Wedderburn book > History

26 THE WEDDERBURN BOOK.
Part i. master, of Dundee, who is often named in the burgh records from 1589 on. 1 Her
Chap. I. husband died between 1603, when she is last named as his wife (D.P.B. 353), and
1616, when she is first named as his relict (ib. 392). She had two children, John and
Janet (ib. and D.B.R. 396), and was herself living as late as 1634 (D.B.R. 412).
John Wedderburn [1559 ? — 1604], 2 younger but onby surviving son and heir of
John Wedderburn and Agnes Hoppringill, is first named, 5 Aug. 1559, in a sasine to him
and his father of one-third of Curlungie, in the barony of Downy, co. Forfar (D.P.B. 96). :i
He must have been born about 1560, as he was a little under fourteen in 1570, and just
about that age in 1574. Thus 15-17 March 1570 Henry Wedderburn, son and heir of
the late Gilbert Wedderburn in Leith, and nearest agnate and kinsman to John, son of
the late John Wedderburn, burgess of Dundee, alienates his right to the tutorie of the
said John (D.B.R. 185), while, 21 Dec. 1574, John, son of John Wedderburn and Agnes
Hoppringill, chooses curators (ib. 212). 4 This curatory is again referred to, 4 July 1575
and 11 July 1576 (ib. 220, 229). On 8-9 July 1578 he was returned heir to his brother
James (ib. 241 b), and 9 Feb. 15S2 was entered in North Marketgait and North Flukergait
properties as son and heir of the late John Wedderburn, and as brother german and heir
of the late James. The entry describes him as " spectatus juvenis," and he had probably
just come of age. He was about to be married at this date, as he at once settles both
properties on his spouse future, Margaret Lindsay (D.P.B. 225). Five years later,
22 Sept. 1587, he is entered in an annual rent as son and heir of his father and as
grandson and heir of the late James Wedderburn (ib. 267 /), and still a little later,
28 March 1589, he, with his wife's consent, dispones the North Marketgait land to Robert
Smyth (ib. 274). He also owned a land called the Temple land, subject to the life-rent of
his step-mother, Christian Wischart, who, 10 Nov. 1586, sued him in regard to it
(R.A.D. 22). His " free lands of Abirbothrie." co. Perth, involved him in litigation,
and 21 June 1591 (R.A.D. 27), he had to bring an action of removal against Thomas
Hendirsoun, no doubt a descendant of the David Hendirsoun, with whom his brother James
had litigated some years before (ante p. 25). 5 These " free lands " are mentioned again
as his, 23 March 1593 (D.B.R. 295 b) and 23 March 1603 (ib. 342). He is constantly
designed " nauta " or " nauclerus," mariner or ship-master, in the Dundee records, e.g.,
20 April 1580 (D.P.B. 204), 13 July 1584 when he is admitted burgess of the burgh
" by the privilege of his (late) father " (D.L.B. 29), and 27 Aug. 1590 (D.P.B. 316). He
owned a ship called the "Dragon," as master of which he is sometimes named, e.g., 24 Oct.
1597 and 13, 20 Sept. 1598 (D.B.R. 321 «, 325 b). He was living in August 1603
(D.B.R. 343 b), and there are entries which may refer to him as late as November in that
year, but he died before 27 June 1604, when he is first named as dead (D.B.R. 348).°
J See in all D.P.B. 277 (21 Aug. 15S9, they get an ©.-rent out of the mains of Ballisak). 288 c (26 Aug.
1591, thev get a Skirting's Wynd tenement), 353, 392 ; D.B.R. 192, 195, 302 a (24 Oct. 1595 decree
for her), 313 (19 Nov. 1596, another decree), 321 c (5, 9 Dec. 1597, two decrees), 346 (27 Feb. 1604,
decree re a signet of gold), 389 c (1614 decree), 396 (20 Sept. 1616, her son John discharges her of
his patrimony), 412 d (6 Aug. 1634, decree for her).
- Synopsis of references :— D.W. 20 a c ; D.L.B. 29; D.P.B. 96, 165 A, 185 c, 204,225,238, 267 f, 274,
316, 363, 489, 495, 573 ; D.B.R. 185, 212, 220, 229, 241 b, 271, 274, 283, 295 b, 316 d, 321 a, 325 b,
339, 342, 343 A, 348, 353, 463 ; G.S.R. 73 ; R P.S. 22, 29 ;R.D. 20; R.A.D. 22, 27 ; S.A.T. 4.
'■' See also another charter to his father and him of thirteen acres in Dudop, 4 Feb. 1564 (R.P.S. 22).
4 The father's kin named are Alexander Wedderburn, younger (i.e., the clerk) and Edward Wedderburn ;
the mother's, James Hoppringill and James Logan in Kinghorne. The curators chosen are the
clerk, James Logan and James Forrester. There is (D.P.B. 185 c) a discharge by John Wedderburn,
son and heir of the late John Wedderburn, and his curator, James Forrester, registered 23 Dec. 1574,
in which either John (for James) or the words "and heir" are erroneous, as John's elder brother
James was certainly then living.
5 He inherited also his grandfather's house at the Kirkstyle, and in David Wedderburn's Compt Bulk he
is called (1599) John Wedderburn in Kirkstyell (D.W. 20 a). Another reference (1597) to a John
Wedderburn iu the same MS. (D.W. 20 c) is probably to him, as his namesake of Craigie, between
whom and him it is not always possible to distinguish, was then in England (See post Chap. iii). Yet
another contemporary namesake existed in the person of John Wedderburn, son of Alexander
Wedderburn of Pittormie. He, however, was a good deal younger than either Craigie or the above
John. I think it is the above John Wedderburn, " nauta," who is a witness and called younger 28 Aug
1574 (D.P.B. 165 «), witness,burgess, 18 May 1580 (D.P.B. 212 c), and again 20 March 1584 (ib. 238)
as though he was not admitted a burgess till 15S4, John of Craigie was the elder and was never
admitted a burgess.
6 See for slight references D.P.B. 241 b, 302 a, 348 c, 363,489,495,573; D.B.R. 271,274,283 (" clerk of the
Rea" 7 Aug. 1590), 316 d, 339 ; G.S.R. 73 ; R.P.S. 29, when his goods are escheated, 1 Dec. 1601, for
debt ; and D.B.R. 463 ; R.D. 20, when he is named after his death. I think the reference (D.P.B.
211) to John Wedderburn's lands in South Argylegait, 17 Oct. 1579, is to him.