1st Clan Lamont General Meeting

Click on the image below
to order a Test Kit for the
Lamont Surname Project:

1st Clan Lamont General Meeting

SKETCHES FROM THE HISTORY OF CLAN LAMONT

A lecture delivered in Glasgow at the first General Meeting of the Clan Lamont Society, on 22nd February, 1897 by Sir Norman Lamont, 17th & last Laird of Knockdow

I have been asked to give you a short address on the history of the Clan Lamont.; but before opening my subject to-night I should like to say what pleasure it gives me to here to-night on the occasion of the first meeting of the Clan Lamont Society. Ours is not- and has not for 250 years past been - a numerous clan, and I therefore think that it is very creditable to the loyalty of the clan as a whole, as well as the energy of our secretaries, that to many clansmen and clanswomen have enrolled themselves as members of the Society during the short period since its foundation; and it augurs well for the future success that members have so numerously responded to the invitations to support, by their presence, this first meeting.

The preparation of my address has caused me no small perplexity; for although the historical material is both various and extensive, yet much of it is unavailable for the composition of an interesting lecture, and this rendered it difficult to determine what to select and what to reject. With the object therefore of making my subject as interesting as possible, I have left untouched those periods wherein I found nothing but list of names and dates, and chosen those epoch in our history which have narrative or dramatic interest, and I can only hope that in the limited time at our disposal I may be able to touch upon some points, at any rate, which may be new to some of you.

I start with the origin of the clan. Accurately speaking, the first clan concerning whom we have absolute historical evidence is Ferchar, who flourished about the year 1200. The MSS of 1467 (as given by Skene) deduces Ferchars descent through seven generations of very Irish names to Niall Glundubh (or Black Knee) who died in 917, and was king of the Northern Hy Niall in Ireland. But this pedigree carries internal evidence of inaccuracy , for it allows six generations for the 130 years from 917 to 1047, and only two generations for the 180 years from 1047 to 1230.

Our history then may be said to begin with Ferchar, who, with his three sons – Malcolm, Duncan and David, lived in the district of Cowal, which has this been the home of the clan for an indisputable period of 700 years, and probably for 700 more years more as the origin of the clan which seems to me to have the greatest inherent likelihood is that its founders came over from Ireland in the so-called Dalriadic Invasion of 508 A.D.; when a Colony of Scoto-Irish established themselves in Kintyre and southern Argyllshire generally, and succeeded in maintaining their independence under their own orinces until the union of the Scots and Picts under Kenneth MacAlpine in 844.

About the year 1288, Duncan, son of Ferchar, and Laumon(from whom we have taken our surname), son of Malcolm, granted to the monks of Paisley the church of Kilfinan with its patronage, also “those three halfpenny lands which they and their ancestors had at Kilmun;” and some land with a chapel at Kilmory on Lochgilp. These grants are of great importance as proving the wide extent of the possessions of the clan at that period.

The grants to the monks of Paisley were confirmed by Angus, son of Duncan, in 1270, and Malcolm, son of Laumon, in 1295. In 1466 John Lamont of that Ilk had a controversy with the monks of Paisley regarding the patronage of Kilfinan; but when shown the charters granted by his ancestors he renounced all claim and confirmed the grant. This is important, as proving the descent of John Lamont from Ferchar, a period of 260 years.

In the year 1464, Lilas, a daughter or sister probably of this John Lamont, married Charles Robertson of Lunde, and carried with here Perthshire the famous Lamont harp, ancient even then, and now believed to be almost the oldest of the Celtic Harp extant.

About this time, it becomes extremely difficult to unravel the tangled skein of our genealogy. In 1469 Robert Lamont of Inveryne died, and his lands fell to the Crown by reason of non-entry, and ninety years were held of the crown by his successors.

About 1534 we find mention of one John Lamont, who appears to have held the lands of Derengyroch, Linsaig, and Ardlamont. He is alluded to as John Lamont of Ardlamont, from which, and from a certain inaccurate sentence in “Origines Parochiales,” sundry persons have endeavoured to prove that he was the Chief, who, in some way, had been ousted by the Larid of Inveryne.

These gentlemen confuse two words, Lamont and Ardlamont. Ardlamont was merely an eight merk farm upon the property of Lamont and the expression of “Lamont of that Ilk” no more applies to the man who held that farm of Ardlamont (of his Chief) than it does to the man in the moon. The fact is that the Chief has been known indifferently as Lamont of Lamont, Lamont of Inneryne, or Lamont of that Ilk and it is only quite recent times that his whole estate has been inaccurately called Ardlamont. The confusion is much enhanced by the frequent pccirances pf the name John; Thus in 1558, the Lairds of Inveryne, Ascog, Knockdow, Ardlamont and Auchtyewin were all called John Lamont.

A well-defined branch of the clan was that of descended from Allan Lamont, who graduated at St. Andrews University, in 1536, and was afterward Steward of the House-hold to the infant son of King James V. He brought the lands of Ellenhill, and was the ancestor of the families of Lamont of Newton, in Fife; and Lamont of North Barton, in Yorkshire. John Lamont, author of the celebrated “Chronicle of Fife” is one of the best known of his descendants, among whom may also be found, at least, ten ministers of the Church of Scotland. One of these, Dr David Lamont, was Moderator of the General Assembly, and chaplin to King George IV. While touching on ecclesiastical matters, I may mention that “Sir” Robert Lamont was, in 1552, made Chancellor of the Chapel Royal at Stirling, and two years later Queen Mary made him priory of Oransay. He is believed to have been the last Roman Catholic Prior.

One of the most romantic incidents connected with our clan is that related by James Grant in his “Rob Roy” where it is so admirably told that no apology is needed for quoting it entire. “Alastair Roy MacGregor of Glenstrae had but one son, a brave and handsome youth, named Evan, to whom he was deeply attached, and whom, as the future heir of all his possessions, he trained up with particular care, leaving nothing undone to make him perfect as a soldier and a huntsman. One day when Evan was seerstalking among the mountains he met a young Laird of Lamont, with two attendants, was traveling from Cowal towards the king’s castle if Inverlochy, and they dined together at a little inn or change-house; hot words were ensued, for both were passionate and fiery in spirit, and drawing his dirk, young Lamont killed Evan MacGregor by a single blow, and he fell across the table at which they had been seated. Horrified at what he had done, Lamon leaped from a window and fled but was pursued by Dugald Ciar Mhor and other MacGreogors, who first had made short work of his two attendants. The fight and pursuit were maintained on foot; and with Lamont, who knew that he would be instantly sacrificed if taken, fear added wings to his speed, so that ultimately he outstripped the friends of him he had slain. Ignorant of whither he went, as night was closing, he found himself to a lonely glen, where, at the base of a mountain, stood a tower, at the gate of which he breathlessly demanded shelter, succour, and rest.

On being admitted, he asked what place this was?

“Stronmiolchoin – the house of Glenstrae,” replied the wondering gate-ward.

“The dwelling of Alastair Roy?”

“Yes.”

“Then I am undone, “ exclaimed the unhappy Lamont as he sank exhausted on a seat.

“Undone – how mean you?” asked the Laird of Glenstrae, coming hurriedly forward; “Who are you?”

“The son of Lamont of the Ilk.”

“By whom are you pursed, that my home will fail to afford you succor?” asked Glenstrae.

“I am pursed by MacGregors.” Replied the sinking fugitive, “and I beseech you, by all the claims of hospitality and compassion, and by your authoritym to save me from them!”

“You are safe,” said Alastair, lissing the blade of his dirk; but what have you done-whom have you slain? For there is blood on your hands, and the hilt of your dirk.”

“Alas!” said Lamont and paused.

“Speak, for you are safe in the house of Glenstrae, whatever you have done.” Said the chief impetuously; but the unhappy fugitive clasped his hands, for a din of voices rang at the Tower Gate, and Dugald Ciar Mhor, with other pursurers, came rushing in, bearing with them the body of Evan, and after informing the unfortunate father of what had occurred, they loudly demanded that the assassin should be surrendered unto them.

“I have passed my word t protect him, and I must respect it, even in this moment of agony!” replied Glenstrae, while the tears rolled down his face; “never shall it be said that a MacGregor broke his word – even to an enemy.”

In their rage and sorrow for what had occurred his wife and daughter besought him to yield the fugitive to the clansmen, they they might put him to death, but Glenstrae stood over him with his sword drawn, and said,

“Let no man heor dare to lay a hand upon him, MacGregor has promised him safety, and by the soul of my only and beloved son, whom he has slain, he shall be safe while under the roof of Glenstrae – safe as if beneath his own!”

And before the interment of Evan, when the sorrow and angry passions of the assembled clan would be roused to their full height, the chief, with a chosen party, escorted young Lamont far across the mountains, an almost within sight of his home in Cowal.

“Farewell, Lamont.” Said he, gravely and sternly, “on your own land you are now safe; further I will not and cannot protect you. Avoid my people, lest you father may have to endure the sorrow that wrings this heart of mine; and may God forgive you the woe you have brought on the house of Glenstrae.”

A few years after this the field of Glenfruin was fought (9 Feb 1602); the castle of Stronmiochoin destroyed, and Alastair of Glenstrae, then an aged man, and all his people, were proscribed fugitives.

Homeless, nameless, and a wanderer, with the severe parliamentary acts of James VI, hanging over his head, the Laird of Glenstrae had to lurk in the caves and woods, among the glens that had once been his own, till he was captured by Sir James Campbell of ardinglas, from whom he made an escape, and fled to Cowal – a peninsula of Argylshire, that stretches far into the Firth of Clyde.

Here the young Laird of Lamont found the poor old mand and received and protected him in his house, with many other fugitives of the Clan Gregor, saving them from Archibald, Earl of Argyll, and other powerful enemies.

To the Earl, Glenstrae at last yielded himself, on the solemn promise that he sent out of Scottosh ground – a promise which was truly but fearfully kept!

He was marched as far as the English side of Berwick, under an escort of the Scottish horseguard, commanded by David Murray, Lord Scone, and then brought back to Edinburgh, where, with 18 devoted men of his surname, he was hanged on 20th Jane 1804.

I will now ask you to carry your minds back to the year 1334, that we may examine from the very beginning into the causes which led to the gradual decline in numbers, in possessions, and importance, of the clan which in 1285 owned most of Cowal, and in 1897 is almost landless. This decline was due (at least during the period under our notice) very largely to the periodic encroachments of the Clan Campbell.

In the year 1334, Robert the Steward of Scotland, with the assistance of Colin Campbell of Lochow, ancestor of the Argyll family besieged Dunoon Castle, and recovered it from the English, to whom it had been weakly delivered by the contemptible Edward Balliol. This was the first turn of fortune in favor of King David Bruce, who, in consideration of Lockow’s services, made him hereditary keeper of the Castle, and assigned cetain lands therwith in support of his dignity. This, apparently, was the first foothold of the Campbells in Cowal, and one which, with their grasping policy, they did not fail to retain and extend.

About the year 1400, during the residence of King Robert III and his court at Rothesay, an incident occurred, in itself regrettable, and in its effects most disastrous to the family of the Chief of Clan Lamont. It appears that thee lairds, Bannatyne of Kames, Houstoun of Houstoun, and Fleming of Wigton, were attached to the Court, and crossed over, occasionally, to Ardyne near Toward, for a days hunting. On their return one evening’ they attempted to carry off some young women, daughters of tacksmen or tenants on the estate. The brothers and fathers of the young women indignantly appealed to their Chief – then resident at Toward Castle – for assistnece, and he at once sent his four younger sons ( the eldest, fortunately being at Court) to intercept the marauders. They came up with them at the shore; a fight insued, in which the the three courtiers were killed. Some of their retainers, however managed to escape, and related to the King a garbled account of the occurrence, with the result that His Majesty confiscated the lands of Toward, and gave them to the heirs of the three slain lairds. These lands were sequently regained by purchase, and to this day are known as Toward-houston, and Toward-fleming, after the men to whom King Robert granted them.

The four sons of Lamont were compelled to fly, and for safety changed their names. Their subsequent proceedings are thus related in an interesting letter written by our chief in the year 1699: - One of them went to Perthshire, and fought gallantly for Drummond of Strobhall, who obtained for him the marriage of the heiress of Feddal, whose surname, Bourdon, he therefore adopted. Another brother sought his fortune in England, under the name Lamb. A third went to Paiseley, where the Abbot asked his name: “I am a landless mand” he said. “it shall be so no longer,” replied the Abbot, and gave him a piece of land, which his descendants retained for many generations with the surname of Landless. The fourth brother went to Luss on Lochlomand, and became a turner by trade, his descendants adopting the patronymic of MacTournor.

Many families of these four names may therefore be considered as septs of branches of the Clan Lamont.

The next opportunity for the Campbells to extend their influence in Cowal came about in this wise: Sir Duncan Campbell, the Black Knight of Lochow, had a son educated in the lowlands, Celestin by name, who died suddenly during a snowy winter about 1440. The body could not be removed nearer to his home then Kilmun, so the Black Knight asked as a favor of Lamont, a burial place there, which request was granted: “I Great Lamont of all Cowal, do grant unto thee, Black Knight of Lochow, a grave of flags, wherein to bury thy son in they distress.” It will be remembered in 1238, our Chief had granted the church at Kilmun to the monks at Paisley. This church Sir Duncan Campbell now endowed, and in 1442 founded a college there; and his family have ever since retained it as their place of sepulture. This was the third footing of the Campbells in Cowal.

During the greater part of two centuries from 1440 to 1640, the Clan Lamont seems to have been at peace and to have prospered. It was during this period that most of the cadet families branched off from that of Inveryne, namely, the Lamont of Stilaig, Ascog, Silvercraigs, Auchagoyall, Auchnashellach, Cowston, Stronalbanach, and others, all holding lands of the Chief, and by their numbers greatly adding to the strength of the clan.

About 1589, Sir John Lamont of Inveryne, “for the good service to the King of France and other parts,” had all his lands united into the Barony of Inveryne, and was subsequently knighted. In 1568, he had the honor of entertaining Queen Mary at Toward Castle during her tour of the West Highlands. His grandson, Sir James was out with Argyll in 1615 assisting him in suppressing the rebellion of Sir james MacDonald. In 1630 Sir Colin Lamont represented Argyllshire in Parliament and his son Sir James in the Parliament of 1639-40.

But though our clan had prospered, the numbers and power of the prolific race of the Cambells had increased much faster; their chiefs since 1457 had borne the title of the earl of Argyll, and we find by the end of the sixteenth century, besides having enlarged their possessions in other directions, they owned at least the lands of Ottir, Ormidale, Dunoon, Kilmun, Stathachie, Achynmyllan, and Ardtraig in Cowal; this policy of extention being much facilitated by judicious marriages with heiresses, and the highly diplomatic method of always espousing that cause which seemed at the time to be in the ascendant, which did not, however, preclude them from – shall I say? – “reconsidering their postion.” As often as fortune showed signs of proving fickle. During the troblous times of King Charles I., chance and the Fortune of War threw in their way an unrivaled opportunity of still further extension, at the expense of the neighboring Clans of Lamont and MacDougall – an opportunity of which they did not fail to take advantage to the full.

In March 1643, King Charles, under his own hand granted to Sir James Lamont a commission to prosecute a war, and levy forces, in his Majesty’s anem, against those in rebellion, and particularly against the Marquis of Argyll, and to invade his lands. Sir James, accordingly, levied all his friends and followers, and acted as became a good subject in His Majesty’s service till 1646, when the King gave himself up at Newcastle, after which he retired in a peaceable manner to his houses of Toward and Ascog. In spite of this testimonial to his loyalty however ( which I have a quote from the Acts of the Scottish Parliament), I find that the Laird of Lamont, and his cousins of Silvercraigs were among the prisoners taken by Montrose from Argyll’s army at the Battle of Inverlochy, 2 February, 1645. It is hard to understand why Sir James should have stultified the whole of his previous and subsequent actions by thus taking part with his enemy Argyll against his ally Montrose.

In the month of June in the next year, 1646, a large party of the Campbells, under the larids of Ardkinglas, Strachur, and Dunstaffuage, - acting at the instigation of their chief, The Marquis, laid siege to the castles of Toward and Ascog, and wasted the surrounding lands. After protracted sieges, the Lamonts were forced into a capitulation- agreeing to yield up the castles provided they were permitted to depart unscathed. This treaty was solemnly ratified and signed by Ardkinglas and the other Campbell leaders. In violation of this, however, the Campbells did most treacherously, perfidiously, and villainously bind the hands of nearly 200 of Sir James’ followers detaining the prisoners in great torment at Toward for several days; and after plundering all that was in the house, they most inhumanly murdered many persons, young and old, and even some suckling children. They then carried away all the prisoners in boats to Dunoon. and there caused to be hanged on one tree 36 persons, most of them special gentlemen of the name Lamont. The remainder were barbarously murdered with dirks, swords and pistols; or cast into graves made for them while yet alive, spurning and wrestling with their destroyers till they suffocated. None of the victims were allowed time to recommend their souls to God. Such briefly are the details (as recorded in Scottish State trials) of this most horifible attempt to expatriate our entire clan, as was the avowed object – an attempt which compares unfavorably with any of the recent atrocities of the Sultan Abdul Hamid of Armenia.

What wonder, then, that people in those days believed the massacre was marked by a direct manifestation of the wrath of Heaven? The tree on which the Lamonts were hanged was a lively fresh-growing ashtree in the kirkyard of Dunoon, and the Lord struck the tree immediately thereaftet, so that the whole leaves fell from it in the month of June and the tree withered; and so remained for two years, when being cut down, there sprang out of the root thereof a spring llike unto blood popply up, running in several streams all over the root; and that for several years thereafter, till the said murderers, or their favorers perceiving that it was remarked by the persons of all ranks resorting there to see the miracle, they did cause howk out the root, covering the hole with earth, which was full of the said matter like blood.

In the meantime, Sir James Lamont had not been taken to Dunoon; but along with his son Archibald, and his brothers Archibald and Ninian, he had been taken by the sheriff, George Campbell to Inverary; where Ardkinglas, Inverawe, and the sheriff held a so-called ”conventicle” upon them. They inquired whether Sir James would submit his life and fortunes to them. He replied that he would not, and pleaded the King’s Commision; the capitulation given to him, and that he, being the King’s Baron, could only be tried by his peers. The sheriff answered that he was a false knave, that he would judge him whether he would or not, and as Justice-Deputy would hang him. He then robbed Sir James’ brother Archibald, of 1000 pounds; and searched Sir James for the capitulation , but not finding it, compelled him to sign a paper saying his quarrel was unjust, that he repented it, and that he did pass from the capitulation. Sir James was forced to sign this, under fear of death, at the very time that he got the news of the massacre of his clansmen at Dunoon. He and his companions were then sent to Dunstraffnage, in which castle they were detained for four years. Meanwhile Argyll, assisted by David Leslie, determined to repeat against the MacDougalls the tactics which had been so successful against the Lamonts. This clan, which had risen under its Chief Alexander MacDougall of Dunollie, in response to a call from Montrose and Sir James Lamont, had taken the field in Kintyre. Argyll and Leslie pursued with a superior force, and besieged them in the castle of Dunavertie. Unwarned by the fate of Lamonts that little reliance could be placed on the word of the Campbell leaders, they surrendered, and were butchered to the numbered of 500 men.

In 1649 Parliament issued a warrant to Argyll to deliver Lamont; the only result of which was that he and his companion were transferred from Dunstaffnage to Inchconnel on Lochawe. After about two years more, Sir James was removed to Stirling Castle, whence he very soon escaped (in 1651) and fled to Farlie, where he remained in hiding on Southannan and Crosby estates, belonging to his cousin Lord Sempill, and his brother-in-law Crawford of Auchnames.

John Campbell of Ardtarig pursued with a band of 30 Campbells, and searched Southannan with drawn dirks to murder Sir James, who, however fled to the woods and escaped to the island of Arran, where he put himself under the protection of the Duchess of Hamilton. Argyll at once applied to Parliament for a warrant for his apprehension, but the application was refused. We now lose sight of Sir James for nine years, during which period his estates were appropriated by George Campbell, the sheriff, by Ardtarig and by Elangreg.

After the restoration of King Charles II. Sir James lodged a complaint (on23 Jan., 1661), against the Marquis of Argyll, who was accordingly tried for high treason. After a long trial, in which the massacres of the Lamonts and the MacDougalls were two of the most damning counts, he was found guilty, and executed at Edinburgh on 27th May. Heroic though his hearing was, both at his trial and on the scaffold, no unbiased mind will refuse to admit that he richly deserved his fate. But alas! The execution of the Marquis of Argyll could not bring bck to life scores of ill-fated Lamonts whom his lietenants had slaughtered. From this time on our clan was but a scattered remnant of of what it once had been. Many families had been entirely exterminated, and the few survivors had fled from Cowal or changed their names for safety. For example, the Blacks, Browns, and Whitess date their existence as septs of the clan from this time of dread.

It is satisfactory to learn that in 1662, Sir James Lamont obtained an Act of Parliament for reinstating himself in his lands, of which the sheriff and his friends still had possession. Sir James lived for seven or eight years to enjoy a peaceful ending to a life in which he had experienced every variety of fortune, from the position of a Chief, of wide possessions, the member of Parliament, the friend and ally of Montrose, to that of a haunted fugitive seeking refuge in Arran from the vengeance of Argyll.

Transcribed from GLEANINGS – A MISCELLANY by Sir Norman Lamont published 1946

Linked to Norman Lamont

» Show All 1 2 3 4 5 ... 133» Next»