John Shairp


John Schairp of Houston was a Scottish lawyer and businessman.
Schairp studied at the University of St Andrews for the church, but changed careers and became a lawyer. His practice included work for Edinburgh town council and many private clients. He also lent money to aristocrats like John Lyon, 8th Lord Glamis.
Houston House is at Uphall in West Lothian. The lands were called Stathbrock when he bought them in 1569. The lands were erected into a barony for Shairp, but he had to defend his ownership of the property from various claimants. Schairp completed a new Houston House which still stands.
He gave a speech in Latin at the Entry of James VI into Edinburgh.
On 12 July 1593 he acted as proxy for John Maitland of Thirlestane and his wife Jean Fleming when they resigned the barony of Musselburgh to Anne of Denmark.
In 1604 he became involved in a commission to re-draft border law preparatory to the projected union between Scotland and England.
He died in 1607.

Family

John Shairp married firstly, Agnes Moffet. Their children included:
He married secondly Euphemia Acheson, daughter of Alexander Acheson of Gosford, merchant and master of the mint, and Helen Reid, and sister of Mark Acheson of Acheson's Haven. Their children included:
He married thirdly Margaret Collace in 1591.