History of the Fife Pitcairns

DAVID PITCAIRN OF THAT ILK. 167
David Pitcairn had married, on Jan. 6, 161 1, Marion
Menteith. The charter says : —
Charter of Henry Pitcairn of that Ilk, and David Pitcairn his
eldest son, in terms of marriage-contract between the said David
Pitcairn with his father's consent on the one part, and Mariota
Menteith, daughter of Sir William Menteith of Kerse, Knight, with
consent of the latter on the other part, of date Dec. 11, 16 10,
infefting the said Mariota as future spouse of David Pitcairn in
life rent, in the mill and mill lands of Freuchy, in the lordship
and Stewartry of Fife. Robert Pitcairn of Dounfield (Henry's
brother) was a witness. 1
The King's charter regranting Henry Pitcairn, his son
David, and his wife, Mariota Menteith, and their heirs, the
Barony of Forthar, the Barony of Downfield, Freuchy, &c,
will be found in chap, xii., in the life of Henry Pitcairn of
that Ilk.
David's wife, Mariota Menteith, was descended from one
of the oldest Scottish families. Her father, Sir William
Menteith, and her mother, Lady Isabella Hamilton, suffered
great persecution for the cause of their religion, and her
father was the last of the elder line.
The name of Menteith 2 is local — a considerable district
in Scotland through which the river Teith runs being
called the Stewartry of Menteith (compounded of mene,
vale or district, and Teith or Teth). Walter (third son of
Walter, third High Steward of Scotland) married, in 1258.
the Countess of Menteth, and thus acquired that earldom.
His name occurs frequently in the transactions of the thir-
teenth century, and we find him gallantly distinguished at
the battle of Largs in 1263, when his brother, the High
Steward, had the chief command. He calls himself on
his seal " Walterus, Senescallus et Comes de Menetet."
The earl left two sons, who both assumed the surname of
Menteth — viz.:
Alexander.
John (Sir), Governor of Dumbarton Castle, who took an
active part in the political convulsions of his time.
1 Reg. Mag. Sig., lib. xlvi. No. 334. 2 Burke's Peerage, 1869.