Thomas Erskine, 13th Earl of Mar

• from http://www.erskinclan.com/gene4.html

2. THOMAS (ERSKINE), LORD ERSKINE, only s. and h., calling himself (like his father) EARL OF MAR. However, by an assize of error, 15 May, confirmed by Parl. 5 Nov. 1457, the Earldom of Mar 6 was declared to have devolved on the Crown on the death of Earl Alexander in 1435, and the service of Lord Erskine in 1438 as h. to the Countess Isabel was reduced. Knighted before 24 Jan. 1440/1. He had charter of the lands of Dalnotter in Lennox, 5 Jan. 1458/9, as Lord Erskine, and, as such, sat in Parl. 14 Oct.

1467. Sheriff of Stirling 1483. He took the part of James III insurrection of 1488. He m., before 1445, Janet Douglas.7 She was living Aug. 1489, when her life rent was reserved. He d.in or shortly before 1493.

• from http://thepeerage.com/p2588.htm#i25871

Thomas Erskine, 2nd Lord Erskine was the son of Sir Robert Erskine of that Ilk, 1st Lord Erskine and Elizabeth Lindsay. He married Janet Douglas before 1445.2 He died after 1493.

Thomas Erskine, 2nd Lord Erskine gained the title of 2nd Lord Erskine. He succeeded to the title of 13th Earl of Mar [S., c. 1115] between 7 September 1451 and 6 November 1452, de jure.1

Child of Thomas Erskine, 2nd Lord Erskine

1.Helen Erskine+3

Children of Thomas Erskine, 2nd Lord Erskine and Janet Douglas

1. Alexander Erskine, 3rd Lord Erskine+ d. bt 1508 - 1509
2. Isabel Erskine+
3. Margaret Erskine+4

Citations

1. [S6] G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed., 13 volumes in 14 (1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume VIII, page 417. Hereinafter cited as The Complete Peerage.
2. [S6] Cokayne, and others, The Complete Peerage, volume V, page 105.
3. [S37] Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003). Hereinafter cited as Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition.
4. [S1916] Tim Boyle, "re: Boyle Family," e-mail message to Darryl Roger Lundy, 16 September 2006. Hereinafter cited as "re: Boyle Family."

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Sir Thomas Erskine, knight, succeeded his father, as governor of Stirling castle, and in 1392 was sent ambassador to England. By his marriage with Janet Keith, great-grand-daughter of Gratney, eleventh earl of Mar, he laid the foundation of the succession on the part of his descendants to the earldom of Mar and lordship of Garioch.

http://www.venitap.com/Genealogy/WebCards/ps31/ps31_445.htm

Sir Thomas Erskine, the eldest son of Sir Robert is first named in 1354, if it be he who in that year, as ‘son and heir’ of Sir Robert Erskine, was proposed as one of the hostages for King David II. Three years later, Thomas Erskine, on King David’s final release, was again a hostage, and was committed to the care of John de Coupland (where not stated), on 2 October 1357. Sometime between 1365 and 1370, he was made a knight under somwhat peculiar circumstances.

His first wife, the heiress of Dalkeith, of whom later, died at the birth of her first child, and there was a difference of opinion as to whether the child was born living or not. Erskine claimed the liferent of his wife’s estate on the plea that the child lived, while James Douglas, the next heir, claimed the estates on the ground that the child died, and the partied resolved to decide the matter by personal combat. The duel was to take place at Edinburgh in presence of the King, and just before they entered the lists the parties were knight, James Douglas by Sir Archibal Douglas, ‘the Grim,’ and Thomas Erskine by his own father. Then they fought, but were separated by the royal command and led out of the lists. No agreement could be effected, and they were again about to engage, when the King’s influence prevailed and the matter was arranged. Sir Thomas Erskine accepted a sum of money in lieu of his rights, and Sir James Douglas obtained his estates in dispute.

Sir Thomas, prior to 1371, was keeper of Edinburgh Castle and also Sheriff of Edinburgh. He was in that year a consenter to the Act of Succession passed in favour of the Earl of Carrick. ... On 8 Nov 1376 he had a royal charter of the barony of Dun, co. Forfar, resigned to him by his father. He frequently appears as a witness to royal charters, which indicates attendance at court, and on 27 Jan 1398/9, when David, Duke of Rothesay, was made Lieutenant-General of the kingdom, Sir thomas Erskine was one of those appointed to be his special advisers.

It was on 18 March 1390/1 that, during the sitting of Parliament, he made his famous protest to King Robert III on behalf of his then wife, Dame Janet Keith or Barclay. ... On 22 November 1393 the King renewed his promise in a wider form, granting to Sir Thomas that Although Isabell Douglas, countess of Mar, because of information or agreement with any one, should be willing to resign the earldom or any par of it, or any lands elsewhere to which the heirs of Thomas ought to succeed, or to make resignations of the same to any one in prejudice of her true heirs, the royal consent or confirmation would not be given, or if given by mistake should be null and void.

On 2 February 1392/3 Sir Thomas and his wife wer granted a portable altar by Pope Clement VII.

Sir Thomas was taken prisoner at Homildon on 14 September 1402, and may have remained a captive in England until his death, which took place between Martinmass 1403, when his pension of £100 was paid to himself, and Whitsunday 1404, when his pension was paid to his widow.

(1) Sir Thomas Erskine married, first, about 1365, Mary Douglas, only child and heiress of Sir William Douglas, known as the “Knight of Liddesdale.” She died in childbed, and Sir Thomas was obliged to give up possession of her estates to the next heir.

(2) He married secondly, before 13 Apr 1370, Janet Keith or Barclay, widow of Sir David Barclay of Brechin. It was on her account he protested in 1390/1, regarding the earldom of Mar, that one-half of the earldom of Mar and of the lordship of Garioch pertained to his wife in right of heritage. She is therefore the most importland between the ancient and the modern Earls of Mar, and it may be well again to examine on what her claim rests. ... [See notes for Janet Keith]

Sir Thomas Erskine and his second wife had issue:

1. Sir Robert who succeeded 2. John, who received the lands of Dun from his father , and had a charter from King Robert III on 25 October 1392. He was the ancestor of the Erskines of Dun and of Pittodrie, 3. Elizabeth, whom it was proposed to marry to Alexander Seton, afterwards Lord of Gordon, but she was married to Duncan Wemyss of Rires. She and her spouse had from her father and mother a charter of the lands of Pirchock and Ludquharn, dated between 1398 and 1400. They had issue.

Source: THE SCOTS PEERAGE, ed. by Sir James Balfour Paul, Vol V, Edinburgh, 1906, pp. 596-601
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