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

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THE FAMILY OF BURNETT OF LEYS.
I. JANF.T, married (contract dated loth February, 1578-9) Gilbert
Koith of Auquhorsk.
II. MARGARET, unmarried in 1613.
I II. I TII, married her cousin-german, Master Gilbert Skene, son
and heir-apparent of Master James Skenc of Wester Corse and
Ramore (charter to him at Crathes, of date I5th December, 1592).
XII.
ALEXANDER BURNET of Leys (1578-1619). This Alexander
succeeded his father in 1578, made up his title to the barony of Leys by
service (sasine in Leys charter chest, dated 5th May, 1578, where he is
called "providus adolescens"); to Pettenkeirie and other lands held from
the Abbot of Arbroath by Precept of Clare Constat of date 26th
October, 1581, from Esme", Duke of Lennox, who had obtained the
Abbey in commendam on the attainder of the Hamiltons ; and to Invery
and half Banchory in September of the same year, by Precept from
Patrick Adamson, the titular Archbishop of St. Andrews. To the last
named lands he obtained a more unquestionable title, by the King
confirming to him, on 2ist May, 1585, Archbishop Hamilton's feu-charter
to his great-grandfather.* He married soon after, if not before, his
succession, Katherine, daughter of Alexander Gordon of Lesmoir, by
whom he had a numerous family. He had a tack of the vicarage tithes
f Banchory for life and nineteen years after his death, from the minister,
James Reid, with assent of David, Bishop of Aberdeen, of date April,
1584. On I3th October, 1598, "vencrabilis vir Alexander Burnet de
is" was made an honorary burgess of Aberdeen (Aberdeen Burgh
Records;.
This laird completed Crathes Castle, begun, as has been seen, by his
it-grandfather, to whom he almost immediately succeeded. That
Cratht .habited a few years before 1596 appears by the mention
in the Record of the Privy Council of a bond executed at Aberdeen and
Crathes on the 3rd and 4 th September, 1588, in which Alexander
Hurnct r.f Leys became surety for Master Gilbert Keith in Auquhorsk
brother-in-law} and others, in 200, that Janet Buchan, her tenants
* See Charter printed in Appendix.