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Complete Baronetage.
{The notes and memoranda for the Baronetcies of Scotland, or Nova Scotia, from volumes II–IV are transcribed below.—Transcr.}
Baronetcies of Scotland, or Nova Scotia,(a)
1625–1707.
- Note (a) {from vol. 2, p. 275}.—The Editor is deeply indebted to Sir James Balfour Paul, Lyon King of Arms, for numerous and most valuable additions (of which the most important only are specifically acknowledged) to the account here given of these dignities. The reader, however, must not imagine that (unless expressly so stated) this account has the official, or even the practical imprimatur of “ Lyon,” but must consider it merely as the one which seems to be the most correct, or at least the most probable, to the compiler. Robert Riddle Stodart, Lyon Clerk Depute (1863–86), kindly gave, from his own genealogical collection, much information as to some of these Baronetcies.
- Note (a) {from vol. 3, p. 324}.—See vol. ii, p. 275, note “ a,” for acknowledgment of the kind assistance of Sir James Balfour Paul, Lyon King of Arms, as to these Scotch Baronetcies, to which must be added that of James R. Anderson, of Glasgow, who has compiled a valuable list of the Baronetcies [S.] made by Charles II.
- Note (a) {from vol. 4, p. 242}.—See Vol. ii, p. 275, note “ a,” as to the very great assistance, in the account of these dignities given by Sir James Balfour Paul, Lyon King of Arms. Thanks are also due to Francis James Grant, Rothesay Herald and Lyon Clerk, as also to James R. Anderson, of Glasgow, who has compiled a valuable list of all the Scotch Baronetcies created by Charles II and his successors, which has for the most part been followed in this work.
[volume 2, page 275]
{Some of the notes in the following Memorandum have been re-lettered for clarity.—Transcr.}
Memorandum.—The province of Nova Scotia in North America was annexed to the Kingdom of Scotland, and granted, under the Great Seal, 10 [not 29] Sep. 1621, to Sir William Alexander, of Menstrie (subsequently Earl of Stirling [S.]) as a foreign plantation. “ The personal influence of Sir William with the King [James I] caused him to approve of the scheme of creating in Scotland an hereditary dignity under the titles of Knights Baronets of Nova Scotia, by means of a scheme similar to that which had proved successful for colonising the districts in the province of Ulster.”(b) He accordingly informed the Privy Council of Scotland of his design, 18 Oct. 1624, who, on 30 Nov. following, issued a proclamation announcing the King's intention of creating 100 such Baronets on 1 April next. Before that date was reached, viz. on 27 March 1625, King James died, but the grant of 1621 was confirmed in a novodamus, 12 July 1625, by Charles I, who, however (six weeks before), on 28 May 1625, had already nominated the premier Baronet, Gordon, as also, then, or a few days later, some others. Pixley [History of Baronetage, p. 160], states that ten Baronetcies had been created between 28 May and 19 July 1625, viz., Gordon, Strachan, Keith, Campbell, Innes, Wemyss, Livingston, Douglas, Macdonald, and Murray. This statement is probably correct, but it is added that, on the said 19 July, the King acquainted the Lords of the Privy Council [S.], “ that he had created the above [ten] Baronets,” whereas in his letter of that date, he makes no mention of the names or number of such his creations, but merely says that “ we have preferred some to be Knight Baronettes.” The Royal charter of 28 May 1625 (given in full in Pixley's work, pp. 59–89), “ which was twice ratified and confirmed by acts of the Parl. of Scotland, viz., 31 July 1630 and 28 June 1633 … was made, by subsequent instruments under the Great Seal, the regulating charter for the Baronets of Scotland and Nova Scotia.”(b) Each Baronet received, on the resignation of Sir William Alexander, abovenamed “ a grant of 16,000 [or more in some cases, as in that of Keith] acres of land in the Royal Province of Nova Scotia (which, as anciently bounded, comprehended Nova Scotia proper, Cape Breton, Anticosti, Gaspe, Prince Edward's Island and New Brunswick), to be incorporated into a full entire and free Barony and Regality for ever to be held of the Kingdom of Scotland(b) … The number of persons when this order was instituted in 1625 was not to exceed 150, and Nova Scotia was nominally divided into so many Baronies. The sum payable by each was 3,000 merks (the equivalent to £166 13s. 4d. sterling) of which one-third was to go into [Sir W.] Alexander's pocket, he engaging that the other two-thirds should be expended in setting forth the plantation. During the first four years the applicants who received patents were only about 60 ; during the next 10 years about 50 more, and thus the object remained unaccomplished during the reign of Charles although its original sphere was so enlarged as to render persons not connected with Scotland admissible to this dignity.”(b) During the entire reign of Charles I “ 122 Baronets [S.] appear to have [page 276] been created, of whom about 111 had grants of 16,000 acres each,”(b) but such grants ceased altogether after 1638.(c)
The somewhat complicated history of Nova Scotia as respects its alternate possession by England or France, and the sale, or alleged sale, in 1630, by Sir W. Alexander of all “ his title to the whole of Nova Scotia, with the exception of Port Royal,” are set forth in Laing's New Scotland Tracts.(d)
“ It is no easy matter to prepare a very accurate or satisfactory List of these Knight Baronets [S.]. The earliest list I have met with is contained in A catalogue of the Dukes, etc. of England, Scotland, and Ireland, etc., collected by T. W. [i.e., Thomas Walkeley] London, 1640, 12mo. At p. 21 [pp. 117–120 of the edit. pub. in 1642] the names of Knight Baronets of Scotland, amounting in all to 95, including Sir Henry Gib (of St. Martin's) but the dates of the patents are not given. Of this catalogue by T. W., or Thomas Walkeley, Lowndes quotes several editions.”(d) This catalogue ends about 1638, with the names of Sir John Lowther, Sir Gilbert Pickering, Sir Edward Longevile, Sir Thomas Perse [i.e., Piers], Sir Edward Musgrave, and Sir William Witherington, all six stated to be English.
Another list (containing, however, but 70 Baronets) ending, about the same date, with the name of Sir Henry Bingham [cr. 30 June 1634], and signed “ T. P., Ulster ” [i.e., Thomas Preston, Ulster King of arms, 1633–1642], is now remaining in Ulster's office. A copy of this has courteously been sent to the Editor by G. D. Burtchaell, with the kind permission of Sir Arthur Vicars, Ulster King of arms.
The “ Roll of Baronets of Nova Scotia who had territorial grants from Sir William Alexander, Earl of Stirling,” is printed in Laing's New Scotland Tracts.(d) The grantees there given are 114 in number and it is stated that “ the Precepts are entered ” in a volume at the General Register House, Edinburgh, entitled “ Regist. Precep. Cart. pro Baronettis Nov. Scotiœ, 1625–1630.” The reference to the pages in that volume, which refers to 94 of these Baronetcies, are set out, it being (somewhat perplexingly) added, that as to the remaining 20, “ the names having no references are given on the authority of former lists.” The date, presumably that of the creation of the dignity is affixed to all but these three, viz. :—No. 41, “ James Campbell of Aberuchill,” placed between 13 Dec. 1627 and 1 Jan. following ; No. 63, “ Edward Barrett, Lord of Newburgh,” placed between 2 Oct. 1628, and 26 June following, and No. 93 “ Sir John Gascoigne ” placed next, after 6 Jan. 1634/5, to whom however the date in brackets of “ 8 June ” is affixed. At the end of this list, which concludes with No. 114, Sir Edward Longueville, 17 Dec. 1638, is added : “ Two blank precepts, names and dates not supplied. Several of the above are included in the Register of the Great Seal, and also at great length in the Register of Signatouris in the office of Comptrollerie, but others, probably from not having paid the fees, seem not to have been registered.”(d) This chronologically arranged list is the one chiefly followed, as to the placing of these Baronetcies, by the editor of this present work.
By far the most valuable list of these Baronets is that by Robert Milne, printed from a MS. in the Advocates' Library, Edinburgh, supposed to have been taken from a list or book of accounts in the Exchequer which was destroyed by a fire that occurred in that office. This list has been printed (with various additions) by Joseph Foster in his Baronetage for 1883, and (unlike the lists abovenamed) extends beyond the reign [page 277] of Charles I, down to the end of these creations in 1707, being the date of the Union with Scotland.
Another list, extending also through the whole period (1625–1707), but in which no date save that of the year is given to the various creations, is in Beatson's Political Index (1806), vol. iii, pp. 70–77. In this work 141 creations are assigned to Charles I, 89 to Charles II, 17 to James II, 23 to William III and 27 to Queen Anne, in all 297 creations.
Besides the above, there is in Banks's Baronia Anglica concentrata (1843, 4to, vol. ii, pp. 210–248), an account of the institution and continuance of this degree. The author of that work styles himself “ Sir T. C. Banks, Bart., N.S.,” but though his claim to that dignity was very absurd, the work itself has considerable merit. In it is a “ List of Baronets, who had sasine of their Baronies in Nova Scotia taken from the minute book of general register of sasines at Edinburgh.” This list commences with Sir Alexander Strachan, July 1625, and ends with Sir Andrew Ker, Dec. 1637, and Sir Robert Campbell, Nov. 1640. It contains 73 names in all, out of which three seem to relate to the same Baronetcy. There is also another list, viz., of “ The persons [who] obtained charters of lands in Nova Scotia, which do not appear to have been followed by seisin.” The number of these is 41.
These lists, when referred to, will be styled Milne's List, Laing's List, Walkeley's List, Ulster's List, Beatson's List, and Banks's Lists, which last refer as well to the Baronets who did, as to those who did not, obtain seizin of the Nova Scotia territory.
“ After the restoration of King Charles II, the description of Nova Scotia was omitted ; so that the Baronets thus created cannot be considered as coming under the conditions of the original foundation of that order. The following patents de titulo Militis Baronetti in Scotland are given as a few examples [from the] Index to [the] Register of the Great Seal of Scotland : Diploma to Sir Andrew Gilmour, 16 Aug. 1661 ; to Sir John Foulis, of Ravelston, 15 Oct. 1661 ; to Sir George Ogilvy, of Barras, 5 March 1661/2; to Sir David Carnegy, 20 Feb. 1663 ; to Sir Thomas Hay, of Park, 23 Aug. 1663 ; to Sir George Mowat, of Ingliston, 2 June 1664 ; to Sir James Brown, of Barbadoes, 17 Feb. 1664 ; to Sir James Murray, of Stanhope, 13 Feb. 1664 ; to Sir John Henderson, of Fordel, 16 July 1664 [and] to Sir John Kircaldie, of Grange, 14 May 1664.” [Banks's Baronia Anglica concentrata above mentioned.]
- Note (b) {from p. 275}.—History of the Baronetage, by Francis W. Pixley, 1900.
- Note (c) {originally note “b,” from p. 276}.—The following interesting and contemporary account of this institution is given by the first member thereof, Sir Robert Gordon, in his History of the Earldom of Sutherland. “ This yeir of God 1625, King Charles created and instituted the order of Knights-Baronets in Old Scotland, for the furtherance of the plantation of New Scotland in America, being the true mean or honor betuein a Barone of Parlament and a Knight ; a purpose intended by his father of worthie memorie, bot perfyted by his Majestie. Sir Robert Gordoun, tutor of Southerland, wes maid the first Baronet of the Kingdome of Old Scotland and called Baronet Gordoun, which dignitie wes by his Majestie's lettres patent under his Great Seale granted to him and to his heyrs-maill whatsoever. The Lairds of Cluny and Lesmoir, both of the surname of Gordoun, were also this yeir created Baronets. James Gourdoun, the Laird of Lesmoir's eldest sone, wes knighted, according to the tennor of his father's patent, wherby the Baronet's eldest sones are to be knighted at the aige of 21 years, iff ther fathers bee then alive.”
- Note (d) {originally note “c,” from p. 276}.—“ Royal Letters, Charters and Tracts relating to the colonization of New Scotland, and the institution of the order of Knight-Baronets of Nova Scotia, 1621–1638,” by David Laing, published by the Bannatyne Club, Edinburgh, 1867.
[FIRST PART,
VIZ., CREATIONS BY CHARLES I.
27 March 1625 to 30 Jan. 1648/9.]
[volume 3, page 324]
SECOND PART,
VIZ., CREATIONS [BY CHARLES II],
30 Jan. 1648/9 to 31 Dec. 1664.
[“ After the Restoration of King Charles II [29 May 1660] the description of Nova Scotia was omitted, so that the Baronets thus created cannot be considered as coming under the conditions of the original foundation of that order.” See vol. ii, p. 277.]
[volume 4, page 242]
THIRD AND LAST PART,
VIZ., CREATIONS,
1 Jan. 1664/5(b) to 1 May 1707, the date of the Union [S.].
- Note (b).—The date of 1 Jan. 1664/5 has been arbitrarily selected as comprising (notwithstanding the chronological disparity of the division) the approximate half of the number of Baronetcies of the three realms, created between 30 Jan. 1648/9 (the death of Charles I.), and 1 May 1707, the date of the Union with Scotland, after which last named epoch the creation of Scotch Baronetcies ceased. The previous portion (30 Jan. 1648/9 to 31 Dec. 1664) of that period is contained in vol. iii.
[CREATIONS BY CHARLES II.
1 Jan. 1664/5 to 6 Feb. 1684/5.]
[volume 4, page 327]
CREATIONS BY JAMES II [E.] AND VII [S.].
6 Feb. 1684/5 to 11 Dec. 1688.
[volume 4, page 360]
CREATIONS BY WILLIAM III AND MARY II.
AS ALSO BY WILLIAM III ALONE.
13 Feb. 1688/9(c) to 8 March 1701/2.
Note (c).—During the interregnum, 12 Dec. 1688 to 12 Feb. 1688/9, no creations were made.
[volume 4, page 403]
CREATIONS BY QUEEN ANNE.
8 March 1701/2 to 1 May 1707,
being the date of the Union with Scotland, when the creation of Scottish (as well as of English) Baronetcies ceased, and that of Baronetcies of Great Britain began.
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