Person:Robert Semple (27)

Robert Semple

• Semple, William Alexander. Genealogical History of the Family Semple: From 1214 to 1888. (Hartford, Connecticut: Press of the Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co., 1888), Page 46.^S3

242. Robert Semple, eldest son of Robert, and grandson of Francis Semple of Beltrees, married June 20, 1722, Elizabeth, daughter of Colonel Alexander Cochrane of Mainshill, in Ayrshire, and grand niece of Lord Cochrane of Dundonald. In his early years he followed a seafaring life, visiting Russia and various other countries. When only ten years old (1697), he was present at the burning of the witches of Paisley. To prevent his going, his parents hid his shoes, and he went without them. He was appointed a justice of the peace in 1708. About 1755, he prosecuted a claim to the family estate of Carberry, (ie. in County Cork, Ireland). (King James granted to Sir James Semple the village and lands of Kilbrittan, in the County of Carberry, Ireland, with several other lands, in the thirteenth year of His Majesty’s reign in England, 1615)^S3

Robert Semple sold Thirdpart to William McDowall of Castle-Semple, in 1758. The lands comprehended the Hall, or proper Thirdpart, Watersyde, Daulds, Corbets, Drygate, Hardgait, and Margonhill, and retired to Kilbarchan, where he obtained land, a part of the Quarry or Meadow-Park, from Jean Milliken, widow of William Milliken Napier of Cullcreoch, and built thereon a house called Beltrees Cottage. He died in his 103rd year, and was probably the oldest judicial functionary of that or any other rank in the British Empire. He left issue by his wife who predeceased him.^S3

243. 1. James, who died in America^S3

244. 2. ______, died young.^S3

3. Robert (see 250).^S3

245. 4. Ursula, married to William Collins…^S3

246. 5. Elizabeth, married to John Gardner of Rustle- a'-Thorns and Windyash, Cumberland…^S3

247. 6. Annabella, born in 1729, was married to Ebenezer Campbell, son of a clergyman in Ayrshire, in 1752…^S3

248. 7. Isabella Semple, died unmarried at Kilbarchan.^S3

249. 8. Jean, born in 1737, remained a spinster at Kilbarchan...^S3

1755 - Kilbrittain , Barony of Carbery, Ireland in what is now County Cork - Robert Semple Prosecuted a claim to the family estate in Ireland.

Lived a long life like his father.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Patterson, James (Editor); James Sempill; Francis Sempill; and Robert Sempill. The Poems of The Sempills of Beltrees: Now First Collected, With Notes And Biographical Notices Of Their Lives. (Edinburgh, Scotland: Thomas George Stevenson, 1849).

   Page 38 to 40 - About 1755 Robert Semple, 'Last Lord of Beltrees' seems to have seriously entertained the idea of prosecuting the family claim to the estate of the Barony of Carbery in Ireland. There is a letter from Craufurd of Cartsburn, addressed to him, 28th January of that year, stating the reasons he had heard assigned by Sempill's father for not following out steps for the recovery of the property. The substance of it is as follows: - At Sir James Sempill's death, Robert Sempill the younger, his son, entered heir to his father, in order to pursue said claim. When about entering upon the prosecution, the first rebellion came on in Ireland, which made him lay aside thoughts of pursuing his design. At last he died, and when his son, Francis Sempill, was resolving to go there, the next rebellion broke out; and so soon as that was settled, he died. Afterwards there came people from Ireland, inquiring for these papers from Francis's son, Robert, which he refused, because his own affairs were disordered at home. He took it into his head to go to the Barony of Carbery himself and family, to pursue his claim; but as he travelled in Ireland to County of Tyrone, he met with a beneficial lease of lands from Squire Chappell, which he accepted; and after staying some time there, that gentleman took his papers* to Dublin for consultation. When he re- (cont. after footnotes below)
   *The papers consisted of the following:-
   I. Indenture betwist Sir James Sempill, Sir John Graham of Urchill (Perthshire), and James Hamilton, dated 9th of December, 1606.
   II. Articles of agreement betwixt Donald M'Arthie Roogh of Barony of Carbery, Sir James Sempill, Sir John Graham, and James Hamilton, dated 17th Dec 1606.
   III. Patent under the Broad Seal granted by King James to Sir James Sempill, of the village and lands of Kilbrittain, in the country of the Barony of Carbery, Ireland, with severall other lands, in the 13th year of his Majesty's reign in England, 1615.
   (cont. after footnotes above)
   turned them he said that something might be got for them, but he feared he would not be able to pursue it. A correspondence was also carried on about this time, by Craufurd of Cartsburn and Robert Sempill, with a lawyer of the name of Kennedy, who offered to throw "a cool hundere" into the affair, besides his professional services, if he liked the complexion of the case. The prosecution, however, never seems to have been actually commenced. The pecuniary difficulties under which the family of Beltrees laboured, seems to have at last compelled the entire alienation of the property. The sale of the Thirdpart to William M'Dowall of Castle Semple took place in 1758. The lands comprehended the Hall, or proper Thirdpart, Watersyde, Faulds, Corbets, Drygate, Hardgait, and Margonhill. After the sale he retired to Kilbarchan, where he feued thirty four falls of ground, part of the Quarry, or Meadow-Park, for 22s.2d. yearly, from Jean Milliken, widow of William Milliken Napier of Cullcreoch, 12th March 1777, and built there on a house called Beltrees Cottage. He disponed this house to his daughter, Jean Sempill, 21st August, 1784. Robert Semple, 'Last Lord of Beltrees', lived to a very advanced age. He died in August 1789, having completed two years more than a century...

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

   Hereditary Sempill Lords of Beltrees & Clan Sempill

3. ↑ Semple, William Alexander. Genealogical History of the Family Semple: From 1214 to 1888. (Hartford, Connecticut: Press of the Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co., 1888)
   Page 46.
4. ↑ Paisley witches, in Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.