 Col. David Barclay was the son of David Barclay (1580–1660), 11th of Mathers, of Kincardineshire, Scotland and Elizabeth Livingstone, daughter of John Livingston of Dunipace.On 26 January 1648, he married Katherine Gordon (1621–1663), daughter of Sir Robert Gordon, 1st Baronet, MP (1580–1656), founder of the Gordonstoun estate, and Louisa Gordon of London, on December 24, 1647 in Kincardine.Katherine was a third cousin of Charles I.