Anticipatory of a process of forfeiture, Sir William Wallace had granted bonds on his several estates to James Hunter, merchant in Ayr. These bonds were in 1698 formally renounced, when Sir William was fully re-invested in his possessions. On the 17th December 1695, he granted to his mother-in-law, Mrs Jean Sempill, formerly of Pitfoddels, a discharge for all sums of money and quantities of victual supplied to her by his factor for the maintenance of his family at Edinburgh, when, “owing to the difficulties of the times, they were necessitated to retire from the house of Newton.”
Sir William Wallace died at Newton Castle on the 18th January 1700; his remains were deposited in the parish church of Craigie.
Sir William married, first, in 1682, Euphame, daughter of William Fullarton of that Ilk, with issue a son, Thomas. The birth of this child is recorded in the parish registers of Ayr and Craigie. In the register of Ayr, the entry is in these terms:-
“Thomas Wallace, son lawful to Sir William Wallace of Craigie and Lady Euphame Fullarton, his spouse, was born on Friday the 4th July 1684, and baptized in Newton Castle on the 10th. The child died in infancy.
Sir William married, secondly, Jean, daughter of William Menzies of Pitfoddels, with issue a daughter, Jean, of whom subsequently. He married, thirdly, Elizabeth, daughter of Andrew Wauchope of Niddrie, with issue a daughter, Margaret.
In the male representation of the house Sir William was succeeded by his brother Thomas. In his will, executed at Newton Castle on the 28th December 1699, Sir William appointed his brother Thomas, “of Elderslie,” as his sole executor. He provided that his daughter Jean, by Dame Jean Menzies, his second wife, should receive a portion of 30,000 merks, and that upon his daughter Margaret, born of his third wife, should be settled 18,000 merks. His will was confirmed on the 24th August 1702, the inventory of his movable estate being then valued at L3670, 14s. 4d. Scots.
Sir William had made some arrangements as to his succession anticipatory of his will, for in the contract of marriage between him and Jean Menzies, his second wife, he settled his estate on his heir-male, providing that in the event of a daughter by the marriage, his “heir of tailzie” should become bound to pay her the sum of L20,000 Scots.
