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MEMORIALS
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FROM THE FAMILY PAPERS WITH OTHER ILLUSTRATIVE DOCUMENTS
EDITED BY
WILLIAM FORBES SKENE, D.C.L., LL.D.
HER MAJESTY'S HISTORIOGRAPHER FOR SCOTLAND
ABERDEEN
for t|jc j$eto &pa!D(n0 Club
1887
cs
flew SpalMng Club.
Founded nth November, 1886.
patroness : HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN.
1886-87.
president:
THE EARL OF ABERDEEN. Wice=prestoent8 :
THE DUKE OF RICHMOND AND GORDON, K.G.
THE EARL OF STRATHMORE.
THE EARL OF KINTORE.
THE EARL OF FIFE, K.T.
THE LORD FORBES.
THE LORD PROVOST OF ABERDEEN.
THE PRINCIPAL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN. CHARLES ELPHINSTONE-DALRYMPLE, of Kinellar
Lodge.
GEORGE GRUB, LL.D.
ALEXANDER FORBES IRVINE, of Drum, LL.D. JOHN WEBSTER, of Edgehill, LL.D.
flGembers of Council :
The Earl of Southesk, K.T.
The Lord Saltoun.
The Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney.
Sir Francis W. Grant, Bart, of Monymusk.
Sir George Macpherson-Grant, Bart, of Ballindalloch.
Sir William C. Brooks, Bart., Glentanar, M.P.
Sir Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant-Duff, of Eden,
K.C.S.I.
William Alexander, LL.D., Aberdeen. Colonel James Allardyce, Aberdeen. Alexander Baird, of Urie. George Burnett, LL.D., Lyon King of Arms. James A. Campbell, of Stracathro, LL.D., M.P. The Rev. James Cooper, Aberdeen. Peter M. Cran, Aberdeen. John Crombie, of Balgownie Lodge. Alexander Davidson, of Desswood. Charles B. Davidson, Aberdeen. The Rev. John Davidson, D.D., Inverurie. Thomas Dickson, LL.D., H.M. General Register
House.
Francis Edmond, of Kingswells, LL.D. John Philip Edmond, Aberdeen. Robert F. O. Farquharson, of Haughton. William Ferguson, of Kinmundy. The Rev. James Gammack, LL.D., Aberdeen. James Murray Garden, Aberdeen.
Henry Wolrige-Gordon, of Esslemont.
The Rev. Walter Gregor, LL.D., Pitsligo.
Alexander Kemlo, Aberdeen.
Colonel William Ross King, of Tertowie.
The Rev. James Forbes-Leith, S.J., Paris.
George Arbuthnot-Leslie, of Warthill.
David Littlejohn, Sheriff-Clerk, Aberdeen.
Charles Fraser-Mackintosh, of Drummond, M.P.
Hugh Gordon Lumsden, of Clova.
James Matthews, of Springhill.
The Rev. John G. Michie, Dinnet.
James Moir, Rector of the Grammar School,
Aberdeen.
Arthur D. Morice, Aberdeen. Charles Rampini, Sheriff-Substitute, Elgin. Alexander Ramsay, Banff. Major John Ramsay, of Barra. Alexander W. Robertson, Aberdeen. Hercules Scott, of Brotherton. William Forbes Skene, D.C.L., LL.D., H.M.
Historiographer for Scotland. The Rev. William Temple, Forgue. Alexander Walker, Aberdeen. George Walker, Aberdeen. Robert Walker, Aberdeen. John Dove Wilson, LL.D., Sheriff-Substitute,
Aberdeen.
Secretary : PETER JOHN ANDERSON, 2 East Craibstone Street, Aberdeen.
"treasurer : PATRICK HENDERSON CHALMERS, 13 Union Terrace, Aberdeen.
PREFACE.
WHEN the Council of the New Spalding Club asked me to undertake to compile a history of the ancient Aberdeenshire family of Skene of Skene, which they proposed to issue as the first of a series of histories of ancient northern families, I willingly undertook the task, as I had ample materials at my disposal, the result of researches made by my late father into the Family History. I felt, however, that there might be a disadvantage in selecting one for this task who was himself among the few remaining male descendants of the family, from a natural tendency to over-estimate the importance of the Skene family, and the consideration in which it was held, fostered as it was in some degree by the language of previous family historians ; but I have endeavoured to avoid this tendency, and to present a plain historical narrative of the history of the family, so far as it is based on authentic documents.
If there had existed only one manuscript history of the family of Skene of Skene, I would have been disposed to follow the example of my late much esteemed friend — Mr. Cosmo Innes — in the family histories edited by him for the original Spalding Club, and to print the family history entire, adding such authentic documents as tended to illustrate it ; but I had no fewer than five manuscript histories of the family, written at different dates, at my disposal, and I therefore thought it better simply to insert extracts from them when it was desirable to present
viii. PREFACE.
the narrative in their language instead of my own, and to add a reference to such authentic documents as confirmed or corrected it.
The fact that I was able to refer to so many family histories, written at different periods, has, however, enabled me to shew the gradual growth and development of the traditionary history of the origin of the family. ,
The curious circumstance that in 1296 John de Skene, the first historic person of the name, bore as a cognizance the head of John the Baptist, while Patrick de Skene, the Clericus, bore on his Seal three Skenes or dirks, and that the Kirktown of Skene belonged to the family, rather indicates that the name of Skene was primarily connected with the Church, and extended from thence to the barony, while the wolves' heads do not then appear as forming part of the cognizance of the family. A circumstance, however, connected with the arms of an ancient English family, throws some light upon this fact. The Plumptons of Plumpton Hall were Hereditary Foresters of the Ancient Royal Forest of Knaresborough, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. In Wharf- dale, which formed part of the Forest, and was anciently covered with wood, still stands Plumpton Hall, a tower very similar to the old tower of Skene ; and there is still preserved in it an old stone coat-of-arms of the Plumptons, shewing three wolves heads in fesse, a cognizance indicating, according to tradition, their connection with the Forest, which was infested by wolves, a certain number of which they were bound to kill each year. The only family in Scotland which bore three wolves' heads, besides the Skenes, was that of -the Robertsons of Strowan, and they too were connected with a Forest, for their principal pos- session was the great north-west Forest of Atholl, called the Forest of Glengarry. The position of this family in the earlier generations was an exact counterpart of that of the Skenes. They possessed the Kirktown of Strowan, took their designation
\
PREFACE. ix.
from it — though the smallest of their possessions — and when their lands were erected into a Barony the name of Strowan was given to the Barony. In like manner the Skene lands were originally part of a Forest. The family, too, possessed the Kirktown of Skene, took their designation from it, and when the lands were erected into a Barony it was termed the Barony of Skene. The Seal of Patrick the Clericus of Skene shews that the cognizance of the name was three Skenes or dirks, and the three wolves' heads borne upon them were no doubt derived from their original connection with the Forest. The combination of the two may have given rise to the tradition of the first Skene having saved the King from a wolf, and presented his head upon a Skene or dirk.
In the narrative which I have given of the different gener- ations of the family of Skene of Skene, with its branches, I have not thought it necessary to print at length the Charters and Retours which I have referred to in support of it, but have merely quoted them from the originals in the Charter Chests, or from the Public Records, as they do not in fact possess any interest beyond the proof they afford of the succession of the different heads of the family. The chief value of such family histories lies much more in the pictures they afford of the social position and habits of life of such families at different periods, thus illustrating the social development of the country ; and these I have endeavoured to bring out as much as possible, both in the principal narrative and in the documents in the Appendix, which were selected with that view. Thus we can see these ancient Scottish Barons living in a tower " built of three arches or stories, and entered by a ladder on the second story." We can see the younger sons having no other resource than either to enter the Church, or to have their names inscribed in the rental books of the family as kindly tenants of some outlying farm, which their descendants, if the laird was embarrassed,
X. PREFACE.
acquired as property, or else descended to the condition of ordinary farmers. Then some generations later we see the increasing trade of the country, and the new ideas and new life infused into society by the Reformation, sending the younger sons of such families to seek their subsistence in other fields. We see them now obtaining a better education in the newly founded Colleges, some of them taking a University degree, and distinguished from their less cultivated brothers by the title of " Mr.," a designation at that time exclusively confined to Masters of Arts ; and then sometimes teaching for some years in their College as Regents. We can see those who would have entered the Church becoming Notaries Public, adopting learned professions, or becoming Professors in these Colleges. We can see others breaking through the aristocratic line of demarcation between land and Burgh, and, becoming burgesses of the County town, whence, if they were prosperous in trade, they again emerged and founded new County families by purchasing land. Add to this the foundation of the College of Justice, and the increasing trade between Scotland and the Netherlands and Poland, in which Aberdeen took a large share, and we can see the scions of County families resorting to one or other as an outlet for their energies, and a means of acquiring fame and fortune. /:;
We can thus see the sons of one obscure Notary Public on Deeside furnishing a Professor of Medicine, who became Physician to the King, and a learned Advocate, who was " a good, trew, stout man, like a Dutche man, and culd mak them lang harangues in Latin," sent as Ambassador to Foreign Courts, and occupying the high position of Lord Clerk Register, receiving letters from learned persons abroad (App. n.)r and laudatory verses at home (App. in.), while his last years are embittered by disputes among his sons, and the efforts which the Archbishop of St. Andrews narrates in such quaint language
PREFACE. XI.
to bring them to a settlement are defeated by the influence of the puritan mother-in-law of the eldest son (App. iv.) We can see a member of another branch occupying the position of Conservator of Scotch privileges at Campvere, in the Nether- lands (App. i.) ; the younger son of a Midmar farmer of the Hal- yards in Fife branch settling at Venloo, in the same country, and founding a family, now occupying an important and influential position in Austria ; and the younger son of a Belhelvie farmer of the Westercorse branch acquiring a fortune in Poland, returning home, and founding a County family. We can see a younger son of the Halyards in Midlothian family in the army, serving in the Netherlands, marrying a young Dutch girl, and dying at Tournay, and we can read the touching letters written by himself from his deathbed, and by his young widow (App. vii.) We can see a specimen of the intolerance exercised by Charles I. in Scotland, under the auspices of Archbishop Laud, when a Judge of the Court of Session was in danger of losing his position because he had not communicated kneeling at Easter in St. Giles (App. v.) ; while some years after we find him President of the Court of Session, and rewarded by a Nova Scotia Baronetcy, his patent, like other early patents, containing the grant of a Barony, with almost regal jurisdiction, in Nova Scotia, where the grantees were expected to settle, but which grants were rendered nugatory by the entire district being possessed by the French in 1638 (App. vi.) We can see, too, the remarkable current of religious feeling which soon after spread over Scotland, when a Magistrate of Aberdeen, and his family, became Quakers, and a Provost of Aberdeen made a solemn renunciation of his sins (App. ix.)
The History of the Skenes of Skene, and the families whose descent from them can be traced, terminates with that family to which I belong, two families whose connection with the chief family has not been traced being placed in the
xii. PREFACE.
Appendix (No. i.) When I approached the present generation of my own family I felt myself treading on delicate ground, as I naturally desired to do justice to the members of it, and especially to the character and accomplishments so generally recognised of my late father, but was afraid that I might be led into over laudation. I was therefore glad, in the case of my father, to be able to substitute for my own account the obituary notice of him addressed to the Royal Society of Edinburgh, by so distinguished a man as Sir David Brewster, and to conclude the Appendix by adding the well-known lines addressed to him by his life-long friend, Sir Walter Scott (App. x.)
I was also glad to be able to supply the full-page illustrations to this volume from the collection of my father's drawings, part of which had already appeared in the edition of Spalding's Troubles, printed for the Bannatyne Club.
I have, in conclusion, to record my thanks to my friend, Charles Elphinstone-Dalrymple, Esq., for the kind interest he has taken in the work, and the judicious advice I have received from him ; and also to the Secretary of the New Spalding Club, P. J. Anderson, Esq., who has kindly revised my proof sheets, and given me many valuable suggestions from time to time.
I have only to add, that in compiling the history of so many branches of the family, I may occasionally have been led into inaccuracies of date or statement, for which I hope to meet with indulgence.
WILLIAM F. SKENE.
27 INVERLEITH Row, EDINBURGH, December, 1887.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGE
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ... ... ... ... xv.
INTRODUCTION ... ... ... ... ... i
CHAPTER I. — Skene of Skene ... ... ... ... 5
CHAPTER II. — Skene of Halyards in Fife . ... ... 49
Skene of Pitlour ... ... ... 61
Skene of Prerau in Austria ... ... 64
CHAPTER III. — Skene of Dumbreck ... ... ... 69
Skene of Newtyle ... ... ... 75
CHAPTER IV.— Skene of Dyce ... ... ... ... 82
CHAPTER V. — Skene of Westercorse and Ramore ... 90
Skene of Curriehill ... ... ... 106
Skene of Halyards in Midlothian ... ... 117
Skene of Belhelvie ... ... ... 123
Skene of Rubislaw ... ... ...... 131
. yd
XIV. CONTENTS.
APPENDIX OF ILLUSTRATIVE DOCUMENTS.
I. — Families whose descent from Skene of Skene has not
been traced — PAGE
1. Skene of Ruthrieston ... ... ... 147
2. Skene of Auchtererne ... ... ... 151
II. — Foreign Letters addressed to Sir John Skene, between
1586 and 1598 ...' ... ... ... 155
III. — Laudatory rVerses addressed .to Sir John Skene on his
publishing the " Regiam Majestatem" in 1609 ... 180
IV. — Letters connected with transactions between Sir John
Skene and his Sons in 1614 ... ... ... 186
V. — Proceedings connected with a complaint against Sir James Skene of Curriehill for not communicating at Easter, 1619 ... ... ... ... ... 193
VI. — Patent of Baronetcy in favour of Sir James Skene of
Curriehill, 26th January, 1630 ... ... ... 197
VII. — Letters from Hugh Skene and his wife, Petronella Van
Sorgen, addressed to the Lady Halyards ... 225
VIII. — Papers connected with the Skenes of Belhelvie ... 228
IX. — A Solemn Renunciation of Sins by Sir George Skene
of Wester Fintray and Rubislaw, 24th August, 1684 240
-X. — Introduction to Canto Fourth of " Marmion," addressed
by Sir Walter Scott to James Skene of Rubislaw ... 243
INDEX ... ... ... ... ... ... . 251
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
v.,
Skene House ... ... ... ... ... Frontispiece,
PAGE
The Skene preserved in the Skene Charter Chest ... to face 5
Seals of Johan de Skene and Patrick de Skene ... ... 10
Arms of Alexander Skene of Skene and Giles Adie ... 48
Castle of Halyards in Fife ... ... ... to face 49
Arms of Mr. Andrew Skene and Jean Courts ... ... 68
Arms of Robert Skene and Marjory Forbes ... ... 81
Arms of Sir James Skene of Curriehill ... ... ... 116
Castle of Halyards in Midlothian ... ... to face 117
Arms of Skene of Halyards in Midlothian ... ... 122
House of Rubislaw ... ... ... ... to face 131
House in the Guestrow, Aberdeen ... ... to face 133
Arms of Sir George Skene of Wester Fintray ... ... 145
Arms of John Skene of Halyards in Fife ... ... 250
MEMORIALS OF THE FAMILY OF SKENE OF SKENE.
INTRODUCTION.
THE materials for a history of the ancient Aberdeenshire Family of Skene of Skene are more than usually abundant. They consist of the family papers in the charter chest of Skene of Skene, in the possession of the Earl of Fife, now the heir of line of the family ; those in the charter chest of the family of Rubislaw, and in that of the family of Curriehill and Halyards, which fell to the late James Skene of Rubislaw, on the failure of that branch ; and five manuscript histories, compiled at different times.
The oldest of these (MS.A) is a manuscript bearing the following title, " Origo nominis necnon familiae de Skein," and concluding with the following docquet, " Thir presents are exhibited by a wellwisher of both the families, viz., the Laird of Glenbervie, called Douglas, whose draught thereof is wrytten by Mr. Alexander Skene, Aberdeen, 22 January, 1678." This Mr. Alexander Skene is obviously also the compiler of another manuscript, containing coats of arms of all the principal Scottish families. The Skene families among them are — " Skene of that ilk, G. 3 wolfe-heads couped O., on the poynts of as many swords paleways A. hilted and pomelled of the 2d. ; Skene of Halyards in Lothian ; Skene of Halyards in Fyfe ; Skene of Fintrie ; Skene of Remore ; Skene of Dyce ; Skene of Bandodle ; Skene of Dumbreck ; Skene of Corrihill ; Skene of Tillibirlach ; Skene of Newtyle ; Gilbert Skene [his own ancestor], bears the principall armes of the house, and for his cognisance
B
MEMORIALS OF THE FAMILY
ane helme befitting his degree, bearing upon it ane vvolfe sayhant." After which occurs the following docquet : —
Adjuvants Jehovah
Hunc Itbrtrm Pinxit
ALEXR- SKENE Scoto-Abredonensis
A.^E.C. 1678
cui 25to Julij coronidem
Imposuit TravTore S6£a 6eu>.
O si possem pingere ^ternitati
Duce Deo quidvis potest quivis.
•»prn -ON now p-s *
Sors mihi grata cadet.
This is followed by an alphabetical Index, and by some Notes on Heraldry.
There can, I think, be little difficulty in identifying the compiler of these two manuscripts with a Mr. Alexander Skene, a man of some note and culture at the time, in Aberdeen, whose brother James, about the same time, held the office of Lyon Depute. They were, as will afterwards appear, sons of a Robert Skene, merchant burgess of Aberdeen, and treasurer of the burgh. Alexander, his eldest son, was born in 1621, and admitted a burgess in 1625, when only four years old — "jure paternitatis et dispens. cum jurejurando quia pupillus est et infra aetatem." In 1648 he was a Master of Arts, as appears from a sasine in favour " probi et discreti adolescentis magistri Alexandri Skene." In 1656 he became a magistrate of the town, and in the same year was chosen, as one of the nearest of kin, curator of John Skene of that ilk, whom he addresses, in 1675, in a letter in the same charter chest, as his " beloved friend."
* I am indebted to the Reverend Walter MacLeod for the following explanation of the Hebrew — " The Hebrew lines are not from any particular text, so far as I can discover, but the phraseology is Scriptural. They may be thus rendered : —
For in Thee, O Lord, is my hope ; Therefore I rejoice in my portion"
OF SKENE OF SKENE. 3
In 1685 there appeared in Aberdeen a work with the title of " Memorialls for the Government of the Royall-Burghs in Scotland. By $IAOIIOAITEIOYZ, or a lover of the Publick wellfare " ; and, in the same year, "A Succinct Survey of the famous City of Aberdeen. By a Zealous Lover of Bon-Accord, *IAOnOAITEIOY2." That Baillie Alexander Skene was the author appears from an entry in the Council Register in the same year — " the little book latlie emitted be Mr Alexr Skene late bailie dedicat to the Magrals and Counsell .... to get tuentie thereof for the touns vse" (vol. Ivii, p. 198).
His position, his literary character, and his connection with the family of Skene of Skene necessarily give great weight to his account of the family, and especially to that period when he must have been personally cognisant of the facts he narrates.
The second manuscript history, in point of date (MS.B), is unfortunately anonymous. Its title is " Some special Accounts concerning the house of Skene," and it belonged to the late Andrew Skene, advocate, Solicitor- General for Scotland. This account, however, must have been written between the years 1680 and 1724, as the writer mentions, "John Skene of that ilk, who was father to the present Laird of Skene, whose name is Alexander," and Alexander succeeded his father in 1680, and died in 1724. From its silence as to later events, it was probably written not long after the former date.
Of the third manuscript (MS.C) we can give a more distinct account. Its title is " Ane account of Sir John Skene, Lord Curriehill, Clerk Register, his Predecessors and Successors " ; and there is this docquet — " This account was written by Mr. Robert Cowpar, brother to Sir John Cowpar of Gogar, who died in the ox)th year of his age in the year 1726, at Balherton, in Midlothian, near Edinburgh. Sir John Cowpar's father was married (as per the account) to Mr. John Skene of Halyards, one of the principal Clerks of Session, his eldest daughter, Helen Skene ; and Mr. John Skene of Halyards was Sir John's second son, who was a son of Skene of Raemoir's, the eldest cadet of the family of Skene of that ilk, now gone into the name of Hog, by the heiress marrying this Raemoir's father, who was first of that name. This is copied out of the original manuscript by John Ramsay of Menies, lineally descended of the family of Dalhousie, Anno 1727." This account, therefore, belongs to the same period with the previous manuscript
4 MEMORIALS OF THE FAMILY OF SKENE OF SKENE.
The fourth manuscript account of the family (MS.D) consists of separate " accounts of the families of Skene of Skene, of Skene of Halyards (in Fife), and of Skene of Curriehill and Halyards, in Lothian ; to which is added some accounts concerning the family of Skene of that ilk ; an account of Sir George Skene of Wester Fintray, his predecessors, and account of some of the predecessors of Giles Adie, wife of Alexander Skene, who died at Skene, 2Oth January, 1724." These formed part of " The account of the families of Scotland, in the possession of the late George Chalmers, F.R.S.S.A.," and may be dated about 1770.
The last manuscript account (MS.E) is a volume with the title " Parentalia, or Genealogical Notes with reference to the different families of the name of Skene and others allied to the family of Skene of Rubislaw, collected from various sources by James Skene, 1820." This manuscript is chiefly valuable from recording many of the floating traditions regarding the family history, which were still current at the date at which it was compiled, and which the author lost no opportunity of obtaining from those old persons in whose memory they were still preserved.
The following memorials are compiled partly from these manuscript histories, and partly from documents among the family papers, or extracted from the public records. Where no references are added, they are from documents in the various charter chests.
f
A
Representation of tin- ajicietit Dirk or Skeui ., pre-served in tfu- Ski •///• ('liarta l tuul /»/•///-» w/ it> hav'e been iisetl as a symbol <>/ ' un'i -.iff turf front thetl //if laiuls nvvv r/vv •//•<•/ into a. ftartmy in, 737J." f3 / size
CHAPTER I.
SKENE OF SKENE.
ABOUT ten miles due west from Aberdeen is the Loch of Skene, a considerable sheet of water, and on the north side of it extends the ancient barony of Skene, co-extensive with the more modern parish of the same name. It is bounded on the north by the parishes of Kinellar and Kintore, on the west by the parishes of Kinnernie, now annexed to Cluny, and Echt, and on the east by the freedom lands of Aberdeen. The barony consisted of two distinct portions. The western and larger portion contained the lands of the Maynes or Dominical lands of Skene, Hattown, Broomhill, Newton, Tearavell, Over and Nether Auchinlech, Craigdarg, Letter, Bervie, Easter and Wester Kin- mundie, Easter and Wester Carney, Fiddie, Mill of Keir, Ord, Blackhill, Graystone, Rodgerhill, and Broadiach. The eastern and smaller portion, usually termed the lands of Easter Skene, consisted of the Kirkton of Skene, Liddach, Garlogie, and Millbuie. On the former was situated the old tower of Skene, said by tradition to be the first built stone house in Mar. It now forms the west wing of the House of Skene. On Easter Skene was the Church of Skene, now a parish church, but formerly a vicarage, dependent upon the mother church of Kinkell.
These lands were erected into a barony by King Robert Bruce, in the year 1317, and have from time immemorial been in the possession of the baronial family of Skene of Skene. Mr. Robert Cowpar tells the following anecdote with reference to the antiquity of the family. He says — " This present Laird of Skene's father being in Edinburgh, and desirous to see his relations, Sir John Cowpar of Gogar being in company with him at the Cross of Edinburgh, asked him if he desired to see and be acquainted with my Lady Dundonald, being ane relation of his, he was very well \
6 SKENE OF SKENE.
pleased, and they went together to her lodging. Sir John Cowpar, intro- ducing him to the Countess of Dundonald, told her he had brought her Chief the Laird of Skene to wait upon her. She received him with great joy and kindness, being the person in the world she longed to see, being her chief, and hearing that he was ane old family — ' But, Skene, I would gladly know what you can produce to instruct your antiquity ? ' 'I can instruct, in my charter-chest, one-and-thirty services and retours, from father to son, and not a daughter intervening ; ' whereupon she called upon the Earl of Dundonald, and gave him account of what Skene told her ; the Earl being so well pleased that he embraced him and carried him to his foreroom, where there were several noblemen in company with the Earl, and desired them to take his Lady's chief by the hand, who could say that which, he believed, none of them could say the like. ' This Laird of Skene can produce, lying in his charter chest, thirty-one services and retours, from father to son, and not a daughter intervening ; ' which all of them declared there was none of them could say the like, and that it was both ane honest and old evidence of his family ; so this present old laird's son is thirty-third from father to son" (MS.C) — and no doubt none of them could say the like, and it would have been "ane honest and old evidence" if the retours could have been produced ; but that the old laird's son was the thirty-third from father to son, was simply a matter of traditionary belief, evidently derived from the legendary origin of the family. Taking the average length of a generation in the Skene family, which, from the early marriages of the lairds, is unusually small, thirty-one generations would take us back to the eleventh century, and through a period when there were no such documents as services and retours.
The traditionary origin of the family is thus given by Mr. Alexander Skene, in 1678 : —
" Ane old tradition yr is that the tribe and family of Skein had their origin from Struan Robertson of Athole, and they from McDonald, and yl our first author was a son of the Laird of Struans, and had his first donation immediately from the king, for killing ane devouring wolfe in the forest, near the freddom land of Aberdeen, for which he got ye confirmation of East and Wester Skein, to the freedom of Abdn, and that with ane coat of arms helmed and flurished, relating to the valorous act, viz., 3 wolfs heads crazed upon the points of 3 Skeens, triumphant in a field of Gules ; above the helmet ane naked hand holding a laurel
SKENE OF SKENE. 7
branch, wl this motto, ' Virtutis Regia merces,' which arms are registered in ye booke of Heraldry. Under the reign of what king yl happened I am not certainly informed. But sure I am that there was lately in the charter chest of the House of Skein a restauration from a forfauture granted by K. W. the Lion. This is now amissing." (MS. A).
Sir George Mackenzie, in his " Science of Heraldry," published two years after, in 1680, gives the same account. He says — "Some also derive their names as well as their arms from some considerable action ; and thus a second son of Struan Robertson, for killing of a wolf in Stocket Forrest by a durk in the king's presence, got the name of Skein, which signifies a durk in Irish, and three durk-points in pale for his armes." (p. 5.)
The next manuscript account, written not very long after, gives us the king's name. It says — "King Malcolm Kenmore, having defeat the Danes at Mortlich, which was then the Bishop's see, and killed the King of Den- mark there, on his road south from the Buttoch of Mortlich, being fiercely purshewed by a devouring woulfe in the wood of Culbleun, which then stretched itself from Breymar to the forest of the Stocket of Aberdeen,
miles abov that town, a second son of Donald of the Isles, perceiving the fierceness of the woulfe with his open mouth coming upon the king, wrapt his plaid about his left arme, and thrust in his mouth, and interposed himselfe to the furie of the wyld beast rather than have his prince in hazard, and then, with his right hand, drew his Skene, and under his arme that was in the mouth of the woulfe, struck in his Skein at his head, and cut of his head and delivered to King Malcombe, for the quhilk Malcome gave him the lands of Skene, and caused him to be called Skene of yl ilk, as lykways the great Laik or Loch of Skene, being sax myles of circuit, well plenished with fresh water fishes, Elk Bulls and Croched Cows on the sydes thereof, who have but on ear or lug, and gives exceeding mutch milk, and are said never seen to Bule, but its vulgarly reported that these Elfe Bulls comes out in the night season and returne with a great Bulying in the Watter.
" The armes given for this noble atchievement and act of valour was Gules, three Skeines palewayes, in fess argent, pomelled or, surmounted of alse many woolfe heads couped of the third ; above the shield ane helmit befitting his degree, mantled gules, doubled argent ; supported on the dexter by a Dunewassell in highland habit, viz., a blue bonnet, pinched up on the left syde with a bon pin, a slashed out coat or doublet,
8 SKENE OF SKENE.
enveloped with a plaid over his left shoulder, and girded in his sword, and his left hand curving up the shield, and in his right hand a Skene or dagger guarding it, and on the sinister syd a Gillieweetfoot, with his master's target on his left arme, and his doorlach pendant to his heels, with short hoise, and rullions on his foot ; and for his Crest a Crowne of Lawrell, with this motto over it, in a scroll, ' virtutis regia merces! This Coat was donum Regis, and not the douyer of a Herauld. . . .
" John Skene of yl ilk, who was father to the present Laird of Skene, whose name is Alexander, was the Twentie-sevent Laird of Skene served and retoured, as the breves and services by the Monsars [Macers] and SherifFe Court Books of Aberdene can witness." (MS.B.)
The third manuscript (MS.C) repeats the traditionary origin given by Mr. Alexander Skene in 1678 ; but Sir John Cowpar, in introducing this John Skene of that ilk to Lady Dundonald, adds four generations to the twenty-seven given in the previous manuscript, and credits him with thirty-one services and retours.
In the next manuscript history (MS.D) we find a still further develop- ment of the story, extending, in the same manner, the antiquity of the family. The author repeats the story in MS.B, but substitutes Malcolm the Second as the King, and gives 1014 as the date, and then adds to it this further account : — " The first of this family we have now upon record is John de Skeen, who lived in the reign of King Malcolm Canmore, after whose death he had the misfortune to join Donald Bain, the usurper, who was his near relative, for which he was most justly forfeited by King Edgar. But afterwards, in the reign of King Alexander 1st, when that monarch was marching against the Rebels in the North, the Laird of Skeen joined the Royal army, did them singular service in assisting them to pass the rivers, and in short behaved with such courage and mag- nanimity against the King's Enemies upon every occasion, that his Majesty was graciously pleased to rehabilitate him, and restored unto him his Estate of Skene, Anno 1 1 18 (in the charter chest of the family), which has been enjoyed by his posterity ever since."
In another edition of this manuscript the story is thus told : —
" The family, by the troublesome times which afterwards prevailed, lost many of their charters and principal papers, so that there is very little accounts of thirteen Lairds of Skene who succeeded one another, from King Malcolm the second to the time of King Robert the Bruce ;
SKENE OF SKENE. 9
only there is still extant a Restoraution from a forfaulture of the Lands of Skene, granted by King Alexander .the first to John de Skene, An. 1118; and the tradition of the forfaulture is, that upon Donald Bane usurping the Crown of Scotland, after the death of King Malcolm the Third, surnamed Keanmore, the then Laird of Skene joined with Donald as his relation, for which he was forfeited ; and upon King Alexander succeeding to the Crown, and going north to Murray, to subdue .the Rebells, who had attacked him in his Castle of Luff, in the Carse of Cowrie, the Laird of Skene followed the king north, and by his valour and conduct was the principal mean of passing the king and his army over the water of Spey, in spite of the Rebells who had taken possession of the Foords, and did the king many other remarkable services in that campaign, for which he was restored by him to his Estate."
It is no wonder that the writer could find little account of the supposed thirteen early Lairds of Skene, but he makes up for the want of records, by transposing the restoration from forfeiture, which Mr. Alexander Skene said was granted by King William the Lion, to the reign of Alexander I. in 1 1 1 8, and attaches to it a fanciful tale, in which he appropriates to his imaginary Laird of Skene the valiant actions which Hector Boece attributes to Alexander Carron, the king's standard bearer.
The first appearance of the surname of Skene, in any authentic document, is in 1296, when " Johan de Skene del counte de Edneburh," and " Johan de Skene, Patrick de Skene del counte de Aberdene," did homage to King Edward the First (Calendar of Documents relating to Scotland, pp. 203-208). The seals attached to these homages are preserved, and show that Johan de Skene del counte de Edneburh and del "counte de Aberdene was the same person. His seal bears the device of a head of John the Baptist upon a charger, with a hand pointing down, and the inscription " S. loh'is de Sceyn." The Seal of Patrick de Skene has the device of a small shield within quatrefoil, bearing three Skenes or dirks paleways, "S. Patricii de Sken Cl'ici." It is probable that Johan de Skene did homage as holding the lands of Skene, with the Tower, of the Crow/i, and Patrick as holding the lands of Easter Skene, containing the Kirktown of Skene, and that he was himself the vicar of Skene. The name of Skene is thus plainly territorial. And as these Church lands always formed part of the subsequent barony, we may infer that, like other families, the Skenes were hereditary possessors
C
I0 SKENE OF SKENE.
of the vicarage of Skene, and took their name from it. What lands Johan de Skene possessed in the county of Edinburgh it is difficult to say, but they may have been the lands of Halyards, in the parish of Kirkliston, which were afterwards acquired by the family, and were connected with the possessions of the Hospitallers or Knights of St. John of Jerusalem ; and so may have given rise to the device upon his seal. This is the more probable as his successor, in 1358, as we shall afterwards see, bore the name of Gilian, which means the servant of St. John.
Seals of Johan de Skene and Patrick de Skene.
There are some documents, however, which bear upon the territorial history of the lands. In the Chartulary of the Bishopric of Aberdeen is the following: — "Conventio inter Petrum episcopum et Alanum Hostiarium." " Hec est conuentio facta inter venerabilem patrem episcopum Aberdon- ensem ex parte vna et dominum Alanum hostiarium justiciarium Scotie ex altera. Videlicet quod dictus dominus Alanus hostiarius dedit et concessit Deo et ecclesie beate Marie et sancte Machorij de Aberdon et episcopoPetro eiusque successoribus viginti duos solidos sterlingorum legalium de terra sua de Schene ad duos terminos imperpetuum percipiendos medietatem videlicet ad Penthecosten et aliam medietatem ad festum sancti Martini in yeme pro decimis de Onele quas sui antecessores Episcopi ex collatione illustris regis Dauid et regum succeSsorum eiusdem actenus percipere debuerunt. quas quidem decimas predictus Petrus episcopus prefato Alano hostiario et heredibus suis pro dictis xxij solidis annuatim soluendis
SKENE OF SKENE. II
imperpetuum dimisit et quieteclamauit. Ita tamen quod dicta terra de Schen pro prefata quantitate pecunie dictis terminis soluenda Episcopo Aberdonensi qui pro tempore fuerit in perpetuum remaneat obligata. In cujus rei testimonium parti hujus scripture in modum cirograffi confecte penes dictum dominum Alanum remanenti sigillum dicti domini Episcopi vna cum sigillo capituli ecclesie sue Aberdonensis est appositum. alteri vero parti penes dominum Episcopum residenti sigillum prefati domini Alani est appensum. Hiis testibus domino Willelmo de Brechyne. W. Byset. Colmero hostiario. Johanne de vallibus. Gregorio de maleuile. R. Flandrensi. magistro W. officiali Aberdonensi. domino Gilberto de Strivelyng. et Hugone de Bennam canonicis ecclesie Aberdonensis et alijs." — (i. 17).
In a Rental of the Bishopric, in the reign of Alexander III., there is this entry — " De tern's de Skyen dentur domino Episcopo Aberdonensi pro secundis decimis de Onele xxij. s. ex conuentione inter episcopum et capitulum Aberdonense et Alanum Hostiarum dominum earundem." —
(I- 57).
Alan Hostiarius or Durward died in 1275, so that this agreement must have been entered into before that date. What his precise connec- tion with the lands of Skene was, at this time, is not very clear, but it may be inferred that he possessed only the superiority of the lands from the following circumstance.
The Church of Skene was undoubtedly a vicarage dependent upon the Church of Kinkell. In the same Register there is the following: — "Carta domini comitis mariscalli facta magistro Alexandro Gallouay rectori a Kinkell de et super concessione vnius crofte iuxta ecclesiam de Skein pro mansione construenda vicario dicte ecclesie. Celebrando missam hebdomadatim omni secunda feria. Data apud Castrum de Kyntor xij Decembris A.D. MDXXXIX." — (r. 416). What the Earl Marischall's connection with the lands was will after appear. In 1613 there is in the Register of the Privy Seal " ane letter maid makand mention that umquhile Mr. Thomas Lumsden, parson of Kinkell, had, by tack, to Alexander Skene of that ilk, set to him the teind Sheaves of the lands of Wester Skene, &c." And by an Act of the Scotch Parliament, in 1649, the kirks of Drumblate, Skeene, Kintore, Kynnellar, Dyce, and Kemnay, " as being kirks and pendicles of the kirke of Kinkell of auld erected in ane benefice and parsonage, quhairof the kirkis aboue writtin
12 SKENE OF SKENE.
were proper parts and pendicles," are dissolved, disunited, and separated, "with the right of patronage and title of the teynds rexue of the samen kirks from the forsaid kirk and benefice of Kinkell," and declared "to be severall and distinct paroche kirkis and parochines be thameselffis, and nowayes to be parts and pendicles of the said kirk of Kinkell, benefice and personage theirof, in all tyme comeing." — (Acts of Parl. vi., pt. ii., 183).
This parsonage of Kinkell was, as its name implies, the plebania or mother church of the great Thanage of Kintore ; and the lands attached to the other dependent vicarages all belonged to the Thanage. It is therefore probable that the lands of Skene originally formed part of the Thanage of Kintore ; and the narrative is probably correct which describes it as forming part of an extended forest, for that part of the parish of Kintore which bounds it on the north, was the "foresta de Kintore," and at the northern extremity of the forest was the old tower of Hall Forest, believed to have been a hunting seat of the Scottish kings. It is thus described — " Hall Forest [a royal castle], according to tradition, was built by King Robert Bruce for a hunting hall. It consisted of four stories, having battlements, besides what is called a Capehouse, with a moveable ladder, by which those who occasionally lodged in it, entered to the first floor. The Earl Marischall, having acquired a right to it from the Crown, presented it to his son, the first Earl of Kintore." — (Kennedy's "Annals of Aberdeen," vol. ii., p. 323). That the old tower of Skene was an analogous structure, will appear from the description of it given in one of the MS. histories of the family — " The Tower, or old house, still stands, which was originally built of three arches or stories, and entered by a ladder on the second story. It was covered with a mound of earth upon the top of the third arch, and is all built with lime, quite run to- gether or vitrified, and the walls about ten feet thick. It continued in its original state till about the year 1680, that the arches being taken out, it was roofed and floored by Jean Burnet, Lady Skene, Relict of John Skene of that ilk, in her widowhood, and makes now a part of the accommodation of the present house" — (MS.D). Both towers, however, belong, from the style of their architecture, to a much earlier period than the reign of King Robert Bruce, and were probably erected not later than in the twelfth century.
The Thanage of Kintore was in the possession of the Crown in the reign of Alexander the Third, as appears from a Rental preserved in the
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Chartulary of the Bishopric of Aberdeen (i. 57), but in the same reign Alan Dunvard undoubtedly possessed extensive lands in the Earldom of Mar. These lands were acquired in consequence of a claim made by his father, Thomas Dunvard, before 1228, to the Earldom of Mar, and renewed by his son Alan, in 1257. This claim seems to have been com- promised by the Durwards obtaining possession of three hundred pound land, partly in domain (dominiis) and partly in holdings (Jiomagiis), or more, in the Earldom (Palgrave Records, p. 22). Part, if not the whole, of the Thanage of Kintore, including the lands of Skene, may thus, for the time, have been in his possession. The tenure on which Thanage lands were held was analogous to that of lands held in feodofinna, that is, for an annual money payment Alan Dunvard is termed, in connection with Skene, " Dominus earundem," and therefore held it probably as " a holding," that is, the superiority only, and his grant of xxij shillings to the Bishop was probably from the feu rent due to him as overlord. Fordun tells us that Alan Dunvard died in 1275, and that his three daughters succeeded to him in his lands, but these acquisitions to the Earldom of Mar appear not to have fallen under his succession, but to have reverted to the Crown. The Thanage, afterwards the Barony, of Oneill, one of his principal possessions, appears to have been granted to the Earls of Fife, and the possessions of the lands of Skene would now come to be held of the Crown, as we find was the case with John de Skene and Patrick de Skene in 1296.
It is quite possible that the family of Skene is at least as old as the reign of William the Lion, and that Mr. Alexander Skene may be correct in saying that there had been in the charter chest a restoration from for- feiture by that monarch, for in 1174 there broke out in the north an insurrection in favour of a Donald Bane Mac William, who held possession of the northern counties till 1 181, when it was suppressed, and the ancestor of the Skenes may have been among those who supported him. The confusion between the Donald Bane of King William's time and the Donald Bane, brother of Malcolm Canmore, who usurped the throne in the eleventh century, would at once account for the earlier tradition. The name of Skene, signifying in Gaelic a dirk, would give rise, by the canting heraldry of the time, to the arms, and, if Skene was a forest, to the addition of the wolves' heads, and thus lead to the traditionary origin of the name.
14 SKENE OF SKENE.
The history of the family, so far as it is really based on services and retours, commences in the reign of King Robert Bruce, and is as follows: —
I. — ROBERT DE SKENE.
In 1317 he received the following charter from King Robert the Bruce : —
" Robertus Dei gracia Rex Scotorum Omnibus probis hominibus totius terrae suae Salutem. Sciatis nos dedisse, concessisse et hac presenti carta nostra confirmasse Roberto Skene dilecto et fideli nostro pro homagio et seruicio suo, omnes et singulas terras nostras del Skene et lacum ejusdem cum pertinenciis infra Vicecomitatum del Aberdene. Tenendas et Habendas dicto Roberto et heredibus suis de nobis et heredibus nostris in vnam integram et liberam Baroniam in feodo et hereditate in perpetuum cum furca et fossa soc et sac thol et theme infangandthef et outfangandthef et per omnes rectas antiquas metas ct divisas suas in longitudine et latitudine in boscis planis pratis pascuis et pasturis silvis moris et maresiis viis semitis aquis et stagnis in mollen- dinis multuris et eorum sequelis in aucupationibus venationibus et piscariis et cum omnibus aliis libertatibus commoditatibus aisiamentis ac justis pertinentibus quibuscunque tam non nominatis quam nominatis ad dictas terras et lacum cum pertinentibus spectantibus seu quoquomodo juste spectare valentibus in futurum. Faciendo inde nobis et heredibus nostris dictus Robertus et heredes sui quolibet anno imperpetuum com- munem sectam curie ad placita nostra vicecomitatus del Aberdene et in exercitu nostro Scoticanum servicium pro omni alio servicio con- suetudine actione seu demanda quae de dictis terris et lacu cum per- tinentibus per nos vel heredes nostros exigi poterit vel requiri. In cujus rei testimonium presenti carte nostre sigillum nostrum precepimus apponi. Testibus Bernardo abbate del Aberbrothoc cancellario nostro, Thoma Ranulphi comite Moravie et domino vallis Anandie et Mannie nepote nostro, Waltero senescallo Scocie, Jacobo domino Douglas, Alexandro Eraser, Dauid Berclay et Roberto de Lawider militibus, Apud Sconam primo die lunij anno regni nostri duodecimo."
" This Robert married Marion Mercer, daughter of the Baron of Adle and Meiklure, then provost of Perth " (MS.D). In a retour, dated 10 April, 1629, afterwards quoted, he is said to have died at the peace of David II., that is between 1329 and 1370.
SKENE OF SKENE. 15
His successor appears to have been —
II. — GILIAN DE SKENE.
There is in 1358 the following entry in the Exchequer Rolls, in the accounts of " Thomas comes de Marr camerarius Scocie " : —
" Item, in solucione facta Giliane de Skene, vt patet per literam ipsius comitis de Marr, camerarii, de precepto et ipsius Giliane de recepto, ostensas super compotum iij li. vj s. et viij d., de quibus idem comes, camerarius, respondebit " — (Exch. Rolls, Vol. I., p. 552).
Nothing more is known of him ; but his name Gilian, a servant of St. John, suggests a descent from the John de Skene who bore the head of St. John the Baptist on his seal.
III. — ADAM DE SKENE.
He is mentioned in the retour of 1629 as grandson of Robert de Skene, and ancestor of the subsequent lairds of Skene. He is followed by another
IV. — ADAM DE SKENE, and he by a third
V. — ADAM DE SKENE,
" who before the battle of Harlaw married Janet Keith daughter of Earl Marischal of Scotland. About this time, when Donald Lord of the Isles had invaded that part of the country, Skene raised his friends and followers and joined the Royal army to oppose them and raised 300 merks from his father-in-law, Lord Marischal to equip himself and men : he mortgaged a part of his estate for it which afterwards brought great trouble upon the family all which appears in the family writs which we have seen. He was killed at the battle of Harlaw in the year 1411 and his lady being with child brought forth a son William Skene who died in 1445 leaving a son James Skene of that ilk " (MS.D). This account is confirmed, as we shall see by the family papers, except that James was the son of Adam, and there was no William intervening. By him Gilian is probably meant, who preceded Adam, instead of following him.
VI. — JAMES DE SKENE — 1411-1461. We now come upon firmer ground in the history of the family.
16 SKENE OF SKENE.
In the year 1428 there is the following entry in the Exchequer Rolls: —
" Et in liberacione facta Jacobo de Skene, pro firmis terrarum suarum de Corntoun, existentibus in manu regis de terminis Pentecostes et Sancti Martini ultimo preteritis, ut patet per literas regis de precepto et dicti Jacobi de recepto ostensas super computum vj li. xiij s. iiij d." — (Exch. Rolls, Vol. iv., p. 444) ; and in the following year among the payments — " Et Jacobo Skene, pro firma sua tercie partis de Corntoun per asse- dacionem in manibus regis existente de anno computi, ut patet per literas domini regis de mandato pro voluntate duraturas, et dicti Jacobi de recepto, ostensas super computum vj li. xiij s. iiij d." — (Ib., p. 483).
Again, in 1434, it is more distinctly given, and the king's letter of authority is endorsed : —
" Et Jacobo Skene, pro firmis tercie partis terre de Corntoun spectantis uxori ejusdem, de duobus terminis hujus computi vj li. xiij s. iiij d. Et eidem ex causa xiij s. iiij d., de mandato regis, ut patet per literas suas de precepto ostensas super computum et registratas in dorso hujus rotuli. . . .
" James, be the grace of God king of Scottis, to the custumaris of oure gret custome of Abreden greting. We charge yhu and commande^ that yhe content and pay yherly to James of Skene of that ilk ten markkis of usuale mone of oure realme at two termes of the yheir proporcionaly quhil yhe have contremandment of us, the first term begynnand at the fest of Saynt Martin last passit, takkin his lettres of ressayt to schaw to us, and to be alowit to yhu yherly in 5our comptis, this presentis enduring for our will. Gevin under our signet at Edynburch the xxj. dai of Februar the yhere of our reigne xxj " — (Ib., p. 567).
The learned editor gives the following explanation of these entries : —
" Corntoun, in the first half of the fifteenth century, belonged to a branch of the Eraser family, and was occupied by the king, who paid a rent for it. But by an excambion of date 1455 it became Crown property, Eraser getting in exchange for it Muchal (afterwards called Castle Eraser), in Mar, and Stoneywood, near Aberdeen." He adds in a note—" From 1428 to 1435, James I. paid annually £6 133. 4d. to James Skene of Skene, for his occupation of terce lands of Corntoun, belonging to Skene's wife, widow of a Eraser of Corntoun. From 1438 to 1450, Thomas Fraser of Corntoun got £20 yearly out of the king's fermes north of Dee, or the customs of Aberdeen, in compensation for the king's occu- pancy of Corntoun " — (Ib., vi., pref., p. Ixxvi).
SKENE OF SKENE. 17
James Skene of Skene was thus married to the widow of Fraser of Corntoun as early at least as the year 1428, and had, by his wife, a son, Alexander, who succeeded him, and who was marriageable in 1438, as on the 1 2th of May in that year, Egidia de Moravia, domina de Culbin, in her widowhood, with consent of Alan of Kynnarde, her son and heir, grants to Alexander Skene, son and heir of James Skene of that ilk, on account of the marriage to be contracted between him and Mariot of Kinarde her daughter, the lands of Dulpoty, Estertown, and Mill of Dulpoty, in the Barony of Culbin, and Sheriffdom of Forres, in security of the sum of ;£ioo Scots, James Skene must therefore have been born long before the year 1411, when his father was killed at Harlaw, and the statement in MS.D that Adam's successor was a posthumous child is plainly apocryphal.
The family seems now to have spread somewhat, as we find others of the same name appearing for the first time. In 1430 a Jacobus Skene appears as Notarius Publicus. In 1440 a Fergusius de Skene is admitted a burgess of Aberdeen, and in 1443 a John Skene. In the same year Robertus Skene is "vicarius de Logymar," and is again mentioned in 1477 ; and in 1461 an Alexander Skene appears in the Town Council of Aberdeen. These scions of the family probably belonged to an old branch of the family, the Skenes of Auchtereme, in the parish of Logic Coldstone.
It was in the time of this James of Skene that the family entered into an arduous struggle with the more powerful family of the Earls Marischal, to regain possession of the lands of Easter Skene, which had been pledged to them, as has been previously adverted to.
The family appears to have lost the original deed of impignoration or wadset, and commenced the contest by instructing by the evidence of witnesses, that such a deed had existed. There are still preserved, in the Skene charter chest, two official reports, by a Commissioner appointed for the purpose, of the evidence then taken. They are printed at length in the third volume of the " Antiquities of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff," p. 318 ; but a short abstract may here be given : —
The first is dated 22nd September, 1446, and reports the evidence of three witnesses before a Court held in the Cathedral of Aberdeen. The first witness, John Petkarne, being sworn and examined, states that he read a deed, written on parchment, concerning the impignoration sen fornalyn of the lands of Ester Skene, in favour of the late Lord William
D
18 SKENE OF SKENE.
de Keth, Marischal of Scotland, by Adam de Skene, Lord of the same, father of James de Skene of that ilk, and that said lands were impig- norated sen fornalyt for two or three hundred merks Scots, and this was about 21 years ago, and that it was shown to him by Mariota, then " Domina de Keth." The second witness, William de Sancto Michaele, depones that he was present when the previous witness saw a charter or evidence made in favour of William Lord Keith, by Adam de Skene, of the lands of Ester Skene, sealed with two seals, a round one of the said Adam, and an oval one of the Bishop of Aberdeen, and that John Pet- karne told him that it was a deed made by Adam de Skene, super for- ?talyn, of Ester Skene, for 304 marks. A third witness, William Norvele, depones that he was present in the house of Lord William de Keth, Marischal of Scotland, in the town of Aberdeen, before the battle of Harlaw, when Lord John Stewart of Invermey, and David Berkley of Mernys, instigated the said Lord William de Keth to found two chaplain- ries, for the souls of himself and the Lady Margaret, his wife ; and that Lord William agreed to assign twenty merks of the lands of Ester Skene, with its pertinents, for two chaplains, in the Cathedral of Aberdeen, but the said Lady Margaret declared, in a loud and clear voice, that she never would consent to the chaplainries being founded out of the lands of Ester Skene, because they had no right to the said lands ; upon which the Earl Marischal said, in a rage, that he would not found a single chap- lainrie for their souls, but at length, after consulting with the said Lord John Stewart and David Berkley, assigned an annual payment of twenty- two merks for two chaplains, to celebrate for ever in the Cathedral of Aberdeen, out of the lands of Ester Skene, with warrandice from the lands of Kyntor, should the lands of Ester Skene fail them ; and the Lady Margaret consented to this warrandice : the Earl then sent for Sir John Yoill, priest, and Thomas Spryng, Burgess of Aberdeen, who read, among other documents, the deed by Adam de Skene, regarding the lands of Ester Skene, by which they were fornalit for three hundred merks, and which deed was sealed with two seals, the round seal of Adam, and the oval seal of the Bishop of Aberdeen. Interrogated whether he deponed these things from party or prejudice, hatred or love, he replied, that it was not so, but for the safety of his soul, to avoid the excommunication which he heard widely published, with sounding bells, lighted and extinguished candles, by the reverend fathers in Christ
SKENE OF SKENE. 19
the Bishops of St. Andrews and Aberdeen, against all persons detain- ing or concealing said deed, and not revealing it to the said James de Skene. This public instrument was issued at the instance of the said James de Skene, in presence of Ranald Chene of Crechie, John Burnet of Leyis, David Scrymgeour, Andrew Buchan of Auchmacoy, and Thomas Beset, witnesses.
This proceeding, however, seems to have led to nothing, and James of Skene appears, after a time, to have committed the conduct of the struggle to his son and heir, Alexander Skene, at whose instance a second examination of witnesses was made. This inquiry took place in the parish church of Kincardine, on the ninth day of November, 1456, when a discreet man, John Yoill, was examined, and deponed that eight days before the death of the late Sir John Yoill, vicar of Peterculter, the late Lady of Keth, mother of the Lord William de Keth, now Marischal of Scotland, came to the said Sir John Yoill, at Culter, when grievously sick in bed, and interrogated him regarding the lands of Ester Skene, Ledach, Kirktoun of Skene, Milboy, Garlogy, with the mill thereof, whether his Lord, the Lord William de Keth Marischal, had a real right to the said lands, or whether, as she had often heard asserted, James Skene of that ilk had the right of reclaiming said lands, as belonging, by hereditary right, to the Barony of Skene ; to which Sir John Yoill answered, as he should answer at the great day of judgment, that the Earl Marischal had the said lands in formalyn, made by Adam de Skene for three hundred merks, as contained in a certain deed ; and further stated on oath, that the said Earl Marischal had no other rights from the said Adam to these lands : whereupon the said Lady said, that the Lord Marischal possessed these letters of formalyng of the said lands of Skene, granted by the said Adam de Skene, and nothing else. Interrogated who were then present, said only the Lady of Keth and Sir John Yoill, with himself. Interro- gated how it came there were not more, stated, on oath, that the said Lady caused several others to leave the room, and retained him to serve at mass in the room, asserting him to be hereafter a native man to his Lord, the said Marischal ; and that he made this deposition without party or prejudice, hatred or love, in presence of Master William of Coultis, vicar of Tarlane, Alexander Yrwin of Stradie, of Strathachyn, and
Kennocht of Cragmyle, with many others.
The right which the Keith family claimed to the lands of Ester Skene
2O SKENE OF SKENE.
seems now to have passed to Janet de Keith, only daughter of Robert de Keith, who was eldest son of William, first Earl Marischal, and brother of William, second Earl Marischal, and was thus heir of line of the family ; and on 26th April, 1457, she obtained a decreit from the Sheriff, upon a brief of richt, dated 2ist February, 1456, between "Jacobus de Skene de eodem et Joneta de Keth cum patruo suo nobili Domino Willelmo domino de Keth Mariscallo Scocie de et super terris de ly Ledach de Skene de ly Kirktoun de Skene de Mulboy et de Garlogy," on which the Jury, after hearing evidence " antiquorum virorum," gave their verdict " quod Jacobus de Skene supradictus habet majus jus quam habet dicta Joneta de Keith in et ad dictas terras ; " and on 3Oth April, Jacobus Skene de eodem is infeft in these lands.
The Keith family did not, however, notwithstanding these proceedings, relax their grasp of them, and the scene of litigation was now transferred to Parliament, and a declaration was obtained, on 7th November, 1457, from the King, through the Chancellor of the Kingdom, that James de Skene was to refrain from retaining the rents of these lands till the fourth day of the meeting of Parliament, in the month of March next. Before this Parliament the following protestation was made by his son and heir, Alexander, whose position was strengthened by his taking infeftment on a charter confirming " Alexandro Skene filio et haeredi apparent! Jacobi Skene de eodem," the charter of King Robert the First to Robert Skene of the Barony of Skene : —
" Reuerendis nobille and worschipfull lordis of Parliament, I yhour serviter Alexander of Skene procuratour to my fader Jamys of Skene of that ilke humbli protestis in my fader name that quhat euer be saide done reformyt decretit or adjugit ony maner of way agayn Alexander of Douglas depute to the Shira of Aberdene, now befor yhour lordschippis that hes the force of parliament, or in tym to cume, for the execucioune of his office, made to my fader upoun a briefe of rycht purchast be hym agayn Jonet of Keth for hir unrychtwise deforsing him of the landis of the Ledache of Skeyn, the Kyrktoune of Skeyn, Moylboy, and Garlogy, with the myln of that ilke, with the pertinentis lyand in the Barouny of Skeyne wythin the Shiradome of Aberdene, turne nocht my fader na his ayris to prejudice of the said landis and mylne with the pertinentis in tyme cuming, for sa mekell as my fader hes be the saide briefe recouerit the said landis and mylne with the pertinentis fra the saide Jonet be
SKENE OF SKENE. 21
decret and deliuerance of a gret assise of rycht and dome giflfin thar- apoun and thareftir hes tane sesing of thaim, quhilke assise procedit be uertu of the said briefe and be compromise made betuix my fader and the said Jonet and my Lorde of Keithe chosin be thair avise of four shiradomes to determin the saide cause, but ony excepcioune dilatour or peremptour proponit in the entrance, suppose the saide shirefe wald graunt he had done amys owthir for aid or lufe of the said Lord or Jonet, considering that the said Lorde and Jonet ar bundyn be lettir and seel, and be thar bodely athis sworne on the Haly Ewangelis, for till underly the finale determinacioune of the said assise irreuocabli for euermare."
This was followed on 5th October, 1458, by a petition by Alexander Skene, that his father might be preferred to the possession and rights of said lands, and protestation that no decree to the contrary might prejudge his undoubted right thereto ; which appears to have been granted and the grant again recalled, as on I2th October, 1459, there is again a protesta- tion by Alexander Skene, as procurator for his father, James Skene of that ilk, before the Parliament held at Perth, which narrates that after the king had recognised his right, he had recalled his recognition, at the in- stance of Jonet de Kethe, and given her the lands " adplegium" contrary, the said Alexander maintained, to the laws, rights, and statutes of the realme, and to the hurt, loss, and prejudice of the said James Skene, and on the part of the said James humbly pressed the king to replace him in possession of the said lands, according to the rights, customs, and ancient laws of the kingdom, and protested that the demising of the said lands to the said Jonet de Kethe ad plegium, should not prejudice his rights in future, and that he should have free regress to these lands.
A similar protestation was made on /th March, 1460. In the mean- time, while his son and heir was carrying on this contest with their powerful neighbours, the Keiths, his mother, the widow of Fraser of Corutoun, had died, and his father had married a second time Giles Murray of Cowbin, widow of Thomas Kinnaird of that ilk, in 1458, for we find an obligation by Alane of Kynnarde of that ilk, narrating that " forasmeikle as my tender fader James Skene of that ilk and Giles of Murrane of Skelbo, his spouse, has set to me all and sundrie the lands of Skelbo, in the Earldom of Sutherland and Sheriffdom, &c."
James Skene of Skene appears to have died in the year 1461.
22 SKENE OF SKENE.
VII. — ALEXANDER DE SKENE — 1461-1470.
There is, on ist June, 1461, a sasine in favour of Alexander Skene of that ilk, as heir to the said James, his father, of the lands and barony of Skene, following upon a retour and precept of Chancery.
Soon after, his contest with the Keith family seems to have been brought to a conclusion, at least for the time, in his favour, a result to which the marriage of his half-brother, Alan of Kinnarde, with his antagonist, Janet of Keith, may have contributed; for, on i8th May, 1464, there is a sasine in favour of Alexander Skene de eodem, on a charter from William Earl Marischall, of the lands of "Leddach de Skene Kirkton de Skene Milbuy ct Garlogy in Baronia de Skene ; " and the close con- nection with the Kinnards is still further evinced from a charter of Balerdmund, in the Skene charter chest, granted in 1467 by Alanus de Kynnarde " dilecto fratri nostro naturali Alexandro Skene de eodem. Testibus Gilberto Skene nepote meo Magistro Roberto Skene."
The term naturalis did not at that time imply bastardy but the reverse. It was opposed to the terms carnalis and bastardus.
VIII. — GILBERT DE SKENE — 1470-1485.
In May, 1470, Gilbert Skene is infeft as heir, served and retoured, to Alexander Skene, his father, in the lands and barony of Skene.
In 1481 he married Cristina Mercer, and settled two farms in Wester Skene as her jointure lands, as appears from a Crown charter granted in 23rd May, 1481 — "Gilberto Skene de eodem et Cristine Mersare sponsesue in conjuncta infeodatione et post eorum decessum legitimis et propinquiori- bus heredibus dicti Gilberti quibuscunque de terris de Aclloche et Tulivale cum pertinentiis Jacentibus infra vicecomitatum de Aberdene super resignationem dicti Gilberti. Tenendas de Rege. Reddendo jura et servitia debita et consueta."
IX. — ALEXANDER DE SKENE — 1485-1507.
On the 1 9th of March, 1485, Alexander Skene is infeft as heir, served and retoured, to Gilbert Skene, his father, in the lands and barony of Skene.
SKENE OF SKENE. 23
In 1504 he acquired, from David Strathaquhyn of Carmyle, certain lands in the parish of Kinnernie, which bounds the lands of Skene on the west, as appears by charter granted on i6th April in that year, by " David Strathaquhyn de Carmyle et Dominus de Tulibrochloch dilecto meo Alexandra Skene de Eodem terras meas de Tullibrochloch Tulyna- hiltis Balnadodill cum le Cumeris Auchquhory et molendino ejusdem ; " and among the witnesses is Johannes Skeyne. This charter is confirmed on 1 7th April by Johannes Comes Crawrfurdiae et Dominus de Lyndesay, the Superior ; and on the 22nd April he was infeft in these lands. The lands thus conveyed to him, consisting of five separate possessions adjoining the lands of Skene, formed what were called Tanistry lands, in order to make a provision for the younger sons of the family, who occupied them during their lives as kindlie tenants.
Alexander appears to have died in the year 1 507, as towards the end of that year, on I2th February, 1507-8, there is in the Privy Seal Record a letter to Sir Alexander Irving of Drum and Duncan Forbes of the ward of the lands of the late Alexander Skene of that ilk, and of the marriage of Alexander Skene, his son and heir ; and on the third day of October, 1508, Agnes Forbes is served by a jury assembled at Aberdeen, before John, Earl of Crawfurd, and Lord Lyndesay, " qui jurati dicunt quod Agnes Forbes relicta Alexandri Skene de eodem tenetur habere racionabilem terciam omnium terrarum baronie de Skene exceptis duabus partibus terrarum de Lattir que attigit habere suam terciam in solari parte hujusmodi terrarum."
This Agnes Forbes, according to MS. authority, was a daughter of Lord Forbes, probably of James, second Baron Forbes, by Egidia de Keith, daughter of William, First Earl Marischal, and was thus sister of that Duncan Forbes who was one of the guardians of her infant son. By her Alexander Skene had two sons — I. Alexander Skene, who succeeded him.
II. James Skene, kindlie tenant of Bandodill, ancestor of the families of Skene of Ramore, Curriehill, Halyards in Midlothian, and Rubislaw.
X.— ALEXANDER DE SKENE— 1507-1517.
With this laird Mr. Alexander Skene begins his genealogical account of the family. He says — " After many generations succeeded Alexander
24 SKENE OF SKENE.
Skene of yat ilke. At that tyme the family being weak and under burdens, he married Elizabeth Black, daughter to a burgess of Aberdeen, with whom he got in dott and tocher good all that tract of land called the round table ;" and MS.D adds — " being that part of the town of Aber- deen bounded on the east with the Castle Street or present Exchange, on the south with the Exchequer Row, and on the west with the Rotten Row, and on the north with the Narrow Wynd. Besides these houses, he got a considerable sum of money with her." No doubt the protracted struggle with the principal family of the Keiths Marischal would, in some degree, account for the depressed state of the family. Alexander Skene was, as we have seen, in pupillarity when his father died in 1 507, and attained majority in 1514, as in that year he obtains, on 8th May, a charter of the Tanistry lands, from " Alexander Comes Crawfordiae et Dominus de Lindesay et dominus omnium et singularum terrarum de Tulibroloch, Tullynahiltis, Balnadodill, le Comeris, Auchorye, Auchmor et molendini ejusdem Alexandro Skeyne filio et heredi quondam Alexandri Skeyne de eodem ; " and among the witnesses is " Johannes Skeyne de Auchterarnanc."
On i/th July, in the same year, he is infeft as heir, served and retoured, to Alexander Skene, his father, in the lands and barony of Skene.
In 1516 he married Elizabeth Black, as on 2Oth May in that year he receives a Crown charter to himself and Elizabeth Black, his spouse, of the lands of Newton in Skein and Letter, in Baronia de Skene, by his own resignation, as her jointure lands. He seems to have died in 1517.
XL — ALEXANDER DE SKENE — 1517-1604.
Mr. Alexander Skene says of him — " Alexander Skene, commonly designed the little laird, who was left a child in his mother's womb when his father, fighting for his king and country, was slain in the battle of Pinkey. Therefore, he being the only child of his umquhill father, his land fell ward in the king's hands. The laird of Drum being at that time at Court, got the gift of his ward, which he gave to the laird of Corsenday for a horse ; and the said Corsenday took the tutilage of the child, till such tyme as he was for marriage, and then gave him 10,000 merks of tocher, with his own daughter in marriage, called Margaret Forbes." This is a good specimen of the character of such family traditions. They
SKENE OF SKENE. 25
state facts which are or may be true enough, but attribute them to wrong persons and dates. It seems true that he was a posthumous child, and the account given by MS.D of the reason why he was called " the little laird," bears all the appearance of probability. " He was killed at the battle of Pinkie in 1547, and was called the little laird from his being hunchbacked from a fall he got out of his nurse's arms when going up the ladder to the old house of Skene." But it errs in saying that he was killed at the battle of Pinkie, as Mr. Alexander Skene does in saying his father was killed in that battle.
Mr. Alexander Skene is also mistaken in saying that the gift of his ward was given to the laird of Drum, and by him transferred to the laird of Corsinday, for, as we have seen, it was his father whose ward was given to Sir Alexander Irving of Drum and Duncan Forbes of Corsinday, and " the little laird," as he was called, was under the guardianship of his uncle, James Skene, for we find, on 2nd November, 1538, in a mutual agreement between Alexander Skeyne of that ilk and Mr. Walter Styvart, regarding the marches of the lands of Tullibroloch, belonging to the former, and Tullocht belonging to the latter, that Alexander Skeyne becomes bound, with the consent of his uncle and curator, James Skeyne (Protocol Book of John Christisone), and he came of age in the following year, as on 22nd March, 1539, he is infeft in the lands and barony of Skene, as heir served and retoured, to Alexander Skene of that ilk, his father.
Neither was he ever at the battle of Pinkie, for when the trumpet call to this great national conflict resounded over all Scotland, and caused many a quiet laird to bOckle on his armour, we find in the record of the Privy Seal — " Ane brieve maid to Alexander Skeyne of yat ilk, giving leave to him to remain fra ustin al ye days of his life, because he is wake of complexion and inhabill for travel, vexit with infirmities and sikness, provided alwayis that the said Alexander sends ane habill furnished man, with his household and servants, to the said oistis at St. Andrews, penult October, 1 546." The " habill furnished man" was his uncle, James Skeyne in Bandodle, and he it was, as we shall afterwards see, who, with other Skeynes, was slain at the fatal battle of Pinkie.
It is true, however, that he married a daughter of Duncan Forbes of Corsinday, for on i8th March, 1541, there is a charter " Alexandro Skene de eodem et Elizabethe Forbes ejus sponse terrarum de Auchloche et
E
26 SKENE OF SKENE.
Cragydarg jacen. in Baronia de Skene in conjuncta infeodatione super resignationem dicti Alexandri."
Notwithstanding Alexander Skeyne being " vexit with infirmities and sikness," he was longer in possession of the barony than any pther laird, was twice married, had a large family of children, lived to see his eldest son and heir and his son and heir both married, was predeceased by his grandson, saw his great-grandchildren, and died in the year 1604, at the age of 87.
The author of MS.B refers to this period when he says — " There were foyve lairdes at on tym, with from father, son, grandchyld, gryt-grand- chyld, and gryt-great-grandchyld, designed by the laird of Skene elder, the laird of Skene younger, the laird of the Letter, &c., being parcel of the Barronie of Skene ; and each succeeded another in a short space."
On 27th August, 1557, "Alexander Skene de eodem fecit constituit .et creavit proles suos sequentes suos assignatos irrevocabiles in et ad summam mille mercarum monetae Scotiae quam habuit in deposito vizt Gulielmum Skene ejus filium ad 300 merks, Patricium Skene ejus fr. filium ad 30x3 merks et deficien. dicto Patricio Alexandrum Skene ejus fr. filium et Agnetem Skene ejus filiam ad 400 merks " (Ab. Sas. Regr.), no doubt part of the tocher he got with Elizabeth Forbes.
In the following year Agnes was married evidently to a relation of his mother, as we find in the Burgh Sasine Register, on i6th February, 1558 — " Possessio of John Black and Agnes Skene, his future spouse, of Auchmoir, in Baronia de Tillibrohloch, on precept of sasine from Alex- ander Skene of Skene."
On loth January, 1566, Alexander Skene de eodem is infeft in the Burgh Suburbs belonging to the family, and one of the witnesses is Gilbert Skene, his son.
His mother, Elizabeth Black, appears to have died in 1573, as on 4th March in that year " Alexander Skene de eodem haeres Alexandri Skene de eodem," serves heir^in terris de Newton de Skeyne, et Letter de Skeyne," which were hyJppther's jointure lands.
There seems to have )j^p some quarrelling about the burgh lands, as, in the Register of the Pj^y Council, the following entry occurs on pth February, 1566: — "Registration by Mr. Robert Irving, as procurator of Band, by Alexander Skein of that ilk, for James Skein of Bandodill, Gilbert Skein, Mr. Patrick Skene, and Alexander Skene, ' my lawful
SKENE OF SKENE. 27
sons/ £500 each, not to harm Thomas Buk, burgess of Aberdeen. Sub- scribed at Aberdeen 5th February, before Mr. Duncan Forbes of the Letter, Mr. William Skeyne, Johnne Forbes, servitor to the parson of Kinkell ; Andro Skeyne, in the Glak ; William Forbes, son of Johnne Forbes of Tolquhon ; and Mr. Patrick Skeyne, burgess of Aberdene, writer hereof; William Reid and John Nicolsoun, notaries, subscribing for Alexander Skein of that ilk " — (V., p. 673).
Alexander Skene was twice married, and by his first wife, Elizabeth Forbes, he had —
I. James Skene, his heir, designed, during his father's life, as James
Skene of Bandodill.
II. Gilbert Skene in Tillibirloch, ancestor of the families of Dumbreck and Newtyle.
III. Mr. William Skene, burgess of Aberdeen, married, in 1563,
Elizabeth Lesly, and had by her a son, William Skene, also a burgess of Aberdeen, who served heir to his father, William Skene, on loth June, 1586, and married Janet Donaldson, only daughter of John Donaldson. In 1602 he was ruined, from having been cautioner for Duncan Leslie, son to the laird of Wardes, and probably his mother's brother, who fled the country. He complained of being ;starved, and unable to maintain a wife and sundry- young infants. He died before 1605, when Janet Donaldson, relict of William Skene, burgess, is buried ; and no more is heard of that family.
IV. Mr. Patrick Skene, burgess of Aberdeen, ancestor of the family of
Dyce.
V. Mr. Alexander Skene. i " As for Alexander, the fifth son to the little laird, he died unmarried" (MS.A). He died in 1601, and was buried on ist January, 1601. In 1602, Mr. Patrick Skene, burgess of Aberdeen, appears for Barbara, natural daughter to umquhile Alexander Skene, his brother. VI. Agnes Skene, married, in 1558, to John Black. By his second wife, Katharine Stewart, he had three daughters —
VII. Elspeth Skene, married to John Forbes of Boquharm, in Millboy,
1 7th July, 1576.
VIII. Beatrix Skene married James Forbes of Tillibpy. — (Burgh Prop.
Book.)
28 SKENE OF SKENE.
IX. Isobel Skene died unmarried $th September, 1604. The " little laird " died in 1604, at the age of 87.
XII.— JAMES SKENE OF SKENE— 1604-1605.
During his father's life he appears sometimes as James Skene of Ban- dodill, one of the tanistry lands, and at others as James Skene apparent of that ilk. In a sasine of the Manor Place, of Monymusk, in favour of William Forbes, in March, 1688, the witnesses are James Skeyn apparen. de eodem, Patrick and Alexander Skeyns, his brothers, James Forbes of Tilliboy, and John Forbes of Camphill.
On 7th August, 1541, there is an action, at the instance of Alexander Skene of that ilk, against James Strachan of Carmylie, concerning the alienation made by umquhile David Strachan of Carmylie, guidsir to the said James Strachan to umquhile Alexander Skene of that ilk, guidsir to the said Alexander Skene, now of that ilk, in the year 1485, or thereby, of all and haill the lands of Tulliebreloche, Tullnahilt, Auchorie, Ban- dodell, Auchmore, Commons, with the miln of the same and their pertinents, lying in the Barony of Auchterellon and Newpark and Sheriff- dom of Aberdeen, as the infeftments thereupon bear, &c. ; the defender alleging that there was a reversion granted by the pursuer's umquhile guidsir for redemption of the said lands, containing the sum of 840 merks, and which the pursuer attests is false and, forged, &c. ; and in August, 1591, there is a counter action, at the instance of James Strauchan, now of Carmylie, and Mr. David McGill of Cranston Riddell, king's advocate, against James Skene, apperand of that ilk, Alexander Skene, elder, of that ilk, and Alexander Skene, younger, his nevvy — mentions that where the said James, as abnewy and heir male to umquhile Sir David Strachan of Carmylie, his foir grandsir, has action of redemption depending befoir the Lords against the said Alexander Skene, elder, of that ilk, oy and heir, at least apparent heir to umquhile Alexander Skene of that ilk, his guidsir James Skene, apparent of that ilk, and Alexander Skene, his son, and apparent heir, for redemption of all and haill the lands of Tillibrolloche and others lying in the Barony of Auchterellon and Newpark, and Sheriffdom of Aberdene, conform to a reversion granted be the said umquhile Alexander Skene to the said umquhile David Strachan of Carmylie, for eluding of which action the defenders have lately fabricated and forged certain discharges, contracts, &c., alleged
SKENE OF SKENE. 29
made by the said umquhile David Strachan, since the date of the said reversion, which is dated i6th May, 15 — ; therefore the said defenders ought to be punished, their persons, goods, &c. The case was sub- mitted to arbitration on 22nd January, 1591-2, and it is probable the deeds referred to on both sides were found to be genuine, as on 2nd October, 1604, there is a special service, "Jacobus Skene de eodem hares Alexandri Skene de eodem patris in terris et Baronia de Skene terris de Tillibriloch Tilnahiltis Balnadodill Auchinmoir Auchorie et Comaris infra Baronium de Ochterellone." On the same day there is the service of Katherine Stewart, "relicte diet quondam Alexandri Skene suam vitalem redditum et Margarete Skene relicte quondam Alexandri Skene de Letter."
On the 8th November, in the same year, James Skene is infeft in the lands and barony of Skene, as heir served and retoured to Alexander Skene of that ilk, his father, his procurator being " Honorabilis vir Robertus Skeyne de Tillibroloch actornatus pro Jacobo Skene de eodem sui patris."
James Skene of that ilk was upwards of sixty years old when he succeeded his father, and appears to have died within the year, as in 1605 Johanna Skene or Douglas, widow of James Skene of that ilk, is served to her terce. She was daughter of Sir Archibald Douglas of Glenbervie, and sister of the ninth Earl of Angus ; married to him about 1563 ; and it was through this marriage that the connection between the families of Glenbervie and Skene arose which led to MS. A being compiled in 1678. This James Skene of Skene had the following children : — I. Alexander Skene, called " Barren of the Letter" (MS.A). There is among the Skene papers a contract of marriage in the year 1584, between Alexander Skene of that ilk, younger, with consent of his father, James, then liferenter of Bandodle, and his grand- father, Alexander Skene of that ilk ; and Margaret Johnston, daughter of Sir George Johnston of Caskieben, with whom he got 5000 merks of tocher. Mr. Patrick Skene, sone lawful of Alexander Skene of that ilk, is a witness, but he predeceased both his father and grandfather, dying before 1599, as appears from a discharge by Margaret Skeyne, eldest lawful daughter to umquhile Alexander Skeyne, fiar of that ilk, with assent of Maister Duncan Forbes in Letter, and Robert and Alexander Skeyne,
0 SKENE OF SKENE.
his curators, for their interest, to John Forbes of Camphill and Andrew Skeyne in Aberdeen, executors of said umquhile Alexander (Council Regr., Abdn.). Alexander Skene left by his wife, Margaret Johnston, three children—
1. Alexander Skene, who succeeded his grandfather.
2. Mr. Andrew Skene. In 1620 Mr. Andrew Skene, frater ger-
manus Alexandri Skene de eodem, is admitted a burgess. In 1628 he receives a tack, from James Skene of that ilk, of the lands of Newton of Skene. In 1633 we find him in Kirkton of Dyce, where he and Margaret Forbes, his spouse, are infeft in the lands of Overtown of Dyce.
" Mr. Andrew Skene, Alexander's second son, married Margaret Forbes, daughter to Mr. John Forbes, minister of Delft, in Holland, on whom he begat seven daughters — (i) Christian, married to David Drummond, factor in Camp- vere, in Holland, to whom he had but one daughter, Mar. Drummond. David Drummond dying, she married the second time Andrew Skein of Rudrestoun, Dean of Guild of Aberdeen, to whom she had Robert and John, and two daughters ; (2) Margaret Skene, second daughter to Mr. Andrew Skene, married John Anderson of Standingstones ; (3) Katherine married Mr. William Cheyne, minister of Dyce ; (4) Jannet married David Anderson, Provost of Kintoir ; (5) Isobel married David Warrand, Town Clerk of Forres ; (6) Jean married David Dunbar, Bailyie of Forres ; (7) Bessie married Captain James Ross " (MS. A).
3. Margaret, only daughter of Alexander Skene, married, in 1 599,
Duncan Forbes in Letter ; and in 1604 there is a contract of marriage between her and Mr. Robert Irving of Mincoffer. She married, thirdly, John Forbes of Leslie. II. Andrew Skene of Auchorie, ancestor of the family of Halyards in
Fife, and Pitlour.
III. Robert Skene in Tilliebirloch. There is recorded in the Register of Deeds in 1610, a contract between Alexander Skene of that ilk and Mr. James Skene, Clerk of Register and others, the said Alexander's curators on the one part, and Robert Skene of Tillibrolocht, for himself, and taking burden upon him for Jeane
SKENE OF SKENE. 31
Douglas, relict of Mr. James Skene of that ilk, his mother, on the other part, at Edinburgh and Aberdeen, 24th April and 22nd May, 1605. Robert appears to have been appointed tutor to his nephew, Alexander Skene of that ilk, on his grandfather's death, as in 1606 he appears as " Robert Skene in Tillibroloche, called the tutor" (Forbes papers), and on 22nd April, 1636, there is an obligation by Robert Skene of Tillibury, and Christiane Johnstone, his spouse, to Alexander Black, elder burgess of Aberdeen. " Robert Skein of Tillibirloch, son to James Skein of that ilk, married, ist, Christian Irving, sister to Captain Irving of Mon- durch, on whom he begat Alexander, and ane daughter, named Jean, who both died unmarried. After her death he married Christian Johnston, daughter of the laird of Crimond, on whom he begat Mr. Robert Skene, schoolmaster at Banchorie, and thereafter of the Grammar School of Aberdeen, which Mr. Robert Skene married Elizabeth Reid, daughter to
and sister to Mr. Robert Reid, minister of Banchorie-ternan ' (MS. A) ; and had by her Robert Skene, who went to Poland, and two daughters, the eldest of whom married Mr. George Skene, parson of Kinkell.
IV. Mr. William Skene. " He lived most part of his days at Court, and was schoolmaster of the Music School of Aberdeen " (MS.A). In 1591 Mr. William Skene was appointed master of the Song School of Aberdeen ; and in 1 597 " Alexander Skene de Eodem " resigns two annual rents, payable out of Angelscroft and Cullinges, in Futtie, " nepoti suo Magistro Willielmo Skene Schole Musice dicti Burgi preceptori." " He married Janet Preston, daughter to Mr. John Preston, Merchant Burgess of Aberdeen, on whom he begat Alexander, who died a child, and a daughter, Isobell, unmarried " (MS.A).
V. Patrick Skene appears, on his father's succeeding to the barony of Skene, to have obtained the Tanistry lands of Bandodle, having previously been a tenant of Forbes of Corsinday, with whom he was connected through his grandmother ; as in 1606 Patrick Skene, sometime in the Muirtown of Corsinday, and now in Ban- dodle, discharges the tocher of Bessie Alshenor, sister of Robert Alshenor, burgess, and now spouse of Patrick. Contract of
32 SKENE OF SKENE.
marriage, dated 9th January, 1605 : John Forbes of Camphill, cautioner for Patrick and Robert Alshenor, and Gilbert Skeyne of Westercorse, for Bessie, umquhile William Alshenor, and Bessie Skene, his spouse, her parents. By her he appears to have had two sons, Gilbert Skene, burgess of Aberdeen, who married, in 1688, Elizabeth Cordiner, daughter of William Cordiner, Notary Public, and died in 1669 ; and Alexander. He married, a second time, Jeane Cushney, by whom he had a son, John ; as on 2pth April, 1653, there is an obligation by Walter Forbes of Tolquhone, principal, and Master William Forbes, Advocat in Edinburgh, his brother-german, as cautioner to Patrick Skene in Bandodle, for himself, and in name and behalf of Jeane Cushney, his spouse ; and on /th November, 1673, John Skene, in Wester Kinmundie (in the Barony of Skene), serves heir of provision to Patrick Skene of Bandodle, his father, by Jean Cushney, his wife.
VI. Mr. John Skene " died unmarried " (MS.A). VII. Jean Skene married John Forbes of Camphill.
VIII. Margaret Skene. There is, on 25th May, 1590, Renunciation by Elizabeth Lumsden, spouse of Alexander Cullen, Burgess of Aberdeen, in favor of Margaret Skene, dochter lawful to James Skene of Badindodill, future spouse to Andrew Cullen, sone eldest to the said Alexander Cullen and Elizabeth Lumsden, of the town and land of Cottoun. Either this marriage did not take place, or she became soon a widow, for we find her, in 1600, wife of William Forbes of Pittalochie, and she was soon again a widow, for there is, in 1620, an action of Removing against Margaret Skene, relict of William Forbes of Pittalochie, from the lands of Kinaldie.
IX. Katharine Skene "married, ist, John Leith of Likliehead, and 2nd, to Arthur Forbes, sometime Baillie of Old Aberdeen, who had no succession by any of them " (MS.A). Action at the instance of Katharine Skeyne, relict of umquhile Robert Leith of Liklie- head, and Arthur Forbes, now her spouse, against Patrick Leith, now of Likliehead, relative to contract, dated i6th September, 1621 (Acts and Decreets). X. Christian Skene " married James Eraser of Balbrydie " (MS.A).
SKENE OF SKENE. 33
XIII. — ALEXANDER SKENE OF SKENE — 1605-1634.
On 5th May, 1605, there is a sasine in favor of Alexander Skene, proceeding upon precept by the Earl of Crawford to him as " pronepos et legitimus haeres quondam Alexandri Skene de eodem sui proavi " of the lands of Tillibirloch, &c., and on 27th February, 161 1, when he attained majority, there is a retour " Alexander Skene de eodem haeres Jacobi Skene avi in terris et baronia de Skene cum lacu," followed by infeftment on 2/th April, 1612.
In 1623 he obtained a crown charter of the lands and barony of Skene to himself, and failing him to James Skene, his son and heir apparent, whom failing, to return to himself and other heirs male of his body, whom failing, " Magistro Andree Skene fratri germano dicti Alexandri et heredibus masculis de corpore suo," whom failing " Magistro Andree Skene de Chappelton et heredibus masculis de corpore suo," whom failing, to return to him and his heirs male whomsoever. He was infeft on 3rd September, 1623.
Soon after, and perhaps in consequence of this, the old controversy broke out again between the Skenes of Skene and the Keiths, with regard to the possession of the lands of Ester Skene, which ended this time to the disadvantage of the former.
On loth April, 1629, Alexander Skene de eodem served heir in general to Robert Skeyne " de eodem avi quondam Adami Skeyne de eodem attavi tritavi" and on the same day, by a separate service, he serves heir to Adam Skene " de eodem proavi Jacobi Skeyne de eodem avi tritavi"
The question seems to have been submitted to the arbitration of the Lords of Council and Session, as on ist December, 1629, we find the Lords of Session assigning to William, Earl Marischall, of his own consent, the eighth of December next, to exhibit and produce the writs and evidents of the lands, barony, and loch of Skene, libelled in the action of improbation pursued at the instance of Sir Thomas Hope of Craighall, King's Advocate, and Alexander Skene of that ilk, proprietor of said lands, against the said Earl and others ; and on 26th March, 1631, there is a Decreet Arbitral in the process at the instance of Alexander Skene of that ilk and Sir Thomas Hope, King's Advocate, against William Earl
F
34 SKENE OF SKENE.
Marischall and others, touching the exhibition of all infeftments, charters, &c., alleged made and granted to the said Earl or his prede- cessors (of whom a long line is enumerated), "be the said Alexander Skene, now of that ilk ; umquhile James Skene of that ilk, his guidsir ; umquhile Alexander Skene of that ilk, his grandsir ; umquhile Alexander Skene of that ilk, his fair grandsir ; umquhile Alexander Skene of that ilk, his fair grandsir 's father ; umquhile Gilbert Skene of that ilk, his foir grand- sir' s guidsir ; umquhile Alexander Skene of that ilk, his foir grandsir' s grandsir ; umquhile James Skene of that ilk, his foir grandsir' s foir grandsir ; umquhile Adam Skene of that ilk, the said umquhile James Skene of that ilk, his grandsir ; and umquhile Adam Skene of that ilk, the said umquhile Adam his guidsir ; or by any or other of them ; or in a decreet granted by any sovereign back to King Robert Bruce, of and concerning the lands and barony of Skene, and loch of Skene, to be considered by the said Lords, and to have the same lawfully improvin, &c., the parties compeiring by their procurators, and compeiring also Mr. Andro Skene of Halyairds, taking burden on him for the said laird of Skene." Submission being entered into for amicable settlement of matters, the Lords " decree and ordain the said Alexander Skene to resign in favour of the Earl Marischal, all claim to the lands of Kirktown of Skene, Ledach, Mylnebowie, and Garlogie, with the pertinents, to be bruikit be the said Earl in his own proper lands in all time coming. Lyke as the saide Lords arbitrators declairit that the loch of Skene, nor no pairt thairof, is naways comprehendit under the decreet arbitral."
These documents are interesting, as showfng both the Latin and the corresponding Scotch technical names designating the steps in a pedigree; and if the lairds of Skene failed eventually to redeem these lands under the clause of reversion in the impignoration of them, they had at all events the satisfaction of having successfully resisted a similar attempt, on the part of the Strachans of Carmylie, to redeem the lands of Tillibirloch and others, forming the Tanistry lands of the family.
Alexander married Janet Burnet, daughter of Sir Thomas Burnet of Leyes, and had by her —
I. James Skene, who succeeded him.
II. Jean Skene married " Alexander Innes of Pethenick." I IT. Margaret Skene married, ist, " Mr. John Carrie," and 2nd, Mr. John Skene in Knowheade. 1646. Sasine Margaret Skene, future
SKENE OF SKENE. 35
spouse of Mr. John Garioch, son to William Garioch of Tillie- bethie, in the lands of Auchballoch. 1675. Carta per Willelmum dominum de Forbes concessa Margarete Skene relicte Magistri Johannis Skene in Knowheade in vitali redditu et post ejus decessum Willelmo Gareoch de terris de Auchballoch in parochia de Awfurde.
IV. Janet Skene married "Mr. Adam Barclay, minister of Nigg" (MS. A). Ratification, by Oliver Cromwell, of contract between James Skene of Skene and Mr. Adam Barclay, minister of Tarvie, and Janet Skene, his wife, at Edinburgh, I4th August, 1656. Sasine Mr. Adam Barclay, younger of Towie, and Janet Skene, his spouse. V. Isobell Skene married " the laird of Aswanlie " (Calder).
VI. Katharine Skene married, ist, "to a younger son of Sir Alexander
Gumming of Coulder ; and 2nd, to Robert Cheyne" (MS.A). VII. Mary Skene married "George Mackenzie of Kincardine, second brother to the Earl of Seaforth" (MS.A). 1653. Sasine Isobell, Katharine, and Maria Skene, lawful daughters to umquhile Alexander Skene of that ilk, with consent of Gilbert Skene of Dyce, and Mr. Andrew Skene of Overdyce. 1692. Discharge Robert Cheyne, son to Mr. William Cheyne, minister of Dyce, and Katharine Skene, his spouse, sister to James Skeyne of that ilk. Assignation and Disposition Mary Skene, youngest sister of James Skene of that ilk, with consent of George Mackenzie of Kintowdie, brother-german to Kenneth, Earl of Seaforth, her husband.
XIV. — JAMES SKENE OF SKENE— 1634-1656
succeeded his father in 1634, and was infeft in that year in the lands and barony of Skene as heir served and retoured to Alexander Skene of Skene, his father.
He married Elizabeth Forbes, daughter of Arthur Lord Forbes, in 1637, as on I4th July, in that year, there is a sasine in her favour in his jointure lands of Letter and Broomhill.
On 1 7th October, 1639, there is a sasine in favour of James Skene de eodem, upon letters of four forms, dated 6th April, in a tenement in Aberdeen, " ex boreali parte ly Keyhead," in payment of 4000 merks,
36 SKENE OF SKENE.
contained in an obligation by Alexander, Master of Forbes, to Elizabeth Forbes, his sister, " nunc sponse dicti Jacobi Skene de eodem," dated 2oth December, 1629, and assigned by the said Elizabeth Forbes, with consent of Arthur Lord Forbes, to James Skene, on 5th July, 1637.
" This James of Skene was a great loyalist, and suffered many hard- ships on account of his attachment to the interest of the Royal Family." " In that copy of the covenant subscribed before the Sheriff of Aber- deen, still extant, this James Skene of that ilk subscribes, along with the Marquis of Montrose. However, afterwards he was a great companion of the Marquis of Montrose, and got a protection from him for saving his estate from being pillaged in Charles the ist time. He had the misfor- tune, soon after his marriage, to be bitten by a swine in the knee, and his lady, who liked gadeing abroad, and had an expensive turn, persuaded him, for his cure, to go to the wells in Germany. They stayed there a year or two, with a brother of his, a merchant there, and by his wife's expensive turn, brought the estate under a great load of debt. He died young, and was greatly esteemed for his capacity in every respect, while he lived. The said Elspet Forbes lived a widow on the estate till the year 1695 " (MS.D). By her he had two sons and one daughter. I. John Skene, who succeeded him.
II. James Skene, " called the martyr, had the misfortune to associate with the Covenanters at Queensferry, Rutherglen, &c., when he was taken prisoner, tried, and executed in the Gressmerceat " (MS.D). " He was hanged, with two others, at the Cross of Edinburgh, on the ist December, 1680, Skeen being all cloathed in white linnen, to his very shues and stockings, in affectation of puritie and innocence, and I wish it might be a praelibation and type of a white robe to be given him in heaven." (Fountainhall Historical Observes, p. 10.) His trial and last speech are recorded in the " Cloud of Witnesses." III. Barbara Skene married her cousin, Calder of Aswanlie.
XV.— JOHN SKENE OF SKENE— 1656-1680.
On 3 ist October, 1656, an edict of curatory was issued, charging William, Master of Forbes ; Andrew, Master of Fraser ; Sir Alexander Gumming of Cults ; John Urquhart of Craigstone ; Alexander Urquhart
SKENE OF SKENE. 37
of Dunlugus ; John Skeen of Auchtertoill ; Richard Maitland of Pitrichie ; Gilbert Skene of Dyce; Mr. Andrew Skene of Overdyce; Mr. Alexander Skene, baillie burgess of Aberdeen ; Mr. Robert Burnet of Crimond, advo- cate, as " friends and nearest of kyn on the father and mother's syde, to John Skene of that ilk " (Sheriff Register of Deeds) ; and on 24th July, 1657, John Skene of that ilk, served heir in special to James Skene of that ilk, his father, in the lands and barony of Skene, with the loch thereof, the lands of Tillibriloch, Tulnahilt, Bandodle, Auchmoir, Auchorrie, with the myles and burghar lands of Comers, unite into the barony of Skene, the lands and mains of Aslowne in the parish of Alford, the lands of Dorrsoilt, Muchills, Badinapettis, and Drumnalunda (Index Retours).
On 2 $th January, 1658, he was infeft on this retour, among the witnesses being Mr. Andrew Skene of Overtown, and Robert Skene, pedagogue to the said John Skene — no doubt the Robert Skene, son of Robert Skene in Tillibirloch, who was schoolmaster at Banchorie, and afterwards of the Grammar School of Aberdeen.
The Tanistry lands seem now to have finally left the family, as on 5th May, 1659, there is a ratification, by John Skene of that ilk, with consent of William, Master of Forbes ; Gilbert Skene of Dyce ; Mr. Alexander Skene, baillie burgess of Aberdeen ; and Mr. Andrew Skene of Overdyce, his curators, of a procuratory of resignation granted by the deceased James Skene of that ilk, dated 3Oth June, 1641, to John Forbes of Cor- sinday, of the lands of Tillibirloch, Tilnahilt, Bandodle, Auchmore, Auchorrie, &c.
On the I4th February, 1678, he obtained a crown charter of the lands and barony of Skene, on which he was infeft on 3<Dth June, 1679 ; but died in the following year.
He married Jean, daughter of Alexander Burnet, eldest son and apparent heir of Sir Thomas Burnet of Leys.
In the end of a small bible are the following notes in his handwriting: —
" Nott of my childrens ages —
"Junii 24 166= my eldest daughter Elizabeth was born. August 4 1 661 rny second daughter Anna was born. Sept. 12 1663 my eldest sone Alexr was borne. May 2 1666 my second son George was born 1666.
"Junii 4 1667 my third daughter Margret was born. Apryll 16 1670 my third sone Andrew was born. July I 1671 my fourt sone John was born. February i 1673 my fourt daughter Jean was born.
38 SKENE OF SKENE.
"July 4 1676 my fuivt daughter Barbara was born. On August 19 1678 my sext daughter Catren was born. July 24 1679 my fift sone Thomas was born."
In a later hand there is added —
"'In the end of October after the dear father Jo. Skene of that ilk in death he departit the 9th of May 1680. his sone James was born. He died the 3d day after his birth.
" Jean Burnett mother of the above writtin children grandaunt to the present Sir Al. Burnett of Leyes wife to John Skene of that ilk died at Crathes in harvest 1688 somewhat more than eight years after her husband's death. This is writt 1745.
" Jean Burnett aforesaid wife to John Skene of that ilk built the new midle part of the house of Skene in her widowhood and put the roof upon the old tower. This is writt by her grandchild George Skene of that ilk at Skene the 7th of July 1745. The above built by Jean Burnett is the main or middle part, the south wing was built by her said grandchild. The old tower makes the north wing " (Old Bible).
" The said Jean Burnet, Lady Skene, was a woman of uncommon conduct and frugality, and altho' she got things in the greatest disorder from the former lady's mismanagement, yet she kept the family together and lived in a very decent way, and after her husband's death, from her savings of her jointure, she floored and roofed the old tower, after taking out the vaults, and also built a large addition to it, which is at present the main body of the house of Skerie ; the family having always lived before that in low thatch houses, like the better kind of their common farm houses "(MS.D).
John Skene of Skene had the following children by Jean Burnett, who survived him, the others mentioned by her having died young : — I. Alexander Skene, who succeeded him.
II. George Skene, "who served under the Duke of Maryborough in Queen Anne's wars, and afterwards acquired a considerable sum in the Mississippi Stock, in France, with which he bought the estate of Caraldstone, An. 1720" (MS.D). He married Elizabeth Baird, widow of Francis White, coffee merchant in London, by whom he had two daughters —
1. Elizabeth married her cousin, George Skene of Skene.
2. Jean married Sir Alexander Forbes of Foveran, Baronet. He
died in London, 3rd August, 1724.
SKENE OF SKENE. 39
III. Thomas Skene " was a lieutenant in the army, and was among the
troops sent by Queen Anne into Spain, where he was killed " (MS.D).
IV. Elizabeth Skene married William Livingstone, merchant, Aberdeen. V. Ann Skene married James Barclay, son to the minister of Keig.
VI. Jean Skene married Donald Farquharson, son of Charles Far-
quharson. VII. Barbara Skene married John Tytler, merchant, Aberdeen.
XVI. — ALEXANDER SKENE OF SKENE — 1680-1724.
On the 1 9th March, 1686, when he had attained majority, he was served heir to John Skene of that ilk, his father, in the lands and barony of Skene, with the lake and mills of the same, and was infeft in the same on 1 3th May, 1686.
Four years after, he made a marriage, which brought to the family the lands of Wester Fintray. This was with " Giles Adie, daughter of Mr. David Adie of Newark and Easter Echt, Baillie and Burgess of Aber- deen, and Guild Brother of Edinburgh " (MS.D). Her mother was Katherine Skene, niece of Sir George Skene of Wester Fintray and Rubislaw, who was unmarried, and settled the estate of Wester Fintray on his grandniece, by the contract of marriage between her and Alexander Skene, to which he was a party, and which may be given at length —
Contract of marriage between Alexander Skene of that ilk, on the one part ; and Sir George Skene of Wester Fintray, late Provost of Aberdeen, and David Adie of Newark, late Bailie of the said burgh, for themselves, and taking burden upon them for Giles Adie, daughter to the said David Adie, procreate betwixt him and the deceased Katharine Skene, his spouse, who was niece to the said Sir George Skene, and the said Giles Adie for herself, on the other part : Whereby the said Alexander Skene and the said Giles Adie agree to enter into the bonds of matri- mony with each other, and thereafter love, cherish, treat, and entertain each other as becometh Christian married persons of their estate and rank : And narrating that the said Sir George Skene stands infeft, in virtue of a charter granted by King Charles II., in the lands of Wester Fintrayes, and that by his disposition, dated I5th September, 1658, he disponed the said lands to the deceased George Skene, his nephew, eldest
40 SKENE OF SKENE.
son of the deceased David Skene, merchant burgess of Zamosky, in the kingdom of Poland, and the heirs male of his body ; whom failing, to Alexander Skene, youngest son of the said David Skene, and the heirs male of his body ; whom failing, to Mr. George Skene, eldest son of Robert Skene, late treasurer burgess of Aberdeen, and the heirs male of his body ; whom failing, to the deceased John Skene of that ilk, his heirs and assignees whatsomever, bearing the arms and surname of Skene ; reserving power to himself to dispone the said lands during his lifetime, or to set the same in tack, and also to redeem from the said George and Alexander Skenes and others above mentioned, by payment of the sum of £3 Scots, in the Tolbooth of Aberdeen, on any day between the hours of twelve and two, intimation having been given to them twenty-four hours previously, with various other provisions : And that having resolved, from various reasons, to revoke said disposition, and having paid the said sum of £3 Scots to the said disponees, and being most zealous and desirous to contribute his endeavours and assistance for the flourishing and standing of the family of Skene, which had stood in a prosperous and flourishing condition for some hundreds of years, in the person of the said Alexander Skene of that ilk and his predecessors, of the sur- name of Skene, and of which the said Sir George Skene is duly descended, and for the special love and respect which the said Sir George Skene bears to the said Alexander Skene of that ilk and Giles Adie, his apparent spouse : Therefore, in view of the said marriage between them, he dispones to them in liferent, and to the heirs male to be gotten be- tween them ; whom failing, to the other heirs male of the said Alexander's body ; whom failing, to his heirs male whatsoever ; whom all failing, to the said Alexander's heirs and assignees whatsoever ; the said lands of Wester Fintrayes, with all their pertinents. Dated at Aberdeen the eighth February, 1690. Witnesses, John Skene, younger of Dyce ; George Adie ; Robert Skene, late treasurer of Aberdeen ; and Mr. George Skene, his son.
Among the letters in the Skene charter chest is one dated I5th August, 1694, from George Skene of Rubislaw, grand-nephew of Sir George Skene, and his successor in that estate, to the laird of Skene, "with five guineas to buy a pony for Lady Skene ;" and another written on 7th April, 1715, which led to a still more important addition to the family estates. This was a letter from George Skene to his brother, the
SKENE OF SKENE. 4!
laird of Skene, asking advice as to the marriage of his eldest daughter, Elizabeth, and acknowledging the advice received from Andrew Skene of Hilton. Dated at London, 7th April, 1715.
What this correspondence led to, the following document shows : — Post-nuptial contract of marriage between Alexander Skene of that ilk and George Skene, his eldest son, on the one part, and Major George Skene of St. James's, London, and Elizabeth Skene, his eldest daughter, on the other part, for the marriage of the said George and Elizabeth, which took place at York, in August, 1719. The contract is dated 26th February, 1723.
Giles Adie adds her quota to the family Bible thus : — I. My eldest son, George, was born at Aberdeen the 23° of February, being Saturday, betwixt four and five in the afternoon, in the year of God, 1695.
II. My daughter Jeane was born at Skene the twa of November, 1696 years ; married to George Forbes of Alford ; died in March, 1 723, at Skene.
III. My second daughter, Keatren (married Moncoffer), was born at
Skene the sixtint of January, one thousand seven hundred and one, being Thursday, in the forenoon, at 1 1 o'clocke or thereby ; died in Feby., 1744, at Banff; married their to Dr. Fotheringham.
IV. My third daughter, Elizabeth, was born at Skene 24 Maye, being
Monday, at eleven o'clock or thereby, in the year of God, 1703 years ; died a child. V. My fourt daughter, Margret, was born on Monday, 24 Dec1"., in the
year of God, 1704 years ; died a child.
VI. My second sone, Alexander, on Tuesday, the nint of July, was born in the year of God, 1706 ; died in Jamaica, 1732.
VII. My third son, David, was born on Saturday, 24 of Aprill, in the
year of God, 1708 years, at Skene ; died coming from the East Indies, 1733, at sea.
VIII. I had a fourt sone dead-borne on the first day of April, in the
year of God, 1711 years. IX. My 5 son, John, was born the 6 October, being Tuesday, betwixt
8 & nine in the afternoon, in the year of God, 1713. Her eldest son adds to this —
" John, the said Alexander's fifth son, was born 1713, was a lieutenant
G
42 SKENE OF SKENE.
in Colonel Murray's regiment, and was killed under Sir John Cope, at the battle of Preston, near Edinburgh, by some called the battle of Glads- muir, fought the 2ist September, 1745, being the first fought in that rebellion, so that he wanted only a little of being 32 years of age, so that none of the children are now alive but one, the writer, and eldest."
Alexander Skene of that ilk, the father, died at Skene the 2Oth January, 1724 ; his brother, Major George Skene of Caraldstone, died at London, the i8th of August said year, 1724 — (old Bible).
XVII.— GEORGE SKENE OF SKENE— 1724-1756
succeeded his father and uncle in 1724, and on roth June, 1725, he took infeftment upon a disposition by the late Major George Skene of Carald- stone, with consent of Elizabeth Baird, his spouse, in favour of himself and her, and the heirs male between them ; whom failing, to the heirs male of his body, by any other marriage ; which failing, to Elizabeth Skene, his eldest daughter, now spouse to George Skene, now of that ilk, eldest son of the late Alexander Skene of that ilk, who was brother-german to the said Major George Skene, and to the heirs male between them ; which failing, to the other heirs of entail of the granter ; of his lands and barony of Balnamoon and others contained in said disposition, and in the disposi- tion thereof by Sir John Stuart of Grandtully, baronet, to the said Major George Skene, of date i$th August, 1721, now disponing an annuity of £600 sterling, in trust, for behoof of the said Elizabeth Skene, his eldest daughter, and her heirs, the said George Skene of that ilk, and Andrew Skene of Lethenty, being of the trustees.
The deed of entail of the lands and barony of Balnamoon, compre- hending the lands and barony of Caraldstone, Little Watterston, Brocklaw, and Berrytullich haugh, on the west side of the South Esk, executed by Major George Skene on the 24th October, 1721, was recorded in the Register of Entails on 6th January, 1725.
On 20th August, 1725, the testament dative and inventory of the goods gear debts and sums of money pertaining to the deceased Major George Skene of Caraldstone, residenter in the City of London, who died there upon the I3th of August, 1724, was given up by George Skene of that ilk, husband to, and in name and behalf of, Elizabeth Skene, his spouse, and by Sir Alexander Forbes of Foveran, Bart, husband to, and in name and behalf of, Dame Jean Skene, his spouse ; which Elizabeth
SKENE OF SKENE. 43
and Dame Jean Skene, lawful daughters to the said Major George Skene, are only executrixes dative decerned as nearest in heir to him, and the said George Skene of that ilk, husband to the said Elizabeth, and the said Sir Alexander Forbes, husband to the said Dame Jean Skene, for their interests, and that by decreet of the Commissaries of Edinburgh, of date loth March, 1725. Amount of the inventory, £10,791 145.
Among the moneys owing to the deceased is the following, viz., Item, the said defunct, his four shares in the capital stock of the Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland, being £4000 Scots subscription, of which three was paid in by the defunct (designed in the said company's books Captain George Skene, in the Royal Regiment of Dragoons). Amount of inventory and debts, £17,065 153. oxi.
Among the Skene papers are a number of letters relating to the death of Elizabeth, the wife of George Skene of Skene, which happened at Montrose on soth March, 1730, her husband being then in London. In one of these, from Sir Alexander Burnet of Leyes, his brother-in-law, mention is made of the welfare of the " two pretty boys," the sons of the said George Skene, then staying at Leyes. He married a second time his cousin, Sarah, daughter of Baillie Simpson of Aberdeen, by whom he had no children. She died 28th November, 1789.
George Skene of Skene was, on nine successive occasions (1737-45), elected Lord Rector of Marischal College and University. The following notice of his death appeared in the Aberdeen Journal of September 7th, 1756 : — " On Friday morning [September 3rd], about 10 o'clock, died at Skene (the seat of this ancient Family), in the sixty-second Year of his Age, much and justly lamented, George Skene of that Ilk, a Man of superior Capacity ; fitted for Business ; remarkable for doing good, and making up Differences amongst his Friends and Neighbours. He was a sincere and steady Friend, a dutiful Son, a tender and affectionate Husband, a fond indulgent Parent, a kind and encouraging Master. His Humanity and Benevolence was extensive, especially to the poor ; and those in Distress were sure of a Friend in him. He was a Father to the Fatherless, and a Husband to the Widow ; a sincere good Christian, without Ostentation or Show. These substantial Qualities being accom- panied with great Knowledge, true Taste, and an inimitable Turn of Humour, make the Tears of his Friends flow unbidden o'er his grave."
He had two sons by his first wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Major George Skene of Caraldstone, viz. : —
44
SKENE OF SKENE.
I. George Skene, who succeeded him.
II. James Skene, who was a captain in the army, and married a Miss Allan, by whom he had seven sons and three daughters.
1. George Skene, who was executed in London for forgery.
2. Alexander Skene, captain in the Navy (well known as a
beautiful musician), married Miss Fordyce of Ay ton, and died at Edinburgh on the I4th September, 1823, leaving no issue.
3. David Skene, died young.
4. Andrew Skene, died young.
5. James Skene, died in India, leaving a natural son, James, an
officer in the army.
6. John Skene, died in India.
7. Another son died.
8. Elizabeth Skene, married the Reverend Dr. Munroe, and had issue.
9. Sarah Skene, married Lynch of Jamaica, and had issue. 10. Barbara Skene, married Sturgeon, and had issue (MS.E).
XVIII. — GEORGE SKENE OF SKENE — 1756-1781.
On 27th July, 1757, there is a sasine on a charter under the great seal, in favour of George Skene of that ilk, eldest lawful son of the deceased George Skene of that ilk, procreated between him and the also deceased Elizabeth Skene, his spouse, eldest lawful daughter of the deceased Major George Skene of Caraldstone ; and to the heirs male of his body ; whom failing, to James Skene, only other son now in life of the said George Skene of that ilk, senior, procreated between him and the said Elizabeth Skene, his spouse, and the heirs male of the body of the said James Skene ; whom failing, to the heirs male procreated between Sir Alexander Forbes of Foveran, baronet, and Lady Jane Skene, second daughter of the said Major George Skene ; whom failing, to Alexander Skene, second lawful son of the deceased Alexander Skene of that ilk, and the heirs male of his body ; whom failing, to David Skene, third lawful son of the said Alexander Skene of that ilk, and the heirs male lawfully procreated of his body ; whom failing, to John Skene, fourth son of the said deceased Alexander Skene, and the heirs male lawfully procreated by his body ; whom failing, to the heirs male of the body of the said Alexander Skene, brother of the said Major George Skene ; whom all failing, to the heirs female of the substitutes above mentioned, without division.
SKENE OF SKENE. 45
In the same year there is a discharge by Sarah Simpson, widow of George Skene of that ilk, of various sums of money contained in bonds granted by her late husband, now paid by George Skene, also of that ilk. Dated at Skene, 8th November, 1757.
George Skene of Skene married his cousin Mary, daughter of George Forbes of Alford, by Jane, daughter of Alexander Skene, his grandfather. She is said to have been exceedingly handsome, but had the misfortune to be dumb. She died i$th March, 1786.
By her he had the following children : —
I. George Skene, who succeeded him. II. James Skene, who died unmarried.
III. David Skene, was a burgess of Aberdeen, and died at Croydon in
March, 1817.
IV. Andrew Skene, died unmarried.
V. Alexander Skene, was born deaf and dumb.
VI. Mary Skene, married, I7th August, 1775, the Honourable Alexander Duff, afterwards third Earl Fife, by whom she had two sons.
1. James, fourth Earl Fife, who died without issue pth March, 1857.
2. General the Honourable Sir Alexander Duff died 2ist March,
1857, leaving by Anne, daughter of James Stein of Kilboagie, two sons and two daughters : —
(1) James succeeded as fifth Earl.
(2) George Skene.
(3) Catharine.
(4) Louisa Tollemache.
VII. Sarah Skene, married, I2th June, 1780, Thomas Macdonald, W.S.,
and had issue.
George Skene of Skene died in 1781, and was succeeded by his eldest son.
XIX.— GEORGE SKENE OF SKENE — 1781-1825.
" He was educated for the Scotch bar, and passed advocate, but never practised. He afterwards entered the army, and served for some years in General Gordon of Fyvie's regiment of infantry, as captain. He was afterwards elected member of Parliament for the county of Aberdeen, but being subsequently opposed by Mr. Ferguson of Pitfour, did not succeed in a second canvass. He was an ardent admirer of the Ministry of Mr. Fox, and a firm adherent of the Whig side of politics to the termination
SKENE OF SKENE.
of his life. Had it not been for the violence of his political opinions, and the dissipated life to which he was addicted, he was a man of talents and dispositions calculated to have made a figure in the corner of the country where his fortune and the antiquity of his family entitled him to take a lead. But in spite of these disadvantageous circumstances, his acuteness in the public affairs of the county, and remarkably conciliatory manner, continued, during the course of his life, to give great weight to his opinion at the meetings of the Freeholders. He never married ; and having lived to see every member of his family of the name of Skene disappear, save one unfortunate remnant, he executed, towards the end of his life, a deed of entail of the whole of his property, movable as well as heritable, upon the line of heirs contained in the entail of the estate of Caraldstone, and thus, notwithstanding his pride in the antiquity of his name and family, and the strong interest he was in use to express in the duration of the clan of which he was the chief, he voluntarily extinguished almost, in his own demise, the name of Skene of Skene " (MS.E).
The editor well remembers having seen this laird of Skene when visiting his father at Inverie House, on the Feuch, near Banchory. The editor was then only six years old, but a circumstance connected with the visit made an impression upon his mind, and corroborates the sketch above given of the convivial habits into which the laird had fallen in the later years of his life. The editor's father and he used to exchange an annual visit, but their habits were very different, Mr. Skene of Rubislaw being sobriety itself. He was known, on one of his visits to Skene — when detained till early in the morning at the laird's convivial table — when at length he was allowed to escape to his bedroom, to have jumped out of the window and walked 17 miles home to Inverie. On the occasion of a return visit of the laird to Inverie, the editor — then a little boy — had been promised by his father that he would take him out next morning with him, when he proposed to fish for salmon ; but when he was detained till a late hour at the dinner table, seeing that the laird had drunk himself into such a state that he could not see the difference, he quietly slipped out and substituted his Swiss servant, a man of good appearance and manner, to sit with the laird. The editor recollects being in his father's dressing- room at six o'clock, A.M., and seeing the laird with the Swiss servant walking round the court, the former clamouring for another bottle, while the latter was vainly advising him to go to bed.
SKENE OF SKENE. 47
George Skene of Skene died at Skene on the 28th April, 1825, and was succeeded by his brother.
XX. — ALEXANDER SKENE OF SKENE — 1825-1827.
He was " upwards of sixty years of age, and having the misfortune to have been born deaf and dumb, and now (1826) for many years nearly blind, by reason of a disease in his eyes, his mind, though not absolutely in a state of imbecility, has been so little cultivated, as to render him quite unfit to take charge of his own affairs in any respect Application was accordingly made to the Court of Session by his three nearest rela- tives, Earl Fife, General Duff, and the Reverend Mr. Macdonald, his nephews, to appoint a factor loco tutoris, which has been done. Upon his decease the family may be considered extinct, as the whole of the properties merge in the extensive entailed territories of the Earl of Fife, thus giving a singular confirmation to a traditional malediction reported to have been pronounced against the race of Skene of Skene. With what degree of truth I cannot say, but I have heard it narrated that the grandfather of the present laird, who married the dumb lady, Mary Forbes of Alford, who was very handsome, had had the baseness previously to seduce her, and was compelled by the family to fulfil the marriage, having previously fought with and wounded her brother. Upon which occasion the aged father of the lady is said to have imprecated the judgment of Heaven upon the family, that they might be cursed in their generation and come to a speedy termination. I have known in my time eleven males of the family, and seen nine of them swept off in the full vigour of life, one by an ignominious death; the last laird remarkable for a dissolute life ; his only sisters both divorced from their husbands, abandoned in their conduct, the one accidentally burnt to death, the other dying in misery a prostitute in a foreign land ; and now the only remnant left a poor helpless object, unconscious of the affluence and honors to which he has succeeded, vegetating in the old mansion of Skene, bereft nearly of all the attributes which distinguish man from the brute creation, and wearing out in humiliating obscurity the last dregs of his ancient race " (MS.E). He died of an attack of apoplexy on Sunday the 29th of April, 1827, and with him terminated the line of Skene of Skene. One exception to this melancholy picture of the younger members of the family appears to be " Miss Betty Skene,
48
SKENE OF SKENE.
eldest daughter to the Laird of Skene," who died at Carreston on the 1 6th February, 1766, and who is said, in the Aberdeen Journal, to have been " much regretted, as she was a most amiable, virtuous young lady."
The succession to his estates fell under the deed of entail executed by his great grand uncle, Major George Skene of Caraldstone, and by his elder brother, George Skene of Skene, to his nephew, James, Earl Fife; while the male representation of the family devolved upon the Skenes of Halyards, in Fife.
James, fifth Earl Fife, who succeeded his uncle in 1857, was in the same year created a British Peer, by the title of
BARON SKENE OF SKENE.
Arms of Alexander, XVI. of Skene, and Giles Adie his Spouse, from a Stone at Skene House,
CHAPTER II.
SKENE OF HALYARDS IN FIFE.
I. — ANDREW SKENE IN AUCHORIE
is erroneously called, in MS.A, second son of "the little laird," but correctly, in MS.D, second son of James Skene XII. of that ilk, by Jean Douglas, his wife, and grandson of " the little laird," a filiation which his son's being called to the barony of Skene in the deed of 1623, immediately after Mr. Andrew Skene of Overdyce, shows to be correct
He appears, in 1598, as burgess of Aberdeen ; and in 1599 Andrew Skene in Aberdeen (the brother), and John Forbes of Camphill (the brother-in-law), appear as executors to umquhile Alexander Skene, sometime fiar of that ilk ; and again, in the same year, on 3rd November, as executors, lawfully confirmed, to umquhile Alexander Skene, fiar of that ilk.
He appears, after his father's death in 1605, to have obtained posses- sion of the Tanistry lands of Auchorie, as we find him so designed in a service in 1610 ; and, in 1613, Andrew Skene in Auchorie is baillie of the barony of Skene.
He married " Bessie Cadell or Calder, daughter of the laird of Asloun, by whom he begat three sons —
I. Sir Andrew Skene, thereafter laird of Halyards, in Fife. II. Patrick Skene [ancestor of the Skenes in Austria].
III. William Skene, died unmarried.
IV. Jean Skene, married Mr. Robert , Professor of Divinity
at St. Andrews.
V. Isobell Skene, died unmarried " (MS.A). He appears to have died in 1619.
H
50 SKENE OF HALYARDS IN FIFE.
II. — SIR ANDREW SKENE OF HALYARDS— 1619-1653.
He appears, during his father's life, to have filled the lucrative office of servitor to Sir John Skene, the Lord Clerk Register, and to have been a Master of Arts.
In the Register of the Privy Seal we find, on i7th December, 1608, " Ane letter maid to Mr. Andro Skene, servitor to Sir John Skene of Curriehill, knight, Clerk of Register, of the gift of the escheit of John Irving, in Quhytrigis, at the instance of David Ramsay of Balmain, for payment to the said David, as cautioner for Arthur Stratoun of Canter- land, of certain sums" ; and again, on 28th June, 1610, "Ane letter maid to Maister Andro Skene, servitor to Sir John Skene of Curriehill, knight, Clerk of the Register, of the gift of the escheit, whilk is pertenit of befor to Alexander Skene, lawful sone to umquhile Gilbert Skene of Tillebir- loche, at the instance of Robert Forbes, portioner of Findrossie."
On 8th December, in the same year, there is a precept "Jacobus &c dedimus &c dilecto nostro Magistro Andreae Skene servitori Clerici nostri registri heredibus suis et assignatis quibuscunque hereditarie totas et integras terras et Baroniam de Leslie specialiter in se comprehenden. villas terras et alias suprascriptas."
On 22nd August, 1612, there is another precept which shows his identity with the son of Andrew Skene of Auchorie — " Jacobus &c dedi- mus &c dilecto nostro Magistro Andreae Skene filio natu maximo Andreae Skene de Auchorie heredibus et assignatis quibuscunque terras de Cammo et Chappelton."
When Sir John Skene resigned his office of Clerk Register in 1612, he appears to have become servitor to the Earl of Crawford, as there is recorded in the Register of Deeds, on 9th June, 1613, a bond, by David, Earl of Crawford, to his servitor, Mr. Andro Skene, eldest son to Andro Skene of Auchorie, dated at the castle of Edinburgh, 2nd January, 1612.
In the year 1628, we find him in possession of the lands and barony of Auchtertule. The whole parish of Auchtertule was the property of the bishops of Dunkeld, and they were in the habit of granting their lands, as was the usual custom with church lands, to lay proprietors, in
SKENE OF HALYARDS IN FIFE. 51
feu-farm. We find that Auchtertule had been granted, in this manner, to Sir William Forbes of Craigievar, in 1617, and subsequently to Mr. John Skene, Clerk of Session, second son of Sir John Skene, from whom it passed to Mr. Andrew Skene, who received a crown charter confirming these grants, and thus came to hold it of the crown. This charter, granted on i8th January, 1628, confirms " duas cartas feudifirmae subscriptas unam quarum factam per reverendum in Christo patrem Alexandrum Dunkelden. episcopum superiorem terrarum &c dilecto nostro Magistro Joanni Skene uni clericorum nostri concilii et heredibus suis et assignatis de omnibus et singulis tern's et baroniae de Auchter- tule jacen. infra vie. de Fife et alteram dictarum cartarum factam per dictum reverendum in Christo patrem dilecto nostro Magistro Andreae Skene tune de Chappeltown nunc de Auchtertule heredibus suis et assignatis de omnibus et singulis terris et baronia de Auchtertule."
The barony of Auchtertule contained within it the old castle of Halyards, situated on the lake of Halyards, and Mr. Andrew Skene appears to have made it his residence, and eventually taken his title from it, as we find him designed in 1633 " Mr. Andro Skene of Hal- yards," in an assignation by Thomas Bruce in Parkhill, and Elspet Skene, his spouse, with his consent, to William Leslie, in Ley of Tulliebardie.
Sir Andrew Skene was knighted by King Charles the First, in Parliament assembled at Edinburgh, 6th November, 1641, along with three others who served as esquires upon the installation of General Leslie as Earl of Leven — (Balfour's Annals, III., p. 140).
He married Barbara Forbes, daughter of William Forbes of Craigievar, and had the following children : — I. John Skene, who succeeded him.
II. James Skene of Wester Bogie, who married Elizabeth Orrock, and was, in 1662, infeft in the lands of Watstoun, in Cambusnethan, in which he is designed lawful son of the deceased Sir Andrew Skene of Auchtertule, knight, and Mr. Andrew Skene, his brother, is attorney ; and, in 1673, James Skene of Wester Bogie, brother-german to John Skene of Halyards, and Elizabeth Orrock, his spouse, are infeft in the town and lands of Bogie Wester, in the constabulary of Kinghorn. He had by her — I. Andrew Skene, younger of Wester Bogie, mentioned in 1693.
52 SKENE OF HALYARDS IN FIFE.
2. John Skene of Wester Bogie, who receives, in 1708, a Renuncia- tion, by Michael Malcolm of Balbeadie, of an annual rent of £19 43. 6d., out of the lands of Wester Bogie. He had a son, John Skene, mentioned by Sibbald as in possession of Wester Bogie in 1710. He seems to have been the last of the family.
III. Mr. Andrew Skene appears, in 1665, as indweller in Edinburgh.
He married Christian Wardlaw, and had three sons — Henry, Andrew, and John.
IV. Mr. Alexander Skene. In 1663, on 1st, July, Mr. Alexander
Skene, Halyards' brother, is admitted Regent of St Leonard's College, St. Andrews, and became Provost of St. Salvador's. Appended to one of the maces is this inscription — " Dr. Alex- ander Skene Collegii Sancti Salvatoris nostri prepositus me temporis injuria laesum et mutilatum publicis dicti Collegii sumptibus reparandum curavit An. Dom. 1685." On 24th April, 1718, the testament dative and inventory of the debts and sum of money pertaining to the deceased Doctor Alexander Skene, residenter in the Canongate, sometime Provost of the Old College of St. Andrews, who died in the Canongate in the month of
, 1707, is given up by executors dative as creditors. V. William Skene.
VI. Patrick Skene. 2Oth September, 1693, Mr. Andrew Skene and Patrick Skene, sons of deceased Sir Andrew Skene of Halyards, are mentioned.
VII. Robert Skene in Lamington. John Skene of Halyards, and James Skene, his brother, tutors to Robert Skene, our brother- german. Disposition John Skene of Halyards, and Robert Skene, his brother-german, to James Skene of Wester Bogie, their brother-german, of an annual rent of £20 Scots, dated at Lamington, 2Oth October, 1668.
VIII. Barbara Skene married, ist, David Ramsay of Grangemuir. " 1657, December 15, David Ramsay, by way of rapt, took away Barbara Skeyne, Halyards' eldest sister, out of her mother's house at Kingorne, and went and married her at the Border " (Chron. of Fife). She married, 2nd, Sir David Mores, advocate.
SKENE OF HALYARDS IN FIFE. 53
IX. Katharine Skene married William Lindsay, afterwards Bishop of Dunkeld, son of James Lindsay of Dowhill, by contract, dated in 1666.
"January, 1653 — The old laird of Halyards (surnamed Skene) departed this life at Halyards, and was interred at Auchtertoole church. In November, 1653, his lady left Halyards, and went and dwelt in Dun- fermling. All her children went with her" — (Chron. of Fife).
III. — JOHN SKENE OF HALYARDS — 1653-1707.
On 24th May, 1653, John Skein of Halyards served heir to Sir Andro Skeene of Halyards, his father, in the lands and barony of Auchtertule, viz., the lands of Newtoune and Craigtoune of Auchtertule ; the lands of Weltoun ; the lands of Milnetoun and Milne of Auchtertule ; the lands and loch of Halyairds ; the lands of Easter and Wester Clintrayes, with the loch of Lochorishburne, unite into the barronie of Auchtertule ; the burgh of barronie of the Milnetoun of Auchtertule with the weiklie and yierlie faires ; the lands of Shepletoune, with the commonties of White- hills, Greenmyre, and Pilmure, within the parochin and barronie of Meigle, with the advocatione of the kirk of Auchtertule, within the diocie of Dunkeld and SherifTdom of Fyff— (Ind. Ret).
John Skene's arms are recorded in the Lyon Register : " Gules three Daggers Argent, hilted and pomelled Or, surmounted of as many woolfs heads couped of the third, a crescent for difference." Crest : " A dexter hand proper holding a dagger as the former." Motto : " Virtutis regia merces."
He was twice married, 1st, on 4th February, 1653, to " Margaret, daughter of David McGill of Rankeillor, by whom he had two sons and two daughters" (MS.D).
I. John Skene, who succeeded him.
II. James Skene, "who got from his father the lands of Grange and Kirkcaldy"(MS.D).
6th December, 1684 — Sasine on crown charter in favour of John Skene of Halyards, in liferent, and James Skene, his second son, in fee, of the lands and barony of New Grange. " He married on 1 2th January, 1688, Anna Drummond, 2nd daughter of James
54 SKENE OF HALYARDS IN FIFE.
Drummond, Cultmalundie, by whom he had two daughters" (MS.D).
1. Margaret Skene married to John Carnegie of Boysach.
2. Katharine Skene died unmarried.
James died without issue male, in 1698 ; and on 29th Novem- ber, 1699, John Skene, senior, of Halyards, was served heir of provision to James Skene, his second son, in the lands of Mains of Grange and Banchrie.
III. Elizabeth Skene married Sir Henry Wardlaw of Pitreavie, bart.
23rd May, 1691 — Disposition by John Skene, elder, of Hal- yards, to Dame Elizabeth Skene, his eldest lawful daughter, spouse to Sir Henry Wardlaw of Pitreavie, of an annual rent of ;£i2O. out of the lands of Milnehills.
IV. Katharine Skene was three times married, ist, to Sir James
Anstruther of Airdrie ; 2nd, to Major Andrew Quhyt ; and 3rd, to Lord Edward Murray; and had issue by them all. It is said that she obtained her three husbands from the extreme beauty of her hand ; and there is a portrait of her by Sir Peter Lely, formerly in the possession of the editor, and now in that of H. J. Trotter, Esq., M.P., a descendant of the family, in which the hands are prominently displayed, so as to show the back of one, and the palm of the other.
28th February, 1688 — Charter under the great seal, in favour of Dame Katharine Skene, relict of Major Andrew Whyt and Philip Anstruther, only lawful son, procreat between her and the deceased Sir James Anstruther of Airdrie, of the lands and barony of Airdrie.
4th June, 1744 — Testament dative of the deceased Dame Katharine Skene, relict of Lord Edward Murray, who died in the Canongate of Edinburgh, given up by John Murray, son lawful procreated between the deceased Lord Edward Murray and the defunct, his spouse. John Skene of Halyards married, 2nd, Helen, daughter of Patrick
Pitcairn, sometime of Pitlour, from whom he had, in 1683, bought that
estate, and by her he had a son.
V. David Skene, born I7th January, 1696, ancestor of the Skenes of Pitlour.
SKENE OF HALYARDS IN FIFE. 55
On 23rd April, 1684, there is a sasine on a disposition by Henry Pitcairn, elder of Pitlour, and Patrick Pitcairn, fiar thereof, his eldest lawful son, in favour of John Skene elder of Halyards, John, Charles, and Thomas Skene, his grand- children, of the town and lands of Wester and Easter Pitloures, in the barony of Strathmiglo, dated at Edinburgh, 22nd November, 1683, and at Balmuill, 24th November, 1683.
On 29th July, 1700, John Skene of Halyards grants a dis- position in favour of David Skene, his lawful son procreat betwixt him and Helen Pitcairn, lawful daughter to Patrick Pitcairn, sometime of Pitlour, his present spouse, and the heirs male to be procreat of his body ; which failing, to the eldest for the time, of John, Charles, Thomas, William, David, and Edward Skenes, lawful sons to John Skene, younger of Halyards, eldest son to the said John Skene, elder and so forth, of the lands of Wester and Easter Pitloures, in the Lordship of Balmerino, dated at Grange.
And on i8th July, 1706, there is a sasine on a royal charter in favour of David Skene, lawful son to John Skene, senior of Halyards, and the heirs male to be lawfully procreat of his body; whom failing, James Skene, lawful son of John Skene of Halyards and the heirs male to be lawfully procreat of his body; whom failing, Andrew Skene, lawful son of the said John Skene and the heirs male to be lawfully procreat of his body; whom failing, David Skene, lawful son of the said John Skene, junior, and the heirs male to be lawfully procreat of his body; whom failing, Edward Skene, also lawful son of the said John Skene and the heirs male of his body; whom all failing, to the said John Skene, senior, and his nearest heirs and assignees whomsoever, of the lands of Easter and Wester Pitloures, and the town and lands of Friermilne, in the parish of Strathmiglo. Dated at the- Palace of St. James, I9th January, 1706. 1707, December 10 — Upon the loth instant, John Skene of Halyards departed this life (Par. Reg.).
56 SKENE OF HALYARDS IN FIFE.
IV.— JOHN SKENE OF HALYARDS— 1707-1709
succeeded his father, and is infeft on nth December, 1708, on a charter under the great seal in favour of John Skene of Halyards and the heirs male, lawfully to be procreat of his body ; whom failing, the heirs male, procreat of the body of the deceased John Skene of Halyards, his father, and whom failing, his heirs male whomsoever ; whom all failing, his nearest and lawful heirs and assignees whomsoever, of the lands and baronie of Auchtertoole, at Edinburgh, 2pth November, 1708.
He married Elizabeth, second daughter of Sir Thomas Wallace of Craigie, Baronet.
1680, August 28 — John Skene, younger of Halyards, in Fife, Mrs. Elizabeth Wallace, lawful daughter to the deceased Lord Craigie, married by Dr. Alexander Skene, Provost of St. Salvators College, in St. Andrews — (Edin. Session Records).
22nd January, 1690 — Sasine on contract of marriage, of date, at Edinburgh, iith August, 1680, entered into between John Skene, elder of Halyards, John Skene, younger thereof, his eldest lawful son, and Margaret McGill, spouse to the said John Skene, elder; and Mistress Elizabeth Wallace, then promised, and present spouse to the said John Skene, younger of Halyards, therein designed, lawful daughter to the deceased Sir Thomas Wallace of Craigie, Knight, Baronet, Lord- Justice Clerk, with advice and consent of Sir William Wallace of Craigie, Knight, and Baronet, her brother-german : whereby the said John Skene, elder, with consent of his said spouse, bound him to infeft and seize the said John Skene, younger, his eldest lawful son) and the heirs male, to be procreat between him and the said Elizabeth Wallace, in the lands, barony, and whole parish of Auchtertool.
By Elizabeth Wallace he had the following children : —
I. John Skene, who succeeded him*,
II. Charles Skene, who was a lieutenant in Lord Dalrymple's regiment, "was married and had a son, who died 1741, and two daughters living in 1788" (MS.E).
III. Thomas Skene died unmarried before 2pth June, 1706, when his
Testament is confirmed in Edinburgh Commissary Court.
IV. William Skene died unmarried.
SKENE OF HALYARDS IN FIFE. 57
V. James Skene, who carried on the line of this family. VI. Andrew Skene, lieutenant in Earl of Orkney's regiment
1 9th April, 1710 — Renunciation by Andrew Skene, lieutenant in the Earl of Orkney's regiment of foot, and sixth lawful son of the deceased John Skene of Halyards, in Fife, in favour of John Skene, now of Halyards, his eldest lawful brother, now served and retoured, and infeft, to the said deceased John Skene, their father, of an annual sub-rent of the lands, barony, and parish of Auchtertool. VII. David Skene died unmarried. VIII. Edward Skene died unmarried. IX. Margaret Skene.
X. Elizabeth Skene married Calderwood of Pittedie. John Skene appears to have married a second time Mrs. Anne Stuart On iQth January, 1709, there is a sasine on a bond of provision by the deceased John Skene, younger of Halyards, in favour of Charles, William, James, Andrew, David, and Edward, Margaret and Elizabeth, his lawful children, whereby he bound himself and his heirs to pay to his said children the sums of money following, viz., to each of his sons, 5000 merks Scots, to his eldest daughter Margaret, 10,000 merks Scots, and to his youngest daughter Elizabeth, 9000 merks Scots, and bound himself to infeft them in an annual rent of £2120, or any other rent corresponding to the principal sum of 53,000 merks forsaid out of the land and barony of Auchtertool, reserving the liferent interest of Mrs. Anne Stuart lady of the said John Skene. It is dated at Halyards, loth July, 1705.
"John Skene, fiar of Halyards, having married Elizabeth, second daughter of Sir Thomas Wallace of Craigie, Baronet, his third daughter having married John Drummond, brother to the Duke of Perth, and himself Duke of Melfort, in France, John Skene and his lady accom- panied them to France, where he ran through his estate" (MS.E). He survived his father only two years, and died in 1709.
V. — JOHN SKENE OF HALYARDS — 1709-1717
succeeded to an encumbered estate on his father's death, and on 29th August, 1713, is infeft on a precept of clare constat by Charles, Earl of Murray, Lord Doune and Abernethy, as nearest heir male of the deceased John Skene of Auchtertool, his grandfather, of the kirklands of Auchter-
I
58 SKENE OF HALYARDS IN FIFE.
tool, dated at Donniebristle, loth August, 1713, and on the 2oth August, 1713, he resigns these lands to Charles, Earl of Murray.
Two years after, on 3Oth June, 1715, there is a resignation, by John Skene of Halyards, eldest lawful son and heir male, served and retoured to the deceased John Skene of Halyards, his father, procreat between him and the late Elizabeth Wallace, his spouse, to Charles, Earl of Moray, of the lands, barony, and whole parish of Auchtertool, with the manor place of Halyards, in Fife, 5th May, 1713.
John Skene died unmarried and the line of the family was carried on by his brother.
VI. — JAMES SKENE
"was engaged in the rebellion of 1715, and taken prisoner at Preston. On the 7th April, 1716, he was arraigned for high treason, condemned on 1 2th May, but afterwards pardoned. He again engaged in the attempt of 1719, and was taken at Glenshiel. He was examined for his share in Bishop Atterbury's treason in 1722 " — See " State Trials," vol. vi., pp. 389, 448, and 466).
"James Skene married Mary Ann Smith, daughter of the Reverend J. Smith of Battersea. He engaged in trade, but being unfortunate died of grief in 1736 "(MS.E).
He left two sons and one daughter — I. Philip Wharton Skene, born 5th February, 1725. II. James Skene, a surgeon in the East India Company's Service,
died unmarried in London in 1780. III. Elizabeth Skene died unmarried in June, 1799.
VII. — PHILIP WHARTON SKENE
" first joined the army under his uncle Andrew's charge, then a captain in the Royal Scots. He served in the same regiment in the West Indies, where Captain Andrew Skene died, 3Oth March, 1742, in Jamaica. He afterwards served in Flanders, at Dettingen, Fontenoy, and in 1745 at Culloden, and again in Flanders in 1747. After the peace he went to Ireland, where he married Katharine, only child of Samuel Heyden of Arklow. Colonel Philip Skene went upon service to North America in 1756, and returned to Ireland in 1765, in order to take his family to North America, where he established them at Skeneborough, on Lake Champlain, a property obtained partly by purchase and partly by grant from the Crown. Mrs. Skene died there in 1771. In 1775
SKENE OF HALYARDS IN FIFE. 59
Colonel Skene was appointed lieutenant-governor of the forts at Crown Point and Ticonderoga, and surveyor of the forest of Lake Champlain. When the American war broke out, he and his family were arrested, and his estates confiscated. He served during the war, and came to England in 1778. In 1786 or 1787, the commissioners for the claims of American loyalists awarded him £20,000 for his personal losses, with which he purchased property in Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire, and died at Hartwell, in June, 1810, in the 86th year of his age" (MS.E). He married in 1752 Katherine, daughter of Samuel Heyden of Kilmacow, in Arklow, County Wicklow, and had by her —
I. Andrew Philip Skene, born 25th March, 1753. II. Mary Ann Margaret Skene, born 1755, died unmarried. III. Katharine Skene, born 1756, married Major de Piguet, and had issue.
VIII. — ANDREW PHILIP SKENE
" served along with his father in America, in the 27th, 72nd, and 43rd regiments, and was afterwards Major of Brigade in America, subsequently on the staff in Scotland " (MS.E).
He died i8th January, 1826, having had by his wife, Henrietta, only child of David James, of Serjeants Inn, London, whom he married on 2Oth December, 1792 —
I. Philip Orkney Skene, born I4th October, 1793, first lieutenant Royal Engineers. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Wood, Esquire, and died without issue in April, 1837. II. David James Skene, born I3th October, 1794, lieutenant in the 68th regiment of foot, and afterwards in the 1st Light Dragoons, died without issue, ist February, 1835.
III. Andrew Motz Skene, born 28th June, 1797 ; a captain in the navy, married Rachel Jemima, youngest daughter of James Walmesley, Esq., and died in July, 1849, having had the following children —
1. Andrew Philip Skene, born 6th September, 1832.
2. Elizabeth Rosa Skene, born 8th September, 1826, and died loth
September, 1846.
3. Augusta Maria Skene, born 22nd November, 1827 ; married
Charles, son of Warren Maude, Esq.
4. Jemima Margaret Skene, born 3rd March, 1836; married
George Edward, son of Reverend R. Booth.
60 SKENE OF HALYARDS IN FIFE.
IV. William Wallace Skene, born 4th February, 1800, died unmarried,
1st July, 1829. V. George Robert Skene, born nth April, 1802, died unmarried.
VI. Katherine Heyden Skene, born 8th April, 1805: married, first, Richard Smyth, Esq., by whom she had a daughter, Henrietta, who married Canon Walter, and secondly, George Hutton Wilkinson, Esq. of Harperley Park, Co. Durham, Recorder of Newcastle-on-Tyne.
VII. Henrietta Skene, born i6th November, 1806 ; married William Trotter, third son of Colonel John Trotter, of Haughton Hall, near Darlington, and had by him eight children —
1. William Dale Trotter, Colonel of the Durham Militia, died 1875.
2. Henry John Trotter, of Byers Green Hall, Co. Durham, and the
Temple, London, M.P. for Colchester.
3. Margaret Jane Trotter, married the Rev. J. E. W. Loft.
4. Harriet Susannah Trotter marriedRev. W. T. Tyrrwhitt Drake.
5. Caroline Elizabeth Trotter married Rev. A. Williamson.
6. Emily Katharine Trotter unmarried.
7. Charles Vaughan Trotter, captain in the army.
8. Catherine Francis Trotter married W. J. Walter, Esq.
"Died at his house in Durham, on the i8th instant [January, 1826], highly respected, aged seventy-three, Andrew Philip Skene, B.A., of New York, Esquire of Hallyards, in Fife, and Kilmacoe, Wicklow, Ireland, only son of the late Colonel Philip Wharton Skene of Skenesborough, United States, and of Hackleton, Northamptonshire, governor of Crown Point and Ticonderoga, North America. This gentleman was a descen- dant of the famous Sir William Wallace, and traces his descent from the year 1014, from the first Skene of Skene, according to tradition, a younger son of the (Donalds) Lords of the Isles. He also held a military commission in the British service above sixty years. His remains were interred in the cathedral on the 2ist instant, and were borne to his vault, according to his request, by eight old soldiers. A few weeks before his death he requested the following epitaph to be placed on his tomb : — ' Terrae filius in terram hie reposuit ' " — (Newspaper notice).
IX. — ANDREW PHILIP SKENE, his grandson, is now the male representative of the family of Skene.
SKENE OF PITLOUR.
I. — DAVID SKENE OF PITLOUR,
son of John Skene III., of Halyards, by his second wife, Helen Pit- cairn, succeeded to the estate of Pitlour, in terms of his father's settlement. He married, on 25th July, 1718, Jean Douglas of Strathhenry, by whom he had three sons and three daughters — I. Robert Skene, who succeeded him. II. Philip Skene, who succeeded his brother.
III. David Skene, a captain in the 28th Regiment ; he died nth May,
1788, leaving by his wife, Elizabeth Morrison, one son — i. David Skene, who succeeded his uncle, Philip.
IV. Helen Skene married, in 1746, to Colonel George Moncrieff of
Reddie, by whom she had —
1. Patrick Moncrieff, who succeeded his father, and had by his wife,
Emily Raitt, a son —
I. Patrick George Moncrieff, who eventually succeeded to the estate.
2. George Moncrieff, youngest son.
3. Jane Moncrieff.
4. Ann Moncrieff married Dr. John Govan, physician in Cupar.
5. Margaret Moncrieff.
6. Catharine Moncrieff married John Hay Balfour, Esq. of Leys and
Randerston.
7. Helen Moncrieff married James Cheape of Strath tyrum.
8. Christian Moncrieff.
9. Douglas Moncrieff. V. Jane Skene.
VI. Catharine Skene.
62 SKENE OF HALYARDS IN FIFE.
David Skene of Pitlour granted a disposition, dated at Pitlour, 2pth January, 1747, in favour of himself, in liferent, and to Robert Skene, lieu- tenant in the Honourable Major-General Charles Howard's Regiment of Foot, his eldest lawful son, his heirs and assignees whomsoever, heritably and irredeemably, in fee, of all and whole the lands of Easter Pitlour, with the fortalice and manor place of Pitlour (now and in all time here- after to be called Halyards}, Wester Pitlour, and Auchmorie, lying in the barony of Strathmiglo and Sheriffdom of Fife ; Steedmuirlands, in the Lordship of Balmerino and Sheriffdom aforesaid ; Friermilln, lying in the barony of Pitgarno ; West Mill of Strathmiglo, and others: but always with and under the burden of a liferent annuity of 1000 merks Scots, provided by the said David Skene to Jean Douglas, his spouse, conform to contract of marriage, dated 25th July, 1718, and that notwith- standing Helen Pitcairn, his mother, be alive, and with and under any burdens made, or to be made, for behoof of his younger children.
This disposition was followed by a royal charter of Resignation, dated at Edinburgh, 29th February, 1747, on which infeftment was taken on 1 7th March, 1747.
David Skene appears to have died soon after, and was succeeded by his eldest son.
II. — ROBERT SKENE OF PITLOUR (VI. OF HALYARDS).
As on 22nd April, 1748, there is a factory by Robert Skene of Halyards, lieutenant in the Honourable Major-General Charles Howard's Regiment of Foot, in favour of Mrs. Jean Douglas, relict of David Skene of Pitlour, his mother.
On 2 ist December, 1752, Robert Skene of Pitlour, then a lieutenant- general, made a settlement of his estates in favour of himself and the heirs of his body ; whom failing, to General Philip Skene and his heirs male. He died without issue, and was succeeded by his brother.
III.— PHILIP SKENE OF PITLOUR (VII. OF HALYARDS), 17 -1788,
who, on 1 4th August, 1752, was infeft, on a charter of resignation, under the great seal, in favour of Captain Philip Skene, of the regiment of foot commanded by General Philip Anstruther, of Airdrie, in the town and lands of Wester Pitlour, in the barony of Strathmiglo, at Edinburgh, 27th July, 1752.
He served heir to his brother in 1757.
SKENE OF HALYARDS IN FIFE. 63
On loth August, 1787, he executed a deed of entail of the estate of Pitlour, in favour of himself and the heirs of his body ; whom failing, to Captain David Skene, of the 28th Regiment of Foot, then Inspector of Military Roads in Scotland, his brother-german ; whom failing, to David Skene, the said Captain David Skene's son procreat of the marriage betwixt him and Mrs. Elizabeth Morrison ; whom failing, to the other heirs of the body of the said Captain David Skene ; whom failing, to Mrs. Helen Skene, otherwise Moncrieff, relict of Colonel George Moncrieff of Reidie ; whom failing, to Patrick Moncreiff, then of Reidie, eldest son of the said Mrs. Helen Moncrieff and the heirs of his body; whom failing, to Captain George Moncrieff, youngest son of the said Mrs. Helen Moncrieff and the heirs of his body; whom failing, to their seven sisters in order, and their heirs ; whom failing, to his own two younger sisters.
General Philip Skene died on 22nd June, 1788, and was succeeded by his nephew.
IV. — DAVID SKENE OF PITLOUR (VIII. OF HALYARDS), 1788-1803,
son of Captain David Skene, who was served heir to his uncle upon the 2nd October, 1788, and obtained a crown charter of the lands of Pitlour, &c., on 3rd February, 1789.
He died unmarried, in Paris, in 1803, upon which event Mrs. Moncrieff made up her titles to the estate, and died in 1826, aged 96 years. She was succeeded by her grandson, Patrick George Moncrieff, who changed his name to
V.— PATRICK GEORGE SKENE OF PITLOUR (IX. OF HALYARDS),
and was twice married, 1st, to Emily, second daughter of James Rait of Anniston, by whom he had —
I. Moncrieff Patrick George Skene, who died unmarried in October,
1868.
He married, secondly, Jessie, daughter of Dugald John Campbell of Skerrington, by whom he had —
VI.— WILLIAM BAILLIE SKENE OF PITLOUR (X. OF HALYARDS),
married, in 1874, Sarina Charlotte Liddell, daughter of the Very Reverend the Dean of Christchurch, Oxford, and has issue.
SKENE OF PRERAU, IN AUSTRIA.
I. — PATRICK SKENE,
second son of Andrew Skene of Auchorie, " married Jean Forbes, daughter of Robert Forbes, sometime of Drumlassie, on whom he begot —
I. Mr. Andrew Skene, parson of Turriff, who married Jean Coutts,
daughter to the laird of Auchtertoull. II. John Skene, yet unmarried" (MS.A.).
John Skene appears to have been settled, first, at Bridgend of Puttachy, in the parish of Keig, and afterwards at Mill of Turriff, and to have married, and had two sons —
1. Mr. Andrew Skene.
2. James Skene in Turriff
nth January, 1666 — John Skene of Bridgend of Puttachy, cautioner
for Mr. Andrew Skene, parson of Turriff, at Turriff, 3rd June,
1666. 1666 — Andrew Skene, rector, in Turriff, to William Lumsden of
Leach, of tenement in Aberdeen. John Skene, witness. 1667 — Disposition Rice Joans, in Turriff, of a tenement in favour
of John Skene in Turriff. Andrew Skene, parson of Turriff,
witness. 1672 — John Skene at the Mill of Turriff, in favour of William Coutts
in Caminter.
1688 — Mr. Andrew Skene, lawful son to John Skene, in Turriff. 1704 — Andrew Skene, eldest son to John Skene, in Turriff. III. "Jean Skene married one John Skene" (MS.A). She seems to
have married Richard Jones, in Turriff. 1688 — Alexander Leask, rector, in Turriff. Joanna Skene, relict of
Richard Jones, in Turriff.
SKENE OF PRERAU. 65
Patrick Skene is mentioned, in 1633, as Patrick Skene in Auchorie, and probably died not long after.
II. — MR. ANDREW SKENE,
parson of Turriff, was, in 1665, infeft in the lands of Craigytocher, Over and Nether Bridgend, and with right to feal and divot from the lands of Fintry and Doorlathers, and any others belonging to late Patrick Forbes of Gask. He died in the year 1678.
A monument was erected to his memory, consisting of a mural tablet, still in a good state of preservation, built into the inside wall, on the north side of the old parish church of Turriff, with the following inscription : —
M. S. MR ANDREAS SKEIN VIR CANDORE EXIMIVS
VERBO ET OPERE PR^IPOTENS
CATHEDRAE TVRRIFENSIS DECVS EXVVIAS
MORTALITATIS PRATER QUAS NIHIL MORTALE
HABVIT POSVIT IN SPE
ANNO 1678 APRILIS.
He appears to have had a son,
III. — MR. ROBERT SKENE,
who had, by his wife, Barbara Douglas, as appears from parish register —
I. John Skene, born 28th December, 1671.
II. Anna Skene, born 9th August, 1673. III. William Skene, born I4th June, 1676.
IV. — JOHN SKENE
occupied successively the farm of Doorlathers, Bogues of Lathers, Bogues of Raclach, all adjacent to each other, and in the parish of Turriff. He had, as appears from the parish records, the following children : — I. John Skene, born in Doorlathers, 29th December, 1707.
II. James Skene, born in Doorlathers, ist July, 1711. (Cf7crn*fcJ/i<'«/
III. Andrew Skene, born in Doorlathers, nth April, 1713.
IV. George Skene, born in Bogues of Lathers, 24th April, 1715. . V. Agnes Skene, born in Bogues of Raclach, I3th June, 1717. ! jy u.
VI. Isabella Skene, born in Raclach, 24th May, 1719.
K
v
66 SKENE OF PRERAU.
VII. Alexander Skene, born in Bogues of Raclach, igth March, 1721. VIII. Peter Skene, born in Bogues of Lathers, 3ist May, 1723.
John Skene appears, after the birth of Peter, to have removed to Midmar.
V. — PETER SKENE,
the youngest son, left Midmar to seek his fortune in Holland, where a number of Scotchmen had settled as merchants, and became a burgess of the town of Venloo.
He married on 3ist May, 1751, Sarah Catharine Landmeter, and is described in the marriage register as " Peter Skene from Midmar, in the province of Aberdeen."
He had by her four children —
I. Henry Skene, born in 1752, died at Venloo without issue. II. Alexander Skene, born in 1755.
III. William Skene, born zoth November, 1757 ; lieutenant in the
Navy, married Henrica Adela Guichenon de Chastillon, and had by her —
1. Peter Skene, born 22nd June, 1788 ; married Helena Maria
Daemen, and had an only son, Peter Ludwig William Max, born 24th June, 1843, officer in the Dutch Army, died December, 1885.
2. Max Skene, born 2Oth March, 1791.
IV. Johanna Skene, born 1761 ; married Francis William Guichenon
de Chastillon.
By two resolutions of the General Estates of the Netherlands, on I4th January and 8th April, 1755, Peter Skene was appointed a civil officer of the High Court of Justice, at Venloo. This office he retained till his death. He married, 2ndly, on nth November, 1786, Elizabeth Passage, from Nymmegen. He died on the 24th December, 1787.
VI. — ALEXANDER SKENE
was made a Doctor of Laws of the University of Duisbourg, 29th July, 1778, and Secretary of the Dutch Embassy at Cologne. There he married, 1st March, 1790, Johanna Jacoba Theodora Hoffman, daughter of Geheimerath Hoffman of Prussia, by whom he had an only son, Philip William, and two daughters, Louisa Jacoba and Johanna Carolina.
SKENE OF PKERAU. 67
VII. — PHILIP WILLIAM SKENE,
born at Cologne, I3th June, 1790, served in the army of the Netherlands ; married at Verviers, Belgium, Jeanne Catherine Hauseur, I3th April, 1812. He left Verviers, after the revolution, in 1830, and went to Brunn, the capital of Moravia, in Austria, where he settled with his family, and founded there a cloth manufactory. He had five sons —
I. William Skene died without issue, in America. II. Alfred Skene, born at Verviers, I5th May, 1815.
III. Charles Skene died in 1855, leaving issue —
1. Charles Skene married, and has issue.
2. Jenny, married to Baron Kurt Gablenz.
3. Mary married her cousin, Alfred Skene.
IV. Adolf Skene fell in the battle of St. Lucia in Italy, 1849.
V. August, born in 1829, knighted 1880, married Auguste von Schoeller, Vice-President of the " Banque des pays de 1'Autriche," has issue four sons and two daughters.
VIII. — ALFRED SKENE
was an officer in the Austrian Imperial Dragoons; married, 1846, Francisca de Rosenbaum, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel de Rosenbaum. He left the army, in 1847, to assist his father in the great business he had established in Briinn : was 1864-1866 Provost of the City of Brunn, and 1861-1885 member of the Austrian Reichsrath. He was proprietor of the estate and cloth manufactory of Alexavitz and the sugar refinery at Prerau, Moravia. He was a man of great energy and consummate ability. He attained a position of commanding influence in all matters connected with trade and manufactures, was recognised in the Austrian Parliament as the great authority in such matters, exercised much influence over the administration of the finances of the empire, and left a large fortune, entirely gained by honourable enterprise. The editor had the privilege of knowing him well at this time, and this account of him is consistent with his personal knowledge. He married, a second time, Louisa von Blumendorf, died I4th May, 1887, in his 72nd year, and left two sons and one daughter — I. Alfred Skene.
II. Louis Skene married, in 1880, Janka, Countess Firmian. III. Gabrielle Skene married, 1872, Baron de Widman, Imperial Governor of Tyrol, Austria.
SKENE OF PREKAU.
IX. — ALFRED SKENE
married, in 1873, his cousin, Mary Skene, and is present proprietor of Pawlowitz-Prerau, and member of the Landtag of Austria. He is now the representative of this branch of the family.
Arms of Mr. Andrew Skene and Jean Coutta his Spouse, from a Stone in Turriff Churchyard.
CHAPTER III.
SKENE OF DUMBRECK.
I. — GILBERT SKENE IN TILLIBIRLOCH,
second son of Alexander Skene XI. of Skene, commonly called "the little laird," married Barbara Forbes, daughter of Robert Forbes of Echt, by whom he had three sons and three daughters — I. Alexander Skene in Dumbreck.
II. John Skene, died unmarried, in 1627, when Alexander Skene, in Dumbreck, is executor to umquhile John Skene, merchant burgess of Aberdeen.
III. Robert Skene, ancestor of the family of Newtyle.
IV. Margaret Skene married John Burnett V. Elspeth Skene married Andrew Gray.
VI. Agnes Skene married Thomas Spens.
John Forbes of Echt, the only son of Robert Forbes of Echt, and brother of Barbara, died without issue, in 1609, when the unentailed portion of the estate fell to Alexander Skene, consisting of Culquhorsie and Dumbreck, and the entailed portion to Robert Forbes of Finnersie, the heir male.
On 2nd January, 1610, there is an inhibition at the instance of John Forbes of Finnersie, against Alexander Skene, on contract made at Edinburgh on the ipth December, 1609, between the said Robert Forbes as only nearest and lawful heir of tailzie, to umquhile John Forbes of Echt, on the one part ; and Alexander Skene, eldest lawful son of umquhile Gilbert Skene of Tillibirloche, procreated between him and umquhile Barbara Forbes, his spouse, who was only lawful sister to the said umquhile John Forbes of Echt, and so the said Alexander, as only nearest
70 SKENE OF DUMBRECK.
apparent heir of line to the said umquhile John Forbes of Echt, on the other part ; by which contract the said Alexander, as apparent heir of line foresaid, for certain causes therein specified, became bound to have him- self duly retoured as nearest heir of line foresaid, and by special provision has declared that he has no right nor title to the lands and barony of Echt, except the lands of Culquhorsie and Dumbreck, and pertinents thereof: and a corresponding inhibition by Alexander Skene against Robert Forbes.
On 2/th July, 1610, there is an advocation to the Court of Session of an action pursued before the Commissary of Aberdeen, at the instance of Alexander Irving, advocate, and others, cautioners and sureties for Robert Forbes of Echt, against John and Robert Skene, Margaret Skene and John Burnet her spouse, Elspeth Skene and Andrew Gray, her spouse, and Agnes Skene and Thomas Spens, her spouse, decerning them to free and relieve the said parties of their cautionary obligation, &c.
Alexander Skene, the eldest son, was thus the heir of line to his uncle in heritage ; his younger brothers and sisters representing him in the moveable estate.
On 24th October, 1610, there is an obligation to Robert Skene, son to umquhile Gilbert Skene, of Tilliebirloch, at Aberdeen, November 1688, before which date both Gilbert Skene and his wife were dead.
II. — ALEXANDER SKENE OF DUMBRECK.
Prior to his father's death, Alexander Skene had married Elizabeth Mercer, relict of John Deanes, and in his right possessed the Mylne of Hall Forest, also called the Mylne of Durno. In 1605 there is a Remov- ing, by Elizabeth Merser, relict of John Deane and Alexander Skene, at Mylne of Hall of Forest, and her spouse ; and again, on I4th June, 1606, Removing Elspet Mercer, relict of umquhile John Deanes, and now spouse of Alexander Skene, at Mylne of Durno.
On 27th February, 1611, there is a special retour — Alexander Skene films legitimus primogenitus quondam Barbare Forbes sororis unice germane quondam Johannis Forbes de Echt haeres dicti Johannis Forbes de Echt avunculi in terris de Culquhorsie cum outsett vocato Dumbreck de Kirkton de Echt, terris de Hillside in Baronia de Clune.
And on i6th December, 1633, Alexander Skene, in Dumbreck, and his spouse, are infeft in the town and lands of Dumbreck.
SKENE OF DUMBRECK. 71
He married ist, Elizabeth Mercer, by whom he had one son — I. Alexander Skene in Cairnday.
He married 2nd, " Agnes Keith, daughter of Mr. Gilbert Keith of Affrosk, on whom he begat —
II. Robert Skene of Dumbreck, who married Marjorie Mollyson, daughter of Thomas Mollyson, town-clerk of Aberdeen, by whom he had three daughters —
1. Isobell Skene married William Tosh.
2. Janet Skene married William Jobson.
3. Margaret Skene married John Smyth.
III. Mr. Gilbert Skene, Minister at Cariston" (MS.A).
1 6th April, 1656 — Obligation Robert Skene in Dumbreck, sone lawful to umquhile Alexander Skene of Dumbreck and Alexander Skene in Cairnday, his brother. Witness, Gilbert Skene, student in the Old College of Aberdeen.
I4th December, 1653 — Obligation Gilbert Skene of Dyce, to Mr. Gilbert Skene, sone lawful to umquhile Alexander Skene of Dumbreck, " and six daughters — IV. Janet Skene married Alexander Burnett of Sluie" (MS.A).
1637 — Contract of marriage between Mr. Andrew Burnett of
Sluie, son of the minister of Strachan, and Janet Skene, daughter
of umquhile Alexander Skene of Dumbreck, with consent of
Anna Keith, her mother.
V. " Isobel Skene, married to John Keith, Chamberlain to the
Countess Marischall.
VI. Elspett Skene married to Andrew Forbes, portioner of Kinellar. VII. Jean Skene married William Bruce, Notary Public. VIII. Helen Skene married to Alexander Fraser of Corskil. IX. Katharine Skene married to one William Forbes " (MS.A).
III. — MR. ALEXANDER SKENE.
<fThe lands of Dumbreck and Culquhorsey, in the parish of Echt, continued in the family for several generations, until carried off by the Forbeses of Echt, by a comprising" (MS.D). It is in connection with this, probably, that we find, in 1638, a decreet of Mr. Alexander Skene, eldest son to deceased Alexander Skene of Dumbreck, against Arthur
72 SKENE OF DUMBRECK.
f
Forbes, now of Echt, son and heir of deceased Robert Forbes of Echt, to implement a contract; and on 2ist May, 1656, he appears as Mr. Alexander Skene in Cairnday ; and again, on I2th April, 1676, there is a bond by Mr. Alexander Skene, eldest son to the deceased Alex- ander Skene of Dumbreck, now in Cocairdie.
" He was married to Jean Leslie, daughter of Patrick Leslie of Kincraigie, and was father to George Skene that was late minister of Kinkell, near Aberdeen " (MS.D).
IV. — GEORGE SKENE, MINISTER OF KINKELL.
He was twice married, 1st to Mary Gordon, daughter of Francis Gordon of Craig, by whom he had — I. Francis Skene.
He married, secondly, Margaret Skene, daughter of Mr. Robert Skene, Rector of the Grammar School of Aberdeen, by whom he had — II. Agnes Skene, married to Mr. John Burnett, minister at Cluny.
III. Mary Skene.
IV. Katharine Skene. V. Helen Skene.
VI. John Skene, Librarian of Marischal College and University,
1736-1750.
There is a monument in the old church of Kinkell, bearing the following inscription : —
JACET HIC SEPVLTA DNA: MARIA GORDON MRI: GEO:
SKENE PASTORIS VXOR QU;£ OBIIT AUG. I 1712 ^TATIS 32
Mr. George Skene, himself, died in April, 1724; and, on I2th August, 1724, the inventory of the goods, &c., of the deceased Mr. George Skene, minister at Kinkell, was given up by Margaret Skene, his relict, and confirmed to Francis, John, Mary, Katharine, and Helen Skene, his children, and Mr. John Burnett, minister at Cluny, husband to Agnes.
V.— MR. FRANCIS SKENE
was admitted, i6th March, 1734, one of the regents in Marischal College; and on the classes being fixed in 1753, became Professor of Civil and Natural History. He taught altogether for 41 years.
SKENE OF DUMBRECK. 73
In 1724 he served heir to George Skene, his father, minister of Kinkell.
He married, i$th May, 1740, Mary Reid of Mounie, by whom he had: I. George Skene, born I4th April, 1741. II. William Skene, born ipth November, 1743 ; died I3th Nov., 1769.
III. John Skene, born 2nd August, 1744.
IV. James Skene, born 25th August, 1746; took degree of M.D. in
1766, and settled in Charlestown, Carolina.
Mr. Francis Skene died on I3th February, 1775, aged 71; and his wife on 3ist March, 1781, aged 60.
VI. — DR. GEORGE SKENE,
M.D., 1755, was a Physician in Aberdeen, and on 8th October, 1760, at the age of nineteen, was elected Professor of Natural Philosophy in Marischal College. On his father's death he was transferred to the Chair of Civil and Natural History, which he held until compelled by his increasing medical practice to resign in 1788. "He was a genuine scholar, of good ability, great shrewdness and sense, and witty" (Knight's Mar. Coll. Collections).
He married, on 26th October, 1769, Margaret, daughter of Charles Gordon of Abergeldie, and had by her the following children : —
I. John Skene, born 23rd August, 1770, died young. II. Francis Skene, born 22nd November, 1771, died young.
III. Emilia Skene, born 3Oth May, 1773 ; married, 4th October, 1794,
Captain Edmund Filmer, by whom she had Sir Edm. Filmer, Bart.
IV. Mary Skene, born 2Oth January, 1775, died 2nd September, 1795.
V. Charles Skene, born 2ist July, 1777, who carried on the line of . this family.
VI. Mary Anne Skene, born 25th February, 1779, died I3th April, 1863. VII. Elizabeth Skene, born 9th October, 1780, died 27th February, 1839. VIII. Margaret Skene, born 23rd August, 1782, married Arthur Ander- son of Deebank, and died 25th April, 1821.
IX. Andrew Skene, born 26th February, 1784, M.A., of Marischal College in 1802, passed advocate, distinguished himself at the bar, and became Solicitor-General for Scotland. He died at Edinburgh, 2nd April, 1835.
74 SKENE OF DUMBRECK.
X. William Skene, born 26th February, 1784, was a Colonel in the East India Company's Service ; married Miss Campbell of Lochnell, and died without issue in 1854.
XI. Alison Skene, born 9th November, 1786, died in England in 1839. Dr. George Skene died, after a short and acute illness, on 2 5th March, 1803, aged 61; and his wife on i6th January, 1802, aged 51.
VII. — DR. CHARLES SKENE,
M.A., 1795, M.D. (Edinb.), 1799, was a distinguished Physician in Aber- deen, and also 1823-1839, Professor of Medicine in Marischal College. He married, on i8th June, 1808, Margaret Ann Anderson, daughter of Anderson, Esquire of Linkwood, Elgin, by whom he had the following children : —
I. Mary Skene, born 25th May, 1809, died 22nd May, 1882. II. George Skene, born 8th May, 181 1, was an Ensign in the East India Company's Service ; died at Bechampore, India, 4th June, 1831.
III. Charles Skene, born 9th October, 1812, M.A. of Marischal College
in 1830, captain in 79th Regiment Cameron Highlanders, and afterwards Superintendent of Indians, Canada.
IV. Andrew Skene, born 22nd April, 1814, assistant-surgeon in the
52nd Regiment ; died at Brecon, in Wales, 23rd January, 1846. V. Margaret Skene, born 23rd June, 1815, died 9th November, 1818. VI. Alexander Skene, born loth February, 1816, was captain in the East India Company's Service, married, in India, Beatrice Marjory Herschel Cumberlege, daughter of Colonel Cumberlege of the Madras Cavalry ; both were killed in the Indian Mutiny, on 8th June, 1857, with their two children —
1. Mary Isabella Frances Skene, born 29th July, 1854.
2. Beatrice Harriet Annie Skene, born nth December, 1855.
VII. Harriet Skene, born 26th August, 1818, died i6th October, 1866.
VIII. William Skene, born I4th November, 1819, died on 3Oth of
same month.
Dr. Charles Skene died on nth June, 1844, aged 66 ; and his wife on 1 9th November, 1819, aged 31.
VIII. — CAPTAIN CHARLES SKENE now represents this family.
SKENE OF NEWTYLE.
I.— ROBERT SKENE,
third son of Gilbert Skene of Tilliebirloch, by his wife Elspett Forbes, appears first at Milne of Commeris, one of the Tanistry lands adjoining Tilliebirloch, and afterwards at Slydie of Erdifork, in the neighbouring parish of Midmar. In 1589 he married Janet Forbes, and had two sons —
I. Robert Skene.
29th June, 1589 — Robert Skene and Jonat Forbes mariet. In 24th October, 1610, there is an obligation to Robert Skene, son to umquhile Gilbert Skene of Tilliebirloch, at Aberdeen, November, 1608.
On 1 5th November, 1615, there is an obligation by George Williamson, burgess of Aberdeen, to Robert Skene at the Mylne of Commeris, in name and behalf of Robert Skene, his eldest son. II. Alexander Skene, at Mylne of Commeris.
On 1 6th June, 1616, there is an obligation to Alexander Skene, son to Robert Skene, at the Mylne of Commeris, for money lent at Kirkton of Echt.
Before 1620 Robert Skene had left Commeris, as on i6th June in that year, Alexander Skene, son of Robert Skene, " olim in Comeris," is procurator for Alexander Skene of Skene. He died in 1625.
II. — ROBERT SKENE.
On 2 ist September, 1615, Sir James Skene of Curriehill, Alexander Skene of that ilk, and Mr. Andrew Skene, senior, their cousin, of Chapel- ton, were admitted burgesses of Aberdeen, " gratis gratia concilii ; " and, at the request of Sir James Skene of Curriehill, "Robert Skeyne,
76 SKENE OF NEWTYLE.
paynter and glasinwricht," was admitted freeman, and " Robertus Skeyne films ..." was admitted burgess of Aberdeen " gratis absque solutione ullius compositionis et hoc gratia ex rogatu honorabilis viri Domini Jacobi Skeyne de Curriehill." This last was the above Robert, as he is called younger, burgess of Aberdeen. Thus, on 2$th March, 1630, there is a decreet Robert Skene, younger, burgess of Aberdeen, eldest son to the deceased Robert Skene in Slydie, of Erdifork, against W. Gordon of Abergeldie, on a bond to the deceased Robert Skene, dated 29th May, 1618, and again in a similar decreet, on ipth July, 1634, and again on 22nd July, 1642.
He married, in 1618, Marjorie Forbes ; and, on 1st April, 1629, there is a sasine in favour of Robert Skene, merchant burgess, and Marjoria Forbes, of a house " in vico lemurum ex occidentali parte."
He seems to have been a prosperous man, as on i/th September, 1628, he mortifies 100 merks for decayed gild brethren, and, in 1631, threescore six pounds thirteen shillings iiijd. for the maintenance of one of the ministers of the burgh, to serve the cure at the Kirk of Futtie ; and by his last will he left 1000 merks to the Box of the Gild Brethren of Aberdeen.
In 1633 he was treasurer of the burgh. He had by his wife, Marjorie Forbes, the following children : —
I. Christian Skene, born 2Oth September, 1619. II. Alexander Skene, born 2/th October, 1621.
III. William Skene, born 8th May, 1624.
IV. Marjory Skene, born 8th September, 1628. V. James Skene, born I4th February, 1631.
He died in 1643, an<3 a flat monument, in St. Nicholas Churchyard, bears the following inscription : —
HEIR LYES VNDER THE HOIP OF A BUSSED RESVRECTION ROBERT SKENE HER
CHAND BVRGES OF ABD WHO DEPAIRTED THIS LYFE THE 14 OF NO 1643
ALSO MARIORIE FORBES HIS SP OVS WHO DEPAIRTED THE IO OF
SEPT 1650
AS ALSO IAMES SKENE WHO DEPARTED
THE 8 DAY OF AUGUST 1694 AND OF
AGE 63 YEARS
SKENE OF NEWTYLE. 77
with a shield, bearing the arms of Skene of Skene, differenced, and impaled with those of Forbes of Tolquhon, and the letters R. S. ; M. F.
III. — MR. ALEXANDER SKENE OF NEWTYLE.
On 1 5th January, 1625, Alexander Skene, eldest son of Robert Skene, burgess of Aberdeen, is admitted burgess "jure paternitatis et dispens. cum jure jurando quia pupillus est et infra aetatem " ; and, on 2Oth June, 1648, he served heir to his father, Robert Skene, and is infeft in the tenement " in vico lemurum."
On 26th August, 1646, he was married at Kirkaldie to Lilias Gillespie, daughter of Mr. John Gillespie, minister of Kirkaldie who died soon after.
In 1656 we find him one of the magistrates of Aberdeen ; and in 1657 he acquired, from Sir Alexander Forbes of Foveran, the lands of Newtyle, in the Parish of Foveran.
In 1669 " Alexander Skene, a magistrate in Aberdeen, his wife Lilian became a quaker, also Alexander Skene himself. He narrates of him- self that having once before his conversion to quakerism bitterly reviled the quakers, he became seized with the complaint called Cynicus Spasmus, by which his mouth continually turned about, which lasted sometime" (MS.E). In 1677 he published a pamphlet with the title " The Way Cast up," and on the 5th of the fifth month, 1679, he wrote an address to the Presbyterians, entitled " A Plain and Peaceable Advice to those called Presbyterians in Scotland," by Alexr. Skene (London, 1681).
His other literary works, including MS.A., are noticed in the Introduction.
The arms of "Mr. Alexander Skene of Newtyle" are thus recorded in the Lyon Register : " Parted per chief azur and gules three skenes argent hefted and pomelled or, surmounted of as many woolf-heads couped of the third." Crest : " A dexter hand holding a corona triumph- alis." Motto : " Sors mihi grata cadet."
By his wife, Lilias Gillespie, who died in. 1697, he had the following children : —
I. Robert Skene, born 29th October, 1647 ; died young.
II. John Skene. III. Lilias Skene, baptised 3ist August, 1651.
78 SKENE OF NEWTYLE.
IV. Alexander Skene, baptised 6th September, 1653 ; died young. V. Cristen Skene, baptised ist October, 1654; married, in 1673,
Andrew Jaffray of Kingswells.
VI. Rachel Skene, baptised nth December, 1656; died in 1661. VII. Patrick Skene, baptised 27th June, 1659. VIII. Anna Skene, baptised 1st June, 1661. IX. Jean Skene, baptised i8th March, 1662. X. Elizabeth Skene, baptised 3Oth May, 1669. X
*^- In 1680 he sold the estate of Newtyle, reserving certain liferents, and in 1 68 1 there is a Ratification to William Gordon, under the reservations conceived in favour of Mr. Alexander Skene, late of Newtyle, and Lilias Gillespie, his spouse, and after their decease to Alexander^ Udnie of that ilk and his heirs, of the town and lands of Newtyle ; also of a croft, lately occupied by John Skene, son to the said Mr. Alexander Skene ; all conform to the rights and dispositions made to the said Alexander Forbes and Alexander Skene, by the deceased Sir John Turing of Foveran, reserving to Alexander Skene and his wife, liferent of part of the lands, and of the Manor House of Newtyle, conform to contract of alienation, dated 1680, between the said Mr. Alexander Skene and LUias Gillespie, and the said John Skene and Helen Fullerton, his spouse, on the one part, and William Gordon and Agnes Blackburn, his wife, on the other.
IV. — JOHN SKENE.
In 1659 John Skene, eldest lawful son to Mr. Alexander Skene, Baillie, is admitted a'burgess of Aberdeen. " He was also a quaker, and became governor of New Jersey, in America, and died in 1687. He married Helen Fullerton, and a daughter of John Skene, son to Baillie Skene, in Aberdeen, laird of Newtyle, was married, anno 1699 or 1700, to Obadiah Haig, who died on his journey to Jersey " (MS.E).
V. — JAMES SKENE,
younger son of Robert Skene and Marjorie Forbes.
Like his brother, Alexander, he was admitted a burgess when under age, as on i8th September, 1635, when only four years old, "Jacobus
SKENE OF NEWTYLE. 79
Skeyne, filius legitimus Roberti Skeyne mercatoris burgen. de Aberdeen recept. et admiss. in liberum burgensem et fratrem gildae jure paternitatis et dispens. cum jure jurando quia pupillus est et infra aetatem."
In the " Account of Learned Men and Writers in Aberdeen," after a short notice of Baillie Alexander Skene, there is the following notice of him — " His brother, James Skeen, was ane excellent Poet in the Scottish language. He wrote the Decalogue, the Lord's Prayer, and the Creed, in metre, printed by John Forbes, Aberdeen."
In the Diary of Alexander Jaffa-ay of Kingswells, he mentions that there were two James Skenes, in Aberdeen, who were enemies of the quakers, and who were known as White James and Black James.
This James Skene was White James.
In 1666 we find him occupying the position of Lyon Depute.
He married Jean Hay, and had by her the following children : —
I. Robert Skene, baptised 23rd March, 1654. On 2Oth Sept., 1659, Robert Skene, eldest son of James Skene, burgess of Aberdeen, admitted in nonage and minoritie. He died on I9th October, 1660.
II. James Skene, baptised 2nd September, 1656; died 23rd May, 1669.
III. Lilias Skene, baptised 27th Sept., 1657 ; died 3rd November,
1660.
IV. John Skene, baptised 3ist Oct., 1658. One of a series of silver
archery medals preserved in the Grammar School, Aberdeen, bears on the obverse the arms (with a crescent for difference) crest, and motto of Skene of Newtyle ; and on the reverse the inscription " loannes Skeene octavo vicit, 1674. Virtvs vera svis marte vel arte favet" Another shows the arms of Skene of Skene with a fourth skene fessways in base and a crescent for difference ; the reverse being inscribed " Andreas Skeene quarto vicit 1667." This Andrew may have been one of the Ruthrieston Skenes. V. Alexander Skene, baptised I2th February, 1660; died 2Oth
March, 1661.
VI. Jeane Skene, baptised loth April, 1661. VII. William Skene, baptised 26th June, 1662.
80 SKENE OF NEWTYLE.
VIII. Robert Skene, baptised i6th Nov., 1663. IX. Andrew Skene, baptised 2ist Feb., 1665. X. George Skene, baptised 28th October, 1666. XI. Anna Skene, baptised 28th June, 1668. XII. Charles Skene, baptised i$th August, 1669. XIII. Christian Skene, baptised 2Oth October, 1670.
His death is recorded on the tombstone — Also James, died 1694, aged 63.
VI. — WILLIAM SKENE,
his eldest surviving son. On 27th Sept., 1686, there is a sasine on a dis- position by James Skene, merchant, in Aberdeen, in favour of William Skene, his eldest lawful son, of some woods, crofts, and parcels of burrow land at Newburgh, Sheriffdom of Aberdeen. Disposition dated at Newtyle, 6th August, 1686.
He was a writer in Edinburgh, and was made a macer of the Court of Session on 5th August, 1685. He married, in 1688, Christian Burd, .daughter of Captain Edward Burd of Foord, by whom he had two sons : —
I. Edward Skene, who died in infancy in 1690.
II. Arthur Skene, who died in 1700.
On 29th December, 1730, Isobell Skene served heir in general to William Skene, her brother, macer in the Court of Session, son " quond. Jacobi Skene mercatoris in Aberden."
VII.— MR. ROBERT SKENE,
eighth child of James Skene, was minister of the Gospel. He had a son, John, who was Kintyre pursuivant, and predeceased him in the month of November, 1706. His will was confirmed on 22nd February, 1711, of the deceased John Skene, Kintyre pursuivant, and eldest lawful son to Mr. Robert Skene, minister of the Gospel, residing in Edinburgh, who is cautioner for his executor.
i
t
SKENE OF NEWTYLE.
8l
"On 23rd June, 1721, Mr. Robert Skene, minister of the Gospel, died 22nd and buried 23rd, foot of Halyeard's ground ; and on 23rd Sept., in the same year, Anna Skene, daughter to umquhile Mr. Skeen, minister, died 22nd and buried 23rd, east Halyeard's ground " (Edin. Session Records).
Arms of Robert Skene and Marjory Forbes his Spouse, from a Stone in St. Nicholas Churchyard, Aberdeen.
M
CHAPTER IV.
SKENE OF DYCE.
I. — MR. PATRICK SKENE,
fourth son to Alexander Skene XL of Skene, commonly called the " little laird," by Elizabeth Forbes, his wife. Married on 3Oth May, 1591, Elspett Mercer, daughter of Laurence Mercer, burgess of Aberdeen ; and, on loth September, 1592, is admitted a burgess of Aberdeen.
On 22nd May, 1594, there is a sasine by which " Providus vir Wilelmus Jak, burgen. de Aberdeen," grants " totam et integram terram suam anteriorem australem superius de present! occupat. per magistrum Patricium Skene burgen. dicti burgi, vizt, aulam Cubiculum ly forgalrie cum solio et ly shop & jacen. in vico furcarum ad dandam sasinam prefato Magistro Patricio Skene et Elizabethe Merser ejus sponse." He had by Elspett Merser the following children : — I. Alexander Skene, who succeeded him.
II. Laurence Skene. 2Oth September, 1619, Laurentius Skene filius legitimus secundo genitus magistri Patricii Skene burgess of Aberdeen, admitted jure paternitatis. In August, 1629, we find Laurence Skene as servitor to Mr. Alexander Skene, writer, who was brother to Sir John Skene of Curriehill, receiving a gift of the Escheat, which pertenit of before to Thomas Smyth in Bandache ; and again, on I3th June, 1630, as servitor to Mr. Alexander Skene, writer, of the Escheat which pertenit to Patrick Leyth of Lickliehead.
III. Gilbert Skene, who carried on the line of this family.
SKENE OF DYCE. 8 3
%
IV. John Skene. He became servitor to the Earl Marischal ; and, on 29th September, 1629, Joannes Skene, servus comitis Mares- calli, is admitted a burgess of Aberdeen.
He is said by Mr. Alexander Skene to have " married, but had no children," but this is a mistake. He married Helen Durie, daughter of a burgess of Dunfermline ; and, in 29th March, 1639, there is a decreet, John Skene, brother-germ an to Gilbert Skene of Dyce, and Helen Durie, his spouse, against G.eorge Durie, burgess of Dunfermline.
He appears, in 1666, as musician burgess of Dunfermline, and had a daughter, Anna Skene, married to Ninian Robertson, Baillie of Kyngarne.
V. Bessie Skene " married ist, Thomas Forbes, called ' Dobrie,' a Polis word signifying good, to whom she bare a son and two daughters. Her son's name was Robert Forbes of Rubislaw, present provost of Aberdeen " (MS.A). " After Thomas Forbes's death, Bessie Skene, daughter to Mr. Patrick Skene, married George Johnstone of Cairnie, Baillie of Aberdeen, to whom she bare two sons and two daughters "(MS.A).
VI. Margaret Skene " married .Mr. Black, burgess of Aberdeen, and thereafter to Alexander Burnett of Shedockslie " (MS.A). In the Burgh Propinquity Book it is declared, on 5th July, 1658, that " Margaret Skene, spouse of William Black, burgess of Aberdeen, was second lawful daughter of Mr. Patrick Skene, burgess of Aberdeen, who was fourth lawful son to Alexander Skene of that ilk, procreat betwixt the said Mr. Patrick and Elspet Merser, his spouse, who was lawful daughter to Laurence Mercer, burgess of Aberdeen. Gilbert Skene of Dyce, witness." VII. Isobell Skene " married Andrew Knows of Pittside" (MS.A). VIII. Agnes Skene " married James Innesof Tilleburies" (MS.A.)
Mr. Patrick Skene died in 1635, and, on 3ist August, was "buried in the auld kirk."
II.— MR. ALEXANDER SKENE.
On isth May, 1638, Mr. Alexander Skene served heir to Mr. Patrick Skene, burgess of Aberdeen, his father, but lived only three years after, as on 2nd September, 1641, " Mr. Alexander Skene was buried."
84 SKENE OF DYCE.
Laurence Skene, the second son, appears to have predeceased him, and the line of the family was carried on by Gilbert, the third son.
III. — GILBERT SKENE OF DYCE
was a burgess of Aberdeen, and married, in 1628, Marjorie Buchan, daughter of William Buchan of Auchmacoy, who succeeded to one half of the lands of Dyce.
On 8th December, 1628, Gilbert Skene, burgess of Aberdeen, is infeft in the just and equal half of the barony of Dyce, and also in the Kirkton of Dyce, and on 6th January, 1629, in the half town and lands of Pitmedden.
By Marjorie Buchan he had the following children : —
I. Alexander Skene, born ist April, 1630. II. Gilbert Skene.
III. Mr. Patrick Skene, writer, in Edinburgh.
IV. Margaret Skene " married Mr. William Moir, Doctor of Physick "
(MS.A). She appears to have married secondly to Gordon of Gordon's Mills, as in the Burgh Propinquity Book, on 24th July, 1695, "Proved by Alexander Skene of Dyce, &c., that Gilbert Gordon of Gordonsmill's mother was Margaret Skene, lawful daughter of the deceased Gilbert Skene of Dyce, procreat betwixt him and Margary Buchan, daughter of William Buchan of Auchmacoy."
He married secondly Barbara Forbes, daughter to William Forbes of Cotton, by whom he had —
V. Mr. William Skene, Schoolmaster at Haddington, afterwards one of the Masters of the High School of Edinburgh, who married Helen Pitcairn, and died in November, 1717.
The Testament testamentar and Inventory of the Goods, &c., of the deceased Mr. William Skene, Master of the High School of Edinburgh, who died in the month of November, 1717, was given up by himself upon the tenth of September same year, in so far as regards the nomination of his only Executor; and by Mr. Wm. Forbes, advocate, professor of law in the University of Glasgow, his cousin, whom he nominates his only Executor, in so far as concerns the Inventory. In his Will, dated at Edinburgh
SKENE OF DYCE. 85
2oth Sept., 1717, he leaves a legacy to John Skene of Dyce, his nephew.
Gilbert Skene of Dyce died in March, 1665, and was succeeded by his son.
IV.— ALEXANDER SKENE OF DYCE— 1665-1704.
He married, in November, 1652, Ann Johnston, daughter of Dr. William Johnston of Caskieben; and, on 24th April, 1655, there is a sasine Alexander Skene, younger, of Dyce, and Ann Johnston, his spouse, of the half of the lands of Beildeston.
He seems to have quarrelled with the Forbeses of Rubislaw, his relations, as in 1665 William Forbes of Cothellmill becomes surety for Alexander Skene of Dyce, Gilbert, and Mr. Patrick Skene, his brothers- german, that Robert Forbes of Rubislaw, Thomas, his son, and others, shall be harmless kept.
In 1672 Alexander Skene of Dyce, and Gilbert Skene, his brother, sell the feu-right of the lands of Pitmedden.
The arms of " Alexander Skene of Dyce, lineallie and lawfullie descended of the familie of Skene of that Ilk," are thus given in the Lyon Register: "Gules three Skenes argent pomelled and surmounted of alse many woolf s heads couped or, within a bordur ingrailled of the second." Crest : " A Garb proper." Motto : " Assiduitate."
There has been preserved an old Bible, printed in 1559, which belonged to the Dyce family, in which Ann Johnston, the wife of Alexander Skene of Dyce, records the family history, continued by her son, John. Her record is as follows : —
" loth April, 1630, my husband, Dyce, was born.
2nd March, 1636, I was born.
nth month, 1652, we were married.
In 1664 we had 7 houses burnt, with their furniture.
3rd month, 1665, my husband's father died.
nth month, 1673, my mother died.
1 2th month, 1654, Barbara Skene was born.
7th month, 1660, John Skene was born.
loth month, 1662, Alexander Skene was born.
nth month, 1663, Andrew Skene was born.
5th month, 1665, Margaret Skene was born.
86 SKENE OF DYCE.
6th month, 1668, Ann Skene was born.
9th month, 1669, William Skene was born.
nth month, 1670, Gilbert Skene was born.
5th month, 1674, Patrick Skene was born.
7th month, 1677, Robert Skene was born."
His eldest son, John, thus continues the record —
" 1 5th of nth month, 1688, my mother died.
Barbara Skene married to Forbes of Achortes in her 2ist year of age.
Andrew was 15 years and one month old when he chose his own employment.
William was 17 years and two months when he went to Edinburgh. He died 1690.
Gilbert was seventeen years old when he went to Ireland.
4th of 1st month, 1704, my father died.
29th October, 1709, my sister, Barbara, died.
Robert was 15 years old when he went to his apprenticeship, 1693.
Andrew was married 1687.
Patrick Skene went to Dantzick last day of ist month, 1689."
On 2Oth October, 1741, the Testament Dative and Inventory of the Goods, &c., of the deceased Robert Skene, late of Maryland, who died abroad upon the day of , 1736, is given up by Patrick
Skene, sometime postmaster of Zamosky, kingdom of Poland, now residing in Aberdeen, brother-german to the said deceased Robert Skene, only Executor Dative decerned as nearest of kin to him by Decreet of the Commissaries of Edinburgh, 27th July, 1701. Among the debts given up is the balance of the fifth part, or share of the executry of the deceased John Skene of Dyce, his brother-german.
Alexander Skene of Dyce, who died on 4th January, 1704, was succeeded by his eldest son.
V. — JOHN SKENE OF DYCE — 1704-1729
served heir to his father on 28th July, 1704 ; and, on I2th January, 1705, there is a charter of resignation Joannis Skene de Dyce ville et terrarum de Kirkton de Dyce, &c.
He thus continues the record in the old Bible : —
SKENE OF DYCE.
"I went to Lisbon 1 5th July, 1680, entered prentice to Robert Farquhar, merchant and burgess in that city, where I served him and his heirs ten years, and aftenvards I served my cousin-german, Gilbert Moir. I was married, 2Oth January, 1709, with Margaret Farquhar, daughter to my former master, Robert Farquhar, and his spouse, Anna Marianna Morison, relict of Alexander Summer, merchant, and collector of the king's revenues in Wilker, with whom she had three children — two are alive. Alexander, the youngest, and Anna Catherine, the eldest, and Lord grant them grace that they may serve thee always. I lived in Radinegria.
Anno 1710 my wife was delivered of a son, John ; Godfathers, Gilbert Moir and John Farquhar; Godmothers, Anna Marianna Farquhar and Elizabeth Morison.
2nd May, 1711, had a daughter, Anna; Godfathers, Arthur Forbes and Wm. Caw; Godmothers, Eliza Achum, S. Middleton.
Another daughter, Margaret, born 1712.
My son, John, died 1714. Margaret died 9th October, 1719. Alex- ander Sumriler, my stepson, of the king's footguards, died 1729."
John Skene himself died in the same year, and was succeeded by his brother., heujinj -Ct{ no
VI. — ANDREW SKENE OF DYCE — 1729-1732.
He was a merchant in Edinburgh, and in 1689 married Marion Russell, only daughter of John Russell, citizen of London, in which year there is a charter, by the provost and baillies of Edinburgh, to her as heir served and retoured to the late John Russell, her father, and to Andrew Skene, her husband, of portion of the land of Nethrogall, in Monimail. By her he had a son —
I. Alexander Skene (baptised I7th June, 1694; Mr. William Skene,
master of the High School, is a witness), and a daughter — II. Mary Skene, second wife of Robert Gumming of Birness, by whom she had two daughters —
1. Barbara married Dr. James Gordon of Straloch, or Birness,
ancestor of General John Gordon Cumming of Pitlurg, and
2. Another daughter married James Gordon of Banchory, ancestor
of James Gordon of Craig.
. (-Str fflfrn • s^tAJtT a i
88 SKENE OF DYCE.
He acquired various lands in the parishes of Old and New Machar, Aberdeenshire.
On 26th July, 1712, there is charter of sale — Andree Skene merca- toris Edinburgensis de terris de Clubsgovill.
On 24th May, 1714, there is a sasine of Andrew Skene of Parkhill, in the lands of Clubsgovill Manor place thereof, Parkhill and fishings thereof, in Old and New Machar.
On 1 2th February, 1729, there is a charter of resignation and sale — Andree Skene de Lethinty et Alexandri Skene filius ejus unici legitimi natu Ville de Lethintye — and in the same year he serves heir to John Skene of Dyce, his brother, in the lands of Dyce, and is confirmed as his Executor Dative.
He died on 27th December, 1732, and was succeeded by his only son.
VII. — ALEXANDER SKENE OF DYCE — 1732-1743.
On 28th February, 1733, Alexander Skene of Parkhill gave up an inventory of the goods, &c., of the deceased Andrew Skene of Lethintie, as his only son and sole Executor.
His last will was dated on 27th June, 1731, by which he left the estate of Lethintie to Andrew Skene, second son to the said Alexander.
In 1741, there is a discharge by Margaret Forbes, spouse of Alexander Skene, formerly of Parkhill, now of Dyce, of the sum, in a bond, to Andrew Skene of Lethintie, his father.
By his wife, Margaret Forbes, he had two sons —
I. John Skene, who succeeded him.
II. Andrew Skene, who succeeded his brother.
VIII. — JOHN SKENE OF DYCE — 1743-1747
served heir in 1743 to Alexander Skene of Dyce, his father.
He had a natural daughter, Margaret Skene, who married William Smith, and had three sons —
I. Andrew Smith, afterwards Skene of Lethintie. II. John Smith, a captain in the navy. III. Adam Smith, advocate, in Aberdeen, and two daughters.
SKENE OF DYCE. 89
IX.— ANDREW SKENE OF DYCE— 1747-1815.
In terms of his grandfather's will, he succeeded, after his father's death, to the estate of Lethintie, and on I2th February, 1745, there is a charter of resignation — Andreae Skene filii legitimi natu secundi demortui Alexandri Skene de Dyce vill. et terr. de Lethintie.
On 2Oth February', 1747, the inventory of the goods, &c., of the deceased John Skene of Dyce, is given up by Andrew Skene of Lethentie, now of Dyce, his only brother, with concurrence of Margaret Forbes, Lady Dyce, his mother.
He died in January, 1815, at the age of 82, and thus terminated the family of Skene of Dyce in the male line.
Andrew Skene, the last laird of Dyce, settled the succession to his estates by two deeds of entail, dated ipth Feb., 1794. By the first he settled the estates of Dyce, Parkhill, and others upon a series of heirs, the institute being John Gordon Cumming of Pitlurg, and among the substitutes, the Skenes of Skene, Dr. George Skene, physician in Aberdeen, and the Skenes of Rubislaw. By the second deed of entail he settled the barony of Lethentie and others upon a series of heirs, the institutes being Margaret Skene, relict of William Smith, and the heirs male of her body, and among the substitutes, Dr. George Skene, physician in Aberdeen, Captain James Skene, uncle to the laird of Skene, and James Skene of Rubislaw.
Under the first deed General Gordon Cumming of Pitlurg succeeded to the estates of Dyce and Parkhill, and assumed the name of Skene, quartering the differenced arms of Skene of Dyce.
Under the second Andrew Smith, eldest son of Margaret Skene or Smith, succeeded to the estate of Lethentie, and changed his name to Skene.
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CHAPTER V.
SKENE OF WESTERCORSE AND RAMORE.
I. — JAMES SKENE IN BANDODLE,
second son of Alexander Skene IX., of Skene " by Lord Forbes' daughter." He was a Notary Public, and the first of the sons of the family who bore the designation of " in Bandodle," the Tanistry lands having been acquired by his father.
In 1538 he appears as uncle and curator to Alexander Skene of that ilk, his nephew, and in 1543 witnesses two charters as Notary Public. In the same year James Skene in Bandodle is infeft in the Sunny third of the lands of Blackball.
He married Janet Lumsden, daughter of Lumsden of Cushney; and, on 2Oth May, 1546, there is crown charter of confirmation " Jacobo Skeyne in Bandodill et Jonete Lumsdein eius coniuge super cartam illis factam per Andream Fraser de Staneywood 13 Maij 1546 de toto et integro annuali feodo seu feudifirma Triginta quinque Mercarum sex solidarum et octo denariorum monete Scotie dicto Andreas heredibus suis et assignatis annuatim solvend. nomine feudifirme de totis et integris terris de Westercorse et Norham in parochia de Coule per honorabilem virum Willelmum Hurry de Pitfechie necnon superioritate diet, terrarum."
The author of MS.B gives the following account of his family : —
" But to return to Skene, he purchased the lands of
Ramore, and married Burnett, daughter to Leyes. His name
was Mr. James, who begot six sons on her, whereof one was Sir John Skene, first, Lord-Advocate, and thereafter, when he came from Den-
SKENE OF WESTERCORSE AND RAMORE. 9!
mark, on being secretarie to that embassy, with the Lord Marischall, he was made Lord-Register, and married al his children nobilie. He had 5 elder brothers, viz., the Guidman of Ramoir, and the Commissar of Aberdeen, and the Commissar of St. Andrews, and two Doctors of Phisick, viz., the one Professor of the College of St. Andrews, and the other the first Professor of Medicine at Aberdeen. Both of them were, upon their coming from France, falling short of money at London, had only a quardegue [quartecu] by them, and resolving to kill or cure where- ever they came, were heard to say one to another, Let us spend this, and then revenge Pinkie and Flowden, and being arraigned before the K., King James preferred the on to be his ordinar, the other his extrordin- arie Daughter [Doctor], and recommended them to St. Andrews and Aberdeen, for the love he bore to Sir John, their brother, who was the youngest of the sex, and went in and out first, and the eldest last. Their mother, finding her husband and Mr. James a bon compagnon, and haueing his friends with him, sat up at night drinking. She retired herselfe to a Buss of Birkis, in respect the Drink was almost done in the house, save only a tunned coug, and took herself to pray for her hus- band and familie, and thereafter she fell asleep, and being with chyld, it quickens, and she starts up and went to her husband, and told him that she would never grudge at his good fellowship any more, for God had revealed it to her that she was with a son, whose name was to be John who should be a father to the other fayve — and then brought forward the Tuning skell couge quhich was formerlie absconded from her hus- band, and began her own hans in kelder" (male child in the womb).
Like most family traditions, this account is not strictly correct, and James Skene, the father, seems to be confounded with Mr. James Skene, his eldest son.
His wife was, we have seen, not a Burnet but a Lumsden.
There is among the Curriehill papers a " genealogy of Sir John Skene, Clerk Register, Lord Curriehill," in which his descent is correctly stated. "The Laird of Skene was married to my Lord Forbes's daughter, and she had to him the Laird of Skene, the elder brother, and the Laird of Ramore, the second. The Laird of Ramore was married to the Laird of Cushnie, chief of the name of Lumsden, his daughter, in Aberdeen, who bore to him the Laird of Ramore and Sir John Skene, Clerk Register."
92 SKENE OF WESTERCORSE AND RAMORE.
The story of the two doctors, also, rather falls through, for there was certainly only one of the sons who was a doctor and " mediciner to his Majestic," and there was at the time no Professor of Medicine in St. Andrews ; but another of the sons, Duncan, was incorporated in St. Mary's College of St. Andrews in 1559. He was a Notary Public. He may, however, have been his brother's companion on this occasion, and made the remark, as he was noted for his witty sayings. He was Notary to the Edzeill and Crawfurd family, and in their correspondence there is frequent allusion to "Mr. Duncan Skene's daft diximes."
The following description of the " tunned coug " is given in " An Account of Scotland in 1679, by Thomas Kirke, a Yorkshire squire" — " Their drink is ale of bear malt, and tunned up in a small vessel called a cogue ; after it has stood a few hours, they drink it out of the cogue, yest and all."
In MS.B the five elder brothers of Sir John Skene alone are given, but he had four younger brothers, as we shall see, making in all ten brothers, sons of James Skene of Westercorse.