John Fleming (1589 - 1650)

Born 9 Dec 1589 in Kincardine, Perthshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret Livingston — married 20 Feb 1609 in Cumbernauld,,Lanarkshire,Scotland

Descendants

Died 7 May 1650 at age 60 in Cumbernauld, Lanarkshire,Scotland

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Biography

John Fleming is a member of Clan Fleming.

Lord John Fleming, 2nd Earl of Wigton. Son to John Fleming and Lilias Graham

Birth 09 DEC 1589 • Kincardine, Perthshire, Scotland

Death 07 MAY 1650 • Cumbarnauld, Lanarkshire, Scotland. ^{[1] [2]}

Likely born on his mother's family estates near Montrose, John Fleming was born the eldest son of John Fleming, 1st Earl of Wigtown, and his first wife, Lilias Graham, only daughter of John Graham, third Earl of Montrose. John was probably baptised at Kincardine c. 9 December 1589.^[3]

In 1590 his father was appointed as King's Ambassador to Denmark although it is not clear whether he took his young family with him.

Titles and Lands

His first appearance on record is in 1609 when, 2 September, he received a charter, from his father, to him and Lady Margaret Livingstone his wife, of the lands of Easter and Wester Castlerankine and others in the barony of Harbertshire and county of Stirling, and other lands in the counties of Perth, Lanark, and Peebles, reserving his father's life-rent.^[4] Castlerankine was a large estate, located west of what is now the town of Denny. The estate was used as a POW camp (Camp 64) for German prisoners during World War II.^[5] The superior Lord of the barony of Harbertshire was Sir William Sinclair of Roslin.

In 1614, 25 August, he received another charter, this of the paternal estates of and title to the Lordship of Cumbernauld, from his father to him, his wife and heirs-male. On 6 December that year he is noticed as a Burgess and Freeman of the Borough of Glasgow as Lord.^[6]

In 1619 he succeeded his father in the estates and the Earldom.^[7]

In 1621, 17 July, he, under the Great Seal, had charters of the lands of Kingledoors and others in Peeblesshire.

In 1621, 4 August, he appears, as John, earl of Wigtown, lord Fleming and Cumbernauld in a petition, on behalf of the parishioners of the parish of Lenzie, to transport, re-build and erect the kirk of Lenzie, presently standing at the west end of the parish, to any other part of the same parish near the middle, and, when built, to be declared to be the only kirk of the said parish of Lenzie.^[8]

In 1628, 17 April, he was served heir to his father in the lands of Glenquotho and Quarter Chappell in Peeblesshire. The reason for the delay is not noted by Balfour Paul or others.

In 1632, 16 June, Sir William Sinclair of Roslin resigned the barony of Harbertshire and Fleming recieved, under the Great Seal, the combined lands of the Castlerankines.

In 1634, 24 December, he received, under the Great Seal, the lands of Catscleuch in Stirlingshire on the resignation of James Livingston, Lord Livingston of Almond; and of Drumgryne on 30 January 1637.

Service to Country

His first appearance in Parliament as Earl of Wigtown, Lord Fleming, was June 1621.^[9] He, as an Earl, represented the Nobility.

In 1621, 4 August, he was appointed as a commissioner, by Parliament, to investigate coal mining in the vicinity of the river Forth.^[10] Later, in 1630, he served on the commission into fisheries.

He was one of the Committee of Estates in 1640, was appointed a Privy Councillor by Parliament 17 September 1641, but developed a strong association with Charles I. including having Charles at his house in Cumbernauld. His last appearance in Parliament, as Earl of Wigtown was 22 June 1643.^[11] His son, John, appearing as Lord Fleming makes his first appearance in Parliament on 16 April 1644.^[12]

He appears to have been very ill as early as 1644 as his son, John, petitions Parliament to allow Sir William Fleming, his brother, permission to return to Scotland to see their father.^[13] Balfour Paul provides that John Fleming died at Cumbernauld, 7 May 1650.^[14]

Family

He married, contract dated 12, 15, 18, and 20 February 1609, Margaret Livingston, second daughter of Alexander Livingston, first Earl of Linlithgow. She had a charter to her and John her eldest son of the barony of Thankerton on 28 April 1617, and was alive in 1634, but likely died soon after.

They had children:^[15]

• John Fleming, is noted in the Charter to his mother, 28 April 1617, mentioned above. Entered as a student at Glasgow University in 1626. Likely born c. 1610. Noted as Lord Fleming in 1644; He will become third Earl.

• Alexander Fleming, who had, with his brother William, a dispensation from their father and brother of the annual-rents amounting to the principal sums of 10,000 merks payable from the lands of Harbertshire, Denny, and Catscleuch on 5 April 1636.

• Sir William Fleming entered the University of Glasgow as a student 11 November 1629, was sent to King Charles I. by the Scottish Army in September 1640 with a proposal of conditions for a pacification, which led to the treaty of Ripon; had licence to go to Scotland to see his father, who was unwell in 1644,^[16] and in 1648 was despatched to invite Prince Charles to come to Scotland. He was Gentleman Usher to King Charles I. and Chamberlain of the Household to King Charles II.. He died without heir before 26 June 1672, when his testament was confirmed; his grandniece Jean, Countess of Panmure, was served heir to him 2 May 1678.

• Eleanor Fleming, known to be the eldest daughter, married at Cumbernauld, contract 4 April 1650, as his second wife, to David Wemyss, second Earl of Wemyss. She died, without children, 20 April 1652, and was interred at Wemyss 6 May 1652.

• Ann Fleming, known to be second daughter, married, first, contract dated 10 September 1639, to Robert Boyd, Lord Boyd; and secondly, contract dated 10 December 1644, to George Ramsay, second Earl of Dalhousie, and died 20 April 1661, leaving issue.

• Jean Fleming, married, contract dated 19 October 1641, to Sir John Grierson of Lag, and had issue.

• Lilias Fleming, of which noting is mentioned by Balfour Paul.

• Helen Fleming, of which noting is mentioned by Balfour Paul.

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Fleming-720 created by Mary Elizabeth Stewart.

• WikiTree profile Fleming-720 through the import of Jim Walker gedcom 4 Wikitree may 22 2011.ged on 24 May 2011.

• WikiTree profile Fleming-720 through the import of Lynch-Tree.ged on 06 August 2010.

Sources

1. ↑ John Fleming Earl of Wigtown Or Wigton Death Date,1650, in the Dictionary of National Biography, Volumes 1-22
2. ↑ Stephen, Sir Leslie, ed.; London, England: Oxford University Press; Dictionary of National Biography, Volumes 1-20, 22; Volume: Vol 22; Page: 445
3. ↑ #S-1 Balfour Paul; Vol 8, page 549
4. ↑ #S-1 Balfour Paul; Vol 8, page 549
5. ↑ Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland; Castle Rankine
6. ↑ The Burgesses and Guild Brethren of Glasgow; 1573 - 1750; Publications of the Scottish Record Society; James Anderson, Ed..; page 45
7. ↑ #S-1 Balfour Paul; Vol 8, page 549
8. ↑ The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, K.M. Brown et al eds (St Andrews, 2007-2015), 1621/6/13.
9. ↑ The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, K.M. Brown et al eds (St Andrews, 2007-2015), 1621/6/1.
10. ↑ The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, K.M. Brown et al eds (St Andrews, 2007-2015), 1621/6/48.
11. ↑ The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, K.M. Brown et al eds (St Andrews, 2007-2015), 1643/6/1.
12. ↑ The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, K.M. Brown et al eds (St Andrews, 2007-2015), 1644/1/129.
13. ↑ The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, K.M. Brown et al eds (St Andrews, 2007-2015), 1644/6/18.
14. ↑ #S-1 Balfour Paul; Vol 8, page 549
15. ↑ #S-1 Balfour Paul; Vol 8, page 550
16. ↑ The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, K.M. Brown et al eds (St Andrews, 2007-2015), 1644/6/18.

• Source S-1 Balfour Paul. The Scots peerage : founded on Wood's ed. of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland; containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom. Vol. 8. Edinburgh: Douglas, 1904. archive.org

• Source S-2 William Hunter. Biggar and the House of Fleming: an account of the Biggar district, archaeological, historical, and biographical. Edinburgh: Paterson, 1867. archive.org

• John Fleming, 2nd Earl of Wigton on "The Peerage", noting that this source is incomplete. Do not use the reference as an original source it is not a reliable source.

• Cracroft's Peerage; The Complete Guide to the British Peerage & Baronetage; Earl of Wigtown is more complete but contains inaccuracies; his year of birth as an example.