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Margaret ("the witch") Fleming, Countess of Atholl

b. 1532, d. 1586

Birth

Margaret ("the witch") Fleming, Countess of Atholl, was born in 1532.
1 She witnessed the birth of King James Stewart, VI of Scotland and I of England, on 19 June 1566 in Edinburgh Castle.2,3

Parents

FatherSir Malcolm ("the Brave") Fleming, 3rd Lord Fleming (b. 14 January 1494, d. 10 September 1547)
MotherJanet ("la Belle Écossaise") Stewart, Lady Fleming (b. 17 July 1502, d. 20 February 1562)

Family life

Thomas Erskine, Master of Erskine, Commendator of Dryburgh, and Margaret ("the witch") Fleming, Countess of Atholl, were married in 1549.3 She and John ("the Fair") Stewart, 4th Earl of Atholl, entered into a marriage contract circa 1 April 1557 Robertson -
Her last marriage contract, dated on the ist April 1557, stipulates that the Earl shall instantly * wed and handfkst* HandfosUng. Maigaret Fleming, Mistress of Montrose and Erskine ; shall send to Rome, with all possible despatch, for dispensation for their marriage, notwithstanding the impediment of consanguinity ; shall, within forty days, seise her for life in lands yielding 300 merks a year (reckoning the boll of grain at 13s. 4d.) ; and shall, before Martinmas next, marry her solemnly in face of the church.4

Child with Robert Graham, Master of Montrose, (d. 1547)

SonJohn Graham, 3rd Earl of Montrose+ (b. 1548, d. 9 November 1608)

Partner with Thomas Erskine, Master of Erskine, Commendator of Dryburgh, (d. 1551)

Children with John ("the Fair") Stewart, 4th Earl of Atholl, (d. 25 April 1579)

DaughterGrizel Stewart, wife of David Lindsay, 11th Earl Crawford
DaughterMary Stewart, wife of Francis Hay 9th Earl Erroll
SonJohn Stewart, 5th Earl of Atholl (b. 1563, d. September 1595)
DaughterLady Jean Stewart (b. circa 1580)

Working life

Property

Margaret ("the witch") Fleming, Countess of Atholl, possessed had a charter of John Cunningham of Drumquhassle providing her dowry of 100 pounds annually from the lands of Drumquhassle on 1 March 1548 at Stirling in Drumquhassle.910 She possessed had a Bond of Relief of terce of Kelly by the Master of Erskine to James Gordon, at hands of Margaret Fleming, widow of Thomas, Master of Erskine on 19 October 1553.11 She possessed had a confirmatory charter of the queen to the charter of 1 Mar 1548 on 2 January 1555 in Drumquhassle.912,4,413 She possessed had a liferent in these lands (not Barochan in Renfrewshire) in 1569 in Barrachan in the barony of Mugdock in Stirlingshire.14 She possessed had a liferent interest in Edinglassie, Ardbrek, Auchloncartie, Edinville, Kynnynvie, Towiemoir, Towiebeg on 7 September 1579 in Edinglassie, Ardbrek, Auchloncartie, Edinville, Kynnynvie, Towiemoir, Towiebeg.15 She possessed had a liferent interest in barony of Fos, with the mills, woods, fisheries, parts, pendicles, tenants, tenements, and freeholder services thereof, the lands of Inverquhaddon, the lands of Boespik, the lands of Trimafour, the lands of Auchillis and Dalchandoch, the lands of Dalnafardoch, the lands of Blairfettie, the lands of Kirktoun de Strowen, with the brew thereof, Balleyene and Carrik, the forests of Glengarie, the lands of Balnacard, Balnavart, Craignuisk, and Drumnacarth on 7 September 1579 in Barony of Fos.15 She possessed had liferent to the Barony of Rettray plus Inverchroskie and Chapeltown and parts of Murtclarie, Dalrylleane, Dalma, Leanoch, Petcurrane, Pitbrane, Glengl;eneth, Kynnard, Glenschie on 7 September 1579 in Barony of Rettray plus Inverchroskie and Chapeltown and parts of Murtclarie, Dalrylleane, Dalma, Leanoch, Petcurrane, Pitbrane, Glengl;eneth, Kynnard, Glenschie.15 She possessed liferent in 1580 in Barony of Fos and more.16 She possessed liferent in 1580 in The baronies of Botrophin, Bocharme and Aberlour.175,18 She possessed fell into debt in 1583.3

Death

Margaret ("the witch") Fleming, Countess of Atholl, died in 1586 at age ~54.3

Citations

  1. [S2] Various contributors, Various contributors, "Wikipaedia," database, Commons, Wikipaedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/: accessed ), ., online; 8 November 2023; Janet Stewart, Lady Fleming at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janet_Stewart,_Lady_Fleming
  2. [S2] Various contributors, Various contributors, "Wikipaedia," database, Commons, Wikipaedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/: accessed ), ., online; 10 November 2023; Mary, Queen of Scots at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary,_Queen_of_Scots
  3. [S2] Various contributors, Various contributors, "Wikipaedia," database, Commons, Wikipaedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/: accessed ), ., online; 11 November 2023; Margaret Fleming, Countess of Atholl at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Fleming,_Countess_of_Atholl
  4. [S111] Joseph Robertson, Inventaires de la Royne Descosse Douairiere de France, p li, note 2
  5. [S28] Sir James Balfour Paul, The Scots Peerage, vol viii, Fleming Earl of Wigtown pages 519 - 558
  6. [S51] Raphael Holinshed, Holinshed's Chronicle, Scotland, vol v, p 558, https://archive.org/details/chroniclesofengl05holiuoft/page/558/mode/2up
  7. [S5] William Hunter, Biggar and the House of Fleming, p 519-20
  8. [S111] Joseph Robertson, Inventaires de la Royne Descosse Douairiere de France, p xlvi, note 4
  9. [S43] Scotland Court of Exchequer, Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum, vol iv, ch 1018, p 228
  10. [S136] Robert Kerr Hannay, Acts of the Lords of Council in Public Affairs, p 580
  11. [S58] Edinburgh, National Records of Scotland, "Online Catalogue," National Records of Scotland (https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue: accessed ), ., viewed; 25 September 2025; GD33/30/18, 19/10/1553, Bond of Relief of terce of Kelly by the Master of Erskine to James Gordon, at hands of Margaret Fleming, widow of Thomas, Master of Erskine
  12. [S17] Francis J Grant (Ed), Charter Chest of the Earldom of Wigtown, Charter 108
  13. [S43] Scotland Court of Exchequer, Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum, vol iv, ch 1805, p 456
  14. [S58] Edinburgh, National Records of Scotland, "Online Catalogue," National Records of Scotland (https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue: accessed ), ., viewed; 25 September 2025; GD220/1/A/3/6/9, 1569, Tack by William, Earl of Montrose and Dame Margaret Fleming, his daughter in law
  15. [S44] Scotland Court of Exchequer, Rotuli scaccarii regum Scotorum, vol 20, p 553-4
  16. [S44] Scotland Court of Exchequer, Rotuli scaccarii regum Scotorum, vol 21, p 29-30
  17. [S44] Scotland Court of Exchequer, Rotuli scaccarii regum Scotorum, vol 21, p 46-47
  18. [S43] Scotland Court of Exchequer, Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum, vol v, ch 290, p 95
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