STEWART, John Prior of Coldingham, later styled 'Lord Darnley' ^{1 3}

   User ID: C907.

John married Jean HEPBURN, daughter of Patrick HEPBURN 3rd Earl of Bothwell, 'the fair earl' and Agnes SINCLAIR, 11 January 1561 (1562) in Crichton Castle, Midlothian, Scotland.^{1 2} (Jean HEPBURN was born about 1537 and died before 27 July 1599 ¹.)

  Marriage Notes:

"John Stewart, Prior of Coldingham. He married, 28 December 1561, Jean, daughter of Patrick Hepburn, third Earl of Bothwell. He is styled on 22 June 1563 Lord Darnley."

from Scots Peerage (vol 1)




Jane Hepburne (also called Joanna and Janet), frequently styled Mistress of Bothwell. On 24 July 1556 this lady was handfasted to Robert Lauder, younger of the Bass, in presence of Sir Walter Robertson, vicar of Aberdour. Robert Lauder became bound by contract of marriage, dated 12 August 1556, under penalty of £4000 Scots, to complete the bond of matrimony in face of Holy Church before Michaelmas next thereafter, which, however, he failed to do ; an inhibition to the recording of the contract, dated 10, was registered 12 September 1556, and accordingly the Mistress of Bothwell brought an action for the amount of forfeit, which was heard 20 December 1558. She is designate in the record lawful daughter to umquhile Patrick, Earl Bothwell, and James, Earl Bothwell, is styled her brother-german.

She was three times married : First, on 28 December 1561, to John Stewart, Commendator of Coldingham, a natural son of King James V., by Katherine Carmichael, daughter of Sir John Carmichael, captain of Crawford Castle, and afterwards married to Sir John Somerville of Cambusnethan. He was styled by courtesy 'Lord John,' until created Lord Darnley, before 7 February 1562-63. He died in October 1563. Francis Stewart, the eldest son of this marriage, was created Earl of Bothwell by King James VI. in consideration of his extraction on the mother's side."

from Scots Peerage (vol 2) ^{1 3}