3   Robert

He was born in c.1340/41, and was created Earl of Menteith on 28 February, 1361, pending his forthcoming marriage to the heiress of Menteith. He was created Earl of Fife between 4 December, 1371, and 6 March, 1372, following the resignation of Elizabeth, his sister-in-law (

above), but resigned the earldom to her on 6 March, 1372. He was created Duke of Albany on 28 April, 1398. He was created Earl of Atholl for life on 2 September, 1403, but was never so styled, so it may be that he resigned at once. He was created Earl of Buchan before 20 September, 1406, following the death of his brother, Alexander ( below), but resigned it the same day. Robert died on 3 September, 1420, at Stirling Castle, and was buried in Dunfermline Abbey, Fife.

Robert married firstly, after 9 September, 1361 (date of dispensation) (although no record exists as to where):

Margaret

She was the daughter of Sir John Graham by Mary, Countess of Menteith, and she was born before 1334. She married firstly Sir John Murray, Lord of Bothwell ( d.1352) (son of Christina, sister of Robert I), after 21 November, 1348 (date of dispensation). She married secondly Thomas, Earl of Mar (1330?–1374), between 15 August, 1352, and 29 May, 1354, but he divorced her in c.1359, on the grounds that she was barren. She married thirdly Sir John Drummond of Concraig ( d.1360/61) in c.1359. She succeeded her mother as Countess of Menteith on 29 April, 1360. Robert Stewart was her fourth husband. She died between 20 July, 1372, and 4 May, 1380, and was buried in Inchmahome Priory, Perthshire.

Issue of marriage:

(i)

Murdoch

He was born in 1362 (?), and succeeded his father as Duke of Albany, Earl of Fife and Earl of Menteith on 3 September, 1420. He forfeited all his honours on 25 May, 1425, and was executed the same day on Castle Hill, Stirling. He was buried in the Church of the Black Friars, Stirling.

Murdoch had the following

illegitimate issue

:

1  Daughter (name not known) (?); she is said to have married Archibald Campbell (

d

. by 1440), son of Marjorie Stewart (daughter of Robert, Duke of Albany by his second wife), but the evidence for her existence is unsatisfactory.

Murdoch married, between 17 February and 8 November, 1392 (although no record exists as to where):

Elizabeth

She was the daughter of Duncan, 8th Earl of Lennox, by Helen, daughter of Gillespic Campbell of Lochawe, and she was born in

c

.1370. She was styled Countess of Lennox in her own right from 12 May, 1437. She died between 7 October, 1456, and 4 May, 1458, at Inchmurrah Castle, Loch Lomond.

Issue of marriage:

(a)

Robert

He was known as the Master of Fife. He died between 1416 and July, 1421.

(b)

Walter

He rose to the rank of knight. He was executed on 24 May, 1425, on Castle Hill, Stirling, and was buried in the Church of the Black Friars, Stirling.

Walter had the following

illegitimate issue

:

By a lady surnamed Campbell:

1  Andrew Stewart, Lord of Avandale (

d

.1488) (?); he married a lady about whom no information exists.

2  Arthur.

By an unknown mother:

3  Mariott (?); she is said to have married Colin Campbell, Earl of Argyll (1406?–1475), but there is little evidence to support this.

By Janet, daughter of Sir Robert Erskine (Walter was granted a dispensation to marry her on 24 April, 1424, but there is no evidence to show that the marriage ever took place):

4  Walter of Morphie; he married and had issue.

Note: All Walter’s bastards were legitimated on 17 April, 1479.

(c)

Alexander

He rose to the rank of knight. He was executed on 25 May, 1425, on Castle Hill, Stirling, and was buried in the Church of the Black Friars, Stirling.

(d)

James

He died before 18 May, 1451, in exile in Ireland.

James had the following

illegitimate issue

:

By an Irish lady surnamed MacDonald:

1  Andrew, Lord of Avandale (?).

2  Arthur.

3  Walter.

4  James Beg.

5  Matilda; she married William Edmonston of Duntreath.

6  Son (name not known).

7  Son (name not known).

(e)

Isabella

She married Sir Walter Buchanan, and had issue, although no details are recorded.

(ii)

Janet

She was contracted in marriage on 20 July, 1372, to David de Loen, but no evidence exists to show that the wedding ever took place. She probably died unmarried.

(iii)

Mary

She married Sir William Abernethy of Saltoun (

d.

1420), and had issue:

1  Son.

2  Son.

3  etc. Other children.

(iv)

Margaret

She married Sir John de Swinton of Swinton (killed in battle in 1402) in

c

.1392, and had issue, although no details are available. She perhaps married secondly Sir Robert Stewart, Lord of Lorne and Innermeath (

d

.1449), but she may have been confused in the records with her sister Joan (

below). Details of the issue of this possible marriage are not recorded.

(v)

Joan

She married Robert Stewart, Lord of Lorne and Innermeath (

d

.1449), after 27 September, 1397 (date of dispensation), and had issue:

1  John, Lord of Lorne (killed 1463).

2  Walter, 1st Lord Innermeath (

d

. by 1488/9); he married Margaret Lindsay (

d

. after 1481), and had issue.

3  Alan (

d.c.

1463).

4  David.

5  Robert.