Historical account of the noble family of Kennedy, Marquess of Ailsa and Earl of Cassilis

charter are, " domino Johanne milite filio comitis. Magistro
1225. Hugone. Alano Decano. Murthaco senescallo et multis aliis."
In another charter, in the same collection, which is supposed
to be dated in 1250, granted by Nicholaus, son of Duncan de
Carrick, to the church of St Cuthbert of Maybole, one of the
witnesses is Murthau macKenede.
In the Cumbernauld charter-chest there is an exemplifica-
tion of a confirmation in favour of " Joannes Cumyn filius quon-
dam Joannis Cumyn," of a grant made by the deceased William
Cumyn, Earl of Buchan, to Cambuskenneth, of a bovate of
1244. land in Kirkintulloch — two of the witnesses to which are " Fer-
gusio de Kennydy senescallo nostro, Joanne fratre ejus, 11 &c.
It is in a handwriting of the 16th century, and is stated to be
taken " de libro registri de Cambuskynneth. 11 The " curia de
Lenzie " is also mentioned in it.* This Earl of Buchan died
before 1244 ; and John Cumyn of Badenoch, the son of John
Cumyn who grants this confirmation, was one of the competi-
tors for the Crown of Scotland in 1292.
The Cumyns were of Royal descent, and of the highest
nobibty in the kingdom ; and it was not unusual for barons and
chieftains to discharge the duties of stewards or judges to such
personages or public functionaries, and ultimately come to pos-
sess the estates which they originally only managed ; and thus
the Kennedys may have acquired the barony of Lenzie. Chal-
i., p. 707. mers says in his Caledonia, — " the overpowering influence of the
Cumyns during the factious reign of Alexander III., (from 1249
to 1285,) created the new office of Justiciary in Galloway for
John Cumyn. 11 He may at this time have brought Fergus
Kennedy and his brother to act judicially under him in his
court at Lenzie.
The next of the name who appears in history, though the
* It will afterwards be seen that the Kennedys of Dunure possessed the
lands of Kirkintilloch and the barony of Lenzie.