Elizabeth (Haliburton) Erskine (aft. 1538)

Born after 1538 in Dryburgh, Berwickshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Wife of Alexander (Erskine) Erskine of Shielfield — married 1559 in Stirling, Stirlingshire, Scotland

Descendants

Died [date unknown] in Scotland

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Michelle Erskine [send private message]

Biography

Birth

Birth:

Date: 1540

Place: Dryburgh, Berwickshire, Scotland^[1]

Death

Death:

Date: AFT 1560

Place: Scotland^[2]

Note

From the Erskine-Halcro Genealogy Table I notes page 5

But the fullest and most circumstantial account of the matter is given by the late Sir Walter Scott, in the Introduction to his "Minstrelay of the Scottish Border," Edinburg, 1821, 3 volumes, Svo, in which at page xciii of vol i Sir Walter makes a statement quoting, as he says, from an original MS. history of the Halyburton family then in his possession, and which same MS, is still, it is believed, in the library at Abbotsford (see catalogue published by the Maitland Club at Edinburgh in 1838.)

The statment of Sir Walter is as follows--in connection with a decree of the King made at Sterling 8 May. 1535, settling the disputes between Abbot James Stewart of Dryburg and the Halyburton family:--

"this decree was followed by a marriage between Elizabeth Stewart and Walter Halliburton one of the family of New Mains, but even this alliance did not secure peace between the venerable father and his vassals--the offspring of this marriage was an only daughter named Elizabeth Halliburton. As this young lady was her father's heir, the Halliburtons resolved that she should marry one of her cousins to keep her property in the Clan, but as this did not suit the views of the Abbot, he carried off by force the intended bride and married her at Stirling to Alexander Erskine a brother of the Laird of Balgonie a relation and follower of his own. From this marriage sprang the Erskines of Shieldfield. This exploit of the Abbot revived the feud between him and the Halliburtons which only ended with the dissolution of the Abbey.

I have to add that all the above information contained in this generall note tallies in all important respects with authentic contemperary records of the family, found in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, the Register of the Privy Council. and elsewhere, and completely disproves the statement which Sir Robert Douglas has made in error in his Peerage of Scotland, volii, page 211 that David Erskine, commendator of Drysburg, natural son of Robert, Master of Erskine, who died at Pinkie in 1547, was ancestor of the Erskines of Shieldfield. Indeed, a short examination of the preceeding Table I will show that it is well nigh impossible that David Erskine (4/1) could have been the father of Alexander Erskine (3/10).

Unforunately this mistake of Sir Robert's has been repeated by other writers, for instance, the late Sir David Erskine of Cambo, in his "Annals and Antiquities of Dryburg," and hitherto has remained uncontradicted for want of sufficient information or interest in the subject.

E. Erskine Scott states that John Spotttiswood, who edited Liber Sancte Maria de Drysburgh, was allowed to inspect the title deeds of Mr James Erskine Shieldfield and adds at page xxxi "The original house of the Erskines of Shieldfield which was called Mantle House was built by Alexander Erskine the founder of the Shieldfield family in 1539."

Marriage

Husband: Alexander Erskine

Wife: Elizabeth Haliburton

Child: Ralph E Erskine

Child: Anabel Erskine

Marriage:

Date: 1559

Place: Stirling, Stirlingshire, Scotland^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ Source: #S252 Page: Database online. Data: Text: Record for Elizabeth "Halyburton" Haliburton
2. ↑ Source: #S252 Page: Database online. Data: Text: Record for Walter "Halyburton" Haliburton
3. ↑ Source: #S252 Page: Database online. Data: Text: Record for Elizabeth Haliburton

• Scott, Ebenezer Erskine. The Erskine-Halcro Genealogy, George Bell & Son (London : 1890)

• Source: S252 Author: Ancestry.com Title: Public Member Trees; Date: 2006.

Acknowledgments

• WikiTree profile Haliburton-22 created through the import of MaryStamperMcKague2011-08-06_01.ged on Aug 7, 2011 by Masm x. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Masm and others.

• WikiTree profile Haliburton-23 created through the import of O'Bryan Family tree.ged on Sep 6, 2011 by Tim Tropeck. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Tim and others.