William Alexander

from http://landedfamilies.blogspot.ca/2013/10/80-alexander-of-menstrie-...

Thomas Alexander was ‘of Menstrie’ in 1505/6 when he was one of arbiters in a dispute between the abbot of Cambuskenneth and Sir David Bruce. Rogers, in his account of the family, traces a continuous but not entirely convincing descent from this Thomas to William Alexander (d. c.1574), who built Menstrie Castle, and then on to Sir William Alexander (c.1570-1640), 1st bt. and 1st Earl of Stirling, the playwright and poet. This descent is followed below, with the addition of as much supporting evidence as can be found.

He inherited Menstrie from his father in about 1564, and built the present Menstrie Castle. He died before 11 June 1574.

Alexander, William (d. 1574). Eldest son of Alexander Alexander (d. c.1564) and his wife Elizabeth Forbes. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Alan Coutts or Couttie and had issue including:

• (1) Alexander Alexander (d. 158o/81);
• (2) Archibald Alexander (d. 1621); merchant of Stirling; Dean of Guild of Stirling, 1599; married 1589, Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Alexander and had issue one son and one daughter; died 13 September 1621;
• (3) Andrew Alexander (fl. 1625), married and had issue;
• (4) Janet Alexander, married John Burne and had issue;
• (5) Elizabeth Alexander (d. 1622); married Alexander Barclay, notary of Stirling and had issue one son; died March 1622.

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Note from CLE

These sire lines are correct as of 8/2013 up through Somerled, King of the Hebrides

'Somerled, King of the Hebrides-
Ragnall mac Somairle- Domhnall, Progenitor of Clan Donald- Aonghus Mor mac Domhnaill- Angus Og MacDonald- Eoin Mac Domhnaill- Alexander, Lord of Lochaber- Alexander MacAlistair- Thomas Alexander, 2nd Baron of Menstrie- Andrew Alexander, 3rd Baron of Menstrie- Alexander MacAlexander, 4th Baron of Menstrie- Andrew MacAlexander, 5th Baron of Menstrie- Alexander Alexander, 6th Baron of Menstrie- Sir William Alexander- John "of Eridy" Alexander- .

1. A Genealogical History of the Dormant, Abeyant, Forfeited and Extinct Peerages of the British Empire" by Sir Bernard Burke, published 1887. Page 3. "Alexander Alexander, of Menstrie, living 1529, m. Elizabeth Douglas, of Lockleven, and d. 1545. He was the great grandfather of Sir William Alexander, of Menstrie (son of Alexander Alexander of Menstrie, and grandson of Andrew Alexander, also of Menstrie), who was a celebrated poet ...."
2. Memorials of the Earl of Sterling and of the house of Alexander. By the Rev. Charles Rogers, LL.D. Published 1877 by W. Paterson in Edinburgh. Page 8. "Alexander Alexander married Elizabeth ... Douglas, by whom he had two sons, Andrew and William, and two daughters, Marion and Isabel."
3. Memorials of the Earl of Sterling and of the house of Alexander. By the Rev. Charles Rogers, LL.D.  Published 1877 by W. Paterson in Edinburgh.  Page 25. "Alexander Alexander, only son of William Alexander of Menstry, died on the 10th Feb 1580."
4. Memorials of the Earl of Sterling and of the house of Alexander. Published 1877 by W. Paterson in Edinburgh . Page 29. "Alexander Alexander by his marrage about year 1567 with Marion daughter of Allan Couttie has a son William and two daughters Janet and Christian. Janet married Walter Cowan merchant-burgess of Stirling. On the 8th of Oct 1590 was baptized Andro Allan Cowan thier son. Another son named Antonie Cowan was baptized on the 20 Sept 1591 (Stirling Baptismal Regster),. Christian, the younger daughtr married Walter Neish of Dubbiehead, Stirling. She died 1608, will dated 15 March 1618. .... "