James Dunbar Earl of Murray
of Frendraught,
Scotland
Early 1400-1442
Born: early 1400 and died 1442.
Son
of: Alexander Dunbar (1373-1421?)
and Maude Dunbar (nee Fraser).
Brother of:
not known.
James married:
Isabel Dunbar (nee Innes) and then Jean Dunbar (nee Gordon).
James
and Isabel had issue:
1. Sir
Alexander Dunbar (1425-1497?)who
married Isabel Sutherland.
James and Jean had issue:
2. Lady Janet Dunbar who married James,
second Lord Crichton.
3. Lady
Elizabeth Dunbar (1425-1494) who married Archibald, third son of
James, seventh Earl of Douglas.
James Dunbar: An Overview
We know about James from the book "Records of the Heath Family", by George Heath 1907. The entry is as follows:
James Dunbar of Frendraught, who, upon the death of his cousin Thomas
without male issue, succeded to his earldom, was fifth Earl of Murray
of the name of Dunbar, and was one of the hostages for King James'
ransom anno 1425.
He succeeded as Laid of Frendraught 28th January 1421-2, and his
yearly rent of the estate of Frendraught was then estimated at 500
marks sterling.
He was twice married: first to Isabel Innes, daughter to Sir Walter
Innes, of Innes, and by her had a son, Alexander, afterwards Sir
Alexander Dunbar, of Westfield. He married secondly, Lady Jean
Gordon, daughter of Alexander, Earl of Huntly, and had only two daughters.
1. Lady Janet Dunbar, who married James, second Lord Crichton.
2. Lady Elizabeth Dunbar, who married Archibald, third son of James,
seventh Earl of Douglas, who, by the then prevailing interest of his
family, obtained the Earldom of Murray, in prejudice of the said Sir
Alexander Dunbar, the Earl's son, and the Lord Crichton, who was
married to his eldest daughter. But it was not long enjoyed by
this family, for it was forfeited for their rebellion, and annexed to
the Crown anno 1455.
"Alexander, son of Earl James, ought to have succeeded his
father both in the earldom and honors of Murray and in the barony of
Frendraught, but was deprived of both. James, Earl of Douglas,
whos power was already too great for a subject, having got his
brothers Hugh and John raised to the peerage, wanted to increase his
power by making his brother Archibald, Earl of Murray. To
compass that end, he got the clergy to pronounce a nulity in Earl
James's marriage with Isabel Innes, on the score of consanguinity,
because she died before a dispensation was obtained to make their
marriage canonical. The consanguinity was this: Earl James was
son of Alexander of Frendraught and son of Earl John, and Isabel
Innes was daughter of Eupheme Fraser, daughter of Jane Dunbar (Lady
Lovat) daughter of Earl Thomas, son of Earl John; so they stood in
the second and fourth descent from Earl John; and on this the nullity
proceeded. The Earl of Douglas having thus, thou unjustly, got
Alexander Dunbar declared incapable of succeding to his father, had
another bar to remove; for the Lady Crichton, the eldest daughter,
ought to have been prefered to the second, who was Archibald
Douglas's wife; but he soon surmounted this difficulty, by prevailing
with Crichton and his Lady to renounce and resign their right, in
favour of his brother Archibald, and Crichton got the estate of
Frendraught. In this maner did Archibald Douglas, become Earl
of Murray, in 1449. But he did not long enjoy it, for having
joined his brother in the rebellion of 1455, he was killed in
Annandale by Lord Carlyle, of Torthorald, and the Laid of Johnston;
and the Earldom of Murray was forfeited to the crown."
Earl James was killed near Frendraught in 1442, before the 26th
April, on which date he is called "the late Earl of Moray",
and was succeded in his estates, but not in his titles, by his only son Sir
Alexander Dunbar.
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