1564 William Cunyngham of Acket and Helen Colquhoun, his spouse, granted a letter of reversion. [1]
Letter of reversion granted by William Cunyngham of Acket and Helen Colquhoun, 24 Oct 1564
Letter of reversion granted by William Cunyngham of Acket and Helen Colquhoun, his spouse whereby they declare that although George Montgomery of Mainshill had disponed to them and the longest liver of them two in conjunct infeftment, their heirs and assignees, his 40s land of old extent called the Kirklands in Stewarton, yet on his paying to them 700 merks in the parish kirk of Dunlop, they would give him regress thereto.
Dated at Irvine
1569 William Cunninghame of Aiket, Helen Colquhoun, his spouse, and Cuthbert Cunninghame younger, their son received a charter. [2]
Charter by Gilbert, Earl of Cassillis, in favour of William Cunninghame of Aiket, Helen Colquhoun, his spouse, and Cuthbert Cunninghame younger, their son, of 10 merk land of Balgray in the parish of Irvine, the 5 merk land of Pacockbankis, in the parish of Stewarton, and the 4 merk land of Over Borland and Strudir, in the parish of Dunlop, all in bailiary of Cunninghame and sheriffdom of Ayr. Witnesses: Mr Robert Herbertson, vicar of Glasgow, John Ryburne of that ilk, Alexander Ecklis, servant to the said Earl.
Dated 9/9/1569.
1570 On November 4, William Cunningham of Aiket, his servants William Fergushill and Florence Crawfurd, and John Raburne of that Ilk were accused of the murder of John Mure of Cauldwell. They were acquitted on testimony that the murder was committed by the late Alexander Cunningham the younger of Aiket. [3]
1372 William Cunningham of Aiket and Helen Colquhoun provided a letter of reversion. [4]
Letter of Reversion by William Cunningham of Aiket and Helen Colquhoun his wife to Gilbert Earl of Cassillis, bearing the Earl having infeft them in conjunct fee and liferent, and the heirs and assignees of the said William Cunningham, in the 20 shilling land of Nether Auchintibert, and 4 merk land of Bordland lying in the bailiary of Cunningham Yet nevertheless they oblige them upon the Earl or his successors making payment to them or theirs aforesaid, within the church of Ayr of the sum of 400 merks money of Scotland, they shall incontinent thereafter resign in the hands of his Lordship or his successors the 20 shilling land of Nether Auchintibert and 4 merk land of Bordland, with all right and title which they had thereto - reserving to the said William Cunningham and Helen Colquhoun his wife the provisions contained in a contract entered into between his Lordship and them dated Ayr, 31st May then last (1572)
Witnesses - Alexander Eccles and Quintin Mure both servants to the Earl and Alexander Kessan Notary. Dated at Ayr.
1573 William Cunningham of Aiket and Helen Colquhoun his wife provided a letter of reversion. [5]
Letter of Reversion by William Cunningham of Aiket and Helen Colquhoun his wife (See GD25/1/795) to Gilbert Earl of Cassillis, bearing the Earl having infeft them in conjunct fee and liferent and their heirs and assignees - in the 40 shilling land of Gabrachhill and 20 shilling land of Over Auchintibert, lying in the bailiary of Cunningham Yet nevertheless declaring that how soon the Earl or his successors shall make payment to them the said William Cunningham and Helen Colquhoun his wife or theirs aforesaid, within the church of Ayr of the sum of 600 merks money of this Realm, then they shall resign in the hands of his Lordship or his aforesaid the said 40 shilling land of Gabrachhill and 20 shilling land of Over Auchintibert with all right and title which they had thereto - reserving to the said William Cunningham and Helen Colquhoun the provisions contained in a Contract entered into between his Lordship and them dated at Ayr, 31st May, 1572
Dated 1573
Witnesses - Alexander Eccles and Quintin Mure Servants to his Lordship and Alexander Kessan Notary. Dated at Ayr.
1573 William Cunyngham and Helen Colquhoun, his spouse, were mentioned in an instrument of redemption. [6]
Instrument of redemption by the procurator for Hugh, Earl of Eglinton, 6 May 1573
Instrument of redemption by the procurator for Hugh, Earl of Eglinton, assignee of Robert Montgomery, brother and heir of the deceased George Montgomery of Mainshill of the said lands from the hands of William Cunyngham and Helen Colquhoun, his spouse on payment of 500 merks together with £260 contained in another reversion.
1576 William Cunningham of Aiket with consent of Colquhoun his wife made a charter to sons Patrick, John, Cuthbert, and William. [7]
Charter by William Cunningham of Aiket with consent of Helen Colquhoun his wife (See GD25/1/814) to Patrick Cunningham his son and the heirs male to be procreate of his body, whom failling John Cunningham brother german of the said Patrick Cunningham and the heirs male to be procreate of his body, whom failling Cuthbert Cunningham also his brother german and the heirs male to be procreate of his body, whom failling the said William Cunningham of Aiket his heirs whatsoever of the 40 shilling land of Gabrachhill 40 shilling land of Over and Nether Auchintiberts and 4 merk land of Nether Bordland, lying in the bailiary of Cunningham - to be holden blanch of the said William Cunningham of Aiket and his heirs for payment yearly of a penny at the feast of Pentecost - reserving to the said William Cunningham and Helen Colquhoun his wife, their respective liferents of the premisses, 8 Jun 1576
Witnesses - Cuthbert Cunningham of Cuttiswra, Robert Dunlop and Robert How servants to the said William of Aiket. Dated at Aiket.
1578/79 On January 12, Helen Colquhoun did not appear in court. She was accused of administering poison to her husband William Cunningham the previous October. [8]
Jan. 12, 1578-9.--Helene Colquhoune, spous to William Cuninghame of Aket.
Clemant Kinkaid, in the Coittis, oftymes callit to have produceit our souerane lordis lettres, dewlie execute and indorsat, purchest be William Cunninghame of Aket, and Mris Dauid Borthuik of Lochhill, and Robert Creychtoun of Eliok, aduocatis to our souerane loird, to tak souerte of the said Helene, that he (she) sould compeir and wnderly the law this day and place, ffor the tressonabill Mi nistering of Poysoun to the said William, hir spous ; committit in October last- was : And nocht produceand the samin, was thairfore amerciat in the panis con- tenit in the Actis of Parliament.
1585 On February 12, brothers Alexander and William Cunningham of Aiket and Patrick Cunningham in Bordland were accused of taking part in the murder of Hugh Mure, Earl of Eglington. [9]
1593 Umquhil William Cunningham of Aiket and Helen Colquhoun his wife were mentioned in an obligation.
[10]
Obligation by John Graham of Knockdolian son and heir of Umquhil Robert Graham of Knockdolian to John Earl of Cassillis, bearing the said Umquhil Robert Graham having obliged himself to redeem from Umquhil William Cunningham of Aiket and Helen Colquhoun his wife the lands of Auchintibert and Boardland and certain other lands in Stewarton (See GD25/1/795) and to relieve Umquhil Gilbert Earl of Cassillis and his heirs of the sum for which the said lands were wadset and annualrent thereof - Nevertheless Patrick Cunningham now of Bordland pretending right to the said lands and sum for which they were wadset, has charged the said John Earl of Cassillis to make payment to him of 100 merks of yearly duty alledged payable therefrom - And the said John Graham understanding perfectly, that if the said Umquhil Robert Graham his father has not already redeemed the said lands, he as heir to him, is obliged to do so, and to relieve the Earl of the principal sum and annualrent thereof, for which they were wadset, and therefore obliges him to obtain a suspension in due form of the charge against the Earl at the instance of the said Patrick Cunningham, and that between and the 1st Aug. then next, so as his Lordship may be relieved thereof, 29 May 1593. (Copy)
Witnesses - Sir Thomas Kennedy of Culean Knight Thomas Kennedy of Bargany and David Graham of Craig. Dated at Girvan.
1594 Patrick Cunningham of Bordland, and Helen Colquhoun Lady Halkhead his mother were mentioned in a decree. [11]
Decree of the Lords of Council, John Earl of Cassillis and John Lord Hamilton John Lord Thirlestan, Sir Thomas Lyon of Auldbar, Sir Patrick Vaus of Barnbarroch, and Sir Thomas Kennedy of Culean Knights, and Thomas Kennedy of Hargany and John Kennedy of Blairquhan his curators Against John Graham of Knockdolian decerning him as son and heir of Umquhil Robert Graham of knockdolian to relieve the Earl at the hands of Patrick Cunningham of Bordland, and Helen Colquhoun Lady Halkhead his mother of the principal sums and bygone annualrents which they had or could claim from the Earls lands and barony of Sterwarton, lying in the bailiary of Cunningham and to fulfil the obligation (GD25/1/1031) granted by him to the Earl, upon the 29th May 1593 in the whole heads and conditions thereof, 13 Jun 1594, at Edinburgh.
1595/96 The will of Helene Colquhoun, Lady Aikitt, elder, sheriffdom of Ayr, was proved on March 13 in the Edinburgh Commissary Court, reference number CC8/8/29.
[1] National Archives of Scotland, GD3/1/1/71/1, Annualrent from Kirkland of Stewarton, 1564-1573, [Scotland_Archives].
[2] National Archives of Scotland, GD39/5/58, [Scotland_Archives].
[3] Robert Pitcairn, Ancient Criminal Trials in Scotland, Vol. 1, Part 2, 1542-1584 (Edinburgh: Printed for the Bannatyne Club, 1833), 18, [HathiTrust].
[4] National Archives of Scotland, GD25/1/795, [Scotland_Archives].
[5] National Archives of Scotland, GD25/1/814, [Scotland_Archives].
[6] National Archives of Scotland, GD3/1/1/71/2, Annualrent from Kirkland of Stewarton, 1564-1573, [Scotland_Archives].
[7] National Archives of Scotland, GD25/1/846, [Scotland_Archives].
[8] Robert Pitcairn, Ancient Criminal Trials in Scotland, Vol. 1, Part 2, 1542-1584 (Edinburgh: Printed for the Bannatyne Club, 1833), 80, [HathiTrust].
[9] Robert Pitcairn, Ancient Criminal Trials in Scotland, Vol. 1, Part 3, 1584-1596 (Edinburgh: Printed for the Bannatyne Club, 1833), 353-355, [HathiTrust].
[10] National Archives of Scotland, GD25/1/1031, [Scotland_Archives].
[11] National Archives of Scotland, GD25/1/1037, [Scotland_Archives].