Strathendrick, and its inhabitants from early times

THE NAPIERS OF MERCHISTON 179
1592-3, and John Napier was strongly on the Protestant side, and was an
active agent in trying to bring the conspirators to justice.
By Agnes or Annas Chisholm, John Napier had five sons and five daughters : 1
John of Easter Torrie (for whose descendants see page 183).
Robert of Drumhony and Culcreuch (of whom afterwards).
Alexander of Easter Torrie and Gillets, writer in Edinburgh (for whose
descendants see page 184).
William of Ardmore (for whose descendants see page 184).
Adam, ancestor of Blackston (for whose descendants see page 186).
Agnes, married George Drummond of Balloch.
Elizabeth, married William Cunninghame of Craigends.
Helen, married Mathew Brisbane, only son of William Brisbane, parson of
Erskine.
Margaret, married James Stewart of Rosyth.
Jean, married George Hamilton of Kilbrackmont. 2
The great philosopher died 4th April 161 7, and was buried in St. Cuthbert's
Church, Edinburgh.
THE NAPIERS OF CULCREUCH.
I. Robert Napier, first of Culcreuch, second 3 son of John Napier of
Merchiston and Agnes Chisholm, is designed of Ballacharne and Tomdarroch
in 1595, of Boquhople in 1616, and about 1632 of the Iber lands of Fintrie
and of Gilcreuche or Culcreuch. This estate he purchased from Mr. Alexander
Seton of Gargunnock, one of the Lords of Session, as shown elsewhere. He
was his father's amanuensis, and possessed a good deal of his talent, and after
his death he edited his works with credit to himself. He was a dabbler too,
in the occult arts, and wrote a treatise on alchemy. Robert Napier was twice
married. By his first wife he had two sons :
Archibald of Bowhopple (for his descendants see page 187).
John d.s.p.^
1 John Napier's will mentions by name his six sons in their order, and three of his daughters
by his second marriage, viz., Agnes, Elizabeth, and Helen ; the two others, Margaret and Jean,
are given on the authority of Douglas' Peerage, Vol. II., p. 292. Joanna, given on the authority
of Douglas as a daughter by his first marriage, does not appear in the will.
2 The marriages of these daughters are given in Douglas' Peerage, Vol. II., p. 292, with proper
authority for Agnes, Helen, and Margaret. Elizabeth is mentioned in Crawford's Renfrewshire.
3 Charter of lands of Bowhopple, 14th June 1616 (Blair Drummond Writs, quoted in case
for William Napier Milliken).
4 He had an annuity from the lands of Drumquhassell, but seems to have died without
issue, for his younger brother William succeeded to his annuity, and he is not noticed in his
father's will (Stirling Sasines, Vol. VIII., fol. 351, 13th and 19th June, 1650).