Denham baronets

The Denham of Westshield Baronetcy was created on 31 January 1693 in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia for William Denham.

Family

The Denham baronetcy was created for Sir William Denham, Master of the Mint for Scotland; he had purchased the estate of Westshield from the Earl of Carnwath. He had no children, and the patent of the baronetcy permitted him to assign the baronetcy, in default of natural heirs. In 1711, he entailed his property and title to the children of his sisters, as follows.

Sir William Denham of Westshield, 1st Baronet, Master of the Mint for Scotland, cr. 1693. with special remainder to his assignees, failing the heirs of his body. Entail of his title and estate 1711, died without children 1 January 1712.
Grizel Baillie, elder sister.
*Sir Robert Denham, formerly Baillie 2nd Baronet, per entail
**Sir Alexander Denham, de jure 3rd Baronet.
**Sir Robert Denham 4th Baronet
Susan Lockhart, later Susan Steuart, younger sister, 2nd wife of Sir Thomas Steuart, 1st Baronet, of Coltness
*Sir Archibald Steuart Denham,, 5th Baronet, also 6th Baronet of Coltness; son by second marriage.
*William Lockhart of Waygateshaw; son by first marriage
**Sir William Lockhart Denham 6th Baronet, died without children.

With the death of the sixth baronet, the entail expired, since nobody was left with a claim under it. At this point, the baronetcy presumably became extinct, since the first baronet's assignment was exhausted; Sir William Lockhart Denham was free to bequeath his property, and left the Westshields estate to Sir James Steuart, 3rd & 7th Baronet, who then adopted the name of Denham.