Katherine (Campbell) Campbell Countess of Crawford (abt. 1522 - 1578)

Born about 1522 in Cawdor, Nairnshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 1 Oct 1578 at about age 56 in Brechin, Forfarshire, Scotland

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Biography

Katherine Campbell was born about 1522 at Cawdor in the county of Nairn. She was the daughter of John Campbell of Cawdor.^[1]

Her father was son to Archibald ,duke of Argyll and brother to Donald, Abbot of Coupar Abbey. Given the Abbot's influence in the area around Glenisla, Lintrathen, and Airlie, it is perhaps he who played a part in arranging Katherine's first marriage.

Katherine Campbell married, before 1 October 1539, James Ogilvy son and heir apparent to James Lord Ogilvy and his spouse Helen Sinclair.^[2][3]

James Ogilvy and Catherine Campbell had three sons and two daughters^[2]

• James Ogilvy heir to his grandfather Lord Ogilvy of Airlie
• Archibald named after his great uncle, the earl of Argyll died young
• Alexander died young
• Helen Ogilvy mar. 1550 to John Ogilvy, Fiar of Inverquharity
• Agnes Ogilvy mar. 1565 to John Erskine of Dun ^[4]

On 29 September 1539 Katherine and James were granted a charter for the lands of Clintlaw and Auchindorie. ^[5]

Two days later, on 1 October 1539, Lord Ogilvy granted to James and his wife Katherine Campbell, daughter of Sir John Campbell of Cawdor, in conjunct fee, of the lands of Campsie with grain and fulling mills of the same and lands of Craigieloch with the lands of Halzardis, lying in barony of Ballindouch and lands of Tullimordo, lying in barony of Alyth, in special warrandice. ^[6]

When Henry VIII of England attempted to force the marriage of the young Mary Queen of Scots to his son Edward VI the Master of Ogilvy joined the forces of the Earl of Angus in retaliatory raids in the Borders. In preparation for his possible death in active service "agains the Inglismen ald Innemeis of Scotland" he drew up his will at the Chamber of Donald abbot of Coupar on 30 July 1545 for the well being of his "bairnis and Katrine Campill, his spous."^[7] That same day at the Abbey, Katherine took the added precaution of having the Abbot, her uncle Donald Campbell make a Notorial Instrument for her own possession narrating the testament of her husband the Master of Ogilvy appointing her executrix and tutrix to his children.^[8]

Just over two years later James, Master of Ogilvy, was killed at the battle of Pinkie and thus in the terms of his testament testamentar, the young widow, Katherine, took on the roll executrix of her late husband and tutrix of their children, the eldest of whom was heir apparent to Lord Ogilvy. All too soon her young son, James, became James V Lord Ogilvy as in November 1547, the old Lord Ogilvy was killed in an attempt to removed the English occupiers of Broughty Castle.

She wasted no time in managing the Airlie estate for on 21 December 1547 Katherine Campbell, Mistress of Ogilvy and James Lord Ogilvy, her son, paid to John, bishop of Dunkeld, at Stirling 400 merks Scotts in part payment of 1000 merks due for the ward and marriage of the young Lord - who at this time was at most about eight years old. She and her son completed the payment on 7 June 1548. ^[9]

At Airlie Castle her brother-in-law,Thomas Ogilvy of Craig, paid to Katherine Campbell, Mistress of Ogilvy, in Dec 1548 the rents of the lands of Ravernie of which she had gift of ward in name of James, Lord Ogilvy, her son, in his minority. She transferred to Thomas all rights she had on these lands; and Thomas renounced the assignation made to him by the deceased James, Lord Ogilvy, his father, of the lands of Fingask and bound himself to deliver the reversion of that to Katherine. ^[10]

Katherine borrowed £100 Scots from David, Earl of Crawford, in November 1548 and David Ogilvy acting on behalf of Mistress Ogilvy, repaid this at Edzell Castle on 8 Aug 1549. ^[11] This actornay was most probably her neighbour David Ogilvy of Newton of Glenisla who many years later still assisted her. His wife was Margaret Campbell a daughter of the Abbot of Coupar Angus and thus a cousin of Katherine. In Dec 1549, Katherine confirmed as tutrix testamentar on behlaf of her son James Lord Ogilvy an annual rent of 50 merks to his uncle Thomas Ogilvy of Craig payable out of the lands of Airlie.^[12]

Her influence over her son Lord Ogilvy and the management of Airlie would have diminished on her marriage in 1550 to David Earl of Crawford when she moved to live in Edzell Castle.^[13] His curators then were John, Lord Erskine,(Katherine's great uncle by marriage) Donald, abbot of Coupar and Thomas Ogilvy of Wester Craig.^[14]

That Katherine married the Earl of Crawford formerly David Lindsay of Edzell may have surprised many in Angus for her first husband the Master of Oglvy had been antagonistic towards him and raided the Linsday lands and carried out spoilation of Finhavon Castle. Most probably this was due to the eighth earl of Crawford entailing the title to David Lindsay of Edzell who had supported him against his troublesome son Alexander Lindsay "the wicked master of Crawford". The Master of Ogilvy had favoured David the young son of Alexander and his wife Jean Sinclair who was sister to Ogilvy's mother, Helen Sinclair.

Katherine married David Lindsay 9th Earl of Crawford in 1550 ^[13][15]

They had seven children:^[15]

• Sir David Lindsay of Edzell
• John Lindsay, Lord Menmuir
• Walter Lindsay of Balgavies
• James Lindsay
• Robert Lindsay of Balhall
• Elizabeth Lindsay - married Patrick, 3rd Lord Drummond
• Margaret Lindsay - married John, Lord Innermeath

Katherine died on 1 October 1578 in Brechin Castle, Angus^[15] Her will was confirmed in Edinburgh Commissary Court on 2 June 1579.^[16][15]

Sources

1. ↑ Rental book of the Cistercian abbey of Cupar-Angus; Grampian Club; 1879; Vol.ii p.1
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} The Scots Peerage; Balfour Paul; Volume 1; pages 118-119
3. ↑ Registrum magni sigilli regum Scotorum; Vol 3; 1513-1546; Number 2091; accessed 24 July 2024
4. ↑ National Records of Scotland; Papers of the Erskine Family of Dun, Angus; GD123/140;

   Copy antenuptial contract of marriage between Agnes Ogilvy, sister of James, Lord Ogilvy of Airlie, and John Erskyne of Dun, 13 April 1565

5. ↑ National Records of Scotland; Papers of the Earls of Airlie; Lands of Clintlaw & Auchindory in the Lordship of Coupar & Meikle & Little Forter in the Barony of Glenisla.; GD16/7/1;

   feu charter by Donald,(Campbell) abbot of Cupar, and the convent thereof, with consent of Robert, abbot of Balmorinach, and Andrew Butour, commissary of Melrose, to James Ogiluy, son and heir apparent of James, Lord Ogiluy, son and heir apparent of James, Lord Ogiluy, and Katherine Campbell, his spouse, in conjunct fee, of the lands of Clintlaw and Auchindorie. Cupar.

6. ↑ National Records of Scotland; Papers of the Earls of Airlie; Lands & Barony of Lintrathen; 1 October 1539; GD16/3/35
7. ↑ Rental book of the Cistercian abbey of Cupar-Angus; Grampian Club; 1879; Vol.ii p.297
8. ↑ National Records of Scotland; Papers of the Earls of Airlie; Legal Papers: Wills & other Testamentary Papers; GD16/43/1; 30 July 1545
9. ↑ National Records of Scotland; Papers of the Earls of Airlie; Legal Papers: Bonds, Discharges & Assignations; GD16/42/12
10. ↑ National Records of Scotland; Papers of the Earls of Airlie; Lands & Barony of Lintrathen; GD16/3/43
11. ↑ National Records of Scotland; Papers of the Earls of Airlie; Legal Papers: Bonds, Discharges & Assignations; GD16/42/14
12. ↑ Registrum magni sigilli regum Scotorum; Volume 4; 1546-1580; Vol.iv 567
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} Registrum magni sigilli regum Scotorum; Volume 4; 1546-1580; Vol,iv 539
14. ↑ National Records of Scotland; Papers of the Earls of Airlie; Miscellaneous Charters; 23 July 1558;GD16/24/178;

    Summons in action at the instance of James, Lord Ogiluy, grandson of the deceased James, Lord Ogiluy, who was son of the deceased Lord Ogiluy who was son of the deceased John Ogiluy of Fyngask, John, Lord Erskin, Donald, abbot of Cowper and Thomas Ogiluy of Vestir Cragis, curators to said Lord Ogiluy against William Scot now of Balwery, kt., son of deceased William Scot of Flawcraige, concerning the reversion of the lands and barony of Fyngask which said William Scot should, in terms of the original contract of wadset, resign into the hands of said Lord Ogiluy

15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3} The Scots Peerage; Balfour Paul; Volume 3; pages 28-29; accessed 24 July 2024
16. ↑ "Wills and Testaments," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 24 July 2024), Surname Campbell, Forename Katherine, Date 2/6/1579, Description Dame, Countess of Craufurd, Type Testament Testamentar and Inventory, Court Edinburgh Commissary Court; citing Reference Number CC8/8/7.

See also:

• http://www.thepeerage.com/p10924.htm#i109235
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Lindsay,_9th_Earl_of_Crawford
• http://www.clanmacfarlanegenealogy.info/genealogy/TNGWebsite/familychart.php?personID=I3158&tree=CC
• http://www.cracroftspeerage.co.uk/crawford1398.htm