Genealogical account of the family of Edmonstone of Duntreath

32 GENEALOGICAL ACCOUNT OF
By this Princess, Sir William had a son, William, who succeeded him
in 1460, and a daughter, Mary, who married Humphrey Cunningham of
Glengarnock, a younger branch of the Glencairn family.
Sir William succeeded to his father in 1460. He took an active part
in public matters during the reign of James III. In the Acts of the
Scottish Parliaments, Sir William Edmonstone is stated as present in 1464
with sundry others, apparently for the purpose of taking charge of the
kingdom, which was much harassed with factions during the King's
minority. In May 1469 he was appointed Justice-General, 1 which, accord-
ing to Spottiswoode's Practicks, he only held till the November of the next
year, though Crauford states that he retained the office till the year 1474.
In 147 1 the following is the list of the Lords of Articles, the standing
Committee which used to prepare measures in the Scottish Parliaments : —
Bishops of Glasgow and Aberdeen, the Abbot of Holyrood and John
Kennedy, 'pro cleris ;' the Earls of Huntly and Argyle, the Lords Hamilton
and Lyle, and Wm. Edmonstone of Duntreath, 'pro Baronibus.' In
1478 he acted again as one of the Commissioners 'pro Baronibus.' This
gentleman purchased the lands of Cambus Wallace, near Doun, in the
county of Perth, as is attested by a charter of confirmation by King
James III., dated Edinburgh, January 30th, 1484. These lands were subse-
quently apportioned to a cadet of the family.
It was this Sir William who adopted the tressure and supporters to
the coat of arms, as testified by his seal appended to William Graham of
Garvock's resignation. He married Matilda, illegitimate daughter of Lord
James Stewart, sole surviving son of Murdoch Duke of Albany. Lord
James had seven sons and one daughter, by a lady of the Macdonald
family. Of these, the eldest, created Lord Avondale, Chancellor of
Scotland, and two others, were legitimated ; but it does not appear that
the same grace was obtained for the other sons and for the daughter.
This marriage is attested by a precept of sasine among the family
archives of the lands of Dungoyak, and other portions of Duntreath, dated
May 17, 1456. By Matilda Stewart Sir William left (according to
1 In the inventory of Strathmore title-deeds she appeared before Sir Wm. Edmonstone of
at Glammis Castle, is ' a notarial instrument by Duntreath, Justice-General, in his Justice Circuit
Janet Fenton, showing that in her widowhood (Air) at Perth, in the year 1470.