IV.
Sir John de Balfor
of that Ilk, Kt., Sheriff of Fife was wounded at Dillecarew 1300. His
name heads the list of Barons summoned by the Marischal to decide a
cause between John Stele, Abbot of Lundoris and the Burgesses of
Newburgh 1309, and is security for Sir Gilbert Hay of Errol, in a
Contract with Sir Michael Scot of Balweary, 3 June 1310. His son
V.
Sir Michael de Balfor
of that Ilk, Kt., Sheriff of Fife sat as a Baron of Parliament at Ayr 6
April 1315
VI.
Sir John de Balfor
of that Ilk, Kt., Sheriff of Fife, died without issue in 1375. His
office reverted to the Crown, and his sister and heiress as a ward of
the Crown was given in marriage to Sir Robert de Betun. Of this marriage
of Janet de Balfor and Robert de Betun is descended the present family
of Bethunes of Balfour. At this failure of male heirs of Sir William de
Balfor, the Chiefship devolved on the representatives of his brother
·
Sir Michael
6.
Sir Michael de Balfor,
Knight, got from his grandfather Octred de Strathor (on the death of his
father Michael) the upper part of the Strath (thenceforth called
distinctively Strath-or) the Isle of May and the lands of Ballo,
confirmed by William the Lion with erection into a "Barony to Sir
Michael de Balfor and his heirs quhatsoever for the payment of a reid
rose", being transmitted by Sir Michael to his son
7.
Sir David de Balfour Kt.
of Strathor and Ballo who in his old age assumed the Cross and fell in
the disastrous Crusade of Louis IX, at Tunis, with David Earl of Athol
and many other Scottish Crusaders, 1269, leaving a son
8.
Sir Michael de Balfour Kt.
of Strathor who held the office of Seneschal of the Earls of Fife. He
witnesses a Charter by Earl Duncan 1278, and fell with Macduff of Keres,
the Earl's uncle, and most of the Fife Barons in Wallace's defeat at
Falkirk, 22 July 1298, being succeeded in his Barony and Office by his
son
9.
Sir David de Balfour of Strathor Knight
and Seneschal of Fife who sat as a Baron in the Parliament assembled by
Robert the Brus at Cambuskenneth 6 November 1314 and set his seal to the
Act of Forfeiture then passed against the adherents of Balliol, and
again in that held at Ayr by the same King 26 April 1315. On his way to
the siege of Carlisle he sat as a Baron of Parliament and sealed the Act
entailing the Scottish Crown on Edward Bruce. He fell in Ireland in the
army of that Prince, 1318, leaving by his wife Isabel, daughter of the
Macduff mentioned above (son of Malcolm 8th Earl of Fife by a
daughter of Llewellyn Prince of Wales) a son
10.
Sir Malcolm de Balfour of
Strathor and Pittencrieff, Knight and Seneschal of Fife who sat with his
father in the Parliament of Cambuskenneth and sealed the forfeiture
there passed 1314. Duncan 11th Earl of Fife confirmed to his
cousin Sir Malcolm the lands of Pittencrieff. He was slain by the
English in one of the battles of the disputed succession between David
Bruce and Edward Balliol. Tradition fixes his death as caused by wounds
received in defence of his kinsman Earl Duncan at the Battle of Durham
1346 when the Earl was taken prisoner and the kindness shown by the
family of Fife to his son Sir Michael may thus be accounted for. The
Earl on returning to Scotland from captivity testifies his thanks for
his escape by a gift of the Church of Auchtermuchty to Lundoris Abbey
for the safety of the souls of his friends who fell on that occasion.
Sir Malcolm left a son
11.
Sir Michael de
Balfour of Strathor, Knight was brought up by his kinsman (Duncan 12th
Earl of Fife) who gave him Munquhanny in exchange for the poorer
property of Pittencrieff. He became male representative and Chief of the
family on the death of his kinsman Sir John de Balfour of that Ilk, and
as such assumed the Arms of that family without a difference as they are
quartered by Betun of Balfour on marriage with the heiress, Janet. Sir
Michael is present with other noblemen at the Perambulation of the
Marches of Kirkness and Lochor 6 July 1395. He witnesses many Charters
by Earl Duncan, Countess Isabel, and Walter de Moravia their kinsman. He
married Elena (Helen) de Abernethy, probably the same Helen daughter of
Laurence de Abernethy forfeited by David II, or perhaps a daughter of
Sir John Abernethy of Balgony and Balgarvy whose brother Sir George of
Salton witnesses Duke Robert's Charter of Confirmation to Sir Michael
1378. By this lady he had a son who succeeded him
12.
Sir Laurence de
Balfour of Munquhanny and
Strathor Knight, who was present on the part Duncan 8th Earl
of Lennox at a Convention relative to the Patronage of Polmadie between
that Earl and William, Bishop of Glasgow at the West Chapel of Edinburgh
Castle where the Earl was then a prisoner 7 January 1424 - 5. Sir
Laurence fell in France (probably about 1429 when Sir John Stewart of
Darnley, the Earl's son-in-law, was slain at the siege of Orleans)
leaving by Marjory, his wife, three sons
I.
George the eldest who succeeded him
II.
David Balfour of Corraldstone
III.
John of Balgarvy ancestor of Burleigh, Denmylie, Torry, Boghall
etc. received from James II a gift of the lands of Easter and Wester
Balgarvy
13.
George de Balfour of
Munquhanny and Strathor succeeded his father and marrying Christian
Lyndsay probably of the family of the Byres had by her two sons, to the
younger of whom, James, he gave his lands of Ballo by a Charter dated at
Munquhanny 26 February 1458 - 9, and another dated at Auchtermuchty (the
residence John Lord Lindsay of Byres) 27 March 1467. The elder of the
sons was
14.
Sir John de Balfour Knight,
Sheriff of Fife witnesses the Charter of Ballo 1458 - 9, and
predeceasing his father left a son
15.
Sir Michael de Balfour of
Munquhanny and Strathor in whose favour his grandfather (while attending
James III with John Lord Lindsay and other Fife Barons against the
rebellious James, Earl of Douglas) resigned his lands of Munquhanny,
Strathor etc. into the King's hands for new infeftment to the said
Michael, and who accordingly received a Charter from James III at
Edinburgh 13 October 1465. By his wife Janet Ogilvy he had a son Michael
and a daughter Margaret, the wife of William 3rd Earl of
Rothes. Sir Michael and his son-in-law fell at Flodden 1513.
16.
Michael Balfour received
on his father's resignation at Cupar a Charter whereby James IV created
his whole estate into the Barony of Munquhanny in his favour with
reservation of the liferent of the Castle of Munquhanny to his father
and mother 1 April 1493. On his marriage he settled on his wife Marjory,
daughter of George Drury of that Ilk, his lands of Strathor 19 October
1495, and predeceasing his father died in 1509, leaving a son Andrew who
succeeded his grandfather.
17.
Andrew Balfour of
Munquhanny, being a child at the death of his father, the Casualty of
his marriage was given by James IV to Patrick Mersar and Isabel, Lady
Aldie, his spouse 29 January 1509 - 10. As he was still minor at the
death of his grandfather his wardship was given by the Regent to Janet
daughter of Sir David Stewart of Rosyth and widow of Sir Alexander Bruce
of Earlshall 27 May 1517. He married Janet Bruce, daughter of his
guardian and settled upon her his lands of Strathor 3 September 1530.
After an active life of political and warlike exertion and risk, he died
circa 1583 - 4 leaving a large family of whom
I.
Michael, the eldest, predeceased him, but left issue
II.
Sir Gilbert Balfour of Westray, Master of Queen Mary's Household,
Sheriff of Orkney, married and had issue
III.
Sir James Balfour of Pittendriech, Abbot of Pittenweem, Lord
President
IV.
David Balfour of Balbathy and New Grange
V.
George Balfour, Prior of Charterhouse
VI.
Robert Balfour, Provost of Kirk o' Field
VII.
John
18.
Michael Balfour received
from his father (reserving his own liferent of the Castle and the terce
of his wife Janet Bruce) the Barony of Munquhanny 28 January 1540 on his
marriage with Janet Boswell, daughter of David Boswell of Balmuto by
whom he left a son Michael, the heir of his grandfather. He died circa
1560 - 61.
19.
Sir Michael Balfour of
Munquhanny and Westray settled upon Mariota Adamson his wife, half of
the lands of Munquhanny reserving the liferent of the Castle to his
grandfather and a reasonable terce to the widow of his father 10 May
1562. He acquired the Estate of Westray in Orkney from his cousin
Archibald Balfour of Westray 1 January 1588 and added largely by
purchases from the Earls of Orkney to his property there. He thereafter
resided mostly at Noltland Castle in that County. He served himself heir
to his grandfather 6 December 1592 and died 1603 leaving two sons and
was succeeded by the elder
I.
Sir Andrew Balfour, during his father's life "of Strathor"
afterwards "of Munquhanny" to whom on his marriage with Mary,
daughter of Sir James Melville of Halhill, his father, with consent of
his mother, gave the Tenandry of Westray 12 November 1590. He was
knighted at the baptism of Prince Henry 30 August 1594. Being compelled
by his creditors to part with the whole of his ancient patrimony of
Munquhanny and Strathor he died 1615, without issue and was succeeded by
his brother
II.
Michael Balfour of Garth who carried on the line of the family
20.
Michael Balfour
of Garth acquired the lands of the Lordship of Zetland from his father
17 October 1589 and with his brother's consent those of Garth and
Skelwick on his marriage to Margaret, daughter of Malcolm Sinclair of
Quendale, Archdean of Zetland 6 July 1593. From his brother, he received
the island of Pharay 22 June 1610, and on that gentleman's death
succeeding to the wreck of the Orkney estate received 1 November 1615, a
Renunciation of the Castle of Noltland from Edward Scollay of Strynie
who had held it under his brother. He left by his wife a large family
and was succeeded by his eldest son.
21.
Patrick Balfour of
Pharay to whom his father with consent of his mother gave the
lands of Garth on his marriage with Barbara daughter of Francis Moodie
of Breckness and Melsetter 12 November 1623, those of the island of
Pharay 7 April 1625, and the Castle of Noltland 31 August 1637. By his
wife Barbara he had a large family of whom
22.
George Balfour of
Pharay, his eldest son, received from him the lands of Garth, Pharay
etc. on his marriage with Marjory, daughter of James Baikie of
Tankerness 26 August 1657. By this lady he had several daughters and two
sons
I.
Patrick Balfour, younger of Pharay, who predeceased him without
issue
II.
William Balfour who served himself heir to his deceased brother 6
May 1690 and left an only daughter Isabella who married Archibald
Stewart of Brugh and conveyed the lands of Garth, Pharay etc. to her son
James Stewart of Brugh 19 February 1761. After the death of Marjory
Baikie, George Balfour married secondly Mary McKenzie, daughter of
Murdoch, Bishop of Orkney on whom he settled a part of his lands which
became the inheritance of their eldest son.
23.
John Balfour
of Trenabie who settled on his wife Elizabeth (daughter of Thomas Traill,
son of Colonel Thomas Traill of Holland) his lands of Trenaby 19 July
1722 and died 3 January 1741, leaving issue a daughter and five sons of
whom the eldest
24.
William Balfour of
Trenabie, served heir to his father 31 March 1741 and to his grandfather
14 September 1778. He married Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Thomas
Covingtrie of Newark and died 1786, leaving issue four daughters and
three sons of whom
I.
John Balfour of Trenabie succeeded both his father and mother,
was for many years MP for the County of Orkney and dying 15 October 1842
without issue by his wife Harriet (Henrietta) Sullivan was succeeded by
his nephew William Balfour, now of Trenabie, only surviving son of
25.
Colonel Thomas Balfour
of Elwick, second son of William Balfour of Trenabie, who married
Frances, only sister of Edward, 2nd Earl Ligonier and died
1799, leaving issue two sons and a daughter, and was succeeded by his
only surviving son
26.
Captain William
Balfour Royal Navy of Elwick
and now of Trenabie, heir male of the Family of Balfour and Chief of
that Name.
