Alexander Durham

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Alexander Durham (died 1584) was a Scottish courtier and administrator.

His appointments included, clerk in the Exchequer, administrator of John Stewart of Coldingham, and Master of the Wardrobe to King James VI.[1] He was also known as "Sandy Durhame" or "Durame". Another "Andrew Durham" worked in the spice house of the kitchen of Mary of Guise.[2]

Durham was argentier to Mary of Guise and Mary, Queen of Scots. This role included taking receipt of an income funding the royal household called the "thirds of benefices" derived from teinds. The money was collected by men working for the exchequer, like George Wishart of Drymme.[3]

In August 1564 Durham took up a contribution of £124-10s-8d from Coupar Angus Abbey towards the expenses of the queen's hunting trip in Atholl and Glen Tilt and her journey to Inverness.[4]

In March 1572 Durham paid for cloth to make gown and smocks for six children, an Easter ceremony. The number of gowns matched the age of James VI.[5]

His son Alexander, also known as "Sandy Durham" was present at the Scottish court.

He died in 1584 and was buried at the Holy Rude Kirk in Stirling.

Family[]

Alexander Durham married Elizabeth Murray: Their children included:

  • Alexander Durham, was a servant to Lord Darnley, and bought green clothes in January 1566,[6] and in 1567 was suspected of involvement in Darnley's murder
  • James Durham of Duntarvie, who served as Chamberlain for Linlithgowshire between 1595 and 1600.[7]

References[]

  1. ^ Gordon Donaldson, Thirds of Benefices, p. 193.
  2. ^ Andrea Thomas, Princelie Majestie, p. 241:James Balfour Paul, Accounts of the Treasurer, vol. 7 (Edinburgh, 1907), p. 131.
  3. ^ John Hill Burton, Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, 1545-1569, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1877), pp. 497-8.
  4. ^ Charles Rogers, Rental Book of the Cistercian Abbey of Cupar-Angus Abbey, vol. 2 (London, 1880), p. 281.
  5. ^ Charles Thorpe McInnes, Accounts of the Treasurer, vol. 12 (Edinburgh, 1970), p. 303.
  6. ^ Accounts of the Treasurer, vol. 11, p. 457.
  7. ^ HMC 5th Report: M. E. Stirling (London, 1879), p. 648.
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