John Halkett

JOHN HALKETT (sometimes written as Halket), took sasine of all his father's lands, including Craigton (held from John Mailvyne of Cambee). From a Manuscript fragment in the Pitfirrane papers in the National Library of Scotland, it states that John married Elizabeth Stewart, daughter of Stewart of Rosyth. This statement is also repeated in the Halket Genealogies in the Lyon Court Office that does not mention Elizabeth Ayton; but it is expressly states in the Pitfirrane Papers that John's son Patrick was the son of Elizabeth Ayton. His first wife must, therefore, have died prior to 1512.

By her marriage contract Elizabeth Ayton received Auchtertyre, and Balcraig, which she dispensed to Robert Mercer in Meiklour in 1524. Though the Halketts retain the superiority for the better part of the century, they do not appear to have occupied the land.

Elizabeth Ayton, daughter of Andrew Ayton, former Governor of Stirling Castle, and Master of Works to James IV, killed with his king at Flodden. This Andrew was the ancestor of the Aytons of Dunmure or Ayton in Fife. Elizabeth was the widow of Henry Bothwell of Urquhart near Pitfirrane and had two children by her first marriage, David and Elizabeth, for whom provision is made. We can see that the Halketts were recognised as worthy members of the nobility. If John had been present at the battle at Flodden he survived. Elizabeth was the widow of Henry Bothwell of Urquhart, one of an old Dunfermline family, which gave its name to Bothwell Haugh at the Spittal Bridge, and whose most outstanding representative had been David de Bothwell, Abbot of Dunfermline at the end of the 15th century. On the abbot's death his brother had founded an altar to St Mary in the nave of the abbey, giving a grant of lands, known as the Guildelands lying to the south of the Nethertown, which eventually became incorporated in the barony of Hill. The altar seems to be represented by the base of the Rood altar at the east end of the nave of the Abbey Church.

John’s son, Patrick Halkett, is infefted with the third of Pitfirrane including the mansion in 1532 and is associated with his father in a tack of 18th November 1524 of the adjoining lands of Knockhouse, with its coals and coal heughs, is first mentioned in connection with the family with coal mining. This became the main sources of the family’s income for four centuries. It is also, so far as I am aware, the first record of coal mining in this district since the grant to the monks of the Abbey of the right to mine coal in Pittencrieff Glen in 1291. John Halkett was largely concerned with the affairs of Dunfermline, being Provost for at least ten of the years between 1518 and 1547, as well as acting as Bailie of the Regality.

John Halkett was over sixty years of age when he met his death in the defence of Scotland, being killed at the Battle of Fawside or Pinkie in September 1547 and was succeeded by his eldest son:

1) Patrick Halkett, Bailie of the Regality Court in 1548 and Provost of Dunfermline from 1549 -1553.

2) Elizabeth Halkett, she married Patrick Howburn, son and heir of Andrew Howburn of Tullibole.

Sixth Laird of Pitfirrane