James Primrose Writer (abt. 1564 - 1640)

Born about 1564 in Culross, Fife, Scotland [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Sibylla (Miller) Primrose — married 12 Jun 1593 (to about 1615) in Culross, Fife, Scotland

Descendants

Died 21 Feb 1640 at about age 76 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Gregory Lauder-Frost [send private message] and Lora Norman [send private message]

Biography

James Primrose, Clerk of the Privy Council, married:

1. Sibylla Miller before 12 June 1593.Sibylla Miller d. c 1615^[1]
2. Catherine Lawson circa 1616 , Catherine Lawson d. 1651 at of Edinburgh, Scotland

James Primrose, died on 21 February 1640. ^[2]

James Primrose was the son of Archibald Primrose^[3][4] presumably the same Archibald, Writer (solicitor) who was at some time "Clerk of the Minerals".

James Primrose also became a Writer (solicitor). He witnessed a charter at Edinburgh as servitor to Peter Hewat, Notary Public on 4th May 1580^[5] and again in the same capacity on 3rd May 1585.^[6] He was servitor for the Commendator of Culross Abbey, Alexander Colville, whom doubtless he knew well through his family, when he witnessed a charter at Wester Cumray on 13th May 1581^[7], again on 1st June 1582 when he was a leading witness, and again at the monastery on 17th June the same year.^[8] He witnessed a charter by the Commendator of his grandfather Duncan Primrose to James's aunt, Alison Primrose (née Graham), at Culross monastery on 1st July 1581.^[9] In a charter of Culross monastery he signed as a Notary Public on 24th November 1584, and again in that capacity in 1586 when he is recorded as possessing lands called The Innes in Culross. On 30th March the following year he witnessed a further charter of the monastery, as a Notary Public.^[10]

Appointed Clerk to the Privy Council

In November 1586 he was acting as Procurator for the Corporation of Perth; he witnessed a legal Bond at Edinburgh on 11th June 1591^[11] In January 1596 he was servitor to John Andrew, Clerk to HM Privy Council.^[12] The volume of the Privy Council Register ending 25 Jan 1598/9 contains Primrose's autograph signature appended to the last Minute, as the new Clerk of the Council although he was not formally appointed until 1st February.^[13] In 1602 Robert Young, Writer, witnessed a "Band" (an obligation) which Primrose had written up.^[14]

James Primrose, Notary Public, witnessed a marriage contract charter to Jean Colville, daughter of James Colville of Easter Wemyss, at Edinburgh on 21st July 1595.^[15] James Primrose, Notary Public, witnessed a charter that he himself had written for Robert, legitimate son and heir-apparent of James Colville of Easter Wemyss on 9th June 1597, showing a further connexion between the Primroses of Culross and the Colvilles.^[16] James Primrose witnessed a charter at Culross on 2nd May 1600 to James Blaw of Castlehill of certain lands at Culross.^[17] James Primrose, Notary Public, drew up a charter for James, Lord Colville of Culross to which he was one of the witnesses on 11th December 1610.^[18]

There is a Notarial Protocol Book of James Primrose 1598-1624 held in the National Records of Scotland.^[19]

There was a volume of acrimonious correspondence and legal papers between George Heriot and this James Primrose, Heriot's father-in-law, following the death of Heriot's wife in 1612. It is in the National records of Scotland.

On17th August 1623 James Primrose was appointed Clerk of the Council for the Prince's Revenues in Scotland.^[20] A License by the Privy Council was given to James Primrose, Clerk of the Secret [Privy] Council, Mr Gilbert Primrose his eldest son, Gilbert Gourlay of Wester Grange, Mr Thomas Young of Lenys, George McMorane, merchant-burgess of Edinburgh, and such as shall accompany any of them at table, to eat flesh (meat) during Lent and upon all other forbidden days for the space of a year. Dated at Edinburgh in March 1626.^[21]

"Mr Robert Lauder, portioner [landowner] of Belhaven, Agent of the good town of Edinburgh and the College thereof, admitted a burgess of Edinburgh by right of his wife Jonet, daughter to Mr Thomas Young of Leny, Writer to HM Signet, who was [himself] admitted a Burgess of this burgh as spouse to Margaret, daughter to James Primrose, Clerk to HM Privy Council, By Act of Council, 7th April 1675."^[22]

On 10th March 1640 the Lords of the Privy Council wrote to King Charles I, enclosing a petition from the widow of James Primrose asking for payment of fees due to her late husband. Signed by the earls of Wintoun [Winton], Hadinton [Haddington], Angus, Lords Napier and Ament [Almond], and Sir John Hamilton.^[23]

James Primrose married twice and had nineteen children.^[24] At least 16 of them to Catherine Lawson.^[25]

Upon his death he was succeeded in his office by his three sons, of whom Gilbert, the eldest, left an only son who died unmarried, and James the youngest left an only surviving daughter married to Walter, Lord Torpichen.^[26]

The Testament Dative & Inventory of James Primrose, Clerk to HM Privy Council was proved on 8th April 1640.^[27]

His eldest son by his second marriage, Sir Archibald Primrose of Carrington (1616-1679), was appointed Clerk of HM Privy Council on 2nd September, 1641 and was the father of the 1st Earl of Rosebery.^[28]

It seems probable that James Primrose married several times.

Sources

1. ↑ What is the reliable evidence that she was the first wife of James Primrose, Clerk to the Privy Council?
2. ↑ Source: Our Royal, Titled, Noble, and Commoner Ancestors & Cousins. Person Page - 1566
3. ↑ Systems of Heraldry by Alexander Nisbet, vol.1, Edinburgh, 1722, p.372.
4. ↑ The Scottish Nation by William Anderson, Edinburgh, 1867, vol.viii, p.364.
5. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland, no.144, confirmed 13th March 1580/1,
6. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland, no.912, confirmed 5th February 1585/6.
7. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland, no.913, confirmed 7th February 1585/6
8. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland, nos:1110 & 1115, both confirmed 8th December 1586.
9. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland no.1043, confirmed 1st October 1586.
10. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland nos:1115, 1269 & 1284 confirmed in 1586-87.
11. ↑ The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, edited by David Masson, LL.D., vol.iv, 1585-1592, Edinburgh, 1881, pps:115-6 & 633.
12. ↑ The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, edited by David Masson, LL.D., vol.v, 1592-1599, Edinburgh, 1882, pps: 67 & 686.
13. ↑ Masson, vol.v, 1882, pps:519-520.
14. ↑ The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, edited by David Masson, LL.D., vol.vi., 1599-1604, Edinburgh, 1884, p.456. In the indices of this volume there are 57 references to this James Primrose.
15. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland, no.1527, not confirmed till 19th September 1616.
16. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland, no.813, confirmed 19th December 1598.
17. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland no.1133, confirmed 16th January 1601.
18. ↑ The Great Seal of Scotland, no.1145, confirmed 15th December 1614.
19. ↑ NRS NP1/61
20. ↑ Anderson, 1867, vol.viii, p.364.
21. ↑ The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland edited by David Masson , LL.D., second series, vol.1, 1625-1627, Edinburgh,. 1899, p. 666.
22. ↑ Roll of Edinburgh Burgesses 1406-1700, Scottish Record Society, Edinburgh, p.299.
23. ↑ National Records of Scotland, GD406/1/1275.
24. ↑ Anderson, 1867, p.364.
25. ↑ Edinburgh City Baptism Registers.
26. ↑ Systems of Heraldry by Alexander Nisbet, vol.1, Edinburgh, 1722, p.372.
27. ↑ National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Commissariot Court, CC8/8/59.
28. ↑ Anderson, 1867, p.364.

• Source: The peerage

Footnotes

Acknowledgments

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