Alexander (Irvine) Irvine IXth of Drum (abt. 1556 - 1629)

Born about 1556 in Drum Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Marion (Douglas) Irvine — married about 1590 in Buchan, Aberdeenshire,Scotland [uncertain]

Descendants

Died Dec 1629 at about age 73 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland

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Biography

Alexander (Irvine) Irvine IXth of Drum is a member of Clan Irvine.

Native of Scotland

Alexander the eldest son of the 8th Laird, became the 9th Laird of Drum in 1583, and distinguished himself as a patron of learning and a benefactor of the poor. ^[1]

Charter of confirmation from King James VI containing a new clause of uniting the said lands into a barony and free forest to be called in all time coming the barony of Drum and a clause of de nevo damus (We give out) thereof in favour of the said Alexander Irvine, the younger of Drum and his heirs and assigns aforesaid date at Holyrood House, 13 April 1583. ^[2]

Obtained from his father 4 April 1583, a charter of lands and barony of Drum, lands of White Riggs, Lonmay, etc. and a charter of confirmation from James VI. Family Tree, Wimberley. ^[3]

Alexander seems to have lent money to James VI, as there is an extant in the charter chest of Drum a holograph bond by the monarch to him for 500 merks dated at Dalkeith 27 November 1587 and payable at Whitsunday thereafter. ^[4]

Early in 1590, Alexander, Son and Heir of the Laird of Drum was married Lady Marion Douglas, Daughter of Robert, and Earl of Buchan. Her father being dead, The Earl of Morton acted on her behalf in the arrangement of the marriage contract. ^[5]

Alexander succeeded his father, sasine in favour of this Alexander Irvine of Drum is dated 13 May 1603. He was served heir on the 14 March 1603.

16 April 1604, Alexander Irvine was chosen to be one of the Lord of Articles by the Estates of Parliament.^[6]

There is in existence a discharge dated 14 November 1605 by the 7th Earl of Morton to Drum for 10,000 merk.^[7]

In 1610 Alexander was names a member of the court of high commission appointed that year. ^[8] 1612 King James VI directed a letter under the Privy Seal to Alexander Irving of Drum.^[9]

Alexander Irving married the Lady Marion Douglas daughter of Robert, earl of Buchan. ^[10]

In 22nd July 1617, Alexander Irvine, with consent of Lady Marion, his spouse, granted a charter of the lands of Kinmuck in favour of his eldest son and heir, Alexander, and his spouse, Magdalen Scrimzeour. ^[11]

In 1618 the Earl of Mar resigned into his majesty's hands the patronage of the church of Drumoak in favour of Alexander Irving of Drum. ^[12]

Alexander was a Member of the Court of High Commission and restored the present mansion of Drum ca 1619. ^[13]

In 1621 Alexander Irvine of rum (with consent of 2nd son, Robert) granted a charter of the lands, fortalice, manor, etc., of Forglen to his eldest son and heir-apparent, Sir Alexander Drum, and his spouse, Dame Magdalen Scrymgzeour. ^[14]

1622 Alexander received a License from James VI to eat and feed on the flesh in the time of Lent.^[15]

1622 Alexander Irvine granted a charter of the lands of Kellie in Forfarshire in liferent to his wife, Lady Marion Douglas. ^[16]

1st of September 1629, Alexander Irvine appointed Sheriff Principal of Aberdeen. ^[17]

This laird of Drum (Alexander) founded 4 bursaries of Philosophy, and 2 of Divinity in the Marischal College of Aberdeen, and four bursaries in the Grammar School, Aberdeen, leaving the Scots ₤10,000 for this purpose. His testament is dated at Kelly, in Angus, 26 December 1629. At the same time he left 600 merks Scots money, to the town of Aberdeen, to be employed by the provost and magistrates for maintaining and upholding the Drum’s Aisle, he and his successors having one portion for their burials as the Council shall determine. The Council declined the responsibility for the money for bursaries, because it involved them in the responsibility of annual rent. Where upon the successor of Sir Alexander Irving investigated the money in the lands of Linmuck, Peithill, Milne of Kinmuck, in the parish of Kinkell, the investing of money in these lands caused litigation which 230 years afterwards, reversing a unanimous judgment of the Scotch Court, was decided by the House of Lords against the proprietor of Drum. Alexander Irving of Drum also left 400 merks to the new Hospital. ^[18]

Alexander Irvine died 1629, will dated 29th December and buried in old church at Arbirlot. ^[19]

Sir Samuel Forbes in his "Description of Aberdeenshire", written about the 1715, alludes to the "Laird of Drum who lived in our grandfather’s time (who) can in no wise be omitted (and) for his benignity and sample bounty to the poor deserves to be remembered and praised. He lived decently, was a plain man, nick named little breeches; increased in wealth, bequeathed lands for maintenance of poor widows, poor maids and for the education of several children at schools and of young men to be taught philosophy and theology. ^[20]

Alexander was born in 1563. He passed away about 1630.

Sources

1. ↑ Page 538, MacVeigh.
2. ↑ Page 10, Wimberley.
3. ↑ Page 337, Temple. Page 10. Wimberley.
4. ↑ Page 538, MacVeigh.
5. ↑ Page 77, Forbes Leslie. Page 337, Temple.
6. ↑ Page 1359, Burke. Page 77, Forbes Leslie.
7. ↑ Page 1359, Burke. Page 11, Wimberley.
8. ↑ Page 538, MacVeigh. Page 11, Wimberley.
9. ↑ Page 79, Forbes Leslie.
10. ↑ Page 336, Temple. Page 538, MacVeigh. Page 1359, Burke.
11. ↑ Page 80, Forbes Leslie.
12. ↑ Page 80, Forbes Leslie.
13. ↑ Page 1359, Burke. Page 10, Wimberley.
14. ↑ Page 80, Forbes Leslie.
15. ↑ Page 336, Temple. Page 336, Temple.
16. ↑ Page 80, Forbes Leslie.
17. ↑ Page 81, Forbes Leslie. Family Tree, Wimberley.
18. ↑ Page 337, Temple. Page 538, MacVeigh. Page 12, Wimberley.
19. ↑ Family Tree, Wimberley. Page 854, Burke. Page 81, Forbes Leslie. Family Tree, Wimberley.
20. ↑ Page 82, Forbes Leslie.

• The Irvines of Drum and colleteral branch by Jonathan Forbes Leslie, 1798-1877. (Including the letters, deeds and charters from the Drum Achieves) Pub 1909, Aberdeen.

• Short account of the family of Irvine of Drum in the county of Aberdeen. Author Captain Douglas Wimberley. Pub 1893 Northern Chronicle, Inverness.

• Burkes Landed Gentry, Sir Bernard Burke, Pages 1358-60. Editor L G Pine, Pun 1953, 17th Edition.

• The Scottish Nation or the historical and genealogical account of all Scottish families and surnames, Vol II BAL-MAC, Pages 537 to 544. James MacVeigh, Pub 1889, Dumfries.

• The Thanage of Fermartyn by William Temple 1894 Pub Wyllie & Son, Aberdeen. https://books.google.com/books?id=k9c7AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA337&lpg=PA337&dq=Magdalene+Scrimgrour&source=bl&ots=vCAD0YQitQ&sig=2GgN0Sn5xKqbm6TXfZADH1BUgEc&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjuov674v3ZAhVQyYMKHVdGCO4Q6AEwCXoECAYQAQ#v=onepage&q=Magdalene%20Scrimgrour&f=false

• A genealogical and heraldic history of the landed gentry of Great Britain & Ireland, 1879, Burke

• http://www.thepeerage.com/p15065.htm#i150642