Alexander (Burnett) Burnett of Leys (abt. 1502 - 1574)

Born about 1502 in Leys, Kincardineshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died Aug 1574 at about age 72 in Leys, Kincardineshire, Scotland

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Biography

Alexander Burnet was a son and heir to Alexander Burnet of Colonach and his wife Agnes Lechtoun. He received a grant of the lands of Canneglerocht from his grandfather, Alexander Burnet, Baron Leys.^[1] He was served heir to his father, in Colonach, in 1526, suggesting he was by then an adult, thus likely born c. 1502. He however retained the designation as "of Canneglerocht" and appears as such when, on 1 October 1529, on the death of his grandfather, he is provided sasine over the Barony of Leys.

He married Janet Hamilton, a natural daughter of Prebendary Robert Hamilton, who held the prebend of Kincardine.^[2] Prebend Hamilton was said to have come from Some and Sanquhar branch of the house of Hamilton. Under the rules of the day, Hamilton could not have married. This marriage must have taken place well prior to 1540 and likely c. 1525.

On 5 Nov 1543 Canon Robert Hamilton, Prebend of Kincardine, conveyed to Alexander Burnet of Leys and Janet Hamilton, his wife, in liferent, and Andrew, their son, in fee, with further remainders to Archibald, brother of Andrew, and John, son and heir apparent of Alexander and Janet, the lands of Strondraff(?Stranduff), in the barony of Kincardine, to be held of the rector of Kincardine. This Charter of 1543 indicates, unlike the implications found on some web sources, that the marriage was dated well prior to 1540 as it includes three sons; John, son and heir apparent, Andrew and Archibald. It also illustrates that, during the troubled times of the Reformation, church lands were being treated as private estates.^[3] The family historian even notes that "As a salve to the conscience of both parties, the condition was imposed that each heir must swear to defend the orthodox faith." The latter part suggests that "each heir" was of an age that would allow them to swear an oath.

In another Charter of the same day granted by Hamilton two other sons are noticed, William and Alexander.

On 17 April 1545, Cardinal David Beaton, Archbishop of St. Andrews, who was the 13th, and last, Abbot of Arbroath, and styled himself Perpetual Commendator of that Abbey, granted under the Seal of the monastery, to Alexander Burnet of Leys and his heirs male bearing the arms and surname of Burnet, a charter of the various lands within the regality of Arbroath and barony of Banchory-Ternan, which he or the members of his family had previously held on lease. An account of the lands transferred are included in the source.^[4]

At around this time, c. 1550, given the increasing size of the estates, Alexander took on the restoration of Crathes castle. Although a castle had existed there before the family took possession Alexander completely rebuilt the castle. Construction started on the redevelopment in 1553. The project would be completed by his great grandson, Alexander, in 1596. For the redevelopment they chose to built on a different spot from the existing castle and more in keeping with the style of the day (particularly given that artillery was in common use).^[5] A detailed overview of the castle is provided in the source linked.

Of interest to genealogists, the house, on the south gable, has two armorials; one surrounded by a label moulding, is Burnett impaled with Hamilton, and two Burnett impaled with Gordon of Lesmoir, with the same two dates, 1553 and 1596. The dates are believed to depict the dates of start and completion of construction.^[6]

Janet Hamilton was alive in 1557. She had died prior to 1567 as Alexander had entered into a second marriage with Marjory Forbes, daughter of John, 6th Lord Forbes, and widow of Forbes of Brux.^[7]

Alexander died shortly before Sep 1574 as it is his son that signed the Bond of Allegiance of the Barons of the north on 2 Sep 1574. ^[8]

Family

There are no children known from his second marriage. With Janet Hamilton he had:

• John Burnet, the eldest son and heir.
• Thomas Burnet, entered the church and is iften noticed on record as Master Thomas. He was presented to the canonry of Aberdeen and rectory of Methlick on I2 March 1551 (modern calender). His great-uncle, Duncan Burnet, (see family of Alexander Burnet) had died two years prior and Thomas followed his footsteps. the Chronicle of Aberdeen advises that he died in Old Aberdeen, probably in the manse of his prebend, 24 February 1583 (modern calender).^[9]
• Andrew Burnet. Appears in the Charter, noted above, in 1543. He married Elizabeth Melville, widow of an Erskine, apparently of the Drum family, and was the first of the line of Burnetts of Cowcardie.
• William Burnet. He appears in a Charter of 1543, noticed above, holding the fee of Easter Slowy. He received a dispensation for marriage on 19 August 1558, by John Hamilton, Archbishop of St. Andrews, to remove a double impediment to his marriage with Janet Chalmers, daughter of Alexander Chalmer of Cults. They were said to stand within the fourth degree of consanguinity on either side, besides which, William's mother (Janet Hamilton) was godmother to Janet Chalmers. He is noticed on record as William Burnet, of Slowy.
• Alexander Burnet. He also appears in the Charter of 1543. He married Elspeth, daughter of Alexander Chalmer of Cults, sister of his brother William's wife, probably without dispensation, and was put in possession of Kynneskie. He appears as Alexander Burnet, of Kynneskie.
• Archibald Burnet. Although mentioned in Charters little else is noticed of him. He married a Chalmers, likely another sister and daughter of Alexander Chalmer of Cults. Her name is sometimes seen as Janet but this likely confusion with her sister.
• James Burnet. He is designed "in Cardney". He was a witness, along with Alexander Burnet of Leys and William Burnet of Slowy, to the marriage of his niece, Margaret, to George Forbes, her second husband, in 1580. Little else is known of him.
• Isabel Burnet. She married, in 1555, Robert Arbuthnot of Pitcarlies and Little Futhes, grandson to Sir Robert Arbuthnot of that Ilk, and elder brother of Principal of King's College, Alexander Arbuthnot.^[10]
• Janet Burnet. She married Master James Skene of Wester Corse and Ramore.
• Agnes Burnet. She married, in 1551, Alexander Blackball of Barra.
• Another daughter, not named in source, married, 1st, Craigmyle of that Ilk; 2nd, John Forbes of Sonnahinny, grandson of Sir John Forbes of Pitsligo.

Sources

1. ↑ The family of Burnett of Leys, with collateral branches; page 19
2. ↑ The family of Burnett of Leys, with collateral branches; page 19
3. ↑ The family of Burnett of Leys, with collateral branches; page 20
4. ↑ The family of Burnett of Leys, with collateral branches; page 21
5. ↑ The family of Burnett of Leys, with collateral branches; page 20
6. ↑ The family of Burnett of Leys, with collateral branches; page 20
7. ↑ The family of Burnett of Leys, with collateral branches; page 25
8. ↑ The family of Burnett of Leys, with collateral branches; page 28
9. ↑ The family of Burnett of Leys, with collateral branches; page 26
10. ↑ The family of Burnett of Leys, with collateral branches; page 27

See also:

• The family of Burnett of Leys, with collateral branches from the mss. of the late George Burnett, by Burnett, George, 1822-1890, Published 1901

• Burnett, George, Lord Lyon King of Arms, edited by Col. James Allardyce, LL.D., The Family of Burnett of Leys, Aberdeen, 1901, p. 41-58.

• Official Burnett Website

• Scotland Magazine Issue 59, October 2011 The Green Lady of Crathes, by Annie Harrower Gray

• Youtube Mystery of Craythes Castle