Genealogical and heraldic account of the Coultharts of Coulthart and Collyn, etc.

16
ROSS OF RENFREW.
ROSS OF RENFREW.
iPt^^t
The distinguished name of Ross is associated with nearly
all the notable events of Scottish history ; but as the families
so designatsd are numerous, the tracing of the descent of
the Rosses of Renfrew his been a work of some difficulty.
Indeed, the following pedigree of the family has been almost
entirely cjmpiled from private MSS., the national records,
from their general statements, affording very little assist-
ance. The earliest progenitor I can trice is
Alysandre the Ross de Renfrew, living temp. David I.,
reputed to have been an exceedingly learned and well-bred
man, and designated in an old family charter, sans date,
" Sheriff-principal and constable -prim us of the county of
Renfrew." He m, Isabel, dau. of Stephen de Morton, which
Stephen renewed aud augmented a donation of his ancestors
to the monks of Aberbruthic, the deed being subsequently
confirmed by William the Lion. He hid issue by this
marriage,
Serle, his heir, of whom presently.
David, described in various family papers as " of Aber-
ford," a sis-merk land of old extent in the shire of Ayr.
By a mortification -deed dated Christmas, 1172, he be-
stowed on the monks of Paisley one-tenth part of all his
heritable property, for the salvation of his soul and the
souls of his near relations. He had several children by
his wife Alice, dau. of Walter de Newbiggin, lord of Dun-
syre, which Walter had another dau., Margaret, m. to
William, Lord Somerville, who was one of the nobles
appointed to exercise in a tournament at Roxburgh
Castle, on the occasion of the marriage of King Alex-
ander II.
Alysandre the Ross de Renfrew d. before 1161, aud was 5. by
his son,
Serle the Ross de Renfrew, whose name and designa-
tion occur in a mortification-gr mt to the abbots of Kelso,
a.d. 1161. By Marg iret his wife, dau. of Richird de Arbuth-
not, in the shire of Kincardine, he left at his death two sons,
Alexander and Radulphus, both of whom ultimately
succeeded to the family possessions. The eldest,
Alexander the Ross de Renfrew, was a donatur to the
Abbey of Scoou, as is set forth in the second volume of the
chartulary book thereof; and took p»rt with Gilchrist in
quelling the disturbances raised by the Thane of Galloway
during the period that King William the Lion was forcibly
detained in Normandy. He m. Maud Cunningham, whose
father, Stephen Cunningham, was one of the fifteen hostages
giveu to King Henry II. of England at the liber ttion of
King William of Scotland. By her he left iBsne at his
death an only son,
Harvey the Ross de Renfrew, who stands one of the
witnesses to a charter granted by Allan, lord of Gallow ay, of
the lands of Blackrock, to Hugh Craufurd, ancestor of the
Eu-ls of Loudoun. He was never married, and lived very
devoutly, bestowing, towards the close of his life, large por-
tions of his estate on pious objects, not forgetting the Abbey
of Abcrbrotbic, where, by the side of Geu<_rd Gilchrist, in
St. Katheiine's chapel, his rem.uus were deposited. His
successor was his uncle,
Radulphus the Ross de Renfrew, who acquired the
lands of Drumboyne, as dower with his wife Helen, sister of
Serle Dundas, of that ilk, and was amongst the noblemen
aud geutlemeu who attended the King of Scotland to the
English court, to congr ttulate King Richard on his safe
return from Palestine. Radulphus was through life an
exceedingly energetic man ; and for his valuable services in
the suppression of organized robbery, and the maintenance
of military efficiency amongst his vassals and dependents.
King William grinted him a charter, dated 22 March, 1209,
of the lands of Airdmillan, in the shire of Ayr, which were
then vested in the crown. He had at least two sons,
namely,
Francis, his successor.
Walter, present at the confirmation of the Kirk of Mel-
ville to the Monastery of Dunfermline, a d. 1251, which
circumstance is incidentally recorded in the chartulary of
the monastery, and in Fordun's Scotiehronicon.
R alulphus was s. by his eldest son,
Francis the Ross de Renfrew, who m. Agnes Maynors,
whose father, Anchettle de Maynors, witnesses a deed made
1 y Wilhelmus de Vetere Poute to the Abbacy of Hulyrood, of
the lands of C irsehede, in the co. of Linlithgow, "pro
salute Domini mei Regis WillieJmi et Regime Emergardse."
Francis the Ross de Renfrew hid the lands of Airdmillan
confirmed to him by Alexander II. at a c jnvention held in
Edinburgh, 16 Nov. 1215. He witnesses two deeds, which I
have seen, th it belonged to the Abbots of Paisley, and his
name frequently occurs in the pubUc records of the earlier
portion of the 13th century. He had issue a son and
successor,
Francis the Ross de Renfrew, who distinguished him-
self so highly, 8 July, 1245, in negotiating a treaty of peace
between Eugiaud aud Scotland, that Alexander II. re-
warded him with a grant of lands in Annandale, called
Boddesbeck, which graut was subsequently confirmed, 17
Aug. 1250, by King Alexander III. By his wife Auobel,
dau. of Dovendalus, thane of Calder, he had, Gilbert, Hugh,
Walter, aud Harvey, the eldest of whom, it is believed,
succeeded him at his death. His name was,
GiLBrjvr the Ross de Renfrew, who, with other Scottish
noblemen and gentlemen, formed the suite of Alexan-
der HI. at the ratification of the treaty of peace at Wark,
between the Kings of England and Scutlaud, a.d. 1253. He
in. 1st, Helen, dau. of the Earl of March, and sister to Agnes,
wife of Sir William Keith, marischal of Scotland, by whom
he had no issue ; 2udly, Margery, dau. of Hugh de Wemyss,
by whom he had,
Alexander, his successor.
Robert, William, Mary, who were present at their brother
Alexander's marriage, 4 June, 1278.
Gilbert the Ross de Renfrew was s. by his eldest surviving
son,
Alexander the Ross de Renfrew, whose bodily health
aud dexterity procured for him much celebrity, and the
special favour of King Alexander III. He m. Christiau,
dau. of the laird of B dlow, and by her had issue,
Duncan (Sir), his heir.
Murdoch, who acquired lands in Mearns, and was infeft
therein, 15 May, 1331. He m. Janet, dau. of the laird of
Meuzies, and by her had,
Robert, who witnesses the marriage contract of his
cousin James with the laird of Freugh's daughter,
6 July, 1339.
Walter, who fell at the capture of Berwick Castle, under
the Earls of March and Douglas, a.d. 1347.
Janet, wife of Murray of Tullibardine, who mortified a
portion of his lands to the Abbey of Culross, 10 Dec.
1302, and was infeft the year afterwards in lands called
Blackmark, within [illegible].
Alexmder the Ross de Renfrew Uvea to the age of 96 ye;irs,
aud died beloved and respected for his many acts of piety
and charity. His eldest son aud successor,
Sir Duncan the Ross de Renfrew, attached himself to
the fortunes of King David Bruce, who, in consideration of
his fidelity and eminent military services, conferred on him