James Home, 2nd Earl of Home facts for kids
James Home, 2nd Earl of Home (died 1633) was an important Scottish nobleman. He lived during a time when Scotland and England were ruled by the same king, King James VI and I.
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A Young Earl's Life and Family
James Home became the Earl of Home after his father, Alexander Home, 1st Earl of Home, passed away in London in April 1619. His mother, Mary, Countess of Home, helped him with important matters, like discussing land deals with King James I.
Attending a Royal Funeral
In 1625, James, the Earl of Home, attended a very important event: the funeral of King James VI and I. This grand ceremony took place at Westminster Abbey in London on May 7, 1625.
First Marriage and Royal Wishes
In May 1622, James married Catherine Cary. She was the oldest daughter of Viscount Falkland and Elizabeth Tanfield Cary, who was a famous writer. The marriage happened at Whitehall Palace in London, right in the King's own room!
King James Arranges the Wedding
John Chamberlain, a letter writer of the time, mentioned that King James himself arranged this marriage. The King wanted the wedding to happen before Catherine's father, Viscount Falkland, left to become the Lord Deputy of Ireland.
Family Meeting in Scotland
In Scotland, King James sent a lawyer named Thomas Hamilton to meet with six important leaders from the Home family. These leaders were from places like Wedderburn, Ayton, Blackadder, Polwarth, Manderston, Hutton Hall, and North Berwick. The lawyer told them all about the Earl's marriage. King James hoped these family leaders would help keep peace and love between James and his new wife. The family leaders agreed, but they also hoped James's mother would ask for their advice on family matters.
Catherine's Life and Passing
In December 1622, the Earl of Home had a serious mouth infection. His wife, Catherine, also had a tooth pulled out around that time. Catherine, Countess of Home, had a special religious experience while she was in Scotland. Sadly, Catherine passed away in 1625 while giving birth. Her death and the vision she had were said to have influenced her mother to become Catholic.
A Maid's Journey
One of Catherine's maids, Bessie Poulter, went back to England to work for Catherine's mother, Lady Falkland. It was said that Bessie was influenced by discussions about witchcraft and Catholic priests she heard in Scotland.
Second Marriage
In 1626, James married again. His second wife was Grace Fane (who passed away in 1633). She was the oldest daughter of Francis Fane, 1st Earl of Westmorland and Mary Mildmay. Grace also had connections to the Villiers family, who were well-known at court.
Later Life and Passing
Records show that James, the Earl of Home, had expenses for his dogs and a horse named "Sweepstakes." He also sent gold to England for his costs.
James passed away in London in 1633. He did not have any children to inherit his title. The court physician, Théodore de Mayerne, was with him. Grace, his second wife, passed away soon after him at Apethorpe. After James, the next Earl of Home was Sir James Home of Coldenknowes.
