John Bellenden (Lord Justice Clerk)
Encyclopedia
Sir John Bellenden of Auchnole and Broughton (died 1 October 1576) was, before 1544, Director of Chancery
in Scotland
, and was appointed Lord Justice Clerk
on 25 June 1547. He was also knighted before April 1544.
With Sir Robert Carnegie, he agreed an indenture with English commissioners for peace on the Scottish border at Berwick upon Tweed. In 1555 Sir John Bellenden audited accounts for fortifications built by Mary of Guise
at Inchkeith
. He was a Commissioner for the Treaty of Peace with Anna of Oldenburg
, signed at Aberdeen
19 October 1556 confirmed by Mary, Queen of Scots, 26 September 1557. In the articles of the Treaty of Edinburgh
he was nominated to discuss the French withdrawal from Scotland on behalf of the Lords of the Congregation
. He attended at the coronation of King James VI of Scotland in 1567.
Sir John Scot of Scotstarvet, writing in the seventeenth century, tells us that "Sir John made the conquests, and left his eldest son Sir Lewis a fair estate, viz. the barony of Broughton, Edinburgh
, with the superiority of the Canongate
and North Leith
, having therein near two thousand vassals; the baronies of Auchnoul, Woodhouslie, Abbot's-grange, and many others. And to the eldest son of the third marriage he left the barony of Carlowrie, (Linlithgowshire
), and Kilconquhar, Fife
, and diverse lands about Brechin
."
Court of equity
A chancery court, equity court or court of equity is a court that is authorized to apply principles of equity, as opposed to law, to cases brought before it.These courts began with petitions to the Lord Chancellor of England...
in 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 was appointed Lord Justice Clerk
Lord Justice Clerk
The Lord Justice Clerk is the second most senior judge in Scotland, after the Lord President of the Court of Session.The holder has the title in both the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary and is in charge of the Second Division of Judges in the Court of Session...
on 25 June 1547. He was also knighted before April 1544.
With Sir Robert Carnegie, he agreed an indenture with English commissioners for peace on the Scottish border at Berwick upon Tweed. In 1555 Sir John Bellenden audited accounts for fortifications built by Mary of Guise
Mary of Guise
Mary of Guise was a queen consort of Scotland as the second spouse of King James V. She was the mother of Mary, Queen of Scots, and served as regent of Scotland in her daughter's name from 1554 to 1560...
at Inchkeith
Inchkeith
Inchkeith is an island in the Firth of Forth, Scotland. It is part of the council area of Fife.Inchkeith has had a colourful history as a result of its proximity to Edinburgh and strategic location for use as home for a lighthouse and for military purposes defending the Firth of Forth for attack...
. He was a Commissioner for the Treaty of Peace with Anna of Oldenburg
Anna of Oldenburg
Anna of Oldenburg was a Countess consort of East Frisia as the spouse of Count Enno II of East Frisia. She was the Regent of East Frisia in 1540/42-1561 as the guardian for her minor sons. Her reign lasted until 1561 and was generally supported by the Estates...
, signed at Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
19 October 1556 confirmed by Mary, Queen of Scots, 26 September 1557. In the articles of the 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...
he was nominated to discuss the French withdrawal from Scotland on behalf of the Lords of the Congregation
Lords of the Congregation
The Lords of the Congregation were a group of Protestant Scottish nobles who in the mid-16th century favoured reformation of the church along Protestant principles and a Scottish-English alliance.- Historical events :...
. He attended at the coronation of King James VI of Scotland in 1567.
Sir John Scot of Scotstarvet, writing in the seventeenth century, tells us that "Sir John made the conquests, and left his eldest son Sir Lewis a fair estate, viz. the barony of Broughton, Edinburgh
Broughton, Edinburgh
Broughton is an ancient feudal barony today within the City of Edinburgh, Scotland that was once known for its witchcraft. Its borders are defined, approximately, as being Leith Walk in the south east, Broughton Street in the south west, Broughton Road in the north west and McDonald Road in the...
, with the superiority of the Canongate
Canongate
The Canongate is a small district at the heart of Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland.The name derives from the main street running through the area: called Canongate without the definite article, "the". Canongate forms the lower, eastern half of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh's historic Old Town....
and North Leith
Leith
-South Leith v. North Leith:Up until the late 16th century Leith , comprised two separate towns on either side of the river....
, having therein near two thousand vassals; the baronies of Auchnoul, Woodhouslie, Abbot's-grange, and many others. And to the eldest son of the third marriage he left the barony of Carlowrie, (Linlithgowshire
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....
), and Kilconquhar, Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
, and diverse lands about Brechin
Brechin
Brechin is a former royal burgh in Angus, Scotland. Traditionally Brechin is often described as a city because of its cathedral and its status as the seat of a pre-Reformation Roman Catholic diocese , but that status has not been officially recognised in the modern era...
."
Family
Sir John married thrice:- Marion (or Margaret) Scott, by whom he had three daughters. Two died young and the third, Marion (d.1604), married John Ramsay of the Dalhousie family.
- Barbara Kennedy, daughter of Sir Hugh Kennedy of Girvanmains by his spouse Janet Stewart, daughter to John Stewart, 2nd Earl of AthollJohn Stewart, 2nd Earl of AthollJohn Stewart, 2nd Earl of Atholl was the second Earl of Atholl. He fought in the Battle of Flodden Field on 9 September 1513.-Biography:He was born after 1475 to John Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl and Eleanor Sinclair. He married Lady Janet Campbell, daughter of Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll...
. The contract was signed by the Regent Mary of Guise herself on 30 September 1555. Barbara was a lady-in-waiting to the Queen Regent. Guise contributed £266-13s-4d to her a dowry in October 1555. At this time, her father was employed by Guise on a military mission in the north against the Clan MackayClan MacKayClan Mackay is an ancient and once powerful Scottish clan from the far north of the Scottish Highlands, but with roots in the old kingdom of Moray. They were a powerful force in politics beginning in the 14th century, supporting Robert the Bruce. In the centuries that followed they were...
, and John Bellenden was working with the Regent at her justice ayres in DumfriesDumfriesDumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
and JedburghJedburghJedburgh is a town and former royal burgh in the Scottish Borders and historically in Roxburghshire.-Location:Jedburgh lies on the Jed Water, a tributary of the River Teviot, it is only ten miles from the border with England and is dominated by the substantial ruins of Jedburgh Abbey...
. They had four sons and one daughter. They were;- Sir Lewis Bellenden of Auchnole & Broughton, Lord Justice ClerkLord Justice ClerkThe Lord Justice Clerk is the second most senior judge in Scotland, after the Lord President of the Court of Session.The holder has the title in both the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary and is in charge of the Second Division of Judges in the Court of Session...
, John's heir. - Adam BellendenAdam BellendenAdam Bellenden was a 17th century Scottish churchman.He was the son of Sir John Bellenden of Auchnoul, Lord Justice Clerk, by his spouse Jane, daughter of Walter Seton of Touch....
, Bishop of AberdeenBishop of AberdeenThe Bishop of Aberdeen was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Aberdeen, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics, whose first recorded bishop is an early 12th century cleric named Nechtan...
. - William Bellenden, Vicar of Kilconquhar.
- Thomas Bellenden of Kilconquhar, Fife, a Senator of the College of JusticeCollege of JusticeThe 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...
(14 August 1591). - Annabella Bellenden, married before June 1599, as his second wife, Sir Alexander Lauder of Haltoun, Knt., Sheriff PrincipalSheriff PrincipalThe office of sheriff principal is unique within the judicial structure of Scotland, and it cannot therefore readily be compared with any other judicial office. It is one of great antiquity, having existed continuously since around the 11th century...
of Edinburghshire.
- Sir Lewis Bellenden of Auchnole & Broughton, Lord Justice Clerk
- Janet Seton, daughter of Walter Seton of Touch, married 14 January 1565. They had five sons and two daughters.