Author Topic: Looking for history of Kings of Barra Castle  (Read 14828 times)

Offline Kylie B

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Looking for history of Kings of Barra Castle
« on: Monday 10 May 10 10:22 BST (UK) »
Hi
I am trying to find out more about the King family- who owned, then jointly owned with the Blackhalls, then lost to the crown due to lack of payments to the King- the estates of Barra Castle, near Old Meldrum.

It is my belief that my King family- advocates based in and around Edinburgh in the 1500's to 1600's- were descended from this family, so I am trying to find out more about the King family of Barra and their descendency.

Can anyone suggest any good resources on the net, or books that I might be able to access in australia??

Many thanks!
Kylie B

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Re: Looking for history of Kings of Barra Castle
« Reply #1 on: Monday 10 May 10 12:56 BST (UK) »
You could try a search of google books.

Also look for the statistical account for the relative area (these are available online from the university of Edinburgh).

The former if it doesn't result in books you can read online may give you a few titles to look for in the library (appreciate that depending on where you are in Australia so the library may not be handy or particularly big).

I would expect that such information might also feature in a publication by the likes of The Spalding or Bannatyne clubs.

I may be able to check at the weekend if you don't find out what you need before then.

S_L

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Re: Looking for history of Kings of Barra Castle
« Reply #2 on: Tuesday 11 May 10 08:54 BST (UK) »
Thanks S_L
I have been trawling through Google books, but so far not much luck- either with online access or books I can order via the local library.

I havnt heard of the Spalding or Bannatyne clubs- can you tell me more about them.

Thanks for any more advice or help- it is much appreciated
Kylie B

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Re: Looking for history of Kings of Barra Castle
« Reply #3 on: Tuesday 11 May 10 12:52 BST (UK) »
The Spalding and Banatyne clubs are examples of societies which published historical, geographical and topographical information usually primary sources (i.e. original documents).

The national library of scotland has a list of the various clubs/societies publications here:

http://www.nls.uk/print/search/index.html



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Re: Looking for history of Kings of Barra Castle
« Reply #4 on: Saturday 15 May 10 20:04 BST (UK) »
You're in luck.  :)

Castles of Aberdeenshire by Sir Andrew Leith Hay published at Aberdeen by D. Wyllie & son 1887 page 21

"The lands of Barra, or Barracht, belonged before the middle of the thirteenth century to the family of King, afterwards of Dudwick in Ellon. More than two centuries later , in 1476, James King, "in Barracht" and Alexander Seton "in Meldrum" are among the big lairds and quiet neighbours of Inverurie"

The book then continues with a one page potted summary of the King family as they are mentioned in various legal documents.

I strongly suspect the documents themselves are those which have been published by the Spalding club as part of a 4 volume work but note these are in the original latin.

Regarding a link between that King family and advocates by the name of King in Edinburgh...

The Blackhalls of that ilk and Barra, hereditary coroners and foresters of the Garioch. Alexander Morison published in Aberdeen printed for the New Spalding Club 1905

page 51
"Lastly there was a bond signed on Feb 8th, 1590-91 (Reg. Sec. Sig., 1590-91 p581-582) for Alexander Seton of Meldrum and others, including William Strachan, apparent of Tippertie, and for many other Setons, that William King of Barrach, James King burgess of Aberdeen; Alexander King, Advocate in Edinburgh, and Elizabeth Gray, relict of James King, portioner of Barra, should not be molested by the persons named."

This book makes further mention of the King family as they were the prior owners of land as you already know.

I'm not exactly sure if it fits or not but there's an entry in the Index to the register of Sasines for Aberdeen that mentions a Jean King who was the widow of an Alexander Blackhall so the two families may have been related by marriage.

There's also an interesting offshoot, in terms of later descendants, who fought alongside Charles the first in the English Civil War (amongst others).

S_L

Offline Kylie B

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Re: Looking for history of Kings of Barra Castle
« Reply #5 on: Sunday 16 May 10 10:02 BST (UK) »
Thank you so much-0 so it would seem likely even that my Kings- who were advocates in Edinburgh, might well have been decended from the Kings of Barra.

I will try googling the sources you mentioned and see what I can find. It would seem my Alexander King- who was reported as 'of drydane' and advocate of edinburgh, and his brother (who was likewise reported but a commissioner) might have been sons of an Alexander King advocate in edinburgh, because I have found references to this Alexander King which are too far back to be mine (ie. circa 1550's). So perhaps Alexander King senior was from Barra?

Any ideas on where I might find out more to prove this connection??

Thanks again!
Kylie

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Re: Looking for history of Kings of Barra Castle
« Reply #6 on: Sunday 16 May 10 12:30 BST (UK) »
The protocol books of the earlier Alexander King were held by the City of Edinburgh (possibly now in the national archives of scotland):

VII. ALEXANDER KING'S Protocol Books, five volumes.
Vol. 1, from 5th April 1548 to 18th April 1550, 147 folios. The first
six folios are injured by damp.
Vol. 2, from 19th April 1550 to 23d September 1551, 167 folios.
Vol. 3, from 28th September 1551 to 4th January 1552, 143 folios.
Vol. 4, from 7th January 1552 to 1st June 1555, 236 folios.
Vol. 5, from 1st June 1555 to 5th June 1563, 218 folios.

although their purpose is strictly for legal records there's no reason not to believe that a clue might lie within them.

The list comes from the proceedings of the society of antiquaries of scotland, volume 5
http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/PSAS_2002/pdf/vol_005/5_141_164.pdf

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Re: Looking for history of Kings of Barra Castle
« Reply #7 on: Sunday 16 May 10 15:51 BST (UK) »
also from the what happened to the descendants of the family of King of Barra, scroll down for James King

http://www.electricscotland.com/history/sweden/17-1.htm

Offline Kylie B

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Re: Looking for history of Kings of Barra Castle
« Reply #8 on: Monday 17 May 10 08:41 BST (UK) »
Thanks S_L

What are these Protocol books? Are they something that are avail online because I cannot get to the Scottish national archives. What are they likely to tell us about his family and connections?

Will check out the link and look for James. I have been trying to find out how William King- archibishop of Dublin is connected. Seems a brother- possibly of Alexander Snr's generation moved to Derry and that is his descent.

Ideally I am trying to find the connection of Alexander Senior of Edinburgh back to Barra, and forward to Alexander, and Adam King of Edinburgh and the elusive clues about them!!

Kylie B