'Crichton06'
Index links to: Lead / Letter
Families covered: Crichton of Cranston Riddell, Crichton of Drylaw, Crichton of Eliock, Crichton of Naughton
| On 03.08.17, Peter Barns-Graham released a DRAFT version of this page. He put more effort into researching this family than normal largely because he has several descents from it, including one through Marie, sister of that enigmatic figure 'The Admirable Crichton' (shown near the top of the continuation from below, Crichton07). However, his efforts were only partially successful, leaving many matters unresolved. In May-June 2025, he redid the page completely using the undermentioned works by Gordon MacGregor and Brian Dreadon, both of whom are much more accomplished genie researchers than PBG. This led to the page becoming quite long so that it has been split over 2 pages, this and Crichton07. [The draft page PBG produced back in 2017 contained the largest introductory note he had ever given to a database page. For interest sake, we show that introductory note, along with the other important notes that were included in that draft, all headed by a new note about the reworking of this page, on this Notes page.] |
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| Sir David Crichton, 1st of Cranston Riddell (d 10.1483) | |||||||||||||||
| m. Margaret Schaw (dau of James Schaw of Sauchie (Captain of Stirling Castle), m2. Alexander Cockburn of Ormiston) | |||||||||||||||
| 1. | Sir Patrick Crichton, 2nd of Cranston Riddell (d 05.1521, Captain of Edinburgh Castle) | ||||||||||||||
| m. Katherine Turing (dau of Adam Turing) | |||||||||||||||
| A. | James Crichton, 3rd of Cranston Riddell (b 1515, d by 1540) | ||||||||||||||
| m1. Margaret Hume | |||||||||||||||
| m2. (c1538) Janet Beaton (b 1519, d 01.1568/9, dau of Sir John Beaton (Bethune), 2nd of Creich, m2/div. Simon Preston of Craigmillar, she m3. Sir William Scott of Buccleuch) | |||||||||||||||
| i. | Martin or James Crichton of Cranston Riddell (a 1551, dspl by 02.1580) named Martin by MacGregor, James by Dreadon | ||||||||||||||
| partner unknown | |||||||||||||||
| a. | Richard Crichton (a 1558) | ||||||||||||||
| ii. | George or Martin Crichton named George by MacGregor, Martin by Dreadon | ||||||||||||||
| MacGregor reports that George "renounced his rights to the lands of Cranston Riddell in favour of his cousin James Crichton" (below). | |||||||||||||||
| iii. | Katherine Crichton | ||||||||||||||
| m. Sir Alexander Stewart of Garlies | |||||||||||||||
| B. | David Crichton of Naughton (dsp before 02.1562) | ||||||||||||||
| m. (before 11.03.1540-1) Janet Leslie (d 17.12.1591, dau of George Leslie, 4th Earl of Rothes, m2. John Grant of Freuchie) | |||||||||||||||
| C. | William Crichton of Drylaw & Naughton (a 07.1563, d before 12.1564) | ||||||||||||||
| The following is supported by 'RedBookScot' ('Crichton of Naughton', p565+). MacGregor reports that William had been contracted to marry Beatrice Renton but that was later dissolved. Dreadon adds the marriage to a younger daughter of Alexander Stewart. We presume that she was mother of William's children. | |||||||||||||||
| m1/p. Beatrice Renton, Lady Herdmanston (dau of David Renton of Billie) | |||||||||||||||
| m2. ?? Stewart (dau of Alexander Stewart of Garlies) | |||||||||||||||
| i. | Alexander Crichton of Naughton & Drylaw (b c1532, a 1574) | ||||||||||||||
| Dreadon shows Alexander m1. Margaret Johnston, m2. Marion Riedheugh. MacGregor shows that Alexander's children were by an earlier marriage to ... | |||||||||||||||
| m1. (by 02.08.1562) Christian Kirkcaldy (dau of Sir James Kirkcaldy of Grange) | |||||||||||||||
| a. | Ludovick Crichton, last of Naughton (d before 07.1637) | ||||||||||||||
| m. Christine (Christian) Ramsay of Grange & Corston | |||||||||||||||
| (1) | Ludovick Crichton (a 1627) | ||||||||||||||
| (2) | George Crichton of Ardbekie (Major) | ||||||||||||||
| m. (by 31.07.1637) Jean Stewart (dau of Sir James Stewart of Eday, widow of Sir James Young of Seaton, m3. Frederick Lyon of Brigton) | |||||||||||||||
| (A)+ | issue - George, Margaret | ||||||||||||||
| partner unknown | |||||||||||||||
| (C) | Ludovick Crichton | ||||||||||||||
| b. | David Crichton mentioned by Dreadon | ||||||||||||||
| c. | Patrick Crichton (a 1609, minister of Ruthven) | ||||||||||||||
| m. Isobell Rattray | |||||||||||||||
| (1) | Margaret Crichton | ||||||||||||||
| m. (mcrt 17.03.1637) Alexander Ramsay of Dalrulzeon | |||||||||||||||
| d. | Margaret Crichton (adult by 1592) mentioned by MacGregor | ||||||||||||||
| e. | Catherine Crichton mentioned by Dreadon as probably of this family | ||||||||||||||
| m1. (before 1557) David Balfour of Balledmonth | |||||||||||||||
| m2. Henry Wood in Wormit | |||||||||||||||
| f. | Janet Crichton mentioned by Dreadon | ||||||||||||||
| m. Thomas Graham in 'Sandford of Naughton' (d 1580) | |||||||||||||||
| m2. (by 10.1580) Margaret Johnstone (dau of James Johnston of Elphinstone, m2. Adam Colt) | |||||||||||||||
| m3. (after 06.10.1593) Marion Reidhugh (dau of _ Reidhugh of Tulliechettill, widow of Alexander Bonar of Over Culteuchar (Colcuquhair)) | |||||||||||||||
| ii. | James Crichton of Cranston Riddell (a 1583) | ||||||||||||||
| MacGregor identifies James's wife Dorothea as dau of David Scott of Branxholme. Provisionally we follow Dreadon in showing her as ... | |||||||||||||||
| m. Dorothea Scott (dau of Sir Walter Scott of Buccleuch by Janet Beaton) | |||||||||||||||
| a. | Sir James Crichton younger of Cranston Riddell (a 1583) | ||||||||||||||
| b | Thomas Crichton of Bottomcraig (b 1574, d 1619 or 03.02.1644) | ||||||||||||||
| m. Jean Cannolie | |||||||||||||||
| c. | George Crichton (a 1610) | ||||||||||||||
| iii. | Sir Robert Crichton of Eliock & Cluny (d 06.1582, 'King's Advocate', Senator as 'Lord Eliock') | -- | |||||||||||||
| (1) MacGregor (p567) shows a Robert as of this generation but says very little about him other than that he was appointed as a baillie in 1566. On p556, introducing the chapter on the 'Crichtons of Cluny', he notes that Robert, the King's Advocate, was closely connected to Robert Crichton, Bishop of Dunkeld (E. below), but adds that "the precise relationship between them cannot be said". (2) Dreadon, who (in the Preface) acknowledges that Robert, 3rd son of William of Drylaw, was named in 1566 as a baillie, accepts that it has not been fully proven that that Robert was this Robert of Eliock, father of 'The Admirable Crichton'. Much of his book then refers to many charters and other documents relating to the relationships between various members of the family, not least in respect of the transfers of land. He also considers sources such as 'Life of James Crichton of Cluny commonly called The Admirable Crichton' (Patrick Fraser Tytler, 1819), determining that some of Tytler's conclusions on this Robert were suspect. He finishes the core part of the book (before the lengthy appendices) asking the question directly (p23): "Was Robert Crichton of Eliok the third son of William Crichton of Drylaw?" and concludes (p24) that there is "considerable circumstantial evidence suggesting that he was". (3) MacGregor, having considered Dreadon's claim, commented (21.07.25) that "if those persons were identical, it would be expected that (Robert the baillie) would be designated "of Cluny" (in certain documents)", which was not the case. Nevertheless he concluded "Those two Roberts could be identical - and it is an interesting proposition which requires serious consideration - but there appears to have been a curious mix of inter-relationships and I am not sure we have gotten to the bottom of it all yet." Provisionally, we are working on the basis that the two Roberts were one and the same person. |
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| m1. (by 22.05.1558) Elizabeth Stewart (d before 02.02.1571/2, dau of Sir James Stewart of Doune (Beath)) | -- | ||||||||||||||
| m2. (mcrt 06.08.1572) Agnes Mowbray (dau of John Mowbray of Barnbougle) | |||||||||||||||
| m3. (by 24.11.1578) Isobella Borthwick d 06.1582, dau of David Borthwick of Lochill, etc., 'Lord Menmuir', m2. James Stirling of Wester Feddall) | |||||||||||||||
| D. | Patrick Crichton, 1st of Kinglassy & Lugton (d before 05.1560) | -- | |||||||||||||
| m. (by 08.10.1528) Margaret Hoppringill, heiress of Gilmerton (dau of Adam Hoppringle of that ilk) | -- | ||||||||||||||
| E. | Martin Crichton mentioned by Dreadon | ||||||||||||||
| F. | Robert Crichton, Bishop of Dunkeld (d 03.1585) | ||||||||||||||
| G. | Henry Crichton of Riccarton (d 1537) mentioned by MacGregor | ||||||||||||||
| i. | Janet Crichton | ||||||||||||||
| m. (by 13.01.1544??) Henry Drummond, later of Riccarton (d 04.1601, son (sb nephew?) of Sir John of Innerpeffrey) ## see here ?dates? ## | |||||||||||||||
| ii. | Margaret Crichton | ||||||||||||||
| m. (by 06.06.1549) George Crawford of Leffnoris | |||||||||||||||
| H. | Janet Crichton (d 1515) mentioned by MacGregor | -- | |||||||||||||
| m. (before 1493) John Douglas, 2nd Earl of Morton (d by 09.1515) | -- | ||||||||||||||
| I. | Agnes Crichton | -- | |||||||||||||
| m1. George Sinclair (son/heir of Oliver of Roslin) | |||||||||||||||
| m2. (by 20.02.1508/9) Andrew Ker of Cessford (d 24.07.1526) | -- | ||||||||||||||
| 2. | Sir Peter Crichton of Naughton (a 1517, dsp after 14.01.1530 (after 1533?)) | ||||||||||||||
| Sir Peter is mentioned on 'RedBookScot' ('Crichton of Naughton', p565). He and his wife resigned his lands to his nephew David Crichton, above. | |||||||||||||||
| m. Janet Hay (a 1529, dau/heir of James Hay of Naughton (who d Flodden 1513)) ## see here ## | |||||||||||||||
| 3. | George Crichton, Bishop of Dunkeld (d 24.01.1543/4) | ||||||||||||||
| 4. | Marion Crichton (d by 1516) possibly of this generation | ||||||||||||||
| m1. John Menzies of that ilk | |||||||||||||||
| m2. James Tweedy of Drumelzier | |||||||||||||||
| m3. William Baillie of Wattiston (or Lamington?) | |||||||||||||||
| m4. (before 1511) Sir Robert Hamilton of Fingalton & Preston (d before 1522, m1. Margaret Mowat) | |||||||||||||||
| 5. | Margaret Crichton possibly of this generation | -- | |||||||||||||
| m. John Cockburn of Ormiston | -- | ||||||||||||||
Main source(s): 'RedBookScot' (Gordon MacGregor, vol 4 (2025 edition), 'Crichton of Cranston Riddell' (p560+) and as reported above), 'Life of the Admirable Crichton Revisited' (Brian Lawrence Dreadon, 2018, #3 here)
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