Baroness McAusland

Professor Colin Drummond of the Lennoch & Megginch line is not our ancestor!

The Old Parish Records of Births & Baptisms are, as many researchers are well aware, incomplete. Not every child who was born was baptised, not every baptismal register survived, and not all records are available. This has inevitably resulted in square pegs being fitted into round holes. As a result of this, and also of the natural desire of some to be descended from famous ancestors, the internet is full of trees showing endless generations of descent from noble and royal families.

I have seen many trees suggesting that our family have noble ancestry. These initially cause excitement, but sadly none have ever stood up to detailed investigation.

The claimed descent from the Earls of Haddington

The family of the 2nd Earl of Haddington including his daughter Margaret Hamilton born 17 July 1632, who presumably died in childhood and her younger half sister Lady Margaret Hamilton born posthumously on 15 January 1641, who married John Keith, 1st Earl of Kintore.

In one of the – at least at first glance – more plausible examples, many internet trees have our family as descendants of Margaret Hamilton, born 17 July 1632. She was the daughter of Thomas Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Haddington (who held the courtesy title of Lord Binning when she was born) and his first wife Lady Catherine Erskine, Lady Binning. However, this Margaret is presumed to have died young as the name Margaret was re-used – a common practice – for her half-sister, Lady Margaret Hamilton, born 15 January 1641, posthumous daughter of the second Earl of Haddington and his second wife Lady Jean Gordon, Countess of Haddington.

The claimed descent from the Barons of Lenach & Megginch

No obvious baptismal record has been found for our great (x7) grandfather, Colin Drummond who married Janet Barnet on 28 February 1712 in Auchterarder parish in Perthshire. This would suggest he was born around 1687 to 1692 if he was aged 20 to 25 at his marriage.

Site conflating Colin Drummond from Auchterarder with Colin Drummond of the Megginch line and assigning to him a fictional knighthood and Earldom.

Several internet trees have our Colin Drummond from Auchterarder as being baptised on 11th June 1684 in Errol parish in Perthshire. This would make him the son Adam Drummond, 9th Baron of Lennoch, 2nd of Megginch and his wife Alison Hay, daughter of John Hay of Haystoun. He is even occasionally – and erroneously – described as “Sir Colin Dummond, Earl of Lennoch“. Lennoch was in reality a Scottish feudal barony, not an Earldom. Presumably Lennoch had been confused with the ancient Earldom of Lennox. This Colin Drumond was a descendant of, amongst others, King David I of Scots, Edmund Ironside, King of England, Henry I, King of France, Robert I, Duke of Normandy, and Yuruslav I, Grand Prince of Rus, and so was extremely well connected.

As this Lennoch connection seemed unlikely, although not impossible, I researched Colin Drumond, son of Adam Drummond, 9th of Lennoch and 2nd of Megginch. After initially drawing a blank, I was gradually able to assemble his life story and demonstrate that he had not married in Auchterarder but had in fact enjoyed a distinguished career as Professor of Logic, Metaphysics and Greek at Edinburgh University. Professor Colin Drummond died on 02 November 1753 and was buried in Greyfriars kirkyard in Edinburgh.

Our Colin Drummond is clearly a completely different person and it seems possible that he was born locally in or around Auchterarder, but that his baptism was not recorded in the Old Parish Registers of Births & Baptisms.

And, sadly, yet another noble ancestry myth bites the dust! But nil desperandum!

Biography of Professor Colin Drummond

Professor Colin Drummond of Edinburgh University (Baptised 11 Jun 1684 in Errol, Perthshire, Scotland – 02 November 1753 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland).

Birth & Baptism

Professor Colin Drummond was the fourth son and sixth child of the ten children of Adam Drummond, 9th Baron of Lennoch, 2nd of Megginch and his wife Alison Hay, daughter of John Hay of Haystoun. [1]

He was baptised on 11 June 1684 in the parish of Errol in the county of Perthshire in Scotland. [1] He was described as “Child to Adam Drummond, Laird of Megginch” and the witnesses to the baptism were Mr Francis Montgomery of Incflosschul –exact spelling unclear-, Mr George Oliphant of Clashcome –exact spelling unclear– and Mr Peter Hay of Leyes. [1]

Professor Colin Drummond’s parents, Adam Drummond and Alison Hay had at least ten children including:

  1. John Drummond 10th Baron of Lennoch, 3rd of Megginch (baptised 1 June 1676 in Edinburgh).
  2. Professor Adam Drummond of Binend (born 1679, stated to be third son).
  3. Anna Drummond (twin, baptised 05 May 1682 in Errol, Perthshire).
  4. Elizabeth Drummond (twin, baptised 05 May 1682 in Errol, Perthshire).
  5. Alexander Drummond (baptised 22 June 1683 in Errol, Perthshire).
  6. Professor Colin Drummond (baptised 11 June 1684 in Errol, Perthshire).
  7. Alison Drummond (baptised 08 January 1686 in Errol, Perthshire).
  8. Thomas Drummond (baptised 07 January 1687 in Errol, Perthshire).
  9. Helen Drummond (baptised 08 March 1688 in Errol, Perthshire).
  10. Isabel Drummond (baptised 28 June 1689 in Errol, Perthshire).
Adam Drummond, 9th of Lennoch & 7th of Megginch and his children including John Drummond, 10th of Lennoch & 8th of Megginch, Prof. Adam Drummond and Prof. Colin Drummond.

Banns & Marriages

Professor Colin Drummond’s first marriage was – as “Coline Drummond” – to Elizabeth Straton in Edinburgh on 31 March 1708. She was the daughter of Arthur Straton of Kirksyde in Maryton parish in Angus. [2]

His second marriage – as “Collin Drumond” – was on 03 July 1743 in Edinburgh to a rich co-heiress, Mary Weir. [3]

Children

No evidence for children from either of Professor Drummond’s marriages have been found.

Academic Career at Edinburgh University (1707-1741)

Regent of Philosophy (1707)
On 24 October 1707 Colin Drummond was appointed Regent of Philosophy at Edinburgh University – or the College of Edinburgh as it was then known. (Under the regenting system, which prevailed in Scottish universities from the Middle Ages to the early 18th century, a teacher took the same class through all four years of their degree course, teaching all subjects himself.) [4][5]

Chair of Logic and Metaphysics (1708)
Following the abolition of the regenting system at Edinburgh University in 1708, he was appointed to the Chair of Logic and Metaphysics, which he occupied until 1730 when he was succeeded by John Stevenson (1695-1775). [4][5]

David Hume (07 May 1711, Edinburgh – 25 August 1776, Edinburgh).

Teacher of David Hume (1724)
In 1724 the Scottish Enlightenment philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist David Hume (07 May 1711, Edinburgh – 25 August 1776, Edinburgh) studied logic and metaphysics under Professor Drummond. [6]

Chair of Greek (1730)
On 04 February 1730, he succeeded William Scott “secundus” (d. 1729) in the Chair of Greek. However, due to infirmity, he was obliged to request an assistant and on 26 July 1738, Robert Law (d. 1741) was appointed as Co-Professor of Greek.[4][5]

Retiral (1741)
On 09 December 1741, following Robert Law’s death, Colin Drummond resigned his Professorship on condition of being allowed the salary during life. Robert Hunter (c1703-1779) succeeded Drummond as Professor of Greek. [4][5]

Professor Adam Drummond (born 1679).

Professor Adam Drummond
Colin Drummond’s elder brother Adam was also a Professor at Edinburgh University. On 27 July 1708, he was appointed as the joint Professor of Anatomy to join Robert Eliot who had been the first Professor of Anatomy in Britain. [7]

Litigation

On 14 July 1752, Professor Colin Drummond was involved in litigation in the Scottish Court of Session with his sister-in-law, Lilias Weir, wife of the Rev. George Logan over a rather complicated post-nuptial agreement which was alleged to break the terms of a 1743 legacy from Margaret Pringle to her neices, the aforementioned Lilias Weir, and Mary Weir, Professor Drummond’s late wife. On 28 November 1752 the Court of Session agreed that the terms had effectively been broken but found in favour of Professor Drummond. [8][9]

Death & Burial

Professor Drummond died on 02 November 1753 and was buried in Greyfriars kirkyard in Edinburgh. His gravestone describes him as “Professor of Greek at the University of Edinburgh“. [10]

Research Notes and a Strange Connection 

Professor Colin Drummond’s mother is assumed to be Alison Hay, however as she was not named in his OPR baptismal record, this is unconfirmed. [1]

In his 1817 History of Edinburgh University, Alexander Bower notes of Professor Colin Drummond “He was of the family of Megginch and consequently nearly related to Provost Drummond but what that was I have not been able to learn.” [4] In fact, Professor Colin Drumond and Sir George Drummond, who became Lord Provost of Edinburgh in 1683, were both direct male line descendants of Sir John Drummond, 3rd Baron of Concraig, and were sixth cousins three times removed.

Professor Colin Drummond has sometimes been confused with his nephew, another Colin Drummond, of Megginch Castle & Quebec who was Quebec agent for the London firm of Fludyer and Drummond and a business partner of Jacob Jordan, served as deputy paymaster general to the forces in the province of Quebec and as a legislative councillor. [11]

Relationship between Cherry Drummond, Baroness Strange, and Professor Colin Drummond.

Professor Colin Drummond was the great (x5) uncle of the late Cherry Drummond, Baroness Strange, a colourful politician and author of romantic novels (under the pseudonym Cherry Evans). Although her eldest son, Adam Drummond was the legal successor to his mother’s titles, Baroness Strange changed her will on her deathbed, leaving her entire estate, including Megginch Castle, to her youngest daughter Catherine, cutting out her other five children.

Sources 

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Old Parish Register of Births & Baptisms entry for Colin Drummond DRUMMOND COLIN ADAM DRUMMOND FR337 (FR337) M 11/06/1684 351/ 10 323 Errol
  2. Old Parish Register of Banns & Marriages entry for Coline Drummond and Elizabeth Straton DRUMMOND COLINE ELIZABETH STRATON/FR1429 (FR1429) 31/03/1708 685/1 460 47 Edinburgh
  3. Old Parish Register of Banns & Marriages entry for Collin Drumond and Mary Weir DRUMOND COLLIN MARY WEIR/FR1766 (FR1766) 03/07/1743 685/1 470 311 Edinburgh
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 The History of the University of Edinburgh (1817) by Alexander Bower. Vol. II. Alex. Smellie, Edinburgh
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Colin Drummond (c1685-1753) The University of Edinburgh, Our History
  6. The Life of David Hume By Ernest Campbell Mossner
  7. Adam Drummond (surgeon)
  8. Drummond v Logan. Scottish Court of Session (14 Jul, 1752)
  9. Drummond v Logan. Scottish Court of Session (28 Nov, 1752)
  10. Find A Grave entry for Colin Drummond. Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/150972666/colin-drummond : accessed 25 May 2021), memorial page for Colin Drummond (unknown–22 Nov 1753), Find a Grave Memorial ID 150972666, citing Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh, Scotland ; Maintained by Pixturmn (contributor 47729036) .
  11. Dictionary of Canadian Biography entry for Sir Gordon Drummond, son Colin Drummond of Megginch Castle & Quebec



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