Person Page 470

Margaret Livingstone, Countess of Wigtown, and John ("the Covenanter") Fleming, 2nd Earl of Wigtown, 7th Lord Fleming, entered into a marriage contract on 20 February 1609 She had a tocher of 28,000 merks.

Please summarise the meaning of this charter: "1110. At Edinburgh, 25 Aug. THE KING, for good service, — with consent &c. (175.), — granted Lady MARGAEETE LEVINGSTOUN second legitimate daughter of Alexander com. of Lenlithgow lord. Levingstoun and Callendar, in life rent, — under the provisions contained in the marriage contract dated 12, 15, 16, and 18 Feb., registered in the council books 20 Jun., 1609, — 3 pounds. of the dominical lands of Boighall with fort and manor, the lands and barony of Biggar (except the lands called Scheills and Scheilhill), the feuds of 3i burgh lands of Biggar (viz. 2^ held by Jac. Threipland senior in the town of B., and 1 by Jo. Fleming of Carwode.) ; — also to JOHN iIAGISTRO DE WIGTOUJ^ son and heirs apparent! John Earl of W. Lord Fleming and Cummernald &c., and the heirs male between him and the said Marg. then his bride lawfully begotten, who failing whom, the heirs male of the said master of the bodies legit, begotten, who def., to the said Earl of W. and his heirs male and tallie in his last infeofament of the jufrascripts contained, — the lands and barony of Auchtermony, vie. of Sterling; the lands and barony of Leinzie, with the town and burgh of KirkingtuUo, 5 pounds of the lands of Cummernald, with the dominical lands, castle and free forest thereof, vie. of Dumbertan; the diet, lands &c. of Boighall, the town and burgh of Biger with the acres about the same, the lands and barony of Bigar, vie. of Lanerk; lands of Ovir Mynzeane, Ovir Kingildures, the superiority of half of Glenrusco, an acre of lands of Olivercastell lying on the eastern side of the stream of lie 0. on the side of the public road, lands of Urisland and the mill of the same, Logan, Mosfennan, Quarter, Ghappelgill, with the advowson of the rectory and vicarage of Glenquhome to the diet, united lands, lands of Cardron, vie. of Pebble; half of the lands of Sunderland, with the fort, mills, tenants &c., vie. of Selkirk; 24 markets of lands of Loure, vie. of Forfar; 24 markets of Dunbull, vie. of Perth; lands called Fressilland extending to 3 pounds, in the constableship of Hadington, vie. of Edinburgh; with the mills, fisheries, camps, tenements, &c., advowsons of all the churches and chaplaincies above-mentioned, erected into one lordship and barony of Cummernald; the office of principal bailiff and keeper of the royal house and chamber; — all which the said Earl of W. resigned; — also to the said JOHN EARLY OF WIGTOUX, in life rent, and to the said master and heirs aforesaid in fee, — the lands of Thankertoun, vie. of Lanerk, an annual rent of 50 pounds sterling from the lands of Kers pertaining to the abbey of Halyruidhous, 'ic.of Stirling; — which Jo. then lord. Thirk'stane resigned with the consent of his curators; — and all which the king has given to the said persons respectively anew, including the lands and barony of Thankertoun, with manors, forts, mills, fisheries, tenants &c., advowsons of churches and chaplaincies; with a fishery on the water of Carroun called Buthkenner (within bonds specified in the common), via Stirling: — RESERVING to the said com. of W. Uber the tenement of the above-mentioned (except those granted by the said Marg.), with the power to enter vassals, to lease assedations without diminution of rent nor for a greater than a life-rent or for a period of 19 years, and to grant one or more wives in lieu of the above-mentioned (except as above) as much as would render annually 20 celdras of food: — Furthermore the king has anew erected the towns and burghs of KIRKINTULLO and BIGGAR, with acres and lands in their territories, — into free burghs of the baronies; granting the inhabitants the liberty of buying and selling &c., and that they should be free burgesses, and, with the consent of the said master, should elect bailiffs &c., and should hold the forecourt cross, and the market every week, viz. in Biggar on Sabbath and in Kirkintilloch on the same day, with a free market yearly, in Biggar on 29 June, St. Peter's day and in Kirkintilloch on 9 October, St. Denis' day, lasting for the same octaves; with power to the said master to assign lands and acres about the said, burghs in separate burghs; with tolls &c.; — and all the above-mentioned newly incorporated the free lordship and barony of Cummernald, ordaining the castle of C. to be the principal messuage; and declared that the said person alone should hold the sects and presentments of the said lands to the chief courts via Dumbarton: — Tenend. with free forests where there are woods: — To pay. for Cummernald, Boighall and the burgh of Biggar one pair of limes of gold, for Aucbermony another pair of limes of gold, for the said ann. to pay one den. at the church of Falkirk, if they were only asked for; for the rest the service of the ward &c (paying for all except Thankertoun and the fishing of Carroun 1000 pounds for the value of the ward and non-introitus, 300 mere, for relief, 1 200 mercas for marriage) : — Test, as in other charters &c. xlvii. 31"
Certainly! This 1610 charter is a monumental consolidation of Fleming family lands and privileges, issued by King James VI. Here's a structured summary of its meaning:
🧾 Charter Summary: Edinburgh, 25 August 1610👤 Parties Involved
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Lady Margaret Levingstoun: Second daughter of Alexander, Earl of Linlithgow. Granted a life-rent as part of her marriage contract.
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John Fleming, Master of Wigtown: Heir apparent to John, Earl of Wigtown. Receives lands in fee (ownership).
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John, Earl of Wigtown: Resigns extensive estates and offices to his son and daughter-in-law.💍 Marriage Provisions
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Based on a marriage contract dated February 1609 and registered in June 1609.
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Lady Margaret receives:
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3 pounds of dominical lands of Boghall with its fort and manor.
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Most of the barony of Biggar, excluding Scheills and Scheilhill.
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Feu duties from three burgh lands in Biggar.🏰 Lands Granted to the Master of Wigtown and His Heirs
These are granted to him and his male heirs with Margaret, or failing them, to his other lawful male heirs, and ultimately reverting to the Earl’s heirs per his last entail:
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Baronies and Estates:
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Auchtermony (Stirlingshire)
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Lenzie and Kirkintilloch (Stirlingshire)
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Cumbernauld (Dumbartonshire), including castle and forest
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Biggar and Boghall (Lanarkshire)
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Cardron (Peeblesshire)
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Sunderland (Selkirkshire)
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Loure (Forfarshire)
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Dunbullis (Perthshire)
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Fressilland (Haddingtonshire)
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Additional Holdings:
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Ovir Mynzeane, Ovir Kingildures, Glenrusco, Olivercastell, Urisland, Logan, Mosfennan, Quarter, Ghappelgill
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Mills, fisheries, tenements, and advowsons (church patronage rights)🏛 Administrative and Noble Privileges
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Office of Principal Bailiff and Keeper of the Royal House and Chamber
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Creation of Free Burghs:
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Kirkintilloch and Biggar elevated to free burghs of barony.
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Weekly markets and annual fairs established (St. Peter’s Day in Biggar, St. Denis’ Day in Kirkintilloch).
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Right to elect bailiffs and assign burgh lands.💰 Feudal Duties and Reservations
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Symbolic payments:
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One pair of gilded spurs for Cumbernauld, Boghall, and Biggar.
o
Another pair for Auchtermony.
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One penny at Falkirk for the annuity.
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Real obligations:
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£1000 for ward and non-entry
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300 merks for relief
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1200 merks for marriage
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Reservations to the Earl:
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Right to lease lands (up to 19 years or life-rent)
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Right to infeft additional spouses in lands yielding up to 20 chalders of victual annually🧬 Historical Significance
This charter represents the formal consolidation of the Fleming estates into the free lordship and barony of Cumbernauld, with the castle designated as the principal messuage. It also reflects the transition of power from the Earl to his heir, securing the Fleming legacy through strategic marriage and royal favor.^1,2,3

Margaret Livingstone, Countess of Wigtown, died after 1634.