Robert Maitland (bef. 1369 - abt. 1434)

Born before 1369 in Scotland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 1434 after about age 65 in Lethington, Haddingtonshire, Scotland

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Biography

Some details of this Sir Robert Mateland of Thirlestane, Knighted c1390, Lord of Tibbers (Dumfriesshire) in 1401, and 'of Lethington' in 1422, are provided by Ian Maitland, 18th Earl of Lauderdale who states that Robert's wife was Marion Abernethy, possibly his second wife. See also^[1]

A very substantial Transumpt was made in the presence of Sir Robert de Lawedre, Justiciary of Scotland, sitting in a court of justice ayre ('itineris justiciarie') held at Bown [Boon] on 16th July 1425, of a charter by George de Dunbar, Earl of March, Lord of Annandale and Man, granting to his brother Sir Patrick de Dunbar of Beil, knight, forty merks of land within the town and territory of Mersington. The boundaries are then given. It appears the original charter was dated circa 1390. John de Dunbar, Earl of Moray, the granter's brother, Patrick Hepburn, Lord of Hailes and Sir Robert Mautaland (Maitland) were amongst the witnesses to the original charter.^[2]

A sasine was granted by "Johanna Gifford in her lawful viductie to [this] Sir Robert Maitland, Knt., of the lands of Lethington, conforming to the charter granted by the said Hew Giffard to [Robert's grandfather] umquhill Sir Robert Maitland, etc., in 1345. Signed & dated at Haddington, 1st Decembris, 1399." This appears to be a reconfirmation.^[3]

Sir Robert had charge of Dunbar Castle [not far distant from Lethington] from his uncle, George de Dunbar, Earl of March, after the Earl withdrew into England in 1398, the consequence of his marriage contract between his daughter Lady Elizabeth and David Stewart, Duke of Rothesay, being cancelled through the intrigues of Archibald, Earl of Douglas 'The Grim'. Upon the Earl of March's subsequent return to Scotland with a small English force, Sir Robert Maitland was obliged to surrender Dunbar Castle to the Earl of Douglas (who held nearby Tantallon Castle). He and his family were later designed both of Thirlestane and of Lethington.^[4]

Robert Mawtalent [sic], Lord of Thirlestane, Robert de Lawedre, Lord of The Bass, Alexander de Cockburn, Lord of Langton, all knights, appear with [another] Robert Mawtaland [sic], William de Spens of Quixwood, John de Scougal of that Ilk and William de Hailburton, all described as "nobles", witnessing a Transumpt of a charter by Lady Margaret Stewart, Countess of Mar & Angus, on 23rd March 1417.^[5]

A Retour of Service to John Ker as the lawful and nearest heir of his father the late Sir John Ker, Knt., in the entire lands of Samuelstoun, held of the Earl of Douglas, was made at Lauder 11th May 1418 by Sir Robert Mautalant, Sir Robert de Lawedre, Sir Henry de Douglas, Sir George de Preston, Sir William de Cranstoun, all Knights, David de Edmondstoun, John de Fauside, James Sinclair, John de Whitelaw, James de Heriot, John de Ford, and Andrew Wright, as jurors.^[6]

Sir Robert Maitland of Thirlestane and Lethington is said to have married twice.

Spouse:

• Marion Abernethy d. a 1466

Children

• Agnes Maitland
• Anabella^[7]
• James Maitland of Auchinbreck, Dumfriesshire
• Robert Maitland, d. before 1434 (v.p.,s.p.)
• William Maitland of Thirlestane & Lethington, d.c1470.

Sources

1. ↑ Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage edited by Peter Townend, 105th edition, London, 1970, p.1546.
2. ↑ Calendar of the Laing Charters, A.D.854 - 1837 edited by Rev. John Anderson, Edinburgh, 1899, page 22, number 81.
3. ↑ History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland etc., by John Burke, London, 1836, volume 3, pps. 434/5.
4. ↑ Anderson, William, "The Scottish Nation; or. The surnames, families, literature, honours, and biographical history of the people of Scotland", Edinburgh: A. Fullerton & Co., 1867, Vol. III, Archive.org, p. 73
5. ↑ The Douglas Book by Sir William Fraser, vol.iii, pps: 50-51, Edinburgh, 1885.
6. ↑ Memorials of the Earls of Haddington by Sir William Fraser, KCB, LL.D., vol.ii: Correspondence and charters, Edinburgh 1889, p.228-9.
7. ↑ Papal Letters to Scotland of Benedict XIII of Avignon 1394-1419, edited by Francis McGurk, MA., M.Litt., Scottish History Society, Edinburgh, 1976, p.350.

• Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, edited by Charles Mosley, 106th edition, London & Chicago, 1999, vol.2, p.1642.
• http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p141.htm#i4236

• Gregory Lauder-Frost