Stenton had been a superiority of the Lauder of the Bass family from the 13th century until the middle of the 17th century. Henry the Minstrel records in his poem The Wallace that William Wallace rewarded Sir Robert de Lawedre with the lands of Stenton in 1297. Bain records long lists of Scots who have been forfeited of properties by the English King Edward III between 1335 and 1337: Robert de Lawedre 'fils' has forfeited half the domain lands of Stenton (where he is described as his father's son and heir), the other half being retained by his mother, Elizabeth. The Lauders retained Stenton parish down through the centuries: the Exchequer Rolls record that
