Margaret Erskine

March 9, 2013 — ancestor, Balhal, Scotland

My 19th great grandmother was born in Scotland in 1357. Her father married an heiress to become lord of a castle.  In a quirk of fate the children were all girls, which devolved the castle to their husbands when they married.  Since they had some real estate and political power they married well.  Her husband and my 19th great grandfather, John Glen, may or may not be an ancestor of the astronaut.

Margaret Erskine (1357 – 1419)

Little is known regarding the proprietary history of Balhall until shortly before the year 1440. At, and for some time previous to that period, it was possessed by Sir John Glen of Inchmartin, in the barony of Longforgan, which the family de, Inclimartin held from an early date. The first of those who figured conspicuously was John, one of the ten barons selected to make the peace of Scotland with Edward L in 1305; and, on the first appointment of sheriffs in that year, he was chosen for the county of Perth.In the following year, his son Sir David, who had been one of the original followers of Bruce, was hanged, with several other patriots, by order of Edward. His successor — perhaps a son — had a charter from Bruce of the lands of his sires; and about 1376, Sir Allan de Erskyne of Wemyss succeeded to the estates on marrying the heiress. Sir Allan died in 1401, leaving an only daughter, who married Sir John Glen, and the estate of Inchmartin devolved on that knight. He also left co-heiresses, one of whom married Sir Walter de Ogilvy, who succeeded to the half of Inchmartin, and other properties belonging to Glen, of which ” Balhalwell ” (Balhall) formed a part.