SCOTLAND HISTORY

Clan Lamont:

Origins of the Clan:

The Lamonts desecend from the Scotts who crossed the sea from Ireland. Their original name in Ireland meant "law-giver". They founded the Kingdom of Dalriada. Their territory was in Cowal once stretching to Bute and Arran. The Chief was called Fearchar. He had two sons called Duncan and Malcolm, they granted lands to the Monks of Paisly. The name Lamont came from the name of Malcom's son called Ladman. Malcolm and his brother Ducan established their seats as Chiefs at the Catle Toward and the Castle Ascog.

14th & 15th Centuries:

Clan Lamonts influence increased down through the years with alliances with some of the most powerful clans in Scotland. The Lamonts married into the family of the powerful Clan Macdonald, Lord of the Isles. The Lamont's territory expended into the Isle of Bute although the clan remained firmy entrenched in Cowal. The Lamonts also settled in Fife, Galloway, and Ayrshire. The Lamonts were also favoured by the Royal House of Stewart.

Civil War:

In the 17th century during the Civil War the Clan Lamont supported the Royalist cause for King Charles I. The powerful Clan Campbell, neighbours of the Clan Lamont had steadily enroached the Lamont's lands. After the Campbells were defeated by James Graham the 1st Marquess of Montrose at the Battle of Inverlochy in 1645 the Lamonts took the opportunity to lay waste to the Campbell's territory. However the following year in 1646 the Clan Campbell army invaded the Lamonts taking their Castles Toward and Ascog. Sir James Lamont surrendered after accepting fair terms for his people. However the Campbells then slaughterd over two hundred of Lamont's men, women and children. Elsewhere one tree was said to have carried thirty five bodies from its branches and another thirty six men were buried alive. The two Lamont castles were decimated and Sir James Lamont was thrown into a dungeon for five years. This became known as the Dunoon Massacre.

Jacobite Uprisings:

The Clan Lamont did not take part in the Jacobite Uprisings, remaining neutral.

Clan Lennox:

Origin of name:

The name Lennox in gaelic comes from the place of the same name. The clan name comes from the title of Earl of Lennox which commanded the vale of Leven between the 12th and 15th centuries.

15th Century:

In 1424 the Clan Lennox was decimated and Iain Colquhoun of Luss of Clan Colquhoun took advatage of this to win the King's favour by capturing Dumbarton Castle from Lennox. Sir John Stuart of Darnley was created 1st Earl of Lennox of the new line by King James III of Scotland in 1473. Malcolm the fith Earl of Lennox led Clan Lennox into England and besieged Carlisle Castle.

16th Century:

A clan battle took place between the Clan Kincaid and the Clan Lennox of Woodhead in 1570. Henry Stuart (1545-1567) Lord Darnley and the eldest son of the 4th Earl of Lennox was the second husband of Mary Queen of Scots. He was also the father of King James VI of Scotland. The King promoted the 8th Earl of Lennox to Duke of Lennox in 1581.

Clan Leslie:

Origin of name:

The family name comes from the Leslie lands of Aberdeenshire and was to become famous in Germany, Poland, France and Russia. A Flemish noble named Bartholf settled in this area and in the 12th century one of his sons obtained a charter for the Barony of Lesly from William the Lion.

15th Century & Clan Conflicts:

Sir Andrew de Lesly was one of the signatories when a letter, the Declaration of Arbroath, was sent to the Pope in 1320 asserting Scotland’s independence. When his son Walter died at the Battle of Harlaw in 1411 before gaining a son of his own.

16th Century Clan Conflicts & Anglo-Scottish Wars:

During the Anglo-Scottish Wars George de Lesly was the Leslys' first Earl. His grandson, the 2nd Earl was killed at the Battle of Flodden Field in 1513 and the third Earl, also George, carried out a private family vendetta on the life of David Beaton, cardinal Archbishop of St Andrews. At the trial he was acquitted. Battle with the Clan Ruthven 1544, In 1544 the Ruthvens who held considerable sway over Perth from their nearby Castle Huntingtower, often disputed the authority of the Clan Charteris, which led to a bitter and bloody feud. In 1544 Patrick, Lord Ruthven, was elected Provost of Perth, but at the instigation of Cardinal Beaton, who suspected Ruthven of Protestant sympathies, he was deprived of the office, and John Charteris of Kinfauns was appointed in his stead. The city declined to acknowledge Charteris, and barred the gates against him. Clan Charteris, along with Lord Gray and Clan Leslie, gathered their forces and attacked the town. They were repulsed by the Clan Ruthven who were assisted by their neighbours the Clan Moncrieff, and Charterises was forced to flee. The Ruthvens remained Provosts of Perth until William Ruthven, Earl of Gowrie, was executed in 1584. In 1552 John Charteris had been killed by the earl’s heir in the High Street in Edinburgh. One of the most highly respected Leslies is said to be John Leslie, the Bishop of Ross, who was born in 1526. He was the most loyal of Mary Queen of Scots supporters during the turbalent times of 1562. It was John Leslie who wrote for her the famous ‘History of Scotland’. In 1571 the Clan Leslie joined forces with the Clan Gordon against their bitter enemies the Clan Forbes. The Gordons were also joined by Clan Irvine and Clan Seton. The Forbes were joined by Clan Fraser, Clan Keith and Clan Crichton. The feud between the Gordons and Forbes which had gone on for centuries culminated in two full scale battles: The Battle of Tillieangus and the Battle of Craibstone. It was at the Battle of Tillieangus that the 6th Lord Forbes's youngest son known as Black Aurther Forbes was killed. Legend has it that "he stooped down to quench his thirst and one of the Gordons gave him his death blow through an open joint in his armour".

17th Century & Thirty Years' War:

During the Thirty Years' War General Alexander Leslie of Balgonie fought for Gustavus Adolphus, the King of Sweden. He achieved great fame across Europe for his skills in war and returned to Scotland a Field Marshal.

17th Century & Civil War:

Commanding the Covenanters Alexander Leslie captured Edinburgh Castle with a thousand men. With the Scots Alexander Leslie, 1st Earl of Leven went into England in 1640 and defeated the King’s soldiers at the Battle of Newburn. For this he was created Earl of Lewis by King Charles I. General Alexander Leslie of Balgonie fought for Gustavus Adolphus, the King of Sweden. He achieved great fame across Europe for his skills in war and returned to Scotland a Field Marshal. During the Civil War General David Leslie is victorious commanding his Scottish Covenanters force against a Scottish Royalist force at the Battle of Philiphaugh in 1645. Dunaverty Castle was a MacDonald stronghold. During the Civil War it was besiged in 1647 by Scottish supporters of Oliver Cromwell who were led by General David Leslie from Clan Leslie. The MacDonalds surrended and then 300 of them were massacred. The castle is nothing more than a ruin now, known as Blood Rock. During the Civil War General David Leslie laid siege to the Royalist garrison at Kincardine Castle. The Castle was being held by the Chief of Clan MacNab. MacNab found that it would not be possable to maintain defense and during the night, sword in hand at the head of 300 men they cut their way through the beseiging force. All made it through apart from the MacNab chief himself and one other man who were captured and sent to Edinburgh as prisoners of war. The chief was sentenced to death but he escaped and rejoined King Charles and continued to fight. MacNab was later killed at the Battle of Worcester in 1651. During the Civil War General David Leslie's Scottish Covenanter force is defeated by the Scottish Parlimentarian forces who were at this point in time loyal to the Parliament of England and Oliver Cromwell at the Battle of Dunbar (1650). David Leslie succesfully commands Scottish Argyll Government Royalist forces at the Battle of Carbisdale (1650) where he is victorious against Scottish Royaslist forces commanded by James Graham 1st Marquess of Montrose. General David Leslie's Royalist Forces are defeated at the Battle of Worcester in 1651. Sir David Leslie who was now commanding Royalist forces, supported the plan of fighting in Scotland, where royal support was strongest. King Charles, however, insisted on making the war in England.

18th Century & Jacobite Uprisings:

During the Jacobite Uprisings the Clan Leslie supported the British government. The 9th Earl of Rothes now the Duke of Rothes was Vice Admiral of Scotland and governor of Stirling Castle. He commanded a British regiment of cavalry at the Battle of Sherrifmuir in 1715 where he helped defeat the Jacobites.

Septs:

Abernethy Bartholomew Cairney Laing Leslie Lesley Lessely Lessley Lesslie

Clan Lindsay :

Origin of name:

The Lindsays are descended from Danes who had come to England between the 6th and 9th centuries. After the Norman conquest of 1066 'Baldric Lindsay' became a tenant under the Earl of Chester in England. In 1120 Sir Walter Lindsay was a member of the council of David, Earl of Huntingdon who became King of Scotland. Sir Walter Lindsay's successor, either his son or brother came to Scotland with the new King. William Lindsay acquired the lands of Crawford in Lanarkshire, Scotland. He gave some of his Ayrshire lands to the Dryburgh Abbey. In the 13th century Sir David Lindsay of Crawford joind King Louis IX of France on a crusade but he was killed in Egypt. One of the crusader's sons Sir Alexander Leslie was a Knight of King Edward I of England.

14th Century & Wars of Scottish Independence:

By the end of the 13th century the Wars of Scottish Independence had begun and it caused many dilemmas for the Lindsays as they had families on both sides of the border. However Sir Alexander Leslie's patriotism made him take the side of Scotland. The Lindsays were supporters of both William Wallace and King Robert the Bruce. His English properties were forfeited and his sons there were imprisoned. The eldest of these sons Sir David Lindsay was later among the signatories of the Declaration of Arbroath, the 1320 assertion of Scottish Independence. Sir James Lindsay fought at the Battle of Otterburn in 1388 where the Scottish defeated the English. It was Sir Alexander Lindsay of Glenesk who during John Gaunts invasion of Scotland, attacked and put to the sword the crew of one of the English ships that had landed above Queen's Ferry.

15th Century & Clan Conflicts:

At the Battle of Arbroath in 1445 the Clan Lindsay led by the Master of Crawford advanced with over 1000 men. Their enemey was the Clan Ogilvy who were also supported by men from the Clan Oliphant, Clan Gordon, Clan Seton and Clan Forbes of Pitsligo. the Masters father the The Earl of Crawford rode inbetween the two armies in an attempt to call a truce. However, an illadvised Ogilvie, thinking that this was the start of the Lindsay's attack, threw his spear at the Earl, hitting him in the mouth and killing him instantly. So the battle began which went in the Clan Lindsay's favour. Here fell Ogilvie of Inverquharty, Forbes of Pitsligo, Brucklay of Gartley, Gordon of Borrowfield, and Oliphant of Aberdalgie, along with 500 or so Ogilvie's. However, the Lindsays lost a disproportionate amount of men, most notably the Earl himself. In 1448 Lord Lindsay of Byres gave King James III of Scotland the "great grey horse" which would carry him faster into battle than any other horse in Scotland. Lord Lindsay himself led a force of several thousand at the Battle of Sauchieburn. During the 15th century the Clan Lindsay lost much of their land due to feuding with the Clan Ogilvy. Chief Alexander Lindsay, the 4th Earl of Crawford, also known as the Tiger Earl and Earl Beardie was badly defeated by the Clan Ogilvy and the Clan Gordon under the Earl of Huntly at Brechin in 1452. However all was not lost as Alexander Lindsay's son was made Duke of Montrose by King James III of Scotland.

16th Century & Anglo-Scottish Wars:

In the 16th Century during the Anglo-Scottish Wars the Clan Lindsay fought at the Battle of Flodden Field in 1513 where their chief, the 6th Earl of Crawford was slain. The fith Lord Lindsay was one of the four nobles to whom the charge of th infant Mary Queen of Scots was commited in 1542. His son Patrick, the 6th Lord, was a fierce reformer and Lord of the Congretion. He took part in the murder of David Rizzo and challeged Bothwell to mortal combat at Carberry Hill, and at Lochleven Castle forced the Queen to then give up her crown. It was from this line that the 10th Lord was made 1st Earl of Lindsay by King Charles in the 17th century. The Lindsays later supported Mary, Queen of Scots and fought for her at the Battle of Langside in 1568.

17th Century & Civil War:

In the 17th century during the Civil War the Clan Lindsay were Royalist supporters of King Charles Stuart of England, Scotland & Ireland. The death of the Clan Lindsay Chief and 16th Earl in 1652 was the last of that line to be Earl of Crawford and the Earldom was passed into the hands of King Charles. However another line of Lindsays received a new title, held by John the 1st Earl of Lindsay who was also already the 10th Lord Lindsay of Byres.

18th Century & Jacobite Uprisings:

The Lindsays of Balcarres descend from a younger son of the ninth Earl of Crawford. they were created Earls of Balcarres for their services during the Civil War. The 1st Earl of Balcarres was made hereditary governor of Edinburgh Castle. His son supported the Jacobite Uprising and fought at the Battle of Sherrifmuir in 1715. The Clan Lindsay did not take part in the Jacobite Uprising of 1745 to 1746

Septs:

Buyers Byers Cobb Crawford Deuchar Deuchars Downie Fotheringham Lyndsay Lindsey Lyndsey Lindesey Rhind Rhynd Summers Sumner

Clan Logan :

14th Century & Robert the Bruce:

In 1329 during the Wars of Scottish Independence Sir Walter Logan and Sir James Logan accompanied Sir James Douglas of the Clan Douglas on the mission to take the heart of King Robert the Bruce to the Holy Lands. However they were all killed in Spain before achieving their task. Sir Robert Logan of Restalrig married Bruce’s great grand-daughter and became the Admiral of Scotland in 1400. The Logans of Restalrig were eventually outlawed and disbanded but Logans still did well in Lothian.

15th Century:

The Highland branch trace themselves to Gilligorm who was a Clan leader in Easter Ross. A battle took place between the Clan Fraser and Clan Logan at Kessock where Gilligorm the Chief of Clan Logan was killed. Legend has it that his widow was pregnant when she was dragged off by the Frasers. When her son was born they broke his back to prevent him growing to be a warrior. However it could be that she gave birth to a deformed child, Crotair Mac Gilligorm. Crotair was and educated by monks and founded the churches of Kilmuir in Skye and Kilchrinin in Glenelg. The Clan Logan or MaClennas supported the Clan MacKenzie during their feud against the Clan MacDonnell of Glengarry.

Civil War:

During the Civil War many of the Clan died supporting the Clan MacKenzie at the Battle of Auldearn in 1645 where they were defeated by James Graham the 1st Marquess of Montrose.

Clan Lumsden :

Origin of name:

The name Lumsden derives from the old manor of Lumsden in the parrish of Coldingham in Berwickshire. The earliest known recordings of the name appear between 1166 and 1182 when the brothers Gillem (William) and Cren de Lumsden witnessed a charter by Waldeve Earl of Dunbar to the Priory of Coldingham.The lands of Lumsden are first mentioned in a charter dated 1098 of King Edgar of Scotland and his son Malcolm Canmore. Gillem and his brother Cren are the first recorded owners of the land. In 1296 Adam Lumsden and Roger de Lumsden were among the Scottish clan leaders who were force homage to King Edward I of England with both of their names appearing on the Ragman Rolls.

14th Century:

Around 1328 Gillbert de Lumsden married a heiress of Blanerne and by 1329 had received a charter for the Blanerne lands by the Earl of Angus. By the mid 14th century offshoots of the Lumsden clan had charters and lands confirmed to them in Conlan in Fife and Medlar and Cushnie in Aberdeenshire.

17th Century & Thirty Years' War:

In the early 17th century during the Thirty Years' War the Clan Lumsden fought for the Swedish King Gustavus Adolphus in a unit called "Lumsden's Musketeers".

17th Century & Civil War:

One of the Lumsden brothers, James Lumsden returned from the war in Europe with his men to fight in the Civil War which was taking place in England, Ireland and Scotland to support the Covenanters. They fought at the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644 where King Charles I was defeated. They also fought at the Battle of Dunbar (1650) under David Leslie where the Covenanters were defeated by the Parliamentarians. James Lumsden's brother Robert defended Dundee against General Monck but he was killed on its surrender.

18th Century & Jacobite Uprisings:

During the Jacobite Uprisings of 1745 to 1746 the Chief of Clan Lumsden was Prince Charles Edward Stuart's secretary. After the Battle of Culloden the chief fled to Rome. He returned to Scotland in 1773 and was pardoned by the British government. His tartan waistcoat is preserved at Pitcaple Castle.

Clan Lyon :

Origin of name:

Although Sir Iain Moncreiffe of that Ilk, perhaps the greatest herald genealogist believed that his family were of Celtic origin and descended from a younger son of the Lamonts, the generally accepted view is that they descended from a French family called de Leon, who came north with Edgar, son of Malcolm III, at the end of the eleventh century to fight against his uncle, Donald Bane, the usurper of the throne. Edgar was triumphant, and de Leon received lands in Perthshire which were later called Glen Lyon. Roger de Leonne witnessed a charter of Edgar to the Abbey at Dunfermline in 1105.

14th Century:

In 1372 Robert II granted to Sir John Lyon, called the White Lyon because of his fair complexion, the thanage of Glamis. Five years later he became Chamberlain of Scotland, and his prominence was such that he was considered fit to marry the king¹s daughter, Princess Joanna, who brought with her not only illustrious lineage, but also the lands of Tannadice on the River Esk. He was later also granted the barony of Kinghorne. He was killed during a quarrel with Sir James Lindsay of Crawford near Menmuir in Angus.

15th Century:

The family have descended in a direct line from the White Lion and Princess Joanna to the present day, and their crest alludes to this. His only son, another John, was his successor, and he strengthened the royal ties by marrying a granddaughter of Robert II. Sir John¹s son, Patrick, was created Lord Glamis in 1445 and thereafter became a Privy Councillor and Master of the Royal Household.

16th Century:

John, the sixth Lord Glamis, was, according to a tradition, a quarrelsome man with a quick temper. He married Janet Douglas, granddaughter of the famous Archibald Bell the Cat, and after his death she suffered terribly for the hatred which James V bore to all of her name. Lady Glamis was accused on trumped-up charges of witchcraft and, despite speaking boldly in her own defence, her doom was preordained. She was burned at the stake on the castle hill at Edinburgh on 3 December 1540. The eighth Lord Glamis renounced his allegiance to Mary Queen of Scots and served under the Regents Moray and Lennox. He was made Chancellor of Scotland and Keeper of the Great Seal for life, and his son, the ninth Lord, was captain of the Royal Guard and one of James VIs Privy Councillors.

17th Century & Civil War:

In 1606 he was created Earl of Kinghorne, Viscount Lyon and Baron Glamis. His son, the second Earl, was a close personal friend of James Graham the Marquess of Montrose and was with him when he subscribed to the National Covenant in 1638. He accompanied Montrose on his early campaigns in defence of the Covenant , but despite his great affection for the Marquess, he could not support him when he broke with the Scots Parliament to fight for Charles I. Lyon almost ruined his estates in supporting the Army of the Covenant against his friend. In 1677 the third Earl of Kinghorne obtained a new patent of nobility, being styled thereafter Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne Viscount Lyon, Baron Glamis, Tannadyce, Sidlaw and Strathdichtie. He paid off the debts he inherited from his father by skillful management of the estates and was later able to alter and enlarge the Castle of Glamis. John, his son, although a member of the Privy Council, opposed the Treaty of Union of 1707.

18th Century & Jacobite Uprisings:

His son was a Jacobite who fought in the rising of 1715 at the Battle of Sheriffmuir in Tullibardine's regiment. He died defending his regiment's colours. In 1716 James, the Old Pretender. son of James VII, was entertained at Glamis. Thirty years later another king¹s son, but a much less welcome one, the Duke of Cumberland, stopped at the castle on his march north to Culloden. It is said that after he left the bed which he had used was dismantled. Among the Jacobite relics now preserved at Glamis are a sword and watch belonging to James VIII, the Old Pretender, and an intriguing tartan coat worn by him. The youngest daughter of the fourteenth Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne is HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother Likely came from the LYON charge from the coat-of-arms of Sir John de Lyon (Argent, Lion Rampant Azure, Riband Gules)

Septs:

Lion(s) Lyons Lehane or Lehan