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 The barony was anciently the
possession of the Dunbar Earls of March family, and Chalmers' Caledonia
records that they held their baronial court there.
In 1372 George de Dunbar, 10th Earl
of March, gave in marriage with his sister Agnes to James Douglas of
Dalkeith, the manor of Whittingehame, with the patronage of the Chapel.
The Douglases remained in possession for over 200 years: about 1537
Elizabeth (d. after August 1557), daughter of Sir Robert Lauder of The
Bass (d. 1517/18), married William Douglas of Whittingehame, and in
October 1564 Mary, Queen of Scots, confirmed to their son, William Douglas
of Whittinghame (d. 17 December 1595), a Senator of the College of
Justice, the barony of Whittingham, the castle, mills, and the avowson of
the Church there, ratified by parliament on 19 April 1567. This William
Douglas had married in 1566 Elizabeth (d. after 6 August 1608), daughter
of Sir Richard Maitland of Lethington, a Senator of the College of
Justice.
It is said that the plot to murder Mary's
husband, Lord Darnley, was discussed at length at Whittingehame castle in
1566, and in March of that year "William Douglas of Whittingehame, brother
to Master Archibald Douglas parson of Douglas", is cited as one of those
in the conspiracy to murder David Riccio. On 26 August 1582 William
Douglas of Whittingehame is cited as one of the Ruthven raiders.
On
28 December 1630, Sir Archibald Douglas, 5th of Whittingehame, son and
heir of the previous couple, was a witness to the baptism of Archibald
Sydserf at Whittingehame Church, but by 1640 Sir Archibald was dead with
no issue. Whittingehame passed to his brother Sir William Douglas of
Stoneypath, near Garvald, whose daughter Isobel married, in 1628, Sir
Arthur Douglas of the Kellour family, and their daughter Elizabeth
(1632–1668) married, in 1652, Alexander Seton, 1st Viscount of Kingston
and carried Whittingehame to him (Elizabeth's brother Archibald having
died unmarried). Their youngest daughter Elizabeth, carried Whittingehame
to her husband William Hay of Duns and Drumelzier, Peebleshire, upon their
marriage in 1695. The Hays, as proprietors, were highly esteemed by their
tenants.
In 1817 they sold Whittingehame and Stoneypath, near
Garvald, to James Balfour, second son of John Balfour, 5th of Balbirnie in
Fife, who had made a large fortune in India. James Balfour subsequently
enlarged his estate by buying up a great many adjoining properties. By
1900 there were about 25 farms on the Whittingehame estate. The coal mines
on their Fife lands greatly increased their prosperity throughout the 19th
century.
Sir William Douglas, 1st of Whittinghame
d by 02.1484
m1. Euphemia
Children of William and
Euphemia DOUGLAS:
- Sir William {below}
- James,
- George
Sir William Douglas, 2nd of Whittinghame
(a 1484)
m. Janet Matheson (a 1543)
Children of William DOUGLAS:
- Sir William {below}
- Archibald
(Rector, Senator) m. Jane Hepburn (b
1540, d 1599, dau of Patrick Hepburn, 3rd Earl of Bothwell)
- ?Catherine m. Archibald Napier, 4th of
Merchiston, of Edinbellie (d 1521)
- Robert,
- Richard,
- Patrick
William Douglas, 3rd of Whittinghame
d c1572
m. Elizabeth Lauder
Children of William and
Elizabeth DOUGLAS:
- William {below}
- Isobel m. Walter Scott of Synton (d 11.07.1608)
- James,
- Richard,
- Patrick,
- John
William Douglas, 4th of Whittinghame
a 1590
m. (before 01.1567) Elizabeth Maitland (dau of Sir
Richard Maitland of Lethington)
Children of William and
Elizabeth DOUGLAS:
- Sir Archibald Douglas, 5th of Whittinghame,
dead by 1640
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| Alexander Seton | Elizabeth |
- Elizabeth Douglas (b c1636, d 1668) m. (c1661)
Alexander Seton, 1st Viscount Kingston (b 13.03.1620, d 21.10.1691)
- Ann m. Sir
William Douglas, 9th of Cavers (d c1658)
- Margaret m. Robert Sinclair of Longformacus (d
1613)
- Patrick,
- William,
- James,
- John
See also:
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