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Drysdale - a Douglas sept
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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
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
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Comment by Ronald Drysdale on September 24, 2024 at 20:38
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4149 Private James Drysdale, 1st Battalion the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's). Deployed with his battlion to South Africa for the Second Anglo Boer War, sailing on the Orcana about 27 Oct 1899, and arrived at the Cape about 18 Nov 1899. Along with the 2nd Black Watch, 1st Highland Light Infantry, and 2nd Seaforths, they formed the 3rd or Highland Brigade under Major General Wauchope. On arrival they joined the Kimberley Relief Force under Major General Lord Methuen, who with three brigades were on their way to raise the Boer siege of Kimberley. He would have fought at the battles of Modder River and Magersfontein leading to the relief of Kimberley, and the battle of Paardeberg 18-27 Feb 1900 and the capture of Bloemfontein and advance towards Heilbron (South of Johannesburg). Died of disease in No 38 Stationary Hospital, Rustenburg. He is also commemorated on the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's) Boer War memorial at Stirling Castle, The Castle Esplanade, Stirling, Scotland (see: https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/116930).
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/211155208/j-drysdale
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Comment by William Douglas on September 24, 2024 at 18:51
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Dunfermline Abbey
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Drysdale war casualties
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I dont recall seeing this before...
But probably have!
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/127413994/william-drysdaleI have sugested an edit in that if he was 62 at date of death he could not have been born in 1776
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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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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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