Clan Forbes

Crest badge Crest: A stag's head attired with ten tines Proper.[1] Motto: Grace, me guide.[1] War cry: "Lonach" (A mountain in Strath Don).[2] Profile Plant badge Broom.[2] Pipe music March "Cath Ghlinn Eurainn" ("The Battle of Glen Eurann").[2]

Chief Nigel Forbes 22nd Lord Forbes Seat Castle Forbes Historic seat Culloden House Allied clans Clan Mackay Rival clans Clan Gordon

A romanticised Victorian-era illustration of a Clan Forbes Chief by R. R. McIan from The Clans of the Scottish Highlands published in 1845.

Forbas tartan, as published in 1842 in the dubious Vestiarium Scoticum.

Broom: plant badge of Clan Forbes.

Clan Forbes is a Lowland Scottish clan from Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

History

Origins

Concerning the origin of this Scottish clan, 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 Buchan, dated 1236. His son Alexander, a man of high valour, lost his life when defending the Urquhart Castle 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 Dupplin in 1332.^[2]

The posthumous son of the latter, Sir John Forbes of that Ilk, was a man of eminence in the days of Robert II and Robert III. He had four sons by Elizabeth Kennedy of Dunure, and from the three younger, sprang the Forbesses of Pitsligo, Culloden, Waterton, and Foveran. By Robert III. he was made Justiciary of Aberdeenshire, and died in 1406.^[2]

15th century

His eldest son, Sir Alexander of that Ilk, joined the constable Buchan in France at the head of 100 Horse and 40 Pikeman; and, after serving with honour in the war against Henry V, was raised to the Peerage by James I as Baron Forbes about 1442. In 1426 he obtained bond of Manrent 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 Angus by the Princess Margaret, daughter of Robert III, and died in 1448, leaving two sons, James the Master of Forbes, and John, who became Provost of St. Giles at Edinburgh.^[2]

James, second Lord Forbes, married a sister of the first Earl Marischal, and had three sons: William, the third Lord, Duncan, ancestor of the Forbesses of Corsindse and Monymusk, and Patrick, ancestor of the Forbesses, Baronets of Craigievar, now Lord Sempill, and also of the Earls of Granard.^[2]

Alexander, fourth Lord Forbes, was in arms with his clan to revenge the murder of James III, but after the defeat at Tillymoss he submitted to James IV. John, the sixth Lord, stood high in the favour of James V, from whom he got many charters.^[2]

16th century

In 1529, Clan Forbes was involved in a feud with the citizens of Aberdeen, who withheld a sort of blackmail, a yearly tun of wine for the fishings of the Don. In July 1530 Arthur Forbes of Brux and his accomplacies attacked Aberdeen. The citizens took arms and drove the invaders to Greyfriars 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 commissioners were sent to the king to lodge a complaint. On the 19th December the following year, the magistrates served letters of law-burrows against Pitsligo, Tolquhain, Corsindae, Brux, Echt, and other gentlemen of the name of Forbes and Lord Pitsligo was obliged to find caution to the council at Perth for his own and friends good behaviour towards the town of Aberdeen. At that time a deadly feud subsisted between Clan Forbes and Clan Leslie; and it is probable that some of the Aberdeen town's people had interfered in that quarrel, which furiously raged throughout Aberdeenshire, and was attended by mutual massacres and murders.^[2][3][4]

In 1571 the Clan Forbes fought against the Clan Gordon at the Battle of Tillieangus and also the Battle of Craibstone.

17th century

Alexander, the tenth Lord Forbes, was a General under Gustavus Adolphus, and Colonel of Scottish Infantry in 1648.^[2]

18th century

During the Jacobite Risings the Clan Forbes and their chief supported the British government. The Jacobites laid siege to the chief's historic seat of Culloden House in both the 1715 and 1745 risings.

Branches

See also: Forbes Baronets

The Lord Forbes of Pitsligo were descended from William, second son of Sir John Forbes of that Ilk, in the time of Robert II. Alexander, fourth Lord, was attainted after the battle of Culloden, and living long secretly in one of his own gate lodges, died in 1762. Three families now claim the title.^[2]

The Forbesses, Baronets of Craigievar, a branch of the old House, Craigievar Castle, sprang from Patrick Forbes of Corse, armour-bearer to James III; 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.^[2]

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 Worcester; and when the King's horse was shot, mounted him on his own, put his buff coat 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 Scheme (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.^[2]

Sir William Forbes, eighth Baronet of Craigievor, in 1884 succeeded his kinswoman as Lord Sempill, Chief of Clan Sempill.^[2]

Clan chief

• Clan Chief: Nigel Forbes, 22nd Lord Forbes and Chief of the Name and Arms of Forbes, KBE JP DL ^[5]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Clans & Tartans; HarperCollins, Glasgow, 2000; by Way of Plean, George, Squire, Romilly; isbn=0-00-472501 8
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n} The Scottish clans and their tartans: with notes; Publisher: W. & A.K. Johnston, Edinburgh; 1900?; Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT; access link
3. ^ The history of Aberdeen; containing an account of the rise, progress, and extension of the city, from a remote period to the present day; including an account of the see of Aberdeen, and the two universities; with biographical sketches of eminent men connected with the bishoprick and colleges (1811), p.170, Author: Thom, Walter, 1770–1824, Publisher: Aberdeen Printed by D. Chalmers for A. Stevenson, Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT, Internet link
4. ^ Extracts from the Council Register of the Burgh of Aberdeen; By Aberdeen (Scotland), John Stuart; Published by Printed for the Spalding Club by William Bennett, 1844; Internet link
5. ^ Burke's Peerage