Catherine Evans
Beinecke Library Catalogue
The youngest daughter of the Second Earl of Kincardie and Veronica van Aerssen, she married James Boswell (1675-1749) in 1704, with a portion of 20,000 marks. Prior to her marriage she cared for her brother, Alexander the 3rd Earl of Kincardine, who was blind and reportedly "of weak intellect" or potentially suffering from mental health problems. After she was wed Betty took charge of the estate whilst her husband pursued his legal career in Edinburgh, clearing the debts of Auchinleck and purchasing more lands including the Barony of Trabeoch. She was a devout Presbyterian, as was her husband. The couple had four children who survived to adulthood. The eldest, Veronica Boswell, married David Montgomerie of Lainshaw in 1729. Alexander Boswell, the eldest son, was born in 1707. Three years later, twin sons, John and James, were born. She died of dropsy in 1734.