Person:John McIlvane (4)

[NI02155] John M'Ilvane:
JOHN M'ILVANE succeeded his father, Patrick, as Laird of Grimmet in 1613. By marrying Jane Anne Corry (also spelled Corrie), he brought Thomaston Castle and estate into the family.
Thomas Corry de Kelwood, had a charter from James IV dated 12, January 1507, for the lands of Thomaston and several others. He had a charter from James V in 1517 for the lands of Newly and Clonlothry. Thomas Corry, along with David Crawford of Keirs, was fined 100 pounds for not entering Bargany for the slaughter of the young Laird of Attiquin in 1512. The lands of Thomaston passed eventually to George Corry of Kelwood, who was served heir to his father, John, on 30 March, 1610. In George's will, it states that his son having died, his daughter Ann was heiress. The heads of the family retained the title of Laird of Grimmet but always thereafter lived at Thomaston.
Anne Corry McIlvane died in 1632 and in her will she names daughters "Margaret, Agnes, Helein and Mareonne Mcllvane, Bairnes lawful to ye defunct." Margaret married Sir Alexander Kennedy, Earl of Culzean, whose father was Gilbert Kennedy, Earl of Cassilis. They had a daughter Margaret Kennedy who married David Kennedy, Earl of Cassillis. Agnes married Morris Morrison, and Marion married Gilbert Edgar. There were also at least two sons David (who may have predeceased his father), and John, who succeeded his father. While the Kennedy feud ostensibly ended with the death of Laird of Bargany in 1601 at Lady Cross, afterwards the violence of the period continued sporadically. The McIlvanes did not completely avoid the conflicts, being drawn into them by friends and relatives. John McIlvane of Grimmet was witness to caution of Patrick Campbell Seotember12, 1607 and, In 1613, John, Earl of Cassilis complained against John McIlveane and others for riot in the Baillery of Carrick-
"In November last, John Kennedy of Blairquhan on the one part and Johnne McIlvane of the other part of Grimmet, having raised a tumult in the town of Maybole, the said Earl, as one of the members of His Majesty's counsel . . . had attempted to pacify the same and had ordered the rioters to disperse. The said John Kennedy had obeyed most willingly, but George Corry of Kelwood and David Corry, his brother had gone to the said Johnne McIlvane and with the aid of 11 persons . . . with swords, . . . had attacked the Earl and his servants, and had driven them to their lodging, had compelled the said Earl to barricade themselves. Moreover the said Johnne McIlvane and George and David Corry had proudly refused to obey the Earl's order that they should enter themselves in ward in Maybole Tolbooth till they had found caution; and the said George Corry had proudly and avowedly carried the said Johnne McIlvane and his said brother away with him from the Earl's billie-deputy. The said Johnne McIlvean being present the Lords find the defenders have been guilty of a very great insolence and misbehavior . . and commit the said Johnne McIlveane to the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, there to remain at his own expense till further order...They refuse the charge against the said John Mcilvane for refusing to find caution, as the said John has produced an act of Court of the Bailery of Carrick showing that the said John and George Corrie of Kelwood as cautioner had acted themselves for John Kennedy of Blairquhon and his household for 1,000 merks." 1613, Regular Council of Decreta.

QUINTIN M’ILVANE, of Grimmet, was served as heir of his father, John M’Ilvane, of Grimmet, in the lands of Thomaston, October 8, 1669. Thomaston descended through the eldest male line of the McIlvane family to John McIlvane, of Grimmet, whose will was recorded January 15, 1741, and from him to his son John McIlvane, the younger, of Grimmet, merchant, whose will is dated May 20, 1747, and was given up in 1748, by James Ferguson, writer, in Ayr, as creditor upon a bill signed by the deceased. This latter John McIlvaine was probably the last of the family who possessed Thomaston.

John McIlvane, son of Patrick, seems to have predeceased his father, as the latter seems to have been succeeded by John McKelvaine, son of the former. From a charter granted to “Joanni M’Ilvane de Grimmet” by James VII., in 1597, it appears that his wife was a Kennedy, their son “Johnne McKelvane, of Grimmet” was alive in 1632, as shown by the will of his wife Anne Corrie, who died in February, of that year. This will shows that she had children, Margaret, Agnes, Helein, and Mareonne M”Ilvane, “bairnes lawful to ye defunct.” These may have been only the minor children, as it appears through this marriage the McIlvanes acquired Thomastoun, the seat of the family for many generations thereafter, of which Anne Corrie, first wife of John McIlvane, was the heiress, the heir apparent thereof, as shown by the will of Captain James Corrie, having died prior to 1645. Inasmuch as the property descended to the McIlvanes, Anne must have had male issue. John McIlvane married (second) Juliane Schaw, who died in December, 1641, leaving issue: Anna and Juliane.