George Learmonth of Balcomie

George Learmonth of Balcomie (died 1585) was a Scottish landowner.

Family background

He was the son of James Learmonth of Dairsie and Balcomie (d. 1547), who was Master of Household to James V of Scotland, and Katherine Ramsay. James Learmonth was a commissioner for the 1543 Treaty of Greenwich.^[1]

Career

His home was Balcomie Castle in Fife. He also leased property belonging to the Hospital of St Nicholas in St Andrews.^[2]

On 9 August 1569 he wrote to John Lesley, Bishop of Ross, from London, asking for a passport for himself, the son of James MacGill, Peter Young, and Patrick Adamson. He mentioned he carried a supply of German pistols.^[3]

His brother Patrick Learmonth of Dairsie was Provost of St Andrews. Patrick Learmonth lent money to his son-in-law, William Kirkcaldy of Grange, during the "lang siege" of Edinburgh Castle taking jewels belonging to Mary, Queen of Scots as security. These included a "carcan" necklace of 7 great rubies set in gold with 32 great pearls, for a loan of £1000 Scots made jointly with Michael Balfour feuar of Montquhanie.^[4]

At this time Learmonth and James Sandilands of St Monans were prosecuted by St Andrews burgh council for not paying rents for lands formerly belonging to the Dominican friars.^[5]

He died in 1585.

Family

He married Euphemia Leslie, a daughter of George Leslie, 4th Earl of Rothes and Margaret Crichton. Their children included:

James Learmonth of Balcomie, one of the Gentleman Adventurers of Fife and father of James Learmonth, Lord Balcomie. James Learmonth had a child with Grissell Gray in 1585, and with Helen Huntar, the wife of Alan Lentroun in St Andrews, in 1586.^[6]
John Learmonth of Balcomie, who married Elizabeth Myrton. Their heraldry with the date 1602 is carved above the gateway at Balcomie.^[7]
Robert Learmonth, who married Janet Skene, a daughter of John Skene, Lord Curriehill.

After his death, Euphemia Leslie married John Cunningham of Barns.^[8]

References

^ Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, 18:1 (London, 1901), no. 804.
^ Gordon Donaldson, Thirds of Benefices (SHS, Edinburgh, 1949), p. 158.
^ Joseph Bain, Calendar State Papers Scotland: 1563-1569, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), p. 667.
^ Accounts of the Treasurer, xii, pp. 352-3: National Records of Scotland E35/11/15, 30.
^ Bess Rhodes, Riches and Reform: Ecclesiastical Wealth in St Andrews: 1520-1580 (Leiden, 2019), p. 146.
^ David Hay Fleming, Register of St Andrews Kirk Session, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1890), pp. 556-7, 574, 673-4, 676, 690, 696-8.
^ Walter Wood, The East Neuk of Fife (Edinburgh, 1862), p. 274.
^ Walter Wood, The East Neuk of Fife (Edinburgh, 1862), p. 274.

[1] Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, 18:1 (London, 1901), no. 804.

[2] Gordon Donaldson, Thirds of Benefices (SHS, Edinburgh, 1949), p. 158.

[3] Joseph Bain, Calendar State Papers Scotland: 1563-1569, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), p. 667.

[4] Accounts of the Treasurer, xii, pp. 352-3: National Records of Scotland E35/11/15, 30.

[5] Bess Rhodes, Riches and Reform: Ecclesiastical Wealth in St Andrews: 1520-1580 (Leiden, 2019), p. 146.

[6] David Hay Fleming, Register of St Andrews Kirk Session, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1890), pp. 556-7, 574, 673-4, 676, 690, 696-8.

[7] Walter Wood, The East Neuk of Fife (Edinburgh, 1862), p. 274.

[8] Walter Wood, The East Neuk of Fife (Edinburgh, 1862), p. 274.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

George Learmonth of Balcomie

Family background

Career

Family

References

Portal di Ensiklopedia Dunia