Barons of Kilravock: the 7th-11th Barons of Kilravock
Documents dating 1459-1612, mainly legal and estate interest
Estimate: £4,000 - £6,000
Auction: 18 June 2025 from 10:00 BST
Description
Documents concerning the 7th Baron, 1459-1492: 20 documents, mostly legal, including a document forming a band of mutual kindness between Duncan McInstosh and Hugh Rose of Kilravock, agreeing to assist one another in all quarrels and actions, dated the 25th July 1481; document dated 24th June 1482 from the Earl of Huntly giving Hugh Rose the keeping of Redcastle and the administration of the lordship of Admeanoch, etc.; an agreement for a dowry for the marriage of Hugh Rose, later 8th Baron Kilravock, and Margaret Gordon, dated 26th June 1484; and others, similar;
Documents concerning the 8th Baron, 1494-1517: 49 documents, mostly legal, including one relating to the “Hership of Cromartie” (the theft of cattle, horses, sheep and pigs by Doule McGillecallum and William Alanson, for whom the 8th Baron of Kilravock and the chief of Clan Chattan stood security), being a decree of the Lords of Council sitting at Inverness against Hugh Rose of Kilravock, dated 1st February 1497; and two bonds dated 20th November 1501 and 15th October 1503, settling the subsequent debt owed by the Roses; Betrothal or marriage contract between Helen Rose of Kilravock and James Gordon of Ardbrylick, stipulating a dowry of 100 marks, dated 12th March 1498; and others, similar;
Documents concerning the 9th Baron, 1517-1543: 23 documents, mostly legal;
Documents concerning the 10th Baron, 1543-1597: 130 documents, mostly legal, including a document dated 5th May 1545, giving Hugh Rose of Kilravock the lands of Kildrummie, Culmonie and Daltulie; a letter from the Earl of Argyll, dated 17th August 1557, asking Hugh Rose to “colleck and gaddir all the mailis and deweteis that ar awand to ws…”;; with several others in the same hand, signed; a letter from the Earl of Huntly dated 15th July 1567, “desyring ye will declair your mynd towartis me to him, and as ye appoynt, to meit me at sic place as the berar will schaw…”; a letter from the Earl of Crawford dated 25th September 1579, who had been accused of shooting the Chancellor, Lord Glamis: “…it has plesit the kyng his maiestie, wyth adwyss of his counsall, to appoint the third day of November nixttocum, for me to vndirly the law in the tolbuyth of Edinburcht, fot the slauchter of vmquhill my Lord Glamis, chancellar, quhairof, as God knawis, I am maist innocent…”, asking Hugh Rose to come to Edinburgh and offer advice; and a large quantity of others, many important;
Documents concerning the 11th Baron, 1597-1611: 27 documents, mostly legal, including a marriage contract between Margaret Rose and Murdoch McKenzie, dated 13th June 1599; and others, similar (quantity)
Footnote
Many of the documents contained here were collated by the family at a later date and stored in the Castle's charter chest. The 10th Laird seems to have been particularly adept at record keeping and filing, saving many important letters from monarchs, including Mary Queen of Scots. One particular letter from the Earl of Crawford, dated 1579, relates to a particular affray in which the Lord-Chancellor, Glamis, was killed. As his hereditary enemy, the Earl of Crawford was thought to be responsible. Crawford was imprisoned at Edinburgh Castle in June 1579, then released on the guarantee that he would return a fortnight later. Failing to meet the terms of this bail, Crawford's sureties were fined and Crawford was commanded to attend trial at the Tolbooth in Edinburgh on the 3rd November. The letter in this collection speaks of Crawford's worries regarding his impending trial, asking the 10th Baron for his advice. Crawford was eventually found innocent of the crime.