Sir John Maxwell of Calderwood

SIR JOHN MAXWELL OF CALDERWOOD

Sir John Maxwell is the son of Sir Robert Maxwell of Calderwood and his first wife Elizabeth Danielston. His date or year of birth is not certainly known. He was still a minor child on 6 May1421, the date upon which William Maxwell of Aikenhead is identified as his tutor, rather than his curator, a circumstance which suggests that he was at least fourteen years of age on this date. It seems reasonable to propose, therefore, that he may have been born before 6 May 1407. Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollock I: p. 463

Death

Sir John Maxwell of Calderwood died in 1476. Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollock, i, p. 465

First Marriage

Sir John Maxwell of Calderwood married Margaret Borthwick. She is the daughter of William, Lord Borthwick. Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollock, i, p. 465 On 4 December 1450-51 Sir John and his wife Margaret had a charter for the barony of Finlaystoun (afterwards the barony of Newark), together with the lands of Stanley, issued under the Great Seal of Scotland. Sir John had previously resigned these lands to the crown in order to have a new grant in favour of himself and his wife. The land was destined to pass to their lawful male heirs, whom failing to Sir John's lawful heirs. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A. D. 1424-1513, charter number 404 on p. 93

Children of the First Marriage

1. Sir John Maxwell of Calderwood
2. Elizabeth Maxwell
3. Marion Maxwell
4. Mariota Maxwell of Calderwood

Second Marriage

Sir John Maxwell of Calderwood married Margaret Rutherford. Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollock, p. 465

Child of the Second Marriage

1. George Maxwell of Newark

Child of Unknown Mother

1. William Maxwell

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

4 December 1450: Charter by which James II, King of Scots, confirms that he has given the barony of Fynlaustoun and the lands of Stanle in Renfrewshire to John Maxwell of Calderwood and his wife Margaret. Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum. The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1424-1513. Edited by James Balfour Paul, Advocate, FSA . Scot. (H.M. General Register of House, Edinburgh, 1882), charter number 404 on p. 93

                   2

1 February 1463: Charter by which John Maxwell of Calderwood confirms that he has given the barony of Hiltoun in the sheriffdom of Berwick, and various other lands in the earldom of Lennox and sheriffdom of Dumbarton, to Elizabeth Maxwell, his daughter by Margaret Borthwick. John Maxwell of Calderwood's charter was confirmed under the Great Seal of Scotland on 19 January 1477-78. Ibidem, charter number 1346 on p. 274

                   3

16 August 1473: Charter by which he has given the lands of Stanele in the barony of Renfrew to Patrick Maxwell. This land had previously been resigned by John Maxwell of Calderwood, who reserved his own liferent and that of his wife Margaret. Ibidem, charter number 1137 on p. 232

                   4

7 January 1476: Charter by which Sir John Maxwell of Calderwood confirms that he has given the barony of Finlastoun in the sheriffdom of Renfrew to his son and heir George Maxwell. The barony is held in conjunct fee and liferent by Sir John Maxwell of Calderwood and his wife Margaret, who reserved their liferent. The charter was confirmed under the Great Seal of Scotland on 22 January 1477-78. Ibidem, charter number 1352 on p. 275

Genealogy

1. William Fraser, Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollock, Vol. I. Memoirs & Charters (Edinburgh 1863), 497 pp.
2. William Fraser, Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollock, Vol. II. Correspondence (Edinburgh 1863), 453 pp.
3. The Scots Peerage II: 97

Darryl Lundy's Peerage Account

According to the account published by Darryl Lundy's Peerage, John Maxwell, 5th of Calderwood and 1st of Newark was born circa 1420. He was the son of Sir Robert Maxwell of Calderwood and Elizabeth Denniston. He married Margaret Borthwick, daughter of Sir William Borthwick, 1st Lord Borthwick and unknown wife (?), before 4 December 1450. He died in 1476.Children of Sir John Maxwell, 5th of Calderwood and 1st of Newark and Margaret Borthwick: (1) Sir John Maxwell of Calderwood d. 1490 (2) George Maxwell, 2nd of Newark b. c 1450 Darryl Lundy's Peerage: Sir John Maxwell of Calderwood