John de Menteith

Sir John Menteith of Ruskie and Knapdale (c. 1275 – c. 1329) was a Scottish nobleman during the Wars of Scottish Independence. He is known for his capture of Sir William Wallace in 1305 and later joined with King Robert the Bruce and received large land grants in Knapdale and Kintyre for his service. He is described as "guardian" of the Earldom of Menteith, as his great-nephew Alan II, Earl of Menteith was a child at the time of the death of Alan I, Earl of Menteith.

Life John was the younger son of Mary I, Countess of Menteith, the daughter of Muireadhach II, Earl of Menteith, and Walter Bailloch Stewart. John possessed the land of Ruskie in Stirlingshire. John was a party to the Turnberry Bond with his father, Walter Stewart and the Bruces, which was signed at Turnberry Castle on 20 September 1286.

With his older brother Alexander, John was involved in the resistance against King Edward I of England and were both captured after the Battle of Dunbar on 27 April 1296. While Alexander was released after swearing fealty, John remained a prisoner at Nottingham Castle in England until August 1297, when Edward released John from prison, on his taking oath and giving security to serve with the king in the campaign of 1297 in Flanders.

He was appointed the Constable of Lennox and was ravaging the lands of Edward's partisans in Lennox in 1301. John was sent in 1303 to negotiate peace with the English, but refrained from pressing his mission. By 1303 John submitted and had been restored to Edward's favour, for on 20 March 1304 John was appointed Warden of the castle, town, and sheriffdom of Dumbarton. Edward was keen to secure the fortification as a major access route into Scotland by sea.

As sheriff of Dumbarton, in August 1305 John is alleged to have conspired with Aymer de Valence, 2nd Earl of Pembroke and Robert Clifford, 1st Baron Clifford, at the Parish Church in Rutherglen in Lanarkshire, to capture Sir William Wallace and have him handed over to the Captain of Scotland, below the Forth, John Segrave, 2nd Baron Segrave., a service for which he was to be rewarded with land, and titles.

Sir John de Menteith the younger, married Helen daughter of Gartnait, Earl of Mar Walter Menteith Johanna Menteith, married (1) Malise, 7th Earl of Strathearn, (2) John Campbell, Earl of Atholl, (3) Maurice de Moravia, Earl of Strathearn, (4) William de Moravia, 5th Earl of Sutherland