General Notes

He succeeded to his patrimonial estate, yet lived to enjoy it only a few
years. He was the third, but eldest surviving son of the late Governor of
Berwick. Maitland says that he was a wise and virtuous man; and after
living honorably, died in peace and was buried in his family vault in the
parish church ofSeton. He married Margaret, sister to Sir William
Murray, Captain of Edinburgh Castle, by whom he left an only child, a
daughter, named, for her mother, Margaret; so that in him the direct male
line of the family came, partially atleast, to an end. Taylor says
(Great Historic Families of Scotland, I., 128)that Sir Alexander "sought
refuge from his sorrows and troubles in a hospital of the Order of Saint
John of Jerusalem, and his daughter Margaret became the heiress of his
extensive estates." It was, no doubt, in that age the mostpoignant
domestic grief for a knight of large landed interest and of long descent
to have no sons and to be left with one whom, however good and beautiful,
he would love-- "As heiress and not heir regretfully."
Sources: "The History of the House of Seytoun to the Year MDLIX", Sir
Richard Maitland of Lethington, Knight, with the Continuation, by
Alexander Viscount Kingston, to MDCLXXXVII. Printed at Glasgow,
MDCCCXXIX.
"A History of the Family of Seton during Eight Centuries" George Seton,
Advocate, M.A. Oxon., etc. Two vols. Edinburgh, 1896
"An Old Family" Monsignor Seton, Call Number: R929.2 S495