William Cranstoun, 3rd Lord Cranstoun

William Cranstoun, 3rd Lord Cranstoun, (born before 1620), a renowned Cavalier, succeeded his uncle John, 2nd Lord Cranstoun (1570 - c1648) who had no issue.

Family

William Cranstoun was the only son and heir to his father, James, Master of Cranstoun, by his spouse Elizabeth, daughter of Francis Stewart, 1st Earl of Bothwell

Royalist

In 1648 he was one of the "Engagers" for King Charles I. He accompanied King Charles II into England in 1651 and was taken prisoner at the battle of Worcester, and remained in confinement for several years in the Tower of London. His estate was sequestrated, lands of £200 a year value being settled on his wife and children, and he was excepted from Oliver Cromwell's "Act of Grace" in April 1654.

wedish service

In 1656 he was allowed to levy 1000 men for the service of king Charles X Gustav of Sweden, and, probably at his instance, was formally pardoned by Parliament in 1657.

Duel

On January 15, 1661/2 he, being then 'of the parish of St. Margaret's, Westminster', was found guilty of slaying Alexander Skringer, Esq., with a rapier in self-defence.

Marriage

Cranstoun married by contract on July 10, 1643, Mary, fifth and youngest daughter of Alexander Leslie, 1st Earl of Leven, by whom he had his son and heir, James Cranstoun, 4th Lord Cranstoun. His daughter Helen married the Kirkcaldy mason John Adam, and their son was the architect William Adam. [Gifford, John (1989) "William Adam, 1689-1748", Mainstream / RIAS, p.68]

The 3rd Lord Cranstoun was still alive on July 29, 1664, when his son had a charter of lands where he was designated "James, Master of Cranstoun".

References

* "The Royal Families of England Scotland and Wales, with their descendants" etc., by John and John Bernard Burke, London, 1848, volume 1, pedigree CXXXIX.
* "Index to Genealogies, Birthbriefs, and Funeral Escutcheons", recorded in the Lyon office, by Francis J. Grant, W.S., Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records, Edinburgh, 1908, p.12.
* "The Complete Peerage", by G.E.Cockayne, under 'Cranstoun'.