1533 Robert Stewart was born in 1533. [1] "All the Earles of Scotland with their surnames and yeares by estimation for present lyvinge, anno 1586 ... Earl of Orkney, a Stewart, 55 years, a malcontent, who is base son to James V." [2]
1561 Robert Steward married "about 14 Dec. 1561, Jean, 1st da. of Gilbert (Kennedy), 3rd Earl of Cassillis [S.], by Margaret, da. of Alexander Kennedy, of Bargany." [3] The marriage is mentioned in a letter from "Randolphe to Cecill" dated December 27. [4]
Lord Robert was married upon "Sondaye was viij dayes," to Cassillis' sister, and my Lord John upon "Sondaye nexte" to Bothwell's sister; not here in Court, but wheare the women are at their frendes howses.
1592/3 Robert Stewart died on February 4. [5]
1598 Robert Stewart's "widow d. Sep. 1598." [6]
Research Notes:
The Scots Peerage states, [7]
Robert Stewart of Strathdown was a half-brother of Queen Mary, being a natural son of King James V. by Euphame, daughter of Alexander, first Lord Elphinstone; she married, in 1540, John Bruce of Cultmalundie. Robert was born 1533, and was mentioned in the remainder of the castle and lands of Tantallon, granted to his half-brother James Stewart 31 August 1536, as son of the King by this lady nominatim. He obtained a grant of the Abbey of Holyroodhouse in commendam in 1539. In 1553 he went abroad, and was absent from Scotland for some years. After his return he early joined the Lords of the Congregation against the Queen-mother, and declared himself, according to Knox, to be on the Protestant side. On the return of Queen Mary he was constantly at Court, and had some knowledge of the plot for Darnley's murder. His elder children, legitimate and natural, were provided for out of the temporalities of Holyroodhouse. On 19 December 1564 he obtained a lease of the Crown lands of Orkney and Zetland, but this was revoked when the Queen married Bothwell and created him Duke of Orkney. In 1569, Lord Robert, however, exchanged the temporalities of Holyroodhouse for those of the See of Orkney with Adam Bothwell, Bishop of that Diocese, and in spite of the latter's protest that the proceedings were done by constraint, and also of various revocations and regrants, kept a hold on the earldom and bishopric of Orkney till his death. He was accused in 1571 of treason, having had intrigues with the King of Denmark relative to his islands, was imprisoned by the Regent Morton, and remained in ward until the latter's resignation. In September 1572 he received from Bishop Bothwell three charters of the lands of the bishopric to himself and his wife Jean Kennedy in liferent, and to Henry, their eldest lawful son, whom failing, to Patrick Stewart, his brothergerman, whom failing, to Lord Robert himself, whom failing, to Robert, his natural son, whom failing, to James Stewart, also a natural son, with a remainder to other persons named. He had the satisfaction of assisting at Morton's fall, conveying him to prison. By his nephew King James VI. he was, on 28 October 1581 created Earl of Orkney and Lord of Zetland, with remainder to the heirs of his body, legitimately born, whom failing, to the King. He obtained another entail of the earldom of Orkney, 9 June 1585, and died 4 February 1592-93. He married in 1561 Jean Kennedy, eldest daughter of Gilbert, third Earl of Oassillis, and had issue: 1. Henry, Master of Orkney, mentioned in the entail of the earldom 9 June 1585. He predeceased his father before 1590, when his brother Patrick is styled Master of Orkney. 2. Patrick, his successor. 3. John, created Lord Kinclaven and Earl of Carrick. (See the latter title.) 4. Sir James Stewart of Eday and Tullos, Gentleman of the Bedchamber to King James vi. In spite of the misleading footnote in Wood's Douglas, he was a legitimate son, and is, 1584, described as brother-german of Henry and Patrick, third born. His brother's downfall involved him in difficulties, and he and his eldest son had a protection from their creditors in 1635. He and his wife Margaret Lyon, in 1625, obtained a grant of £900 Scots 'in commiseration of their poore and indigent estate. They had issue:—(1) Colonel Robert Stewart of Eday, ancestor of that family in Orkney. Heirs to the earldom except for the attainder. (2) Colonel John Stewart of Newark, who left issue. (3) Mary, married (contract 1639) to Alexander Bothwell of Glencorse. (4) Margaret. (5) Jean, married, first, to Major George Crichton of Abekie; secondly, to Frederick Lyon of Brigtoun. 5. Sir Robert Stewart of Middleton, described in 1584 as brother-german of Henry, Patrick, and James, and fourth born. He was at one time abroad, and secretary to the Vice-Chancellor of Poland, and then in Ireland. King James VI. wrote to one Stallenge to commend his suit for Elizabeth, daughter of Christopher Kenne, his ward, 14 April 1604. 6. Marie, married (contract 25 November 1585) to Patrick, sixth Lord Gray, as his second wife. 7. Jean, married, first, to Patrick, first Lord Lindores; and secondly, as third wife, to Robert, first Lord Melville of Raith. She survived him, and was alive in 1642. 8. Elizabeth, married to James Sinclair of Murkle, second son of John, Master of Caithness. 9. Barbara, stated to have been married to Hugh or Harry Halcro of Halcro in Orkney.
Earl Robert had a large number of illegitimate children. 1. Robert Stewart, who was legitimated. He is usually named before his brother James, and they are first named in 1566 in a grant to their brother Henry and two sisters, being carefully distinguished as natural sons. 2. James Stewart, who was also legitimated. He received with his brother Robert in 1574 provision out of the teinds of Holyroodhouse. It is exceedingly difficult to disentangle the history of these legitimated sons from those of their lawful brothers of the same name. 3. James Stewart of Graemsay in Orkney (his mother said to be Janet Robertson of Strowan), who was implicated in his father's treasonable intrigues with Denmark. 4. William Stewart of Egilshay, summoned 1600 to find caution for appearance at trial 'for the schamefull and cruell murther of Bellenden, his first spouse.' He was later a colonel in the Swedish service in 1609. 5. George Stewart of Eynhallow, legitimated 29 November 1586. His mother, and the mother of Edward and David was Marjorie Sandilands, wife of Adam Gordon, brother of John Gordon of Avachie. He had in 1584 been included in the provision out of the teinds of Holyroodhouse, and in 1585 was in the entail of the earldom of Orkney and lordship of Zetland. He had a number of lands, afterwards erected into the tenandry of Brugh, and was dead before 30 March 1616. 6. Edward Stewart of Brugh, ancestor of that family. He held the half of the lands of Brugh, and succeeded to his brother George before 30 March 1616. 7. David Stewart of How. 8. Christian married to John Mouat of Hougaland in Shetland, and, as his widow, was living, and in feud with her brother-in-law, in 1634. 9. Grizel, married before 27 December 1591 to Hugh Sinclair of Brugh in Shetland. 10. Mary, said to have been married to Lawrence Sinclair of Goat, in Shetland.
Patrick, second Earl of Orkney and Lord of Zetland, succeeded his father. On 16 January 1581 he received a charter of the priory of Whithorn in commendam, vacant by the death of Lord Robert Stewart, junior, brother to Lord Robert his father. He was early accused of oppression in regard to the spoliation of a Dantzig ship in 1594, but was absolved. He made some figure at Court, and was sewer to the King at the baptism of Prince Henry 23 August 1594. He obtained a novodamus of the earldom of Orkney and lordship of Zetland to himself and his heirs-male, with remainder to his brothers John, James, and Robert, nominatim, whom failing, to Ludovic, Duke of Lennox, 1 March 1600, and was served heir to his brother Henry, Master of Orkney, 2 October 1606. He assumed in Orkney the position of an independent sovereign, and kept almost royal state in the islands. By so doing he involved himself in vast debts, and was guilty of much iniquitous lawlessness and many oppressions directed against the unfortunate islanders, mostly of Norse descent, and holding lands by different tenures, in his earldom. He was, after being summoned to appear before the Privy Council, warded in Edinburgh Castle in 1609, and after relaxation was again imprisoned in Dumbarton Castle. He had sent his natural son Robert Stewart to make a demonstration in his favour in Orkney, but he was, by the efforts of the Earl of Caithness, betrayed, sent to Edinburgh, and hanged. The trial of the Earl himself followed that of his son, and he was condemned to be beheaded. The ministers finding him so ignorant that he could scarce rehearse the Lord's Prayer, desired some delay till he was better informed and received the Lord's Supper. ... Soe he communicate upon the Lord's Day the 5th Februarie, and was beheadit at the Mercat Cross of Edinburgh upon Monday the 6 Februare 1615, and all his honours were forfeited. He had married, after 1591, Margaret, daughter of William, sixth Lord Livingstone, a rich widow, relict of Sir Lewis Belleuden of Auchinoull, Justice-Clerk, and having squandered her fortune, left her to die in poverty.
[1] James Balfour Paul, The Scots Peerage Founded on Wood's Edition of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland 9 vols. (Edinburgh: David Douglas, 1904-1914), 6:572, [HathiTrust], [Archive].
[2] William K. Boyd, ed., Calendar of State Papers Relating to Scotland and Mary, Queen of Scots, 1547-1603, Vol. 9, 1586-1588 (Glasgos: HMSO, 1915), 226, [HathiTrust].
[3] George E. Cokayne, H. A. Doubleday, Howard de Walden, eds., The Complete Peerage, rev., Vol. 10, Oakham to Richmond (London: St. Catherine Press, 1945), 103-104.
[4] Joseph Bain, ed., Calendar of State Papers Relating to Scotland and Mary, Queen of Scots, 1547-1603, Vol. 1, 1547-1563 (Edinburgh: H.M. General Register House, 1898), 583, [HathiTrust].
[5] George E. Cokayne, H. A. Doubleday, Howard de Walden, eds., The Complete Peerage, rev., Vol. 10, Oakham to Richmond (London: St. Catherine Press, 1945), 104, citing "Edin. Tests, 26 May 1597, on which date his testament-dative was given up for confirmation by his son, Patrick, Earl of Orkney as exeuctor." Presumably the date of death is stated in the record.
[6] George E. Cokayne, H. A. Doubleday, Howard de Walden, eds., The Complete Peerage, rev., Vol. 10, Oakham to Richmond (London: St. Catherine Press, 1945), 104.
[7] James Balfour Paul, The Scots Peerage Founded on Wood's Edition of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland 9 vols. (Edinburgh: David Douglas, 1904-1914), 6:572-577, [HathiTrust], [Archive].