Scrymgeour of Glasswell
By Jack Blair
Researching my forebears, I discovered from a monumental inscription at Rescobie Kirk that a great x 9 grandmother was Alison Scrymgeour and that she had died in 1651. Furthermore the inscription recorded that she was a daughter of Scrymgeour of Glasswell, a farm only a few miles north west of Rescobie.
Glasswell was a small estate on the east side of Kirriemuir and appears to have incorporated Torbirns from an early date. Ballinshoe also was held by the family of Scrymgeour, although their portion was probably limited to Over, Nether and Wester Ballinshoe. Ogilvys connected with Inverquharity were associated contemporarily with Ballinshoe as were Lindsays of Crawford but they appear to have held and disputed Easter Ballinshoe. If we look at Timothy Pont's map no 29 we can the fine small tower house at Easter Ballinshoe and so must conclude that it was Ogilvy and Lindsay's who lived there and not Scrymgeour as often assumed.
Also on Pont's map we can see Glasswell and Torbirns. The latter is no longer known in Kirriemuir but this research can identify that Torbirns is now called Whitelums. When Pont sketched Glasswell we can see that it was one of the finest laird's houses in the district. A main tower stood four storeys high surmounted by battlements and a caphouse. Two storey wings came from two opposite sides and a high courtyard wall with corner towers surround this. To the south was a walled garden with trees. A few carved stones at the present farm of Glasswell are all that are left as visible signs of the once finely constructed fortalice.
Master John Scrymgeour of Glassery
The lands of Glasswell and Torbirns were purchase by Walter Murray of Drumsagart in 1391. His brother had given him the title of disputed lands in Lanarkshire but he had settled in the Kirriemuirat area at Cullow about 1361. Glasswell became the major possession of his family. The history can be found in my papers " Murray of Cullow." Parts 1 and 2 in the Scottish Genealogist Vol.XLV No.3 and No.4 (1998).
The first Scrymgeour associated with Glasswell appears to have been Master John Scrymgeour of Glassary. He was born about 1465, younger son of James Scrymgeour, who was Constable of Dundee circa 1462 to 1478. About 1490, this John Scrymgeour married Janet Ogilvy and on 12 July 1491, at the pleasure of his brother, the Constable of Dundee, they were granted the title of the lands of Glassary. It was also about this time that the Scrymgeours took an interest in the parish of Kirriemuir, when on 22 March 1490/1 William Strachan made a charter in favour of Master John Scrymgeour of the lands of Ludeinch and Lednathie.
Master John Scrymgeour and Janet Ogilvy had three sons:
1) John, heir to Glassary born about 1490.
2) Master James who studied the Arts and became Rector of Lismore
3) Walter, more of whom later
They may have had a daughter:
4) Elizabeth
Elizabeth was spouse of Walter Ogilvy in Glasswell, as mentioned in a royal charter in 1529 when Walter Ogilvy took possession of Whitefield. This would be the same Elizabeth who previously was spouse to David Murray.
See Appendix 1 for the above Scrymgeour relationships.
It was possibly about 1490 that Mr John was appointed curator of Janet Ogston. She and her elder sister Elizabeth, were daughters of Walter Ogston of that Ilk by his spouse Jane Scrymgeour, sister to Mr John. No other Scrymgeour histories have identified Jane as a daughter of the Constable of Dundee. She lived at Craigs of Glenisla only eight miles east of Kirriemuir. In 1506 Janet Ogston sought the advice of her uncle, Master John, regarding surrendering her rights as heiress of the Craigs of Glenisla in order to marry James Crichton the son of her neighbour, Sir Adam Crichton of Ruthven. Later her granddaughter by this marriage was to marry a laird of Glasswell and thus Janet Scrymgeour, daughter of the Constable was also a forebear of the later Scrymgeour of Glasswell family.
Master John did not spend all his time in the Angus, Fife or Edinburgh areas. He appears to have gone abroad on business in 1499 for on 29 January of that year, he was granted a respite for all legal matters of his lands and tenants, factors etc during his travel abroad until forty days after his return to the realm of Scotland.
In 1504 James Scrymgeour, the Constable of Dundee died leaving a young son and heir James. His widow, Isobel Gray married secondly, Sir Adam Crichton of Ruthven. Master John Scrymgeour of Glassary was appointed tutor of his brother's son during the years of his minority.
Mr John's seal is attached to a Kintore Charter of 1505 showing a lion rampant holding a sword erect in the sinister paw and the legend in lower case Gothic, "S.M.iohannis scrympgur" .
His wife, Janet Ogilvy, possibly died about 1505 and certainly before 1508.
A charter of 4th June 1509 confirms that he, as the elder John Scrymgeour of Glassary, obtained the lands of Ardormie on the estate of Bamff, Alyth from Andrew Murray of Glasswell, direct descendant of the aforementioned Walter Murray. Not long after, this Andrew Murray sold Wester Glenquharity and Ballintore to Mr John; the charter being witnessed by John's son Master James Scrymgeour, canon of Lismore, at Glasswell on 20 February 1511. Prior to his appointment to Lismore, Master James may have been pastor of Kirriemuir.
The Douglases, Earls of Angus, were the feudal superiors of the lands of Glasswell and Torbirns and in a writ of sasine dated September 1514, John, Lord Hay of Yester was infeft in these estates at which time, Walter Scrymgeour signed the deed for Archibald, the sixth Earl of Angus, thus again linking the Scrymgeour family with Glasswell but still without indication of their possession. The association may have been reinforced in time through Elizabeth Scrymgeour the spouse of David Murray, natural son of Andrew Murray of Glasswell and of Cullow.
Very soon after this, King James IV assembled the Scots Army to invade England. As Tutor of his nephew, the young Constable of Dundee, the hereditary honour of Bannerman or Standard-bearer of the King would be fulfilled by Master John Scrymgeour. The Scrymgeour coat-of-arms was a golden lion rampant on a red shield although in his case the lion was possibly holding a sword erect in the sinister paw. It is very probable that, bearing these arms and the Royal Standard, Master John Scrymgeour was among the "Flowers o' the Forest" who fell with his king on the fateful field of Flodden, for he died in late 1513. His heir was taxed in 1514 for non-entry of the lands for a year.
The oldest son, John, succeeded his father to the title of Glassary, having precept of sasine on 7 November 1514. John had sasine of the lands of Glenquharity on 5 July 1519. It was not until 16 October 1523 that he was admitted a Brother of the Guild of Dundee by reason of the liberty of his father. He was to succeed his cousin as Constable of Dundee in 1546. John died in 1575.
Walter Scrymgeour of Glasswell (1495c - 1544)
The name Walter was not a normal choice for the families of the Constables of Dundee or their cadets. It is quite feasible that this third son of Master John, was named after his late uncle, Walter Ogston of that Ilk.
An early entry in the Guildry Book or "Lockit Book" of Dundee records that on 12 November 1526 Walter Scrymgeour son of Master John Scrymgeour "of Glaistre" was admitted as a burgess of Dundee, gratis.
Walter was probably resident in the Kirriemuir / Kingoldrum area at this time, for on 24 September 1526 in a Precept of Sasine on the lands of Kinnaniel to John Wishart of Logie, Walter Scrymgeour acted as the Abbot of Aberbrothock's bailie in that part. Wishart Logie borders with the south part of Glasswell.
This, Walter Scrymgeour, the burgess of Dundee, and his wife Katherine Murray took possession of the sunny (south) part of lands of Glasswell and Torbirns, multures etc. in the Regality of Kirriemuir when Henry Kempt of Thomastoun resigned these. This was confirmed by the King on first day of March 1530 and from then on Walter was designed "of Glasswell".
Walter and Katherine married about 1525. Katherine was a grandchild of the aforementioned Andrew Murray of Cullow and Glasswell. She and her sister Elisabeth (Bessie) Murray were joint heiresses of the Murray estate. Katherine seems to have held considerable shares of land and to have brought them with her in marriage.
Walter and Katherine had issue:
The family tree of the lairds of Glasswell is shown at Appendix 2
Walter became involved in the business affairs of Dundee .The beginnings of the Reformation were taking hold there at that time and on 31st August 1543 a body of men led by Mr Henry Durham plundered and destroyed some of the property of two friaries in Dundee. Iconoclasm was the intent of the attack in order to destroy images, candlesticks, vestments and other ornaments. It appears that many of those in the mob later failed to answer their citation for trial. Walter Scrymgeour had provided surety of £60 for the appearance of John Ferrier, a weaver accused of involvement in the Black Friars attack and subsequently forfeited this bond. For the same incident, a John Lyell also failed to appear and John Scrymgeour of Glassary, heir apparent of Dudhope, forfeited 500 merks for the surety he had promised. James Scrymgeour of Dudhope, Constable of Dundee was abroad for the benefit of his health at the time but during his absence from Scotland, Mr Henry Durham, the leader of the "riot" was one of his close associates who had been given royal protection throughout that period.
Clearly, the Scrymgeour family was openly sympathetic to the calls for reform of the church and for the release of Rome's hold on politics.
Presumably this support for the demand for reformation was pivotal to Walter Scrymgeour being appointed Provost of Dundee on 20 November 1543, only a few weeks after this "Dundee heresie". However, Walter did not live to see the Reformation brought into effect for he died in 1544, after only a short time as Provost. He may have been a victim of the plague that afflicted Dundee that summer. His death was before 25 July 1544 for on that date Mr Henry Lauder was granted the gift of the ward of the lands of the late Walter and the marriage of his son and heir.
Katherine Murray survived Walter and married secondly to John Dempster of Auchterless. She also survived him and was still alive in 1569. Katherine continued as fiar of Glasswell and played an important role in the estate for many more years.
James Scrymgeour of Glasswell (1528c - 1581)
James the legitimate son of Walter, was still a minor when his father died.
By 1549, James had attained legal age having been in ward for five years and was retoured on 1 October 1549.
About 1550, James Scrymgeour married Marion Crichton, a daughter of the deceased John Crichton of Ruthven who fell at Pinkie Cleuch in 1547. Her mother was Janet Fraser, a daughter of Thomas, second Lord Fraser of Lovat. In 1555 James sold Wester Glenquharity to his mother-in-law and her second husband, Thomas Ogilvy of Craigs.
James Scrymgeour and Marion Crichton were jointly infeft in the lands of Ardormie and Sheillwalls in a precept dated 29 Dec 1556. James was infeft in the sunny portion of the lands of Glasswell and Torbirns in February 1565. Their house was at Glasswell, as recorded in an item of early planning control that also mentioned the garden there.
James and Marion had eight sons and at least two daughters:
Walter and James the eldest sons were both alive in 1560 but died young so that by 5 May 1569 the third son, John, was heir apparent.
Andrew lived in Ballinshoe for many years and probably acted as factor for his brother and later his nephew. From his sisters' wills we learn that he married Elizabeth Gardyne and by her had a son named James. By November 1603 Andrew was in Tullo. He died before February 1608. His son James had Precept of Clare Constat from Patrick Lindsay of Barnyards on 12 July 1609 as heir to his deceased father Andrew Scrymgeour in the lands of Muiralehouse with mill and quarter of lands of Lethnot, Braeminzion and lands of Over Lethnot in Glen Clova. James may have been in Kinquhirrie in 1617 though proof is wanting.
Mr Alexander was a student in the 1580's, accompanying his cousin Mr James Melville to Berwick in 1584 and later entered the ministry where he was held in regard and described by Melville about 1600 as "a man of guid giftes in estimation in the ministrie." Mr Alexander's potential was recognised within the family as he was named in the Scrymgeour of Dudhope entail of 1587. The timing of his education and Melville's description point to him being the Mr. Alexander Scrymgeour mentioned in several volumes of the History of the Church of Scotland by David Calderwood. After graduating M.A. from the University of St. Andrews, he was regent in the Univ. of Edinburgh from 1586-8. He was admitted after 27 May 1589 and nominated by the Privy Council 6 March 1590 following one of the Commissions for the maintenance of the Protestant religion in Cunningham. He was minister of Irvine, Ayrshire from 1589 to his death about 1617.
Alexander married twice. His first wife was Agnes, daughter and heiress portioner of Hew Campbell provost of Irvine and his spouse Margaret Whyte. Secondly he married Jean, daughter of Robert Hunter of Hunterston and widow of Robert Cunningham, minister of Barnweil. By his first wife, he had a son named Hew Scrymgeour, who was witness to a Renunciation made by Jean Hunter on 16 July 1608. Agnes Campbell died before 1604.
In 1606 Alexander was named constant Moderator of the Presbytery of Irvine. He was called before the Privy Council on 15 February 1610 with four others for intercommuning with papists. He died before 12 July 1617. Jean Hunter survived Mr Alexander.
The laird of Glasswell's next son, James lived to an old age and was designed of Balwhadly, a farm in the parish of Fern. He was the second son of that name and probably was born in the 1570's by which time the first James had died. This James died without issue and his grand nephew Captain Thomas Scrymgeour was served his heir on 10 October 1653.
Thomas lived in Balmuckety just to the south of Glasswell. He was left a legacy in his sister's will in February 1605. He married about 1600 to Elizabeth Gardin, the widow of John Spalding and the mother of David Spalding in Middle Ballinshoe. He appears to have been in Easter Torbirns in 1610.
The youngest son, John had the same name as his oldest surviving brother. He is mentioned as brother to the laird in a charter dated 8 June 1587 and as youngest son of the umquhile James S. of Glasswell in an Inhibition dated 21 March 1597.
Grissel made her will at Logie, Kirriemuir on 20 November 1603, probably while living with her sister Marion who was spouse to Thomas Wishart in Logie. The family of Wishart of Logie Wishart or of that Ilk were longstanding neighbours of Glasswell.
Grissel died at Logie in January 1604 and Marion died on 20th February 1608 at Ballindarg, a neighbouring farm in the parish of Kirriemuir, where she had moved with her husband, Thomas. They had a son John Wishart.
As a son of a former burgess and provost of Dundee, it is not surprising to find an entry in the Dundee "Lockit Book" that on 17th February 1562, James Scrymgeour of Glasswell was admitted as a Brother of the Guild, gratis.
James Scrymgeour of Glasswell is mentioned in various documents in the Bamff Charters as a witness at an assize in 1561 and as arbiter in boundary disputes in Alyth in 1564 and 1565.
During the power struggle between the supporters of Queen Mary and her son, James then an infant King; James Scrymgeour appears in the King's party. On the 27 July 1568, Sir John Ogilvy of Inverquharity and his neighbour James Scrymgeour of Glasswell were instructed by the Regent Morton to continue the trial of David Graham of Fintry at the baronial court of Kirriemuir for the wrongful imprisonment of John Piggot of Balnaboth. Sir John's mother-in-law, Dame Katherine Campbell sent warning from Edzell that Huntly and a force of nearly a thousand horsemen were approaching. It was feared that her son, Lord Ogilvy of Airlie would also join forces with the Queen's men led by Huntly and thus this court was hastily abandoned and the officials withdrew.
The following year, Morton's bailies, Ogilvy of Inverquharity and Scrymgeour of Glasswell were among a group who subscribed to a bond to uphold the king's authority in Angus.
This power struggle continued and, in 1571, when the Regent Mar was trying to oust Kirkcaldy of Grange and the Queen's supporters from Edinburgh Castle, The Constable of Dundee and James Scrymgeour of Glasswell were accused of failing to join the Regent. Although his uncle, the Constable, had no excuse, Glasswell was able to claim that he had sent his son and heir fully equipped.
Later in 1577, Lord Glamis and thirty-nine lairds, mainly from Angus subscribed to a licence to remain away from a raid summoned for Dumfries and among these was Scrymgeour of Glasswell.
James Scrymgeour and his son John made a contract on 8 May 1576 with Alexander Ogilvy of Clova and his son and heir apparent James, the purpose of which was to exchange some of their holdings of the former Murray lands.
The Scrymgeours exchanged the shady half of Artitholl for the sunny half. They also resigned the shady half of Eggie and Ecclesmachan and received from the Ogilvys the sunny half of Cullow with its salmon fishings.
Towards the end of his life he was appointed curator of James Scrymgeour, son of the deceased James Scrymgeour of Fardell.
From the rental of the Master of the Hospital of Dundee, it appears about 1580 that the Laird of Glasswell was associated with the eastmost house in Dundee which was then situated immediately within the Burgh wall at the East Port. It is described as "ye Laird of Glaswell's Land and yeard Lyand in ye north syid of ye seagaitt betwix ye land of walter Carmanour on ye west and Oure ladie wynd on ye east pairtis."
A contract made on 5 March 1580/81, between William Blair and James, appears to be the latest date when he is shown to be alive. His widow, Marion Crichton survived beyond 1600.
John Scrymgeour of Glasswell (1555c - 1604c)
James died in late 1581 or early 1582 and his eldest son John was retoured on 19 March 1582 and infeft on 28th May 1582 on the lands of Ardormie as heir to his deceased father. Alexander Ogilvy of Clova granted him a Precept of Clare Constat on 18 April 1582 as heir to his father in the sunny half of the lands of Artithol and the shady half of Cullow. This shows that the family had retained the lands that came from the Murray of Cullow inheritance although the doubt as to which half of Cullow appears to remain when looking back to a 1558 agreement.
John probably married about 1573, his spouse being Christian Moncur.
John Scrymgeour and Christian Moncur appear to have had at least three sons and also three daughters:
James appears to have been the second son and became a burgess of Dundee. He married late in life to Margaret Person, the contract of marriage dated 22 October 1642. They had a daughter Margaret who after the death of James had Alexander Wedderburn of Kingennie appointed as her tutor.
Gilbert appears as a witness to various family contracts and lived in Balbagnie at the south side of Glasswell in 1611 when he was witness to a contract on Blairyfeddon for Henry Lindsay. He probably was alive at the time his sister Christian made her will in 1625.
Janet was the spouse of David Ogilvy of Over Kinnaty. They married in 1597; the contract of marriage dated 27 January 1596/7. David, born about 1564 was brother to John Ogilvy of Inverquharity and features in many records from 1590 on. Given the close involvement of his grandfather, Sir John Ogilvy of Inverquharity with James Scrymgeour as baron bailies of the Regality of Kirriemuir and as neighbours this seems natural and is reinforced with the knowledge that when David Ogilvy purchased Glasswell in 1613 just before his death he was brother-in-law of the laird. David Ogilvy and Janet had sons David and Robert.
Christian married Oliver Ogilvy in Kirkton of Kingoldrum. Pointers suggest that he was the son of Oliver Ogilvy and Grissel Clephan, and grandson of Mr.James Ogilvy of Balfour. Christian died at Kirkton of Kingoldrum in May 1625..
Alison was described as daughter to the laird of Glasswell on 20 November 1603 when Grissel Scrymgeour bequeathed to her £200. In or before 1613 Alison married Henry Lindsay of Blairyfeddon, a neighbouring laird who earlier had been an accomplice of the wild Master of Crawford but who probably had reformed by then. They had sons John and David, and daughters called Catherine, Jean and Alison. Alison Scrymgeour died in 1651. By then her son, Mr. David Lindsay was minister of Rescobie.
In 1584, John Scrymgeour of Glasswell appeared before the Privy Council representing the complainants Elspet Garden, relict of Alexander Pyot of Fofartie and Andrew Scrymgeour, then her husband. Her late husband's brother, William Pyot with three or four accomplices had broken into Fofartie in March 1584, stealing bedding, breaking up the brewhouse and damaging the byres and barns and injuring a boy servant. This Andrew Scrymgeour was John's younger brother of that name.
Also in 1584, on 6th June, John Scrymgeour of Glasswell purchased the shady half of the lands of Glasswell and Torbirns and the house of Easter Torbirns from Alexander Murray, his mother's uncle.
John Scrymgeour was one of the barons who attended the Regality Court of Kirriemuir. His neighbour, John Ogilvy of Inverquharity was the senior of the local lairds in attendance when called by the Earl of Angus. A letter to John Ogilvy dated 14 June 1589 from William, ninth Earl of Angus announces his intention to hold a Regality Court. In it he states that he is not certain which way he will come to Kirriemuir but will advise Inverquharity a day or two before the meeting when he (John), "will mak Glasswall and the other barons thereabout acquaintit therewith."
In the Douglas charters, there is a contract of George, earl of Huntly engaging himself, Glengarry, Lochiel and other chiefs to John, earl of Atholl. This was witnessed at Huntly on 8 December 1592 by Sir Archibald Douglas, John Scrymgeour of Glasswell and Alexander Irvine, apparent of Drum. Earlier that year, Huntly had been heavily implicated in the murder of the "bonnie earl o' Moray" but this alliance seems more of a highland pact and does not align Glasswell closely with that party.
Family Bonds were very significant in the sixteenth century. A Bond of Union between William Douglas, tenth Earl of Angus and divers gentlemen of his name and friends for the furtherance of the service of king James VI was signed at Edinburgh on 20 December 1597. Besides several Douglas lairds, this incorporated Sir John Wishart of Pitarrow, John Wishart of that Ilk, John Scrymgeour of Glasswell and John Ogilvy of Inverquharity. The Scrymgeour of Glasswell marriages to kin of these Wisharts and John Ogilvy show the influence of politics on marriage bonds. This is also amply demonstrated by a bond made earlier that year by John Ogilvy of Inverquharity and David Ogilvy portioner of Cambok. This David was the son-in-law of the laird of Glasswell who witnessed the bond at Kirriemuir on 11 April 1597 along with John Wishart of that Ilk, Thomas Wishart of Drumshade, Thomas Ogilvy in Wester Lednathie and Andrew Scrymgeour in Drummyne.
John Scrymgeour of Glasswell probably died about the end of 1603 or early 1604 as he is described as umquhile in an Inhibition dated 2 Feb 1604.
Christine Moncur, his spouse survived him.
John Scrymgeour of Glasswell (1575c - 1615c)
Described as John Scrymgeour of Cullow son and heir of deceased John Scrymgeour of Glasswell on 20 September 1606 when he with his mother, Christine Moncur, sold Cullow to John Cumming of Cullow in liferent and his son, John Cumming in fee the town and lands of Cullow and the sunny and shady halves of Artitholl.
John Scrymgeour, was given a precept of Clare Constat on 26 August by John, Lord Hay of Yester and on 1st September 1610 he was retoured as heir to his father in the lands of Glasswell and Torbirns with the mill etc. and common pasture on the Muir of Liftie.
This laird of Glasswell married Margaret Wishart sometime before June 1613. She was possibly a daughter of John Wishart of that Ilk, a neighbour to the south of Glasswell at Logie Wishart. John and Margaret had sons and heirs named John and Thomas.
The laird's brother-in-law, David Ogilvy , raised an action on 28 July 1612 calling for him to fulfil the terms of the marriage contract of January 1596/7, indubitably placing some financial obligation on Glasswell.
This younger John Scrymgeour of Glasswell was to continue to dispose of much of the family estate. In 1613, with the consent of his wife, Margaret Wishart, he sold the lands of Glasswell and Torbirns. In addition to these lands, the contract included the tower of Glasswell, the mill and multures and pasturage of the moors of Bademore, Liftie and Liffdens. These can be seen on Timothy Pont's map of circa 1590.
The purchaser was his brother-in-law, who died later that year leaving issue. David, son of this deceased David Ogilvy of Kinalty and Janet Scrymgeour, thus gained the title of Glasswell in 1613.
After disposing of Glasswell, John Scrymgeour retained the ownership of Over and Nether Ballinshoe which had long been possessed by the family. He may also have owned Wester Ballinshoe at this time and was styled "of Ballinshoe".
This last Scrymgeour laird of Glasswell died soon after this, possibly in 1615 for an Inhibition registered on 22 September 1615 was by John Scrymgeour of Ballinshoe, son and heir of the late John S. of Glasswell the latter having initiated the contract on 29 December 1614.
John Scrymgeour of Ballinshoe (1600c - 1625c)
A Compliant by several persons, mainly in the Kirriemuir area went before the Lords of Council on 22 July 1619. Among those listed was James Scrymgeour of Balwhadly and John Scrymgeour of Ballinshoe. There is evidence that the above James Scrymgeour of Balwhadly was great uncle to John Scrymgeour of Ballinshoe.
Leading up to the aforementioned Complaint, John Scrymgeour of Ballinshoe stood surety for James Scrymgeour in Balwhadly, when he was accused of the murder of John Edward of Acharn. About ten years later, James Scrymgeour of Balwhadly was recruited to fight as a mercenary soldier in the army of Gustav Adolf, protestant king of Sweden, who was attempting to break the catholic hold in the Baltic lands but James deserted after receiving payment. James was also associated with Balwharn just east of Balquhaldy and was described as "formerly in Milton of Ogil", which is adjacent to Balwhadly, "and now in Kirriemuir" on 8 August 1633 when he discharged a bond for 550 merks to Andrew Ogilvy in Cullow. He died without issue about 1650. The bond for 550 merks was transferred to his heir, Captain Thomas Scrymgeour of Wester Ballinshoe.
On 15 June 1620, John Scrymgeour made a bond to Patrick Ogilvy and apparently was alive when on 13 April 1624 he was pursued for failing to pay the interest of 200 merks. The Forfar Sasines show that John Scrymgeour continued to be styled of Ballinshoe. Sometime between 1624 and 1639 he died without issue and was succeeded by his brother Thomas.
Thomas Scrymgeour of Ballinshoe & Torbirns (1605c - 1657c)
Thomas was styled Captain Thomas Scrymgeour of Wester Ballinshoe and of Torbirns.
Although the family link to the Scrymgeours of Dudhope was now removed by several generations and the fortunes of the Glasswell branch much diminished, there was still a significant bond between these two Scrymgeour families.
Captain Thomas Scrymgeour acted on behalf of Viscount Dundee in a sasine from the Sheriff-depute of Forfar in November 1644 and the following month he was witness to a charter of John Scrymgeour, Viscount of Dudhope.
Thomas married but the name of his wife is wanting. Indeed he may have married twice as he appears to have buried a wife in the term preceding Whitsunday 1649, having paid £2 to the Guild for her mortcloth.
Thereafter, Captain Thomas had a son named Thomas baptised on 11 March 1651 at Dundee. The Guildry Book of Dundee records that Thomas paid 13s 4d for the mortcloth of his child in the entries between Martinmas 1650 - and Whitsunday 1651. This infant was the only recorded issue of Thomas.
In 1647, Thomas Scrymgeour of Wester Ballinshoe was served heir to his uncle, James Scrymgeour, a burgess of Dundee which suggests that this family continued to maintain its business interests within the Burgh of Dundee and that its association with the lands along the Braes of Angus had reduced over the years. It was the same gentleman styled Thomas Scrymgeour of Torbirns who, six years later in 1653, was heir to James Scrymgeour of Balwhadlie, his granduncle. Captain Thomas Scrymgeour is described as deceased on 16 June 1658, when David Ogilvy of Kinalty discharged the bond of 550 merks which James Scrymgeour had made in 1625 and which had transferred to his heir.
It appears that the link of the Scrymgeour of Glasswell family with the lands to the south and east of Kirriemuir came to an end when, on 22 February 1655, Thomas sold Wester & Over & Nether Ballinshoe and Easter & Wester Torbirns to David Ogilvy of Kinalty.
The death of this Thomas Scrymgeour in Dundee between Martinmas 1656 and Whitsunday 1657 brought to a close the line of Scrymgeour lairds in the locality of Kirriemuir.
The bloodline of Walter de Moravia who had gained Glasswell and Torbirns in 1392 had passed to the Scrymgeours through Katherine Murray and then to David Ogilvy of Kinalty by his mother Janet Scrymgeour. Thus the new laird of Glasswell and of other former Murray holdings was still continuing this long family association with these lands.
Cadets of Scrymgeour of Glasswell
As to the cadets of the Scrymgeour of Glasswell, it was claimed in a successful petition for the vacant title of Constable of Dundee presented before the House of Lords in 1950 that all of the branches had failed by the mid-seventeenth century. Given the numbers of persons identified in this paper and the heirs male of some of these, it seems most unlikely that this was the case. Rather, it seems that the families of the younger sons of the lairds merged into the merchants, farmers and craftsmen classes and gave rise to a group of Scrymgeour families in the Kirriemuir area continuing through to the nineteenth century. In their more lowly station they probably remained oblivious to the 1587 entail which named the Scrymgeour of Glasswell's relationship to the Constable of Dundee. There may have been others like Mr Alexander Scrymgeour who left the area and had family elsewhere and whose descendants would have nothing to gain in pursuing a remote title and the financial burdens of the estate.
vvvvvvvvvv