cranntara.org.uk


Click below to find other Scottish Clans

B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
O
R
S
U
Elliot
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

SCOTTISH CLANS E

 

CLAN ELLIOT
The Elliot's were one of the most important Border families in Scotland . Like most other Border families, the Elliot's spent their time fighting English forays and cattle raiding on their lands of Redheuch, situated in Roxburghshire. It is also an opinion of historians that the Clan of Elliot derived its name from the village of Eliot in the county of Forfar , the most famous son being T.S.Eliot the great Scottish writer. It would have been unusual for a clan to move from the North of Scotland to the lowlands of the South, but there may have been good reason. After the Battle of Bannockburn on the twenty-fourth day of June 1314, The Scottish army led by the Great Scottish freedom fighter Robert the Bruce defeated the English army which was commanded by Edward the second. Bruce would have rewarded his fellow loyal Scots with packages of land and favours.

The Lordship of Liddesdale had been imprisoned for life and had his land forfeited for treasonous acts against King Robert the Bruce.

It is believed that Robert the Bruce King of Scots wanted a clan that he could trust and who had proved their loyalty in the forefront of his defensive line. He had asked the Elliot's to move south to perform just such a task. The Elliot clan had willingly accepted his offer and so the new Elliot clan started over again. It is known from ancient records that the clan Elliot of Redheuch were living in that area in the early fourteenth century. Another Elliot recorded is John Elwade from Teviotdale who was recorded in the year 1426. The union of the Crowns in 1603 really put an end to the border reivers; there was very hard discipline and hard sentencing on any wrong doers. Many of the reivers were persuaded to leave for a new life in the province of Ulster in Northern Ireland . This period was know as the � Plantation ' time because of the families and clans being uprooted from their native soil and transported to other lands.

They produced many branches, such as those of Larriston, Braidlie, Horsliehill, Arkleton and Stobs.

John Elliot M.D. was physician to George, Prince of Wales (later George IV) and was created a Baronet in 1778, and died unmarried in 1786. Another member of the family, General George Augustus Eliot, successfully defended Gibraltar against French and Spanish troops between 1779 and 1783. Gilbert Elliot, Governor-General of India, was created Earl of Minto in 1813 and acted as a go-between during discussions that took place in 1799 between Prince Henry Benedict Stuart, Duke of York and Cardinal of Frascati, Prince Charles Edward's brother, and George III.

The Elliot family reclaimed their family home in Redheuch in the year 1932, the tenth baron settling there until his death in 1958.

 

Chief: Eliot of Stobs

Clan seat: Redheuch, Roxburghshire; Larriston, Tower; Gilnockie Tower

Plant: None

Memorials: None

 
Back to Top
CLAN ERSKINE

Erskine as a name is said to be derived from the place called Erskine on the banks of the once famous shipbuilding river Clyde . This Earldom of Mar is said to be one of the most ancient Celtic title in Scotland . Indeed, the early Earls of Mar were among the seven Earls of Scotland who had a right to elect the new Kings of Scots and stand by him during his crowning.

Sir Robert Erskine of that Ilk was Chamberlain of Scotland from 1350 to 1357. From him are descended the Erskines of Kinnoul, Gogar and the first line of the Earls of Kellie. Alexander the third Lord Erskine constructed a massive tower near Alloa and it became the Seat for the clan chiefs for three hundred years. Mary Queen of Scots stayed with the Erskines for the first five years of her life, and lived between Alloa and Stirling .

The King James the sixth contracted Henry Earl of Mar about the prospect of designing a beautiful castle to be built at a place called Braemar in 1628 Henry Erskine became Lord Cardros.

This castle is still in use today by the relations of the usurping Hanoverian Court, and is often used by their royal family for their summer holidays to Scotland .

The Earls of Mar were Keepers of Stirling Castle from the days of Mary, Queen of Scots, and still enjoy the position today. Upon the Countesses of Mar fell the duty of the keeping of the Stewart heirs to the Scottish throne. The Earl of Buchan is descended from �Regent Mar' who ruled Scotland during the early childhood years of James VI.

The 1715 Jacobite Rising was organised by John Erskine, 23 rd Earl of Mar, (Bobbing John was the name he was called behind his back) after his dismissal from the House of Lords by George the first of Hanover, he decided that as the English court had rejected him he would assist the Jacobite Struggle for truth. The Earl of Mar (bobbing John) led his troops to the Battle of Sheriffmuir and although the raged fiercely, but it was never decided just who did win. Argyll claimed the prize but if he did win it was a hollow victory. The Jacobite cause was lost for now and Mar had to flee. He chose to go to France whereupon his titles and land were forfeit. He was called Bobbing John because he was a despicable character who could change sides at the drop of a hat. Loyalty was nothing to him and everything he done was for his own financial or material gain.

The present Earl of Roslyn is an Erskine by male descent, the family having taken the name of Erskine-Sinclair two centuries ago and having inherited the title maternally from Alexander Wedderburn, Lord Chancellor of England.

 

Chief : Earl of Mar and Kellie

Clan Seat: Alloa Tower , Clackmananshire; Erskine, Renfrewshire

Plant: Red Rose

Memorials: None

 

Click below to find other Scottish Clans

B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
O
R
S
U

Back to Top

© Crann Tara 2006