In 1470 the lands of Gargunnock were owned by Alexander
Hepburn, but by 1513 the lands had passed to two owners, Alexander Elphinstone
and Ninian Seton. However, the "lands of Gargunnock" were held throughout the
early 16th Century by the Elphinstones, according
to the Directory of Retours. The Seton Family held the lands for a little over a hundred years.
The first reference to
the association of the Setons of Touch with the lands of
Gargunnock was on
22 February 1511/12 when Sir Alexander Seton of
Tullibody and Touch Fraser, second of Touch, had a
confirmation under the Privy Seal of that date of a
charter by Sir Robert Colville of Ochiltree, granting
him five mercates of the lands of old extent of
Gargunnock, together with the tower, fortalice and
mansionhouse, lying in the Sheriffdom of Stirling.
The next reference is in 1530/31 when a "natural son" of
Sir Alexander Seton of Touch is styled "John Seytoun of
Gargunnock", and a precept of legitimation was issued in
his favour.It is certain that it was this John Seton who
married Janet Turnbull, one of the two co-heiresses of
Gargunnock. On 23 November 1515 they had a charter under
the Great Seal; 'in conjunct fee, "of the fourth part of
the lands and mill of Gargunnock" and other lands, which
had been resigned by Janet Turnbull. They were, in later
charters, styled "portioners of Gargunnock", and from
them descended the first Setons'
of Gargunnock line.
Sir Alexander
Seton of Gargunnock, Lord Kilcreuch, also acquired Culcreuch Castle in 1624 in settlement of monies owed
him by his brother-in-law, Robert Galbraith, 17th Chief of that Clan who was forced to flee to Ireland, bankrupt, to
escape his debts. Later the
same year, he was appointed a judge and took the title
Lord Kilcreuch. Soon his successful career necessitated selling the
estate to be nearer Edinburgh and in 1632, eight years after purchasing
Culcreuch, he sold Culcreuch out to Robert Napier. In 1634 the Gargunnock Estate is said to have been granted to the Earl of Mar and,
in around 1675, passed to Sir James Campbell, 11th Laird of Ardkinglas, through
marriage to Margaret of Gargunnock.
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