A System of Heraldry - Clan Strachan Society
A System of Heraldry - Clan Strachan Society
A System of Heraldry - Clan Strachan Society
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OF CELESTIAL FIGURES; fcfr. 55 .<br />
WILLIAM SUTHERLAND <strong>of</strong> Kinstory, descended <strong>of</strong> DufTus, gules,<br />
a boar's head<br />
erased between three mullets in chief, and as many croslets fitc be in base or,<br />
within a bordure argent; crest, a cat salient, proper: motto, Still without fear.<br />
The other cadets <strong>of</strong> the Earl <strong>of</strong> Sutherland, since the year 1514, continue in<br />
the surname <strong>of</strong> Gordon ; as Sir Robert Gordon <strong>of</strong> Gordonston, second son <strong>of</strong> Alexander<br />
Earl <strong>of</strong> Sutherland, and his lady, Jean, Countes* <strong>of</strong> Bothwell, daughter to<br />
the Earl <strong>of</strong> Huntly. He was one <strong>of</strong> the Gentlemen <strong>of</strong> the Bed-Chamber to King<br />
Charles I. and was the first Knight-Baronet in Scotland ; he carried, quarterly,<br />
first and fourth grand quarters, quarterly, first azure, three boars' heads couped<br />
or, for Gordon ; second or, three lions' heads erased gules, for Badenoch ; third<br />
or, three crescents within a double tressure counter- flowered gules, for Seaton ;<br />
fourth azure, three cinquefoils argent, for Fraser, being the quartered arms <strong>of</strong> the<br />
femily <strong>of</strong> Huntly ; second and third grand quarters, gules, three stars or, for the<br />
name <strong>of</strong> Sutherland ; all surrounded with a bordure <strong>of</strong> the last, for ditVerence ;<br />
crest, a cat salient, armed azure, supported on the dexter by a deer-hound argent,<br />
collared gules, and charged with three buckles or, and on the sinister by a savage,<br />
proper, wreathed about the head and middle with laurel vert. Lyon Register.<br />
GORDON <strong>of</strong> Clunie, a second son <strong>of</strong> Gordonston, carries the same with Gordon-<br />
ston, and, for a further difference, charges the bordure with crescents gules ; crest,<br />
a dove volant argent, with an olive branch in its beak : motto, Pax W libertas.<br />
New Register.<br />
SOMERVILLE Lord SOMERVILLE, azure, three stars or, accompanied<br />
with seven<br />
cross croslets fitched argent, 3, i, 2 and i ; as on a seal and old stone belonging<br />
to the family, which I have seen, and in Esplin's Illuminated Book <strong>of</strong> the Arms or'<br />
the Nobility. But in other old books <strong>of</strong> blazon, I have found those figures thus<br />
disposed, the three stars, two and one, within an orle <strong>of</strong> seven cross croslets ; supporters,<br />
two hounds, proper, collared gules ; crest, a wheel or, and upon it a dragon<br />
vert, spouting out fire behind and before : motto, Fear God in life. The first<br />
<strong>of</strong> this name and family is said to be a Norman, who came to England with William<br />
the Conqueror, and got the lands <strong>of</strong> Whichnour, in the county <strong>of</strong> Stafford in<br />
England. William de Somervil> a son <strong>of</strong> that family, came to Scotland iu the<br />
reign <strong>of</strong> King Edgar, as by the Historical and Genealogical Manuscript <strong>of</strong> the Fa-<br />
mily. Besides which, William de Somervil is witness in a charter <strong>of</strong> King David<br />
I. to the abbacy <strong>of</strong> Coldingham, and in the charters <strong>of</strong> Kelso and Melrose ;<br />
for which see more fully Dalrymple's Collections, page 394.<br />
William Somerville <strong>of</strong> Linton was one <strong>of</strong> the nobles that exercised in a tournament<br />
at Roxburgh Castle, appointed by Alexander II. upon the festivals <strong>of</strong> his<br />
Majesty's marriage.<br />
JOHN SOMERVILLE, by marrying the daughter <strong>of</strong> Douglas <strong>of</strong> Loudonhill, got with<br />
her the lands <strong>of</strong> Carnwath. Their son, Walter, obtained from King David II.<br />
two charters <strong>of</strong> confirmation <strong>of</strong> the lands <strong>of</strong> Linton and Carnwath, (penes Somerville<br />
<strong>of</strong> Drum). This Sir Walter married Giles, daughter to Sir John Herring <strong>of</strong><br />
Edmonstone in Clydesdale, and got with her the barony <strong>of</strong> Gilmerton, containing<br />
the lands <strong>of</strong> Drum in Mid-Lothian : Their son and successor was Sir John Somer-<br />
ville, Baron <strong>of</strong> Carnwath. He married Margaret Edmonstone, daughter <strong>of</strong> Sir John<br />
Edmonstone <strong>of</strong> that Ilk, and got with her the lands <strong>of</strong> Cambusnethan, which for-<br />
merly belonged to the Bairds, confirmed to him by King Robert II. 's charter, at<br />
Stirling the I4th <strong>of</strong> July 1381. And their son, Sir Thomas Somerville, married<br />
Mary Sinclair, daughter to the Earl <strong>of</strong> Orkney, who (as the Manuscript <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Family) was created Lord Somerville by King James I. But others say, his son<br />
William was the first Lord Somerville, by King James 11. Dalrymple's Collections.<br />
Of him was linally descended Hugh, sixth Lord Somerville, who married Helen,<br />
daughter to George Lord Seaton, He had with her several children, Gilbert Lord<br />
Somerville, and Hugh, the first <strong>of</strong> Drum.<br />
Lord Gilbert sold the lordship <strong>of</strong> Carnwath to John Earl <strong>of</strong> Marr, and James<br />
Earl <strong>of</strong> Buchan. He had only one daughter, who, by a settlement and decreet,<br />
was divested <strong>of</strong> these lands and honours. And his brother. HUGH SOMERVILLE ot<br />
Drum, being one <strong>of</strong> the Pages <strong>of</strong> the Bed-Chamber to King James VI. and as heirmale<br />
to his brother, might have taken upon him the title and dignity <strong>of</strong> Lord