William Douglas of Whittinghame

William Douglas of Whittingehame, (c. 1540 - December 17, 1595) was a Senator of the College of Justice at Edinburgh, and a Royal conspirator.

Family

Dalrymple appears to have his ancestry incorrect, as the "Great Seal of Scotland" (number 1995, November 1, 1648) and other references contain an accurate account. William Douglas was the eldest son and heir of William Douglas of Whittingehame (died bef. August 24, 1557) and his spouse Elizabeth (d. after August 24, 1557), daughter of Sir Robert Lauder of The Bass (d.1517/18) by his spouse, Elizabeth Lawson.

Acquires Church lands

He obtained on August 17, 1560, a charter of the ecclesiastical lands of Whittingehame from Claud Hamilton, then Dean of Dunbar. The grant of Whittinghame was confirmed in the "Great Seal" in January, where we can see the extent of the church lands Douglas has acquired: "the King [sic] and Queen confirm to William Douglas of Whittinghame and Elizabeth Maitland, his spouse, 8 husbandlands (208 acres) and four 'terras' cottages in the 'villa' of Whittinghame". He joined the Lords of the Congregation and seems to have been frequently employed by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in their communications with Mary, Queen of Scots and the Privy Council of Scotland.

Royal conspirator

It is said that the plot to murder Mary's husband, Lord Darnley, was discussed at length at Whittingehame castle early in 1566, and the Privy Council cited William Douglas of Whittinghame, brother to Master Archibald Douglas, Parson of Douglas, amongst others, as one of the conspirators in the murder of David Riccio, for which he was pardoned on the 24 December 1566. In 1567 he joined the Association for the Preservation of James VI. However, later, on the 26 August 1582 William Douglas of Whittinghame was cited in the Privy Council as one of the 'Ruthven Raiders'.

College of Justice

Prior to October 20, 1575 he was appointed an Ordinary Lord in the College of Justice. On the 9 January 1579 he and his brother Archibald, Parson of Douglas & Glasgow, were excused attendance at court due to Archibald's illness, which was thought to be so serious that his brother should not leave him.

He resiged his position at the College of Justice prior to August 1, 1590, on which day his son and heir Archibald was presented to it by King James VI, although these positions were not hereditary.

Marriage

William Douglas married in 1566 Elizabeth (d. after August 6, 1608 when she was described as his 'relict'), daughter of Sir Richard Maitland of Lethington by his spouse Mariotta, daughter of Sir Thomas Cranstoun of Corsbie. They had six sons and two daughters. Of them:
* Sir Archibald Douglas of Whittinghame, Senator of the College of Justice, was served his heir, confirmed in a Precept from Chancery dated May 4, 1596. Although he married in 1597, Helen Lumsden, he died between 1630 - 1642 with no issue. He settled Whittingehame upon his niece Isobel's husband, Sir Arthur Douglas, Knt., a grandson of William Douglas, 6th Earl of Morton.
* Patrick Douglas of Standingstone, Haddingtonshire (witnessed a Sasine to "his brother german" Archibald on May 7, 1596), whose son, Field Marshal Robert Douglas, Count of Skenninge, "friherre" (baron) of Skalby, Sweden, was a commander in later stages of Thirty Years War. Patrick was maternal grandfather to Sir Robert Lauder of Beilmouth.
* James Douglas, described in the "Great Seal" 1st November 1, 1648, as "secretary to James VI".
* Richard Douglas of Newgrange, Haddingtonshire, and Brockholes, Berwickshire (alive May 7, 1596, when he witnessed a Sasine to "his brother german", Archibald).
* Sir William Douglas of Stoneypath, near Garvald (d. between 1628 -1642), whose son-in-law Sir Arthur Douglas, Knt., was eventual heir of Whittingehame.

References

*"The Great Seal of Scotland", number 1995 confirmed at Edinburgh 1st November 1648.
*"The Spottiswoode Miscellany", Edinburgh, 1845, vol.II, p.329.
*"An Historical Account of the Senators of the College of Justice of Scotland", by Sir David Dalrymple of Hailes, Bt., re-edited at Edinburgh in 1849, p.160.
*"The Manuscripts of Colonel Mordaunt Hay of Duns Castle, et al, Historic Manuscripts Commission, Hereford, 1909, p.70, no.195, Sasine of heir dated May 7, 1596.
*"The History of the Douglas family of Morton in Nithsdale & Fingland" etc., by Percy W.L. Adams, F.S.A., Bedford, 1921, Appendix C, number 258, p.805.
*"The Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland, 1575-1580", volume VII, edited by Gordon Donaldson, D.Litt., Edinburgh, HMSO, 1966, number 947, p.138.
*"The Registers of the Privy Council of Scotland", March 1566, pages 436-437 and 507.