The family of Burnett of Leys, with collateral - Electric Scotland

The family can be traced for three generations.
APPENDIX. 345
I. ANDREW of Shethocksley, mentioned above, married, and had two sons and
one daughter. He is probably the "Andreas Burnet" who appears on
the Register of Burgesses of Aberdeen in 1619. His children were :
1. Alexander, his successor.
2. Andrew, married, 1647, Isabel, daughter of James Dunn. In 1658,
the name of Andrew Burnet, son to Andrew Burnet of Shethocksley,
appears in the Register of Burgesses.
i. Margaret, married, 1628, William Moir, son of Patrick Moir of
Chapeltown.
II. ALEXANDER of Shethocksley married, in 1636, Margaret, daughter of Patrick
Skene (son of Alexander Skene of Skene), and widow of William Black,
burgess of Aberdeen. Alexander, like the rest of the family, was an active
Covenanter. In 1644, when Montrose was marching upon Aberdeen at
the head of the Royal Army, he was one of the four Captains appointed
by the Town Council to hurriedly organise the citizens, and place the
town in an attitude of defence. In the Records of the Burgh of Aberdeen,
4th September, 1644, "The Counsell, in respect of the approache of the
" Irishe Rebells, ordanis the haill inhabitantis of the burgh, both frie and
"unfrie, to be put in a war like posture," and elected four captains for
this purpose, of whom Alexander of Shethocksley was one ; and he was
appointed to the "futtie" quarter. The captains had power to appoint
their own lieutenants, "ancientis" and other inferior officers. The Record
further tells us that the captains appeared personally and accepted office,
and gave oath to discharge the same faithfully.
Alexander Burnet was no
doubt present with his command at the disastrous battle of Aberdeen,
fought nine days later, on the i3th of September. Spalding mentions no
fewer than four Burnets slain in the battle and the flight which followed :
"Andrew Burnet burges," who, however, was no Covenanter, but one of those
"harlit out sore against thair willis to fight against the Kingis livetennant;"
Thomas Burnet, merchant; George and Johne Burnet, burgesses; and
three servants of Andrew (?) Burnet of Shedokisley. It is not improbable
that the slain Burnets were serving in the Futtie division of the civic force
under the command of their kinsman, Shethocksley. Spalding's account
is somewhat confusing, as Andrew and Thomas were brothers, and both
burgesses of Aberdeen, and the three servants he mentions seem to have
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