Person:William Semple (23)

William Semple, first 'of Eliotstoun' 'Steward of Renfrew'

• The Scots Peerage, Vol. 7, Page 527

William De Sempill, Steward of Renfrew, who witnessed a ratification by Malcolm, fourth Earl of Lennox, to the monastery of Paisley in 1330, and another charter by the same Earl to James, brother of Walter, High Steward of Scotland, in the same year. He acquired the lands of Eliotstoun, and under the designation of William Sempill of Eliotstoun witnessed a charter of Adam de Fullarton 13 April 1344. In 1340 William Sempill was auditor of Exchequer accounts and in 1341 receiver of old arrears, and in 1358 the lands of Raite in Perthshire were in his hands. This was probably William Sempill of Eliotstoun, but he is not designed. He was also in all probability the William Sempill who had a charter of the lands of Raite in Perthshire from King David II. About A.D. 1345. He had at least two sons:-

• Douglas, Robert, Sir, 1694-1770. The peerage of Scotland: containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom, ... collected from the public records, and ancient chartularies of this nation, ... Illustrated with copper-plates. Pages 616 to 620. (Online Source) – Eighteenth Century Collections Online, Text Creation Partnership [1]

IV. WILLIAM de SEMPILL, steward of Renfrew, who succeeded him, and is witness in a ratification of Malcolm fourth earl of Lennox, to the monastery of Paisley, together with Malcolm Fleming, Gilbert Drummane, &c. anno 1330.

In the same year he is witness in another charter of the said earl Malcolm, to sir James Stewart,* brother of Walter lord high steward of Scotland.

In a charter of Adam de Fullerton, Willielmus Sempill de Eliotstoun, is a witness, 13th April 1344.

He is the first of this family we have found designed by the barony of Eliotstoun; but it continued long to be one of their chief titles.

He was succeeded by his son,

V. THOMAS SEMPILL, second lord of Eliotstoun, and steward of Renfrew.

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

   Hereditary Sempill Lords of the Lands of Elliston & Clan Sempill

2.   Semple, William Alexander. Genealogical History of the Family Semple: From 1214 to 1888. (Hartford, Connecticut: Press of the Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co., 1888)
   Page 8.

   William de Semple, Steward of Renfrew, who, under the designation of Willielmus Sempill de Eliotstoun, witnessed a charter of Adam de Fullerton, April 13, 1344.

3.   Walker, Rosa Kershaw; Pittman, Hannah Daviess. Americans of Gentle Birth and Their Ancestors: A Genealogical Encyclopedia ... Embracing Many Authenticated Lineages and Biographical Sketches of the Founders of the Colonies and Their Descendants found in all parts of the United States . (Saint Louis, Missouri: Buxton & Skinner, 1903)
   Vol. 1, Pages 242, 243.

   William de Semple, Steward of Renfrew, 1344.

4.   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 527.

   William De Sempill, Steward of Renfrew, who witnessed a ratification by Malcolm, fourth Earl of Lennox, to the monastery of Paisley in 1330, and another charter by the same Earl to James, brother of Walter, High Steward of Scotland, in the same year. He acquired the lands of Eliotstoun, and under the designation of William Sempill of Eliotstoun witnessed a charter of Adam de Fullarton 13 April 1344. In 1340 William Sempill was auditor of Exchequer accounts and in 1341 receiver of old arrears, and in 1358 the lands of Raite in Perthshire were in his hands. This was probably William Sempill of Eliotstoun, but he is not designed. He was also in all probability the William Sempill who had a charter of the lands of Raite in Perthshire from King David II. About A.D. 1345. He had at least two sons:-