Clan Erskine

Clan Erskine
Arascain
Crest: On a chapeau Gules furred Ermine a haund hauldin up a skene in pale Argent, hiltit an pommelled Or.
Motto	JE PENSE PLUS
Profile
Region	Lawlands
Chief
James Thorne Erskine,
The 14t Earl o Mar an the 16t Earl o Kellie
Historic seat	Hoose o Dun

Clan Erskine is a lawland Scots clan.

History

Oreegins o the Name

Erskine Logo (French Oreegin). Erskine is an aurie tae the sooth o the River Clyde an ten mile tae the wast o Glesga. The name is believed tae be auncient or Auld Breetish for green risin grund. In the 13t century durin the reign o King Alexander II o Scotland the first kent body o the name Erskine wis Henry Erskine who wis an an the awner o the Barony o Erskine.

In modren Scots Gaelic, the name is spelt "Arascain".

Areskyn tartan, as published in 1842 in Vestiarium Scoticum.

Wars o Scots Unthirldom

Durin the Wars o Scots Unthirldom the Clan Erskine wur supporters o King Robert the Bruce.

15t Century

In 1435 Alexander Stewart, the Earl o Mar dee'd an Sir Robert Erskine claimed the title. this an aa made him the chief o Clan Mar. Housomeivver the King athdrew the earldom in 1457 statin that it coud anerlie belang tae a Ryal Stuart. Ten years later Sir Robert wis creatit the first Lord Erskine. This unlawful succession wis finally interruptit bi Mary I, Queen o Scots, who saw that the richtful heir John Erskine, 17t Earl o Mar wis restored.

16t century & Anglo-Scots Wars

Durin the Anglo-Scots Wars the 4t 'Lord Erskine' led the Clan Erskine at the Battle o Flodden Field in 1513 whaur he wis slain.

Mary I, Queen o Scots haed been in the care o the 5t Lord Erskine an when he dee'd she made John Erskine the 6t Lord Erskine the Earl o Mar: John Erskine, 17t Earl o Mar.

18t century & Jacobite Uprisins

At the beginnin o the Jacobite Uprisins it seemed likely that the Erskines wad support the Breetish govrenment. Housomeivver the chief o Clan Erskine, John Erskine, 23rd Earl o Mar haed traveled tae Lunnon in 1714 expectin the post o Secretary o State o Scotland. Housomeivver he wis no gien the job an as a result he became a Jacobite. He then raised an airmy o ower ten thoosan men for the Jacobite cause. This force wis no uised tae its potential durin the Battle o Sheriffmuir on 13 November 1715 whaur the Jacobites wur defeatit. The Earl o Mar then fled Scotland tae Saint-Germain in Fraunce, whaurupon he betrayed his Jacobite associates. He lost his line o the Earldom o Mar an it wis no restored till 1824.

Clan Chief

The current Chief o Clan Erskine is James Erskine, 14t Earl o Mar who descends frae the Earls o Mar, seivent Creation (1565) (as deemed bi the Hoose o Lords in 1875).

The Clan Mar nou haes a separate chief; Margaret o Mar, 31st Coontess o Mar who descends frae the Earls o Mar, first Creation.

Clan Castles

• The Hoose o Dun an the Dun Estate wis hame tae the Clan Erskine faimily frae 1375 till 1980, but archaeological evidence shows that fowk hae lived here for at least 9,000 years. John Erskine o Dun wis a key figure in the Scots Reformation.
• Kildrummy Castle wis the seat o the Clan Erskine till it wis abandoned efter the failed Jacobite Uprisins in 1716.
• Corgarff Castle wis acquired bi John Erskine, 18t Earl o Mar in 1626.
• Kellie Castle ws purchased bi Sir Thomas Erskine in 1613.
• Dryburgh Abbey ws gien tae the Earl o Mar bi King James VI, Keeng o Scots in 1544.
• Alloa Tower
• Dirleton Castle
• Braemar Castle
• Rosslyn Castle
• Dunimarle Castle, near Culross, Fife, wis biggit bi the Erskine faimily in the 18t century

See an aa

• Scots clan

Freemit airtins

• http://www.scotclans.com/clans/Erskine/history.html Archived 2006-08-13 at the Wayback Machine
• http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/dtog/erskine2.html