View source for David Ross, 1st of Balblair (c1642-1710)

{{short description|Laird of Balblair, parish of Fearn}}
{{About||David Ross who married Lady Anne Stewart|David Ross, 13th of Balnagown (1644-1711)‏‎}}
{{About||Capt. David Ross of Edderton Parish|David Ross of Little Daan (-1735)}}
{{Use dmy dates|cs1-dates=s|date=March 2026}}
{{Infobox Ross ancestor
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| title_particle         = of 
| title_object           = Balblair
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| christening_place      = 
| will_date              = 8 March 1707
| will_county            = Ross-shire
| probate_date           = 14 January 1710
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| death_date_range_begin = 11 March 1709
| death_date_range_end   = 14 Jan 1710
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| residence              = Fortrose, Rosemarkie Parish, Ross-shire;Balblair, Fearn Parish, Ross-shire
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| spouses                = Margaret Stronach (fl1667-1710)
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| children               = {{plainlist|
*[[Andrew Ross Sr. of Balblair (-bef1724)|Andrew Ross Sr.]]
*[[Bessie Ross (bef1674-1756)|Bessie Ross]]
*[[George Ross of New Castle (1679-1753)|George Ross]]
*[[Hugh Ross (1680s-1710s)|Hugh Ross]]}}
| mother                 = 
| father                 = Andrew Ross (fl1649-1658)
| family                 = Ross of Balmachy
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}}

'''David Ross''' (c1642 &ndash; 1710) is known as the [[laird]] of the [[Balblair, Fearn Parish, Ross-shire|estate of Balblair]] in the {{Parish of Fearn}}, [[Easter Ross]]. He was the husband of [[Margaret Stronach (fl1667-1710)|Margaret Stronach]] and father of at least 5 children, Andrew, Bessie, George, Hugh, and an older daughter. He is often confused with his distant cousin [[David Ross, 13th of Balnagown (1644-1711)]] who married Lady Anne Stewart.

==DNA Evidence==
=== Y-DNA ===
No Y-DNA test kits have been identified as descendants of this David Ross. In fact, no Y-DNA test kits have been identified as belonging to descendants of David's ancestor {{Fearchar}}, Earl of Ross. The Y-DNA signature of his line remains unknown.

Many American Ross lines attempt to trace their ancestry back to Scotland through Hugh, son of this David Ross. [[Hugh Ross (1680s-1710s)#DNA Evidence|Y-DNA results]] from descendants of these American Ross lines show that they do not all descend from the same Ross ancestor, therefore, they cannot all be descended from David Ross.

Additionally, no evidence is found that Hugh immigrated to America. His name is found in only one document, a [[Disposition (Scots law)|deed of disposition]] dated 8 March 1707, in which David lists Hugh as his 3rd lawful son.<ref name="Rossiana p. 131" /> There is no other mention of him before or after David's death. Therefore, it is impossible to prove that he had descendants in America.

David did have a son, [[George Ross of New Castle (1679-1753)|Rev. George Ross]], who is known to have immigrated to America in the early 1700s. It has been stated in contemporary sources that several of his male lines died out.{{sfn|Read|Reid|1908|p=[https://archive.org/details/rossianapapersdo01read/page/162/mode/1up 162]}}{{sfn|Read|Reid|1908|p=[https://archive.org/details/rossianapapersdo01read/page/n22/mode/1up chart]}}{{sfn|Morrow|1882|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=tyJEAQAAMAAJ&lpg=PA644&ots=RrNsD9l5nL&pg=PA1015 1015]}}{{sfn|Read|Reid|1908|p=[https://archive.org/details/rossianapapersdo01read/page/135/mode/1up 135]}} It may still be possible, though,  that there are [[patrilineal]] descendants living today. These men would be great candidates for [[Y-DNA testing]] with the {{Ross Surname Project}}. Identifying the Y-DNA signature of a proven descendant of George Ross could help us determine if other American Ross lines are indeed descended from this David Ross.

=== Autosomal DNA ===
David Ross lived recently enough that it ''might'' be possible to prove a relationship to him using [[autosomal DNA]] tests like [[AncestryDNA]] or [[23andMe]]. In order to do this, we would need matching, [[overlapping segments]] from people descended from different children. Since we have known, provable, descendant lines of only two of his children, George and Bessie, results would need to come from both of these lines. Unfortunately, since any living person might only be carrying about 12 to 13% of an 8th-great-granparent's DNA, it would be very difficult to find 2 descendants who carry the same segment of DNA inherited from David.<ref name="DNAeXplained Inherited from Grandparents">{{cite web | title=DNA Inherited from Grandparents and Great-Grandparents | website=DNAeXplained - Genetic Genealogy | date=Jan 14, 2020 | url=https://dna-explained.com/2020/01/14/dna-inherited-from-grandparents-and-great-grandparents/ | access-date=Jun 22, 2022}}</ref> This is why it is important that we have as many participants as possible joining the [[Ross Ancestor Project at GEDmatch]]. We will only be able to use autosomal results to confirm lineages if we have very large numbers of test results to draw from.

==Biography==
<div class="leafletmap">{{#display_map: geojson=AlnessFearnLogieEasterTarbet |
  57.832862, -4.180067 ~ Balblair, Edderton Parish;
  57.7687,-3.9727~Balblair, Fearn Parish;
  57.5815,-4.13237~Fortrose;
  57.7693,-3.9875~Summerwell quarter of Allan;
  57.7663,-3.9992~Wester Allan, Fearn Parish;
  57.728046,-4.398772~Ballon, Logie Easter Parish
|layers=NLS.osgb1888
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|zoom=9 }}</div>

David's 2nd son, the [[George Ross of New Castle (1679-1753)|Rev. George Ross]], wrote a short autobiography as part of a letter to his son John. Several copies of this letter have been published. One lists his birthplace as the parish of Fearn.

{{quote|George Ross Rector (as he is styled in his Presentation) of the Church of New Castle was the second son, that came to mans Estate, of David Ross of Balblair, a gentlemen of moderate fortune, but of great integrity, and Margaret his wife born in the north of Scotland, and in the Parish of Fern, in the Shire? of Ross, about 4 or 5 miles from the shire between two arms of the sea. The Firth f___tum of Murray (Moray), the other of Dornoch. The land laying between the two firths, terminates in a noted point, called Tarbat Ness.{{sfn|Jordan|1911|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Br0SAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1249 1249]}}<ref name="David J. Hooker Rev. George Ross">{{cite web | title=Rev. George Aeneas Ross | website=David J. Hooker Genealogy | date=Feb 1, 1980 | url=http://www.djhooker.com/22/9518.htm | access-date=Apr 2, 2022}}</ref>}}

A second copy lists his birthplace as the parish of Tain, near the town of Tain.{{sfn|Read|Reid|1908|p=[https://archive.org/details/rossianapapersdo01read/page/157/mode/1up 157]}}

The town of Tain sits close to the border between the [[parish of Tain]] and the {{parish of Fearn}}. In this area, we find two different [[Highland towns named Balblair|Balblair estates]], [[Balblair, Fearn Parish, Ross-shire|Balblair]] near [[Fearn Abbey]] in {{Fearn parish}} and [[Balblair, Edderton Parish, Ross-shire|Balblair]] in Edderton Parish. Documents after David's death indicate that he owned {{Balblair fearn}}.<ref name="NRS GD71/120" /> Fearn sits at the southern end of Tarbat Ness. Many descendant lines of {{Fearchar}} Earl of Ross lived in this [[Geography of Ross of Balnagown and Rose of Kilravock|area of Easter Ross]].

In the [[Disposition (Scots law)|deed of disposition]] dated 8 March 1707, in which David Ross disponed Balblair to his [[Andrew Ross Jr. of Kingston, Jamaica (-1730)|grandson Andrew]], he reserved a [[liferent]] to himself and his wife, [[Margaret Stronach (fl1667-1710)|Margaret Stronach]].{{sfn|Read|Reid|1908|p=[https://archive.org/details/rossianapapersdo01read/page/131/mode/1up 131]}}<ref name="NRS RS38/7 f.69" /> In the description of the property, we find mention of the miln of Fearn and neighboring [[Little Allan, Fearn Parish, Ross-shire|Little Allan]].

The marriage contract between David Ross, notary, and Margaret Stronach, only daughter of [[George Stronach of Balblair (-aft 1690)|George Stronach of Balblair]], was dated August 8, 1667.<ref name="NRS GD71/280" /> 

David's entry in the Register of Admissions of Notaries is dated 26-27 August 1664.<ref name="NRS NP2/9 David Ross" /> It indicates that, at the time, he was a [[writer]] in [[Fortrose, Rossmarkie Parish, Ross-shire|Fortrose]]. The notarial attestation of the document indicates he was also a cleric in the diocese of Ross-shire. [[Walter Ross, 6th of Balmachy|Walter Ross of Balmachy]] acted as cautioner.

David Ross can be found acting as notary on sasines during the 1670s and 80s.<ref name="NRS GD93/259" />{{sfn|Read Reid|1908|p=[https://archive.org/details/rossianapapersdo01read/page/44/mode/1up 44]}}<ref name="NRS GD93/277" />

We find the first reference to David Ross 'of Balblair' is in the [[sasine]] dated 15 June 1681, which also names his wife Margaret Stronach.<ref name="NRS RS38/5 f.120" /> In this transaction, George Stronach of Balblair granted to David Ross and Margaret Stronach the Easter Oxgait of Balblair. This is how Balblair in Fearn Parish came to be property of this Ross family.

In a list of heretors, wadsetters, and liferenters within the shire of Ross that is dated sometime around 1690, but may be earlier, Tarbet Parish includes George Stronach of Balblair, Jon Stronach, and David Ross notary public.<ref name="Old Rosshire p. 402" /> The area that became the parish of Fearn had been included in Tarbat Parish until 1628.{{sfn|Watson|1904|p=[https://archive.org/details/placenamesofross00watsuoft/page/40/mode/1up 40]}} It's not clear why they would still be listed there 60 years later. It is important to note that David is designated again as Notary Public and it is his father-in-law George Stronach who is referred to as 'of Balblair'.

David Ross of Balblair is found again at the end of 1699 making payment for the vicarage of the parishes of Fearn and Tarbatt, for the years 1696, 1697 and 1698, and for supply of the vacant Church of Tarbat for 19 Sabbath days from October 7, 1698 to April 9, 1699.<ref name="NRS GD305/1/153/45" /><ref name="NRS GD305/1/153/46" />

Among the inhabitants of the {{parish of Fearn}} invited to the funeral of [[Hugh Munro, 4th of Teaninich (bef1639-1703)|Hugh Munro of Teaninich]] in September of 1703, were David Ross of Balblair, William Ross of Easterfearne, son of [[Alexander Ross, 5th of Easterfearn (-bef1699)‏‎|Alexander of Easterfearn]], George Munro in Meikle Allan, [[Andrew Stronach of Little Allan]], and [[Rorie Fowler of Meikle Allan|Rory Fowler]], portioner off Meikle Allan.<ref name="Rossiana p. 144" />

===Meikle Allan===
David Ross had several dealings with [[Alexander Ross, 5th of Easterfearn (-bef1699)‏‎|Alexander Ross 5th of Easterfearne]]. On April 23, 1692, Alexander made a heritable bond to him.<ref name="NRS GD71/103" /> On August 22, 1693, David Ross had [[sasine]] of the lands of the Summerwell quarter of [[Meikle Allan, Fearn Parish, Ross-shire|Meikle Allan]] following on that heritable bond.<ref name="NRS GD71/103" /> Meikle Allan was a neighbor to Balblair in Fearn. Meikle Allan and Little Allan formed a single unit of the two [[davoch]]s of Allan. Meikle Allan was comprised of the west quarter of Wester Allan and the eastern three-quarters of Knocks or the Hill quarter, the south or Summerwell quarter, and the Clay quarter.{{sfn|Bangor-Jones|1986|p=[https://www.ssns.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/10_Bangor-Jones_Ross_1986_pp_153-166.pdf#page=13 165]}} Alexander can be found in transactions pertaining to several different quarters of Meikle Allan. On 12 July 1692, [[Rorie Fowler of Meikle Allan|Rorie Fuller]] disponed to Alexander the quarter lands of the easter three quarters of Meikle Allan, called the Summerwell quarter.{{NRS|GD71/100}} It was David Ross, however, who had [[sasine]] of the lands the next year.{{NRS|GD71/103}}

Meikle Allan belonged, in the 1560s, to the Bishop of Ross. In 1569, [[James VI]] granted to [[Andrew Monro, 5th of Milntown (-1611)|Andrew Munro of Newmore]] the escheat of all the goods upon the quarter lands of Meikle Allan that were forfeited by John Leslie, Bishop of Ross, for treason.{{sfn|Innes|1854|p=[https://archive.org/details/originesparoc97a02unknuoft/page/445/mode/1up 445]}} The lands were passed down through this Monro line.
{{David of Balblair and Alexander of Easterfearn family tree|state=collapsed|title=Balblair to Easterfearn|width=10%|align=right}}
On 31 March 1692, [[John Monro, 4th of Wester Allan (-bef1739)|John Munro]], late heritor of the wester quarter of the davoch lands of Meikle Allan, gave consent for Mr. David Polson of Kinmylies to [[disposition|dispone]] to Alexander Ross of Easterferne, the wester quarter of Meikle Allan.{{NRS|GD71/96}} The next day, a contract of [[wadset]] was made between John Monro and Alexander Ross of Easterferne whereby John Monro disponed to Alexander the wester quarter of the davoch lands of Meikle Allan.{{NRS|GD71/97}}

Several years later, dated 29 January 1695, we have a marriage contract between [[Joseph Monro in Wester Allan (-c1715)|Joseph Munro]], sometime of Wester Allan, brother of John Monro, and David Ross of Balblair and Bessie Ross, his second daughter.<ref name="NRS GD71/284" /> 

Alexander Ross of Easterfearn comes up again in a disposition dated 28 January 1710.<ref name="NRS GD71/118" /> It refers to another bond, dated 23 April 1704, by the deceased Alexander Ross of Easterfearn to the deceased David Ross. Both men, therefore, were dead by the date of the disposition in 1710.

David of Balblair and Alexander of Easterfearn were 7th cousins 4 times removed on their paternal lines. It's possible they were more closely related on maternal lines, but David's mother is not known.

=== Ancestors ===
{{Ancestors & descendants chart
|1=[[David Ross, 1st of Balblair (c1642-1710)]]
|2=[[Andrew Ross (fl1649-1658)]]
|3=
|4=[[George Ross, 5th of Balmachy (-1647)]]
|5=[[Margaret McCulloch (1598-1649)]]
|6=
|7=
}}
{{Fearchar to Balblair descendant chart|title=Descent from Fearchar, Earl of Ross|state=collapsed|width=10%|align=right}}
In 1889, [[Francis Nevile Reid (1827-1892)|Francis Nevile Reid]] published his section on the [[Source:Northern Notes (Kindeace)|Branch of Balblair]] in ''[[Northern Notes & Queries]]''.{{sfn|Reid|1889|p=[https://www.jstor.org/stable/e3287b65-8e02-3b72-b798-10494af2051d?read-now=1&seq=23 73]}} He stated that David of Balblair was the son of Andrew, younger son of [[George Ross, 5th of Balmachy (1596-1647)|George Ross, fifth of Balmachy]]. He points to two [[sasine]]s for which Andrew acts as witness, one of them referring to him as 'Andrew,  son of deceased George'.{{sfn|Reid|1889|p=[https://www.jstor.org/stable/e3287b65-8e02-3b72-b798-10494af2051d?read-now=1&seq=22 72]}} He gives no sources, though, for David's relationship to Andrew. He does mention a letter written in 1764 that describes Ross of Balblair as 'Cadit of the decayed house of Balmachy.' This would seemingly confirm David's descent from George 5th of Balmachy.

{{Harmon}} repeated Reid's information in ''Rossiana'', published 18 years later.{{sfn|Read|Reid|1908|p=[https://archive.org/details/rossianapapersdo01read/page/44/mode/1up 44]}} He does not provide any additional sources confirming that David was the son of Andrew. He did, however, include a copy of the [[Source:Letter, Hugh Ross of Shandwick to John Ross of Philadelphia, October 1, 1764|letter written in 1764]] in which [[Hugh Ross 2nd of Kerse & Skeldon (1695-1775)|Hugh Ross of Shandwick]] informs David's grandson, [[John Ross Esq. of Philadelphia (1714-1776)|John Ross of Philadelphia]], that his line was 'cadet of a decayed house of Balamuchy'.{{sfn|Read|Reid|1908|p=[https://archive.org/details/rossianapapersdo01read/page/98/mode/1up 98]}} 

This statement was the result of an [[Source:Letter, John Ross to Dr. Gordon, April 30, 1763|inquiry made by John]] a year and a half earlier. In an effort to determine his relationship to Rosses in London, John forwarded 'an extract of my father's own account sent me of his birth and parentage' that eventually made its way to Hugh of Shandwick.{{sfn|Read|Reid|1908|p=[https://archive.org/details/rossianapapersdo01read/page/97/mode/1up 97]}} It's probable that this 'account' came from the [[Source:Letter, Rev. George Ross to John Ross of Philadelphia, 1752|autobiography]] that Rev. George sent John in 1752. In it, George says that he was the son of David Ross of Balblair, but he gives no information about the generations prior to David.{{sfn|Read|Reid|1908|p=[https://archive.org/details/rossianapapersdo01read/page/157/mode/1up 157]}}
<div style="float:right;font-size:smaller;clear:right;margin-left:5px;">
{{hidden begin|border=1px  #aaa solid|ta1=center|expanded=on}}
{{Tree list}}
*[[Alexander Ross, 5th of Easterfearn (-bef1699)‏‎|Alexander Ross 5th of Easterfearn]]
**m. Janet Robertson
***[[William Ross, 6th of Easterfearn (-1727)|William Ross of Easterfearn]]
***[[Alexander Ross of Little Daan, W.S. (-1753)‏‎|Alexander Ross of Little Daan]]
****[[David Ross, the tragedian|David Ross in Edinburgh]]
****Elizabeth Ross
*****m. [[Hugh Ross Bailie of Tain, 2nd of Kerse & Skeldon|Hugh Ross of Shandwick]]
***Capt. [[David Ross of Little Daan (-1735)|David Ross of Little Daan]]
{{Tree list/end}}
{{Hidden end}}
</div>
Hugh Ross of Shandwick [[Source:Letter, Hugh Ross of Shandwick to David Ross, Edinburgh, March 22, 1764|forwarded this account]] to [[David Ross the tragedian (1728-1790)|David Ross, in Edinburgh]], his brother-in-law and grandson of Alexander of Easterfearn, and asked him to do further research on John's line.{{sfn|Read|Reid|1908|p=[https://archive.org/details/rossianapapersdo01read/page/98/mode/1up 98]}}

These letters would suggest that none of these men, including his own grandson, were immediately familiar with the ancestry of David Ross of Balblair.

In a footnote in ''[[Rossiana]]'', {{Harmon}} points out that, 
<blockquote>Mr. Hugh Ross's father-in-law was Alexander Ross, of Daan House, near Balblair, Ross-shire. He was a writer to the Signet in Edinburgh, admitted 1718, and knew thoroughly the origin of the Rosses of Balblair.{{sfn|Read|Reid|1908|p=[https://archive.org/details/rossianapapersdo01read/page/103/mode/1up 103]}}</blockquote> 

[[Daan House]] was near [[Balblair, Edderton Parish, Ross-shire|Balblair, parish of Edderton]], not Balblair, the home of David Ross of Balblair, in the parish of Fearn. There seems to have been some [[Balblair, Fearn Parish, Ross-shire#Edderton confusion|confusion]] by the time Harmon was publishing his book in 1908 between the Rosses of Balblair in Fearn and a newer Ross family in Edderton who had come to refer to themselves as Ross of Balblair. These two estates of Balblair were very near each other, though, and since Alexander of Daan House lived during the time of David Ross of Balblair, there's no reason to think that wouldn't be familiar with the lairds of Balblair, Fearn.

In Hugh of Shandwick's response to John in Philadelphia, which includes this statement regarding the decayed house of Balmuchy, he informs John that he knew personally his uncle Andrew, who was long since dead.{{sfn|Read|Reid|1908|p=[https://archive.org/details/rossianapapersdo01read/page/98/mode/1up 98]}} He also says, "as I find your ho. of Balblair is from mine of Shandwick I hand you a acct yrof herewt not inferior to any extant as your worthy fayr truly tells you."

The account that he included with the letter was a pedigree prepared by someone he refers to as the 'historiographer of Scotland'. This is what is now referred to as the [[The Crawford tree]], prepared in 1729 by [[George Crawfurd]]. It is a complete account of Hugh of Shandwick's descent from {{Fearchar}} Earl of Ross, but it does not include the house of Balblair.

The letter itself, not the enclosed pedigree, is the only evidence we have connecting David of Balblair back to {{Fearchar}}, Earl of Ross. More evidence is needed to confirm this line. David's mother's line is unknown.

===Marriage and children===
{{Ancestors & descendants chart
|descendants=
*[[David Ross, 1st of Balblair (c1642-1710)]]
**m. contract 8 Aug 1667 [[Has spouse::Margaret Stronach (fl1667-1710)]]
***[[Andrew Ross Sr. of Balblair (-bef1724)]]
****m. bef 1710 [[Margaret Gellie (-1729)]]
***1st daughter
***[[Bessie Ross (bef1674-1756)]]
****m. contract 29 Jan 1695 [[Joseph Monro in Wester Allan (-c1715)]]
****m. bef 6 Dec 1727 [[Alexander Stronach, mason in Seafield]]
***[[George Ross of New Castle (1679-1753)]]
****m.[[Joanna Williams of Rhode Island (1690-1726)]]
****m.[[Anna Catherine Van Gezel (1689-1748)|Anna Catherine Van Gezel (1689-1748)]]
***[[Hugh Ross (1680s-1710s)]]
}}
The marriage contract of David Ross and Margaret Stronach, daughter of George Stronach of Balblair, is dated 8 August 1667.<ref name="NRS GD71/280" /> We find in records evidence of 5 children, 3 sons and 2 daughters. One of these lines, that of [[George Ross of New Castle (1679-1753)|Rev. George Ross]], is known to have migrated to America.

In the [[Disposition (Scots law)|deed of disposition]] written on 8 March 1707, David dispones Balblair to his grandson Andrew, and the heirs male of his body whom failing to the other heirs male of Andrew, whom failing to the Rev. George Ross and the heirs male of his body, whom failing to Hugh Ross third lawful son of the said David and the heirs male of his body.<ref name="NRS RS38/7 f.69" />{{sfn|Read|Reid|1908|p=[https://archive.org/details/rossianapapersdo01read/page/131/mode/1up 131]}}

David's eldest son Andrew was [[Service of heirs|served as heir]] on 14 January 1710 and we find him acting in in transactions related to the estate after this point.<ref name="NRS C22/53/319-320" /><ref name="NRS GD71/118" /><ref name="NRS GD71/120" /><ref name="NRS GD71/137" />

What we know of David's daughters comes from the marriage contract dated January 29, 1695, between Joseph Munro of Wester Allan and David Ross of Balblair and Bessie Ross, his second daughter.<ref name="NRS GD71/284" /> ''Rossiana'' mentions a daughter, Elizabeth, but this appears to be an error from Burke's 1879 edition of ''[[Source:Landed Gentry (Monro of Allan)|Landed Gentry]]'' that was copied by {{Francis Nevile}}.

What we have, then, is:
* [[Andrew Ross Sr. of Balblair (-bef1724)]]
**Dr. [[Andrew Ross Jr. of Kingston, Jamaica (-1730)]] 
* eldest daughter
*[[Bessie Ross (bef1674-1756)]]
*Rev. [[George Ross of New Castle (1679-1753)]]
*[[Hugh Ross (1680s-1710s)]]

===Death & Legacy===
We know that "David Ross, of Balblair, was dead before the 14th of January, 1710, the date of the general service of his son, Andrew of Balblair, to him."<ref name="NRS C22/53/319-320" />{{sfn|Read|Reid|1908|p=[https://archive.org/details/rossianapapersdo01read/page/131/mode/1up 131]}} After his death, several claims were made on the estate to compensate for debts owed. Balblair was eventually transferred on 22 August 1733 from John Cruickshank, a merchant in London, to David's distant cousin [[William Ross, 1st of Kerse & Skeldon (1694-1739)|William of Shandwick]].

David's son Andrew died before 30 May 1723.<ref name="NRS CS229/R/1/21" /> David's daughter, Bessie, lived until September of 1756.{{NRS|GD71/350}} George was the only child known to have migrated to America.{{sfn|Read|1870|pp=[https://archive.org/details/lifecorresponden00read/page/51/mode/1up 51-53]}} He was the progenitor of several American Ross lines. Hugh disappears from records after the disposition of 8 March 1707.<ref name="NRS RS38/7 f.69" /> There is no evidence of a marriage or children.

=== Timeline ===
Timeline entries retain the wording of the original documents. They may not specify a parish when speaking about Balblair. Documents pertaining to David Ross of Balblair are referring to Balblair in Fearn Parish.
{{Show timeline|person}}

== Research Notes ==
There appear to be several copies of the original manuscript, [[Ane Brieve Cronicle of the Earlis of Ross (manuscript)|Cronicle of the Earlis of Ross]], still in existence. Some copies include genealogies beyond that of Balnagown that Baillie published in his ''[[Ane Breve Cronicle of the Earlis of Ross (1850)|Cronicle of the Earlis of Ross]]'' in 1850. These should be consulted to determine if they include the line from Balmachy to Balblair.
* [[Note-book containing 'A Briefe of the Chronicle of the Earles of Ross']]
* [[Deuchar manuscript]]

In a letter published in ''Rossiana'' dated January 3, 1873, Mr. Stodart told General Read that David must've been "dead 21 February, 1710, when his widow had sosine of the lands."{{sfn|Read|Reid|1908|p=[https://archive.org/details/rossianapapersdo01read/page/131/mode/1up 131]}} This sasine should be ordered from [[ScotlandsPeople]].

== Common discrepancies ==

=== 2nd of Balblair ===
The first sentence in the section of ''[[Rossiana]]'' pertaining to the Branch of Balblair states that, "Balblair in 1666 belonged to [[James Dallas of Kirkmichael and Balblair (bef1628-bef1682)|James Dallas of Balblair]], and [[Grissel Ross (-aft1681)|Grissel Ross]], his spouse."{{sfn|Read|Reid|1908|p=[https://archive.org/details/rossianapapersdo01read/page/44/mode/1up 44]}} It then goes on to list Andrew Ross as 1st of Balblair and his son David as 2nd of Balblair.

This is in error. The Balblair that belonged to James Dallas for just over a month in 1666 was not the same Balblair owned by David Ross.

We find on 31 March 1666, the [[sasine]] given to James Dallas in Ballacherrie on a contract by Sir John Urquhart of Cromarty, dated at Cromarty 6th October 1665, whereby he disponed to him the lands of Easter Balblair, commonly called Kirkmichaell and Balblair.{{sfn|Dallas|1921|p=[https://archive.org/details/historyoffamilyo00dalluoft/page/274/mode/1up 274]}}

This Balblair, referred to often as Easter Balblair, was the [[Balblair, Resolis Parish, Cromartyshire|Balblair in Cromartyshire]], which was found just across Cromarty Firth, on the Black Isle. Historically, it belonged to the Urquhart family, but this sasine in 1666 marked its transfer to this Dallas family who then owned it through the end of the 17th century.

This statement in ''Rossiana'' about Balblair in 1666, therefore, has nothing to do with the Ross family who were lairds of Balblair in the parish of Fearn. 

In David Ross's marriage contract dated 8 August 1667, his father-in-law is referred to as George Stronach of Balblair.<ref name="NRS GD71/280" /> On 15 June 1681, George Stronach of Balblair granted to David Ross and Margaret Stronach the Easter Oxgait of Balblair.<ref name="NRS RS38/5 f.120" />. David was, therefore, the first of this Ross family to be laird of Balblair, parish of Fearn.

Grissel Ross, wife of James Dallas of Kirkmichaell and Balblair, and Andrew Ross, father of David Ross, 1st of Balblair, were siblings. Both children of [[George Ross, 5th of Balmachy (-1647)|George Ross, 5th of Balmuchy]], if ''Rossiana'' is correct about Andrew's paternity.{{sfn|Dallas|1921|p=[https://archive.org/details/historyoffamilyo00dalluoft/page/275/mode/1up 275]}}{{sfn|Read|Reid|1908|p=[https://archive.org/details/rossianapapersdo01read/page/44/mode/1up 44]}} This might have contributed to the confusion between the two Balblairs.

[[Francis Nevile Reid (1827-1892)|Francis Nevile Reid]] was the original author of these genealogical tables that were later included in ''Rossiana''. In his version, Francis states only that Andrew ''very probably'' became 1st of Balblair.{{sfn|Reid|1889|p=[https://www.jstor.org/stable/e3287b65-8e02-3b72-b798-10494af2051d?read-now=1&seq=23 73]}}  It must have been {{Harmon}}, during his incorporation of Reid's work into ''Rossiana'', who decided to refer to Andrew definitively as 1st of Balblair. Whether he had additional source material to go on, or whether he just decided to take the leap, is unknown.

=== Marriage date ===

In David's entry in ''[[Rossiana]]'', we find mention of his wife Margaret Stronach.

<blockquote>David, second of Balblair, parish of Fearn, "notary" (Sasine 15th April. 1678), married Margaret Stronach, "his spouse" (Sasine 8th July, 1681), "relict" (13th April, 1710).{{sfn|Read|Reid|1908|p=[https://archive.org/details/rossianapapersdo01read/page/44/mode/1up 44]}}</blockquote>

This [[sasine]] dated 8 July 1681, in which Margaret is listed as his spouse, has led to many trees giving this date as their marriage date. This may have begun as "before 8 July 1681", with the "before" being stripped out by [[Ancestry.com]] during the importing of [[GEDCOM]]s, but we can't know for sure.

Either way, this is not a marriage date. This sasine of 8 July 1681, was simply ratifying the precept of sasine dated 15 June 1681, in which David Ross of Balblair was granted right and disposition by [[George Stronach of Balblair (-aft 1690)|George Stronach of Balblair]], for himself and as attorney for Margaret Stronach, in conjunct fie and liferent, the Easter Oxgait of Balblair.<ref name="NRS GD71/280" /> This was a land transaction. The marriage contract of David and Margaret is dated 8 August 1667 and required them to marry before 31 December 1667.<ref name="NRS GD71/280" />

=== Captain David Ross ===
In some trees on the internet, David is referred to as Captain David Ross. This appears to come from ''[[Source:History of the Munros (Monros of Allan)|The History of the Munros of Fowlis]]'', which states,
<blockquote>VI. Joseph Monro, so named after one of his mother's relatives in Ireland. He was in constant financial trouble, consequent on the debt inherited by him from his brother along with the estate, and which he was not able to pay off. He married Elizabeth, only child of Captain David Ross of Balblair, parish of Edderton, with issue{{sfn|Mackenzie|1898|p=[https://archive.org/details/historyofmunroso00mack/page/294/mode/1up 294]}}</blockquote>

In reality, there were two David Rosses, David Ross, Laird of Balblair, parish of Fearn, and Captain [[David Ross of Little Daan (-1735)|David Ross of Daan]], parish of Edderton. Very near [[Daan House]] in Edderton was another property named [[Balblair, Edderton Parish, Ross-shire|Balblair]]. This property was, at the time, within the bounds of the [[Balnagown, Kilmuir Easter Parish, Ross-shire|Balnagown Estate]].{{sfn|Ubych|2022}}

In 1790, the [[Balblair Distillery]] was established at the Balblair in Edderton by a local man, John Ross.<ref>{{cite web | title=Our Story | website=Balblair Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky | url=https://www.balblair.com/age-verification | access-date=8 Sep 2023}}</ref> This family, during the time that these family histories were being published in the late 1800s, early 1900s, were styling themselves 'Ross of Balblair'.{{sfn|Ubych|2022}}

Both David of Balblair, Fearn, and Capt. David Ross of Edderton, were invited to the [[funeral of Hugh Munro of Teaninich]] in 1703.{{sfn|Read|Reid|1908|pp=[https://archive.org/details/rossianapapersdo01read/page/145/mode/1up 144-145]}} They were also both associated with {{Meikle allan fearn}}. In 1693, David Ross of Balblair had possession of the Summerwell quarter of Meikle Allan.<ref name="NRS GD71/103" /> In 1726, over a decade after the death of David of Balblair, Captain David Ross of Daan had possession of both Meikle Allan and Wester Allan, also called Ballinroich.{{NRS|GD71/132}} It's easy to see, then, how these two men could have been confused. 

=== Lord David Ross ===
In many trees on the internet, this David Ross and his wife Margaret Stronach are referred to as Lord and Lady. In the most informal sense of the word, they could've been considered lord and lady of the manor. In Scotland, however, the word used for the owner of an estate was laird.<ref name="GRAMMARIST 2016 m461">{{cite web | title=Laird vs lord | website=GRAMMARIST | date=18 Sep 2016 | url=https://grammarist.com/usage/laird-vs-lord/ | access-date=8 Sep 2023}}</ref> This was not an official title of the [[Peerage]].

In Scotland, the title 'Lord' referred to a 'Lord of Parliament', the lowest rank of Scottish peerage.<ref name="UK Parliament h777">{{cite web | title=Lord of Parliament | website=UK Parliament | url=https://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/lord-of-parliament/ | access-date=8 Sep 2023}}</ref> This was the equivalent of the English title 'Baron'. 

David Ross owned the small estate of Balblair. This was not a barony recognized by the [[Lord Lyon]]. David, therefore, should not be addressed as Lord.

=== Daughter Elizabeth ===
When {{Francis Nevile}} originally published his genealogy of the 'Branch of Balblair' in 1889, it included on daughter, Elizabeth.{{sfn|Reid|1889|p=[https://www.jstor.org/stable/25513138?read-now=1&seq=24 74]}}

When {{Harmon}} published ''[[Rossiana]]'' 20 years later, he included Reid's paragraph verbatim.
<blockquote>Elizabeth, married David Munro, sixth of Allan, and had a son David, W. S., Edinburgh who in 1765 left his estate to his nephew Charles, son of Margaret Munro and Charles M'Kenzie, who assumed the name of Munro.{{sfn|Read|Reid|1908|p=[https://archive.org/details/rossianapapersdo01read/page/45/mode/1up 45]}}</blockquote>

This information appears to have come directly from Burke's ''[[Source:Landed Gentry (Monro of Allan)|Landed Gentry]]''. In 1879, he published the first edition that included the [[Monro of Allan]] family. It said only, "DAVID MONRO, who m. Elizabeth Ross, dau. of the Laird of Balblair."{{sfn|Burke|1879|p=[https://archive.org/details/genealogicalhera02byuburk/page/1112/mode/1up 1112]}} Unfortunately, this is one of many errors in this lineage provided by Burke.

What we know from records cataloged by the {{NRS online catalog}} is that David's [[Bessie Ross (bef1674-1756)|2nd daughter Bessie]] married [[Joseph Monro in Wester Allan (-c1715)|Joseph Monro]].<ref name="NRS GD71/284" /> Joseph was the brother of John Monro, last of this line of [[Monro of Allan|Monro lairds of Allan]]. Joseph did have lease of the portion of Wester Allan, but was evicted by Ross of Easterfearn who obtained the land as collateral for an unpaid bond. Joseph and Bessie were the parents of [[David Monro of Allan, W.S. (-1767)|David Monro]], [[Writer to the Signet]], who eventually purchased Allan back from the heirs of Ross Easterfearn.

There was no such person as David Munro, 6th of Allan, and no evidence that David of Balblair had a daughter named Elizabeth.

==Sources== 
<references />


* {{Land assessments full}}
* {{cite book | last=Burke | first=Bernard | title=A genealogical and heraldic history of the landed gentry of Great Britain & Ireland |title-link=Burke's Landed Gentry (6th ed., vol. 2) | publisher=Harrison | publication-place=London | year=1879 | volume=2 |oclc=1083544826}}{{#set:Has source=Burke's Landed Gentry (6th ed., vol. 2)}}
* {{Dallas full}}
* {{Orig paroch full|volume=2}}
* {{cite book | editor-last=Jordan | editor-first=J.W. | title=Colonial families of Philadelphia |title-link=Colonial Families of Philadelphia (vol. 1) | publisher=Lewis Publishing Company  | volume= 1 | year=1911 | isbn=978-5-88023-355-7 }}
* {{Old Rosshire full}}
* {{Munros full}}
* {{cite book |last=Morrow |first=Josiah |title=The History of Warren County, Ohio, Containing a History of the County: Its Townships, Towns, Schools, Churches, Etc. ; General and Local Statistics ; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men ; History of the Northwest Territory ; History of Ohio ; Map of Warren County ; Constitution of the United States |location=Chicago |publisher= W.H. Beers |year=1882}}
* {{Rossiana full}}
* {{Read correspondence full}}
* {{cite journal |last=Reid |first=Francis Nevile |author-link=Francis Nevile Reid (1827-1892) |editor-first=A. W. Cornelius |editor-last=Hallen | title=The Ross Family. Line of Kindeace | journal=[[Northern Notes & Queries]] | publisher=Edinburgh University Press | volume=4 | issue=14 | year=1889 | issn=20420005 | jstor=25513138 | url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/25513138 }}{{#set: Has source=Northern Notes & Queries}}
* {{Ross-shire list full}}
* {{Place names full}}
* {{cite email|last=Ubych|first=Jason|company=Tain & Discrict Museum|company_link=Tain & Discrict Museum|title=Re: Ross Y-DNA Project|date=4 June 2022}}

== Acknowledgements ==
Thank you to Jason Ubych of the [[Tain & District Museum]] for his insights regarding the various Balblair estates near Tain.

== External links ==
* [https://era.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/29444 The origin and early history of the office of notary]
* [https://www.academia.edu/103954917/The_World_of_the_Notary_and_Other_Legal_Personnel_in_Scotland_s_Northern_Shires_1500_1700 The World of the Notary and Other Legal Personnel in Scotland’s Northern Shires, 1500-1700]
* [https://www.academia.edu/79846355 The Laird's Houses of Scotland: from the Reformation to the Industrial Revolution, 1560-1770]

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