Alexander Cuninghame, 4th of Corsehill

ALEXANDER CUNNINGHAM OF CORSEHILL

Alexander Cunningham of Corsehill, here treated, is the son of Cuthbert Cunningham of Corsehill and his wife Maud Cunningham. Stirnet: Cunningham 09 He was served heir to his deceased father on 26 April 1588. NRS: GD39/5/68

Marriage

Alexander Cunningham of Corsehill married: Marion Porterfield, daughter of William Porterfield of Duchal. Stirnet: Cunningham 09

Children

1. Alexander Cuninghame of Corsehill
2. Cuthbert Cuninghame
3. Elizabeth Cuninghame
4. Margaret Cuninghame

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

26 April 1588: Commission under the Quarter Seal narrating that Alexander Cunninghame obtained a brieve from Chancery for serving him heir to deceased Cuthbert Cunninghame of Corshill, his father, in lands and annualrents in the bailiary of Cunninghame and sheriffdom of Ayr, and whereas said lands and annual rents lie in two separate jurisdictions and also that there is an irreconcilable deadly feud between Robert, master of Eglinton, bailie of the warderies of Cunninghame, Mathew Campbell of Loudon, Knight, sheriff principal of said sheriffdom of Ayr, Hugh Campbell of Terinzeane, his son and heir apparent, aiders of said Master of Eglinton in said feud concerning the slaughter of Hugh, Earl of Eglinton, on the one part, and James, Earl of Glencairn, his friends and kin for the slaughter of Patrick Cunninghame, brother of said Alexander, and John Cunningham of Clonbaith, on the other part, so that said Alexander nor his friends dare compear before the Lords of Council for serving said brieve without the assembly of all their friends armed for battle so that it is necessary for a commission to be granted according to practice in like cases; therefore Mr Adam Wallace, one of the baillies of Glasgow, William Wallace, his son, Mr Henry Gibson, Andrew Baillie and John Grahame, burgesses of Glasgow, are required to set up a court in the tolbooth of Glasgow to serve said brieve. National Records of Scotland, Earls of Glencairn, reference GD39/5/68

                   2

13 June 1588: Instrument of Sasine following on precept from Chancery, dated 5 May 1588, in favour of Alexander Cunninghame as heir to deceased Cuthbert Cunninghame, of Corshill, his father, of 6 merk lands of Cuttiswray, 6 merk lands of Clerkland and Hillhouse, with mill thereof, 33/4d. lands of Little Robertland, 6 merk lands of 2 Corshillis, 5 merk lands of Blacklaw and of Hairschaw and 10 merk lands of Dowray and Potterton, in lordship of Stewarton and sheriffdom of Ayr. Witnesses: John Howie in Muirehill, Hugh Dunlop in Dowray, Archibald Muir in Corshill, Mungo Dunlop in Potterton, William Henrie in Little Robertland, and John Wilsoune, King's messengers. National Records of Scotland, Earls of Glencairn, reference GD39/5/69

                   3

10 December 1616: isposition and assignation by Alexander Cunninghame of Corshill, oy and heir of deceased Andrew Cunninghame of Nethir Robertland, with consent of Alexander Cunninghame, his eldest son, to Thomas Kennedy of Ardmyllen, of an £8 land of £10 lands of Schallachewrak presently possessed by him. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the family of Dalrymple-Hamilton of Bargany, Ayrshire, reference GD109/371

Notes

From The Feud of Glencairn and Eglinton

It was in the spring-time of the year that the young Earl of Eglinton set out on a journey to Stirling, where the Scottish Court was sitting. He apprehended no danger. The feud, he knew, still ran; but not for many years, not, indeed, during his lifetime, had it broken out in anything like a virulent form. Scotland. was gradually settling down to a condition of comparative rest and quiet, and the embers of the burning castles and farm-houses had grown cold long ere Earl Hew had entered the scene he was destined to leave that April day that saw him on his way to meet his Sovereign. He was not backed by his men. Nome were with him save his immediate attendants, and when he set forth it was in the confident assurance that he would reach the heights of the City of the Rock, and see the gleaming

Forth as it flowed along to the sea. April month; the vernal influences were upon nature; but, though they coaxed the buds to open and to unfold, they could not coax the malignity and the memory from the revengeful Cuninghames.

The Earl came to the house of Langshaw, and. there he dined. The Lady of Langshaw was a Cuninghame. So was one of her maids. They knew beforehand that the Earl was coming, and they had consulted with David. Cuninghame of Robertland, Alexander Cuninghame of Corsehill, Alexander Cuninghame of Aiket, and. John Cuninghame of Clombeith, a quartette of feudalists sworn by the ties of relationship, and by the remembrance of the past, to pay back upon the Montgomeries the deeds which had eventuated half a century agone. These concealed themselves in proximity to Langshaw, and waited the signal agreed upon between them and their fellow, or sister-conspirators within. To assure them that the Earl was really there, the Lady or her maid was to display a tablecloth from one of the upper windows. They were to accomplish the rest. As soon as they saw the tablecloth flutter, they took their measures accordingly. Gathering around them a band of thirty followers, they rode towards a bridge spanning the Annick burn, in the parish of Stewarton, and there they concealed themselves. ....

Genealogy

1. Darryl Lundy's Peerage
2. Clan MacFarlane and associated ckans genealogy
3. [http://www.stirnet.com, Peter Barns-Graham, Cunningham02]
4. The Scots Peerage (Glencairn)
5. Burkes Extinct Peerages 1883
6. [http://www.stirnet.com, Peter Barns-Graham, Stewart09:
7. History of Renfrewshire, published in 1710 by George Crawfurd
8. The Porterfields, Frank Burke Porterfield, (c.194
9. [http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/HUTCHINSON/1997-02/0857070711), rootsweb]
10. 0 2/0857070711 rootsweb
11. rrotsweb
12. Burke, Peerage & Baronetage, ca. 1921.