Features: Scottish Clan Early Genealogy - Clan Maxwell

Motto: Reviresco (I will grow strong again)
Historic Seat: Caerlaverock Castle
District: Roxburgh, Galloway
Associated Surnames: Adair, Blackstock, Dinwiddie, Dinwoodie, Edgar, Herries, Kirk, Kirkhoe, Kirkland, Latimer, Latimore, MacKettrick, Maxton, Monreith, Moss, Nithsdale, Peacock, Pollock, Polk, Rawlins, Sturgeon, Wardlaw
Associated Tartans:

Early Maxwell Genealogy and History:

(Excerpt from "The Scottish Clans and Their Tartans", James Grant, 1906)

Sir John Maxwell, Chamberlain of Scotland, died without issue, 1241, and was succeeded by his brother, Sir Aymer, who, with other children, had two sons named Herbert and John. Sir Herbert's descendant in the seventh degree, also named Herbert, was created Lord Maxwell, and dying, left two sons, Robert, second Lord, and Sir Edward; from the latter come the Maxwells of Monreith, created Baronets, 1681, and now represented by Sir Herbert Eustace Maxwell, seventh Baronet of Monreith. Robert, second Lord Maxwell, was succeeded by his son John, third Lord, who fell at Flodden¹ 1513; and he by his son Robert, fourth Lord.

This nobleman had two sons, Robert, fifth Lord, and Sir John, who became Lord Herries of Terregles, in right of his wife, Agnes, Lady Herries. Robert, fifth Lord Maxwell, was succeeded by his son John, sixth Lord. He obtained the Earldom of Morton on the execution of the Regent, but was afterwards deprived of it. He was killed in an engagement with the Johnstons, 1593; his son John, seventh Lord, killed Sir James Johnston of that Ilk, 1608, and was executed, 1613, being succeeded by his brother Robert, eighth Lord, who was created Earl of Nithsdale. His son Robert, second Earl, dying unmarried, 1667, the Earldom reverted to his cousin John, fourth Lord Herries, great-grandson of Sir John, firt Lord Herries, mentioned above. John, fourth Lord and third Earl, was succeeded by his son Robert, fourth Earl, and he by his son William, fifth Earl.

This nobleman was out in 1715, but being taken prisoner at Preston, was found guilty of high treason, and sentenced to death. He escaped from the Tower by the devotion of his wife (Lady Winifred Herbert, daughter of the first Marquis of Powis), who, dressing her husband in female attire, remained in prison, allowing him to leave in her stead. The Earl died in Rome, 1744, leaving a son, William, who left an only daughter, Winifred, who married William Haggerston Constable. Their grandson proved his claim to the Barony of Herries, and dying 1876, was succeeded by his son Marmaduke, the present Lord Herries. A brother of the present peer married Mary Monica Hope Scott of Abbotsford, great-granddaughter of Sir Walter Scott. We now return to Sir John Maxwell, second son of Sir Aymer, mentioned at the beginning of this article.

Sir John's great-grandson, Sir John of Pollok, had two sons, Sir John and Sir Robert. From the younger come the Maxwells, Barts.,² of Cardoness, and the Maxwells, Barons and Earls of Farnham. From the elder son come the Maxwells, Barts., of Pollok, whose direct male line ended in 1865, on the death of Sir John, eighth Bart. He was succeeded by his sister, who married Archibald Stirling of Keir; and their grandson is now Sir John Maxwell Stirling Maxwell of Pollok. The Maxwells, Barts., of Springkell, are a junior branch but now heirs male, of the Maxwells of Pollok.

(End excerpt)

Next page: Clan Menzies

Footnotes:

¹ The Battle of Flodden (1513): The Battle of Flodden Field was fought on 9 September 1513, in Northumberland England between an army of Scots under King James IV and an English army commanded by the Earl of Surrey. Read more about the Battle of Flodden at Wikipedia.

² Barts.: Baronets