Sir Alexander Home of that Ilk, 1st Lord Home


Sir Alexander Home of that Ilk, 1st Lord Home was in 1448 Sheriff Deputy for Berwickshire, and was made a Lord of Parliament on 2 August 1473. He is an ancestor of the Earls of Home.

Family

Alexander Home's father, Sir Alexander Home of that Ilk, & feudal baron of Dunglass, was killed at the battle of Verneuil on 17 August 1424, and Alexander Jr. was retoured his heir that year, indicating he was already of age. His mother was Jean, daughter of Sir William Hay of Locherworth, Midlothian. In April 1425 he made an agreement with his uncle David Home of Wedderburn, to halve the profits of the bailiary of Coldingham whichever of them should acquire it by purchase or otherwise, and is therein designed Alexander of Home of that Ilk.

Envoy

Sir Alexander Home had a safe-conduct abroad with William Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas on 9 November 1450, and was probably one of the "brilliant retinue" that accompanied the Earl to Rome for the Papal Jubilee. On 23 April 1451 he had another safe-conduct with the Earl. Sir Alexander was one of the envoys sent by King James II, on 27 July 1451, to treat with England, and with his fellow commissioners he signed a truce for three years on 14 August 1451, in the Church of St Nicholas, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Marriage

Lord Home married twice: Mariotta, the daughter and co-heiress of John Lauder,, by John's spouse Katherine, heiress to her father William de Landells and his wife Jonet. A Papal dispensation by Pope Martin V was issued on 11 April 1426 at St Peter's, Rome, for Alexander de Home and Marion Lauder to marry, notwithstanding that they are related doubly in the fourth degree of consanguinity. Subsequent to that Dispensation, Robert, Bishop of Caithness, issued 'Letters' declaring all their offspring legitimate, signed at Edinburgh on 1 April 1428, and witnessed by Sir Robert Lauder, knight, Lord of Edrington, amongst others.
They had at least seven children:
Before July 1467 Sir Alexander Home remarried Margaret, daughter of Alexander, Master of Montgomerie by his spouse Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Adam Hepburn of Hailes. They had further children:
  • Sir Thomas, of Langshaw, Ayrshire
  • Nicholas
  • Elizabeth
  • David
His grandson Alexander, the future 2nd Lord, was a leader of the rebels who defeated King James III of Scotland at the Battle of Sauchieburn.
The 1st Lord Home lived to a very great age, dying, it is said, in 1490. He was succeeded by his grandson Alexander Home, 2nd Lord Home.