General Notes

From Sir Neville Henderson Book, 1986

The Henderson family had been in Fife since at least the late thirteenhundreds, and their family history is remarkably similiar to that of other families living in Fife. Fordell Castle near Dunfermline became the family home in the second half of the fifteenth century.Their first association with Fordell is in a Charter granted at Fordellon the 14th August 1465, and witnessed among others by "John Henrisoun of Fordale Sergeant of the said Barony."

James Henderson was the first owner of the barony after its consolidationin 1511. A barony is a Scottish land title and not a personal title. There had long been a close association between Scotland and France. James gained a Degree of Bachlor of Arts at the University of Parisin 1484(Law). The greater part of the Fordell lands had been fragmented among the descendants of Sir William de Airth from whom James "redeemed"them, and with his wife Elene or Helen Baty obtained a Crown Charteron May 1, 1511, uniting the whole into the Barony of Fordell with Fordell Castle as the home.

James was Lord Advocate from December 4, 1494 to 1507, when he became Lord Justice Clerk. He was a staunch supporter of the King of England. He was killed at the Battle of Flodden on September 9, 1513 along with his oldest son and King James IV.