The year 1766 has hitherto been assigned as that of her death, but that this is an Part III. error is shown by both the above discharges of 1768 and by a further disposition, dated 4 Chap. VII. Jan. 1769, of all her moveables, pictures and jewels, in favour of her then only unmarried daughters, Catharine and Susanna (Bl. 35; D.D. 130), which she substituted for that of 1761.1 This is the last reference to her as living, and there can be little doubt that her death occurred soon after in 1769-70. I do not find any record of her burial in the Dundee mortcloth dues, and the place of her death and burial, though probably Dundee, is thus not fixed. The occurrence of her name in the inscription on the Blackness stone in the Howff does not prove that her remains rest there.2.

By her Sir John Wedderburn had issue seven sons and four daughters, of most of whose births he has left record in a family register in his own hand (Bl. 93).

The sons were,

1. Alexander Wedderburn, born 24 Nov. 1727 (Bl. 11, 93), but died 27 March 1733, two days after his brother Charles (ib.) and was buried in Dundee (D.M.D. 52). 2. John Wedderburn, afterwards Sir John Wedderburn of Balindean, who carried on the senior line of the family (see post, chap. viii.). He is now represented in male line solely by Sir William Wedderburn, Bart.

3. James Wedderburn, afterwards James Wedderburn-Colvile, from whom descend the Wedderburn-Colviles of Ochiltree, now extinct in male line; the WedderburnOgilvies of Ruthven, co. Forfar; and the Wedderburn-Maxwells of Middlebie and Glenlair, co. Kirkcudbright. See post, chap. viii.

4. Charles Wedderburn, born 4 May 1732 (Bl. 93), but died 25 March 1733, two days before his eldest brother Alexander (ib.) and was buried in Dundee (D.M.D. 52), 3 5. Peter Wedderburn [1736-73], born 2 Jan. 1736 (Bl. 93). He is named in the bond made 10 Aug. 1744 by Lavid Wedderburn of that ilk in favour of his grandmother, Katharine Scott, his brothers and sisters, and himself (S.W. 573). He went out to Jamaica after the troubles of the '45, and was living there in the parish of Westmoreland, co. Cornwall, as a millwright in 1763, when, 30 April, he and his brothers James and Alexander give a power of attorney (S.W. 614) to their eldest brother John, who was starting for Great Britain, by virtue of which, he, 19 Aug. 1763, discharged Grizel Wedderburn of that ilk of certain sums due to them by her, as executor of her brother David (ib. 616-17). Peter was living 6 March 1769, when he granted another faculty, dated at Savannah in Jamaica, to his brother, Sir John, to manage his affairs at home, especially those as to his interest as one of the heirs of tailzie of the late James Carnegie of Boysack (R.D. 407). He is named as a substitute in the Great Seal Charter entailing Idvies, 27 Dec 1766 (F.S. 125) and also in that entailing Wedderburn, 1766-69 (S.W. 626, 637).

He died "unmarried in Jamaica " (H.C.R. ii.) before 10 Aug. 1774, the date of the will of his sister Susanna, in which his brothers, John and James, are described as the only surviving sons of their father (D.D. 132; Br.T. 28). It is thus by inadvertence that his name is retained in the sasine of Wedderburn, 8 May 1780, in favour of Alexander Scrymgeour-Wedderburn (F.S. 129).

6. Alexander Wedderburn [1737-1765]. He was, perhaps, born in 1737, the date of a blank entry in his father's register (Bl. 93), in which his name does not occur, so that I cannot fix the exact year of his birth. It was certainly, however, not earlier than 1737, and not later than about 1742. He is named in the abovementioned bond, 10 Aug. 1744, by David Wedderburn of that ilk to his grandmother and to his father's children (S. W. 573). He also went out to Jamaica, where he was resident in the parish of Hanover in 1763 (S.W. 614, 616-17).

He died" unmarried in Jamaica," according to the record of his nephew, Sir
David, in 1803 (H.C.R. ii., ut sup.), apparently before 31 July 1766, the date of
the entail of Wedderburn, in which his name does not occur, as, had he been then
on life, it unquestionably would have done (S. W. 626). See also the entail of Idvies,

1 She is also named in the marriage contract of her daughter Agatha, 2 June 1766 (Bl. 33).
Thus the name of her husband, whose remains were disposed of by the English Government, also occurs
in this inscription, the authority of which is not great. See post, s. the chapter on the Howff.

3 J.W., on the authority of Miss Graham, gives a son, Robert, who died in infancy," but this is an error
of name for Charles whom he does not mention. Sir John had only seven sons of whom two died in
infancy (Alexander and Charles) as shown by his register and Sir David's record at the Heralds'
College (H.C.K. ii.c), which must have been very carefully and exhaustively made, upon his being
created a baronet of Great Britain, in view of the peculiar remainders of the patent.]

Part III.
Chap. VII.

2

27 Dec. 1766 (F.S. 125), and the documents (S.W. 637; G.S.R. 144; F.S. 129) already cited in the account of his brother Peter, in none of which he is named. His death before the date of the will of his sister Susanna, 10 Aug. 1774, is clearly shown by the mention in it of his two brothers, John and James, as then the only surviving sons of their father (D.D. 132; Br.T. 28).1

7. David Wedderburn [1740?-1762?]. He also is not named in his father's register, but was born probably about 1740, and certainly before 10 Aug. 1744, as he is named in the above-mentioned bond of David Wedderburn of that ilk (S.W 573). He was a legatee under the will or testamentary settlement of David Brisbane (S.W. 584); and is named in regard to the payment of the interest and principal of this legacy to his mother while he was still a minor, 30 Aug. 1754, 26 April, 14 May 1756 (ib. 590, 594-95). J.W. in his MS. says that he was "bred to physic" but I have no other evidence of this. He "died unmarried in London," according to the record of his nephew, Sir David (H.C.R. ii.). The exact date of his death is not fixed, but it was clearly before 19 Aug. 1763, the date of the discharge by all the children of his father then on life to Grizel Wedderburn of that ilk (S.W. 616-17), and he is also referred to as having predeceased his mother (ib. 643). He is thus not mentioned in any of the entails or charters of Wedderburn or Idvies (ut sup.).

The four daughters of Sir John Wedderburn and Jean Fullarton were,

3

1. Margaret Wedderburn, born 30 August 1725 (Bl. 11, 93). She is named in
her father's letter to his wife (Bl. 51) written the night before his execution, and
there are also some letters addressed to her by her brother James and her cousin,
Grizel Paterson, after his death (Bl. 56-59). She married Richard Dundas of
Blair, co. Perth. I have not ascertained the place nor the exact date, but the
latter was before 15 May 1761, when her mother made a disposition to her three
unmarried daughters (Bl. 33), while 19 Aug. 1763, Margaret Wedderburn is
expressly named as Richard Dundas' wife (S.W. 616-17). She is also so named
in the entails of Wedderburn 1766-69 (S.W. 626, 637); in an opinion and
discharge, both dated in 1771, anent her share of the bond (1744) by David Wed-
derburn of that ilk (S.W. 643, 647); and in the sasine of Wedderburn to Alexander
Scrymgeour-Wedderburn, 8 May 1780 (F.S. 129). She was living 11 March 1793
when her brother, Sir John, writing to congratulate Henry Scrymgeour (afterwards
Wedderburn) on his engagement to Miss Maitland, says, "Be sure you do your
part and make a good husband, for our family was always remarkable for that, so
says my sister, Mrs. Dundas (S.W. 678)."5 Her name occurs in the 1803 entail of
Wedderburn and Birkhill (R.D. 458), and in the 1812 charter of Kingennie (S.W.
699), her issue being substitutes of entail. I have not ascertained the date of
either her or her husband's death. J.W. says that she had two sons, John, who
died unmarried, and Robert, who succeeded to Blair, married and had issue."
2. Katharine Wedderburn, born 12 Nov. 1726 (Bl. 11, 93), and first named with her
brothers and sisters in the bond (ut sup.) of 1744 (S.W. 573). The testamentary
dispositions of her mother in favour of her, as one of her unmarried daughters,
15 May 1761 and 4 Jan. 1769 (Bl. 34, 35; D.D. 130) have been already mentioned.
A facsimile of her signature faces p. 72 of vol. ii. She is also named in the entail
of Wedderburn, 1766-69, and in the sasine thereon, 1780 (S. W. 626, 637; G.S.R.
144; F.S. 129). She lived in Dundee, in the South Flukergait, disponed in 1761
to her mother, her sisters Susannah and Agatha, and herself (F.S. 126). In 1774,
Aug. 10, she and her sister Susannah made a mutual agreement that each should

His brother, Sir John, named his fifth son after him in 1791 (post, chap. viii.).
Synopsis of References :-S. W. 573, 584, 590, 594, 595, 616-17, 643.

Synopsis of References :-S.W. 573, 616-17, 637, 647, 678, 699; Bl. 11, 34, 56-59, 93; G.S.R. 144;
F.S. 129; R.D. 458.

She and her three sisters are all named in the bond by David Wedderburn of that ilk, 10 Aug. 1744
(S.W. 573; ut sup.).

5 This tradition has survived, for in a (1887) letter from a relative, who knew nothing of this one, to myself on a like engagement, I received a similar injunction on the same ground.

"J.W. says that there were portraits of her and her sisters Katharine and Susannah at Blair.

7 See also the discharge in respect of this bond, 19 Aug. 1763 (S. W. 616-17); a renewal of the bond itself by Grizel Wedderburn at this date; and its discharge, 12 Nov, 1768 (S. W. 618).

leave all her possessions to the other for life, and then to John and James, their only Part III.
surviving brothers (D.D. 132), and thus, on the death of Susannah in 1776, she Chap. VII.
was her executrix and gave up her will (Br. T. 28). She died at the end of Sept.
1786 and was buriedin Dundee, 2 Oct. in that year (D.M.D. 64). She was never
married and her name is thus expressly omitted from the entail of Wedderburn and
Birkhill in 1803 (R.D. 458). By her will, dated at Balindean 22 Oct. 1779, and
registered 2 Oct. 1786 (D.D. 135) she narrates that the circumstances of her
brothers render it necessary that she should benefit them, and she therefore makes
her nephew, David Wedderburn, her heir, subject to small legacies, including a
miniature of King James the Seventh, to his sisters Margaret and Jean.

3. Susannah Wedderburn,1 born 9 Jan. 1734 (Bl. 93). She, like her sister
Katharine, is named in the bond of 1744 (S.W. 573); her mother's dispositions
of 1761 and 1769 (Bl. 34, 35; D.D. 130); the discharges of 1763 and 1768
(S.W. 616-18) and the entail of Wedderburn, 1766-69 (S.W. 626, 637; G.S.R. 144;
F.S. 129). A facsimile of her signature to the discharge of 1768 faces p. 72 of
vol. ii. (S. W. 618). The 1761 disposition of the South Flukergait residence to her
mother and her unmarried daughters, of whom she was one (F.S. 126), and the
contract, 10 Aug. 1774, between her and her sister Katharine (D.D. 132) have been
already mentioned (ante, p 284, n. 4). When, in 1775, her brother, Sir John, lost his
first wife, Lady Margaret Ogilvy, it was proposed that Susan should go to Balindean
and supply her place with his children (Bl. 61). I do not know if she ever so acted,
but if she did. it was not for long, as in Sept. 1776 she was accidently burnt to
death in the house in the Nethergait at Dundee. "What a melancholy thing is
poor Sussy Wedderburn's death," writes Lady Pitfour to her daughter, Mrs. Alex-
ander Scrymgeour-Wedderburn, in a letter dated 15 Sept. 1776, and now at Birkhill.
She was buried in Dundee 18 Sept. 1776 (D.M.D. 61). Her will was confirmed at
Brechin 8 Feb. 1777, and recites that she and her sister Katharine had, by bond,
dated 10 Aug 1774 and registered 23 Sept. 1776, agreed that each should be the
others heir, with remainder to their two only surviving brothers, John and James
(Br.T. 28). She was unmarried and her name, therefore, is expressly omitted from
the 1803 entail of Wedderburn and Birkhill (R.D. 458). There is a portrait of
her in pastel, by her cousin, Katharine Read, in the possession of Sir William
Wedderburn at Meredith.

4. Agatha Wedderburn. She is not named in her father's register (Bl. 93) and the date of her birth is thus not fixed. It was. however, after 1736, the year up to which the register is complete, and before 10 Aug. 1744, when she is named in the bond of David Wedderburn of that ilk (S.W. 573) as she is also in the discharge of it to Grizel Wedderburn, and in the similar bond by Grizel, 19 Aug. 1763 (S.W. 616-18). She is mentioned in the the 1761 disposition of the South Flukergait house to her mother and her sisters (F.S. 126); in her mother's testamentary disposition of 1761 (Bl. 34), but, owing to her having married in the interval, not in that of 1769 (Bl. 36; D.D. 130). She married at Dundee 8 June 1766 (by banns 6 June) John Smyth, eldest son of John Smyth, W.S., of Balharry, in the parish of Alyth, co. Perth (D.M. 26).5 The marriage contract is dated at Perth 2 June in the same year (Bl. 33) and by it Balharry agrees to retire from his business and settle his son therein, and in a house in Geddes Close, Edinburgh. She is named as his wife in the 1766-69 entails of Wedderburn (S. W. 626, 637; G.S.R. 144; F.S. 129), but died s.p. not many years after her marriage, on which ground her name is omitted from the 1803 entail of Wedderburn and Birkhill (R.D. 453). A portrait of her, by Miss Read, similar to that of her sister Susannah, is at Meredith.

1 Synopsis of References:-S. W. 573, 616-18, 626, 637; Bl. 34, 35, 61, 93; D.D. 130, 132; D.M.D. 61; G.S.R. 144; F.S. 126, 129; R.D. 458; Br.T. 28; Ferguson of Pitfour, MS. letters at Birkhill.

2 Her brother, Sir John's, daughter Susanna named after her, 18 Jan. 1785 (Bl. 93).

3 See ante, chap. vi., ad fin.

Synopsis of References :-S.W. 573, 616-18, 626, 627; Bl. 33, 34; G.S.R. 144; F.S. 126, 129; R.D. 458. Of this marriage J.W. in his MS. says, significantly, "from the character of her husband, her family had little credit by the alliance." John Smyth was admitted a W.S. 12 July 1779. He married secondly, Joanna, daughter of Robert Gray, and died 7 Feb. 1809 (History of Writers to the Signet, s. v.). He helped to compile the account of the family in Douglas' Baronage (Bl. 65), a performance which does little credit to his thoroughness or accuracy

Part III.

PART III.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE DESCENDANTS IN MALE LINE OF SIR JOHN WEDDERBURN, FIFTH BARONET

OF BLACKNESS. (See pedigrees opp. and at pp. 306, 315.)

Sect. I.-Sir John Wedderburn of Balindean and his descendants.

Sir John Wedderburn [1729-1803],' second but eldest surviving son of Sir John Chap. VIII. Wedderburn, fifth baronet of Blackness and Jean Fullarton, was born 21 Feb. 1729 (Bl. 11, 93), and is named as his father's "eldest son now on life" in the Great Seal charter entailing Blackness, dated 26 July 1734 (G S.R. 137), and in the sasine thereon 3 April 1735 (F.S. 104), as well as in the bond, 10 Aug. 1744, by David Wedderburn of that ilk in favour of Sir Alexander Wedderburn and Katharine Scott and their grandchildren (S.W. 573).

"He served (says J.W. in his MS.) with his father in David, Lord Ogilvy's regiment and, carrying the colours of the Glen Proason company, which was raised by his uncle, Robert Wedderburn of Pearsie, was present with Prince Charles' army at Derby. After Culloden he escaped into Angus, where his uncle Robert procured him shelter with the Rev. William Arthur, minister of Glenisla, who carried him to Edinburgh, where he attended a meeting of the General Assembly in the disguise of his protector's footman. In the house of Mr. Arthur and at the risk of his life, Sir John remained concealed till the latter end of October or early in November 1746 when he worked his passage to London on a Leith trading vessel. While in London his safety and his subsistence were insured by the protection of his relative, Paterson of Carpow, and it is possible that he may have seen his father at this time in Southwark Gaol. After his father's execution on 28 Nov., Sir John escaped to America where he remained till 1747, in the June of which year the Government passed a bill of indemnity, whereupon Sir John proceeded to Jamaica, and, distinguished no less by industry and perseverance than by the happy art of obtaining the goodwill of all about him, again raised the fortunes of his family and acquired considerable property in the Island."

Sir John was no

There is little to add to this account, which is fairly accurate. doubt at Culloden, but, unlike his father, escaped. Thus in the List of Rebels already cited (ante p. 266), after the name of his father, occurs that of " Wedderburn, eldest

son to the above (Sir John), carried arms as lient in La Ogilvie's 1st battalion.

now.

Where

Not known." For a time he passed under the assumed name of "John Thomson," and early in May 1746 was in Edinburgh, whence he wrote the following letter to his mother. (Bl. 45.)

1 Synopsis of References :-S. W. 567, 573, 614, 616-17, 637-41, 648-49, 655, 678, 681, 684, 686-87, 695, 699-700, 710; Bl. 8, 11, 20-22, 33, 45, 54, 58-59, 61-63, 66-67, 69, 72-77, 82-83, 85, 89-90, 93; J.W. 34; Adv.Adm. &; D.C. 104-5; D.P.B. 595-96; D.D. 128, 131-33, 135; D.M.D. 60, 69; G.S.R. 137, 142, 144, 146-47; R.H. 37, 50; G.R.S. 81, 83; F.S. 104, 124-25, 127, 129; R.D. 378, 407, 410-12, 422-23, 431, 438, 447, 451-54, 458; R.A.D. 183; Br.T. 28; D.M. 27; Ed.Can.M. 7; L.W. 7, 14; H.C.R. II.

The following is the passage relating to him in the Memorandum by J.W., already referred to, ante pp. 265, 282 n. "Young Sir John made his escape after Culloden to Angus; and at his uncle Pearsie's request, was received and conveyed into Edinburgh disguised as a servant, by the Rev Mr. McArthur, Minister of Glenisla. This worthy clergyman concealed Sir John, at the risk of his own life, till he contrived to ship him from Leith to London, where he arrived in December 1746 and was harboured by Carpow, till he got out to Jamaica, about the end of the month. This clergyman was father to the late Captain William McArthur of Edinburgh, whose fortune was made by the various members of the family of Wedderburn who were in Jamaica, in gratitude for his

father's kindness."

3 "The minister of Glenisla's kindness was not forgotten; his son, William Arthur, went out to Jamaica, where he amassed a large fortune, through means which my own father and uncle placed within his reach. Many of the circumstances I heard in 1815 from himself, but they are immaterial. He died in Edinburgh about 1819 at an advanced age" (Note to J.W.'s MS.).

A Scottish Hist. Soc. Publ., 1890, pp. 238-39.

Pedigree showing the descent from Sir John Wedderburn, fifth baronet of

Part III.
Chap. VIII

BREA