Genealogical account of the family of Edmonstone of Duntreath

GENEALOGICAL ACCOUNT OF
Writer to the Signet's Libraries at Edinburgh afford, completes the materials
with which the earlier portion of this narrative has been drawn up. I must
not omit how much this compilation owes to John Riddell, Esq., Advocate,
whose eminent talents have been long directed to the examination of
ancient documents, and who is justly considered as the very first authority
in all matters relating to Scottish family history. To this gentleman's
kindness and attention, and subsequently to his professional revisal of
the manuscript, I am indebted for most valuable information, to which
abundant reference will be found, especially in the notes. And it is very
gratifying to me to have Mr. Riddell's opinion, that though there is an
' hiatus ' or two which would be very desirable to fill up, he scarcely knows
any pedigree, spread over so large a space of time, which presents so little
that is uncertain and defective.
PRELIMINARY NOTICE.
RESIDENCES.
There are two residences of the name of Edmonstone with estates
attached to them ; one in Midlothian, and in the parish of Newton, four
miles to the east of Edinburgh ; the other in the parish of Biggar, and
county of Lanark. From the former of these places the family unques-
tionably sprang, though at what period, as will be shown hereafter, is
uncertain. The first notice of the name with a date attached is found in
a charter, to which Henricus de Edmoundiston is witness, of the year 1248
(Alexander III.), from which time there is every reason to believe it con-
tinued to be the principal residence of the elder line, styled of ' that ilk '
and ' of Edenham,' for four centuries, till finally disposed of early in the
seventeenth. In 1626, the whole estate of Edmonstone was sold to ' Master
James Raith, Advocate,' in which year, July 2d, the infeftment is dated.
The charter of disposition is seven years later. 1
In 1664, Anne, daughter and heiress of James Raith, married John,
second son of Sir John Wauchope of Niddry Marshall, by which marriage
the estate of Edmonstone passed to the Wauchopes, in whose hands it has
1 Note I, Appendix.