Francis Stewart, Lord Stewart and Bothwell

FRANCIS, LORD STEWART AND BOTHWELL

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

31 January and 1 February 1623: Tack by tutors of Charles Stewart, eldest son of Francis Stewart, eldest son of deceased Francis, sometime earl of Bothwell, and dame Isobel Setoun, countess of Perth, his spouse, to Andrew Scot of Aikwode, of teinds of lands of Aikwode, etc., for 19 years. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Scott Family of Harden, Lords Polwarth, Berwickshire, reference GD157/222

                   2

1647: Writs and legal papers relating to lands of Wilton, Liddesdale and others, disponed by Charles Stewart, eldest son and heir of deceased Francis Stewart, who was eldest son of deceased Francis, sometime earl of Bothwell, to Francis, earl of Buccleuch. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Montague-Douglas-Scott Family, Dukes of Buccleuch, reference GD224/311/2

                   3

1648: Writs and legal papers relating to lands of Wilton, Liddesdale and others, disponed by Charles Stewart, eldest son and heir of deceased Francis Stewart, who was eldest son of deceased Francis, sometime earl of Bothwell, to Francis, earl of Buccleuch. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Montague-Douglas-Scott Family, Dukes of Buccleuch, reference GD224/311/3

                   4

10 August 1647 and 16 February 1648: Extract contract between Francis, earl of Buccleuch, with consent of curators, on one part, and Charles Stewart, son and heir of deceased Francis Stewart, eldest son of deceased Francis, sometime earl of Bothwell, with consent of George, earl of Winton, donator to escheat of said Francis, father of said Charles, and with other consents, on other part, relating to lands and lordship of Bothwell. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Montague-Douglas-Scott Family, Dukes of Buccleuch, reference GD224/906/35

Biographical Summary by the Scots Peerage

FRANCIS STEWART, eldest son of Francis, Earl of Bothwell, born 1584. After his father's death, in spite of the attainder, he is occasionally styled Earl of Bothwell and Lord Stewart and Bothwell. He on his marriage obtained a rehabilitation under the Great Seal, dated Whitehall 30 July 1614, but reserving the rights of those who had been granted his father's forfeited lands. This rehabilitation was ratified by Parliament 1633. In 1630 he was 'absent from the country.' He obtained recovery by decreet arbitral of Charles I. of part of the family estates, which he sold to the Winton family. He lived in straitened circumstances, in 1637 petitioning King Charles I. to be made Printer to the King in Ireland for fifty-one years. He died in 1639, and his testament-dative was given in by his creditors at Edinburgh 21 April 1640. He married, about 1614, Isobel Setoun, widow of James, first Earl of Perth, daughter of Robert, first Earl of Winton. It is likely also that he married again. The Scots Peerage II: 172-3

Biographical Summary by Darryl Lundy's Peerage

Francis Stewart, Master of Bothwell. Francis Stewart, Master of Bothwell was born in 1584.He married Lady Isabel Seton, daughter of Robert Seton, 1st Earl of Winton and Lady Margaret Montgomerie, on 2 August 1614. He died in 1639. He died intestate and his estate was administered on 21 April 1640. He was the son of Francis Stewart, 1st and last Earl of Bothwell and Lady Margaret Douglas. He was styled as Master of Bothwell. He had three other surviving sons and one illegitimate son.

Biographical Summary by Wikipedia

Francis, Lord Stewart, Bothwell and Commendator of Kelso Abbey (b. 1584) - After his father's death, in spite of the attainder, he is occasionally styled 'Earl Bothwell', and Lord Stewart and Bothwell. Upon his marriage to Isobel, daughter of Robert Seton, 1st Earl of Winton, he obtained a rehabilitation under the Great Seal of Scotland, dated at Whitehall, 30 July 1614, but reserving the rights of those who had been granted his father's forfeited lands. (The rehabilitation was not formally ratified by Parliament until 1633). In 1630 he was 'absent from the country'. He finally obtained recovery, by decreet arbitral of Charles I, of part of the family estates, which he then sold to the Winton family. He lived in straitened circumstances, in 1637 petitioning King Charles I to be made Printer to the King in Ireland for 51 years. When he died his Testament-Dative was given in by his creditors at Edinburgh on 21 April 1640. His son Robert inherited his father's debts and after a long struggle with them, lost the barony of Coldingham on 26 November 1656, to the Home of Renton family.