DE LAWEDRE (LAUDER), Robert of The Bass, Sir

   Another name for Robert was LAUDER, Robert of the Bass, Sir.

   User ID: Q608

  General Notes:

"It seems clear that this Robert was invested in fee by his grandfather, Sir Robert de Lawedre of The Bass (d.c1370) in the feudal barony of The Bass etc., and all its lands in his lifetime.[⁴Young, 1884, p.45.] Neither Robert's father Alan or Alan's elder brother William (d.s.p.) ever had possession, or were described with the territorial designation 'of The Bass'."

from Wikitree article




"Sir Robert de Lawedre of The Bass (b. c1350 - d. Bet. 14-24 June, 1425), armiger, identified in numerous archives. Amongst the manuscripts of the Duke of Hamilton, there is a document written by William 1st Earl of Douglas (c1327-1384), who describes Alan de Lawedre as the second son of Sir Robert de Lawedre of Quarrelwood and Bass (d.c1370) (Refer: Hist. MSS Commission, London, 1887, number 126, p.205). The Rotuli Scotia records a safe-conduct from King Edward III for 'Robertus, fils Alani de Lawedre', 4th November 1364. It seems probable that Robert was travelling as his father's Page. In 1369 Roberto de Lawedre was a witness, with Lord (Domino) Robert de Congleton, Rector of Dunbar, to a charter of the lands of Mochrum (Dumfries & Galloway) to George de Dunbar, Earl of March. (Refer: Genealogical Collections by Walter MacFarland made in 1750-51, Scottish History Society, Edinburgh, 1900, p.522.) About 1370 this Robert was a witness, with his father Alan, to a charter granted by Alan's father Sir Robert de Lawedre [of Quarrelwood & The Bass]. In 1384 in a charter by Richard Edgar to Robert Edgar of Wedderlie, 'Johannes Haliburton, Dominus de Dirleton' and 'Robertus Lawider, Dominus de la Basse' are witnesses. (Refer: John Jamieson's Illustrations to Slezer's Theatrum Scotiae, [John Slezer died in 1714 and was writing this in 1678] Edinburgh, 1874 p.123.)

Froissart has Sir Robert 'a renowned hero' fighting at the Battle of Otterburn in 1388 (see Young, 1884, p.45.). He is described as 'our cousin' in a charter of the Earl of Dunbar dated 8th May 1400. (Melrose Charters, no.506.) According to Sir James Balfour's Annals (vol.1) and also Fordun's Scotichronicon (Edinburgh 1759) Sir Robert Lauder of The Bass took part in the battle of Nesbit Moor on 22nd June 1402 and was captured. The date of his liberation does not appear to be on record, but in 1405/6 he accepted Prince James into his safekeeping in his castle on The Bass. [....]

Five further sons are mentioned in this charter. Witnesses included Gilbert, Bishop of Aberdeen, Chancellor of Scotland, and Sir Patrick de Dunbar, Knt.

'Robert de Lawedir, Lord of The Bass' is one of the 'nobles' witnessing a Transumpt of a charter by Lady Margaret Stewart, Countess of Mar & Angus, on 23rd March 1417. Safe-Conducts were issued by King Henry VI to 'Robertus de Laweder de Basse, chr.' and Jacobus de Lawedre de Scotia (one of Robert's sons and a Justice-Clerk - appears in the Registrum Glasguense charter), dated 13th December, 1423. In 1424 Sir Robert was one of the hostages for the release of King James 1st. Tytler states 'Sir Robert Lauder of The Bass was one of the few people whom James 1st admitted to his confidence.' He went on: 'the heir of Albany, Walter Stewart, was shut up in the strong castle of The Bass, belonging to Sir Robert Lauder, a firm friend of the King'.

from Ancestry & Family of Lauder of Fountainhall

Robert married Annabel. (Annabel was born about 1355 and was buried in St Mary's Church, (Lauder Old Church), Lauder, Berwickshire, Scotland.)

  Marriage Notes:

"John J. Reid (1885) writes 'that Alan de Lawedre was dead by 20th March 1407 is clear, as his son, this Robert, accounts as 'executor testamenti quondam Alani de Lawedre patris sui nuper defuncti'. On 1st August 1414 Robert, Duke of Albany, Earl of Fife and of Menteith and Governor of the Kingdom of Scotland confirmed a charter (refer: Registrum Glasguense, vol.ii, p.304) of this Robert de Lawedre to Glasgow Cathedral, where it states 'my son and heir William',who was appointed Bishop in 1408. Another sentence mentions 'my consort Annabelle and the said William, Lord Bishop, our son.' (This charter, transcribed by Latin expert Frank Bigwood, also corrects several different and much later references which state that William was a son of Alan!)"

from Ancestry & Family of Lauder of Fountainhall




"The most crucial piece of information on this Robert and his family is the very long Latin charter in the Registrum Glasguense[²⁶National Records of Scotland] dated 1st August 1414. In this charter Robert (Lauder) is making a settlement upon Glasgow Cathedral where his stated eldest son and heir, William, is the Lord Bishop. He states this several times. In addition he mentions his 'consort', Annabel, and it is witnessed in 'the presence of my said wife, the above-written Bishop, my son, and my sons [present] John, Robert, James, Alan, and Gilbert de Lawedre. The charter was confirmed at Renfrew on 28th September 1414 by Robert, Duke of Albany, witnessed by the Reverend Fathers in Christ, William, Bishop of Glasgow, and Gilbert Bishop of Aberdeen, Chancellor of Scotland; Robert Makiswell of Calderwod and Patrick de Dunbar of Cumnok, knights, and Andrew Hawik our secretary, Rector of Listoun'. [....]

Sir Robert and his wife Anabella had ten known children (one daughter), three of them Bishops. Sir Robert settled upon his fifth son, Alan, both superiorities and feus in and around the Royal Burgh of Lauder in Berwickshire, where Alan was progenitor of the subsequent 'of that Ilk' family.

Sir Robert and Anabella are said to have been interred in St. Mary's Church, near the fort at Lauder, Berwickshire. Their son Alexander, Bishop of Dunkeld, was also interred there.[³⁵Scotichronicon by Walter Bower, edited by D.E.R.Watt, volume 8, Book xvi, p.299, Aberdeen University Press, 1987.] This church was demolished in the 17th century by the Duke of Lauderdale as being inconvenient for the new Thirlestane Castle. Any tombs have vanished."

from Wikitree article ¹