo in perpe••uum.
• Guthry's me∣moirs.
• Ibidem.
• Cromwell's act of indem∣nity.
• Crawfurd's peerage.
• Diploma pe∣nes dominum Napier.