Note: Yet another example of a fascinating family with a story to tell but who have fallen into complete obscurity. The lands they possessed and from which they took their surname are located immediately to the south of Linlithgow
PARKLEY of THAT ILK
James de Parkley of that Ilk, is, apparently, the first for whom there is evidence but of his parentage and ancestry, nothing can be said. He was included in a safe conduct issued by Henry VI. of England in favour of James Sandilands of Calder in 1424[1] and is styled “lord of that Ilk” when witness to a charter by Henry de Levingston of Manerston granting the lands of Manerston to his son, Henry de Livingston, on 8 June 1434.[2] He was one of the witnesses to a charter by George Crichton of Blackness, granting the half lands of Borthwickscheils to Andrew Kerr of Altounburn on 2 January 1443-44[3] and was sheriff of Linlithgow by 5 August 1447, when his seal was used to endorse a charter by Katherine de Rathou granting lands in the burgh of Linlithgow to John Palmer, burgess of Linlithgow.[4] He died about 1455 having married a woman named Alice, who survived him and had the relief of the lands of Ballormy remitted to her in 1455.[5] He was succeeded by
George Parkley of that Ilk, who was in all likelihood the son and heir of the former and was infeft in the lands of Bedlormy, Parkley and Hittly in Linlithgowshire, upon chancery precept dated in 1455.[6] He was one of the shieldbearers to King James III. by 21 March 1484/85[7] and was appointed captain, custodian and governor of Linlithgow Palace with the loch, parks and gardens there, by King James IV on 17 June 1488, in part satisfaction of expenses incurred on behalf of the king.[8] He died after 20 August 1489[9] and before 10 January 1490/91, when the King granted those offices to William, Lord St. John.[10] He married Margaret Napier with whom, on his resignation, they had a conjunct charter under the Great Seal for the lands of Ballormy (Bedlormy).[11] They had a further charter under the Great for the half of the lands of Buneside, in the Linlithgowshire, on 2 April 1488/89[12] and reconfirmed to them also under the Great Seal on 20 August 1489.[13] He was father of,
Libra Parkley of that Ilk, succeeded her father and was infeft in the lands of Bedlormy, Little Parkley and Buneside as heir to him in 1497.[14] She died by 26 April 1543, when Patrick Cockburn of Newbiggin received the gift of he nonentries of the lands of Badlorny, Little Parkley and others, for all the years since the death of Libra Parkley.[15] By 17 July of that year they were in the possession of Margaret Monypenny and Alexander Myrtoun, as co-heirs to Libra Parkley “filie et heredis George Parkly de Brony,” who disponed each of their shares to Thomas Hamilton and Agnes Edmonstone, his wife.[16]
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[1] Cal. Docs. Scot. Vol. 4, no. 970.
[2] Binns Papers, no. 7.
[3] Roxburgh charters, no. 10.
[4] AD1/51. See also: RMS Vol. 2, no. 397.
[5] Ex. Rolls. Vol. 6, p. 92.
[6] Ex. Rolls. Vol. 9, p. 663.
[7] RMS Vol. 2, no. 1614.
[8] RMS Vol. 2, no. 1735.
[9] RMS Vol. 2, no. 1892.
[10] RMS Vol. 2, no. 2003.
[11] RMS Vol. 2, no. 1614.
[12] RMS Vol. 2, no. 1834.
[13] RMS Vol. 2, no. 1892.
[14] Ex. Rolls. Vol. 11, p. 461.
[15] PS1/46/52.
[16] RMS Vol. 3, no. 2936.