Catherine Crawford

CATHERINE CRAWFORD

According to George Crawfurd, Catherine Crawford here treated is the daughter of Hugh Crawfurd of Kilbirnie. Her father married twice, first to Margaret Colquhoun, and second to Elizabeth Barclay, but the name of her mother is not mentioned by him. A General Description of the Shire of Renfrew, p. 122

Spurious Pedigree

In the Book of Wallace, the Reverend Charles Rogers correctly identified Katherine Crawford as the daughter of Hugh Crawfurd of Kilbirnie but he went on to confuse her with Katherine Wallace They are different people. The Book of Wallace, p. 28

Marriage

According to George Crawfurd, Catherine Crawford here treated married William Wallace of Eldersly. A General Description of the Shire of Renfrew, p. 122 In his history of Ayrshire, James Paterson follows George Crawfurd, saying: "William Wallace of Ellerslie, who had a charter of his lands in 1544. He married Catherine, daughter of Hugh Crawfurd of Kilbinie, and was succeeded by his son [William Wallace of Ellerslie]".

The Identity of Her Husband

In his history of Ayrshire, James Paterson follows George Crawfurd, saying: "William Wallace of Ellerslie, who had a charter of his lands in 1544. He married Catherine, daughter of Hugh Crawfurd of Kilbinie, and was succeeded by his son [William Wallace of Ellerslie]". The County of Ayr, I, p. 220 If this is accepted at face value then it might reasonably be supposed that he may have been the man of the same name who made his last will and testament on 19 March 1549. This gentleman was married to Janet Schaw at the time of his death, and it follows, therefore, supposing that this identification is correct, that Catherine Crawford may have been his first wife.

According to George Crawfurd, Catherine Crawford here treated married William Wallace of Eldersly. A General Description of the Shire of Renfrew, p. 122 Crawfurd afterwards said this of her husband: "He married Catherine, daughter of Hugh Crawfurd of Kilbirnie by whom he had three sons 1. William his successor 2. John of whom afterwards 3. James, who acquired, in 1605 and 1612, the lands of Muirhead and Lempitstane, in the parish of Paisley". Ibidem, p. 427

Genealogy

1. A General Description of the Shire of Renfrew etc., Published in 1710 by George Crawfurd, Author of the Peerage of Scotland, and continued to the present day by George Robertson (J. Neilson, Paisley, 1818), pp.122 and 427. for Catherine Crawfurd and William Wallace of Eldersly
2. A History of the County of Ayr etc. by James Paterson, Vol. II (Thomas George Stevenson, Ayr, M.DCCC.LII.), p. 220
3. The Book of Wallace By Rev. Charles Rogers, D.D., LL.D. etc. In Two Volumes. Volume I (Grampian Club, Edinburgh, MDCCCLXXXIX), p. 28