James Douglas, 1st Lord Mordington facts for kids
Sir James Douglas, 1st Lord Mordington (who died on February 11, 1656) was an important Scottish nobleman. He was the second son of William Douglas, 10th Earl of Angus. His mother was Elizabeth, daughter of Laurence Oliphant, 4th Lord Oliphant. King Charles I made him a Lord of Parliament on November 14, 1641. This meant he became a member of the Scottish Parliament.
Contents
Becoming a Knight and Owning Land
Sir James was made a knight before 1621. Being a knight was a special honor given by the king. He also received land and an area called the barony of Over Mordington in Berwickshire. This was given to him by the Crown on August 24, 1634. It seems he was already living there and had some control over the land before this official grant.
The Solemn League and Covenant
In 1644, Sir James faced a big decision about a document called the Solemn League and Covenant. This was an agreement to support a certain type of church and government in Scotland. On April 20, 1644, he was asked to appear before the Scottish Parliament. He needed to "swear and subscribe" (agree to and sign) the Covenant. If he didn't, there would be consequences.
The church leaders in the area, called the Presbytery of Chirnsyde, also wanted him to sign. On May 23, 1644, they visited Mordington Kirk (church). There, Sir James publicly agreed to the Covenant. He also promised to give up any support for the Pope and signed the Confession of Faith.
Paying Taxes to the English Army
Lord Mordington owned property not only in Scotland but also across the border in England. Because of this, he had to pay taxes to the English government. On October 17, 1644, a letter was sent to Colonel Lindsay. He was the Governor of Berwick-upon-Tweed, a town near the border. The letter stated that Lord Mordington's English property was assessed to pay £100 Sterling. This money was for the English army. The governor was asked to make sure this sum was collected.
Meeting Oliver Cromwell's Forces
In 1650, Oliver Cromwell was a powerful English leader. His army arrived at Lord Mordington's home, a strong building called a Tower house, in Mordington. This happened on July 22, 1650. Cromwell's forces stayed there for several days. They used Lord Mordington's home as their headquarters.
Family Life and Marriage
Lord Mordington got married in 1624. His wife was Anne, the only child of Laurence Oliphant, 5th Lord Oliphant. Anne believed she should inherit the noble title of Oliphant. However, in 1633, a court decided that the title should go to a male relative. King Charles I was present during this decision.
Even though Anne did not get the Oliphant title, the King decided to create a new title for her husband. This new title was Lord Mordington. The King also decided that this new title would have the same high rank as the Oliphant title (which dated back to 1458).
Sir James and Anne had several children:
- William Douglas, 2nd Lord Mordington: He was their oldest son and inherited his father's title.
- James: Another son.
- Anne: Their daughter, who married Robert Sempill, 7th Lord Sempill (who died in 1675). They had one son and two daughters.
