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 Earl of DUMFRIES and STAIR.

THE traditional accounts of the origin of this ancient and illustrious sirname are various. Some deduce them from a noble Hungarian, that came to Scotland with queen Margaret, in the reign of king Malcolm Canmore.

Others are of opinion, that it is a local sir∣name, and was first assumed by the proprie∣tors of the lands and barony of Crichton in Mid-Lothian.

Certain it is they were settled, and had possessions in that county, when sirnames be∣gan to be used in Scotland.

Thurstanus de Crichton was witness to the foundation charter of the abbay of Holy∣roodhouse,* 1.1 by king David I. anno 1128.

And though we cannot connect this noble family with Thurstanus, yet we shall deduce their descent from one of his posterity, who was their immediate ancestor, and proprietor of the lands and barony of Crichton, above five hundred years ago, which is fully instruc∣ted under the title of lord Crichton, and here∣after by authentic documents.

WILLIELMUS dominus CRICHTON,* 1.2 is particularly mentioned in a charter of Mald∣win earl of Lennox, in the reign of king A∣lexander II. who succeeded to the crown of Scotland, anno 1214, and died in 1249.

William was succeeded by his son,

I. THOMAS dominus de CRICHTON, who was one of the great barons of Scotland, that were forced to swear fealty to king Edward 1st of England,* 1.3 for his lands lying in Mid-Lothian, anno 1296.

By Eda his wife, he left issue three sons.

1. Nicolaus de Crichton, ancestor of lord Crichton, and viscount Frendraught.

2. William de Crichton, first of the fami∣ly of Sanquhar, progenitor of the earl of Dumfries.

3. Thomas de Crichton, &c. These three brothers, with their father and mother, are all mentioned in a donation to the monastery of Newbottle,* 1.4 made by sir William Crich∣ton, rector of Crichton, son of this Thomas, anno 1388.

II. WILLIAM, second son of Thomas do∣minus de Crichton, flourished in the reign of king Robert Bruce, and of his son king David, and was a faithful and loyal subject to both these princes.

He married Isabel de Ross, daughter and co-heiress of Robert de Ross, lord of San∣quhar, with whom he got the half of the lands and barony of Sanquhar. This is con∣firmed by a charter from king Robert Bruce,

Ricardo dicto Edgar,* 1.5 &c. cum medietate toti∣us baroniae de Sanquhar, sicut dicta baronia in∣ter Willielmum de Crichton et Isabellam spon∣sam suam, portionarios ipsius baroniae, ratione dictae sponsae ex parte una, et ipsum Ricardum ex altera, per literam de capella nostra, nuper fuit divisa, &c.

The other half of the barony of Sanquhar,* 1.6 was afterwards acquired by this family, and became their chief title; and in consequence of this marriage, they have continued to quarter the arms of Ross with their own.

He died about 1360, leaving issue by the said Isabel Ross his wife, a son and succes∣sor.

III. WILLIAM de CRICHTON, designed dominus de Sanquhar, who is a witness to a char∣ter of a donation to the abbacy of Newbottle by Alexander de Ramsay,* 1.7 dominus de Dalwol∣sy, together with William earl of Douglas, James lord Dalkeith, Henry his brother, Tho∣mas de Hope-Pringle, &c. about the year 1380.

He lived after the year 1400, and was succeeded by his son,

IV. Sir ROBERT de CRICHTON, third baron of Sanquhar, who being a man of fine parts, was in great favour with king James I. and II. was of the privy-council to both these princes, and had the honour of knighthood conferred upon him by the latter.

He got a charter under the great seal,* 1.8 of the lands and barony of Sanquhar, Roberto Crichton domino de Sanquhar militi, dated an∣no 1433.

This sir Robert,* 1.9 lord of Sanquhar, and his cousin sir William Crichton, lord of that ilk, made a mutual entail; whereby, failing heirs-male of any one of their bodies, their estates were to go to the others.* 1.10 Which was afterwards confirmed by a charter under the great seal, dated anno 1439.

He married Elizabeth, daughter and heir∣ess of sir William Erskine of Kinnoul in the shire of Perth,* 1.11 by whom he got a large ac∣cession to his estate, and by her had issue five sons and two daughters.

1. Sir Robert.

2. Alexander de Crichton, who got from his father the lands of Kilpatrick,* 1.12 upon which he got a charter under the great seal, con∣taining an entail, viz. Alexandro Crichton, fi∣lio Roberti Crichton domini de Sanquhar, mili∣tis, terrarum de Kilpatrick, &c. and the heirs∣male of his body;* 1.13 which failing, to Laurence, then to Thomas, and fourthly, to Patrick, &c. brothers german, &c. dated anno 1463. This Alexander, was ancestor of the Crich∣tons of Crawfurdstoun, and of several other families in Nithsdale.

3. Laurence de Crichton,* 1.14 who got from his father the lands of Burmuchty, upon which he got a charter under the great seal, dated anno 1467.

4. Thomas de Crichton, who died without issue.

5. Patrick de Crichton,* 1.15 who, failing heirs of his brother Laurence his body, was to suc∣ceed to the lands of Burmuchty, by the afore∣mentioned charter.

1st daughter,* 1.16 Elizabeth, married to sir William Douglas of Drumlanrig, ancestor of the Duke of Queensberry.

2. Margaret,* 1.17 married to sir David Herries of Terreagles, which appears by a charter un∣der the great seal, dated anno 1458.

He died anno 1462, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

V. Sir ROBERT, afterwards lord Crichton of Sanquhar, a man of great merit, loyalty and intrepidity, who remarkably distinguish∣ed himself in the service of king James III. in his wars against the duke of Albany and the earl of Douglas, particularly at the battle of Kirkconnel, &c. In recompence whereof, king James rewarded him with grants of se∣veral of the forfeited lands;* 1.18 upon which he got charters under the great seal, wherein his great and faithful services are fully narrated.

He got a charter from king James III.* 1.19 ap∣pointing him vicecomes de Dumfries, dated anno 1464,* 1.20 and another charter, officii coro∣natoris de Nithsdale, dated anno 1468.

In the same year, he granted a tack of the two-merk-land of Little-Corko,* 1.21 to sir Char∣les Murray of Cockpool, wherein he is design∣ed sir Robert Crichton of Sanquhar, sheriff of Dumfries.

And being now possest of a vast estate, and in great favour with the king,* 1.22 his majesty was pleased to dignisie him with the title of lord Crichton of Sanquhar, about the year 1485.

He married lady Marian Stewart,* 1.23 daughter of John, first earl of Lennox, by whom he had a son,

Robert lord Sanquhar,—and a daughter,

Marian, married to Malcolm Crawfurd of Kilbirnie, ancestor of the Viscount Gar∣nock.

He died anno 1502, and was succeeded by his only son,

VI. ROBERT,* 1.24 second lord Crichton of Sanquhar, who got a charter under the great seal, terrarum de Crawfurdstone, Balmachune, &c. dated anno 1506.

Also a charter,* 1.25 Roberto domino Crichton

de Sanquhar, terrarum baroniae de Sanquhar, Pan∣bride, &c. dated anno 1507.

He likewise got a charter from king James V. of the lands of Kilpatrick,* 1.26 Irongray, &c. to him, and Elizabeth Murray his spouse, &c. dated 1516.

He married Elizabeth,* 1.27 daughter of sir Cuth∣bert Murray of Cockpool, by whom he had a son and successor,

VII. WILLIAM, third lord Crichton of Sanquhar,* 1.28 who got a charter from queen Ma∣ry, of the lands and barony of Kinnoul in Perthshire, Willielmo domino Crichton de San∣quhar, et Elizabethae Fleming suae sponsae, &c. dated 1548.

He married Elizabeth,* 1.29 daughter of Malcolm lord Fleming, by whom he had three sons and one daughter.

1. Robert his heir.

2. Edward, who succeeded his brother.

3. John Crichton of Rayhill, who carried on the line of this family, of whom afterwards.

His daughter Agnes, married to sir Andrew Ker of Cessford, ancestor of the duke of Roxburgh, and of the marquis of Lothian.

He was killed by lord Semple, according to Buchanan, anno 1550, and was succeed∣ed by his eldest son,

VIII. ROBERT, fourth lord Crichton of Sanquhar,* 1.30 who got a charter under the great seal, Roberto, domino Crichton de Sanquhar, et Margaretae Cunninghame sponsae suae, of the eight-merk-land of Glenmucklochis, the two∣merk-lands of Farding, &c. dated anno 1558.

He married Margaret Cunninghame, daugh∣ter of—,* 1.31 But dying without is∣sue, was succeeded by his brother,

VIII. EDWARD,* 1.32 fifth lord Crichton of Sanquhar, who married Margaret, daughter of sir James Douglas of Drumlanrig, by whom he had a son and successor,

IX. ROBERT, sixth lord Crichton of Sanquhar,* 1.33 who got a charter from king James VI. of the lands of Catslack, caster and we∣ster Mountberringer, &c. dated anno 1581.

Also charters of the lands, lordship and ba∣rony of Sanquhar,* 1.34 in vicecomitatu de Dumfries, and of several other lands, too numerous to be here inserted, inter ann. 1609 et 1611.

He was much at court, and being very dexterous at all manly exercises, was taken particular notice of by king James VI.

He was a great master of the art of sen∣cing, and was engaged in a trial of skill, with one Turner a sencing-master, in which en∣counter he had the misfortune to get his eye put out; in revenge whereof he had Turner murthered, for which he was executed at Lon∣don, on 29th June 1612. He married Mary,* 1.35 daughter of sir George Farmer of Easton, in the county of Northampton, an∣cestor of the earl of Pomfret, by whom he had no issue, whereby his estate and honours devolved upon his cousin-german William Crichton, son of his uncle John of Rayhill, to whom whom we now return.

VIII. JOHN CRICHTON of Rayhill, se∣cond son of William, third lord Crichton of Sanquhar, got a charter of confirmation, under the great seal,* 1.36 of the lands of Rayhill, &c. dated 16th May, anno 1611.

He married Mary, daughter of sir John Carmichael of Crawfurd, by whom he had a son,

IX. WILLIAM CRICHTON of Rayhill, who succeeded as heir-male to his cousin Ro∣bert, 6th lord Crichton of Sanquhar, as before noticed.

He got a charter under the great seal,* 1.37 Wil∣lielmo domino Crichton de Sanquhar, terrarum baroniae de Glencairn, dated anno 1614.

And another charter, terrarum baroniae et dominii de Sanquhar, &c.* 1.38 dated 15th July 1619, proceeding upon a retour, wherein he is designed filius patrui, et legitimus et propin∣quior haeres quondam Roberti domini Crichton de Sanquhar, &c.

He was in great favour with king James VI. who created him viscount Ayr, anno 1622.

And being no less esteemed by king Charles I. was by that prince raised to the dignity of earl of Dumfries,* 1.39 viscount Ayr, lord Crich∣ton of Sanquhar, Cumnock, &c. by letters patent, to him, and the heirs-male of his bo∣dy, dated 10th June 1633.

He got also a charter under the great seal, de officiis vicecomitis et coronatoris vicecomita∣tus de Dumfries,* 1.40 dated anno 1640.

He married Eupheme, daughter of James Seton of Touch, Esq; by whom he had three sons and two daughters.

1. William.

2. Sir James Crichton of St. Leonards.

3. John, who was a brave soldier, and a colonel in the German wars.

1st daughter lady Mary, married to Ed∣ward Swift, viscount Carlingford, in the king∣dom of Ireland.

2. Lady Catharine, married to sir John Charteris of Amisfield.

He died in the year 1641, and was suc∣ceeded by his eldest son,

X. WILLIAM, second earl of Dumfries,

a man of great worth and honour, who was one of the lords of the privy council to king Charles II.

He married Penelope, daughter of sir Ro∣bert Swift, of the county of York, knight, by whom he had two sons and three daughters.

1. Robert, lord Crichton, who died young.

2. Charles, lord Crichton, who carried on the line of this family.

1st daughter, lady Elizabeth, married to Alexander earl of Eglington.

2. Lady Penelope.

3. Lady Mary.

These both died unmarried.

He made a resignation of his honours into the king's hands,* 1.41 and got a new patent, to him and his heirs whatsomever, male or fe∣male, with the precedency of the former cre∣ation, dated anno 1690, and died anno 1691.

XI. CHARLES lord Crichton, son and ap∣parent heir of William second earl of Dum∣fries, married Sarah Dalrymple, daughter of James first viscount Stair, by whom he had a son,

William, earl of Dumfries,—and four daughters,

1st Penelope, afterwards countess of Dum∣fries.

2. Margaret.

3. Mary.

4. Elizabeth.

Charles lord Crichton, dying before his father, was succeeded by his only son,

XII. WILLIAM, who succeeded also to his grandfather, anno 1691, and was third earl of Dumfries; but dying unmarried, anno 1694, his estate and honours, according to the tenor of the last mentioned patent, de∣volved upon his eldest sister,

XII. PENELOPE, countess of Dumfries, who married colonel William Dalrymple of Glenmure, Esq; son of John earl of Stair, by whom she had issue six sons and two daugh∣ters.

1. William, now earl of Dumfries and Stair.

2. John, a youth of great hopes, who be∣took himself to a military life, and was a cap∣tain of dragoons, but died unmarried.

3. James, afterwards earl of Stair, but died without issue, anno 1761.

4. Charles.

5. Hugh.

6. George.

1st daughter, lady Betty, married to John MacDowal of Freugh, Esq; and hath issue four sons and two daughters.

2. Lady Penelope.

The countess died anno 1742, and was suc∣ceeded by her son,

XIII. WILLIAM, fourth earl of Dum∣fries, who, when a youth, went into the army, served in the earl of Stair's Inniskil∣ling regiment of dragoons, and in the third regiment of foot guards twenty-six years.

He was aid-de-camp to the said earl at the battle of Dettingen, anno 1741; was creat∣ed a knight of the most noble order of the thistle, anno 1752; and was appointed the king's high commissioner for investing James, late duke of Hamilton, with the same order in March 1755.

Upon the death of his brother, James late earl of Stair, he succeeded also to these ho∣nours, anno 1761, and is the fourth earl of Stair.

He married lady Anne Gordon, daughter of William earl of Aberdeen, by whom he had a son,

William, lord Crichton, a boy of a fine genius, who died at Marybone school, in the 10th year of his age, much regreted.

The countess died anno 1755, and the earl is still a widower.

ARMS.

Quarterly, 1st and 4th, or, on a saltire azure, nine lozenges of the first, for Dal∣rymple: 2d and 3d, or, a cheveron cheque argent and sable, between three water budg∣ets of the last, for Ross: and over all, by way of surtout, an eseutcheon argent charged with a lion rampant azure, for Crichton.

CREST; on a wreath, a dragons head couped vert, spouting fire.

SUPPORTERS; two lions azure, each crowned with an earl's coronet or.

MOTTO; God send grace.

CHIEF SEATS.

At Sanquhar in the county of Dumfries, and at. Dumfries-house in Ayr-shire.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Dalrymple's historical col∣lect. p. 418.
• * 1.2

  Chartul. of Levenax, penes Mac∣Farlane, p. 44.
• * 1.3

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

  Chartul. of Newbottle, penes Mac∣farlane, p. 6••••
• * 1.5

  Chart. in ar∣chiv. Roberti I. rotul. I.
• * 1.6

  Chart. in pub. archiv. and Dalrymple's collections, p. 419.
• * 1.7

  Chartul. of Newbottle, penes Mac∣Farlane p. 53.
• * 1.8

  Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.9

  Ibidem.
• * 1.10

  Ibidem.
• * 1.11

  Ibidem.
• * 1.12

  Ibidem.
• * 1.13

  Ibidem.
• * 1.14

  Ibidem.
• * 1.15

  Ibidem.
• * 1.16

  Chart. penes ducem de Queensberry.
• * 1.17

  Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.18

  Ibid. ad an∣num 1464, & 1465.
• * 1.19

  Ibidem.
• * 1.20

  Ibidem.
• * 1.21

  Chart. penes vicecom. de Stormont.
• * 1.22

  Crawfurd's peerage, and Scots comp.
• * 1.23

  Hist. of the Stewarts, p. 153.
• * 1.24

  Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.25

  Ibidem.
• * 1.26

  Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.27

  Charta penes vicecom. de Stormont.
• * 1.28

  Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.29

  Ibid. ad an. 1540.
• * 1.30

  Ibidem.
• * 1.31

  Ibid. ad ann. 1558.
• * 1.32

  Chart. penes James Veitch of Elliock, one of the se∣nators of the college of ju∣stice.
• * 1.33

  Chart. in pub. arch.
• * 1.34

  Ibidem.
• * 1.35

  Peerage of England, vol. III. p. 502.
• * 1.36

  Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.37

  Ibidem.
• * 1.38

  Ibidem, and Retour in Chancery.
• * 1.39

  Dipl. in pub. archivis. Haer. masc. ex cor∣pore suo, ad ann. 1633.
• * 1.40

  Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.41

  Dipl. in pub. archiv. haered. masc. seu fe∣mellis, &c.