Jean Hepburn
Encyclopedia
Jean Hepburn, Lady Darnley, Mistress of Caithness, Lady Morham (died 1599) was a Scottish noblewoman and a member of the Border clan of Hepburn
. Her brother was James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, the third husband of Mary, Queen of Scots. Jean's first husband was John Stewart, 1st Lord Darnley, an illegitimate half-brother of Queen Mary, which made Jean a double sister-in-law of the queen. Jean married three times. She was also Lady of Morham
, having received in 1573 the barony of Morham and lands which had belonged to her mother, Lady Agnes Sinclair and was forfeited to the Crown subsequent to her brother, the Earl of Bothwell's attainder for treason
.
, Midlothian
, Scotland
, the daughter of Patrick Hepburn, 3rd Earl of Bothwell
and Lady Agnes Sinclair. Her brother was James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, who would achieve notoriety as the third husband of Mary, Queen of Scots. He married firstly in February 1566, Lady Jean Gordon
, a wealthy Highlands
heiress, who was the sister of George Gordon, 5th Earl of Huntly
. Bothwell and Jean were divorced on 7 May 1567, and eight days later, he married Queen Mary.
Jean's paternal grandparents were Adam Hepburn, 2nd Earl of Bothwell
and Agnes Stewart, and her maternal grandparents were Henry Sinclair, 3rd Lord St. Clair and Margaret Hepburn.
Her parents obtained a divorce sometime before 16 October 1543, and Jean's mother was henceforth styled Lady Morsham until her death in 1572.
Lady Jean was sometimes known as Jane or Janet. In January 1560, the English agent Thomas Randolph
wrote that he knew some scandal concerning Jean, 'a mirrie matter, worthe the reporting,' but gave no further detail.
by his mistress Elizabeth Carmichael. The wedding was celebrated at Crichton Castle and the gaudy festivities afterwards were hosted by her brother, the Earl of Bothwell. Queen Mary attended the wedding along with her other illegitimate half-brother and chief adviser James Stewart, Earl of Moray. Thomas Randolph heard there was 'much good sport and pastimes.' John Stewart was created 1st Lord Darnley that same year and was also made the Commendator of Coldingham. One son was born to the marriage:
John Stewart died in November 1563, leaving Jean a widow. On an unknown date she married secondly John Sinclair, Master of Caithness, by whom she had four children:
In 1567, following the Earl of Bothwell's abduction of Queen Mary to Dunbar Castle
where he held her in captivity until she agreed to marry him, Jean served as one of the queen's companions along with Janet Beaton
, Bothwell's former mistress, and her sister, Margaret Beaton, Lady Reres. The queen was very fond of her former sister-in-law Jean, and gave her presents of a sequined crimson petticoat and a taffeta cloak. Shortly afterwards on 15 May, Queen Mary's disastrous marriage to Bothwell took place, making Jean Hepburn once again the sister-in-law of the queen.
On 8 October 1573 at Edinburgh, a Tack was made to Jean of the lands and barony of Morham
which had originally belonged to her mother, and had been forfeited to the Crown subsequent to her brother Bothwell's attainder
for treason.
Jean and her second husband were divorced on 17 July 1575. He died in September 1575 in captivity after being imprisoned by his father following a quarrel. In 1578, Jean married her third husband, Archibald Douglas, Parson of Douglas
, a Senator of the College of Justice
, and Ambassador to Queen Elizabeth I of England
. He was one of the confederation of lords who had conspired at the assassination of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley
and was present at Kirk o'Field the night of the murder.
In 1581, upon being forewarned of his impending arrest for his conplicity in Lord Darnley's murder, he fled from Jean's tower-house at Morsham to England. On 21 November 1581, he was forfeited by an Act of Parliament
. At his trial on 26 May 1586, he was acquitted of the murder.
Jean died in 1599 at Caithness. Her will was probated on 27 July 1599.
Hepburn
Hepburn is a family name of the Anglo-Scottish Border, that is associated with a variety of famous personages, eponyms, places, and things. Although commonly a Scottish name its origins lie to the south of the border in the north of England. Specifically, the name is thought to have derived from...
. Her brother was James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, the third husband of Mary, Queen of Scots. Jean's first husband was John Stewart, 1st Lord Darnley, an illegitimate half-brother of Queen Mary, which made Jean a double sister-in-law of the queen. Jean married three times. She was also Lady of Morham
Morham
Morham, East Lothian, sometimes spelt Moram, Morum, Morhame, etc., in old records, is the smallest parish in Scotland, sandwiched between five other parishes: Haddington, Garvald, Yester, Whittingehame, and Prestonkirk, in the undulating lower reaches of the Lammermuir Hills.-Church and hamlet:For...
, having received in 1573 the barony of Morham and lands which had belonged to her mother, Lady Agnes Sinclair and was forfeited to the Crown subsequent to her brother, the Earl of Bothwell's attainder for treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
.
Family
Lady Jean Hepburn was born at Crichton CastleCrichton Castle
Crichton Castle is a ruined castle situated at the head of the River Tyne, near the village of Crichton, Midlothian, Scotland. The castle lies two miles south of the village of Pathhead, and the same distance east of Gorebridge, at . A mile to the south-west is Borthwick Castle.-History:In the late...
, Midlothian
Midlothian
Midlothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy area. It borders the Scottish Borders, East Lothian and the City of Edinburgh council areas....
, 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...
, the daughter of Patrick Hepburn, 3rd Earl of Bothwell
Patrick Hepburn, 3rd Earl of Bothwell
Patrick Hepburn, 3rd Earl of Bothwell , was the son of Adam Hepburn, Lord Hailes, who died at the Battle of Flodden the year after Patrick's birth.Hepburn was known as the Fair Earl...
and Lady Agnes Sinclair. Her brother was James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, who would achieve notoriety as the third husband of Mary, Queen of Scots. He married firstly in February 1566, Lady Jean Gordon
Jean Gordon, Countess of Bothwell
Jean Gordon, Countess of Bothwell was a wealthy Scottish noblewoman and the first wife of James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell who became, after his divorce from Lady Jean, the third husband of Mary, Queen of Scots. Lady Jean herself had a total of three husbands...
, a wealthy Highlands
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
heiress, who was the sister of George Gordon, 5th Earl of Huntly
George Gordon, 5th Earl of Huntly
George Gordon, 5th Earl of Huntly , was Lord Chancellor of Scotland and major conspirator of his time.-Biography:...
. Bothwell and Jean were divorced on 7 May 1567, and eight days later, he married Queen Mary.
Jean's paternal grandparents were Adam Hepburn, 2nd Earl of Bothwell
Adam Hepburn, 2nd Earl of Bothwell
Adam Hepburn, 2nd Earl of Bothwell was a Scottish nobleman, who succeeded his father Patrick Hepburn, 1st Earl of Bothwell in 1508...
and Agnes Stewart, and her maternal grandparents were Henry Sinclair, 3rd Lord St. Clair and Margaret Hepburn.
Her parents obtained a divorce sometime before 16 October 1543, and Jean's mother was henceforth styled Lady Morsham until her death in 1572.
Lady Jean was sometimes known as Jane or Janet. In January 1560, the English agent Thomas Randolph
Thomas Randolph (diplomat)
Thomas Randolph was an English ambassador serving Elizabeth I of England. Most of his professional life he spent in Scotland at the courts of Mary, Queen of Scots, and her son James VI. While in Scotland, he was embroiled in marriage projects and several upheavals...
wrote that he knew some scandal concerning Jean, 'a mirrie matter, worthe the reporting,' but gave no further detail.
Marriages and issue
On 4 January 1562, Jean was married to John Stewart, an illegitimate son of King James V of ScotlandJames V of Scotland
James V was King of Scots from 9 September 1513 until his death, which followed the Scottish defeat at the Battle of Solway Moss...
by his mistress Elizabeth Carmichael. The wedding was celebrated at Crichton Castle and the gaudy festivities afterwards were hosted by her brother, the Earl of Bothwell. Queen Mary attended the wedding along with her other illegitimate half-brother and chief adviser James Stewart, Earl of Moray. Thomas Randolph heard there was 'much good sport and pastimes.' John Stewart was created 1st Lord Darnley that same year and was also made the Commendator of Coldingham. One son was born to the marriage:
- Francis Stewart, 1st Earl of Bothwell (December 1562- 4 November 1613 NaplesNaplesNaples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
), married Lady Margaret Douglas, daughter of David Douglas, 7th Earl of Angus and Margaret Hamilton, by whom he had six children.
John Stewart died in November 1563, leaving Jean a widow. On an unknown date she married secondly John Sinclair, Master of Caithness, by whom she had four children:
- George Sinclair, 5th Earl of CaithnessEarl of CaithnessEarl of Caithness is a title that has been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland, and has a very complex history. Its first grant, in the modern sense as to have been counted in strict lists of peerages, is now generally held to have taken place in favor of Maol Íosa V, Earl of...
(c.1566- February 1643), married 29 July 1585 Lady Jean Gordon, daughter of George Gordon, 5th Earl of Huntly and Lady Anne HamiltonAnne Hamilton, Countess of HuntlyAnne Hamilton, Countess of Huntly , was a Scottish noblewoman and a member of the powerful Hamilton family which had a strong claim to the Scottish crown...
, by whom he had five children. - Sir James Sinclair, married Elizabeth Stewart, by whom he had four children.
- Sir John Sinclair (died after 21 December 1627), married Janet Sutherland, by whom he had one son.
- Marie Sinclair (died after 20 February 1582), married Sir John Home.
In 1567, following the Earl of Bothwell's abduction of Queen Mary to Dunbar Castle
Dunbar Castle
Dunbar Castle is the remnants of one of the most mighty fortresses in Scotland, situated over the harbour of the town of Dunbar, in East Lothian.-Early history:...
where he held her in captivity until she agreed to marry him, Jean served as one of the queen's companions along with Janet Beaton
Janet Beaton
Janet Beaton, Lady of Branxholme and Buccleugh was an aristocratic Scottish woman. She was a mistress of James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell....
, Bothwell's former mistress, and her sister, Margaret Beaton, Lady Reres. The queen was very fond of her former sister-in-law Jean, and gave her presents of a sequined crimson petticoat and a taffeta cloak. Shortly afterwards on 15 May, Queen Mary's disastrous marriage to Bothwell took place, making Jean Hepburn once again the sister-in-law of the queen.
On 8 October 1573 at Edinburgh, a Tack was made to Jean of the lands and barony of Morham
Morham
Morham, East Lothian, sometimes spelt Moram, Morum, Morhame, etc., in old records, is the smallest parish in Scotland, sandwiched between five other parishes: Haddington, Garvald, Yester, Whittingehame, and Prestonkirk, in the undulating lower reaches of the Lammermuir Hills.-Church and hamlet:For...
which had originally belonged to her mother, and had been forfeited to the Crown subsequent to her brother Bothwell's attainder
Attainder
In English criminal law, attainder or attinctura is the metaphorical 'stain' or 'corruption of blood' which arises from being condemned for a serious capital crime . It entails losing not only one's property and hereditary titles, but typically also the right to pass them on to one's heirs...
for treason.
Jean and her second husband were divorced on 17 July 1575. He died in September 1575 in captivity after being imprisoned by his father following a quarrel. In 1578, Jean married her third husband, Archibald Douglas, Parson of Douglas
Archibald Douglas, Parson of Douglas
Archibald Douglas, Parson of Douglas, was also Parson of Glasgow, a Senator of the College of Justice, Ambassador to Queen Elizabeth I of England, and a notorious intriguer....
, a Senator of the College of Justice
College of Justice
The College of Justice is a term used to describe the Supreme Courts of Scotland, and its associated bodies.The constituent bodies of the supreme courts of Scotland are the Court of Session, the High Court of Justiciary, and the Accountant of Court's Office...
, and Ambassador to Queen Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
. He was one of the confederation of lords who had conspired at the assassination of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley
Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley
Henry Stewart or Stuart, 1st Duke of Albany , styled Lord Darnley before 1565, was king consort of Scotland and murdered at Kirk o'Field...
and was present at Kirk o'Field the night of the murder.
In 1581, upon being forewarned of his impending arrest for his conplicity in Lord Darnley's murder, he fled from Jean's tower-house at Morsham to England. On 21 November 1581, he was forfeited by an Act of Parliament
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
. At his trial on 26 May 1586, he was acquitted of the murder.
Jean died in 1599 at Caithness. Her will was probated on 27 July 1599.