William Lauder Knt. (abt. 1537 - 1596)

Born about 1537 in Haltoun House, Edinburghshire, Scotland.

Ancestors

Descendants

Died Nov 1596 at about age 59 in Haltoun House, Edinburghshire, Scotland.

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William Lauder Knt. was a member of Scottish Nobility. Join: Scotland Project Discuss: Scotland

Biography

An essay by Alexander Grant entitled "Extinction of Direct Male Lines" mentions that the Lauders were one of only 31% of the great families of the time of Robert the Bruce who survived in the direct male line beyond 1500.^[1]

Many archives exist for this Sir William Lauder.

King James V confirmed this William's parent's marriage contract on 28 Feb 1534.

William was served heir to his father evidenced in two sasines dated 22nd May 1550^[2].

"William Lauder, laird of Haltoun", accompanied Queen Mary of Guise to France in 1550. However by 1559-60 he was one of the party of reform. He aided the Lords of the Congregation at Cupar, and at Edinburgh in 1559, was one of the ten members (one of whom was John Knox, the Reformer) appointed for the 9th Session of the General Assembly on 9th March 1570 "to convene before the nobility assembled in Edinburgh and in their name present some articles, require and receive answers, and report the same to the next Assembly".^[3]

William Lauder of Haltoun sat in Parliament as a minor baron on 1st August 1560.^[4]

A Precept charter was confirmed at Edinburgh, 12th March 1564/5 to William Lawder of Haltoun and Joanne Cockburne, his spouse, indicating a marriage before that date, presumably some years before.

In a Privy Council Summons dated 19th March 1565/6, William Lauder of Haltoun was to appear as one of the conspirators in the murder of David Riccio, the Queen's private secretary.^[5] He is also mentioned in Pitcairn's Criminal Trials on 24th September 1566 and 8th December 1570.

In the archives is a Discharge and Renunciation in October 1567 by "Sir William Lawder of Haltoun Knight". This is possibly the first mention of him specifically as a knight.^[6]

A very extensive landowner in several counties, in the Privy Council Registers for 1590 appears a Crown List of 'Landed Men' amongst whom is the "Laird of Haltoun" in Edinburghshire.

His Testament (Will) at the Commissariot of Edinburgh records his death date & place.

In 1580 Sir William Lauder of Haltoun was given as using the ancient Lauder Arms: Argent, a griffin segreant Sable beaked and membered Gules.^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ Essays on the Nobility of Medieval Scotland, edited by K.J.Stringer, John Donald publishers, Edinburgh, 1985, p.214. ISBN: 0-85976-113-4
2. ↑ The Protocol Book of Robert Wedderop, Lauder 1543-1553, Selkirk 1993, nos.3 & 25.
3. ↑ Shaw, Duncan, editor, The Acts and Proceedings of the General Assemblies of the Church of Scotland 1560-1586, Scottish Record Society, Edinburgh, 2004, pps: 204, 227, 248, 551 and index.
4. ↑ The Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland, vol.II, 1424-1567, London, 1814, p.526.
5. ↑ The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland edited by John Hill Burton, vol.1, 1545-1569, Edinburgh, 1877, p.436-7.
6. ↑ National Records of Scotland, GD119/219.
7. ↑ The Dunvegan Armorial edited by J & E Malden,, The Heraldry Society of Scotland, Edinburgh, Limited Edition, 2006, p.166-7. ISBN: 0-9525258-5-2

• The Grange of St. Giles by J. Stewart Smith, Edinburgh, 1898, p.235.

• Thepeeerage.com