Robert Lauder (d. 1576) - Family and Estates

Family and Estates

The son of Sir Robert Lauder of The Bass, Knt., (died between July 1517 - Feb 1518) by his spouse Elizabeth Lawson, who invested him in fee in Edrington, county Berwick, whilst still a child. Following his father's death The Exchequer Rolls record Robert being invested in his paternal estates which included The Bass, the lands of Edrington with tower, mill, fishings and all pertinents extending to 15 husbandlands (390 acres);the town and territory of Simprin and the lands of Ladypart (near Lauder) with pertinents, Mersington with Mill, all in Berwickshire; the lands of Stenton, Duchry, Johnscleuch, Pencaitland, Newhall, Popill, Whitelaw, Wester Spott &c., Beil with its tower, mill &c., all in Haddingtonshire. The Binns Papers record him taking possession of Auldcathie in Linlithgowshire, and the Laing charters also record him in possession of "Ummoquhye" (Ummarchie) in the barony of Kirriemuir in Forfarshire.

On 4 January 1528/9 the Commendator of Scone Abbey granted him a hereditary feu of the lands and manor of Lochend, near Dunbar. Robert Lauder of The Bass had a feu from the Prior & Convent of Dundee of the lands of "Kilduntane, Sheriffdom of Fife" and "ye lands of Cyr, lyand within ye Barony of Seygden and Sheriffdom of Perth", (indenture transcribed in full on pages 179/180 of The Grange of St.Giles).

In the National Archives of Scotland (RH1/2/730) is a Warrant by King James V for the gift, under the Privy Seal of Scotland, to Robert Lauder of the Bass of "the maills and duties of landis in the sheriffdoms of Edinburgh and Berwick", dated 17 July 1532.

In a further charter of 1538 under the Great Seal of Scotland, (number 1823), Robert Lauder of The Bass was confirmed in the lands of Ethibetoun in East Brechin, Forfarshire. The same year the King confirmed to Robert Lauder of The Bass, his heirs and assignees, the lands of Horshopcleuch in the barony of Lammermuir, Berwickshire, which had been forfeited by Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus.

In 1542 a confirmation was made by Cardinal David Beaton of the grant of the lands, bailliary, and barony of Tyninghame, made earlier by James Beaton, Archbishop of Saint Andrews on 9 July 1535, to Robert Lauder of The Bass and the heirs male of his body.

William Cockburn of Newhall confirmed by Great Seal charter Robert Lauder of Bass, his heirs and assignees, in the annualrents of the "42 husbandlands (1092 acres) of Newhall, Ballingrug, Howden, Heimurecroce, Woodhead, and Woodfute in Haddingtonshire. Signed at Beil, 14 April 1543.

In The Knights of St John of Jerusalem in Scotland in the chapter entitled "Selected Documents" (number 50) there is a notorial instrument dealing with temple-lands at Hedderwick, North Berwick, and Tyninghame "which pertain to Robert Lauder, Lord of the Bass" and dated Edinburgh 23 June 1547. Further, in chapter "1539-1540 - Lists", the Laird of Bass paid a rental on "the temple of Balgony" near North Berwick. These temple-lands had originally been in the possession of the Knights Templar.