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history |
The Shairps of Houston can be traced back a couple of generations before the first owner of Houston, Sir John Shairp. Both his father and grandfather were bakers in the High Street of Edinburgh, and also owned other properties in the city. John the elder was born before 1497 and married twice: Agnes Ewin; and Christian Forster, whom he was married to in 1533. James (d 1585), his son by the second marriage, was admitted burgess in 1536. James married Janet Morris and their son John became a distinguished lawyer. John was admitted advocate about 1561. He married firstly, Agnes Moffat, who died before 1584. They had two sons, James (latterly an imbecile) and John who also became an advocate. He married secondly, Euphemia Acheson, daughter of Thomas Achesohn of the Mint, and they had eight children: Alexander, Patrick, William, Helen, Isabel, Andrew, Agnes and Anna. John married thirdly Margaret Collace of Muirtown, who had also been married twice before. He was one of the signatories of the abortive Treaty of Union of 1604. |