Genealogical account of the family of Edmonstone of Duntreath

34 GENEALOGICAL ACCOUNT OF
charter to Archibald Edmonstone de Duntreath, 1 of the lands of Ardbuth,
Lome, and Dery, but I know nothing more of these possessions. 2
Sir Archibald married Janet, daughter of Sir James Shaw of Sauchie,
in Stirlingshire, as is attested by a charter of the lands of Cambuswallace
to Archibald Edmonstone of Duntreath, and Janet Schaw, ' sponsae suae,' 3
dated 1490 ; though this marriage must have occurred several years before,
as the dates of the children's marriages prove. This Sir James Shaw had
been Comptroller of Scotland to James III., and probably to his son-in-law's
acting under him, the passages above quoted refer. It may be hoped,
however, that the Laird of Duntreath had no part in the treacherous conduct
of his father-in-law towards his unfortunate sovereign. James had
appointed Sir James Shaw Governor of Stirling Castle, with a special
charge over his son. This charge, according to Lindsay of Pittscottie,
Sir James was bribed to surrender to the rebel Lords, and he refused the
King admittance into the castle just before the disastrous battle of Sauchie,
at the close of which James was assassinated. The connexion, however,
was a prosperous one, for George Shaw, Abbot of Paisley and Treasurer to
James IV., ' was an opulent prelate,' says Nisbet, ' and took care to provide
good matches for his nieces, the daughters of his sister Janet Edmonstone,
and, moreover, he procured for his nephew, Robert Shaw, to succeed him in
the Abbacy of Paisley on his own resignation, and subsequently to the
Bishopric of Moray.'
By this lady Sir Archibald had two sons and seven daughters. First,
Sir William, who succeeded to him. Second, James, designated 'frater
germanus Willielmi Edmonstone de Duntreath militis,' as a witness to a
charter of alienation of the lands of Culloden to Alexander Strahan of
Scotstown, A.D. 1 506. 4 From him sprung the cadet branch of Ballinton
and others in the stewartry of Monteith, now extinct. The original branch
of Broich probably came from the same stem. He married Agnes,
daughter of James Ridheugh of Tillychadell, and was Comptroller of
Scotland under James IV. 5
Five of the daughters formed honourable alliances. First, Janet 6
1 Index to Charters in Record Office. * Registers of Privy Seal. Also Charters under
3 Note 36, Appendix. the Great Seal. s Note 37, Appendix.
3 Index to Charters. 6 Note 38, Appendix.