Shank of Castlerig
Murdoch Shank and his descendants owned the Kinghorn Links from 1286 until 1886, when the Trustees of the estate of Henry-Alexander Shanks sold them to the Council.
Some commentators believe the early story is legendary. They say that the family estate began with Henry Shank (8), Member of Scottish Parliament for Kinghorn in 1643, apparently in ignorance of the lineage published in A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain & Ireland: Vol II M to Z by John Burke. It is, however, very possible that this lineage is incomplete.
The Shanks later acquired lands at Gleniston in Fife and The Villa at Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire. The family name seems to have changed from Shank to the more euphonic Shanks by the 17th century, even if this was not officially recognised by Burke.
| Shank of Castlerig | ||
| (1) |
Murdock (Murdoch) |
By tradition, given the title and lands of Castlerig in 1286 by Robert (the) Bruce for caring for the body of King Alexander III, who died close to Kinghorn. Said to be living in 1280 and father of: - |
| (2) |
Robert |
Probably named after Robert (the) Bruce who gave his father the Castlerig title, which is reportedly 'confirmed' in a local charter of 1360. Said to be father of:- |
| (3) | John | Said to be father of:- |
| (4) |
Henry |
Said to be living in 1482 and father of:- |
| (5) |
Martin |
Said to be living in 1482 and father of:- |
| (6) |
Martin |
Said to be living in 1520 and father of:- |
| (7) |
Henry |
Said to be living in 1565 and father of:- |
| (8) |
Henry |
Said to be living in 1609. He is probably the Scottish MP for Kinghorn in 1643 and is certainly mentioned in the Kinghorn Kirk Minutes and father of:- |
| (9) |
Martin |
Said to living in 1640 and father of:- |
| (10) |
Henry |
He married in 1669 and is the father of Martin (11) and Alexander (Minister of Drumoak who died in 1749):- |
| (11) |
Martin |
Minister of Banchory and father of:- |
| (12) |
Alexander |
His son, Alexander, predeceased him in 1747, so, on his death, the title passed to his cousin, through the second son of Henry Shank (10). |
| (13) |
Alexander (1736-1814) |
Minister of St Cyrus in Angus (1759-81), when he lived at The Villa in Laurencekirk. On the death of Alexander (12), he inherited the Castlerig title as great grandson of Henry Shanks (10). His father and grandfather were both called Alexander and were both ministers, as were several of his uncles and brothers and brothers-in-law. He was the owner of the Kinghorn land when the Hutton letter of 1812 was written. He married Diana Scott of Dunninald in 1770 and they had three sons and two daughters. His second son died young, so when he died at the Villa in 1814, the Castlerig title passed in turn to his first and third sons:- |
| (14) |
Alexander |
Eldest son of Alexander (13), but he was drowned at sea in 1817. |
| (15) |
Henry (1778-1860) |
Third son of Alexander (13), who inherited the title and estates of Castlerig, Gleniston and The Villa. He was a civil servant in the East India Company and became deputy-lieutenant of London. He died, aged 81, in 1860 leaving Castlerig to his eldest son:- |
| (16) |
Alexander (1811-1866) |
He followed his father into East India Company. He married in 1847 and was succeeded by his eldest son. |
| (17) | Henry- Alexander (1850-1886) |
According to newspaper reports he became a Captain in 42nd Highlanders and saw several campaigns as well as attending the 600th anniversary commemoration of Alexander III in the Free Church at Kinghorn. He died shortly afterwards and the Trustees of his Estate sold the Castlerig lands (Kinghorn Links) to the Council who laid out the first 9-hole golf course in 1887. |
| Later descendants have not been traced and there is no current entry. | ||
The above is based mainly on the 1846 edition of Burke's Dictionary, with additional information from other sources, such as Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae, which all list wives and other details.