Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

ank of free barons and took their name
from the Castle of Skene, in the Earldom
of Mar, which was in their possession
from the thirteenth century until 1827,
when by the death of the last Skene of
that ilk the estates passed to his nephew,
the Earl of Fife." Tradition asserts that
the Skenes descended from the Robertsons,
of Struan, and that the first of them
was so called from having killed an enormous
wolf that endangered the life of
Malcolm III. in the royal forest of
Stocket with his skene (or dagger) only.
Hence the family and clan arms are
Arms—Gules, three sgians, or daggers, palewise,
in fess, argent, hilted and pommelled, or, on
the points of which as many wolves' heads of the
third.
Crest—A dexter arm from the shoulder, issuing
out of a cloud, and holding forth a triumphal
crown or garland of leaves proper.
Supporters—On the dexter a Highlander in his
proper garb, holding in his right hand a sgian, and
on the sinister a Highlander in a more simple
habit, his target on the left arm, and his dorlach,
by his side, all proper.
Motto— Virtutis regia merces.
The history of the ancient Scottish
family of Skene is most interesting. In
the "View of the 'Diocese of Aberdeen,'
it is stated that there had then been twen-
ty-eight Lairds of Skene in direct suc-
cession." The name appears in court
records in 1488 and 1494. In the thir-
teenth century, John de Skene joined the
following of Donald Bain, the Usurper,
but later proved his loyalty to King Alexander
when he was restored to royal
favor. John de Skene, his great-grandson,
during the reign of Alexander III., was
chosen one of the arbiters between Bruce
and Beloil, both contestants for the crown.
A grandson, Robert de Skene, was a close
friend of Bruce, fought at Bannockburn,
and was given a charter by his leader in
1318. Later on in history we find Alexander
Skene, fighting for King James
:
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
290
during the celebrated battles of Flodden
still later James Skene, his direct descend-
ant, leading the charges at the battle of
Pinkie, where he fell in 1757. Under the
Duke of Marlborough, Major George
Skene distinguished himself in the wars
of Queen Anne, and in 1720 purchased the
estate in Forfarshire. Two other mem-
bers of this family were soldiers and died
in battle, one in Spain, and one in the
battle of Preston, in 1745.
This warlike history by no means
stamps the family as a war-making race.
The times were troublous and they found
their duty leading them forth to battle,
and the world well knows that a Scot
will do his duty without counting the
cost. When conditions became more settled
and there was opportunity for more
peaceful pursuits, the family which had
given such magnificent warriors to the
service of their leaders also gave to the
world brilliant lights in the various pro-
fessions. A branch of the old family of
Skene designated as of Curriehill, in the
Parish of Colinton, were said by the "Old
Statistical account" to be in some way
connected with the royal family. John
Skene, of Curriehill, came prominently
forward as an advocate in the reign of
James VI. In 1575, with Sir James Balfour,
John Skene was appointed by Regent
Morton a committee to study and
make a comprehensive digest of the laws
of Scotland. It was a Skene who did the
actual work of the commission, and he
was publicly commended for the thoroughness
and excellence of his work and
also pensioned. In 1588 he accompanied
Sir James Melville of Malhill, on a mission
to the Court of Denmark to conclude
a marriage with the Princess Anne. In
1594 he was appointed lord clerk register.
Three years before that he was one
of the eight lords commissioners appointed
to look after the King's Ex-
;