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;.

FORRESTER Lord FORRESTER.

THIS sirname, which is of great antiqui∣ty, is taken from the office of forester, or keeper of the king's forests, their armori∣al bearings being hunting horns, &c.

There was an antient family of the sir∣name of Forrester in the Merse, designed of Renton, which long ago ended in an heiress, married to Ellim of Ellimford; which fa∣mily again ended in another heiress, married to the ancestor of sir John Home, now of Renton.

The immediate ancestor of this noble fa∣mily was

I. Sir ADAM FORRESTER, who flourish∣ed in the reign of king David Bruce, from whom he got a charter, under the great seal, of the lands of Whitburn,* 1.1 in the constabu∣lary of Linlithgow, to him and his heirs, &c. dated the 17th of August 1365.

He got another charter from the same prince, upon the resignation of William de Seton,* 1.2 terrarum villae de Nudriff, (Niddery) in the said constabulary, to him, and the heirs-male of his body, dated anno 1370.

This sir Adam has been possessed of an im∣mense estate,* 1.3 for he got from king Robert II. no less than six charters, under the great seal, of different lands and baronies; besides, one of the lands and barony of Corstorphine,* 1.4 which he acquired from sir William More of Abercorn, anno 1377, which afterwards be∣came the chief title of his family.

He was a man of great parts, was made lord privy-seal anno 1390,* 1.5 and was six or se∣ven time; employed to negotiate treaties with the English, betwixt the 1394 and 1404.

He married Agnes,* 1.6 daughter of John Dun∣das of Fingask, by whom he had two sons.

1. Sir John, his heir.

2. Thomas,* 1.7 who got a charter, under the great seal, of the lands of Drylaw, upon sir John's resignation, Thom••e Forrester sratri suo, &c. dated in 1406.

Sir Adam died in the end of the year 1405, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

II. Sir JOHN, who got a charter from Ro∣bert duke of Albany, governor of Scotland, of the lands and barony of Uchtertyre, in the shire of Stirling, upon the resignation of sir John Drummond of Cargill,* 1.8 to and in favours of sir John Forrester of Corstorphine, and Margaret his spouse, dated 6th March 1407.

He acquired from Henry Sinclair earl of Orkney, an annuity of twelve merks per an∣num, out of his lands and coal-works of Dy∣sart, until he is repaid of thirty nobles, which he lent the earl in his great necessity, &c. Upon which he got a charter under the great seal,* 1.9 dated in December 1407.

He was one of the commissioners appointed to treat with the English about the king's li∣berty,* 1.10 anno 1416, and again in 1423; he was also one of the hostages for his ransom, 1424.

He was in great favour with king James I. who made him,* 1.11 first, master of his houshold, then lord high chamberlain of Scotland, 1425.

He was afterwards employed in several ne∣gotiations with the English,* 1.12 and made many considerable donations to the religious.

By the above charter in 1407, it appears he married, 1st, Margaret; but of what fa∣mily, or whether or not he had children by her we can give no account.

He married, 2dly, lady Jean Sinclair, daughter of Henry earl of Orkney,* 1.13 by whom he had two sons and two daughters.

1. Sir John, his heir.

2. Henry Forrester of Liberton,* 1.14 &c.

1st daughter, Janet, married to sir Robert, then son and heir-apparent of Herbert lord Maxwell of Carlaverock.* 1.15

2. Elizabeth, married to sir Alexander Lau∣der of Hatton, knight.

He died anno 1440, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

III. Sir JOHN, who, in his father's lifetime, got a charter,* 1.16 under the great seal, Johanni Forrester, filio et haeredi apparenti domini Jo∣hannis Forrester, camerarii Scotiae, &c. of se∣veral lands, inter 1425 et 1430.

He married Marian Stewart lady Dalswin∣ton,* 1.17 widow of sir John Stewart, knight, by whom he had two sons.

1. Archibald, his heir.

2. Matthew Forrester,* 1.18 who got a charter from king James III. of the lands of Barnton, &c. anno 1487.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

IV. ARCHIBALD FORRESTER of Cor∣storphin, who married Margaret Hepburn,* 1.19 daughter of Patrick lord Hailes, by whom he had a son and successor,

V. Sir ALEXANDER, who got a charter from king James III.* 1.20 domino Alexandro Forres∣ter de Corstorphine, militi, of several lands and baronies, dated anno 1477.

He got charters of many other lands,* 1.21 inter 1480 et 1500.

He married Margaret, daughter of sir Dun∣can Forrester of Gardyn, by whom he had a son,

VI. JAMES,* 1.22 who succeeded him, and got many charters from king James V. Jacobo Forrester de Corstorphine, &c.

He married Janet, daughter of— Lauder of Hatton, by whom he had two sons.

1. Sir James, his heir.

2. Henry, who succeeded his brother.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

VII. Sir JAMES FORRESTER of Corstor∣phine,* 1.23 who dying without issue-male, anno 1587, his estate devolved upon his brother,

VII. HENRY FORRESTER of Corstor∣phine, who married Helen Preston, a daugh∣ter of the family of Craigmillar, in Edinburgh∣shire, by whom he had a son,

VIII. GEORGE, who, being a man of parts, honour, and probity, was in great favour with king Charles I. who created him a baronet, anno 1625, then raised him to the dignity of the peerage,* 1.24 by the title of lord Forrester of Corstorphine, 22d July 1633, by patent to his heirs-general.

He was also appointed high sheriff of the shire of Edinburgh.

He got charters under the great seal,* 1.25 Geor∣gio domino Forrester de Corstorphin, of the lands and barony of Torwood-head, and many others, inter 1634 et 1640.

He married Christian, daughter of sir Wil∣liam Livingston of Kilsyth, by whom he had several daughters.

1. Helen, married to William lord Ross.

2. Jean, married to James Baillie of Tor∣wood-head, son of lieutenant-general Willi∣am Baillie.

3. Lilias, married to William Baillie, an∣other son of the said lieutenant-general Willi∣am, and who carried on the line of this family.

George, first lord Forrester, having no is∣sue, made a resignation of his estate and ho∣nours in the king's hands, and got a new pa∣tent, to himself in li••erent, and after his de∣cease,

"To and in favours of his daughter Jean, and her husband, the said James Bail∣lie,* 1.26 and the heirs procreate betwixt them; which failing, to the nearest and lawful heirs-male of the said James whatever; they carrying the name and arms of For∣rester; the said James being designed ma∣ster of Forrester during George's life, &c."

This patent is dated 13th August 1650.

George, first lord Forrester, dying soon thereafter without male-issue, was according∣ly succeeded by his son-in-law,

IX. JAMES BAILLIE alias FORRESTER, second lord, who, after the death of his first wife, the said Jean, married, 2dly, lady Jean Ruthven, only daughter of Patrick earl of Forth and Brentford, but dying without issue by either, his estate and honours, according to the last mentioned patent, devolved upon his brother and heir-male,

IX. WILLIAM, third lord Forrester, who, by the said Lilias, daughter of the first lord, left issue a son and successor,

X. WILLIAM, fourth lord Forrester, who married a daughter of sir Andrew Birnie of Saline, one of the senators of the college of justice; and he dying anno 1705, by her left a son and heir,

XI. GEORGE, fifth lord Forrester, who went into the army, signalized himself in the government's service at Preston in Lanca∣shire, anno 1715, and was made colonel of the 4th troop of horse guards.

He married Charlotte, daughter and co∣heiress of Anthony Row, Esq; in the county of Oxford, by whom he had two sons and two daughters.

1. George, his heir.

2. William.

His daughter—, married to Patrick Haldane of Bearcrofts, Esq; advocate.

The other—, married to— Stirling of Herbertshire, Esq;.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

XII. GEORGE, sixth lord Forrester, who dying without issue, was succeeded by his brother,

XII. WILLIAM, seventh lord Forrester, who was a chaplain in the royal navy, but dying unmarried, anno 1748, the title appears to be extinct.

ARMS.

Quarterly, 1st and 4th argent, three buffalo's horns sable, stringed gules, for the name of Forrester; 2d and 3d azure, nine mullets or, for Baillie.

CREST; on a wreath, a talbot's head craz∣ed argent.

SUPPORTERS; two talbots of the last.

MOTTO; Spero.

CHIEF SEATS

Were at Torwood in the shire of Stirling, and Corstorphine within two miles of Edin∣burgh.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Chart. in king David's book.
• * 1.2

  Ibidem.
• * 1.3

  Chart. in ar∣chiv. Robert II.
• * 1.4

  Ibidem.
• * 1.5

  Rymer tom. VII. & VIII.
• * 1.6

  Ni••bet's ap∣pend. p. 269.
• * 1.7

  Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.8

  ••bidem.
• * 1.9

  Ibidem.
• * 1.10

  Rymer, tom. IX. p. 341. tom. X. pages 266, 308, &c.
• * 1.11

  Lives of the offic. of state. p. 310.
• * 1.12

  Ibid. and Ry∣mer.
• * 1.13

  Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.14

  Ibidem.
• * 1.15

  Ibidem.
• * 1.16

  Ibidem.
• * 1.17

  Stewart's hist. of the royal fam. p. 160.
• * 1.18

  Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.19

  Chart. penes ducem de Ro••burgh.
• * 1.20

  Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.21

  Ibidem.
• * 1.22

  Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.23

  Chart. in can∣cellaria.
• * 1.24

  Records of parliament.
• * 1.25

  Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.26

  Records of parliament.