Person:Archibald Preston (4)

Archibald Preston of Valleyfield

• The Scots Peerage by Paul, James

Page 543 – Robert, Master of Sempill, and his brother held Castle Sempill during the ten days’ siege by the Earl of Arran in 1560; and on 8 May 1568 he signed the bond by Queen Mary’s adherents at Hamilton. He was, on 27 May 1543, contracted to mary Elizabeth illegitimate daughter of James, first Earl of Arran, with a dowry of L1000 Scots, and she is referred to as his wife several times in the Treasurer’s Accounts up to August 1548. Of this marriage there was apparently no issue, for Andrew, his younger brother, was designed his heir in 1552. Before 30 April 1569, he had married Barbara, daughter of Archibald Preston of Valleyfield, who is designed ‘his spouse putative.’ Barbara Preston was, by edict of the Commissaries of Edinburgh, cited as the spouse of umquhile Robert, Master of Sempill, on 16 December 1569, and she is designed his relict, and mother of Robert, grandson of Robert, Lord Sempill, on 8 November 1572. She married, secondly, Robert Mure of Caldwell, The Master of Sempill left issue one son,

Robert, who succeeded as fourth Lord Sempill.

1.   Archibald Preston, in Lundy, Darryl. The Peerage: A genealogical survey of the peerage of Britain as well as the royal families of Europe.
2.   Paul, James Balfour. The Scots peerage: founded on Wood's edition of Sir Robert Douglas's ‘Peerage of Scotland’ containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom, with armorial illustrations. (Edinburgh: D. Douglas, 1904-1914)
   Vol. 7.

   Page 543 – Robert, Master of Sempill, and his brother held Castle Sempill during the ten days’ siege by the Earl of Arran in 1560; and on 8 May 1568 he signed the bond by Queen Mary’s adherents at Hamilton. He was, on 27 May 1543, contracted to mary Elizabeth illegitimate daughter of James, first Earl of Arran, with a dowry of L1000 Scots, and she is referred to as his wife several times in the Treasurer’s Accounts up to August 1548. Of this marriage there was apparently no issue, for Andrew, his younger brother, was designed his heir in 1552. Before 30 April 1569, he had married Barbara, daughter of Archibald Preston of Valleyfield, who is designed ‘his spouse putative.’ Barbara Preston was, by edict of the Commissaries of Edinburgh, cited as the spouse of umquhile Robert, Master of Sempill, on 16 December 1569, and she is designed his relict, and mother of Robert, grandson of Robert, Lord Sempill, on 8 November 1572. She married, secondly, Robert Mure of Caldwell, The Master of Sempill left issue one son,
   Robert, who succeeded as fourth Lord Sempill.

3.   Playfair, William. British baronetage: illustrative of the origin and progress of the rank, honours, and personal merit, of the baronets of the United Kingdom, accompanied with an elegant set of chronological charts. (London, England: T. Reynolds, and H. Grace, 1811)
   Vol. 3, pt.2, Pages, Ixxxiv - Ixxxv.

   James Preston, Esq., who having acquired from Patrick Bruce the lands and barony of Valleyfield, in Perthshire, he and his successors have ever since been designed by that title. Upon the resignation of the said Partick Bruce, he got a charter of these lands from William, Commendator of Culross, the Abbot and Convent thereof, as superiors, “to and in favours of James Preston, son of Henry Preston, burgess of Edinburgh, and Margaret Home, spouse of the said James,” &c. The resignation is dated the 6th of September, 1543, and the charter in 1544. By the said Margaret Home he had a son,
   
   Archibald Preston, Esq., who succeeded him, and was second Baron of Valleyfield. He married Giles Semple, descended of the noble family of Semple, and, upon his father’s resignation, he obtained sasine from the Commendator, Abbot, and Convent of Culross, of the whole lands and barony of Valleyfield, to and in favours of Archibald Preston, son and apparent heir of James Preston, of Valleyfield, and Giles Semple, spouse of the said Archibald, &c. The resignation is dated the 4th of September, 1545, and the sasine the 14th of February, 1549. He left issue two sons, James, his heir, and Richard, who was a Colonel in the service of the States of Holland. He was succeeded by his eldest son, James Preston, third Baron of Valleyfield, who married Jean, daughter of James Erskine, of Little Sauchy, third son of Robert, eleventh Lord Erskine, fourth Earl of Mar…