In keeping with the CDSNA 2009 by-laws, the list of recognized septs by CDSNA is:

Agnew, Blackett, Blacklock, Blackstock, Blackwood, Blaylock, Breckinridge, Brown, Brownlee, Cavan, Cavers, Dickey, Drysdale, Forest, Forrester, Foster, Gilpatric, Glendenning, Glenn, Harkness, Inglis, Kilgore, Kilpatrick, Kirkland, Kirkpatrick, Lockerby, Lockery, MacGuffey, MacGuffock, McKittrick, Morton, Sandilands, Sandlin, Soule, Sterrett, Symington, Troup, Young

It would be wonderful to have documentation for each of these sept names describing why it is a sept of Douglas. Some (like Cavers, Drysdale, Glendenning, or Sandilands) are more obvious than others and it is simple to find historical references for inclusion. Others (like Blaylock, Harkness, Kilgore, or Soule) may need a bit more documentation.

As an historical organization, I believe it is important for us to provide historical evidence for the inclusion of any name we recognize as a sept. And, in my opinion, if there is nothing to "prove" the name is a sept, we should remove it from the list.

In this thread, I am asking members and guests to present evidence demonstrating why a name IS included in our list as a Sept of Douglas. This is NOT the thread to present names that SHOULD BE included ... I will begin a different post for that.

So, if you are able to provide historical evidence for any name now listed in our by-laws as a Sept of Douglas, please add your comment.

CAVERS

Listed in 2009 CDSNA bylaws.

In Great Britain. Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts, Reports Part 2, published in 1879, it is reported that “In the reign of King Robert the Bruce, on the fall and forfeiture of the Balliols, when so many noble houses succumbed, Cavers it appears to have passed into the possession of the Crown and in the Douglas Emerald Charter of 1328 it is enumerated among the estates of conferred by the King on his gallant comrade, the ‘good Sir James Douglas.’ The lands and barony of Cavers, with the Sheriffship of Roxburgh, came into the possession of Archibald Douglas, founder of the present family of Douglas in Cavers in 1412.”

See also the Douglas Archives, Douglas of Cavers, http://www.douglashistory.co.uk/history/families/douglasofcavers.htm

GLENDINNING

Listed in 2009 CDSNA bylaws.

“The Glendinnings are a sept of the Douglas Clan and the history of the name goes back to Adam de Glendonwyn who was alive during the reign of Alexander III of Scotland, circa 1286. Adam's descendants became knights and substantial landholders, fighting alongside the Douglas clan leaders in their battles with the English and were often to be found offering themselves to English Kings as hostage for their countrymen's good behaviour.” [http://user.itl.net/~glen/glendinningorigins.html]
Also, “The origin of the name Glendenning or Glendinning, is obviously from the lands of that name.
However it seems that it first came into prominence with William Douglas of Glendinning who was the second son of William Douglas, 1st Lord Douglas, 1057 AD. It was not uncommon for a man’s surname to become submerged beneath the name of his lands, and his true name to be later completely overlooked or forgotten altogether.” CDAA Newsletter 82, 2009

SANDILANDS

A separate clan (according to The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs) and recognized sept of Clan Douglas listed in 2009 CDSNA bylaws.. http://www.clanchiefs.org/p/members.html

According to the March 2007 Newsletter from CDAA, “The surname SANDILANDS is derived from the lands of Sandilands in the upper ward of Clydesdale and with the lands of Reidmyre were given to James of Sandilands by William, Lord Douglas, 18/Dec/1348 for services rendered. Sir James of Sandilands was first recorded obtaining a charter of lands in the county of Peebles from King David 11 in October 1345 as well as grants of the barony and castlewards of Wiston in Lanarkshire. Sir James of Sandilands was one of the attendants chosen by Lord William Douglas to accompany him to London in 1347 in the train of David II. They obtained a ‘safe conduct’ to England from King Edward III to bring necessaries to Sir William Douglas of Liddesdale who was a prisoner in the Tower of London at that time. It seems that Sir James of Sandilands spent a great deal of his time traveling to and from London on business on behalf of William Douglas. When James Sandilands married Eleanor of Bruce, the sister of Douglas, James was granted the barony of Bengowre (Bangour) co. Edinburgh as a marriage settlement. In 1350, this was confirmed by Duncan, Earl of Fife who had given it to Douglas formerly. In consequence of the marriage of Sandilands to Eleanor Douglas, King David ratified that the Douglas arms be quartered by the Lords of Calder and it has indeed been pointed out that on the failure of the older legitimate line, the Sandilands became in law heirs-general of the house of Douglas.” See also http://www.douglashistory.co.uk/history/Septs/sandilands.htm where the following is given: “During the Wars of Scottish Independence Sir James de Sandilands distinguished himself in the wars against the English. For his services he was rewarded with a royal charter to his lands by King David II of Scotland. He married Eleanor, the only daughter of Sir Archibald Douglas, Regent of Scotland. James Sandilands received from his brother in law, William IV, Lord of Douglas the lands of Calder in Lothian.” Also, “The current chief of Clan Sandilands is The Rt. Hon. the Lord Torphichen.”

For the following information, I wish to thank Joe Blaylock, CDSNA Blaylock Sept Commissioner.

BLAYLOCK

1. “BLAYLOC. A rare name recorded in Annan, 1801. Suggested to be from OE, blae meaning livid or lead-colored hair, but perhaps of local origin.” Black, George F., PH. D., The Surnames of Scotland. The New York Public Library, 1946.

Black’s The Surnames of Scotland is considered the most authoritative work done on Scottish names. Here he establishes that Blayloc(k) is an Annandale, Dumfriesshire name. I have found records of Blaylocks in Annan and Dumfries as early as the 16th century. Annan and all of Dumfriesshire is historically within the lands under the control of “The Douglas earls of Morton in Dumfriesshire”, see (http://www.rampantscotland.com/clans/blclandouglas.htm).

2. Dr. Phillip Smith, Fellow of the Scottish Tartans Society, Past President of the American branch of The Scottish Tartans Authority, a member of the Guild of Tartan Scholars (one of only seven internationally), Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and author of the book Tartan For Me identifies the correct tartan for Blaylock as the Douglas tartan. This, though he has created over 100 registered tartans, among them the Blaylock Family tartan. This leading authority places Blaylock as a sept of Clan Douglas, or he would recommend the Blaylock tartan for their wear.

3. The connection between the Blaylock family and Douglas lands is further confirmed by the following three Douglas castles, all in areas from which the Blaylock family originated: Drumlanrig Castle, Morton Castle, Threave Castle

4. If one enters the Scottish Tartans Authority website and does a search for a Blaylock tartan, the site returns one Blaylock family tartan, and three Douglas tartans.

INGLIS

Listed in 2009 CDSNA bylaws.

The strong connection between Douglas and Inglis is given at [http://www.inglis.uk.com/page4.html]
“The roofless south transept, which is invariably known as the Inglis' Aisle, is worth close examination. The traditional story behind the name is as follows: In the early years of the fourteenth century, when Douglasdale was repeatedly overrun and often held by the English, the Inglis family tenanted the farm of Weston. Once Inglis managed to overhear the English plans for taking the castle, and at very great risk conveyed a warning to the Douglas. For this and perhaps other services he was asked to name his reward, and he replied that his greatest wish was to be buried under the same roof as his master. Accordingly, the south transept was set apart as the burial place of Inglis and his descendants for all time. So goes the tale, and until comparatively recent years descendants of the Douglas Inglises have been buried there. There are several memorial tablets on the walls, some bearing the Inglis coat of arms and the family motto, " Recte faciendo securus ". A fragment of a local rhyme survives in the couplet:
It was gi'en to Inglis and Ingliss bairns
And a' that lie in Inglis's airms.

Further evidence for Inglis is found in Nisbet’s Heraldry, vol i. 83 [internet source http://www.archive.org/stream/systemofheraldry01nisbuoft/systemofheraldry01nisbuoft_djvu.txt]:

John Inglis of Manor obtains a charter of confirmation of his lands of Manor, to himself, and his son and heir Thomas Inglis, from his superior, Archibald Duke of Touraine, Earl of Douglas ; and the three stars in chief, carried by the name of Inglis, I take to be arms of patronage, and carried by that name, upon the account that they were vassals to the Douglases. Thomas Inglis of Manor made an ex-
cambion of his lands of Brankesholm, Branshaugh, Goldylands, CMahitelaw, Quhitrig, Todshaw-hills, and Todshaw-wood, which he held of the Douglases, with Sir Walter Scot of Murthouston, for the lands of Murthouston and Heartwood, lying in the barony of Bothwell in the shire of Lanark ; as by the charter of excambion, dated at Edinburgh the 23d of July 1446, in which he is designed, Nobilis vir
Thomas Inglis de Manners; and afterwards he and his family in other writs were designed, Domini de Murtboustoun, or Murdistoun.

KIRKPATRICK, Kilpatrick, Gilpatrick

Kirkpatrick is a Lowland armigerous (arms-bearing) Scottish clan. Variations of the name Kirkpatrick include Kilpatrick, Killpatrick, Kilpatric, and Gilpatrick. The clan takes its name from the church of Saint Patrick in the parish of Closeburn in Dumfriesshire, Scotland.

In his Records of the Closeburn Kirkpatricks (1953) , Charles Kirkpatrick states,
“The name of Kirkpatrick or Kilpatrick, seems to be associated with the early Brito-Celtic churches which were founded in the fifth century by St. Patrick in the south west of Scotland, from the Clyde to the Solway Firth. [Articles by the Rev. J. W. Hewison D.D.]

Antiquarians explain that the word "Kil" or "Ceall" first meant a missioners cell, then a
chapel with its consecrated ceinture, increasing afterwards to mean a small community; and the term "Cella Patricii" was applied to the religious communities thus formed by St. Patrick.

The Gaelic "Gilla" or "Gilli", meaning servant, came to indicate the officials or lay holders in these churches, and we early find the name Gilpatrick, more particularly in Galloway.

It has been suggested that "Kil" began to change to "Kirk" after the original church of St.
Ninian at Whithorn became subordinate to York and English officials, some time after the eighth century, but variations of the name range from its northern limit Dumbarton, with the churches of Kirkpatrick, or Kilpatrick on the Clyde, to Kirkpatrick Durham and Kirkpatrick Irongray in Galloway. Then, in Nithsdale there are the old farms of Kilpatrick and the lands of Kirkpatrick in Closeburn. “

Wikipedia, in dealing with “Clan Kirkpatirck” states,
“The first record of the clan is in the 12th century, when Ivone de Kirkpatrick was listed as a witness in a charter of the Bruce family. Later, Alexander II confirmed by charter the lands of the same Ivone. In 1246, during the reign of Alexander II, a Humphrey de Kilpatrick obtained a charter of the lands of Colquhoun from the Earl of Lennox, and that Humphrey's son Ingram was the first to assume the name Colquhoun. It may be remarked that both Humphrey and Ivan are popular names with Colquhouns, and that a Humphrey de Kilpatrick appears in charters relating to the Lennox, and others relating to Dumfries-shire - all of similar date. Geographically, the name 'Kilpatrick' is now most closely associated with the Lennox, while places named 'Kirkpatrick' are largely confined to Dumfries-shire, and it is quite probable that many who now bear the name had origin in these places, and may or may not have links, other than the 'kinship of a name', with the family who held Closeburn.

Roger de Kilpatrick/Kirkpatrick was an attendant to Robert Bruce during the time when Bruce murdered Red Comyn. Kilpatrick legend has it that the chiefly motto is derived from Bruce's killing of Sir John Comyn. Upon meeting Comyn in the church of the Greyfriars at Dumfries, Bruce confronted Comyn with accusations of his treachery. A scuffle broke out; during which Bruce stabbed Comyn with his dagger. Horrified, Bruce fled from the church to his escorts and told them, "I doubt I have slain Comyn." Kilpatrick cried, "You doubt? I'll mak siccar!" ("I'll make sure"), whereupon he rushed the church and finished off the wounded Comyn. Sir Roger Kilpatrick hid with Robert Bruce for three nights to escape retribution from Comyn's family. This event is memorialized in the clan's crest, which contains a hand holding a bloody dagger; and the shield: three pillows on a saltire shield with the Scotland colours, or the St Andrews Cross, reversed (i.e. Kilpatrick wears a blue saltire on a white ground). It is also memorialized in the Clan's motto, "I make sure." The family was later pardoned by the Pope for their part in Comyn's death, who reasoned that Bruce's blow against Comyn was likely mortal.

This family gave rise to many cadet families in and around their home county. At the end of the 18th century William Kirkpatrick of Conheath became a wine merchant in Malaga and married Dona Francesca, daughter of Baron de Grivegnee. Their daughter, Eugénie de Montijo, married Emperor Napoleon III and became last Empress of France.

In 1314 the Kirkpatricks were rewarded the lands of Redburgh. In 1355, Sir Roger Kilpatrick took Caerlaverock Castle and Dalwinston Castle from English forces. Two years later, in 1357, Sir Roger Kilpatrick was murdered by Sir James Lindsay in a private argument. The title passed from Roger to his Nephew, Sir Thomas Kirkpatrick, who had a charter for the lands of Closeburn and Redburgh from Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany in 1409. Much later, in 1542, Sir Thomas Kirkpatrick was captured at the Battle of Solway Moss. The estate then passed to a cousin. In 1685 Sir Thomas Kirkpatrick of Closeburn was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia. The Kirkpatrick estate of Closeburn was finally sold by the 4th baronet, Sir James Kirkpatrick.”

Many connections between the Closeburn Kirkpatricks and the Douglases exist and many of these were noted by Richard Kirkpatrick in his 1858 Kirkpatrick of Closeburn. (memoir Respecting the Family of Kirkpatrick of Closeburn, in Nithsdale, with Notices of Some Collaterals) . Among the more compelling are…

(1) The relationship between the Kirkpatricks and Duke of Queensbury.

UMPHRAY, son of DUNCAN and ISABEL, made a settlement and obtained a Confirmatory Charter of the lands of Torthorwald from King Robert Brus, 16th July, 1322, who also granted to him that he should hold his lands of Torthorwald in Free Forest – a grant which conferred great privileges, and was highly valued in those days. His son Sir ROBERT was taken prisoner at the battle of Dupplin. ROGER, son of ROBERT obtained a charter from John the Grahame, son of Sir John Grahame of Moskesson, of an annual rent arising out of the lands of Over Dryffe, 1355. This family, which had acquired by marriage the Barony of Torthorwald, subsequently merged by marriage in the Lords Carliel, who thereby became Barons of thorthorwald; and the Barony not long afterwards passed to Douglas of Drumlanrig, by the marriage of Margaret, daughter of William Lord Torthorwald, with William Douglas, third baron of Drumlanrig, who died in 1464, and whose descendant, William third Earl of Queensbury, was in 1682 created marquis, and in 1684 Duke of Queensbury, Marquis of Dunfriesshire, Earl of Drumlanrig and Sanquhar, Viscount of Nith, Torthorwald and Ross. [Memoir, p 9]

SIR THOMAS, the second Baronet [Kirkpatrick of Closeburn], succeeded his father in 1700. In the year 1702, he married Isabel the eldest daughter of Sir William Lockhart of Carstairs, Baronet, by the Lady Isabel Douglas, sister of William Duke of Queensbury. The children of this marriage were THOMAS born 1704, JAMES who died at Calcutta bachelor, William, and Robert, who as well as a daughter, died in infancy. This Baronet, who is still remembered with warm affection as ‘The good Sir Thomas,’ took an active part in repressing the rebellion of 1715. [Memoir, p 34]

(2) The recognition of the Douglases as feudal superiors.

ALEXANDER KIRKPATRICK, brother of Sir THOMAS, received the Barony of Kirkmichael from the King [James III], as a reward for taking prisoner at the battle of Burnswark, James the ninth and last Earl of Douglas, 1484. This Earl, weary of exile and anxious to revisit his native land, made a vow that on St. Magdalen's day he would lay his offering upon the high alter at Lochmaben, of which Sir Thomas Kirkpatrick was then keeper. Accompanied by the Earl of Albany he entered Scotland in a warlike guise, but the Borderers flocked together to oppose him, and he was defeated at Burnswark in Dumfriesshire. Whoever should kill or take captive the Earl, was to receive a thousand merks and an estate of a thousand merks yearly rent. Alexander Kirkpatrick made the Douglas a prisoner with his own hand. The Earl desired to be carried to the King, saying to Kirkpatrick, 'Thou art intitled to profit by my misfortune, for thou wert ever true to me while I was true to myself.' But the young man burst into tears, and offered to conduct his captive to England. The Earl refused his proffer, and only desired that he might not be given up to the King, till his conqueror had made sure of his reward. Kirkpatrick generously went further, he stipulated for the safety of the ancient Lord. Accordingly, while he received the estate of Kirkmichael, 1484, for his own services, Douglas was permitted to retire to the abbey of Lindores. [Memoir, p 21]

That the Kirkpatricks of Closeburn were long time vassals of the Douglas lords is also verified by Maxwell in The House of Douglas (volume 1, page 200) who describes how James, 9th (and last) Earl of Douglas, surrendered himself to “a former vassal of his own, Alexander Kirkpatrick, son of the Laird of Closeburn.”

(3) In the mid 19th Century, a descendant of the Closeburn Kirkpatricks, Doña Maria Eugenia, Countess de Teba, became Empress of the French as consort of Emperor Napolean III. Of interest is the connection between the Good Sir James Douglas and Teba. If this were not odd enough, Kirkpatrick draws a further connection between the Closeburn Kirkpatricks and the Black Douglases.

The tradition is that the title ‘de Teba,’ was conferred on the Comte de Montijo as a second title, in recognition of his conduct at the siege of Teba in Andalusia, in 1328, when the place was taken by the Moors. By a singular coincidence a Kirkpatrick of Closeburn took part in the same exploit. The tale is told by Froissart.
King Robert Bruce had made a vow to go to the Holy Land, to expiate the death of Comyn. Upon his death-bed he regretted exceedingly having, by the contests in which was incessantly in support of his throne, been prevented from fulfilling his vow, and desired that his heart might be taken to Jerusalem. Douglas, with the heart suspended from his neck in a silver casket, accompanied by a son of Sir Roger Kirkpatrick and other knights, undertook the Commission. For want of a vessel sailing directly to Palestine, they passed through Spain, and arrived in Andalusia at the time the Spaniards were besieging Teba. Thinking it an excellent opportunity to prove their zeal against the infidel, they joined the Spanish standard, and at the critical moment of the assault, Douglas hurled the casket into the midst of the Moors, crying, ‘Noble heart, go as thou hast always gone, the first into the fight Douglas and his Knights swear to follow or die.’ “The Scots,” says the historian, “challenge for the royal heart, the chief glory of the defeat of the Moor, and the capture of Teba.” [Memoir, p 40,41]

Sources:

Kirkpatrick, C. Records of the Closeburn Kirkpatricks: Paper Read to the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Antiquarian Society on 18th December 1953. Scotland: The Author, 1953. Print.

Kirkpatrick, Richard G. (Family . Kirkpatrick of Closeburn. (memoir Respecting the Family of Kirkpatrick of Closeburn, in Nithsdale, with Notices of Some Collaterals). London: Privately printed, 1858. Print.

Maxwell, Herbert.A History of the House of Douglas Vol I,Freemantle & Co., London. 1902

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan_Kirkpatrick

HARKNESS

TROUP

Anyone having information regarding why either of these sept names is connected to Clan Douglas is encouraged to post it here or contact me by email [see Missouri Regent info]. Documentation for these two sept names is difficult to find and any help would be appreciated.

Anyone who has information regarding BROWN as a sept of Douglas is encouraged to contact me. (See the contact info for the Kansas/Missouri Regent).

The Septs Project has other names that will be posted here in the future. Any/all assistance with the Septs Project will be appreciated.