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Topic: History of PUMPHERSTON Castle? (Read 710 times)
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lanarman
RootsChat Member
Posts: 129
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Is anyone familiar with this town and does anyone have any knowledge of the owners of this castle, it's history, etc? There is limited information available on the web. Many older families (few left) with the surname UMPHERSTON, UMPHRASTOUNE, etc. in that general area of West, Mid and East Lothian. I wonder if they are connected to this castle/town? Thanks.
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lanarman
RootsChat Member
Posts: 129
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Thanks Willison:
Yes, I have googled, etc. all I can find online about Pumpherston and the castle- only a few vague references exist, online. So I was wondering if anyone lives in that locality who might be a member on this board who would have more knowledge of this subject that is not online?
The Wikipedia reference "son of Humphrey" also relates to my surname as it has been described as both "Humphrey's son" and "some place with the meaning of "Umphray's town", ie. UMPHRASTOUN (Blacks Book of Scottish Surnames). "Umphrastoun of that Ilk".
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mosstrooper
RootsChat Member
Posts: 220
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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I live just 2 miles from Pumpherston, and have done so for 40 years. Until I saw your post, I had never heard of Pumpherston Castle. I was waiting to see if anyone else had any recollections. If any clue is available, I will certainly look into the matter.
James.
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lanarman
RootsChat Member
Posts: 129
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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James:
If you do an advanced book search on Google with "Pumpherston" you will find a book published in 1838 by a John Sommers entitled "Account of the Parish of Mid-Calder..." etc. There is a reference to an old ruins or castle at Pumpherston. It is also referenced in other books on Google as well as the Wikipedia reference. Living in Canada, I am not sure what local resources there are to provide more clues.
Michael
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mosstrooper
RootsChat Member
Posts: 220
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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If I get a little free time next week, I will go to the Library and read The First Statistical Account of Scotland, 1791, it should be mentioned in there.
I can't find any indication of where it stood, or who owned it.
James.
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lanarman
RootsChat Member
Posts: 129
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Thanks, James.
Two more book references (full view) on Google for Pumpherston and the castle/ruins that hints at a location:
1. The New Statistical Account of Scotland- List of Parishes- Edinburgh. 1845. Page 370.
2. The Hon. Henry Erskine Lord Advocate for Scotland, etc. Fergusson, Alex. etc. 1882. Page 322.
Michael
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mosstrooper
RootsChat Member
Posts: 220
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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The owner of Pumpherston Castle was The Earl of Buchan, he is shown as the Heritor of that Estate. The Estate of Pumpherston lies within the lands of Lord Torphichen (Sandilands) who is the Principal Heritor. The house of Lord Torphichen still stands in Midcalder, not far behind the Ancient Kirk O' Calder.
Look here for a description of the Earl of Buchan :- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_of_Buchan
Records of the Parliament of Scotland 26th March 1647 show :- (Act anent the committees of war in the several shires,) where the Earl of Buchan, James Erskine is called from his seat in the Sherriffdom of Banff to attend the committee. The tenant of Pumpherston Estate, Sir Joseph Douglas is called from the Sherriffdom of Linlithgow.
My own line, Robert Ker, Earl of Roxburghe is shown being called from the Sheriffdom of Haddington (first in line)
http://www.rps.ac.uk/search.php?action=fetch_chunk_frame&fn=charlesi_trans&id=id12985&query=noble&type=trans&variants=Noble&fragment=
James Kerr.
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mosstrooper
RootsChat Member
Posts: 220
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Here is the history of Erskine, it starts way back in the 1200s so you have a few centuries of family history to read before you get to the Earl of Buchan who owned Pumpherston Castle, right up through William Wallace, Robert the Bruce, Battle of Flodden etc.
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/nation/erskine.htm
James.
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mosstrooper
RootsChat Member
Posts: 220
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Starting to get interesting now, I have found a reference of the Baron of Riddle (spell it any way you want) getting married to a Ker in the Borders, then marrying a Violet Douglas of Pumpherston. Sir Joseph Douglas was the Tenant of Pumpherston Castle.
http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/ntor/riddell2.htm
There had been a previous marriage with the Scotts, as the widow of one of the Riddells, supposed to be a Ker of Fernilie, married a Harden. John granted a precept for infefting Patrick Earl Bothwell in a part of some lands at Lilliesleaf in 1534, which he held of the laird of Riddell. John died in 1542, and was followed by George. This George is particularly mentioned in a legal transaction upon record affecting him, and left Walter, his successor, who married mariotte, daughter of Hoppringle of smailholm, and had a son, Andrew, and two daughters, one of whom married Thomas Ker of Cavers and nether Howden. Walter was old when he died, and his son Andrew was served heir in 1592, obtaining a charter in 1595. Andrew was a man of much importance, and having acquired Haining from the Scotts, the first possessors of it, held large territorial possessions, and was called the Baron of Riddell. Though lordly in his position, he was a man of humility, for he was offered a baronetcy, which he declined. He did not, however, prevent his eldest son, John, who was a person of considerable talent, accepting the honour, which was conferred on the 14th of May 1628, about three years after the institution of the order in Scotland. Andrew must have married first his cousin, Miss Pringle, daughter of James Pringle of Gallowshiells and Smailholm, and after her death he was united to Violet Douglas of Pumpherston, West-Lothian. He had a large family of sons and daughters his eldest son, Sir John, being by his first wife. Other sons and some time ago i found a stone in the Abbey burying-ground at Jedburgh in memory of Jean Riddell, daughter of Andrew, born 1600, and died 1660. She is commemorated thus-
“ Here lies a religious and virtuous gentlewoman, Jean Riddell, daughter of Sir Andrew Riddell of that ilk, who died in the year of God, MDCLX., and of her age 60.
She lived a holy life,
To Christ resigned her breath.
Her soul is now with God,
Triumphing over death !”
I'm going to let you carry on with this yourself now you know who you are looking for. Good luck
James Kerr.
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lanarman
RootsChat Member
Posts: 129
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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James:
Yes, indeed, this is getting interesting. I will dig in and have a good read on the links you provided to glean more facts about these owners of P. castle. Perhaps I will uncover the reason for this name PUMPHERSTON.
Thanks again for your help. Much appreciated. 
Michael
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mosstrooper
RootsChat Member
Posts: 220
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Michael,
If there is no reasonably modern explanation on the name Pumpherston, and by that I mean back to the middle ages, then you are going to have to go back to the time of the Romans, (If you look at modern maps you will see Roman Camps not two miles from Pumpherston) and beyond that even to the times of the Picts (Votadini)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Votadini
James.
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mosstrooper
RootsChat Member
Posts: 220
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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How the mighty have fallen.
Or was it you on the way up.?
James
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