The 5th Earl of Argyll and offspring

[CR Campbell]

We received this question through our contact form:

“I am researching Archibald Campbell 5th Earl of Argyll. The problem is I’m getting different stories about his children (if any). Some say he didn’t have children, others say he had 4. How can I once and for all find the truth?

Thanks,
Mike”

Reply: “Yeah the 5th Earl is messy…

As I have it (I’ll bring this up wit the Clan genealogist at the next meeting) we know he did not produce any legitimate children through his two marriages

Then it get really messy.

He supposedly had a daughter Jean through Elizabeth Beaton (dau. of Sir John Bethune of Creich), who (the dau. Jean) in turn married:

m1. (mcrt 26.02.1585-6) Angus Mackintosh of Torcastle (dvp 11.1593)
m2. Sir Donald Campbell, Bart of Ardnamurchan

However, that Jean is a daughter from Eilzabeth Beaton is contradicted by another claim! 🙂

The claim there is he had this daughter Jean by Jean,  dau. of Sir Archibald Campbelll of Calder, identified by BLGS2001 (‘Campbell of Airds’).

Burke’s Landed Gentry is notoriously inaccurate though, so we can’t take that to the bank.

Then, which most sources seem to agree on, he had two illegitimate sons, and possibly a third by unknown mothers

1) John, Provost of Kilmun

2) Colin

3) Mentioned somewhere as “A.C.”

There are conflicting claims about this Colin. Some claim that he is the father of the daughter Jean mentioned above by Jean of Calder… Unless she was really young I’m having a hard time envisioning that. 🙂

There is also conflicting claims that he was the ancestor of 2nd Barbreck, and not his likewise illegitimate uncle Colin, son of the 4th Earl. We tend to use Colin son of the 4th Earl but the issue is currently unresolved. Hopefully the Y-DNA can straighten that out someday in the next few years.

Sources for this are:

Scots Peerage by James Balfour Paul (use this over any other Peerage if possible)

and the Red Book of Scotland Vol 3 by Gordon MacGregor

Also consulted was Alastair of Airds History of Clan Campbell Vol. 2 which seems to contain a typo regarding the 5th Earl’s wives.

Even Scots Peerage and MacGregor differ somewhat…

For instance MacGregor has instead of “A. C.”, he places this woman in that spot – “Elizabeth Campbell, m. by 6 June 1590, to John MacFarlane, fiar of
Arrochar, when he discharged her uncle, Archibald, Earl of Argyll, for £5000 Scots as tocher with her.”

Hopefully that can guide you somewhat…:)

Let me know if you have more questions…

Thanks!

 

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