John Elphinstone, 2nd Lord Balmerino 22
- Marriage: Anne Ker in September 1613
- Died: 28 February 1649, Edinburgh
- Buried: 1649, Restalrig Church
Cause of his death was Apoplexy.
General Notes:
His father had died under forfeiture so Elphinstone did not succeed to the title in 1612, but he was restored to the peerage on 4 August 1613 as the second Lord Balmerino. In December 1634 he was accused of °penning and setting down of a scandalous libel, and divulging and dispersing it amongst his Majesty's lieges; at the least of concealing and not revealing of Mr William Haig (Hargrave, 1.593). The jury was split down the middle, and only the casting vote of its foreman, the treasurer Sir John Stewart, now earl of Traquair, ensured a guilty verdict. Balmerino was sentenced to death, and accepted his sentence °with a smyle and with a low curtsie (Row, 378). The sentence was suspended until the king's will was declared, and Balmerino was returned to Edinburgh Castle. Well aware of public opinion, Traquair advised the king not to carry out the death sentence. In July 1635, after thirteen months incarceration, Balmerino was freed from Edinburgh Castle, and allowed to return to his estates in Fife on condition that he remained within 6 miles of his house at Balmerino. In November, he was finally granted his full liberty. On the evening of 27 February 1649 Balmerino dined with Argyll in Edinburgh and retired to bed in good spirits, but awoke feeling sick about three in the morning of 28 February, and died suddenly of an apoplexy.
John married Anne Ker, daughter of Sir Thomas Ker and Unknown, in September 1613. (Anne Ker died on 15 February 1650.)
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