Janet or Jean Scott, Lady Ferniehirst (c.1548 - after 1593) was a Scottish landowner. She was a member of the

Border Borders are usually defined as geographical boundaries, imposed either by features such as oceans and terrain, or by political entities such as governments, sovereign states, federated states, and other subnational entities. Political borders c ...

family of Scott who succumbed to an arranged marriage that healed the feud with the family who killed her father. Her marriage to

Thomas Kerr of Ferniehirst Thomas Kerr of Ferniehirst (died 1585) was a Scottish landowner, Roman Catholic and supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots. He and Jean Scott ended the feud between the Scott family and the Kerrs. Thomas and Jean were both involved with supporting Mary ...

was successful and she took a role in Scottish politics between the Scottish court and the exiled

Mary, Queen of Scots Mary, Queen of Scots (8 December 1542 – 8 February 1587), also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567. The only surviving legitimate child of James V of Scot ...

Origin

Scott was the daughter of Sir William Scott of Kirkurd, Younger of Buccleuch (died 1552). Her brother was

Walter Scott, 4th Baron of Buccleuch Walter Scott, 4th Baron of Buccleuch (1549–1574) was head of the Border family of Scott and, despite his youth, played a prominent part in the turbulent politics of 16th century Scotland. Origin Scott was the eldest son of Sir William Scott of ...

. They were the grandchildren of Walter Scott, 3rd of Buccleuch (who was murdered on 4 October 1552, having been pre-deceased by his son). Her mother was Grisel, second daughter of John Betoun of

Creich Creich ( gd, Craoich, ) is a substantial parish on the north side of the Dornoch Firth the largest settlement being Bonar Bridge. It lies in Sutherland, Scotland. There is a church (now in ruins) and graveyard for the Parish of Creich. Creich M ...

.Sir James Balfour Paul,

The Scots Peerage ''The Scots Peerage'' is a nine-volume book series of the Scottish nobility compiled and edited by Sir James Balfour Paul, published in Edinburgh from 1904 to 1914. The full title is ''The Scots Peerage: Founded on Wood's Edition of Sir Robert ...

, volume II (David Douglas, Edinburgh, 1905), at pages 231-232

Life

Her brother succeeded his grandfather at age three and her uncle, Walter Scott of Goldielands, a natural half-brother of her father, led the Scott family during his minority. In 1565 an agreement was made with the family who had killed his father. It was agreed that there would be a number of marriages between the family members to end the feud. Despite the good intentions none of the marriages took place, but this was an important basis for her later marriage. In 1569 she married the widower Thomas Kerr bridging the feud between the families. A dowry was agreed but at least £1,000 was not paid in Scott's lifetime. The feud with the Scott family was over but her life was not peaceful. In the year of her marriage an English army demolished the Kerr family seat of

Ferniehirst Castle Ferniehirst Castle (sometimes spelled Ferniehurst) is an L-shaped construction on the east bank of the Jed Water, about a mile and a half south of Jedburgh, in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, and in the former county of Roxburghshire. It ...

. Her husband was involved helping

William Kirkcaldy of Grange Sir William Kirkcaldy of Grange (c. 1520 –3 August 1573) was a Scottish politician and soldier who fought for the Scottish Reformation but ended his career holding Edinburgh castle on behalf of Mary, Queen of Scots and was hanged at the c ...

who tried to hold

Edinburgh Castle Edinburgh Castle is a historic castle in Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland. It stands on Castle Rock (Edinburgh), Castle Rock, which has been occupied by humans since at least the Iron Age, although the nature of the early settlement is unclear. ...

in the name of Mary the exiled Queen and in 1573 he had to go into exile abroad. He returned in 1581 but left again by 1583. Janet was given power of attorney over her husband's business affairs in Scotland and France and she ran them during the 1580s. In October 1583 she wrote to

from Ferniehirst with news from the Scottish court. She said she had been approached by the Countess of Arran in person and by letter hoping that Mary would not join with the Hamiltons against her husband

James Stewart, Earl of Arran Captain James Stewart, Earl of Arran (died 1595) was created Earl of Arran by the young King James VI, who wrested the title from James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran. He rose to become Lord Chancellor of Scotland and was eventually murdered in ...

. She wanted Mary to advise her about this. She had forgotten to forward a letter from

Lord Seton Lord is an appellation for a person or deity who has authority, control, or power over others, acting as a master, chief, or ruler. The appellation can also denote certain persons who hold a title of the peerage in the United Kingdom, or a ...

. Mary was a godparent to one of her sons. Lord Seton passed some of his letters to Lady Ferniehirst for her to address and forward to Mary, as he thought this would deflect suspicion. Mary had sent her a ring as a token. She received the queen's letter and the ring from her son, and she hoped to speak with the bearer of the letter who would have personal news from Mary. In February 1584 she hosted six Englishmen at Ferniehirst. Two of them, calling themselves Foljambe and Tunstead, were fugitives sent by Mary, Queen of Scots, who had arrived Scotland in January by "a very wild and dangerous passage", and they stayed in the tower for fear of being captured and returned to England. Two of Lady Ferniehirst's servants escorted the pair to Seton Palace and they met the king at his hunting, and then went north to

Huntly Castle Huntly Castle is a ruined castle north of Huntly in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where the rivers Deveron and Bogie meet. It was the ancestral home of the chief of Clan Gordon, Earl of Huntly. There have been four castles built on the site that hav ...

. The English ambassador Robert Bowes heard that one man was really Sir Thomas Gerard of Bryn (who was involved in the

Babington plot The Babington Plot was a plan in 1586 to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I, a Protestant, and put Mary, Queen of Scots, her Catholic cousin, on the English throne. It led to Mary's execution, a result of a letter sent by Mary (who had been impris ...

). The Laird of Ferniehirst made preparations for a border meeting in July 1585, and needing to have an ensign or flag made, used one of his wife's skirts. Lady Ferniehirst formed a good relationship with

Anne of Denmark Anne of Denmark (; 12 December 1574 – 2 March 1619) was the wife of King James VI and I; as such, she was Queen of Scotland The monarchy of the United Kingdom, commonly referred to as the British monarchy, is the constitutional fo ...

. In December 1591 she persuaded her to intercede with

James VI James is a common English language surname and given name: *James (name), the typically masculine first name James * James (surname), various people with the last name James James or James City may also refer to: People * King James (disambiguat ...

to allow the exiled Laird of Buccleuch to return to Scotland.

Children

Her husband's children when they married were * Andrew Kerr of Ferniehirst, called Lord Jedburgh. At the marriage of the "young laird Farnieherst", Andrew Kerr, to Anne Stewart, daughter of Andrew Master of Ochiltree and Margaret Stewart in January 1585 the king's bed caught fire. * Mary Kerr * Julian Kerr, who married (1)

Patrick Hume of Polwarth Sir Patrick Hume of Polwarth and Redbraes (c.1550– June 1609) was a Scottish courtier and makar (court poet). Family background He was the eldest son of Sir Patrick Hume of Polwarth & Redbrayes (d. May 1599) and his spouse Agnes, daughter of ...

, (2)

Thomas Hamilton, 1st Earl of Haddington Thomas Hamilton, 1st Earl of Haddington (1563 – 29 May 1637), designated before his peerage as 'of Drumcarny, Monkland, and Binning', was a Scottish administrator, Lord Advocate, judge, and Lord Lieutenant of Haddingtonshire. Family The son ...

* Margaret Kerr Her children with Sir Thomas Kerr of Ferniehirst included: * James Kerr * Thomas Kerr * Anne Kerr, who married

John Elphinstone, 2nd Lord Balmerino John Elphinstone, 2nd Lord Balmerino (died 28 February 1649) was a Scottish aristocrat, convicted in a celebrated trial of the 1630s which became a crux of the religious issue of the time. Early life He was the son of James, 1st Lord Balmerino, ...

Robert Carr, 1st Earl of Somerset Robert Carr, 1st Earl of Somerset (c. 158717 July 1645), was a politician, and favourite of King James VI and I. Background Robert Kerr was born in Wrington, Somerset, England, the younger son of Sir Thomas Kerr (Carr) of Ferniehurst, Scot ...

, who married

Frances Carr, Countess of Somerset Frances Carr, Countess of Somerset (31 May 1590 – 23 August 1632), born Frances Howard, was an English noblewoman who was the central figure in a famous scandal and murder during the reign of King James I. She was found guilty but spared execu ...

, their daughter was Anne Russell, Countess of Bedford

Portrait

A portrait survives of Janet Scott dated 1593 by an unknown artist. She wears black mourning clothes, with a pearl chain and pearl girdle. The portrait is in the collection of the

Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry Duke of Buccleuch (pronounced ), formerly also spelt Duke of Buccleugh, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland created twice on 20 April 1663, first for James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth and second suo jure for his wife Anne Scott, 4th Count ...

.Rosalind Marshall & George Dalgleish, ''The Art of Jewellery in Scotland'' (Edinburgh, 1991), p. 46.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Scott, Jean 1548 births Scottish landowners Court of Mary, Queen of Scots 16th-century Scottish people