Alexander (Arbuthnot) Arbuthnot of Knox MP (1654 - 1705)

Born 31 Mar 1654 in Bervie, Kincardineshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 13 Aug 1705 at age 51 in Benholm, Montrose, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

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Biography

He was born, likely at the family estates at Bervie, Kincardineshire, on 31 Mar 1654, a son of Sir Robert Arnuthnott and his second wife the Lady Catherine Fraser, the daughter of Hugh Fraser, 7th Lord Lovat. He has a page on Wikipedia.

He married, as his first wife, Margaret Barclay daughter of Col Harrie Barclay of Knox, on 22 February 1671. When Harrie Barclay died without a male heir the "Honour" and titles and land of Knox passed to Margaret.

Margaret then died, about 1676, without producing any children, and the titles passed to her husband Alexander. With this title came the lands of Over and Nether Knoxes at Benholm, Kincardineshire.^[1]

In abt. 1678 he married his second wife, Jean Scott, and had children noted below.

He represented Kincardineshire as Commissioner to the Parliament of Scotland, from 1689 to 1702 and subsequently represented Bervie from 1703 to 1707.

He served as tutor to the children of his brother Robert Arbuthnot, 2nd Viscount of Arbuthnott but not very successfully and was pursued, on 21 Nov 1702, for damages by the Earl of Sutherlamd.^[2]

He died on 13 August 1705 and was buried at Benholm Parish, on the lands of Knox, on 18 Aug 1705.

Family and Legacy

He married twice and, although his first marriage produced no children, it provided his descendants with the titles and lands of Knox. He married, secondly, Jean Scott, in abt. 1678, a daughter of Patrick Scott of Rossie Castle, an estate on the Montrose basin just south of Montrose. It seems probable that the family lived on the Knox estates at Benholm in Kincardineshire as a number of children are noted as born there. These Parish records are not consistent prior to 1690. They had a number of children, of which:

Catherine Arbuthnot; b. abt 1680, probably Benholm Parish, Kincardineshire. She married Charles Stirling of Kippendavic on 3 Jun 1703 with children. She died about 1708 and he remarries.

Alexander Arbuthnot; b. abt 1681, probably Benholm Parish, Kincardineshire. He married in Montrose, 18 June 1703, Janet Renaldo, daughter of John Rennald of Larnie, with children. He died 7 October 1764 at Edinburgh, Scotland.

Jean Arbuthnot; b. abt 1682, probably Benholm Parish, Kincardineshire. She married Samuel Stratton at Montrose, Angus, 12 Mar 1701,^[3] with children.

Robert Arbuthnot; b. abt 1683, probably Benholm Parish, Kincardineshire. He married, 22 February 1712, Elizabeth Malloch with child. He died March 1714 and she remarried.

Margaret Arbuthnot; b. abt 1685, probably Benholm Parish, Kincardineshire. She married James Napier, in Montrose on 28 August 1712. There were no known children.

Janet Arbuthnot; b. abt 1688, probably Benholm Parish, Kincardineshire. She is said to have died unmarried.

Elizabeth Arbuthnot; b. Aug 1690, bap. 24 Aug 1690 at Benholm Parish, Kincardineshire.^[4] She is said to have died unmarried.

Patrick Arbuthnot; b. Dec 1691, bap. 21 Dec 1691 at Benhold Parish, Kincardineshire.^[5] Patrick is not mentioned in the Arbuthnot source sites and we can presume he died young.

James Arbuthnot; b. May 1693, bap. 19 May 1693 at Benholm Parish, Kincardineshire.^[6] and died young.

Isabel Arbuthnot; b. Apr 1696, bap. 1 May 1696 at Benholm Parish, Kincardineshire.^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ #S-1 Straton; Charles, page 82 Note - Book is no longer available at this location, can be purchased on google books
2. ↑ Supplement to the Dictionary of the decisions of the Court of Session, Volume 4; Case Earl of Sutherland against Arbuthnot of Knox and Sir Thomas Burnett of Leys. Noted online
3. ↑ Scotland, Marriages, 1561-1910
4. ↑ Scotland, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
5. ↑ Scotland, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
6. ↑ Scotland, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
7. ↑ Scotland, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950

• "Scotland, Marriages, 1561-1910," index, FamilySearch, Samuel Stratton and Jean Arbuthnot, 12 Mar 1701; citing Montrose, Angus, Scotland, reference ; FHL microfilm 102662.
• "Scotland, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," index, FamilySearch, Elizabeth Arbuthnot, 24 Aug 1690; citing BENHOLM, KINCARDINE, SCOTLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 993309.
• "Scotland, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," index, FamilySearch, Patrick Arbuthnot, 21 Dec 1691; citing BENHOLM, KINCARDINE, SCOTLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 993309.
• "Scotland, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," index, FamilySearch, James Arbuthnot, 19 May 1693; citing BENHOLM, KINCARDINE, SCOTLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 993309.
• "Scotland, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," index, FamilySearch, Isabel Arbuthnot, 01 May 1696; citing BENHOLM, KINCARDINE, SCOTLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 993309.

See also:

• Source S-1 Straton, Charles Henry. The Stratons of Lauriston and Their Offshoots. Volume I. Private: Privately, 1932. Scridb Note - Book is no longer available at this location, can be purchased on google books

• Source; Much of the detailed material regarding the families of Arbuthnot comes from the Arbuthnot genealogy available on the internet, particularly this site for this family and a "pedigree" available on Family Search. Where variance or additions have been found they have been included here. No attempt has been made by Doug Straiton to validate against original source material unless noted.