| Clan Spalding | |
|---|---|
| Motto | Nobile Servitium (Service is noble) |
 | |
| Clan Spalding no longer has a chief, and is anarmigerous clan | |
| Historic seat | Ashintully Castle |
Clan Spalding is a highlandScottish clan andsept ofClan Murray.[1] The clan does not have a chief recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms so the clan is considered anarmigerous clan. The Spalding family lived inPerthshire, Scotland, for one hundred and sixty three years before 1746, and dispersed toGermany,Sweden,Jamaica,Georgia,Liverpool, Virginia and elsewhere. TheCastle of Ashintully was the clan centre in Perthshire.
This name takes its origin from the town ofSpalding, Lincolnshire. The name is recorded inScotland as early as 1294, when John de Spaldyn, ‘Magister’ (Master) witnessed a grant of lands in Aberdeen. Another Spalding is mentioned as a canon ofElgin Cathedral around 1300. He is probably John de Spauyding, who petitionedEdward I of England in 1304 for timber to build his church atDuffus. The Spaldings came to prominence in 1318 at the siege of Berwick byRobert the Bruce. The story goes that Peter de Spalding, aburgess ofBerwick, hated the English governor, and aided the besiegers in taking the town. He was rewarded by Bruce in May 1319 with the lands of Ballourthye and Pitmachie in Angus. He was also granted the keepership of the royal forest of Kylgerry. In 1587 the Spaldings appear in an act of theParliament of Scotland as a clan for whom their chief, chieftain or captain, would be held responsible. The principal family were the Spaldings of Ashintully.
John Spalding was a lawyer and commissary clerk ofAberdeen in the reign ofCharles I. He is the author of a famous historical work,Memorials of the troubles in Scotland and England from 1624 to 1645. His work was originally available only in manuscript form, and was first printed in 1792, then reprinted in 1829. Anantiquarian society known as TheSpalding Club was founded and named in his honour.[2]
In 1318, Peter Spalding helped followers ofRobert the Bruce enter and seize the town of Berwick from the English. He was English and aburgess of the town, but he was married to a cousin ofSir Robert Keith, Great Marischal of Scotland. He was granted lands by Bruce on 1 May 1319 in Ballourthy and Petmethy inForfarshire (nowAngus), together with the Keepership of the Royal Forest of Kilgerry. He also received a flag with a gate upon it, having a portcullis half raised, and the motto "Nobile Servitium".
Around 1060,King Malcolm III "Canmore", who killedMacbeth in 1057, built Whitefield Castle in Strathardle as a hunting lodge. Over 500 years later, in 1576, Colonel David Spalding led members of his clan to fight inFlanders for theKing of Spain. After 7 years, with the resulting plunder, he builtAshintully Castle, 1 km (0.62 mi) to the southeast of Whitefield Castle, which served as a model.
In 1615, David "Dēas" Spalding started the first regularHighlands market place: "Michael Mass Fair". InGaelic he was called "Daidh Dēas". Dēas required half-a-dozen English words to give the full meaning - ever, or very restless, ready, brave, wise, etc. Dēas means south, and is a relic of Druid sun-worship. Everything, if south or sunwards, was perfect.
But 200 years later, another David Spalding, alsoLaird of Ashintully, was remembered much more harshly. "He condemned and executed many most unrighteously, particularly a man of the name of Duncan, who was drowned in a sack in what is still called 'Duncan's Pool.'"
During the early 18th century, the family followed theJacobite cause, lost its lands, and dispersed. Over the years, offshoots of the original Spaldings of Berwick migrated toAberdeen,Perthshire,Edinburgh,Germany,Sweden,Jamaica,Liverpool, Virginia andGeorgia. At least three books have been written about them, by the branches in Germany, Liverpool and Georgia. The Aberdeen branch might be related to the well-known historical society the "Spalding Club" established in 1839.
Flora Spalding, reportedly the last surviving member of the Spaldings of Ashintully and Glenkilrie, Perthshire, dies inWest Kensington, London, England on 26 June 1930.[3]
Ashintully Castle, now a 3,000-acre (12 km2) sheep farm and Bed & Breakfast, has been visited by Spaldings from all over the world.
There are several Spalding lineage mottos and arms; however, the principal branch were the Spaldings of Ashintully.
sources: Pref. by Dr. Stuart to Spalding Club edit. ofSpalding's History; Par. Reg.New Aberdeen.
