WILLIAM RUTHVEN, 1ST EARL OF GOWRIE

'William Ruthven, 4th Lord Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie' (c.1541–1584) was a son of Patrick Ruthven, 3rd Lord Ruthven

Contents

Life account

Marriage and children

References

Life account

Like his father William was prominent in the political intrigues of the period and was also concerned in the murder of David Rizzio. In 1582 he devised the plot to seize James VI of Scotland, known as the Raid of Ruthven. He was the last-known custodian of the famous silver casket containing the letters alleged to have been written by Mary I of Scotland to her third husband James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell. In 1581 he was created Earl of Gowrie, but all his honors were forfeited when he was attainted and executed in May, 1584.

Marriage and children

William Ruthven married Dorothea Stewart. She was a daughter of Henry Stewart, 1st Lord Methven and his second wife Janet Stewart. Her maternal grandparents were John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Atholl and Lady Janet Campbell. Janet Campbell was a daughter of Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll and Elizabeth Stewart. Elizabeth was a daughter of John Stewart, 1st Earl of Lennox and Margaret Montgomerie. Margaret was a daughter of Alexander Montgomerie, 1st Lord Montgomerie and Margaret Boyd.
William and Dorothea were parents of ten daughters and four sons:
William (1544- 1584), Dorothea (1551 - 1627)

★ (5) Jean Ruthven. Married James Ogilvy, 6th Lord Ogilvy of Airlie. They were parents of James Ogilvy, 1st Earl of Airlie.

★ (11)Margaret Ruthven. Married John Graham, 4th Earl of Montrose. They were parents of James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose.

★ (1) Mary Ruthven. Married first John Stewart, 5th Earl of Atholl of the Eighth Creation, secondly John Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl of the Ninth Creation and thirdly James Stewart.

★ (2)Sophia Ruthven. Married Ludovic Stewart, 2nd Duke of Lennox.

★ (3)Lilias Ruthven. Married [ David Drummond 1543]

★ (4)Dorothea Ruthven. Married [John Wemyss 1609]

★ (6)Elizabeth Ruthven. Married [Hugh Campbell]

★ (7)Beatrix Ruthven. Married [ John Hume 1608]

★ (8)Barbara Ruthven. Married [ Patrick Gray 1594]

★ (9) Isabel Ruthven. Married [ Robert Gordon 1597]

★ (10) John Ruthven

★ (12) Patrick Ruthven Married [ Elizabeth Woodford 1609]

★ (13) William Ruthven Born 1582

★ (14) William Ruffin 1617 Married [ Elizabeth Jewry] this could be the same guy numbered 14. He got away
from King James VI and I and went to Europe, then came to the US.
William Ruffin, 1617-74, was probably son to Patrick Ruthven or of Patrick's brother William. He could not be a son to William,1st Earl of Gowrie who died in 1585. The later William did leave Scotland and died in Virginia, Isle of Wight County. His descendants include my grandfather B. Franklin Townsend of Robeson County, North Carolina.
Jerrald L. Townsend

References

★