Thomas Erskine

• General Notes
  • Sir Thomas, the son of ... powerful noble by his marriage to Janet Keith, great grand-daughter of Gratney, Earl of Mar, laid the foundation of the claim which the Erskines preferred to that dignity, and the vast estates which were originally included in the earldom. Though their claim was rejected by James I, the family continued to prosper; new honours and possessions were liberally conferred upon them by successive sovereigns, and they were elevated to the peerage in 1467. "
    Occupation: Keeper of Edinburgh Castle and Sheriff of Edinburgh 2 3
    PROP: 8 NOV 1376 Sir Thomas had a royal charter of the baronyof Dun on his father's resignation 3
    Note:
    Sir Thomas was a hostage for David II in 1354 and on October 2, 1357. He was knighted by his father between 1365 and 1370 just before entering into a duel with Sir James Douglas over the liferent of his deceased wife's estate, claiming their child lived a short time. The duel was stopped by the king who prevailed upon the parties to reach a settlement. The parties settled, with Sir James obtaining the estates in dispute and Sir Thomas accepting money in lieu of his rights.
    
    Sir Thomas was keeper of Edinburgh Castle and Sheriff of Edinburgh prior to 1371. In that same year, he was a consenter to the Act of Succession in favor of the Earl of Carrick. He received an annuity from the customs of Lithingow and Aberdeen, which was paid to his widow after his death. On November 8, 1376, he received a royal charter of the barony of Dun which his father had resigned. In 1388, he was guardian of the Temple in Scotland. On January 27, 1399, Sir Thomas was appointed as a special advisor to David, Duke of Rothesay.
    
    On March 18, 1391, Sir Thomas made his formal protest to Robert III on behalf of his wife, Janet regarding the earldom of Mar. Sir Thomas claimed that Janet inherited one half the earldom of Mar and the lordship of Garioch.
    
    Pope Clement VII granted Sir Thomas and Janet a portable altar on February 2, 1293. He was taken prisoner at Homildon on September 14, 1402 and may have remained a prisoner in England until his death which took place between Martinmas 1403 and Whitsunday 1404. Volume 5, p. 597 - 598.
    
    
    
    Birth: BEF 1346
    Death: BEF 28 MAY 1404
    
    

Details of Thomas' family with Janet Keith

Details of Thomas' family with <Unknown>