Thomas Kerr of Ferniehirst

Thomas Kerr of Ferniehirst (d. 1585) was a Scottish landowner, Roman Catholic and supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots..

He was the son of Sir John Kerr of Ferniehirst and Katherine Kerr. His sister Margaret married Lord Hay of Yester and was the mother of William Hay, 6th Lord Hay of Yester.

His homes were Oxnam and Ferniehirst Castle.

In July 1575 he wrote from Paris to Mary, Queen of Scots, describing the destruction of his houses with fire and gunpowder by English forces during the Marian Civil War costing him at least 20,000 crowns, and the injuries sustained by his family and followers fighting for her cause in Scotland. He lost his jewels and the charters of his lands left in a coffer in Edinburgh Castle which Regent Morton confiscated. The Earl of Angus cut down his woodlands.[1]

Ferniehirst was allowed to return to Scotland and was said to have watched the execution of Regent Morton, wearing an outfit with conspicuous and extravagant cuffs. In June 1581 James Stewart, Earl of Arran tried to block the restoration and rehabilitation of Ferniehirst, who was considerered guilty of taking "art and part" in the killing of the king's grandfather Regent Lennox. However, Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox supported his return to favour and Ferniehirst knelt before the king for forgiveness in the garden at Dalkeith Palace.[2]

The Scottish poet William Fowler reported to Francis Walsingham that the Laird of Ferniehirst had arrived secretly in London in May 1583, and was expected to go to France again.[3]

His second wife, Janet Scott, was politically active. In October 1583 she wrote to Mary Queen of Scots from Ferniehirst with news from the Scottish court. She said she had been approached by the Countess of Arran in person and by letter hoping that Mary would not join with the Hamiltons against her husband James Stewart, Earl of Arran. She wanted to Mary to advise her about this. She had forgotten to forward a letter from Lord Seton. Mary was a godparent to one of her sons.[4]

Kerr was made a warden of the Middle March of the Scottish border and keeper of Liddesdale. In November 1584 the Privy Council allotted him 100 troops and the use of Hermitage Castle.[5]

Marriage and children

He married firstly Janet Kirkcaldy, a daughter of William Kirkcaldy of Grange and Margaret Learmonth. The children of Sir Thomas Kerr of Ferniehirst and Janet Kirkcaldy included:

He married secondly, Janet Scott, sister of Walter Scott, 4th Baron of Buccleuch. The children of Sir Thomas Kerr of Ferniehirst and Janet Scott included:

References
  1. Boyd, William (1907). Calendar of State Papers Scotland: 1574-1581. vol. 5. Edinburgh. pp. 160–4.
  2. Masson, David (1880). Register of the Privy Council of Scotland: 1578-1585. vol. 3. Edinburgh. p. 392.
  3. Boyd, William (1907). Calendar of State Papers Scotland: 1574-1581. vol. 5. Edinburgh. p. 478.
  4. Boyd, William (1910). Calendar of State Papers Scotland: 1581-1583. vol. 6. Edinburgh. pp. 637–9, 661.
  5. David Masson, Register of the Privy Council of Scotland: 1578-1585, vol. 3 (Edinburgh, 1880), p. 699.
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