WEMYSS, Michael of Methil and of Wemyss ¹

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  General Notes:

"As set forth by Sir Robert Douglas in his Peerage of Scotland (both editions), the family of Wemyss are said to descend from Hugh, the second son of Gillemichael. Earl of Fife. Charters show that Hugh had a son 'Egius,' or Hugh, who held the lands of Markinch. This second Hugh is said to have been the father of John of Methil, who was the undoubted ancestor of the family of Wemyss. But there is conclusive evidence that the father of John of Methil was not Hugh but a Michael of Methil, whose kinship with the Earls of Fife is not clearly proved. He may be identical with Michael the Clerk, who appears frequently as a witness to charters by the Earl of Fife and to others in which the Earl is witness between 1165 and 1204, and takes rank closely after the Earl. This Michael the Clerk had also a son John, but there is nothing to prove that they were the same as Michael and John of Methil. There can, however, be no doubt that the first proved ancestor of the Earls of Wemyss was Michael, called variously Michael, Michael of Methil, and Michael of Wemyss. He himself is somewhat of a shadowy personage, as he is only named in charters by his son and others. But he appears to have held Methil and Wemyss and the lands of Penshiel or Mayshiel in the parish of Whittingehame, East Lothian. He died before 1202, when his son appears as in possession of his lands. His wife has not been discovered, but he had issue two sons :

1. John, who succeeded.

2. Duncan, named in a charter not later than 1231 by his brother John, but apparently was then deaad."

from Scots Peerage (vol 8) ¹

Michael married.