Richard CUNYNGHAM of Glengarnock Sct [11460]

  General Notes:

RICHARD CUNYNGHAM purchased the barony of Glengarnock; he raised, mounted, armd, payd, and commanded a troop of one hundred horsemen, and went into England under Duke James Hamilton, the 8th July, 1648, with design to restore King Charles to his throne, but were defeated in August, at Preston. Duke Hamilton was beheaded for his loyalty ; and Richard was obliged to do penance in the Kirk of Kilbernie. Mr. Russell the minister used him favorably, allowd him to be in his seat, said : Glengarnock, you was concernd in what is called the wicked engagement; you went into England in an hostile manner, under Duke Hamilton ; you did little gude there, and are sorry for it ; to which he replied he was ; the penitent and minister were sorry so little gude was done for the king. That penance did not hinder him from raising in like manner another troop of one hundred horsemen, with which he entered England under King Charles 2nd and were defeated at Worcester by Oliver Cromwell, the third September, 1651. These services and a considerable sum of money lent, had no return at the Restoration; which I hope will be a warning for his posterity, to serve their king when he governs according to law, with their persons, but no further. He married Elizabeth, daughter to James Heriot of Trabroun, jeweller to King Charles 1st, and niece to George Heriot, jeweller to King James 6th and King Charles 1st; who, by his last will and testament, gave the greatest part of his estate to build and
endow his hospital at Edinburgh.
The marriage contract was made at the place of Robertland, the third day of October, 1654.
The children were:
Richard born Oct 20 1655.
David born Nov 14 1656.
William born Jan 17 1658.
Elizabeth born April; 1659.
Anna born Mar 12 1661.
William born May 29 1662.
Everilda born Jun 1 1664.
Alexander born Jun 13 1665.
James Oct 1 1666.
The Seventh son born 30 Dec 1667.
Robert born mar 24 1669.
Patrick born Jul 24 1670.

Richard Cunyngham of Glengarnock died there, October the 27,1670;
Elizabeth, his wife, died March, 1672; they are buried in Glengarnock isle, in Kilbernie Kirk.
The barony of Glengarnock, was after his death, in the minority of his son Richard, sold to Patrick Crawford of Kilbernie, by Alexander the eighth Laird of Craigends, for about sixteen years' purchase. Richard the son, soon after he came of age went to Craigends. His tutor told him he was not satisfied with the sale and would have his lands, the law being so. Craigends writ to Kilbernie to fix the time when they should go to him; when they got there, Kilbernie had, with his own and Glengarnock's tenants, destroyd the house, garden, planting, and everything that could be destroyed.
As for the rich house furniture, most of it was sold by coup to Craigends tennants, who bought them for him. And for the plate; I Robert, the eighth son of Glengarnock, being at Craigends in the year 1085, the Viscount of Ruthveu with other gentlemen came to see his sister, then young lady Craigends. At supper I said these silver dishes and plate were my father's, the arms show it, my father's and uncle's being the same ; fork and chequers. My aunt being my father's sister, had the same. And the roses were my mother's arms, being a Heriot. At night my aunt checked me for speaking; said my uncle was a kind uncle; and kept me close in my room while the company was there, that I might not tell more tales. John Dick, one of my father's tennants, told me that after my father's death, being often sent to Glengarnock to bring things to Craigends; one day fitting a trunk upon his horse, found it open, peep'd into it, saw many rich things of gold ; went and told my mother, who locked it, and gave him a piece of gold. He forbid me to tell, saying it would be his ruin.

An account of this family may be found in the "System of Heraldry," by Alexander Nisbet, Edinburg, 1722 ; where, also, there is a resume of all the foregoing pedigree.
The arms of the Ashenyeard branch, are given, as those of
CUNYNGHAM OF CRAIGENDS, with a crescent for difference;
Crest, an unicorn' s head cooped, argent; maned and horned or.
MOTTO, Vitiate labore. 1:11
Ref: The Roberdeau Family,
North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000.

Richard married Elizabeth HERIOT [11461] [MRIN: 3842], daughter of James HERIOT of Trabroun [35132] and Unknown, on 3 Oct 1654. (Elizabeth HERIOT [11461] died in 1672.)