History of the Stewarts | Family Lines
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JOHN Stewart
1st Earl of Atholl
SIR JOHN STEWART OF BALVENY was born about 1440, created EARL OF ATHOLL about 1457, and died 1512. His first wife was Lady Margaret Douglas, Fair Maid of Galloway, daughter of Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Douglas and Lady Eupheme Graham.
They had three daughters;-
Lady Janet Stewart, married Alexander Gordon, Master of Sutherland.
Lady Elizabeth Stewart, married Andrew Gray, 2nd Lord Gray.
Lady Christian Stewart, married Neil Stewart of Garth.
John Stewart married twice and had several children. However, the exact number, names, and the attribution of his children to their mothers is unclear. It is probable. It was as follows:-
Sometime before April 1475, he married as his second wife, Lady Eleanor Sinclair (d. 21 March 1518), daughter of William Sinclair, 3rd Earl of Orkney and Marjory Sutherland. They had two sons and nine daughters:
John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Atholl, who married Lady Janet Campbell (died about Candlemas 1545/6), daughter of Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Arygll.JOHN, 2nd Earl of Atholl.
Andrew Stewart, Bishop of Caithness. Died 1542.
Lady Jean (or Janet) Stewart, married by contract dated 31 August 1507, James Arbuthnott of Arbuthnott. He had a crown charter of the feudal Barony of Arbuthnott, 29 January 1507. He died before 13 March 1521.
Lady Catherine Stewart, married Sir John Forbes, 6th Lord Forbes.
Lady Elizabeth (Elspeth) Stewart, married Sir Robert Innes, 2nd of Innermarky.
Lady Marjory Stewart, married Sir Colin Campbell of Glenorchy.
Lady Margaret Stewart, married Sir William Murray of Castleton, who was killed at the Battle of Flodden, and is the Ancestor of the Dukes of Atholl.
Lady Elizabeth Stewart I, married Alexander Robertson of Strowan.
Lady Elizabeth (or Isabel) Stewart II, married John Stewart, 3rd Earl of Lennox.
Lady Jean Stewart, married Robert Gordon, Knt., of Pitlurg.
Lady Margaret Stewart, married Robert Robertson, the Younger, of Strowan.
Arms: 1 and 4. Stewart. 2 and 3. Atholl. CREST: A hand holding a key bendways. SUPPORTERS: Two savages in fetters. MOTTO: "Furth_fortune_ and_fill_the_fetters" (Nisbet).
Note.-He took an active part in suppressing the rebellion of John, Earl of Ross, the last "Lord_of_the_Isles," and it is said that at that time his nephew, King James III., used the words which became his motto (G. E. C.).