Memorial as to the Ruthven peerage

way of Jean completing her title. Indications of this appear in the Assignation
before mentioned, executed by her in favor of her Niece Isabel in 1721, in the
following terms : " Provided always that if the said Sir William Cunninghame
" shall happen to refuse, decline or delay to perform the deeds, conditions and
" provisions for strengthening the Taillie of my Estate made by the now
" deceased David Lord Ruthven my Brother german of the date the 26th
" October 1674, in the terms I have obliged the said Sir William thereto by a
" Discharge dated the 20th day of April last past (1716) granted by me to
" him of 19,000 merks Scots money principal and annualrents and liquidate
" expenses due by him to me by the two Bonds therein narrated, then and in
" that case the said Sir William Cunninghame shoidd be and hereby is not
" only utterly deprived of any benefit and advantage that might be competent
" to him in virtue of this present Assignation, but also of all benefit and
" interest" under certain writs executed by her on 5th October, 1716.
SIR WILLIAM CUNNINGHAME RUTHVEN.
On the death of Jean Lady Ruthven in April 1722, the succession opened
to her Nephew Sir William Cunninghame of Cunninghamhead, who, as
already stated, was son of Dame Anne Ruthven, the eldest daughter of Thomas
the first Lord.
Sir William only possessed the Estate of Freeland for the short space of
six months, having died ha October 1 722. Although he took the sirname of
Ruthven, he does not appear to have assumed the title of Lord Ruthven
during that period, and he had probably delayed doing so, until his Service waa
expede, — But he died before this could be done.
ISABEL, SECOND LADY RUTHVEN.
Sir William Cunninghame Ruthven was succeeded by his Cousin Isabel, Record,
only daughter of his Aunt Elizabeth Ruthven and Sir Francis Ruthven of Z° ^^
Reidcastle, her husband.
On the 8th March, 1723, the Commissary of Dunkeld confirmed the
Testament Dative and Inventar of the goods, gear, sums of money and debts
that pertained to the " cleceast Jean Lady Ruthven," who died in April 1722,
in favor of " Isobell now Lady Ruthven, Executrix Dative ad non executa and
" qua nearest of kin to the foresaid deceast Jean Lady Ruthven her Aunt."
Reference is made in this Confirmation to a previous one erroneously expede
by Sir Wilham Cunninghame Ruthven, which was not acted upon, and was
ultimately superseded by the new Confirmation in favor of Isobel Lady
Ruthven. It is, therefore, unnecessary to notice it farther.
On 28th March, 1723, the Commissary of Dunkeld confirmed the
Testament Dative and Inventar of the goods, &c, that pertained to umquhile
Sir William Ruthven alias Cunninghame of Cunninghamhead at the time of his
decease, which was in October 1 722, made and given up by " Lsobel Lady
Ruthven " and her husband, Executors Dative qua Creditors.
Various eiks or additions were made to the Confirmed Testaments of
" Jean Lady Ruthven " and Sir William Ptuthven or Cunninghame, by Isobel
Lady Ruthven and her two children, James and Anna Ruthven.
B