Thomas Kerr of Ferniehirst


Thomas Kerr of Ferniehirst was a Scottish landowner and supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots..
He was the son of Sir John Kerr of Ferniehirst and Katherine Kerr. His sister Margaret married Lord Hay of Yester and was the mother of William Hay, 6th Lord Hay of Yester.
His homes were Oxnam and Ferniehirst Castle.
In July 1575 he wrote from Paris to Mary, Queen of Scots, describing the destruction of his houses with fire and gunpowder by English forces during the Marian Civil War costing him at least 20,000 crowns, and the injuries sustained by his family and followers fighting for her cause in Scotland. He lost his jewels and the charters of his lands left in a coffer in Edinburgh Castle which Regent Morton confiscated. The Earl of Angus cut down his woodlands.
The Scottish poet William Fowler reported to Francis Walsingham that the Laird of Ferniehirst had arrived secretly in London in May 1583, and was expected to go to France again.
His second wife, Janet Scott, was politically active. In October 1583 she wrote to Mary Queen of Scots from Ferniehirst with news from the Scottish court. She said she had been approached by the Countess of Arran in person and by letter hoping that Mary would not join with the Hamiltons and the James Stewart, Earl of Arran. She wanted to Mary to advise her about this. She had forgotten to forward a letter from Lord Seton. Mary was a godparent to one of her sons.

Marriage and children

He married firstly Janet Kirkcaldy, a daughter of William Kirkcaldy of Grange and Margaret Learmonth. The children of Sir Thomas Kerr of Ferniehirst and Janet Kirkcaldy included:
He married secondly, Janet Scott, sister of Walter Scott, 4th Baron of Buccleuch. The children of Sir Thomas Kerr of Ferniehirst and Janet Scott included: