Samuel Cockburn of Templehall facts for kids

Samuel Cockburn of Templehall and Vogrie was an important Scottish person who lived a long time ago. He was a landowner, which means he owned a lot of land. He was also a diplomat, someone who represents their country in other countries. And he was a Sheriff-principal in Edinburgh, which was a big job in the law.

Who Was Samuel Cockburn?

Samuel Cockburn lived in Scotland in the 1500s and early 1600s. He was a very busy man with many roles. He owned large areas of land, including places called Templehall and Vogrie. He also worked for the Scottish government as a diplomat. This meant he traveled to other countries to speak for Scotland. He also held an important legal position in Edinburgh.

His Family and Home

Samuel was the son of John Cockburn of Ormiston and Alison Sandilands. His mother, Alison, was the daughter of Sir John Sandilands. The place called Temple Hall was located near a stream in a village called Ormiston. This area is in East Lothian, Scotland.

A Diplomat's Role

In 1583, Samuel Cockburn traveled to England as an ambassador. He went with two other important people, William Stewart and John Colville. While in London, he sent some of his household items to Robert Bowes. Robert Bowes was an English diplomat living in Edinburgh. Sadly, pirates captured these goods on their journey.

Samuel's Wife, the Poet

Samuel Cockburn married a talented woman named Elizabeth Douglas. She was the sister of Richard Douglas. Her father was William Douglas of Whittinghame. Elizabeth Douglas is believed to be a poet who used the initials "E. D." She wrote two poems for William Fowler. He was a poet and worked for Anne of Denmark, the Queen. William Fowler even wrote a special poem for Elizabeth Douglas when she passed away in 1594.

Buying New Lands

In 1590, Samuel Cockburn and Elizabeth Douglas bought new land. They purchased the lands of Vogrie from John Lumsden. This land deal was a big event. Other members of the Lumsden family also agreed to the sale. A merchant named Clement Cor was a witness to this important agreement.

Family Matters and Legacy

Samuel Cockburn was involved in family discussions. In 1596, he wrote a letter about a disagreement. It was between James Douglas of Spott and Richard Douglas. Samuel promised to help talk to Sir George Home. He wanted to help the Douglas family with their interests. Samuel and Elizabeth had sons who continued their family's story. Their son Francis became the owner of Templehall. Another son, William, became the owner of Vogrie. A third son, John Cockburn, lived in London. Samuel Cockburn passed away in 1614.