CRICHTONS, LORDS OF SANQUHAR.

The first of the Crichtons is said by Holinshed to have come from Hungary, and to have been brought into Scotland in 1067 by the Saxon Princess Margaret, who became the wife of King Malcolm Canmore.

He obtained lands in Mid-Lothian from the King, and, following the custom of the times, adopted as his surname Crichton, the Celtic title of his possessions.

To the foundation charter of the abbacy of Holyrood by David I. in 1128, Thurstanus de Creichton is a witness. William de Crichton is mentioned as dominus de Crichton about 1240; and Thomas de Crichton, supposed to be his son, was one of the barons who in 1296 swore fealty to Edward I. By Eda his wife he had two sons, who founded respectively the families of Sanquhar and Frendraught.

SIR WILLIAM DE CRICHTON, the second son, married Isabel de Ross, daughter of Sir Robert de Ross of Ryehill, and with her acquired half the barony of Sanquhar. Sir Robert had predecessors in Ryehill, one or more named John. The other half of the barony, with the castle of Sanquhar, belonged to the Edgars, descendants of Dunegal, lord of Stra'nith. The whole barony was eventually acquired by Sir William Crichton, who, with his wife Isabel had, in the reign of King Robert Bruce, a charter of the half before belonging to the Edgars. In consequence of this marriage with the heiress of Ryehill, the Crichtons continued for many

generations to quarter the arms of the Rosses- a chevron, chequy, between three water budgets-with Sir William had issue :

their own.

WILLIAM

CRICHTON, Who is styled Dominus de Sanquhar. From him descended:

SIR ROBERT CRICHTON, Who was one of the Privy Council of James I. and James II. He married Catherine, daughter and heir to Sir Nicholas Erskine of Kinnoul, in Perthshire, and with her acquired considerable lands in that county. He had five sons and four daughters, viz:-Robert, his heir; Edward, who, for his services in suppressing rebellion and repelling the English invasion of the Marches, received a charter of the lands of Kirkpatrick-Dumfries, 28th August, 1472; Laurence, ancestor of the Crichtons of Burmughty; Thomas and Patrick; Elizabeth, married to Sir William Douglas of Drumlanrig; Margaret, married Sir David Herries of Terregles, ancestor of the Earls of Nithsdale; Mary, married John Carlyle of Torthorold; and Christian, who married, firstly, James, Lord Livingstone, secondly, Sir Robert Colville, and thirdly, Alexander, Earl of March.

In 1439, 10th March, Alexander Sutherland, Lord of Duffus, had a charter of 21 bovatas terre in Villa orientale de Strabok, in the barony of Strabok, Linlithgow, resigned by Robert de Crichton of Sanquhar. Subsequently, in 1440, Robert had a charter of the barony of Strabok from Alexander Sutherland of Duffus.

In 1450 he gave Longniddry in exchange for Eliock; the charter is dated.1463.

Part of the lands of Kirkmichael belonged to him. In 1440, April 27, Sir Robert de Crichton resigned

the barony of Sanquhar to the King, and obtained a regrant. In 1450, March 31, there is a charter to Sir Robert Crichton of Sanquhar and his heirs of the lands of Honthwailis, Stanyris, Knokkis, Twaithes, and the five merk land of Wamphray. He was appointed Coroner of Nithsdale 8th January, 1468, in succession to Alexander M'Math of Dalpeddar. He was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR ROBERT CRICHTON (1ST LORD), who was knighted during his father's lifetime. He distinguished himself greatly in the wars against Alexander, Duke of Albany, and James, Earl of Douglas, when they invaded Scotland with the English in 1484. He had a charter of the Sheriffdom of Dumfriesshire, August 20, 1484, in return for his faithful services; and of the barony of Sanquhar also in 1484. He or his father had a previous charter of the barony of Sanquhar from James III., April 23, 1464. He is described as Robert Crichton, younger of Sanquhar, in the charter of the Sheriffdom in 1484, so his father must then have been living. He was created a peer of Parliament by the title of Lord Crichton of Sanquhar, by James III., 29th January, 1487. He married Lady Mary Stewart, daughter of the Earl of Lennox, and had three sons and four daughters, viz. :-Robert, his heir; John, ancestor of the Crichtons of Eliock; James, ancestor of the Crichtons of Carco*; Marion, married to Malcolm Crawford of Kilbirnie, ancestor to the Viscounts Garnock and Earls Crawford; Elizabeth, married to Sir William Murray of Tullybarden, ancestor of the Dukes

The authority for stating that John and James, sons of Sir R Crichton, were respectively of Eliock and Carco is "The New Peerage," published 1785.