Note: This entry is published as a provisional work in progress. Comprehensive research has not yet been completed and its content will be updated and expanded as further evidence comes to hand.
CHALMER
of BALNACRAIG
William de Camera, is apparently the first of this branch for whom there is evidence but of his parentage and ancestry nothing can be said. He acquired the lands of Thainston and Fullarton which were confirmed to him by charters under the Great Seal of David II dated 1340 x 1345.[1] He was father of,
Robert de Camera of Kintore and Balnacraig, possessed part of the lands of Kintore and married Helen, aunt of Andrew Garviehaugh (Garioch) of Caskieben, with whom he had a conjunct charter from that Andrew for the lands of Balnacraig Belode and Telanchsyn on 8 August 1357.[2] He was father of,
- John de Camera of Balnacraig, (see below).
- William de Camera of Findon, acquired various lands in Aberdeenshire and from him descended Chalmer of Murthill, Cults and other junior stirpes.
John de Camera of Balnacraig, succeeded his father and died before 1425 having had issue;
Andrew de Camera of Balnacraig, succeeded his father and had service as heir to him in 1425.[3]
William Chalmer of Balnacraig, is the next for whom there is evidence and was in all likelihood the son and heir male of the former. He had succeeded to Balcraig by 31 July 1469 when he had a grant from Andrew de Kinninmont for an annualrent of 20 shillings to be uplifted from his part of the lands of Kintore, which he afterwards endowed to the Cathedral Church of Aberdeen on 20 July 1472 for a mass for the welfare of the souls of Mr Walter Ydle and his parents.[4] He had an annualrent to be uplifted 1/8 of the lands of Thainston, in which he was infeft by precept dated 12 February 1477[5] and acquired those lands which were confirmed to him by charter of 22 December 1481. He died at an advanced age in June 1516,[6] and was father of,
- An eldest son, who died v.p. and was father of,
1a} William Chalmer, fiar of Balnacraig, (see below).
- Mr. Duncan Chalmer,[7]
William Chalmer, fiar of Balnacraig, is styled grandson and heir apparent of William Chalmer of Balnacraig in a gift to him on 16 November 1510, of the mails and profits of the lands of Thainston which had fallen to the crown by reason of nonentry.[8] He died in that grandfather’s lifetime having had issue;
Alexander Chalmer of Balnacraig, was under age at his great-grandfather’s death with his ward being gifted to William Ogilvy of Strathearn on 8 July 1516.[9] He was infeft in the lands of Balnacraig and one-eighth of Thainston as heir to that great-grandfather by Sasine dated 6 November 1532[10] and gave a Bond of Manrent to George Hay, Earl of Erroll, on 22 Day 1543. He married Janet, daughter of John Panton of Pitmeddan, with whom, on 24 March 1548, on the resignation of Marjorie Barclay, lady Pitmedden, they had a precept under the Privy Seal for their infeftment in the shadow-half of the lands of Bourty,[11] and died before January 1563. He had issue;
- Alexander Chalmer of Balnacraig, (see below).
- Mr. Patrick Chalmer, was appointed Sheriff Clerk of Banff and admitted a Burgess of that burgh. He married Violet, daughter of Johnston of Caskieben,[12] with whom he entered into a wadset with Sir George Ogilvy of Dunlugus for the lands of Belliscroft and Skurriefuald on 17 December 1590,[13] and died before October 1597 having had had issue;
2a} Mr. George Chalmer, was infeft in the lands of Belliscroft of Skurriefauld as heir to his late father upon precept dated 6 October 1597[14] and he also succeeded him in the office of Sheriff Clerk of Banffshire. He married Marjorie Barclay, (who survived him[15]), and died after January 1610 and before May 1617. He was father of,
2b} Patrick Chalmer, succeeded his father and was infeft in the lands of Belliscroft and Skurriefauld as heir to him upon precept of clare constat dated 14 May 1617.[16] He was appointed Sheriff Clerk of Aberdeen in 1630, as well as Town Clerk in 1643. He married at Aberdeen, on 2 December 1630, to Helen, daughter of William Anderson, Sheriff Clerk of Aberdeen,[17] with whom he had a renunciation from Elizabeth Forbes, wife of Sir George Johnstone, for the lands of Sleepiehillock in June 1633, and was buried at Aberdeen on 27 May 1646.[18]He was father of,
2c} Patrick Chalmer, had special service as heir to his father in the lands of Sleepiehillock on 5 August 1663[19] and was admitted Burgess of Aberdeen on 8 October following when he is styled “eldest sone of the deceast Mr. Patrick Chalmer, shreff and toune clerk of Aberdeen”.[20]
2c} George Chalmer, baptised at Aberdeen, on 8 May 1634.
2c} William Chalmer, baptised at Aberdeen, on 25 February 1639.
2c} Jean Chalmer, baptised at Aberdeen, on 11 February 1632.
2c} Elspeth Chalmer, baptised at Aberdeen, on 27 April 1635.
2c} Marjorie Chalmer, baptised at Aberdeen, on 26 July 1636 and married at Aberdeen, on 16 July 1661, to Dr. John Dalgarno, M.D.,[21] who, on 26 February 1672, was admitted to Burgess of Aberdeen in right of his late father-in-law.[22]
2c} Helen Chalmer, baptised at Aberdeen, on 29 August 1640.
2b} Mr. John Chalmer, served as a Sheriff Clerk Depute of Aberdeen under his brother, Mr Patrick, from 1 December 1630, and following whose death he was Sheriff Clerk from 1646-49. He was admitted Advocate in 1649 and was buried in Aberdeen in January 1661.[23] He was twice married; firstly, at Aberdeen, on 16 June 1635, to Janet Peacock,[24] by whom he had issue; and secondly, to Vera, second daughter of William Murray of Keilour, (marriage contract 28 March 1655[25]), by whom he had further issue;
2c} Elspeth Chalmer, baptised at Aberdeen, on 4 May 1636.
2c} Marjory Chalmer, baptised at Aberdeen, on 28 January 1637.
2c} Jean Chalmer, baptised at Aberdeen, on 2 July 1640.
2c} Margaret Chalmer, born in 1641 and being under age at her father’s death, she had curators appointed to her on 16 September 1661, those being Mr. James Chalmers, minister at Cullen; Mr. William Chalmer, minister at Skene, and Mr. James Kennedie, Sheriff Clerk of Aberdeen, as nearest agnate to her and Robert Peacock, merchant in Aberdeen, as nearest cognate.
2c} Mr. William Chalmer of Wester Gormock, baptised at Perth, on 4 May 1656 and had issue, for which see Red Book of Scotland, Fifth Series (2025) Volume 4, Chalmers of Wester Gormock
2c} John Chalmer, baptised at Aberdeen on 26 September 1658.
2a} Thomas Chalmer, was admitted Advocate and married at Aberdeen, on 2 November 1608, to Bessie Forbes.[26] He was buried in St. Nicholas Churchyard, Aberdeen, on 2 July 1609 [27] and had issue;
2b} Thomas Chalmer, the only child, had service as heir general to his father on 24 January 1610 and being a minor, he had his uncle, Mr George Chalmer, appointed tutor-at-law to him on that same day.[28] He was educated at Marischal College where he took MA in 1628 and was Under Master of the Grammar School, Aberdeen, in 1630, then Master in 1640.
2a} Elizabeth Chalmer, married William Gordon, bailie of Banff, and had issue.
Alexander Chalmer of Balnacraig, succeeded his father, to whom he had special service as heir to him in the lands of Balnacraig on 11 January 1563,[29] and had Sasine for those lands on 11 March 1563-64.[30] He died in 1569/70 and was father of,
Alexander Chalmer of Balnacraig, succeeding his father, he had special service as heir to him in the lands of Balnacraig on 5 October 1574,[31] and for which he had Sasine on 21st October following.[32] He married Jean Gardyne, with whom he had joint infeftment in the lands of Boghouses and others by Sasine dated 25 May 1601,[33] and died about 1610. He was father of,
John Chalmer of Balnacraig, was provided by his father to the lands of Balnacraig, with the mill, Colliston and others which were confirmed to him under the Great Seal on 4 August 1591.[34] He died after 28 June 1625 and before 29 March 1641, and was father of,
Alexander Chalmer of Balnacraig, is included with his father in the loosening of an arrestment against them by Nicol Ross of Auclossin on 28 June 1625 and had succeeded his father by 29 March 1641. He married by 12 December 1620, to Margaret, daughter of William Forbes of Pitalachie, when they had conjunct infeftment in the lands of Colliston and others,[35] and died before 1659 having had issue;
John Chalmer of Balnacraig, succeeded his father by 1659. He married Jean Douglas[36] and died before October 1680. He was father of,
Alexander Chalmer of Balnacraig, succeeded and was served heir to his great-grandfather, John Chalmer of Balnacraig, on 6 October 1680.[37] He died in 1717 and was grandfather of,
- Alexander Chalmer of Balnacraig, succeeded and had special service as heir to his grandfather in the lands of Balnacraig on 1 January 1739.[38] He died s.p. in December 1750 when “returning home from a visit, he attempted to cross the River Don near Alford, but was unhappily carried down by the rapidity of the current and drowned.”[39]
- Robert Chalmer of Balnacraig, who was abroad in the army at the time of his brother Alexander’s death and to whom he had service as heir in the lands of Balnacraig on 27 February 1752.[40] His estate being heavily burdended by debts, he was compelled to sell his estate to Francis Farquharson of Finzean in 1757 in satisfaction of an adjudication Farquharson had obtained against him. He died in May 1763[41] and was father of,
2a} Ann Chalmer, the only child, married John Leith, coppersmith in Aberdeen, and had issue.
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[1] RMS i. app. ii, nos 945 & 957. Those lands correspond to those disponed by Alexander Chalmer of Balnacraig to Henry Forbes of Thainston in 1535. It is therefore likely that Alexander had succeeded to them by reason of heritage and as heir male of that William.
[2] Content of charter cited by Nisbet in A System of Heraldry, Vol. 2, pp. 115-116.
[3] The Thanage of Fermartyn, pp.81-82, Rev. William Temple, Aberdeen, 1894.
[4] Reg. Aberdeen, vol. 1, pp. 303-304.
[5] GD52/1607.
[6] Necrologia Coenobii Sancti Francisci apud Aberdonenses.
[7] Necrologia Coenobii Sancti Francisci apud Aberdonenses. He is styled son to William Chalmer of Balnacraig and the entry records that he died in July but the year of death is omitted.
[8] PS1/4/104.
[9] PS1/5/65.
[10] GD52/1618. See also: Ex. Rolls, Vol. 16, p. 559.
[11] PS1/22/96.
[12] Miscellany of the Spalding Club, Vol. 5, pp. 332-333. Aberdeen, 1852.
[13] GD16/23/31.
[14] GD16/23/31.
[15] RS16/2/f.212.
[16] G16/23/31.
[17] OPR – Aberdeen.
[18] OPR – Aberdeen.
[19] C22/27/156.
[20] Aberdeen Burgess register.
[21] OPR – Aberdeen.
[22] Aberdeen Burgess register.
[23] OPR – Aberdeen.
[24] OPR – Aberdeen.
[25] GD190/3/30.
[26] OPR – Aberdeen.
[27] OPR – Aberdeen.
[28] C22/4/440.
[29] C22/1/17.
[30] Ex. Rolls. Vol. 19, p. 520.
[31] C22/1/60.
[32] Ex. Rolls. Vol. 20, p. 469.
[33] RS4/1/129.
[34] C2/38/234.
[35] RS5/3/f.14. See also: SHS MacFarlane’s Genealogical Collection, Vol.2, p. 222.
[36] RS5/15/f.155.
[37] C22/36/28.
[38] Services of Heirs.
[39] Derby Mercury, 28th December 1750 edition.
[40] Services of Heirs.
[41] Aberdeen press & Journal, 30th May 1763 edition. He is then described as “one of the oldest barons of this county ; the estate being in possession of that family from father to son, for upwards of four hundred years, but now descends to an only daughter”.