| He was second surviving son of Sir Walter, and succeeded his father between 1581 and 15 May 1583. He is on one or two occasions designed Sir William Ker, but there is no evidence of his having received knighthood. He was appointed Commissioner for Musters 5 March 1573-74. He is designed 'Sir' William Ker of Cessford on 15 May 1583, when he and the two other Wardens, Lord Home and John Johnstone of that Ilk, were forbidden to go out of the bounds of their respective wardenries without permission in writing from the King. He was probably concerned in the Ruthven Raid, for on 8 March 1584-85 as ' late Warden of the Middle Marches,' being in ward, he was ordered to cause Robert Menteith, 'his warden clerk, to deliver up the books and rollis' of his office of wardenry, and to appoint some gentleman of his kin to be answerable for his men and tenants while he was in ward. He was one of those who joined the Banished Lords at Kelso, on their return to Scotland, and marched with them to Stirling, successfully overthrowing Arran's government 4 November 1585. He was restored to the King's favour 10 December 1585, and on 31 January 1585-86 appears again as Warden of the Middle Marches, receiving an order to hold a Justice Court in the Tolbooth of Jedburgh. He was appointed, 20 July 1587, as a Commissioner to treat for the defence of the realm in time of war. After the general revocation of grants, he had a Crown charter, dated 16 August 1587, of the lands and barony of Ormiston, with 20 merklands of Maxton in liferent, and to his second son Mark in fee, with remainder to the lawful heirs-male of the body of the said Mark, failing whom, to his own heirs-male and assignees whatsoever. He had a confirmation charter, 8 April 1588, of a long list of lands in East Teviotdale, and of lands formerly pertaining to the archdeanery of Teviotdale in the county of Roxburgh, all of which lands resigned by himself were, with the ecclesiastical lands of Lilliesleaf, united into the free barony of Roxburghe, to him in feu farm, and to the lawful heirs-male of his body, whom failing, to his nearest lawful heirs-male whatsoever bearing the name and arms of Ker. He had another charter of the lands and barony of Ormiston, in the same terms as previously, 24 January 1591-92. In the Great Seal Register his name appears as holding the office of Warden of the Middle Marches 1587-92, and again in 1595. He had a charter of the lands and vills of Bourhoip, Singill, Erneheuch, and Windydurris, in the lordship of Ettrick Forest, Selkirk, in feu farm, united into the free barony of Erneheuch, to himself and the lawful heirs-male of his body, failing whom, to his nearest lawful heirs-male whatsoever, bearing the name and arms of Ker 20 July 1595.9 |