Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Home, Alexander (d.1456)
HOME or HUME, Sir ALEXANDER (d. 1456), of Home, warden of the marches, was the eldest son of Sir Alexander Home of Dunglass, by Jean, daughter of Sir William Hay of Locharret. His father was killed at the battle of Verneuil on 17 Aug. 1424. The family were relatives and feudatories of the earls of Dunbar and March, but on the forfeiture of that family in 1435 became manorial tenants of the crown. They then succeeded in some degree to the position previously held by their chiefs, and gradually they acquired an authority and influence greater than that formerly wielded by them. Sir Alexander had a charter of part of the barony of Home or Hume, 4 Sept. 1439; of the office of balliary of Coldingham in 1442; of the lands of Lamben in Berwickshire, and the office of sheriff depute of the county of Berwick for life from John Halyburton, 3 Jan. 1447-8. In 1449 he was one of the guarantors of a treaty with England, and warden of the marches (Rymer, Fœdera, xi. 253). On 9 Nov. 1450 he had a safe-conduct abroad with William, eighth earl of Douglas [q. v.], when the latter paid a visit to Rome (Cal. Documents relating to Scotl. iv. Entry 1229), and on 23 April of the following year he had another safe-conduct for a year with the earl (ib. 1232). On 20 June of this latter year Home founded the collegiate church of Dunglass, for a provost and several prebendaries, and endowed it with lands in Chirnside, the charter being confirmed by the king on 22 Aug. (Reg. Mag. Sig. Scotl. i. entry 389). He was one of the envoys sent by the Scottish king, 27 July of the same year, to treat for a truce with England (Cal. Documents relating to Scotl. iv. 1235), and on 14 Aug. concluded a truce for three years (ib. 1239). On the threatened invasion of Scotland in 1453 by Percy, earl of Northumberland, accompanied by James, ninth earl of Douglas, Home was provided with victuals and shafts of lances for the defence of the house of Home at a cost of 20l. (Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, iv. 607). He died in 1456. By his wife Mariota, daughter of Sir Robert Lauder of Bass, he had five sons, of whom the eldest, Alexander (d. 1491) [q. v.], succeeded him.
[Exchequer Rolls of Scotl.; Cal. of Documents relating to Scotl. vol. iv.; Reg, Mag, Sig. Scotl. vol. 1.; Rymer’s Fœdera; Douglas’s Scottish Peerage (Wood), i. 732]