| On 12 March 1553-54 he had a charter to himself, as son and apparent heir of Sir Walter Ker of Cessford, of the lands and barony of Cessford, with castle and pertinents and other lands, to be held to the heirs-male of the said Andrew, whom failing, to the heirs-male of Sir Walter, whom failing, to Mr. Mark Ker, brother of the said Walter, to Andrew Ker, brother of the same, to Andrew Ker of Fawdonside, to Sir Andrew Ker of Hirsell, to Gilbert Ker of Primsideloch, to James Ker of Mersington, to George Ker of Linton, to George Ker of Gateshaw, and their heirs-male successively, whom failing, to the nearest lawful heirs-male of the said Andrew, bearing the name and the arms of the house of Cessford, with the usual clauses of liferent and terce. A second charter of the same date confirmed to Andrew the 20-merk lands of Boydislands, in the same terms as the first charter, and a third charter confirmed to him, in the same terms, the lands of Primside, Hownam, and Smailholm. On 21 May 1562 Sir Walter Ker of Cessford and Sir Andrew Ker of Caverton appeared before the Lords of Council and bound themselves to refrain from entering the house of Ancrum, or to trouble the Earl of Bothwell or his tenants. The father and son again appear before the Queen and Council 10 August 1562, with Thomas Ker of Ferniehirst and the heads of the Ker families, and promised to submit themselves to arbiters in the matter of the slaughter of the late Sir Walter Scott of Branxholm. Sir Andrew Ker of Caverton is said to have been contracted in marriage to Elizabeth, daughter of Sir James Douglas, 19 February 1556. He died vita patris without lawful male issue, before 3 March 1563-64, on which date his brother William is designed in his marriage-contract 'eldest son in life' of Sir Walter Ker of Cessford, Knight. It does not appear that he married, but he had certainly two daughters, probably illegitimate, of whom his mother Dame Isabel Ker was tutrix. On their behalf she appeared before the Privy Council on 10 November 1566, complaining that 27 oxen lent by her to the late William Ker, Commendator of Kelso, being the only provision left by the late Andrew Ker of Caverton, Knight, to his daughters Grizel and Bessie Ker, were withheld by the Queen's Chamberlain of the Abbey. The Chamberlain was ordered by the Queen to pay to Dame Isabel, on behalf of the said pupils, ten merks each for 25 oxen.5 |