Antonia (Barclay) Steuart-Barclay (abt. 1700 - abt. 1780)

Born about 1700 in Midlothian, Scotland

Ancestors

Wife of Henry (Steuart) Steuart-Barclay of Collair — married 11 Jul 1717 in Midlothian, Scotland

Descendants

Died about 1780 at about age 80 in Fife, Scotland [uncertain]

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Biography

Antonia was born around 1700 and her parents were John Barclay and Isabella Gordon and these details are mentioned in the birth details of her son Stewart Stewart, born 17 Jan 1720 in Edinburgh^[1]. None of the historical sources mentions who Antonia's mother was so it is interesting that her name is on the birth record of her grandson. Antonia married into another well known and affluent family when she married Henry Steuart on 11 Jul 1717. Henry was the second son of Sir James Steuart of Goodtrees, County of Lanark, Lord Advocate of Scotland and nephew of Sir Thomas Steuart, Bart., of Coltness, Lanarkshire and Provest of Edinburgh^[2]. Henry and Antonia had several children but a few died young. The children who survived into adulthood were James Steuart-Barclay, their heir, William and Henry.

Family tree

This can be found on^[3].

Collairnie Estate

The estate is known to have been in the possession of the Barclay family by 1350. The superiors were the lords of Ballinbreich, later Earls of Rothes, and a dispute with them led to the confirmation by the King James IV of the Barclays in the barony of Collairnie in 1510. In 1536 David Barclay was appointed by the abbot and monks of Lindores to the office of Bailiary of the monastery which became the hereditary position of Bailie of Lindores, confirmed by Queen Mary in 1567 and held by the family until 1748. In 1789 the estate was sold to Dr Francis Balfour, third son of Arthur Balfour of Fernie^[4].

Barclay History

When Antonia's father John Barclay, (who was the heir and Barony of Collairnie) died, Antonia, his only child, became sole heiress of the estate to the exclusion of her cousin, Thomas Steuart and his descendants. She was a very young child when she succeeded her father in the Collairnie estate. In 1747, Lady Antonia received two hundred and fifteen pounds, as compensation for the abolition of the office of Bailie of Lindores, which the Barclays of Collairnie had held for over two hundred years^[5]. Antonia's family descended from Hugh Barclay and probably possessed Collairnie, in the parish of Dunbog, for nearly 500 years^[6]. ^[7].

Crest Badge and Motto of the Barclay Clan

The Barclay Clan is a lowland clan. Their crest badge is on a chapeau doubled Emine, a hand holding a dagger. Their motto is Agere Aut Mori (Either action or death).

Research Notes

Name: Antonia Barclay, Lady of Collairnie. ^[8]

According to A history of the Barclay family, when John Barclay died, he left an only daughter, Antonia, who became sole heiress of the estate.

Antonia Barclay, Lady of Collairnie, was a very young child when she succeeded her father in the estate of Collairnie. She was served heir to him in the Bailiary of the Abbacy of Lindores, January 9th, and in the lands and Barony of Collairnie, February 21st, 1710-11.

Sources

1. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTPG-CXQ : 11 February 2020), Antonia Barclay in entry for Stewart Stewart
2. ↑ "Scotland Marriages, 1561-1910", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYMC-NY5 : 11 February 2020), Antonia Barclay in entry for Hary Stewart, 1717: accessed 24 Nov 2021
3. ↑ Barclay, Charles Wright, 1853-1926. A History of the Barclay family (1066-1933), 1934. London, The St Catherine Press, 1924-34, Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/historyofbarclay00barc_0/page/312/mode/2up)
4. ↑ University of St. Andrews Special collections: Papers of the Barclay family of Collairnie, Dunbog, Fife, (https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/8d8663c0-2109-345c-89c8-b358b517ff9c): accessed 25 Nov 2021
5. ↑ Barclay, Charles Wright, 1853-1926. A History of the Barclay family (1066-1933), 1934. London, The St Catherine Press, 1924-34, Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/historyofbarclay00barc_0/page/354/mode/2up) p. 339., accessed 25 Nov 2021
6. ↑ Scottish Archive Network Ltd: online catalogue (NA17349), National Records of Scotland,(https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/scancatalogue/person.aspx?code=NA17349&st=1&tc=y&tl=n&tn=y&tp=n&k=leslie+parish&ko=a&r=&ro=s&)
7. ↑ Anderson, William. Dictionary of National Biography: The Scottish Nation. Barclays of Urie, (https://www.electricscotland.com/history/nation/barclay.htm), 1863: accessed 25 Nov 2021
8. ↑ Barclay, Charles Wright, comp. The Barclays in Scotland and England from 1610 to 1933. Part II. London: St. Catherine, 1933. Internet Archive. Web.<https://archive.org/details/historyofbarclay00barc_0/page/354/mode/2up> p. 339.