HEPBURN, John 8th of Waughton then also of The Bass, Minister of the Episcopal Church, Reverend Mr 1
- Born: About 1615
- Marriage (1): ROSS, Marie 1
- Marriage (2): LESLIE, Barbara after 14 July 1654 1
Another name for John was HEPBURNE, Johne of Waughtoun.2
User ID: Q937
General Notes:
"His mother dominated George Lauder junior, the new Laird of Bass, and between them they seemed financially incompetant. The greedy wheeler-dealers, corrupt lawyers, new-rich, and new 'aristocracy' (most of Scotland's titles originate in the 17th century) also coveted their possessions. Loans and mortgages were forclosed upon on conditions that would be illegal today. Lady Bass was evicted from her winter home, Tyninghame Manor, for 600 years a Lauder residence. When Sotheby's held their auction there in 1987 they failed to mention in their history of the house its original owners.
The Great Civil War commenced and the Bass was hurriedly transferred to Sir Patrick Hepburn of Waughton, a Covenanter and George's uncle. The Lauders being notorious royalists it was hoped that by this ruse Cromwell would leave it alone. However, Sir Patrick unexpectedly died and his son John was served heir of all his estates, including The Bass, on 9th November 1649. John had been an Episcopalian minister and was a Royalist. The dye was cast.
In 1650 the castle on the Bass was busy bombarding supply ships heading for Leith. One ship, the John o' London was captured, looted and sunk. It contained Oliver Cromwell's personal luggage. He was not amused and Proclamations "against Intercourse with the Garrison of the Bass" were posted on both sides of the Firth of Forth. Surrender of the Bass was demanded by the Deputy Governor of Leith on 22nd October 1651 to no effect. A setback occurred two days later when 'the Lady and two brothers of the Governor of the Bass island' were captured and their estates sequestrated. Still, the Bass held out.
In April 1652 the garrison of 112 men were finally starved and frozen out.
The Lauders never regained their island home and fortress and it subsequently became a state prison for Covenanters under King Charles II and was abandoned in 1701 when sections were demolished."
from Lauders of Bass 3
John married Marie ROSS, daughter of James ROSS 6th Lord Ross of Halkhead and Margaret SCOTT.1 (Marie ROSS was born about 1633 and died before 14 July 1654 1.)
Marriage Notes:
"Rev. John Hepburn of Waughton married, firstly, Marie Ross (died before 14th July 1654) the daughter of Lord Eglintoun and Margaret Scott. His second wife was Barbara Leslie. By his first wife he had a daughter, Margaret, born on the 6th June 1650 at Edinburgh. In a charter dated 14th July 1654 Margaret was described as her father's 'only bairn now in life.' She is also described as 'his only daughter' in a charter of John Hepburn of Waughton to Margaret confirmed by The Protector [Cromwell] in 1655.
John and his first wife are mentioned in Great Seal charters dated 1646 and 1654. In the latter she was described as deceased. In charter number 433 dated 6th July 1655 he is mentioned as 'son and heir' of his father Sir Patrick Hepburn of Waughton, and a Retour exists in that respect the previous year, but it is thought that Sir Patrick died before the 9th November 1649 when 'John Hepburn of Waughton, son and heir of Sir Patrick, his father' was served heir to the Barony of Bass, which had been hurridly transferred to the Covenanter Hepburn by George Lauder of Bass in order to avoid confiscation from that Royalist family.
In The Churches of St. Baldred by A.E.Ritchie (Edinburgh 1880) it is stated that on the 26th July 1640 the Laird of Waughton commanded the East Lothian Regiment and his son was its lieutenant-colonel.
John J.Reid (1885) mentions that John Hepburn of Waughton had also been an Episcopalian minister who had been deposed by the Presbyterians. We also know that John's family were placed under arrest by Cromwell's forces until John and his garrison of 112 men in the castle on the Bass were effectively starved out. General Deane announced to the English parliament in 1652 its surrender. This is an important family and a book was published in 1925, in London, entitled Hepburn of Waughton, Genealogical notes on the Hepburn family, by Edward Hepburn."
from Clan Hepburn 1
John next married Barbara LESLIE after 14 July 1654.1 (Barbara LESLIE was born about 1615.)
Marriage Notes:
"Rev.John Hepburn of Waughton married, firstly, Marie Ross (died before 14th July 1654) the daughter of Lord Eglintoun and Margaret Scott. His second wife was Barbara Leslie."
from Clan Hepburn 1
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