Margaret, Lady Yester
Her parents were Mark Ker(r), 1st Earl of Lothian (d. 1609) and Margaret Maxwell (daughter of John Maxwell, 6th Lord Herries of Terregles (d. 1631)).
She had had four brothers: Robert, second earl of Lothian, Sir William Ker of Blackhope, Sir Mark Ker, and Hon. Henry Ker, and seven sisters: Janet, married, first to Robert, master of Boyd, and secondly to David, tenth earl of Crawford; Janet, married to William, eighth earl of Glencairn; Isabell, married to William, first earl of Queensberry; Lilias, married to John, lord Borthwick; Mary, married to Sir James Richardson of Smeaton; and Elizabeth, married to Sir Alexander Hamilton of Innerwick.
Her first marrige was to James Hay, 7th Lord Hay of Yester (c.1564 - 1608). They had two sons, John who became 8th Lord Hay of Yester and Sir William for whom she purchased the Barony of Linplam. After many years she remarried, to Sir Andrew Ker, Master of Jedburgh. She died on 15 March 1647 at the age of 75.
Among her many donations and good works she contributed 1000 merks towards building the Tron Kirk in Edinburgh and the funds to build Lady Yester's Kirk (Church of Scotland)in Infirmary Street, at the corner of High School Wynd, completed in 1647.
The original building was damaged by Oliver Cromwell's troops during their invasion of Scotland. It was replaced by the current structure (built 1803-5), slightly to the west and designed by William Sibbald, now a Category B listed building.
In 1938 the congregation merged with Greyfriars Kirk and there is now the Lady Yester Chapel within Greyfriars Kirk and the original commemorative tablet which marked her tomb in the walls of the first and replacement church has been moved here too.