A Long Line of Griersons who Lived at Lag
by Glenn N. Holliman
In my research in numerous libraries and archives in the lowlands of Scotland this past June 2011, I found considerable information on my family tree that descended through a prominent Scottish family named the Griersons.
Below the remains of Lag (g) Castle, now a farm, several miles east of the small village of Dunscone, Dumfrieshire. The name may be spelled with either one or two 'l's.
Photo by Barb Holliman, June 2011
Who were the earlier Lords of Lag? Here are their names and time lines. More than you may want to know about all these great grandfathers.
9th Lord of Lag, and the grandfather of our James Grierson who migrated to Maryland, was Sir William Grierson, sasine of Lag in 1593. A distinguished leader, he held many judicial and administrative offices in the West March of Scotland. He served as a justice of the peace in 1610 and as sheriff of Dumfrieshire in 1615, 1617 and 1621. He represented his district in the English parliament in 1617, 21 and 1625, before dying January 21, 1629. His principle residence was Rockhall rather than Lag.
He was born between 1567 and 1575 in Dumfrieshire, and married May 9, 1593 to Nichola Maxwell. Nichola was born 1578 and is of the famous Maxwell family. More on this family in later posts. While this couple are my 10th great grandparents, they are Winston Churchill's 9th great grandparents!
by Glenn N. Holliman
In my research in numerous libraries and archives in the lowlands of Scotland this past June 2011, I found considerable information on my family tree that descended through a prominent Scottish family named the Griersons.
Below the remains of Lag (g) Castle, now a farm, several miles east of the small village of Dunscone, Dumfrieshire. The name may be spelled with either one or two 'l's.
Who were the earlier Lords of Lag? Here are their names and time lines. More than you may want to know about all these great grandfathers.
9th Lord of Lag, and the grandfather of our James Grierson who migrated to Maryland, was Sir William Grierson, sasine of Lag in 1593. A distinguished leader, he held many judicial and administrative offices in the West March of Scotland. He served as a justice of the peace in 1610 and as sheriff of Dumfrieshire in 1615, 1617 and 1621. He represented his district in the English parliament in 1617, 21 and 1625, before dying January 21, 1629. His principle residence was Rockhall rather than Lag.
He was born between 1567 and 1575 in Dumfrieshire, and married May 9, 1593 to Nichola Maxwell. Nichola was born 1578 and is of the famous Maxwell family. More on this family in later posts. While this couple are my 10th great grandparents, they are Winston Churchill's 9th great grandparents!
8th Lord of Lag - Roger Grierson of Lag, born 1520, Dumfrieshire, married Helen Douglas at Drumlanrig, Scotland on April 21, 1566. He died 1593. She had died earlier in 1578, age not sure. Rockhall, another stately manor home, a few miles south of Dumfries, also had been inherited by Roger, who preferred Rockhall as residence. From this time on, Lag Castle began deteriorating. These are my generation's 11th great grandparents.
7th Lord of Lag - Robert, the half brother of Roger, was the last Grierson lord to live at Lag.
7th Lord of Lag - Robert, the half brother of Roger, was the last Grierson lord to live at Lag.
6th Lord of Lag - Sir John Grierson, the father of both the 7th and 8th Lord of Lag was laird for 50 years or so. This John (1490 - 1559) rebuilt or restored the present tower. His armorial panel stood oover the tower gateway. Sir John Grierson married 1548 to a child bride, Egidia Kennedy, who had been born 1535 in Cullean, Ayrshire). In 1547, he pledged 200 men to the service of England during the Tutor age. This couple are my 12th great grandparents.
The Lag stands on Crawston Hill, some 350 ft above sea level. Top of the hill is 700 feet above the sea and site of Crawston Beacon, one of a chain of beacons set up to warn of an English invasion. In 1595, Lag was still a substantial strong point. Tower averaged 5 ft, 9 inches in thickness.
5th Lord of Lag - Cuthbert succeeded took pocession of in 1492 and Rockhall in 1504. Cuthbirth, 5th of Lag, died 1513 with no issue. The title and land passed to Sir John Grierson, an infant, the father being killed at Flodden.
4th Lord of Lag - Roger Grierson, born 1474, and married Agnes Janet Douglas (1467 - 1519). This great grandfather of mine died September 9, 1513 when the Scots suffered a disasterous defeat at Flodden Field, Branxton, Northumberland, England. This couple are my 13th great grandparents.
Roger Grierson, born 1439, who was not a Lord of Lag. He married Isabella Gordoun in 1473, who has been born before 1460. This Roger died June 1488 at Sauchieburn, near Sterling, Scotland. This couple are my 14th great grandparents.
3rd Lord of Lag, Vedast Grierson built the castle tower in 1460. Vedast (1415 - 1487) married Margaret Glenonwym. This couple are my 15th great grandparents.
2nd Lord of Lag, Gilbert Grierson (1397 - before December 20, 1444) married Isabella, daughter of Sir Duncan De Kirkpatrick of Torthonwald on November 14, 1412. Gilbert acquired Rockhall and Collin from the Kirkpatrick line. Isabella died 1472, age about 72. This couple are my 16th great grandparents.
1st Lord of Lag - Gilbert Grierson, described as a 'son of Duncan', rose in the 15th Century gathering extensive lands in Dumfriesshire and Galloway. Early in the 1400s he purchased the lands of Lag and Bardman. He was born in 1353 and died about 1425 in Lag. He married before 1400 to Janet Glendening, born before 1383. She died after 1400. He had received charter of the lands of Lag on 6 Dec 1408 from his cousin, Henry, Earl of Orkney. This couple are my 17th great grandparents.
Roger Grierson, born 1439, who was not a Lord of Lag. He married Isabella Gordoun in 1473, who has been born before 1460. This Roger died June 1488 at Sauchieburn, near Sterling, Scotland. This couple are my 14th great grandparents.
3rd Lord of Lag, Vedast Grierson built the castle tower in 1460. Vedast (1415 - 1487) married Margaret Glenonwym. This couple are my 15th great grandparents.
2nd Lord of Lag, Gilbert Grierson (1397 - before December 20, 1444) married Isabella, daughter of Sir Duncan De Kirkpatrick of Torthonwald on November 14, 1412. Gilbert acquired Rockhall and Collin from the Kirkpatrick line. Isabella died 1472, age about 72. This couple are my 16th great grandparents.
1st Lord of Lag - Gilbert Grierson, described as a 'son of Duncan', rose in the 15th Century gathering extensive lands in Dumfriesshire and Galloway. Early in the 1400s he purchased the lands of Lag and Bardman. He was born in 1353 and died about 1425 in Lag. He married before 1400 to Janet Glendening, born before 1383. She died after 1400. He had received charter of the lands of Lag on 6 Dec 1408 from his cousin, Henry, Earl of Orkney. This couple are my 17th great grandparents.
Malcolm Dominus de MacGregor, Lord MacGregor, born before 1300 and died 1374; fought at Brannockburn in 1317 with Robert de Bruce. Married Mary MacAlpin, who was born before 1340. This couple are my 18th great grandparents.
Lord Gregor MacGregor, born before 1239 and died 1300. Married to Marion Fileon De Gilchrist who was born before 1280. This couple are my 19th great grandparents.
Lord William MacGregor, born before 1165 and died 1238. Married Margaret Lindsay, born before 1225. This couple are my 20th great grandparents.
Sir Malcom MacGregor, born before 1113, died 1164. Married Majory Lindsay, b before 1150. This couple are my 21st great grandparents.
Sir John MacGregor, Lord of Glenorch, born before 1100 and died about 1113. Wife is unknown, recorded only as an 'English beauty'. This is my 22nd great grandfather.
Gregor MacGregor of Gleurchy, born before 1005. Married an unknown Campbell. This couple are my 23rd great grandparents.
Sir John MacGregor, born before 962 and died 1004. Married Alpina, born before 990. This couple are my 24th great grandparents.
Gregor De Bhrattich, born before 940, married Dorviegilda, born before 945. This couple are my 25th great grandparents.
Constantine,born before 900, married to Malvina, born before 920. He died 940. This couple are my 26th great grandparents.
Prince Dongallus, born before 880 and died 900 in Italy. Married to Princess Spontana, born in Ireland before 880. This royal couple are my 27th great grandparents.
Gregor MacAlpine, Regent of Stathclyde, born before 855 and died 889 in Dundur, Strathearn. Unknown wife. He is my 28th great grandfather.
Thane Dugal, born before 782 is my 29th great grandfather.
Thane Dugal, born before 782 is my 29th great grandfather.
Hugh IV, born before 760, died 822, known as King of Dalriada and also Hugh the Poisonous. Married to Fegusa, born before 765. Hugh and Fegusa are my 30th great grandparents.
Aed Finn, King of Dalriada, born before 724, died 778, also known as Ethafind, ruled 733 – 764. Married to a queen consort. This King is one of my tens of thousands 31 great grandparents.
Hugh III, born before 696, died 733, also known as Eugene IV, ruled 707-724, married to a queen consort. Hugh III is my 32nd great grandfather.
Hugh II, born before 680, died 697, King of Dalriada, ruled 691-695. Married to a queen consort. Here the line stops at my 33rd great grandfather!
Perhaps more than you wanted to know! Using the McGregor line, our ancestors go back to the 7th Century A.D.
Nice post, I enjoyed every bit of it! I'm a Greer too & have been to Lag Tower.
ReplyDeleteThe Lag Tower Preservation Trust Ltd. was established in the hopes of obtaining funding to preserve this historic structure. At that time the existing tower ruins were on the point of collapse, and repair to keep the structure upright, was urgently needed. By 2015, it wasn't sure if the Tower would make it through the winter and thanks to a loan made to the Lag Tower Preservation Trust, stabilization activities were started. If you are interested, please visit our website at http://lagtowerrestoration.greatwebsitebuilder.com/
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