stirling-1963-vol-1/05_046

Transcription

INTRODUCTION : GENERAL
The family resided chiefly in Ireland for several generations, but the Irish estate was gradually
reduced and then finally sold at the end of the 18th century. Meanwhile the barony of Dun-
treath had been mortgaged to Sir William Livingstone of Kilsyth in 1614, largely to raise
money for the purchase of the Irish properties; the greater part of the family estates in
Stirlingshire, however, were redeemed by Archibald Edmonstone in 1630. Sir Archibald
Edmonstone, 1st Baronet, who sold the remains of the Irish property, purchased the estate of
Kilsyth in 1783 and took up residence at Colzium (cf. No. 204). Duntreath Castle, which had
been allowed to fall into decay during the 18th century, was restored by Sir Archibald
Edmonstone, 3rd Baronet, in 1857 and has since been the principal residence of the family
(cf. No. 209).
The most powerful family in eastern Stirlingshire was that of Livingstone, the senior
branch of which was Livingstone of Callendar. ¹ The early history of the family is uncertain,
but the founder of the house of Callendar in 1345-6; his marriage to Christian, daughter of
Patrick of Callendar, strengthened his claim to the property. In 1362 William further acquired
the lands of Kilsyth, which he was granted by Royal charter; this property did not remain
with the senior branch of the family, however, but passed at the beginning of the 15th century
to William Livingstone, the founder of the house of Kilsyth. Sir Alexander Livingstone, who
played an important part in national affairs during the minority of James II, was forfeited in
1450, but the family regained its estates a few years later, and in 1455 James Livingstone was
created a peer with the title of Lord Livingstone of Callendar. In 1458 the family estates were
erected into the barony of Callender; the Stirlingshire property included the lands of
Callendar, Airth, Slamannan Moor, Kilsyth, Polmaise and Livilands. Alexander, 7th Lord
Livingstone, who stood high in the favour of James VI, was created Earl of Linlithgow in
1601; his youngest son, James, a soldier of distinction, was created Lord Livingstone of
Almond in 1633 and Earl of Callendar in 1641. A large proportion of the Livingstone estates
in Stirlingshire, including the baronies of Callendar and Falkirk, passed to this branch of the
family, and it was no doubt the Earls of Callendar who extended Callendar House (No. 311),
making it the largest mansion in the county at that time. The titles of Linlithgow and
Callendar were united in 1695 when James, 4th Earl of Callendar, succeeded his uncle, the
4th Earl of Linlithgow; but both estates and titles were forfeited after the 1715 rebellion, in
which the family supported the Pretender.
As already mentioned, the founder of the house of Livingstone of Kilsyth ² was William
Livingstone, who received a grant of part of the lands of Kilsyth from his father, Sir John
Livingstone of Callendar, early in the 15th century. In 1540 the family's estates in Stirlingshire
and Berwickshire were incorporated into the barony of Wester Kilsyth, while Easter Kilsyth,
which had previously remained with the senior branch of the family, was granted to Sir
William Livingstone by Alexander, 1st Earl of Linlithgow, early in the 17th century. During
the same period the family also increased its Stirlingshire estates by the acquisition of the
barony of Herbertshire, the lands of Kincaid and Birdston and the temporary possession of
the barony of Duntreath. Soon after the Restoration, Sir James Livingstone was created

1 The Scots Peerage, v, 421 ff.; ii, 360 ff.; Livingston, E. B., The Livingstons of Callendar, 5 ff.
2 The Scots Peerage, v, 183 ff.; Livingston, E. B., op. cit., 157 ff.

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