Margaret Venezia
F
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
Tina Louise Macmillan
F
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
James Cragy
M
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
| Marriage* | He married Margaret St. Clair, daughter of Sir Henry St. Clair and Elizabeth of Stratherne, before November 1422. |
| The parentage of James Cragy is unknown. We do know that the Craigie name, being Scottish rather than Norse, is not native to Orkney but came there from the south. In the case of the Craigies it is said that they are descended from a family from Dalmeny in Linlithgow County, just west of Edinburgh. During the reign of David I (about 1120-1130) one Joannes de Craigie witnessed the signing of a charter. The name of Johan de Cragyn of Linlithgowshire appears on the Ragman Roll of 1296 in which Edward I of England recorded the names of Scots noblemen who pledged allegiance to the Crown. Brice de Cragy was burgess of Edinburgh in 1317 and John de Cragy was witness there in 1362. John de Cragy who obtained charter of the lands of Merchamstom (now Merchiston), Edinburgh, in 1367 may be the John de Craigie who rendered homage to King Robert II of the Scots, in 1371. In 1367 he had married Margaret, daughter of Sir John de Monfode. His heiress, Margaret, married Sir John Stewart, a younger son of Durrisdeer. Alexander de Cragy who was bailie of the Templelands of St. John in 1429 and Alexander de Cragy who sold the lands of Orchardefelde in 1430 may be the same person. Other Craigie families were found in Kilgraston and Dunbarnie in Perth. The family of Dunbarnie is stated to have been intimately connected with that of Orkney by frequent intermarriages1.
When the first Craigie came to Orkney is unknown, but we do know that a deed of 24 February 1418 included in the "Halcro Inventory" narrates an agreement between 'the brethren of the Cragys' regarding lands of Pow in Rousay. According to one historian this shows that the family had been odallers, or inheritors of lands in Orkney, for at least a generation previous to this date.
On 10 November 1422, in a passport or testimonial given to James of Cragy by the Lawman of Orkney, canons of St. Magnus and some citizens of Kirkwall, James is called 'dominus' of Hupe, or Lord of Huip, a large farm in the northern end of the island of Stronsay. Other than this testimonial there is no other mention of the Cragys having any association with Huip.
This letter of credence set forth his exemplary life, good birth, and that he had performed fealty to the Norwegian King. The letter also states that he is married to Margaret, lawful daughter of the late Sir Henry St. Clair, Earl of Orkney and Elizabeth of Stratherne, herself lawful daughter of the late Lord Malise of Stratherne, former Earl of Orkney.
James acted as Earl Henry's aide when he went to meet the King of Denmark, and acquired much property and influence in Orkney, owning his land in Stronsay at the time of his marriage to Margaret Sinclair. By 1422 he had acquired sufficient estate and prestige to be admitted to the "hird" of the King of Norway as a hirdman. A "hird" is a bodyguard of hand-picked, well-born warriors through which ranks lay the road to high position in the State. Eventually James was recognized as being a "goodman" or member of the "godings," the aristocracy of Orkney. He was also described as "armiger," that is, he was entitled to bear arms. He was also stated to be the firmest supporter of the late Bishop of Orkney, John of Colchester, and that he endured many troubles through the adversaries of this Bishop.
James is mentioned in the "Complaint of the People of Orkney" in 1424. In it James of Krage and his son are said to have warned Thomas Sinclair and his men to flee his (Sinclair's) home unless they wished to be burned in his house. The "Complaint" was a written outcry against the tyrannical government of David Menzies of Weem, brother-in-law and governmental manager for the absentee Earl of Orkney, Henry Sinclair II. Thomas Sinclair was his cousin.
Aside from the single mention of his son in 1424, there is no knowledge as to any children of James and Margaret, or even whether this son is his child by Margaret or some other unknown woman. For the purposes of this genealogy the John Cragy who follows will be included as the son of James and Margaret, but in actuality there is no solid evidence to back up such a claim. The fact that John seems to be of the correct age to be son of James, and that he is the only well-known Craigie of the correct time period, is all that we have to go on. |
Citations
- George F. Black, The Surnames of Scotland : their Origin, Meaning, and History (New York: New York Public Library, 1946), p.179.
Margaret St. Clair
F
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
| Birth* | Margaret St. Clair was born. |
| Marriage* | She married James Cragy before November 1422. |
Cristane Halcro
F
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
| Marriage* | She married John Cragy, son of William Cragy.1 |
| Cristane may have been a sister to Andrew and Magnus Halcro "of that Ilk" [meaning, Halcro of Halcro, a place-name in South Ronaldsay]. Both were the heads of long lineages of prominent Halcros in Orkney, some of whom later marry into the Craigie family. |
Citations
- Ed. J. Storer Clouston., Records of the Earldom of Orkney, 1299-1614 (Edinburgh: University Press, 1914), p.212, 436.
Marion Cragy
F, d. before 7 December 1553
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
| Marriage* | She married John Cromarty, son of Magnus Cromarty and Cristen Cara.1 |
| Death* | Marion Cragy died before 7 December 1553.2 |
| Marion and her husband John Cromarty received a fourpenny land in Housegarth, Sandwick, from her brother James Craigie of Brugh, in a deed dated 5 July 1530. Her name is spelled "Marzeoun" in the old records. Three of their children, as well as additional descendants of their son John, are listed on a Cromarty of Cara pedigree chart by Clouston. Clouston also mentions a daughter Cristen in a note elsewhere. Their order of birth is uncertain. |
Citations
- Ed. J. Storer Clouston., Records of the Earldom of Orkney, 1299-1614 (Edinburgh: University Press, 1914), p.107, 211-213, 436.
- Ed. J. Storer Clouston., Records of the Earldom of Orkney, 1299-1614 (Edinburgh: University Press, 1914), p.105-6.
Barbara Cragy
F, d. before 5 July 1530
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
| Death* | Barbara Cragy died before 5 July 1530. She was said to be deceased by this date in a deed between her brother James and sister Marion.1 |
Citations
- Ed. J. Storer Clouston., Records of the Earldom of Orkney, 1299-1614 (Edinburgh: University Press, 1914), p.212.
John Cromarty
M
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
Citations
- Ed. J. Storer Clouston., Records of the Earldom of Orkney, 1299-1614 (Edinburgh: University Press, 1914), p.107, 211-213, 436.
John Cromarty
M
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
| Birth* | John Cromarty was born. |
Cristen Cromarty
F
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
| Birth* | Cristen Cromarty was born. |
John Lawrenceson
M
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
Magnus Cromarty
M
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
| Birth* | Magnus Cromarty was born. |
| Marriage* | He married Cristen Cara. |
Cristen Cara
F
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
Elspet Cromarty
F
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
| Birth* | Elspet Cromarty was born. |
William Chalmer
M
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
Barbara Cromarty
F
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
| Birth* | Barbara Cromarty was born. |
Marion Hervie
F
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
John Halcro
M
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
| Birth* | John Halcro was born. |
Hew Halcro
M
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
| Birth* | Hew Halcro was born. |
| He had sons Harry Halcro of Aikers and Crook and Robert Halcro of Aetoft, both of whom married and had issue. |
Margaret Stewart
F
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
Robert Halcro
M
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
| Birth* | Robert Halcro was born. |
| He lived at Cava, and also bought Houton and Ireland. By his first wife he had William, Katherine and Margaret. By his second wife he had Edward, Helen and Andrew. By his third wife he had George, Thomas, Harry, Robert and Euphame. |
Margaret Ireland
F
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
Jean Scollay
F
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
Isobel Ballenden
F
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
Patrick Halcro
M
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
| Birth* | Patrick Halcro was born. |
| They lived on the island of Wyre and left issue. |
Helen Erskine
F
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
Margaret Stewart
F
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
Citations
- Ed. J. Storer Clouston., Records of the Earldom of Orkney, 1299-1614 (Edinburgh: University Press, 1914), p.277, 436.
David Cragy
M
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
| Birth* | David Cragy was born. |
| He sold wadset land in Brough on 6 May 1546. Wadset is the conveyance of land in satisfaction of or as security for a debt, the debtor having the right to recover the lands on payment of the debt. |
Sir Henry St. Clair
M
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
| Birth* | Sir Henry St. Clair was born. |
Elizabeth of Stratherne
F
This research is a work in progress, taken from sources of varying reliability. The information should be verified before being relied upon.
| Birth* | Elizabeth of Stratherne was born. |