Origins of the Walkinshaw Family
The name of Walkinshaw, compared to some others, is relatively young, with its origins in the 13th century. 'The Surnames of Scotland' has the following entry:
'WALKINSHAW, WALKINGSHAW. From the lands of the same name in Renfrewshire. The Walkinshaws of that Ilk were descended from Duugallus filius Cristini, judex de Levenax, who about 1235 made excambion of his lands of Cnoc for the lands of Walkeinschaw. The Walkinshaws were hereditary foresters to the High Stewards for the barony of Renfrew, hence their armorial supporters, "two foresters in long gowns." Robert Walkyngschaw was a witness in Glasgow to in 1551, and in 1562 there is record of sasine to Constantine Walkinschaw. Adam Walkinschaw is recorded in Fogo in 1679. Maria Clementina Walkinshaw became mistress of the Young Pretender, but was obliged to leave him because of his brutal ill-usage. Wakensha c.1770, Wakinshaw 1658, Wakynschaw 1556, Walkingschawe, 1603.
The family do seem to have remained in the Renfrewshire/Glasgow area, and it is here that our Irish Walkinshaws came from possibly some time in the late 17th century. I guess this date and location because the furthest direct Walkinshaw I can trace, James Walkinshaw of Drumart, was brother in law to Joseph Boyd, an apothecary in Armagh. At roughly the same time James Walkinshaw was alive in Ireland, there were other several other Walkinshaw/Boyd marriages back in Scotland. These could just be coincidental, but range of dates of these marriages go from the early 1600's to right up until the late 18th century and beyond, suggesting that these families were closely linked.
I don't know James Walkinshaw's fathers name, but it is possible that it was one Gawen or Gavin Walkinshaw. This again is partly guessed from parish records back in Scotland, where there were a few Gavins of various spelling in the late 17th early 18th centuries, but also partly because of the fact that there was a Garr. Walkinshaw living only a few miles west of Drumart at the end of the 17th century. This, tied with the fact that this Garr. Walkinshaw was renting lands from Archibald Hamilton, a possible close relation to this Hamilton Family.
This is however all speculation, as parish records then were not comprehensive and the Walkinshaw family was numerous. In fact, one Gideon Walkinshaw was said to have had a total of 117 descendants at the time of his death. So we may never know exactly how he James of Drumart fits in, but that he was certainly of the Walkinshaw family of Glasgow.
'WALKINSHAW, WALKINGSHAW. From the lands of the same name in Renfrewshire. The Walkinshaws of that Ilk were descended from Duugallus filius Cristini, judex de Levenax, who about 1235 made excambion of his lands of Cnoc for the lands of Walkeinschaw. The Walkinshaws were hereditary foresters to the High Stewards for the barony of Renfrew, hence their armorial supporters, "two foresters in long gowns." Robert Walkyngschaw was a witness in Glasgow to in 1551, and in 1562 there is record of sasine to Constantine Walkinschaw. Adam Walkinschaw is recorded in Fogo in 1679. Maria Clementina Walkinshaw became mistress of the Young Pretender, but was obliged to leave him because of his brutal ill-usage. Wakensha c.1770, Wakinshaw 1658, Wakynschaw 1556, Walkingschawe, 1603.
The family do seem to have remained in the Renfrewshire/Glasgow area, and it is here that our Irish Walkinshaws came from possibly some time in the late 17th century. I guess this date and location because the furthest direct Walkinshaw I can trace, James Walkinshaw of Drumart, was brother in law to Joseph Boyd, an apothecary in Armagh. At roughly the same time James Walkinshaw was alive in Ireland, there were other several other Walkinshaw/Boyd marriages back in Scotland. These could just be coincidental, but range of dates of these marriages go from the early 1600's to right up until the late 18th century and beyond, suggesting that these families were closely linked.
I don't know James Walkinshaw's fathers name, but it is possible that it was one Gawen or Gavin Walkinshaw. This again is partly guessed from parish records back in Scotland, where there were a few Gavins of various spelling in the late 17th early 18th centuries, but also partly because of the fact that there was a Garr. Walkinshaw living only a few miles west of Drumart at the end of the 17th century. This, tied with the fact that this Garr. Walkinshaw was renting lands from Archibald Hamilton, a possible close relation to this Hamilton Family.
This is however all speculation, as parish records then were not comprehensive and the Walkinshaw family was numerous. In fact, one Gideon Walkinshaw was said to have had a total of 117 descendants at the time of his death. So we may never know exactly how he James of Drumart fits in, but that he was certainly of the Walkinshaw family of Glasgow.
Walkinshaw of Drumart
Drumart seems to have been the main Walkinshaw townland, though James Walkinshaw owned or leased several others. They were: Tannaghmore (or other various) spellings, Drumnamether, Ballynaleck, Drumard and Drumhubbert. These are all joined in the same area of Armagh, near Tandragee, apart from the last two which are both in county Tyrone, and Ballynaleck, near Poyntz Pass, sold to him by James Hamilton of Rock Hamilton.
James Walkinshaw of Drumart was married to Margaret and brother in law to Joseph Boyd, so presumably this was his wife's maiden name. James probably died in 1737 as his will, listing him as a 'gent of Dromart' was made on 23 October 1736 and probated on 3 March 1737. It mentions six daughters (unnamed) and a son, James, not yet of age. In 1746 a marriage settlement for his daughter Beatrice or Elizabeth to Robert Hamilton of Mentlone tells us that she is one of five co-heiresses to her father's estate. This means that James Walkinshaw Jr. probably died before he came of age, as did one of her sisters. James and Margaret had seven children:
1. James Walkinshaw
2. Elizabeth or Beatrice Walkinshaw m. (1746), Robert Hamilton, the younger, of Mintlone
3. Jane Walkinshaw m. (1754), Samuel Bell. They were parents to James Walkinshaw Bell of Dublin, K.C, frequently mentioned in connection with the Newton Family.
4. Unknown daughter
5. Unknown daughter
6. Unknown daughter
7. Unknown daughter
James Walkinshaw of Drumart was married to Margaret and brother in law to Joseph Boyd, so presumably this was his wife's maiden name. James probably died in 1737 as his will, listing him as a 'gent of Dromart' was made on 23 October 1736 and probated on 3 March 1737. It mentions six daughters (unnamed) and a son, James, not yet of age. In 1746 a marriage settlement for his daughter Beatrice or Elizabeth to Robert Hamilton of Mentlone tells us that she is one of five co-heiresses to her father's estate. This means that James Walkinshaw Jr. probably died before he came of age, as did one of her sisters. James and Margaret had seven children:
1. James Walkinshaw
2. Elizabeth or Beatrice Walkinshaw m. (1746), Robert Hamilton, the younger, of Mintlone
3. Jane Walkinshaw m. (1754), Samuel Bell. They were parents to James Walkinshaw Bell of Dublin, K.C, frequently mentioned in connection with the Newton Family.
4. Unknown daughter
5. Unknown daughter
6. Unknown daughter
7. Unknown daughter
