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Who Was the Houston in the famous Casket Letters?

Who Was the Houston in the famous Casket Letters?

Jim Houston (View posts)
Posted: 3 Jul 2006 10:14AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Houston
The following extract from the famous Casket Letters (which were in part responsible for the conviction of Mary Queen of Scots), mentions a "Houstoun". Anyone happen to know who this Houston might have been?


Jim Houston


========================
Source of Casket Letters transcription, "The Letters In The Casket" http://ladyhedgehog.hedgie.com/casketletters.html

"Sir James Hamilton came to meet me, who told me that at another tyme he went his way when he heard of my comming, and that he sent unto him Houstoun, to tell him that he wold not have thought, that he wold have followed and acompany himself with the Hamiltons. He answered that he was not come but to see me; and that he would not follow Stuart nor Hamilton, but my commandment. He prayed him to go speak to him; he refuses it.

The Lord Luce, Houstoun and the sonne of Caldwell, and about xlty horse came to meet me that he was sent to one day o'law from the father, which shold be this day against the signing of his own hand, which he has, and that, knowing of my comming, he hath delayed it, and hath prayed him to go see him, which he hath refused, and give aith that he will suffer nothing at his hands. Not one of the town is omce to speak with me, which makith me to thkn that they be his, and they so speakith well of them, at least his sonne."

Sir Patrick Houston in the famous Casket Letters?

sw (View posts)
Posted: 3 Jul 2006 10:03PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Houston
"Sir Peter Houstoun fought with the Earl of Lennox on the right wing at Flodden in 1513, where he was killed.

His son, Sir Patrick Houston of Houston, was a companion of James V and Keeper of the Quarter Seal. He intrigued with Lord Lennox against the king, and was slain at the Battle of Linlithgow Bridge.

The next Sir Patrick Houstoun, his grandson, was knighted by Mary, Queen of Scots, and accompanied her when she visited Lord Darnley in Glasgow." (Clan Houston)

About this time Wiliam Adair was received into favour of Queen Mary, I think at Glen Luce. This seemed to be after an uprising
at Glen Luce Abbey. (Privy Council ?)

Who Was Henry Houston in will of prior of Crossraguel ?

sw (View posts)
Posted: 3 Jul 2006 10:20PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Houston
Will of Dene John Mure, subprior of Crossraguel, who died on November 15th, 1585, a few months after it was drawn up.

There are legacies to :
Dene Michael Dewar,
Dene John Maxwell,
Dene John Mure,
Dene John Bryce.

His executor is Dene Gilbert Kennedy, brother in Crossraguel.

To henry houstoun in paslay ane angill nobill in rememberance.

The John Mure who appears among the legatees made his own will in 1595, a few days before he died, and Gilbert Kennedy was one of the witnesses, along with Mr Maybole (?).

On Dec 7 1614, “ Mr. William Birnie moderator of the presbyterie of Air requested be my L. of Glasgow to tak ordour with Sir Gilbert Kennedy priest reported that Sir George Hamilton brother to my L. abercorne quhen he came out of Ireland came in to him be ye waye and comforted him and gave him ane hundreth merk."

Re: Sir Patrick Houston in the famous Casket Letters?

Jim Houston (View posts)
Posted: 4 Jul 2006 1:49PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Houston
Shirley,

Thanks! The Patrick Houston referenced in the Clan Houston Clan site at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan_Houston who was knighted by Mary Queen of Scots was, I believe, PATRICK HOUSTON, Knight and "of that Ilk". I show that this Patrick Houston was Lord Houstoun at the time of Mary Queen of Scots' execution in 1586/87.
Do you have any thoughts on who "Lord Luce", and "the sonne of Caldwell" referenced in the letters might have been?

Jim Houston

Different Translation of the "Long Casket Letter"

Jim Houston (View posts)
Posted: 4 Jul 2006 3:22PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Colquhoun, Houston
I found a different translation of the letter alleged to have been written by Mary Queen of Scots in the appendix of the book, "Mary Queen pf Scots" by Antonia Fraser published by Dell Publishing Company in 1971.
This book indicated that the letter was written some time before December 1568 and the translation of the applicable text they provide reads as follows"

"The Lard Lus, Houston, and the sonne of Caldwell, and about xl hors came to meet me -------"

From this it, appears to me that this "Lard Lus" may have been Sir John Colquhoun, Lord of Luss who died Jan 1574/75 and would have been about 45 years of age at the time the latter was written. I also show that Patrick Houston, Lord of Houston during this same period (i.e. 1568) would have been at least 42 at the time the letter was written.

Anyone else have any ideas on who this "Lard Lus" might have been?

Jim Houston

Individuals Referenced in the Long (Second) Casket Letter

Jim Houston (View posts)
Posted: 4 Jul 2006 8:05PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 7 Jul 2006 11:56AM GMT
Surnames: Houston, Mure
After further study I believe that the identity of several individuals referenced in the Second Casket Letter allegedly written by Mary Queen of Scots, some time before 1568 are as follows (see http://ladyhedgehog.hedgie.com/casketletters.html ) for one transcription of the document:

** "Erle of Lennox" - I believe that this may be Matthew Stewart, Regent and 4th Earl of Lennox
** "Houstoun" - I believe that this may be as suggested by Shirley Walsh, Patrick Houston (Bef. 1526 - circa 17 Jul 1602), 'Knight and 16th of that Ilk' HOUSTON
** "The Lord Luce" - This may be Sir John Colquhoun, 8th Lord of Luss (c. 1523-1574)
** "the sonne of Caldwell" - Robert Mure of Caldwell (d. Oct 1644) son of Sir John Mure of Caldwell (d. 10 Sep 1570)

An examination of the ancestors of these individuals indicates that The Earl of Lennox, The Lord of Luss and Mures of Caldwell are cousins of one degree or the other.

I am not absolutely sure of these individuals and I invite alternate suggestions.

Jim Houston

Sir Patrick Houston in the famous Casket Letters?

sw (View posts)
Posted: 7 Jul 2006 5:14AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Houston
re: Patrick Houston was Lord Houstoun at the time of Mary Queen of Scots' execution in 1586/87.
Do you have any thoughts on who "Lord Luce", and "the sonne of Caldwell" referenced in the letters might have been ?
..............................
At one stage about the mid-1500s, Kennedy, the Abbot of Glen Luce, Wigtownshire, was mentioned as Lord Luce.

His sister may have been Jane Kennedy, friend & Lady-in-Waiting of Queen Mary. I wonder if she was also mistress of Bothwell ? Jane Kennedy was possibly dau of Kennedy, Lord Cassillis. Queen Mary wrote to her friend Cassillis ("Mary Queen of Scots", Antonia Fraser). Jane Kennedy may have been mistress of Bothwell (Queen Mary's husband ?).
(Lady of Bothwell).
William Adair was son-in-law of Cassillis.
Were there any Kennedy - Houstoun connections for about that time ?
An interesting connection was that the land the Lady of Bothwell had was once Adair land, and I think that your Houston may have had it (Polderiane area) later.

Sometimes Colville was written as Caldwell,
and the Stuart family in Garlies and Ochiltree
may have been Stuart-Colville or Colville-Stewart ?
Lord Ochiltree is mentioned in the book,
and Knox, also mentioned in the book, married Margaret Stewart of Ochiltree.
Perhaps Caldwell was possibly a Stuart / Stewart of Ochiltree ?
Were there any Houstoun / Stewart connections ?

Was Bothwell land on or near the Houston lands ?

Re: Individuals Referenced in the Long (Second) Casket Letter

sw (View posts)
Posted: 7 Jul 2006 4:42PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Houstoun, Stewart
re: "The Lord Luce" "The Laird of Lusse"-
This may be Sir John Colquhoun, 8th Lord of Luss (c. 1523-1574).

Refer Colquhoun of Luss & Patrick Houstoun, below :

Scottish Archives. GD220/6/1952 15 Nov. 1490.
Instrument of sasine reciting letters of procuratory 29 October 1490,
by Matthew Steward, dominus feodi of (2nd ?) earldom of Levenax (Lennox)
and lordship of Dernle (Darnley), (d.1513),
(great-grandfather of Henry Stewart / Stuart, Lord Darnley m. Queen Mary),
with consent of John, (his son ?) lord of free tenement of said earldom,
appointing Hugh (Montgomery), lord Montgumry,
Peter Houstoun of that ilk,
Adam Creichtone of Kippandavy,
John Striveling of Cragbernard,
Robert Sympill (Semple), son and apparent heir of John Sympill of Fowlwod,
William Campbell, macer,
and John Maxwell,
as bailies in that part,
to resign in favour of
Colin (Campbell), earl of Ergile (Argyll), lord Campbell and Lorne, chancellor of Scotland,
(a later Jean Stewart was Countess of Argyll),
lands of the Manys of Inchinnane,
lands of the two Kerswellis in lordship of Dernle,
lands of Lang-loch-mure,
the Crage, of Neilstoun, Glanders-toun and the Kirks-toun thereof,
the Hullirheid in said lordship,
and lands of
Ardane and the Wardhill, Dormontsid and Westirnuttishill in sheriffdom of Renfrew,
to be held by said Colin and by Archibald Campbell, his son and apparent heir,
and Elizabeth Steward, his spouse, granter's sister (Matthew Stewart, 2nd Earl of Lennox, Lord Darnley), in fee;
also recited are royal letters, 24 October 1490 a.r.3,
appointing Humphrey Culquhoun (Colquhorn / Colhoun ) of Luss **,
John Culquhoun of Camstrodane,
John Hammiltoun of Berdowy,
William Dowglace (Douglas ?) of Ladcamroch,
Donald Campbell,
Alan Steward and Archibald (Stuart / Stewart of ?) Uchiltrie (Ochiltree),
as attorneys for said Colin (Campbell);
for the more security of the premises,
seal of John Streveling, bailie in that part, is appended,
at Cragbernard, 25 Nov. 1490
Date 15 Nov 1490
Notary: Thomas Leyss, priest, Glasgow diocese.
Witnesses: William Hammiltoun, John Streveling, Adam Corsbe, John Finlasoun,
Thomas, John and Uchred Jhonsoun (Johnson).
.............................
James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran (1530-1609)
was a suitor of Mary, Queen of Scots.
James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran (d.1575) was
Governor of Scotland.

Sir Patrick Houston & Kennedy in "Casket Letters"

sw (View posts)
Posted: 7 Jul 2006 11:44PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Houstoun, Kennedy
re: Patrick Houston was Lord Houstoun at the time of Mary Queen of Scots' execution in 1586/87.
...........................
CORRECTION for Jane Kennedy, whom I had
mistaken for an earlier
Janet Kennedy m.(?) 1498 Archibald, 5th E. of Angus,
and she had charters from him of various lands, including the lordship of Bothwell and was frequently styled Lady Bothwell.

In 1499 Janet became the mistress of King James IV,
(g-father of Mary, Queen of Scots) and had issue by him in 1500 a son, James, created Earl of Moray.

Re: Houston / Kennedy / Stewart Connections

Jim Houston (View posts)
Posted: 8 Jul 2006 12:22PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Houston, Kennedy, Stewart, Vaus
Shirley,

Yes, there was a connection between the Houstons and the Kennedys and the Houston and the Stewarts but these connections did not all occur in the time frame of the Casket Letters. Gilbert KENNEDY, 3rd Earl of Cassillis was married about 1573 to Margaret KENNEDY, daughter of Alexander Kennedy of Bargany. Gilbert Kennedy and Margaret Kennedy had a daughter, Catherine who married Patrick VAUS of Barnbarroch. Patrick Vaus of Barnbarroch and Catherine Kennedy had a daughter Katherine who married about Oct 1594, William HOUSTON of Cotreoch. William Houston of Cotreoch and Katherine Vaus had a child William who succeeded to Cotreoch. This William in turn had a child named William who married Agnes STEWART daughter of Robert Stewart of Barclye and Tonderghie.

Here are what I have in the database in simplified form for these connections

(1) GILBERT '3rd Earl of Cassillis' KENNEDY + MARGARET 'Countess of Cassillis' KENNEDY
(2) CATHERINE 'Lady Barnbarroch' KENNEDY + PATRICK 'of Cascreoch and Barnbarroch ' VAUS
(3) KATHERINE VAUS + WILLIAM '4th of Cotreoch' HOUSTON
(4) WILLIAM '5th of Cotreoch' HOUSTON
(5) WILLIAM '6th of Cotreoch' HOUSTON + AGNES STEWART (daughter of ROBERT 'of Barclye and Tonderghie' STEWART)




Jim Houston
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