This entry is still in the research stage and is given here in the hope that it clarifies the confusion which appears to surround the descent of James Falconer of Monkton from Patrick Falconer of Newton. I note that there is a prevailing assertion that John Falconer (born 1650) second son of John Falconer of Newton, is identical to the person of that name who married on 14 February 1681, to Mary, daughter of John Dalmahoy. That John, the son, is also said to be identical to the namesake who authored several works on cryptography, however, I have yet to view evidence which confirms those persons to be one and the same. That may well change and I will post updates here.
Patrick Falconer of Newton, the founder of this stirpes, was a younger brother of Alexander Falconer of Halkerton,[1] and was a cautioner with that brother for various persons not to carry firearms on 20 January 1610.[2] He was included in commission by the Privy Council on 9 January1616, to apprehend Mr. John Oschell M.D. for the murder of David Falconer, King’s Advocate,[3] and was appointed a Justice of the Peace for Kincardine in 1623.[4] He was included in a complaint by Alexander Christie in Pitgarvie against himself and Sir Alexander Falconer, elder and younger, on 18 November 1634, of having formulated “a deadly hatred and malice against him and having resoled to take his life” and for having “long vexed and troubled him with pleas both before the Lords of Session and his Majesty’s Justice.”[5] He had his appointment as a Justice of the Peace for Kincardine renewed in 1636[6] and died before 4 March 1662. He married firstly, to Margaret, daughter of James Carnegie of Balmachie, (marriage contract 26 May 1599[7]), and secondly, after 8 October 1626, to Grisel, sister of Sir John Blair of Balgillo, (she was widow of Patrick Blair of Ardblair[8]), and was father of,
- John Falconer of Newton, (see below).
- Patrick Falconer,[9]
John Falconer of Newton, had succeeded his father by 4 March 1662, when he complained to the Privy Council that having paid a “considerable sum of money he farmed the excise of the sheriffdom of Perth, which seems likely to utterly ruin him, inasmuch as the souldiers of the garrison of Perth doe brew and retail to the inhabitants of the places adjacent very great quantities of drink and denyes to pay the petitioner the duety and excyse thereof.”[10] He disponed his estate to his kinsman, David Falconer. He married at Edinburgh, on 27 January 1648, to Elizabeth, daughter of John Cant of Morton,[11] (marriage contract 17 December 1647. She survived him and died in 1712/1713[12]), in right of whom he was admitted Burgess of Edinburgh on 9 December 1657.[13] He died in December 1671[14] and had issue,
- Patrick Falconer of Monkton, (see below).
- John Falconer, baptised at Edinburgh, on 15 February 1650.
- Grisel Falconer,[15]
- Elizabeth Falconer, married on 25 July 1701, to Lieutenant John Boyd[16] and was executor to her mother in December 1713.[17]
Patrick Falconer of Monkton, baptised at Edinburgh on 26 January 1649, and was a Writer in Edinburgh. He acquired the lands of Little Monkton from the creditors of Alexander Hay of Monkton in 1695 and which were confirmed to him by charter under the Great Seal on 23 September 1702. He married late in life, at Edinburgh, on 30 April 1711, to Mary, daughter of Sir James Falconer of Phesdo,[18] and died on 30 March 1715.[19] He was buried at Edinburgh, on 2 April following,[20] and was father of,
- James Falconer of Monkton, (see below).
- Patrick Falconer of Balnakettle, baptised at Edinburgh, on 25 December 1714 and had special service as heir to his brother James in the lands of Balnakettle and others on 14 September 1795.[21] He died s.p. at Miln Square, Edinburgh, on 20 October 1797.[22]
James Falconer of Monkton, baptised at Newton, on 14 September 1712 and was served heir general to his father on 8 December 1716.[23] He also had service as heir to Elizabeth Trent, widow of Sir James Falconer of Phesdo, in the lands of Balnakettle and others in the parish of Fettercairn, on 12 November 1766.[24] He married at Edinburgh, on 16 December 1750, to Jean, daughter of David Falconer, 5th Lord Halkerton,[25] and died at Monkton on 18 December 1779,[26] having had issue:
- Patrick Falconer, baptised at Edinburgh on 20 April 1755 and died young.
- Catherine Falconer, baptised at Edinburgh, on 27 March 1754 and was served a coheir with his sister Mary, to both their father and grandfather, Patrick Falconer of Monkton, in the lands of Little Monkton on 18 July 1781.[27] She married at Edinburgh, on 21 March 1781, to John MacKenzie of Allangrange,[28] and had issue.
- Mary Falconer, baptised at Edinburgh, on 27 June 1757 and married at Edinburgh, on 11 July 1773, to Sir James Colquhoun, 2nd Baronet of Luss,[29] (he died at Edinburgh, on 23 April 1805[30]). She survived her husband and died at Annfield House, Fife, on 12 April 1833[31] having had issue.
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[1] He is so-styled in his marriage contract with Margaret Carnegie in 1599.
[2] RPC First Series, Vol. 8, p. 717.
[3] RPC First Series, Vol. 10, pp. 440-441.
[4] RPC First Series, Vol. 13, p. 348.
[5] RPC Second Series, Vol. 5, pp. 412-413.
[6] RPC Second Series, Vol. 6, p. 223.
[7] NRAS792/6/5/misc.
[8] RS34/2/290.
[9] RD3/1/242.
[10] RPC Third Series, Vol. 1, p. 181.
[11] OPR – Edinburgh.
[12] CC3/3/9/81-82.
[13] Edinburgh Burgess Roll.
[14] CC20/4/13/17. In which the date of their marriage contract is narrated.
[15] RD4/59/636.
[16] OPR – Montrose.
[17] CC3/3/9/81-82.
[18] OPR – Edinburgh.
[19] CC8/8/86/835-836.
[20] OPR – Edinburgh.
[21] Services of Heirs.
[22] Caledonian Mercury, 2 November 1797 edition.
[23] Services of Heirs.
[24] Services of Heirs.
[25] OPR – Edinburgh.
[26] Scots Magazine, 6th December 1779 edition.
[27] Services of Heirs.
[28] OPR – Edinburgh.
[29] OPR – Edinburgh.
[30] Scots Magazine. 1st April 1805, edition.
[31] SC20/50/7. See also: Perthshire Courier. 25th April 1833, edition.