Sir James Dundas

 of Arniston


Son of: George Dundas
and: Katharine Oliphant
born on: 1570
died on: 1628
Occupations : Knighted by James VI and I 
Governor of Berwick 
M.P. for Midlothian 1612-1625. 

X  1stly, Katharine Douglas

the following children were born of this union:
George Dundas, died without issue
  James Dundas, died without issue
  Nicolas Dundas (female) born 1607
  X  2ndly 1619, Mary Home
  the following children were born of this union:
  1. James Dundas
  2. Robert Dundas of Harvieston, married Margaret Borthwick and had issue:
    A. John Dundas, born 1650, inherited the estate of Borthwick from his uncle 9th Lord Borthwick. He married Katherine Hamilton and had issue:
      i. John Dundas
      Scottish Record Office GD1/683/1: Instrument of resignation in favour of John Robesone, second son of John Robesone, shoemaker in Eymouth, of an acre of arable land in the town of Eymouth lying in the field commonly called Hundlaw Staid between the lands of Sir David Home of Wedderburne, kt., on the west, the lands of the laird of Blackhill, on the east, the moor called Schortbrow, on the north, and the common road called Kellielawgait, on the south, in the barony of Eymouth, sheriffdom of Beruik, following on resignation by John Dundas, son and heir of deceased John Dundas in Eymouth, and Katherine Hamiltoun, his spouse. 4/1/1631.
      ii Alexander Dundas
      iii.  Walter Dundas
      iv.  George Dundas
      v. Helen Dundas
      vi. Katharine Dundas
    B. James Dundas, shown as apprentice to George Mossman, 1666
    C. George Dundas, shown as apprentice to James Muirhead, 1688.
    D. Walter Dundas, died at Darien, Connecticut, 1707
    E. Alexander Dundas, shown as apprentice to Alexander Blair, 1680
  3. Charles Dundas, shown as apprentice to William Johnston, 1681
  4. Mary Dundas , married Sir John Home
  5. Elizabeth Dundas
Ratification in favour of Sir James Dundas [of Arniston]. Parliamentary Register 23 October 1612.

Our sovereign lord and estates of this present parliament, understanding that the kirk of Borthwick being ruinous and that part thereof called the vestry being decayed, and that the ministers of the exercise of Dalkeith, being convened to use the said kirk with the gentlemen and parishioners of the said parish of Borthwick, they find the best means for repairing of the said kirk and upholding of the said vestry to be the disposition of the same vestry to some gentleman of the said parish for a burial place, the same serving for no other use and, therefore, the said vestry with all their consent was conveyed to Sir James Dundas of Arniston, knight, one of the said parishioners, to be a burial place for him and his posterity, as the act and security made thereupon with consent of the provincial assembly of Lothian more fully purports; and that according to the agreement and condition made relating thereto, the said Sir James furnished the charges and expenses in repairing of the said kirk, as is clearly understood to his highness and estates foresaid; therefore his majesty and his said estates have ratified and approved and, by this act, ratify and approve the right and security made to the said Sir James Dundas by the said parishioners and presbytery of the said vestry for the burial of him and his said posterity in all time coming, in the whole heads, clauses and conditions thereof, and decree and ordain the same to be sufficient right and security to the said Sir James, his heirs and successors for possessing and enjoying of the said vestry and burial place foresaid in all time coming, according to the rights and securities above-specified made to him thereupon in all points.
 

Catherine Oliphant, James' mother, bequeathed to her son James, an ancient Venetian goblet, with an instruction to preserve it carefully, as upon its integrity should depend the continued prosperity of the famous house of Arniston. This talisman was nearly destroyed about 1800 by the malice of an eccentric peeress on a visit to the family, who intentionally threw it to the ground in order to break it, but fortunately her wilful design was frustrated.

Sir James Dundas 

1st Lord of Arniston


Son of: James Dundas
and: Mary Home
born on: 1620
died on: 1679
Occupation: Senator of the College of Justice.

Knighted by Charles 1st 1641.
 

Sir James Dundas was a member of Parliament for the county of Edinburgh and in 1662 was elevated to the bench as Lord Arniston. When required to sign a declaration renouncing the Solemn League and Covenant, he refused unless allowed to add "except in so far as such leagues might lead to deeds of actual rebellion." For this misdemeanour, he forfeited his gown and retired to Arniston.


X  1stly 1641, Marion Boyd
  the following children were born of this union: 
  1. James Dundas.  In the book "Directory of Scots banished to the American plantations" there is shown a James Dundas, covenanter, son of the laird of Dundas, transported to the plantations of America, 1/8/1670.
  2. Robert Dundas
  3. Mary Dundas, married Sir John Home and died 1672.
  4. Christian Dundas married Sir Charles Erskine
  5. Katherine Dundas
  6. Marion Dundas, married William McCall
   X  2ndly, Janet Hepburn, who died 1665
  the following children were born of this union: 
  1. James Dundas , a merchant in Perth Amboy, East Jersey Married Janet Riddell, January 1688 and had issue:
    Robert Dundas, born Perth Amboy, 10/12/1694. Married Margaret Watson, died 1768  leaving issue:
    A. James Dundas, born 1726, died unmarried
    B. Robert Dundas, a minister died 1769. Married Elizabeth Turnbull 1760 and had issue:
      Sir Robert Dundas  of Beechwood
      Henry Dundas, born 1767, Humbie, East Lothian
      Margaret Dundas
      Mary Dundas, born 1764, Humbie, East Lothian
C. John Dundas, born 1729
D. Sir David Dundas , G.C.B, Colonel in Chief. Born 1735. Married Charlotte De Lancy and died without issue 18/2/1820. Colonel Dundas laid the foundation of his system of military tactics, which was published in 1788, under the title of ‘Principles of Military Movements, chiefly applicable to Infantry.’ This work was dedicated to George the Third, who directed it to be arranged and adopted for the use of the army, in June 1792. He soon after planned the ‘Rules and Regulations for the Cavalry,’ which also became a standard work regarding the discipline of the army.

 

 

 

Sir David Dundas
  E. Mary Dundas , died unmarried 1803.
  2. Alexander Dundas, born 1663, a doctor.
  3. Charles Dundas, a Captain Royal Navy. Married Helen Dundas, daughter of George Dundas and left issue:
    George Dundas, Captain Royal Navy
    James Dundas a physician.
    Helen Dundas, married Robert Middleton
  X 3rdly 1666, Helen Skene

Dundas Robert

2nd Lord of Arniston


Son of:

James Dundas
and:

Marion Boyd
born on:

1650
died on:

1726
Occupations :

Senator of the College of Justice
 

M.P. for Midlothian 1689-1726.
 

Resident in Holland until 1689

  X  4/1/1683 Margaret Sinclair
the following children were born of this union: 
  James Dundas
  Robert Dundas, an advocate
  Alexander Dundas, born 1693, a merchant in Barbados.
  John Dundas , a merchant.
  Charles Dundas,  born 1697, a merchant in Barbados. Shown as apprentice to James Murray 1712
  Thomas Dundas, born 1706
  Helen Dundas, born 1687

Dundas James

 of Arniston

 
Son of: Robert Dundas
and: Margaret Sinclair
born on:  
died on: Predeceased his father
Occupations : Advocate

 X  Mary Hope
  the following children were born of this union:
  Margaret Dundas
A Jacobite who was charged with sedition and disinherited by his father. Tradition states that he fled to France. Whilst in France, he reserved a table for three and subsequently arrived with two dogs which he seated either side of him and addressed as Monsieur Le Comte and Monsieur Le Chevalier. A real Comte or Chevalier happening to be present objected, challenged him to a dual and killed him.

Dundas Robert

3rd Lord of Arniston


Son of: Robert Dundas
and: Margaret Sinclair
born on: 1685
died on: 26/8/1753
Occupations : Lord President of the Court of Session.

Solicitor-General for Scotland.

Lord Advocate.

Member of Parliament for the county of Edinburgh.

X  1stly, Elizabeth Watson
  the following children were born of this union
  1. Robert Dundas born 1713
  2. George Dundas, died of smallpox, November 1733.
  3. John Dundas, died of smallpox, December 1733.
  4. James Dundas born 1717, Edinburgh. A Physician who married Anne Spottiswood and had issue:
    Charles Dundas, died without issue
    John Dundas, died without issue
  5. Susie Dundas, died of smallpox, 1733.
  6. Annie Dundas, died of smallpox, January 1734.
  7. Elizabeth Dundas, born 1714
  8. Mary Dundas, born 1716
  9. Elizabeth Dundas, born 1719
  X  2ndly, 1734, Anne Gordon
  the following children were born of this union
  William Dundas, born 1737, Lieutenant Colonel, married Mary Gunthorpe and had two daughters.
  Charles Dundas, born 1738
  Thomas Dundas, born 1740, shown as apprentice to Robert Smith, surgeon apoth. 1755
  Henry Dundas, (1st Viscount Melville), born 1742
  Adam Dundas, born 1743
  From Old Edinburgh, Volume 2, 1908 " It is reported that the Lord Advocate Dundas, one of the old school of hard drinking judges, after a convivial meeting, which lasted from noon until nine o clock at night, began then to dictate a most important appeal case. The task was finished at four o clock in the morning and when the papers were sent to London, it was not necessary on revisal to correct five words."

Dundas Robert

4th Lord of Arniston

 


Son of: Robert Dundas
and: Elizabeth Watson
born on: 18/7/1713
died on: 1787
Occupations : Lord President of the Court of Session and M.P. for Midlothian.

  X  1stly 17/10/1741, Henrietta Carmichael, daughter of Sir James Carmichael and Margaret Baillie.
the following children were born of this union: 
  1.William Dundas. On September 1759 his name was legally changed to William Baillie on inheriting the estate of Lamington from his grandmother, Margaret Baillie. He died 17/6/1760 unmarried.
  2. Elizabeth Dundas, married, 6/9/1762, Sir John Lockhart-Ross of Balnagowan
  3. Henrietta Dundas, married 30/5/1777,  Captain Adam Duncan (later Admiral) of the Royal Navy and died 1832
  4. Margaret Dundas, married. John Scott of Balcomie (Major General)
  5. Anne Dundas, married. George Buchan of Kelloe
  X  2ndly 1756, Jane Grant
  6. Robert Dundas
7. Francis Dundas, born 1759. General in the army. Governor of Cape of Good Hope 1798 and 1801. Governor of Dumbarton Castle 1817/1824. Married Eliza Cumming in 1800 in Cape Town. Died 15/1/1824 at Shandwick Place, Edinburgh, leaving issue:
    1. Francis Dundas. born 1801, died before 1811
    2. Robert Dundas, born 1805, died 1811
    3. John Dundas, died 23/1/1810
    4. Henry Dundas, died 1812 at Edinburgh
    5. Phillip Dundas, died 7/6/1813 at Edinburgh
    6. Caroline Dundas, born 1807, died 1812
    7. Wedderburn Dundas, born 1808, died unmarried.
    8. Alexander Dundas, born February, 1817, died unmarried.
    9. Janet Hamilton Dundas, married James Farquharson of Invercauld, 14/4/1833
    10. Henrietta Dundas, died 1838
  8. William Dundas, Secretary of Ear, married 1813, Mary Stuart-Mackenzie. Died 14/11/1845 without issue.
9. Phillip Dundas, born 1762. Governor and treasurer of Prince of Wales Island. Married 5/5/1803, Margaret Wedderburn and died 8/4/1807 leaving issue:
  A. Robert Adam Dundas. Changed his surname to Christopher by Royal licence 20/1/1836 and took the additional surname of Nisbet-Hamilton in 1854 on the accession of hi wife to the Belhaven and Direleton estates. Born 9/2/1804, married 28/1/1828 Lady Mary Bruce and died 1877 leaving an only daughter, Mary Georgina Constance, who married, 1888 Henry Thomas Ogilvy, later Nisbet-Hamilton-Ogilvy
    B. Phillip Dundas, Lieutenant Colonel, 6th Regiment of Foot. Born 1806, married 1858, Lady Jane Charteris and died without issue 15/12/1870.
  10. Janet Dundas, married, John Hamilton of Pencaitland
  11. Grizzel Dundas, married  22/9/1778, Robert Colt of Inveresk and died 1798

Dundas Robert

5th Lord of Arniston


Son of: Robert Dundas
and: Jean Grant
born on: /6/6/1753
died on: 17/6/1819
Occupations : M.P. for Edinburgh, Lord Chief Baron of the Court of Exchequer.

  X  1787, Hon. Elizabeth Dundas, daughter of Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville
  the following children were born of this union: 
  1. Robert Dundas

2. Henry Dundas, Vice Admiral, Royal Navy. Married 17/11/1836, Robina Mary Dundas, daughter of Sir Robert Dundas of Beechwood. Died without issue 11/9/1866.
3. William Pitt Dundas, C.B. Advocate, J.P., Deputy Clerk Register and Registrar General for Scotland. Married Mary Strange and died in 1883 leaving issue:
  A. Reverend Robert James Dundas, MA; Rector of Albury, Surrey,  Rural Dean of Guildford; Hon. Canon of Winchester. Ordained, 1858, to curacy at Great Yarmouth; accompanied 1st Bishop of Columbia as his chaplain, 1859; Rector of St John's, Victoria, VI, 1859-1865; Curate of Chelmsford, 1866-1868; minister of St John's, Great Yarmouth (the sailor's church), 1868-1871; Member of Winchester Diocesan Conference and of most of the Diocesan Councils and Committees. born November 1832, married 1866, Annie M Jeffreys, daughter of J. Gwyn Jeffreys.

The Rev. Dundas secured a valuable collection of North American Indian artefacts in the 1860s. He died 19/2/1904 leaving issue:

  
      A1. Gwenyth Dundas, born 1868 in Albury, married Percy Sellon and died 1945  
      A2. Robert Neville Dundas, married Cecil Mary Lancaster and died August 1941 leaving issue:  
    Henry Lancaster Neville Dundas, born Feb 1897 and died 27/9/1918 (killed in action)  
        Anne Ethel Montagu Dundas, born 1901, married 1927,  Peter Charles Carey  
      A3. Mary Dundas, born 1873  
      A4. Anabel Dundas, born 1877  
      A5. Helen Dundas, born 1885  
    B. George Smythe Dundas, BA (Oxon); Advocate; Sheriff-Substitute of Roxburgh, Berwick, and Selkirk from 1886; Advocate, Professor of Scots Law, Edinburgh. Advocate 1867; entered Legal Department of the Inland Revenue, Edinburgh, 1876; resigned 1880; Sheriff-Substitute of Argyllshire at Campbeltown, 1880-1886. Born Edinburgh, 1842, CB; married 1876, Georgina Lockhart, daughter of George Ross,  Died 18 April 1909, with issue:  
      Robert Hamilton Dundas, born 30/8/1884. Emeritus Student of Christ Church, Oxford (1910-1957); First Classes Hon. Mods, 1905; Lit. Hum., 1907; Lecturer, Liverpool Univ., 1908-1909; Lecturer in Greek History, Christ Church, 1909; Censor, 1914, 1919-1924, and 1944-1945; Examiner Lit.Hum., 1928-1929. Joined Black Watch (3rd attd 2nd Bn) January 1915; France, 1915; Mesopotamia, 1916; AHQ (Dep. Chief Censor's Office) Delhi, Simla, Rangoon, 1916-1919; Captain (wounded, despatches twice). Died 1/10/1960.  
    C. Ann Elizabeth Pitt Dundas, born 1830  
    3 other daughters  
  4. Anne Dundas, born 1791, married 1819, John Borthwick and died 1833.  
  5. Joanna Dundas, married 1827, George Dempster and died 1891.  

Dundas Robert

 of Arniston


Son of: Robert Dundas
and: Elizabeth Dundas
born on: 19/6/1797
died on: 8/6/1838
Occupations : J.P.

X  9/4/1822, Lilias Calderwood Durham
the following children were born of this union: 
Robert Dundas
Thomas Dundas, Major 12th Foot. Born 1825, married 1863, Jane Eliza Portal and died 20/7/1902 leaving a daughter, Lilias Elizabeth.
William Dundas Born 21/8/1826, married 27/7/1858, Etheldred Mary Partridge and died 30/4/1903 without issue.
James Durham Dundas. Born 1835.

Dundas Robert

1st Baronet

 

Son of: Robert Dundas
and: Lilias Calderwood Durham
born on: 23/2/1823
died on: 11/11/1909
Occupations : J.P. Created a Baronet 18/6/1898. Convener of the Commissioners of Supply of the County of Midlothian, and subsequently Chairman of the County Council; was an unpaid member of the Board of Supervision for the Relief of the Poor in Scotland; was a Director of the Bank of Scotland, and also of the Scottish Widows' Fund Life Assurance Society.

  X  25/9/1845, Emily Louisa Diana Knox, (died 1881), only child of Colonel Hon. James Knox.
  the following children were born of this union: 
  Robert Dundas
Henry Herbert Phillip Dundas
  Marion Dundas, married 1900, Major General William Hamilton-Cox and died without issue 1949.
  Alice Dundas M.B.E. (1918). Married 1889, Major General Sir William George Knox and died 5/8/1929.
  Hester Dundas, died 9/3/1873 of diptheria.
  Ellen Dundas, married 1stly, 1894, Lieutenant Colonel Gerald Lionel Joseph Goff who died in 1899, she married 2ndly, 1903, Edward Thompson and died 1927.

Dundas Robert

2nd Baronet

 

Son of: Robert Dundas
and: Emily Louisa Diana Knox
born on: 28/7/1857
died on: 12/12/1910 and was succeeded by his brother.
Occupations : J.P. Lieutenant Colonel. Served Egypt, 1882 (medal with clasp, bronze star); South Africa, 1900 (despatches, Queen's medal with 2 clasps).

  X  22/4/1893 Evelyn Henrietta Montgomery, daughter of Sir Graham Graham Montgomery
  the following children were born of this union: 
  Robert Dundas, born 1897, died 1898
Victoria May Evelyn Dundas, born 14/8/1895.  Arniston House was left to May in trust by her father.

Dundas Henry Herbert Philip

3rd Baronet

Son of: Robert Dundas
and: Emily Louisa Diana Knox
born on: 4/9/1866
died on: 5/2/1930
Occupations : Major

  X  9/2/1899, Lady Beatrix Home
  the following children were born of this union: 
  1. Philip Dundas
  2. Henry William Hugh Dundas, born 16/11/1901 and died 18/12/1928 of blackwater fever contracted in the Malay Straits.
  3. David Dundas, Midshipman, born 12/6/1903 and reported lost on board HM Drifter Blue Sky, June 1922.
  4. James Durham Dundas, died 1967.
  5. Thomas Calderwood Dundas, born 1906,  MBE 1945; Director of Barclays Bank Ltd, 1954-1967; born 27 November 1906;  married 1933, Isabel, only daughter of Charles Goring. Entered Barclays Bank, 1924; a Local Director of Barclays Bank, Brighton District, 1935-1967. High Sheriff of Sussex, 1959. Major, Scots Guards; served War of 1939-1945 (despatches, MBE). .Died in 1970 leaving issue:
    Alice Kirsty Dundas, born 1937, married 1960, Anthony Pilkington.
    Davina Margaret Dundas, born 1939, married 1966, Commander Noel Findlay, R.N.
6. Robert Charles Dundas, born 1912, married 1939, Marina Isabel Eustace Died 1940.
7. Jean Dundas, born 1909, married 1933, Admiral Sir John Peter Lorne Reid and had issue: a daughter Delia and a son, David.

Dundas  Philip

4th Baronet

Son of: Henry Herbert Philip Dundas
and: Lady Beatrix Home
born on: 8/11/1899
died on: 23/1/1952
Occupations : Adjutant 1st Battalion

  X  1936 Jean Hood
  the following children were born of this union: 
  Henry Matthew Dundas, born 17/5/1937, died 1963
  Althea Dundas, born November 1939, married 1972, Aedrian Bekker and had issue:  
    Kirsty Bekker
    Henrietta Dundas Bekker
  Myfanwy Dundas, born 1946
Joanne Dundas, born 1949
Henry Matthew Dundas inherited his father's title aged 14, but unfortunately died aged 26 in 1963.

The title subsequently fell to Henry's uncle, James Durham Dundas who died in 1967.

The title then went to James' brother, Thomas Calderwood Dundas who died in 1970. As there were no remaining male heirs the title died out on the death of Thomas.

May Dundas who had Arniston House left to her in trust by her father in 1910, died in 1970 and Althea Dundas inherited Arniston and set about restoring the property to its former glory.
Arniston House