Genealogical account of the family of Edmonstone of Duntreath

52 GENEALOGICAL ACCOUNT OF
himself with great gallantry in the trenches, but was forced to retreat
towards Coleraine, which was speedily abandoned. ' In defending this
trench,' continues the narrative, ' to the knees in water in a rainy season,
he contracted a violent cold, which was afterwards the occasion of his
death. He was commanded to march his regiment to Derry, that was
besieged by the Irish, but they being so scarce of provisions could not
admit his men, on which he marched four miles below Derry to a Fort
called Culmore, where he died. He desired his corpse might be taken to
the ancient burial-place of his family in Strathblane Church in Scotland,
which was accordingly done.' 1
Archibald Edmonstone of Duntreath married Anna Helena, daughter
of Colonel Walter Scott 2 of Harwood, and widow of Sir William Adair
of Kinhilt, by whom he had four sons : first, Archibald ; second, Walter ;
third, William ; all of whom died young, — fourth, Archibald, who suc-
ceeded him, — and five daughters : first, Elizabeth, married James Mont-
gomery 3 of Rosemount, by whom she had two sons, William and Hugh,
and three daughters, — Anna Helena; Elizabeth; and Martha; Second,
Jean ; third, Margaret ; fourth, Isobel ; all died young ; fifth, Anna Helena,
married her own near connexion, Alexander Dalway of Belliehill in the
County of Antrim, sometime member for the borough of Carrickfergus,
by whom she had two sons, Robert and Archibald.
Archibald Edmonstone succeeded to his father, at whose death in
1689 he was a minor, probably about seven years old, for there is a settle-
ment of accounts with his mother, who acted as guardian, dated 1703, and
in 1704 we find his name among the list of Commissioners of Supply for
the County of Stirling. He sat in the Irish Parliament * for the borough
of Carrickfergus through the whole of the reign of George I. from 17 15 to
1727. He also made considerable additions to the family property, both
in Ireland and Dumbartonshire.
This gentleman married first the Honourable Anne Erskine, third
daughter of Henry, third Lord Cardross, by Catherine, daughter of Sir
James Stewart of Kirkhill, whose eldest son David succeeded to the
1 Note 55, Appendix. 'Archibald Edmonstone,'- 1705. He was a
3 Note 57, App. * Note 56, App. zealous member of the Belfast Presbytery ;
* Among the petitioners against the Test Reid, Hist. Presbyterian Church in Ireland,
Clauses to the Irish Parliament was the name of vol. iii. p. 109 and 1 18.