Innes-Ker family, Dukes of Roxburghe

By the late Middle Ages the Ker family owned considerable estates, mainly in Roxburghshire, including Altonburn and Cessford (acquired 1467). In 1602 Robert Ker, created Earl of Roxburghe in 1616, was granted forfeited estates of Francis Stewart, Earl of Bothwell, including former Kelso Abbey property in Roxburghshire (Kelso, Sprouston etc.), Berwickshire (Little Newton etc.), Selkirk and elsewhere. He also acquired an East Lothian estate (Broxmouth, Pinkerton etc.) and in 1627 bought the barony of Broughton (Midlothian), with property in Edinburgh and West Lothian, from Sir William Bellenden.

William Drummond (later Ker), youngest son of the 2nd Earl of Perth by Jean Ker, the 1st Earl of Roxburghe's daughter, succeded as 2nd Earl in 1650. His grandson, John Ker, was created Duke of Roxburghe in 1707. On the death of the 3rd Duke in 1804 William Bellenden, 7th Baron Bellenden and heir male of the 2nd Earl, inherited the Roxburghe estates and title. (After the death of the 1st Baron Bellenden in 1671 his estates and title had passed to a younger son of the 2nd Earl). The title was dormant from the death of the 4th Duke in 1805 until 1812, when his cousin Sir James Innes (1736-1823), 6th baronet, of Innes (Morayshire) established his claim as 5th Duke.

Morayshire property was owned by the Innes family as early as the 13th century. In 1578 the estates of the Crombie and Rothmackenzie (Banffshire) branch of the family were added to those of Innes of Innes. Sir James Innes, 3rd baronet, married a daughter of the 1st Earl of Roxburghe in 1666. The 6th baronet sold his family estates to the second Earl Fife in 1767. His marriage to Mary, daughter of Sir John Wray, 12th baronet, by Frances Norcliffe, brought him the Norcliffe estate of Langton (Yorkshire, East Riding), which descended to his wife's nephew on her death in 1807. He also had property at Huish (Devon), apparently disposed of after his succession as Duke of Roxburghe.

Estates in 1883: 50,459 acres in Roxburghshire; 6,096 acres in Berwickshire; 3,863 acres in East Lothian; worth a total of £50,917 a year.