Catherine COCHRANE ( -1772)

1. Catherine COCHRANE married David SMYTHE in 1707. She died in 1772.

 

David SMYTHE and Catherine COCHRANE had the following children:

 

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David SMYTHE (1711-1764)

Second Generation

2. David SMYTHE, son of David SMYTHE of Braco and Catherine COCHRANE, was born in 1711. He died in 1764. He married Mary GRAHAM.

 

Mary GRAHAM and David SMYTHE had the following children:

 

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David SMYTH (1746-1806)

Third Generation

3. David SMYTH (of Methven Castle, Perthshire), son of David SMYTHE and Mary GRAHAM, was born in 1746. He was a Lord of Session. He had the title 'Lord Smyth of Methven'. He died on 30 January 1806. He married Elizabeth MURRAY. He married Euphemia Amelia MURRAY.

 

Lord David Methven was the son of David Smythe of Methven, and was born in 1746. He studied law, and passed advocate in 1769. In possession of the family estates, to which he succeeded on the death of his father in 1764, he did not seek to obtain practice at the bar, but resided entirely in Perthshire, and took an active and influential part in everything that related to the local interests of that county. It was not until after the death of his first wife, in 1795, that he returned to Edinburgh, and betook himself to the law as a profession. He was shortly afterwards appointed Sheriff-Depute of Perthshire, which office he held until he was promoted to the bench on the death of Lord Gardenstone in 1763. He was appointed one of the Commissioners of Justiciary in the room of Lord Abercromby in 1796

As a judge Lord Methven is represented to have possessed extensive general knowledge and soundness of understanding. He resigned his appointment as a Justiciary Lord in 1804; and died on the 30th of January 1806. His death was remarkably sudden. He was taken ill while walking on the street, and expired in half an hour after having been carried home. His remains were interred in the Canongate churchyard; and the great attendance at his funeral testified the general esteem in which he had been held.

Lord Methven lived in St. Andrew Square. He was twice married; first to Elizabeth Murray, daughter of Sir Robert Murray of Hillhead, Bart., and sister to General Sir James Murray Pulteney, Bart.; secondly, to Euphemia Amelia Murray, daughter of Mungo Murray, Esq. of Lintrose. He had large families by both marriages, of whom there survived three sons, Robert Smythe, Esq. of Methven; William Smythe, Esq., (born 1803) advocate; and the Rev. Patrick M. Smythe, of Tanworth, in the county of Warwick; and two daughters, the eldest of whom was married to the Right Hon. David Boyle, Lord Justice-Clerk.

 

Elizabeth MURRAY, daughter of Sir Robert MURRAY of Hillhead, Midlothian, Baronet ( - ) and Janet MURRAY (1723- ), died on 30 June 1785.

 

Euphemia Amelia MURRAY was the daughter of Mungo MURRAY of Lintrose ( - ).