Genealogical Collections : The Auchmedden Genealogy cont....

Sir James Baird died in the year 1715, and was succeeded by his eldest son. Robert. He married Jane, eldest daughter to Baikie, of Tankerness, in the Shire of Orkney. Sir Robert died September 8, 1742, and left two sons and one daughter. The eldest, Sir David, was an officer in the Royal Army, and killed at the battle of Fontenoy, in the 17th year of his age; and the second is the present Sir William Baird of Sauchtonhall, who was a Captain in the Navy, and has married the daughter of Colonel James Gardiner, who was killed at Prestonpans, in that battle, in 1745 and Sir William's only sister is married to Colonel Gardiner's son. Sir William died August 17, 1771.)¹

William, the fifth son of the first Sir Robert Baird of Sauchtonhall, was bred in the mercantile way, and having made a competent fortune in land and money, retired from business at the Union. He married the only daughter of Sir William Binning, of Wallyford, in the Shire of Edinburgh. He died in 1737, and left three sons, William, James, and David; besides a fourth, Peter, who died in his father's lifetime; he was bred a surgeon, went abroad, and left a daughter, Sally, still living.

William, by a particular entail of Sir William Baird, of Newbyth, succeeded Sir John, and married Alice, one of the daughters of Robert Johnston, of Hilton, in the Shire of Berwick, by a daughter of Gustavus Hume, of the Kingdom of Ireland. He died January 4, 1765, at Edinburgh, and left a numerous issue² of sons and daughters. The eldest son, William, died at Bristol, July 19, 1769. The second, Robert, is an officer, and went about that time to his Regiment at Minorca; and the eldest daughter, Mary, was married the 2nd of February this year, 1770, to Mr. Erskine, younger of Dun, grandson to Lord Dun.

David was long a merchant at Edinburgh, and made a competent stock. He died unmarried, anno 1764, at Bath, where he had gone for the recovery of his health.

James died likewise at Bath, May 27,1768 after a long and painful illness, without issue and left a large fortune to his nephew, Newbyth. He was married, in 1741, to an excellent woman, Mrs. Fox, a clergyman's widow, who died before himself. This Mr. James Baird was a most constant and sincere friend, as I found by correspondence of above thirty years.
He was possessed of all the good qualities that make a man amiable and acceptable, which, with a very large acquaintance among the nobility and gentry, gave him uncommon interest, which he indefatigably employed to serve his friends, to whom his death was a heavy loss, and will be regretted by all that knew him as one of the most valuable members of society. He was a banker, got a good fortune with his wife, was paymaster to several regiments, and a gentleman of the Privy Chamber to the present King, being recommended to that office by his intimate acquaintance the Earl of Talbot, who was then Chamberlain of the Household.
(This account of the Commissary's posterity ended with his eldest brother's marriage. I have left a blank in it concerning the Commissary himself, viz.-the year of his death, and whether it was King Charles I. or II. that granted him the patent of Lord Devern. Mr. Baird has filled them both up in his account, the first with 1647, but that is a mistake, for I have a letter from him to his nephew, Sir James Baird of Auchmedden, written in 1653; but after causing inquiry at Edinburgh, I have not yet been able to learn the precise year of his death. All the old records of the Commissary Court are in the College, and in very bad order, and I got only a promise from the clerks that they would go out and search with their first leisure and let me know. Next Mr. Baird says, the warrant to be Lord Devern was granted to the Commissary by King Charles I., but as he lived long after that Prince's death, that must be likewise a mistake. It is more probable it was King Charles II., in 1651, before the Battle of Worcester, who granted the warrant upon which a patent was never expede, as there might not be time before that battle, and the Commissary died before the Restoration.)

Gilbert Baird of Auchmedden continued Roman Catholic all his life.³ By an old sederunt-book of the Presbytery of Deer, which I have seen, he was fined 500 merks in 1599, because he was a rigid Papist and would not keep the kirk: soon after liberty of conscience took place. Gilbert died February 23, 1620. Lillias Baird outlived him, for her son, Thomas, writes her a letter from France, April 2, 1624.

George Baird of Auchmedden, IV.

(Gilbert's eldest son) was married on the 17th October, 1616, to Anne Fraser, daughter to the Laird of Philorth (Sir Alexander Fraser of Saltoun), Her mother was Margaret Abernethy, heiress of Abernethy⁴ and the heiress's mother was Lady Margaret Stuart, daughter to the Earl of Athol.
Sept, 17, 1634:- He was made High Sheriff of Banff by King Charles I., then vacant by the resignation of James Earl of Buchan, formerly heritable sheriff of that county, This commission was renewed, September 20, 1637. A little after the first covenant was set on foot, and when that party had determined to raise an army, the following letter was sent him from the leaders, directed to George Baird of Auchmedden :-

"Honourable Sir,
"This Trusty bearer will impart to you such conclusions as are agreed here be common advice to be necessary for the good of our common cause, whose relation we are confident you will not only believe, but likewise follow the ways he will communicate unto you as very expedient for prevention of imminent dangers, and accordingly will join your best assistance in the execution of what is determined, as you would give timeous proof of your affection to religion, the King's honour, and liberties of the Kingdom. So we shall ever rest.- Your loving friends,

Argyll, Montrose Balmerinoch, Burghley. Mr Henry Pollock, Mr Thomas Gibson Dury. Mr Alexander Henderson, and Mr, Hepburn, Ministers. (Dated) "Edinburgh 12th March 1639,"

The bearer here referred to was George's brother, the Commissary, who came north at the time with the Earl of Sutherland, Lord Lovat, Lord Rae, and The Master of Caithness, to propagate the Confession of Faith and First Covenant against the Service Book; and the Commissary came twice north after this to promote the Covenanting interest. At this time, all these gentlemen went as far as Inverness, and prevailed on very many to subscribe. They were attended by Mr. Andrew Cant and other ministers to Inverness.
However George Baird did not subscribe at that time. On the contrary, he is named in April 1639, among the Anti-Covenanters, with Abergeldy, Banff, Haddo, Gicht, Udny, &c., and was with them at the Trot of Turriff, in May there-after, where they defeated a party of the Covenanters. But now everybody who would not subscribe was plundered, themselves and their tenants, so most complied, and in May 1640, George is chosen member of a committee, with Lord Fraser, The Master of Forbes, and the Lairds of Philorth, Monimusk, and Craigievar, who were all Covenanters for guiding and ruling the public affairs of the town and county of Aberdeen. -Spalding MSS
This George Baird died February 12, 1642,⁵ and left behind him three sons James, afterwards Sir James, George, and Walter.
George studied medicine at Paris in 1645, 6, and 7, in the end of which last year he went to Italy and took the degree of Doctor, at Padua. From thence he travelled with a brother of Niddry's to Venice, Rome, and Naples, where he was made physician to Colonel Hooper's Regiment, and attended it to Prague, and to Landorin Catalonia, in Spain. There he was settled physician to an Hospital, but soon after was seized with a pestilential high fever, of which he died in the year 1648, very much regretted.
The other (Lieutenant) Walter Baird, was killed at Worcester , September 3, 1651, fighting in his King and country's cause.

Sir James Baird of Auchmedden, V.

Was sent when a boy to Edinburgh, to his uncle, the Commissary, and learnt Latin & with his cousin, afterwards Lord Newbyth. In 1641, he married Mrs. Christian Ogilvie, only daughter to Walter Ogilvie, of Boyne. Her mother was Lord Pitsligo's daughter, and that Lady Pitsligo was a daughter of the family of Findlater. Sir James and Dame Christian lived fifty years together.
Sir James was a man of very good natural and acquired parts, and had an air and address that commanded respect. A gentleman, who was well acquainted with him, and outlived him nearly 40 years, used to say that he bore "bulk" wherever he was. His ability, both for public and private affairs, in which he was as much conversant as any gentleman in the North of Scotland of his time, and always acquitted himself well, and the character he still maintained of the strictest integrity, made all the old people who lived in my days, and knew him personally, always speak of him with a sort of veneration.
The office of High Sheriff of Banff, granted to Sir Jame's father, terminated with his life in 1642. Sir Alexander Abercromby of Birkenbog, who had joined the Covenanters very early, then got that office.⁶ In the end of 1658, it was by General Monk's interest put upon Sir James, and at that great man's desire, he accepted of it February 17, 1664. King Charles II. gives him that commission because" of his extraordinary loyalty and great qualities of mind," and October 1668, at Whitehall, that Prince grants a new commission of High Sheriff of Banff, to Sir James and his eldest son, conjunctly and severally for both their lives, proceeding upon his Majesty's being informed of "the res proeclaro gestas of the said Sir James and his son, in suppressing the Highlanders and outlaws in the said "county."
After the battle of Worcester, the Parliament of England named eight of their principal members to go down to Scotland and treat with the Estates of that Kingdom concerning an Union between the two nations. The eight English were, the Chief Justice St. John, Sir Henry Vane, Jun, Major General Lambert, Major General Dean, Lieutenant General Monk, Colonel Fenwick, Alderman Tichbourn, and Major Solway.
On the 26th of February, 1652, the Estates of Scotland met with the English Commissioners at Dalkeith, where twenty of the thirty-two shires and thirty five of the then fifty seven boroughs settled the Articles of the Union, and in their Assembly at Edinburgh, about two months after the rest of the counties and boroughs did concur. But before all particulars could be adjusted betwixt a committee of twenty one then named for Scotland, and the Parliament of England, Cromwell turned that Long Parliament out of doors, which stopped that project.
But Sir James Baird and Udny were the two Barons named by the County of Aberdeen, to meet with the English Commissiners at Dalkeith, and got ample approbation of their conduct on that occasion, from the freeholders of the County at their meeting, March 28, thereafter, Sir Alexander Cuming of Coulter, Preses. It was at this treaty of Dalkeith that Sir James was first known to General Monk, who always afterwards esteemed him.
From this period Sir James lived a peaceable and quiet life at home without meddling in public affairs, that I can see, until December 22, 1658, that at General Monk's desire he was prevailed upon to accept the office of High Sheriff of Banff.
In the beginning of 1662 he went to London, was graciously received and knighted by King Charles II., and received,the following honourable declaration and acquittal for executing that office under the usurpation :-

"Whereas we are certainly informed, that the office of the Sheriffship of our County of Banff was by the late usurper put upon our lovite, Sir James Baird of Auchmedden, and that he only exercised the samen during the years of the great transactions of our Restoration wherein the said Sir James was contributive and active, so we are fully satisfied of his conduct and loyal affection to our person and government, and therefore declare him free of all censure, and that he shall not be questioned for accepting thereof from the said usurper, and that the samen shall in no time hereafter be objected to, or militate against him by, or in any of our Judicatorys. Whereof we will, that all our subjects of that our kingdom take notice.-Given at our Court at Whythall,the 19th day of February, 1667, and of our reign the 14th year." Superscribed " CHARLES R.," and subscribed " LAUDERDALE."

March 1669. Sir James Baird, and Sir Patrick Ogilvie, of Boyne, were chosen Commissioners for the Scots Parliament.⁷

It is informed that Sir James was employed at that time by the Duke of Lauderdale to draw up a rational plan for an Union between the two kingdoms, and that he accordingly made one after he returned from Scotland, which was sent to Court and well approved of, and that the King was very desirous of having it carried into execution, but that Lauderdale, who was Secretary of State for Scots affairs, and lived mostly at London, was not at heart very forward for an Union.
Sir James' knowledge of the laws of his country, and his capacity for business with his numerous relations and alliances to several of the best families of the kingdom (ties which were much minded in those days), to which his son's marriage with Lady Katherine Hay made a great addition, occasioned his being much consulted in the private affairs of other people, who had great confidence in his opinion, and in many civil differences betwixt indifferent persons, who chose rather to compound them amicably than go to law, he was frequently chosen upon arbitration, and sometimes by both sides.
Some letters still remaining from the Marquis of Huntly, the Laird of Grant, &c, are a sufficient testimony of their trust in his friendship and regard to his judgment.
There was a relation and great intimacy between him and Archbishop Sharp,⁸ and there is a letter from Sir William Sharp to him, giving a very particular account of his father's murder, written a few days after it was committed.
But what was most valuable in Sir James, was a clear conscience before God and a perfect resignation to his will. There still remain some pious reflections and resolutions of his, written with his own hand in the end of July 1681, soon after his eldest son's death. They are continued June 25,1682 again July 1683, and July 1684, all in the spirit of a primitive Christian. At this last time he remembers his son's death, with the greatest submission to the divine will, and speaks of Lady Katherine Hay, his daughter-in-law, with the greatest affection and regard.
Sir James died July 17, 1691, in the 72nd year of his age,⁹ and James Earl of Findlater succeeded him in the office of High Sheriff of Banff. What is uncommon, there were not only poems made on Sir James after his death, but likewise some years before he died.
He left two younger sons and two daughters, his eldest son, and a third daughter, Lady Cocklarochie, having died before him.
John, who studied the civil law at Leyden, and entered advocate upon his return from Leyden. He married a gentlewoman of the name of Ramsay, but had no children. He died in 1691.
Alexander served an apprenticeship to one Mr. Turnbull, a merchant at Edinburgh. He settled there, married his master's daughter, and was chosen one of the bailies of that city He died about 1709, and left two sons and one daughter very well provided: James married a gentlewoman of the name of Houston, of much beauty but little virtue; he died in 1714: Patrick, bred a surgeon, settled at Philadelphia, and made Vendue master there, married, but had no children, and his wife died long before him; he returned to Scotland about 1754, having made a considerable stock, and died at Edinburgh in 1759. Bailie Baird's daughter, Jean was married to James Bruce, of Powfouls, in the Shire of Clackmannan,¹⁰ and has one son, the present Powfouls, who has been twice married some younger sons dead, and three daughters all married.
Sir James' daughters were Elizabeth, married August 22, 1668, to Sir Alexander Abercrombie, of Birkenbog, and had issue, the late Sir James Abercrombie, Mr. Alexander Abercrombie of Tulliebody, and several other children. After Sir Alexander Abercrombie's death, she married Colonel Patrick Ogilvie, of lnchmartine, brother to the Earl of Findlater, to whom she had one daughter, Lady Tyrie.
Anne married November 15, 1669, to John Gordon, of Cocklarochie, but she died in a year after, leaving no issue. Cocklarochie and Sir James were cousins-german, as their mothers were sisters and daughters of Philorth. Christian married to George Lesly, of Burdsbank, Sheriff-Clerk of Banff, about 1676, and left issue.

James Baird, Younger of Auchmedden,

Was married to Lady Katherine Hay, February 16, 1670. He was conjunct with his father in the High Sheriffship of Banff from 1668, when he was but 20 years of age, "in order to relieve Sir James some times of the fatigue." He died of the smallpox, July 20, 1681, in the 33rd year of his age.
Lady Katherine Hay was daughter to George Earl of Kinnoul, by Lady Anne Douglas, eldest daughter to William Earl of Morton. That Lady Morton's mother was Lady Agnes Keith, Earl Marischall's daughter. My Lady Kinnoul had four sisters, aunts to Lady Katherine, married to the families of Argyll, Dunfermling, Hume, and Montrose, of whom all the present representatives of these noble families are descended. Lady Katherine had only one sister married, Lady Mary,¹¹ to George Earl Marischall, grandfather to the present Earl and General Keith.
Lady Katherine was born at Perth, September 10, 1641, and died at Auchmedden, Jan 11, 1733,¹²
This Lady was blessed with very good sense, a benevolent disposition, and an upright honest heart. Unconscious of possessing any good quality, she was endowed with every accomplishment that can adorn a woman. She was a treasure to the family in which she was married, and it may be truly said, that in every station of life she was an excellent example to her sex.
James Baird, younger of Auchmedden, had by her three sons and three daughters. James, who died at Edinburgh, October 24, 1689, in the 19th year of his age, when he was going to travel. William, who succeeded on his grandfather's death, and George, who died an infant.
The daughters were Mary, married May 18, 1692, at Inverugy, to Sir James Dunbar of Durn and had a numerous family of children. Margaret, who was married in 1716, to James Gordon of Fechil, to whom she had two daughters. Katherine, married to John Douglas, of Fechil, son to Silvester Douglas of Whiterigs, and Mary to James Irvine, of Kingcaussie, and both had issue. The third daughter, Christian, died very young.

William Baird of Auchmedden, VI.

Was born August 16, 1676, and married February 10, 1698, to Mary Gordon, only daughter to Robert Gordon, of Straloch or Pitlurg, to whom she bore five children, Katherine and James, who died young, William, who succeeded his father, Mary, and Jean. Their mother died the 1st day of August, 1710.
Mary was first married to William Gordon of Badinscoth, in 1724, and had issue; 2nd, to John Gordon of Wardhouse, in 1738, to whom she had one son, William Gordon, who died at the College of Aberdeen in February 1755, in the 14th year of his age; and lastly, in 1741, to Jonathan Forbes, of Brux, to whom she had no children.
Jean died at Banff the 23rd day of July, 1722, in the 18th year of her age, of a high fever.
The said William Baird made a second marriage, February 7,1712, with Elizabeth Abercrombie, daughter to -- Abercrombie, of Glassaugh, by whom he left one son, Captain Alexander Baird, in the Scots Dutch service, who was born after his father's death, and three daughters, besides other three that died in their infancy. Helen married in 1737, to Mr. William Ogilvie, merchant at Banff, who has a numerous issue; Katherine, who died at Banff, September 2, 1729, in the 12th year of her age; and Clementina, who died unmarried, 20th January, 1771. The said William Baird died at London, August 22, 1720, and the said Elizabeth Abercrombie at Banff., April 12, 1756

William Baird of Auchmedden, VII¹³

Only son of the first marriage, succeeded his father, and married Mrs Anne Duff,¹⁴ eldest daughter to William Duff, of Dipple, (and sister of William, first Earl of Fife,) by his second Lady Mrs Jean Dunbar, youngest daughter to Sir William Dunbar of Durn, (sister to Anne Countess of Findlater, mother of the last Earl and of the Countess Dowager of Lauderdale,) and had by her six sons and four daughters.
William, educated at Westminster School, and Trinity College, Cambridge, of which he was elected Fellow; thereafter he studied the law, was called to the bar and practised, but in Trinity Term 1750 was seized with a pestilential fever, while he attended the trials at the Old Bailey, and died on the 15th day of May that year, after a few days illness, at his lodgings in the Middle Temple. The same disease carried off the then Lord Mayor of London, several lawyers, attorneys, and other gentlemen who were in Court, and infected with the pestilential air.
Alexander, after being very well educated at home, and taught mercantile accomplishments in an academy at London, went to Fort David as a writer in the East India Company's Service; was first made resident for the English at Pulacat, then factor at Ingeram, but died in April 1761.
James, educated to medicine and surgery at Edinburgh, went to the East Indies as Surgeon's Mate on board of the Pembroke Man-of-War, and perished with her in the Bay of Poleroon, in the great hurricane on the 12th,13th, and 14th days of April, 1749, by which fifty ships of many different nations and all their crews were lost.
Charles, Comptroller of the Customs at St. John's, in the Island of Antigua, and died there without issue. John, bred in the Navy since he was fourteen years old, made a Lieutenant in 1757, and presently Commander of the Esther Sloop, stationed from Whitehaven to the Mull of Galloway.¹⁵ (He married, but died without issue.) George settled for several years past in mercantile business at Kingston in Jamaica. (He died there without issue.)

The daughters were Helen, married in 1759, to Robert Farquharson, Esq.,¹⁶ of the family of Invercauld. Katherine died of the smallpox, July 11, 1738, in the fourth year of her age; Anne died November 4, 1756, of a consumption, in the twentieth year of her age, after a long and painful illness,-a young woman of rare accomplishments and uncommon merit, Henrietta married in 1761, to Francis Fraser,¹⁷ younger of Findrack, descended of the family of Durris, and has issue.

Footnotes:

(1) This has been added subsequently. Sir William was great-grandfather of the present Sir James Gardiner Baird of Sauchtonhall. -Ed
(2) By an odd coincidence Auchmedden does not mention David who was afterwards to add to the name a lustre it had never attained before.-Ed
(3) See Appendix No.II for an account of an attack on the house of Auchmedden, in which Lillias Baird nearly lost her life. -Ed
(4) Her brother, Sir Alexander Fraser, succeeded as 10th Lord Saltoun. -Ed
(5)By his will he leaves 100 merks to his natural daughter, Agnes, and directs his servitor, Mr. Gilbert Baird, to be maintained in meat and clothes during his life, by his son. Mr. Gilbert was a natural son of Walter Baird of Ordinhnivas. -W .B.
February 3rd, 1583. One Thomas Miln, in Auchnagorth, grants a receipt to George Baird of Auchmedden for 200 merks, consigned in his hands by Dame Anne Keith, Countess of Argyle, as the price of the town of Little Byth. -W. B.
(6) Edinburgh, 23rd July,1646. By a report signed by Sir David Hay, clerk to the committee for receiving of reports, it appears that the loss sustained by Sir James Baird of Auchmedden and his tenants by the Covenanters, anno 1644, by a clear proof extended to £5,828 5s. 4d. Scots.-W.B.
(7) 1668 Sir James Baird then Sheriff Principal of Banff, receives an order from the Privy Council for transporting to Edinburgh to his trial the person of John Grant, commonly called the "Black Bull," suspected of the murder of the late Laird of Muiresk. -W.B.
(8) The Archbishop had a brother, Robert Sharp, who d 20 Jan, 1675. He bought the Castle and Castlehill Lands of Banff from the Earl of Buchan, in 1661 or 62, and several other lands about Banff, and having no children, left them to Alex Leslie, of Kinninvie, who had married his niece, Sir Wlm Sharp's daughter; their daughter was 1st wife to Fraser of Memsie, and next to Provost James Shand, of Banff, to whom she had a son, James Shand of Cragelly.-W.B.
(9) Sir James Baird erected a monument in the church of Aberdour, the Latin inscription on which was to the following effect:- "James Baird of Auchmedden erected this monument to the memory of his predecessors, Andrew, George, Gilbert, and George Baird, whose ashes are here interred. They died respectively 10 Feb., 1543, 29 May., 1593, 23 Feb., 1620, and 12 Feb., 1642. The ashes of Anne Fraser and Elizabeth Keith his mother and great-grandmother likewise lie here interred."-W. B.
(10) Mrs. Bruce died at Edinburgh on the 8th May, 1774. -W.B.
(11) The Family Bible, now in possession of the representative of the family, Mr Fraser of Findrack, Aberdeenshire, was a present from this Lady Mary Hay, as appears from a note upon it, in the following terms:-" Nov. 1, 1701.-This Bible was given to my Father, by Mary Countess Marischall, his aunt. She died a few days after. My Lady Marischall was born on the 15th day of May, 1633, at Perth, and died at Fetteresso, the 10th of November, 1701. She was a woman of a solid head and an excellent, cheerful, and agreeable disposition, charitable and benevolent, and I am persuaded there have been very few so complete a character in any age."
(12) There is a miniature of this lady still preserved in the possession of W. N. Fraser., who has also miniature portraits of her son William Baird, born 1676, and of her g-daughter Henrietta, wife of Francis Fraser of Findrack. -Ed
(13) The writer. -Ed
(14) Mrs. Anne Duff died at Aberdeen, on Saturday, Jan 30,1773, in the 68th year of her age. -W.B.
(15) Lieutenant John Baird served in H.M.S. "Prince George," from 12th Aug, 1757, to 10th May, 1758; "Saint George," from 14th May, 1758, to 12th June, 1758; "Prince George," from 13th June, 1758, to 25th Jan, 1763. He was paid off at this latter date, and was not again employed afloat. He died in 1796.
(16) Father of the late William Farquharson Esq, of Monaltrie, and several daughters, all whom died without issue.
(17) Grandfather of the present F.G. Fraser of Findrack, Esq., W.N. Fraser, Esq Editor of the Account, &c. -Ed.