MAITLAND, Robert of Netherdale, then 'Dominus de Schevas' 1 2 3
- Born: About 1363
- Marriage (1): WIFE, Unnamed heiress of Gight and Schivas 1
- Died: by 1446 1
Other names for Robert were MAITLAND, Richard of Gight, Sir 4 and MATULANT, Robert of Natyrdul.1
User ID: X186.
Research Notes:
NETHERDALE
Netherdale is in the historical parish of Marnoch, Banffshire.
PARENTAGE OF ROBERT MAITLAND OF SCHIVAS
The Scots Peerage and The Thanage of Fermartyn give differing accounts of the immediate parental family of Robert Maitland who was recorded as laird of Schivas or Scheves in 1417, but since he was included in the entail for Lethington in March 1593(1594) he does, it seems, indeed represent a cadet branch of the Maitlands of Lethington, probably being either a son or a grandson of Sir Robert Maitland of Lethington and Thirlestane who died in 1346.
Uncertainty surrounds his parentage and relationship to Sir Robert Maitland of Lethington and Thirlestane. A likely scenario is that he was a grandson of Sir Robert, and the son of one of the younger brothers of John Maitland, Sir Robert's heir. Indeed, on page 308 William Temple, the author of The Thanage of Fermartyn, states that Robert was a grandson:
"John Gordon of Essie. He was called John of Scurdarg from his residence being at that place within the lands of Essie, which were granted to him by his father. Sir John Gordon, He had also Ardlaw in Aberdour, 'noveritis me dedisse et vendidisse dilecto et speciali meo Johanni de Gordon filio naturali quondam domini Johannis de Gordone militis omnes meas terras de Ardlach, &c.' In the charter just quoted his wife's name is given as Elizabeth. The old MS. histories of the family call the wife of whom the children were born Margaret. She was certainly daughter to Robert Matulant of Natyrdul (Maitland of Netherdale), who was grandson of Sir Robert Maitland of Thirlstane. Her brother was Sir Patrick Maitland of Netherdale, Gight, and Shivas."
In the absence of any other definitive evidence, this website has followed The Scots Peerage in seeing Robert Maitland, son of Sir Robert Maitland of Lethington and Thirlestane, as the ancestor of the Maitlands of Auchincreiff, though not the laird of Schivas.
It is supposed that the designation 'of Netherdale' was inherited by the elder Robert from his brother, James Maitland, and that Robert Maitland had a son, also named Robert who subsequently was designated 'of Netherdale. We know that there was a Robert Maitland of Netherdale, after James Maitland, but not what their relationship was, and a continuity does appear to have existed between that Robert Maitland and the Robert Maitland who became laird of Schivas. The dates of the latter, however, make it unlikely that laird of Schivas was the son of Sir Robert of Lethington and Thirlestane. He is much more likely to have been his grandson.
It must be said, in closing, outline that this is conjecture, and theoretically, failing other documentation, Robert could have been the son of any son of Sir Robert Maitland of Lethington and Thirlestane. 1 5 6 7
Robert married Unnamed WIFE heiress of Gight and Schivas.1 (Unnamed WIFE heiress of Gight and Schivas was born about 1365.)
Marriage Notes:
"James (Maitland), possessed Natyrdul (Netherdale) in 1369, and the next to be found of Natyrdul is Robert Matulant. He is styled Dominus de Schevas, and, in 1417, is mentioned as a 'nobylman.' Robert Matulant of Natyrdul witnessed a charter of James Dunbar of Frendraught, afterwards fourth Earl of Moray, 1435. He married the heiress of Gight and Schivas by whom he had besides a daughter, Elizabeth, married to John Gordon of Essie or Scurdargue, a son, Patrick, by whom he was succeeded. Sir Patrick Matulant is mentioned of Netherdale, Gight, Schivas, &c., from 1446-60-67."
from The Thanage of Fermartyn 1
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