Wedderburn book > History

248 THE WEDDERBURN BOOK.
Part in. By her James Wedderburn had issue four sous and seven daughters; of whom the
Chap. v. song wer6j
1. Alexander Wedderburn, who succeeded his father as clerk of Dundee ; and in
1723, on the death of his cousin, Sir John, whose estates he had purchased in 1718,
became fourth baronet of Blackness. See post, chap. vi.
2. Robert Wedderburn [1677 — 1720 ?],' was born in 1677, being baptized in Duudee
18 April 1677 (D.B. 28). He is named in a settlement, 28 April 1680, made by
his mother's brother, John Davidson, just before going abroad, by which, in event
of his death, he left Robert Wedderburn a sum of five hundred merks, and in
certain events a further sum of a thousand (R.D. 237) On his father's death he
was still somewhat under age, and thus, together with his brother John, required
curators, 19 Oct. 1696 (D.B.R. 492; D.Dec. 31). Both he and John went from
home in the following year, but before doing so granted, 3, 28 June, a factory to
their brother, the clerk (D.D. 49). After this Robert is not named till 16 Aug.
1703, when his cousiu Alexander, the shipmaster, protests a bill against him (ib. 57).
He is then, as often later, e.g., when on an inquest at Dundee, 2 July 1705
(D.Dec. 65), called mariner, that being the profession he had adopted. He
went abroad again soon after, 14 Feb. 1706, when he granted a factory to his
brother, the clerk, and to his brother-in-law, John Paterson of Craigie (D.D. 67),
but was home again 25-16 June 1707, when Sir Alexander of Blackness granted
him a bond (S.W. 556 ; RA.D. 154 d) for 1,000 merks (£666. 13. 4.), which is
mentioned as unpaid in the Mounie Papers, 1712-18 (M.P. 67, 78, 88 a). On
6 Feb. 1708 he "mariner, uncle," was witness to the baptism of his brother
Alexander's son, Robert (D.B. 59), soon after which, 13 Oct., he granted another
factory to the clerk (D.D. 73), and went on a voyage to Dantzig in a vessel called
the "Thistle," which he seems to have bought from his above-mentioned cousin Alex-
ander, the shipmaster (ante, p. 227), and which he entered on his return in the Dundee
Register of Ships (15 July 1708). He is named as one of the next-of-kin to young
Sir John, the third baronet of Blackness, in 1710, and as such signs the inventory
of the estate (M.P. 12), but was not a curator, no doubt because his calling took
him too much from home. In the judicial inventory of Sir Alexander's estate
there is a balance due to " Mr. Wedderburne who is supposed to be Robert
Wedderburne, mariner" (ib.), and soon after, 18 March 1710, he got a decree v.
the estate for the amount due to him (D.Dec. 65). He was in Dundee at the sale
of the Blackness library in the same month, where he bought one book, a Choice
Co/lection of Scots' Poems by several Hands (M.P. 13), but went abroad again soon
after, 7 July 1711, when he once more granted a factory to his brother, the clerk
(D.D. 81). The last clear mentions of him as living are dated, 4 Aug. 1714,
when he is on an inquest at Dundee (D.Dec. 71), and, 17 Jan. 1715, when he is
named as father's kin in an edict of curatory by young Sir John (ib. 74), but he
would seem to have also been living — for he would otherwise have been described
as deceased — in 1718, when his name occurs as one of Sir John's father's creditors
(M.P. 86 a), and if an entry in the Dundee Mortcloth Dues, 1720-21 (see below),
refers, as appears likely, to a child of his, .he was also living at that date (D.M.D.
47.) After this, however, there is no mention of him or any descendants of his in any
of the records which I have examined, so that his line would seem to have failed.
He married,' 2 14 June (after contract 27 May) 1704 (D.M. 20), Margaret
Arnot, daughter of John Arnot, notary, burgess of Perth (R.D. 279), 3 who is
named with him, 2 Sept. 1706, in an action against them and the clerk (D.B.R. 501 ).
By her (the date of whose death is not ascertained) he had issue, a son : —
i Synopsis of References :— S.W. 556 ; M.P. 12-13, 67, 78, 86 a ; D.B.R. 492, 501 ; D.D. 49, 57, 67, 73, 81 ;
D.Dee. 31, 55, 65, 71, 74 ; D.R.S. 38 ab, 39-40 ; D.M.D. 47 ; R.D. 237, 279 ; R.A.D. 154d; D.M.
20 ; D.B. 28, 55, 59.
" At either Dundee or Perth, for the event is registered in both the Dundee and the Perth Register, in
the latter of which the entry is, " 1704 May 27- In presence of John Mitchell, elder, Robert
Wedderburne in the parish of Dundee and Margarett Arnott in this parish gave up their names
to be proclaimed in order to marriage. Given to the poor £3 14. 0. Married 14th June by Mr.
Robert Anderson, minister of Perth."
s This is a bond by Robert to Elizabeth Robertson, daughter of the late William Robertson, burgess of
Perth, in corroboration of a bond (1702) to her by Robert's father-in-law, John Arnot, notary,
burgess of Perth (R.D. 279).