As regards Janet Sempill was evidently the 2nd (or later) wife of William Fleming of Barrochan, as given in Scots Peerage [3]. Andrew B. W. MacEwen, looking at the varying statements and claims, noted that the evidence for the marriage of William Fleming to Janet Sempill (a dau. of Robert Semple, 3rd Lord Sempill, fl. ca. 1505-1574) is reliable.
Further, evidence has been found for an additional generation of the Fleming family which had been undetected. Patrick Fleming was known to have been his son and heir in 1549 [4], but the career of Alexander Fleming as previously understood (and the confusion as to who was in fact the spouse of Janet Sempill) indicated that Patrick had presumably died young (probably d.v.p.), and that Alexander Fleming was the son and successor of William. Patrick did in fact die during his father’s lifetime, but a document found in the Register of the Privy Seal proves that Alexander was in fact Patrick’s son, not brother.
1134. 5 March 1570/71. Glasgw. Precept for a charter to Jonet Houstoun and Alexander
Flemyng, grandson and heir apparent of William Flemyng of Barrochane:
to the said Jonet in sua virginitate, in liferent, in respect of the marriage to be solemnized between her and the said Alexander, of the £4 lands of old extent of Barlogane and Nethir Lostfeild, part of the £20 lands of Barrochane; and to the said Alexander and the heirs male of his body, whom failing his heirs male whomsoever, of the said £20 lands of Barrochan of old extent, with mill, manor, gardens and woods, in the barony and sheriffdom of Renfrew; which lands pertained heritably to the said William and were resigned by him, reserving life-rent and terce; to be held of the King as Prince and Steward; rendering rights and services used and wont. xxxix, 117 v.[5]
As a result of the foregoing, it is evident that Margaret Fleming (married say 1567-1572 to James Cunyngham of Ashinyards) was actually the sister, not daughter, of Alexander Fleming of
Barrochan. These generations of the Flemings of Barrochan are now corrected, as follows:
I. 1st marriage) NN = William Fleming of Barrochan = 2nd marriage) Janet Semple d. aft 5 March 1570/71 and had issue by 2nd:
II. Patrick Fleming, Master of Barrochan = Margaret Mure dvp before March 1570/71 and had issue:
III. Alexander Fleming, of Barrochan = Jonet Houstoun
III. William Fleming, of Cardona
III. Margaret Fleming = James Cunyngham
The foregoing will be of interest to those concerned with the ancestry of lairds of Ashinyards (now Ashgrove) and other Scots and English families, as well as those emigrants to the Americas
known to descend from the Flemings of Barrochan (e.g., Alexander Hamilton and Daniel Roberdeau).
A more detailed pedigree will follow; in addition, an AT for Margaret Mure (a daughter of Mungo Mure of Rowallan) will be provided as well.
References:
[1] James Paterson, History of the County of Ayr, with a
Genealogical Account of the Families of Ayrshire (Ayr:
J. Dick, 1852), II:248.
[2] For Janet Sempill as wife of Alexander Fleming, see
Archaeological and Historical Collections rel. to the
County of Renfrew (Paisley: Alexander Gardner, 1890)
I:17; also Sir Robert Douglas, The Peerage of
Scotland (Edinburgh: G. Ramsay and Company, 1813),
I:494.
[3] SP VII:550, sub Sempill, Lord Sempill.
[4] William Fleming of Barrochan was deputy Sheriff of Renfrew, enforcing an Instrument of Sasine of James Maxwell in the lands of Pottartoun, Cowglenn & c., 8 Nov 1549. This instrument was witnessed by his son and heir Patrick Fleming [ 'Patricio Fleming filio et herede apparenti dicti Willielmi Fleming' ]. William Fraser, ed., Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollok (Edinburgh, 1863) I:291-3.
[5] Gordon Donaldson, D.Litt., ed. Registrum Secreti Sigilli Regum Scotorum: The Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland (Edinburgh: H. M. General Register House, 1963) Vol. VI, A.D. 1567-1574, pp. 215-6.
* John P. Ravilious
