Robert Lauder of Bass (aft. 1490 - 1576)

Born after 1490 in Tyninghame, Haddingtonshire, Scotland.

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Hay) Lauder — married 22 Aug 1558 in (Date of Marriage Contract)

Descendants

Died Jun 1576 before age 86 in The Bass, Haddingtonshire, Scotland.

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Robert Lauder of Bass is Notable.

Biography

An essay by Alexander Grant entitled "Extinction of Direct Male Lines" mentions that the Lauders were one of only 31% of the great families of the time of Robert the Bruce who survived in the direct male line beyond 1500.^[1]

Eldest son and heir and in the Rolls of Parliament a Minor Baron (feudal). At Edinburgh on the 29th April 1519 Robert Lauder of Bass was granted Sasine of the following (all superiorities)^[2]

• the lands of Edrington (Berwickshire) with tower, mill, fishings and all pertinents extending to 15 husbandlands [390 acres];
• the town and territory of Simprin, Berwickshire [390 acres];
• the lands of Ladypart (near Lauder) with pertinents, Berwickshire;
• the lands of Mersington with Mill, Berwickshire;

In Haddingonshire [East Lothian]:

• the lands of Stenton and Duchry with all dependents and pertinents;
• the lands of Garvald [364 acres];
• the lower half of The Bass;
• the lands of Newhall with tenandry &c;
• the lands of Popill, sometimes called Lauderslands, and Whitelawslands with pertinents;
• the lands of Wester Spott and Grenedenehede & Mukis with pertinents;
• the lands of Beil with tower, fortalice, mill &c;
• the lands of Johnscleuch;
• the lands of Pencaitland with pertinents.

Numerous other estates were held by feu, including the lands, bailliary and barony of Tynninghame,^[3]

Sir William Sinclair of Roslin, Knt., and William Douglas of Whittinghame are the leading witnesses to a charter to Robert Lauder of the Bass of the manor and lands of Lochend in the feudal barony of Dunbar dated 4th January 1528/9.^[4]

In 1535 Robert Lauder of The Bass was using the Arms of that family: Gules a griffin segreant within a double tressure flory counter flory Argent.^[5]

Robert Lauder of the Bass is on record as taking prisoner a Sir James Wilford, Knt., the English Governor of [occupied] Haddington, in 1548, during a sortie with French soldiers from the castle at Dunbar.^[6]

At St.Andrews on 1st May 1562, a letter was made out to Robert Lauder of Bass, elder, giving him a licence for all the days of his life to be exempt from military service, providing always that his eldest son and heir apparent, with his household and folks etc., would serve.^[7] Notwithstanding that he was a supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots, and was at Carberry Hill with her, as well as fighting at the Battle of Langside on 13th May 1568, for which he had a remission on 22nd September.^[8]

It is recorded that the late Robert Lauder of Bass had loaned two thousand pounds to Queen Mary and Darnley. This had not been repaid and Robert's executor [and son-in-law] David Preston of Craigmillar was subsequently sued Sir John Stewart of Traquair as one of those who had guaranteed the loan. The argument was that "the said laird of Craigmillar and Elizabeth Hay, Lady Bass, relict and executrix of the said Robert" expected Sir John Stewart to pay up. They won this round.^[9] However it returned, on appeal, to the Privy Council on 3rd and 19th October, 1579, and 27th September 1580. The matter was never settled as by 1581 Elizabeth Hay, Lady Bass, had died and no-one pursued it further.

In his Testament testamentar, registered/proved on 19th April 1577, it is stated that "an honourable man, Robert Lauder of Bass, died in June 1576".^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ Essays on the Nobility of Medieval Scotland, edited by K.J.Stringer, John Donald publishers, Edinburgh, 1985, p.214. ISBN: 0-85976-113-4
2. ↑ The Exchequer Rolls of Scotland edited by A.E.J.G.Mackay, M.A.,LL.D., volume XIV, 1513-1522, Edinburgh, 1893, pages 619-620.
3. ↑ Memorials of the Earls of Haddington by Sir William Fraser, Edinburgh 1889, vol.II, p.258.
4. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland no.727.
5. ↑ The Armorial of Sir David Lyndsay of The Mount by Alex Maxwell Findlater, The Heraldry Society of Scotland, Edinburgh, 2018, vol.1, plate 67, vol.2, p.164. ISBN: 978-1-0000794-1-6
6. ↑ Sir James Balfour's "Annals" vol.1.
7. ↑ Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland vol.v, 1556-1567, edited by James Beveridge, M.A., and Gordon Donaldson, D.Litt., Edinburgh, 1957, number 1026, p.265.
8. ↑ Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland vol.vi, 1567 - 1574, edited by Gordon Donaldson, D.Litt., Edinburgh, 1963, numbers 502 & 503, p.102.
9. ↑ The Register of The Privy Council of Scotland , vol.iii, Edinburgh 1880, p.118-119.
10. ↑ Commissariot of Edinburgh.

• Biography, corrections and additional information and sources by Gregory Lauder-Frost.
• http://www.thepeerage.com/p60648.htm#i606480

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Carleen Smith for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Carleen and others.