Walter (Scott) Scott Earl of Buccleuch (1588 - 1633)

Born 20 Nov 1588 in Roxburghshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 20 Nov 1633 at age 45 in London, Middlesex, England

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Biography

Walter (Scott) Scott Earl of Buccleuch is a member of Clan Scott.

Walter Scott, son of Sir Walter Scott, 1st Lord Buccleuch, and his wife, Margaret Kerr, daughter of Sir William Kerr of Cessford.^[1] His parents were under contract to marry at Halyden 1 October 1586. Halyden were part of the Kerr estates in Roxburghshire (Huntlywood, Borders), the family Border Reivers.^[2] He was Retoured heir, as Lord Buccleuch, to his father, at Edinburgh, 19 February 1612.

He was created by King James VI., by letters patent under the Great Seal, dated at Newmarket 16 March 1619, as Earl of Buccleuch, Lord Scott of Quhitchester and Eskdaill, with remainder to his heirs-male. (Whitchester and Eskdail)

In 1624 he had a narrow escape from assassination at the hands of the Elliots, with which the family were having a feud.

He, and his father were noted to be extravagant and Balfour Paul notes "His profusion and hospitality embarrassed his estate, and in 1627 he entered the service of the States-General of Holland, in command of a contingent of men, and was present at the sieges of Bergen-op-Zoom and Maestricht."^[2]

He was recalled by Charles I., in 1631, who had need of his services, but returned to Maestricht in 1633, after visiting Scotland and making a will, dated Morpeth, 12 January 1633. It seems likely he was aware of something that is not noted by historians for very shortly after he was in London, on-route from Maestricht to Scotland when he died, 20 Nov 1633. He was buried on 11 June 1634, seven months after his death, at St. Mary's church, Hawick, Roxburghshire, near the family estates.^[3]

He married, contract dated 11 and 15 October 1616, Mary Hay, daughter of Francis Hay, Earl of Errol. She was constituted her husband's commissioner when he was in the Low Countries between 1627 until her death. Balfour Paul notes that she died at Newark Castle in Selkirkshire, where the couple were staying at the time, on 11 April 1631. ^[3] This was a castle held by the Lords of Buccleuch and likely the residence.

It is worth noting that there is a large gap between his marriage in 1616 and then the birth of his first legitimate child, 1621. Given that he then has children with Mary nearly every year after it might be presumed he was either out of the country (which may not have mattered) or that she was young when the contract occurred and they didn't actually "marry" until 1620.

There are known to be a number of children: ^[3]

1. Elisabeth Scott, born November 1621, married, 1641, to John Esrkine, Lord Erskine, afterwards Earl of Mar, and died s. p. before 23 July 1647.
2. Walter Scott, Lord Scott, born 13 November 1625, died in infancy.
3. Francis Scott, Lord Scott. born 16 Dec 1626 and will succeed his father.
4. David Scott, of Cannobie, born at Newark Castle, 28 November 1627, died in July 1648, apparently in battle, unmarried. He may have been in the United Netherlands with his father.
5. Jean Scott, born January 1629, married (contract dated 24 September 1644), to John [Hay], Master of Tester, afterwards first Marquess of Tweeddale, and had issue. She died November 1688.
6. Mary Scott, born 11 April 1631, died unmarried, before September 1644.

He was also known to have had a large number of children from mistresses both in Scotland and overseas. The following, likely by no means comprehensive, is noted by Balfour Paul: ^[3]

1. Francis Scott, of Mangerton (1629, noted as having held the title before his half-brother and likely from different mothers); likely born about 1605, he died at Rotterdam, before January 1641.
2. William Scott, of Mangerton, (from 1641) founder of that family.
3. John Scott, whose mother was known to be Annas Drummond, of Gorrinberrie, which lands he obtained in 1629. He was legitimated by Oliver Cromwell on 8 February 1656.
4. Margaret Scott, married (contract dated at Newark, 31 August 1632) to John Pringle, son of Robert Pringle of Stitchell.
5. Janet Scott, married, in 1643, to Andrew Scott of Foulsheills.

• Jane Scott, married Robert Scott of Whitslaid.

Sources

1. ↑ Fraser, William, "The Scotts of Buccleuch", Edinburgh: private, 1878, Vol. II, Archive.org, p. 240
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Paul, James Balfour. "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", Edinburgh: David Douglas, 1905, Vol. II, Archive.org, p. 233
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} Paul, James Balfour. "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", Edinburgh: David Douglas, 1905, Vol. II, Archive.org, p. 234

See also:

• The Peerage

• Roberts, Gary Boyd; Ancestors of American Presidents. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009.

• Walter, Earl 1st Earl of Buccleuch, British Newspapers Archives, Obit

Scotland Marriages, 1561-1910