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1.
Sir James, son of Sir
James of Dalkeith by
his first wife, was married in 1387 to Elizabeth, daughter of King
Robert III. He was granted (March 21, 1382) a charter of the Barony of
Morton with Mordingtoun and Whittinghame.
Sir James Douglas
received a charter from King David II and took possession of the castle
in 1369. At this time, Sir James Douglas was created Baron Dalkeith.
The first mention of buildings on the land is in this charter by King
David II granting the castle and barony of Dalkeith to Sir James
Douglas, First Lord of Dalkeith. James and his heirs would hold the land
freely on rendering to the King either a pair of white gloves or a
silver penny at the feast of Pentecost.
At that time he also received the title of a Lord of Parliament as "Lord
Dalkeith". His first son, William, was born in 1390 and predeceased his
father circa 1425. Sir James died circa 1441.
2. James, 2nd Lord of Dalkeith was the second son of Sir James,
1st Lord of Dalkeith. James succeeded his father circa 1441 due to the
death of his elder brother, William. On 8 September 1456 he
resigned his lands in favour of his son, James.
3. James was created 1st Earl of Morton on 14 March 1457/58.
4 - 9 The Earls of Morton retained the title til the
8th Earl was forced to give
up his lands:
It is stated that before the Civil War broke out he was (one of the
richest and greatest subjects in the Kingdom. "Unfortunately for himself
he cast in his lot with the Royalist party, and was repeatedly applied
to for money to enable them to carry on the war. For this purpose he
disposed of his extensive and valuable property of Dalkeith, together
with several of his minor estates, thus depriving himself of an annual
rental estimated at 100,000 pounds Scots. As an offset for this great
sacrifice on his part, he received a Royal charter, dated 15th June,
1643, granting him the Islands of Orkney and Shetland in absolute right,
with all their jurisdictions, redeemable only by the Crown upon payment
of £30,000 sterling.
Current. The eldest son of the Duke of Buccleuch & Queensberry
uses the courtesy title Earl of Dalkeith
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