Alexander SETON, SIR

                   NOTE:
    Was entrusted the defense of Berwick during the Seige of Berwick in 1333.  While under seige from Edward III of England, Seton agreed to a truce in which he would surrender if not releived by 11 July 1333.  While a few troops arrived, Edward did not consider this a sufficient releif, and began to hang the hostages he had taken from Seton as collateral.  The first to be hung was Seton's son Thomas.  The Scots eventually lost the battle, and the city fell to the English.

He succeeded to his patrimonial estate, yet lived to enjoy it only a few years. He was the third, but eldest surviving son of the late Governor of Berwick. Maitland says that he was a wise and virtuous man; and after living honorably, died in peace and was buried in his family vault in the parish church of Seton. He married Margaret, sister to Sir William Murray, Captain of Edinburgh Castle, by whom he left an only child, a daughter, named, for her mother, Margaret; so that in him the direct male line of the family came, partially at least, to an end. Taylor says (Great Historic Families of Scotland, I., 128) that Sir Alexander "sought refuge from his sorrows and troubles in a hospital of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, and his daughter Margaret became the heiress of his extensive estates." It was, no doubt, in that age the most poignant domestic grief for a knight of large landed interest and of long descent to have no sons and to be left with one whom, however good and beautiful, he would love-- "As heiress and not heir regretfully."Sources: "The History of the House of Seytoun to the Year MDLIX", Sir Richard Maitland of Lethington, Knight, with the Continuation, byAlexander Viscount Kingston, to MDCLXXXVII. Printed at Glasgow, MDCCCXXIX."A History of the Family of Seton during Eight Centuries" George Seton, Advocate, M.A. Oxon., etc. Two vols. Edinburgh, 1896"An Old Family" Monsignor Seton, Call Number: R929.2 S495