History Clan Scrymgeour

1 history

1.1 origins of clan
1.2 wars of scottish independence
1.3 15th , 16th centuries
1.4 17th century , civil war
1.5 disputed chiefship

history
origins of clan

the name scrymgeour derived skrymsher old english swordsman. scrymgeour family established in fife long before connection dundee. clan chiefs later created constables, earls of dundee, , hereditary royal standard bearers.

iain moncreiffe stated scrymgeours descended macduff earls of fife. scrymgeours may have claimed office standard bearers celtic origins, customary celtic armies accompanied sacred holy relics borne hereditary keeper. therefore possible scrymgeours carried relic such staff of st. columba later replaced heraldic banner.

wars of scottish independence

during wars of scottish independence scrymgeours confirmed banner bearers william wallace , parliament on 29 march 1298. scrymgeour named alexander, son of colyn, son of cairn , first person declare robert bruce. scrymgeour obtained charter bruce confirming rights had been granted him wallace. surviving contemporary document bruce , wallace named together. sir alexander scrymgeour later captured english , hanged @ newcastle upon direct orders of edward of england in 1306. succeeded alexander scrymgeour in 1314 rode royal banner bearer @ battle of bannockburn.

in 1370 large amounts of land in argyll came scrymgeour family when alexander scrymgeour married agnes, heiress gilbert glassary of ilk.

15th , 16th centuries

in 15th century clan scrymgeour continued prosper , seventh constable of dundee acquired lands of dudhope in 1495 near city. there later built dudhope castle chief s seat until 1668.

the argyll estates controlled fincharn castle. john scrymgeour of glassary marched fincharn in 1513, royal banner bearer, battle of flodden received mortal wound. scottish gaelic name of scrymgeour mac mhic iain , local tradition fincharn burned down angry bridegroom when mac mhic iain tried steal bride.

in 1587 sir james scrymgeour received new charter estates @ holyrood house.

17th century , civil war

sir james scrymgeour (d.1612) 1 of commissioners sent denmark negotiate marriage of james vi of scotland princess anne. appointed commissioner negotiate political union england in 1604.

in 1617 sir james s successor, john scrymgeour entertained james vi @ dudhope castle. in 1641 raised peerage king charles of england viscount of dudhope , baron scrymgeour of inverkeithing.

during civil war second viscount of dudhope sent scottish covenanter forces assist parliament of england against charles i. scrymgeour received fatal wound @ battle of marston moor in july 1644. succeeded son, john scrymgeour, commanded regiment of royalist cavalry under duke of hamilton in 1648 , fought @ battle of worcester in 1651. john escaped royal defeat , joined army of general middleton in scottish highlands captured in 1654. after restoration of 1660, john scremgeour rewarded earldom of dundee.

disputed chiefship

john scrymgeour died in 1668 without issue , castles, estates , royal offices seized upon legal pretext duke of lauderdale. duke had sent soldiers carry off of scrymgeour s papers , charters , declared there no lawful heir , estates reverted crown. duke gained king grant titles , estates gave own brother, lord chattan. estates later passed john graham, 1st viscount dundee killed @ battle of killiecrankie in 1689. estates forfeited , passed douglases.

upon death of earl, estates should have gone john scrymgeour of kirkton great-grandson of fifth constable of dundee. scrymgeour of kirkton s grandson david scrymgeour, sheriff of inverness married catherine, daughter of alexander wedderburn of wedderburn. son assumed surname scrymgeour-wedderburn , succeeded wedderburn estates. wedderburns continued assert right ancient titles , honours of scrymgeour ancestors. @ coronation of edward vii, henry scrymgeour-wedderburn carried standard of scotland. grandson, henry scrymgeour-wedderburn recognized eleventh earl of dundee house of lords. eleventh earl s son alexander scrymgeour, 12th earl of dundee, present chief of clan scrymgeour.