Lineage. The family of SPENS is of very high anti- | quity in Scotland, and in the opinion of some authors, descended from a younger son of the Earl of Fife, as it had been in the use of carrying in its armorial bearings the lion rampant of the great Macduff, which denotes descent from that illustrious house. There were many considerable free barons of the name of Spens, who made a good figure both at home and abroad, several centuries ago, but that of Lathallan is documented for three or four generations before any of the others existed. The Spenses of Kilspindy, who are undoubtedly descended of Lathallan, made a considerable figure in the reigns of Kings JAMES I. and II. but are now extinct. The Spenses of Bodham, in Aberdeenshire, which still exist, have been free barons ever since the time of JAMES III. and several other Spenses in the same county; also the Spenses of Berryhole, in Fife, &c. &c. are all descended of Lathallan, which their armorial bearing testifies. The family of Wolmerston, another great branch of the name of Spens, produced many worthy patriots, who did honour to their country, both in the cabinet and in the field, and had also the lion rampant in their armorial bearings. Count de Spens, who ranked amongst the first of the Swedish nobility, and was generalissimo of their forces, descended from the house of Wolmerston, but that branch of the family is now entirely extinct in Scotland. The immediate ancestor of the family of Lathallan, of the liberties of his country, at the disastrous battle of Duplin. Thomas de Spens died shortly after, and was succeeded by his son, WILLIAM DE SPENS, who is mentioned in an authentic writ in favour of his son, hereafter narrated. He left issue, two sons, WILLIAM, his heir. Walter de Spens, who is witness in a will of the Bishop of Aberdeen, together with Robert, Earl of Fife and Monteath, anno 1382, but we can give no account of his posterity. William died in the end of the reign of DAVID BRUCE, and was succeeded by his eldest son, WILLIAM DE SPENS, who was proprietor of the lands and barony of Lathallan, in Fifeshire, and several others, of which the Earls of Fife were superiors, till the forfeiture of Murdock, Duke of Albany and Earl of Fife, in 1425, after which this family held these lands of the crown, and Lathallan hath been their chief seat and title ever since the reign of ROBERT II. He married Isabel, daughter and heiress of Duncan Campbell, of Glen-Douglas, Tarbit, &c. in Dumbartonshire. This is instructed by a precept for infefting "William de Spens (therein designed son of William) and Isabel Campbell, his spouse, in the lands of Athaland, Kittedie, and Craig-Sanguhar, in the county of Fife, also the lands of Glen-Douglas, &c. in Dumbartonshire, and some tenements in and about the town of Perth, &c." The precept is dated the 5th, and the sasine following thereon, the 16th May, 1385. We shall only further observe that many descendants of this family have carried lozenges or mascles, as well as the lion, in their armorial bearings. HENRY DE SPENS, who flourished in the In consequence of this marriage the family reign of King ALEXANDER III. was compelled of Lathallan, with several of their cadets, with most of the nobility and gentry of Scot- added to their arms girony of eight, the paland, to submit to King EDWARD III. internal coat of the family of Argyll. 1296. Contemporary with this Henry lived Nicol de Spens, who was also forced to swear fealty to King EDWARD, when he had overrun Scotland in the same year, 1296. What connexion Henry and Nicol had with one another does not appear. Henry died soon after the year 1300, and was succeeded by his son, This William entered into an indenture with Duncan, Earl of Lennox, and with the consent of the said Isabel Campbell, his spouse, lets to the said earl for his lifetime, THOMAS DE SPENS, who in the reign of allenarly, part of the lands of Glen-DougROBERT BRUCE, is mentioned in a charter of las, Tarbit, &c. for six merks yearly of lackdonation to the monastery of Soltray, toge-duty, &c. This curious deed is dated at ther with Sir Robert Keith, great marishall of Scotland, Sir Richard Keith, his brother, and John Keith, his son, &c. &c. This charter has no date, but appears to have been granted about the year 1320. He is witness in another charter to the same monastery, with the said Sir Robert Keith, &c. This charter also wants a date, but must have been in or before 1332, in which year Sir Robert Keith lost his life fighting in defence Strealing, the 25th of July, 1392, to which Robert, Earl of Fife and Monteith, Sir Patrick de Graham, Sir Walter Buchanan, Duncan Campbell, &c. &c. are witnesses. William de Spens afterwards got a charter from the Earl of Fife, which was ratified and confirmed in plerio parliamento, by a charter under the great seal from King JAMES I. Willielmo Spens et Isabella Campbell ejus sponsæ, terrarum de Lathallan, 1. ALEXANDER, his heir. Kittedy Craig-Sanguhar, &c. cum potestate | the Earls of Wemyss, and by her he had tenere curias vitæ et membrorum in prædictis four sons, terris, &c. and if a thief or robber shall be apprehended and condemned at said courts, he is to be hanged on the gallows belonging to the earldom of Fife, &c. &c. The confirmation of this curious charter is dated 13th February, 1430. By Isabel Campbell, his wife, he had two sons and one daughter, 1. JOHN, his heir. 11. William, first of the Spenses of Kilspindy, a family which flourished with lustre in Perthshire, for three or four generations, when the male line failed, as before observed. III. Isabel was m. to Andrew Balfour, a son of the family of Burleigh, who got with her a part of the lands of Glen-Douglas, &c. confirmed anno 1476. William, of Lathallan, lived to a great age; died about the year 1432, and was s. by his eldest son, JOHN DE SPENS, who in his father's lifetime was designated of Glen-Douglas, which title he retained as long as he lived. He was a man of parts and spirit, and extremely active in business. He was tutor in law to his nephew, Andrew Spens, of Kilspindy, son of his brother William, and became bound in an indenture, whereby the said Andrew, when he came of age, should marry a daughter of James Cochrane, &c. &c. This indenture is dated the 19th day of August, 1419. He got a charter from Sir John Arnot, of that ilk, Johanni Spens de GlenDouglas, &c. of an annuity out of the barony of Arnot, in Fifeshire, anno 1420, He got also a charter under the great seal, from King JAMES I. of the lands of Torry, Drumgay, &c. dated the 24th day of April, 1430. After his father's death he got a charter of the lands of Lathallan, Kittledie, CraigSanguhar, &c. dated the 4th day of December, 1433; and, being a man of extraordinary abilities, and highly esteemed in his own country, was chosen one of the lords of the articles in a full parliament held at Perth by the same King JAMES, anno 1434. There is still preserved among the writs of this family, an indenture, in which are these words: "Between a worshipful and mighty lord, Walter of Staliburton, lord of Dirleton, upon the tae part, and John de Spens, lord of Glen-Douglas, on the t'other part: That notwithstanding the said lord of Dirleton had wadset to the said John de Spens the lands of Balnablain, &c. &c. for a certain sum of money then advanced by said John, &c. &c. yet the said lord may redeem the same upon repaying the said sum, &c. &c. &c." This indenture is dated the 24th May, 1435. He m. Isabel, daughter of Sir John Wemyss, of Rires, progenitor of 11. Robert, who got from his father the lands of Kittedie, in Fife, with some tenements about Perth, but his only son, JOHN, dying without issue, these lands returned to the family. III. Thomas, who being bred a churchman, was first bishop of Galloway, then of Aberdeen. He was a man of extraordinary parts and learning, and made a great figure in his time. He was appointed lord privy seal for Scotland, and was often employed by the estates of the nation, as ambassador to negociate the most arduous affairs in the reign of King JAMES III. and always acquitted himself with honour. He erected an hospital at Edinburgh, where he died, and was buried in the Trinity College churchyard, at the foot of Leith-wynd, anno 1480. IV. Patrick, who having betaken himself to a military life, was an officer in the company of Scots Guards, sent from Scotland by King JAMES II. to CHARLES VII. of France, anno 1450. He was ancestor of the family of Spens-Destignots, of France. John, of Lathallan and Glen-Douglas, did not long survive his father, but died in the beginning of the reign of JAMES II. and was succeeded by his eldest son, ALEXANDER DE SPENS, of Lathallan, who being a man of authority and power, was by King JAMES II. appointed high constable of the town of Craill for life, and got a charter under the great seal, de officio constabularii burgi de Craill in vicecomitatu de Fife, &c. &c. dated 29th of December, 1458. He m. Katharine, sister of Sir Andrew Wood, of Largo, and died in the reign of King JAMES III. leaving a son, ROBERT SPENS, of Lathallan, who succeeded him, and is particularly named in several of the family writs hereafter narrated. He died before the year 1474, and left issue a son and successor, JOHN SPENS, of Lathallan, who was served and retoured heir to his father, Robert, in 1474. He got two sasines of the lands and barony of Lathallan, in which are these words: Honorabilis Johannes Spens filius et hares quondam Roberti Spens de Lathallan, &c. The first is dated 19th April, 1474, the other in July, 1475. He m. Margaret, dau. of Patrick Dunbar, of Kilconquhar, son and heir of George, twelfth Earl of March,.and had two sons; JOHN, his heir, and David, rector of Flisk, who got a charter of the lands of Muirton, dated 1513. The elder JOHN SPENS, of Lathallan, who was retoured heir to his father in 1495, m. Helen, daughter of Sir John Arnot, of that Ilk, and d. in 1520, leaving a son, ALEXANDER SPENS, of Lathallan, who sold for a considerable sum his lands of Kittilie to Walter Heriot, of Burnturk, but retained the superiority. He m. a daughter of the ancient family of Durie, of that Ilk, and left a daughter, Lilias, m. to John, eldest son and heir-apparent of Alexander Arnot, of Balcormo, and a son, JAMES SPENS, of Lathallan, served heir in 1548, who, by prudence and economy, was enabled to considerably improve the estate. He m. Elizabeth, daughter of John Seton, of Lathrisk, and dying at an advanced age in 1595, was s. by his eldest surviving son, ARTHUR SPENS, of Lathallan, who m. Janet, daughter of William Duddingston, of St. Ford, and left a son and successor, ALEXANDER SPENS, of Lathallan, who m. Isabel Bethune, a daughter of the family of Creigh, but having no issue, he made a resignation of his whole estate, 14th October, 1609, in favour of his undoubted heir male, his uncle, ALEXANDER SPENS, of the city of St. Andrews, younger son of James Spens, of Lathallan, by Elizabeth Seton, who then became of Lathallan. He wedded Catharine Alexander, daughter of the Baron of Skeddoway, and was s. by his son, THOMAS SPENS, of Lathallan, living in 1630, who m. Margaret, daughter of Nathaniel Moncrief, of Randerston, and had three sons and two daughters, viz. Alexander, predeceased his father unmarried. NATHANIEL, heir. Alexander, who d. at Jamaica unm. Janet, m. to John Halket, eldest son of Elizabeth, m. to John Macpherson, of THOMAS SPENS, esq. of Lathallan, m. Margaret, daughter of Archibald Hope, esq. eldest son of Sir Thomas Hope, bart. of Craighall, and had issue, 1. THOMAS. II. ARCHIBALD, who s. to the representation of the family on the demise of his brother. III. Nathaniel, b. 10th April, 1767, an officer of the Winterton East India man, who d. in 1794, after the loss of that vessel at Madagascar. 1. Catharine, m. to Alexander Wood, esq. and d. s. p. 11. Janet, m. Dr. Andrew Inglis, of Edinburgh, and has three sons and one daughter. The eldest son, III. Elizabeth, d. young. David, a merchant in Edinburgh, who went over to Ireland and there acquired a considerable estate. He had three sons, who all d. unmarried, and one daughter, Catharine. THOMAS SPENS, esq. who s. his father, b. Catharine, m. to James Duddingston, 9th May, 1758, sold the ancient patrimonial esq. of St. Ford, and had issue. estate of Lathallan, which never having since Helen, m. to Robert Lentron, esq. of been on sale, has not been recovered. He Kincaple, and had a daughter, m. tod. unm. in 1800, when the representation of John Mackenzie, of Delvin. the family devolved on his brother, the present LIEUTENANT-COLONEL Spens. The elder surviving son, NATHANIEL SPENS, of Lathallan, was retoured heir to his father in 1662. He m. a daughter of Sir Thomas Gourlay, of Kincraig, and had a son and successor, THOMAS SPENS, of Lathallan, who espoused his cousin, Margaret Gourlay, grandchild of Sir Thomas Gourlay, of Kincraig, and had two sons, Thomas, his heir, and Nathaniel, a clergyman of the episcopal church of Scotland. He d. before 1700, and was s. by his son, Arms-Quarterly: 1st and 4th, or, a lion rampant gu. surmounted of a bend sa. charged with three lozenges arg. for SPENS; 2nd and 3rd, girony of eight, or. and sa. for CAMPBELL, of Glen-Douglas. Crest-A hart's head erased ppr. Seat-Manor House, Inveresk, Mussel THOMAS SPENS, esq. of Lathallan, who m. [burgh. HOPTON, OF CANON FROME. HOPTON, The Reverend JOHN, of Canon Frome Court, in the county of Hereford, b. 5th October, 1782, m. 3rd May, 1807, Grace-Ann, eldest JOHN, some time a gentleman commoner of Brazennose Richard, in holy orders, d. s. p. in July, 1835. Conan. Charles-Edward. Grace. Mary. Frances, twin with Richard, d. an infant, 20th January, 1812. Lydia. Susanna. Ellen-Elizabeth. Caroline-Anne. Mr. Hopton is a prebendary of Hereford Cathedral, and a magistrate for the county. Lineage. The family of Hopton come originally | and grandson of Richard Hopton of Hopfrom Normandy with the CONQUEROR, and settled in Shropshire. NICHOLAS HOPTON, son, according to Gough, of William Hopton of Hopton, by the daughter and heiress of Eyton of Eyton, ton, by the daughter and heiress of Kensingford of Shropshire—is stated by Bishop Percy, to have been younger brother of Sir John Hopton.* And the same authority further says, that the daughter and heir of Ey * Gough gives these early descents as a separate pedigree; Bishop Percy connects them with the present family. Sir Walter Hopton, of Hopton le Salop, temp. King STEPHEN Sir Walter Hopton, knt.-Joan, daughter and heir of Robert de Cures. Sir Walter Hopton, knt.-Isabel, daughter and heir of Henry Stanton. Sir Walter Hopton, knt. Joane, daughter and heir of Robert Loughbrughe. Sir Walter Hopton т Sir John Hopton, knt. m. Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir of Sir John Burley, by Alice, daughter and heiress of Walter Pembruge. NICHOLAS, according to Bishop Sir Walter Hopton-Joane, daughter and heir of Thomas Young, of Sibton. Thomas Hopton, according to some genealogists brother of Sir Walter, according to others his son, [Gough makes him his son] m. Joane, daughter and heir of Walter Mortimer. Sir Thomas Hopton, knt. Eleanor, daughter of Sir Walter Lucy, of Newington Lucy. Walter, d. 6. p. Elizabeth, daughter and heir first, Sir Roger Corbett, of Morton Corbett. secondly, Edward Tiptoft, Earl of Worcester. thirdly, Sir William Stanley, knt. chamberlain to HENRY VII. John, of Heyton, in Shropshire, who left by Elizabeth, his wife, (with five daughters, Elizabeth, wife of William Parker; Anne, wife of Andrew Kirby; Margaret, wife of William Gardner; Dionesia, wife of Richard Becham; and Mary, wife of Edward Southwell) three sons, Thomas, of Heyton, in 1584, m. 1. Francis, d. s. p. 2. John. 3. Francis. 4. Thomas. 5. Richard. 1. Maria, married to William 2. Margaret, unm. in 1584. Alice, m. to William Higgins of Triple- Katherine, m. to William Slade of Joane, m. to Ralph Mason. WILLIAM HOPTON, of Hopton and Dounton in Salop, living in 1563, married Elizabeth, daughter of William Fox of Ludlow, and had eight sons, viz. RICHARD, of Hopton, m. Anne, daugh- Mary, living in 1601, m. to Richard Another daughter, m. to Richard Martha, widow of James Hyet, Edward, of Welston, m. Elizabeth, dau. The youngest son, JOHN HOPTON, of Southampton, was father of ELIZABETH HOPTON, niece and devisee of Michael Hopton, of Canon Frome, m. in or before the year 1602, Sir Richard Hopton, of Rockhill and Cherbury,* high sheriff of Herefordshire in 1610, and had five sons and two daughters, viz. 1. WILLIAM, of Bishop's Frome, in Herefordshire, who m. Elizabeth, dau. of William Foxhall, of Shropshire, and d. 2nd April, 1647, leaving two sons, * THOMAS HOPTON, of Rockhill, in Salop, acquired that estate in marriage with Ann, daughter and sole heir of Geoffrey, of Rockhill. He was father of EDWARD HOPTON, of Rockhill, who m. Katherine, daughter of Sir David Lloyd, and had a son, JOHN HOPTON, of Rockhill, who m. Jane, dau. and co-heir of Thomas Corbett, and was father of HENRY HOPTON, of Rockhill, whose son EDWARD HOPTON, of Rockhill, purchased the Elizabeth, daughter of Humphrey Woolrych, esq. estate of Cherbury, at the dissolution. He m. of Dudmaston, in Shropshire, and had issue, JOHN, his heir. George, of Bitterley. Edward, of London, merchant, slain by a Hopton, of Downton. He m. the daughter of Rowland Edmonds, of London, and d. s. p. Katherine, m. to- Greneway, of London. Elizabeth, m. to John Wysham, of Tedstone. The eldest son, JOHN HOPTON, esq. of Rockhill and Cherbury, high sheriff of Shropshire, in 1575, m. Katherine, daughter and heir of William Peter, and had by her two sons and one daughter, viz. Thomas. Joseph, who m. Penelope, daughter of William Burnell, of Salop. Jane, m. first, to Richard Cresset, and secondly, to Samuel Lawknor. of John Fox, of Grantham, in Lin- He m. secondly, Frances, daughter of ― Cresset, |