Person:Bryce Semple (2)

Bryce Semple

• Douglass, Robert. The Baronage of Scotland: Containing, An Historical and Genealogical Account of the Gentry of that Kingdom. (London: Cadell & Davies, 1798), Vol. 1, Pages 467, 468, 469.^S6

Sempill of Cathcart – Bryce Sempill, of Cathcart who married Christian, daughter of Sir Thomas Kerr of Fernelie, an honorable cadet of the duke of Roxburgh’s family, and by her he had four sons and two daughters.

1. James, his apparent heir, who died young.

2. William, an officer in the army, died abroad without succession.

3. Robert, an officer in the army, and died abroad without succession.

4. Samuel, of whom afterwards.

5. Elisabeth Sempil, married to John Lawson of Cairnmuir, and had issue.

6. Jean, died unmarried.^S6

• Hume, P. Brown. The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland: A. D. 1630-1632. (Edinburgh, Scotland: H. M. General Register House, 1902), Page 154.^S4

Age - 13 caculated by ancestry.com

County Londonderry, Derry, Ireland Semple, Bryce, of Cathcart, bound over for the assise of County Londonderry in 1631.^S4

• The Scots Peerage by Paul, James^S2

Page 554, 555, 556 – Hugh, fifth Lord Sempill, the eldest son, was a Justice of the Peace for the county of Renfrew in 1616, and in 1623 for Ayr, Kyle, Carrick, and Cunningha, as well as Renfrew. He was in Parliament 1617, 1625, 1630, and 1633. He had a charter to himself and his son Francis of the barony of Craiginfeoch, in Renfrewshire, 22 February 1634.

In 1636 he surrendered the hereditary sheriffship of Renfrew and the hereditary bailiary of the regality of Paisley into the hands of the King. In exchange he was to receive 3000 acres in the intended plantation in Connacht, Ireland, and in the event of not being sufficiently secured in the land to be reponed in these offices. He, however, did not receive the expected acres, and subsequently L5000, to be paid out of the Irish Exchequer, was promised in their stead.

In 1636 the offices were conveyed to Bryce Sempill of Cathcart by Crown charter, dated 7 August 1642. Ultimately these offices appear to have been in possession of the Lords Sempill, who conveyed them, subject to a right of redemption, to the Earl of Eglinton, in whose family they remained until 1748, when the then Lord Eglinton received from Government L5000 as compensation for their extinction. He died 19 September 1639. He married, in 1611 (contract 7 November 1611), first, Anne Hamilton, eldest daughter of James, first Earl of Abercorn. He married, secondly (contract 27 November 1620), Elizabeth Hay, fourth daughter of Francis, ninth Earl of Erroll. She survived him, and married, secondly, James, first Lord Mordington (disposition dated 3 July 1649).^S2

• Melville, Whyte; Melville, Balfour; Hume, Peter; Paton, Henry. The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland : Second Series, Vol. 5, A. D. 1633-1635. (Edinburgh, Scotland: H. M. General Register House, 1904), Pages 282, 283.^S5

The Council thanks Bryce Semple of Cathcart for his diligence in arresting Thomas Drummond a murderer. Acta, June 1634-April 1636. Fol. 2, a.^S5

• Crawford, George. A General Description of the Shire of Renfrew...(Paisley: Printed by J. Neilson, sold by H. Crichton, 1818), Pages 262, 263.^S1

State of Property—Barony Of Cathcart. This fine property having been alienated by its ancient Barons, to a cadet of the family of Sempill, these retained possession to the seventh generation, as territorical Barons of Cathcart. The last of them mentioned by Crawfurd,

Sir William Sempill of Cathcart being the fifth in succession, was retoured heir to his father in December 1653. He had the honour of Knighthood conferred on him by Charles II. and married Margaret, daughter of Sir James Hamilton of Broomhill, and was succeeded by

James Sempill his eldest son, who married Margaret, daughter of Sir Samuel Baillie of Lamington, by whom he had a son,

Bryce Sempill of Cathcart, who alienated these lands in to John Maxwell of Williamwood. BRYCE SEMPILL, LEFT ONLY ONE SURVIVING SON, SAMUEL SEMPILL, TO REPRESENT HIS FAMILY WHO WENT TO IRELAND, and acquired considerable property in the Counties of Wicklow and Dublin.^S1

• The Barony of Cathcart continued in the Williamwood family, till about the year 1788, when, being sold in parcels, the old Castle and principal messuage were acquired by the late Mr. James Hill, writer in Glasgow, whose representatives in 1801, disponed them to the present Earl of Cathcart, the direct male heir of its ancient Lords, and who has since bought the conterminous lands of Symshill. There is here a modern house, (Cartside), situated upon the banks of the Cart, adjacent to the old Castle, and which commands, perhaps, the most beautiful and romantic scenery in the country, built by the former proprietor* and to which a large addition had been made by the late Alexander Campbell, Esq; who occupied, as tenant, the whole of his Lordship's property in this Parish. The arms of the Cathcart family, quartered with those of Stair, have lately been prefixed to the front of this addition. These are handsomely sculptured on a stone, that had been inserted in front of the house of Sundrum in Ayrshire, while the Cathcart family possessed that mansion and property, and this stone was presented by Mr. Hamilton of Sundrum, to Lord Cathcart, when he heard that he had purchased as above, the ancient family seat of his ancestors. The rest of this Barony has become the property of different owners, of whom Sir John Maxwell of Pollock, has by much the greater proportion.^S1

1.   Crawfurd, George, and George Robertson. A General Description Of The Shire of Renfrew, : Including An Account Of The Noble and Ancient Families, Who, From The Earliest Times, Have Had Property In That County, And The Remarkable Facts In The Lives Of Distinguished Individuals. To Which Added, A Genealogical History Of The Royal House Of Stewart, And Of The Several Noble and Illustrious Families Of That Name, From The Year 1034, To The Year 1710; Collected From Public Records, Chartularies of Monasteries, And The Rent Historians and Private Manuscripts. . (Paisley: Printed by J. Neilson, sold by H. Crichton, 1818)
   Pages 262, 263.
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 554, 555, 556.

   Page 554, 555, 556 – Hugh, fifth Lord Sempill, the eldest son, was a Justice of the Peace for the county of Renfrew in 1616, and in 1623 for Ayr, Kyle, Carrick, and Cunningha, as well as Renfrew. He was in Parliament 1617, 1625, 1630, and 1633. He had a charter to himself and his son Francis of the barony of Craiginfeoch, in Renfrewshire, 22 February 1634. In 1636 he surrendered the hereditary sheriffship of Renfrew and the hereditary bailiary of the regality of Paisley into the hands of the King. In exchange he was to receive 3000 acres in the intended plantation in Connaught, in Ireland, and in the event of not being sufficiently secured in the land to be reponed in these offices. He, however, did not receive the expected acres, and subsequently L5000, to be paid out of the Irish Exchequer, was promised in their stead. In 1636 the offices were conveyed to Bryce Sempill of Cathcart by Crown charter, dated 7 August 1642. Ultimately these offices appear to have been in possession of the Lords Sempill, who conveyed them, subject to a right of redemption, to the Earl of Eglinton, in whose family they remained until 1748, when the then Lord Eglinton received from Government L5000 as compensation for their extinction. He died 19 September 1639. He married, in 1611 (contract 7 November 1611), first, Anne Hamilton, eldest daughter of James, first Earl of Abercorn. He married, secondly (contract 27 November 1620), Elizabeth Hay, fourth daughter of Francis, ninth Earl of Erroll. She survived him, and married, secondly, James, first Lord Mordington (disposition dated 3 July 1649).

3.   Patrick Hogue (Samples). The Samples / Semples Family.

   Hereditary Sempill Lords of Cathcart & Clan Sempill

4.   Hume, P. Brown. The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland: A. D. 1630-1632. (Edinburgh, Scotland: H. M. General Register House, 1902)
   Page 154.

   Page 154 – Register of the Council (1631) – Holyrood House, 24th February 1631. Letter to the judges of assize for the county of Londonderry anent Bryce Sempill of Cathcart.
   
   “May it please your lordships. By supplication exhibited unto us at the Cousell table by Bryce Sempill of Cathcart, Esquire, we do perceive that he is bound over to the next assises for the county of Londonderry for his appearance then and for observing his Majesties peace in the meantime; and in regard the said Bryce Sempill is necessarily imployed and trusted in his Majesties service and special commission of valuation or survey of a great part of the shire wherein he liveth in this kingdom so that he cannot without great prejudice to his Majesty’s service be licensed to depart this realm before May next, our request therefore on his behalf is and upon his humble suit unto us we have thought fit hereby earnestly to entreat your lordships to excuse and dispense with his own personal appearance at the next Lent assises without forfeytting or estreateing his bands and to accept his former sureties of the peace to be bound over of new again for the said Bryce his appearance at the next Lambmesse assises and for his keeping the peace in the meantime, whereby his partie may find no prejudice but security from his fear and all manner of danger which may ensue from or by the procurement of the said Bryce Sempill. All which we do heartily recommend to your lordships favorable construction in the behalf of the gentleman, who hath ever carried himself well in this kingdom, etc. Holyrood House, 24, February, 1631. Subscribitur, Dupline, Canc., Hadintoun, Murrey, Galloway, Lauderdaill, Carnegy, Tracquair."

5.   Melville, Whyte; Melville, Balfour; Hume, Peter; Paton, Henry. The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland : Second Series, Vol. 5, A. D. 1633-1635. (Edinburgh, Scotland: H. M. General Register House, 1904)
   Pages 282, 283.

   The Council thanks Bryce Semple of Cathcart for his diligence in arresting Thomas Drummond a murderer.
   
   “Forsamekle as one Thomas Drummond, having latelie cruellie and barbarouslie murdered and slaine ane poore honest man beside Dumfermline, his wife and barnes, with whome he lay that night, and immediatelie thereafter having fled to the west countrie to lurke there a while among his friends till he sould have found opportunitie of passage to Ireland, and notice being givin hereof to the right reverend father in God, Patrik, Archbishop of Glasgow, he out of his respect to justice wrote to Bryce Sempill of Cathcart to doe his best diligence for apprehending of this murderer; who accordinglie out of the dewtie of ane loyall subject and worthie gentleman made searche for the said murderer and with no small hazard apprehended him and his brother, whereupon the said murderer was presented to justice and suffered his condigne punishement. In regarde whairof and the said Bryce Sempill his worthie and generous carriage in this mater the Lords of Secreit Counsell hes allowed and approving and be the tennour heirof allowes and approves of the said Bryce Sempill and his associates thair service foresaid and gives thame heartie thankes for the same, and declares that they will be myndefull of the said service whensoever the occasioun of anie of the said Bryce his effaires and businesses sall occurred before thame.” Acta, June 1634-April 1636. Fol. 2, a.

6.   Douglass, Robert. The Baronage of Scotland: Containing, An Historical and Genealogical Account of the Gentry of that Kingdom. (London: Cadell & Davies, 1798)
   Vol. 1, Pages 467, 468, 469.

   Sempill of Cathcart – Bryce Sempill, of Cathcart who married Christian, daughter of Sir Thomas Kerr of Fernelie, an honorable cadet of the duke of Roxburgh’s family, and by her he had four sons and two daughters.
   
   1. James, his apparent heir, who died young.
   2. William, an officer in the army, died abroad without succession.
   3. Robert, an officer in the army, and died abroad without succession.
   4. Samuel, of whom afterwards.
   5. Elisabeth Sempil, married to John Lawson of Cairnmuir, and had issue.
   6. Jean, died unmarried.

7.   The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, K.M. Brown et al eds (University of St Andrews, 2007-2013. source http://www.rps.ac.uk/), date accessed: 15 September 2013 - Charles I: Manuscript > 1644, 4 June, Edinburgh, Parliament - Parliamentary Register - Vigesimo nono Julii 1644 - Charters: ratifications - [1644/6/327] -
   
   Ratificatione to Bryce Sempill
   
   The estates of parliament, presentlie conveend by vertue of the last act of the last parliament haldine be his matie and thrie estats in anno 1641, ratifies, approves and confirmes the chartores and infeftmentes respective eftirspecified, viz: ane chartour and infeftment wnder the great seale, granted be the kinges matie for himselfe and as father, tutour, guider and laufull administrator to his hienes darrest sone, the prince, as prince and stewart of Scotland, to his maties lovit Bryce Sempill of Cathcart, his aires and assigneyes whatsomevir heritablie and irredeimablie, of all and sindrie the tempill houss and yairdes within the burghe of Renfrew, callit Lyllisweir, and ane aiker of tempill land in Renfrew, callit Curridaill, with all tempil landes within the parochine of Mearnes and of all other tempill landes and tenementes of old perteining to umqhile James Sandilandes, lord Torphichen, allsweill in propertie as tennendrie, alsweill in burghe as land, within the shereffdome of Renfrew, whatsomevir names or designationes they be of, with all maner places, houss, biggings, yairdes, orchyairdes, tenementes, mylnes, multores, wodes, fishings, coilles, coillheughes, midowes, pairtes, pendicles, tennentes, tennendrie, service of frie tennentes therof, office of bailliarie and regalitie and other priviledges, immunities, proffits, rightes and casualities particularlie and generallie mentionat in the said chartour, togidder with the sex shillinge, eight pennie land of old extent of Eisterbrouncastell, with the pertinentes, lyand within the shereffdome of Lanerke, to be holdine of his matie and his said darrest sone, the prince, and ther successoures in maner specified in the said chartour, quhilke is of the dait at Edinburgh, the tuentie fourt day of Julii the yeere of God jM vjC and therttie sevine yeeres, with the precept of seasing wnder the quarter seale and instrument of seasing falloweing therwpoun. Item, ane chartour of confirmatione wnder the great seale, granted be the kingis matie for himselfe and as administratour to his said sone, the prince, to and in favoures of the said Bryce Sempill of Cathcartt [and] his aires, ratifieing ane chartour granted be umqhile Bryce Blaire of that ilke to the said Bryce Sempill of Cathcart, his aires and assigneyes off all and haill the landes of Cathcart and Coldineleyes, with the pertinentes, extending to ane ellevine merke, sex shill[ing], 8 d. land of old extent, lyand within the barronie of Renfrew, and als giveing, granting and disponeing to the said Bryce Sempill and his aires succeiding to him in the right of the saides landes the right of waird and nonentrie therof when the samene shall happine to fall in the handes of his matie or his said darrest sone, the prince, or ther successoures be the minoritie of the aires and successoures of the said umqhile Bryce Blair, superioures of the saides landes, for payment of the taxt waird duetie and mariage mentionat in the said chartour in maner therinspecified, whilke is of the dait at Quhythall, the tuentie fourt day of Merche the yeir of God jM vjC and therttie nyne yeeres. Item, ane other chartour and infeftment wnder the great seale, granted be the king's matie, for himselfe and as father and administratour to his said darrest sone, the prince, to and in favoures of the said Bryce Sempill of Cathcart in lyferent and to James Sempill his eldest sone and the aires laufullie to be gottine of his bodie in fie, quhilkes failzieing, to his other sones successive therinnominat and ther aires therinspecified, of the heritable right and office of shereffshipe of the barronie and shereffdome of Renfrew and of the heritable office of the bailliarie and regalitie of Paisley, wnder reversioun to his matie and his successours in maner specified in the said chartour, which is of the dait at Yorke, the sevint day of August the yeere of God jM vjC fourtie tuo yeeres, with the precept of seasing wnder the quarter seill and instrument of seasing falloweing therwpoun, with the procuratorie of resignatioune and right granted be the said James Sempill to the said Bryce Sempill, his father, and to his aires and assigneyes therinspecified heritablie of the foirsaides tuo heritable offices and priviledges and casualities belonging therto, daited the sevint day of December in anno jM vjC and fourtie tuo yeeres, and instrument of resignatioun falloweing therwpoun, of the dait the tuentie day of September jM vjC and fourtie thrie, in all and sindrie heides, articles, clauss and circumstances quhatsomevir of the foirsaides chartores, infeftmentes and other rightes respective foirsaid, and willes, grantes and als decerns and ordeanes that the foirsaid confirmatioune shall be als sufficient to the said Bryce Sempill of Cathcart and his foirsaides as if the saides chartores, infeftmentes and other rightes respective foirsaid wer word be word exprest heerin, albeit the samene be not sua done; quheranent, and with all that may fallowe therwpoun, the estates of parliament hes dispensed and be thir presents dispenss for evir.
   
   This beneth the score not to be respectit. This following clause scored through and deleted. -
   ["And farder dissolves the foirsaides offices and otheres abovespecefeit, with the pertinentes, contenit in the foirsaides chartours, infeftmentes and other rightes from his majesties croune and from the principalitie respective and fra the patrimonies therof, and from all annexationes quhatsomevir annexing the samen or ony pairt therof therto, and of new dispones the samene to the said Bryce Sempill and his foirsaides to be holdine of his majestie and his said darrest sone, the prince, and there successoures, conforme to the tenoures of the saides chartoures and infeftmentes; and if neid beis ordeanes a new infeftment to be past heirwpoun in favoures of the said Bryce Sempill and his foirsaides to be holdine of his majestie and his said darrest sone as said is; and ordeanes act of parliament to be made and past heirwpoun in due forme, and als ordeanes thir presentes to be ane sufficient warrand to the clerke register and his deputes for that effect."]