Clan Farquharson
Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox clan
Clan Farquharson (Template:IPAc-en) (Template:Langx {{#invoke:IPA|main}}) is a Highland Scottish clan based at Invercauld and Braemar, Aberdeenshire,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and is a member of the Chattan Confederation.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Farquharson">Way, George and Squire, Romily. (1994). Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). pp. 134–135.</ref><ref name="Farquharson1">"The Scottish Clans and Their Tartans". W. & A. K. Johnston Limited. Edinburgh and London. 1886. Page 20.</ref>
HistoryEdit
OriginsEdit
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The chiefs of the Clan Farquharson trace their ancestry back to Farquhar, fourth son of Alexander "Ciar" of Rothiemurchus.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Farquharson"/> Alexander Shaw was the fifth chief of the Clan Shaw.<ref name="Farquharson1"/> His descendants took the name Farquharson.<ref name="Farquharson1"/> Another of Alexander's sons was Donald, who married Isobel Stewart, the heiress of Invercauld.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Farquharson"/> Donald's son was Finla Mor who was the real progenitor of the clan.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Farquharson"/> MacFionlaigh Mòr is the Scottish Gaelic patronymic.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Farquharson"/> Finla Mor was the royal banner bearer at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547 where he was killed.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Farquharson"/> However he produced nine sons over two marriages from which the important cadet branches of the clan were sprung and the clan grew in stature.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Farquharson"/>
Relationship with the Clan Chattan ConfederationEdit
Up to this point Clan Farquaharson was not part of the Clan Chattan Confederation who occasionally raided their lands. There is story of a Chattan spy, Lamont of Inverey who was caught by the Farquaharsons in 1589 and hanged on a charge of stealing livestock. The tree, a Scots fir was subsequently called the Farquharsons Hanging Tree and became the plant symbol of the clan.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 1595 the Clan Farquharson joined the Chattan Confederation and a bond of manrent acknowledged the chief of Clan Mackintosh, who was also chief of Clan Chattan as their "natyff cheiff".<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Farquharson"/>
Relationship with the Earldom of MarEdit
Towards the end of the 16th century the Clan Erskine chiefs set out to claim the Earldom of Mar but they were opposed by the increasing power of the Farquharsons.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Farquharson"/> In 1628 Braemar Castle was built by John Erskine (Earl of Mar) as a bulwark against them, but in 1716 it fell into the hands of the Clan Farquharson.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Farquharson"/> The clan became known as the fighting Farquharsons due to their fierce reputation and they became strong supporters of the Stuarts.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Farquharson"/>
17th century, clan conflicts and Civil WarEdit
During the Scottish Civil War Donald Farquharson of Monaltrie fought for James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose in 1644,<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Farquharson"/> and then for Charles II at the Battle of Worcester in 1651.<ref name="Coventry"/> John Farquharson of Inverey was known as the Black Colonel and burned Braemar Castle.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Farquharson"/> John supported James VII of Scotland and followed John Graham, 1st Viscount Dundee in 1689.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Farquharson"/> After Dundee's death in 1689 the Clan Farquharson supported his successor, Thomas Buchan of the Clan Buchan.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Buchan">Way, George and Squire, Romily. (1994). Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). pp. 84–85.</ref>
In the late 17th century the Earl of Airlie came into dispute with the Clan MacThomas over the lands of Canlochcan.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.MacThomas">Way, George and Squire, Romily. (1994). Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). pp. 258–259.</ref> Airlie's legal action was successful but the chief of Clan MacThomas refused to recognize this and continued to pasture his cattle on the disputed land.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.MacThomas"/> In response Airlie used his legal right to lease the land to men of the Clan Farquharson which led to a feud.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.MacThomas"/> On 28 January 1673 Farquharson of Broughdearg was killed along with two sons of the chief of Clan MacThomas.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.MacThomas"/> The lawsuits that followed crippled the MacThomas chief.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.MacThomas"/>
On the south side of the Black Isle, Ross-shire, are McFarquhar's Cave and McFarquhar's Bed which are apparently named after a 17th-century smuggler.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
18th century and Jacobite risingsEdit
During the Jacobite rising of 1715 another John Farquharson of Invercauld was a colonel in the Chattan Confederation regiment which supported James Francis Edward Stuart.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Farquharson"/> Farquharson was taken prisoner at the Battle of Preston (1715).<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Farquharson"/> He was held at Marshalsea Prison and was condemned to be executed at the Tower of London, however he and two other highland officers were reprieved on the morning of execution.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Farquharson"/> He was paroled and not allowed to return to Scotland for over twenty years.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Farquharson"/> General Wade's report on the Highlands in 1724, estimated the combined clan strength of the Farquharsons and Mackintoshes at 800 men.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
In 1745 the strength of the Clan was estimated as 500 by Duncan Forbes, Lord Culloden.<ref name="Farquharson1"/> On 23 December 1745, 300 men of the Clan Farquharson had fought as Jacobites in their victory at the Battle of Inverurie (1745).<ref name="Leslie1">Leslie, Charles Joseph. (1869). Historical records of the family of Leslie from 1067 to 1868-9, collected from public records and authentic private sources. Volume III. pp. 178–181. Published by Edmonston and Douglas, Edinburgh.</ref> During the Jacobite rising of 1745, the cousin of John Farquharson was Lady Anne Farquharson-MacKintosh who was wife of Angus Mackintosh, chief of Clan Mackintosh.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Farquharson"/> Angus Mackintosh was in fact a serving officer in the Black Watch regiment of the British Army and he was captured at the Battle of Prestonpans by Jacobite forces.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Farquharson"/> Mackintosh was sent home to Moy having been given parole not to take arms against the Jacobites and when he arrived he was greeted by his wife, Anne Farquharson, who said "Your servant, captain" to which he replied "Your servant, colonel".<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Farquharson"/> She was ever after known as Colonel Anne.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Farquharson"/> Anne later saved Charles Edward Stuart from capture in what is known as the Rout of Moy.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Farquharson"/> Anne was imprisoned for six weeks after the Battle of Culloden.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Farquharson"/> Francis Farquharson of Monaltrie led the Farquharsons at the Battle of Culloden and although he survived he was imprisoned and was condemned to death, but was lucky enough to have his execution reduced to exile.<ref name="Coventry"/>
The McFarquhars of Redcastle on the Black Isle were Jacobites.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Modern clanEdit
Alwyne Arthur Compton Farquharson, Chief of the Name and Arms of Farquharson, 16th Baron of Invercauld and Omnalprie, MC, JP; as recognised by Lord Lyon King of Arms died on 6 October 2021.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Born 1 May 1919 as Alwyne Arthur Compton, son of Major Edward Robert Francis Compton, of Newby Hall, Ripon, Yorkshire, and of Torloisk, Aros, Isle of Mull, Scotland (grandson of William Compton, 4th Marquess of Northampton) and Sylvia Farquharson of Invercauld,<ref>Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 107th edition, ed. Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage Ltd, 2003, vol. 1, p. 1399, vol. 2, p. 2426</ref> he was confirmed MacFionnlaidh by Lyon Court in 1949, having taken the name of Farquharson. He served with distinction as a captain in the Royal Scots Greys during World War Two. Captain Farquharson resided at Valley Farm, Norfolk with his second wife, Madame Patricia Farquharson.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He is succeeded by his great-nephew Philip Farquharson of Invercauld, 17th Baron of Invercauld and Omnalprie, Chief of the Name and Arms of Farquharson.
CastlesEdit
Castles held by the Farquhars and Farquharsons have included:
- Invercauld House, two miles north-east of Braemar in Aberdeenshire is a solid castellated mansion with a massive tower, battlements and turrets.<ref name="Coventry">Coventry, Martin. (2008). Castles of the Clans: The Strongholds and Seats of 750 Scottish Families and Clans. pp. 192–193. Template:ISBN.</ref> It is built with an old tower house built into its fabric.<ref name="Coventry"/> It was originally held by the Clan Stewart but passed to the Farquharsons when Donald Farquharson married the heiress of Invercauld.<ref name="Coventry"/> Their son was the Findlay Mor who was the Royal Standard Bearer at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547 and was killed there.<ref name="Coventry"/> It was from here that the Earl of Mar, leader of the Jacobite rising of 1715 called out the Jacobites and the Farquharsons of Invercauld still flourish.<ref name="Coventry"/>
- Inverey Castle, four miles west of Braemar, was the seat of John Farquharson of Inverey, the Black Colonel, who murdered John Gordon of Brackley in 1666 as recorded in the old ballad The Baron o' Brackley.<ref name="Coventry"/> John Farquharson of Inverey defeated a force attacking Braemar Castle, which he then torched.<ref name="Coventry"/> Inverey was demolished in 1689 following the Battle of Killiecrankie.<ref name="Coventry"/>
- Kindrochit Castle The ruins of an 11th Century castle built by King Malcolm Canmore. The remains are located in Braemar across from the local butchery shop.
- Braemar Castle, just north-east of Braemar is a seventeenth century L-plan tower house with crowning turrets.<ref name="Coventry"/> It is defended by star shaped artillery defences that date from the next century.<ref name="Coventry"/> The castle was built by the Earl of Mar in 1628 but because they did not support James VII of Scotland in 1689, the castle was seized and torched by John Farquharson of Inverey, the Black Colonel.<ref name="Coventry"/> When the Jacobite rising of 1715 fizzled out the castle passed to the Farquharsons of Invercauld.<ref name="Coventry"/>
- Monaltrie House was held by the Farquharsons who fought for James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose in the 1640s and then for Charles II at the Battle of Worcester in 1651.<ref name="Coventry"/> Francis Farquharson of Monaltrie led the Farquharsons at the Battle of Culloden and although he survived he was imprisoned and was condemned to death, but was lucky enough to have his execution reduced to exile.<ref name="Coventry"/> Monaltrie house was burned after the Battle of Culloden.<ref name="Coventry"/>
- Gilmilnscroft, four miles south-east of Mauchline in Ayrshire, is a T-plan house that was held by the Farquhars and dates from the seventeenth century.<ref name="Coventry"/> It may incorporate a tower house and the lands were held by the Farquhars from the fourteenth to twentieth century.<ref name="Coventry"/> The building was restored in 1968 and is still occupied.<ref name="Coventry"/>
- Mounie Castle, three miles north-west of Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire is an altered seventeenth century T-plan house with a round stair tower that passed from the Clan Seton to the Farquhars in 1634 and then to the Clan Hay in 1701.<ref name="Coventry"/>
- Tolquhon Castle, four miles east of Oldmeldrum, is a courtyard castle with a range of buildings and a drum towered gatehouse.<ref name="Coventry"/> The original castle was built by the Prestons of Craigmillar but passed to the Clan Forbes in 1420 who built the present castle.<ref name="Coventry"/> It was sold to the Farquhars in 1716.<ref name="Coventry"/>
TartansEdit
| Tartan image | Notes |
|---|---|
| File:Farquharson tartan (Vestiarium Scoticum) (Stewart - 'The Setts').png | Clanhiunla, or Farquharsonnes tartan, as published in 1842 in Vestiarium Scoticum. |
| File:Farquharson Tartan.jpg | Farquharson Modern |
| citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> || Farquharson Dress |
_(Stewart_-_%27The_Setts%27).png){kind=link}
Clan ProfileEdit
- Crest: On a chapeau Gules furred Ermine, a demi-lion Gules holding in his dexter paw a sword Proper.
- Motto: Fide et Fortitudine ("Fidelity and Fortitude") and (On compartment) I force nae freen, I fear nae foe.
- Gathering the Clan for battle: The Farquharsons would gather at the Carn na Cuimhe beside the river Dee, east of Invercauld. A fire cross is said to have been sent around the clan lands by runners to notify fighting men to gather.<ref>https://clanfarquharson.us/history/clan-farquharson/ Template:Bare URL inline</ref>
There are several tartans attributed to the name Farquharson.