Clan Davidson
Encyclopedia
Clan Davidson is a Highland Scottish clan
. The clan was also part of the Chattan Confederation
.
s began to wane in Badenoch
, David Dubh of Invernahaven, Chief of Davidsons, having married the daughter of Angus, 6th of MacKintosh, sought the protection of William, 7th of MacKintosh
, before 1350, and Clan Davidson became associated with the Chattan Confederation
.
Still another source relates that the Davidsons are descended directly from a son or grandson of Ghilliechattan Mor, founder of Clan Chattan. The manuscript by one MacLauchlan dating from the year 1467, which is generally held as the most authoritative source on the Davidsons' origins, states that David Dubh was one of two sons by Ghilliechattan Mor, Dhai (David) Dhu, the other being Muihrich, or Murdoch, Mhor who founded Clan MacPherson.
In the 18th century we find important families like the Davidsons of Cantray and the Davidsons of Tulloch. The latter family came into possession of the lands and castle of Tulloch, near Dingwall
, in 1762, when Henry Davidson purchased the estate from his cousin Kenneth Bayne.
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The Battle of Invernahoven
1370 or 1387. The Clan Cameron
numbering approximately 400 men were returning home with the booty they had acquired after a raid at Badenoch
. They were overtaken at Invernahavon by a body of Clan Chattan Confederation
led by Lachlan, Laird of Macintosh. The Clan Chattan forces consisted of the MacKintoshes
, Davidsons and Macphersons
. As a result of a disagreement as to whether the Davidsons or Macphersons would occupy the right wing which was the post of honour, the Macphersons withdrew in disgust from the army. The combined numbers of the Clan Chattan confederation had outnumbered the Camerons but with the loss of the Macphersons the Camerons now had a greater number. The battle resulted in a defeat for the Clan Chattan Confederation (Mackintosh and Davidson). It is said that an ally of Cameron known as Charles MacGilony led the clan into battle and is believed to have changed the outcome of the day with his uncanny ability as an archer. At this point, possibly the next morning the Macphersons changed their minds and decided to rejoin the Chattan confederation attacking the Camerons with such vigor that they changed the victory into defeat, and put the Camerons "to flight" towards Drumouchter, skirting the end of Loch Ericht, and then westwards in the direction of the River Treig. The MacKintoshes later claimed that the Macphersons were coaxed into the battle by a man from clan Mackintosh who turned up at Macphersons camp pretending to be from Clan Cameron and calling the Macphersons cowards. The Macphersons then attacked the Camerons camp making a dreadful slaughter of them, even killing the Cameron's uncanny archer Charles MacGilony at a place now called Charles's Valley, or in Gailic Coire Thearlaich.
The Clan Davidson were led by Chief Sir Robert Davidson at the Battle of Harlaw
in 1411 where he was slain.
, Many members of the Clan Chattan Confederation supported the House of Stewart and rallied the Chattan Confederation to the Jacobite
cause, of which many Davidson's took part.
Notable members of the Clan Chattan Confederation including many Davidson's were convicted and transported to the North American colonies.
and raised families, leading the English by the time of the American Revolution to declare the area a Hornet's Nest of rebels.
Notable amongst the many Davidsons fighting the American Revolutionary War
was Brigadier General William Lee Davidson
(1746–1781), a North Carolina
militia general during the American Revolutionary War
who was killed in action at the battle of Cowan's Ford
.
. This was originally the seat of the Clan MacBain
but the Davidsons took over the castle after they claimed the lands.
Scottish clan
Scottish clans , give a sense of identity and shared descent to people in Scotland and to their relations throughout the world, with a formal structure of Clan Chiefs recognised by the court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms which acts as an authority concerning matters of heraldry and Coat of Arms...
. The clan was also part of the Chattan Confederation
Chattan Confederation
Clan Chattan or the Chattan Confederation is a confederation of 16 Scottish clans who joined for mutual defence or blood bonds. Its leader was the chief of Clan Mackintosh.-Origins:The origin of the name Chattan is disputed...
.
History
When the power of the ComynClan Cumming
Clan Cumming, also known as Clan Comyn, is a Scottish clan from the central Highlands that played a major role in the history of 13th century Scotland and in the Wars of Scottish Independence and were instrumental in defeating the English at the Battle of Roslin in 1303...
s began to wane in Badenoch
Badenoch
Badenoch is a traditional district which today forms part of Badenoch and Strathspey, an area of Highland Council, in Scotland, bounded on the north by the Monadhliath Mountains, on the east by the Cairngorms and Braemar, on the south by Atholl and the Grampians, and on the west by Lochaber...
, David Dubh of Invernahaven, Chief of Davidsons, having married the daughter of Angus, 6th of MacKintosh, sought the protection of William, 7th of MacKintosh
Clan MacKintosh
Clan Mackintosh is a Scottish clan from Inverness with strong Jacobite ties. The Mackintoshes were also chiefs of the Chattan Confederation.-Origins:...
, before 1350, and Clan Davidson became associated with the Chattan Confederation
Chattan Confederation
Clan Chattan or the Chattan Confederation is a confederation of 16 Scottish clans who joined for mutual defence or blood bonds. Its leader was the chief of Clan Mackintosh.-Origins:The origin of the name Chattan is disputed...
.
Still another source relates that the Davidsons are descended directly from a son or grandson of Ghilliechattan Mor, founder of Clan Chattan. The manuscript by one MacLauchlan dating from the year 1467, which is generally held as the most authoritative source on the Davidsons' origins, states that David Dubh was one of two sons by Ghilliechattan Mor, Dhai (David) Dhu, the other being Muihrich, or Murdoch, Mhor who founded Clan MacPherson.
In the 18th century we find important families like the Davidsons of Cantray and the Davidsons of Tulloch. The latter family came into possession of the lands and castle of Tulloch, near Dingwall
Dingwall
Dingwall is a town and former royal burgh in the Highland council area of Scotland. It has a population of 5,026. It was formerly an east-coast harbor but now lies inland. Dingwall Castle was once the biggest castle north of Stirling. On the town's present-day outskirts lies Tulloch Castle, parts...
, in 1762, when Henry Davidson purchased the estate from his cousin Kenneth Bayne.
Clan wars
Battle of Invernahoven
The Battle of Invernahoven was a Scottish clan battle between the Clan Cameron and the Chattan Confederation of Clan Mackintosh, Clan Macpherson and Clan Davidson. Some sources give the date as 1386, others as 1370.-Background:...
1370 or 1387. The Clan Cameron
Clan Cameron
Clan Cameron is a West Highland Scottish clan, with one main branch Lochiel, and numerous cadet branches. The Clan Cameron lands are in Lochaber and within their lands is the mountain Ben Nevis which is the highest mountain in the British Isles. The chief of the clan is customarily referred to as...
numbering approximately 400 men were returning home with the booty they had acquired after a raid at Badenoch
Badenoch
Badenoch is a traditional district which today forms part of Badenoch and Strathspey, an area of Highland Council, in Scotland, bounded on the north by the Monadhliath Mountains, on the east by the Cairngorms and Braemar, on the south by Atholl and the Grampians, and on the west by Lochaber...
. They were overtaken at Invernahavon by a body of Clan Chattan Confederation
Chattan Confederation
Clan Chattan or the Chattan Confederation is a confederation of 16 Scottish clans who joined for mutual defence or blood bonds. Its leader was the chief of Clan Mackintosh.-Origins:The origin of the name Chattan is disputed...
led by Lachlan, Laird of Macintosh. The Clan Chattan forces consisted of the MacKintoshes
Clan MacKintosh
Clan Mackintosh is a Scottish clan from Inverness with strong Jacobite ties. The Mackintoshes were also chiefs of the Chattan Confederation.-Origins:...
, Davidsons and Macphersons
Clan Macpherson
Clan Macpherson is a Highland Scottish clan from Badenoch, on the River Spey. It is a leading member of the Chattan Confederation.-Origins:...
. As a result of a disagreement as to whether the Davidsons or Macphersons would occupy the right wing which was the post of honour, the Macphersons withdrew in disgust from the army. The combined numbers of the Clan Chattan confederation had outnumbered the Camerons but with the loss of the Macphersons the Camerons now had a greater number. The battle resulted in a defeat for the Clan Chattan Confederation (Mackintosh and Davidson). It is said that an ally of Cameron known as Charles MacGilony led the clan into battle and is believed to have changed the outcome of the day with his uncanny ability as an archer. At this point, possibly the next morning the Macphersons changed their minds and decided to rejoin the Chattan confederation attacking the Camerons with such vigor that they changed the victory into defeat, and put the Camerons "to flight" towards Drumouchter, skirting the end of Loch Ericht, and then westwards in the direction of the River Treig. The MacKintoshes later claimed that the Macphersons were coaxed into the battle by a man from clan Mackintosh who turned up at Macphersons camp pretending to be from Clan Cameron and calling the Macphersons cowards. The Macphersons then attacked the Camerons camp making a dreadful slaughter of them, even killing the Cameron's uncanny archer Charles MacGilony at a place now called Charles's Valley, or in Gailic Coire Thearlaich.
The Clan Davidson were led by Chief Sir Robert Davidson at the Battle of Harlaw
Battle of Harlaw
The Battle of Harlaw was a Scottish clan battle fought on 24 July 1411 just north of Inverurie in Aberdeenshire. It was one of a series of battles fought during the Middle Ages between the barons of northeast Scotland against those from the west coast....
in 1411 where he was slain.
Jacobite uprisings
During the 1715 and 1745 Jacobite UprisingsJacobite rising
The Jacobite Risings were a series of uprisings, rebellions, and wars in Great Britain and Ireland occurring between 1688 and 1746. The uprisings were aimed at returning James VII of Scotland and II of England, and later his descendants of the House of Stuart, to the throne after he was deposed by...
, Many members of the Clan Chattan Confederation supported the House of Stewart and rallied the Chattan Confederation to the Jacobite
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
cause, of which many Davidson's took part.
Notable members of the Clan Chattan Confederation including many Davidson's were convicted and transported to the North American colonies.
American Revolutionary War
Many of these Jacobite convicts upon gaining their freedom settled in the Piedmont Mountains of North CarolinaNorth Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and raised families, leading the English by the time of the American Revolution to declare the area a Hornet's Nest of rebels.
Notable amongst the many Davidsons fighting the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
was Brigadier General William Lee Davidson
William Lee Davidson
William Lee Davidson was a North Carolina militia general during the American Revolutionary War.-Origins and education:His father moved with his family to Rowan County, North Carolina, in 1750, and William, the youngest son, was educated at Queen's Museum in Charlotte.-Military Campaigns:Active...
(1746–1781), a North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
militia general during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
who was killed in action at the battle of Cowan's Ford
Battle of Cowan's Ford
The Battle of Cowan's Ford was a battle in the Southern Theater of Cornwallis's 1780–1782 Campaign that eventually led to the British Army's surrender at Yorktown during the American Revolutionary War...
.
Clan Seat
Until Duncan Davidson VI of Tulloch died in 1917 the seat of the chief of Clan Davidson was at Tulloch CastleTulloch Castle
Tulloch Castle is located in the town of Dingwall in the Highlands of Scotland. It dates from the 12th century, when it is thought to have been built by Norsemen. Over the years, it has served as a family home for members of the Bayne and Davidson clans, as a hospital after the evacuation of...
. This was originally the seat of the Clan MacBain
Clan MacBain
-Origins of the clan:There are several possible Gaelic origins for this name but the most likely is ben or ban which means "higher ground" and to a lesser extent bheathain and the step form MacBain which means "life". This could also have been rendered as Mac ic Bheatha which means MacBeth, a name...
but the Davidsons took over the castle after they claimed the lands.
Clan Chiefs
- Alister Davidson of Davidston, New Zealand, 1998-
- Duncan Davidson of Davidston, New Zealand, 1997-1997
- 1917-1997 Vacant and disputed.
- Duncan VI of Tulloch, Deceased 1917.
Legacy
- Davidson High School (New South Wales)Davidson High School (New South Wales)Davidson High School, is a school located in Frenchs Forest, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on Mimosa Street. It is a co-educational high school operated by the New South Wales Department of Education and Training with students from years 7 to 12...
was established in 1972 in honour of a governor of New South Wales and the uniform and crest were based closely on that of the clan's.
See also
- Chattan ConfederationChattan ConfederationClan Chattan or the Chattan Confederation is a confederation of 16 Scottish clans who joined for mutual defence or blood bonds. Its leader was the chief of Clan Mackintosh.-Origins:The origin of the name Chattan is disputed...
- Scottish clanScottish clanScottish clans , give a sense of identity and shared descent to people in Scotland and to their relations throughout the world, with a formal structure of Clan Chiefs recognised by the court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms which acts as an authority concerning matters of heraldry and Coat of Arms...
- Davidson High School (disambiguation)