Archibald Edmonstone of Duntreath

ARCHIBALD EDMONSTONE OF DUNTREATH

Death and Burial

Memorial Inscription

Here lyes in the same grave With Mary Countess of Angus, sister to King James the First of Scotland, From whom he is lineally descended, Archibald Edmonstone, Esq. of Duntreath, in this kingdom, and of Redhall in Ireland, Who died in the year 1689, aged about fifty-one years. Memorial Inscription in Strathblane Church, printed in Strathblane: 105

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

6 October 1691: Lands of Ballewan. Extract tack for 19 years by Anna Helena Scot, relict of Archibald Edmonstone of Duntreath and tutrix dative of Archibald Edmonstone of Duntreath her son, to Archibald Edmonstone of Spittal and Archibald Edmonstone his son, of the toun and lands of Middle Ballewan in the barony of Duntreath, parish of Strathblane, sheriffdom of Stirling. Regality court books of Montrose, 1696 May 6. National Records of Scotland, Edmonstone of Broich, reference GD1/1067/43

Genealogy

Sir Archibald Edmonstone of Duntreath, Baronet, Genealogical Account of the Family of Edmonstone of Duntreath (Printed Privately, Edinburgh, MDCCCLXXV.), 95 pp.

Second son of Archibald Edmonstone (son of William) and Jean, daughter of Archibald Hamilton of Halcraig in Lanarkshire. (Page 48 Archive.Org)

Family

From “Genealogical account of the family of Edmonstone of Duntreath”. Author: Edmonstone, Archibald, Sir, 1795-1871. cn. Page 52. Archive.Org:

“Archibald Edmonstone of Duntreath married Anna Helena Scott ... 4 sons, 5 daughters ... first, Elizabeth, married James Montgomery of Rosemount (note 3), by whom she had two sons: William and Hugh, and three daughters: Anna Helena, Elizabeth, and Martha. ...”

Biography

The Family of Edmonstone - Virtus Auget Honorem link

Archibald, 9th of Duntreath (brother of the Dumb Laird) succeeded during his minority in 1637. He married Anna Helena, daughter of Colonel Scott of Harden, (ancestor of Lord Polworth,) and widow of Sir William Adair of Kinhilt. Her father was killed fighting Cromwell at the battle of Dunbar in 1650, and the banner of the cavalry regiment which he commanded, became a family heirloom. It is now in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

Despite his father-in-law being a Royalist Archibald, like his immediate ancestors, was a staunch Presbyterian. But after Episcopacy was restored in Scotland, in 1660, he suffered cruelly for his faith. In 1667 "being at Duntreath on his private affairs, a Minister called Mr Forrester, formerly in the Parish of Killearn, came to Duntreath without Duntreath's knowledge, and had a private lecture in the Gallery there,...which when Duntreath heard of, he thought it no great crime to be a hearer."

However Craig of Ledrogrean (Leddrigreen?) betrayed him to Lord Ross, who promptly despatched a troop of Dragoons to arrest him at his home. Imprisoned in the Tolbooth (the common prison) in Glasgow, for six months, he was taken before the Council three times, his request for a lawyer to plead his case being repeatedly refused. Eventually however Sir George Lockhart came to the jail and advised him how to answer questions put to him concerning the King's lawful right to the Crown and to the recent murder of the Archbishop of St Andrews. He denied any connection with the meeting at Duntreath and, thanks to the lack of evidence, was spared the death penalty and fined five hundred pounds, one half of which went to the informer and the other to the Crown.

Finally he was released on "a petition by the Lady Duntreath to the Duke of York and the Lords of the Council." His life was saved and the fine was provided by his stepson, Sir Robert Adair of Kinhilt, who borrowed £500, from William Hamilton, Dunntreath's uncle. Later following Archibald's death, Adair claimed repayment from the tutors or guardians of his son. Archibald's health was badly affected by imprisonment. He returned to Ireland and in 1685, when the 9th Earl of Argyll rose in arms to support the Duke of Monmouth against King James VII and II, he seems to have been absent from Duntreath. Argyll, who was trying to reach Ayrshire, encamped near the castle. But after a night march, in which he got lost in the Kilpatrick hills, he was captured fording the Clyde.

More factually it is known that, in 1688 when rebellion broke out in Northern Ireland, Archibald Edmonstone raised an independent regiment of three hundred foot amongst his tenants and neighbours to fight for the British cause. Colonel Edmonstone garrisoned his house Redhall. Then in the siege of Derry, re-inforced with men from Adair's regiment, he was ordered to secure the pass at Glenlone, to prevent the enemy from repairing the bridge across the Bann. The weather was extremely wet and, fighting in a muddy trench in water up to his knees, he caught a very bad cold. Forced from his position, he tried to enter Derry, but the garrison there, besieged and starving, refused admittance. Struggling on, by now extremely ill, he managed to reach the fort of Culmore, where, knowing he was dying, he asked to be buried in Strathblane Church.

His wishes being observed, he was laid above his ancestress, Princess Mary, sister of James I. The bones of both were discovered and returned to a grave below the floor (marked with a plaque) in 1844. He died aged only fifty one.

Family notes

James was the son of Elizabeth Montgomery (daughter of Hugh Montgomery & Jean Alexander) and William Montgomery of Rosemount.

“Their only issue James, in August 1687 married Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Archibald Edmonstone, Laird of Duntreth, whose children now living are Elizabeth, William, Martha and James. The dead were Anna, Helena, Hugh, Jane and Archibald being all God's lovely loans.”

References

• http://www.thepeerage.com/p39619.htm#i396185 cites
• BP2003 volume 1, page 1274.
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/145731868