John Blair

JOHN BLAIR OF THAT ILK

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

25 November 1591: Instrument of sasine propriis manibus by John Craufurd of Kylbirny to Margaret Blair, his spouse, [daughter of John Blair of that ilk], in liferent, of the lands of Manes, Holmeheid, Hoill and Aix, Tannox and Mosend, Boig, Balgra, Bighill, Brokliehill, Broklie Newlandis, Medowsyd, Knokistoun and Myln of Kylburny in the barony thereof and bailiary of Cuningham. (Tenants detailed). (With charter dated 3 March 1592). National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Earls of Glasgow (Crawford Priory), reference GD20/1/437

                   2

15 June 1603: Extract contract by which John Craufurde of Auchincloyche and Jean Sempill, his spouse, dispone to John Blair of that ilk and Margaret Blair, his daughter, on behalf of John Craufurde of Kilbirny, spouse of said Margaret, 22 merklands of Hoilhous and Auchincloych in the barony of Kilbirny. Registered B of C and S, 24 February 1604. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Earls of Glasgow (Crawford Priory), reference GD20/1/445

Biographical Summary

John Blair IV (15..-1609) of that Ilk entered into a bond of mutual assistance with Lord Robert boyd in 1575. In 1576/7, he and his brother William were tried and found guilty of persuing Thomas Crawfurd for his slaughter. This seems to have whetted his interest in the law. He was on the assize in 1580, at the trial of Arthour Hamiltoune in Bothwelbauche, for being concerned in the murder of the Regents, Murray adn Lennons. He was one of the sureties in 1593 for John Earl of Monteath, who was accused of the slaughter of Sir Thomas Kennedy of culzean. In 1595, he and his son Bryce appeared as witnessess in a charter by Thomas Craufurd (the one he had 'persued for slaughter'?) and Margaret Craufurd his spouce, to their son-in-law John Blair of Giffordland. In 1600, a discharge was granted by him to the burgh of Irvine for the parsonage teinds of some lands near that town, he described as 'Blair of that Ilk, sometyme tutor to James Cuninghame of Mountgreenan, on behalf of the said James'. In 1602, he was one of the 'Preloquutouris' for the pannel for the trial of John Mure of Auchindran,e accused of the slaughter of Sir Thomas Kennedy of Culzean. In the same year, he and his son John were on the trial of Allaster McGregor for being at the 'Conflict of Glenfruine'. John Blair of that Ilk, elder, appeared in various testamentary documents until 1609, in which year he was mentioned in the testatment of '.... Fairlie, lawfull sone and air to vmqle David Fairlie of Over Mynok, wt., in the parochin of Dalry'. He seems to have died soon afterwards.

John Blair VI was married to Grizel, daughter of Robert the third Lord Semple. They are mentioned in a charter of 8th February 1573 as 'johanni Blair de oedem, et Grizeldae Semple ejus sponsae, terrarum Thornlie-Wallce ...'. They had numerous childre, of whom five sons and four daughters reached mature years:- Had four charters of lands, 1573-97.

Bogton House, IN cATHCART, which was built in 1580 for John Blair, the son-in-law of Sir Robert Semple, third Lord Semple, was situated near to the present day Muirend Railway Station. The House and Lands of Bogton remained in the hands of the Blairs until 1679 when they were were sold to James Hamilton of Aikenhead.

The traditional home of the Blair family was Blair Castle, near Dalry in Ayrshire.