Are you part of a Scottish Clan?
More and more people are taking a keen interest in uncovering their family history and understanding the lives of their ancestors.
Think of the excitement of discovering that a great-great uncle was a villain and a rogue of that there was a family fortune made in one generation and lost in another.
Across the world there are many people who take a particular pride in belonging to a Scottish clan.
Douglas, Carmichael and Lindsay are among Lanarkshire’s most prominent families and they have long turbulent histories - to trace your own line back to one of their illustrious heroes would indeed be thrilling.
Clan Douglas in South Lanarkshire
When the clans ruled the roost in Scotland then it was the Clan Douglas which was ruling the clans. For centuries it was the most powerful clan in the South-West and perhaps in the whole of Scotland. The clan made its presence felt in politics and on the battlefield.
The clan was amongst the first to back Wallace and Sir James Douglas was Robert the Bruce’s right hand man in his bid to become King of Scots and shared in the victory at Bannockburn.
Sir James died in Spain fulfilling a promise to take the heart of Bruce on a crusade and his ancient tomb and embalmed heart are to be found in the small church of old Saint Brides in Douglas. Alongside him are the tombs of Sir Archibald Douglas, known as the Bell-the-cat, who died in 1513 and the beautiful marble effigy of Lucy Elizabeth, Countess of Home.
Unease was so great at the growing power of the Douglases that murder and subterfuge were employed by Scottish kings and jealous rivals.
On an occasion in 1440 now known as the Black Bull Dinner at Edinburgh castle, William, 6th earl of Douglas was beheaded along with his younger brother and Sir Malcolm Fleming of Biggar by Lord Chrichton, Regent to the young James II.
James II was later to murder the 8th earl of Douglas in Stirling Castle in 1452. He then seized their lands and razed their castle.
The Carmichaels in South Lanarkshire
The Carmichaels, the Douglas’s Lanarkshire neighbours were, however, to earn their fame for tact and diplomacy.
Having been on their patch since the 14th century the Carmichaels have always played a shrewd game of trying to be on the right side or both sides in times of war and turbulence.
In 1652 they were to suffer at the hands of Cromwell who raised their tower but by the end of the century the 2nd Lord Carmichael and first earl of Hyndford was a major player in the union with England.
His son the second earl was to lead a distinguished career as a diplomat. He was an ambassador to Vienna and Russia, instrumental in the signing of the treaty of Aix-la-Chapellein 1748 and negotiated a settlement between Silesia and Prussia in 1742. Since then the Silesian eagle has been incorporated into the family’s coat of arms.
Today Carmichael remains the home of Richard Carmichael, the 30th chief of the Clan Carmichael. Richard heads a thriving clan society that organises regular gatherings and tours.
The Flemings and the Lindsays in South Lanarkshire
Other Lanarkshire families include the Flemings of Biggar whose lineage includes Mary Fleming a lady in waiting to Mary Queen of Scots; the Gladstone’s who were to move from the area to Liverpool and give Great Britain one of its best known Prime Ministers; and the Lindsay’s who occupied the lands around Crawford and were to become the earls of Crawford.
Lanarkshire Historical Points of Interest
Biggar
St Mary’s Church was established by Malcolm Fleming in 1545. The church was the last collegiate church to be built in Scotland prior to the Reformation. Each year at the town’s gala day in June a young girl is crowned the Fleming Queen.
Carmichael
The Clan Carmichael visitor centre is by the A73 south of Lanark and serves as an excellent introduction to the family and the estate. The Carmichael history walk takes in all the important sites including Old Carmichael House and the Hyndford monument on Carmichael hill.
Crawford
Castle Crawford or Lindsay Tower – a ruined medieval tower that can be viewed from the minor road to Camps Reservoir. The castle passed from the Lindsay’s to the Scottish royals and it was here in 1537 that James V gave a banquet in honour of the French Ambassador. James V was about to marry Magdalene of France and, in an attempt to impress, each guest was presented with a goblet full of gold pieces mined from the nearby Lowther hills.
www.clanlindsaysociety.org
Douglas
Old Saint Bride’s church, Douglas – the clock in the church tower is the oldest working clock in Scotland and was reputedly gifted by Mary Queen of Scots. The clock, in the spirit of the Douglas family motto Jamais Arrière (never behind), chimes three minutes before the hour.
The key to the church is available locally.
Douglas Heritage Museum occupies Saint Sopia’s chapel and is a good place to look for back ground information on Douglas.
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