Celebrating the heritage of the lands our surname derived from.
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Myth 1: The fours sons of Alexander Kincaid, Lord Provost of Edinburgh
It has been widely circulated that Alexander Kincaid, Lord Provost of Edinburgh, had four sons who in 1746 fought in a rearguard action after the Battle of Culloden. It is said that they were captured but escaped and fled to Virginia in the United States of America where they became patriarchs of a number of Kincaid lines emanating from there.
Alexander Kincaid, Lord Provost of Edinburgh, is on record as having only one son, Alexander, who succeeded to him in his office. Alexander Kincaid Jr. himself died a single man not long thereafter and his heir was a distant relative, John Kincaid, tenant in Grange. This is illustrated by the following records.
- Jan 21. At Edinburgh, in the 66th year of his age, Alexander Kincaid, Esq; Lord Provost of that capital, printer and stationer to his Majesty for Scotland. He died suddenly. A single gentleman sitting with him in his room, on business, he gently leaned back his head in his chair, and died instantly without a groan, or the least seeming pain. By his lady, the Hon. Carolina Kerr, who died Aug. 14, 1774, and was daughter of Lord Charles Kerr, and granddaughter of the Marquis of Lothian, his Lordship has left issue, a son, Alexander, who succeeds to his offices [The Edinburgh Magazine and Literary Miscellany. Vol. 39 (Jan. 1777): 55].
- Testament testamentar and Inventory of the debts and sums of money pertaining to Alexander Kincaid, Esq., H.M. Printer and Stationer for Scotland who deceased 21st January 1777, given up by himself, 13th April 1769, as concerns the nomination of his sole legatee, and now given up by Alexander Kincaid, only son of the deceased as concerns the Inventory ... [National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, UK. CC8: Edinburgh Commissary Court, Alexander Kincaid, H.M. printer and stationer for Scotland, registered 7 March 1777].
- Letters of General Charge raised by the Trustees against John Kincaid, tenant in Grange, eldest son of deceased John Kincaid, tenant in Grange, who was the only son of the deceased John Kincaid, tenant in Grange, the immediate elder brother of the also deceased Alexander Kincaid, writer in Edinburgh, father of the said deceased Provost Alexander Kincaid and apparent heir of line and conquest to him and to said Alexander Kincaid, younger, his son ...[National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, UK. RD3/248: Register of Deeds Second Series, Durie's Office (Dur), vol. 248, folio 589-598].