William Cranstoun, 1st Lord Cranstoun


William Cranstoun, 1st Lord Cranstoun was a Scottish Lord of Parliament, who played a prominent part in the pacification of the Anglo-Scottish border in the early 17th century.

Origins

Cranstoun was the son of John Cranstoun of Morriestoun and grandson of Cuthbert Cranstoun of Thirlestanemains, belonging to one branch of a prominent Lowland family, whose estates had since at least the 14th century, in Midlothian, and Denholm, in the Borders.
The last Cranstoun of Cranstoun - Sir John, who was still alive in June 1609 - left five daughters, of whom William married the second, Sarah. Their contract of marriage was dated December 1580.

Career

appointed Cranstoun to the position of Captain of the Horse Garrison, or King's Guard, under the Earl of Dunbar, Lieutenant of the Borders. In 1605 he was keeper of Lochmaben Castle and a deputy-lieutenant of the Borders.
Cranstoun rapidly acquired a reputation for extreme ruthlessness. On one occasion, the inhabitants of Dumfries conspired unsuccessfully to assassinate him and he more than once received blanket pardons or indemnities, holding him harmless in respect of prior atrocities. The summary approach adopted by Lord Dunbar and Cranstoun became known as "Jeddart Justice".
In 1608, Cranstoun represented the small barons of Roxburghshire in the Convention of Estates. He was raised to the peerage, as Lord Cranstoun, by patent dated 19 November 1609. In 1611 he was promoted to succeed Lord Dunbar as Lieutenant of the Borders and was appointed to the Privy Council.
Sir John Balfour Paul's The Scots Peerage records of him that:
Cranstoun died in June 1627.

Family

With his wife, Cranstoun had at least seven children: