James Sandilands, 1st Lord Torphichen
Encyclopedia
James Sandilands was born circa 1511 in Calder
, West Lothian
, Scotland
, and died in 1596.
He was the second son of Sir James Sandilands, 7th Lord of Calder. The feudal barony of Calder had belonged to the Sandilands clan
since 1348.
In December 1540 Sandilands was received into the Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta, which by that time had its headquarters in Malta, and on 3 March 1541 was conferred with the ancientry of Torphichen (and later succeeded to the preceptorship in 1547 ~ See below).[For reference see: "The Knights of St John of Jerusalem in Scotland" ref Pages 180-201 'Calendar of Material relating to Scotland in the Archives of the Knights Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem preserved in the National Library of Malta, Valetta, Malta']. The Commander or Prior of the Knights in Scotland was the Preceptor of Torphichen
, at that time, Sir Walter Lindsay
. Lindsay recommended Sandilands to the Grand Master
of the Knights as a potential candidate to succeed him. Sandilands spent the next several years at the headquarters of the Knights at Malta
, and validated Lindsay's recommendation. In 1541 he received from the Grand Master the ancianitas (right of expectancy) to the Preceptory and, following the death of Sir Walter Lindsay, succeeded him as Preceptor, authorized by a bull
of 2 April 1547. He was invested with both the spirituality and temporality attendant to the position in June 1550.
Despite the religious turmoil of the time, the Knights Hospitaller had managed to retain possession of their benefices in Scotland. In 1553, Sandilands was sent to France by the Parliament of Scotland
to present the proposed Treaty of Edinburgh
to Mary, Queen of Scots, and obtain her acquiescence in termination of the alliance between France and Scotland. His mission was a failure.
On 24 January 1563, Sandilands appeared before Queen Mary at the behest of the Grand Preceptory, to surrender the lands and possessions of the Order, together with the title of Lord St. John, which he had held as Preceptor. The Queen accepted them and, showing her high regard for him, returned to him at a bargain price the lands of Torphichen, and conferred upon him the title of Lord Torphichen
.
James Sandilands, Lord Torphichen, died in 1596.
, leaving no descendants. His title passed to the nearest of his designated heir: the grandson of his elder brother, also named James Sandilands (born 1574), then current feudal Baron of Calder, who thereby became the 2nd Lord Torphichen. Thereafter the two titles of feudal baron of Calder and lord Torphichen were conjoined, and inherited by the 2nd Lord Torphichen's successors up until the present day (15th Lord Torphichen).
Calder
-Places:*Several rivers in Scotland and Northern England*East Calder, Mid Calder and West Calder, three villages in West Lothian, Scotland*Calder, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, a town on the island of Saint Vincent...
, West Lothian
West Lothian
West Lothian is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Falkirk, North Lanarkshire, the Scottish Borders and South Lanarkshire....
, Scotland
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...
, and died in 1596.
He was the second son of Sir James Sandilands, 7th Lord of Calder. The feudal barony of Calder had belonged to the Sandilands clan
Clan Sandilands
Clan Sandilands is a Lowland Scottish clan. Sandilands is also considered a sept of Clan Douglas.-Origins of the Clan:The name Sandilands comes from lands by that name in Clydesdale...
since 1348.
In December 1540 Sandilands was received into the Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta, which by that time had its headquarters in Malta, and on 3 March 1541 was conferred with the ancientry of Torphichen (and later succeeded to the preceptorship in 1547 ~ See below).[For reference see: "The Knights of St John of Jerusalem in Scotland" ref Pages 180-201 'Calendar of Material relating to Scotland in the Archives of the Knights Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem preserved in the National Library of Malta, Valetta, Malta']. The Commander or Prior of the Knights in Scotland was the Preceptor of Torphichen
Torphichen Preceptory
Torphichen Preceptory, is a church in the village of Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland. It comprises the remains of the Preceptory of the Knights Hospitaller of the Order of St John of Jerusalem in Scotland...
, at that time, Sir Walter Lindsay
Clan Lindsay
-Origins of the Clan:There is currently no known proven path pertaining to the origin of the Clan Lindsay. However, several possible theories have been advanced over the years. First is the theory proposed in 1769 by biographer/historian, Richard Rolt, in which he claimed that the Lindsays were...
. Lindsay recommended Sandilands to the Grand Master
Grand Master (order)
Grand Master is the typical title of the supreme head of various orders of knighthood, including various military orders, religious orders and civil orders such as the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Orange Order...
of the Knights as a potential candidate to succeed him. Sandilands spent the next several years at the headquarters of the Knights at Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, and validated Lindsay's recommendation. In 1541 he received from the Grand Master the ancianitas (right of expectancy) to the Preceptory and, following the death of Sir Walter Lindsay, succeeded him as Preceptor, authorized by a bull
Papal bull
A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
of 2 April 1547. He was invested with both the spirituality and temporality attendant to the position in June 1550.
Despite the religious turmoil of the time, the Knights Hospitaller had managed to retain possession of their benefices in Scotland. In 1553, Sandilands was sent to France by the Parliament of Scotland
Parliament of Scotland
The Parliament of Scotland, officially the Estates of Parliament, was the legislature of the Kingdom of Scotland. The unicameral parliament of Scotland is first found on record during the early 13th century, with the first meeting for which a primary source survives at...
to present the proposed Treaty of Edinburgh
Treaty of Edinburgh
The Treaty of Edinburgh was a treaty drawn up on 5 July 1560 between the Commissioners of Queen Elizabeth I with the assent of the Scottish Lords of the Congregation, and French representatives in Scotland to formally conclude the Siege of Leith and replace the Auld Alliance with France with a new...
to Mary, Queen of Scots, and obtain her acquiescence in termination of the alliance between France and Scotland. His mission was a failure.
On 24 January 1563, Sandilands appeared before Queen Mary at the behest of the Grand Preceptory, to surrender the lands and possessions of the Order, together with the title of Lord St. John, which he had held as Preceptor. The Queen accepted them and, showing her high regard for him, returned to him at a bargain price the lands of Torphichen, and conferred upon him the title of Lord Torphichen
Lord Torphichen
Lord Torphichen is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created by Queen Mary in 1564 for Sir James Sandilands , with remainder to his heirs and assigns whatsoever. Sandilands had previously served as Preceptor of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta in Scotland, and...
.
James Sandilands, Lord Torphichen, died in 1596.
, leaving no descendants. His title passed to the nearest of his designated heir: the grandson of his elder brother, also named James Sandilands (born 1574), then current feudal Baron of Calder, who thereby became the 2nd Lord Torphichen. Thereafter the two titles of feudal baron of Calder and lord Torphichen were conjoined, and inherited by the 2nd Lord Torphichen's successors up until the present day (15th Lord Torphichen).