Sir Peter Halkett

SIR PETER HALKETT, born in Dunfermline in 1659 and died in 1746 at the age of 85. His remains are interred in the family's Middle Crypt - Nave, of Dunfermline Abbey. Sir Peter succeeded Gosford, along with its title earlier, Peter had matriculated at St. Andrews University in 1675 and later served as Lieutenant in the Earl of Dumbarton's Regiment (26th March 1686), becoming a Captain of Grenadiers in the same Regiment in 1688. He appears to have left the army on succeeding his brother and entered Parliament, being a Commissioner of Supply in 1690, and was created baronet of Nova Scotia in 1697.

Sir Peter Wedderburn had married 13 July 1694, JANET HALKETT, at Dunfermline. When Sir James Halket her brother died in 1705, there were no surviving male descendants. By virtue of his wife being the eldest surviving daughter Sir Peter Wedderburn assumed the name of Halkett of Pitfirrane, entering the estate formally on 26th October 1705. The entail already mentioned, which was thereupon executed upon Sir Peter and his wife, settled the estate of Pitfirrane on their eldest son

and that of Gosford on the second son. It provided that if ever the two estates should devolve on the same person, he should immediately divest himself of Gosford in favor of a younger branch of the family. This was supplemented by a later one in 1751, and led to a costly lawsuit. (A. Dec.1706, Reg. Book of Council 1st May 1763, B.W. II 376). The baronetcy remained in the Pitfirrane branch.

In 1705 Sir Peter Halkett, seems to have gotten in trouble. The magistrates and the town of Dunfermline were bitterly opposed to the Union of Parliament between England and Scotland. They commissioned Sir Peter, who was their Parliamentary representative to `vote and protest the Union.` They received assurance from Sir Peter that he would do as requested but when the time came he presented the address from the town council, and then voted for the Union! This inconsistency roused a great deal of criticism and ill will against him and it is said, he had to avoid Dunfermline for some later time thereafter. But he must have had a winning way for he was elected Provost of the town for he next twenty seven years (1705-1731).

The Union question had long been a vexed one in the county and the general opinion was that a great deal of corruption and bribery went on behind the scenes. In Scotland thirty-three burghs voted for the Union and twenty-nine against it. No doubt it is a coincidences that the Queen and the Union Parliament in London renewed the privilege held by the Halkett family to export coal abroad, just before the Union became an established fact.

Sir Peter and Janet Halkett had seven sons and five daughters.

1) Peter, b. 21 Jun 1705, succeeded to Pitfirrane. Killed with his son James at Fort Dequesne.

2) Charles Wedderburn who succeeded to Gosford, and married Mary, daughter of Sir Harry Wardlaw of Pitreavie and Elizabeth Halkett, sister of Janet Halkett. Charles and Mary had ten children five sons and 5 daughters.

1) John Wedderburn Halkett, their eldest son succeeded to Pitfirrane more later.*

2) Henry Halkett, succeeded to Gosford when John succeeded to Pitfirrane.

3) Peter Halkett, b. Nov 1722, served in the Dutch Military Service, d. 1757.

4) Charles Halkett, he was an Ensign and died in the Black Hole of Calcutta in 1757.

3) James, died young.

4) James (bapt. 26th July 1705) died in South Carolina before 1754.

5) Alexander (12th December 1706) who acquired the estate of St. Germains, near Tranent, in November 1750 and which he disponed to John Wedderburn-Halkett in 1778 to relieve himself of debt, and which remained in trust for his wife and family until 1782 when it was sold.

6) John (1708) probably died young.

7) Robert (bapt. 10th December 1709) who was a merchant in Dunfermline and died in 1748. He had married Rachel, daughter of John Anstruther-Thomson of Charlton in Fife, and left two daughters -

1) Rachel, who died unmarried,

2) Janet who married at Toryburn Fife, on 21st April 1783, George Bruce of Langlees near Melrose. The daughters were -

1) Janet (bapt. 21st May 1700) who married Robert Coville of Ochiltree

(Contract 23rd April 1729).

2) Agnes (bapt. 25th September 1701) died unmarried.

3) Christian (bapt, 20th January 1703) married James Carstairs, born about 1680 and died on 6 August 1768 age 88, eldest son of Sir John Carstairs of Kilconquhar, who succeeded to the estates and name of Bruce of Kinross on the death of his mother (Contract 31st December 1724).

4) Elizabeth (1704) died young.

8) Janet b. 12 May 1700, m. Robert Colville of Ochiltree.

9) Agnes, b. 25 Sep 1701, died unmarried.

10) Christian, b. 20 Jan 1703, m. 31 Dec 1724, James Carstairs, son of Sir John Carstairs of Kilconquhar.

11) Elizabeth, b. 1704, died a child.

Note - Janet Halkett, their mother, died in 1713.

b. 1659