Clan Lundin / Lundie
Chapter Five – Lundie of Balgonie

As with the Barony of Lundie/Lundin associated with the family of Lundin of that ilk, the Barony of Balgonie is also located within the ancient Kingdom of Fife. Balgonie is placed within the parish of Markinch, due east of Glenrothes. This barony was originally associated with the family of Sibbauld, and the castle of Balgonie was built for Sir Thomas Sibbauld. The tower that he built being the oldest standing in Fife. It is regarded as one of the finest 14th century towers in Scotland. Built in Ashlar of the hardest of sandstone, it rises approximately 75 feet to the parapets. The walls on the ground floor are 10.5 feet thick reducing to 6 feet at the top. The castle and Barony came into the possession of the Lundie family through marriage.

Sir Robert Lundy of Balgonie, was the second son of John Lundy of that ilk. He married Helen Sibbauld, daughter and heiress of Sir Andrew Sibbauld of Balgonie, Sherrif of Fife.

The Sibbalds descended from Sybaldi, who flourished in the middle of the 12th century. Sir Duncan Sibbald was living in Balgonie before 1246 (he is later mentioned in a Papal Bull of 1250). Sir Thomas Sibbald of Balgonie, who built the original tower, was King's Treasurer around 1360. Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Sibbald of Balgonie, married George, 4th Earl of Angus. A descendant of this marriage was Lord Darnley, second husband of Mary Queen of Scots. Queen Mary spent the night at Balgonie before going on to Wemyss Castle, where she met Darnley for the first time.

Robert Lundie of Balgonie and Helen Sibbald had issue:-

Sir Robert Lundie of Balgonie, Lord High Treasurer of Scotland. He married Jean Lindsay possibly a daughter of Patrick Lindsay 4^th Lord of the Byres, or one of his brothers. She is most likely the ghost of Balgonie Castle, Green Jeanie. There is discrepancy in literature whether Robert Lundie of Balgonie, Lord High Treasurer of Scotland is not in fact the same person as indicated in this text as his father. The account of this family in Nisbet’s Heraldry clearly states they are two different individuals, father and son, in "Lundins of Fife" they are one. Both of these individual accounts can be read shortly.

Although the Sibbald family built the tower, the North Range was built in 1496 for Sir Robert Lundie of Balgonie. This date is so precise as King James IV visited on the 20th of August 1496. He was so impressed by the mason's work that he gave them a gift of 20 shillings. Robert Lundie was appointed as Lord High Treasurer of Scotland (1497-1502) and was know to have entertained James IV of Scotland. He died in 1502 while still holding the Lord Treasurers office. Around 1500 the Laird of Balgonie married Elizabeth Stewart, daughter of Alexander Stewart of Garlies, by Elizabeth daughter of Sir Archibald Douglas of Culrow. She had already been thrice married, and, married again after the death of this Lundy of Balgony to John Hannay of Sorbie. Most likely she was a wife of this laird. Sir Robert had issue:-

1 Sir Andrew Lundie of Balgonie, succeeded

2 son

3 Janet Lundie, Lady of Fife, married John Allardice laird of Allardice. He succeeded his father in 1511. He died in 1523. They had issue:-

i John, who succeeded.
ii James, who was killed at the battle of Pinkie 9^th September 1547.
Iii Janet

4 Euphemia Lundie, married William Mellvile of Raith before 1492. They had issue:-

i John, younger of Raith. He married Janet Bonar, daughter of Willian Bobar of Rossie. He died before his father. They had issue.

a Sir John Melville, 4^th of Raith. He had a great many children. His second son, John Melville 5^th of Raith who married Isobel Lundie, daughter of Walter Lundie of that ilk, succeeded him. His third son, Robert, born around 1527, was created 1^st Lord Melville.

b David, burgess of Edinburgh.

ii William, who held the lands of Pitscottie and Dura.

iii Andrew

iv David

v Elizabeth, who married John Gourlay, younger of Lamathlan

vi Margaret, who married James Bonar of Rossie

vii Gelis, married Henry Pitcairn of Drongy.

5 Isobel Lundy, married first David Lindsay, Earl of Crawford. She was his third wife. On 28^th September 1541, she was infeft for life in the Barony of Inverarity and the "Great House" in Dundee. She had issue by Earl David:-

ii Isobel, who married John Lord Borthwick, by whom she had issue. He died in 1566. She then married George Preston of Cameron, brother-german to Sir Simon Preston of that ilk.

David Lindsay, Earl of Crawford died 28^th November 1542 at Cairnie Castle. By April 1543 Isobel had remarried to George Leslie 4^th Earl of Rothes. She was the 4^th Wife of this Earl. On 10^th April 1543 they were infeft as husband and wife in the lands of Fynmouth. Isobel died before 1549, as George Leslie Earl of Rothes attempted a fifth marriage on 22^nd February 1549. She had no issue with the Earl of Rothes.

6 Elizabeth Lundie, married Sir John Lindsay of Pitcruvie, Master of Lindsay, eldest son of Patrick Lindsay 4^th Lord Lindsay of the Byres. Elizabeth and Sir John received a charter of the lands of Pitcruvie on 14^th June 1498. Sir John died in 1525. Lady Elizabeth re-married David Lundie, brother-german to Walter Lundie of that ilk. With Sir John she had issue:-

i Sir John Lindsay, 5^th Lord Lindsay of the Byres. Granted the Sheriffship of Fife in 1541.

Sir Andrew Lundie of Balgonie, held the office of Sheriff of Fife from 1497 to 1513, when he died (July), note some sources say this is 1519. He married Katherine Seton and secondly Janet Dishington. He had issue:-

1 James Lundie of Balgonie

James Lundie of Balgonie. Not much is know about this laird. In 1528, Andrew Lumisden, son of Thomas Lumisden of Conland, granted a deed of the lands of Wester Conland, to and in favours of James Lundie of Balgonie. He died in around 1536. He had issue:-

1 Robert Lundie of Balgonie
2 Katherine, who married Henry Wardlaw, heir apparent of John Wardlaw of Torry.

Robert Lundie of Balgonie, some sources say the son of James, some the brother or cousin. Robert married Margaret Lumisden, the heiress of Thomas Lumisden of Conland. This marriage added to the estate of Robert Lundie, an estate that at the time was one of the greatest in Fife, the lands and barony of Conland. There is a sasine in favour of Robert Lundie, of the lands of Conland dated 1544. In 1564, Thomas Lumisden renounces the lands of Wester Conland in favour of an honourable lady, Margaret Lumisden, spouse to Robert Lundie of Balgonie. He had the following children:-

1 son
2 James Lundie of Balgonie, killed at the battle of Pinkie in 1546
3 Sir Andrew Lundie of Conland and Balgonie.
4 Robert, married Janet Bethune, daughter of John Bethune
5 William Lundie in Crail, living in 1594
6 David Lundie
7 Alexander Lundie, is mentioned as brother german to James Lundie of Balgonie in the local records of the Parish of Dysert in 1545
8 Elizabeth, married firstly George Halket of Pitferran, and secondly, William Lundie of that ilk.

The information surrounding the succession of the Lairds of Balgonie at this point in history is so conflicting, that it is currently very difficult to draw a reasonable conclusion. G. T. Welsh claims that Andrew Lundie of Conland was in fact the Laird of Balgonie by 1548. However, Nisbet claims that this Andrew Lundie was never Laird of Balgonie, and in fact Robert Lundie of Balgonie, his father, was still alive around 1578. The Edinburgh Testaments show that an Andrew Lundie of Balgonie died around 1575, but Nisbet records that Andrew Lundie of Conland did not died until 1603. Most likely they are two separate people that have been considered as one. What is also most confusing is that both of these accounts miss out the succession of David Lundie of Balgonie. In 1585, the retours service of heirs index shows Robert Lundie being served as heir to his father, David Lundie, in the barony of Balgonie. Sir Robert Douglas also has David designed as ‘of Balgonie’ in his Scot’s Peerage with respect to his marriage to Lillias Oliphant. A couple of generations later the Laird of Balgonie is served as heir to his grandmother, Lillias Oliphant. The line of descent must therefore proceed through this David Lundie and his wife Lillias. As there is such confusion over this matter, instead of presuming one to be correct over the other, what will follow on from here is three accounts. The first following on what has already been described, by using the succession as derived from the index of retours. One can then read the account as taken from "Lundins of Fife," and finally that of Nisbet.

Sir Andrew Lundie of Balgonie and Conland. On 4^th March 1548, Andrew Lundie is served as heir to his brother, James Lundie of Balgonie, in the land of Wester Gogy in the regality of Keremure. He appears as laird of Balgonie on 21^st October 1549. He died in 1575, his testament being read 17^th March of that year. He married firstly Janet Sibbald, and secondly, around 1550, Janet Lindsay. Janet Lindsay (of Dowhill) was firstly married to Sir George Douglas of Helenhill, and after her marriage to Sir Andrew Lundie, she married Sir William Scott of Balwerie (after 1568). Shortly after the testament of Sir Andrew was proved, one of a Robert Lundie of Conland appears in the record books.

David Lundie of Balgonie, married Lillias Oliphant, daughter of Laurence 3^rd Lord Oliphant on 19^th April 1561. He died in 1586, his testament dated 29^th June of that year. She died before 1588. They had issue of five sons and eight daughters of which included:-

1 Robert Lundie of Balgonie.
2 sons x 4
3 daughters x 8

Robert Lundie of Balgonie, was served as heir to his father in the land and barony of Mondynes in the Sheriffdom of Kincardine, on 20^th May 1585. He died around 1598. His testament was read 19^th July 1598. His wife is unknown, he had issue:-

1 Robert Lundie of Balgonie, who succeeded.

2 George, who is listed as apprentice to a merchant, Gilbert Atchison, 26^th July 1615.

3 Agnes, married Sir William Graham of Claverhouse. Sir William obtained sasine of the Barony of Lundie from Sir Colin Campbell of Lundie, which received a crown charter in 1630. Agnes died in November 1613. Sir William died around 1642. With Agnes he had issue:-

i William, who died before 13^th August 1619
ii George, who suceeded. His Grandson became John Graham, 1^st Viscount of Dundee, Lord Graham of Claverhouse.
iii Walter
iv Margaret
v Mariot
vi Helen, married George Lundie of Wester Denhead on 22^nd November 1616.

4 David, described as a lawful brother to Robert Lundie of Balgonie, died before 1604

5 David, described a brother german to umpquhile Robert Lundie of Balgonie, died before 1620.

Robert Lundie of Balgonie, married Jane Lindsay, daughter of James 7^th Lord Lindsay of the Byres by Euphemia Leslie, daughter of Andrew Leslie 4^th Earl of Rothes, between 1590 and 1600. Note that her sister, Catherine married James Lundie of that ilk, 9^th October 1605. He was served as heir to his father on 20^th April 1603 in the lands and Barony of Balgonie, the lands of Pitlochie and Bannachtie, the lands of Denekery and Drumdeill in the Barony of Pitgornow and the land of Innerleven (alias Couldcottis) in the Barony of Methill; all in the Sheriffdom of Fife. On the same date, in the Sheriffdom of Kincardine, he was served as heir to his father in the land and Barony of Mondynes; and in the Sheriffdom of Perth, he was served as heir to his father in the land of Nether Combo. On 20^th April 1608 he was served as heir to his father in the land of Wester Gaigill (Gaige or Gogie) in the regality of Keremure (note this land was first mentioned when passing from James Lundie of Balgonie to his brother Andrew). On 28^th November 1612, he was served as heir to his grandmother, Lillias Oliphant of Balgonie. Robert died sometime before 1624 as at this point his son Robert Lundie is referred to as being "of Balgonie" when served as his heir to his grandfather. The castle of Balgonie was sold in 1624 to James Boswell of Lochgelly and David Boswell of Craigincalt. 10 year later it was sold again to General Leslie. Robert and Jane had issue:-

1 Robert

Robert Lundie of Balgonie, was served as heir to his grandfather, Robert Lundie of Balgonie, in the land of Drumduill in the Barony of Pitgornow. He was served as heir to his father in the lands and Barony of Balgonie on 24^th January 1627. This is interesting as it is after the date that the castle was sold to the Boswell brothers. On March 24^th 1627 he was again served as heir to his father, in the lands of Donykier, in the regality of Dunfermline. It is in this Robert Lundie, that this family are said to have failed. They later become represented by the family of Lundin of Drums, who descend from the family of Balgonie through the laird of Conland.

The first Lundin of Balgonie was Sir Robert Lundin, son of Sir John Lundin of that ilk. During the latter part of the 15th century he married Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Sir John Sibbald of Balgonie. He thus became possessed of Balgonie castle near Glenrothes and the appurtenant lands on the death of Sir John Sibbald. From 1497 to 1500 he was Lord High Treasurer of Scotland. He is known to have had these four children:

Sir Andrew Lundin, Kt. of Balgonie.
another son
Elizabeth, married Sir John Lindsay of Pitcruvy, Master of Lindsay.
Eupham, married William Melvill, third of Raith
Sir Robert died in 1502

Sir Andrew Lundin, Kt. of Cambo succeeded his father. He was Sheriff of Fife from 1489 to 1513. He married, first, Katherine Seton, by whom he had a daughter Margaret who married David Ramsay of Colluthie before 1509. His second marriage was to Jonet Dishington. His son and heir was James, whose maternity is uncertain.

James succeeded on the death of his father. He did not, however succeed to the post of Sheriff of Fife, which went to his uncle, Sir John Lindsay. It is not clear whether he ever married, but he certainly had a natural daughter Katherine, who married Henry, heir apparent of John Wardlaw of Torry. James Lundin died in or after 1536.

Next was Robert Lundin, probably a brother or cousin of James. He married Margaret, daughter and heiress of John Lumisden of Condland, acquiring the estate on his death. Robert Lundin and Margaret Lumisden are belived to have had seven children:

Andrew of Conland and Balgonie
James, the second son, killed at the battle of Pinkie in 1546
Robert, married Janet, daughter of John Bethune
William in Crail, living in 1594
Elizabeth, married William Lundin of that ilk
David married Lilie Oliphant in 1560, having five sons and three daughters
Anne, married John Graham of Claverhouse

Andrew Lundin of Condland appears as Laird of Balgonie on October 21 1549. He married Janet Sibbald, still living in 1549, then around 1550, Janet Lindsay. He had seven children but, again, their maternity is not clear:

Robert Lundin of Balgonie
James
William
Richard in Spittall, married Sara Wemyss, died in 1618.
Alexander
David, died in 1603
John of Condland, died April 1641.
Andrew Lundin died in 1696 or a little earlier.

Robert Lundin of Balgonie succeeded his father. Various records indicate that he married Janet, daughter of James Bethune of Balfarge, Jean, daughter of James, Lord Lindsay and Eupham Leslie, Margaret Boswell and Euphemia Durie, not necessarily in that order. He was admitted Burgess of Glasgow in 1618 and died in 1625. The following children have been identified:

William Lundin of Balgonie
Eupham married George Lundin in Saltgren
David of Condland married a Wemyss who died May 20 1653
a daughter who married James Wemyss of Balfarge
James in Satlgren died August 12 1664.

William Lundin of Balgonie married Janet Scott on December 14 1613. Two children were William and David, that latter born September 8 1662. He was also married to Helen, daughter of John Carnegie. William Lundin died in 1630.

In 1640 the lands of Balgonie were sold to the Leslie family and in 1663, David Lundin disposed of Conland, thus ending a long occupation of these lands by the Lundins.

During the latter part of the 17th century the estate of Drums, close to Condland, was renowned by a related branch of the Lundins. So far details are fragmentary but there are mentions of George Lundin and his spouse Isabel Arnot and of Michael Lundin and his spouse Sophia Lundin.

FROM the documents we have seen, and herewith produced, we are of opinion that the SIBBALDS of Balgonie is one of the ancient as well as one of the best allied families in the kingdom. Donatus or Duncanus Sibbald seems to be settled in the county of Fife, and doubtless is proprietor of the lands of Balgonie; for we find him witness to that charter by Rogerus de Quincy Coms de Winton, i.e. Winchester in England, to Seyer de Seton, one of the progenitors of the Earl of Winton. The charter is without a date, a very usual thing at the time, but must be before the 1246, that the Earl of Winchester died. The same Duncannus Sibbald, in the 1251, is mentioned in a Bull of Pope Inocent IV. reffereing the cognisance of a complaint made to his Holiness by the priory of St Andrews, that the Bishop of St. Andrews had introduced into one of the churches, that of right belonged to them, the Order of the Blessed Trinity, for the redemption of captives. The same Donatus Sibbald is witness to another charter by the forenamed Rogerus de Quincy Constablarius Scotae, Adamo Seton, de Maritagio boeredis Allani del Fauside. Then we meet with Walterus de Sibbald, one of the ancestors of the house of Balgonie, whose son, David, called filius Walteri Sibbald, who had a charter from Malcolm Earl of Fife, which must be before 1256 that the granter died. I have seen a charter in the custody of the Earl of Wemyss, to Sir John Wemyss, Knight, of the lands of Camburn, granted by Robert Earl of Fife and Monteith in the 1374, to which amoung other witnesses, there is dominus Johannes Sibbald, miles. And in another charter by Isabel Countess of Fife, disponing the whole Earldom of Fife to Robert Earl of Monteith in the 1371; the origional charter of this I have seen, dated the penult of March 1371.

There is a charter under the Great Seal by Robert Duke of Albany, Earl of Fife and Monteith, Governor of Scotland, Johanni Sibbald de Balgony, of the lands of Rossie; he had Sir Andrew Sibbald of Balgonie his heir and successor, and a daughter Elizabeth, who was married to George Earl of Angus: By this lady he had Archibald, the heir of that illustrious house, whose grandson and successor, Archibald Earl of Angus, by Margaret Dowager of Scotland, daughter of Henry VII of England, he had one daughter, the Lady Margaret Douglas, who was married to Mathew Earl of Lennox, whose eldest son, Henry Lord Darnley, Earl of Ross, and Duke of Albany, married Mary Queen of Scotland, who was declared King of Scotland, whose only child was James VI of Scotland, the first monarch of Great Britain: So that of this ancient family of Sibbald of Balgonie, not only the royal family of Great Britain are descended, but most of all the crowned heads of Europe, who have intermarried with that serene house.

Sir Andrew Sibbald of Balgonie, son and heir of Sir John Sibbald aforesaid, executed the office of High-Sheriff of the county of Fife, in the year 1456, as appears from Rymer, and he is designed Vicecomes de Fife, in the year 1466, in the records of Parliament. He left only one daughter, his heir, Helen, who married Robert Lundin, second son to Sir John Lundin of that ilk, by Dame Isabel Wemyss his wife, of the house of Wemyss in Fifeshire, whose ancestor of the House of Lundin, from many authentic deeds still extant, was William de Lundin, as he is called, son-natural to King William of Scotland, commonly called the lion, and married the heiress of the ancient family of Lundin or Lundoniis, of which surname and family was Thomas de Lundoniis Hostiarius Scotiea and Comes Atholae, in the reign of Alexander II. anno 1246. So by marriage of the heir-female of Sibbald of Balgonie, that estate came to be transferred to the Lundins; and upon that account the family of Lundin of Balgonie quartered the coat of Sibbald with their paternal arms, and is still the same way carried by Lundin of Drum, the heir-male and representative of the house of Balgonie. Robert Lundin of Balgonie, and Helen Sibbald, aforesaid, his wife, heiress of Balgonie, had a son, Sir Robert Lundin of Balgonie, who was in high favour with King James IV.; and being a gentleman of parts and reputation for integrity, he was preffered to be Lord High Treasurer of Scotland, upon the removal of the Abbot of Paisley, Dr George Shaw, from the office, anno 1497, and he held the treasurer’s place for the space of five years, even till his death in 1502, as from authentic documents I have seen and persued. His wife was a daughter of Lord Lindsay of the Byres, the ancestor of the present Lord Crawford, as from the MS. History of that noble family I have seen, by who he had a son, Andrew Lundin of Balgonie, and two daughters, Elizabeth, who was married to John Lord Lindsay, of whom the house of Crawford and Lindsay are descended, and Euphame to William Melville of Raith, and had issue, of whom, from authentic documents I have seen, is the Earl of Melville and Leven descended.

Andrew Lundin, the third of the line of the Lundins of Balgonie, was, from the records of Parliament I have seen, Sheriff of Fife in the 1506, and, for what I see, held the office till the 1519 it was given to the Lord Lindsay. The writs of the family of Balgonie being now in other hands, we have no document to vouch to whom this gentleman Andrew Lundin of Balgonie was married, but he had his son and successor, viz.

James Lundin of Balgonie. This is vouched from a deed I have seen granted by Andrew Lumisden, son of Thomas Lumisden of Conland, of the lands of Wester Conland, to and in favours of James Lundin of Balgonie, anno 1528. He was suceeded by his son ahd heir

Robert Lundin of Balgonie, who added to his own estate, which was then one of the greatest in the shire of Fife, the lands and barony of Conland, by the marriage of Margaret Lumisden, the heiress thereof, whose ancestor, Johannes de Lumsden is Vicommes de Fife, as from an authentic deed I have seen in the Register in the time of the regency of Robert Duke of Albany; and, it is remarkable, the Duke Regent, who was the second son of King Robert II. calls the Johannes Lumsden, consanguineus suus. From that time the family continued to flourish till the time of Queen Mary, that Andrew Lumisden, son and heir of Thomas Lumisden of Conland, left only one daughter, his heir, Margaret, who, as hath been said, was married to Robert Lundin of Balgonie, for there is a sasine I have perused of the barony of Conlnad, in favour of this Robert Lundin of Balgonie, in the year 1544. Furthur, there was another voucher in my hand at the drawing of this memorial, a renunciation by Thomas Lumisden of the lands of Wester-Conland, in favour of an honourable lady, Margaret Lumisden, spouce to Robert Lundin of Balgonie, anno 1564. By this lady he had issue, Robert his successor in the barony of Balgonie. James who was provided to the lands of Conland, bu he died without issue, and the lands of Conland came to a third brother, Andrew Lundin, the ancestor of Michael Lundin of Drum, by whom the heir male of this ancient family was preserved. He also had a daughter, Margaret, who was first married to George Halket of Pitferran, and again to Mr. William Lundin of that ilk, and had issue, as is evident from vouchers presently in my hands.

Robert Lundin, son and heir to the foresaid Robert, and sixth of the line in succession of the Lundins of the House of Balgonie, succeeded his father. I have seen him designed witness to a contract of marriage betwixt Sir Michael Balfour of Burleigh, and Margaret, daughter of Mr. William Lundin of that ilk, dated the 12^th July 1591; he was afterwards Lord Balfour of Burleigh. This Robert Lundin married Margaret, daughter of David Boswell of Balmuto, as from a voucher I have seen, and had a son in whom the family failed, and a daughter, Agnes, who was married to William Graham of Claverhouse, great-grandmother to Lieutenant-General John Graham of Claverhouse, thereafter Viscount of Dundee.

Robert Lundin of Balgonie, son and heir to the former Robert, was the last of the house of Balgonie, for he had no male issue, and he alienated his estate to Alexander the first Earl of leven, who was designated of Balgonie, till he was raised to the honour of Earl in the year 1640. The family of Balgonie thus failing in the lineal succession, the representation on this ancient House comes to Lundin of Drum, as we have said. The predecessor was Andrew Lundin, younger son to Robert Lundin of Balgonie, by Margaret his wife, daughter and heir of Andrew Lumisden of Conland; to vouch this there is a sasine I have persued of the lands of Conland by Robert Lundin of Balgonie; Margaret Lumisden his wife, in favour of Andrew Lundin their son, in the 1578. This Gentleman, Andrew Lundin of Conland, was much with King James VI. and in a good degree of favour. He went up to Engalnd with the King when he succeeded to that crown,on the decease of Queen Elizabeth, anno 1603, where he spent most of his estate, as well as what he had by the King’s bounty, so that the barony of Conland was apprised from him by Sir Michael Arnot of that ilk. He married Elizabeth Brown, daughter to the Laird of Fordel, whose mother was a daughter of Sir David Boswell of Balmuto, by who he had David his eldest son, and Andrew Lundin of Kirny, the second son.

Which David went into the army in the time of the civil war, and being a gentleman of courage, prudence and industry, he rose to be a captain; and withal, being a frugal man, he redeemed the lands of Over and Nether Drums, a part of the estate that his father had wadset and mortgaged; and upon that he took the title and designation of Lundin of Drum: and he also purchaseda fourth part of the lands of Freuchie, and he got also a considerable estate in and about Falkland, by the marriage of Elizabeth, daughter and heir of George Paterson, a grandson of the House of Dunmore in Fife; by her he had issue, George his succeesor; Robert, the second son, was first a captain in the Earl of Dumbartons’s regiment, and then, by his merit, he rose gradually till he got command of a regiment in the reign of King William, and was sometime governor of Londonderry in Ireland, anno 1689: and though he fell under some suspicion, as favouring giving the town to King James, while his army lay before it, yet it was without ground, and he had his conduct approven by the English Parliament, and afterwards, in the reign of Queen Anne, commissary-general in the army, and was at the battle of Almanza in Spain, and died about the end of her majesties reign; he left a son who is a present a captain in the army.

George Lundin of Drum, the next of the line, married Isabel Arnot, daughter of Sir Michael Arnot if that ilk, baronet, and had issue by her, John, his eldest son, who, after he passed the course of studies at the university of St. Andrews, went into the army, and had a commission in the Earl of Dumbarton’s regiment, and was slain and Sedgemoor in the engagement against the Duke of Monmouth; a very hopeful as well as rising young man, but was snatched away in his twenty-fifth year, universally regretted by all who knew him, or heard his character; Michael, the second son, who became his father’s heir, and is the present Laird of Drum; the third son, David, who was a captain in the war in Ireland, and died with the character of a very brave man.

Michael Lundin, now of Drum, married Sophia, daughter and co-heiress of James Lundin of Drum, elder, and has James, his son and apparent heir.

The Account of the RCAHMS of this building is as follows:-

Balgonie Castle is the ruin of an early 15th century tower, set at the NW angle of a later enclosure, the north east sides of which consist of ranges of outbuildings and the entrance to which is covered by a banquette and ditch, probably not earlier than the 17th century. The tower is unusually well masoned; is oblong on plan and measures 15 1/2' from ground to parapet. There are four storeys beneath the wall-head. The walls are of ashlar.

RCAHMS 1933

The walls, buildings and earthworks still remain as described above. The castle is unoccupied.

Visited by OS (JFC), 4 October 1954

Balgonie Castle: the tower walls and roof are intact but the roof is now in poor condition. The building in the SE corner is complete, with masonry recently repointed. Now used as a store. All remaining walls in coursed ashlar and standing, on average, about 16 feet high.

Visited by OS Reviser (J Skinner), 17 November 1959

Excavations in 1978 within the courtyard revealed an earlier E and S range, as well as traces of other buildings which were not fully excavated. These buildings seem to have been demolished for an extensive rebuilding programme in the 1640's.

R S Will and T N Dixon 1995.