Wedderburn book; a history of the Wedderburns in ... - waughfamily.ca
Wedderburn book; a history of the Wedderburns in ... - waughfamily.ca
Wedderburn book; a history of the Wedderburns in ... - waughfamily.ca
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INTRODUCTION.<br />
ye Innaturall Iniuries and wiangis he and his wife hes done to me." The Introd.<br />
present condition <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> MS. <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Compt Bulk shows that one or two leaves<br />
have been removed, and I th<strong>in</strong>k that my grandfa<strong>the</strong>r, jealous <strong>of</strong> anyth<strong>in</strong>g<br />
which he thought discreditable to <strong>the</strong> family, persuaded James Thomson<br />
to destroy <strong>the</strong> orig<strong>in</strong>al <strong>of</strong> this record <strong>of</strong> bio<strong>the</strong>rly dissension. David died <strong>in</strong><br />
1632-34. He had married at Murroes <strong>in</strong> 1.589 Matild Beaton, daughter <strong>of</strong><br />
James Beaton <strong>of</strong> Westhall, and by her had a large family <strong>of</strong> eleven children,<br />
born 1590—IGIO. Of <strong>the</strong>se, four were sons, David, James, Alexander, and<br />
Henry, none <strong>of</strong> whom <strong>ca</strong>rried on <strong>the</strong>ir fa<strong>the</strong>r's l<strong>in</strong>e. David and Ale.xander<br />
both died before him, and, I believe, Henry (who is never named <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
burgh records) to. have done <strong>the</strong> same. James entered <strong>the</strong> army, and served<br />
both at home and abroad. He was liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> 1642 and perliaps later, and<br />
is said to have entered <strong>the</strong> service <strong>of</strong> Gustavus Adolphus <strong>of</strong> Sweden, and to<br />
have been buried <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>ca</strong><strong>the</strong>dral <strong>of</strong> Abo, <strong>in</strong> Swedish F<strong>in</strong>land. That he<br />
left no issue seems clear both from <strong>the</strong> fact that <strong>the</strong> Dundee records conta<strong>in</strong><br />
no reference to descendants <strong>of</strong> his, and be<strong>ca</strong>use we f<strong>in</strong>d his fa<strong>the</strong>r's house <strong>in</strong><br />
Dundee <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> possession <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> family <strong>of</strong> one <strong>of</strong> his married sisters <strong>in</strong> later<br />
years. His sisters were Helen, married (a) <strong>in</strong> IGIO George Auch<strong>in</strong>lek, and (6) <strong>in</strong><br />
1621 James Ros ; Eufame, married (IGIO) James Sympsone ;<br />
Matild; Janet, died<br />
<strong>in</strong> 1616; Katharen ; Isobell ; and Magdalen, married George English; <strong>in</strong> regard<br />
to all <strong>of</strong> whom I have but little <strong>in</strong>formation.<br />
The four younger sons <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> old clerk <strong>ca</strong>n be briefly dealt with, as only<br />
one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m, Robert, had issue, and his male l<strong>in</strong>e be<strong>ca</strong>me<br />
Robert, James, ext<strong>in</strong>ct on <strong>the</strong> death <strong>of</strong> his son. This Robert, who was a<br />
wumwedder- merchant <strong>in</strong> Dundee, died <strong>in</strong> 1593, and, though under thirty<br />
burn, sons <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> yp^j-g gf age, had been three times married between 15S9 and<br />
° '^^^<br />
1592. The fashion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> time seems to have favoured<br />
immediate remarriage. His wives were Grissell Dun<strong>ca</strong>n, Elspet Lovell, and<br />
Elspet Her<strong>in</strong>g. Of <strong>the</strong>se, <strong>the</strong> first and <strong>the</strong> last (who survived him and<br />
married aga<strong>in</strong>) had no issue, but by <strong>the</strong> second, Robert had a daughter Helen<br />
(married Andrew Boyd), who was liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> 1655, and a son Alexander, who<br />
was for many vears a merchant and ship-owner <strong>in</strong> Dundee. He married Janet<br />
Newton and died <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> latter part <strong>of</strong> 1652 leav<strong>in</strong>g issue two daughter^<br />
Helen who married (a) William Gascoigne, (6) Bartholomew Belsone, EngUsliman,<br />
'as he is constantly <strong>ca</strong>lled, and Elizabeth, who be<strong>ca</strong>me <strong>the</strong> wite <strong>of</strong><br />
William Gardyne, a goldsmith <strong>in</strong> Dundee.<br />
James <strong>Wedderburn</strong>, <strong>the</strong> next bro<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong> Robert, was also a Dundee<br />
merchant, and is repeatedly named as burgess, baihe, kirKjames<br />
master, and dean ot gild. A feud between him and one<br />
Ax^ieli'^'^' James RoUok—a fa<strong>in</strong>t survival, perhaps, <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> old ditlerence<br />
between <strong>the</strong> families— is mentioned <strong>in</strong> 1G03. His house <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Overcrait <strong>of</strong> Dundee was still stand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> 1877, identified by a panel (post<br />
T> 4^8) bear<strong>in</strong>g his arms, <strong>in</strong>itials, and <strong>the</strong> date 1642, but was rebuilt m that<br />
Jear when <strong>the</strong> arms were badly recut. He married Crist<strong>in</strong>a Lovell but by her<br />
who died <strong>in</strong> 1631, had no issue. James himself died <strong>in</strong> 1044. and was buried<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Howff, at <strong>the</strong> foot <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> old west wall. By his will, conhrmed at<br />
Brech<strong>in</strong> and still extant, he left various legacies to his nepliews and nieces<br />
and o<strong>the</strong>rs as well as a sum <strong>of</strong> four hundred merks tor a silver bas<strong>in</strong> for<br />
<strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> kirk <strong>of</strong> Dundee, to be engraved with <strong>the</strong> names and a, ms <strong>of</strong><br />
himself and his late wife, and an <strong>in</strong>scription to be decided on by ms great<br />
nephew Bfackness. This' bas<strong>in</strong>, weigh<strong>in</strong>g three pounds and three ounces was<br />
ei?en by his heir and executor. Alexander (son <strong>of</strong> Robert), to <strong>the</strong> k.rk lu<br />
1646 for "<strong>the</strong> use and behailf <strong>of</strong> tlie sacrament ot baptisme.<br />
The fact <strong>of</strong> this nephew, Alexander (<strong>the</strong> son <strong>of</strong> his elder bro<strong>the</strong>r Robert),<br />
be<strong>in</strong>g heir retoured to James, shows that at that date (1646) ^.oth James<br />
jounger bro<strong>the</strong>rs had died without issue. Peter had, <strong>in</strong>deed, been twice