James Burnett married Elizabeth Burnett in 1608. George Burnett (p. 112) records:

James Burnett, son of Alex. Burnett of Leys and immediate younger brother of Sir Thomas Burnett, 1st Baronet, could have been little younger than his brother Thomas. In terms, apparently, of a family compact made in 1598, when both were in pupillarity, he married, in 1608, when he could not have been above eighteen, Elizabeth Burnett, daughter and heir of Thomas Burnet of Craigmyle and Tillihaikie...

Elizabeth’s father, Thomas Burnet, resigned his lands of Craigmyle, Pitmedden, and the Mill of Craigmyle to his superior, the Earl of Huntly, in favour of the newlyweds. James and Elizabeth obtained sasine on 9^th November, under reservation of liferent of one half in favour of Thomas.

George Burnett’s account continues (pp. 112 - 113):

By this marriage James Burnet was enabled to add to Craigmyle and Pitmedden large property in the parishes of Kincardine O’Neil, Skene, and Fetteresso, partly in absolute property, partly in wadset, from the Earl Marishal, (p. 113) Sir William Douglas of Glenbervie, and others ; he seems, in fact, to have become almost as considerable a laird as his brother, Sir Thomas. The parish records of Fetteresso shew him resident in, and (along with his brother, Sir Thomas) an elder of, that parish, where the baptisms of six of his family were registered between 1620 and 1633. It does not, however, appear whether his place of residence was then Muchalls or Auquhorties, wadsetted to him by the Earl Marischal for 3000 marks. On 20th July, 1633, he had a grant of the ward and non-entry of the lands of the deceased Sir Simon Fraser of Inverallochy. Like Sir Thomas, he sided with the Covenant, and during the time of the “Troubles” his name often occurs, as has been already seen, but nearly always in the capacity of an advisor of moderate counsels, a peacemaker and negotiator, and an enemy of bloodshed. The cavalier parson of Rothiemay described him as “a gentleman of great wisdom, and one who favoured the King, though he dwelt among the Covenanters, and was loved and respected by all.” The Town-Clerk of Aberdeen, who has rarely a good word to say for a Covenanting laird, describes Craigmyle as a “peciabill weill set gentleman.” Among occurrences of 1644, in which Craigmyle was concerned, Spalding records the plundering of his armory of Blackhills, and his effort to make Huntly disband his troops, events dating shortly before his death, which occurred in the latter part of 1644 or beginning of 1645.

Forebears

James Burnett’s descent is detailed in connection with his granddaughter, Anne Burnett.