Individual Details
Sir James "1st Laird of Balgownie" Erskine
(Abt 1500 - Abt 1595)
== Biography == }The source referenceThe Scottish Antiquary or Northern Notes and Queries; No. 19, dated Dec 1890; Vol 5; ed. Rev Cornelius Hallen provides an insight into this family. The information is provided by a study on the family by Captain Cuninghame of Balgownie, a relative of the Erskine of Balgownie, and was based on a study of family material from 1485.
The information, on James, is supported by three slabs that were once present in the ruined east wall of Culross Parish Church. It is not known whether these still exist (although the site record for Culross[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/48029/details/culross+west+church+and+churchyard/ Royal Commission on the Royal and Historical Monuments of Scotland] suggests they might). The tombs were of:
: Sir James Erskine; 1st Laird of Balgownie, d. c.1592 (this person);
: Christian Stirling, his wife, who died 1582, aged 72; and
: Robert Erskine, the eldest son and 2nd Laird of Balgownie, who died 1597.
James Erskine, of Little Sauchie (Clackmannanshire once Stirlingshire), was "brother german" to John Erskine, Lord Erskine, and the son of Robert Erskine that fell at the battle of Flodden in 1513.
He received 7 Jun 1541, a grant of the lands of Little Sauchie to himself and his wife, Christian Stirling. She is stated to be of the family of Stirling of Keir.
In a Charter dated 14 Mar 1549 he received, from William, Commendator of Culross (the Priest that held the estates of Culross Abbey in trust) the lands of Balgownie, in the Parish of Culross.
His date of marriage is not known although clearly prior to 1541. She, Christian Stirling, is known to have been born in 1510, predeceased him in 1582 and it could be supposed, given the children, that the marriage occurred about 1528 (Adam , second son, was of age in 1552).
James was usually known as "of Little Sauchie"; these being family lands, and Balgownie was rarely used. The family papers suggest that his death occurred between 8 Dec 1592 and 20 Nov 1596.
It is worth noting that the family historian is adamant when he provides: "Sir Robert Douglas in his Peerage is mistaken when he writes "Robert, 3rd Lord Erskine, ...... had a son James of Little Sauchie ...... who had a son James Erskine of Balgownie, ancestor of that branch." It is clear that Lord Erskine's son James was both of Little Sauchie and of Balgownie, and that there were not two of that name." The lineage shown on this page is thus correct.
He, and his wife, Christian Stirling, are recorded as having a number of children, of which:
: Robert Erskine, likely born about 1528, who will become 2nd of Balgownie.
: Adam Erskine, of age in 1552 and likely born about 1530. A "tack" (simply a lease obligation) was held by John, Commendator of Dryburgh (the Priest that held the estates of Dryburgh Abbey in trust of the estate), in favour of James Erskine, of LIttle Sauchie, and Adam Erskine, his son, of the lands of Clerkington, Perthshire. Adam was alive in 1585 but was dead before 30 Apr 1590, when John, son lawful to the late Adam Erskine in Balgownie (which suggests Adam was living at Balgownie at the time) and Catherine Sands, his mother, raised an action for damage done to their property.
: James Erskine, styled in 1584 "Mr. James Erskine brother to Robert Erskine, apperand (Scots: heir apparent) to little Sauchie". He became Vicar of Falkirk 15 May 1587, was alive until 21 July 1605 but is not heard of after.
: William Erskine, parson of Campsie and later Archbishop of Glasgow. It is noted that he held the office as a layman. The temporalities (earnings) of the Abbey of Paisley was held to John Erskine, Earl of Mar, and William Erskine is noticed as Parson of Camsie. William built the well in Abbey Place which held the name "Balgownie well". William, in 1585, held a grant of revenues and title of the archiepiscopal see of Glasgow after the forfeiture by Lord Claud Hamilton during the time of the Regency of Queen Mary. The King, James VI removed the entitlement in 1587 as one of his first acts of power.
: Jean Erskine, married 2 Apr 1567, James Preston, 3rd Laird of Valleyfield.
'''Other notes of interest:'''
There is an account, written by Mr. E. Erskine Scott, relating to the Erskines of Shieldfield, where the name of Alexander has been introduced into this family group. No evidence was provided and was based on a story since proven incorrect. The Alexander discussed in that work is believed to have been Alexander Erskine, Parson of Monybreck (although likely a layman) and younger son to Robert, lord Erskine. He is noticed by Douglas in his account of the Erskines, Earl of Mar, but the accuracy of Douglas' work of the Erskines of Shielfield is in doubt. There was an Alexander Erskine, witness to Charters of Dryburgh in 1541, thus born prior to 1520, and could not be the son to this James. This is noted on wikitree with [[Erskine-273|Alexander Erskine]]
There is a notice of a Gilbert Erskine of Gellett on a reversion, dated 7 Nov 1567, to John Swinton. The parentage of Gilbert is not known but he is thought to have been of this line (Balgownie).
==Footnotes==
== Sources ==* The Scottish Antiquary or Northern Notes and Queries; No. 19, dated Dec 1890; Vol 5; ed. Rev Cornelius Hallen; Subject matter - Erskine of Little Sauchie and Balgownie
== Acknowledgments ==* WikiTree profile Erskine-312 created through the import of MaryStamperMcKague2011-08-06_01.ged on Aug 7, 2011 by [[Stamper-78 | Masm x]].
* WikiTree profile Erskine-488 created through the import of O'Bryan Family tree.ged on Sep 6, 2011 by [[Tropeck-1 | Tim Tropeck]].
The information, on James, is supported by three slabs that were once present in the ruined east wall of Culross Parish Church. It is not known whether these still exist (although the site record for Culross[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/48029/details/culross+west+church+and+churchyard/ Royal Commission on the Royal and Historical Monuments of Scotland] suggests they might). The tombs were of:
: Sir James Erskine; 1st Laird of Balgownie, d. c.1592 (this person);
: Christian Stirling, his wife, who died 1582, aged 72; and
: Robert Erskine, the eldest son and 2nd Laird of Balgownie, who died 1597.
James Erskine, of Little Sauchie (Clackmannanshire once Stirlingshire), was "brother german" to John Erskine, Lord Erskine, and the son of Robert Erskine that fell at the battle of Flodden in 1513.
He received 7 Jun 1541, a grant of the lands of Little Sauchie to himself and his wife, Christian Stirling. She is stated to be of the family of Stirling of Keir.
In a Charter dated 14 Mar 1549 he received, from William, Commendator of Culross (the Priest that held the estates of Culross Abbey in trust) the lands of Balgownie, in the Parish of Culross.
His date of marriage is not known although clearly prior to 1541. She, Christian Stirling, is known to have been born in 1510, predeceased him in 1582 and it could be supposed, given the children, that the marriage occurred about 1528 (Adam , second son, was of age in 1552).
James was usually known as "of Little Sauchie"; these being family lands, and Balgownie was rarely used. The family papers suggest that his death occurred between 8 Dec 1592 and 20 Nov 1596.
It is worth noting that the family historian is adamant when he provides: "Sir Robert Douglas in his Peerage is mistaken when he writes "Robert, 3rd Lord Erskine, ...... had a son James of Little Sauchie ...... who had a son James Erskine of Balgownie, ancestor of that branch." It is clear that Lord Erskine's son James was both of Little Sauchie and of Balgownie, and that there were not two of that name." The lineage shown on this page is thus correct.
He, and his wife, Christian Stirling, are recorded as having a number of children, of which:
: Robert Erskine, likely born about 1528, who will become 2nd of Balgownie.
: Adam Erskine, of age in 1552 and likely born about 1530. A "tack" (simply a lease obligation) was held by John, Commendator of Dryburgh (the Priest that held the estates of Dryburgh Abbey in trust of the estate), in favour of James Erskine, of LIttle Sauchie, and Adam Erskine, his son, of the lands of Clerkington, Perthshire. Adam was alive in 1585 but was dead before 30 Apr 1590, when John, son lawful to the late Adam Erskine in Balgownie (which suggests Adam was living at Balgownie at the time) and Catherine Sands, his mother, raised an action for damage done to their property.
: James Erskine, styled in 1584 "Mr. James Erskine brother to Robert Erskine, apperand (Scots: heir apparent) to little Sauchie". He became Vicar of Falkirk 15 May 1587, was alive until 21 July 1605 but is not heard of after.
: William Erskine, parson of Campsie and later Archbishop of Glasgow. It is noted that he held the office as a layman. The temporalities (earnings) of the Abbey of Paisley was held to John Erskine, Earl of Mar, and William Erskine is noticed as Parson of Camsie. William built the well in Abbey Place which held the name "Balgownie well". William, in 1585, held a grant of revenues and title of the archiepiscopal see of Glasgow after the forfeiture by Lord Claud Hamilton during the time of the Regency of Queen Mary. The King, James VI removed the entitlement in 1587 as one of his first acts of power.
: Jean Erskine, married 2 Apr 1567, James Preston, 3rd Laird of Valleyfield.
'''Other notes of interest:'''
There is an account, written by Mr. E. Erskine Scott, relating to the Erskines of Shieldfield, where the name of Alexander has been introduced into this family group. No evidence was provided and was based on a story since proven incorrect. The Alexander discussed in that work is believed to have been Alexander Erskine, Parson of Monybreck (although likely a layman) and younger son to Robert, lord Erskine. He is noticed by Douglas in his account of the Erskines, Earl of Mar, but the accuracy of Douglas' work of the Erskines of Shielfield is in doubt. There was an Alexander Erskine, witness to Charters of Dryburgh in 1541, thus born prior to 1520, and could not be the son to this James. This is noted on wikitree with [[Erskine-273|Alexander Erskine]]
There is a notice of a Gilbert Erskine of Gellett on a reversion, dated 7 Nov 1567, to John Swinton. The parentage of Gilbert is not known but he is thought to have been of this line (Balgownie).
==Footnotes==
== Sources ==* The Scottish Antiquary or Northern Notes and Queries; No. 19, dated Dec 1890; Vol 5; ed. Rev Cornelius Hallen; Subject matter - Erskine of Little Sauchie and Balgownie
== Acknowledgments ==* WikiTree profile Erskine-312 created through the import of MaryStamperMcKague2011-08-06_01.ged on Aug 7, 2011 by [[Stamper-78 | Masm x]].
* WikiTree profile Erskine-488 created through the import of O'Bryan Family tree.ged on Sep 6, 2011 by [[Tropeck-1 | Tim Tropeck]].
Events
| Birth | Abt 1500 | Little Sauchie, Clackmannanshire, Scotland | |||
| Death | Abt 1595 | Culross, Fife, Scotland | |||
| Alt name | of Stix | ||||
| Reference No | 1046710 | ||||
| Reference No | 1068605 | ||||
| Reference No | 60 |
Families
| Father | Sir Robert "4th Lord Erskine" Erskine (1458 - 1513) |
| Mother | Isabella Campbell ( - 1519) |
| Sibling | Sir John "5th Lord Erskine" Erskine (1487 - 1555) |
| Sibling | Elizabeth Erskine ( - 1540) |
| Sibling | Robert Erskine of Mar (1490 - 1513) |
| Sibling | Mary Erskine (1490 - ) |
| Sibling | Lady Margaret Erskine of Mar (1496 - 1572) |
| Sibling | Janet of Mar Erskine (1496 - 1533) |
| Sibling | Alexander Erskine (1504 - 1580) |