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| It is an old and accredited tradition in the Highlands, that the Lamonds or Lamonts were the most ancient proprietors of Cowal, and that the Stewarts, MacLachlans, and Campbells obtained possession of their property in that district by marriage with daughters of the family. At an early period a very small part only of Cowal was included in the Sheriffdom of Upper Argyle, the remainder being comprehended in that of Perth . It may, therefore, be presumed that, on the conquest of Argyle by Alexander II, It appears indeed, that, in 1242, Alexander the High Steward of Scotland, married Jean, the daughter of James, son of Angus MacRory, who is styled Lord of Bute; and, from the manuscript of 1450, we learn that, about the same period, Gilchrist MacLachlan married the daughter of Lachlan MacRory; from which it is probable that this Roderick or Rory was the third individual who obtained a crown charter for Lower Cowal, and that by these intermarriages the property passed from his family into the hands of the Stewarts. |
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After the marriage of the Steward with the heiress of Lamond, the next of that race of whom any mention is made is Duncan MacFercher and "Laumanus", son of Malcolm, and grandson of the same Duncan, who appear to have granted to the monks of Paisley a charter of the lands of Kilmore, near Lochgilp, and also the lands "which they and their predecessors held at Kilmun”. In the same year, "Laumanus", the son of Malcolm, also granted a charter of the lands of Kilfinnan, which, in 1295, is confirmed by Malcolm, the son and heir of the late "Laumanus" (domini quondam Laumanis). |
But in an instrument, or deed, dates in 1466, between the monastery of Paisley and John Lamond of Lamond, regarding the lands of Kilfinnan, it is expressly stated, that these lands had belonged to the ancestors of John Lamond; and hence, it is evident, that the "Laumanus", mentioned in the previous deed, must have been one of the number, if not indeed the chief and founder of the family.
In June 1646, certain chiefs of the clan Campbell in the vicinity of Dunoon castle, determined upon obtaining the ascendency of the period, to wage a war of extermination against the Lamonds. The massacre of the latter by the Campbells , that year, formed one of the charges against the Marquis of Argyll in 1661, although he does not seem to have been any party to it.
An interesting tradition is recorded of one of the lairds of Lammond, who had unfortunately killed, in a sudden quarrel, the son of MacGregor of Glenstrae, taking refuge in the house of the latter, and claiming his protection, which was readily granted, he being ignorant that he was the slayer of his son. On being informed, MacGregor escorted him in safety to his own people. When the MacGregor's were proscribed, and the aged chief of Glenstrae had become a wanderer, Lamond hastened to protect him and his family, and received them into his house.
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Chief: Lamont of that Ilk
Clan Seat: Ardlamont, Argyll; Castle Toward
Plant: Crab Apple
Memorials: None |
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| It is claimed that this family clan are originated from a Nobleman who came to Scotland in the year of 1067, accompanying Edgar the Aetheling, who was a brother in law to Malcolm the third. Malcolm was to later appoint him to be governor of Edinburgh Castle . Edgar was also given other estates in Fife , The Mearns in Angus and Aberdeenshire. The progenitor of the clan was called Bartolf and the name Leslie comes from the Garioch in Aberdeenshire. It is assumed that he was granted charter to these lands for services rendered, it is more than likely that the service would have been in a military sense. It is also known that his son Malcolm was granted feudal charter to lands which would suggest that the land was already in the Leslie family's possession, evidently held allodially. . |
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Malcolm son of Bartolf was also appointed constable of the royal castle at Inverury. Malcolm held this for King David the second. Sir Norman Leslie, who was Bartolf's great grandson, acquired the lands of Fythkill in Fife which afterwards became known as Leslie, which was in the year 1282.
When William Wallace and King Robert the Bruce had been fighting for Scottish independence they were supported whole heartedly by the family clan of Leslie. The clan were further honoured when one of their members, Sir Andrew Leslie of that Ilk, was a signatory of the world famous letter to the Pope; the “Declaration of Arbroath” in the year 1320,.
“While one hundred Scotsmen lived, they would never surrender to the English”
The United States of America based its own constitution on this document.
In the year 1445 George Lesley, was created as Lord Leslie of Leven, he was also a Lord of parliament. His lands at Ballinbreich were united into his Barony. Before 1458 was upon us he was advanced to the title Earl of Rothes. The fourth Earl of Leven died in rather strange circumstances while in Dieppe for the wedding of Mary Queen of Scots. The earl of Cassillis and two others also died.
The Leslie family stopped working at politics for a while and became professional soldiers. One of the best known Leslies was Alexander Leslie who was coaxed back from the European wars to take command of the ‘Army of the Covenant' he later was created Earl of Leven. Meanwhile David Leslie of the Rothes Family who was also a Covenanter Commander was captured at the battle of Dunbar and spent ten years in Tower of London before being released at the time of the Restoration.
There is a cadet branch of the Leslie family clan which brought to Scotland some of the greatest literary work ever produced in that period, it is of Balquhain. John Leslie Bishop of Ross, was a truly great friend to the tragic figure of Mary Queen of Scots, he helped her in many ways and was always faithful and loyal to her, even in her darkest days. Of increasing disappointment and persecution he was always there for her, but the best thing he ever gave Queen Mary was the book he wrote for her “History of Scotland” which was written in the Scottish vernacular is the amazing monument to his beloved monarch.
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Chief: Earl of Rothes
Clan Seat: Leslie Castle, Aberdeenshire; Rothes Castle , Moray
Plant: Rue
Memorials: None |
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| In the year 1018 Randolph Sire de Toeny, who was said to have been a descendent of Ivar, Jarl of the Uplanders, and is thought to be the progenitor of the family known today as Lindsay. The name Lindsay has had many ups and downs in Scottish history, sometimes shining brightly as a beacon and at other times seeming to slip into the shadows and almost oblivion. There is another well known Lindsay family clan member called Baldric de Lindesaya. He was a Norman and held plenty of land in England and his native Normandy . As with many others of the great houses of Scotland , the first ancestor of this family seems to have migrated into the country at the time when Malcolm Canmore and his sons were setting up a new dynasty supported by a feudal system of land tenure. Around 1120 Sir Walter Lindsay was a member of the Council of Prince David, Earl of Huntington, who became King of Scots in 1124; Walter's successor, William, acquired lands of Crawford in Clydesdale. |
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Sir David Lindsay of Crawford acquired Glenesk in Angus by marriage with Maria Abernethy one of the heiresses of the Earldom of Angus and was hence created Earl of Crawford in 1398. The 4th Earl, the ferocious "Earl Beardie", was defeated by the Earl of Huntly in 1452 and deprived of his lands. His son, David was created Duke of Montrose by James III in 1488, this title ended on his death in 1495. The House of Lindsay established itself in Angus (although Lindsay's were to be found throughout Scotland ) and engaged in bitter feuds with the Ogilvies and Alexander's. The Lindsay's remained loyal throughout to the Stewarts; in the year of 1513, at the famous battle of t Flodden the Earl of Crawford led part of the vanguard of the Scottish host, and fell with James IV. And the flower of the Scottish nobles. During the time of confusion after the king's death, the new Earl of Crawford was appointed Chief Justiciar of Scotland north of the Forth under the regency of Queen Margaret, and he was one of those who helped the queen-mother when she carried the boy-king, James V., from Stirling to Edinburgh, and declared him of age and the regency of Albany at an end. James V. was then only twelve years old. At a later day he found it necessary to visit his displeasure upon Crawford, whom he deprived of the greater part of his estates. The 10th supported Mary Queen of Scots and the 16th Earl commanded a regiment for Charles I. When he died the title passed on to a cadet branch, the Balcarres already raised to earldom of Balcarres in 1651. In 1848, the House of Lords decided that the titles of Earls of Crawford and Earls of Lindsay belonged to James, 7th Earl of Balcarres who was then 24th Earl of Crawford. The Lindsay's are celebrated for their literary talent, Sir David Lindsay of the Mount in Fife , created Lyon King of Arms, was a poet and reformer, and Robert Lindsay of Pitscottie was famed as a witty although unreliable historian.
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Chief: Earl of Crawford
Clan Seat: Balcarres, Colinsburgh; and Ochteruter-struther Castle , Fife .
Plant: Linden Tree
Memorials: Crawford Priory, Fife |
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