Alexander Horsburgh (1583 - 1640)

Born 1583 in Horsburgh, Peebles, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Jean (Hay) Horsburgh — married about 1608 in Peebles, Scotland [uncertain]

Husband of Christian (Burnet) Horsburgh — married about 1621 in Peebles, Scotland [uncertain]

Descendants

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Biography

Alexander was the eldest son of Alexander Horsburgh and Jean Riddell,^[1]

He married firstly, contracted in 1608, Jean daughter of William 6th Lord Hay of Yester and his wife Mary daughter of John Maxwell 4th Lord Herries: she was dead by 10 December 1614,^[2] They had issue:

1. Captain Alexander,^[2] younger of that ilk b c.1610
2. Margaret, born c.1612.

He married secondly, c.1621, Christian daughter of William Burnett ‘the Hoolet’ of Barns and widow of John Scott of Hundelshope: she was still living 15 July 1639. Received sasine 24 July 1621. They had issue:

1. Janet^[3]
2. William. born c.1629 (his heir).

In addition, Alexander had two natural sons (mothers unknown):

1. James Horsburgh b c.1620 buried 27 July 1662 burgess, sheriff officer and procurator fiscal of Peebles m. 7 June 1654 Margaret Smith. James first acted as a sheriff officer on 18 Jan 1655 and was appointed procurator fiscal on 6 Aug 1661, the same date that his half-brother became sheriff depute of the county.
2. John Horsburgh b c.1630 fl. 16 Dec 1673 hat maker and burgess (1668) of Edinburgh m. 14 June1654 Rosina Bishop and m. ii 19 December 1667 Elizabeth Burnett. From Malcolm Horsburgh's research

By July 1622 Alexander was at ‘variance’ with Stewart of Shillinglaw because he had foreclosed on the Horsburgh debt. However, an agreement was concluded, confirmed by royal charter on 25 March 1623, whereby Sir Robert renounced any claims on the wester part of Horsburgh – known as the Castlemains – along with the castle, manor place and land of Hucheonfield and these were confirmed to laird Alexander. On his part, Alexander gave up the right of reversion to Nether Horsburgh and the barony which went to Sir Robert and his heirs. In practical terms the old Horsburgh lands had now been split in two with the Horsburghs having lost the barony, mill and mill lands and tenant lands. Instead, Over Horsburgh became the seat of the family and a new fermtoun grew up at the eastern extreme of their lands nearest to the horse brook and the mill (now held by Stewart). For a time laird Alexander continued in his quarrelsome ways; a sheriff officer was attacked and pursued in 1625 when he tried to poind the laird’s sheep, and the Scotts of Dryhope attacked Alexander and his brother John in April and May 1626. However, another brother, William, appeared before the Privy Council in Edinburgh in February 1628 and gave his oath for the good behaviour of the family ‘on pain of death’. Alexander was also cited by the kirk session for an extramarital affair in 1623. Despite his nature, Alexander was frequently sheriff depute of Peeblesshire: he first presided over hearings at the sheriff court in Dec 1612 and was several times sheriff depute between that date and Aug 1623. He appears to have served continuously as sheriff depute from Jan 1632 until Feb 1639 but was absent from the head court in Apr 1639. He sat on an inquest in Jan 1640 but was on his deathbed when being pursued in an action over debt. Alexander was also created a burgess of Glasgow 21 December 1627. At the time of his death, in 1640, the arms of Horsburgh of that ilk were first depicted in illustrated form in a manuscript compiled by the office of the Lord Lyon. Alexander almost brought about the ruin of the family and left Horsburgh of that ilk eclipsed for a generation.

Alexander died 19 April at Wester Horsburgh and buried Kailzie 22 April 1640. His testament is dated 10 December 1614.

Research Notes

My-Family-13-Jun-2011.ged

Sources

1. ↑ National Archives of Scotland GD34/122 Alexander Horsburgh, eldest son of Alexander Horsburgh of that Ilk, with consent of Joan Riddell, his mother, to Philip Scott of Dryhoip [Dryhope], of half of the said place and lands of Glensax, in implement of contract between said Alexander Horsburgh, elder, and said Philip Scott, dated 29 August 1600, and registered in the Books of Council 15 June 1602. Recorded in Books of Exchequer 15 March 1656.5/1/1613
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} 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, 1911, Vol. VII, Archive.org, p. 444
3. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VQ4B-4ZG : 16 September 2021), Alexander Horsburgh in entry for Jane Horsburgh, 1622.

See also:

• National Archives of Scotland GD34/143Instrument of Resignation by William Turnbull of Tour in Rowlwoode [Rulewood], with consent of William, Lord Cranstoun [Cranston], George, Lord Ramsay of Dalhoussie [Dalhousie], Sir John Cranstoun, Master of Cranstoun, John Elphinstoun of Henderstoun, William Elphinstone, his son, and George Elphingstoun, brother of the said John, of the lands and barony of Henderstoun and the half lands and forest steading of Glensax, and of resignation by Alexander Horsburghe [Horsburgh] of that Ilk and Philip Scott of Dryhoip [Dryhope] of the other half of the said lands and forest steading of Glensax, in the King's hands for new infeftment in favour of John Govane of Cardrono [Cardrona].13/7/1628