I.—JAMES WEDDERBURN (SECOND SON OF ALEXANDER WEDDERBURN, FIRST OF KINGENNIE, ANTE, P. 129), CLERK OF DUNDEE, B. 1589, D. 1627, and CHAPTER II. SIR ALEXANDER WEDDERBURN OF BLACKNESS, KNT. (ELDEST SON OF JAMES WEDDERBURN), CLERK OF DUNDEE, B. 1610, D. 1675, AND HIS CHAPTER III.-PETER, GEORGE AND ALEXANDER WEDDERBURN (YOUNGEST SURVIVING SONS OF SIR ALEXANDER OF BLACKNESS, KNT.), AND THEIR DESCENDANTS, CHAPTER IV. SIR JOHN WEDDERBURN (ELDEST SURVIVING SON OF SIR ALEXANDER OF BLACKNESS, KNT.), FIRST BARONET OF BLACKNESS, B. 1641, D. 1706. With an account of his descendants, extinct in male line on the CHAPTER V. JAMES WEDDERBURN (SECOND SURVIVING SON OF SIR ALEXANDER OF CHAPTER VI. SIR ALEXANDER WEDDERBURN (ELDEST SON OF JAMES WEDDERBURN), FOURTH BARONET OF BLACKNESS AND CLERK OF DUNDEE, B. 1675, D. CHAPTER VII.—SIR JOHN WEDDERBURN (ELDEST SON OF SIR ALEXANDER), FIFTH BARONET OF BLACKNESS, B. 1704, D. 1746, AND HIS FAMILY. With an account of his share in the '45, his trial, and execution. CHAPTER VIII.-THE DESCENDANTS IN MALE LINE OF SIR JOHN WEDDERBURN, FIFTH Sect. i.-Sir John Wedderburn of Balindean and his descendants. Sect. ii.-James Wedderburn of Inveresk and his descendants. (a) The Wedderburn-Colviles of Ochiltree. PART III. CHAPTER I. JAMES WEDDERBURN (SECOND SON OF ALEXANDER WEDDERBURN, FIRST OF KINGENNIE, Part III. ANTE, P. 129), CLERK OF DUNDEE, B. 1589, D. 1627, AND HIS FAMILY. Chap. I. James Wedderburn [1589-1627],1 second son of Alexander of Kingennie and Helen Ramsay, was born in 1589, as is proved by the statement in his admission as notary (D.P.B. 414) that he was aged twenty in 1609. The earliest reference to him is dated 28 July 1591, when there is a settlement by his parents on "James, their second son," of a close in Dundee, known as the Greneland (D.W. 11t; D.P.B. 315 6), in warrandice of which another tenement is settled on him, 30 Sept. 1594 (D.W. 11 t), while, 23 May 1595, a croft called Seres Hauch is also disponed to him by his father, subject to his own and his wife's life-rent (D.C. 37). He matriculated at the university of S. Andrew's in 1604-5, and took his degree there in 1608 (S.A.T. 17-19 n). Meanwhile, on 17 July 1604, there was a gift of the clerkship to him made on a decreet arbitral between the magistrates and the inhabitants of Dundee to deliver the gift thereof to him, "second son of Mr. Alexander Wedderburn, clerk" in event of the death or inability of his father (D.C.B. 28). A further settlement of property on him and his sisters, Magdalen and Margaret, was made by his father, 13 Oct. 1606 (D.P.B. 365) while soon after his marriage in 1608 (see below) he got sasine from his father of yet another property, known as Monorgund's croft (D.C. 43) in implement of his marriage contract. He was admitted a notary at Edinburgh, 20 June 1609, as appears from a copy of his admission which gives his age and narrates that "since his cumming from the scoles (he) hes bene trainit up with his father in exerceing of the said office (of clerk) quhilk hes movit the provost baillies and counsall of the said brught to give thair consentis to admitt him to the said office" (D.P.B. 414). A facsimile of his notarial symbol which is appended to this copy of his admission is given at p. 187, vol. ii.3 He seems to have used no motto, nor does he, like his great uncle, Robert, adorn the title pages of his protocol and other books with quotations from the classics, and philosophic maxims. The epitaph of Mary Stuart is written on the title of vol. 267 of the Protocol Books, which he began in July 1609, and vols. xxv-vi. of the Burgh and Head Court Records are also largely his (vol. ii., pp. 289-90). He was admitted a burgess of Dundee by his father's privilege 10 July 1610 (D.L.B. 37), from which date on his name constantly occurs in the different records.5 1 Synopsis of References :-S.W. 170-71 a, 179-80, 182, 184, 187, 192-95, 218 b, 236, 282; Bl. 12, 13; J.W. 105; S.A.R. 17-19; Adv.Adm. 1; D.W. 3, 11 t, 18 cd; D.C. 37, 43, 47, 49, 52, 54, 58, 59; D.L.B. 37 n, 40 n, 46, 49, 53, 59; D.P.B. 315 6, 365, 376, 379 a, 383-84, 389, 394, 402 a b, 411, (Vol. 267, title), 414, 424, 431-32, 473 a, 509; D.B.R. 369, 370 b, 372, (Vol. xxv,, title), 381 a, 388, (Vol. xxvi., title), 392, 393 a, 394, 400 a, 475, 487; D.C.B. 28, 41, 44, 49, 53; D.D. 3; D.R.S. 16; G.S. R. 83-85, 95, 97, and Vol. 1634-51, § 1177; R.H. 11; F.S. 2; R.D. 21 ab, 50, 53, 64, 69, 73-75, 84, 86-87, 99, 101, 105, 113; R.A.D. Vol. 318, fol. 290; 320, fol. 43 (orig. record); Br.T. 2, 5, 10; P.B.N. 6b, 7, 8, 1013, 15 ab, 16, 23, 24. 2 There is a portrait of him at Meredith, which is reproduced opposite p. 198, in the corner of which are the family arms and "M(agister)J. W. 1615, æt. 24," which would place his birth in 1591. But this picture, like the one of his father, also at Meredith (ante, p. 123, n. 2), is a copy (1800) of an original-perhaps by Jamieson-which fell into decay, and I make no doubt that the copyist mistook the 3 in 1613 for a 5. A good modern copy of the Meredith picture is in my possession, 3 Three facsimiles of his signature face p. 24 of vol. ii., while another, that to his marriage contract, will be found opp. p. 97, and yet another opp. p. 192. This is the only protocol book of his extant, but, 5 Dec. 1633, there is a decree for the transumpt of four of his and his father's protocol books (ante, p. 124, n. 3), some one or more of which may have been his (D.D. 3). In the (1659) inventory made by his son of the books in his press, only one book (D.P. B. Vol. 267) of the father, that of 1609-22, is named. 5 The most frequent mentions of it are on but slight occasions when he is named as witness, procurator, attorney, or as the writer of documents. Thus, 29 June 1609, he is a witness (D.P.B. 276); 1610, witness (S.W. 171); 7 Aug., writes a discharge (D.B.R. 369); 10 Sept., witness (D.W. 18 c); 22 Oct., notary (S.W. 171 a); 1611 July 19, procurator (D.B.R. 370 b); Sept. 3, notary D.P.B. 383); Sept. 24, burgess, witness (ib. 379 a); Dec. 13, witness (D.B.R. 372); 1612 June 2, 18, writer of documents Part III. He is always called "Mr. James Wedderburn," with the addition sometimes of " son Chap. I. of the clerk," "brother of Mr. Alexander Wedderburn, bailie," "notary," or burgess,” the prefix serving to distinguish him from his uncle James, the merchant. Thus, in the Compt Buik of his uncle, David, we find a memorandum, 3 June 1661, of a loan of the "litell saw to Mr. James Wedderburn" (D.W. 3), and he is so named, 24 June 1615 (ib. 18d), and also in an action by the executor of Robert Traill v. Mr. John Leslie of Newton. Mr. James Wedderburn and others (R. A. D., vol. 318, fol. 290, orig. record). He is often mentioned in connection with his relations. It was to him, no doubt in view of his profession and intended succession to his father as clerk, that his great uncle, Robert, the notary, left all his protocol books, 12 Oct. 1611 (Br.T. 2), and we find him witnessing the discharge of his sister Magdalen's tocher, in May 1613 (S.W. 180); the marriage contracts of his sister Margaret, in 1615 and 1617 (ib. 187, 192); acting for her in the sasine thereon (ib. 193); and, 26 Jan. 1624, signing as notary the will of his cousin, Magdalen Wedderburn, wife of Thomas Jack (ante, p. 79). He lived, of course, in Dundee, and no doubt from 1609 on assisted his father in the duties of his office. He owned a house in North Argylegait, which is named 19 July 1615 (D.B.R. 393 a), and, 24 Dec. 1617, he acquired from Mr. Alexander Ramsay a South Murraygait tenement, of which sasine is given to him, his wife, and their heirs (D.P.B. 411), and which is named as a boundary, 14 May 1621 (P.B N. 66). He also, 17 July 1622, got sasine of the South Flukergait property of the late George Ramsay (ib. 11). A bond (1618) by James Ramsay of Ardbekie to him and his wife is registered in 1622 (R.D. 75), and there is also a bond to him by Alexander Ramsay, fiar of Ardbekie,1 dated in 1622 and registered in 1625 (ib. 86).2 6. In 1617 (Nov. 14) his father as we have seen (ante, p. 125), finding his political engagements inconsistent with his constant presence in Dundee, nominated him his depute and substitute in the clerkship (D.C.B. 44),3 and it is in this capacity that he signs two discharges in the Lockit Buik" in 1618 (D.L.B. 404). In 1624 (May 13) he is called "clerk of Dundee" in a sasine, to which he acts as notary and appends his symbol (D.C. 52), while in another sasine of that year (Oct. 2), to which he is witness and bailie, he is called "clerk constitute of Dundee" (P.B.N. 15 b). He also held at one time "the constable's clerkship," his uncle, David, recording that his brother, Kingennie, got it for his son James, and "defraudit me of it" (J.W. 105). He succeeded his father as clerk on his death in May 1626, but survived him little over a year. His brother Alexander is named as acting as clerk, 3 July 1626 (S.W. 224; ante, p. 144, n. 1); and, on 25 May 1627, it is recorded that Mr. James Wedderburn, present common clerk, "being sick and bedfast," and thereby unable to exercise his office, appoints, with the consent of the Council, Thomas Fyff, his servitor, to act as his substitute during his sickness (D.C.B. 49). From this illness, however, he never rose. On May 28 he made his will (Br.T. 10), immediately after which he died. His heir was his eldest son, Alexander, who was then seventeen years of age, and thus too young to at once (3.W. 179; D.C. 47); July 2. Aug. 18, witness (R.D. 50); 1613 Jau. 21. notary (D.B.R. 381 a); May 29, witness (G.S. R. Vol. 1634-51, § 1177); 1614-15, often named (D.P.B. 384; G.S.R. 83); 1614 Jan. 13, writer of a deed (S. W. 182); Feb. 7, procurator (D.B.R. 388); June 16, 18, 25, 28, writer of documents (S.W. 184; G.S.R. 84); 1615 April 11, 22, notary (D.B.R. 392; D.C.B. 41); May 25, Oct. 15, witness (G.S.R. 85; R.D. 53); Nov. 16, procurator (D.B.R. 394); 1616 Feb. 5, witness (D.B.B. 389); 1617 Jan. 25, notary (D.R.S. 16); June 12, 23, Aug. 4, procurator (D.P.B. 394; D.B.R. 400 a); Sept. 18, Dec. 20, witness (S. W. 194); 1618 May 28, witness (R.D. 64); June 24, notary (D.C. 49); 1619 Dec. 22, 31, witness (D. P.B. 402 a b); 1620 June 3, writes and witnesses a bond (R.D. 74); Aug. 10, witness (S. W. 218b; G.S.R. 95); Nov. 23, acts for Lord Carnegy (F.S. 2); 1621 April 14, witness (D.P.B. 424); 1622 Jan. 23, Feb. 14, April 15, witness (P.B.N. 7, 8, 10); July 1, writes a discharge (R. D. 84); Oct. 12, witness (P.B.N. 12); 1623 May 14, Sept. 4, Nov. 17, witness (D.P.B 431; G.S. R. 97; P.B.N. 13); 1624 May 8, witness (P.B.N. 15 a); 1626 Feb. 20, witness (b. 16); May 10, 13, witness (D.C. 54; R.D. 99). 1 These Ramsays were probably relations of his on his mother's side. Mr. Alexander Ramsay is described as the son and heir of the late George Ramsay and Agnes Durie, his wife (D.P.B. 411). See also S.W. 195, where, 20 Dec. 1617, there is reference to a contract between Alexander Ramsay and Mr. James Wedderburn in regard to this property. There is also a bond to him by John Ker in 1620 (R. D. 73) and he is a cautioner to a bond together with his eldest brother, and Thomas Halyburton, his brother-in-law, 15 Sept, 1625 (ib. 87). 3 J.W. in his MS. gives 2 Dec. 1617 as the date of his election as assistant clerk, but quotes no authority. See also the next note. The exact date of his death is not fixed, the confirmation of his will recording only that he died in 1627 (Br. T. 10). But we find his brother Alexander called clerk on 3 July 1627 (S. W. 229) so that he was certainly dead then. J.W., in his printed memoir, says that he died in 1620, while in his MS. he puts the date as 17 Feb. 1622, but again quotes no authority. Both statements are wrong. |