Dorothea Stewart, Countess of Gowrie facts for kids
Dorothea Stewart, Countess of Gowrie was an important Scottish noblewoman. We don't know the exact dates when she was born or when she died.
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Early Life of Dorothea Stewart
Dorothea Stewart was the oldest daughter of Henry Stewart, 1st Lord Methven and Janet Stewart. Her mother was the daughter of John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Atholl. Dorothea had several siblings, including Henry Stewart, 2nd Lord Methven, Margaret Stewart, Mistress of Ochiltree, and Joan Stewart, who became the Countess of Argyll.
Married Life and Challenges
Dorothea Stewart married William, Master of Ruthven on August 17, 1561, in Perth. It seems it was a double wedding, as her half-sister, Elizabeth Kennedy, also got married that day.
William Ruthven later became known as Lord Ruthven. He was then given the title of Earl of Gowrie. Their main home was Huntingtower Castle near Perth. Back then, it was called Ruthven Castle. The name Ruthven was pronounced "Ryven."
In October 1570, her husband gave her Dirleton Castle and some other lands. This was for her "terce" or jointure lands, which were properties set aside for her use.
Her husband faced serious charges and was executed in May 1584 in Stirling. After this, Dorothea was ordered to give up Dirleton, Ruthven, Cousland, and their home in Perth to the crown.
On August 22, 1584, Dorothea Stewart went to the opening of the Scottish Parliament. She knelt on the High Street and cried out to the king, asking for kindness for her children. A man named James Stewart, Earl of Arran pushed her away. She fainted and was left on the street.
Later Years and Family Troubles
Later, Dirleton Castle and other properties were given back to Lady Gowrie and her family. In July 1590, a courtier named William Keith of Delny stayed at her house near Holyrood Palace. There were plans for Dorothea to marry William Keith in 1591, but King James VI stopped it. In July 1593, her house caused suspicion because it was used to get into the palace during the Earl of Bothwell's second Raid of Holyrood.
In 1597, Dorothea Stewart and her second husband, Andrew Kerr of Faldonsyde, complained about some local men. These men were stealing rabbits from the Dirleton lands and bothering her tenants.
After a difficult event in Perth on August 5, 1600, where some of her family members died, two men rode to Dirleton. They wanted to arrest her two surviving sons, Patrick and William. They told Lady Gowrie that her sons would be kept by the Chancellor, the Earl of Montrose. This news caused her great sadness, even though Montrose was the father-in-law of her daughter Margaret. However, her two young sons were already riding to safety in England.
She was still living at Dirleton in November 1600. She hoped the king would help her daughters, who were in a very difficult situation. She felt she could not help them herself. A part of the ruined castle is still known as the Gowrie lodging.
Dorothea's Children
Dorothea Stewart had many children, including:
- James Ruthven, 2nd Earl of Gowrie (died 1588)
- John Ruthven, 3rd Earl of Gowrie (died 1600)
- Alexander Ruthven (died 1600)
- William Ruthven
- Patrick Ruthven, who was held in the Tower of London. He was the father of Mary Ruthven, who married the famous painter Anthony van Dyck.
- Mary Ruthven, who married two different men, both named John Stewart, Earl of Atholl.
- Margaret Ruthven, who married John Graham, 4th Earl of Montrose. She was the mother of James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose, a very famous Scottish leader.
- Sophia Ruthven (died 1592), who married Ludovic Stewart, 2nd Duke of Lennox on April 20, 1591. This happened the day after he helped her get out of prison at Wemyss Castle, and against the wishes of King James VI.
- Jean Ruthven, who married James Ogilvy, 1st Earl of Airlie.
- Elizabeth or Isobel Ruthven, who married two different men.
- Beatrix Ruthven, who was a lady-in-waiting to Anne of Denmark, the queen. She married John Home of Cowdenknowes.
- Lilias Ruthven, about whom little is known. An English ambassador wrote that she "died also with sorrow" after her father's execution in May 1584.
- Dorothea, who married John Wemyss of Pittencrieff.
- Barbara Ruthven, who was also a lady-in-waiting to Queen Anne of Denmark.
