Wedderburn book > History

64 THE WEDDERBUEN BOOK.
Part I. 4 Dec. 1595 (D.B.E. 302 e), and the lands of Craigie are often described as having once
Chap. in. been his _i
In 1596 he got into difficulties, and was accused of the murder both of Robert Lindsay
of Balhall and of James Leitch. These events are recorded 13 Aug. 1596, when "John and
Katharine Lindsay, children of Balhall, get a gift of the escheat goods of John Wedderburn,
burgess of Dundee, now at the horn for not compearing to answer to the charge of the
slaughter of Robert Lindsay 19 July 1596, and also as rebell denounced for the slaughter
of James Leitch, Irelandmau " (R.P.S. 25), and the "murder committed by John
Wedderburn " is also mentioned in a letter, 12 Oct. 1596, from Robert Bower at Edinburgh
to Lord Burghley (S.P. 9). He no doubt had to fly the country and seems to have come
South, as in a letter, 17 July 1597, from Ralph, Lord Eure, to Lord Burghley (S.P. 10),
there is an account of the arrest of a suspicious character in the person of " a Scottishe
gentleman, called Mr. John Wedderburn, disguised in mariner's apparel and that of the
meanest sort."
According to this letter, Wedderburn professed to be a follower of Lord Bothwell,
and to have been employed by him to compass the death of Sir Robert Kerr, by blowing
up his castle at Halleden. He also claimed to have been employed by the King of France
and is described as having " the Franche tongue reasonable well," aud also is said to have
"served in Fraunce on pleasure not under anie charge." The grounds of suspicion on
which he was detained by Lord Eure were ''his wise carriage, his birthe and manner of
disguising, yealding apparaunte suspicion of more devilish practises then he revealeth."
Lord Eure gives a close description of him, as " of reasonable stature, verie square bodyed,
bigg legged, one or two scarres on the hight of his foreheade, faire complexioned, yellowe
berded, the haire of his heade like unto white amber," and adds that he " seemeth to be
verie cunning in state matters " and " is an ingyner, preferring to make petares and
garnettes, ingyues of war." In a second letter from Lord Eure to Lord Burghley,
21 July 1597, John Wedderburn is mentioned again (S.P. 11), but the sequel to his arrest
does not appear. He died, however, before 3 March 1599, when there is a summons by
John and Katharine Lyndsay, children of Balhall, v. Elizabeth (sic) Strachin, relict of
John Wedderburn, burgess of Dundee, and Elizabeth, his daughter and heir, claiming
the escheat of the goods of the said John, who, 6 Aug. 1596, was put to the horn for not
finding caution to underlie the law for the slaughter of Robert Lindsay of Balhall on
11 July 1596 and also of James Leitch (R.A.D. 36). -
He had married, 1582-83, Margaret Strathauchin, 3 relict of Robert Jackson 4
(D.B.R. 289, 298), and by her, who died 1620-22, and whose will, dated 1 May 1620
(P.B.N. 4), was confirmed 9 May 1622 (Br. Test. 4), had issue one daughter,
Elizabeth Wedderburn, only child and heiress of John Wedderburn of Craigie
and Margaret Strathauchin. She was born about 1586, as she was presumably
fourteen years of age when, 25 April 1600, she ("lawful daughter of umquhillJohn
Wedderburn, sometime portioner of Craigie") chose her curators (D.B.R. 334).
The earliest mentions of her, however, are 30 Aug. 1589, when her father charges
Craigie in her favour (D.P.B. 278), and 6 Nov. 1594, when Craigie is alienated in
implement of a contract made by her parents, herself, and Alexander, the clerk,
with John Scharp of Houstoun (G.S.R. 51) 5 . She married, 1604-5, James Kynnaird,
1 Tims, 19 Jan. 1599, John Ogilvy gets part of Craigie Hiltoun, " once John Wedderburn 's," from Christo-
pher Traill (D.P.B. 331) ; 19 Aug. 1603, a charter (23 Aug. 1596) of James Scharp to his sou Alexander
of the lands of Craigie, acquired from the late (i.e.. at that date of the confirmation) John Wedderburn
is confirmed (G.S.R. 64). See also S.W. 165 ; D.P.B. 446 ; G.S.R. 107 ; F.S. 14 a 6,35 ; from which it
appears that part of Craigie passed, in 1646, to James Kydof Grange of Harrie, whose son Patrick Kyd
of Craigie m. (1655) Margaret, daughter of Sir Alexander Wedderburn of Blackness (post, Part III),
having been disponed to James Kyd (1646) bv James Durham of Kiunell, who had obtained a royal
charter of it 15 Nov. 1641 (G.S.R. vol. 1634-51, §§ 1020, 1660).
2 This entry varies slightly from that already quoted (R.P.S. 25). In the one the date of Balhall's death
is given as 11, in the other as 19 July, and again in the one John Lindsay is called his fourth and in
the other his second son.
'■' The date is not quite clear. She is first named as his wife 13 Aug. 1582, when there is a decree v. Marion
(sic) Strathauchin, wife of James (sic) Wedderburn (D.B.R. 261 b). On the other hand she is named
as his "future wife" (although after their marriage contract) 26 Sept. 15S3 (D.P.B. 220 b). In
another entry, 20 Sept. 1583, James (sic) Wedderburn settles his Seagaitland on Mariot Strathauchin,
his wife (Dundee Minutes of Sasine. v. s.d , orig. MS.).
' She had a son. Robert Jackson, by her first marriage, who is named 3 Aug. 1590 (D.B.R. 289). A bond,
6 Nov. 1594, by John Wedderburn of Craigie to her is also recorded (ib. 298).
5 See also S.W. 165, where, March-May 1608, she and her husband ratify this contract, in respect of which
she is stated to have received (in 1602) £1,000 scots.