George de Lawedre (abt. 1373 - abt. 1430)

Born about 1373 in Haltoun Castle, Ratho, Edinburghshire, Scotland

Ancestors

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George de Lawedre was an inhabitant of Medieval Scotland. Join: Scotland Project Discuss: Scotland

George de Lawedre was a member of Scottish Nobility. Join: Scotland Project Discuss: Scotland

Biography

First son of Alan de Lawedre's second marriage to Elizabeth de Haltoun. He is given as "of Haltoun" in 1393^[1], which appears to be the only territorial reference found. He only left daughters, co-heirs, who were excluded from the landed entail.

It would appear from several accounts that the Lauder of Haltoun family continued to use the Arms of the ancient Lauder family (Bass changed theirs in this generation) possibly until circa 1500. They were then amended: the original crest became incorporated in the main Arms with a new crest appearing plus mottos.^[2][3]

George de Lawedre, described as "a [half] brother of Sir Robert of The Bass", was Custumar of North Berwick until 1426.^[4]

In 1393 King Robert III confirmed a charter by James Sandilands of Calder to "George Lauder of Haltoun" of the lands of Sornfallow and Greenhill in the barony of Wistoun, in Lanarkshire, resigned by Marion Pettendreich. [These lands were still in the direct line 150 years later when reconfirmed to Sir Alexander Lauder of Haltoun, Knt., on 18th May, 1543.] However, as mentioned above, this appears to be the only primary source which gives him with the "of Haltoun" designation. He may only have held Haltoun in fee from his father.^[5]

An English Safe-conduct under the seal of the Lord Chancellor was issued on 1st December 1412 till Pentecost following, for William, Sire de Graham, Master Robert de Lany, licensed in decrees and Provost of St. Andrews, William de Borthwick, Esquire, and George de Lawedre, Burgess [of Edinburgh], ambassadors appointed by the Council-General of Scotland to treat for the deliverance of James [1st] King of Scotland and for a truce, as signified in letters from the High Prince the Duke of Albany, the King's very dear cousin, with 40 horsemen in their company.^[6]

George de Lawedre was noted as Provost of Edinburgh on 27th February, 1413, 6th June, 1427, and in 1430.^[7][8] In a charter dated 22nd October, 1413, "George de Lawedre, Provost of Edinburgh" appears as a witness.^[9]

George de Lawedre, with others, is a witness to a charter of confirmation by Archibald, (Douglas) Earl of Wigtoun & Longueville of a charter by Archibald Earl of Douglas to the monastery of Melrose, of the Regality of Eskdalemuir, on 16th January 1418. The Lauders of Haltoun were very close friends and confidants of the Douglases.

It was agreed in Council at Westminster on 13th May 1423 to grant a Safe-conduct for 6 months for George de Lawedre and Robert de Lawedre of Scotland for their ship laden with fish and other merchandise to travel between England and Scotland.^[10]

On the 4th December 1423, a Warrant of safe conduct till 1st March next was sealed at Westminster for John de Touris, George de Lawedre, Robert de Lawedre, and James Rede, at present in England, and two servants each, to go to Scotland and return at pleasure. Similar for Gilbert de Lawedre and four servants.^[11]

See a charter of inspection by James Douglas, on 15th January 1457/8, to a charter originally drawn up on 18 July 1423, by Archibald, Earl of Douglas & Wigton, Lord of Galloway and Annandale and of the Regality of Lauder, to John of Heriot, armiger, of Trabroun.^[12]. It was formally confirmed by the Earl of Wigton's brother James de Douglas on 2nd December 1423 where George de Lawedre, acting as his Steward, appears as a witness.^[13]

George de Lauedre is one of the witnesses to a charter of Sir John de Forrester of Corstorfyne, Knt., [his brother Alexander's father-in-law) dated at Corstorfyne 2nd March 1425.^[14]

Reid (1888) states: "in a charter registered in1426, Sir Robert de Lawedre let the farms of North Berwick. I find that in the same year he and his brother George both refused to pay customs." (Citing The Exchequer Rolls, vol.v.) However Robert senior (George's half-brother) had died in June1425. The Robert who let the farms was his son.

George de Lawedre, a Burgess of Edinburgh, became a Bailie of Edinburgh on 2nd July 1411 and was Provost of Edinburgh, 27th February, 1413, 6th June 1427, and again in 1430. After the latter year he disappears from the records. He must have died.^[15]

In January 1461/2 George de Lawedre's four daughters (and their husbands) were being sued by Sir Alexander Lauder of Haltoun (grandson of George's brother Sir Alexander) for the recovery of the lands of Sornfallow and Greenhill [in sheriffdom of Lanark] (which George had a charter of in 1393, see above) and Bruntisfield, Edinburgh, plus a tenement on the south side of High Street, Edinburgh, which it was asserted had belonged to George only in fee. The matter went to an illustrious arbitration and the daughters, Elizabeth, Isobella, Katherine (married to Adam Spence, Burgess of Edinburgh), and Margaret (married to Patrick Hamilton of Bathgate) lost.^[16]

George left no male heirs and the entail of the Haltoun estates passed to his brother, Sir Alexander who himself died within four years of his brother.

Sources

1. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland, and J.Stewart Smith, 1898, p.251.
2. ↑ "Lauder Arms" by Gregory Lauder-Frost, F.S.A., Scot., in The Double Tressure, journal of the Heraldry Society of Scotland, no.29, 2007, pps:20-39.
3. ↑ The Armorial of Sir David Lyndsay of the Mount by Alex Maxwell-Findlater, Heraldry Society of Scotland, Edinburgh, 2018, vol.ii, p.165-6.
4. ↑ Early Notices of the Bass Rock and its Owners by John J. Reid, BA., FSA Scot., in "Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland", 14th December, 1885, p.58.
5. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland Index 2 no.1686, July 1393.
6. ↑ Calendar of Documents relating to Scotland edited by Joseph Bain, F.S.A.Scot., etc., vol.iv, 1357-1509 (Addenda 1221-1435), Edinburgh, 1888, p.167, no.833.
7. ↑ The Lord Provosts of Edinburgh, 1296 - 1932 by Sir Thomas Whitson, LL.D., Edinburgh, 1932, p.3.
8. ↑ Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Edinburgh 1403-1528, Edinburgh, 1869, "List of Provosts and Baillies".
9. ↑ National Records of Scotland, RH6/234.
10. ↑ Calendar of Documents relating to Scotland edited by Joseph Bain, F.S.A.Scot., etc., vol.iv, 1357-1509 (Addenda 1221-1435), Edinburgh, 1888, p.187, no.926.
11. ↑ Bain, 1888, p.190, no.940.
12. ↑ National Records of Scotland, GD157/373.
13. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland, no. 13, confirmed at Edinburgh 8th January 1423/4.
14. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland confirmed 25th February 1426.
15. ↑ Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Edinburgh 1403-1528, Edinburgh, 1869, under 'List of Provosts, Bailies, etc., of the City of Edinburgh'.
16. ↑ National Records of Scotland, GD430/13.