Person:William Scott (262)

Sir Walter Riddell, who was knighted, like one of his younger brothers, in his father’s lifetime. He married a very pious woman, Janet Rigg, the daughter of a worthy and godly man, William Rigg of Aithernie, Fife, by whom he had five sons and two daughters. Janet Rigg, Lady Riddell, was not only pious but accomplished, and her father was a man of high principle and character, and moreover, extremely wealthy. Mr. Rigg was fined £50,000 Scots for opposing the introduction of the five articles at Perth, by James VI., and also suffered imprisonment in Blackness Castle. His sister, the aunt of Lady Riddell, Miss Catherine Rigg, who married Douglas of Cavers, was the celebrated Covenanter, and the ladies were descendants of Dr. John Row of Perth, John Knox’s coadjutor.
Two of Sir Walter’s younger sons were ancestors of the Riddells of Glenriddell and Granton severally, respecting whom I shall have a good deal to say – especially about the latter – afterwards.
His daughters married respectively a brother of Sir William Scott of Mertoun, and son of Auld Wat, the Freebooter of Harden, and the Rev. Gabriel Semple of Jedburgh, a zealous Covenanter and field preacher at one time. His eldest son, JOHN RIDDELL, succeeded as third Baronet. He is called in the family Sir John Bluebeard, because he had four wives, not of course at once . . .

Sir William Scott of Harden was the son of Walter Scott of Harden and Mary Scott.1 He married Margaret Kerr.1 He married by contract, firstly, Agnes Murray, daughter of Sir Gideon Murray, Lord Elibank and Margaret Pentland, on 14 July 1611.2 He married by contract, secondly, Margaret Kerr, daughter of William Kerr, on 15 April 1633.2 He died in 1655.1
On 29 May 1606 he had grants of the lands of Tarras and of other lands at various dates.2 He gained the rank of Lieutenant in 1617 in the service of the Border Garrison.2 He was invested as a Knight Bachelor in 1618.2 He held the office of Sheriff of Selkirk in 1625.2 He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Selkirk in 1641.2 He held the office of Sheriff of Selkirk in 1645.2 Walter, the third son, called 'Watty Wudspurs' (or Mad-spurs), figures characteristically in the ballad of Jamie Telfer. He was the ancestor of the Scotts of Raeburn. The fourth son was James of Thirlestaine; and from John of Woll, the fifth son, the family of Woll are descended.
Sir William, a man in great favour with James VI by whom he was knighted in his father's lifetime and possessed of considerable estates. He fought against Cromwell and was fined £3000 for doing so in1654. Sir William Scott organised an expedition against the Murrays of Elibank, whose territory was but a few miles distant. Elibank had been warned, and was upon his guard. The Scotts came sweeping down the valley, driving off all the cattle that came in their way, when the Murrays, who were lying in wait for them, suddenly appeared, and a fight ensued, in which William Scott was taken prisoner. Sir Gideon Murray conveyed him to his castle, where Lady Murray received the victor, and congratulated him upon his success; and, at the same time, inquired what he was going to do with the prisoner. ' The gallows,' answered her husband. 'Hout, na, Sir Gideon,' answered the considerate matron, in her vernacular idiom, ' Would you hang the winsome young laird of Harden, when you have ill-favoured daughters to marry.' ' Quite right,' answered the baron, who caught at the idea, ' he shall marry our daughter, or strap for it.' Upon this alternative being proposed to the prisoner, he, at first thoughts, stoutly declared his preference for the gibbet to the plain-featured daughter of Murray of Elibank. But, at length, when he was actually led forth to execution, and saw no other chance of escape, he retracted his ungallant resolution, and accepted the figurative noose of matrimony for the literal cord of hemp. They became a happy and loving couple, and had a large family. The marriage contract to this remarkable event is still in existence.1
Children of Sir William Scott of Harden and Agnes Murray
Sir William Scott+1 d. 2 Feb 1699
Walter Scott1 d. 1688
James Scott, 1st of Thirlestane+1
John Scott1
Elizabeth Scott1
Margaret Scott1
Janet Scott1
Sir Gideon Scott of Highchester+1 d. a 5 Aug 1673