John Hay, 12th Earl of Erroll facts for kids
John Hay, the 12th Earl of Erroll, was an important Scottish leader who lived a long time ago. He was also known as the Lord High Constable of Scotland, which was a very important job. Before he became the Earl of Erroll, people knew him as John Hay of Kellour. He passed away on December 30, 1704.
Family Life
John Hay was the son of Sir Andrew Hay of Killour and his wife, Margaret. Margaret's brother, George Kinnaird, was a supporter of King Charles II. John also had a younger sister named Jean.
In 1674, John Hay became the 12th Earl of Erroll. He also took on the role of the 16th Lord High Constable of Scotland. This happened after the previous Earl, Gilbert Hay, passed away without any children.
John Hay married Lady Anne Drummond. Their marriage agreement was made on October 1, 1674. Anne was the daughter of James Drummond, the 3rd Earl of Perth. Her brothers, James and John Drummond, were also important figures who supported the Jacobite cause.
John and Anne had five children together. They had three sons named Charles, James, and Thomas. They also had two daughters, Mary and Margaret. Margaret later married James Livingston, the 5th Earl of Linlithgow.
His Public Roles
John Hay held several important positions during his life. In October 1672, he became a Burgess of both Perth and Aberdeen. Being a Burgess meant he was a respected citizen with special rights in those towns.
From May 1685, he served as the Sheriff Principal of Aberdeen. This role meant he was a chief law officer in the area.
The Earl was a strong supporter of the House of Stuart, the royal family at the time. His brother-in-law, James Drummond, was a very powerful person in the Scottish government during the 1688 Revolution. John Hay and his wife paid close attention to these big changes. Even with all the political unrest, people said that the Earl acted with great wisdom and fairness.
In February 1700, he also became the Chancellor of King's College, Aberdeen. This meant he was a leader at the university.
Records from King William II show that the Earl of Erroll owned many lands in October 1700. These lands included areas near Turriff, Banff, Slains, Pitmedden, and Crimond. His main family home was Slains Castle.
Death and Legacy
John Hay, the 12th Earl of Erroll, passed away on December 30, 1704. His son, Charles, officially inherited the family estate on April 24, 1705.
Charles became the 13th Earl of Erroll. He took his seat in Parliament in June 1705. Sadly, he was held in Edinburgh Castle starting in 1708. Charles died at the age of 40 on October 16, 1717. Since he was not married and had no children, his title passed to his sister, Mary. Mary then became the Mary Hay, 14th Countess of Erroll.
