Biography of David Wemyss 4th Earl of Wemyss 1678-1720

On 28th March 1672 [his father] James Wemyss 1st Lord Burntisland [aged 15] and [his mother] Margaret Wemyss Countess Cromartie 3rd Countess Wemyss [aged 13] were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] David Wemyss 2nd Earl of Wemyss [aged 61] and [his grandmother] Margaret Leslie Countess Buccleuch and Wemyss [aged 51].

In 1678 David Wemyss 4th Earl of Wemyss was born to [his father] James Wemyss 1st Lord Burntisland [aged 21] and [his mother] Margaret Wemyss Countess Cromartie 3rd Countess Wemyss [aged 18].

In July 1679 [his grandfather] David Wemyss 2nd Earl of Wemyss [aged 68] died at Wemyss Castle. His daughter [his mother] Margaret [aged 20] succeeded 3rd Countess Wemyss. [his father] James Wemyss 1st Lord Burntisland [aged 22] by marriage Earl Wemyss.

In December 1682 [his father] James Wemyss 1st Lord Burntisland [aged 25] died.

After December 1682 [his step-father] George Mackenzie 1st Earl Cromartie [aged 52] and [his mother] Margaret Wemyss Countess Cromartie 3rd Countess Wemyss [aged 23] were married. The difference in their ages was 29 years. She the daughter of [his grandfather] David Wemyss 2nd Earl of Wemyss and [his grandmother] Margaret Leslie Countess Buccleuch and Wemyss [aged 62].

On 13th August 1697 David Wemyss 4th Earl of Wemyss [aged 19] and Anne Douglas were married. She the daughter of William Douglas 1st Duke Queensberry and Isabel Douglas Countess Queensberry. He the son of James Wemyss 1st Lord Burntisland and Margaret Wemyss Countess Cromartie 3rd Countess Wemyss [aged 38]. They were third cousin once removed.

On 30th August 1699 [his son] James Wemyss 5th Earl of Wemyss was born to David Wemyss 4th Earl of Wemyss [aged 21] and [his wife] Anne Douglas. He married 17th September 1720 Janet Charteris and had issue.

On 23rd February 1700 [his wife] Anne Douglas died ten days after an accident when her clothes caught on fire.

On 1st January 1703 [his step-father] George Mackenzie 1st Earl Cromartie [aged 73] was created 1st Earl Cromartie. [his mother] Margaret Wemyss Countess Cromartie 3rd Countess Wemyss [aged 44] by marriage Countess Cromartie.

On 11th March 1705 [his mother] Margaret Wemyss Countess Cromartie 3rd Countess Wemyss [aged 46] died. Her son David [aged 27] succeeded 4th Earl Wemyss.

On 5th January 1709 David Wemyss 4th Earl of Wemyss [aged 31] and Mary Robinson were married at St Martin in the Fields Church [Map]. He the son of James Wemyss 1st Lord Burntisland and Margaret Wemyss Countess Cromartie 3rd Countess Wemyss.

In 1712 [his wife] Mary Robinson died.

In July 1716 David Wemyss 4th Earl of Wemyss [aged 38] and Elizabeth St Clair were married. He the son of James Wemyss 1st Lord Burntisland and Margaret Wemyss Countess Cromartie 3rd Countess Wemyss.

In 1718 [his daughter] Elizabeth Wemyss Countess Sutherland was born to David Wemyss 4th Earl of Wemyss [aged 40] and [his wife] Elizabeth St Clair. She married 17th April 1734 her second cousin once removed William Sutherland 17th Earl Sutherland and had issue.

In or after 1719 [his daughter] Margaret Wemyss Countess Moray was born to David Wemyss 4th Earl of Wemyss [aged 41] and [his wife] Elizabeth St Clair.. She married 24th April 1740 her fifth cousin James Stuart 8th Earl of Moray, son of Francis Stuart 7th Earl of Moray, and had issue.

In 1720 David Wemyss 4th Earl of Wemyss [aged 42] died. His son James [aged 20] succeeded 5th Earl Wemyss.

In 1721 [his former wife] Elizabeth St Clair died.