David Muirhead, son of James Muirhead of Lauchope and his second wife, Margaret (Cunninghame), married Grissell McCulloch (variously, Machals and Marchalls), whose family resided in Barholm, in the shire of Galloway; she was born circa 1560. According to John M. Morehead, Grissell was the daughter of Machallo of Barholme. But according to research performed by Diane Baptie, Grissell’s surname would have actually been McCulloch. Apparently, John M. Morehead simply misinterpreted the name. The McCullochs first appeared in Kirkcudbrightshire circa 1570. The estates of Barholm and Bradistane, in the parish of Kirkmabreck were noted in a sasine dated 19 April, 1570 which stated that John McCulloch was to have the liferent of the properties and that his son, James was to have the fee. James McCulloch died intestate in April, 1579, and his executor dative was his uncle, Patrick McCulloch of Hentoun. James had only one child when he died - a daughter named Jonet. Grissell might have been John McCulloch’s daughter and a sister to James. The historian, P.H. McKerlie noted, in his book Lands And Their Owners In Galloway, that records for the McCulloch family showed the husband for Grissell to be David Murehead of Gallway. The Muirhead family was known to possess properties in Galloway, notably Arraines, Balgreddan and Bullies in Kirkcudbrightshire.(
David and Grissell may have given birth to a number of children, but the only ones of which we have names are the eldest son, named David, and another son, William. The son, David was born circa 1573 at Wigtown in the shire of Galloway. William was born circa 1577 at Wigtown. (Note: The Muirhead Clan Society database gives David’s birth as circa 1576 at London and William’s as 26 October, 1602 at London.)
David Muirhead, son of David and Grissell (McCulloch) Muirhead, grandson of James Muirhead of Lauchope, made his home in London, and took up a career as a merchant. It is this David Muirhead of London who would eventually become involved in a transaction of lands in the New World. It was also this David Muirhead, whose name would be spelled Morehead in various public documents, and whose children would begin to use that spelling.
David married Anne Hardrett, the daughter of Jacob and Mary (Prince) Hardrett . Anne was born circa 1590. Anne’s father, Jacob, made a living as a jeweller in London; his shop was at St. Clement Danes “without Temble Barrs, London”. Jacob and Mary gave to David and Anne a gift of £360 on the occasion of their marriage. This David Muirhead was noted as a member of the “Society of Writers to the Signet”.
To David and Anne Muirhead were born at least three children: David, Anne and Jane. John M. Morehead stated that the family included a son, also named David. He quoted a will made out by Anne’s father, Jacob Hardrett on 01 August, 1631 in which he noted his son-in-law David Muirhead, his wife, Anne Hardrett, and David Muirhead ‘eldest sonne’, thus implying that there were other sons. The ‘Visitation of London by the Heralds,’ a collection of heraldic shields catalogued in the years 1633 and 1634 includes the arms of David Muirhead. The entry for David notes the location of ‘Blackfryers,’ referring to the district of Blackfriars in London, lying to the northeast of the Blackfriars Bridge. The entry also includes a four generation genealogy. In that genealogy is listed three children under David and Anne: “David Murehead eldt son Anne Jane” (
Two boys were apprenticed to William Muirhead (‘younger’), a merchant in Edinburgh, and they were probably sons of David Muirhead, the merchant in London. The Edinburgh Apprenticeship records included the name of Ninian Muirhead, apprenticed on 10 July, 1605 and also of David Muirhead, apprenticed on 27 March, 1611. They would, no doubt, have been approximately fifteen or sixteen years of age when they began their apprenticeships. These boys were probably sons of David Muirhead, the merchant in London.(
David Muirhead, the merchant, died in September of 1642. He was buried on 11 September, 1642 at London. The ‘testament dative’ recorded in the Edinburgh Commissary Court on 02 September, 1643 by Anne Muirhead for her deceased husband stated, in part:(
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The teƒtament dative and inventar of the guids geir ƒowmes of money & debts perteining to umquhile David Muirheid merchant at London the tyme of his deceis Quha deceiƒt in the moneth of Sept. the yeir of god 1642 yeirs ffaithfullie maid & gevin up be Anna Hardrett alias Muirheid his relict ƒpous and onlie executor dative ƒurrogat to the ƒaid umquhile David hir huƒband... |
A number of men and women by the name of Muirhead appear to have been born in the same time period as the family of David and Anne, and some researchers have combined them with the children listed in the will of David. Whether or not they were actually children of David and Anne is anyone’s guess. They included: William, born on 26 October, 1602; Charles, born circa 1609; William, born circa 1622; James, born circa 1624-1625, and John, born circa 1626. No public records exist to connect any of these individuals with the family of David and Anne.
David Muirhead’s career as a merchant is known to us through a number of public records. His involvement with the financing of the Kent Island settlement will be discussed in the chapter titled, The Isle Of Kent Venture. Some of his other activities of note may be found in the Extracts of Records of the Burgh of Edinburgh (1624-1641).(1.72)
George Heriot, an Edinburgh resident, was appointed in 1597 to the position of goldsmith to Anne of Denmark and soon thereafter to James VI also. When James moved his court to London, Heriot likewise made the move. He was appointed court-jeweler and banker. He died on 12 February, 1624. From his estate was bequeathed £23,625 to found a either a hospital or a school in Edinburgh for the benefit of the sons of poor burgesses. David Muirhead and William Dick, a merchant in Edinburgh known as Sir William Dick of Braid, were associated with Heriot, and on 26 January, 1627 at a meeting of the town council of Edinburgh, it was recorded that the executors of Heriot’s estate: (1.73)
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Refuƒed to denude thair handis of the jewellis bandis and uther writts before they have reƒƒavit ane band of William Dick merchand in Edinburgh and David Mureheid merchant in London of their indempnitie conteining therin the ƒoume of ane thouƒand fyve hundreth pundis money of England. |
What this meant was that the executors of the estate refused to divest themselves of the ‘jewelry’ band, or binding agreement, and other similar agreements before receiving from William Dick and David Muirhead their word that they would provide security in the amount of £1,500 Sterling. The executors wanted Muirhead and Dick to provide insurance against loss. On 20 April, 1627 David Muirhead ‘factor’ (i.e. an agent for a merchant) was ordered by the provost and bailies of Edinburgh to pay £16 Sterling to William Anderson for “paines ƒuƒteynit be him in umquhill George Heriot’s effaires.”
On 19 January, 1626, David Muirhead was recorded in London as a ‘factor’ (i.e. a merchant’s agent) for William Dick.
The provost and bailies of Edinburgh instructed their commissioner, Alexander Guthrie, on 31 July, 1633 to travel to London and borrow between 10, 000 and 12,000 merks Scots in gold. His commission brought Guthrie to David Muirhead. From David and William Muirhead, Guthrie borrowed £500 Sterling, which had a corresponding value of 10,000 merks Scots.
A son of David and Anne (Hardrett) Muirhead, David was born in the year 1614. He married Mary Turner in the year 1636 at London, England. She is believed to have been born in the year 1618 at Wigtown in Galloway. They gave birth to: David, born 1637; Anne, born 1639; and Jane, born 1641. David died in 1643 at London.
