Sir James Colville Ist of Easter Wemys Knt

SIR JAMES COLVILLE OF EASTER WEMYSS

Comptroller and Director of Chancery

Sir James Colville of Easter Wemyss, formerly Sir James Colville of Ochiltree, is the son of Robert Colville of Hiltoun. Memoir of John Colville, pp. ix-x

Death

Sir James Colville of Easter Wemyss was alive on 21 August 1539, the date upon which he was ordered to enter himself in ward at Blackness Castle, but he died before 10 January 1540-41, the date upon which a summons was issued against his widow and children. Memoir of John Colville, pp. x-xi

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

13 December 1530: Charter by which Sir James Hamilton of Finnart confirms that he has given the lands and barony of Est Wemys and others in the sheriffdom of Fife to Sir James Colville of Uchiltre in exchange for the lands and barony of Uchiltre and others in the sheriffdom of Ayr. Robert Colville and James Colville, bastard sons of Sir James Colville are named as heirs remainder. For greater security Sir James Colville obtained a charter of confirmation under the Great Seal of Scotland on 3 January 1530-31. Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum. The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1513-1546, charter number 980 on p. 215

                   2

4 December 1533: Crown confirmation of a Charter, a me, by John Cargill of Kinloch to James Scrymgeor and Margaret Scrymgeor, his wife, of the lands of Easter Kinloch. Witnesses: Gavin, archbishop of Glasgow, chancellor; William, bishop of Aberdeen, Treasurer; Henry, bishop of Galloway; James, earl of Moray; Archibald, earl of Argyll; Hugh, earl of Eglinton; Malcolm, lord Fleming, Chamberlain; John, lord Erskine; Patrick, prior of St Andrews; David, abbot of Arbroath; Thomas Erskine of Brechin, Secretary; James Colville of East Wemyss, Comptroller and Director of Chancery; Mr James Foulis, Clerk Register. (RMS iii, no. 1327.) (Tag and Great Seal gone.) National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Lindsay family of Dowhill, reference GD254/233

                   3

15 July 1537: Charter by which Sir James Colville of East-Wemys confirms that he has give the lands and barony of Clesche in Fife and others to his bastard son Robert Colville and his wife Francisce Colquhoun. For greater security Robert Colville and his wife obtained a charter of confirmation under the Great Seal of Scotland on 21 July 1537. Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum. The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1513-1546, charter number 1695 on p. 376

                   4

12 December 1543: Copy Extract Act of Parliament rescinding process and decreet of Forfeiture pronounced in 1540 against the late James Colville of Easter Wemyss, Knight, now rescinded at the instance of Margaret Forrester his widow and James Colville his son, and the other children, and their curators. Dated at Edinburgh, 12th December 1543. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Scrymgeour Wedderburn of Wedderburn Family, Earls of Dundee, reference GD137/1597

Printed Evidence

James Balfour Paul, FSA (Scot)., and John Maitland Thomson, Advocates (editors), Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum. The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1513-1546 (H.M. General Register House, Edinburgh, 1883), 1067 pp. including indexes and errata

Genealogy

1. The Scots Peerage, ii, pp. 543-75
2. Original Letters of Mr John Colville 1582-1603 to which is added his Palinode, 1600, with a Memoir of the Author (Bannatyne Club, Edinburgh, M.DCCC.LVIII.), 407 pp. including indexes

Biographical Summary by The Scots Peerage

SIR JAMES COLVILLE of Ochiltree, afterwards of East Wemyss
s/o Robert Colville of Hiltoun & Margaret Arnot
x Alison Bruce

• James - who succeeded
• Alison

xx 21 May 1536 Margaret Forrester, sister of David Forrester of Garden, who survived him, d< 16 May 1562.

• Margaret x William Menteith xx James Cunningham
• Mr. Alexander x Nicholas Dundas

xx NN mistress/es

• Robert x Francisce Colquhoun
• James Colville,

The Scots Peerage II: 547