John Wemyss (abt. 1586 - 1649)

Born about 1586 in Wemyss, Fifeshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 22 Nov 1649 at about age 63 in Wemyss, Fife, Scotland

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Biography

John Wemyss is a member of Clan Wemyss.

John Wemyss who was born about 1586 as second-born, but eldest-surviving son of Sir John Wemyss of that Ilk, by his second wife Mary Stewart. ^[1]

He first appears on the public record in 1604, when, clearly of age, he received a grant of the lands of Methil from his father, as a mark of affection to him as the second son. However, in 1608 after the death of his brother, he became heir-apparent and participated in the administration of the estates.

He first appears as a knight on 25 June 1618, the earliest date where he is so described, but the honour may have been conferred in 1617, when King James visited Scotland and made a progress through Fife. ^[2]

In 1625 he was drawn into the Nova Scotia scheme, a scheme by Charles I to raise money, and 29 May 1625, Charles bestowed on him a Nova Scotia baronetcy, named as the Barony and Regality of New Wemyss (a tract of 16,000 acres in Nova Scotia). Wemyss was slow to take up the offer and pay for the property and it was finally granted to him in Edinburgh on 3 Oct 1626. The French took possession of the lands and the estates were formally ceded to them in 1632.^[3]

On 1 Apr 1628, Charles raised him as a Lord of Parliament with the title of Lord Wemyss of Elcho and he became a prominent member of the Scottish Parliament.

On 25 June 1633, Charles raised him to Earl with the title Earls of Wemyss, Lord Elcho and Methil.

In 1641 he was appointed High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and one of the Committee of the Estates.

He was an industrialist with a particular interest in coal and salt and he added considerably to the family estates.

He died, at the age of 63, at Wemyss, on 22 Nov 1649. He is buried at Wemyss (Parish) Kirk on 4 Dec 1649..^[4]

Family

He married, with contract September 1609, Jean Gray, eldest daughter of Patrick, Lord Gray, who died at East Wemyss on 17 August 1639. She gave birth to 16 children, eight sons and eight daughters, of whom ten died young.^[5]

The surviving children were:

• David Wemyss, eldest son and heir. He will succeed as the 2nd Earl.
• Mary Wemyss, married, with contract dated 13 and 15 Jul 1631, John [Sinclair], Lord Sinclair. That line continued in the Earl of Roslyn.
• Anna Wemyss, married, with contract dated 30 Dec 1631, Alexander Lindsay, son and heir apparent to David Lindsay of Edzell. She had children with him and when he died, 7 Jan 1638, she remarried, with contract dated 18 Oct 1639, as his second wife, Mungo [Murray], 2nd Viscount of Stormont.
• Jean Wemyss (d. betw. 1 Aug 1655 and 10 May 1662), mar. (1) after 9 Aug 1633 Sir Alexander Towers, Yr. of Garmilton and Inverleith (dvp. betw. 1644 and 1648), 1st son and heir ap. of Sir George Towers of Inverleith by his wife Jean Ker, and (2) after 3 Aug 1649 Col Hon Harry Maule of Balmakellie, 2nd son of Patrick [Maule], 1st Earl of Panmure, by his first wife Frances Stanhope, dau. of Sir Edward Stanhope, of Grimston, co. York.
• Elizabeth Wemyss, mar. after 15 Apr 1636, John Aytoun of that Ilk. They had children, their second daughter, Anna, marrying, on 11 January 1670, James Wemyss, younger of Balfarg, a great-grandson of Sir James Wemyss of Bogie, and her heirs-male were called in the entail of the Wemyss estates made in December 1671.
• Catherine Wemyss (dsp. 24 Feb 1668), mar. (1) after 12 Dec 1654 David Carnegie of Craig (dsp. 1663), 1st son and heir of Hon Sir John Carnegie of Craig (by his wife Hon Jane Scrymgeour, 4th dau. of John [Scrymgeour], 1st Viscount of Dudhope), 3rd son of David [Carnegie], 1st Earl of Southesk, by his wife Margaret Lindsay, only dau. of Hon Sir David Lindsay of Edzell, a Lord of Session as Lord Edzell, and (2) 16 Aug 1664 Sir Andrew Ker of Greenhead (d. May 1665)

Sources

• Balfour Paul, Sir James. The Scots Peerage (David Douglas, Edinburgh, 1904-1914); in 9 Volumes; Volume 8 for Wemyss of Wemyss and Earl of Wemyss

• Fraser, William, Memorials of the family of Wemyss of Wemyss, Edinburgh: unknown, 1888; v.1. Memoirs -- v.2. Charters -- v.3. Correspondence.

Footnotes

1. ↑ Balfour Paul: Vol 8, Page 498
2. ↑ Balfour Paul: Vol 8, Page 499
3. ↑ Balfour Paul: Vol 8, Page 499
4. ↑ Balfour Paul: Vol 8, Page 500
5. ↑ Balfour Paul: Vol 8, Page 500

Links

• The Peerage.com: John Wemyss, 1st Earl of Wemyss

• Wikipedia article

• Cracroft's Peerage: Wemyss, Earl of (S, 1633)