Origins

The Rosses of Halkhead were not, so far as is known, related to the Earls of Ross

Earl of Ross

The Mormaer or Earl of Ross was the leader of a medieval Gaelic lordship in northern Scotland, roughly between the River Oykel and the River Beauly.-Origins and transfers:...

 or the Highland

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...

 family of Ross

Clan Ross

Clan Ross is a Highland Scottish clan. The original chiefs of the clan were the original Earls of Ross.-Origins:Clan Ross is a Highland Scottish clan first named as such by King Malcolm IV of Scotland in 1160...

 of Balnagown. Robert II of Scotland

Robert II of Scotland

Robert II became King of Scots in 1371 as the first monarch of the House of Stewart. He was the son of Walter Stewart, hereditary High Steward of Scotland and of Marjorie Bruce, daughter of Robert I and of his first wife Isabella of Mar...

 (while still Earl of Strathearn

Earl of Strathearn

The Mormaer of Strathearn or Earl of Strathearn was a provincial ruler in medieval Scotland. Of unknown origin, the mormaers are attested for the first time in a document perhaps dating to 1115. The first known mormaer, Maol Íosa I is mentioned by Ailred of Rievaulx as leading native Scots in the...

) granted Halkhead, or Hawkhead, in Renfrewshire

Renfrewshire

Renfrewshire is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Renfrewshire, the others being Inverclyde to the west and East Renfrewshire to the east...

, to John Ross in 1367. The subject of this article was son and heir of his direct descendant, Sir John Ross, heritable Constable of Renfrew Castle

Renfrew Castle

Renfrew Castle was a castle situated near junction of the River Clyde and White Cart upon the former river islet, known as the King's Inch, at Renfrew, Renfrewshire, Scotland...

.

Career

On 25 February 1448/9, in the presence of James II

James II of Scotland

James II reigned as King of Scots from 1437 to his death.He was the son of James I, King of Scots, and Joan Beaufort...

 at Stirling

Stirling

Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...

, Ross was one of three Scottish champions in a tournament against three Burgundians

Duchy of Burgundy

The Duchy of Burgundy , was heir to an ancient and prestigious reputation and a large division of the lands of the Second Kingdom of Burgundy and in its own right was one of the geographically larger ducal territories in the emergence of Early Modern Europe from Medieval Europe.Even in that...

, in which he is said to have fought Simon De Lalain to a draw. Ross was knighted in 1450 and on 17 January 1450/1 had a charter of the lands of Tarbert in Ayrshire and Auchinbak in Renfrewshire. Between 1463 and 1468 he was Keeper of Blackness Castle

Blackness Castle

Blackness Castle is a 15th century fortress, near the village of Blackness, Scotland, on the south shore of the Firth of Forth. It was built, probably on the site of an earlier fort, by Sir George Crichton in the 1440s. At this time, Blackness was the main port serving the Royal Burgh of...

. He was appointed Sheriff of Linlithgow

Linlithgow

Linlithgow is a Royal Burgh in West Lothian, Scotland. An ancient town, it lies south of its two most prominent landmarks: Linlithgow Palace and Linlithgow Loch, and north of the Union Canal....

 before 1468 and again (for life) on 9 March 1472/3. On 24 August 1473 he was granted a safe-conduct in his capacity as Ambassador to England and by 31 May 1499 had been created Lord Ross of Halkhead. He died between 12 December 1500 and 16 October 1501.

Family

Ross married first Marjory, daughter of John Mure of Caldwell

Caldwell, East Renfrewshire

Caldwell is a mansion and old estate with the remains of a castle nearby. These lands lie close to the Lugton Water and the villages of Uplawmoor in East Renfrewshire and Lugton in East Ayrshire.- Caldwell Castle and tower:...

, and secondly (after 1491) Marion, daughter of Sir William Baillie of Lamington and widow of Lord Somerville

John Somerville, 3rd Lord Somerville

John Somerville, 3rd Lord Somerville was the son of William Somerville, 2nd Lord Somerville and Janet Mowat. He was a member of the Scottish Parliament. In 1449 he fought with the Scots who defeated the English at Sark. He was also present at the siege of Roxburgh in 1460 during which James II...

. His second marriage ended in divorce. By his first wife, he had a son and heir, Robert, who married Agnes Melville (daughter of Thomas Melville of Melville) but pre-deceased him. Lord Ross was accordingly succeeded by his grandson, John

John Ross, 2nd Lord Ross

-Origins:Ross was the son and heir of Robert Ross and Agnes Melville, daughter and heiress of Thomas Melville of Melville...

. Lord Ross also had a daughter, Giles, who married (contract dated 3 March 1480) James, son of Sir John Auchinleck.