A collection of historical and genalogical records
Drysdale - a Douglas sept
Information
Drysdale is considered a sept of the Douglas clan, but it is quite likely that this was a separate family which existed previous to when the three Douglas brothers adopted the Drysdale name. A sept is a family that can be related to a clan or larger family for various reasons. Usually this came about either through marriage or by a small family seeking protection from a larger and more powerful neighbour.
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Story of the creation of the Drysdale family
The following is said to tell the story of the creation of the Drysdale family, it was actually part of the Black Douglas clan which remained in Scotland, following their failed attempt against the Scots crown in 1455. [Earlier references to Drysdale, or Dryfesdale can be found]
"On the Twentieth Day of May, One Thousand Five Hundred and Three Years
We, Thomas, William, and James Douglass, sons of the departed Thomas Douglass, of Brushwood Haugh, in the parish of Drysdale, and Shire of Dumfries, left our native place for the reason here assigned, viz:- Defending our just and lawful rights against our unjust neighbour, Johnston of Greenstonhill, who, being determined to bring water to his mill through our property, and having obtained leave of his friend, the King, began his operations on Monday, the 16th of May, We prevented him by force.
The next day he brought twenty of his vassels to carry on the work. We with two friends and three servants, (eight in all,) attacked Johnston with his twenty, and, in the contest, fourteen of his men were killed, along with their base leader. A report of these proceedings was carried to the King, and we were obliged to fly, (the tocsin being sounded).
We took shelter under the shadow of the Ochil Hills, in a lonely valley on the river Devon. After having lived there a full two years, we returned home in disguise, but found all our property in the possession of Johnston's friends, and a great reward offered for our lives. We, having purchased a small spot, called the Haugh of Dollar, and changed our names to the name of our Parish, are clearly in mind to spend the residue of our days under the ope of the Ochils, and wish the name of Drysdale to flourish in the lonely valley. The King passed through this with his Court on the 12th of June, 1506, going from Stirling to Falkland - dined on Halliday's green. (an eastern neighbour;) but we were not recognised."
The above story has been preserved among the desendants of Thomas, William, and James Douglass, now known by the name of Drysdale, and copied at several times by different individuals - first, by Simon Drysdale of the Haugh of Dollar, in the year 1620; by Robert Drysdale of Tillicoultry, in 1708; by John Drysdale, Dunfermline, in 1835; by James Drysdale, Dumfermline, in 1838; by John Montrose Drysdale, in 1841; by George Drysdale, Aberdeen, in 1845; by David Drysdale, Glasgow, in 1857; by John Harrower Drysdale, Aylmer, Ontario, Canada, in 1920; and now by Nicholas Edwin Kontzie (great-great-grandson of Jane Drysdale), Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, in 2000.
Discussion Forum
Scots living in Holland in 17th & 18th Centuries
Started by Ronald Drysdale. Last reply by Russell Lynn Drysdale on Friday. 13 Replies 0 Likes
Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scots_International_ChurchThe Scots International Church or the Scottish Church (Dutch:…Continue
Tags: Drysdale, Netherlands, Douglas, Rotterdam, church
The Drysdales of Dollar
Started by Ronald Drysdale. Last reply by Ronald Drysdale Mar 29. 18 Replies 1 Like
The 1998 publication - 'History of Dollar' contains a lot of information concerning early Drysdale feuars & tenants in Dollar i.e. residents of Dollar prior to 1605 & thereafter:…Continue
Tags: Lag, Dumfries, Dollar, Douglas, Gregorsoune
The origins of the surname Drysdale
Started by Ronald Drysdale. Last reply by Russell Lynn Drysdale Mar 1. 26 Replies 2 Likes
In a previous post I gave some background information on the Barony and lands of Dryfesdale:…Continue
Tags: Moffat, Johnston, Maxwell, Gresson, Kirkpatrick
Early Douglas and Drysdale migrants to South Africa
Started by Ronald Drysdale. Last reply by Ronald Drysdale Oct 26, 2024. 3 Replies 1 Like
Hi all,Following on from William Douglas's recent comment:…Continue
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Comment by Ronald Drysdale on April 9, 2024 at 21:33
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Some further light reading about (Jasper Dryfesdale) James Drysdale & Mary Queen of Scots:
While Scott's 'The Abbott' was supposed to be a work of fiction (but based on historical fact) Henry Glassford Bell's account of James Drysdale in the 'Life of Mary Queen of Scots, Volume 2, published around the same time as The Abbott, was allegedly factual but appears to have been a highly opinionated & slightly malicious hit job (based on the paucity of evidence at his disposal)
.....Margaret Erskine, the Lady of Loch-Leven, and widow of Sir Robert Douglas, who fell at the battle of Pinkie one-and-twenty years before, was a woman of a proud temper and austere disposition. Soured by early disappointment, for, previous to her marriage with Sir Robert, she had been one of the rejected mistresses of James V., she chose to indulge her more malignant nature in continually exalting her illegitimate offspring the Earl of Murray above his lawful Queen, now her prisoner.
Her servants, of course, took their tone from their mistress; and there was one in particular, named James Drysdale, who held a place of some authority in her household, and who, having had some concern in the murder of Rizzio, and being a bigoted and unprincipled fanatic, entertained the most deadly hatred against Mary, and had been heard to declare, that it would give him pleasure to plunge a dagger into her heart’s blood. This savage probably succeeded in spreading similar sentiments among the other domestics; and thus the Queen’s very life seemed to hang upon the prejudices and caprices of menials........
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Comment by William Douglas on April 9, 2024 at 15:20
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Some light reading, perhaps?
“Madam,” said old Dryfesdale the steward, “this much do I say for this silly page, that he could not be accessary to unlocking the doors, since I myself this night bolted him out of the castle. Whoever limned this night-piece, the lad's share in it seems to have been small.”
“Thou liest, Dryfesdale,” said the Lady, “and wouldst throw the blame on thy master's house, to save the worthless life of a gipsy boy.”
Extract from 'The Abbot', by Sir Walter Scott
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Sir Matthew Watt Drysdale with HM Queen:
https://www.alamy.com/the-queen-at-lloyds-the-queen-wearing-a-gown-...
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Kelly's Handbook; 1957
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Old boys network
Ref: Roll of Canongate Burgesses – Edinburgh - 1622 to 1733William Drysdale was entered onto the Roll of Canongate Burgesses on 7th August 1673 at the request of Lieut Joseph Douglas, who was himself entered on the Roll on 27th May 1669
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Comment by Robert Wang on September 5, 2023 at 1:19
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Excellent photo Russell Lynn!
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Comment by Russell Lynn Drysdale on September 4, 2023 at 19:07
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Old road above Bridge of Allan , now a footpath.
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James Drysdale, the trusted servant of William Douglas of Lochlevin, had a family
It would appear that James Drysdale, who was singled out for harsh words in a letter by Mary Queen of Scots in 1568/9 for saying he would like to put a sword to her heart, had a life outside Lochleven Castle.
The 18-4-1565 birth record of one Kirsten Drysdeill states:
"The 18th day James Drysdeill had a woman chyld born in fornication of Margaret Donaldson alias Whyt Wyndo baptizit and callit Kirsten." - Lochlevin in margin.
So he was a bit of a rascal in his private life also!
A copy of the Scotlandspeople image of this record is copied below:
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Douglas of Lochleven & James Drysdale
Reference - A series of Ancient Charters of the Earldom of Morton - The Bannatyne Club
4 July 1566: Pardon from Henry and Mary Queen of Scots to William Douglas of Lochleven and four others including Jacobus [James] Drysdaill for their earlier support for the Earl of Morton
Source plus transcription also attached as pdf
The%20Bannatyne%20club%20%20-%20A%20SERIES%20OF%20Ancient%20CHARTER...
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James Dryisdaill's birth on 4th November 1573 to parents Jhone Dryisdaill & Margaret Duglas at Dunfermline - ScotlandsPeople website
November 1573
- The 4 day Jhone Dryisdaill had a man child born to him of his wyf Margaret Duglas baptised and called James.
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