Person:Marion Semple (4)

Marion Semple

• From a history of North Berwick:

The land to the south of North Berwick was divided between Sir Hew Dalrymple of Leuchie (3039 acres) and Sir George Suttie of Balgone (8788 acres). Balgone House was built in the 15th century when it belonged to the Nunnery and Prioress in North Berwick.

After the Reformation the estate was owned by several families including Lord Ross of Halkead, the Humes, Hepburns of Waughton, and John Semple WS whose daughter Marion in 1680 carried the property to her husband George Suttie, Baronet of Nova Scotia. His son Sir James Suttie married Agnes Grant and inherited her family estate of Prestongrange in 1818, when he assumed the name of Grant Suttie. The Prestongrange Colliery and Mansion House (now Royal Musselburgh Golf Clubhouse) remained with the Grant Suttie's of Balgone until 1958.

'Nova Scotia' was the land where the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle now stands. This allowed Charles I, to grant a barony to any investor in the Canadian land known as 'New Scotland'. Sir Hew Dalrymple was also a baron of Nova Scotia.

1.   Crawfurd, George. A Genealogical history of the royal and illustrious family of the Stewarts, from the year 1034 to the year 1710: giving an account of the lives, marriages and issue of the most remarkable persons and families of that name to which are prefixed, first, a general description of the Shire of Renfrew, the peculiar residence and ancient patrimony of the Stewarts; and secondly, a deduction of the noble and ancient families, proprietors there for upwards of 400 years, down to the present times : containing the descent, original creations, and most remarkable actions of their respective ancestors; also the chief titles of honour they now enjoy, with their marriage and issue, continued down to this present year, and the coat of arms of each family in blazon. (Edinburgh: James Watson, 1710)
   Page 74.

   A History of the Shire of Renfrew. - Page 74 – Lower, upon the Bank of Greif, stands the House and Lands of Fulwood, the Seat of, and whence, an Ancient Family of the Semples took Designation, from the time of King Robert II of Scotland. That their Ancestor, a younger Brother of the Family of Eliestoun, became possessed of these Lands, which before that pertained to the Flemings, Earls of Wigtoun; for I have seen Thomas Fleming designed Dominus de Fulwood, dadum Comes de Wigtoun, in a Charter which he gave Willielmo Boyd, filio Thoma Boyd de Kilmarnock, Militis, de omnibus terries ejusdem Thoma in Baronia de Lainzie, which is confirmed by King Robert II of Scotland in 1374. But the First of the Semples of Fulwood I have found mentioned is John Semple of Fulwood, who is a Witness to the Resignation of the Lands of Fultoun to the Monks of Pasly, an. 1409 (p). Likeas William Semple of Fulwood is Witness to the Donation of Crokat-Shot, by Robert Lord Lyle, to the Abbot and Convent of Paisley, an. 1452. Moreover I have seen a Charter of the Barony of Kirkmichael in Dunbartoun-Shire, in Favours of John Semple, Son and Heir of William Semple of Fulwood, an. 1476 (q). And, in 1515. John Semple of Fulwood gave to Robert Semple his Brother, and Margaret Crawfurd his Wife, a Daughter of the House of Auchinames, and Lands of Noblestoun; (whose Lineal Heir is Robert Grahame of Gartmore) Robert Semple of Fulwood, Sucessor to the former John, obtained a Charter of his Lands of Fulwood, in 1502. This Ancient Family failed in the Person of John Semple of Fulwood, who about the Year 1679 alienated the Lands of Fulwood to John Porterfield of That Ilk. His son is Robert Semple, late Sheriff-depute of Renfrew. The Laird of Porterfield in an. 1680 gave the Lands of Fulwood in Patrimony to Alexander Porterfield his 2nd Son, who is now of Fulwood, and married Marion Daughter of Alexander Cuninghame of Craigends, by whom he has John his Son and apparent Heir.
   Near Fulwood lie the Lands of Blackburn; an Ancient Family of the Semples. A Branch of those of Fulwood, did for some time possess these Lands, and failed in the Person of Robert Semple of Blackburn, who died without Male Sussession; so that John Semple, of Closs, his Brother-german, became his Heir: Which John I have see designed, Lawful Son to John Semple of Blackburn, an. 1583 (s); whose Grandchild
   John Semple, of Balgoun dying without Male Issue, his Estate went with Marion, his Daughter and sole Heir, to Sir George Suty, now of Balgoun. So the Lineal Heir Male of that Family is William Semple, Writer in Edinburgh.