To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.lib.umich.edu/tcp/ecco/ for more information.
IT is the opinion of some antiquaries, that the first of this noble family was a Hun∣garian gentleman, who came to Scotland with Margaret, queen to king Malcolm Canmore, about the year 1078. Certain it is they be∣gun to make a figure in this country soon af∣ter that aera.
Their immediate ancestor,
I. LIVINGUS, flourished in the reigns of
king Alexander I. and king David, who suc∣ceeded Alexander, anno 1124.
He was possessed of a considerable estate in West-Lothian, and called it Livingstoun, af∣ter his own name, which afterwards became the chief title and sirname of the family.
He was father of
II. THURSTANUS,* 1.1 who was witness to the foundation charter of the abbey of Holy∣roodhouse, anno 1128.
He made a donation to that abbacy, ec∣clesiam de Livingstoun cum dimidia carucata terrae,* 1.2 et una tosta, &c. &c. pro salute animae suae, &c. and is then designed Thurstanus filius Livingi.
He left issue two sons.
1. Alexander.
2. William.
In a donation to the priory of St. Andrews,* 1.3 Thurstanus filius Livingi et Willielmus filius ejus, are witnesses, temp. regis Willielmi.
Thurstan was succeeded by his eldest son,
III. ALEXANDER, who, in a charter of king William,* 1.4 is designed Alexander filius Thurstani filii Livingi, &c. The charter has no date; but must have been in or before 1214, in which year king William died.
He having succeeded to the lands and ba∣rony of Livingston, assumed that for his sir∣name, and was progenitor of all the Living∣stons in Scotland.
He died in the end of the reign of king Alexander II. leaving issue a son and successor,
IV. Sir WILLIAM LIVINGSTON,* 1.5 who acquired the lands of Gorgyn near Edinburgh, and is then designed Willielmus de Living∣ston, miles, anno 1263.
He is witness in a Charter of Malcolm earl of Lennox,* 1.6 together with sir William de Keith, Gilbert Drummond, &c. anno 1270.
He had issue three sons.
1. Sir William, his heir.
2. Sir Archibald, progenitor of the Li∣vingstons of Calendar and Linlithgow, as will be shown hereafter.
3. Adam de Livingston,* 1.7 who swore sealty to king Edward I. of England, anno 1296.
He died before the year 1300, and was succeeded by his eldest son,
V. WILLIAM LIVINGSTON of that ilk,* 1.8 who is witness in a charter of Donald earl of Lennox, together with Malcolm Fle∣ming earl of Wigton, &c. and is then design∣ed sir William Livingston knight, in the year 1300.
This sir William was a steady friend of king Robert Bruce, and died soon after that great monarch, leaving issue two sons.
1. Sir William, his heir.
2. Robert de Livingston,* 1.9 who, being a man of parts, was one of the Scotch commis∣sioners appointed to treat with the English about king David's liberty, anno 1348.
He was succeeded by his eldest son,
VI. Sir WILLIAM LIVINGSTON of that ilk, a man of stannch honour, great abilities, and a true patriot.* 1.10 He was one of the hosta∣ges for John earl of Murray, anno 1340.
He was afterwards employed in all the ne∣gociations and public transactions with the English,* 1.11 during king David's captivity, from 1346 to 1357, in which last year he was named one of the hostages for his ransom, and is then designed Willielmus de Livingston miles, &c.
He died about the year 1370, and was succeeded by his son,
VII. Sir PATRICK LIVINGSTON of that ilk,* 1.12 who, in his father's lifetime, was one of the noble Scotch heirs, appointed sure∣ties for king David's ransom, and is then de∣signed Patricius filius et haeres domini Willi∣elmi, &c. anno 1357.
He died before 1400, leaving issue a son,
VIII. Sir ROBERT LIVINGSTON of that ilk,* 1.13 who succeeded him, and was one of the hostages for king James I's ransom, anno 1424.
This family made a considerable figure in Scotland, and continued in the male line till the reign of king James IV. that sir Bartho∣lomew Livingston of that ilk, grandson of this sir Robert, died without sons, and left issue only three daughters his co-heiresses.
Agnes, the eldest, married—Lear∣mont, whose son James made a donation to the prioress and convent of Senys near Edin∣burgh,* 1.14 unum annuum redditum decem mercarum usualis monetae regni Scotiae, annuatim levand. et percipiend. de tota et integra mea tertia parte terrarum et baronioe de Livingston, cum pertinen. jacen. infra vicecom. de Linlithgow, &c. dat∣ed at Edinburgh, 15th November, and con∣firmed by king James V. the last day of De∣cember, 1533.
The male line of the ancient house of Li∣vingston of that ilk thus ending, we now re∣turn to the ancestor of this noble family, viz.
V. Sir ARCHIBALD LIVINGSTON, se∣cond son of sir William Livingston of that ilk, the fourth generation of this genealogical ac∣count before mentioned.
This sir Archibald, with many others of his countrymen,* 1.15 was forced to swear fealty to king Edward I. of England, when he had over-run Scotland, anno 1296.
He died soon thereafter, leaving issue a son,
VI. Sir WILLIAM LIVINGSTON,* 1.16 who in an old manuscript accompt of this family, is designed of Easter-wemyss.
He flourished in the reign of king Robert Bruce, and married a daughter of sir John Erskine of that ilk, ancestor of the family of Mar, by whom he had a son and heir,
VII. Sir WILLIAM LIVINGSTON, a man of great courage, and resolution, and high∣ly esteemed by king David Bruce, whom he accompanied in his unfortunate expedition in∣to England, and for his gallant behaviour, had the honour of knighthood conferred upon him under the banner.
He was taken prisoner with his royal ma∣ster, at the battle of Durham,* 1.17 anno 1346, but was released soon thereafter.
He was appointed one of the commissioners to treat with the English, about the king's li∣berty,* 1.18 anno 1348, and is then designed Wil∣lielmus Livingston bannerettus, &c.
He married Christian, daughter and heiress of Patrick Calendar of that ilk,* 1.19 whose estate had been forfeited to the crown by king Ro∣bert Bruce, for his adherence to the Baliol's interest; but king David restored it to sir William Livingston, and the said Christian his wife heiress thereof, and Calendar afterwards became the chief title of his family.
This sir William is a witness in a confirma∣tion charter of king David Bruce to the mo∣nastery of Kelso,* 1.20 together with Malcolm earl of Wigton, William earl of Sutherland, Ro∣bert de Erskine, knight, &c. anno 1354.
He got a charter under the great seal, to him, and Christian Calendar his wife, daugh∣ter and heiress of Patrick Calendar of that ilk,* 1.21 of the lands and barony of Kilnsyth, &c. in Dunbartonshire, dated at the castle of Kin∣driminy, 3d October, the 33d year of his reign, anno dom. 1362.
By the said Christian, he lest issue a son
VIII. Sir WILLIAM LIVINGSTON of Calendar,* 1.22 who died in the end of the reign of king Robert II. and lest isse a son,
IX. Sir JOHN LIVINGSTON of Calen∣dar, who succeeded him.
This sir John was one of the arbiters in a submission betwixt the abbot and convent of Cambuskenneth,* 1.23 and Robert de Dumbarny, &c. 17th February, 1389.
In a donation of David Fleming lord of Biggar,* 1.24 to the monastery of Cambuskenneth, the witnesses are, Robert duke of Albany, earl of Fyfe and Menteith, Murdoch his son and heir, Thomas de Erskine lord of Alway, sir John Livingston of Calendar, Alexander Livingston, &c. anno 1399.
He married, 1st,—, daughter of —Menteith of Carse, by whom he had three sons.
1. Sir Alexander, his heir.
2. Robert,* 1.25 ancestor of the Livingstons of Westquarter and Kinnaird, of which last the earls of Newburgh, &c. are descended.
3. John, ancestor of the Livingstons of Bonton, &c.
He married, 2dly, Agnes, daughter of sir James Douglas of Dalkeith, by whom he had a son,
Sir William Livingston, first of the house of Kilsyth. (Vide title Kilsyth.)
He was killed in the service of his country,* 1.26 at the battle of Homildon, anno 1402, and suc∣ceeded by his eldest son,
X. Sir ALEXANDER LIVINGSTON of Calendar,* 1.27 who was one of the magnates Sco∣tiae, that sat on the trial of Murdoch Duke of Albany, anno 1424.
He was a man of good parts, and much e∣steemed for capacity and integrity.
After the murder of king James I.* 1.28 he was by parliament appointed governor to the young king, which occasioned great animosities be∣twixt the queen-mother, chancellor ••••hton and him; but at last all differences were made up betwixt her majesty and him, by a solemn indenture yet extant, and narrated at large in Crawsurd's peerage, dated 4th September, 1439.
However, this harmony did not long sub∣sist amongst them; for the queen, the chan∣cellor, and sir Alexander, continued wrangl∣ing, till the king begun to take the manage∣ment into his own hands, anno 1444.
Sir Alexander's enemies then prevailed with his majesty to call a parliament, to which sir Alexander was summoned to appear.
He was accused of having alienated the crown-lands &c.* 1.29 and was found guilty, his e∣state confiscated, and himself sent prisoner to Dunbarton castle, which treatment, it was thought, he by no means deserved.
Whether the king was sensible he was not guilty of what was laid to his charge, or whe∣ther he continued to have a friendship for the man that had the care of him in his younger years, we shall not pretend to determine; but certain it is, the king soon thereafter not only gave him his liberty, but restored to him
his whole estate, and he continued ever after in great favour with his majesty, who consti∣tuted him justice-general of Scotland, anno 1449,* 1.30 in which year he was also nominated one of the ambassadors to the court of Eng∣land, and is then designed Alexander de Living∣ston, dominus de Calendar, justiciarius Scotiae.
He died soon thereafter, having married —, daughter of—Dundass of that ilk, by whom he had two sons and two daughters.
1. James, his heir.
2. Alexander, ancestor of the Livingstons of Dunipace.
1st daughter, Janet, married to James first lord Hamilton.
2. Elizabeth, married to James Dundass of that ilk.
He was succeeded by his eldest son,
XI. Sir JAMES LIVINGSTON of Calendar, a man of great worth and merit,* 1.31 who was ap∣pointed captain of the castle of Stirling, and had the tuition of the young king conferred upon him by his father, which great trust he discharged with fidelity and honour.
He was one of the commissioners appointed to treat with the English,* 1.32 anno 1452, and is then designed sir James Livingston of Calen∣dar. He got a safe conduct to go up to Eng∣land, anno 1453, and is then designed James lord Livingston; so that he was certainly rais∣ed to the dignity of the peerage, in the end of 1452,* 1.33 or beginning of 1453, in which last year he was appointed one of the privy council to his majesty, master of his houshold, and lord great chamberlain of Scotland, which high office he enjoyed as long as he lived, with universal applause.
He got charters under the great seal,* 1.34 Ja∣cobo domino Livingston, of several lands and baronies, inter 1454 et 1465.
He sat as a peer in the parliaments called to meet 1462,* 1.35 &c.
He married Marian, but of what family we know not,* 1.36 tho' she is designed widow of James lord Livingston, anno 1478. By her he had issue two sons and two daughters.
1. James, his heir.
2. Alexander, who carried on the line of of this family, as will be shown hereafter.
1st daughter, Elizabeth, married to John earl of Ross, and lord of the isles.
2. Eupheme, married to sir Malcolm Fleming, son and heir of Robert lord Flem∣ing.
He died anno 1467, and was succeeded by his eldest son,
XII. JAMES, second lord, who got char∣ters under the great seal, Jacolo domino Li∣vingston, of the lands of Baldoran,* 1.37 Slamannan, Muir, and many others, inter 1470 et 1492.
He married, 1st, a daughter of sir John Erskine of Kinnoul; 2dly, a daughter of sir Robert Crichton; but dying without issue, his estate and honours devolved upon his ne∣phew sir John, son of his brother Alexander before mentioned.
XIII. Sir JOHN LIVINGTON,* 1.38 son of A∣lexander, second son of James first lord Li∣vingston, succeeded his uncle James the second lord, as before observed, and was third lord Livingston.
He married, 1st, Elizabeth, daughter of Robert lord Fleming, by whom he had a son,
William, his heir.
He married,* 1.39 2dly, a daughter of sir John Houstoun of that ilk, by whom he had another son,
Alexander, ancestor of the Livingstons of Glentyran, whose male-line is now extinct.
He died about the year 1510, and was succeeded by his eldest son,
XIV. WILLIAM, fourth lord, who got charters under the great seal,* 1.40 Willielmo domi∣no Livingston, of the lands and barony of Ca∣lendar, castle thereof, &c. anno 1511.
He marrried Agnes Hepburn,* 1.41 daughter of Adam lord Hailes, sister of Patrick first earl of Bothwel, by whom he had a son,
Alexander,—and two daughters.
1st Margaret, married to John, fourth lord Hay of Yester, ancestor of the marquis of Tweeddale.
2. Isabel, married to Nichol Ramsay, an∣cestor of the earl of Dalhousie.
He was succeeded by his son,
XV. ALEXANDER, fifth lord Livingston, who, in his father's lifetime,* 1.42 got charters un∣der the great seal, (to Alexander, son and ap∣parent heir of James lord Livingston,) of the lands and barony of Calendar, castle thereof, &c. &c. inter 1511 et 1516.
He afterwards got charters from queen Ma∣ry,* 1.43 of many lands and baronies, (Alexandro domino de Livingston, inter 1542 et 1548.
This lord was a man of great integrity and honour. He was intrusted with the care of queen Mary's education in her young and ten∣der years,* 1.44 and discharged his duty with great fidelity.
He married, 1st, Janet Stewart, by whom he had no issue.
He married, 2dly,* 1.45 lady Agnes Douglas, daughter of John second earl of Morton, by whom he had three sons and four daughters.
1. John master of Livingston, a youth of great intrepidity and merit, who married a daughter of Malcolm lord Fleming, but was killed at the battle of Pinkie, without issue, his father being then alive.
2. William, his father's heir.
3. Thomas, ancestor of the Livingstons of Haining.
1st daughter, Elizabeth, married to John Buchanan of that ilk.
2. Janet, married to sir Alexander Bruce of Airth.
3. Magdalene, married, 1st, to Arthur Erskine of Grange, brother to John earl of Mar; 2dly, to John Scrimgeour of Glastre, ancestor of lord Dundee.
4. Mary, married to John Semple of Bel∣tree, son of lord Semple.
He died anno 1550, and was succeeded by his son,
XVI. WILLIAM, sixth lord Livingston, who got charters,* 1.46 under the great seal, of se∣veral lands and baronies, inter 1550 et 1558.
He was a man of remarkable integrity and loyalty, a firm and steady friend of queen Ma∣ry. He behaved gallantly at the battle of Langside, though her majesty's troops were totally defeated; but lord Livingston never deserted her interest to the very last, and had always a large share of her majesty's confidence and esteem.
He married Agnes, daughter of Malcolm lord Fleming,* 1.47 ancestor of the earl of Wigton, by whom he had five sons and two daughters.
1. Alexander, afterwards earl of Lithgow.
2. John.
3. Henry,
These two both died young.
4. Sir George Livingston of Ogleface, great grandfather, in a direct male-line, of Alexan∣der Livingston late of Bedlormie, who left a numerous issue, viz. Alexander Livingston now of Bedlormie, Captain William Living∣ston, Robert Livingston, Esq; who hath se∣veral son, &c. This Alexander Livingston of Bedlormie appears to be the male repre∣sentative of the noble families of Calendar, &c.
5. Sir William Livingston of Cultre, whose male line is now extinct.
1st daughter, Jean, married to Alexander fourth lord Elphingston.
2. Margaret, married, 1st, to sir Lewis Ballantyne of Broughton, lord justice clerk in the reign of king James VI. 2dly, to Patrick Stewart earl of Orkney.
He was succeeded by his eldest son,
XVII. ALEXANDER, seventh lord, who got charters under the great seal, Alexandro domino Livingston, of the lands and barony of Calendar,* 1.48 Airth, Slamannan-muir, &c. &c. inter 1598 et 1600.
He was, like many of his worthy ancestors, a man of singular probity, honour and inte∣grity, and in great favour with king James VI.* 1.49 who created him earl of Lithgow, lord Livingston of Calendar, &c. by patent dated 15th November 1600.
He got charters under the great seal, Alex∣andro comiti de Lithgow, et haeredibus masculis e corpore suo, quibus deficient, haeredibus mascu∣lis quibuscunque,* 1.50 cognomen de Livingston geren∣tibus, &c. of the lands and village of Living∣ston, the Temple-lands of Nether-Carlowrie, the lands of Airth, Abbotshaugh, Bearcross, Saltcoats, Redhaugh, lands about Falkirk, &c. &c. inter 1602 et 1606.
He married lady Eleanor Hay, daughter of Andrew, eighth earl of Errol, a lady of singu∣lar virtue and accomplishments. The king being perfectly well acquainted with the fide∣lity and merit of this noble pair, committed the education of his daughter princess Eliza∣beth, afterwards queen of Bohemia, entirely to their care and management; and they dis∣charged their duty so much to his majesty's satisfaction, that when they delivered her safe at Windsor, they obtained a full acquit∣tance for their care and conduct from the king and council,* 1.51 (which we have seen) and it contains many great and noble clauses, much to both their honours, and that of the ance∣stors of the family of Lithgow, dated at Wind∣sor, anno 1603.
By the said lady Eleanor Hay, he left issue two sons and one daughter.
1. Alexander, his heir.
2. Sir James Livingston, afterwards earl of Calendar.
His daughter, lady Margaret, was married to John earl of Wigton.
He was succeeded by his eldest son,
XVIII. ALEXANDER, second earl, who got charters under the great seal, Alexandro comiti de Lithgow, of the hereditary office of justiciar and bailie of the whole lands and ba∣rony of Ogleface, the village and lands of Bed∣lormie, Wester-craigs,* 1.52 &c. the lands and ba∣rony of Herbertslure, with many others, inter 1608 et 1616.
He got also charters of several other lands,* 1.53 inter 1624 et 1630.
He married, 1st, lady Elizabeth Gordon, daughter of George marquis of Huntly, by whom he had a son,
George, his heir.
He married, 2dly, lady Mary Douglas, el∣dest daughter of William tenth earl of Angus,
by whom he had another son,
Alexander, second earl of Calendar. (Vide page 115 of this work,)—and two daughters.
1. Lady Margaret, married, 1st, to sir Tho∣mas Nicholson of Carnock; 2dly, to sir George Stirling of Keir; 3dly, to sir John Stirling of Keir.
2. Lady Eleanor, who died unmarried.
The earl was succeeded by his eldest son,
XIX. GEORGE, third earl of Lithgow, a great loyalist, who suffered many hardships on account of his attachment to the royal family.
Upon the restoration of king Charles II. he was appointed one of the lords of his ma∣jesty's privy council, and captain of the royal regiment of foot guards.
In 1681, he resigned that commission, and was constituted justice-general of Scotland; in which office he continued till the year 1689.
He married lady Elizabeth Maule, daugh∣ter of Patrick first earl of Panmure, widow of John earl of Kinghorn, by whom he had two sons and one daughter.
1. George, his heir.
2. Alexander, third earl of Calendar, of whom more hereafter.
His daughter, lady Henriet, married to Ro∣bert viscount Oxenford.
He died on the 1st day of February 1690, and was succeeded by his eldest son,
XX. GEORGE, fourth earl of Lithgow, who came early into the revolution, and was sworn one of the lords of the privy council to king William and queen Mary, anno 1692; and being in great favour with his majesty, was appointed one of the commissioners of the treasury.
He married Henriet Sinclair, daughter of Alexander lord Duffus, but dying without is∣sue, anno 1695, his estate and honours de∣volved upon his nephew James earl of Calen∣dar, son of his brother Alexander, before men∣tioned, to whom we now return.
XX. ALEXANDER, third earl of Calendar, second son of George third earl of Lithgow, married lady Anne Graham, daughter of James marquis of Montrose, by whom he had a son,
James, his heir,—and two daughters.
1. Lady Henriet, who died unmarried.
2. Lady Mary, married to James Graham of Airth, Esq; an eminent lawier, and judge-admiral of Scotland, to whom she had several children.
He died anno 1694, and was succeeded by his son,
XXI. JAMES, fourth earl of Calendar, who succeeded to the estate and honours of Lithgow, upon the death of George the fourth earl, as before observed, was the fifth earl of Lithgow, heretable governor of the castle of Blackness, and hereditary sheriff of the county of Stirling.
He was elected one of the sixteen Scotch peers to the British parliament, anno 1713, but having had the misfortune to be engaged in the rebellion 1715, he was attainted of treason, and his estate and honours were for∣feited to the crown.
He married lady Margaret Hay, daughter of John twelfth earl of Errol, whose grandson succeeded to the estate and honours of that noble family, as will be shown hereafter.
By her he had issue a son,
James, lord Livingston, who died young, —and a daughter,
XXII. Lady ANNE LIVINGSTON, who became his sole heiress, and married William fourth earl of Kilmarnock, to whom she had three sons.
XXIII. 1. JAMES, who succeeded to the estate and honours of Errol, in right of his grandmother lady Margaret Hay, before men∣tioned, and is now the fourteenth earl of Er∣rol. Vide pages 255 and 378 of this work, where the other children are mentioned.
Quarterly, 1st and 4th, argent, three cinque-foils gules, within a double tressure, with flowers de lis vert, for the name of Living∣ston: 2d and 3d, sable, a bend between six billets or, for Calendar; and over all, by way of surtout, in an escutcheon azure, an oak grow∣ing out of the base or, within a border argent, charged with eight gilliflowers gules, as a coat of augmentation, for the title of earl of Lith∣gow.
CREST; on a wreath, a demi-savage, wreathed about the temples and waist with laurel proper, holding in his right hand a ba∣ton erect, and in the left a serpent, which is twisted about his a••m.
SUPPORTERS; two savages proper, wreath∣ed as the crest, each holding on his exterior shoulder a baton or.
MOTTO; Si je puis.
Were at Calendar-castle in Stirlingshire, and at the Bridgehouse in Lithgowshire.
Nota, The family were heretable keepers of the palace of Lithgow.
Foundation charter of that abbey, in fa∣ther Hay's collections in the lawiers li∣brary, Edinr.
Dalrymple's collect. p. 421.
Chartulary of St. Andrews, p. 247.
Dalrymple's collections.
Original writs of the abbey of holy rood house, penes Mac-Farlane.
Chartulary of Lennox, penes eund. p. 54.
Prynne, vol. III. p. 654.
Chartulary of Lennox, page 85.
Rymer, tom. V. p. 625.
Rymer, tom. V. p. 200.
Ibid. p. 711, 736, &c.
Ibid. tom. VI. p. 35.
Ibid. tom. X. p. 327.
Keith's bish∣shops, p. 280.
Prynne's col∣lections, vol. III. p. 662.
Penes Captain William Li∣vingston.
Crawfurd's peerage.
Rymer, tom. V. p. 632.
Chart. in the archives of the fam. of Kil∣syth.
Chartulary of Kelso, p. 441.
King David's book of char∣ters
Crawfurd's peerage.
Chartulary of Cambusken∣neth, penes MacFarlane.
Ibidem.
Crawfurd's peerage.
Fordun, vol. II. p. 434.
Ibid. p. 484.
Indenture pe∣nes comitem de Errol.
Black acts of parliament.
Rymer, tom. XI. p. 235.
Lives of the offic. of state.
Rymer, tom. XI. p. 319, and 327.
Lives of the offic. of state.
Chart. in pub. archiv.
Records of parliament.
Ibidem.
Chart. in pub. archiv.
Ibidem.
Ibidem.
Ibidem.
Ibidem.
Ibidem.
Ibidem.
Ibidem.
Chart. penes com. de Mor∣ton.
Chart. in pub. archiv.
Ibidem.
Ibidem.
Charta penes comitem de Errol.
Chart. in pub. archiv.
Charta penes comitem de Errol.
Chart. in pub. archiv.
Ibidem.