Person:Mary Semple (16)

Mary Semple

• Swinton, A. C.; Swinton, J. L. Concerning Swinton Family Records and Portraits at Kimmerghame. (Edinburgh, Scotland: Lindsay, John), Pages 4, 5, 6, 7.^S2

This Mary Semple, whose picture, painted by Martin, hangs at Kimmerghame, is a personality of interest to many now living, as she is the common ancestress of som many branches of the Swinton and other families. She is depicted in a white satin negligee over a soft muslin cross-over garment, and a broad cap or bonnet with strings under her chin, swathed round, which may have given rise to the tradition in the family that she was painted on her death-bed.^S2

Her ancestry on both sides was noble and heroic. On her mother’s side she was descended from the Keiths (previously mentioned), and from the Earls of Winton, Murrays of Blackbarony, Cockburns, and many other families of note. On her father’s side she inherited the blood of heroism for conscience sake, and undaunted bravery and steadfastness in adversity. Her great-grandfather, Sir Bryce Semple, was the great, great grandson of John, the first Lord Semple, who received the title from James IV. In 1488, and fell with his royal master at Flodden, A. D. 1513. Her grandfather, Gabriel Semple, son of Sir Bryce by Margaret Lauder of Hatton, was ordained minister of Kirkpatrick-Durham. After the Revolution he was transported to Jedburgh, where he continued until his death in 1706, and during that time he passed through many sufferings. He is mentioned by Wodrow as being taken prisoner when in the house of his nephew, “Blackcastle,” near Old Hamstacks, by a party of the guards, and that Sir Patrick (of Blackcastle) was fined two hundred pounds sterling for harbouring and conversing with Mr. Semple, a declared rebel. “This reverend and worthy person endured much trouble.”^S2

When ordered to leave the manse, he went to the house of Corsack, and the first Sabbath preached in the hall of the house to such as came; next Sabbath, the hall not holding them, he preached in the close; third Sabbath in the garden, and that not answering, they went to the fields, multitudes coming from all hands. Afterwards Mr Semple went to Ireland, and later returned to the Boarder of Scotland, and for several years had possession of the church at Ford, and dispensed the Sacraments to great multitudes. He continued there till his wife died, and the persecution became hotter, and he sickly; and a little before the Bothwell rising, which he would not join, owing to “the divisions among them which only the Lord can cure,” he returned to Scotland. At this time he stayed at Old Hamstacks, till he was taken, as previously mentioned, by the guards. He was so ill of age when taken that it was represented to the Council that he could not ride alone. Nevertheless, orders came that he was to be brought to Edinburgh, so he had to ride there, double, behind his nephew, William Semple, to whom he held on until he got as far as Haddington, when he got the Lady Stevenson’s calash. He was carried to the Cannongate Tolboth, where he continued till the Parliament was up. On his supplication, and after interrogations without end, he was later released and withdrew to England, where he continued till King Charles’ death.^S2

Gabriel Semple had several wives. According to a paper drawn up by Lord Swinton, his great grandson, Samuel Semple, was Gabriel’s son by Ann Lochart, niece of Lochart of Deer. He was for many years minister of Liberton, and is probably buried in the ministers’ burial ground, which is under the present church tower.^S2

The records of the church were unfortunately burnt in a conflagration of many years ago, but the modern church, standing so beautifully on the slope of the Blackford Hills, with a lovely view of Edinburgh to the north, itself a landmark with its tall spire, for a great surrounding distance, is on the very spot where Samuel Semple lived and laboured, and where he wrote a voluminous history of the sufferings of his Church. Wodrow says: “One night I was his guest, and he let me see a vast many papers, upwards thrity quire he had caused copy out of the Bodlian and Cotton Libraries.” He got assistance from Sir James Dalrymple, Sir Robert Sibbald, Mr. James Anderson, and others about Edinburgh, and had the advantage of Mr Baillie’s letters.^S2

Wodrow showed him his own work on “The Sufferings,” and they corresponded much together about the year 1726.^S2

Samuel married Elizabeth Murray of Blackbarony, and they were the parents of Mary Semple. After their daughter’s marriage, Mrs Semple must have visited at Swinton House, and when there written the letter of which the following extract exists in her grandson’s pocket book:- …^S2

Mrs Semple died 18th January, 1748, aged 77 years. Her daughter, Mary, married John Swinton of that ilk in 1723, and had twelve children. There is a tradition that her married life was not a very happy one, but she lived to see her eldest son rise to eminence on the Scotch Bench, and her fourth son come back from India, having won his laurels…^S2

1.   Mary Semple, in Lundy, Darryl. The Peerage: A genealogical survey of the peerage of Britain as well as the royal families of Europe.

   Mary Semple was the daughter of Reverend Samuel Semple and Elizabeth Murray.2 She married John Swinton, 26th of that Ilk, son of Sir John Swinton, 25th of that Ilk and Anne Sinclair, in 1722.1 She died on 4 September 1768.1
   She was Minister Liberton in 1697.1 From 1722, her married name became Swinton.
   Children of Mary Semple and John Swinton, 26th of that Ilk
   John Swinton, Lord Swinton+2 d. 5 Jan 1799
   Samuel Swinton+2
   Robert Swinton2
   Archibald Swinton+2 d. 1804
   Francis Swinton2
   Pringle Swinton2
   Elizabeth Swinton2
   Jean Swinton2
   Mary Swinton2
   Catherine Swinton2 d. 1 May 1817
   Ann Swinton2 b. 1725

2.   Swinton, A. C.; Swinton, J. L. Concerning Swinton Family Records and Portraits at Kimmerghame. (Edinburgh, Scotland: Lindsay, John)
   Pages 4, 5, 6, 7.
3.   Kimmerghame House, in Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.
4. ↑ ^4.0 4.1 "Scotland, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," Database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYWV-R51 : accessed 15 June 2015), Mary Semple, 14 Jul 1703; citing , reference 2:18562FX; FHL microfilm 1,067,782.

   Name: Mary Semple
   Gender: Female
   Christening Date: 16 Jul 1703
   Christening Place: , LIBERTON, MIDLOTHIAN, SCOTLAND
   Birth Date: 14 Jul 1703
   Father's Name: Samuel Semple
   Mother's Name: Elizabeth Murray
   Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C11693-4 , System Origin: Scotland-VR , GS Film number: 1067782 , Reference ID: 2:18562FX