The Doctor of Divinity, Sir George Seton of Hailes, Knt., D.D.

He was the second son of the first Sir John Seton of Barnes, Lord Barnes, who died in 1594, and it was written by Maitland that he died a young man, and this note was simply copied by other writers afterwards and which statement was incorrect. In fact he was Dr. Sir George Seton (also spelt Seaton) of Hailes D.D., or Haillis/Haills/Hales, Knt., (b.159?, d.1661).

As the second son of Sir John Seton 1st of Barnes, his education was provided for by the family at Seton Palace, and under the tutelage from his uncle Robert Seton, 8th Lord Seton and 1st Earl of Winton.  After completing his initial studies, he obtained a Degree of M.A. granted by University of St. Andrews, Doctor of Theology, and was later a fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge circa 1619-1629, noted in the "Memorabilia Cantabrigiae" where in he was recommended personally by King James VI and I.  He was sent abroad for his education, which given early death of his father and the politics of the day meant that a more modest education was effected and rather than being sent to France he was on the recommendation of King James VI and I to St. John's College at Cambridge in England. There he was a noted scholar and was frequently referred as George Seatton of Hallis, or Dr. Seaton. 

With the assistance, or investment, of his uncle (cousin) George Seton 3rd Earl of Winton, he later acquired and then sold the lands and Barony of Crichton Castle from James Stewart (the brother of Lord John Stewart, Commendator of the Priory of Coldingham) as a result of monies owed, later selling it to Hepburn's of Humbie in 1649, and the following year he "quitted" Hailes during Cromwells sacking of that Castle and the area around Dunbar, and was re-imbursed by the Government to the sum of 4,700 "in English money for troops quartered on his tenants and for damage caused by them", in 1650.  In 1650, Hailes was largely dismantled by Cromwell's forces during the raids in Scotland, along with many other Seton strongholds, and left in ruins. 

Admitted a Burgess and Guild of Leith 12.05.1652, along with his younger son Robert, he remained active in the support and financing of the Royal family, and in seeing them returned from exile, for which his estates were heavily fined and which nearly brought him to ruin  Nevertheless, following The Restoration, Sir George was Knighted and was eventually granted a pension superscribed by Charles II of £1000 stg. yearly from customs of London, "to said Sir George; to Robert Seaton his younger son, and to Marie Seaton his daughter, for their lifetimes" for his loyal services.  His son, Robert Seton married the daughter of the Earl of Eglinton and had a son, also Robert Seton who was half-brother to the 4th Earl of Findlater and Chancellor of Scotland.

He married Dame Mary (called 'Seton"), later noted as "in the Fishmarket", and noted as her husbands widow and interred in the Greyfriars Burying Ground in Edinburgh, 20th, August, 1665, and they had at least two sons Robert and John, and two daughters. Mary and the 2nd's name is unknown.

He was called "Sir George Seton of Haillis", and/or "Dr. Seaton", he was noted as a scholar at Cambridge, Oxford and St. Andrews, and knighted at Perth in Nov., 1650, as recorded also in Balfour's Annals.  Both he and his brother John held the lands of Hailes in Fee from their uncle, George Seton, the 3rd Earl of Winton, who had acquired Hailes after it passed to Chancellor Seton, and who oversaw the minority of both brothers following his succession (where ownership of the lands and Barony of Hailes was passed to Sir Alexander Seton, Viscount Kingston, and who's heirs sold the lands of Hailes to David Dalrymple in 1700). Sir George Seton was a fellow of St John's College, Cambridge and had been personally recommended by King James VI and I, and received his Grant of MA from St Andrews University as Doctor of Theology/Divinity (D.D.), dated 1629. Following his tenure at St. John's College, he was resident at Kingston-upon-Thames, and Rector of Bushey (also called Busch) in Hertfordshire, before his acquisition of Hailes in Haddingtonshire.

King James, however, did his best for his fellow countrymen. He tried ineffectually to get Seton elected a Fellow of King’s, where the College appears to have been unloyally stubborn. He succeeded in March 1619-20 in getting 'George Seaton, Scotus', admitted a Fellow of St John’s mandate regio. The fellowship was a specially created one and for some years the College had a good working grievance, culminating in Seaton continuing to hold his fellowship after he was beneficed and married and then trying to pass it on to a friend. He is no doubt the George Seaton who compounded for First Fruits as Vicar of Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, 8 November 1626, ceding this on his institution as Rector of Bushey, Herts, 19 December 1631, being presented to the latter by King Charles I. ; Seaton resigned Bushey in 1642.

The following letter, addressed by the Earl of Morton to George Seaton of Busch, D.D., in the county of Hertford, afterwards Sir George Seaton of Haills, to whom the Earl and his son Robert Lord Dalkeith, had granted a band in the English form for £2000 sterling, dated 9th April 1634, shows his lordship's embarrassed position five years later:
Tbaist Freind,
I am sorie that I can not satisfie the deaayr of your letter unless I should resolve presently to give up my house and dispers my familie.

I sall perfonne what I have promised, to pay what I owe you out of the first payment the king sall mak to me. Thus I rest your freind,
Morton.
St Martin's Lain this Wadinsday 89 August 1639.
For my verie guid freind Doctor Seaton.

His constant leaving of the post to attend to matters in Scotland forced his removal, and he was cited for non-conformity and other conduct, to which he contested and is noted in the Middlesex Session Rolls in 1642:

1642, 14 July, Charles I.—True Bill that, at St. Andrew's Holborn co. Midd. on the said day Sir William Car late of Westminster co. Midd. knt. and George Seaton late of Bushey co. Hertford clerk . . . . made certain false and counterfeit letters on paper, so that they had the appearance of letters dated by the king, and put a forged signature resembling the King's Sign Manual to the same forged letters, running in the following words:—". . . . . . Welbeloved wee greete you well, Whereas wee are gratiously pleased to conferre upon our trustie and welbeloved Henry Robinson of Bucton in the County of Yorke gentleman The dignity of a Baronet of this our Kingdome, and to intaile the said dignity of a Baronet of this our Kingdome upon the heire males of his body: Our will and pleasure is that you prepare a booke of our royall dignity . . . . . . our grant of the dignity of a Baronet unto the said Henry Robinson and the heire males of his body as aforesaid as also a warrant in usuall forme for discharging him of soe much . . . . . . in respect of that dignity, and that you prepare them both for our signature and for soe doing this shalbe your warrant. Given at our Court at Yorke the first day of July in the eighteenth year. . . . . . To our trustie and wellbeloved servant Sir Edward Harbert Knt. our Attorney-generall, Or to our trustie and welbeloved servant Oliver Saint John Esqr. our Sollicitor Generall"; the purpose of the two fabricators of this spurious Sign Manual being to compass a grant under the Great Seal of the dignity of a Baronet to the said Henry Robinson. G. D. R., 5 Oct., 18 Charles I.

He is thus noted in the volume compilation, 'Nonconformity in Herts: Being Lectures Upon the Nonconforming Worthies of St Albans', he is listed as the Rector of Bushey in 1630, and where the events surrounding his removal there are outlined.

Bushey was so good a living that one Dr. Seaton, of Kingston-upon-Thames, coveted it, and tried to prove a flaw in Staunton's title. There was a trial at law about it, and Seaton's counsel, Attorney-General Noy, was so taken by the ingenuity of Staunton that he moved for an exchange, and so brought it about that Seaton should have Bushey, and Staunton should have Kingston. But Seaton, having now got Bushey, would not part with Kingston, and desired to make Staunton simply his curate there. Hereupon Staunton repaired to Noy, related to him the deceitful behaviour of his client, and Noy told Seaton that unless he resigned Kingston he would soon pick a hole in his title to Bushey. This made Seaton resign Kingston, where Staunton laboured for twenty years.
The character of Dr. Seaton's incumbency appears from the following extracts from the Acta: 3rd August, 1633, the wardens are cited " for not keeping a sufficient service-book, and for not keeping the church swept and comely." In 1634 William Fell, of Bushey, is presented for keeping the Register Book at his house, and they could not get it out. Fell will not perform the penance of the court. Lemuel Hickman, of Bushey, is presented for absenting himself from church. In Archbishop Laud's account of his province,2 he says, "Mr. George Seaton, rector of Bushey, is charged with continual non-residence and other misdemeanours little becoming a clergyman. But of this neither my Lord nor myself can say more to your Majesty till we see what will rise in proof against him." After this, in 1638, we find "John Gibson curate" here, showing that Seaton was roused to care for his cure; and an inventory of the same date names among the goods of the church •' one great Bible, Bp. Jewell's Works, one hour-glass."
In 1642 Dr. George Seaton was sequestered from the living of Bushey " for his scandalous life and malignancy," as the following entries show:—

"26th January, 1642-3.1 It is ordered that Mr. Browne be recommended to the parishioners of Bushy, in the county of Hertford, to supply the cure of that parish, and that the profits be sequestered unto him for that purpose."
"January 31st, 1642-3. The sequestration to Mr. Marmaduke Brown was assented to by the House."
"July 11th, 1643.2 Order for the sequestration of the rectorie of Bushy, in the county of Hertford (whereof Dr. Seaton was parson, and ordered by order of both Houses of Parliament to be turned out, and, while this was in proceeding, by combination Mr. Philip Edlyn, clerk,3 was instituted and inducted), and for the putting in of Mr. Marmaduke Browne."
As in 1627 he tried to rob Dr. Staunton first of Bushey, and then, after the exchange, of Kingston-upon-Thames, so now in 1643 Seaton tries—when for scandalous life he is sequestered— to put in a protegi of his own. This Philip Edlyn, B.D., according to Walker (who gives both Seaton and him a place among his "sufferers"), was rector of St. JohnZachary, London, and lecturer at Gray's Inn. "He was presented to Bushey February 4th, 1642-3, on the resignation of Dr. Seaton, and dispossessed of it about July 11th, 1643, by the House of Commons." * The following extracts from the minutes of the Committee for Plundered Ministers throw further light upon this transaction:—
"17th January, 1015. It is ordered that the rectorie of Bushey, sequestered to the use of Marmaduke Browne who is deceased, shall be sequestered to the use of Dr. Staunton in case he shall relinquish the cure of the church at Kingston, in the county of Surrey. Ordered that Edmund Staunton, Doctor in Divinity, be recommended to the Assembly of Divines to examine his fitness to have the rectorie of Bushey. 24th March, 1645.
1 Commons' Journalt, ii. 944.
* Commons' Journalt, iii.
 

1 See Hist. M8S. Commission, otli Report, p. 71. Lords' Journal*, 1642-3, February 8th. Order for sequestering the living of Bushey, Herts. Annexed: "Petition of George Seaton, Doctor of Divinity, complains that the order for sequestering the living of Bushey was obtained by misinformation. Prays that he and his accusers may be brought face to face, and that then whosoever is found to have misinformed the House may receive exemplary punishment." Alio: "Petition of Philip Edline, Bachelor in Divinity. Prays that the order for sequestering the living of Bushey may be discharged, as petitioner was duly instituted to the living upon the resignation of Dr. Seaton."
4 Walker, Sit/ft-nnns of the Clergy,. ii. IBS.

Gentlemen,—The Committee for Plundered Ministers have received information that the cure of the church is, by the death of Mr. Browse, to whom the rectorie there was sequestered, and by Dr. Staunton his refusing thereof, again come to their disposal. They have therefore commanded me to recommend unto you Mr. William Good, a member ■of the Assembly of Divines, whom though in regard of his own worth they conceive him very fit and able to discharge the service thereof, yet are they unwilling to settle him there unless he may have the desire and affections of those who are to expect the benefit of his ministry among them, whereof the Committee do expect speedy resolution. April Oth, 1040. Whereas Dr. Seaton, rector of the parish church of Bushy, upon complaint in Parliament against him, was by order of the House of Commons of the 26th January, 1043, sequestered from the said rectory, and Marmaduke Browne, a godly orthodox divine sithence deceased, was then appointed to the cure of the said church and sequestration of the .said rectorie. And Philip Edlin, clarke, by combination with the said Dr. Seaton, who had, pending the said proceedings, gotten the patronage of the said church into his power and disposal to resign the said church for the said sequestration, caused himself to be instituted and admitted thereinto before the said sequestration passed the House of Lords, to •elude the proceedings of both Houses, and the said Philip Edlin having discovered Ids malignancy against the Parliament, and several other misdemeanours being proved against him, the said sequestration was by order of the House of Commons of the 21st July, 1043, ratified and confirmed to the said Mr. Browne. And the said Mr. Browne is since deceased. It is ordered that the said rectory shall stand sequestered to the use of William Goode, Doctor of Divinity, a godly and orthodox divine, and a member of the reverend Assembly of Divines, who is hereby appointed forthwith to officiate the cure of the said church as rector, and to preach diligently to the parishioners there."

He was later noted in the Charter papers of the Earl of Winton for his interest in the purchase and assignation in the Lordship and the Barony of Hailes, and other lands which included Rollingston (which he sold shortly after their acquisition), and etc... dated 1st of March, 1648.

1649, 23 May, Edinburgh, Parliament
Parliamentary Register
7 August 1649
Legislation

Charter by the same to George, Earl of Wintoun, his heirs-male and of taillie, of the lordship and barony of Haills, with the castle and fortalice, except the portions thereof disponed to the said George principally, and to Francis, Earl of Buccleuch, in warrandice and security, as therein mentioned ; with the patronage of the church of Hauche, called the prebendary of Lintoun and chaplainry of Markle ; lands and barony of Auldhamstoks, with patronage of the church thereof and of the chaplainry of Coldbrandspeth and hospital thereof; lands of East Craig and Hoprig, and of Morhame, with tower and fortalice, mill, etc., and patronage of the kirk thereof, lying within the shire of Edinburgh and constabulary of Haddington ; lands and barony of Creichtoun, with castle and manor-place, etc., with patronage of the provostry of Creichtoun and chaplainries thereof; lands of Murehous, within the shire of Edinburgh, for the principal; the lands of Quhitsun, etc., with patronage of the kirk thereof, in the shire of Berwick; lands of Ferningtoun, with hospital of the same; lands of Langnewtoun, with tower, mill, etc., in the shire of Roxburgh ; lands and barony of Dryvisdaill and Carruthers, with patronage of the kirk of the latter place, in the stewartry of Annandale and shire of Dumfries ; lands and barony of Dunsyre, Lanarkshire, of Kirkmichael, Terraughtie, Drumlark, Mabie, and Cruiks ; lands and barony of Earlstoun, etc., in shire of Dumfries : and in like manner granting to the said George, Earl of Wintoun, and his heirs aforesaid heritably, and to the aforesaid Francis, Earl of Buccleuch, and his heirs-male, etc., in special warrandice and security, under the conditions contained in a contract between the said Francis, on one part, and Charles Stewart, son and heir of the late Francis Stewart, who was eldest son of the late Francis, Earl of Bothwell, the said George, Earl of Wintoun, and George Seton, Doctor of Divinity, and some other persons, on the other part, of date 1647 and 1648; the lands of Traprain ; lands of Nether Hailes, being parts of the said lordship and barony of Hailes, lying in the constabulary of Haddington and shire of Edinburgh: which all and sundry lands, baronies, etc., belonged before to the said Francis, Earl of Buccleuch, and were resigned by him in Exchequer at Edinburgh, for this new infeftment, with 4000 ... to the said George, Earl of Wintoun, etc., and erecting again the barony of Hailes. Dated 1st March 1648. — Lib. lviii. No. 141.

Hailes had been obtained by a Royal Grant in March 1647 and again in 1648. The Estate and Barony of Hailes was passed from Chancellor Seton, to the 3rd Earl of Winton who purchased the Estate and was confirmed by Royal Charter, which was passed to his son, Alexander, Viscount Kingston, and which was held in fee by his cousin of the Barnes family, Sir George Seton, then called 'of Hailes'. His descent eventually sold their interest in the Estate when Viscount Kingston sold Hailes in 1700, to Sir David Dalrymple, Bt., Senator of the College of Justice.

He was one of Parliamentary Legislators who created and signed the Act and addition to the committee of war [of East Lothian], noted in the Parliamentary Register of 23 May, 1649, in Edinburgh.
"The estates of parliament add to the committee of war of the sheriffdom of Haddington the persons following, namely: [Sir Adam Hepburn of] Humbie, [William Murray], laird of Hermiston, Mr George Seaton of Hailes, Mr Cornelius Inglis, John Hamilton of Easter Falside, Mr Andrew Marjoribanks, Gourlawbanks and Mr Richard Cairns."

By his own industry from his estate he acquired the Estate and Barony of Crichton with his uncle the 3rd Earl of Winton, selling Crichton Castle c1649 to the Hepburns of Humbie. Forced to have "quitted" Hailes Castle during Cromwells sacking of Dunbar, he was later reimbursed by the Government to the sum of 4,700 "in English money for troops quartered on his tenants and for damage caused by them", in 1650.  He and various Baron's in Haddington also signed the Assent of Haddintonshire, dated February 12th, 1652, in favour of a Union of Scotland with with England, and the first of it's kind and the fore-runner to the Union in the next century that created 'Great Britain", signing the Declaration of Union in 1652 along with his cousin, George Seaton of Haddington (3rd of Barnes).

ASSENT OF HADDINGTON 1
I George Browne being deputed by the Brough of Haddington doe on ye behalfe of my selfe and those represented by mee declaire our free and willing acceptance of and Consent unto ye tender made by ye Parlyam' of England y1 Scotland bee Incorporated into and made one Comon Wealth wth England, That thereby the same Gouermt That is Established and Enjoyed wthout a King or House of Lords under ye free State and Conion Wealth of England may bee derived unto ye people of Scotland, and Wee desire yt ye people of England and Scotland may bee represented in one Parlyamt and Gouerned by theire representatives therein, as ye supreeme authority of ye whole Iseland, And in ye meane tyme wee shall live peaceably undr and yeald obedience unto ye authority of ye Comon Wealth of England Exercised in Scotland. In wittnesse whereof I haue subscribed these p'sents att Dalkeith ye 12 of Feby 1652.
George Browne. Vera Copia: Jo. Phelphes, Secr.
Endorsed :—The answeare of Deptie for Haddington Brough to y ' Com" proposicon of y' 10 of Feby, deliuered to y ' Com" Feby 12,1651.

ASSENT OF HADDINGTONSHIRE 2
Wee, Sr John Sincklar of Hermistone and Sr George Seaton of Hailles, being ComTM and Deputed by the Heritours and Rentallers of ye Sheriffdome of Haddingtone, Doe on ye behalfe of our selues and those represented by vs, Declaire our free and willing acceptance of and Consent unto the tender made by the Parlyamt of the Comon Wealth of England that Scotland bee Incorporated into and made one Comon Wealth England, That thereby the same Gouermt that is Established in England wth out King or howse of Lords vndr ye free State and Conion Wealth of England may bee deriued vnto the people of Scotland. And wee desire yt the people of England and Scotland may bee represented in one Parlyamt and Gouerned by theire representatiues therein as ye Supreeme authority of ye whole Iseland, and in the meane time till this bee made practicall wee promise yt wee shall live peaceably vnder and yeald obedience to ye authority of ye Conion Wealth of England exercised in Scotland: And moreover wee shall bee ready from tyme to tyme to offer what wee shall Conceive requisite for bringeing to effect ye said vnion and settlemt wth speed and best satisfaccon to both Nations. In Witnesse whereof wee haue subscribed these presents att Dalkeith ye 12 day of February 1652. John Sinclaire.
George Seaton.
Vera copia: Jo. Phelpes, Seer.
Endorsed:—Assent, Haddington Sheriffdome.

SR Jo. Sinclar, ) Deputies
SR Geo. Seaton, j ^
There answeare to y' Com" Proposicons of y' 10 of Feb'7 by
them now delivered to jf Com" Feb' 12, 1651.

ASSENT OF THE HERITORS AND OTHERS OF
HADDINGTONSHIRE t

Wee the noble men Tutors and Curators of Minors for and feb. 23, on behalfe of our pupills Heretours fewars and Rentellors within the sherriffdome of Haddington whose names are subscribed Doe declare our free and willinge acceptance of and consent vnto the Tender made by the Parliament of the Comon wealth of England, That Scotland be incorporated into and made one Comon wealth with England, that thereby the same goument that is established in England without Kinge or house of Lords vnder the free estate and Comon wealth of England may be derived vnto the people of Scotland. And wee desire that the people of England and Scotland may be represented in one parliament and gouned by theire represen
1 Portland MSS., N. xx. 78.
tatives therein, As the supreame Authority of the whole Hand And in the meane tyme till this be made practicable wee pmise that wee shall live peaceably vnder and yeild obedience to the authority of the Comon wealth of England excercised in Scotland. And moreover wee shall be ready from tyme to tyme by our ComTM to offer what we shall conceaue requisite for bringinge to effect the said vnion and settlement with speed and best satisfaccon to both nations, and this wee doe cordially and freely of our selues the more to manifest our good likinge, Allowance and apbation of the declaracon given by or deputies unto the right honoUe the Comissioners of the Parliament of the Comonwealth of England for orderinge and managinge affaires in Scotland to the effect aforesaid. At Haddington in a full and frequent meetinge of the shire the 23th of February 1652,
John Awchtmowtie, Gosford....  George Seaton of Hailes.... Johne Seatone of barn.... Robte. Setoun, fewar. (et al)...
 

He was admitted a Burgess and Guild of Leith 12.05.1652, along with his younger son Robert, and his Testament was dated the 3rd of July, 1661, and a portion of his papers were held by his grandson Capt. Robert Seton and found in the trunk at the Register House in Edinburgh. His Testament-dative, 'of Sir George Seattoun of Haills, 3rd July 1661, Knight', among whose debtors were the Earl of Winton, Viscount Kingston, and King Charles II. From the ANTIQUITIES OF ABERDEEN: — Vol. lxx.

Noted in the Register of Testaments

(Top of column 2 page 645, under) ['XVII. George, fifth Lord Seton'] : — Test. 24 Aug. 1655 of Robert Seaton, eldest lawful son to Sir Geo. S. of Haills, Knight. Ed r Com. Records, b. m. 99 x beg. Vide

Test. 30 Aug. 1665 of Robert S. of Haills, ib. middle. (of the family of Winton).

Test. 3 July 1661, of Sir Geo. Seatton of Haills, Kt., mention of E. of Winton, and Lord Kingston, b. m. 98 middle. Sir Geo. Settone of Hailles knighted at Perth day of Nov. 1650. Balfour, Annals, v. 4, p. 179.

Test. Robert Seton of Hailes. Ed r Com. R. b. m. 43. Robert Seaton son to the deceased Sir Geo. Seaton mentioned along with Sir Geo. Stirling of Glorat, Bart., 16 Feb. 1679, Privy Seal Rec cl vol. 3, 1675-1685, b. m. 89 middle. 2

Test. Sir Geo. Seaton of Hailes, 3 July 1661, b. m. 91 near beg.

Inventory of the Papers of Captain Robert Seton, Grandson of Sir George Seton of Hailes.

1. Parcel containing a very large number of receipts for money, and discharged accounts
— not arranged, and of various dates, 1688-1705.

2. An Edinburgh Burgess and Gild Ticket — date illegible.

3. Precept under the sign-manual of Charles 1. directed to Sir John Mallarie, Kt.,
Governor of Skipton, for payment of £200 to Sir Francis Cobb. Dated at Newarke, 28th
October 1645.

4. Band by David Litle in Tranent to Mr. George Seatoun of Hailes. 8th May 1649.

5. Band by James Dunlape, Writer, Edinburgh, to Sir George Seatton of Hailes. 4th
October 1650.

6. Gift under the sign-manual of Charles 11. in favour of Sir George Seaton of Hailles
for the yearly pension of £1000 English. Dated at Perth, 26th November 1650.

7. Indenture between Dame Barbara Cobb, widow, and Sir William Cobb. 1st Decem-
ber 1677.

8. Bond by Robert Seattoun to Harie Sinclair, writer, Edinburgh. London, 19th August
1680.

9. Agreement between Robert Settoun, son to the deceased Robert Settoun of Hailes,
and James Charteris, W.S., on their departure for London (to go together). Edinburgh, 15th
March 1682.

10. Letter, the Earl of Findlater to Robert Seaton, Cullen. 29th January 1685.

11. Letter to Lieutenant Seton. 9th May 1687.

12. Letter from John Gifford. 2nd January 1688.

13. Commission under the sign-manual of James vn. to Robert Seton to be ' Captain
Lieutenant,' dated 1688. (Imperfect from decay.)

14. Commission to Robert Seaton to be Captain in Sir Edward Hale's Regiment. 27th
November 1688.

15. Attestation that Robert Seaton has received the Sacrament. 168- (?).

16-18. Three letters from Sir William Cobb, dated 2nd and 14th January and 2nd
February 1690-91.

19. The Testament of Dame Frances Smith, wife of Sir Edward Smith, Bart. 28th
November 1692.

20. Letter from to Robert Seaton, Esq. 28th February 1692.

21. Obligation by Rebecca Hayes. Dated 23rd March 1692-93.

22. Letter from to Captain Seaton. 29th October 1694.

23. Messenger's Copy of Privy Council Warrant for the arrest of Captain Seton for high
treason. Kensington, 23rd February 1695-96.

24. Baile for Robert Seton, Esq.

25. Draft Letter of R. S. to Sir William Cobb. August 1697.

26. Letter to Lady Cobb. 29th June 1699 [89?].

27. Memorandum of Accompts between T. W. and R. S. 1695.

28. Release by Alexander, Earl of Eglinton, to his nephew, Robert Seton. 6th February
1700.

29. Letter of Procuratory (Missive) by the Earl of Eglinton to Robert Seton. 21st
October 1700.

30. Articles of Agreement between Joseph Sanders of Legh (Leith), merchant, Thomas
Sanders of London, merchant, and Robert Seton. 3rd November 1701.

31. Letter from John Bogle, Glasfgow], to Captain Robert Seton. 8th August 1705.

32. Packet containing fifteen letters of various dates from Lady Barbara Cobb, a memo-
randum-book, and an envelope containing a lock of the hair of Sir John Fenwick, beheaded
on Tower Hill, London, 28th January 1696-7.

33. A Diploma of the University of St. Andrews to Master George Seton, with fine seal
attached. 1629.

34. Household Book of Lady Barbara Cobb from about 1660 to 1680.

35. Ane Compt of the losses of Sir George Seattoun of Hailes and his Tenants within
the parish of Prestonhaugh since the Inglisch armie came into Scotland. 1650-51.

36. Charge of the Money received by James Millar of Gurlabank belonging to Sir George
Seattoun of Hailes from 28th August 1651 to 28th September 1652.

The papers referred to in the preceding Inventory were found in an old trunk in one of the cellars below the dome of the Register House, Edinburgh, in November 1895, by Mr. M. Livingstone, Deputy Keeper of Records, to whom we are indebted for the interesting list.

The annexed pedigree will show the relationship of several of the persons referred to : — Hugh, seventh Earl of Eglinton.


Sir George Seton of Hailes.

Alexander Montgomerie, eighth Earl of Eglinton, who's daughter Lady Anne Montgomerie married Robert Seton, son of Sir George Seton of Hailes.  When he died, she married 2nd James, third Earl of Findlater.
 
Captain Robert Seton, only son and heir of Robert Seton of Hailes, and half-brother to the 3rd Earl of Findlater.

Marie Seton, second child and only daughter of Robert Seton of Hailes.



It had hitherto been unable by earlier writers to ascertain the parentage of Sir George Seton of Hailes, who, before being knighted, appears in the Great Seal Register as ' Mr.' and ' Dr.' In the elaborate Diploma of the University of St. Andrews (No. 33 of the Inventory), he is described as a Doctor of Theology and a Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge. However it was later determined that in fact, he was the second son of Sir John Seton, 1st of Barnes who had not 'died young' as previous writers had claimed, and who's line had been completely ignored.

The Edinburgh Burgess Ticket (No. 2), of which the date is illegible, relates to either
the Robert Seton who married Lady Anne Montgomerie, or to his son, also Robert.

The 'Attestation' (No. 15) is from the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Middlesex.

Sir William Cobb (Nos. 7 and 16) was probably son and successor of Sir Francis Cobb
(No. 3) by his wife ' Dame Barbara.'

The 'Arrest' mentioned in No. 23 was in all likelihood connected with the 'Assassination
Plot' against William of Orange, in which Sir John Fenwick (No. 32) was concerned.