Clan Forbes is a
LowlandThe Scottish Lowlands , although not officially a geographical area of the country, in normal usage is generally meant to include those parts of Scotland not referred to as the Highlands , that is, everywhere due south and east of a line The Scottish Lowlands (a' Ghalldachd, meaning roughly 'the...
Scottish clanScottish clans , give a sense of identity and shared descent to people in Scotland and to their relations throughout the world, with a formal structure of Clan Chiefs officially registered with the court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms which controls the heraldry and Coat of Arms...
from
AberdeenshireAberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives...
,
ScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Concerning the origin of this
Scottish clanScottish clans , give a sense of identity and shared descent to people in Scotland and to their relations throughout the world, with a formal structure of Clan Chiefs officially registered with the court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms which controls the heraldry and Coat of Arms...
, John of Forbes, the first upon record, seems to have been a man of importance in the time of William the Lion, and was (says MacFarlane) the father of Fergus, from whom the clan are descended. His name appears in a charter of Alexander,
Earl of BuchanThe Mormaer or Earl of Buchan was originally the provincial ruler of the medieval province of Buchan. Buchan was the first Mormaerdom in the High Medieval Kingdom of the Scots to pass into the hands of a non-Scottish family in the male line. The earldom had three lines in its history, not counting...
, dated 1236. His son Alexander, a man of high valour, lost his life when defending the
Urquhart CastleUrquhart Castle sits beside Loch Ness in Scotland along the A82 road, between Fort William and Inverness. It is close to the village of Drumnadrochit. Though extensively ruined, it was in its day one of the largest strongholds of medieval Scotland, and remains an impressive structure, splendidly...
against Edward I, who, with his usual barbarity, put the entire garrison to the sword in 1303; but he left a son, also Alexander, who fell at the
battle of DupplinBattle of Dupplin Moor was fought between supporters of the infant David II, the son of Robert the Bruce, and rebels supporting the Balliol claim in 1332. It was a significant battle of the Second War of Scottish Independence.-Background:...
in 1332.
The
posthumousA posthumous birth is the birth of a child after the death of a parent. A person born in these circumstances is called a posthumous child or a posthumously born person...
son of the latter, Sir John Forbes of that Ilk, was a man of eminence in the days of
Robert IIRobert II became King of Scots in 1371 — the first monarch of the House of Stewart. Before his accession he held the titles of High Steward of Scotland and the Earl of Strathearn...
and
Robert IIIRobert III , King of Scotland -Biography:He was the eldest son of King Robert II by his mistress, Elizabeth Mure, became legitimised with the formal marriage of his parents about 1349...
.
Clan Forbes is a
LowlandThe Scottish Lowlands , although not officially a geographical area of the country, in normal usage is generally meant to include those parts of Scotland not referred to as the Highlands , that is, everywhere due south and east of a line The Scottish Lowlands (a' Ghalldachd, meaning roughly 'the...
Scottish clanScottish clans , give a sense of identity and shared descent to people in Scotland and to their relations throughout the world, with a formal structure of Clan Chiefs officially registered with the court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms which controls the heraldry and Coat of Arms...
from
AberdeenshireAberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives...
,
ScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
History
Concerning the origin of this
Scottish clanScottish clans , give a sense of identity and shared descent to people in Scotland and to their relations throughout the world, with a formal structure of Clan Chiefs officially registered with the court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms which controls the heraldry and Coat of Arms...
, John of Forbes, the first upon record, seems to have been a man of importance in the time of William the Lion, and was (says MacFarlane) the father of Fergus, from whom the clan are descended. His name appears in a charter of Alexander,
Earl of BuchanThe Mormaer or Earl of Buchan was originally the provincial ruler of the medieval province of Buchan. Buchan was the first Mormaerdom in the High Medieval Kingdom of the Scots to pass into the hands of a non-Scottish family in the male line. The earldom had three lines in its history, not counting...
, dated 1236. His son Alexander, a man of high valour, lost his life when defending the
Urquhart CastleUrquhart Castle sits beside Loch Ness in Scotland along the A82 road, between Fort William and Inverness. It is close to the village of Drumnadrochit. Though extensively ruined, it was in its day one of the largest strongholds of medieval Scotland, and remains an impressive structure, splendidly...
against Edward I, who, with his usual barbarity, put the entire garrison to the sword in 1303; but he left a son, also Alexander, who fell at the
battle of DupplinBattle of Dupplin Moor was fought between supporters of the infant David II, the son of Robert the Bruce, and rebels supporting the Balliol claim in 1332. It was a significant battle of the Second War of Scottish Independence.-Background:...
in 1332.
The
posthumousA posthumous birth is the birth of a child after the death of a parent. A person born in these circumstances is called a posthumous child or a posthumously born person...
son of the latter, Sir John Forbes of that Ilk, was a man of eminence in the days of
Robert IIRobert II became King of Scots in 1371 — the first monarch of the House of Stewart. Before his accession he held the titles of High Steward of Scotland and the Earl of Strathearn...
and
Robert IIIRobert III , King of Scotland -Biography:He was the eldest son of King Robert II by his mistress, Elizabeth Mure, became legitimised with the formal marriage of his parents about 1349...
. He had four sons by Elizabeth Kennedy of Dunure, and from the three younger, sprang the Forbesses of Pitsligo, Culloden, Waterton, and
FoveranFoveran is the name of both a parish and village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The village is located 11 miles north of Aberdeen and 4 miles south-east of Ellon; the main group of houses and the village school are located adjacent to the main A90 trunk road. The hereditary baronetcy of Foveran is...
. By
Robert IIIRobert III , King of Scotland -Biography:He was the eldest son of King Robert II by his mistress, Elizabeth Mure, became legitimised with the formal marriage of his parents about 1349...
. he was made Justiciary of
AberdeenshireAberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives...
, and died in 1406.
His eldest son,
Sir Alexander of that IlkAlexander de Forbes , 1st Lord Forbes , also feudal baron of Forbes, was a Scottish peer.He was the eldest son of Sir Alexander de Forbes Alexander de Forbes , 1st Lord Forbes (c. 1380-1448), also feudal baron of Forbes, was a Scottish peer.He was the eldest son of Sir Alexander de Forbes Alexander...
, joined the
constable BuchanJohn Comyn, Earl of Buchan was a Scottish nobleman and an important opponent of King Robert I of Scotland in the civil war that paralleled the War of Scottish Independence. He should not be confused with the better known John III Comyn, Lord of Badenoch, who was his cousin, and who was killed by...
in
FranceFrance , officially the French Republic , is a country located in Western Europe, with several overseas islands and territories located on other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean...
at the head of 100 Horse and 40 Pikeman; and, after serving with honour in the war against
Henry VHenry V was King of England from 1413 until his death. From an unassuming start his military successes in the Hundred Years' War, culminating with his famous victory at the Battle of Agincourt, saw him come close to uniting the realms of England and France under his rule.-Early life:Henry was born...
, was raised to the
PeerageThe Peerage is a system of titles in the United Kingdom, which represents the upper ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system. The term is used both collectively to refer to the entire body of titles, and individually to refer to a specific title...
by
James IJames I was nominal King of Scots from 4 April 1406 until his death, although his effective reign only began in May 1424.He spent the earlier part of his reign as a prisoner in England...
as
Baron ForbesLord Forbes is the senior Lord of Parliament in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created for Alexander de Forbes, feudal baron of Forbes. The peerage was created sometime after 1436. The precise date of the creation is not known, but in a Precept, dated July 12, 1442, he is already styled Lord...
about 1442. In 1426 he obtained bond of
ManrentManrent refers to a Scottish mid 15th century to the early 17th century type of contract, usually military in nature and involving Scottish clans...
from Ugston of that Ilk, to attend him with three armed horsemen against all mortals, the King excepted. He married Elizabeth, daughter of the
Earl of AngusThe Mormaer or Earl of Angus was the ruler of the medieval Scottish province of Angus. The title, in the Peerage of Scotland, is currently held by the Duke of Hamilton.-Mormaers:...
by the Princess Margaret, daughter of
Robert IIIRobert III , King of Scotland -Biography:He was the eldest son of King Robert II by his mistress, Elizabeth Mure, became legitimised with the formal marriage of his parents about 1349...
, and died in 1448, leaving two sons, James the Master of Forbes, and John, who became Provost of
St. GilesA prominent feature of the Edinburgh skyline, St. Giles' Cathedral or the High Kirk of Edinburgh is a Church of Scotland place of worship decorating the midpoint of the Royal Mile with its distinctive traditional Scottish crown steeple. The church has been one of Edinburgh's religious focal points...
at
EdinburghEdinburgh is the capital city of Scotland. It is the second largest Scottish city, after Glasgow, and the seventh-most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas....
.
James, second Lord Forbes, married a daughter of the first
Earl MarischalThe title of Earl Marischal was created in the peerage of Scotland for William Keith, the Great Marischal of Scotland.The office of "Marischal of Scotland" had been held heritably by the senior member of the Keith family since Hervey de Keith, who held the office of Marischal under Malcolm IV and...
, and had three sons: William, the third Lord, Duncan, ancestor of the Forbesses of Corsindse and
MonymuskMonymusk is a planned village in the Marr area of Aberdeenshire, Scotland which was almost entirely rebuilt in 1840, although its history dates back to 1170.It is a site for fishing on the nearby River Don.-External links:* * -References:...
, and Patrick, ancestor of the Forbesses,
Baronets of CraigievarThere have been five Baronetcies created for people with the surname Forbes, four in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia and one in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom...
, now
Lord SempillLord Sempill is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in circa 1489 for Sir John Sempill, founder of the collegiate Church of Lochwinnoch. Sempill was killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. His grandson, the third Lord, was known as "The Great Lord Sempill". His grandson, the fourth...
, and also of the
Earls of GranardEarl of Granard is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1684 for Arthur Forbes, 1st Viscount Granard. He was a Lieutenant-General in the army and served as Marshal of the Army in Ireland after the The Restoration and was later Lord Justice of Ireland...
.
Alexander, fourth Lord Forbes, was in arms with his clan to revenge the murder of
James IIIJames III was King of Scots from 1460 to 1488. James was an unpopular and ineffective monarch owing to an unwillingness to administer justice fairly, a policy of pursuing alliance with the Kingdom of England, and a disastrous relationship with nearly all his extended family.His reputation as the...
, but after the defeat at Tillymoss he submitted to
James IVJames IV was King of Scots from 11 June 1488 to his death. He is generally regarded as the most successful of the Stuart monarchs of Scotland, but his reign ended with the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Flodden Field, where he became the last monarch from Great Britain to be killed in...
. John, the sixth Lord, stood high in the favour of
James VJames V was King of Scots from 9 September 1513 until his premature death at the age of thirty, which followed the Scottish defeat at the Battle of Solway Moss...
, from whom he got many charters.
In 1529, Clan Forbes was involved in a feud with the citizens of
AberdeenAberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city and one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. It has an official population estimate of .Nicknames include the Granite City, the Grey City and the Silver City with the Golden Sands...
, who withheld a sort of
blackmailBlackmail is the crime of threatening to reveal substantially true information about a person to the public, a family member, or associates unless a demand made upon the victim is met. This information is usually of an embarrassing and/or socially damaging nature...
, a yearly tun of wine for the fishings of the
DonThe River Don is a river in the northeast of Scotland. It rises in the Grampians and flows eastwards, through Aberdeenshire, to the North Sea at Aberdeen. The Don passes through Alford, Kemnay, Inverurie, Kintore, and Dyce...
. In July 1530 Arthur Forbes of Brux and his accomplacies attacked Aberdeen. The citizens took arms and drove the invaders to Grayfriars Place. The street fights lasted twenty-four hours. One of clan Forbes and some of the citizens were killed, a good many on both sides were wounded. Several of the inhabitants of Aberdeen, and
commissionerCommissioner is in principle the title given to a member of a commission, in the sense of a mandate, whether individually or shared, notably as member of a collegial commission....
s were sent to the king to lodge a complaint. On the 19th December the following year, the
magistrateA magistrate is a judicial officer; in ancient Rome, the word magistratus denoted one of the highest government officers with judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a magistrate has limited law enforcement and administration authority...
s served letters of law-burrows against Pitsligo, Tolquhain, Corsindae, Brux,
EchtEcht is an Aberdeenshire crossroads village in northeast Scotland with a population of approximately 300 people. Echt has a number of prehistoric remains, including the so called Barmekin of Echt which is on a hill to the northwest...
, and other gentlemen of the name of Forbes and Lord Pitsligo was obliged to find caution to the council at
PerthPerth is a former royal burgh in central Scotland. Sitting on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative headquarters of Perth and Kinross council area. According to the 2001 census, its population is 43,450...
for his own and friends good behaviour towards the town of Aberdeen. At that time a deadly feud subsisted between Clan Forbes and
Clan LeslieClan Leslie is a Lowland Scottish clan.-Origins:The family name comes from the Leslie lands of Aberdeenshire and was to become famous in Germany, Poland, France and Russia...
; and it is probable that some of the Aberdeen town's people had interfered in that quarrel, which furiously raged throughout
AberdeenshireAberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives...
, and was attended by mutual massacres and murders.
Alexander, the tenth Lord Forbes, was a General under Gustavus Adolphus, and Colonel of Scottish Infantry in 1648.
Branches
The
Lord Forbes of PitsligoLord Forbes of Pitsligo was a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created on 24 June 1633 for Alexander Forbes. He was a descendant of Sir William Forbes, brother of Alexander Forbes, 1st Lord Forbes...
were descended from William, second son of Sir John Forbes of that Ilk, in the time of
Robert IIRobert II became King of Scots in 1371 — the first monarch of the House of Stewart. Before his accession he held the titles of High Steward of Scotland and the Earl of Strathearn...
. Alexander, fourth Lord, was attainted after the
battle of CullodenThe Battle of Culloden was the final clash between the French-supported Jacobites and the Hanoverian British Government in the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Culloden dealt the Jacobite cause—to restore the House of Stuart to the throne of the Kingdom of Great Britain—a decisive defeat...
, and living long secretly in one of his own gate lodges, died in 1762. Three families now claim the title.
The Forbesses,
Baronets of CraigievarThere have been five Baronetcies created for people with the surname Forbes, four in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia and one in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom...
, a branch of the old House,
Craigievar CastleCraigievar Castle is a pinkish harled castle six miles south of Alford, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It was the seat of Clan Sempill. The setting is among scenic rolling foothills of the Grampian Mountains...
, sprang from Patrick Forbes of Corse,
armour-bearerThe Armour-Bearer is one of the Great Offices of the Royal Household in Scotland.James IV granted the office of Armour-Bearer and Squire of His Majesty's Body to Sir Alexander Seton of Tullibody. This grant, apparently dating from 1488, was renewed by Charles II in 1651 to Sir Alexander's...
to
James IIIJames III was King of Scots from 1460 to 1488. James was an unpopular and ineffective monarch owing to an unwillingness to administer justice fairly, a policy of pursuing alliance with the Kingdom of England, and a disastrous relationship with nearly all his extended family.His reputation as the...
; and the Stuart-Forbesses of Pitsligo, Baronets, from Duncan of Corsindw, second son of James, second Lord Forbes. The Edinglassie Forbesses are also a branch of the parent stock.
The Forbesses of Tolquhoun, a very old branch, acquired that estate in 1420, and were
progenitors of the Lairds of Culloden. Sir Alexander Forbes of Tolquhoun commanded a troop of cavalry in the Scots army at
WorcesterThe Battle of Worcester took place on 3 September 1651 at Worcester, England and was the final battle of the English Civil War. Oliver Cromwell and the Parliamentarians defeated the Royalist, predominantly Scottish, forces of King Charles II...
; and when the King's horse was shot, mounted him on his own, put his
buff coatThe European Buff coat was an item of leather clothing worn by both the infantry and cavalry during the 17th century, usually worn under armour...
and a bloody scarf about him, and saw him safe out of the field. The fortunes of this house were probably consumed in the fever of the
Darien SchemeThe Darien scheme was an unsuccessful attempt by the Kingdom of Scotland to establish a colony called "New Caledonia" on the Isthmus of Panama in the 1690s.- Origins :The late 17th century was a difficult period economically for Scotland...
(like many other good old Scottish families), in which Alexander Forbes of Tolquhoun appears to have embarked beyond his means, the stock he held (500) having been judicially attached.
Sir William Forbes, eighth
Baronet of CraigievorThere have been five Baronetcies created for people with the surname Forbes, four in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia and one in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom...
, in 1884 succeeded his kinswoman as
Lord SempillLord Sempill is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in circa 1489 for Sir John Sempill, founder of the collegiate Church of Lochwinnoch. Sempill was killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. His grandson, the third Lord, was known as "The Great Lord Sempill". His grandson, the fourth...
,
Chieffor a list of the Scottish Chiefs and their clan, see List of Scottish clans.The Scottish Gaelic word clann means children. In early times, and possibly even today, clan members believed themselves to descend from a common ancestor, the founder of the Scottish clan. From its perceived founder a...
of
Clan SempillClan Sempill is a Lowland Scottish clan.-Origins of the Clan:The name Sempill has been known in Renfrewshire since the 12th century. It is tradition that the name originates from someone who is humble or simple. An alternate, unlikely, etymology is that Sempill is a corruption of St Pauls.Robert...
.
Clan profile
- Clan Chief
for a list of the Scottish Chiefs and their clan, see List of Scottish clans.The Scottish Gaelic word clann means children. In early times, and possibly even today, clan members believed themselves to descend from a common ancestor, the founder of the Scottish clan. From its perceived founder a...
: Sir Nigel Ivan Forbes, The 22nd Lord ForbesNigel Ivan Forbes, 22nd Lord Forbes KBE JP DL , known as the Master of Forbes until 1953, is a Scottish soldier, businessman and Conservative politician....
and Chief of the Name and Arms of Forbes, KBEThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions...
JPA justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice and deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
DLIn the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord-Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
- Clan Crest badge: Note: the crest badge is made up of the chief's heraldic crest and motto,
- Chief's motto: GRACE ME GUIDE.
- Chief's crest: A stag's head attired with ten tines Proper.
- War Cry
A battle cry is a yell or chant taken up in battle, usually by members of the same military unit.Battle cries are not necessarily articulate, although they often aim to invoke patriotic or religious sentiment....
: "Lonach" (A mountain in Strath DonStrathdon is an area in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is situated in the strath of the River Don, 45 miles west of Aberdeen in the Highlands...
).
- Clan Plant Badge: Broom
Brooms are a group of evergreen, semi-evergreen, and deciduous shrubs in the subfamily Faboideae of the legume family Fabaceae, mainly in the three genera Chamaecytisus, Cytisus and Genista, but also in five other small genera . All genera in this group are from the tribe Genisteae...
.
- Clan Pipe Music: March "Cath Ghlinn Eurainn" ("The Battle of Glen Eurann").
- Clan seat: Castle Forbes, Aberdeenshire