DUNBAR, John 1st Earl of Moray ^{1 2 3}

   User ID: Z199.

  General Notes:

"The earldom was granted to John Dunbar and Marjorie Stewart, and to the longer liver of them, and their heirs, whom failing, to George Dunbar, Earl of March, and his heirs whomsoever.Nothing is known of John Dunbar's history before the death of King David II., except a notice on 21 June 1370 which seems to imply that he had been one of an embassy to England, apparently as 'vallet' or squire of Sir Robert Erskine. After the accession of King Robert II. he and Sir Robert, with others, opposed the Earl of Douglas in his claim to the crown and persuaded him to agree to the coronation of the new King. He swore to maintain the settlement made of the crown on the Stewart family in 1373."

from Scots Peerage (vol 6)

  Research Notes:

EARL OF MORAY

"The title Earl of Moray ('Murray') has been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland. It has been held by Clan Stewart since the 16th century, when James Stewart, illegitimate son of James V, was granted the title.

Prior to the formal establishment of the peerage, numerous individuals ruled the kingdom of Moray as Mormaer of Moray until 1130 when the kingdom was suppressed by David I of Scotland.

Mormaers of Moray
Earls of Moray, First Creation (1312)
Earls of Moray, Second Creation (1372)
Earls of Moray, Third Creation (1501)
Earls of Moray, Fourth Creation (1549)
Earls of Moray, Fifth Creation (1562)"

"In 1312 Robert I re-established the Earldom of Moray for his nephew, Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray. The new earldom included all of the old province and the crown lands of the Laich or coastal area of Moray.

Thomas's son John Randolph was killed in 1346, leaving no heir and the other noble families including the Comyns, Strathbogies and Morays had all disappeared from or left the province by between 1300 and 1350. With the absence of noble leaders, power fell to lesser figures who functioned in kin-based groups such as the Clan Donnachaidh of Atholl and the Chattan Confederation which centred on Badenoch. This drew in lords and men from outside of the province, from further south such as the Dunbars and Stewarts who staked their claims. In 1372, the Earldom of Moray was divided between them with John Dunbar receiving the coastal districts and Alexander Stewart, favourite son of Robert II of Scotland being made lord of Badenoch in the uplands."

from Wikipedia article, and using Oxford Companion to Scottish History, edited by Michael Lynch ⁴

John married Marjorie STEWART, daughter of Robert II STEWART King of Scots and Elizabeth MURE 'of Rowallan', 11 July 1370 or 1371(papal dispensation).^{1 2} (Marjorie STEWART was born about 1355.)

  Marriage Notes:

"Marjorie, married (dispensation by Pope Urban V., 11 July 1371) to John, brother of George of Dunbar, Earl of March. They were created Earl and Countess of Moray, March 1371-2."

from Scots Peerage (vol 1)




"The Earl married (in terms of a dispensation dated 11 July 1370) Marjorie, a daughter of Robert, Earl of Strathearn, afterwards King Robert II., who survived him."

from Scots Peerage (vol 6) ^{1 2}