James Roberton
Encyclopedia
James Roberton, Lord Bedlay (c. 1590 – May 1664) was a Scottish
advocate
and judge
. He was born to Archibald Roberton of Stainhall, youngest son of John Roberton 9th Laird of Earnock
, and Elizabeth Baillie, daughter of Robert Baillie of Jerviston. He inherited Bedlay Castle
from his father, who bought it from James, the 8th Lord Boyd
. He became Lord Bedlay upon the occasion of being raised to the judicial bench in 1661.
in March 1605 and graduated M.A. in 1609.
and a Justice-Deputy in 1626, a position he held without fee from 1626 to 1637. Several petitions to parliament finally resulted in back-pay and annual income in 1644. On April 3, 1646 he was chosen as rector
of University of Glasgow and designated James Roberton, judex, to distinguish him from namesake James Roberton, professor of Physiology.
Roberton served on Lanarkshire
’s committee of war 1644 – 1648 and was commissary of Hamilton
1646 – 1650. Upon the Restoration
Roberton was appointed judge and made an ordinary Lord of Session
on April 5, 1661.
’s Protectorate
Roberton declined the Oath of Abjuration and retired. His lands were not forfeit. Upon the Restoration, Roberton never took the oath. He petitioned the court their indulgence regarding his age and sickness for his non-attendance, asserting he had no scruples with the covenant. The Court granted him the privilege of appearing whenever his health would allow.
founders Thomas and James. . Their youngest daughter Jean married John Rae of Auchingraymount. Roberton’s sister Margaret married Scottish professor of divinity David Dickson
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
advocate
Advocate
An advocate is a term for a professional lawyer used in several different legal systems. These include Scotland, South Africa, India, Scandinavian jurisdictions, Israel, and the British Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man...
and judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
. He was born to Archibald Roberton of Stainhall, youngest son of John Roberton 9th Laird of Earnock
Earnock
This article is about the history of the Earnock area. For information on the current housing estate built in the Earnock area see Earnock Estate.Earnock was an ancient estate in an area south of Hamilton in Lanarkshire, Scotland...
, and Elizabeth Baillie, daughter of Robert Baillie of Jerviston. He inherited Bedlay Castle
Bedlay Castle
Bedlay Castle is a former defensive castle, dating from the late 16th and 17th centuries. It is located between Chryston and Moodiesburn in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. The castle is just off the A80 road, around 8 miles to the north-east of Glasgow, at ....
from his father, who bought it from James, the 8th Lord Boyd
Lord Boyd
Lord Boyd can refer to* Lord Boyd, Colin Boyd, Baron Boyd of Duncansby, former Lord Advocate for Scotland;and,* Lord Boyd – alternative title of the Earl of Kilmarnock – both titles being forfeit in 1746....
. He became Lord Bedlay upon the occasion of being raised to the judicial bench in 1661.
Education
Described as a man of great learning and integrity, Roberton matriculated at the University of GlasgowUniversity of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
in March 1605 and graduated M.A. in 1609.
Positions
He was appointed Regent (Professor) of Philosophy and Humanity of the University of Glasgow in 1618. He passed as advocate and was appointed a judge of the Admiralty CourtAdmiralty court
Admiralty courts, also known as maritime courts, are courts exercising jurisdiction over all maritime contracts, torts, injuries and offences.- Admiralty Courts in England and Wales :...
and a Justice-Deputy in 1626, a position he held without fee from 1626 to 1637. Several petitions to parliament finally resulted in back-pay and annual income in 1644. On April 3, 1646 he was chosen as rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of University of Glasgow and designated James Roberton, judex, to distinguish him from namesake James Roberton, professor of Physiology.
Roberton served on Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire or the County of Lanark ) is a Lieutenancy area, registration county and former local government county in the central Lowlands of Scotland...
’s committee of war 1644 – 1648 and was commissary of Hamilton
Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
Hamilton is a town in South Lanarkshire, in the west-central Lowlands of Scotland. It serves as the main administrative centre of the South Lanarkshire council area. It is the fifth-biggest town in Scotland after Paisley, East Kilbride, Livingston and Cumbernauld...
1646 – 1650. Upon the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
Roberton was appointed judge and made an ordinary Lord of Session
Court of Session
The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland, and constitutes part of the College of Justice. It sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh and is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal....
on April 5, 1661.
Allegiances
During CromwellOliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
’s Protectorate
The Protectorate
In British history, the Protectorate was the period 1653–1659 during which the Commonwealth of England was governed by a Lord Protector.-Background:...
Roberton declined the Oath of Abjuration and retired. His lands were not forfeit. Upon the Restoration, Roberton never took the oath. He petitioned the court their indulgence regarding his age and sickness for his non-attendance, asserting he had no scruples with the covenant. The Court granted him the privilege of appearing whenever his health would allow.
Family and associations
Roberton and his wife had three children. Their son Archibald retoured as heir on 17 June 1664. Their daughter Elizabeth married James Dunlop of Garnkirk, and their daughter Jean Dunlop married Patrick Coutts, grandfather of CouttsCoutts
Coutts & Co. is one of the UK's private banking houses, now wholly owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland . RBS acquired Coutts and all of its overseas subsidiaries when it bought NatWest. On 1 January 2008, Coutts' international businesses were renamed RBS Coutts, aligning them more closely with...
founders Thomas and James. . Their youngest daughter Jean married John Rae of Auchingraymount. Roberton’s sister Margaret married Scottish professor of divinity David Dickson
David Dickson (professor)
-Life:He was the only son of John Dick or Dickson, a merchant in the Trongate of Glasgow, whose father was an old feuar of some lands called the Kirk of Muir, in the parish of St. Ninians, Stirlingshire. He was born in Glasgow about 1583, and educated at the university, where he graduated M.A., and...
.