Thomas (Blair) Blair IInd of Balthayock (abt. 1375 - abt. 1452)

Born about 1375 in Perthshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 1452 at about age 77 in Kinfauns, Perthshire, Scotland [uncertain]

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Biography

Thomas was born about 1375 eldest son to Patrick Blair of Balthayock.^[1]

As son and heir, Thomas succeeded on the resignation of his father Patrick Blair of Balthayock and was granted a charter of the lands of Ardler, Baldowrie and Balgillo from Robert III at Dunkeld on 14 January 1400/1. ^[2] In the Register of the Great Seal this is listed in the period 1398-1400 and Baldowrie is shown as both “Baldowrnie“ and “Kylldowry”. ^[3] A situation arose regarding the marches of Clien and Balthayock. In this event, Thomas Blair of Balthayock was at discord with the Abbot of Scone regarding the marches of Balthayock with Clien. Robert, duke of Albany made a precept to summon an assize to meet at Clien on the 6 March 1408/9 to resolve the issue. ^[4]

Thomas married about 1405 and had issue:

• Patrick his heir apparent who died before his father was father to next heir.
• George progenitor of a family of burgess of Dundee
• Robert a burgess of Perth circa 1456 to 1485 may have been a son of Thomas

On 29 June 1410, Thomas acquired the lands of Balconnally, Perthshire by a charter of resignation from Walter Haliburton of that ilk and William Erskine of Kinnoul. A precept appointed Thomas Brown of Whelplaw as bailie for the infeftment. ^[5]

A month later in Perth when John Mowat had a charter of lands in Caithness confirmed under the Great Seal, the minor witnesses, Robert Stewart of Lorne and a Thomas Blair were described as "scutifers".^[6] This indicating that they were "shield bears" or squires. Perhaps, Thomas had continued in the role of his father as armour bearer to one of the earls.

A dispute over the boundary of Flawcraigs in the barony of Kinnaird held by William Scott the laird of Balwerie was settled on 23 July 1415 by an assize on which Thomas served. NRS GD45/16/3044 see [6]

At Greyfriars Church in Dundee on 14 April 1422, Thomas Blair lord of Balthayock, a squire, witnessed a transumpt of an earlier charter. ^[7]

James I of Scotland was captured as a boy when sailing to France and was held in captivity in the English Court. It was not until 1424 that he was released under a treaty which required the payment of a massive ransom. To ensure payment several of the Scottish nobility were required to place themselves in England as hostages for a number of years. Among the first hostages to go to England was Alexander Lindsay, earl of Crawford. On 4 July 1424, Thomas Blair, Mr Alexander Lindsay and Mr Ingam Lindsay were granted safe conduct through England to attend to the earl. They were permitted to take one servant each. ^[8] The English besieged Orleans in France in 1428. The relief of Orleans is famous for the French Army being led by Joan d'Arc, the Maid of Orleans. Thomas Blair was one of the Scots assisting the French defend during the siege. He was present in 1428 at the start of the siege of Orleans where he commanded a company of 20 men-at-arms and 29 archers. Thomas received 67 écus and 55 sous equivalent to £136 from Hémon Raguier, trésorier des guerres du Roy. ^[9] After their service to the King of France, Thomas Blair and Sir John Wishart returned safely to Scotland but their commander Patrick Ogilvy was lost at sea on the homeward.

At the Abbey of Coupar Angus on 1 October 1451, Thomas was one of the witnesses to a charter citing the earlier gift of the lands of Bellaty and Freuchie in Glenisla to the Abbey by Alexander II, King of Scots.

Thomas died in the period between Whitsunday and Martinmas 1452 as in mid 1453, the lands of Cults were recorded in ward from his death in that term. ^[10] A Charter by Sir Simon Bain, Presbyter founded the Altarage of St. Simon and St. Stephen within the Parish Church of Perth for divine service to be performed for the Souls of persons mentioned within it and inter alia the Soul of the late Thomas Blair of Balthayock his master of certain Annualrents furth of tenements. ^[11] This Charter was ratified by King James III in March 1472.

Sources

1. ↑ MacGregor, Gordon, The Red Book of Scotland, Scotland, private, 2022, Ed. 3, Vol. I, p. 830
2. ↑ Balthayock Charters 14 and 15
3. ↑ RMS Vol.i App.2 1867 see [1]
4. ↑ Balthayock Charters 16
5. ↑ Balthayock Charters 18
6. ↑ A History of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff Spalding Club
7. ↑ GD150/14 item (h) see [2]
8. ↑ Calendar of Documents relating to Scotland Addenda 1221 – 1435 Vol.IV 963 see [3]
9. ↑ Loiseleur, J., Mémoires de la Société archéologique et historique de l’Orléanais, tome XI, 1868 see [4]
10. ↑ Exchequer Rolls Vol.v
11. ↑ NRS GD79/4/142 see [5]