Clan Kirkpatrick

Coat o Airms o the Kirkpatrick Baronets, o Closeburn.

Closeburn Castle, whilk gangs back tae the late 14t century, wis ance a stranghaud o Clan Kirkpatrick.

Clan Kirkpatrick is a Lawland armigerous Scots clan. The clan is kent bi the Court o the Lord Lyon, houaniver, the disna hae a kent chief the nou. The clan taks its name frae the kirk o Saint Patrick in the parish o Closeburn in Dumfriesshire, Scotland.

The first write o the clan comes frae the12t century, when Ivone de Kirkpatrick wis listit as a witness in a chairter o the Bruce faimily. Syne, Alexander II confirmed bi chairter the launds o the same Ivone. Roger Kirkpatrick wis an attendant tae Robert Bruce in the days when Bruce murdered Red Comyn. Kirkpatrick legend hauds it that the chiefly motto comes frae Bruce's killin o Comyn. Bruce ran frae frae the kirk tae his escorts an telt them, "I doubt I hae slain Comyn.", Kirkpatrick drew his swerd shoutin, "I MAK SICCAR", whairupon he fínisht aff the woundit Comyn. Sir Roger Kirkpatrick hid wi Robert Bruce for three nichts tae escape Comyn's faimily. This deed is myndit in the clan's crest, that haes a haund haudin a bluidy dagger; an the shield: three pillaes on a saltire shield wi the Scots colours, or the St Andrews Cross, reversed (i.e. Kirkpatrick wears a blue saltire on a white backgrund). Forby, it is myndit in the Clan's motto, "I mak siccar".

In 1314 the Kirkpatricks war rewardit the lands o Redburgh. In 1355, Sir Roger Kirkpatrick teuk Caerlaverock Castle an Dalwinston Castle frae Inglis forces. Twa years efter, in 1357, Sir Robert Kirkpatrick wis murdered bi Sir James Lindsay in a private airgument. The title passed frae Roger tae his Nephew, Sir Thomas Kirkpatrick, that haed a chairter for the launds o Closeburn an Redburgh frae Robert Stewart, 1st Duke o Albany in 1409. A lang while efter, in 1542, Sir Thomas Kirkpatrick wis captured at the Battle o Solway Moss. The estate then passed tae a cousin. In 1685 Sir Thomas Kirkpatrick o Closeburn wis made a Baronet o Nova Scotia. At lang last Kirkpatrick estate o Closeburn wis sauld bi the 4t baronet, Sir James Kirkpatrick. The day, thare is nae kent chief o the clan.