James Sandilands, 1st Lord Torphichen

James Sandilands was born circa 1511 in Calder, West Lothian, Scotland, and died in 1579 ~ according to the Scots Peerage 1911, Burke's Peerage 1999/2004, and current editions of Debrett's Peerage. However some publications have given his death at a later date. Reference to his 1579 death: "Sir James Sandilands, first Lord Torphichen, had married Janet, daughter of William Murray of Polmaise,.. dying without issue at Hallyards, 29th September 1579..' (quoted from 'The Scots Peerage, founded on Wood's Edition of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland; Vol.VIII, edition 1911, page 387). Burke's Peerage (1999 edition, p.2831) as well as confirming his date of death as 29th Sept 1579 also mentions the date of death of his wife Janet, being 29th November 1596, which some historical books have given as an alternative date of his own death. He was the second son of Sir James Sandilands, 7th Lord of Calder. The feudal barony of Calder had belonged to the Sandilands clan since 1348.

In December 1540 Sandilands was received into the Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta, which by that time had its headquarters in Malta, and on 3 March 1541 was conferred with the ancientry of Torphichen (and later succeeded to the preceptorship in 1547 ~ See below).[For reference see: "The Knights of St John of Jerusalem in Scotland" ref Pages 180-201 'Calendar of Material relating to Scotland in the Archives of the Knights Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem preserved in the National Library of Malta, Valetta, Malta']. The Commander or Prior of the Knights in Scotland was the Preceptor of Torphichen, at that time, Sir Walter Lindsay. Lindsay recommended Sandilands to the Grand Master of the Knights as a potential candidate to succeed him. Sandilands spent the next several years at the headquarters of the Knights at Malta, and validated Lindsay's recommendation. In 1541 he received from the Grand Master the ancianitas (right of expectancy) to the Preceptory and, following the death of Sir Walter Lindsay, succeeded him as Preceptor, authorized by a bull of 2 April 1547. He was invested with both the spirituality and temporality attendant to the position in June 1550.

Despite the religious turmoil of the time, the Knights Hospitaller had managed to retain possession of their benefices in Scotland. In 1553, Sandilands was sent to France by the Parliament of Scotland to present the proposed Treaty of Edinburgh to Mary, Queen of Scots, and obtain her acquiescence in termination of the alliance between France and Scotland. His mission was a failure.

On 24 January 1563, Sandilands appeared before Queen Mary at the behest of the Grand Preceptory, to surrender the lands and possessions of the Order, together with the title of Lord St. John, which he had held as Preceptor. The Queen accepted them and, showing her high regard for him, returned to him at a bargain price the lands of Torphichen, and conferred upon him the title of Lord Torphichen.

James Sandilands, Lord Torphichen, had 'married Janet, daughter of William Murray of Polmaise, and dying without issue at Hallyards, 29 September 1579, was succeeded by his grand-nephew James Sandilands of Calder' (quoted from 'The Scots Peerage, founded on Wood's Edition of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland; Vol.VIII, edition 1911, p. 387 & p. 390.). This date of death 1579 is also confirmed by more recent editions of Debrett's Peerage (e.g. 1990 edition, page 1207), and in Burke's Peerage & Baronetage (e.g. 1999 edition, p. 2831). In fact, Burke's Peerage also mentions the date of death of his wife Janet, 29 November 1596, which some historical books have given as an alternative date of his death. The first Lord Torphichen's title thus passed to the nearest of his designated heir: the grandson of his elder brother, also named James Sandilands (born 1574), then current feudal Baron of Calder, who thereby became the 2nd Lord Torphichen. Thereafter the two titles of feudal baron of Calder and lord Torphichen were conjoined, and inherited by the 2nd Lord Torphichen's successors up until the present day (15th Lord Torphichen).

References

1. The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem
2. The Last English, Scottish and Irish Knights of the English Langue of the Order of St John of Jerusalem
3. The New Statistical Account of Scotland; Society for the Benefit of the Sons and Daughters of the Clergy (1845).
4. "The Knights of St John of Jerusalem in Scotland" edited by Cowan, Mackay and Macquarrie, publishers Clark Cunstable (1982) Ltd, Edinburgh 1983.

Notes

The quotation in Note 4 is consistent with, and corroborates, the death date given in Notes 1 and 2.

Additional References

[1] The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta]