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Captain William ("the Builder") Fleming, 5th Earl of Wigtown, 10th Lord Fleming

b. circa 1642, d. 8 April 1681

Person Exhibits

Arms of the Fleming Earls of Wigtown

Birth

Captain William ("the Builder") Fleming, 5th Earl of Wigtown, 10th Lord Fleming, was born circa 1642.

Parents

FatherColonel John ("the Soldier") Fleming, 3rd Earl of Wigtown, 8th Lord Fleming (b. circa 1608, d. February 1665)
MotherJane Drummond, eldest daughter of John 2nd Earl of Perth (b. 1616, d. 12 January 1663)

Family life

Captain William ("the Builder") Fleming, 5th Earl of Wigtown, 10th Lord Fleming, and Henrietta Seton, eldest daughter of Charles, second Earl of Dunfermline, entered into a marriage contract on 8 September 1670 in Dalgety Henrietta Seton, daughter of Charles Seton, 2nd Earl of Dunfermline, and elder sister of James Seton, 4th Earl, married William Fleming, 5th Earl of Wigtown, in 1670, with a tocher (dowry) of 20,000 merks. That’s a substantial sum, and given the financial instability and forfeiture of the Dunfermline estates following James’s Jacobite allegiance and death in 1694, it’s entirely reasonable that the Fleming family would have sought to secure or recover assets tied to Henrietta’s dowry.1,2,3

Children with Henrietta Seton, eldest daughter of Charles, second Earl of Dunfermline, (b. June 1652, d. between 30 November 1699 and 18 April 1700)

SonJohn ("the Pliant") Fleming, 6th Earl of Wigtown, 11th Lord Fleming+ (b. circa 1668, d. 10 February 1744)
SonCharles ("The Last") Fleming, 7th Earl of Wigtown, 12th Lord Fleming (b. before 1669, d. 16 May 1747)
DaughterMary Fleming+ (b. circa 1674, d. March 1702)
DaughterUnknown Fleming (b. before 24 March 1675, d. 24 March 1675)
DaughterHenrietta Fleming (b. circa 1680)

Titles

Captain William ("the Builder") Fleming, 5th Earl of Wigtown, 10th Lord Fleming, held the title of succeeed as Earl of Wigtown circa August 1668. Nevertheless, he Py ouncently referred to him incorrectly as Sir William Fleming.4

Working life

  • On 8 September 1663 Captain William ("the Builder") Fleming, 5th Earl of Wigtown, 10th Lord Fleming, was occupied as Privy Councillor in Edinburgh. On this day he took his oaths of allegiance on admission to the Council5
  • He served in the military as Ensign in Captain Thomas Dalziel's Company of Foot on 26 July 1667.1,6
  • Between 1668 and 1685 Captain William ("the Builder") Fleming, 5th Earl of Wigtown, 10th Lord Fleming, was occupied as Privy Councillor.7,8
  • Before April 1669 Captain William ("the Builder") Fleming, 5th Earl of Wigtown, 10th Lord Fleming, was occupied as commissioner of excise for Lanarkshire in Lanarkshire, Scotland.9
  • On 12 January 1671 Captain William ("the Builder") Fleming, 5th Earl of Wigtown, 10th Lord Fleming, was occupied as captain of a troop of sixty horses raised from Ayr, but had only managed to find thirty in Ayr. The rendevous was postponed until 9 August.10,11
  • Between 1673 and 1676 Captain William ("the Builder") Fleming, 5th Earl of Wigtown, 10th Lord Fleming, was occupied as Privy Councillor. He attended 48 of 146 meetings.12
  • He served in the military as captain of the Company of Foot in the garrison of Dumbarton, and commander of said castle on 7 February 1673 in Dumbarton Castle. He had a commission from King Charles II.1,2,8,13
  • On 5 March 1673 Captain William ("the Builder") Fleming, 5th Earl of Wigtown, 10th Lord Fleming, was occupied as Sheriff in Dumbarton.1,2,8
  • On 4 June 1674 Captain William ("the Builder") Fleming, 5th Earl of Wigtown, 10th Lord Fleming, was occupied as a Privy Councillor. This was a reappointment.14
  • On 30 July 1674 Captain William ("the Builder") Fleming, 5th Earl of Wigtown, 10th Lord Fleming, was occupied as commissioner re conventicles for the shires of Stirling, Perth, Lanark, Dunbarton, Renfrew and Ayr.15,16
  • On 3 September 1674 Captain William ("the Builder") Fleming, 5th Earl of Wigtown, 10th Lord Fleming, was occupied as sheriff of Dunbarton and commissioner for justiciary in Dunbarton.17
  • On 6 August 1675 Captain William ("the Builder") Fleming, 5th Earl of Wigtown, 10th Lord Fleming, was occupied as commissioner for suppressing conventicles.18
  • On 6 January 1676 Captain William ("the Builder") Fleming, 5th Earl of Wigtown, 10th Lord Fleming, was occupied as commissioner to put Mr James Mitchell to the torture in view of his refusal to adhere to his oath that he took part in the rebellion of 1666.19
  • On 1 March 1676 Captain William ("the Builder") Fleming, 5th Earl of Wigtown, 10th Lord Fleming, was occupied as commissioner re conventicles for the shires of Stirling, Perth, Lanark, Dunbarton, Renfrew and Ayr.20
  • Circa 1677 Captain William ("the Builder") Fleming, 5th Earl of Wigtown, 10th Lord Fleming, was occupied as was a member of the Privy Council. His name, however, does not appear in connexion with any of the arbitrary and discreditable transactions with which the Privy Council during his time was so very largely engaged.
    He appears to have lived a good deal in retirement, for his name seldom occurs in any public document. From the numerous papers connected with the management of his estates still preserved, it is evident that he was a careful and methodical man of business. He seems to have exacted from his factors a full and satisfactory statement of all their transactions. His household book, which was commenced on Monday 20th July 1668, immediately on his accession to his estates, is still preserved, and is a venerable looking tome with iron clasps. In it are recorded the daily expenses incurred by the family, summed up weekly, and certified for some time by his sister Margaret, after her death by himself and then after his marriage by his wife, Henrietta Seton. It is interesting as showing the articles consumed by a nobleman's family at the period, and the prices which they cost. A few of the items may be given, the prices being in Scots money. A pair of muircocks were 14s., a pair of woodcocks 12s., a pair of partridges 18s., a pair of chickens 3s., a hen 5s., a duck 3s., a dozen of eggs Is. 6d., a pound of loaf sugar 14s., a pound of powder sugar 8s., a peck of flour 20s., a wheat loaf 2s., a fat cow L.14, 3s. 8d., a peck of salt 4s. 8d., a pound of candles 4s. 8d., a pound of fresh butter 4s., a salmon 9s., a dozen of trouts 4s., 100 herrings 14s., a gallon of ale 1 merk, a gallon of claret wine L.4, 17s. 6d., and a pint of brandy L.2, 10s. A regular entry is made of the kain fowls that were delivered by the Cumbernauld tenants, and of the sheep and cattle taken from the Forest of Cumbernauld for the use of the family.1,2

Property

Captain William ("the Builder") Fleming, 5th Earl of Wigtown, 10th Lord Fleming, possessed 21 SE.21 He possessed was was served heir to his brother in his whole estates lying in the counties of Dumbarton, Haddington, Lanark, Peebles, Perth, Selkirk and Stirling as well as heir general on 5 August 1668.6 He possessed obtained a precept under the Signet authorising a charter to pass the Great Seal of the dignities and estates in favour of himself and the heirs-male of his body, but no charter seems to have followed on 18 August 1669.1,2 He possessed had a charter of the lands of Biggar on 18 August 1669 in Biggar.221,23 He possessed repaired a three-arch bridge over Luggie Water and was allowed to impose a toll for 5 years in 1672 in Kirkintilloch.24,25,26,27 He possessed granted these lands to James Vallange in Boghall on 1 April 1672 in Burrowland within the corfts of the town of Biggar.28 He possessed regranted to George Liddell and his spouse Agnes the lands of Lamblinnes in Waster Castellrankines in the barony of Harbertshire on 18 April 1672 in Lamblinnes in Waster Castellrankines in the barony of Harbertshire.29 He possessed had a grant of Newtoune on 1 February 1678 in Newtoune.30 He possessed was served as heir general to his grandfather on 19 October 1678.13

Death

Captain William ("the Builder") Fleming, 5th Earl of Wigtown, 10th Lord Fleming, died on 8 April 1681 at age ~39. Earl William died on the 8th of April 1681, and was succeeded by his son John.1,7,23,31,8 He had his estate probated on 17 August 1681 at Glasgow in Commissary Court.32,33

Citations

  1. [S28] Sir James Balfour Paul, The Scots Peerage, vol viii, Fleming Earl of Wigtown pages 519 - 558
  2. [S5] William Hunter, Biggar and the House of Fleming, p 558
  3. [S58] Edinburgh, National Records of Scotland, "Online Catalogue," National Records of Scotland (https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue: accessed ), ., viewed; 16 September 2025; GD7/2/488, 5/11/1736, Discharge by William Johnstone, writer in Edinburgh, factor for John Earl of Wigtoun, chamberlain of Fife, to David Anderson
  4. [S58] Edinburgh, National Records of Scotland, "Online Catalogue," National Records of Scotland (https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue: accessed ), ., viewed; 11 September 2025; GD45/17/365, 1668, Articles of agreement between the Earl of Wigtown and the Countess [his sister-in-law]
  5. [S148] editor P Hume Brown, "Sir William Fleming admitted onto the Council," The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, third series, vol i, 1661-1664 (1908), online image (https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.35112103825651&seq=497 : viewed 24 Aug 2025), p 425.
  6. [S5] William Hunter, Biggar and the House of Fleming, p 557
  7. [S83] George Vere Irving, The upper ward of Lanarkshire described and delineated, vol i, p 32
  8. [S21] George Crawford, The Peerage of Scotland, p 491-499, Fleming, Earl of Wigtown
  9. [S148] editor P Hume Brown, "Act appointing new commissioners of excise in Lanarkshire," The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, third series, vol iv, 1673-1676 (1911), online image (https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044032328007&seq=450 : viewed 25 Aug 2025), p 399.
  10. [S148] editor P Hume Brown, "Letters to the commissioners of militia," The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, third series, vol iii, 1669-1672 (1908), online image (https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433071382950&seq=320 : viewed 24 Aug 2025), p 264-265.
  11. [S148] editor P Hume Brown, "Rendevous of Ayr militia postponed until 9 August," The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, third series, vol iii, 1669-1672 (1908), online image (https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433071382950&seq=162 : viewed 24 Aug 2025), p 336-337.
  12. [S148] editor P Hume Brown, "Introduction," The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, third series, vol iv, 1673-1676 (1911), online image (https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044032328007&seq=11 : viewed 25 Aug 2025), p vii.
  13. [S148] editor P Hume Brown, "Commission appointing William Earl of Wigtown commander of the garrison at Dunbarton Castle," The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, third series, vol iv, 1673-1676 (1911), online image (https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044032328007&seq=71 : viewed 25 Aug 2025), p 19.
  14. [S148] editor P Hume Brown, "Commission constituting the Council: 4 Jun 1674," The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, third series, vol iv, 1673-1676 (1911), online image (https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044032328007&seq=238 : viewed 25 Aug 2025), p 186.
  15. [S148] editor P Hume Brown, "Commission," The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, third series, vol iv, 1673-1676 (1911), online image (https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044032328007&seq=71 : viewed 25 Aug 2025), p 256.
  16. [S148] editor P Hume Brown, "Commission re suppression of conventicles," The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, third series, vol iv, 1673-1676 (1911), online image (https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044032328007&seq=243 : viewed 25 Aug 2025), p 191.
  17. [S148] editor P Hume Brown, "Appointment of justices to try criminals apprehended by Major George Grant," The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, third series, vol iv, 1673-1676 (1911), online image (https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044032328007&seq=628 : viewed 25 Aug 2025), p 276.
  18. [S148] editor P Hume Brown, "Commission for supprerssion of conventicles," The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, third series, vol iv, 1673-1676 (1911), online image (https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044032328007&seq=500 : viewed 25 Aug 2025), p 448.
  19. [S148] editor P Hume Brown, "Mr James Mitchell," The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, third series, vol iv, 1673-1676 (1911), online image (https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044032328007&seq=552 : viewed 25 Aug 2025), p 500.
  20. [S148] editor P Hume Brown, "Similar commission to sit at Stirling," The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, third series, vol iv, 1673-1676 (1911), online image (https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044032328007&seq=603 : viewed 25 Aug 2025), p 551.
  21. [S58] Edinburgh, National Records of Scotland, "Online Catalogue," National Records of Scotland (https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue: accessed ), ., viewed; 11 September 2025; GD24/1/963, 1664, 1687, Earl of Wigtown: division of property and account of estate income
  22. [S58] Edinburgh, National Records of Scotland, "Online Catalogue," National Records of Scotland (https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue: accessed ), ., viewed; 11 September 2025; SIG1/165/121, 18 Aug 1669, Signature of the lands of Biggar etc granted to William, Earl of Wigtown
  23. [S60] Bernard Burke, A Genealogical History of the Dormant, Abeyant, Forfeited and Extinct Peerages of the British Empire, Fleming, Earl of Wigton, p 218-19
  24. [S57] Francis Hides Groom, Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland, vol iv, p 428, Kirkintilloch
  25. [S68] KM Brown and others, Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, 1672/6/60
  26. [S68] KM Brown and others, Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, A1672/6/25
  27. [S68] KM Brown and others, Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, M1672/6/19
  28. [S58] Edinburgh, National Records of Scotland, "Online Catalogue," National Records of Scotland (https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue: accessed ), ., viewed; 12 September 2025; CS238/V/1/21, 1774, Andrew Vallange v Vallange and others: Reduction
  29. [S58] Edinburgh, National Records of Scotland, "Online Catalogue," National Records of Scotland (https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue: accessed ), ., viewed; 11 September 2025; GD1/185/4, 18 Apr 1672, Charter of novodamus by William, earl of Wigtown to George Liddell
  30. [S58] Edinburgh, National Records of Scotland, "Online Catalogue," National Records of Scotland (https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue: accessed ), ., viewed; 12 September 2025; SIG1/166/34, 1 Feb 1678, Signature of the lands of Newtoune granted to William, Earl of Wigtown.
  31. [S5] William Hunter, Biggar and the House of Fleming, p 560
  32. [S47] HM General Register House, HM General Register House, "ScotlandsPeople," database, National Records of Scotland, Scotland's People website (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/: accessed ), ., Will CC9/7/44, William Fleming, Earl of Wigtown, parish of Easter Lenzie
  33. [S5] William Hunter, Biggar and the House of Fleming, p 138
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