Balneaves of Carnbaddie

Extracted from Volume 1 of the Red Book of Scotland

 

BALNEAVES

of CARNBADDIE

 

The early origins of the family of Balneaves are obscure with the name itself being a territorial designation and is likely to be derived from Gaelic “bal neamh” meaning “the township of the blessings.” Several persons bearing the surname Balneaves aliasPiper appear in the vicinity of Perth from an early date: Robert Balneaves alias Piper granted a tenement in Perth to his son Walter on 19 June 1506,[1] and a John Balneaves alias Piper, Burgess of Perth, granted a tenement in Perth to Thomas Lamb to 10 May 1520.[2] The first established ancestor for whom there is evidence is;

John Piper, who was a Burgess of Perth and was father of:

Walter Piper alias Balneaves, was a Skinner Burgess of Perth and was admitted to Burgess and Guild there in right of his father, John Piper, also Burgess, on 7 February 1550.[3] He d. by October of 1578 and was father of,

  1. Henry Balneaves alias Piper, was admitted to Burgess and Guild of Perth on 23 September 1579, and is then styled son and heir to the deceased Walter Balneaves alias Piper, Flesher Burgess there.[4]
  2. William Balneaves, was a Reader of the Gospel at Perth and was admitted to Burgess and Guild of that city on 19 September 1588, being then styled second son of the deceased Walter Balneaves, Burgess and Guild.[5] (see Balneaves of Edradour).
  3. James Balneaves alias Piper, was admitted to Burgess and Guild of Perth on 3 October 1578, and is then styled son of the deceased Walter Balneaves, Burgess and Guild there.[6]
  4. Mr. Alexander Balneaves, (see below).

Mr. Alexander Balneaves, Minister of Tibbermuir, was a Reader at Perth before being admitted Minister at Tibbermuir. He was admitted to Burgess and Guild of Perth on 4 October 1596, and is then styled son of the deceased Walter Balneaves, also Burgess of Perth.[7]

He m. firstly, to Elizabeth Robertson, and secondly, to Anna Murray, and d. in December of 1640 having had issue;

  1. Mr Alexander Balneaves, Minister of Tibbermuir, (see below).
  2. Margaret Balneaves,
  3. Bessie Balneaves,
  4. Isabel Balneaves,

Mr. Alexander Balneaves, was educated at the University of St. Andrews from where he graduated M.A. in 1634. He was admitted as a colleague to his father at Tibbermuir on 16 September 1640, and was Precentor of Dunkeld by 1682, then Dean there by 1687, but he was deprived of his charge on 7 September 1692 on account of his non-residence. He acquired the lands of Carnbaddie in which he was infeft on 22 January 1669 and d. after September 1694 and before 27 March 1699, when Catherine Reid, his relict spouse, had letters of horning against Alexander Campbell of Balgirsho.

He m. firstly, in 1643, and against her father’s wishes, Margaret, daughter of Patrick Graham, 4th of Inchbraikie, (she was widow of Alexander Robertson of Struan, who had d. in 1636), by whom he was father of,

  1. Margaret Balneaves, m. Mr. Mungo Wemyss, Minister of Aberdalgie.

He m. secondly, Margaret Hamilton, (she d. on 21 February 1663[8]), by whom he had further issue;

  1. Mr. John Balneaves of Canbaddie and Friarton, who was educated at St. Leonard’s College, St. Andrews, where he graduated M.A. on 27 July 1667. He was admitted Minister at Dunbarney on 5 January 1681, but was deprived by the Privy Council on 17 September 1689. He m. Elizabeth Murray with whom he was infeft in the lands of Friarton on 7 October 1690, following a resignation to them by James Balneaves, eldest son of his father’s third marriage, and dsp before 13 November 1713, when his sister, Barbara, was served heir to him.[9]
  2. Alexander Balneaves, was educated at the University of Edinburgh from where he graduated M.A. on 2 July 1684. He was admitted Minister, firstly, at Tibbermuir and then Lethendy and Kinloch in 1687 but was deprived of that charge by the Privy Council on 10 October 1689, for refusing to read the Proclamation of William and Mary. He d. without apparent issue before 5 January 1692.
  3. Anna Balneaves, m. John Oliphant of Carpow, (c/m 8 October 1668.[10] He d. on 14 May 1726[11]).
  4. Barbara Balneaves, m. firstly, by 19 March 1690, to Mr. John Tailor, Minister of Dron, and secondly, to John Whyte, Sheriff-Fiscal in Perth, (c/m 12 October 1692), and was served heir to her brother, John, on 13 November 1713.[12]

He m. thirdly, Katherine, daughter of James Reid, Provost of Dunfermline, (c/m 13 February 1664. She was widow of William Oliphant, 1st of Carpow, who had d. in November of 1662[13]), and was father of :

  1. James Balneaves of Glencarse, (see below).

James Balneaves of Glencarse and Carnbaddie, to whom his father assigned the lands of Carnbaddie in which he was infeft on 20 May 1680, and which on account of the weakness of his personage, he made over to his half-brother, John, in 1690. On 13 November 1703, he nominated Tutors to his children, John, David, Catherine and Anna, these being Mr. John Balneaves of Friarton, his brother, Andrew Murray of Murrayshall, Mr. Henry Balneaves of Rotmell, Patrick Balneaves, Merchant in Dundee, and Mr David Cowpar, Writer in Edinburgh.

He m. Catherine, daughter of Andrew Murray, 1st of Pitlochie, (c/m 17 July 1688[14]), and d. before 5 February 1712. He had issue :

  1. Alexander Balneaves, is styled the eldest son in letters of horning by Catherine Reid, his grandmother, against Alexander Campbell of Balgirsho dated 27 March 1699.[15] He dsp before 5 February 1712, when his brother John succeeded their father in the lands of Carnbaddie.
  2. John Balneaves of Carnbaddie, (see below).
  3. James Balneaves, b. on 26 February 1694 and d. before November of 1703.
  4. David Balneaves, b. on 22 March 1698 and was apprenticed for the term of three years to Alexander Wedderburn, Shipmaster in Dundee, on 27 April 1714.
  5. Catherine Balneaves,
  6. Anna Balneaves,

John Balneaves of Friarton and Carnbaddie, succeeded his father and was served heir general to him on 5 February 1712.[16]He m. at Perth, on 22 October 1717, to Anna White,[17] (c/m 11 October 1717. She survived him and m. secondly, to Sir Thomas Nairne, 3rd Baronet, of Dunsinane, by whom she had further issue[18] ; and d. at Perth, on Tuesday 17 September 1782, in her 82nd year[19]), and d. in 1729.[20] He was father of,

  1. John Balneaves of Carnbaddie, (see below).
  2. Henry Balneaves, who joined the army and was a Lieutenant by 2 March 1752, when he witnessed the marriage contract of his brother, Captain John Balneaves and Preston Durham.
  3. Margaret Balneaves, m. David Lindsay, vinter in Leith, and was executor to her father.
  4. Rebecca Balneaves, who d. unmarried in 1767. Her sister Margaret was executor to her as nearest of kin.[21]

John Balneaves of Carnbaddie, succeeded his father and was served heir both to him and to James Balneaves of Glencarse, his grandfather, on 22 July 1730.[22] He served as a Captain in Halkett’s Company in the service of the States General and was raised to Colonel shortly before his death, which occurred in March of 1773. He m. at Edinburgh, on 12 January 1752, to Preston, daughter of James Durham of Largo,[23] (c/m 2 March 1752.[24] She d. at Gertruydenberg, on 10 June 1766[25]), and was father of :

  1. John Balneaves of Carnbaddie, served as a Captain in the 78th Regiment and was served heir to his father in the lands of Carnbaddie on 16 May 1774,[26] then to his mother on 15 July 1780.[27] He had dsp before 14 January 1788.
  2. Jean Balneaves, m. at London, on 29 July 1784, to Colonel Robert Pringle,[28] and was served heir to her mother on 14 January 1788.[29] She dsp by 4 February 1789, when her nephew, John Nairn, son of Alexander Nairn of Drumkilbo, was served heir to her.[30]
  3. Anne Balneaves, b. at Kirkland, on Thursday 8 February 1753 and m. firstly, at Edinburgh, on 6 September 1772, to George Oliphant Kinloch of Rosemount.[31] She m. secondly, at Edinburgh, on 21 February 1780, to Major William Calderwood of Polton,[32] and had no apparent issue.
  4. Preston Balneaves, m. Alexander Nairne, 4th of Drumkilbo, (he survived her and m. secondly, to Margaret Ann Yeaman, by whom he had further issue), and d. at Poulton, on 30 December 1782,[33] having had issue.
  5. Mary Balneaves, d. unmarried, at Largo House, on 22 December 1781.[34]

 

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[1] GD79/5/45.

[2] GD79/4/33.

[3] SRS Perth Guildry Book. No. 400.

[4] SRS Perth Guildry Book. No. 625.

[5] SRS Perth Guildry Book. No. 750.

[6] SRS Perth Guildry Book. No. 614.

[7] SRS Perth Guildry Book. No. 924.

[8] Chronicle of Perth

[9] Services of Heirs.

[10] RS52/4/f.167.

[11] Date of death given in the service of his son, John, as heir to him.

[12] Services of Heirs.

[13] Dunblane Tests.

[14] B59/Register of Deeds.

[15] Hornings. Perthshire. Vol. 28.

[16] Services of Heirs.

[17] OPR – Perth.

[18] See CC20/6//45/p. 3194, that being her daughter Rebecca’s Testament: “Dame Anna White her mother who was first relict of ________ Balneaves of Carnbeddie and now relict of Sir Thos Nairn of Dunsunan Baronet.”

[19] Caledonian Mercury, 23rd September 1782, edition.

[20] CC20/6/45/p. 3195.

[21] CC20/6//45/p. 3194.

[22] Services of Heirs.

[23] OPR – Edinburgh.

[24] NRAS3215/16/14.

[25] Caledonian Mercury, 2nd July 1766, edition.

[26] Services of Heirs.

[27] Services of Heirs.

[28] Caledonian Mercury. 7th August 1784, edition.

[29] Services of Heirs.

[30] Services of Heirs.

[31] Scots Magazine, 1st September 1772, edition. See also: OPR – Edinburgh.

[32] OPR – Edinburgh.

[33] Scots Magazine. 1st December 1782, edition.

[34] Scots Magazine. 1st December 1781, edition.