Everything about Clan Seton totally explained
Clan Seton is a
Scottish clan which doesn't currently have a chief, therefore it's considered an
Armigerous clan.
History
Origins of the Clan
The name Seton is believed to be derived from the village of Sai in Normandy although other explanations have been suggested, such as from Tranent meaning "a sea town" which happens to have been in an area owned by the Setons.
The first known Seton was Alexander Seton who witnessed a charter of
David I of Scotland in about 1150.
Wars of Scottish Independence
During the
Wars of Scottish Independence his descendant also called Alexander Seton joined Sir Gilbert
Hay and Sir Neil
Campbell in defending the rights of King
Robert I of Scotland. He was also later one of King Robert's signatories at the Declaration of Arbroath. His son, Sir Christoper Seton married King Robert the Bruce's sister. Christoper Seton is renowned for saving King Robert's life when he was unhorsed at the
Battle of Methven in 1306. However Christoper was later captured by the English and hanged in
London.
Unfortunately the male blood line failed with an heiress, Margaret Seton who married Alan Winton after she was abducted by him. Their son William took the name Seton and became Lord Seton of Tranent. Their second son, Alexander Seton married Elizabeth the heiress of Sir Adam
Gordon. Their son Alexander Gordon became the 1st
Earl of Huntly.
Mary Queen of Scots
Of the main family, George, 5th Lord Seton supported
Queen Mary of Lorraine against the Lords of the Congregation and was Master of the Household after Mary Queen of Scots returned to Scotland. He was responsible for the
Palace of Seton which became a frequent home to
Mary Queen of Scots, it was there she and Bothwell went after Darnley's murder and here their marriage contract was signed. His sister Mary Seton was one of the Queen's Marys and he was one of those who waited for Mary on the banks of Loch Leven when she escaped in 1568.
15th & 16th Century Clan Conflicts
The Clan Seton fought in support of the
Clan Ogilvy who were also supported by men from the
Clan Oliphant,
Clan Gordon and men from the
Clan Forbes of Pitsligo at the Battle of Arbroath on the 24th January 1445. Their enemey was the Master of Crawford and his
Clan Lindsay who advanced with over one thousand men. The
Earl of Crawford himself was the father of the Master of Crawford. The Earl rode in between the two armies in an attempt to call a truce. However, an illadvised Ogilvie, thinking that this was the start of the Lindsay's attack, threw his spear at the Earl, hitting him in the mouth and killing him instantly. So the battle began which went in the
Clan Lindsay's favour. Here fell Ogilvie of Inverquharty, Forbes of Pitsligo, Brucklay of Gartley, Gordon of Borrowfield, and Oliphant of Aberdalgie, along with 500 or so Ogilvie's. However, the Lindsays lost a disproportionate amount of men, most notably the Earl himself.
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In 1571 the Clan Seton joined forces with the
Clan Gordon in their feud against the
Clan Forbes. The
Clan Leslie and
Clan Irvine also joined the Gordons and the
Clan Keith,
Clan Fraser and
Clan Crichton joined forces with the
Clan Forbes. The feud had carried on for centuries and culminated with two full scale battles in 1571: The Battle of Tillieangus and the Battle of Craibstone. It was at the Battle of Tillieangus that the 6th Lord Forbes's youngest son known as Black Aurther Forbes was killed. Legend has it that "
he stooped down to quench his thirst and one of the Gordons gave him his death blow through an open joint in his armour".
17th Century & Civil War
Robert Seton the 6th Lord was created
Earl of Winton in 1660. His younger son later became
Chancellor of Scotland and had earlier been created Lord Fyvie in 1597, he also became
Earl of Dunfermline in 1605. He built much of the
Fyvie Castle in
Aberdeenshire.
During the battles that continued in the decades after the Civil War James Seton the 5th Earl of Winton had his estates forfeited when he commanded a troop under the Viscount of Dundee at the
Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689.
18th Century & Jacobite Uprisings
George Seton the 5th Earl of Winton joined the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715. He was captured and sentenced to death. However he escaped from the
Tower of London and fled to
Rome.
The Earldom moved to the Setons of Garleton and then to the Seaton Broad-bent family. The Earldom is now dormant.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Clan Seton'.
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