| Clan Matheson | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Clann Mhathain[1] | |||
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| Motto | Fac et spera (Do and hope)[2] | ||
| Profile | |||
| Region | Scottish Highlands | ||
| District | Lochalsh, Sutherland[2] | ||
| Plant badge | Broom[2] | ||
| Animal | The lion | ||
| Chief | |||
 | |||
| Sir Alexander Fergus Matheson of Matheson[2] | |||
| The 8thbaronet of Lochalsh | |||
| Historic seat | Fort Matheson, atLoch Achaidh na h-Inich | ||
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Clan Matheson (Scottish Gaelic:Clann Mhathain[ˈkʰl̪ˠãũn̪ˠˈvãhɛn]) is a HighlandScottish clan.
The surname Matheson has more than one anglicization of itsScottish Gaelic derivation.[3] The historian Black attributes Matheson to the GaelicMic Mhathghamhuin which meansson of the bear, and the clan chief's arms carry two bears as supporters.[3] It has also been suggested thatMacMhathain meansson of the heroes.[3] TheScottish Lowland version of Matheson means simplyson of Matthew.[3]
Chiefs of Clan Matheson are descendants of Kenneth the first MacAlpin, king of Scotland.The Mathesons were granted lands by the CelticEarls of Ross and settled aroundLoch Alsh,Lochcarron andKintail.[3] In 1262 a Scottish army led byAlexander III of Scotland invaded the Isle ofSkye in order to free the isles from the kings ofNorway and one of the leaders of this expedition is recorded asKjarnac orCormac Macmaghan.[3] Following theBattle of Largs in 1263 theWestern Isles came to be dominated by theClan Donald whose chiefs were theLords of the Isles and the Clan Matheson sided with them.[3]
In 1411 the Clan Matheson fought forDomhnall of Islay, Lord of the Isles at theBattle of Harlaw where the clan chief, Alasdair was captured.[3] The Clan Matheson was then said to have numbered over two thousand warriors.[3]Macmaken supportedAlexander of Islay, Earl of Ross who was suspected of treason byJames I of Scotland.[3] As a result, the earl was seized by the king atInverness in 1427.[3] Matheson was also arrested by the king,[4] and was executed.[3]
As the Lords of the Isles lost power so did the Mathesons.[3] The Mathesons then found themselves involved in the feuding between theClan MacDonald and theClan Mackenzie.[3] Iain Dubh Matheson was killed defending the Mackenzie strongholdEilean Donan Castle, of which he had become constable of after marrying the widow of Sir Dugald Mackenzie.[3] Dougal MacRuadhri Matheson sat in Parliament and wasPrior of Beauly between 1498 and 1514.[3]
According to theMS Account of the Gunns a historic manuscript, the Clan Matheson fought alongside theClan Mackay and the Polsons at theBattle of Torran Dubh in 1517 against theClan Gunn,Clan Ross and theMurrays of Aberscross.[5]
All genealogies of the clan agree that the next chief was the undisputedMurdoch Buidhe(yellow haired) who died in about 1602.[3]
Murdoch had two sons, Roderick and Dugald.[3] Duglad was styledof Balmacara and he rose to become chamberlain of Lochalsh in 1631.[3] Dugald was the ancestor of John Matheson ofAttadale whose grandson, John, was forced to sell their Highland estates.[3]
Another branch of the Clan Matheson who had settled on the north side ofLoch Shin had been ballies to theEarls of Sutherland in the late 15th century.[3] Donald Matheson of Shin fought against the Jacobites during theJacobite rising of 1715.[3] Meanwhile, the chiefship of the clan had descended through a line who were descended from Dugald of Balmacara's elder brother, Roderick Matherson.[3] They acquired lands on theBlack Isle that were known as Bennetsfield.[3] Unlike his cousins inSutherland, John Matheson, second of Bennetsfield was a Jacobite who fought at theBattle of Culloden in 1746.[3] Of the members of the Clan Matheson who supported the British Government during theJacobite rising of 1745, it is recorded that a Kenneth Mathisom was alieutenant in theIndependent Highland Company that was formed by the town ofInverness and a John Mathison was also a lieutenant in one of the Independent Highland Companies formed by the Clan Mackenzie chief, also to support the British Government.[6]
The current chief is Sir Alexander Fergus Matheson, 8th Baronet, who now resides inNorfolk, England.
Bairnson, MacBirnie, MacBurnie, McBurnie, McBurney, MacMahon, MacMath, MacMathon, MacMhathain, Massey, Massie, Matheson, Mathewson, Mathie, Mathieson, Mathison, Mathyson, Matthews, Matthewson, Moannach, McLaughlin.[7]
There is also a branch of Clan Matheson that reside in Norway. They went to Norway as mercenaries with Major Jacob Jacob Matheson in 1612, fighting for the Scots. They were captured, but did not return to Scotland. They were later ennobled by the Dano-Norwegian crown as counts and barons.
| Name | Dates | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Lochalsh branch | ||
| Mathghamhain | fl. 1225 | |
| Kenneth | died 1304 | |
| Murdoch | fl. 14th century | |
| Duncan | fl. 14th century | |
| Murdoch | fl. 14th century | |
| Duncan | fl. 14th century | |
| Murdoch | fl. c. 1400 | |
| Alasdair | died 1427 or 1438 | Either executed by King James I in 1427 or killed by the MacKays at Battle of Cnoc nan Catach in 1438 |
| Iain Dubh the elder | died 1490s | |
| Alasdair MacRuaidhri | died 1506 | |
| Iain Dubh the younger | died 1539 | Chamberlain ofEilean Donan Castle |
| Dugald Roy | fl. 1540s | |
| Murdoch Buidhe | fl. 1530s–1570s | |
| Roderick (1st of Fernaig) | died before 1600 | |
| Iain (2nd of Fernaig) | fl. 17th century | Also known as Iain McRuari Mhic Mhathoin |
| Iain Og | fl. 1660s | |
| Bennetsfield branch | ||
| Iain Mor | died 1715 | |
| Alexander (1st of Bennetsfield) | chief 1715–1754 | |
| John (2nd of Bennetsfield) | 1754–1768 | Present at theBattle of Culloden in 1746 |
| Colin (3rd of Bennetsfield) | 1763–1825 | |
| John (4th of Bennetsfield) | 1825–1843 | |
| James Brook Young (5th of Bennetsfield) | 1843–1886 | |
| Eric Grant (6th of Bennetsfield) | 1886–1899 | |
| Heylin Fraser (7th of Bennetsfield) | 1899–1945 | |
| Bertram Heylin (8th of Bennetsfield) | 1945–1975 | |
| Lochalsh branch[clarification needed] | ||
| Sir Torquhil Alexander Matheson, 6th Baronet | 1975–1993 | |
| Sir Fergus John Matheson, 7th Baronet | 1993–2017 | |
| Sir Alexander Fergus Matheson, 8th Baronet | 2017– | The current chief |
