John (Blair) Blair of IIIrd Middle Auchindraine (abt. 1515 - abt. 1590)

Born about 1515 in Middle Auchindraine, Ayrshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 1590 at about age 75 in Middle Auchindraine, Ayrshire, Scotland

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Biography

John (Blair) Blair of IIIrd Middle Auchindraine was born in Scotland.

John Blair, 3rd of Middle Auchindraine, Parish of Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland, was the son and heir of James Blair, 2nd of Middle Auchindraine.

In his account of the Blairs of Middle Auchindraine, James Paterson mistakenly identified this John as the brother of James, but as explained by Peter Murray in his papers on the Blairs of that Ilk, the chronology cannot admit such an acccount of the genealogy of this family.

Murray writes, "John Blair of Middle Auchindrane, living in 1587, was evidently son of his predecessor James Blair (not brother as believed by Paterson). In 1548 it appears that he had succeeded to both the half of Middle Auchindrane that had been possessed by James, and the half possessed by John, the brother of James. This would appear to explain the confused account of Paterson who appears to have instead confounded this John with his uncle of the same name."

Paterson provides the following account of this John Blair:

"III. John Blare of Myddil Auchindrane, who had sasine of the half of the said lands, 27th June 1548; also of the other half, as heir of his father, killed at Flowden (sic), both on a precept from Chancery, 19th May 1558. He was on the assize at the trial of Barnard Ferguson of Kilkerran, in 1564, for invading the Laird of Camlarg in a fenced court of the schireff of Air. [Source: Criminal Trials] John Blair of Middle Auchindrane was one of the 'Preloquutouris' for John Blair of that Ilk, when tried, along with a number of others, for 'schooting pistolets,' &c., in 1576-7 [Source: Criminal Trials]. He is repeatedly mentioned in legal documents down to 1580. 'James Blair, sone and apperand air to Johnne Blair of Middle Auchindrane,' had sasine of the xls. land of Scheilzardis, from William Dunbar of Blantyre, in 1576 [Source: Mason's Notes]. In the same year, David Blair of Adamton gave heritable state and sasine to 'James Blair, son and apperand air to Jon. Blair of Middill Auchindrane, of all and haill the xvs. land of Quhitrumrex.' In 1579-80, Johne Blair of Middil Auchindraine made over the property to his son, James Blair, reserving a liferent interest. He married Mareoun Kennedy, and had, besides his heir, a son, John, as appears from the following extract: 'Sept. 20, 1586 -- The qlk day Johnne Blair, lauchfull sone to Johne Blair of Middil Auchindrane, gottin betuix him and vmqle Mareoun Kennedy, his spous, be ressoun of alienatioun, titulo oneroso, for sowmes of money for fulfilling of ane contract and appointment maid betuix him on the ane part, and James Blair, his brother-germane, on the other part, of the dait this instant day, and for ane certane sowme of money thairin contenit, resignit and oergaif, purelie and simplie be ane penny, as vsis, all and haill ane annuelrent of li money of this realme zeirlie (&c.) furth of the said Johneis foir tenement of land, vnder and above, (&c.) liand within the burch of Air, (&c.)' [Source: Mason's Notes]."

Paterson also mentions that John, 3rd of Middle Auchindraine, and his son James "had a decreet absolviter in the plea John and James Blair v. James Shaw of Sauchy, in 1587."

John thus must have died after that date, circa 1590, and was succeeded in the lands of Middle Auchindraine by his elder son James.

Besides John's two abovementioned sons, there appears to have been another son also named James, who is mentioned in the 19 June 1627 will of John's grandson James Blair, 5th of Middle Auchindraine, as "James Blair, burges of Air, his fader brother" -- that is, paternal uncle of James Blair, 5th of Middle Auchindraine, and therefore a brother (probably by a different mother) of James Blair, 4th of Middle Auchindraine.

John Blaird, 3rd of Middle Auchindraine, served on the grand jury panel that indicted and convicted his cousins John Blair of that Ilk and William Blair on 21 and 23 May 1577.^[1]

He married Marion Kennedy.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ Pitcairn, Robert, "Ancient Criminal Trials in Scotland", Edinburgh: William Tait, 1833, Vol I, pp. 71-72
2. ↑ Paterson, James, "History of the County of Ayr: With a Genealogical Account of the Families of Ayrshire", Edinburgh: John Dick, 1852, Vol. II, Archive.org, p. 358

See also:

• Murray, Peter. "Blair Family -- Ancient Lairds of Blair, in Ayrshire, Scotland," 12 March 1999, p.3 -- unpublished genealogical paper supplied to Jared L. Olar 28 March 1999.