Person:John Semple (27)

John Semple of Beltrees

• The Scots Peerage by Paul, James

Page 548 – John Sempill, who was legitimated as above in 1546, seems to have gone to France in 1560. He is described as ‘an Englishman born.’ As John Sempill of Beltries, he was called as one of the substitutes in the conveyance which his father made of his estates on 8 November 1572. The Regent Morton is said to have coveted the aftermentioned lands granted by Queen Mary, and to have endeavoured to reduce the gift. Having used intemperate threats, Sempill was arrested on a suspicion of conspiring against the life of the Regent, and on being tortured with the boot, confessed. He had certain jewels and furs belonging to Queen Mary, and was imprisoned in Blackness because he wouln not deliver them to the Earl of Lennox. On 15 June 1577 he was convicted of treasonably conspiring for the slaughter of the Earl of Morton, the Regent. He died on 25 August 1579, having married (contract 3 March 1564-65) Marie, daughter of Alexander, fifth Lord Livingstone. They had a grant from Queen Mary, 20 March 1564-65, of the lands of Over Drumdelgie and others in the barony of Stratbogie, on the forfeiture of the Earl of Huntly; but in 1567, Huntly having been restored to the lands, they got instead the Island of Little Cumbrae and others. By her, who survived him, he had issue;-

1. Sir James Sempill

• Married Mary Livingston

1.   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 548.

   Page 548 – John Sempill, who was legitimated as above in 1546, seems to have gone to France in 1560. He is described as ‘an Englishman born.’ As John Sempill of Beltries, he was called as one of the substitutes in the conveyance which his father made of his estates on 8 November 1572. The Regent Morton is said to have coveted the aftermentioned lands granted by Queen Mary, and to have endeavoured to reduce the gift. Having used intemperate threats, Sempill was arrested on a suspicion of conspiring against the life of the Regent, and on being tortured with the boot, confessed. He had certain jewels and furs belonging to Queen Mary, and was imprisoned in Blackness because he wouln not deliver them to the Earl of Lennox. On 15 June 1577 he was convicted of treasonably conspiring for the slaughter of the Earl of Morton, the Regent. He died on 25 August 1579, having married (contract 3 March 1564-65) Marie, daughter of Alexander, fifth Lord Livingstone. They had a grant from Queen Mary, 20 March 1564-65, of the lands of Over Drumdelgie and others in the barony of Stratbogie, on the forfeiture of the Earl of Huntly; but in 1567, Huntly having been restored to the lands, they got instead the Island of Little Cumbrae and others. By her, who survived him, he had issue;-
   1. Sir James Sempill

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

   Hereditary Sempill Lords of Beltrees & Clan Sempill

3.   Paterson, James. History of the counties of Ayr and Wigtown. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1961)
   Vol. 3, Page 577.

   In 1564-5, Queen Mary granted a charter of the lands and lordship of Stewarton, amongst others, to John Sempill, son of Lord Sempill, and Mary Livingstone, sister to William Lord Livingstone his spouse.