LUMSDEN
HISTORY
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The manor of Lummesdene is first mentioned in
1098, when Edgar, King of Scots, son of St.Margaret and Malcolm
III Canmore, refounded Coldingham Priory, endowing it with the
villages of Coldingham, Lummesdene, Auldecambus, Renton and
Swinewood in the County of Berwick.
The first recorded possessors of the lands,
divided into Easter and Wester Lumsden, were Gillem and Cren de
Lummisden who, between 1166 and 1182, attested a charter granted
to the priory of Coldingham by Waldeve, Earl of Dunbar. Gilbert
de Lumisden appears as witness to charters 1249-1262.
The name of the proven common ancestor of the
Lumsdens comes into history through an event which occurred in
1286 and which led to the wars of Scottish Independence.
Alexander 111 was killed by a fall from his
horse, leaving as heiress his baby granddaughter Margaret, Maid
of Norway who was betrothed to Prince Edward of England (later
King Edward 11). She died on the voyage to Scotland. The Scots
Barons, unable to agree on the succession,asked Edward 1, King of
England to mediate and choose one of three claimants to the
throne of Scotland. Edward chose John Balliol to be his puppet
King. When the Scottish nobles urged him into showing some
independence his reign was ended and Edward invaded Scotland in
1292, subdued all opposition, removed the national archive,the
Crown and the supposed Stone of Destiny to England. The heads of
noble landowning families were forced to sign an acknowledgement
of Edward as their King. Adam de Lumisden of that Ilk did forced
homage in 1296 and, as did his son Roger de Lummesdene, signed
the Ragman Roll.
From this Adam, the first recognised chief of
the Name and Arms of Lumsden, descended Gilbert who married the
heiress of Blanerne (charter of 15 June 1329) adopting her Crest
of a blanc erne, or White tailed eagle, preying on a salmon.
From Gilbert's elder son, Gilbert, descend the
families of Lumsden or Lumsdaine of Blanerne in Berwickshire and
Airdrie, Innergellie, Rennyhill, Mountquhanie, Stravithie, and
Lathallan in Fife. His younger son, Thomas, had a charter in 1353
of the lands of Drum and Conland in Fife and East and West Medlar
(Cushnie) in Aberdeenshire. From him descend the Northern
Lumsdens of Conland, Cushnie, Tillycairn, Clova and Auchindoir,
Belhelvie, Pitcaple, Balmedie, Banchory and other estates and
baronies in Aberdeenshire, Banffshire and Kincardineshire.
Restoration work has been done in 1974 on
Cushnie House, and in 1980 Tillycairn Castle, built 1540, was
completely restored. Pitcaple Castle has had considerable work
done during the last four decades. In 1993 the tomb of James
Lumsden of Airdrie1598 (a listed national monument) in Crail
Churchyard and the Lumsdaine memorial in Kilrenny were restored
aided by funds from the Association.
Little remains of the Southern stronghold of
the Lumsdens, Blanerne Castle, on the banks of the Whiteadder in
Berwickshire, save one of the flanking towers. Nearby stands the
fine Manor house of Blanerne, rebuilt in 1895 after a disaterous
fire. Sadly it was sold by the Lumsdaines in 1929.
The Lumsdens have also given their name to the
village of Lumsden in Aberdeenshire,and townships and villages in
Canada, New Zealand and Jamaica. Apart from the New World and the
old territories of the British Empire, Lumsdens are also found in
South America and Sweden.
Contrary to what some publications on Clans
and Septs state, the Lumsdens are independent with their own
Chief and Tartan. The only Sept of Lumsden is that of Cushnie.
The present hereditary Chief of the Name and
Arms of Lumsden is Gillem Lumsden of that Ilk and Blanerne.
The above is reproduced
with the kind permission of the
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