Clan Farquharson

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Clan Farquharson of Invercauld is a Highland Scottish clan. The clan hails from Aberdeenshire and is a member of the Chattan Confederation.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Origins of the Clan 1.2 16th Century & Anglo-Scottish Wars 1.3 17th Century, Clan Conflicts & Civil War 1.4 18th Century & Jacobite Rebellion 2 Clan Castles 3 Clan Profile 4 Clan Tartans 5 Clan Septs 6 Clan Farquharson Today 7 See also 8 External links

[edit] History

[edit] Origins of the Clan

Farquhar - from the Gaelic 'fear' and 'char' meaning 'dear one'. In modern Scottish Gaelic, the surname is writtern "MacFhearchair".

The name derives its name from Farquhar Shaw, 4th son of Alexander "Ciar" Mackintosh of Rothiemurchus, 5th Chief of the Clan Shaw, who settled in the Braes of Mar, the source of the River Dee. His descendants took the name Farquharson.

[edit] 16th Century & Anglo-Scottish Wars

Farquhar Shaw's son married Isobel Stewart, heiress of Invercauld, however, it was their son, Finla Mor who has become known as the first real Farquharson. He was killed during the Battle of Pinkie in 1547, aged 60, while performing the duty of the King's Standard Bearer. This was part of the Anglo-Scottish Wars

His nine sons ensured that the clan became numerous and influential. In 1595 the clan entered a bond of manrent with the Clan MacKintosh, so also associating themselves with the Chattan Confederation.

At the end of the sixteenth century the Erskines attempted to reclaim the Earldom of Mar. Jon Erskine, who styled himself Earl of Mar, built Braemar Castle in 1628 to defend himself against the claims of the Farquharsons. The castle passed into the hands of the Farquharsons and remains the clan seat to this day.

[edit] 17th Century, Clan Conflicts & Civil War

In 1673 a skirmish took place between the Clan Farquharson and the Clan MacThomas. Of the six sons born from the clan MacThomas chief John and Robert, the eldest and fourth eldest respectively were killed in a skirmish at Drumgley on January 28th 1673. The feud was as a result of the MacThomases allowing their cattle to pasture on the Faquharson's land. After the skirmish the MacThomases were fined, there was a crippling lawsuit made against them. After the chiefs death which followed the remaining sons were forced to sell their lands.

The Farquharsons were staunch supporters of the House of Stuart and in 1689, John Farquharson of Inverey declared for John Graham of Claverhouse, Bonnie Dundee. He burned Braemar Castle and was a source of irritation to the government until his death in 1698.

[edit] 18th Century & Jacobite Rebellion

During the 1715 Rebellion, John Farquharson of Invercauld supported the Chattan Confederation and was a colonel of the regiment in support of James Francis Edward Stuart.

In 1745 the Clan Farquharson are believed to have supported Lord Lewis Gordon during his victory at the Battle of Inverurie (1745). Also During the 1745 Jacobite Rising, Angus, the chief of Clan MacKintosh, was a serving member of the British Black Watch however while he was away on duty his wife, Lady Anne Mackintosh, daughter of Invercauld was a supporter of Charles Edward Stuart and ensured that 350 members of the Clan Chattan Regiment fought at the Battle of Culloden on the side of the Jacobites. During her husband's absence, she successfully rallied the Clan Mackintosh to their Chattan allies including Clan Farquharson. Angus was captured at the Battle of Prestonpans and was paroled to his wife. She famously greeted him with the words, "Your servant, captain" to which he replied, "your servant, colonel" thereby giving her the nickname Colonel Anne.

[edit] Clan Castles

• Inverey Castle was the seat of the chief of Clan Farquharson.
• Braemar Castle was attacked and burned by John Farquharson, the Black Colonel of Inverey in 1689, killing John Erskine. The castle was left in ruins until 1748 when it was leased to the government by the Clan Farquharson.
• Invercauld House is the seat of the current chief of Clan Farquharson, Captain Alwyn Compton Farquharson.

[edit] Clan Profile

• Gaelic Name: Mac Fhionnlaigh Mor.
• Crest: On a chapeau Gules furred Ermine, a demi-lion Gules holding in his dexter paw a sword Proper.
• Motto: Fide et Fortitudine ("Faithful and Courageous") and (On compartment) I force nae freen, I fear nae foe.

[edit] Clan Tartans

• 4 different Farquharson tartans

[edit] Clan Septs

Septs of the Clan Farquharson include:

[edit] Clan Farquharson Today

• Approximate numbers in various countries: Unknown
• Prominent members: Unknown
• Ancestral lands: Braemar Castle and estate remains in the hands of the clan. It consists of around 20,000 acres (81 km²) of forest and heath in Grampian.
• Chief : since 1941, Captain Alwyn Compton Farquharson of Invercauld.

[edit] See also

• Scottish clan

[edit] External links

• Clan Farquharson