Margaret Livingston

MARGARET LIVINGSTON

Lady of Drumry and East Wemyss)

Margaret Livingston, here treated, is the only child and heiress of Sir Robert Livingston of Drumry and East Wemyss. NRS: GD20/1/628

Birth

Margaret Livingston's date of birth is not known. However, her father and mother may have been married shortly before 19 May 1508, the date upon which they had a charter of confirmation under the Great Seal of Scotland in their joint names, and her father was killed fighting the English at the Battle of Flodden on 9 September 1513. It seems reasonable to suppose, therefore, that she was probably born after 19 May 1508 but before 9 September 1513.

It is possible to narrow the dates further if it can be accepted that she was still a pupil at law in 1523, and therefore twelve years of age or under (This is suggested by the fact that she is found acting with the authority of her tutors in that year), but that she reached her thirteenth birthday during the twelve month period which ended on 9 September 1524 (This is suggested by the fact that she is found acting with the authority of her curators on that date). In these circumstances it might be suggested that she was probably born during the year which began on 10 September 1510 and ended on 9 September 1511.

Death

A date of death has not so far been identified for Margaret Livingston. She was alive on 15 March 1541 but must have died after that date. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, iii, 1513-1546, charter number 2312

Marriage

Margaret Livingston married Sir James Hamilton of Finnart. He was one of her tutors in 1523 National Records for Scotland, Boswell of Balmuto, reference GD66/1/18 and one of her curators on 6 September 1524 National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Earls of Glasgow (Crawford Priory), reference GD20/1/628 but he became her husband before 17 December 1524. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Lindsay family of Dowhill. reference GD254/215 Her husband died before 15 March 1541. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, iii, 1513-1546, charter number 2312

Children

1. Sir James Hamilton of Crawfordjohn
2. Sir James Hamilton of Crawfordjohn
3. Andrew Hamilton of Snar and Glenkip
4. Agnes Hamilton
5. Grizel Hamilton

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

1523: Letter of collation by James [Betoun] [Beaton], archbishop of St Andrews, to the rectory of the parish church of Aucherderay [Auchterderran], made vacant by the death of Mr Robert Boiswell [Boswell], last rector, in favour of Mr John Boiswell, clerk of the diocese of St Andrews, who was presented by David Boiswell of Balmowto [Boswell of Balmuto], declaring, in accordance with the decision of Mr William Prestoun [Preston], official in the archdeaconry of Lothian, and Mr Thomas Cowtis [Coutts], vicar of Gargill [Cargill], that the right of patronage should rest with the said David, and not with Margaret Levingstoun of Drumry [Livingston of Drumry]. who, with authority of her tutors, James, Earl of Arrane [Arran], and James Hammiltoun of Fynnerth [Hamilton of Finnart], presented Sir David Hammiltoun [Hamilton], chaplain to the Archbishop of St Andrews, to the said rectory. [In dorso] 1523, 30 November. Notarial instrument certifying that Mr John Bossuell was inducted to the said church. [Seal attached]. National Records for Scotland, Boswell of Balmuto, reference GD66/1/18

                   2

6 September 1524: Instrument of sasine propriis manibus by Margaret Levingstone, daughter of deceased Sir Robert Levingstone of Est Vemis, kt, with consent of her curator, to James Hammiltone of Fynnert, kt of the lands of Drumry (as detailed) and patronage of the chapel of St Mary of Drumry. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Earls of Glasgow (Crawford Priory), reference GD20/1/628

                   3

17 December 1524: Tack to Adam Lyndesay of Dowhill by Margaret Levinstoune of Eist Wemys with consent of James Hamilton of Fynnart, her husband of the lands of Petcarne. Witnesses: sir John Spittall, vicar of Hamiltoune and Thomas Hamilton. Subscribed by James, earl of Arran and James Hamilton of Fynnart.(Faint traces and a few fragments of 3 applied seals). National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Lindsay family of Dowhill. reference GD254/215

                   4

20 March 1529: Extract indenture by which Sir James Hammyltoun of Fynnart, kt with consent of Margaret Levingstoun, his spouse agrees to excamb his lands of Drumry in the earldom of Levinax with the half lands of Craufurdjhone in the sheriffdom of Lanark belonging to Laurence Craufurd of Kilbirny. Registered Register of Official of St Andrews in Lothian. [Official's seal, defaced]. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Earls of Glasgow (Crawford Priory), reference GD20/1/630

Evidence from the Protocol Book of Gavin Ross

February 1530: Instrument of sasine in favour of Sir James Hamyltoun of Fynnart and his wife Margaret Levinstoun which follows from a precept issued by the King which instructs Sir William Crawford of Barquhory, sheriff of Ayr, Lanark, Stirling, Dumbarton, and Renfrew, to give sasine of the lands of Uchiltre and others to Sir James and his wife Margaret Levinstoun. Sir James was also to receive the sheriifship of Renfrew and the Coronator of Lanark by delivery of a staff as use is.The Reverend John Anderson, and Francis J. Granr, W.S. (editors), The Propocol Book of Gavin Ross, N.P., 1512-1532 (Scottish Record Society, Edinburgh, 1908), protocol number 1117 on p. 202

Evidence from the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland

                   1

4 April 1529 Charter by which Lawrence Crawford of Kilbirnie confirms that he has given one half of his lands of Crawfordjohn, in the Sheriffdom of Lanark, to Sir James Hamilton of Finnart, and his wife Margaret Livingstone, in exchange for the lands of Drumry in the earldom of Lennox and sheriffdom of Dunbarton. The charter was confirmed under the Great Seal of Scotland on 4 April 1529. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1513-1546, charter number 768

                   2

8 April 1529 Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1513-1546, charter number 769

                   3

31 August 1529 Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1513-1546, charter number 831

                   4

13 December 1530: Charter by which James Colville of Ochiltree confirms that he has gicen the barony of Ochiltree in the sheriffdom of Ayr to Sir James Hamilton of Finnart and his wife, Margaret Livingston, the lady of Estir Wenys, in exchange for the barony of Easter Wemyss in the sheriffdom of Fife. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1513-1546, charter number 978

                   5

3 July 1533 Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1513-1546, charter number 1293

                   6

13 December 1530 domine de Est Wemys Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1513-1546, charter number 980

                   7

16 December 1530 domine de Ester-Wemis Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1513-1546, charter number 968

                   8

13 January 1531 Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1513-1546, charter number 983

                   9

15 March 1541: Charter by which James V, King of Scots, confirms that he has given a liferent grant of the lands of Tillicoultry in the sheriffdom of Clackmannan to Margaret Livingston: "relict Jacobi Hammiltoun de Fynnart, militis" Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1513-1546, charter number 2312

Genealogy

1. Sir James Balfour Paul, CVO., LL.D., The Scots Peerage; Containing an Historical and Genealogical Account of the Nobility of that Kingdom, VIII (David Douglas, Edinburgh, 1911), pp. 368-77 for Livingston, Viscount Teviot