Notes |
- of Hallgreen - got into financial difficulties
As the "eldest son" of David, the seventh Laird, William was given the lands of Ballandro in the parish of Benholm in 1620. In 1621 he was given lands at the Kirktoun of Aberluthnott, and between 1626 and 1633 the lands of Drumnagar from his uncle, the Rev. James Rait, minister of Aberluthnott. By 1637 he was the Laird of Hallgreen itself, and was married by 1620 to Jean, sister of Sir William Douglas of Glenbervie, with whom he had at least eight, probably nine children. As his successors were also called William, it is not apparent when he died. He seems to have been married a second time '96 to Elizabeth, daughter of Sir G. Auchinleck of Balmanno.
- (Research):Not sure if this is the same William Rait...
William Rait died in February l6.l)8, and was succeeded by his son James, who
married Isobel, daughter of Robert Douglas of Bridgeford.
his is a branch of the ancient family of Rait
of Halgr<:en, co. Kincardine, said to be descended from a Ger-
man of the district of Rhoetia (whence called Rait or Rhat),
who, in the days of Malcolm II., came to Scotland with Keith,
predecessor to the Earl Marischal ,and got some lands in the
shire of Nairn, where he built a castle, and called it by his own
name. In the reign of David II., Rait of Uras, who was the
King's Shield Bearer, acquired certain property in the parish
of Dunnotar, of which mention is made of the King granting
confirmation in 1383. In the reign of Balliol, mention is
made of Sir George Rait de OSdem ; and in the days of Alex-
ander III., Rait went to the Holy Wars, with the King of
France (but some suppose It Keith, not Rait). In the reign
of King Robert III., Sir Archibald Eait, of that ilk, for the
slaughter of the Thane of Caddell, was forced to fly from that
part of the country, and live in the Mearns, under the protec-
tion of the Lord. Keith. His son,
Mark Rait, m. the heretrix of Hallgreen, then called Don-
nante, and after her death, without issue, m. a dau. of Ogilvio
of that ilk. He purchased the lands of Drumnay in the
Mearns; Boethe^ays, uponthe forfeiture of Cumming(Comyn?),
the King gave the half of the Earldom to Keith. he was 6x grandfather of this William Rait.
ne of the oldest and best-known families in the district which "traces its descent from Sir Archibald Rait, who in the reign of King Robert III, was forced, on account of the killing of the Thane of Caddell to flee to the Mearns under the protection of Lord Keith" -
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