The Kennedys
(15th c. to 18th c.)
Such was the extent of Kennedy power in south-west Scotland that at their peak, various branches of the family owned about 40 estates between Ayr and the Solway Firth. As in any country, disputes, quarrels and blood feud were not uncommon. The low point was the notorious set-piece conflict at Pennyglen, by Maybole in 1600 when 200 men supporting the Earl of Cassillis engaged with about 80 supporters of the Kennedy Laird of Bargany. Young Bargany died of wounds soon after and within a few years his family's estate fell into terminal decline. The present house of Bargany dates from the late 17th c. but the young laird's elaborate memorial can be seen in the village of Ballantrae.
A reprisal by Bargany's men about six months later resulted in the murder of Sir Thomas Kennedy of Culzean in the woods of St Leonard's, Ayr. Sir Thomas, whose portrait can be seen in Culzean Castle, was half-brother to John Kennedy of Baltersan and had spent his last night alive in the company of Baltersan at his seaside villa of Greenan. That ruined tower-house still stands, perched precariously at the very edge of a 100 feet high sea-cliff.
The Kennedy name is first recorded in connection with Baltersan in the late 15th c. when James Kennedy, Lord of Row, settled there with his wife, Egidia Blair, daughter of John Blair of that Ilk. In 1498 their niece, Janet Kennedy started a long affair with King James IV, becoming his favourite mistress.
Egidia Blair, Lady Row of Baltersan was a pious and generous woman. We are fortunate in having a copy of her last Will and Testament of 1530 which lists many legacies to local people and to Crossraguel Abbey. Her tombstone can still be seen there. One of her executors was David Kennedy of Pennyglen, a farm near Dunure, about 6 miles from Baltersan. He later lived at Baltersan, although it is not certain if this was at Lady Row's former dwellinghouse or the tower-house we see today.
David's illegitimate son John was born about 1539 to Margaret Kennedy, widow of William Wallace of Craigie and soon after John's birth, wife of Gilbert Kennedy, 3rd Earl of Cassillis. David acted for years as attorney to the 3rd Earl. John continued the closeness with his half-brothers at Cassillis throughout his life although it would have been a most difficult time during the feud mentioned above for his son-in-law took the field in 1600 for the Earl and his brother-in-law, Cathcart of Carleton, led the troops on Bargany's side.
Seal of John Kennedy of Baltersan
Illustrated above is a charter involving Kennedy in a Berwickshire land deal. One of the witnesses is David Dicksoun, "comptour wardane" of the Royal Mint in Edinburgh. Kennedy handled numerous land deals in his life as the Register of Sasines shows. But he was also disputatious. Notably with the Burgesses of Ayr over non-payment for his salmon fishing rights on the River Doon at Alloway. He extended the family estate by adding several farms between Baltersan and the coast and he died in February, 1609 at The Greenan (now known as Greenan Castle).
The charter and seal are reproduced by kind permission of Edinburgh University Special Collections Department. They form part of the Laing Charters (ref. 164).
It could be his portrait and that of one of his wives (he had three marriages) and perhaps his son and heir that we see on the oak panels in the Flash sequence shown on the Home page. His son John was a servant to King James VI (who became James I of England) and for a period was commendator of Soulseat Abbey in Galloway. In the charter above the younger John signed as a witness. His title Mr and his fine calligraphic hand mark him out as an educated man. Note the slightly different spelling of the name John. This was deliberate to distinguish between father (Jhone) and son (Johne).
Baltersan continues in Kennedy hands
In 1622 Alexander Kennedy acquired the estate of Culzean and twenty years later bought Baltersan. He settled his son Thomas there and it is probable that Thomas, a major in the Army of the Covenant, gave protection to the fugitive Presbyterian preacher, Alexander Peden in the 1660s when Peden held open-air gatherings for worship by a thorn tree on Mains of Baltersan farm.
The last Kennedy to reside at Baltersan was also called John. He died "abroad in London" as his Testament tells us, in August, 1721. The estate passed to his cousin, Captain Hugh Arbuthnot.
Kennedy family history - two recommended books
Sir James Fergusson of Kilkerran produced a slim book The Kennedys in 1958 for Johnston's Clan History series. The Fergussons owned both Crossraguel Abbey and Baltersan in the 18th c. and Sir james, who was Keeper of the Records of Scotland was in a perfect position to write this succinct history.
A more recent, and far more extensive history was published by Edinburgh University Press and written by Prof. Michael Moss. It is lavishly illustrated and meticulously researched; going way beyond the usual topic of feuds to include gardening, Indian wars, game hunting, temperence, heroic gambling, farming, sailing, financial difficulties and good taste.
Available in hardback and paperback, it can be obtained for the special price of £10 (paperback) via the link below .
The Magnificent Castle of Culzean and the Kennedy Family
ISBN: 0 7486 1723 X
http://www.eup.ed.ac.uk/edition_details.aspx?id=11454
SPECIAL PRICE £10 if ordered via the above link.
Genealogy note: There is no solid historical evidence for a direct connection between the early Scottish and the Irish Kennedy names. It is believed that the origin of the Scottish name is from "son of Kenneth". The family name was strongest in south-west Scotland but there was also a large grouping in Argyllshire. To mix matters further, the religious turmoil of the 17th c. saw Kennedies migrate from Scotland to Ulster and the economic depressions in the 19th c. saw many Irish Kennedys migrate to Scotland. Further information: http://www.kennedydna.com/kennedy_one_name_study.htm