By Brian Anton in the Genealogy of the Calhoun Family blog

In his Genealogy of the Calhoun Family blog, Brian Anton presents another excellent and well-researched article. Previously, he presented the results of his research suggesting that Alexander McAusland of Rash in Ireland was the son of Patrick McAusland, Baron of Caldenoch and Agnes Colquhoun.

In his latest article, he investigates Agnes Colquhoun and provides some compelling arguments regarding her ancestry.

Agnes Colquhoun is often listed, incorrectly, in genealogies as the daughter of Sir Humphrey Colquhoun of Luss and Dame Jean Hamilton. Dame Jean Hamilton is also described, incorrectly, in Burke’s Peerage as the daughter of John Hamilton, 1st Marquis of Hamilton and Margaret Lyon, daughter of John Lyon, 7th Lord Glamis and Janet Keith. However, although Dame Jean Hamilton was indeed a daughter of the 1st Marquis of Hamilton, she was his natural daughter, and possibly the (full) sister of Sir John Hamilton of Lettrick.

As for their daughter Anna/Annas/Agnes Colquhoun, she appears to have been born a generation later than our Agnes Colquhoun who married Patrick McAusland, Baron of Caldenoch. The former Agnes was born circa 1590, with her father, Sir Humphrey being murdered by MacGregors in an attack on Bannachra Castle in June 1592 when she was still an infant. (Chiefs of Colquhoun and their country Vol. 1 p 156-157). On 4th March 1609, she was described as “Youngest of the lawful bairns and daughters of the decessed Sir Humphrey Colquhoun of Luss.” when she renounced her claims to the estates of her father (Chiefs of Colquhoun and their country Vol. 1 p 165).

On the 25th, 26th, and 27th of October 1610, Agnes was, on a precept of sasine by Duncan Campbell of Carrick, infefted in the five-merk lands of Kilbride, in the parish of Kilmodan, barony of Glendarowall, and shire of Argyle, and in many others. In the instrument of sasine, she is designated “daughter of the late Sir Humphrey Colquhoun of Luss,” and “Colin Campbell, eldest lawful son of the said Duncan“, was designated “her future spouse“.

Our Agnes Colquhoun’s eldest son, John McAusland, younger of Caldenoch, had died before August 1617, having married (on 2nd August 1611?) Agnes Napier. She was the daughter of Patrick Napier, Baron of Kilmahew, who had been killed on 7th February 1603, while leading his men against the MacGregors at the Battle of Glen Fruin.

Agnes Colquhoun, daughter of daughter of Sir Humphrey Colquhoun of Luss and Dame Jean Hamilton, is clearly too young to be the Agnes who married Patrick Colquhoun, Baron of Caldenoch. So who was our Agnes? Our theory was that she might have been the sister of the above Sir Humphrey Colquhoun and the daughter of Sir John Colquhoun, of Luss and Agnes Boyd, daughter of Robert Boyd, 5th Lord Boyd of Kilmarnock and Margaret Colquhoun.

However, in his latest article, Brian Anton suggests a compelling alternative: that our Agnes Colquhoun was not the daughter of Sir John Colquhoun, of Luss, but of his half-cousin, Humphrey Colquhoun of Tullichintaull. (see tree and article below).

Although the aim of the research below is to determine the ancestry of the Colhouns of Cross, it is also relevant to those descended from Patrick McAusland, Baron of Caldenoch and is therefore a highly recommended read.

The Colhouns of Crosh, Part 3: Scottish Origins