Identifier: memoirsoflifeofs00cler (find matches)
Title: Memoirs of the life of Sir John Clerk of Penicuik, baronet, baron of the Exchequer, extracted by himself from his own journals, 1676-1755
Year: 1892 (1890s)
Authors: Clerk, John, Sir, 1676-1755 Gray, John Miller, 1850-1894, ed
Subjects: Finance
Publisher: Edinburgh, Printed at the University Press by T. and A. Constable for the Scottish history Society
Contributing Library: Boston College Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Library Consortium Member Libraries

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I should have noticed a circumstance preceeding my Marriage,
which in reality laid the happiness of my whole Life, and which
was this. The Parliament of Scotland, which met on the 29
Octr 1700, by appointment of King William, had for his
Majestys high Commissioner James Duke of Queensberry,¹
who was Cousin German to the Earl of Galloway and Lady
Margaret Stuart, my future Spouse. My Father hapned to
have the honour of his acquaintance as a Member of Parlia-
ment, and on the same account was frequently with him. The
Earl of Galloway had acquainted him of our intention, and
upon this notice his Grace invited me once and again to dine
with him. As he was a very friendly affable man, I had the

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¹The second Duke of Queensberry, and first Duke of Dover, born 18th
December 1662. He represented the king as high-commissioner to the parlia-
ment of Scotland, 1700, acquitting himself so much to his Majestys satisfaction
that he was nominated a Knight of the Garter 18th June 1701, and installed at
Windsor 10th July following. He died 6th July 1711.
Text Appearing After Image:

VI
LADY M A R G A R I T STUART
First Wife of Baron Sir John Clerk

1701] HIS FIRST WIFE 39

good fortune of coming into favour with him. He spoke to
my Father about the match, and pressed him to enlarge the
yearly allouance he proposed to give us. My Father it seems
contented him by telling him I was to get all he had except
very moderat provisions for my Brothers and Sisters, where-
upon he gave his consent to my marriage. To this alliance,
therefor, I owed the greatest felicity of my Life, as will appear
in the sequel of this account.
After my Wife and I had been settled in our House for a
few weeks I fell ill of a cold. My Wife was anxiously con-
cerned about me, ; which gave me more truble than my desease, ^fol 35.
and to add to my afflictions it seems, God was to deprive me
of this valouable woman, for she fell into labour, and a few
hours after being delivered of a son, she died to the unspeak-
able grief of every Body who knew her.
The best account I can give of her death is this. On the
20 of Decemb^r 1700,¹ about midnight, her pains came upon her.

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