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Historical Notice Of The St. Clairs Of Rosslyn, Grand Master Masons Of Scotland.
by a deed executed en the 31 st October , 1735 , settled the estates thus acquired , failing issue of his own body , upon the heirs-male of his sisters , and was accordingly succeeded by his nephew , James Paterson , Esq ., who assumed the name of St . Clair , the only son of the marriage of John
Preston , Esq ., of Preston Hall , and the Honourable Grizel St . Clair . He , dying unmarried in 1 789 , was succeeded by his nephew , Sir James St . Clair Erskine , afterwards second Earl of Rosslyn , in 1805 , the grandson ot Sir John Erskine , Bart ., of / Viva , who married the
Honourable Barbara St . Clair , daughter of Henry , Lord St . Clair , and as heir male of this lady , he succeeded under this entail . His mother was a sister of Lord Loughborough , afterwards the first Earl of Rosslyn , whose peerage was created , with remainders to his nephews , Sir James St .
Clair Erskine , and John Erskine , Esq . The first Earl of Rosslyn died in 1803 , and was succeeded by his nephew , Sir James St . Clair Erskine , already mentioned . The first Earl of Rosslyn was Alexander
Wedderbum , born at Edinburgh , 13 th February , 1733 , eldest son of Peter Wedderbum , Esq ., of Chesterhall , ( known as a Lord of Session by the title of Lord Chesterhall . ) The Wedderburns of Chesterhall were descended from Walter de
Wedderbum , one of the great Barons of Scotland , who swore fealty in 1296 , to Edward I . of England , for the lands which he possessed in County of Berwick . Alexander Wedderbum was early distinguished at the Scottish bar , to which he was called when only nineteen years
of age ; but a snubbing from the bench , such as was then too common , caused such disgust in his mind , that he tore off" his gown and flung it down on the spot , declaring his intention of seeking another sphere . He went to London , where he became a member of Inner Temple in
1753 . He was called to the English bar 111 17-37 , and soon rose to high eminence . He was appointed Solicitor-General in 1771 , was promoted to be Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas in 1780 , and was then createtl Baron
Loughborough . In 1793 he was appointed Lord Chancellor . In 179 5 he obtained a new patent of peerage as Baron Loughborough , with the remainder to his nephew , Sir James St . Clair Erskine , and John . Erskine , Esq ., abovementioned .
In 1801 , he was advanced to the dignity of Earl of Rosslyn , with the rcmaindership . He died on 3 rd January , 1805 , and was succeeded by Sir James St . Clair Erskine , who then became second Earl of Rosslyn .
This second Earl of Rosslyn was descended in the male line from the ancient family of Erskine , and by maternal progenitors from the St . Clairs of Rosslyn , and the Wedderburns o ! " Chesterhall . Sir Henry Erskine , Bart ., son of Sir John Erskine of Alva , Bart ., who was a younger son
of the Hon . Sir Charles Erskine of Alva , who was a younger son of John , seventh Earl ot Marr , was at his death in 1765 , a Lieut .-General in the army . He married , in 1761 , Janet , daughter of Peter Wedderburn of Chesterhall , sister of the first Earl of Rosslyn . Through her
the present Earls of Rosslyn are connected with the old St . Clairs of Rosslyn . Sir John Erskine , his father , having married a daughter of Henry Lord Sinclair , or St . Clair . The second Earl of Rosslyn was s ccceded by his eldest son , James Alexander , third Earl , on his death in J 837 . The third Earl of Rosslyn died on the
rijlh June , lriou an . I was succeeded by his son , Robert Francis , fourth and present i- ' . ail of Rosslyn , also Grand Master of Scotland , residing at Dysart Hall , Fii ' eshire , Scotia-nd . The family name is now St . Clair Evskive .
The claims indicate the connection with the Ss Clairs and the Wedderburns . The present Earl of Rosslyn holds the hi gh and honourable office of ( fraud Master Mason ol
Scotland . I lis Grand Mastershi p is of special interest as connecting the present time with tiie past of former centuries ; and it is to be hoped under his reign , Freemasonry will regain its old high reputation for purity and honoui .
lhegrantof the olnce of Grand Master Ma . sou of Scotland by James II . 10 William St . Clair , Earl of Orkney , has been called in question , and some ingenuity has been displayed in the endeavour to make it appear improbable . As
Historical Notice Of The St. Clairs Of Rosslyn, Grand Master Masons Of Scotland.
has been already observed , it is by no means necessary to prove that the title of Grand Master Mason was given to the Earl of Orkney , of was ever assumed by his descendants , the Barons or Lairds of Rosslyn , during their tenure of their hereditary offije , in order to maintain
that this office was virtually the Grand Mastership . Titles and styles of address have , no doubt , varied in the Masonic body as in others . In the days of James II ., of Scotland , and indeed much more recently , the king was not spoken of as His Majesty , but always as His Highness ;
and many other lorms now in use are likewise of recent origin . The charter by which James II . granted the Grand Mastership to the Earl of Orkney is not , however , in existence , or at least , it is not known to be in existence ,
although a thorough search of the charter chests of the Rosslyn and Caithness families might possibly enough result in the finding of it , although it appears from the charter granted by the Masons of Scotland to Sir William St . Clair
of Rosslyn in A . D . 1630 , that it was then supposed to be lost , " being consumed in ane flame of fire , within the Castle of Rosslyn , " with other writs or charters belonging to the family . It has been pointed out , however , as a remarkable circumstance , and as calculated to throw doubt upon the story of this a " flame of fire , " that there is no mention of it in the first charter
granted by the Masons of Scotland to the Laird of Rosslyn in the reign of James VI ., and of which the charter of 1630 is a confirmation . To this it may be replied , in the first
place , that the charter of 1630 is longer and more particular in many things than the old charter , a fact which it seems strange that any fair historic inquirer should have failed to observe , and which makes it not wonderful that
this statement concerning the destruction of the charters , by which the St . Clairs of Rosslyn obtained their rights from the crown , should appear only in the charter of 1630 , and not in the older one , which it confirms . In the second place , it is to be observed that the
argument , if such it may be called , against the truthfulness of the statement concerning the "flame of fire , " in the charter of 1630 , is founded on an assumption which cannot be admitted without the destruction of the very theory which it has evidently been devised lo
support . It has been alleged , with reckless confidence that to establish the antiquity of Freemasonry and give it a false glory , many falsehoods have been put forth as if they were historic verities ; and men who were hi ghly honoured in their own day , have been named as
the trainers of a system of imposture . It would not really serve the purpose , however , of those who maintain the entivly modern ori g in of Freemasonry , to prove , if they could prove it , or to make it appear probable , as they have
evidently sought to do , that the Masons of Scotland in 1 O 30 set down in their charter to Sir William St . Clair , a deliberate lie as to the burning of the old charters of his family . What motive can they be supposed to have had for so doiiv' ? Those who ascribe the invention of Free
masonry to Elias Ashmole , in the latter part of seventeenth century , or to Desaguliers , Anderson , and others in the year 1717 , would find it little u > their advantage in point of argument , for the support of either of these theories , even if they could prove that a false story for the advancement
ol t . ie glory of . Masonry was fabricated in 1630 . They have caught at the argument too hastily , and without well considering its probable effects . However , they seem to imagine that it is desirable throw doubt and discredit on whatever tends to make Freemasonry appear ancient , and therefore
t : ie statement of the charter of 1630 , concerning the destruction of the old writs of the Rosslyn family , must be set aside if possible . And ' so we are asked , " Hy what strange fatality were particular writings consumed , when all the remaining charters , forming a complete charterlary of Rosslyn , escaped ? " Now the charter of
167 , 0 , plainly declares that not only were the charters destroyed hy which their rights to the Grand Mastership -or whatever it was termedof the Masons of Scotland were granted by the crown , but that along with their " sundrie other of the Laird of Rosslyn , his wreatts " were consumed .
Historical Notice Of The St. Clairs Of Rosslyn, Grand Master Masons Of Scotland.
As to the existence of a complete chartulary of Rosslyn , it is a mere gratuitous assumption . What charters may exist in the charter chests of the Rosslyn family , no one , of course , can tell ; but we know that copies of certain charters are contained in the Hay MSS . in the Advocates' Library ,
Edinburgh , and these have been published as "the Chartulary of Rosslyn , " in the " Genealogie of the Sainteclaires of Rosslyn by Father Richard Augustin Hay , Prior of St . Pieremont , " ( Edinburgh : Thomas G . Stevens , 1835 ) , DUt a glance at the volume is sufficient to show that it is far
from containing a complete set of the family charters . To assume that we have in a " complete chartulary of Rosslyn , " is utterly absurd . There is , however , in this volume , one charter to which it may be worth while to refer , in connection with the present subject . It is a charter
granted by King James V . " for renewing some old charters of Rosslyns , " and the reason assigned for their renewal , is that they have become worn out and almost illegible , so that they would probably soon be altogether useless , " quod una pars suarum evidentariun caduca , et ob
netustatem elementarum vix lucide legenda , et tractu temporis , illius sigilla pene corrupta , sic quod in punctum consumptions existit . " From this we may infer , that even in the Castle of Rosslyn , the charters were not kept with due care ; and a charter granting authority among the Masons was not as likel y to be more
carefully preserved than those by which the estates of the family were conferred . It seems proper here to give , in full , the two charters already mentioned , as granted by the Masons of Scotland to the St . Clairs of Rosslyn , in the beginning of the seventeenth century . Charter granted by the Masons of Scotland , to
William St . Clair of Rosslyn , ( in the reign of James VI . of England , and after his accession to the English throne—as appears from other evidence—but without date ) , [ some say probable date 1600—1 . ] From Hay ' s MSS . in Advocates' Library . Originals in the Grand Lod ge of Scotland : —
No . I . Be it kend till all men be thir present Iris . Ws deacones maisteris and frie men of the Maissones w ' tin the realme of Scotland with expres consent & assent of Win Schaw Maister of Wark to our sou ' ane lord ff ' or sa mekle as from aige to aige it
lies bene observit aniangs ws that the Laids of ro ling lies ever bene patrones and protectors of ws and our previleges lyckas our predecessors lies obey it and acknawled geit thame as patrones and "ptectoris t-iuhill that w'in thir few yiers throw ch negligence and slewthfulness the samyn
lies past furtli of vse Quhairby nocht onlie lies the Laird of Kosling lyne owt of his just vrycht hot also our haill craft lies bene destitute of ane patrone protectotir and oversear q'lk lies genderit manyfauld corruptiones and imperfectiones baith amangis ourselfis and in our craft and lies gevin
occasion to mony persones to consavc evill opinioun of ws and our craft and to leive oft great inerpryses of polleeie Be ressone of our great misbehahaviour w ' out correction Quhairby not onelie the comittairs of the faultis hot also the honest men ar disapoyntit of thair craft and
'P'ffeit . As lyckwayes quhen dyvers and sindrie contraverses fallis out amangis ourselfis thair follows great & manyfald inconveniences throw want of ane [ patrone and protector ] we nocht being abill to await vpoun the ordiner judges &
judgement of this realme throw the occasioun of our powertie and langsumnes of prcess ff ' or remeid of q ' r ' of and for keeping of guid ordour amangis ws in all tymes cummying and for advancement our craft and vocatioun within this
realme and furtherens of policie w ' t'in thesamin We for our selffis & in name of our haill bretherene and craftismen w ' t consent foirsaid aggreis and consentis that Wm Sinclar now of roslin for him self cc hisairispurches and obteine atye hands of our Sou ' ane Lord libertie friedome and jurisdictioun vponews and our successoures
in all times cummyng as patrones cc judges to us and the haill " |> fessoris of our craft w ' t'in this realme qiihom of we have power and coinmission Swa that heirefter we may acknawledge him and his airis as our patrone and judge vnder our Sou ' ane Lord w ' t ' out ony kynd of appelatioun or declynyng from his judgement with
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Historical Notice Of The St. Clairs Of Rosslyn, Grand Master Masons Of Scotland.
by a deed executed en the 31 st October , 1735 , settled the estates thus acquired , failing issue of his own body , upon the heirs-male of his sisters , and was accordingly succeeded by his nephew , James Paterson , Esq ., who assumed the name of St . Clair , the only son of the marriage of John
Preston , Esq ., of Preston Hall , and the Honourable Grizel St . Clair . He , dying unmarried in 1 789 , was succeeded by his nephew , Sir James St . Clair Erskine , afterwards second Earl of Rosslyn , in 1805 , the grandson ot Sir John Erskine , Bart ., of / Viva , who married the
Honourable Barbara St . Clair , daughter of Henry , Lord St . Clair , and as heir male of this lady , he succeeded under this entail . His mother was a sister of Lord Loughborough , afterwards the first Earl of Rosslyn , whose peerage was created , with remainders to his nephews , Sir James St .
Clair Erskine , and John Erskine , Esq . The first Earl of Rosslyn died in 1803 , and was succeeded by his nephew , Sir James St . Clair Erskine , already mentioned . The first Earl of Rosslyn was Alexander
Wedderbum , born at Edinburgh , 13 th February , 1733 , eldest son of Peter Wedderbum , Esq ., of Chesterhall , ( known as a Lord of Session by the title of Lord Chesterhall . ) The Wedderburns of Chesterhall were descended from Walter de
Wedderbum , one of the great Barons of Scotland , who swore fealty in 1296 , to Edward I . of England , for the lands which he possessed in County of Berwick . Alexander Wedderbum was early distinguished at the Scottish bar , to which he was called when only nineteen years
of age ; but a snubbing from the bench , such as was then too common , caused such disgust in his mind , that he tore off" his gown and flung it down on the spot , declaring his intention of seeking another sphere . He went to London , where he became a member of Inner Temple in
1753 . He was called to the English bar 111 17-37 , and soon rose to high eminence . He was appointed Solicitor-General in 1771 , was promoted to be Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas in 1780 , and was then createtl Baron
Loughborough . In 1793 he was appointed Lord Chancellor . In 179 5 he obtained a new patent of peerage as Baron Loughborough , with the remainder to his nephew , Sir James St . Clair Erskine , and John . Erskine , Esq ., abovementioned .
In 1801 , he was advanced to the dignity of Earl of Rosslyn , with the rcmaindership . He died on 3 rd January , 1805 , and was succeeded by Sir James St . Clair Erskine , who then became second Earl of Rosslyn .
This second Earl of Rosslyn was descended in the male line from the ancient family of Erskine , and by maternal progenitors from the St . Clairs of Rosslyn , and the Wedderburns o ! " Chesterhall . Sir Henry Erskine , Bart ., son of Sir John Erskine of Alva , Bart ., who was a younger son
of the Hon . Sir Charles Erskine of Alva , who was a younger son of John , seventh Earl ot Marr , was at his death in 1765 , a Lieut .-General in the army . He married , in 1761 , Janet , daughter of Peter Wedderburn of Chesterhall , sister of the first Earl of Rosslyn . Through her
the present Earls of Rosslyn are connected with the old St . Clairs of Rosslyn . Sir John Erskine , his father , having married a daughter of Henry Lord Sinclair , or St . Clair . The second Earl of Rosslyn was s ccceded by his eldest son , James Alexander , third Earl , on his death in J 837 . The third Earl of Rosslyn died on the
rijlh June , lriou an . I was succeeded by his son , Robert Francis , fourth and present i- ' . ail of Rosslyn , also Grand Master of Scotland , residing at Dysart Hall , Fii ' eshire , Scotia-nd . The family name is now St . Clair Evskive .
The claims indicate the connection with the Ss Clairs and the Wedderburns . The present Earl of Rosslyn holds the hi gh and honourable office of ( fraud Master Mason ol
Scotland . I lis Grand Mastershi p is of special interest as connecting the present time with tiie past of former centuries ; and it is to be hoped under his reign , Freemasonry will regain its old high reputation for purity and honoui .
lhegrantof the olnce of Grand Master Ma . sou of Scotland by James II . 10 William St . Clair , Earl of Orkney , has been called in question , and some ingenuity has been displayed in the endeavour to make it appear improbable . As
Historical Notice Of The St. Clairs Of Rosslyn, Grand Master Masons Of Scotland.
has been already observed , it is by no means necessary to prove that the title of Grand Master Mason was given to the Earl of Orkney , of was ever assumed by his descendants , the Barons or Lairds of Rosslyn , during their tenure of their hereditary offije , in order to maintain
that this office was virtually the Grand Mastership . Titles and styles of address have , no doubt , varied in the Masonic body as in others . In the days of James II ., of Scotland , and indeed much more recently , the king was not spoken of as His Majesty , but always as His Highness ;
and many other lorms now in use are likewise of recent origin . The charter by which James II . granted the Grand Mastership to the Earl of Orkney is not , however , in existence , or at least , it is not known to be in existence ,
although a thorough search of the charter chests of the Rosslyn and Caithness families might possibly enough result in the finding of it , although it appears from the charter granted by the Masons of Scotland to Sir William St . Clair
of Rosslyn in A . D . 1630 , that it was then supposed to be lost , " being consumed in ane flame of fire , within the Castle of Rosslyn , " with other writs or charters belonging to the family . It has been pointed out , however , as a remarkable circumstance , and as calculated to throw doubt upon the story of this a " flame of fire , " that there is no mention of it in the first charter
granted by the Masons of Scotland to the Laird of Rosslyn in the reign of James VI ., and of which the charter of 1630 is a confirmation . To this it may be replied , in the first
place , that the charter of 1630 is longer and more particular in many things than the old charter , a fact which it seems strange that any fair historic inquirer should have failed to observe , and which makes it not wonderful that
this statement concerning the destruction of the charters , by which the St . Clairs of Rosslyn obtained their rights from the crown , should appear only in the charter of 1630 , and not in the older one , which it confirms . In the second place , it is to be observed that the
argument , if such it may be called , against the truthfulness of the statement concerning the "flame of fire , " in the charter of 1630 , is founded on an assumption which cannot be admitted without the destruction of the very theory which it has evidently been devised lo
support . It has been alleged , with reckless confidence that to establish the antiquity of Freemasonry and give it a false glory , many falsehoods have been put forth as if they were historic verities ; and men who were hi ghly honoured in their own day , have been named as
the trainers of a system of imposture . It would not really serve the purpose , however , of those who maintain the entivly modern ori g in of Freemasonry , to prove , if they could prove it , or to make it appear probable , as they have
evidently sought to do , that the Masons of Scotland in 1 O 30 set down in their charter to Sir William St . Clair , a deliberate lie as to the burning of the old charters of his family . What motive can they be supposed to have had for so doiiv' ? Those who ascribe the invention of Free
masonry to Elias Ashmole , in the latter part of seventeenth century , or to Desaguliers , Anderson , and others in the year 1717 , would find it little u > their advantage in point of argument , for the support of either of these theories , even if they could prove that a false story for the advancement
ol t . ie glory of . Masonry was fabricated in 1630 . They have caught at the argument too hastily , and without well considering its probable effects . However , they seem to imagine that it is desirable throw doubt and discredit on whatever tends to make Freemasonry appear ancient , and therefore
t : ie statement of the charter of 1630 , concerning the destruction of the old writs of the Rosslyn family , must be set aside if possible . And ' so we are asked , " Hy what strange fatality were particular writings consumed , when all the remaining charters , forming a complete charterlary of Rosslyn , escaped ? " Now the charter of
167 , 0 , plainly declares that not only were the charters destroyed hy which their rights to the Grand Mastership -or whatever it was termedof the Masons of Scotland were granted by the crown , but that along with their " sundrie other of the Laird of Rosslyn , his wreatts " were consumed .
Historical Notice Of The St. Clairs Of Rosslyn, Grand Master Masons Of Scotland.
As to the existence of a complete chartulary of Rosslyn , it is a mere gratuitous assumption . What charters may exist in the charter chests of the Rosslyn family , no one , of course , can tell ; but we know that copies of certain charters are contained in the Hay MSS . in the Advocates' Library ,
Edinburgh , and these have been published as "the Chartulary of Rosslyn , " in the " Genealogie of the Sainteclaires of Rosslyn by Father Richard Augustin Hay , Prior of St . Pieremont , " ( Edinburgh : Thomas G . Stevens , 1835 ) , DUt a glance at the volume is sufficient to show that it is far
from containing a complete set of the family charters . To assume that we have in a " complete chartulary of Rosslyn , " is utterly absurd . There is , however , in this volume , one charter to which it may be worth while to refer , in connection with the present subject . It is a charter
granted by King James V . " for renewing some old charters of Rosslyns , " and the reason assigned for their renewal , is that they have become worn out and almost illegible , so that they would probably soon be altogether useless , " quod una pars suarum evidentariun caduca , et ob
netustatem elementarum vix lucide legenda , et tractu temporis , illius sigilla pene corrupta , sic quod in punctum consumptions existit . " From this we may infer , that even in the Castle of Rosslyn , the charters were not kept with due care ; and a charter granting authority among the Masons was not as likel y to be more
carefully preserved than those by which the estates of the family were conferred . It seems proper here to give , in full , the two charters already mentioned , as granted by the Masons of Scotland to the St . Clairs of Rosslyn , in the beginning of the seventeenth century . Charter granted by the Masons of Scotland , to
William St . Clair of Rosslyn , ( in the reign of James VI . of England , and after his accession to the English throne—as appears from other evidence—but without date ) , [ some say probable date 1600—1 . ] From Hay ' s MSS . in Advocates' Library . Originals in the Grand Lod ge of Scotland : —
No . I . Be it kend till all men be thir present Iris . Ws deacones maisteris and frie men of the Maissones w ' tin the realme of Scotland with expres consent & assent of Win Schaw Maister of Wark to our sou ' ane lord ff ' or sa mekle as from aige to aige it
lies bene observit aniangs ws that the Laids of ro ling lies ever bene patrones and protectors of ws and our previleges lyckas our predecessors lies obey it and acknawled geit thame as patrones and "ptectoris t-iuhill that w'in thir few yiers throw ch negligence and slewthfulness the samyn
lies past furtli of vse Quhairby nocht onlie lies the Laird of Kosling lyne owt of his just vrycht hot also our haill craft lies bene destitute of ane patrone protectotir and oversear q'lk lies genderit manyfauld corruptiones and imperfectiones baith amangis ourselfis and in our craft and lies gevin
occasion to mony persones to consavc evill opinioun of ws and our craft and to leive oft great inerpryses of polleeie Be ressone of our great misbehahaviour w ' out correction Quhairby not onelie the comittairs of the faultis hot also the honest men ar disapoyntit of thair craft and
'P'ffeit . As lyckwayes quhen dyvers and sindrie contraverses fallis out amangis ourselfis thair follows great & manyfald inconveniences throw want of ane [ patrone and protector ] we nocht being abill to await vpoun the ordiner judges &
judgement of this realme throw the occasioun of our powertie and langsumnes of prcess ff ' or remeid of q ' r ' of and for keeping of guid ordour amangis ws in all tymes cummying and for advancement our craft and vocatioun within this
realme and furtherens of policie w ' t'in thesamin We for our selffis & in name of our haill bretherene and craftismen w ' t consent foirsaid aggreis and consentis that Wm Sinclar now of roslin for him self cc hisairispurches and obteine atye hands of our Sou ' ane Lord libertie friedome and jurisdictioun vponews and our successoures
in all times cummyng as patrones cc judges to us and the haill " |> fessoris of our craft w ' t'in this realme qiihom of we have power and coinmission Swa that heirefter we may acknawledge him and his airis as our patrone and judge vnder our Sou ' ane Lord w ' t ' out ony kynd of appelatioun or declynyng from his judgement with