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The first possessor of this very ancient and extensive
Earldom appears to have been—
Murdoch Monteith, who is first mentioned in the
chartu-lary of Dunfermline in the reign of David I.
2. He was succeeded by Gilchrist Monteith, who is
mentioned in a charter of donation to the monastery of Scone by Malcolm
IV.
3. He was succeeded by Mauritius, Earl of Monteith, who
flourished about the time of William I., and is witness to a donation of
William Cumyn, Earl of Buchan, to the monastery of Cambuskenneth. He
died leaving two daughters.
4. The eldest daughter married Walter Cumyn, Lord of
Baden och, who succeeded to the Earldom in right of his wife. He held
extensive tracts of land in Badenoch, and became one of the most
influential men of his time, owing as much to the strength of his
talents as the number of his vassals in Badenoch and Monteith. He died
an old man in 1258, leaving no male issue.
His Countess having married an obscure Englishman, the
Earldom devolved upon Walter Stewart, brother of the High Steward of
Scotland, who was married to the youngest daughter.
5. This Walter Stewart, who is described in a former
article, had two sons, who assumed the surname of Monteith, but the
family retained the paternal coat of Stewart,* altering the fesse to a
bend for difference.
1. Alexander, sixth Earl of Monteith.
2. Sir John Monteith alias “ the fause Monteith,” the
betrayer of Sir William Wallace, and mentioned in a former article.
Sir John Monteith had three sons — important men of their
time.
1. Sir Walter Monteith, who had a charter of the lands of
“ Thora,” in the Earldom of Monteith.
2. Sir John Monteith, who had charters from King Robert
I. of the lands of Stragartenay, in Perthshire.
3. Sir Alexander Monteith, who had a charter from David
II. of the pasturage of 100 cattle and 300 sheep on his Majesty’s moors
of Carale, in Fife.
5. Alexander, sixth Earl of Monteith, the eldest son, was
one of the leaders of the Scotch army which invaded Cumberland in March
of the year 129&. He was afterwards taken prisoner by the English at the
battle of Dunbar, in April of the same year. He died about the year
1230, leaving two sons.
1. Alan, seventh Earl of Monteith.
2. Murdoch, eighth Earl of Monteith.
6., Alan, seventh Earl of Monteith, had a son and
daughter. The son, however, appears to have died before his father, and
without issue.
Murdoch, eighth Earl of Monteith, succeeded his brother
Alan, the seventh Earl, but, being killed at the battle of Ilalidonhill,
19th July 1333, left no issue.
7. Mary, Countess of Monteith, daughter of Earl Alan, now
succeeded to the Earldom. She married Sir John Graham, who, in right,
became Earl of Monteith. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Durham
in 1346, but having previously sworn fealty to Edward, he was shortly
after executed as a traitor, leaving by his Countess one daughter.
8. Margaret, Countess of Monteith, carried the Earldom to
her husband, Robert Stewart, third son of King Robert II., Earl of Fife
and Duke of Albany, Regent of Scotland. After the execution of her son
Murdo, Duke of Albany, the Earldom vested in the crown in the year 1425;
but, two years later, it was granted to Malise Graham, Earl of
Strathearn, who laid the succession to the Earldom of the name of
Graham. |
