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.
Members: 18
Latest Activity: Oct 26
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
Early Douglas and Drysdale migrants to South Africa
Started by Ronald Drysdale. Last reply by Ronald Drysdale Oct 26. 3 Replies 1 Like
Hi all,Following on from William Douglas's recent comment:…Continue
Spelling of Douglas and Drysdale family names - variants
Started by Ronald Drysdale Oct 1. 0 Replies 2 Likes
Hi all, As many of you will have discovered when researching historical ancestors electronically, oftentimes important records are missed because the surname is spelt in a slightly different way,…Continue
The Raid of Holyrood - Bothwell, James Douglas of Spott, Wauchope, Colville & Archibald Douglas
Started by Ronald Drysdale. Last reply by Russell Lynn Drysdale Sep 9. 9 Replies 0 Likes
Reference:…Continue
Tags: Drysdail, Dryisdaill, Holyrood, Palace, Bothwell
Douglas brothers & name change to Drysdale 1503 story - Lammonbie Mill
Started by Ronald Drysdale. Last reply by Ronald Drysdale Jun 8. 8 Replies 1 Like
The Dollar Magazine March, 1909 (Vol. viii., No. 29) contains an article entitled "The Drysdales of Dollar and their Dumfriesshire Origin" by R. Paul (1909)…Continue
Tags: Dryfesdale, 1503, Dollar, Lockerbie, mill
Comment Wall
Add a Comment
-
Comment by Robert Wang on September 5, 2023 at 1:19
-
Excellent photo Russell Lynn!
-
Comment by Russell Lynn Drysdale on September 4, 2023 at 19:07
-
Old road above Bridge of Allan , now a footpath.
-
Comment by Ronald Drysdale on August 16, 2023 at 16:01
-
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:
-
-
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...
-
-
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.
-
-
Scottish Heraldry and Thomas Drysdale, the Islay Herald
Sir David Lyndsay of the Mount (c.1486 – c.1555) was a Scottish knight, poet, and herald who gained the highest heraldic office of Lyon King of Arms.
In 1542, he produced a Scottish roll of arms known today as the Lindsay of the Mount Roll.
It contains 400 Scottish coats of arms, some of which were added later in the 16th century, and forms the basis of the official Scots heraldic registry in use today.Another copy of the facsimile comprising accurate redrawing of his own drawings was published in Edinburgh in 1878.
https://electricscotland.com/heraldry/facsimileofancientheraldic.pdf
Plate 64 shows the arms of Lord Boyis of Dryvisdaill of auld.
The content of the book and register of arms was approved by the Lords of His Majesty's Privy Council at Holyroodhouse on 9th December 1630. Signed by Sir James Balfour Lyone and Thomas Drysdaill, the Islay Herald
-
-
Some references to the Lands and Barony of Dryfesdale, in the period 1100 - 1580:
The Church
Robert de Brus
Ingebald
De Bois
Crichton
Patrick Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell
CarruthersFrancis Stewart, Earl of Bothwell
See attached pdfThe%20Lands%20and%20Barony%20of%20Dryfesdale%20for%20pdf.pdf
-
-
Skirmish at Drumlanrig and the burning of Dryfesdale
-
-
William , on Douglas Archives my genealogy -a year or so ago I looked and found none listed prior 1503.
-
Comment by William Douglas on May 7, 2023 at 14:35
-
I did a search of the Douglas Archives for:
Last Name contains Drysdale AND Birth Year less than 1600 AND Tree equals My Genealogyand found only five named:
http://www.douglashistory.co.uk/famgen/search.php?mybool=AND&nr...William
© 2024 Created by William Douglas.
Powered by
You need to be a member of Drysdale - a Douglas sept to add comments!