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Draft:Hereditary Chamberlain of Dunfermline

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Description

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The title Hereditary Chamberlain of Dunfermline is today a honorary title claimed by the Marquesses of Tweeddale.[1]

History

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The Lordship of Dunfermline, a Lordship of Regality in the Baronage of Scotland, was granted by King James VI to his wife Anne of Denmark in 1589.[2] Queen Anne appointed Henry Wardlaw of Balmule and Pitreavie, later 1st Baronet Pitreavie, Chamberlain of the Lordship. The position was made hereditary by a Crown Charter of 29 September 1607.[3][4]

There are little records of the title in the form it is currently claimed before John Debrett included this title in his entry for the 8th Marquess in The Peerage of the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Ireland in 1809.[5] The title is not mentioned in the 1805 edition.[6] There is, however, a brief mention of what is likely the same title in Daniel Defoe's 1761 travel book "A Tour Thro' the Whole Island of Great Britain".[7]

A title of Heritable Bailie of the Lordship of Dunfermline was granted to Alexander Seton by Queen Anne in 1593. Seton was later created Earl of Dunfermline. The role of Bailie primarily refers to a legal and administrative role, while that of Chamberlain generally refers to a financially and administratively oriented role. In the case of Dunfermline, however, the titles seem to have been confused or used interchangeably.[8] It is therefore possible that the current title claimed by the Marquesses of Tweeddale is related to the hereditary Bailie title, rather than the title granted in favour of Sir Henry Wardlaw of Balmule and Pitreavie.[Note 1]

The Pitreavie baronetcy is presumed extant,[9] but no heir has registered with the Roll of the Baronetage.[10] There is no indication that current or recent baronets have claimed the title of Hereditary Chamberlain of Dunfermline.

Notes

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  1. ^ The Earls of Dunfermline and the Marquesses of Tweeddale are connected: the 1st Earl of Tweeddale's aunt, Margaret Hay (1592–1659), had married Alexander Seton and the 1st Earl of Tweeddale married Jean Seton, daughter of the Lord Dunfermline, cf. [Scottish Nation 1867], page 105.

References

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  1. ^ Susan, Morris (20 April 2020). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage 2019. Debrett's. ISBN 9781999767051.
  2. ^ Pitcairn, Sheila; Johnston, W. T. DUNFERMLINE’S QUATERCENTENARY, 1610-2010 (PDF). p. 2.
  3. ^ "Sasine, Henry Wardlaw of Pitreavie, on charter from the King and Queen, of the office of heritable chamberlain of the lordship and regality of Dunfermline., 28 December 1607. | Archives and Manuscript Catalogue". manuscripts.nls.uk.
  4. ^ Webster, James Moir. Lands of Dunfermline (PDF). p. 12.
  5. ^ Debrett, John (1809). The Peerage of the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Ireland. John Debrett. p. 519.
  6. ^ Debrett, John (1805). Debrett's Peerage of England, Scotland, and Ireland: Containing an Account of All the Peers of the United Kingdom ... Extinct, Forfeited, and Dormant Peerages ... And an Alphabetical List of the Present Baronets of Great Britain and Ireland, Etc.
  7. ^ Defoe, Daniel (1761). A Tour Thro' the Whole Island of Great Britain. D. Browne et al. p. 164.: "The Marquis of Tweedale has a great Estate in these parts [Dumblain], and is Hereditary Chamberlain or Keeper of the Royal House"
  8. ^ "Tweeddale". electricscotland.com.: “(…) and hereditary bailie or chamberlain of Dunfermline”.
  9. ^ BURKE'S PEERAGE 107TH EDITION. p. 4070.
  10. ^ "Official Roll of the Baronetage".