John Walkinshaw Craufurd of Craufurdland

  Noted events in his life were:

• Details. John Walkinshaw Craufurd of Craufurdland, the twentieth Laird, was a distinguished soldier who, after entering the army at an early age, rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel and was present at the victory of Dettingen in 1743, also distinguishing himself at Fontenoy two years later. Despite his faithful service to the house of Hanover, he was an intimate and faithful friend of the Jacobite Earl of Kilmarnock, and he accompanied his ill-fated friend to the scaffold as a last act of comradeship. He received the earl's severed head and attended to the solemnities of his funeral. This act of charity resulted in his name's being placed at the bottom of the army list. However, he restored his fortunes and in 1761 he was appointed falconer to the king. Despite his devotion to his friends, he did not seem to share a similar affinity for his family. He died in 1793 and in his will left his entire estates to Sir Thomas Coutts, the eminent banker. The deed was, however, contested by Elizabeth Craufurd (mentioned earlier), and her daughter, also Elizabeth. The case was eventually won in the House of Lords in 1806, but sadly Elizabeth died before winning her long battle, and the ancient estates passed back to the rightful heir, her daughter.