John Stewart of Bonkyll


Sir John Stewart of Bonkyll of Bonkyll Castle in Berwickshire, Scotland, was a military commander during the First Scottish War of Independence.

Origins

He was the second son of Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland, by his wife Jean Macrory, heiress of the Isles of Bute and Arran, daughter of James , son of Angus, Lord of Bute and Arran. He was an uncle of James Douglas, Lord of Douglas, "The Black Douglas".

Career

He was a military commander during the First Scottish War of Independence. He was killed during the Battle of Falkirk, where he commanded the Scottish archers. He was buried in the churchyard of the Falkirk Old Parish Church.

Marriage and issue

John married Margaret de Bonkyll, the daughter and heiress of Sir Alexander de Bonkyll of that Ilk. Following his marriage he added to his paternal arms of Stewart a differenced of a bend sable charged with three buckles or, a buckle being the canting heraldic device of the de Bonkyll family. Margaret appears to have remarried, as in 1304 she is named as wife to Sir David, Lord of Brechin. By his wife he had issue:
He is the direct paternal ancestor of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, the second husband of his brother's descendant, Mary, Queen of Scots, and of their son, James VI of Scotland, who later became James I of England in 1603.