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Alexander Dundas

Baron of Fingask


There are very few records regarding Alexander Dundas and it is difficult to ascertain with any accuracy whether he was the youngest son of James Dundas 11th of Dundas and his wife Christian Stewart or whether he was the son of James Dundas 12th of Dundas
In later years Dundas of Dundas argued that James Dundas 11th of Dundas, had had a first wife, (whose name has never been discovered) and by whom he had provided three sons, namely, James, Archibald and Duncan and that by his second wife, Christian, he had two further sons, i.e.; Alexander and Thomas,
The Dundas' of Fingask argued that no proof of a previous marriage existed and that Alexander Dundas was the son of James Dundas, 12th of Dundas and not son of James Dundas, 11th of Dundas. Either way, it is known that when James Dundas 12th of Dundas died, his brother Archibald carried on the main line of Dundas of Dundas.
  It is known however, that from this time dates the separation of the lands of Dundas and Fingask and that they were never again held by the same hand.
There is a record for an Alexander Dundas at St. Andrew's University in 1438, so this would tend to support the theory that Alexander Dundas was indeed the son Of James Dundas, 11th of Dundas (Acta Facultatis Artium Universitatis Sanctiandree, 1413-1588 by St. Andrews, Scot. University. Faculty of Arts)
His father, James Dundas, received a charter dated the 24th May 1429 by King James 1 to James Dundas of that ilk of barony of Fyngask, following on resignation thereof to the crown, now to be held by him and heirs male of himself and Christian Stewart, his spouse, whom failing his nearest lawful heirs, under reddendo of 1d. silver yearly. 
Son of: James Dundas.11th of Dundas
and: Christian Stewart
born:  
died: Various sources suggest that he died in 1450 in Dumbarton Castle where he had been imprisoned with James Dundas of Dundas 12th of Dundas, but no definitive proof can be found of this
  marriage
  ?
  the following children were born of this union:
1. Alexander Dundas

Alexander Dundas
of Fingask
 
Son of: Alexander Dundas
and:  
born:  
died: 9th September 1513 at the battle of Flodden
Alexander Dundas was served and retoured as heir to his father at Perth in 1460 although only in the lands of Fingask and not Dundas and from thenceforth designed himself from that estate.
He was slain at the battle of Flodden along with four sons.
  marriage
1st Isabel daughter of Laurence Lord Oliphant and Lady Isabel Hay
2ndly Helen Arnot daughter and co-heiress of William Arnot of Balbarton in Fife and Matilda Johnstoun . As a result of the marriage, Alexander Dundas obtained the lands of Knightspotty in the barony of Abernethy and shire of Perth (sold 1584), also a tack of the lands of Bannachie near Kirkcaldy Fife.
  the following children were born of this union:
1. Alexander Dundas
2. Adam Dundas of Oxmure in Berwickshire. These lands were granted to him in 1513 and a further grant of land in Edinburgh was granted in 1525. (Register of the great seal of Scotland)
3. Margaret Dundas
4. Archibald Dundas
5. Christian Dundas married Sir John Fotheringham
6. Euphame Dundas married Walter Reid brother of Robert Reid, the Bishop of Orkney and had issue:
  a. Walter Reid Abbot of Kinloss (see Dundas of Windiehills)
  b. Katherine Reid married 1561 Alexander Dunbar, Dean of Moray who died 1593

Alexander Dundas

of Fingask
Son of: Alexander Dundas
and: Helen Arnot
born: circa 1480
died: 1547 in The Battle of Pinkie
Occupation:   A Knight of St. John of Jerusalem, 1538. (http://www.openlibrary.org/details/notesqueries08londuoft)

From Knights of St John of Jerusalem: "Precept of Walter Lindsay, Lord St Johns of the Order of Jerusalem, preceptor of Torpichen, ordering his bailies, Alexander Dundas of Fingask and Alexander Lindsay of Maryculter, to give sasine of temple lands in Foulis in Gowrie ling between the lands of Lord Gray on the west side and the temple lands of Malcolm Mortimer on the east, to Thomas Gray, son of the late William Gray. Torpichen, 3rd August 1545".

  marriage
  Elizabeth Bruce daughter of Sir David Bruce. After the death of Alexander she married Robert Colless of Bonymoon
  the following children were born of this union:
1. Archibald Dundas
2. Adam Dundas  (of Knock in the shire of Banf and Findhorn)
3. Robert Dundas - In the Kirk session Register of Perth 1587-97 there is an entry 8 Feb 1590/91 that Bessie Young confessed her fornication with Robert Dundas, son to the baron of Fingask, and submits her to the discipline of the Kirk.
4. Alexander Dundas, probably the Alexander Dundas in Orkney
5. Thomas Dundas (of Findhorn in Morayshire)
6. Laurence Dundas
7. Nichola Dundas  married to Alexander Colville.
8. Margaret Dundas  married to (1) William Kerr of Ancrum (d.1590) and (2 )Sir George Douglas (d.1634)
9. Eufame Dundas  married to William Colville
10. Janet Dundas married 1517 to Laurence Mercer 7th of Meikleour with issue:
  a. Egidia Mercer married 1st William Scrimgeour of Myres, 2ndly Alexander Blair of  Balthayock,3rdly, Archibald Dundas
  b. Laurence Mercer 8th of Meikleour
  c. Robert Mercer

A confirmation by King James the 5th to Alexander Dundas of Fingask and Elizabeth Bruce his spouse of a charter granted to them by Eufame Leslie, Prioress of Elcho, of the lands of Coates in Elcho, the shire of Perth dated 22/4/1540, was confirmed at Edinburgh by King James on the 8/8/1542.


Archibald Dundas
of Fingask
Son of: Alexander Dundas
and: Elizabeth Bruce
born: circa 1530
died: 1606
  marriage
  Elizabeth Colville daughter of Sir Robert Colville of Cleish
  the following children were born of this union:
1. William Dundas married Margaret Carnegie (daughter of David Carnegie and Elizabeth Ramsay and half sister to William's brother, Archibald's wife) and died in 1589 leaving no heirs and was therefore succeeded by his brother
2. Archibald Dundas
3. Margaret Dundas married 1575 David Home son of John Home of Blackadder
Archibald Dundas was in high esteem with King James V1, as a person of singular worth and merit. His Majesty in a letter to Alexander Blair of Blathlock, concerning the affairs of Perthshire, recommended him to consult with Archibald Dundas, as a person in whom he entirely confided; dated 23rd September 1579

The Exchequer Rolls of Scotland: "Viceoomes respondebit pro £10 de fijrmis totius baronie de Fingask, perth. jacentis infra balliam suam, existentis in manibus regine termini Sancti Martini ultimo preteriti sasina non recuperata, et pro 2d. argenti per duplicationem albefirme ejusdem, regine debitis per sasinam datam Arohibaldo Dundas, ct\jus pater, Alexander Dundas de Fingask, obiit apnd Pinkertclewgh in ultimo conflictu contra Anglos, etc [Edinburgh, 11 May 1548.]


William Dundas
Son of: Archibald Dundas
and: Elizabeth Colville
born: circa 1560
died: September 1589
Shown at St. Andrew's University along with his brother Archibald Dundas in 1570. Died before his father so was succeeded by his brother. There is a possibility there was another brother, Alexander Dundas, who is shown at St Andrew's in 1572, but this has not yet been proven.
  marriage
  x 1582, Margaret Carnegie (died 1589), daughter of David Carnegie of Colluthie and Elizabeth Ramsay daughter and heiress of Henry Ramsay of Colluthie
  No issue
On the 6th July 1583 an instrument of sasine was issued in favour of William Dundas of Fingask, son and heir apparent to Archibald Dundas of Fingask, of the lands of Kynchtis Potye lying in the regality of Abernethy and sheriffdom of Perth.

Archibald Dundas
of Fingask
Son of: Archibald Dundas
and: Elizabeth Colville
born: circa 1555
died: 1624
Shown at St. Andrew's University in 1570, along with his brother William. There is a possibility there was another brother, Alexander Dundas who is shown at St. Andrew's in 1572 but this has not yet been proven.
Archibald Dundas was served heir to his father at Perth , February 1606 and given a charter of confirmation from King James of the lands and barony of the lands of Fingask in 1609
  marriage
1st:
  1. Jane Carnegie widow of James Carmichael and daughter of Sir David Carnegie of Colluthie and his second wife Eupham Wemyss daughter of Sir John Wemyss
  the following children were born of this union:
Continuation of the Fingask line 1. Sir John Dundas
2. Nicola Dundas
3. Margaret Dundas
4. Jean Dundas married Alexander Ramsay
5. Catherine Dundas
6. Eupham Dundas married Robert, styled Baron Fergusson of Atholl.  From The Register of the Privy Council, 2nd series, vol 3: "Caithness, July 2nd 1629, Ewfame Dundas and George Sinclair in Scorneclait to be apprehended for witchcraft. 2/7/1629. "Commission under the Signet to the Sheriff of Caithness and his deputes to search for, apprehend and present before the Coucil for delivery to the Justice, George Sinclair in Scorneclait, Ewfame Dundas who made her repentance for fornication committed with James Sinclair, father's brother to the said George, who on the 11th June last were put to the horn for not compearing before the Justice and his deputed to underlie their trial for witchcraft".
7. Helen Dundas married Hugh Moncrief son of Sir William Moncreif of that Ilk.. (Macfarlane's Genealogical Collections. Volume 1)
  marriage
2ndly: Giles (or Egidia) Mercer daughter of Sir Laurence Mercer and Janet Dundas and widow of Alexander Blair of Balthyock.
  the following child was born of this union:
8. Robert Laurence Dundas

Archibald Dundas
of Fingask
Son of: Alexander Dundas
and: Helen Arnot
born:  
died:  
  marriage
  Giles Scrymgeour (possibly the daughter of Egidia Mercer and William Scimgeour of Myres, who was the heir of John Scrimgeour of Myres and Helen Littil)
  the following children were born of this union:
1. Thomas Dundas. Witness in 1557 at Abernethy. https://archive.org/details/scottishrecordso25scotuoft/page/40/mode/2up
2. Peter Dundas. Guarantor for his father Archibald in 1561, (see below). Mentioned as a witness at Abernethy church 1556:https://archive.org/details/scottishrecordso25scotuoft/page/36/mode/2up
  Obtained land at Balvin, Perthshire in 1554
  https://archive.org/details/collectionsnotes00ball/page/12/mode/2up?q=%22peter+dundas%22
St. Andrews Kirk session register, Die ultimo mensis Decembris, anno Domini 1561.

The quhilk daye, comperis Gelis Scrymgeor and producis Scrymgeor ane summondis of the Superintendent deulie execut and "indorsat, tharin summond Archibald Dundas, in Pote, hyr husband, to heyr and se hym provyne ane adulterar in gevyn. Die septimo mensis Januarii, anno Domini quo supra.

The quhilk daye, in the accione and caws of divorce intentat be Gelis Scrimgeor aganis Archebald Dundas, hyr husband, for the fylthy crym of adultery committed be hym wyth Anne Duncan and Catren Cragdenny, as desyr of this term set to pronunce, the Superintendent, avysit wyth libellat summondis of Gelis [and] l ansuer of Archebald, fyndis the adulterie confessit be Archebald ; and heirfor pronuncis, and, wyth the avys and consall of the ministerie, decernis the said Archebald ane adulterar ; and tharfor accordyng to the law of God the sayd Gelis Scryngeour seperated and divorciat fra hym, wyth liberte to hyr in the Lord to mare ony other man, according to the law of God ; and the said Archebald be supplicacion to be committed in the handis of his magistrat quhom to he is subject, vidz., the bailie of Abyrnethe. And Peter Dundas is becumin caucion for Archebald his father, that he sail compeir befoyr the said bailie and underly civil correccione for the foyrsaidis crimis, according to ordor resavit.

Scottish Record Society, Volume 25:
Memorandum narrating that John Quhit of Ester Lumbany gave sasine to Katherine Mailvyll, relict of the late Robert Quhite, of all the half of the town of" Knychttis potte," then occupied by Archibald Dundas, lying in the sheriffdom of Perth, in liferent for all the time of her life, according to a charter to be made thereon. He also obliged himself, his heirs, &c, to warrant her in peaceful possession thereof for her life, and warned Archibald Dundas to remove himself and his family there from at next Whitsunday, intimating that if he did otherwise he would summon him for violent possession. (Cf. No. 152 infra.) Done on 28th March 1548. Witnesses, John Vemys, Sir Stephen Culros, John Bait, Sir John Blak and Sir John Dempstartoun

It would appear that Archibald Dundas lost the lands of Knights Potty circa 1552. From The Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland 1548-1556:
"At Aberdeen 18/7/1552, A letter maid to Johne Quihite of Lumbaneis Eistir, his airs and assignais of the gift of all goods, actis, reversionis and other goods whatsoever, which pertenit to Archibald Dundas of Westir Poty, and now pertening to our soverane lady by reason of escheit (To revert, or become forfeited, to the lord, the crown, or the State, as lands by the failure of persons entitled to hold the same, or by forfeiture) through being of the said Archibald ordourlie denounced rebel and at the horne by vertue of other letters in the four forms purchest by the said Johne, for non fulfilling of a contract registrat in the officialis bukis of Sanctandrois principall etc."


Robert Laurence Dundas


Son of: Archibald Dundas
and: Giles or Egidia Mercer
born:  
died:  
  marriage
  ?
  Iin 1661 Robert was accused of high treason. He is shown as "of Brechin". National Archives of Scotland. GD34/592.
  He left issue:
  1. Laurence Dundas
 

 

Link to the continuation of the Dundas of Fingask family