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Sgian Dubh
The name derives from the Gaelic uaimh, meaning "cave" and the Wemyss family claim descent from a son of the Pictish Macduff, Earl of Fife who obtained the lands of Wemyss from his father c. 1160. The first recorded name is Sir Michael de Wemyss. In 1296, Sir Michael swore fealty to Edward I of England, but changed to support Robert the Bruce's rebellion and Wemyss Castle was sacked by the English. Sir John Wemyss of Reres and Kincaldrum had three sons; David his heir, Duncan and Alexander ancestor of the Wemyss of Kilmany. Sir David's great-grandson, John, was born in 1586, the second born of Sir John Wemyss. He was knighted in 1618 and created a Baronet of Nova Scotia in 1625. He died in 1649 to be succeeded by his only son David the 2nd Earl. He greatly improved Wemyss Castle where he entertained the newly crowed Charles II. Wemyss emerged as the senior line descending from the old Macduff Earls of Fife and bear the shield of the red lion on gold of the Macduffs. The 2nd Earl of Wemyss died in 1679 and was succeeded by his daughter, Margaret. David, the 3rd Earl succeeded his mother Margaret in 1705 when he took his seat in Parliament. In 1707 he was constituted Vice Admiral of Scotland. The 4th Earl, born in 1699, married Janet, the heiress of Colonel Francis Charteris of Amisfield. During the Jacobite Rising of 1745 the Earl's eldest son, Lord Elcho, raised a cavalry regiment in joining Bonnie Prince Charlie. He accompanied the prince into England and was with him until his defeat at Culloden. Elcho escaped to France and took part in the in the State of entry of Charles into Paris. He continued to reside in France, and died childless in Paris in 1787. The chiefship of Wemyss devolved upon the Earl’s third son, James. His great-grandson married Millicent, William IV 's granddaughter, who in 1864, successfully took over the running of the estate. The present Chief, David Wemyss of Wemyss still has his principal seat at Wemyss Castle in.
Septs of the Clan: Duff, Fife, Fyfe, Spence, Spens, Wemyss. |
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