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;.

SETON Earl of DUNFERMLINE.

THE immediate ancestor of this noble fa∣mily was,

GEORGE, seventh lord Seton, who mar∣ried Isabel, daughter of sir William Hamilton of Sorne, and left issue four sons.

1.Robert, his successor, afterwards earl of Winton.

2. Sir John Seton of Barns, of whom more hereafter.

3. Alexander, first of this family.

4. Sir William Seton, whose only son died without issue.

I. ALEXANDER, third son of George se∣venth lord Seton, was a man of good natural parts, which were greatly improved by a li∣beral education.

In the course of his travels, he staid a con∣siderable time in Italy, where he applied him∣self chiefly to the study of the laws, in which he was a great proficient, and on that ac∣count, and his other rare accomplishments, he became a great favourite of king James VI. who appointed him one of the extraordinary lords of session, anno 1585, and one of the senators of the college of justice, anno 1587, by the title of lord Pluscarty;* 1.1 the priory whereof had been bestowed upon his father, the lord Seton, by queen Mary, anno 1565.

Sometime thereafter he was made presi∣dent of the session, upon the death of Willi∣am Baillie, the former president, where he dis∣played his talents and knowledge of the laws in a most conspicuous manner.

Upon the dissolution of the monasteries, he had a grant of the whole lands and tythes of the rich priory of Pluscardin in Murray, to him and the heirs of his body for ever; and was raised to the dignity of the peerage,* 1.2 by the title of lord Fyvie, to him and the heirs-male of his body; which sailing, to the heirs-male of sir John Seton of Barns, his im∣mediate elder brother,* 1.3 by patent dated in August 1591.

Upon the birth of prince Henry, in 1593, he was intrusted with his tuition till he went to England, anno 1603.

In 1595, he was made one of the commis∣sioners of the treasury, and was appointed lord high chancellor of Scotland, upon the re∣signation of the earl of Montrose, anno 1604, and was further dignified with the title of earl of Dunfermline,* 1.4 by patent, to him and his heirs-male, dated 4th March 1605.

And being a man of great skill in the ma∣nagement of state affairs, was appointed one of the commissioners to treat of a nearer uni∣on with England, which at that time took no effect.

In 1609,* 1.5 he was made a privy-counsel∣lor for both kingdoms; and in 1612, he was appointed his majesty's high commissioner to the parliament of Scotland, &c.

He was possessed of a vast estate,* 1.6 which ap∣pears by his charters under the great seal, of many lands and baronies, inter 1603 et 1620.

He was chancellor of Scotland for the space of eighteen years, and acquitted himself in that, and all his other employments, with universal applause.

He married, 1st, Lilias, daughter of Pa∣trick lord Drummond, by Anne his wife, daughter of David earl of Crawfurd, and by her had issue four daughters.

1. Lady Anne, married to Thomas, second earl of Kelly, and had issue.

2. Lady Isabel, married to John earl of Lauderdale, and was mother of John duke of Lauderdale.

3. Lady Margaret, married to Colin earl of Seaforth, and had issue.

4. Lady Sophia, married to David lord Balearras, and had issue.

This great man married, 2dly, Grizel Lesly,

daughter of James, son and apparent heir of Andrew earl of Rothes, by whom he had a son,

Charles, who died young,—and a daughter,

Lady Jean, married to John earl of Tweeddale.

He married, 3dly, Margaret Hay, daugh∣ter of John lord Yester, by whom he had a son,

Charles, his heir,—and a daughter,

Grizel, who died unmarried.

He died anno 1622, and was succeeded by his son,

II. CHARLES, second earl of Dunferm∣line,* 1.7 who got charters, under the great seal, of several lands and baronies, inter 1635 et 1641.

In the beginning of the troubles in king Charles I. his reign, he was engaged with the covenanters, and was one of the com∣mittee of parliament, anno 1640.

He was one of the Scotch commissioners appointed to treat with the king's, in order to a peace, and was made a privy counsellor for life by the parliament anno 1641. He was also one of the committee of estates,* 1.8 in the years 1644, 1645, and 1646; but at last returned to his duty, became a faithful and loyal subject, was trusted by his majesty, and continued steady in the interest of the royal family ever after.

When he was commissioner to the gene∣ral assembly, he behaved with great prudence and moderation, and endeavoured all he could to bring the people to a true sense of their duty.

After the murder of the king, he retired to the country, and lived privately all the time of the usurpation.

But, upon the first appearance of a resto∣ration, none was more zealous and forward in expressing their loyalty, and contributing their utmost endeavours to bring it about; of which king Charles II. was so sensible, that he appointed him one of the lords of his pri∣vy council, immediately after his restoration.

Upon the death of William earl Marishal, he was appointed lord privy seal, anno 1671.

He married lady Mary Douglas, daughter of William earl of Morton, by lady Agnes Keith, daughter of George earl Marishal, by whom he had three sons and one daughter.

1. Alexander, his heir.

2. Charles, who, betaking himself to a ma∣ritime life, was killed in one of his Majesty's ships of war in an engagement against the Dutch, anno 1672.

3. James, afterwards earl of Dunsermline.

His daughter, lady Henriet, married, 1st, to William earl of Wigton, and was mother of John and Charles, earls of Wigton; she married, 2dly, William earl of Crawfurd, to whom she had a son and six daughters.

The earl died in 1674, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

III. ALEXANDER, third earl of Dun∣fermline, who dying unmarried, his estate and honours devolved upon his brother,

III. JAMES, fourth earl of Dunfermline, a man of great loyalty, honour and probity, who, being bred in the army, was engaged in several memorable expeditions, in the ser∣vice of the States of Holland, where he al∣ways behaved with remarkable conduct and resolution; but, upon his brother's death, he quitted the service, and returned home, where he lived in great splendor and magnificence, till the revolution in 1688; but being sin∣cerely attached to the interest of king James VII. never deserted or forsook him in his greatest distress.

When lord Dundee declared for king James, and began to raise the Highlanders for his service, he immediately joined him with a troop of horse, and fought on their head at the battle of Killicranky, where he behaved with the courage and conduct becoming so ex∣perienced an officer, for which he was outlaw∣ed and forfeited by parliament, anno 1690.

When he found there was no prospect of a∣ny thing being done effectually for the resto∣ration of king James, he followed him to the court of St. Germains in France, where he had the honour of the most noble order of the thistle conferred upon him by that prince, and died at St. Germains, anno 1694, having married lady Jean Gordon, daughter of George marquis of Huntly, by whom he had no issue, whereby the estate and honours (had it not been for the forfeiture) would have devolved upon George Seton of Barns, his next heir∣male, being lineally descended of sir John Se∣ton of Barns, to whom we now return.

I. Sir JOHN SETON, second son of George seventh lord Seton, and immediate elder bro∣ther of Alexander first earl of Dunfermline, in whose favours the honours of Fyvie were limited, failing heirs-male of the patentee's body, as before observed, got from his fa∣ther the lands and barony of East-barns, which were given by king Robert Bruce to the family of Seton, for their good and faith∣ful services.

He was a man of excellent parts, and in his travels visited most of the courts in Eu∣rope,

where he was remarkably distinguish∣ed for his polite behaviour and fine accom∣plishments. He was so highly esteemed at the court of Spain, that king Philip II. made him master of his houshold, one of the gentle∣men of his bed-chamber, and afterwards cre∣ated him one of the knights of the order of St. Jago; in memory whereof, he and his successors added to their armorial bearing a sword, which is the badge of that order. King Philip also settled a pension of 2000 crowns per annum on him and his heirs.

He was at last called home by king James VI. who did not like to be deprived of the services of a subject of so much merit; but, immediately upon his return, appointed him one of the gentlemen of his bed-chamber, and comptroller of his exchequer and treasu∣ry in Scotland.

He married Anne, daughter of William sixth lord Forbes, by whom he had two sons and one daughter.

1. Sir John, his heir.

2. George Seton, Esq;.

His daughter, Anne, died without issue.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

II. Sir JOHN SETON of Barns, a man of Singular honour and loyalty, a firm and stea∣dy friend of the royal family.

He was one of the gentlemen of the privy∣chamber to king Charles I. and never desert∣ed his interest during all the time of the civil war.

He went over to Ireland with the forces that were sent to suppress the rebellion there, where he purchased a considerable estate from sir Robert Gordon of Lochinvar.

After his return, he joined the marquis of Montrose, for which he was fined and impri∣soned by the covenanters, anno 1646.

He married, 1st, Isabel, daughter of Gil∣bert Ogilvie of Powrie, widow of Kenneth lord Kintail, by whom he had a son,

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

1. Isabel, married to—Hepburn of Berford.

2. Margaret, married to—Suther∣land, tutor of Duffus.

3. Lilias, married to James Ramsay of Benholme.

He married, 2dly, Anne, daughter of sir John Home of Northberwick, by whom he had two sons and one daughter.

1. George, who carried on the line of the family.

2. Charles Seton, Esq;.

His daughter, Anne, married to John Hay of Aberlady.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

III. ALEXANDER SETON of Barns, who married a lady of the noble family of O'Far∣rel in Ireland; but dying without issue, was succeeded by his brother,

III. GEORGE SETON of Barns, who mar∣ried a daughter of sir George Suttie of Bal∣gone, by whom he had a son,

Colonel James Seton,—and four daughters.

1. Marian.

2. Anne, married to John Don, Esq;.

3. Catharine.

4. Martha.

IV. Colonel JAMES SETON, only son of George Seton of Barns, heir-male and repre∣sentative of the earls of Dunfermline, &c. who, betaking himself to a military life, is now a colonel in the British service.

He married Susan, daughter of James Mur∣ray of Abercairny, Esq;.

ARMS.

Quarterly, 1st and 4th or, three crescents gules, within a double tressure, flowered and counterflowered, or; 2d and 3d argent, on a fess gules, three cinque foils of the first.

SUPPORTERS; two horses, argent.

CREST; a crescent, gules.

MOTTO; Semper.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Register of the privy seal.
• * 1.2

  Ibidem, and lives of the of∣ficers of state.
• * 1.3

  Ibidem.
• * 1.4

  Ibidem.
• * 1.5

  Ibidem.
• * 1.6

  Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.7

  Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.8

  Rescind. acts of parl. and Guthrie's me∣moirs.