Cunningham of Drumquhassle facts for kids

The coat of arms of Andrew Cunningham of Drumquhassle around 1512

The Cunninghams of Drumquhassle were an important family in Scotland from the early 1500s to the mid-1600s. They were part of the larger Clan Cunningham from Kilmaurs in Ayrshire. Their family line came from a branch of the Cunninghams of Polmaise.

At their most powerful, their lands included areas like Mugdock-Mitchell and a house at Killermont, covering parts of Strathblane and New Kilpatrick. John Cunningham, the third laird (or landowner), held important jobs in the Scottish court. He was the Master of the Royal Household for King James VI and a tax collector during the time when the Earl of Lennox was in charge.

However, John Cunningham became involved in the power struggles between Scottish nobles and the English court of Elizabeth I of England. This led to his downfall, and he was found guilty of serious charges against the king and country in 1585, and sadly, lost his life. Over the next century, the family lost its land and power. By the mid-1600s, the Cunninghams sold their country house in Drumquhassle in rural Stirlingshire, and it was bought by the Govane family.

Who Were the Cunninghams of Drumquhassle?

The Cunninghams of Drumquhassle (sometimes spelled Drumwhassle) got their name from a place meaning "ridge with the castle." A Roman fort was once built there! This family came from a younger son of Sir Robert Cunningham of Kilmaurs. Their direct ancestor was Alexander Cunningham, a younger son of Andrew Cunningham of Polmaise.

Alexander Cunningham, the first Laird of Drumquhassle, married Margaret Park around 1502. Through this marriage, he gained control of three-quarters of the Mugdock lands. The rest, including Mugdock Castle, belonged to the Clan Graham.

Alexander's son, Andrew, married Mary, the daughter of Robert Erskine, 4th Lord Erskine. Their son, John, became the third laird before July 1548. John married Isobel Cunningham, a relative who also had a share of the Polmaise estate. In 1556, Isobel's sisters sold their parts of Polmaise to John and Isobel. It was during John's time as laird that Drumquhassle became a barony, with Drumquhassle Castle as its main home.

John and Isobel had a large family with six sons and three daughters:

• John (who became the fourth laird after 1585)
• William of Polmaise
• Robert of Drumbeg
• Cuthbert, a church leader in Dumbarton
• Edward
• Matthew
• Janet, who married Malcolm Douglas of Mains in 1562
• Egidia, who married Robert Semple of Fullwood
• Mary, who married Peter Napier of Kilmahew

John, the fourth laird, was listed in a 1587 Act of the Scottish Parliament as an important landowner. He continued to hold some high-profile positions like his father. He had at least two sons with Margaret Elphinstone, the oldest of whom was also named John. After Margaret's death, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Lord Boyd. John became the fifth laird in 1590. He sold Killermont House in 1628 and passed away in 1635 without children. His brother James became the sixth laird. James's son, also named James, is thought to have inherited the title of seventh laird around 1660, but not much else. The house at Drumquhassle then went to the Govane family, who rebuilt it in Drymen, Stirlingshire.

Drumquhassle's Role in Scottish Politics

During Mary, Queen of Scots' Reign (1542–1567)

In 1544, the Laird of Drumquhassle supported his relative, William Cunningham, 4th Earl of Glencairn, and the Earl of Lennox at the Battle of Glasgow. They fought against the Governor of Scotland, Regent Arran. The battle was fierce, and the Earls lost. Many people, including Glencairn's son, died. It's not clear if this was the second or third laird.

John Cunningham, the third Laird of Drumquhassle, had important land and many powerful relatives. In 1551, he received a "safe-conduct" (like a passport) from the King of England to travel to France. He became a key assistant to the Earl of Lennox, managing the Earl's money and lands, which included Drumquhassle. John Cunningham was active in Scottish politics as early as 1560, attending the Scottish Reformation Parliament.

He helped protect the Queen's interests in Edinburgh. In 1561, he was part of Lord Mar's guard at Edinburgh Castle. By 1563, Drumquhassle was helping prepare Edinburgh to defend against uprisings. However, in 1567, Drumquhassle was one of 75 nobles who signed important documents at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. These documents made Scotland a Protestant nation and led to Mary giving up her crown. They also made sure that young James would be raised as a Protestant, which helped him become a future king of both Scotland and England.

During the Regency of the Earl of Moray (1567–1570)

In 1567, James VI became king at just 13 months old. James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray, Mary, Queen of Scots' half-brother, became the Regent (the person who rules for a young king). In December 1567, Drumquhassle helped bring charges against the Earl of Bothwell, who was accused of being involved in the death of Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley, James VI's father. In 1568, Drumquhassle was appointed Master of the Household for James VI at Stirling Castle.

During the Regency of the Earl of Lennox (1570–1571)

After Moray's death, the Earl of Lennox, James VI's grandfather, became Regent. Drumquhassle helped bring the English army to Edinburgh in April 1570 to support Lennox during the Lang Siege.

In July 1570, Drumquhassle was chosen as the Collector General for a special tax. This tax was raised to send ambassadors to England. During this time, Dumbarton Castle was held by supporters of Mary, Queen of Scots. Thomas Crawford of Jordanhill led the attack to take back the castle, and Drumquhassle supported him with his men. After the castle was taken, Drumquhassle became its Captain. He also held the position of Master of the Royal Household. He was cleared of any wrongdoing during these actions by an act of parliament.

During the Regencies of the Earl of Mar (1571–1572) and the Earl of Morton (1572–1578)

After Lennox's death, John Erskine, Earl of Mar became Regent for about a year, but he was largely controlled by the Earl of Morton, who became Regent in 1572. Drumquhassle was Mar's cousin.

During this time, important people in the Scottish court received money from England. This was likely to influence them regarding James, who was expected to become the next English king. In June 1574, Drumquhassle received £150 from England. The English noted that he was "able to persuade by credit and counsel, especially about the King and Argyll, and apt to do good by the commodity of his office of Dumbarton, which he commands."

Morton lost power when Esmé Stewart, a relative of James's father, arrived in Scotland and became a favorite of the young king. Morton was forced to resign in April 1578. Drumquhassle, acting for the king, accepted the surrender of Edinburgh Castle from Morton's brother. This ended Morton's power. King James VI declared in August 1578 that Drumquhassle should be free to manage his affairs.

Early Part of James VI's Reign (1578–1585)

In 1578, the Earl of Morton was removed as Regent and later accused of being involved in the death of James's father, Lord Darnley. This was when things started to go wrong for John Cunningham of Drumquhassle. In July 1578, he was ordered to appear before the King and Privy Council at Stirling Castle to explain his accounts for the Earldom of Lennox. He refused, saying he feared for his life.

Drumquhassle and his oldest son were accused of serious charges in 1579, but the details are missing. In 1580, King James VI made his favorite, Esmé Stewart, the Earl, and then Duke, of Lennox.

Despite the earlier accusation, Drumquhassle continued to work in public life. In August 1580, the Duke of Lennox tried to take direct control of Dumbarton Castle from Drumquhassle. The English ambassador reported that Drumquhassle was forced to give up the castle. It was believed that Lennox acted quickly because he had intercepted letters from England to Drumquhassle.

In 1581, Drumquhassle was listed as a supporter of Morton, who was involved in a plan against the Duke of Lennox with English support. Some nobles, including Drumquhassle, were paid by the English. When Morton was found guilty of serious charges and lost his life in 1581, his supporters were in danger.

The situation changed when James VI was captured in the Raid of Ruthven in August 1582. This event, supported by the English and the Church of Scotland, removed nobles who were seen as too close to Catholicism, including the Duke of Lennox. In October 1582, the Duke of Lennox warned the King not to trust Drumquhassle, showing that Drumquhassle was close to the new government. Some sources suggest that Drumquhassle convinced the Earl of Gowrie to join the plot by falsely claiming Lennox wanted to harm him.

After James VI was freed and the Ruthven regime collapsed in July 1583, the Earl of Arran gained control of Scotland. Arran, a leader of the Catholic nobility, pursued his enemies, including Gowrie and his supporters. Drumquhassle was ordered by the king to enter Blackness Castle, which he obeyed. Despite earlier promises of safety, there were accusations that Drumquhassle had made plans against the King, including one to hand Dumbarton over to the English. The final accusation was that Drumquhassle had arranged with the English to take James VI to England and hold him, similar to his mother, Mary, Queen of Scots.

Drumquhassle was later released to live at his own house under supervision. After the Earl of Gowrie was found guilty and lost his life, the Earl of Arran began to pursue anyone who supported the banished lords. Drumquhassle's younger brother, Captain James Cunningham, had been with these lords during their failed attempt to take Stirling Castle in April 1584. Charges were brought against Drumquhassle and his son-in-law, Malcolm Douglas of Mains, in January 1585. They were arrested at their homes and taken to Edinburgh. Their connections to the banished lords sealed their fate.

Their trial involved three accusations presented to a jury. The main charge was not Drumquhassle's direct involvement in the Raid of Ruthven (which had been overlooked by the king's mercy). Instead, it was claimed that Drumquhassle, Edmonstone, and Mains planned to capture the king while he was hunting, on orders from the banished lords. This plot was supposedly planned in churches and Mains's house between October 1584 and January 1585. There is no record of Drumquhassle's defense. Both Drumquhassle and Douglas of Mains were found guilty of serious charges and lost their lives on February 9, 1585.

After their deaths, the accusations against Drumquhassle and Mains were expanded to directly involve the banished lords. Three more alleged plots were presented:

• A plan for the banished lords to raid Edinburgh with a thousand horsemen, which was deemed too difficult.
• A plan for thirty or forty horsemen to capture the king while he was alone and take him to the islands of Loch Lomond until the banished lords could take him into their care. This plot was also abandoned.
• A final plot involved recruiting Robert Cunningham as part of an eight-man team to capture the king. These men were to disguise themselves as beggars and ambush the king, either shooting him or killing him with other weapons. The reason given for this was to get back their family property lost after the Raid of Ruthven.

With these new accusations, Arran sent ambassadors to England to bring the same charges against the exiled lords. However, events did not go as Arran planned. The banished lords gained more favor from the English, while Arran lost their trust.

Later Part of James VI's Reign (1585–1625)

In October 1585, the banished lords returned to Scotland and easily defeated Arran. They captured Stirling Castle with the King in November. They got their lands back and took control of the government. When the lords approached Stirling Castle, Robert Hamilton, who had accused Drumquhassle and Mains, tried to escape but was caught and killed. After Arran lost power, Edmonstone admitted that he had lied in his testimony to save his own life. The third laird's property was then given back to his heir, John Cunningham, by an act of parliament in 1585. In 1587, Drumquhassle was legally required to take action against "broken men" (like raiders) living on his lands.

The fifth laird, John, was the eldest son of the fourth laird and Margaret Elphinstone. He became the fifth laird in 1590. His lands included Portnellan, Galbraith, and Tullochan, with islands in Loch Lomond. These were all in the Dukedom of Lennox, so the second Duke of Lennox (son of the Duke d'Aubigny) was his feudal superior (the person he owed loyalty and service to for his land).

His younger brother, Cuthbert Cunningham, was a church leader in Dumbarton. In 1590, he complained that his father had given him lands, but his elder brother, the Laird of Drumquhassle, had claimed them. The Laird of Drumquhassle benefited from Cuthbert's inheritance with the help of his brother-in-law.

In 1599, the fifth laird was made a freeman of the city of Glasgow.

During Charles I's Reign and the Family's Decline

As the fifth Laird, John sold off much of the family's property. First, he sold the Mugdock lands to John, Earl of Montrose, in 1619. Then, he sold Killermont to John Stark in 1628. John and his brother James clearly had disagreements, as James had to promise to keep the peace in 1605 because John and their mother feared for their safety from James.

John died in 1635 without children. His brother James became the sixth laird, but he also struggled to keep the family estates. James lost Blairquhosh to Lord Napier after an uprising in 1638. It's also possible that another uprising in 1648 led to the Bandalloch estate going to the Cunninghams of Drumbeg. His son James is believed to have inherited the title of seventh laird around 1660, but not much else. The family's importance and land ownership had greatly diminished.

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