Clan Lundin / Lundie
Chapter Two – Lundin of that ilk

The family that descends from Phillip de Lundin, the 1^st Laird of Lundie/Lundin in Fife, unlike the descendants of his brother Malcolm, retains the name of Lundie/Lundin, and it is this family that comprises the House of Lundin. This family was by the 16^th century, to hold a great deal of land in Fife. Having stated previously that there was little if no information on this house, the period that covers from the granting of the barony in 1160 to around 1430, is perhaps the hardest to find information on. With the exception of two of the lairds, Robert de London and Sir Richard Lundie, who will be discussed in the next couple of sections, it is only by examining the appearance of names in charters that we can try to gain an idea of the development of this family over the first couple of hundred years of it’s existence.

The rest of this section comprises details extracted from charters.

The following extracts are from charters produced during the reign of King William the Lion, the first three are undated:

King William confirms a charter granted in his time, of the Kirk of Lassedwyn, "Canonicis de Dryburgh, per Robertum de Londonia, filium de Richardi, filii Mauritii, filli Thome de Londonia".

Mortifications are made to the abbacies of Cupar and Aberbrothock, by Thomas de Lundin, filius Malcomi de Londia Hostiarius, D. Regis Scotie, and confirmed by Alanus Hostiarius Regis, comes Atholie, son to Thomas.

Walter de Londin, son to Phillip de Lundin mortifies "Monasterio de Cambus-kenneth, quatuor bovas terre de Belcarmock" and Thomas the son of Walter confirms the donation; and King William confirms this. It is this family in fife with which King William’s son is matched.

John de Lundoniis witnessed King William’s grant of Kinbethach to Gilbert, Earl of Strathearn, c 1178-80.

John de Lundin witnessed a charter by Roger, bishop elect of St. Andrews, concerning the church of Hadintun, c. 1189-98.

John de Lundoniis witnessed a grant to Arbroath Abbey, c. 1200.

In 1194 King William I confirms to Adam, son of Odo the steward, the grant made to Odo by Gilchrist, the abbot, and the convent of the culdees of St. Andrews. Phillip de Lundyn and Adam de Lundin witness this.

In 1198 A Grant to Walter, son of Walter Scott, the lands of Allardice (Mearns), in feu and heritage, for the service of one archer -with horse and haubergel and the performance of the common aid due from thirteen oxgangs of land, Stirling 16^th October 1198, is witnessed by Phillipo de Lundin.

Sometime between 1203 and 1214, an Alan de Walchope witnesses a charter by Thomas de Lundin.

The following two extracts come from charters during the reign of Alexander II (1215 and 1249). They have no specific date.

Walter of Lundyn, and Christian his wife, grant to the Monks of Arbroath a chalder of grain pro sua fraternitate, the witnesses being John Wischard, vicecomes de Moernes and his son John.

Robert, son of Alexander de Lundin, granted a charter to the Abbey of Melrose.

In 1248 Walter de Lundin grants a charter witnessed by Hugo de Grey, and in 1250 Walter of Lundin grants to Philip of Feodarg (or Meldrum) the lands of Balcarmok.

In 1297 Sir Richard Lundie, laird of Lundie fought at the battle of Stirling bridge

Between 1295 and 1305 Sir William de Lundy rescued Sir Thomas Grey after the killing of Sir William de Livingstone by William Wallace. He was the bearer of what is described as the ancient arms of Lundy of that ilk

In 1305 Walter de Lundy was Juror at Perth.

The descent of the house of Lundin from William the Lion has been briefly touched upon in chapter one. In 1669, the family of Lundin were granted by King Charles II. the right for the head of the house to display the arms of Scotland on their shield. This right was due to direct descent from William the Lion. Only six other families in Scotland are permitted to bear the Royal arms of Scotland on their shields. The descent has been said to be through the marriage of the heiress of the house of Lundin of Lundin in Fife to a natural son of William the Lion and Matilda Ferreres. It is interesting to note that Matilda Ferreres was married to Richard de Londonia. King Williams’ son Robert assumed the surname of his wife’s father. The name of the heiress and of her father is unknown.

Robert de Lundon is known to have built Naughton castle, which is not too far from the parish of Largo in Fife. Robert de London also lived for a while in Kellie caste, Fife. He was there as a tenant to his grandmother, Ada, countess of Kellie, mother of William the Lion. He is a witness to the Charter granting the Barony of Allardice to Walter, son of Walter Scott, 16^th October 1198. A Robert of London in 1212 was a religious delegate from King John (lackland) of England sent to Khalif Muhammed El-Nasser. Sir Robert de Londonnis, natural son of King William the lion, was granted by his father, by 1295, the Royal burgh of Inverkeithing in Fife. This reverted to the crown in 1235. Perhaps this dates Roberts death.

Sir Richard is perhaps the most famous member of this family, due this his involvement with William Wallace and Scotland’s fight for independence from Edward I of England. After the treaty of Irvine, Sir Richard Lundie was so disgusted with the general attitude of the Scots nobility that he went over to the English side. At the time of the battle of Stirling Bridge, he was the leader of the English army. He advised Sir Hugh Cressingham, Edward I’s appointed Lord Treasurer of Scotland, that to cross Stirling bridge itself would result in certain loss. He has been attributed with the following speech.

Cressingham ignored the advice of the skilful soldier Sir Richard, and the battle was lost. After this Sir Richard fought with Wallace and is believed to have become a good friend. Sir Richard is listed as one of the Nobles of Scotland who appointed Sir William Wallace to the position of Governor of the Kingdom. They fought together at Falkirk. The sword of Sir Richard de Lundie, laird of Lundin, friend of Wallace, was taken to the ceremony of laying the foundation stone for the Wallace Monument (Glasgow Herald, 25/6/1861). This sword is now at Drummond castle, ancestral home of the Earls of Perth, at one time descendants of Lundin of that ilk. It is interesting to note that "Lundie" is described in Blind Harry’s depictation of the battle of Stirling bridge as being on the side of the Scots.

"The day of battle does approach at length,
The English then advance with all their strength.
And fifty thousand march in battle rank,
Full six to one; yet Wallace never shrank.
The rest they lay about the castle hill;
Both field and castle thought to have at will.
The worthy Scots together close did bide,
In the plain field, upon the other side.
Hugh Kirkingham (Cressingham), the vanguard on led he,
With twenty thousand likely men to see;
The Earl of Warren thirty thousand had;
If all were good the number was not bad.
Thus fifty thousand silly South'ron sots
Proudly march up against nine thousand Scots.
When Kirkingham his twenty thousand men
Had past the bridge, quite to the other end,
Some of the Scots in earnest, without scorn,
Thought it high time to blow the warning horn;
But Wallace he march'd stoutly through the plain,
Led on his men, their number did disdain;
Till Warren's host thick on the bridge did go,
Then he from Jop did take the horn and blow:
So loud and shrill, he warned good John Wright,
Who soon struck out the roller with great slight.
Then all went down, when the pin was got out;
At which arose a fearful cry and shout.
Both men and horse into the river fell,
Honest John Wright did act his part so well.
The hardy Scots with heavy strokes and sore,
Attack the twenty thousand that came o'er.
Wallace and Ramsay, Lundie, Boyd, and Graham,
With dreadful strokes made them retire - Fy, shame!
The South'rons front they fought all face to face,
Who to their ignominy and disgrace,
Did neither stand nor fairly foot the score,
But did retire five acre breadth and more.
Wallace on foot, with a great sharp sword goes,
Amongst the very thickest of his foes;
On Kirkingham there such a stroke he got,
In spite of all his armour and mailcoat,
That kill'd him dead; none durst him there rescue;
Then to that valiant captain bade adieu.
When Kirkingham dead on the spot to lie
The South'rons saw, then they began to fly:
Who, though they had fought it most bloody hot,
Ten thousand lost, and left dead on the spot;
The rest they fled, nor none durst stay behind;
Succour they sought, but none at all could they find.
Some east come west, and some fled to the north
Seven thousand flutter'd all at once in Forth,
Who from that river little mercy found;
For few escap'd, and most of all were drown'd.
On Wallace's side, no man was killed of note,
But Andrew Murray, a true hearted Scot.
When Warren's men saw all was lost and tint,
They fled as fast as fire does from a flint;
Ne'er look'd about, nor once a Scotsman fac'd,
But to Dunbar march'd in devilish haste."

Sir Richard is believed to have married Margaret de Dunbar, daughter of Patrick Dunbar, Earl of Dunbar and Marjorie Comyn, herself the daughter of Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan. He was succeeded by his son Walter, who married Euphemia Graham, daughter of Sir John Graham

In 1388 a William Lundie (possibly Richard Lundie), was chaplain to Earl William Douglas during the battle of Otterburn. He was later to become Archdeacon of Aberdeen. Earl Douglas famously died in the battle. The chaplain William Lundie fought by the Earl’s side throughout the battle. When Sir James Lindsay arrived on the scene to find the Earl bleeding to death, he also found William Lundie bestriding the Earls body, protecting him from further injury with a battle-axe. These moments in the battle are preserved in the verse of Scott’s Minstrelry of the Borders. Sir Walter Scott calls the chaplain William of North Berwick. Some texts refer to him as Sir William Lundy of that ilk. Some even say he may have died in this battle. However, Sir William de Lundy, according to Sir James Balfour of Denmylne, was still alive in 1408. Most probably these are two separate individuals. The reason for this suggestion is the fact that an on 5^th January 1390, an Allan Lundin obtained a crown charter to part of Benholm. The lands of Benholm were granted several generations later by the laird of Lundie to his forth son.

John Lundy of that ilk, succeeded his father, William de Lundy, by 1411. In 1496 Janet daughter and heiress of Walter Ramsey of Pitcruvie, spouse to David Lindsay 2^nd Lord Lindsay of the Byres granted a charter to Thomas Fergusson chaplain of the parish of Largo and his successors of an annual rent of 5 merks of the lands of Scheithum and others for masses for the souls of Sir John Ramsey of Petcruvie, her grandfather, Walter Ramsey of Petcruvie, her father, Lady Elizabeth Wemyss, her mother, John Lundy of that ilk, Andrew Lundy of Pitlochy, her brothers, Sir John Lundy, now of that ilk, and Robert Lundy of Balgony.

John Lundy of that ilk. It is believed that he was married to Isobel Wemyss, relict of Sir Walter Ramsey of Pitcruvie. He had issue:-

1 John Lundy of that ilk, who succeeded
2 Andrew Lundy of Pitlochy
3 Margaret, married George Leslie 1^st Earl of Rothes around 1435. They had one child.

i Margaret. Contracted to marry William Leslie, son and heir apparent of Alexander Leslie of that ilk (10/7/1458). Later she married Alexander Cumming of Earnside (9/8/1488)

John Lundy of that ilk, contracted around 1434 to marry Elizabeth Lindsay, daughter of Sir John Lindsay 1^st Lord of the Byres. She is believed the eldest of his children, but young when the contract was entered into. They had issue:-

1 Sir John Lundy, who succeeded
2 Robert Lundy of Balgony, see Lundie of Balgonie.
3 Andrew Lundy of Stratherlie, see Lundie of Stratherlie
4 Elizabeth, married Sir Andrew Wood after 1483 and no later than 1487. Sir Andrew was Admiral to James II and James III. He became Baron of Largo.

Sir John Lundy of that ilk was appointed as governor of Stirling Castle after the battle of Sauchiburn in 1488. He was still governor in 1496. Records show that Sir John and Lady Lundy, keepers of Stirling castle had under their charge the unfortunate Margaret Drummond, daughter of Sir William, Master of Drummond, in 1496. He was married to Elizabeth Forrester. He died around 1516. They had issue:-

1 John, of whom little is known. He had issue:-
            i Elizabeth, married Patrick Halket, who died in 1573.
2 William, who succeeded.
3 Thomas, Prebendery of Forlavin
4 Robert Lundie of Benholm, See Lundie of Benholm.
3 Christian, married John 6^th Lord Forbes. On the 26^th February 1509 they received a charter of the Barony of Fudes. She died before 1513. They had issue:-

4 Euphimia, married David Wemyss of Wemyss before 11^th May 1493. Not that the Scot’s Peerage gives Euphemia as a daughter of Sir John Lundy of that ilk. Whereas, G.T. Welsh, in his Lundins of Fife, claims she is the daughter of Sir Thomas Lundin of Pratis. She died before 1508, he was killed at the Battle of Flodden, 9^th September 1513. They had issue:-

William Lundie of that ilk, married Elizabeth Hepburn, daughter of Sir Patrick Hepburn 1^st Lord Hailes. William died around 1519. They had issue:-

1 Sir Thomas Lundin Laird of Pratis.
2 Margaret, who married Sir George Forbes 3^rd of Rires around 1500. They had issue:
    i Arthur Forbes, 4^th of Rires
    ii James Forbes
3 Anne, who married John Melville of Carnbee. He received a charter of this land dated 14^th August 1496. The had issue:
    i John Melville of Carnbee, who succeeded. In memory of his mother he added a part of the Arms of Lundin to those of his own.

Sir Thomas Lundin of Pratis was heir of his father William, but predeceased him, so his son, Walter was to become the next Laird. Sir Robert Douglas still describes him as "head or chief of that ancient family." He first married, on 4^th July 1488, Isabella Boswell, daughter of the Laird of Balmuto. He married secondly, after 1508, Christian Sutherland, daughter and heiress of Alexander Sutherland of Duffus, relict of William Oliphant, son of 1^st Lord Oliphant. With respect to this marriage he is described as the grandson and heir apparent of Sir John Lundin of Lundin. He had issue:-

i James Pringle of Woodhouse and Whytbank. From him the family of Whytbank descend. His son or grandson, James Pringle of Whytbank, married Christine or Christian Lundie, daughter of William Lundie of that ilk.
ii Janet, married George Brown of Coalston
iii daughter

Walter Lundie of that ilk, born around 1490, married Elizabeth Lindsay, daughter of Sir John Lindsay of Pitcruvie, Master of Lindsay and Elizabeth Lundie. He died in 1569, his testament being read on the 2^nd of May of that year. In 1560 he was present at the Parliament held in Edinburgh that abolished the Catholic Church in Scotland. On 26^th January 1564, he addressed the general assembly of the Kirk in terms that persuaded the vote in favour of the reformation. In 1565, between the dates of 16^th January and 19^th February, Mary Queen of Scots visited him in Lundin Tower. The Laird remonstrated with her so strongly about her Catholic beliefs that he was imprisoned in St. Andrews castle at the age of 80. He was a close associate of John Knox. He had issue:-

2 William, who succeeded.

William Lundie of that ilk, married Christian Ruthven, daughter of William 2^nd Lord Ruthven around 1550. He died on 6^th May 1600, with his son John being retoured as his heir. His testament was read 22^nd August of that year. Christian Ruthven, Lady Lundie, died in 1575, her testament being read on the 17^th July of that year. Like his father, he was also a strong supporter of the reformation. In 1580, the Laird of Lundie was mentioned in a letter by King James VI to the general assembly of Scotland in Dundee. ("Trustie and weill beloved Friends, we greet you well, we have directed towards yow our traist friend, the propr of Pittemeyme, and the Laird of Lundie, instructed with our power to that effect, for assisting you with their presence and councill, in all things that they may, tending to the glory of God, and preservations of us and our estate; desyr and yow heartilie accept them and our good will committ it to them for the present, in good part; So we commend yow to God's protection. From our Palace of Falkland, July 12, 1580." Sic Subscrititur, James Rex.). This letter is officially nominating William, Laird of Lundie, to represent the King at the meetings of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. In the same year, the laird of Lundie accompanied Andrew Melville, the leader of the Scottish Church after the death of John Knox, to St. Andrews, where Melville was installed as Principal of the New College and delivered his inaugural lecture. William re-married after the death of his first wife, to Elizabeth (possibly Elspeth) Lundie, daughter of Robert Lundie of Balgonie. She died before 10^th June 1601. He had issue by both wives. By Christian Ruthven:-

1 John, who succeeded.

John Lundie of that ilk. Not much is know about this Laird. He inherited the barony of Lundie in Fife from his father William in 1600, being served as heir 6^th May 1600. He then died in 1605. In 1602 the Laird of Lundie, along with Lord Murray of Tullibardine and the Abbott of Inchaffray, were requested to furnish 50 men each to give armed help to the queen of England against the Irish rebels. During his Lairdship there was a feud between the Murrays and Lundie’s which twice needed to be presented before King James VI, 1600 and 1602. This Feud was brought about by the slaughter of a John Murray by David Lundie, the brother of Lundie of Gorthy. He married Margaret Durie, daughter of David Durie of Durie and Catherine Douglas, before 1578. They had issue:-

i James Lundie of Clatto. Born before 1634, married, on 1663, Margaret Bethune, daughter of Andrew Bethune of Blebo. They had issue

a. baptised August 11^th 1666
b. James, died before 1709
c. Alisone, alive 1708
d. John
e. Mary

ii Margaret, married Alexander Nairne, October 26^th 1666
iii Eupham, died August 11^th 1664
iv Catherine, died in 1662
v Magdelane, married Thomas Trail of Blebo-Hole, June 19^th 1663,

John Lundin of that ilk. In Sir James Balfour Paul’s "Scots Peerage", he is described as the last Laird. He is the last of the male line of the Lundins. He married Katherine Lindsay, daughter of Alexander Lindsay, Bishop of Dunkeld, on 20^th July 1614. He succeeded his brother William in 1625. He was succeeded to the estate of Lundin by his only daughter, Margaret.

Margaret Lundin married Robert Maitland before 25^th April 1648. It is on this date that she was served as heir to her father in the lands and barony of Lundin. He was the second son of John Maitland, 2^nd Lord Thirlestane, Viscount Lauderdale, Earl of Lauderdale, Viscount Maitland, Lord Bolton. An agreement was made upon the marriage of Margaret to Robert Maitland whereupon George Lundin in Saltgreen, the younger brother of John Lundin of that ilk, consented to Robert Maitland becoming Laird of Lundin on the death of his father-in-law. Robert Maitland took part in the "engagement" and had to make a public repentance in his own seat in Largo Church on 13^th January 1650. In 1654 he was finned £1000 under Cromwell’s Act of Grace and Pardon. He died of consumption in Lundin on 15^th December 1655. They had issue:-

Sophia Lundin married John Drummond, Viscount of Melfort, Earl of Melfort, Viscount of Forth, Lord Drummond of Riccartoun, Castlemains and Gilestoun, the second son of James Drummond 3^rd Earl of Perth on 30^th April 1670. They had issue:-

1 John, born 31^st October 1673, died young.

Robert Lundin of that ilk married Anne Inglis, eldest daughter of Sir James Inglis, Bt., of Cramond on 20^th January 1704. He succeeded to the estates of Lundin on the death of his elder brother James Lundin of Lundin, being served as heir male on 29^th April 1699. Robert died in 1716. He had issue:-

James Lundin of that ilk married Rachel Bruce, third daughter of Thomas Bruce 7^th Earl of Kincardine. On the death of James Drummond the 6^th titular Duke of Perth he was served heir male and of provision to him, on 30^th June 1760, and nearest male heir of James 4^th Earl of Perth on 30^th June 1760. He assumed the later title. The title of Earl of Perth had however been attained, otherwise he would have been 10^th Earl of Perth. He died at Stobhall 18 July 1781. His Wife died in Lundin on 29^th June 1769. He sold the Lundin Estates in 1755. The family hereafter took the name of Drummond. They had issue:-

1 Robert born 1741, died un-married in Lundin 10^th May 1758

3 Rachel

4 James, who succeeded

James Drummond, formerly Lundin, was born in Lundin 12^th February 1744. He would, apart from the attainer, have been 11^th Earl of Perth. He was however on 26^th October 1797 created Baron Drummond of Stobhall and Lord Perth. These titles were to go to heirs male of his body. Prior to this he had tried to petition the crown for the restoration of the title of Earl of Perth. He married Clementina, daughter of Charles 10^th Lord Elphinstone in Edinburgh 31^st March 1785. He died in 2^nd July 1800 without male issue. His estates were passed to his daughter, Clementina Sarah Drummond and heirs of her body. The claim to the Earldom of Perth passed to a James Louis Drummond, Forth titular Duke of Melfort. He had issue:-

1 James, born 16^th October 1791, died 11^th August 1799.

2 Clementina Sarah, who succeeded her fathers estates.

Clementina Sarah Drummond. Born Edinburgh 5^th May 1786. She married the Hon. Peter Robert Burrell, eldest son of Peter 1^st Lord Gwydyr and Priscilla Baroness Willoughby de Eresby, 20^th October 1807. She succeeded to the estates of Perth on the death of her Father. Her husband succeeded his father as 2^nd Lord Gwydyr and his mother as Lord Willoughby de Eresby. Ultimately, their estates and titles passed to their daughter Clementina. She married Sir Gilbert John Heathcote, Bart. 8^th October 1827, and their son, Gilbert Henry Heathcote was created Earl of Ancasster.

Lundin Tower and house, as is now known, was the seat of the family of Lundie of that ilk. This house, at this time called Lundie, appears in the Domestic annals of Scotland in May 1655. The extract is as follows, but sheds little light on it’s construction or history.

"May: We incidentally learn about the wages of a skilled artisan in Scotland at this time from an account which Lamont gives on the expense of slating and pointing the house of Lundie in Fife. The work was done by David Brown, slater in Anstruther, and his son, and so well, he said, that it would not need be touched again for seven years. David and his son were paid for this work-their diet in the house during the twenty-four working days they were engaged upon it, and twenty-four shillings Scots, or two shillings sterling, per day, in money."

The Account of the Royal commission for architecture and historic monuments in Scotland – RCAHMS, of this building is as follows:-

Lundin Tower is a lofty rubble-built tower, once a part of old Lundin House, which was demolished in 1876. The tower has been altered but appears to date from the late 16th or early 17th century.

Sometime between 1295 and 1305 Sir William de Lundy rescued Sir Thomas Grey after the killing of Sir William de Livingstone by William Wallace. He was the bearer of what is described as the ancient arms of Lundy of that ilk.

This armorial is described by Nisbet as a "paly of six pieces, argent and gules, surmounted on a bend azure, charged with three cushions or."

In 1669, the family of Lundin of that ilk laid aside the ancient armorials, as discussed above, in favour or a new honour bestowed upon them by the King. They were warranted by the crown, (King Charles II) to carry the arms of Scotland upon their shield to show and account for descent from a natural son of King William the Lion of Scotland.

Nisbet describes the armorial as the arms of Scotland (lion rampant) all within a bordure gobonated argent and azure. This is shown overleaf. The motto, del dono sum quod sum, translates as: by the bounty of God, I am what I am.