Features: Scottish Clan Early Genealogy - Clan Davidson

Motto: Sapienter si sincere (Wisely if sincerely)
Historic Seat: Tulloch Castle
District: Ross-shire
Associated Surnames: David, Davie, Davis, Davison, Dawson, Day, Dean, Down, Kay, MacDade, MacDavid, MacDevitt
Associated Tartans:

Early Davidson Genealogy and History:
(Excerpt from "The Scottish Clans and Their Tartans", James Grant, 1906)

There seems to be no traditional knowledge of the individual from whom the patronymic of this clan is derived. He bore a scriptural name, and "the offspring of David" became numerous and powerful in Badenoch, where their possessions lay. They distinguished themselves throughout the fourteenth century by the protracted and sanguinary feuds which they maintained with such bravery and determination that they were almost exterminated before they could be effectually suppressed.

The Clan Chattan¹ was engaged in a war respecting the lands of Glennie and Locharcaig with the Camerons, who came down to Badenoch, about 1296, in great force. They were met at Invernahaven by the MacIntoshes, MacPhersons, and MacDhais, who drew up in battle array to oppose the further progress of the enemy.

A dispute now arose between the MacPhersons and the Davidsons as to which clan should lead the right wing. MacIntosh, who had the chief command, was appealed to and awarded the point of honour to the Davidsons. Cluny, the disappointed chief, immediately withdrew his men, and the Clan Chattan thus weakened was defeated. It is said that MacIntosh sent a bard to the camp of the MacPhersons, who recited a poem in which it was insinuated that they left the field from cowardice, not from a great sense of honour.

The MacPhersons immediately attacked the Camerons, who were defeated with great slaughter. The Camerons being thus reduced, the MacDhais and MacPhersons commenced hostilities on their own account. The former had lost their chief, Lachlan, and seven (or nine) of his sons at this battle of Invernahaven², and felt indignant that the award of precedency should be disregarded; both parties were so implacable that the Earls of Crawford and Dunbar were sent by royal commission to quell it.

As it was impossible to reconcile them, it was arranged that thirty men on each side should be selected, armed with swords only, to decide their claims. His Majesty Robert III in person being umpire. This led to the battle of the North Inch of Perth, fought in 1396, so vividly described by Sir Walter Scott in the "Fair Maid of Perth³." One of the MacPhersons was absent, but his place was filled by a volunteer, Henry, the blacksmith of the wynd. The results was that twenty-nine Davidsons were killed, the survivor saving himself by swimming across the Tay. Harry, with ten desperately wounded MacPhersons, remained masters of the field. Since this epoch in the history of the clan, it has been almost lost sight of.

The beautiful estate of Tulloch in Ross-shire, is the residence of the chief, who is hereditary keeper of the Royal Castle of Dingwall.

(End excerpt)

Next page: Clan Douglas

Footnotes:

¹ Clan Chattan: Clan Chattan is a unique Highland clan confederation whose past and present members include Clan Davidson, Farquharson, MacBean, MacGillivray, MacIntyre, Mackintosh, MacLean, MacPhail, MacPherson, MacQueen, MacThomas, and Shaw. Read more about Clan Chattan at Wikipedia.

² The Battle of Invernahavon: A Scottish clan battle between Clan Chattan and Clan Cameron, near the River Spey in Scotland. Sources vary on the year; it took place in either 1370 or 1386. Read more about the Battle of Inverhavon at Wikipedia.

³ The Fair Maid of Perth: A novel by Sir Walter Scott, published in 1828. The fair maid of the title is Catharine Glover, who kisses an armorer, Gow, while he is sleeping, on Valentine's Day. Meanwhile, Catharine has caught the eye of the Duke of Rothesay, and when Gow interrupts an attempted abduction, he is drawn into royal intrigue and a Highland feud. Inspired by the Battle of North Inch. Read more about The Fair Maid of Perth at Wikipedia.