CALDER, Muriel 9th Thane and heiress of Cawdor ^{1 2}

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Muriel married Sir John CAMPBELL of Cawdor (Calder), jure uxoris, son of Archibald CAMPBELL 2nd Earl of Argyll and Elizabeth (1) STEWART, about 1510.^{1 2} (Sir John CAMPBELL of Cawdor (Calder), jure uxoris was born about 1495.)

  Marriage Notes:

"Sir John, styled brother of Colin, Earl of Argyll, in a resignation he made to him of certain lands, who, in 1510, married Muriel, daughter and heir of Sir John Calder of Calder, with whom he got that estate .... He was ancestor of the Earls Cawdor, the Campbells of Ardchattan, Airds, Cluny, Sonachan, Kirkton, and Ballinaby."

from Scots Peerage (vol 1)




"Muriel Calder - 9th Thane (Thaness) of Cawdor:

According to a Charter in 1573, Muriel, then 79 years old, was born in 1494. When John Calder (last of the Calder Thanes) died, the thanedom passed to his infant, Muriel. According to Lord Cawdor (1993), Muriel, the daughter of John and Isobel Rose (of Kilravock Castle) Calder, inherited the estate and an opulent fortune. Kilravock projected to marry her to his grandson and took her mother and her into his family. Archibald Campbell, 2nd earl of Argyll heard of Kilravock's plan and contrived to bring her into the family of Argyll. He soon found an opportunity of effecting the union. The younger Kilravock in 1492 joined Duncan, Laird of MacIntosh in spoiling the lands of Alexander Urquhart of Cromarty and was criminally prosecuted by Cromarty. Argyll who was Justice General in Scotland got Kilravock assoilzied and discharged with a fine of 800 merks. To obtain this favor Kilravock agreed to deliver Muriel to Argyll. Argyll and Hugh Rose of Kilravock, Muriel's uncle, were appointed tutors dative and ward of her marriage by King James IV by Royal grant on 16 January 1495. Muriel was kept in the House of Kilravock, and Argyll gave a bond of maintenance and friendship to Kilravock on 1 February 1499.

Muriel's paternal grandfather, William Calder, 7th Thane of Cawdor, being pursued in criminal process, could not prevent the Earl of Argyll from obtaining from the King the Wardship of Thane William's granddaughter Muriel. Upon being granted wardship and marriage from the Crown, as tradition has it, in the autumn of 1505, the Earl of Argyll (at the time the most influential man in Scotland) sent an expedition of 60 Clansmen under Campbell of Inverliver to abduct the infant Muriel to Inveraray, Argyll under the pretense of educating her in the south. Muriel's uncles, Hugh and Alexander Calder leading a large force overtook the Campbell party near Dartulich in Strathnairn and a battle ensued, but one of Inverliever's sons escaped with Muriel while the others kept the Calders in check.

Muriel was served heir to her father's estate on 3 Mar 1502. In 1510 (tradition says at the age of 12 years old, however, if the 1494 dates are correct she would have been 16 years old) she was married to Sir John Campbell, 3rd son of the 2d Earl of Argyll. Muriel resigned and took out a charter to herself and her husband dated 22 February 1511, erecting all the lands in a free Thanage and Barony of Calder. In December 1524 they took up residence at Cawdor Castle."

from Caddell, Calder and Cawdor: the family name in Scotland
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