Records of the clan and name of Fergusson, Ferguson and Fergus

346 CLAN FERGUSSON
separate writ which was in my hands, by which they cheerfully
renounce all interest and title they in any manner of way pretend
to the above lands, and wishes a happy enjoyment thereof to the
said Sir John and his." He was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia
in 1703. He was agent for the town of Ayr in 1704. Sir John
married Jean, daughter of James Whitefoord of Dinduff, and was
succeeded, at his decease in 1729, by his eldest son,
'XII. Sir James Fergusson of Kilkerran. Like his father he
studied law and pursued it as a profession, with high reputation.
He was an advocate in 1717. In 1733 he acted as an arbiter in
the dispute between Kennedy of Baltersan and the Town of Ayr
respecting the Doon fishings. In 1741 (1735) he was nominated
a Judge of the Court of Session, and in 1749, also, a Judge of the
Court of Justiciary, under the titular designation of Lord Kilkerran.
His lordship married Jean, only child of James, Lord Maitland,
and granddaughter of John, Earl of Lauderdale, and his wife,
Lady Margaret Cunninghame (eldest daughter of Alexander, 10th
Earl of Glencairn), by whom he had nine sons and five daughters.
Of the former four attained maturity, viz. : —
' 1. Adam, who succeeded.
' 2. Charles, who married Anne, daughter of John Fordyce, Esq.
of Aiton, and was father of James, who succeeded as 4th
Baronet. He Avas admitted a burgess of Ayr in 1757.
' 3. James, who died upon his estates in the island of Tobago.
' 4. George, Lord of Session and Justiciary, under the title of
Lord Hermand; died 1827.
'5. Helen, born in 1741, and died in 1810.
' Two other daughters also attained a considerable age.
'XIII. Sir Adam Fergusson of Kilkerran, LL.D., who repre-
sented the county of Ayr in Parliament for eighteen years and the
city of Edinburgh for four— in all from 1774 to 1796. Burns, in
his "Earnest Cry and Prayer," thus compliments Sir Adam : —
" Thee, aith-detesting, chaste Kilkerran."
[He was served heir in 1785 to his uncle, Major Adam Fergusson.]
In 1786 he was appointed by Government Substitute- Admiral
between Troon Point and Ballantrae. Upon the death of John,
Earl of Glencairn, in 1796, Sir Adam Fergusson preferred a claim
before the House of Lords to the honours of that noble family as
lineal descendant of, and heir-general to Alexander, created Earl
of Glencairn in 1488: and to Alexander, Earl of Glencairn, who