Clan Ross
History
Origins
Clan Ross is a Highland Scottish clan first named as such by King Malcolm IV of Scotland in 1160. The first of the chiefs was Fearchar, Earl of Ross from the O’Beolain family, also known as ‘Fearchar Mac-an-t-sagairt’ (meaning “son of the priest”) of Applecross.
Ferquhard Ross helped King Alexander II of Scotland (1214 – 1249) crush a rebellion in Moray and Ross-shire. When King Alexander II ascended to the throne, a rebellion broke out in Moray and western Ross-shire, whose Celtic population were opposed to the laws and customs of the south. The King marched northwards with his army but was unable to crush the insurgents from Ross and Moray. However, Fearchar, Earl of Ross, with a large body of men from his own clan and his allies, appeared on the scene and soon wiped out all opposition to the King’s authority. Fearchar brought the King the heads of the rebel leaders and was knighted on 15 June 1215. He was created Earl of Ross in about 1234.
The Clan Ross by tradition fought at the Battle of Largs in 1263 in support of Alexander III of Scotland against King Haakon IV of Norway. The Norwegian forces were defeated by the victorious Scots.
A romanticised Victorian-era illustration of a Ross clansman by R. R. McIan from The Clans of the Scottish Highlands published in 1845.
Wars of Scottish Independence
During the Wars of Scottish Independence the Clan Ross fought against the English at the Battle of Dunbar (1296) where their chief, the Earl of Ross was captured. This meant that for a short time Uilleam II, Earl of Ross sided with the English but he later supported Robert the Bruce of Scotland. The Clan Ross fought alongside King Robert the Bruce when Earl Fearchar’s grandson William led the clan against the English at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. Aodh, the 5th earl, was killed at the Battle of Halidon Hill in 1333, and his successor William died without male issue. The earldom of Ross and the chiefship of Clan Ross were then separated.
15th century and Clan Conflicts
The chiefship of the Clan Ross passed to Earl William’s brother Hugh Ross of Rariches, who was granted a charter, in 1374, for the lands of Balnagowan. The Rosses of Balnagowan held the chiefship for 300+ years. David, the last of that direct line, passed the chiefship to the Hon. Charles Ross, son of Lord Ross of Hawkhead, Renfrewshire, although they were not connected by blood.
The earldom of Ross passed through a female line, and that later led to dispute between two rival claimants — the Lord of the Isles and the Duke of Albany. This resulted in the Battle of Harlaw 1411, where the Clan Ross fought as Highlanders in support of the Lord of the Isles against an army of Scottish Lowlanders who supported the Duke of Albany.
The title reverted to the crown in 1424. King James I of Scotland restored the title to Margaret, whose son was Alexander, 3rd Lord of the Isles. The earldom of Ross remained with the Lord of the Isles until that lordship was forfeited to the crown in 1476.
The Rosses took part in the Battle of Verneuil 1424, against the English in France. On the death of the Earl of Buchan and Ross, at that battle, the Earldom of Ross reverted to the crown. James I on his return from his long captivity in England, restored it to the heiress of line, the mother of Alexander, Lord of the Isles.
At the Battle of Tarbat, 1486, Angus Roy Mackay was overthrown and slain at Tarbet Church by the Clan Ross. The MacKays and Rosses had long feuded. Again and again the Rosses had suffered attacks on their lands from their enemies and when at last, driven to desperation and thoroughly infuriated, they gathered their forces and marched against the Mackay Chief, they were in the mood to teach the MacKays a severe lesson. The Mackays, with Angus of Strathnaver at their head, finding themselves fiercely attacked and being defeated by the Rosses, sought shelter in the church of Tarbat. There many were slain, and the church being set on fire, Angus Mackay and many of his clansmen were burnt to ashes.
Battle of Auldicharish, 1487, to take revenge on the Clan Ross, chief Ian MacKay of Strathnaver, also helped by a force from the Clan Sutherland marched south invading the territory of Clan Ross and began laying waste to it. Chief Alistair Ross gathered his forces of 2000 men and engaged in a long and desperate battle with the invading forces. In the end the battle went against the Rosses with the MacKays and Sutherlands gaining the upper hand. The Ross chief was killed along with many of his clan. Amongst the dead “gentlemen” of the province were Angus MacCulloch of Tarell, Alexander Tarell, William Ross of Little Allan, John Vass, Thomas Vass, Hugh Vass, John Mitchell and William Ross. After this the Clan Ross took many years to recover their once large numbers of fighting men.
Soon the MacKays were raiding Ross lands once again and more blood was shed. In 1496 the King summoned chiefs David Ross and Iye Roy MacKay. He ordered them to appear before the Earl of Argyll who was then the Lord High Chancellor of Scotland and make peace, on the understanding that should they not be peacful that they would be fined 500 merks. The MacKays continued to raid the Rosses and it would appear the civil authority was too feeble to stop them. However the MacKays soon became involved in feuding with the Clan Sutherland and raids on the Rosses did not continue.
16th century and Anglo-Scottish Wars
During the Anglo-Scottish Wars, John Ross, 2nd Lord Ross of Halkhead, died when leading his forces against the English at the Battle of Flodden Field on September the 9th, 1513. Fought in the county of Northumberland, in northern England, between an invading Scots army under King James IV and an English army commanded by Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey. It ended in a bloody defeat for the Scots. It is sometimes referred to as the Charge of the Earls.
Chief Alexander Ross 9th of Balnagowan (d.1592) is recorded as being a man of violence, utterly unscrupulous, given to raiding lands and forcing his clansmen to draw out agreements in his favour with total disregard for the law. Soon he was imprisoned in Tantallon Castle. Later he was released on the condition that he would live peacefully but he did not. His own son George was given permission to use fire and sword against him but Alexander could not be brought in. Alexander died in 1592.
17th century and Civil War
George 10th of Balnagowan was educated at St Andrew’s University, the first Ross chief to receive university education. However, he became as notorious as his father and died in 1615. His son David 11th of Balnagowan was a more peace- and law-abiding chief than his father and grandfather. David died in 1632 and his son, also called David, succeeded him.
David Ross 12th of Balnagowan signed the National Covenant at Inverness on 26 April 1638. He later joined the royalists for a short time only to become a covenanter again and was present at the defeat of James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose in 1650. During the Civil War at the Battle of Carbisdale the Clan Ross and Clan Munro fought on the side of the Scottish Government, then led by the Duke of Argyll. They defeated the royalist army of James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose.
David Ross, 12th of Balnagowan later led some of the clan at the Battle of Worcester on 3 September 1651 where he was captured and imprisoned at the Tower of London. He is said to have died there in 1653 and been buried in Westminster. A number of Ross clansmen who were taken prisoner were subsequently sent to Massachusetts Bay Colony as indentured servants.[citation needed]
In 1689 100 men of the Clan Ross occupied Castle Leod to watch for movements of the Jacobite MacKenzies.
18th Century
Jacobite rising of 1715 – 1719
Clan Ross supported the Hanoverian Government during the Jacobite uprisings. In 1715 The Earl of Seaforth led a force of 3000 men headed by the Clan MacKenzie which also included men from the Clan MacDonald, Clan MacKinnon, Clan MacRae and the Clan Chisholm. He was opposed by Colonel Sir Robert Munro of Foulis who had formed a camp at the Bridge of Alness with 600 men, which also included men from the Clan Ross. Munro had sent many of his own men south to protect the lands of the Clan Forbes of Culloden from the Jacobites. Munro was soon joined by the Earl of Sutherland and the Chief of Clan MacKay who both brought with them only a portion of their clans. As a result of underestimating the strength of the enemy the government force totalled just 1800 and expected support from the Clan Grant did not arrive. The Earl of Seaforth’s forces advanced on the Sutherland’s camp who made a quick retreat to avoid contact with their more powerful foe. Soon afterwards a council of war was held between the two sides and the Sutherlanders and MacKays peacefully moved back north to their own territory, while much of the Ross’s and Munro’s lands were ravaged.
The clan rivalries which had erupted in rebellion were finding an outlet in local politics. The MacKenzie’s Earl of Seaforth came to an end in 1716, and it seems to have been arranged that while the Clan Ross held the county seat the Munros would represent the Tain Burghs. To secure the burghs, control of three out of the five was necessary. The Ross ascendancy was secure in Tain, and from 1716 to 1745 the Munros controlled Dingwall. In 1719 some men from the Clan Ross fought for the government at the Battle of Glen Shiel where the Jacobites were defeated.
In 1720 a force of men from the Clan Ross, led by chief William Ross 6th of the Pitcalnie line and his brother Robert went on a rent collecting expedition into the lands of the MacKenzies. They were confronted by a force of 300 men from the Clan MacKenzie and Clan MacRae, led by a Colonel Donald Murchison. The Rosses were outnumbered and after a short battle some discussion took place between the two sides and the Rosses withdrew realising that further resistance was useless. The next day chief William Ross died of his wounds. His nephew William, son of Robert Ross was also wounded but survived.
War in France
Col. Charles, 13th Lord Ross of Hawkhead and 15th of Balnagowan was killed in 1745 leading some members of the clan at the Battle of Fontenoy fighting against the French on 30 April 1745. Balnagowan passed to George, 13th Lord Ross, in 1745. William, 14th Lord Ross, died unmarried, and Balnagowan then passed to Sir James Lockhard, 2nd Baronet of Carstairs.
Jacobite rising of 1745 – 1746
During the Jacobite Risings in the County of Ross, although from the Pitcalnie line, the nominal 18th Chief of Clan Ross was Alexander Ross of Pitcalnie. He was a staunch Protestant, somewhat more tolerant of Jacobites than his father but definitely pro-Hanoverian. In addition, Alexander’s uncle, Duncan Forbes of Culloden, was Lord President of the Court of Session for King George II of Great Britain’s government in London. Duncan Forbes and Alexander Ross the Pitcalnie chief raised a Ross Independent Company to garrison Inverness Castle against the Jacobites.
The McFarquhars of Redcastle brought a strong Jacobite contingent from the Black Isle to join the forces of the Earl of Cromarty and a rebel, John Ross joined them. Forays were made before the Battle of Culloden and on the day before the battle, 15 April 1746, about 200 of the McFarquhar’s Jacobite force were ambushed by pro-government Scots at the Battle of Littleferry near Golspie. At most one-tenth survived; John Ross escaped to Sutherland but was first to be put on a list of rebels. However, apart from him the Clan Ross mostly supported the government.
The chiefship of Clan Ross devolved upon Ross of Pitcalnie, heir of David who was the last of the direct line of Balnagowan. Sir John, the 5th baronet, assumed the name “Ross” and then, after Carstairs was sold in 1762, the designation “of Balnagowan.”
The Balnagowan estate itself is no longer in Ross hands. It is currently owned by the millionaire Egyptian proprietor Mohammed Al-Fayed of the Harrods department store who has put a lot of money into improving the estate and restoring the castle. The current Chief lives in Perthshire. His son, Hugh lives in Aberdeen with his family: Jennifer, Calum and Catriona Ross.
Chiefs
Further information: Clan chief
Name of Clan Ross Chief
Chief until
Further details
Fearchar, Earl of Ross (Fequhard 1st Earl of Ross)
1249
Crushed a rebellion in Moray and Ross, brought the King the heads of the rebel leaders and was knighted on 15 June 1215.
Uilleam I, Earl of Ross (William 2nd Earl of Ross)
1274
Justiciar of Scotland, North. Dau of William Comyn, Earl of Buchan.
Uilleam II, Earl of Ross (William 3rd Earl of Ross)
1323
Changed sides during the Wars of Independence, his son Walter fought at Bannockburn for Scotland.
Aodh, Earl of Ross (Hugh 4th Earl of Ross)
1334
A favorite of King Robert the Bruce. Married the Bruce’s sister, Matilda.
Uilleam III, Earl of Ross
(William 5th Earl of Ross)
The last Chief of Clan Ross that was also Earl of Ross.
1372
Uilleam married the daughter of Angus Og of Islay, Lord of the Isles. Had a daughter Euphemia I, Countess of Ross (6th Earl of Ross but not Chief of Clan Ross).
Euphemia first married Alexander Leslie then divorced. She later married Alexander Stuart. Her child called Alexander Leslie from her first marriage took over as Earl of Ross when she died in 1398.
Alexander Leslie (7th Earl of Ross but not Chief of Clan Ross) married Isabel, daughter of Robert Stuart the Earl of Fife and Duke of Albany.
Their second daughter Mary married MacDonald, Lord of the Isles, he then claimed right as the Earl of Ross through marriage. The Earldom of Ross would later pass from the Macdonalds to the Stuarts and did not return to the Clan Ross Chief.
Hugh Ross of Rarichies later the 1st of Balnagowan.
1374
Hugh Ross of Rarichies who later became the 1st of Balnagowan was descended from Aodh, 4th Earl of Ross. He took over as Chief of the Clan Ross when Uilleam III 5th Earl of Ross died in 1372, however the title of Earl of Ross had gone elsewhere (see above). Hugh Ross married Jean, a daughter of Robert Munro of Foulis.
William Ross 2nd of Balnagowan
1412
Married Catherine, daughter of Paul Macintyre.
Walter Ross 3rd of Balnagowan
1412
?
Hugh Ross 4th of Balnagowan
?
Married the daughter of the Earl of Sutherland. The Earl of Sutherland was married to Helen Sinclair. Helen Sinclair was the daughter of the Earl of Orkney.
John Ross 5th of Balnagowan
?
Married Christian daughter MacLeod of Torquil.
Alexander Ross 6th of Balnagowan
1486
Married Dorothy daughter of Alexander Sutherland. Killed leading the Clan Ross into battle against the Clan MacKay and Clan Sutherland at the Battle of Auldicharish (Battle of Strathcarron).
Sir David Ross 7th of Balnagowan
?
Married Helen, daughter of Keith of Inverugie.
Walter Ross 8th of Balnagowan
1528
Married Marrion, daughter of Sir John Grant of Freuchie.
Alexander Ross 9th of Balnagowan
1592
Married Janet, daughter of the 3rd Earl of Caithness.
George Ross 10th of Balnagowan
1615
Married Marrion, daughter of Sir John Campbell of Calder. Later married Isobel, daughter of Angus MacKintosh of Torcastle.
David Ross 11th of Balnagowan
1632
Married Mary, daughter of Alexander Earl of Sutherland.
David Ross 12th of Balnagowan
1653
Married Mary, daughter of the 7th Lord Fraser of Lovat. Fought at the Battle of Worcester in 1651 where he led some of the clan, captured and imprisoned at the Tower of London, said to have died there and been buried in Westminster.
David Ross 13th of Balnagowan
1711
Last of Balnagowan O’ Beolain line. Married Anne, daughter of the 4th Earl of Moray. Left his estates to a stranger in blood: Charles Ross.
Lt-General Charles Ross 12th of Hawkhead and 14th of Balnagowan
1732
First of Hawkhead. Also inherited the estates of Balnagowan.
Col. Charles, 13th Lord Ross of Hawkhead and 15th of Balnagowan.
1745
Killed in 1745 leading some members of the clan at the Battle of Fontenoy 30 April 1745.
George, 14th Lord Ross of Hawkhead and 16th of Balnagowan.
1754
Chieftainship passed to Lockhart line of Ross.
William, 15th Lord Ross of Hawkhead and 17th of Balnagowan.
1754
Chieftainship passed to Lockhart line of Ross.
Grizel Lockhart Ross, daughter of William, 12th Lord Ross of Hawkhead
1755
On expiry of the male Ross of Hawkhead line the estates of Balnagowan passed to James Lockhart of Carstairs whose grandfather had married Grizel the daughter of Lt-General Charles Ross 12th of Hawkhead and 14th of Balnagowan. Sir James assumed the name Lockhart-Ross.
Sir William Lockhart-Ross
1758
First of Lockhart line.
Sir James Lockhart-Ross
1760
Second of Lockhart line.
Sir George Lockhart-Ross
1778
Third of Lockhart line.
Admiral Sir John Lockhart-Ross
1790
Fourth of Lockhart line.
Lt. General Sir Charles Lockhart-Ross of Balnagown
1814
Fifth of Lockhart line.
Sir Charles William Augustus Lockhart-Ross of Balnagown
1893
Sixth and last of Lockhart-Ross line.
Ethel Frances Sarah Williamson Ross
1957
The Rosses of Pitcalnie. The Chieftainship of Balnagowan then passed to a line who were direct descendants of Nicholas Ross who was the second son of Chief Alexander Ross 9th of Balnagowan who died in 1592. (The Chieftainship back then had gone to Alexander’s first son George 10th of Balnagowan who died in 1615)
Rosa Williamson Ross
1968
The Rosses of Pitcalnie.
David Campbell Ross
The current Chief of Clan Ross.
The Chieftainship passed to another line of Rosses. The Rosses of Shandwick are direct descendants of William Ross who was killed in battle in 1486. William was the grandson of Hugh Ross the 4th of Balnagowan and the brother of Alexander Ross 6th of Balnagowan.
Clan Profile
The Juniper
Gaelic Names: Clan Ross – Clann Rois. Follower/Servant of St Andrew – Na Gille Aindreis. Ross’s – Na Rosaich. A Ross – Rosach.
Origin of name: Ross-shire.
Motto: Spem Successus Alit (Success Nourishes Hope).
Plant Badge: Juniper.
Pipe Music: The Earl of Ross’s March.
Tartans
Clan Ross has three tartans:
Ross Dress tartan (modern & ancient)
Ross Hunting tartan (modern & ancient)
Ross Hunting Weathered tartan
Castle
The seat of the chief of Clan Ross is still at Balnagown Castle. The correct spelling is actually Balnagown (correct locally as in Balnagown Arms, Tain and Ardgay (now defunct Public Houses), or alternatively Balnagowan or Balnagowen.
Other castles that have been held by the Clan Ross include Portencross Castle and Sanquhar Castle
Septs
Anderson
Andison
Andrew/s
Corbet/t
Crow/e
Croy
Deas
Denoon
Denune
Dingwall
Duthie
Fair
Fear/n
Gair
Gear
Gillanders
Hagart
Haggart
MacAndrew/s
MacCullie
MacCulloch
MacLulich
MacLulloch
MacNab
MacTaggart/McTaggart
MacTear
MacTier
MacTire
MacTyre
Mitchell
Taggart
Tarrel
Tullo
Tulloch
Tyre
Vass
Wass
Waters
McEntagert (Ireland)
McEnteggart (Ireland)
McEntaggert (Ireland)
See also
Scottish clan
Earl of Ross
References
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q The Clan Ross by Donald by Donald MacKinnon. W & A.K Johnston’s Clan Histories.
^ he Clan Ross” p.17 – 18 by Donald MacKinnon. Published by W. & A. K. Johnston & G. W. Bacon Ltd: Quoting eanealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland by Sir Robert Gordon (1580 1656).
^ Alan Mackenzie’s History of the Clan Mackenzie. Chapter 11.
^ Alan Mackenzie’s History of the Clan Mackenzie. Chapter 10.
Bibliography
MacKinnion, Donald, The Clan Ross, Johnston and Bacon
External links
Clan Ross Association
Clan Ross Association of Canada, Inc.
Clan Ross images from the Tain Through Time museum
v d e
Scottish Clans
Clans with chiefs
Agnew Anstruther Arbuthnott Arthur Bannerman Barclay Borthwick Boyd Boyle Brodie Broun Bruce Buchan Burnett Cameron Campbell Carmichael Carnegie Cathcart Charteris Chattan Chisholm Cochrane Colquhoun Colville Cranstoun Crichton Cumming/Comyn Darroch Davidson Dewar Drummond Dunbar Dundas Durie Elliot Elphinstone Erskine Farquharson Fergusson Forbes Forsyth Fraser Fraser of Lovat Gayre Gordon Graham Grant Gregor Grierson Guthrie Haig Haldane Hamilton Hannay Hay Henderson Home Hope Hunter Irvine Jardine Johnstone Keith Kennedy Kerr Kincaid Lamont Leask Lennox Leslie Lindsay Lockhart Lumsden Lyon MacAlister MacBain MacDonald Macdonald of Clanranald MacDonald of Keppoch Macdonald of Sleat MacDonell of Glengarry MacDougall Macdowall MacIntyre Mackay Mackenzie Mackinnon Mackintosh Maclachlan Maclaine of Lochbuie MacLaren MacLea (Livingstone) Maclean MacLennan MacLeod MacLeod of Lewis MacMillan Macnab Macnaghten MacNeacail MacNeil Macpherson MacTavish MacThomas Maitland Makgill Malcolm (MacCallum) Mar Marjoribanks Matheson Menzies Moffat Moncreiffe Montgomery Morrison Munro Murray Napier Nesbitt Nicolson Ogilvy Oliphant Primrose Ramsay Rattray Riddell Robertson Rollo Rose Ross Ruthven Sandilands Scott Scrymgeour Sempill Shaw Sinclair Skene Spens Stirling Strange Stuart of Bute Sutherland Swinton Trotter Urquhart Wallace Wedderburn Wemyss
Armigerous Clans
Abercromby Abernethy Adair Adam Aikenhead Ainslie Aiton Allardice Anderson Armstrong Arnott Auchinleck Baillie Baird Balfour Bannatyne Baxter Bell Belshes Bethune Beveridge Binning Bissett Blackadder Blackstock Blair Blane Blyth Boswell Brisbane Buchanan Butter Byres Cairns Calder Caldwell Callender Campbell of Breadalbane Campbell of Cawdor Carruthers Cheyne Chalmers Clelland Clephane Cockburn Congilton Craig Crawford Crosbie Cunningham Dalmahoy Dalrymple Dalzell Dennistoun Don Douglas Duncan Dunlop Edmonstone Fairlie Falconer Fenton Fleming Fletcher Forrester Fotheringham Fullarton Galbraith Galloway Garden Gartshore Ged Gibsone Gladstains Glas Glen Glendinning Gray Gunn Haliburton Halkerston Halket Hepburn Heron Herries Hogg Hopkirk Horsburgh Houston Hutton Inglis Innes Kelly Kinloch Kinnaird Kinnear Kinninmont Kirkcaldy Kirkpatrick Laing Lammie Langlands Learmonth Little Logan Logie Lundin Lyle MacAulay Macbrayne MacDuff MacEwen MacFarlane Macfie Macgillivray MacInnes MacIver Mackie MacLellan Macquarrie Macqueen Macrae Masterton Maule Maxton Maxwell McCorquodale McCulloch McGhee McKerrell Meldrum Melville Mercer Middleton Moncur Monteith Monypenny Mouat Moubray Mow Muir Murray of Atholl Nairn Nevoy Newlands Newton Norvel Ochterlony Orrock Paisley Paterson Pennycook Pentland Peter Pitblado Pitcairn Pollock Polwarth Porterfield Preston Pringle Purves Rait Ralston Renton Roberton Rossie Russel Rutherford Schaw Seton Skirving Somerville Spalding Spottiswood Stewart Stewart of Appin Strachan Straiton Strange Sydserf Symmers Tailyour Tait Tennant Troup Turnbull Tweedie Udny Vans Walkinshaw Wardlaw Watson Wauchope Weir Whitefoord Whitelaw Wishart Wood Young
Culture & Society
Scotland Clan Chief Septs Clan badge Clan crest Clan Battles Tartan Bagpipes Clearances Kilt Manrent The Highlands Battle of Culloden Highland games Border Reivers Scottish heraldry
Categories: Scottish clansHidden categories: All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements from June 2009
I am China Computer Parts writer, reports some information about chinese zodiac pendants , john hardy silver jewelry.
Processing your request, Please wait....
