HAMILTON, Janet ¹

   User ID: X132.

  General Notes:

"An important acquisition made by this laird of Leys was Invery, with the remaining half of the town of Banchory....
On 26th November, 1554, they were conveyed in feu-right to Alexander Burnet of Leys, and Janet Hamilton his wife; and there is at Crathes a receipt from Archbishop Hamilton for 400 marks paid for this grant by Leys and his wife, of date 22nd November, 1554."

"The ceilings of three bedrooms in the third floor, known as the Chambers of the Worthies, the Muses, and Green Lady, claim a special notice....

Above the Chamber of the Muses, and extending along the whole breadth of the building from east to west (44 feet 10 inches by 13 feet 3 inches) is a long gallery, popularly termed the 'chapel.' The ceiling extends into the roof, the slope of which is panelled in oak. In some of the bosses are coloured armorial coats, including the Royal Arms of Scotland; the arms of the Marquis of Hamilton; of the Chancellor Seton, Earl of Dunfermline (a nephew of Canon Hamilton); of Burnett impaled with Gordon of Lesmoir (the wife of the laird of Leys who completed the castle, Alexander Burnett [XII.]); and the holly leaf and hunting horn
of the Burnett coat are used as occasional decorative features.

The armorial carvings outside the castle (Crathes Castle begun in 1553) indicate that of the different ladies of Leys, Janet Hamilton, whether from the material wealth which she brought the family, or from her personal worth, was held in especial honour, but the arms impaled for her with the Burnett coat are always the pure coat of Hamilton. Though the husband of Janet had, as will be seen, a daughter of Lord Forbes for his second wife, no armorial memento of the last-named lady remains. Above the old doorway is a shield impaling Burnett with Hamilton, with the inscription, 'Anno 1553' over it, and, near it, the monogram 'A B K G,' with the date '1596.' (Crathes castle's year of completion)

Janet Hamilton was alive, as has been seen, in 1557. Before 1567 she was dead,"

from The Family of Burnett of Leys ¹

Janet married Alexander BURNETT 9th of Leys, son of Alexander BURNET of Collonach, younger of Leys and Agnes LICHTOUN.¹ (Alexander BURNETT 9th of Leys was born about 1500 and died by 2 September 1574 ¹.)

  Marriage Notes:

"On 5th November, 1543, Canon Hamilton conveyed to Alexander Burnet of Leys and Janet Hamilton, his wife, in liferent, and Andrew, their son, in fee, with further remainders to Archibald, brother of Andrew, and John, son and heir apparent of Alexander and Janet, the lands of Strondraff (? Stranduff), in the barony of Kincardine, to be held of the rector of Kincardine. The reddendo was a feu-duty of £5 6s. 8d., with sheep, geese, capons, poultry, etc., as also three suits at Kincardine O'Neil. As a salve to the conscience of both parties, the condition was imposed that each heir must swear to defend the orthodox faith, and assist the prebendary in leading the tithes of Kincardine, Glentanner, etc. Another charter was the same day granted by Hamilton to Leys and his wife, of Easter Slowy in the same barony, there being successive remainders to their sons-William, Alexander, and John (the heir apparent)-the feu-duty being £3 2s. 3d, ; and the other conditions the same. Both these charters were duly confirmed by the Queen, as patroness of the prebend, on 24th February, 1543-4 (Keg. Mag. Sig.)."

from The Family of Burnett of Leys ¹