Charles Straton (1655 - 1746)

Born 1655 in Maryton, Montrose, Angus, Scotland

Husband of Elizabeth Forrester — married 1 Sep 1687 in Edinburgh, Scotland

Descendants

Died 5 Apr 1746 at about age 91 in Old Montrose, Angus, Scotland

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Biography

Charles Straton is a member of Straiton Clan.

Charles was born in 1655. It is likely he was born at Montrose or the estates of Lauriston (St. Cyrus). His father, Captain Robert Straton, "third lawful son to the ancient Baron of Lauriston or Straiton of that Ilk",^[1] was a supporter of Charles II and is recorded living quietly near Lauriston in 1655 after the invasion by Cromwell. His mother was Anna Wardlaw. His father was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Edinburgh Castle at the Restoration of Charles II in 1661 and he held the position until 1664.

The family were certainly living at Old Montrose when his father died in 1674. His name is sometimes found as Straton (Stratons of Lauriston) and Straitoune (Army Lists) or Straiton (Army Lists). He appears in Stratons of Lauriston on page 38.^[2]

He first appearance on the record is as a witness to a baptism at Montrose 28 April 1674. This being the year of his father's death and the family were living at Old Montrose. The family had many business interests in the town of Montrose.^[3] His father's Will was proved in November 1697, some considerable time after his death at sea.^[4]

In The Scots Army

Charles Straton (called Straitoune) was appointed as Lieutenant in Earl of Mar's Regiment of Foot, 27 Sep 1678.^[5][6]

In May 1679 Archbishop Sharpe was murdered and this was followed by the Cameronian rising and the battles of Drumclog and Bothwell Bridge. In November the Duke of York arrived in Scotland as representative of the King and the Test Act was passed in Scotland in 1680 (a religious based exclusion Act of Parliament). In 1681 the Scottish Parliament sent Charles Straton to London with an address to the King in acknowledgement of which he was given an order for £100 and his expenses (25 August 1681 a facsimile of which is attached here).

He was appointed to Captain of a Company in the Regiment of Foot Guard (Scots Guards) in the place of deceased Lord Rosse, signed Windsor Castle 20 June 1682.^[7] The Army Lists provides that he was the son of Captain Robert Straiton, who was brother to Alexander Straiton of that Ilk.

His Commission was renewed by James VII. in March, 1685.^[8] In August that year the Duke of Queensberry, the High Commissioner, was summoned to Court and was accompanied by many of his countrymen including Charles Straton and "Mr Slitzer, ingeneer", (Captain John Slezer, a German national, Chief Engineer and Commander of Artillery) who had married Charles' cousin Jean Straton, daughter of Lauriston.

He was with the Scots Guards when they returned to Scotland on 23 Apr 1687 and was married that year, 1st Sep, at Edinburgh in a ceremony performed by the Dean. He is said to have married a daughter of Sir Andrew Forrester.^[9]

In May 1688 MacDonald of Keppoch rose up in revolt and Charles Straton commanded the detachment of 200 men of the Scots Guards and Scots Greys to put down the revolt. Apparently the force did its work thoroughly and shortly afterwards the regiment was withdrawn to London.^[10] Although mentioned in Stratons of Lauriston it is difficult to reconcile this with history. The clan, Macdonalds of Keppoch, led by Coll MacDonald of Keppoch who had been imprisoned by Mackintosh who had occupied his land rose up against him. This led to the battle of Mulroy, which was the last clan battle in the Highlands, won decisively by the Macdonald. There were Government troops at that battle but the leader was Captain Kenneth Mackenzie of Suddie who was killed there.

On strength the Regiment as Captain of Regiment of (Scots) Foot Guards when taken to English Establishment in 1688.^[11] Left the Regiment as Capt. and Lt.-Colonel about Dec. 1688, probably about the time of the Revolution of 1688, the name given to the overthrow of King James II of Great Britain by William, Duke of Orange.^[12] This statement, occurring in both the Army Lists and Stratons of Lauriston, makes it difficult to reconcile with the previous paragraph. The action fought by Macdonald of Keppoch on 1688 occurred in August making it unlikely that Straton was with the Regiment at that time. In 1688 there was another Straton, Henry Straton, as a Lieutenant in the same Regiment; this is his cousin.^[13]

After the Army

It seems that he was not willing to serve in the army of William of Orange suggesting he remained a Royalist for his life. His life in retirement comprised mainly of living on his estates and at a house in Edinburgh and he was a noted investor of the day. In 1693 he matriculated arms, noticed below, and around 1695 purchased the estates of Old Montrose from the estates of Lord Middleton, a colleague of his father's, although noting a family of Graham in possession about 1690. The estates became known as Lauriston as the St. Cyrus estates were in the process of being sold. Around this time he was living in Edinburgh and is noticed in the Index to Poll Tax Returns, Edinburgh Parishes, 1694-1699, as being at "College" (Trinity College Parish in the city centre) in 1695.

He had many diverse business interests and was involved heavily in the Baltic trade holding warehouses in Montrose to support the trade. In 1696 he was one of the early subscribers to the Darien Company.^[14]

On the accession of Queen Anne in 1701 he re-entered public life; he was a Commissioner of supply for Angus in 1702 and 1704 and was appointed Quarter Master General, rank of Colonel, in Scotland 27 March, 1707, just before the union of the kingdoms in 1708. The appointment was abolished on the Union and the duties retained in the national military.

In 1710 he proved the will of his brother Alexander, a captain in the Scots Fusiliers who was killed in 1704 at the Battle of Blenheim, the delay being probably due to the difficulty in obtaining the arrears of pay which formed the chief asset.^[15] This statement in Stratons of Lauriston is not supported in the Army Lists^[16] which is also confused as there were two, believed to be father and son, Alexander Straitons in the same Regiment on the same field. The delay may have arisen from this rather than simply the pay arrears. The relationships between these families requires further study.

The family appear to have been staunchly Royalists although Charles does not seem to have played a part in the events of 1715.^[17] His cousin Henry and his daughter (Mrs. McFarlane) are both noticed.

He was stated to be a Creditor to Viscount Dundee for 5,000 marks by bond dated some years before the Revolution and this is included in his Petition in Thomson's Acts of the Parliament of Scotland, Vol. IX., Appx. p. 65. Viscount Dundee being attainted for his part in the Jacobite Rebellion, and his estates forfeit for treason, Charles Straton needed to appeal in order to receive his bond. It took until 14 Mar 1744 to have this claim cleared.^[18] Judging by his Will, where he is noted as, other than his estates of Old Montrose, having few financial resources it seems his claim was not approved.

It seems probable that it was Colonel Charles that had Straton House, in Castle Place, Montrose, constructed, and he used this as his town house.^[19]

Death

He died in April 1746 and was buried at Maryton Parish Church on the tenth of that month, aged 91. He was survived by a son, John, and an unmarried daughter, Elizabeth. Amongst pictures which descended to his line were a portrait of him in armour and portraits of the Duke and Duchess of Lauderdale.^[20]

Arms

He was one of the last of the house to Matriculate arms which he did in 1693. ^[21] The arms are described:

Arms: Vair, on an escutcheon gules a fess crenelee of three pieces argent, masonee sable.

Crest, a falcon rising proper.

Motto, Resurgere Tento.

The arms seemingly a reflection of his father's position at Edinburgh Castle and may have been an issue of these.

Family and Legacy

He is said^[22] to have married, 1 Sep 1687, at Edinburgh, Elizabeth Forrester. She is stated to be the daughter of Sir Andrew Forrester, Kt., the secretary to the John Maitland, Duke of Lauderdale another strong supporter of Charles II.. She however, in the Register of Marriages for Edinburgh^[23], is recorded as Foster. The marriage was performed by the Dean of Edinburgh, Dr. William Annand who was well known to Charles Straton as he was chaplain to John Middleton, 1st Earl of Middleton, benefactor to Robert Straton. It seems unlikely taht the marriage occured to a daughter of Maitland as it was him that removed Robert Straton, Charles' father from his position in Edinburgh Castle and was hardly friendly to Middleton or the Straton's.

They had seven children:^[24]

Elizabeth Straton; b. abt. 1690, likely Kincardinshire. Appears to be the eldest daughter, died unmarried in 1750.^[25]

child; b.abt. 1692 and buried Edinburgh 2 Mar 1693.^[26]

child; b. abt. 1694 and buried Edinburgh 29 Apr 1698.^[27]

dau.; b. abt. 1696, married John Macfarlane W.S. (W. S. is Writer to His Majesties Signet (Seal) or a lawyer for the Crown) abt. 1715. He was a colleague of her fathers and a co-investor in the Darien Scheme and considerably older than her. She was the infamous Mrs. McFarlane. She died, likely, Edinburgh abt 1719.

John Straton; b. Dec 1698, bap. 18 Dec 1698 at Bervie Parish, Kincardineshire, Scotland.^[28][29]

child; b. abt. 1700, bur. Montrose 1710.

son; b. abt 1702, bur. Montrose 1716.

Note: The two unknown children that are buried in Edinburgh are buried in the tomb of James Borthwick.^[30] At the time there was a close association between the families. Henry Straton, a cousin to this Charles, married Elizabeth daughter of James Borthwick of Stow and Mary Masterton his wife. James Borthwick, one of the family of Lord Borthwick, was a medical practitioner and the Deacon of surgeons and teacher of anatomy in Edinburgh University. He died in 1676 and was buried in Greyfriars Churchyard where there is a striking monument to his memory erected by his son. In the back south west corner: James Borthwick of Stow, lawful son of the family of Cruixtoun, most famous chirurgeon apothecarie: Mr. James Borthwick, his eldest son, from a mournful mind, placed this monument.^[31]

He left a son James and a daughter Elizabeth. James the younger died without issue in 1703 having entailed his estate to his sister's children John and Charles Straton, the successor to take the name and arms of Borthwick. In 1704 John Straton served heir and took the name and arms and in 1751 James, son of John served heir to his great uncle.

This profile is a collaborative work-in-progress. Can you contribute information or sources?

Sources

1. ↑ Matriculation Register of Lyon's Office-of- Arms, 1672-1721 and noted in #S-2 Dalton, Chales; Part II, page 31
2. ↑ #S-1 Straton; Charles, page 38
3. ↑ #S-1 Straton; Charles, page 38
4. ↑ #S-2 Dalton, Charles, Appendix, Will of Captain Robert Straton, page 187
5. ↑ #S-2 Dalton, Charles, Part II, Regimental Lists, page 113
6. ↑ #S-1 Straton; Charles, page 38; Charles Straton erroneously suggests "Charles Straton was appointed lieutenant in the company commanded by John Balfour". It was Alexander Stratoun, that was appointed Lieutenant to Captain John Balfours Company at Windsor on 15 Sep 1679 (Warrant Book for Scotland Vol V). Charles had been appointed to the Headquarters in 1678.
7. ↑ #S-2 Dalton, Charles, Part II, Regimental Lists, page 28. Lord Ross was George Ross, 11th Lord Ross and was a Lieutenant Colonel of the Scots Guards. He died on the family estates in Hawkhead, Renfrewshire in Apr 1682.
8. ↑ #S-2 Dalton, Charles, Part II, Regimental Lists, page 147
9. ↑ #S-2 Dalton, Charles, Part II, Regimental Lists, page 28
10. ↑ #S-1 Straton; Charles, page 39
11. ↑ #S-4 Dalton, Charles; page 215
12. ↑ #S-1 Straton; Charles, page 39
13. ↑ #S-4 Dalton, Charles; page 215
14. ↑ #S-3 Appendix page 373
15. ↑ #S-1 Straton; Charles, page 40.
16. ↑ #S-2 Dalton, Charles, Part II, Regimental Lists, page 118, Note 55 and page 117, Note 23
17. ↑ #S-1 Straton; Charles, page 40.
18. ↑ Noting this page of the hearing
19. ↑ A watercolour of the later house, with history, is available in Montrose; A series of Paintings by James Low a copy of which is available on request. The house, likely build around the early 18th Century was improved by his grandson John around 1762 and then again about 1775. He sold the property then to James Renny, or Renat, likely a trading partner from Hamburg and John, with his family, left to live in France.
20. ↑ #S-1 Straton; Charles, page 40. It would certainly be welcome to all the family is a descendent still has these and can share them.
21. ↑ Matriculation Register of Lyon's Office-of- Arms, 1672-1721
22. ↑ #S-1 Straton; Charles, page 38.
23. ↑ Published under Vol 16 of the Scottish Records Society; Register of Marriages Edinburgh 1595-1700; page 668
24. ↑ #S-1 Straton; Charles, page 38, provides most material, Changes have been made where inconsistencies occur.
25. ↑ #S-1 Straton; Charles, page 38.
26. ↑ #S-1 Straton; Charles, page 38.
27. ↑ #S-1 Straton; Charles, page 38.
28. ↑ "Scotland, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," index, FamilySearch, John Straton, 18 Dec 1698; citing BERVIE, KINCARDINE, SCOTLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 993310.
29. ↑ #S-1 Straton; Charles, page 41 mentions 1701, likely at Edinburgh. However this birth appears more likely.
30. ↑ Register of Interments in the Greyfriars Burying Ground 1658-1700; page 629
31. ↑ Collection of Epitaphs and Monumental Inscriptions, Chiefly in Scotland; Glasgow; 1834; page 11

See also:

• Source S-1 Straton, Charles Henry. The Stratons of Lauriston and Their Offshoots. Private: Privately, 1932. Download

• Source S-2 Dalton, Charles. The Scots army, 1661-1688, with memoirs of the commanders-in-chief. London: Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1909. Open Library

• Source S-3 Bannatyne Club, Ed.. The Darien Papers: Being a Selection of Original Letters and Official Documents Relating to the Establishment of a Colony At Darien by the Company of Scotland Trading to Africa and the Indies. 1695-1700. Edinburgh: Bannatyne Club, 1849. Open Library

• Source S-4 Dalton, Charles. English army lists and commission registers, 1661-1714. Volume II. London: Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1904. Archive.org