1400 - 1600 - Craufurd of Craufurdland
William of Craufurdland was knighted by King James I after his part in the siege of Creyult in 1423, for King Charles VII of France. Sir William was sorely wounded and taken prisoner, to be released a year later with King James I. He was succeeded by his eldest son Rankine Craufurd of Craufurdland married and had three sons: William, Robert and Andrew William Craufurd of Craufurdland, lived during the reign of King James II. He married Janet Hamilton, daughter of the Laird of Bardowie, by whom he had three sons of whom Archibald was his successor.
Archibald Craufurd of Craufurdland, lived during the reign of King James III, married twice. His first wife, Jean Kennedy of Bargenny, bore him a son Robert. His second wife was Lady Pokelly, daughter of Archibald Boyd of Bonshaw,and widow of Hugh Muir of Pokelly. Together they had two sons and a daughter and Thomas, of whom the Craufurds of Classlochie and Powmill are descended; Archibald’s sister-in-law, Margaret Boyd, his wife’s second younger sister, was in her youth mistress to King James IV, and bore him Alexander Stewart, Archbishop of St Andrews, and Jean, countess of Morton. Margaret thus found herself much in favour in court, and in addition she was cousin to Dame Elisabeth Boyd daughter of Thomas Lord Boyd, and to Countess Of Angus, whose husband Archibald, Earl of Angus, (then Chamberlain) had the greatest power in the state. Margaret used her good favour to gain the Lordship of Kilmarnock for her cousins the Boyds. For herself she married John Muir, Laird of Rowallan, and brought about the marriages of her sisters to the Lairds of Lochleven, and Craufurdland, namely Archibald Craufurd. Margaret further got Elizabeth Muir, daughter to her sister, Lady Pokelly and her late husband Hugh, to marry Robert Craufurd, son of Archibald and his first wife Jean. For this marriage she procured for Robert the lands of Walston, from Archibald, Earl of Angus. There has also been a long feud between the Lairds of Craufurdland and Rowallan, which through the influence of Margaret Boyd, was settled with the surrender to the Laird of Craufurdland by the Laird of Rowallan. The feud was over the lands of Ardoch.
Robert of Craufurdland married Elizabeth Muir, who bore him three sons: 1) John his successor, 2) William, Laird of Walston, and 3) James, who in his life time was knighted. Robert died of wounds he received at the “Wylielee”, in company of his father, Archibald, both being in attendance to James Boyd, son of Thomas Boyd, Earl of Arran. James was killed there by Hugh Montgomery, 4th Lord Montgomery and 1st Earl of Eglinton, in the year 1484.
John Craufurd of Craufurdland, son of the Robert Craufurd, settled the feud between the Boyds and the Montgomerys by arbitration, and married Janet Montgomery, daughter of the Laird of Giffen. They had two sons:
John, successor to John, Archibald, who born after his father’s death, is probably the most notable Craufurd of Craufurdland. Archibald Craufurd was a Lord of Session, Secretary and Almoner to Queen Mary of Guise regent, with whose corpse he was sent to France in 1560 to see it deposited in the Benedictine Monastery of St Peter at Rheims, where her sister was then Abbess. While in France, he got a commission from her daughter, Queen Mary of scots, renewing him his office of Secretary and Almoner. The commission, supposed to be the first granted to a Scotsman, is dated Joinville in France, 17th April 1561.
Queen Mary, after her arrival in Scotland, August 1561, was permitted to worship in the chapel in Holyrood. Riots attacks were sometimes made upon the chapel, and there was danger of it being rifled at any time the Queen was absent from Edinburgh. On account of this, the Queen on 11th January 1562 directed Sir James Paterson (probably one of her officiating chaplains, and one of her loyal Knights) to deliver her Valet de Chambre, Servais de Conde, and the furniture of her Chapel, to be kept by Archibald, in the wardrobe in her palace at Edinburgh (The original Inventory of which is held by the family).
When Queen Mary was taken to Castle of Lochleven, as a prisoner, she was spoiled of all of her princely ornaments, which the Lords took inventory. It appears, however she found means to send to Archibald further treasures from her table. He kept these faithfully until they were demanded from him by the then Treasurer, Mr Richard Richardson, who in turn delivered these to James Stewart, Regent. He in turn granted his acquaintance for the same to Archibald (the original which is held by the family.
In addition to his noble service to Queen Mary and her mother, Archibald was also responsible for the building of the West Church of Glasgow, and the Bridge of Eaglesham. He died unmarried.
. John of Craufurdland followed James IV to the sorry field of Flodden in 1513 where, in company with much of the flower of Scottish chivalry, he died.
John Craufurd of Craufurdland married Margaret Blair, daughter John Blair of that Ilk, by whom he had three sons and five daughters:
John his heir;
Thomas, who married Margaret Craufurd, heir-proportioner of Giffordland, sister of Isabel Craufurd, spouse to John Craufurd of Walston;
Robert, died unmarried.
The daughters were Janet, Agnes, Elizabeth, (unknown) and Marion. All were married. John got a charter under the Great Seal from King James IV. Johanni Craufurd de Craufurdland, terrarium de Giffordland, &c in Ayrshire, dated 27th March 1576. He died anno 1583, at the age of 71.
John Craufurd of Craufurdland, who upon his father’s resignation got a charter under the Great Seal Johanni Craufurd juniori de Craufurdland, terrarium ecclesiaticarum de Kilbryde, &c in Ayrshire, dated Feb 1581. During his lifetime, probably due mainly due to his Great Uncle’s (Archibald Craufurd) influence, got from Mary Queen of Scots a gift of the ward of the lands of Reidhall, lying within the Stewartry of Annandale. The deed of gift, having the signature attached to it, dated at Edinburgh 26th December 1561, is held by the family.John married Margaret Wallace of Cairnhill, by whom he had four son and three daughters:
John, his heir; Hugh, portioner of Rutherglen; Robert of Howat, who died unmarried; Archibald, Constable of Dumbarton Castle, and one of the Bailies of that Burgh.
Janet; Elizabeth; Marion
John died aged 70 in the year 1603, succeeded by his eldest son.