Lowis of Merchiston

LOWIS

of MERCHISTON

 

Ninian Lowis, is the first for whom there is evidence. He was a Merchant in Edinburgh and was admitted to Burgess by right of his father-in-law, David Hope, on 17 January 1571.[1] He m. Elspeth, daughter of David Hope,[2] and d. by September of 1608 having had issue,

  1. Alexander Lowis, (see below).
  2. Elspeth Lowis, m. at Edinburgh, on 10 December 1612, to William Little, Merchant in Edinburgh,[3] who was admitted to Burgess there in right of his father-in-law, Ninian Lowis, Merchant, on 25 August 1613.[4]

Alexander Lowis, who, on 23 March 1583, had a gift from the King of the chaplaincy of Alnessin the diocese of Ross, and sheriffdom of Inverness, for his “support at the scoleis” for the period of seven years.[5] He followed his father as a Merchant and was admitted to Burgess of Edinburgh in right of him on 14 September 1608.[6]

He m. firstly, at Edinburgh, on 29 July 1606, Elizabeth, sister of William Littill, portioner of Over Libberton,[7] by whom he was father of :

  1. Thomas Lowis, bap. at Edinburgh, on 24 April 1611 and d. young.

He m. secondly, at Edinburgh, on 27 April 1615, to Margaret Smyth,[8] (she was buried in the Greyfriars, Edinburgh, on 10 January 1669[9]), and by her he had further issue,

  1. Ninian Lowis of Merchiston, (see below).
  2. John Lowis, bap. at Edinburgh, on 3 July 1621.
  3. Alexander Lowis, bap. at Edinburgh, on 12 May 1626.
  4. Thomas Lowis, bap. at Edinburgh, on 7 March 1628.
  5. Margaret Lowis, bap. at Edinburgh, on 8 November 1618.

Ninian Lowis, 1st of Merchiston, bap. at Edinburgh, on 3 March 1616 and is styled eldest son and heir to Alexander Lowis, Merchant Burgess of Edinburgh, in a charter under the Great Seal confirming to himself and his father, the lands of Craighouse, in the sheriffdom of Edinburgh, on 26 December 1642.[10] He also acquired the lands of Merchiston from Ludovic Cant, eldest son of the deceased Mr. John Cant of Morton, for which were confirmed to him under the Great Seal dated 9 August 1661.[11]

He m. on 3 October 1639, Catherine, daughter of David MacColl, Merchant Burgess of Edinburgh,[12] and was buried in the Greyfriars, Edinburgh, on 9 July 1665.[13] He was father of,

  1. David Lowis, bap. at Edinburgh, on 14 July 1644 and dsp before October of 1665, when his immediate younger brother James was served heir to their father.
  2. James Lowis, 2nd of Merchiston, (see below).
  3. Ninian Lowis, bap. at Edinburgh, on 4 August 1661. He was apprenticed to Hugh Brown, Cherurgeon in Edinburgh, on 11 July 1677,[14] and was admitted to Burgess of Edinburgh by right of his father on 21 September 1687.[15] He was buried in the Greyfriars, Edinburgh, on 13 August 1688.[16]
  4. Janet Lowis, bap. at Edinburgh, on 12 July 1640.
  5. Margaret Lowis, bap. at Edinburgh, on 18 December 1646 and m. at Holyroodhouse, on 27 April 1666, to Mr. John Wishart of Balgavies.[17] They had issue.
  6. Elizabeth Lowis, bap. at Edinburgh, on 5 November 1654.
  7. Catherine Lowis, was buried in the Greyfriars on 26 December 1675.[18]
  8. Anna Lowis,

Mr. James Lowis, 2nd of Merchiston, bap. at Edinburgh, on 13 February 1648 and succeeding his father, he was served heir to him in the lands and barony of Merchiston on 18 October 1665.[19] He m. Christine, daughter of Walter Cheisley of Dalry, and d. before December of 1721 having had issue,

  1. Walter Lowis, bap. at Edinburgh, on 24 February 1672 and d. young.
  2. Ninian Lowis, fiar of Merchiston, bap. at Edinburgh, on 20 July 1676 and m. at Edinburgh, on 16 March 1702, to Bethia, daughter of Archibald Hope, 1st of Rankeilour,[20] (she survived him and m. secondly, on 16 January 1704, to Sir William Nairn, 2nd Baronet of Dunsinane). He had dsp vita patris before 16 January 1704, when his widow remarried.
  3. John Lowis, 3rd of Merchiston, (see below).
  4. James Lowis, bap. at Edinburgh, on 14 September 1681.
  5. Robert Lowis, bap. at Edinburgh, on 26 June 1685 and trained as a physician which he practised in Edinburgh. He m. firstly, at Edinburgh, on 7 September 1710, to Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Robert Cheisley of Bonnington,[21] and surviving her, he m.secondly, at Edinburgh, on 21 February 1721, to Elizabeth, daughter of Dr. William Eccles.[22] He dsp before 10 January 1766, when his nephew, Ninian Lowes, was served heir general to him.[23]
  6. Catherine Lowis, bap. at Edinburgh, on 1 May 1673.
  7. Margaret Lowis, bap. at Edinburgh, on 31 October 1674 and m. at Edinburgh, on 16 March 1702, to Thomas Hope, Advocate, eldest son and heir to Archibald Hope, 1st of Rankeilour.[24]
  8. Christian Lowis, bap. at Edinburgh, on 18 January 1687 and m. at Edinburgh, on 9 April 1706, to Mr. James Cheap of Rossie,[25] (he d. in April of 1746). They had issue.

John Lowes, 3rd of Merchiston, succeeded his father, to whom he was served heir general on 9 December 1721,[26] but was compelled through debt to sell his estate which was completed at a public roup held on 5 December 1729 and purchased by the Trustees of George Watson’s Hospital.[27] He m. at Edinburgh, on 24 December 1706, to Agnes, daughter of Sir James Baird of Saughtonhall,[28] d. in April of 1743[29] and was father of,

  1. Ninian Lowis, b. on 1 October 1713 and was served heir to his uncle, Robert Lowes, M.D., on 10 January 1766.[30] He d. at Carstairs House, on 21 July 1790.[31]
  2. Robert Lowis, b. on 26 September 1718.
  3. Thomas Lowis, b. on 4 October 1719.
  4. James Lowis, b. on 8 August 1726.
  5. John Lowis, b. on 16 October 1727 and was apprenticed to George Home, Baxter in Edinburgh, on 19 August 1741.[32]
  6. Margaret Lowis, b. on 19 March 1709 and m. at Edinburgh, on 15 October 1738, to John Trotter, Merchant in Edinburgh.[33]
  7. Elizabeth Lowis, b. on 10 July 1711.
  8. Jean Lowis, b. on 29 July 1717.
  9. Bethia Lowis, b. on 7 August 1721.
  10. Catherine Lowis, b. on 1 June 1724 and m. at Edinburgh, on 4 December 1757, to John Hay, Merchant in Edinburgh.[34]
  11. Agnes Lowis, b. on 15 July 1725.

 

__________________

 

[1] SRS Edinburgh Burgess Roll.

[2] He is probably identical with the Ninian Lowis, Burgess of Edinburgh, who m. by 1583, to Elizabeth Thomson and by whom he had two sons, Ninian and Thomas Lowis.

[3] OPR – Edinburgh.

[4] SRS Edinburgh Burgess Roll.

[5] RPS Vol. VIII. No. 1232.

[6] SRS Edinburgh Burgess Roll.

[7] GD122/2/964 & 982.

[8] OPR – Edinburgh.

[9] Greyfriars Burial Register.

[10] RMS 1634-1651. No. 1281.

[11] RMS 1661-1668. No. 108.

[12] OPR – Edinburgh.

[13] Greyfriars Burial Register.

[14] SRS Register of Edinburgh Apprentices.

[15] SRS Edinburgh Burgess Roll.

[16] Greyfriars Burial Register.

[17] GD243/13/5/1.

[18] Greyfriars Burial Register.

[19] C22/28/69.

[20] OPR – Edinburgh.

[21] OPR – Edinburgh.

[22] OPR – Edinburgh.

[23] Services of Heirs.

[24] OPR – Edinburgh.

[25] OPR – Edinburgh.

[26] Services of Heirs.

[27] GD277/20-23.

[28] OPR – Edinburgh.

[29] Scots Magazine, April 1743, edition.

[30] Services of Heirs.

[31] Scots Magazine. 1st August 1790, edition.

[32] SRS Register of Edinburgh Apprentices.

[33] OPR – Edinburgh.

[34] OPR – Edinburgh.