George Learmonth of Balcomie

George Learmonth of Balcomie (died 1585) was a Scottish landowner.

Family background

He was the son of James Learmonth of Dairsie and Balcomie (d. 1547), who was Master of Household to James V of Scotland, and Katherine Ramsay. James Learmonth was a commissioner for the 1543 Treaty of Greenwich.[1]

Career
Entrance gateway to Balcomie Castle

His home was Balcomie Castle in Fife. He also leased property belonging to the Hospital of St Nicholas in St Andrews.[2]

On 9 August 1569 he wrote to John Lesley, Bishop of Ross, from London, asking for a passport for himself, the son of James MacGill, Peter Young, and Patrick Adamson. He mentioned he carried a supply of German pistols.[3]

His brother Patrick Learmonth of Dairsie was Provost of St Andrews. Patrick Learmonth lent money to his son-in-law, William Kirkcaldy of Grange, during the "lang siege" of Edinburgh Castle taking jewels belonging to Mary, Queen of Scots as security. These included a "carcan" necklace of 7 great rubies set in gold with 32 great pearls, for a loan of £1000 Scots made jointly with Michael Balfour feuar of Montquhanie.[4]

At this time Learmonth and James Sandilands of St Monans were prosecuted by St Andrews burgh council for not paying rents for lands formerly belonging to the Dominican friars.[5]

He died in 1585.

Family

He married Euphemia Leslie, a daughter of George Leslie, 4th Earl of Rothes and Margaret Crichton. Their children included:

  • James Learmonth of Balcomie, one of the Gentleman Adventurers of Fife and father of James Learmonth, Lord Balcomie. James Learmonth had a child with Grissell Gray in 1585, and with Helen Huntar, the wife of Alan Lentroun in St Andrews, in 1586.[6]
  • John Learmonth of Balcomie, who married Elizabeth Myrton, their heraldry with the date 1602 is carved above the gateway at Balcomie.[7]
  • Robert Learmonth, who married Janet Skene, a daughter of John Skene, Lord Curriehill.

After his death, Euphemia Leslie married John Cunningham of Barns.[8]

References
  1. Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, 18:1 (London, 1901), no. 804.
  2. Gordon Donaldson, Thirds of Benefices (SHS, Edinburgh, 1949), p. 158.
  3. Joseph Bain, Calendar State Papers Scotland: 1563-1569, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), p. 667.
  4. Accounts of the Treasurer, xii, pp. 352-3: National Records of Scotland E35/11/15, 30.
  5. Bess Rhodes, Riches and Reform: Ecclesiastical Wealth in St Andrews: 1520-1580 (Leiden, 2019), p. 146.
  6. David Hay Fleming, Register of St Andrews Kirk Session, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1890), pp. 556-7, 574, 673-4, 676, 690, 696-8.
  7. Walter Wood, The East Neuk of Fife (Edinburgh, 1862), p. 274.
  8. Walter Wood, The East Neuk of Fife (Edinburgh, 1862), p. 274.
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