MAITLAND, Richard of Thirlestane, Sir ¹

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  General Notes:

"Of the origin and identity of this Richard Maitland nothing is certainly known. Most probably he is the same Richard Maitland who is found among the witnesses to a charter of the pasture of Lammermoor to the monks of Melros by Alan, the son of Roland, the Constable, and it may well be that he is also the same Richard Maitland who in 1230, and again in 1236, was engaged in litigation with Hugh de Morvic about land in Chivinton near Alnwick, and on each occasion paid forty shillings to the King of England as the fee of four justices."

from Scots Peerage (vol 5) ¹

Richard married Avicia heiress of Thirlestane.¹ (Avicia heiress of Thirlestane was born about 1225.)

  Marriage Notes:

"The next possessor of Thirlestane was Thomas de Thirlestane probably Alan's son who, by an undated charter, gave to the monks of Dryburgh the tithes of his mill of Thirlestane, and along with Agnes, his wife, granted to the monks of Kelso a tack or wadset of certain land within the territory of Thirlestane called Hedderwick for the space or term of ten years, dated on the Feast of Pentecost 1223. He was possessed also of the lands of Abertarff in Inverness-shire, acquired probably when Southrons were being settled in the north for the purpose of overawing the restless men of Moray. In 1225 he entered into an agreement with Andrew, Bishop of Moray, anent the tithe of the royal Can used and wont to be paid from these lands prior to his infeftmeut. He was killed in 1228 in the course of a rising by Gillescop, who attacked his fortalice by night.

It is said that he had an only daughter who married Sir Richard Maitland, and brought to him her father's estates, and though there is no absolute evidence, the story seems probable, especially as some of the old writs mentioned in the Act of 1661 suggest succession rather than acquisition on a singular title. Moreover, among the writs maliciously stolen by Edward 1. from the national Treasury were: 'Item, carta de Abirtarf. . . . Item, carta Thome de Thirlestan. . . . Item, Littera quieteclamacionis Ricardi Mantaland de terra de Abirtharf.' "

from Scots Peerage (vol 5) ¹