Memorials of four old families
(167) Page 65
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Dairsie. Her father was probably a son or grandson of the laird of Bal-
comie, who married Lady Eupheme Leslie, daughter of the 3rd Earl of
Rothes, by his 3rd wife, Margaret Crichton, daughter of the 3rd Lord
Crichton, and grand-daughter of King James II., whose marriage took place
about 1541. Sir Walter Scott has a note about the Learmonths in his
Introduction to the Metrical Romance of Sir Tristram, in which he quotes
the following family paper, written in the handwriting of the 17th century :
— "The genealogy of the honourable and ancient surname of Leirmont,
Leirmont bears or on a chevron S, three mascles voided of the first ; the
name is from France. The chief of the name was the laird of Ersilmont in
the Merse, whose predecessor, Thomas Leirmonth, lived in the reign of
Alexander III. He foretold his death. One of whose sons married Janet
de Dairsie, and had the lands of Dairsie in Fife be that marriage : the con-
tract is yet extant confirmed be the King. The house of Darsie bears a
rose for a difference : it is now extinct ; only Leirmonth of Balcomic in
Fife is chief now, whose predecessor was Master of Howshold to King
James IV. His predecessor was the eldest son of Darsie, and took to him-
self the estate of Balcomie, leaving Darsie to the second brother. Upon
this account Balcomie is holden of the King, and Darsie of the Archbishop
of St Andrews, so Balcomie bears the simple coat without the rose in base,
since the distinction of Dairsie."
In the old Castle of Darsie a Parliament was held in the reign of
David II. The arms of the Darsies are given azure on a bend argent three
roses gules. Crest, a rose slipped gules. Motto, " Spero."
Sir James Learmonth of Darsie was Master of the Household to King
James V. and Provost of St. Andrews in 1546. Sir John Learmonth of
Balcomie, Knight, was in 1604 one of the Commissioners appointed to treat
with the English Commissioner relative to a Treaty of Union with England,
a favourite project of King James VI. He was member of an Assembly at
Perth in 1618, and of the High Commission in 1619.
Lady Gordon's father, Sir James Learmonth, was a Lord of Session
from 1627 to 1657: and his wife was Margaret, daughter of Sir William
Sandilands of St Monans. Lady Gordon probably succeeded to her
brother, John Learmont of Balcomie, who, I believe, built the handsome
arched gateway as an entrance to the old Castle. There are three large
panels above the arch with escutcheons, the centre one having the arms and
supporters of the family and the date 1660 : the one on the left the same
arms with a wreath round the shield, with the initials of John Learmonth,
and on a scroll above the motto " Sans fcintesse : " the remaining panel
has the arms and initials of Elizabeth Myreton of Randerston, his wife,
with the motto " Advysedlie."
9
Dairsie. Her father was probably a son or grandson of the laird of Bal-
comie, who married Lady Eupheme Leslie, daughter of the 3rd Earl of
Rothes, by his 3rd wife, Margaret Crichton, daughter of the 3rd Lord
Crichton, and grand-daughter of King James II., whose marriage took place
about 1541. Sir Walter Scott has a note about the Learmonths in his
Introduction to the Metrical Romance of Sir Tristram, in which he quotes
the following family paper, written in the handwriting of the 17th century :
— "The genealogy of the honourable and ancient surname of Leirmont,
Leirmont bears or on a chevron S, three mascles voided of the first ; the
name is from France. The chief of the name was the laird of Ersilmont in
the Merse, whose predecessor, Thomas Leirmonth, lived in the reign of
Alexander III. He foretold his death. One of whose sons married Janet
de Dairsie, and had the lands of Dairsie in Fife be that marriage : the con-
tract is yet extant confirmed be the King. The house of Darsie bears a
rose for a difference : it is now extinct ; only Leirmonth of Balcomic in
Fife is chief now, whose predecessor was Master of Howshold to King
James IV. His predecessor was the eldest son of Darsie, and took to him-
self the estate of Balcomie, leaving Darsie to the second brother. Upon
this account Balcomie is holden of the King, and Darsie of the Archbishop
of St Andrews, so Balcomie bears the simple coat without the rose in base,
since the distinction of Dairsie."
In the old Castle of Darsie a Parliament was held in the reign of
David II. The arms of the Darsies are given azure on a bend argent three
roses gules. Crest, a rose slipped gules. Motto, " Spero."
Sir James Learmonth of Darsie was Master of the Household to King
James V. and Provost of St. Andrews in 1546. Sir John Learmonth of
Balcomie, Knight, was in 1604 one of the Commissioners appointed to treat
with the English Commissioner relative to a Treaty of Union with England,
a favourite project of King James VI. He was member of an Assembly at
Perth in 1618, and of the High Commission in 1619.
Lady Gordon's father, Sir James Learmonth, was a Lord of Session
from 1627 to 1657: and his wife was Margaret, daughter of Sir William
Sandilands of St Monans. Lady Gordon probably succeeded to her
brother, John Learmont of Balcomie, who, I believe, built the handsome
arched gateway as an entrance to the old Castle. There are three large
panels above the arch with escutcheons, the centre one having the arms and
supporters of the family and the date 1660 : the one on the left the same
arms with a wreath round the shield, with the initials of John Learmonth,
and on a scroll above the motto " Sans fcintesse : " the remaining panel
has the arms and initials of Elizabeth Myreton of Randerston, his wife,
with the motto " Advysedlie."
9
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Histories of Scottish families > Memorials of four old families > (167) Page 65 |
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Permanent URL | https://digital.nls.uk/95082934 |
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Description | A selection of almost 400 printed items relating to the history of Scottish families, mostly dating from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Includes memoirs, genealogies and clan histories, with a few produced by emigrant families. The earliest family history goes back to AD 916. |
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