John (Forrester) Forrester of Corstorphine (abt. 1350 - 1448)

Born about 1350 in Corstorphine, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Marion Stewart — married 1422 (to 1448) in Scotland

Descendants

Died 1448 at about age 98 in Corstorphine, Midlothian, Scotland

Biography

This profile is part of the Forster Name Study.

According to Wallace (1966), John is the son of Sir Adam Forrester and his second [sic] wife Margaret, who was a benefactor of the church her son established in Corstorphine after Adam died.[2][3]^[1]

Douglas (1764), however, asserts that John's mother was Adam's first [sic] wife, Agnes, daughter of John Dundas of Fingask,[4]^[1]

John was, "served heir to his father on November 6, 1405," (Wallace, 1966, p. 19).[5]

He was Sir John Forstar [sic] of Corstorphine, Knt., on 26th August 1406 when he engaged in land transactions including settling upon his brother Thomas the lands of Drylaw in the barony of Nether Libertoun, Edinburghshire.^[2]

In 1407 Henry St. Clair, Earl of Orkney, settled upon Sir John Forstar of Corstorphine, Knt., lands and annual-rents of Dysart in Fife.^[3]

On 13th March 1407/8 John Forstar [sic] of Corstorphine, Knt., and his spouse Margaret had a charter confirmed to them regarding the lands of Uchtyrtyre in the barony of Kincardine.^[4]

"Sir John Forrester had two daughters, the youngest of whom, Elisabeth, was married to Sir Alexander de Lawedre, of Hatton [sic], knight, as appears from a charter of Robert Duke of Albany, to Alexander de Lawedre, and Elisabeth Forrester his wife, daughter of Sir John Forrester of Corstorphin, knight, of the lands of Platt, Westhall, and Northraw, in the barony of Ratho, dated 7th December 1408."^[5][6] Presuming Elisabeth is, say, 18 we must assume that Sir John's marriage(s) took place before 1390, maybe some time before.

Murdoch, Duke of Albany, made Sir John Forrester Lord Keeper of the Seal shortly after September 1420.^[7]

On 10th July 1424 the Crown confirmed a charter of Henry St. Clair, Earl of Orkney, to Sir John Forrester of Corstorphine, Knt, his brother [in-law] of life-rents out of Dysart in Fife.^[8] Jean, one of Henry's daughters, was one of Sir John Forrester's three wives. However, also on 10th July 1424 Sir John Forestare [sic] of Corstorphine, Knt., with reference to Margaret "once his spouse" had another charter of the lands of Uchtirtire in the barony of Kincardine, Sheriffdom of Perth, which Henry de St.Clair, Earl of Orkney, resigned.^[9]

Sometime after August 1424 Sir John Forrester was appointed Lord High Chamberlain of Scotland and was subsequently continually employed by King James in negotiations with England. He was one of the jury in the trial of Murdoch, Duke of Albany in May 1425.^[10]

In early 1425 Sir John Forrester of Corstorphine, Knt., "camerario Scotie", had a charter of the "dominicas" lands of Corstorphine, of Drilaw, of Libertoun inferior, of Medenfeld and of Clerkingtoun, all in the Sheriffdom of Edinburgh.^[11]

On 4th February 1424/5 the Crown confirmed to Sir John Forstare [sic] of Corstorphine, Knt., 'camerario Scotie, the lands of Corstorphine, of Drilaw, of Libertoun inferior, of Medenfeld and of Clerkington all in Edinburghshire, made up into a free [feudal] barony of Corstorphine, which Robert de Cunninghame of Kylmauris has personally resigned.^[12] Given that on the same day Sir John invested his son and heir John (not a knight) it is clear this relates to Sir John, the Chancellor, not his son.

The Crown confirmed an ecclesiastical charter of a donation of life-rents dated at Corstorphine on 2nd March 1425 by John Forrester of Corstorphine, Knt., in which Adam Forrester of Corstorphine, Knt., is described as father of the said John, and Margaret, John's mother [matris suo] ; and a Margaret "once John's wife". Witnesses are William de Libertoun, Provost of Edinburgh, John de Tours, Adam de Bonkill and John Fawside, Baillies of Edinburgh, Robert Bonkill, Deacon of the Guilds, George de Lawedre [subsequently Provost of Edinburgh], John de Fentoun, John de Dune, Robert de Lorne, Robert de Niddrie and John Broun, clerk.^[13]

George de Lawedre (Sir Alexander's brother) is one of the witnesses to a charter of Sir John de Forrester of Corstorfyne, Knt., dated at Corstorfyne 2nd March 1425.^[14]

John Forrester, son and heir-apparent of Sir John Forrester of Corstorphine, Knt., had a charter of the lands of Blackburn in Linlithgowshire confirmed to him on 4th February 1424.^[15] John junior is given again as his father's son and heir-apparent in a charter signed at Corstorphine and confirmed at Perth 4th February 1430/1.^[16] (However Nisbet states that Sir John was succeeded by Archibald.^[17])

In 1429 Sir John founded and endowed the collegiate church of Corstorphine and dedicated it to Sir John the Baptist, for a provost, five prebendaries and two singing boys. He was buried in the chancel of this church.^[18]

There is mention much later, in 1515, in ecclesiastical entries relating to the 'Preaching Brothers' in Edinburgh, that an annuity had been provided to the church of Corstorphine by the laird and confirmed by King James 1st (r.1406-1437).^[19]

In Parliament in Perth in 1430/1 Sir John Forstare of Corstorphine, Knt., camerario Scotia resigned his properties for an entail to be set down naming his heirs after his death as John Forstare, his "son and heir", and legitimate male heirs, failing whom Henry Forstare, brother, and his heirs etc., failing whom to Thomas Forstare, brother of the said John, the father, and his heirs etc.^[20]

In 1441 Sir John Forrester of Corstorphine, Chancellor of Scotland, was appointed one of the Auditors of the Exchequer; mentioned again in this capacity in 1447 and 1448. In the latter part of 1448 we find that James de Livingston has been appointed Chancellor which indicates that Sir John has died.^[21]

Buried in Corstophine church.[6]

Anderson only gives him two sons: John and Henry^[22], but see Sir Alexander's notes.

Marriage

It would appear that Sir John married thrice. In 1407/8 his spouse was in a conjunct charter with him as Margaret [maiden surname unknown],^[23] In a charter dated 2nd March 1425 Margaret is again mentioned, but this time as "once spouse of" Sir John.^[24] In 1424 Henry St. Clair, Earl of Orkney, described himself as Sir John's brother-in-law. St.Clair's daughter Jean is said to have been a wife of Sir John at some point. Lastly Sir James Balfour-Paul states that "about 1422" Sir John married Marion, daughter of Sir Walter Stewart of Dalswinton, and relict of Sir John Stewart of Jedworth (who died after October 1420).^[25]

m.1 Margaret UNKNOWN.[7]

m.2 Jean St. Clair, dau. of Henry St. Clair, Earl of Orkney.[8]

m.3 (c1422) Marion Stewart, dau. and h. of Sir Walter Stewart of Dalswinton; widow of Sir John Stewart (d. ante 23 Oct 1420) of Jedworth.[9][10]^[26]

Occupation

• 1405-1406: Deputy Chamberlain south of the Forth.[11]
• 1420: Keeper of the Great Seal.[12]

Arms

• Argent, three hunting horns sable, stringed gules.[13]
• Crest: dog's head erased.
• Motto: "Hunter bla yr horn"

Religion

• Roman Catholic. 1429: founder of church at Corstophine.[14]^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} see also: Jackson, n.d.[1]
2. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland no.885.
3. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland, no.902.
4. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland, no.899.
5. ↑ The Peerage of Scotland by Sir Robert Douglas, Bt., Edinburgh, 1813.
6. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland;;, no.915, signed 17th December 1407.
7. ↑ Records of the Scottish Church History Society, vol. xi, Glasgow, 1955, "The Ecclesiastical members of the Lauder Family in the 15th Century" by the Rev. Duncan Shaw, p.163.
8. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland, no.6.
9. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland, no.4.
10. ↑ The Scottish Nation by William Anderson, Edinburgh, 1867, vol.v, p.250.
11. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland, no.17 confirmed at Edinburgh, 4th February 1424/5.
12. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland no.17.
13. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland, no.34, confirmed at Edinburgh 25th February 1425/6.
14. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland, confirmed on 25th February 1425/6.
15. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland, no.16.
16. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland, no.186.
17. ↑ Nisbet, Alexander, Systems of Heraldry, Edinburgh, 1722, vol.1, p.432.
18. ↑ Anderson, 1867, p.250.
19. ↑ The Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, edited by A.E.J.G.Mackay, M.A., LL.D., vol.xiv, Edinburgh, 1893, p.110.
20. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland, no.186, confirmed at Perth on 4th February 1430/1.
21. ↑ The Exchequer Rolls of Scotland edited by George Burnett, Lord Lyon King of Arms, vol.v, 1437-1454, Edinburgh, 1882, pps:108, 258 , 297, and 312..
22. ↑ Anderson, 1867, p.250.
23. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland, no.899.
24. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland, no.34, confirmed at Edinburgh 25th February 1425.
25. ↑ The Scots' Peerage https://archive.org/stream/scotspeeragefoun04paul#page/84/mode/2up
26. ↑ Paul, James Balfour. "The Scots Peerage : founded on Wood's ed. of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland; containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom", Edinburgh: David Douglas, 1907, Vol. IV, Archive.org, p. 150

• The Peerage of Scotland by Sir Robert Douglas, Bt., Edinburgh, 1765. University of Michigan Library. Web.[15]

• Forrester, W.R. (1966). The House of Forrester, pp. 19-23. Google Books.[16]

• Jackson, S.H. (n/d). A Short History - Corstorphine Old Parish Church. www.corstorphineoldparish.org.uk

See also:

• "Clan Forrester history," (2007). Clan Forrester Society (defunct website archived on archive.is).[17]

• Wikipedia: Corstorphine#History