Andrew Gray, 1st Lord Gray
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Andrew Gray, 1st Lord Gray
(c. 1390 – 1469) was a Scottish
nobleman, politician and diplomat. He was succeeded to the title by his grandson.
In 1424 he was accepted by the English government as one of the hostages for the payment of the ransom of James I of Scotland
, apparently in place of his father, whose estate was estimated at the time as being worth six hundred merks annually. His father presented a letter to the English government, in which the hostage is said to be his only son and heir, promising fidelity on behalf of his son, and also that he would not disinherit him on account of his acting as a hostage. He was sent to Pontefract Castle
, and afterwards committed to the Tower of London, where he remained until 1427, when he was exchanged for Malcom Fleming, son of the laird of Cumbernauld
.
In 1436, he accompanied Princess Margaret, daughter of James I, to France, for her marriage to the Dauphin Louis
. In 1449 he was appointed part of a committee of the Estates
to examine previous acts of Parliament and general councils, and report to Parliament on their existing validity. On various occasions between 1449 and 1460 he was employed as one of the Scottish ambassadors to negotiate treaties of peace with England, and appointed as a general conservator of these treaties. He briefly acted as a Warden of the Marches.
In 1451, along with the abbot of Melrose Abbey
, he received a safe-conduct to allow him to make a pilgrimage to Canterbury, and in 1452 he became Master of the Household to James II
.
On 26 August that year he was granted permission to build a castle on any part of his lands, and he built Castle Huntly
on his estate of Longforgan
in the carse of Gowrie
(not to be confused with the older Huntly Castle
, in Aberdeenshire). This castle, long the residence of the family, was sold to the Earl of Strathmore in 1615, and the name changed to Castle Lyon. In 1777, it was repurchased by George Paterson, who married Anne Gray, daughter of the 11th Lord Gray, and restored the original name.
In 1455, he was one of the nobles who secured the forfeiture of the Earl of Douglas
. In the following year, the abbot of Scone sued him for paying the dues of Inchmartin in bad grain. He took an active part in parliamentary work, and in 1464 was appointed one of the lords auditors for hearing and determining civil causes. He accompanied James III
to Berwick, where he had the authority of Parliament to ratify the truce with England being negotiated at Newcastle.
He died in 1469, probably towards the end of the year; he is mentioned as deceased in a document of 20 January 1469-70.
He married, on 31 August 1418, Elizabeth Wemyss, the eldest daughter of Sir John Wemyss of Wemyss
and Reres, with whom it was stipulated he should receive as dowry a £30 land in Strathardle, Perthshire. This condition was not observed, and gave rise to litigation at a later date. His wife survived him.
They had two sons and two daughters. The elder son, Sir Patrick Gray of Kineff, predeceased his father. He had married Anabella Forbes, daughter of Alexander Forbes, 1st Lord Forbes
, and had one son, who became Andrew Gray, 2nd Lord Gray. The other three children were the younger son Andrew, and daughters Margaret (married Robert, Lord Lyle) and Christian (married James Chrighton of Strathurd).
Lord Gray
Lord Gray is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1445 for the Scottish diplomat and politician Sir Andrew Gray. His great-great-great-great-great-grandson, the seventh Lord, was granted a new patent with remainder to William Gray, husband of his only daughter Anne, and his heirs...
(c. 1390 – 1469) was a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
nobleman, politician and diplomat. He was succeeded to the title by his grandson.
Biography
He was the only son of Sir Andrew Gray (d. 1445) of Fowlis, Perthshire, by his first wife Janet, daughter of Sir Roger de Mortimer, whom he married in 1377.In 1424 he was accepted by the English government as one of the hostages for the payment of the ransom of James I of Scotland
James I of Scotland
James I, King of Scots , was the son of Robert III and Annabella Drummond. He was probably born in late July 1394 in Dunfermline as youngest of three sons...
, apparently in place of his father, whose estate was estimated at the time as being worth six hundred merks annually. His father presented a letter to the English government, in which the hostage is said to be his only son and heir, promising fidelity on behalf of his son, and also that he would not disinherit him on account of his acting as a hostage. He was sent to Pontefract Castle
Pontefract Castle
Pontefract Castle is a castle in the town of Pontefract, in the City of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England. It was the site of the demise of Richard II of England, and later the place of a series of famous sieges during the English Civil War-History:...
, and afterwards committed to the Tower of London, where he remained until 1427, when he was exchanged for Malcom Fleming, son of the laird of Cumbernauld
Cumbernauld
Cumbernauld is a Scottish new town in North Lanarkshire. It was created in 1956 as a population overspill for Glasgow City. It is the eighth most populous settlement in Scotland and the largest in North Lanarkshire...
.
In 1436, he accompanied Princess Margaret, daughter of James I, to France, for her marriage to the Dauphin Louis
Louis XI of France
Louis XI , called the Prudent , was the King of France from 1461 to 1483. He was the son of Charles VII of France and Mary of Anjou, a member of the House of Valois....
. In 1449 he was appointed part of a committee of the Estates
Parliament of Scotland
The Parliament of Scotland, officially the Estates of Parliament, was the legislature of the Kingdom of Scotland. The unicameral parliament of Scotland is first found on record during the early 13th century, with the first meeting for which a primary source survives at...
to examine previous acts of Parliament and general councils, and report to Parliament on their existing validity. On various occasions between 1449 and 1460 he was employed as one of the Scottish ambassadors to negotiate treaties of peace with England, and appointed as a general conservator of these treaties. He briefly acted as a Warden of the Marches.
In 1451, along with the abbot of Melrose Abbey
Melrose Abbey
Melrose Abbey is a Gothic-style abbey in Melrose, Scotland. It was founded in 1136 by Cistercian monks, on the request of King David I of Scotland. It was headed by the Abbot or Commendator of Melrose. Today the abbey is maintained by Historic Scotland...
, he received a safe-conduct to allow him to make a pilgrimage to Canterbury, and in 1452 he became Master of the Household to James II
James II of Scotland
James II reigned as King of Scots from 1437 to his death.He was the son of James I, King of Scots, and Joan Beaufort...
.
On 26 August that year he was granted permission to build a castle on any part of his lands, and he built Castle Huntly
Castle Huntly
Castle Huntly sits approximately seven miles west of Dundee in the Carse of Gowrie, Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It is situated close to the shore of the Firth of Tay and can be seen from the main road linking Dundee and Perth. The castle sits on top of a rocky outcrop surrounded by what is now...
on his estate of Longforgan
Longforgan
Longforgan is a village and parish in the Carse of Gowrie, in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It lies west of Dundee on the main A90 road.-History:...
in the carse of Gowrie
Gowrie
Gowrie may refer to several places:* Gowrie, a province in Scotland** Carse of Gowrie, the southern part of Gowrie noted for its farmlandGowrie may also refer to:* Gowrie, Australian Capital Territory, a suburb of Canberra, Australia...
(not to be confused with the older Huntly Castle
Huntly Castle
Huntly Castle is a ruined castle in Huntly in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It was the ancestral home of the chief of Clan Gordon, Earl of Huntly.-History:...
, in Aberdeenshire). This castle, long the residence of the family, was sold to the Earl of Strathmore in 1615, and the name changed to Castle Lyon. In 1777, it was repurchased by George Paterson, who married Anne Gray, daughter of the 11th Lord Gray, and restored the original name.
In 1455, he was one of the nobles who secured the forfeiture of the Earl of Douglas
Earl of Douglas
This page is concerned with the holders of the extinct title Earl of Douglas and the preceding feudal barons of Douglas, South Lanarkshire. The title was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1358 for William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas, son of Sir Archibald Douglas, Guardian of Scotland...
. In the following year, the abbot of Scone sued him for paying the dues of Inchmartin in bad grain. He took an active part in parliamentary work, and in 1464 was appointed one of the lords auditors for hearing and determining civil causes. He accompanied James III
James III of Scotland
James III was King of Scots from 1460 to 1488. James was an unpopular and ineffective monarch owing to an unwillingness to administer justice fairly, a policy of pursuing alliance with the Kingdom of England, and a disastrous relationship with nearly all his extended family.His reputation as the...
to Berwick, where he had the authority of Parliament to ratify the truce with England being negotiated at Newcastle.
He died in 1469, probably towards the end of the year; he is mentioned as deceased in a document of 20 January 1469-70.
He married, on 31 August 1418, Elizabeth Wemyss, the eldest daughter of Sir John Wemyss of Wemyss
Wemyss
Wemyss can refer to:Places*Wemyss Bay, a large village in Inverclyde, Scotland**Wemyss Bay railway station**Castle Wemyss, a demolished mansion in Wemyss Bay, Scotland*East Wemyss, Fife, Scotland*West Wemyss, Fife, Scotland...
and Reres, with whom it was stipulated he should receive as dowry a £30 land in Strathardle, Perthshire. This condition was not observed, and gave rise to litigation at a later date. His wife survived him.
They had two sons and two daughters. The elder son, Sir Patrick Gray of Kineff, predeceased his father. He had married Anabella Forbes, daughter of Alexander Forbes, 1st Lord Forbes
Alexander Forbes, 1st Lord Forbes
Alexander de Forbes , 1st Lord Forbes , also feudal baron of Forbes, was a Scottish nobleman.-Life:He was the eldest son of Sir Alexander de Forbes Alexander de Forbes , 1st Lord Forbes (c. 1380-1448), also feudal baron of Forbes, was a Scottish nobleman.-Life:He was the eldest son of Sir Alexander...
, and had one son, who became Andrew Gray, 2nd Lord Gray. The other three children were the younger son Andrew, and daughters Margaret (married Robert, Lord Lyle) and Christian (married James Chrighton of Strathurd).