Person:Charles Seton (3)

The evidence presented to the Bailies of the burgh of Canongate on 25 July 1825 consisted of, 1st, The depositions of five persons, whom the claimant himself stated to be aged and infirm and who were all of the class of husbandmen, or widows in Northumberland, the depositions were taken before a Justice of Peace there in May 1825, previous to the issuing of the brieve in favour of George Seton, or any authority being granted for the purpose; there was also the deposition of a person residing in Tranent, taken also before a Justice of Peace, equally prematurely and without authority, and this last was the only evidence taken in Scotland, 2d, Certain certificates from the parish registers in Northumberland, where the parties resided, purporting to be of the births, marriages, and burials of several members of George Seton’s family, from the birth of Charles in 1711, down to the birth of George Seton himself; 3d, Five letters, dated from 1734 to 1750, from Margaret M’Klear to the said Charles Seton, said to have been the son of the attainted Earl and a book said to contain entries of the births of Charles Seton’s own family, and the names of his father and mother, said to be the Earl and Countess of Winton.

Countess of Winton resided at Bellingham about a month after the birth of Charles, when she placed him with one Michael Thompson of Houxtey, near Bellingham an Innkeeper and that the Countess then left Bellingham in a carriage, attended by a footman, first leaving with Michael Thompson a letter directing him where to receive pay for nursing the child and that clothing was given to him, suitable to his birth, rang and that Michael Thompson afterwards went to Seaton House in Scotland, and there saw the Earl of Winton walking in his garden and the Earl requested of him to consider Charles Seton, as the son of a nobleman, and at that time acknowledged him to be his lawful son, and expressed great concern for his welfare, and happiness. Later the Earl of Winton engaged in the unfortunate Rebellion of the year seventeen hundred and fifteen, and had in consequence to fly abroad for his safety, he returned sometime later to Berwick-upon-Tweed in disguise, and wrote to Michael Thompson to bring Charles to him but before Michael Thompson could go there, the Earl of Winton was again obliged to fly, from a fear of being discovered, (a large reward at that time being offered for him) after this time the payments for the keep of Charles were discontinued, and that he was in consequence brought up to manhood by Michael Thompson, and worked as a labouring man.

Charles had contact with other family members, one deponent had seen letters which came to Charles Seton from his aunt, who resided at Prestonpans. Her name was Catharine M'Klear, and he had been told by Charles Seton that he had visited his aunt in Scotland, and that she then gave him a pocket Bible which had belonged to his father, the Earl of Winton and that this aunt was the Countess of Winton’s sister, the Countess had then been long dead. Charles also had one of a pair of mourning rings which the Earl had passed to him so they would know each other when they met.

Charles resided as a labourer at Dunterly, in the parish of Bellingham, where he married, in 1740, Ann Dodd, and died there, September 1781, when he would be aged 70. The fourth and youngest son of this marriage, Charles Seton, was born at Bellingham, in Northumberland, December 1755, married, 10th March 1790, Margaret M’Allester, and died February 1823, and that the third and only surviving son of this marriage was the said George Seton, who obtained the service on 25th July 1825, as heir-male of line of George fourth Earl of Winton.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 http://www2.thesetonfamily.com/:8080/history/Profiles/George Seton of Bellingham.htm.
2.   Retour of a General Service, in Bailies of the burgh of Canongate
   25 July 1825.

   The Retour of a General Service, dated 25th July 1825, which was carried through before one of the Bailies of the burgh of Canongate, and which served a person designed George Seton, residing in Bellingham, in the county of Northumberland, as nearest and lawful heir-male of line in general to the said George fourth Earl of Winton, his great-great-grandfather.

3. ↑ BELLINGHAM, Church description,ST CUTHBERT, in England. National Burial Index
   7 Sept 1781.

   Northumberland & Durham Family History Society

4. ↑ England. Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991. (FamilySearch, Ancestry.com).

   https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J8LT-8LW , Charles Seaton, 7 Sep 1781; citing , reference ; FHL microfilm 252,545.