John Home, Lord Renton

Sir John Home of Renton, Lord Renton (d. 13 July 1671)[1] was appointed Lord Justice Clerk by King Charles II. He was also a Senator of the College of Justice with the title Lord Renton.

Family

In the Laing Charters is an Instrument of Sasine, following on a precept in a disposition dated at Edinburgh 28 August 1671, by Sir Alexander Home of Renton, knight, eldest lawful son to the late Sir John Home of Renton, knight, with the consent of his brother Patrick Home, Sir John's second son, granting to George Home of Kames, the lands of Northfield, with East and Wester Lochs, and the lands of Fewalls, with teinds etc., in the barony of Coldingham, Berwickshire. Sasine was given on 29 November 1673 and recorded in the General Register on 7 January 1674.

Criticism

Lord Fountainhall stated that Sir John Home of Renton was advanced to his position by favour of the Duke of Lauderdale, although Lauderdale quarrelled with Renton in 1664, and when it was proposed that Renton be made Lord Chancellor of Scotland the Duke remarked that "Renton had not the fortune able to bear out the rank of a Chancellor". Fountainhall says Renton was "a most premptor man to his inferiors or equalls, but a slavish fearer of any whom he supposed to be great at Court, on whom he most obsequiosly fauned."[2]

Marriages

Lord Renton married (1) (contract dated 15 February 1622) Janet, daughter of Sir George Home of Manderston. They had at least three sons, of whom:

Lord Renton married (2) Margaret, daughter of John Stewart, Commendator of Coldingham Priory and son of the disgraced Francis Stewart, 1st Earl of Bothwell. They had:

Lord Renton also had two natural children:

Notes

  1. Crawford, Donald, editor, Journals of Sir John Lauder, Lord Fountainhall 1665-1676, Scottish History Society, 1900, p. 214
  2. Crawford, Donald, editor, Journals of Sir John Lauder, Lord Fountainhall 1665-1676, Scottish History Society, 1900, p. 214-5

References