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;.

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Title
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;.
Author
Douglas, Robert, Sir, 1694-1770.
Publication
Edinburgh :: printed by R. Fleming, and sold by him, and the other booksellers in Edinburgh; and at London by A. Miller, R. Baldwin, D. Wilson, and T. Durham,
1764.
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"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;." In the digital collection Eighteenth Century Collections Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/004896980.0001.000. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 8, 2025.

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COCHRAN Earl of DUNDONALD.

THE sirname of Cochran, is certainly lo∣cal, and was assumed by the proprietors of the lands and barony of Cochran in Ren∣frew-shire, soon after sirnames began to be us∣ed in Scotland.

The immediate ancestor of this noble fa∣mily, was

I. WALDEVUS de COCHRAN, who flou∣rished in the reign of king Alexander III.* 1.1 and is witness to the charter which Dungallus, fi∣lius Swayn, gave to Walter Stewart earl of Mentoith, of the lands of Skipnish in Argyle∣shire, anno 1262.

He died before 1296, and was succeeded by his son,

II. WILLIAM de COCHRAN,* 1.2 who was one of the Scotch barons, that swore sealty to king Edward I. of England, anno 1296.

Soon after this aera, there was a man of rank named John of Cochran, who made a great figure in the reign of king Robert Bruce, and got a charter from that great prince, of the lands of Barbachly, for his good and faith∣ful services,* 1.3 &c. but as we cannot connect him with that noble family, we shall only add here, that of this John, Harry Cochran, now of Barbachly, Esq; is lineally descended.

The above William, was father of

III. JOHN de COCHRAN, who is witness to the election of James abbot of Paisley,* 1.4 the 17th year of the reign of king David Bruce, anno 1346.

He left issue a son and successor,

IV. GOSELINE de COCHRAN, who made a considerable figure in the reign of king Da∣vid Bruce.

He appears to have been in great favour with king Robert II. when earl of Strathern, and was witness to many of his charters before he succeeded to the crown of Scotland, parti∣cularly to a donation he made to the monastery of Paisley, of the lands of Sanquhar,* 1.5 Cambus∣lang, Dularigs, &c. anno 1367.

He died in the beginning of 1368.

V. WILLIAM de COCHRAN, son and ap∣parent

Page 216

heir of Goseline, got a charter in his father's lifetime,* 1.6 from John de Lindsay, domi∣nus de Dunrod, of the lands of Long-newton, &c. Willielmo de Cochran, filio Goselini, &c. anno 1360.

He died before his father, leaving issue a son,

VI. ROBERT de COCHRAN, who suc∣ceeded to his grandfather, and made a resigna∣tion of all right and title he had to part of the lands of Kilmahew, in favours of Donald Nap, son and heir of William Nap, and his attor∣nies, Malcolm Fleming lord of Biggar, &c. to which Richard Kinnaird of that ilk, and Alexander Abercrombie are witnesses. And the resignation,* 1.7 in which this Robert is de∣signed dominus ejusd. or lord of that ilk, is dated anno 1368.

He died before the year 1389, and was succeeded by his son,

VII. WILLIAM de COCHRAN, dominus ejusd. who got a charter from king Robert II. upon his own resignation, of the lands and barony of Cochran,* 1.8 in vicecom. de Renfrew, to be held as freely, and in as ample a manner, as any of his predecessors held the same, dat∣ed at Kilwinning, the 22d September, 1389. And being in great favour with king Ro∣bert III. obtained from that prince, for his good and faithful services, an annuity of for∣ty shillings sterling, out of the profits of the burgh of Ruglane,* 1.9 dated the 24th day of Fe∣bruary, 1391.

About this time, there was one Gilbertus de Cochran, witness to a charter of Duncan earl of Lennox, to sir Robert Kennedy of Dunnure,* 1.10 dated anno 1391, supposed to be the brother of this William, but we can give no account of his posterity.

William died in the beginning of 1392, and left issue a son,

VIII. ROBERT COCHRAN dominus ejusd. who succeeded him, and, immediately upon his father's death, sold his barony of Long-new∣ton, which appears by a charter of vendition of these lands,* 1.11 to sir Henry Douglas of Loch∣leven, from Robert, son and heir of William de Cochran, &c. dated anno 1392.

He lived to a great age, died about 1450, and was succeeded by his son,

IX. ALANUS de COCHRAN, who is wit∣ness in a charter of a donation,* 1.12 by Robert lord Lyle, to the monks of Paisley, of a fishing on the river Clyde at Crokatshot, pro salute ani∣mae suae, &c. anno 1452, in which he is de∣signed Alanus de Cochran, armiger.

He got a charter under the great seal,* 1.13 of the lands of Grugfate, &c. anno 1468.

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

X. ROBERT de COCHRAN,* 1.14 his apparent heir, who died before his father, leaving is∣sue a son,

XI. JOHN de COCHRAN, dominus ejusd. who succeeded his grandfather,* 1.15 and was in∣feft and seized in his lands of Cochran, Corse∣ford, &c. anno 1498.

He obtained a licence under the great seal, from king James IV. empowering him to dis∣pose of his lands of Easter-cochran,* 1.16 in Renfrew∣shire, or the lands of Pitfour in Perth-shire, dated at Edinburgh, 31st October 1509.

He accordingly sold part of his lands of Co∣chran, to James archbishop of Glasgow, anno 1519, by a deed,* 1.17 to which his seal is appen∣ded, bearing three boars heads erazed, and circumscribed, sigillum Johannis de Cochran, &c.

He died anno 1538,* 1.18 leaving issue by Eliza∣beth, daughter of John Semple of Fulwood, his wife, a son and successor,

XII. JOHN COCHRAN of that ilk,* 1.19 who was served and retoured heir to his father, 12th May, 1539.

He married Mary, daughter of—Lind∣say of Dunrod, an ancient family in Renfrew∣shire, and died anno 1557, leaving issue a son,

XIII. WILLIAM COCHRAN of that ilk, who succeeded him,* 1.20 and got charters under the great seal from queen Mary, of the lands and barony of Cochran, and several others, inter 1558 et 1560.

He was a man of great sagacity, oeconomy and prudence, and greatly adorned and beau∣tified the ancient seat of the family of Coch∣ran with large plantations and buildings.

He married Margaret, daughter of sir Ro∣bert Montgomery of Skelmorly, in the shire of Ayr, by Mary his wife, daughter of Ro∣bert lord Semple, by whom he had three daughters.

Whether the two eldest (whose names are not come to our knowledge) had any successi∣on, we cannot pretend to determine; but he was succeeded by

Elizabeth his third daughter, as will be shown hereafter.

William having no appearance of any male issue, made a resignation and entail of his whole estate, in favours of his daughter Eliza∣beth, and the heirs-male of her body, whom

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failing, to several others particularly specified in the deed of entail, which is dated, anno 1593, any person so succeeding being oblig∣ed to carry the name and arms of Cochran, &c.

XIV. ELIZABETH, daughter and heiress of William Cochran of that ilk, married to her cousin Alexander Blair, a younger son of John Blair of that ilk, (an ancient and honou∣rable family in the shire of Renfrew) by Gri∣zel his wife, daughter of Robert lord Semple, who, immediately after his marriage, assumed the name and arms of Cochran, according to the above entail; all which appears from a charter under the great seal of king James VI. of the lands and barony of Cochran,* 1.21 &c. to and in favours of Alexander Cochran, alias Blair, third lawful son of John Blair of that ilk, and Elizabeth Cochran his spouse, third lawful daughter of William Cochran of that ilk, dated 7th February 1601.

He got also a charter under the great seal,* 1.22 of several other lands, Alexandro Cochran de eodem, dated anno 1618.

He was a man of singular virtue and probity, and greatly improved the estate of the family.

By the said Elizabeth Cochran, he left is∣sue seven sons and two daughters.

1. Sir John his heir.

2. Sir William of Cowdon, who succeed∣ed his brother.

3. Alexander, a great loyalist,* 1.23 and a colo∣nel in the army of king Charles I. whose grandson was laird of Manshiel.

4. Hugh, ancestor of the Cochrans of Fer∣guslee, also a great loyalist, who first served in the wars abroad,* 1.24 under the great general Gustavus Adolphus, was afterwards a colonel in king Charles I.* 1.25 his army, and was particularly excepted from pardon by the parliament, anno 1646.

5. Sir Bryce Cochran, who was likewise a colonel in the royal army, from the beginning of the civil war, till he lost his life in the king's service, anno 1650.

6. Arthur, also a captain in the royal army.

7. Captain Gavin, ancestor of the Coch∣rans of Craigmuir.

1st daughter Elizabeth, married to John Lennox of Woodhead, Esq;.

2. Grizel, married to Thomas Dunlop of House-hill.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

XV. Sir JOHN COCHRAN of that ilk, a man of singular worth and honour, a firm and steady friend to king Charles I. was a colonel in his army, and in great favour with his ma∣jesty.

In 1644, he was sent ambassador to solli∣cit assistance from several princes in behalf of the king,* 1.26 and acquitted himself with great prudence, conduct and fidelity.

After the murder of the king, he attend∣ed king Charles II. to foreign parts, who hav∣ing great confidence in his abilities and loyal∣ty, sent him on a particular embassy into Po∣land, anno 1650; but before his return, the king and his army were overthrown at Wor∣cester.

Sir John remained with his majesty dur∣ing his exile, and married—Butler, a daughter of the family of Ormond; but dy∣ing a little before the restoration, without is∣sue, his estate devolved upon his brother,

XV. Sir WILLIAM COCHRAN of Cowdon, before-mentioned, a man of great parts and learning, and though, in the beginning of the civil war, he appeared to be on the parlia∣ment's side, and was for some time employed in their service, yet he was inviolably at∣tached to the interest of the royal family. He eminently distinguished himself in their service upon every occasion; particularly in the parliament 1647,* 1.27 of which he was a member, and none was more forward than sir William in raising forces for the relief of the king, who, on account of his great me∣rit and faithful services, was pleased to raise him to the dignity of the peerage,* 1.28 by the title of lord Cochran, by patent to the heirs-male of his body, dated at Scarborough, 27th De∣cember 1647.

Some little time thereafter he acquired the lordship of Paisley, which became one of the chief seats of the family, and where he af∣terwards lived in great splendor and magnifi∣cence; and though it is alledged by bishop Guthrie, that he was one of the Scotch lords who voted for the delivering up of the king to the English, yet it appears he continued steady in his loyalty,* 1.29 for which the common∣wealth of England imposed no less a fine up∣on him than five thousand pounds Sterling, anno 1654.

And as none had contributed more heartily and sincerely to bring about a restoration than lord Cochran, so it was no sooner ac∣complished than he was made one of the lords of the privy council to his majesty,* 1.30 anno 1660, and got charters, under the great seal, Willielmo domino Cochran de Paisley et Dun∣donald, of several lands and baronies, inter 1660 et 1668.

He was also constituted one of the commis∣sioners of his majesty's treasury and exche∣quer, and having discharged his duty in eve∣ry station of life to the satisfaction of the

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king and the whole nation, he was further dignified with the title of earl of Dundonald,* 1.31 by patent to the heirs-male of his body, dat∣ed 12th of May 1669.

He married Eupheme, daughter of sir Wil∣liam Scot of Ardross, in Fife-shire, by whom he had two sons, and one daughter.

1. William lord Cochran.

2. Sir John Cochran of Ochiltree, ancestor of the present earl of Dundonald, of whom more hereafter.

His daughter, lady Grizel, married to George lord Ross, and had issue.

The earl died anno 1686.

XVI. WILLIAM lord Cochran, eldest son and apparent heir of William first earl of Dun∣donald, married lady Catharine Kennedy, daughter of John earl of Cassilis,* 1.32 by lady Jean Hamilton, daughter of Thomas earl of Had∣dington, by whom he had four sons, and three daughters.

1. John, afterwards earl of Dundonald.

2. William of Kilmaronock, whose son, Thomas, succeeded to the earldom, as will be shown hereafter.

3. Thomas of Pollskelly, who married Di∣ana, daughter and heiress of sir David Cun∣ningham of Robertland, without issue.

4. Alexander of Bonshaw, whose male-line is extinct.

1st daughter, Margaret, married to Alex∣ander earl of Eglington, and had issue.

2. Helen, married to Hugh earl of Suther∣land, and had issue.

3. Jean, married, 1st, to John viscount of Dundee; 2dly, to William viscount of Kilsyth.

And dying anno 1679, was succeeded by his eldest son,

XVII. JOHN, who succeeding also to his grand-father, anno 1686, was second earl of Dundonald.

He was a man of great probity and ho∣nour,* 1.33 and married lady Susanna, daughter of William and Anne duke and dutchess of Ha∣milton, by whom he had two sons.

1. William, his heir.

2. John, who succeeded his brother.

He died in the flower of his age, anno 1691, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

XVIII. WILLIAM, third earl of Dun∣donald, who dying unmarried, anno 1705, his estate and honours devolved upon his bro∣ther,

XVIII. JOHN, fourth earl of Dundonald, who was elected one of the sixteen peers for the British parliament, called to meet in No∣vember 1713, and was made colonel of the fourth troop of horse guards, by her majesty queen Anne.

He married, 1st, lady Anne Murray, daughter of Charles earl of Dunmore, son of John marquis of Athole, by lady Amelia Stanly, daughter of James earl of Derby, by whom he had a son,

William, his heir,—and three daughters.

1. Lady Anne, married to James duke of Hamilton, and was mother of James the late duke.

2. Lady Susan, married to Charles earl of Strathmore, without issue.

3. Lady Catharine, married to Alexander earl of Galloway, to whom she hath a nume∣rous issue.

He died anno 1720, and was succeeded by his only son,

XIX. WILLIAM, fifth earl of Dundo∣nald, who dying unmarried, anno 1724, in him ended the male-line of John second earl of Dundonald, eldest son of William lord Coch∣ran, whereby the honours devolved upon the next heir-male, Thomas, son of William of Kilmaronock, to whom we now return.

XVII. WILLIAM COCHRAN of Kilmaro∣nock, second son of William lord Cochran, eldest son of William first earl of Dundonald, was member of parliament for the burghs of Wigton, &c. and one of the commissioners for keeping his majesty's signet, &c.

He married lady Grizel Graham, daughter of James marquis of Montrose, by whom he had a son,

Thomas, his heir,—and five daughters.

1. Catharine, married to David Smith of Methven, Esq; in the shire of Perth, and hath issue a son, David, now of Methven, and a daughter, Christian, married to John Craigie of Dumbarnie, Esq;

2. Isabella, married to Mr. John Ogilvie of Balbegno, advocate.

3. Anne, died unmarried.

4. Christian.

5. Grizel, married to John Cochran of Ferguslee.

He was succeeded by his son,

XVIII. THOMAS COCHRAN of Kilmaro∣nock, who, upon the death of William the fifth earl, succeeded to the estate and honours as heir-male, anno 1724, before noticed, and was the sixth earl of Dundonald.

He married Catharine, daughter of lord Basil Hamilton of Baldoon, by whom he had a son,

Page 219

William, his heir,—and two daughters.

1. Lady Mary.

2. Lady Catharine, married to captain Wood.

He died anno 1737, and was succeeded by his son,

XIX. WILLIAM, seventh earl of Dun∣donald, who betook himself to a military life, and was a captain in general Forbes's regi∣ment, with which he went to America, anno 1757.

He was in the expedition against Cape-Breton, commanded by admiral Boscawen and major-general Amherst, where he lost his life in the service of his country at the siege of Louisburgh, which surrendered on 26th July 1758.

He having no issue, in him ended the male-line of William lord Cochran, eldest son of the first earl of Dundonald, whereby the e∣state and honours devolved upon Thomas Cochran, lineally descended of sir John Coch∣ran of Ochiltree, before-mentioned, to whom we now return.

XVI. Sir JOHN COCHRAN of Ochiltree, second son of William first earl of Dundonald, who,* 1.34 in a charter, under the great seal, is de∣signed filius legitimus secundo genitus Willi∣elmi comitis de Dundonald, &c. anno 1669.

He married Margaret, daughter of sir Tho∣mas Strickland of Boynton, in York-shire, by whom he had two sons, and one daughter.

1. William, his heir.

2. John Cochran of Waterside, who mar∣ried Hannah, daughter of—de Worth of London, Esq; by whom he had eight sons, and seven daughters, and who is now repre∣sented by his grand-son, William Cochran, Esq; judge-advocate for Scotland.

Sir John's daughter, Grizel, married to John Ker of Morriston, Esq; in the shire of Berwick.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

XVII. WILLIAM COCHRAN of Ochil∣tree, who married lady Mary Bruce, eldest daughter of Alexander earl of Kincardin, by whom he had nine sons, and four daughters.

1. William, who died before his father, without issue anno 1707.

2. Charles, his heir.

3. John, a lieutenant in the fleet, perish∣ed at sea with sir Cloudsley Shovel.

4. Alexander, a captain in the army, who was cast away coming from Holland, with∣out issue.

5. George, a captain in the army, killed in Spain, anno 1709, without issue.

6. James, a lieutenant-general in the Bri∣tish service.

7. Thomas, now earl of Dundonald.

8. Robert, died unmarried, anno 1721.

9. Basil, formerly a captain in the army, and deputy-governor of the Isse of Man under the duke of Athol, now one of the commis∣sioners of excise for Scotland.

1st daughter, Eupheme, married to colonel John Erskine, brother to sir Charles Erskine of Alva.

2. Mary; died unmarried.

3. Elizabeth.

4. Anne, married to sir George Preston of Valleyfield.

William of Ochiltree, dying anno 1728, was succeeded by his son,

XVIII. CHARLES COCHRAN of Ochil∣tree, Esq; a man of great honour and hospi∣tality, who, dying unmarried anno 1752, was succeeded by his next surviving brother,

XVIII. Lieutenant-general JAMES COCH∣RAN, who married—, daughter of—, by whom he had two daughters.

1. Mary-Anne, married to Robert Sib∣thorp, Esq; councillor at law in the kingdom of Ireland.

2. Elizabeth, married to—Cary-Ha∣milton, Esq; in the same kingdom; but dy-without issue-male in the beginning of 1758, was succeeded by his brother,

XVIII. THOMAS, who, upon the death of William seventh earl of Dundonald, in July 1758, succeeded to the estate and honours as heir-male, as before observed, and is eighth earl of Dundonald.

In his younger years he served in the ar∣my, and soon rose to the degree of a major.

In 1722, he was chosen member of parlia∣ment for the shire of Renfrew; and in anno 1730, was appointed one of the commission∣ers of excise, which office he enjoyed for se∣veral years.

He married, 1st, Elizabeth, daughter of James Ker of Morriston, Esq; by whom he had a son,

William, who died young,—and a daughter,

Lady Grizel.

He married, 2dly, Jean, daughter of Ar∣chibald Stewart of Torrence, Esq; son of A∣lexander Stewart of Torrence, Esq; grand∣son of sir Archibald Stewart of Castle-milk, by whom he hath six sons, and one daughter.

1. Archibald, lord Cochran.

2. Charles.

3. John.

Page 220

4. James.

5. Basil.

6. Alexander.

His daughter, lady Betty.

ARMS.

A cheveron, gules, between three boars heads erazed, azure.

CREST; on a wreath a horse passant, ar∣gent.

SUPPORTERS; two grey hounds of the last, collared and leished, or.

MOTTO; Virtute et labore.

CHIEF SEATS

Of the family of Dundonald were, at the castle of Dundonald, in the shire of Air, and the abbay of Paisley, in the shire of Renfrew.

Notes

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