Somerville first married Helen Hepburn (daughter of Lord Hailes).
Red-Bag would later be involved in rivalry over the Somerville family estates (died on Flodden Field 1513).
On 9 July 1466, Lord John, with the Boyds, Adam Hepburn, Master of Hailes, and Andrew Ker of Cessford, abducted James III of Scotland who was hunting near Linlithgow Palace to Edinburgh.
(Elizabeth by her previous marriage was a sister-in-law of George Douglas, 4th Earl of Angus's wife)[3] However, there is no record of this visit in the King's financial accounts.
Soon after Lord John died, and on 14 February 1492 Marion Baillie, Lady Somerville, sued for 1000 marks to be given according to a marriage contract made for her deceased son William, Master of Somerville, to Jonet Douglas, daughter of William Douglas of Drumlanrig.