Peerage Record – 14229

     Agnes Anne Bilsland was born on 5 June 1896.¹ She was the daughter of Sir William Bilsland, 1st Bt. and Agnes Anne Steven.¹ She married David John Colville, 1st Baron Clydesmuir, son of John Colville and Janet Brown, on 6 October 1915.¹ She died on 29 December 1970 at age 74.²
     From 6 October 1915, her married name became Colville.¹ She was appointed Commander, Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (C.St.J.)³ She was awarded the Kaisar-i-Hind Gold Medal.³ She was appointed Imperial Order of the Crown of India (C.I.) in 1947.³ After her marriage, Agnes Anne Bilsland was styled as Baroness Clydesmuir on 5 May 1948.

     David John Colville, 1st Baron Clydesmuir was born on 13 February 1894.¹ He was the son of John Colville and Janet Brown.² He married Agnes Anne Bilsland, daughter of Sir William Bilsland, 1st Bt. and Agnes Anne Steven, on 6 October 1915.³ He died on 31 October 1954 at age 60.²
     David John Colville, 1st Baron Clydesmuir usually went by his middle name of John.¹ He was educated at Charterhouse School, Godalming, Surrey, England^G.² He graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge University, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England^G, in 1914 with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)¹ He gained the rank of officer in the 6th Battalion, Cameronians (Territorial Army.)² He fought in the First World War between 1914 and 1919, where he was wounded twice.² He was awarded the Territorial Decoration (T.D.)¹ He graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge University, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England^G, in 1920 with a Master of Arts (M.A.)² He held the office of Justice of the Peace (J.P.) in 1925.¹ He purchased Braidwood in 1928 from Francis Herbert Leyland Stevenson.² He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) (Unionist) for North Midlothian and Peebleshire between May 1929 and January 1943.² He held the office of Parliamentary Private Secretary in 1931, to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Scotland.² He held the office of Parliamentary Secretary to the Department of Overseas Trade between 1931 and 1935.² He held the office of Deputy Lieutenant (D.L.) in 1933.¹ He held the office of Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Scotland between 1935 and 1936.² He was appointed Privy Counsellor (P.C.) in 1936.¹ He held the office of Financial Secretary to the Treasury between 1936 and 1938.² He held the office of Secretary of State for Scotland between 1938 and 1940.² He gained the rank of Honorary Colonel between 1941 and 1946 in the 6th Battalion, Cameronians (Territorial Army.)² He was appointed Knight Grand Commander, Order of the Indian Empire (G.C.I.E.) in 1943.¹ He held the office of Governor of Burma between March 1943 and January 1948.² He was a director of Colville’s Ltd, steelmakers between 1948 and 1954.² He was created 1st Baron Clydesmuir, of Braidwood, co. Lanark [U.K.] on 5 May 1948.² He held the office of Vice-Lord-Lieutenant of Lanarkshire in 1949.² He was appointed Knight of Grace, Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (K.G.St.J.)² He gained the rank of Brigadier in the Royal Company of Archers.² He was governor of the BBC between 1950 and 1954.² He held the office of Lord-Lieutenant of Lanarkshire in 1952.¹

     Helen Isabel Bilsland was born on 28 August 1896.¹ She is the daughter of Sir William Bilsland, 1st Bt. and Agnes Anne Steven.¹ She married B. C. Thompson on 2 September 1937.¹
     From 2 September 1937, her married name became Thompson.¹

     B. C. Thompson married Helen Isabel Bilsland, daughter of Sir William Bilsland, 1st Bt. and Agnes Anne Steven, on 2 September 1937.¹

     Sir Thomas Biggs, 1st and last Bt. was born circa 1577.¹ He was the son of Sir Thomas Biggs and Ursula Throckmorton.¹ He married Anne Witham, daughter of William Witham.¹ He died on 11 June 1621, without issue.¹ He was buried at Norton, Worcestershire, England^G.¹ He died intestate and his estate was administered to a creditor on 26 June 1621.¹ He died intestate and his estate was administered to his sister’s children on 25 February 1655/56.¹
     He matriculated at Queen’s College, Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England^G, on 8 November 1594.¹ He was admitted to Middle Temple in 1597.¹ He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Evesham in 1614.¹ He was created 1st Baronet Biggs, of Lenchwicke, co. Worcester [England] on 26 May 1620.¹ He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Evesham in 1621.¹
     On his death, his baronetcy became extinct.¹

     Sir Thomas Biggs died on 4 May 1613.¹
     He lived at Lenchwicke, Worcestershire, England^G.¹

     Ursula Throckmorton was the daughter of Clement Throckmorton.¹

     Elizabeth Roche was born in 1840 at Bloomsbury, London, England.¹ She married Henry Froom in 1866 at Kensington, London, England.¹

     Anne Witham was the daughter of William Witham.¹ She married, firstly, Sir Thomas Biggs, 1st and last Bt., son of Sir Thomas Biggs and Ursula Throckmorton.¹ She married, secondly, Sir John Walter on 18 July 1622 at Isleworth, London, England^G.¹ She died after November 1630.¹
     Her married name became Biggs.¹ From 18 July 1622, her married name became Walter.¹

     William Witham lived at Leadstone, Yorkshire, England^G.¹