BRECHIN: SNAPSHOTS FROM THE PAST
Royal Connection: Henry de Brechin

Royal Connection: Henry de Brechin William I 'the Lion', who in 1178 founded Arbroath Abbey, granted the lordship of Brechin to his brother David, Earl of Huntingdon, who transferred it to his illegitimate son Henry. The latter assumed the name Brechin and it was his son, Sir William de Brechin who, circa 1256, founded the Chapel of Maisondieu. His son, Sir David de Brechin, married a sister of Robert de Bruce but fought in the interests of the English until 1308 when he switched sides. On the execution of his son, also David, the lordship was given to his brother-in-law, Sir David Barclay. The lands then passed through his grand-daughter to her husband,Walter Stewart, Earl of Atholl and Caithness. On Atholl's execution in 1437 for treason, the lordship was held by the crown before passing, over many years, into the hands of several families over many years, viz: Douglas, Crawford, Duke of Montrose (Graham), Earl of Ross (Stewart), Erskine (later Earls of Mar). In 1634 Sir Patrick Maule of Panmure purchased the estates from the Earl of Mar. Eventually the lands passed into the kinsmen of the Earl of Panmure, the Ramsays who became the Earls of Dalhousie.

© Copyright Brian Mitchell 2000