de Bosco, Elizabeth (née de Bisset), Lady Kilravock
Two 13th century charters from the reigns of King Alexander III and John Balliol, Kings of Scotland
Estimate: £700 - £900
Auction: 18 June 2025 from 10:00 BST
Description
Charter in which Elizabeth de Bisset “dispons to the said Hugh Rose her son in law, and Marie his spouse and her daughter, and their heirs, the lands of Kilravock to be holden of herself” [Rose, Shaw & Innes p.28], with the original seal intact but rubbed, 15 lines in Latin, 13 x 26cm;
Document in which Elizabeth de Bisset resigns the land of Kilravock into the hand of the King (John Balliol) [Rose, Shaw & Innes p.29], one small seal attached, 7 lines in Latin, 9.5 x 24cm;
Valuation of the lands of Kilravock and Easter Geddes [Rose, Shaw & Innes p.30], five small seals attached, 9 lines in Latin, 20 x 11.5cm (3)
Provenance
The Spalding Club's publication, based on the writings of hew Rose, Pastor of Nairn, states that the Kilravock family were of English descent, possibly via Ireland, and settled the area around Croy, near inverness, around the twelfth century. Elizabeth de Bisset inherited the lands of Kilravock from her father, Sir John de Bisset. Elizabeth married Sir John de Bosco and the couple had three surviving daughters, including Marie, who married Hugh Rose, subsequently inheriting the Kilravock Estate, as is detailed in the first document here. Later, Elizabeth passed the lands ‘back’ to the crown, so that they could then be bestowed directly upon her son-in-law and daughter. The confirmation of this, along with other documents, was unfortunately destroyed by fire in 1390.