Robert Barton of Over Barnton
Encyclopedia
Robert Barton of Over Barnton
(died 1540) was a Scottish sailor and Lord High Treasurer
to James V of Scotland
.
away from Scotland in the Cuckoo in July 1497. The Barton brothers had a letter of Marque
, originally granted to their father in 1485, which gave them legal protection in Scotland to prey on Portuguese shipping. In February 1506 he was paid for buying a ship in France for James IV of Scotland
, which seems to have been the Lion
. His crew and ship were hired by the king in July 1506. Robert also went to Dumbarton to assist with construction of another ship there. His brother Andrew Barton
was captured and executed by the English in 1511. John Barton died at Kirkcudbright in 1513 after taking ships of the Royal Scots Navy
to France. In 1519, a ship of Robert's, the Black Barque was captured by Spanish sailors near Yarmouth and the crew abandoned on the English coast.
In 1524 Robert and David Falconer agreed to provide a task-force for Christian II of Denmark
. Frederick I of Denmark
wrote to the Duke of Albany about their activities in January 1529. As late as February 1536, Christian III of Denmark
wrote to James V asking for the service of his famous captains, Robert Barton and Robert Fogo. By this time Robert was an old man.
noted that Robert was an especial friend of Margaret Tudor
. Magnus had been given a copy of a letter from John Stewart, Duke of Albany, Margaret's rival for power, giving Barton instructions on provisions for Dunbar Castle
, which he believed to be a forgery. In English letters Robert's name regularly appears as "Hob a Barton."
Barton was treasurer again in 1534. He died in 1540. James V had confirmed him as the owner of several estates, and in April 1538 created a free-barony of Over Barnton. The gift narrated;
His first wife was Elizabeth Jameson. Their eldest son was John Barton of Duddingston
who married Janet Littill. He second wife was Elizabeth Crawford. His other sons included James and Harry, who were awarded a royal pension for their education as celergy on 20 April 1541. Robert's heir, a son of Elizabeth Crawford, also a 'Robert', changed his name to Moubray when he married Barbara Moubray of Barnebougall
. A daughter, Margaret married John Sandelands of Calder.
Barnton, Edinburgh
Barnton is an affluent suburb of Edinburgh, Scotland, located to the north-west of the city.It is home to the Royal High School of Edinburgh; the Barnton Hotel; Braehead House, a plain Scots Classical house dating from circa 1700; and The Royal Burgess Golfing Society, one of the oldest golf clubs...
(died 1540) was a Scottish sailor and Lord High Treasurer
Treasurer of Scotland
The Treasurer was a senior post in the pre-Union government of Scotland, the Privy Council of Scotland.The full title of the post was Lord High Treasurer, Comptroller, Collector-General and Treasurer of the New Augmentation, formed as it was from the amalgamation of four earlier offices...
to James V of Scotland
James V of Scotland
James V was King of Scots from 9 September 1513 until his death, which followed the Scottish defeat at the Battle of Solway Moss...
.
Sailor and shipowner
Robert Barton was a son of John Barton the sailor. He took Perkin WarbeckPerkin Warbeck
Perkin Warbeck was a pretender to the English throne during the reign of King Henry VII of England. By claiming to be Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York, the younger son of King Edward IV, one of the Princes in the Tower, Warbeck was a significant threat to the newly established Tudor Dynasty,...
away from Scotland in the Cuckoo in July 1497. The Barton brothers had a letter of Marque
Letter of marque
In the days of fighting sail, a Letter of Marque and Reprisal was a government licence authorizing a person to attack and capture enemy vessels, and bring them before admiralty courts for condemnation and sale...
, originally granted to their father in 1485, which gave them legal protection in Scotland to prey on Portuguese shipping. In February 1506 he was paid for buying a ship in France for James IV of Scotland
James IV of Scotland
James IV was King of Scots from 11 June 1488 to his death. He is generally regarded as the most successful of the Stewart monarchs of Scotland, but his reign ended with the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Flodden Field, where he became the last monarch from not only Scotland, but also from all...
, which seems to have been the Lion
Lion (warship)
Lion was the name of five warships of the Royal Scottish Navy during the 16th century, some of which were prizes captured by, and from the English...
. His crew and ship were hired by the king in July 1506. Robert also went to Dumbarton to assist with construction of another ship there. His brother Andrew Barton
Andrew Barton
Sir Andrew Barton served as High Admiral of the Kingdom of Scotland. Notorious in England and Portugal as a 'pirate', Barton was a seaman who operated under the aegis of a letter of marque on behalf of the Scottish crown, and is therefore more widely described as a privateer...
was captured and executed by the English in 1511. John Barton died at Kirkcudbright in 1513 after taking ships of the Royal Scots Navy
Royal Scots Navy
The Royal Scots Navy was the navy of the Kingdom of Scotland from its foundation in the 11th century until its merger with the Kingdom of England's Royal Navy per the Acts of Union 1707.- Origins :...
to France. In 1519, a ship of Robert's, the Black Barque was captured by Spanish sailors near Yarmouth and the crew abandoned on the English coast.
In 1524 Robert and David Falconer agreed to provide a task-force for Christian II of Denmark
Christian II of Denmark
Christian II was King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden , during the Kalmar Union.-Background:...
. Frederick I of Denmark
Frederick I of Denmark
Frederick I of Denmark and Norway was the King of Denmark and Norway. The name is also spelled Friedrich in German, Frederik in Danish, and Fredrik in Swedish and Norwegian...
wrote to the Duke of Albany about their activities in January 1529. As late as February 1536, Christian III of Denmark
Christian III of Denmark
Christian III reigned as king of Denmark and Norway. He was the eldest son of King Frederick I and Anna of Brandenburg.-Childhood:...
wrote to James V asking for the service of his famous captains, Robert Barton and Robert Fogo. By this time Robert was an old man.
In the royal exchequer
Robert Barton was well-educated and pursued a second land-based career as a financial officer to the Scottish crown. He was comptroller from 1516 to 1525, and treasurer, comptroller and master of the mint in 1529. In 1524 an English diplomat Thomas MagnusThomas Magnus
Thomas Magnus, , English administrator and diplomat; Archdeacon of the East Riding of Yorkshire 1504, employed on diplomatic missions 1509-19 and 1524-7; present at the Field of the Cloth of Gold 1520; Privy councillor c.1520; awarded a doctorate by the University of Oxford 1520; canon of Windsor...
noted that Robert was an especial friend of Margaret Tudor
Margaret Tudor
Margaret Tudor was the elder of the two surviving daughters of Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York, and the elder sister of Henry VIII. In 1503, she married James IV, King of Scots. James died in 1513, and their son became King James V. She married secondly Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of...
. Magnus had been given a copy of a letter from John Stewart, Duke of Albany, Margaret's rival for power, giving Barton instructions on provisions for Dunbar Castle
Dunbar Castle
Dunbar Castle is the remnants of one of the most mighty fortresses in Scotland, situated over the harbour of the town of Dunbar, in East Lothian.-Early history:...
, which he believed to be a forgery. In English letters Robert's name regularly appears as "Hob a Barton."
Barton was treasurer again in 1534. He died in 1540. James V had confirmed him as the owner of several estates, and in April 1538 created a free-barony of Over Barnton. The gift narrated;
"his great services to the navy in time of war for the defence of Scots lieges and merchants against the English and other pirates, occasionally bringing himself into great expense, and other praiseworthy acts in the time of James IV and himself in his minority, as as comptroller and treasurer.
largis sumptibus naves tempore guerre pro liegiorum et marcatorum suorum contra Anglos et alios piratos defensione, ejus personam quibusvis temporibus necessariis periculis exponendo: et pro aliis laudabilibus actis patri suo et sibbi in minori sua etate factis in thesaurarie et compotorum rotulatoris officiis."
His first wife was Elizabeth Jameson. Their eldest son was John Barton of Duddingston
Duddingston
Duddingston is a former village in the east of Edinburgh, Scotland, next to Holyrood Park.-Origins and etymology:The estate wherein Duddingston Village now lies was first recorded in lands granted to the Abbot of Kelso Abbey by David I of Scotland between 1136–47, and is described as stretching...
who married Janet Littill. He second wife was Elizabeth Crawford. His other sons included James and Harry, who were awarded a royal pension for their education as celergy on 20 April 1541. Robert's heir, a son of Elizabeth Crawford, also a 'Robert', changed his name to Moubray when he married Barbara Moubray of Barnebougall
Barnbougle Castle
Barnbougle Castle is a much-altered tower house on the south shore of the Firth of Forth, between Cramond and South Queensferry. It lies within the Dalmeny Estate, and is the property of the Earl of Rosebery. It is about north of Dalmeny House, the main house on the estate...
. A daughter, Margaret married John Sandelands of Calder.
Further reading
- Reid, W. S., Skipper from Leith, the history of Robert Barton of Over Barnton, (1962).
- Murray, Athol. 'Barton, Robert (d. 1540)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Online ed. Ed. Lawrence Goldman. Oxford: OUP, . 6 Nov. 2010 subscription required