SIR WILLIAM SETON, of whom it is recorded that ‘he was the first creatit and made lord in the Parliament, and he and his posteritie to have ane voit yairin, and be callit Lordis.’ The younger son of this powerful baron married the heiress of the great family of GORDON, and became the progenitor of the Dukes of Gordon and Marquises of Huntly, as well as of the Setons of Touch, hereditary armour-bearers to the King; the Setons of Meldrum, of Abercorn, of Pitmedden, and other branches of the house. He fought with the hereditary valour of the Setons at the memorable battle of Harlaw in 1411, and in the wars in France in 1421.

His elder son, SIR JOHN SETON, 2nd Lord Seton, married a daughter of the tenth Earl of Dunbar and March, and carried on the direct line of the family, and was the ancestor of the Earls of Winton and Dunfermline, and the Viscounts Kingston.

SIR JOHN SETON, the third son of George, 7th Lord Seton, resided for some years at the Court of Philip II., of Spain. Viscount Kingston in his historical account of the Seton family says that Sir John ‘was a brave young man,’ and that he was made by Philip ‘knight of the royal order of St. Jago, att that tyme the only order of knighthood in that kingdome of greatest esteem; in memory whereof he and his heirs has a sword in their coat of armes, being the badge of that order. King Philip also preferred him to be a gentleman of his chamber and Cavalier de la Boca (Master of the Household). He also carried the golden key at his syde on a blew ribbing, all which were the greatest honours King Philip of Spain could give to any of his subjects, except to be made a grandee of Spain. He had a pension granted to him and his heirs of two thousand crowns yearly.’  Sir John Seton was recalled to Scotland by James VI., who made him Lord Treasurer, Master of the Horse, and an Extraordinary Lord of Session.  The Seton's had hitherto been more distinguished in warlike than in civil pursuits, but in the course of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries no less than six members of the family obtained seats on the Scottish Bench.                                            Lairdships: Parbroath, Meldrum, Touch, Mounie, Pitmedden, Preston and Ekolsund, Abercorn, Menie, Bourtie, Hailes, Kirkliston, Lathrisk, Garleton.  Baronetcy's: Abercorn, Pitmedden, Windygoul, Garleton, Olivestob.