Thomas Sempill, Sheriff of Renfrew, had sasine of Eliotstoun and other lands in1481. He is designed ‘knight,’ and sat in Parliament 25 February 1483-84, being designed Thomas Simple, Vicecomes de Renfrew. He fell at the Battle of Sauchieburn on 11 June 1488, fighting on the side of King James III. He married Elizabeth Ross, said to be a daughter of John, first Lord Ross. She and Thomas Brisbane of Bischopstoun and Sir William Marchand, chaplain, were his executors. She was alive 13 November 1495, and dead before 17 November 1505. He had two sons and three daughters:-
1. Sir John.
2. John, who is mentioned as brother of John, Lord Sempill, 12 August 1502.
3. Margaret, married to Robert Crawford of Kilbirny before 18 February 1506-7. According to the MS. Genealogy in the possession of the Baroness Sempill, believed to be compiled by the late Dr. Crauford of Johnshill, Lochwinnoch, and which is printed in Archaeological and Historical Collections of the County of Renfrew, i. 13-24, this Thomas Sempill had two daughters, both named Margaret, one married to Robert Crawford of Kilbirny, and the other called Lady Houston. It would, however, appear more probable there was only one daughter of this name, who was twice married. Dame Margaret Sempill is mentioned, on 23 February 1501-2 as mother of the Laird of Houston, and as assignee of Marion Cathcart, her grandmother, she sued her brother Sir John Sempill in 1491. This Laird of Houstoun was probably John, son of John Houston of that Ilk, who had died before 17 July 1490. If his mother was Dame Margaret Sempill, she may easily have been the wife of Robert Crawford of Kilbirny in 1506-7, who had charters from his father and mother 4 and 9 May 1499.
4. Marion, married to John Stewart, son to John, Ealr of Lennox, before 15 July 1486.
5. Elizabeth, married to Sir Adam Mure of Caldwell.
