The Seton Baronet's of Abercorn, Representative's of Touch, de jure Lord's Gordon and Hereditary Armour Bearer's to the King/Queen

The Seton’s of Abercorn derive their branch designation from the Barony of Abercorn in Linlithgowshire which they formerly possessed.  The line of the Seton’s of Abercorn was established by the second son of James Seton of Touch from his second wife, Eline-Jane Edmonstone, daughter of Edmonstone of that Ilk and Ednam, County Roxburgh, who were descended from the early Seton’s.  The Manor of Abercorn once belonged to the House of Avenel in the reign of King David I (1124-1153), and the Barony of Abercorn like that of nearby Gargunnock was sometime in the interest of Sir Ninian Seton, 3^rd baron of Touch and his grandson, James Seton, 5^th baron of Touch, and was later acquired by Royal Charter by James’ gr-grandson, Sir Walter Seton, 1^st Baronet of Abercorn.

Sir Alexander Seton of Gargunnock acquired the estate of Gargunnock near the family estate of Touch, both in Stirlingshire.  He later acquired the barony and estate of Culcreuch in addition to that of Gargunnock, 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, Sir Alexander, noted for being “a man of parts and learning”, was appointed a judge and admitted an ordinary Lord of Session, on the 4^th of February, 1626, and took the title Lord Kilcreuch. Soon his successful career necessitated the selling of Culcreuch to be nearer Edinburgh and in 1632, 8 years after purchasing it, he sold Culcreuch to Robert Napier. 

Sir Alexander was twice married: first on the 30^th of August, 1598, to Marion Maule of Glaster by whom he had a son and heir called Alexander, and second; to the daughter of the 16^th Chief of Galbraith.  Sir Alexander had several children and kept an exceptional house, noted for it’s order and high standard of education.  As a man of unscrupulous honesty in a very unscrupulous age, as well as for his unswerving loyalty and service to the Crown, Alexander was Knighted by King Charles I at Holyrood on the 12 of July, 1633.  And finally, on account of his infirmity of sight and many years of service, he resigned his seat on the Bench, with it’s honor and emoluments, on the 6^th of June, 1637.

Lord Kilcreuch was succeeded by his eldest son, Alexander Seton, of Graden.  Alexander married Margaret Cornwall (commonly called Janet) of Bonhard, and they had several children. He was noted for the shrewd management of his affairs and estate, and like his father excelled in learning.  He was an accomplished musician and poet, and ensured that his children also received an advanced education.  Alexander was himself succeeded by his son, Sir Walter Seton, who acquired the barony of Abercorn, and who was recognized and elevated to the peerage by King Charles II, in 1663, as a Baronet of Nova Scotia, as Sir Walter Seton, 1^st Baronet of Abercorn.

1665 ALEXANDER SETON, son of Alexander S. of Graden, and Margaret (or Janet?) Cornwall of Bonhard. In early life he qualified as a physician, but having studied divinity, was settled as a clergyman in England. He was pres. by the Archbishop, and inst. Oct. 1665. Frequently at war with the Town Council, and violently opposing their wish for the appointment of a second min., he was finally libelled on various scandalous counts, and dep. 29th Aug. 1690; died Nov. 1690. He marr. Anna Channell, an Englishwoman, who died May 1709, and had issue-Alexander, collector of Excise for East Lothian; Ann (marr. Andrew Crawford of Locheote).-[Test. Reg., Reg. Collat; MS. Acc. of Min., 1689; Fountainhall's Dec., i.; Reg. Gen. Ass., 1692.]

Sir Walter Seton of Abercorn, 1^st Baronet of Abercorn

Sir Walter Seton of Abercorn, 1^st Baronet, had a Charter under the Great Seal of the Lands and Barony and Lairdship of Abercorn, County Linlithgow, in 1662.  Having filled an important position in the Revenue Service of the Government, he was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia by King Charles II in 1663, with the remainder to his heirs-male whatsoever.  His Arms were registered with Lyon Court in 1672.

The hereditary order of Baronets was instituted in Scotland by Charles I in 1625, and as in the earlier English baronetage of James I, only estated gentlemen were selected for the honor.  Scots baronets are called of Nova Scotia, in Canada, because their institution was connected in it’s origin with Sir William Alexander’s scheme of colonizing that country, and his direct family and that of his cousins the Seton’s of Touch, and the Seton’s of Meldrum family in Aberdeenshire, maintained interests in both Nova Scotia and in the north of Ireland, Ulster.

He maintained throughout his life, a large library, and many of his former books can be found for sale in various book collections and auctions. He was an accomplished linguist, and was fluent in Latin, French and the language of the Scots, known as Gaelic.  His life-long career was dedicated to the Revenue Service of the Government, and he was instrumental in increasing the Royal bankroll.

Sir Walter Seton married Christian Dundas, daughter of George Dundas of Dundas, and had several children.  In the tradition of his father and grandfather, he too ensured a high degree of learning for his children and encouraged the study of Law for his sons, and marriages of quality for his daughters.  He was succeeded by his eldest son, Walter, on his death on February 20^th, 1692, as 2^nd Baronet of Abercorn, and his second son Alexander acquired the estate of Hiltly who’s line founded the Swedish branch of the Seton’s family (rep.Robert Seton of Sweden, and present armiger Anders Seton of Sweden, member of the Heraldry Society of Scotland, and Robert Seton of Sweden), and the Seton’s of Preston and Ekolsund.

Sir Walter Seton, 2^nd Baronet of Abercorn, was a distinguished Advocate at the Scottish Bar, and an official of Edinburgh town.  He married Euphemia Murray, daughter of Sir Robert Murray of Priestfield, on the 6^th of September, 1702 and had several children and by whom he was succeeded by his son, Henry Seton.  Sir Walter, 2^nd Baronet of Abecorn died January 3^rd, 1708.

Sir Henry Seton of Abercorn, 3rd Baronet of Abercorn

Sir Henry Seton, 3^rd Baronet of Abercorn succeeded his father and on the death of James Seton of Touch without issue in 1742 he became the lineal heir of the Seton's of Touch and heir-male of Sir Alexander Seton, eldest son of the first Earl of Huntly: de jure Lord Gordon.  The Abercorn Seton’s have never ceased to claim this ancient title.  Likewise from the Seton’s of Touch line the Baronet’s of Abercorn inherited and became the Hereditary Armour Bearer’s of the King, which honour they maintain to this very day.

Sir Henry married Barbara Wemyss, daughter of Sir John Wemyss of Bogie, Bt. And had several children.  A successful estate manager, he encouraged military service in his son’s, and yet saw his family through the difficulties of the time of the civil wars in Scotland and delicately navigated his family’s loyalties and the political changes and which prudent efforts ensured a continuity of line. 

His three sons, Henry, George and Robert were well traveled in Europe, America and in India.  Sir Henry maintained active ties with the Seton’s of Parbroath who had located in America, and his son George married a daughter of that House, Barbara Seton, daughter of William Seton of New York, rep. of Parbroath.  Sir Henry’s eldest son and heir married the daughter of Alexander Hay of Drumelzier, the heir of line of the Seton Viscounts Kingston, and bloodline of the Earls of Winton and the main line of the Seton Family.

Sir Henry died in 1751 and was succeeded by his eldest son, Sir Henry Seton.

It should be noted of the Seton's of Abercorn, that the later marriage to Margaret Hay of the Drummelzier family brought the senior lineal bloodline of the Seton's, from Viscount Kingston's line, to that of the Abercorn's and for which they had been openly acknowledged, even as public as a letter published in the Chicago Tribune by the Marquis De Fontenoy in January 3rd, 1905.

In 1923 Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Bruce Gordon Seton, 9th Baronet, petitioned the Crown for his right to the title of Lord Gordon. Although the Committee for Privileges of the House of Lords  admitted that he was the heir male of the first Earl of Huntly, they decided that he had not provided enough evidence of the creation and existence of the title of Lord Gordon.