Agnes Cunningham (bef. 1539 - 1597)

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Biography

In reference to Walter Leckie, 9th Laird of Leckie: His first wife was Agnes Cuninghame, sister of John Cuninghame of Glengarnok. She was a great-great, granddaughter of Princess Mary, daughter of Robert III King of Scotland. ^[1] Her father was William Cuninghame of Glengarnok, who was killed in the battle of Pinkiecleugh. Her mother was Elizabeth Sinclair, daughter of Lord Sinclair. ^[2]

An entry in the Stirling Protocols, dated 7th July 1575 mentions Walter Leckie of that Ilk, along with Agnes Cunningham, his wife, and Alexander, heir apparent of Lekkie, and as this Walter also appears as witness to a charter in 1576, (Reg.Mag.Sig), it is almost certain he was the Laird of Leckie who had the feud with the Earl of Mentetith which led to the "Battle of Ballochleam," famous in local annals. ^[3]

Evidently suffering from serious illness, the Laird of Leckie. on the 28th of April, 1570, nominates John Cunningham of Glengarnock his executor and tutor to Alexander, his son. He leaves his whole goods and gear, moveable and immoveable, to Alexander, and directs that the Laird of Glen-garnock keep the lands of Leckie in good will, and take no interest nor duties from them, but only there mails to his son's perfect age, making compt thereof. ^[4] John Cunningham of Glengarnock was the brother of Agnes and brother-in-law to Walter Leckie, and therefore uncle to his young son Alexander.

Walter Lekky of that Ilk was among the noblemen who, in the year 1572, became cautioners to the Master of Mar for the safe keeping of Stirling Castle for King James VI, when the young King was but a child. ^[5] The bond is entitled "Bond by certain friends of the Master of Mar, to assist him in preserving his Majesty's person in safety. 1572.

Agnes Cunningham must have died before 1597:

Walter Leckie married a second wife late in life. This was Margaret Livingstone, a sister to Alexander Livingstone of Pantosken (now Bantaskine). The pre-nuptial contract is dated at Dunipace, 13th October 1597, and bears that it is entered into with the consent of Alexander Leckie, son and heir of Walter. In this contract Walter Leckie obliged himself to grant to his wife in liferent the lands of Newpark in the Barony of Leckie, and by a charter executed at St. Ninians Kirk the same day, these lands were conveyed to her in due form. (Reg.Mag.Sig)

In the list of "the. Barons, Lairds and Gentlemen of Scotland in 1597," ^[6] under the heading of Stirlingshire, we find the Laird of Leckie included with the Lairds of Polmais, Touch, Seyton, Cargunnoke, etc. Monipenny's. ^[7]

The old laird Walter Leckie was still alive in 1603, but probably died during the year 1605, for on 20th November of that year Robert Leckie, senior of Kipdarroch, Walter's brother, was appointed tutor to Alexander Leckie, 11th Laird of Leckie, Walter's grandson. ^[8]

Walter Leckie left, at least, two sons, AlexanderAlexander, by his first wife, Agnes Cunningham, and a son James, probably by the second wife, Margaret Livingston. ^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ Reg. Mag. Sigilli, Edmonstone's "Family of Edmonstone of Duntreath."
2. ↑ "Cuningham," Edited by J. S. Dabie. p. 174.
3. ↑ Stirling Protocols
4. ↑ Stirling Protocols
5. ↑ "Chiefs of Colquhoun," by Sir Wm. Fraser, vol, i, p.133
6. ↑ the Barons, Lairds and Gentlemen of Scotland in 1597
7. ↑ Matters Concerning the Realme of Scotland, 1597. Published in 1603
8. ↑ Inquisitorum Retornatarium Abbreviatio. vol. ii. under heading lnquisitiones de Tutela, No. 80
9. ↑ Leckie Of Leckie by R.G.E.L.

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