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Clan Matheson is a Highland Scottish clan.
Contents |
History [edit]
Origins of the clan [edit]
The surname Matheson has more than one anglicization of its Scottish Gaelic derivation.[1] The historian Black attributes Matheson to the Gaelic Mic Mhathghamhuin which means son of the bear, and the clan chief's arms carry two bears as supporters.[1] It has also been suggested that MacMhathain means son of the heroes.[1] The Scottish Lowland version of Matheson means simply son of Matthew.[1]
The Mathesons were granted lands by the celtic Earls of Ross and settled around Loch Alsh, Lochcarron and Kintail.[1] In 1262 a Scottish army led by Alexander III of Scotland invaded the Isle of Skye in order to free the isles from the kings of Norway and one of the leaders of this expedition is recorded as Kjarnac or Cormac Macmaghan.[1] Following the Battle of Largs in 1263 the Western Isles came to be dominated by the Clan Donald whose chiefs were the Lords of the Isles and the Clan Matheson sided with them.[1]
15th and 16th centuries [edit]
In 1411 the Clan Matheson fought for Domhnall of Islay, Lord of the Isles at the Battle of Harlaw where the clan chief, Alasdair was captured.[1] The Clan Matheson was then said to have numbered over two thousand warriors.[1] Macmaken supported Alexander of Islay, Earl of Ross who was suspected of treason by James I of Scotland.[1] As a result the earl was seized by the king at Inverness in 1427 was executed.[1]
As the Lords of the Isles lost power so did the Mathesons.[1] The Mathesons then found themselves involved in the feuding between the Clan MacDonald and the Clan Mackenzie.[1] Iain Dubh Matheson was killed defending the Mackenzie stronghold Eilean Donan Castle, of which he had become constable of after marrying the widow of Sir Dugald Mackenzie.[1] Dougal MacRuadhri Matheson sat in Parliament and was Prior of Beauly between 1498 and 1514.[1]
All genealogies of the clan agree that the next chief was the undisputed Murdoch Buidhe (yellow haired) who died in about 1602.[1]
17th and 18th centuries [edit]
Murdoch had two sons, Roderick and Dugald.[1] Duglad was styled of Balmacara and he rose to become chamberlain of Lochalsh in 1631.[1] Dugald was the ancestor of John Matheson of Attadale whose grandson, John, was forced to sell their Highland estates.[1]
Another branch of the Clan Matheson who had settled on the north side of Loch Shin had been ballies to the Earls of Sutherland in the late 15th century.[1] Donald Matheson of Shin fought against the Jacobites during the Jacobite rising of 1715.[1] Meanwhile the chiefship of the clan had descended through a line who were descended from Dugald of Balmacara's elder brother, Roderick Matherson.[1] They acquired lands on the Black Isle that were known as Bennetsfield.[1] Unlike his cousins in Sutherland, John Matheson, second of Bennetsfield was a Jacobite who fought at the Battle of Culloden in 1746.[1]
Septs [edit]
Bairnson, MacBirnie, MacBurnie, McBurney, MacMahon, MacMath, MacMathon, MacMhathain, Massey, Matheson, Mathewson, Mathie, Mathieson, Mathison, Mathyson, Matthews, Matthewson, Moannach.[2]
Castles [edit]
The seat of the Chief of the Clan Matheson was at Fort Matheson which is now a ruin. Later Mathesons, including Sir James Matheson resided in Lews Castle. The current chief Sir Fergus Matheson, 7th Baronet, and his wife Lady Matheson of Matheson now reside in Norfolk, England.
Clan chiefs [edit]
Lochalsh branch
| Name | Dates | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Mathghamhain | flourished 1225 | |
| Kenneth | died 1304 | |
| Murdoch | flourished 14th century | |
| Duncan | flourished 14th century | |
| Murdoch | flourished 14th century | |
| Duncan | flourished 14th century | |
| Murdoch | flourished c 1400 | |
| Alasdair | died 1427 or 1438 | either executed by King James I in 1427 or killed at Battle of Cnoc nan Catach by the MacKays in 1438 |
| Iain Dubh | the elder died 1490s | |
| Alasdair MacRuaidhri | died 1506 | |
| Iain Dubh | the younger died 1539 | Chamberlain of Eilean Donan Castle |
| Dugald Roy | flourished 1540s | |
| Murdoch Buidhe | flourished 1530s-1570s | |
| Roderick (1st of Fernaig) | died before 1600 | |
| Iain (2nd of Fernaig ) | flourished 17th century | Also known as Iain McRuari Mhic Mhathoin |
| Iain Og | flourished 1660s |
Bennetsfield branch
| Name | Dates | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Iain Mor | died 1715 | |
| Alexander (1st of Bennetsfield) | held Chiefship 1715 - 1754 | |
| John (2nd of Bennetsfield) | 1754–1768 | Present at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. |
| Colin (3rd of Bennetsfield) | 1763–1825 | |
| John (4th of Bennetsfield) | 1825–1843 | |
| James Brook Young (5th of Bennetsfield) | 1843–1886 | |
| Eric Grant (6th of Bennetsfield) | 1886–1899 | |
| Heylin Fraser (7th of Bennetsfield) | 1899–1945 | |
| Bertram Heylin (9th of Bennetsfield) | 1945–1975 |
Lochalsh branch
| Name | Dates | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Sir Torquhil Alexander Matheson, 6th Baronet | 1975–1993 | |
| Sir Fergus John Matheson, 7th Baronet | 1993 - | The current chief |
See also [edit]
External links [edit]
- Clan Matheson Society
- http://www.scotclans.com/clans/Matheson/history.html
- http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/m/matheso2.html
References [edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Way, George and Squire, Romily. Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). Published in 1994. Page 270 - 271.
- ^ http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/spellings.htm
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