John Somerville, 3rd Lord Somerville facts for kids

John Somerville, 3rd Lord Somerville, was an important Scottish nobleman who lived a long time ago. He was born around the 1400s and passed away in 1491. His father was William Somerville, 2nd Lord Somerville. John was part of the Scottish Parliament, which was like the government's main meeting group back then. He also took part in some important battles. For example, in 1449, he fought with the Scots who won against the English at the Battle of Sark. He was also present at the siege of Roxburgh in 1460, where James II of Scotland died.

John Somerville's Family Life

John Somerville was married twice. His first wife was Helen Hepburn, who was the daughter of Lord Hailes. They had a son named William, who was known as the Master of Somerville. This title meant he was the heir, or next in line, to become Lord Somerville. William and his wife had a son, also named John, who later became the 4th Lord Somerville. So, the 3rd Lord Somerville was succeeded by his grandson.

John and Helen also had a daughter named Elizabeth. She married Gillespic (Archibald) Campbell. Their son was Colin Campbell, who became the 1st Earl of Argyll.

After Helen passed away, John Somerville married Marion Baillie. She was the daughter of Sir William Baillie. John and Marion had a son named John Somerville of Quothquan. This son was also known as 'Red Bag'. He got this nickname because he carried a red satin bag when he went hawking, which was a type of hunting with birds. 'Red Bag' later became involved in disagreements over the Somerville family's lands. He died in 1513 during the Battle of Flodden Field. After Lord John Somerville died, Marion Baillie married Humphrey Colquhoun.

Alliance with the Boyds

In 1466, Lord John Somerville was involved in a big event with a powerful family called the Boyds. On July 9, 1466, Lord John, along with the Boyds and other important people like Adam Hepburn and Andrew Ker, took James III of Scotland to Edinburgh. The King was hunting near Linlithgow Palace when this happened. The Boyds then tried to take control of the Scottish government for about two years.

Even though John Somerville had helped the Boyds with the King's abduction, he later attended a Parliament meeting in November 1469. This meeting decided that Sir Alexander Boyd should face serious consequences for taking James III in 1466.

Marriages of William and John 'Red Bag' Somerville

According to a family history written by the 11th Lord Somerville, Lord John's heir, William, Master of Somerville, was born in 1453. He first married Marjorie Montgomery in June 1476.

The 11th Lord Somerville also wrote that James IV of Scotland visited Lord John at Cowthally Castle in September 1489. This visit supposedly happened after John's second son, John 'Red Bag' Somerville, married Elizabeth Carmichael. However, there are no records of this visit in the King's financial accounts, so it might not have happened.

William, Master of Somerville, passed away sometime after May 18, 1491. Soon after, Lord John Somerville also died. In February 1492, Marion Baillie, Lord John's widow, asked for 1000 marks. This money was part of a marriage agreement made for her stepson William, Master of Somerville, to Jonet Douglas, daughter of William Douglas of Drumlanrig.