The Baronage of Scotland, Denunes of Catbole, &c.

Baronage of Scotland Denune Line (74.28 KB)

The Baronage of Scotland, Denune line

Denune of Catbole, &c.

The sirname Denune is of great antiquity in Scotland, is local, and was assumed by the proprietors of the lands and barony of Denune in Argyleshire, as soon as sir names became hereditary in this country, though these lands afterward became the property of the family of Argyle.

Sir Arthur de Denune, flourished in the reign of King Alexander III, and had the honor of knighthood conferred upon him by that prince, whom he survived several years.

In a charter of James Lord High Stewart of Scotland, confirming the donations of his predecessors to the Monastery of Paisiey, the witnesses are, "Robert bishop of Glasgow, John brother of the Lord High Steward, Sir Arthur de Denune, Sir Nicholas Campbell, and Sir Reginald de Crawford, knights, William de Shaw, Alexander de Normanville, &c. esquires," anno 1294.

This Sir Arthur was afterward, with many of his countrymen, compelled to submit to King Edward I of England, anno 1296.

At the same time, Guy de Denune was also forced to swear fealty to the said King Edward anno 1296

Whether Sir Arthur de Denune and Guy were brothers, we cannot determine, but it’s believed that, of these two, most of the Denunes in Scotland are descended, whose posterity have been free barons in different counties of this kingdom, some centuries ago.

The lands and Castle of Denune have been long the property of the family of Argyle, as before observed. They have a tradition handed down by their bards and sennachies, which is still believed, viz. That a younger son of the family of Argyle was appointed heretable governor and keeper of the Castle of Denune. Duncan Campbell, one of his posterity, having had some feuds with his neighbours, also vassals of Argyle, committed several depredations and drove their cattle into his cattle, &c. which the earl of Argyle highly resented, and had the governor, though his kinsman, tried, condemned, and ordered to be drowned in the water of Clyde, &c. However, Duncan had the good fortune to make his escape, and fled to the north country, where he settled, and his mother having been a daughter of the family of Denune, he assumed that for his sirname, which his posterity enjoyed ever after, but they retained the armorial bearing of the Campbells, their paternal ancestors.

This Duncan had a brother, Donald, who accompanied him to the north, and also assumed Denune for his sirname. He being bred to the church, and a man of parts and learning, became abbot of Ferne in Rossshire, where he acquired considerable wealth.

Duncan, the governor, now Duncan Denune, was the immediate ancestor of this family, and was father of

Andrew Denune, afterwards of Catbole, who lived in the reigns of King James IV, and V. He acquired from his uncle Donald the abbot, the lands and barony of Catbole in Rossshire, anno 1534, which became the chief title of his family. Contemporary with this Andrew, lived Sir David Denune, also settled in the north country, who was possessed of a considerable estate, which appears by two charters under the great seal, domino Willielmo de Denune, of the lands and barony of Pittogarty, the village and lands of Pitnellie, Balnacouth, &c. in the shires of Ross and Inverness; one dated in the year of 1538, and another in 1540, but we can give no account of his posterity. Andrew of Catbole died in the beginning of the reign of queen Mary, leaving issue a son,

John Denune of Catbole, who succeeded him, and married Catharine Ross, a daughter of the ancient family of Balnagowan, which is instructed by a charter under the great seal, Johanni Denune de Catbole, et Catharine Ross ejus sponse, terrarum de Arkbole, &c. &c. in the shires of Ross and Inverness, dated 12th April 1556. By the said Catharine Ross he had two sons; 1) John, his heir. 2) Andrew, who carried on the line of his family, as will be shown hereafter. He died in the reign of King James VI, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

John Denune, the third baron of Catbole, who never married, but resigned his lands in favours of his brother Andrew, anno 1589, whereupon he got a charter under the great seal, hereafter narrated. He dying without issue before the year 1604, was succeeded by his brother,

Andrew Denune, baron of Catbole, who got a charter under the great seal, confirming a charter of vendition and alienation to his grandfather, from Donald Denune abbot of Ferne, dilecto nepoti fuo Andrew Denune, &c. of the lands and barony of Catbole, in Rossshire, for a certain sum of money paid to him by the said Andrew. The charter is dated in 1534, as before observed, and the confirmation is dated the penult day of September 1604. He got another charter, Andrew Denune de Catbole, &c. of the lands of Milntoun of Ferne, dated in September 1594. Also a charter of confirmation upon the resignation of the above John Denune of Catbole, To and in favours of his beloved brother, Andrew Denune, of the lands of Hilton, commonly called Ballocknock, in Rossshire. The resignation is dated 12th March 1589, as before mentioned, and the confirmation 11th June 1611. He died before the year 1620, and left issue a son and successor,

John Denune, fifth baron of Catbole, a man of singular merit, a faithful and loyal subject to King Charles I, who spent the greatest part of his paternal estaste in his majesty’s service, and dying before the restoration of King Charles II, had no opportunity of getting any redress. He left issue a son and heir

Norman Denune Esq; who inherited all his fathers virtues, but little or none of his estate. He married Catharine, daughter of sir Hector Munro of Foulis Bart, by whom he had 2 sons, 1) Norman. 2) Mr. William, of whom more afterwards.

Norman Denune, eldest son of the above Norman, married a daughter of ____ Ross of Balnagowan, by whom he had a son, Walter Denune Esq; whose only son ____ is settled in the East Indies.

Mr. William Denune, second son of the first Norman, a man of parts and learning, and being bred to the church, was minister of the gospel at Pencaitland, in East Lothian, where he married Isabella, daughter of Doctor George Hepburn of Moncraig, Esq; by Helen his wife, daughter of sir Alexander Swinton of that ilk, and by her he had one son, George; and several daughters, 1) Christian, married to James Hepburn Congalton Esq; chief of the ancient family of the Congaltons of that ilk in East Lothian, without issue, 2) Mariamne, married to sir John Bruce-Hope of Kinross, baronet, by whom she had one son, John, who died in infancy, and a daughter, Anne Bruce-Hope of Arnot, who is now heir of line of the Hopes of Craighall, Bruces of Kinross, &c. Mr William’s other daughters died unmarried.

George Denune Esq; his only son married Isabella, daughter of Alexander Edgar younger of Wedderley Esq; by whom he had one son, William Denune Esq; a youth of great hopes and spirit, who died in the flower of his age, unmarried. George had several other children, of whom there is only one daughter, Janet, surviving.