Giles (Stewart) Rutherford (abt. 1588)

Born about 1588 in Traquair House, Traquair, Peeblesshire, Scotlandmap

Ancestors

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Biography

Giles (Stewart) Rutherford was born in Scotland.

Giles (Stewart) Rutherford is a member of Clan Stewart.

He (William Rutherford) married thrice; the genealogy of 1668 correctly said his son the Earl of Teviot was born of a third and last wife, the only one given by SP. His first wife, not previously noticed, is mentioned in letters under the Great Seal May 25, 1610 testifying to the character of his eldest son John and his brothers-german James and George, born of their 'noble mother' Christina Fraser.

The will of his second wife Margaret Vaus, married by 1605, was registered at Edinburgh May 26, 1608.

His [William Rutherford's] third wife (contract December 28, 1608) was Giles (Latinized as Egidia; GEC called her Isabel) daughter of James Stewart of Traquair (d.1607), who survived him. Hood gave two wives, Margaret 'sister' of Sir H. Guthrie (who in fact married his kinsman William), and Isobel Stewart.

It has not been noticed before that through his mother the Earl of Teviot was descended from the Rutherfurds of that Ilk, since James Stewart's paternal grandmother was Katherine Rutherford. Moreover by Katherine's husband James Stewart, illegitimate son of James Earl of Buchan, the Earl of Teviot was of royal Scottish and English descent; he was also first cousin of the first Earl of Traquair, his mother's nephew. William had at least ten children; The 1668 pedigree which mentioned sons only gave five, perhaps because some of the elder ones died young, and was vague about the eldest:

William Rutherfurd had children by his second wife Margaret Vaus, but the following were by his third wife Giles Stewart:

Captain ROBERT of Wrightslands, served heir-general to his father June 7,1625 (Retours Gen. 1198) and, styled Captain, in Easter and Wester Quarrelholes July 22, 1631 (Retours Spec. Edin. 1493); he resigned Quarrelholes to his brother William in 1634. As no more is heard of him he may have entered Spanish service as SP said; his alleged sons are mentioned above. A charter of 1693 recalled the land of Capt. Robert Rutherfoord near Holyrood

Mr WILLIAM, merchant burgess of Edin. , on his brother's resignation had charters of Quarrelholes and land near Holyrood Aug. 1, 1634 and March 1637 and sold them later to the city of Edin. In 1634 he had a decree against Lord Balmerino, giving warrant to take his teinds (tithes) at Restalrig (PC). As of Edin. he witnessed a Hunthill charter in 1647. He d. c.1656 and his will (reg. Edin. Ma:, I, 1657) made his brother german Col. Andrew. the future earl, executor. He too may have gone abroad. SP mistakenly gave him a wife, Margaret Guthrie, who m. his kinsman above.

DAVID mentioned as William's son, with his brother Robert, in an Edin. Sasine reg. 1620 (Scottish Record Office lists and indexes - 36); many family sasines occur at this time).

ANDREW (c.1612-1664), first BARON RUTHERFORD, EARL of TEVIOT, youngest son, graduated at Edin. University 1630 and entered French service where he became Lieut-Gen. He was not forgotten in Scotland, for 'Col. Andro R. ' was made a free burgess of Edin. May 1657.

Sources

• "The Rutherfords in Britain: a history and guide" 
by Kenneth Rutherford Davis
; Alan Sutton Publishing 
Gloucester 1987; pages 74 - 77

• "The Scots Peerage, vol. 8", Balfour Paul, J. (1911), (Edinburgh: David Douglas), p. 402. Gelis, married (contract 28 December 1608) to William Rutherford of Sunlaws, afterwards of Wrightlands.

• "The Commissariat Records of Edinburgh. Register of Testaments. Part II 1601-1700" F. J. Grant (ed.), (Edinburgh, 1898), 412.

• "Calendar of the Laing charters belonging to the University of Edinburgh", ed. J. Anderson (1899) N.2915.

• "The register of the Great Seal of Scotland", ed. J .M. Thomson etc., 11 vols. (1882-1914) - GS IX N.208, 687