Anna Balfour

She was a daughter of Robert Balfour, 2nd Lord Balfour of Burleigh (born Robert Arnot), and his wife Margaret, a daughter of Michael Balfour, 1st Lord Balfour of Burleigh.

She married David Wemyss, 2nd Earl of Wemyss (1610-1679) in January 1627.[1] At first, according to a marriage contract, they were to live with his father at Wemyss Castle or at a house known as the Chapel of Wemyss. In 1634 Anna Balfour had two gentlewomen companions and two maids called "quins".[2][3] A "quine" was a Scottish word for a serving woman.[4] They had a herb garden at the Chapel of Wemyss.[5]

David Wemyss was known as the Master of Wemyss. When his father became Earl of Wemyss he was called "Lord Elcho".[6] Anna Balfour, Lady Elcho compiled a book of medical and culinary recipes which was continued by her daughter, Jean, Countess of Sutherland. Her daughter wrote, "This book was my mothers in w[hi]ch are many Receits wch shee had from the most famous Phisitians that lived in her tyme".[7]

During her pregnancies she consulted an Edinburgh physician, David Arnot, who gave her talismans of a stone and a belt. She wrote that the stone was for "the weimen in traveill".[8] Stones used as amulets may have been eagle stone geodes.[9] Her children included:

• Jean Wemyss (1629-1715), who married (1) on 26 April 1649, at Wemyss Castle, Archibald Douglas, 1st Earl of Ormond (2), George Gordon, 15th Earl of Sutherland.[10] She lived at Dunrobin Castle.[11]
• Margaret Wemyss (1630-1648), who was involved with her sister and mother in compiling a manuscript of lute music now known as the "Wemyss manuscript".

Anna Balfour, Lady Elcho died on 10 November 1649.[12]

Both the recipe book and the music manuscript are now held by the National Library of Scotland.[13]