APPENDIX 1

CADET BRANCHES OF THE EDMONSTONES OF DUNTREATH.

THE EDMONSTONES OF SPITTAL OR BROICH.

 

Sir Archibald Edmonstone, 3rd Bt., wrote in 1851 that the cadet branch of Spittal or Broich was the only one then remaining in the male line. Both sides of this family were descended from sons of Sir Archibald Edmonstone, 3rd of Duntreath (see p.29).  For several generations they were hereditary baillies on the Duntreath estate. The name "Craigbrock" may signify that they lived there, perhaps in an earlier house, while factoring Duntreath estate.

 

 

THE EDMONSTONES OF CAMBUS-WALLACE.

This branch of the family, according to Sir Archibald, may have ended with the death of Mr James Edmonstone of Newton, Doune, during the 19th century.  Later, however, he mentions in a note that a direct branch of the Cambus-Wallace line was believed to be still living in Biggar, in a house called Cambus-Wallace.

This may have been Archibald Edmonstone, who was Captain of Edinburgh High Constables and Major of No 13 Queen's Company Edinburgh.  He married Lucy, daughter of Richard Smith of Harescombe Gloucestershire.  They had two sons, Francis Richard and Charles Gordon, and one daughter Catherine but later descendants, if any, have not so far been found.  This information came from a Miss Lucine Edmonstone, who claimed to be descended from a William Edmonstone, born about 1600, but did not give further details, saying that documents had been lost.

 

 

THE SHETLAND FAMILY OF EDMONSTON.

Andrew Edmonston, a minister of the church, went to live in Shetland during the reign of Mary Queen of Scots. (1542-67). He would seem to have been connected with the senior line of the family. His descendants, their name spelt without the e, still live today in Unst, the most northerly island of the Shetlands.

The National Dictionary of Biography, which gives the spelling Edmondston, (pp396-8) describes the family as "one of the oldest in Shetland". Laurence Edmondston, a surgeon in Lerwick, was, for most of his long life, the only medical practitioner in the islands. His eldest son Arthur, M.D. (1776?-1841) who followed his profession, entered the army and served under Sir Ralph Abercromby in Egypt before returning to Lerwick to succeed to his father's practice. He died unmarried in 1841.

Laurence Edmondston M.D., the "udaller" (owner) of Unst (1795-1879) was the youngest brother of the above-mentioned Arthur.  Laurence's eldest son, Thomas Edmondston (1825-1846) born at Buness in Unst, became well known as a naturalist and was elected to the professorship of Botany and Natural History in Anderson's "University" at Glasgow in 1845.  But before beginning his lectures he accepted the post of naturalist on board the Herald, ordered to the Pacific and Californian coast. The ship having anchored off the coast of Peru, a boat was sent ashore, but on re-embarking a rifle was accidentally discharged and the ball, passing through Edmondston's head, killed him instantaneously. He was only twenty one.

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