Clan Rattray
Encyclopedia
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...
.
Origins of the clan
The name Rattray is derived from the barony of Rattray in PerthshirePerthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Legend has it that their land there was acquired from King Malcolm III of Scotland
Malcolm III of Scotland
Máel Coluim mac Donnchada , was King of Scots...
(Malcolm Cean Mór) in the 11th century. Unfortunately there is no extant written record of this. The Rattray estate includes a ruined Pictish fort which lies on a serpent shaped feature. This may explain why two serpants support the Chief's coat of arms.
There are various renditions of the name in early written records; Rathtreff in 1160, Rotref in 1291, Ratref in 1296, Rothtref in 1205, there are also various other renditions of the name including Rattra. (Nicolaisen, W.F.H 1976). The name is composed of two parts the first part is derived from the word rath, from both Gaelic and Cymric (modern Welsh or ancient British) meaning fortification; the second part Tref or Treb, Tray, from the Cymric (British) meaning settlement (Nicolaisen, W.F.H, 1976).
The first recorded Rattray was the laird Alan Rattray who is recorded as a witness on charters of King Alexander II of Scotland
Alexander II of Scotland
Alexander II was King of Scots from1214 to his death.-Early life:...
.
Wars of Scottish Independence
During the Wars of Scottish IndependenceWars of Scottish Independence
The Wars of Scottish Independence were a series of military campaigns fought between the independent Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England in the late 13th and early 14th centuries....
Alan Rattray's grandson, Eustace Rattray led the clan, as chief at the Battle of Dunbar (1296)
Battle of Dunbar (1296)
The Battle of Dunbar was the only significant field action in the campaign of 1296. King Edward I of England had invaded Scotland in 1296 to punish King John Balliol for his refusal to support English military action in France.-Background:...
against the English. However, he was captured there and his son Adam Rattray swore an oath to King Edward I of England
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
during the same year on the Ragman Rolls
Ragman Rolls
Ragman Rolls refers to the collection of instruments by which the nobility and gentry of Scotland subscribed allegiance to King Edward I of England, during the time between the Conference of Norham in May 1291 and the final award in favor of Baliol in November 1292; and again in 1296...
. The captured Eustace Rattray was later acquitted.
Confirmation by Robert the Bruce...of grants made to them (the abbot and convent i Cupar) of the lands of the two Drymeis within the tenement of Glenballach, which they have by gift of Adam of Glenballach, with the whole common of the same, which they have by gift of Eustace of Ratray and confirmation of the said Adam. 5 October 1309. [Breviarum Antiqui Registri Monasterij de Cupro in Anegus
16th Century & Anglo-Scottish Wars
"Sir Silvester Rattray succeeded his father in 1456. Silvester Rattray was appointed one of the Ambasidors extraordinair to treat with the Court of England, for which he obtained a safe conduct, dated 12 June 1463; in this document he is designated 'Dominus Silvester de Rattray miles'. His seal is appended to a Precept of Sasine of lands of Grauiche in the Earldom of Athole in favour of John Stuart of Fethinkile 26 March 1465. In about 1473 there is a security under his seal for Robert and Thomas Fif. In 1481 he sat in the parliament and was apparently very influential at court. Sir Silvester Rattray married Alison Hepburn, daughter of Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan (Wolf of Badenoch), bastard son of Robert III of Scotland, and left three sons and was succeeded by the eldest, John."Thomas Rattray, Sir Silvester Rattray's 3rd son, obtained a charter for the lands of Monidie, Louston and Kinnaird in 1509, from George, Bishop of Dunkeld and was the ancestor of the Rattrays of Rannagulzion, Perthshire (Burke, 1963-72).
Chief John Rattray was knighted by King James IV of Scotland
James IV of Scotland
James IV was King of Scots from 11 June 1488 to his death. He is generally regarded as the most successful of the Stewart monarchs of Scotland, but his reign ended with the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Flodden Field, where he became the last monarch from not only Scotland, but also from all...
in 1488 but was killed leading the clan at the Battle of Flodden Field
Battle of Flodden Field
The Battle of Flodden or Flodden Field or occasionally Battle of Branxton was fought in the county of Northumberland in northern England on 9 September 1513, between an invading Scots army under King James IV and an English army commanded by the Earl of Surrey...
in 1513, fighting against the English, part of the Anglo-Scottish Wars
Anglo-Scottish Wars
The Anglo-Scottish Wars were a series of wars fought between England and Scotland during the sixteenth century.After the Wars of Scottish Independence, England and Scotland had fought several times during the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. In most cases, one country had attempted to...
. His eldest son was already dead leaving two daughters so the estate passed to his second son Patrick.
Patrick was intimidated into giving up the Barony by John Stewart
Clan Stuart
Clan Stewart is a Highland Scottish clan. The clan is recognised by Court of the Lord Lyon, however it does not have a clan chief recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms...
, Earl of Atholl
Earl of Atholl
The Mormaer of Earl of Atholl refers to a medieval comital lordship straddling the highland province of Atholl , now in northern Perthshire. Atholl is a special Mormaerdom, because a King of Atholl is reported from the Pictish period. The only other two Pictish kingdoms to be known from...
. Through the marriage of Patrick’s niece into the family, the Earl took control of the Barony of Rattray and also took control of her sister. Thus Patrick was driven from his estate in 1516. He began the construction of Craighall Castle http://www.scotclans.com/img/Rattray/Rattraycastle.jpg a grand building perched on a 200 feet rock above the River Ericht
River Ericht
The River Ericht is a river in Perthshire, Scotland formed from the confluence of the rivers Blackwater and Ardle.It runs south for around 10 miles before discharging into the River Isla, and eventually the River Tay...
. The stronghold of Craighall could not protect him from John Stewart the Earl of Atholl
Earl of Atholl
The Mormaer of Earl of Atholl refers to a medieval comital lordship straddling the highland province of Atholl , now in northern Perthshire. Atholl is a special Mormaerdom, because a King of Atholl is reported from the Pictish period. The only other two Pictish kingdoms to be known from...
though and he was murdered in 1533.
Sir John’s son Patrick defended Craighall Castle, also known as Rattray Castle against the Clan Stuart
Clan Stuart
Clan Stewart is a Highland Scottish clan. The clan is recognised by Court of the Lord Lyon, however it does not have a clan chief recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms...
Atholls but was forced to burn the Castle and escape in the confusion. The Rattrays then withdrew to Kynballoch, where Patrick was later murdered by the 3rd Earl of Atholl’s men whilst claiming sanctuary in his own Chapel.
In 1572 David Rattray of Craighall (d.1586) killed two men in a fight with some men from the Clan Rollo
Clan Rollo
Clan Rollo is a Lowland Scottish clan.-Origins of the Clan:The Clan Rollo are of Norman origin. However they can trace their roots to the feared Norsemen who raided the coast of England and Scotland in the seventh and eighth centuries...
, but was relieved of responsibility on payment of a fine of 500 merks. http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/ntor/rollo2.html
Sir John’s third son Silvester succeeded his murdered brother, Atholl continued to intimidate the family however and Silvester petitioned the king for legal recognition as heir. He was succeeded by his son, David Rattray of Craighall. George The laird’s eldest son was also murdered in 1592 and another Silvester, his son, succeeded him.
17th Century & Civil War
Chief Silvester Rattray died in the year 1612, leaving three sons. The eldest David became chief and the clan fought for King Charles I during the Civil War. The youngest was captured after the defeat of Charles II in 1651 at the Battle of WorcesterBattle of Worcester
The Battle of Worcester took place on 3 September 1651 at Worcester, England and was the final battle of the English Civil War. Oliver Cromwell and the Parliamentarians defeated the Royalist, predominantly Scottish, forces of King Charles II...
and was incarcerated in the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
.
However Patrick Rattray was successful in uniting the barony of Kinballoch with Rattray and their other associated parishes into one free barony of Craighall-Rattray. This charter also claimed back Rattray the land which was seized by the Earls of Atholl, including the Rattray's Craighall Castle.
James Rattray of Rannagulzion and Corb fought at the Battle of Killiecrankie
Battle of Killiecrankie
-References:*Reid, Stuart, The Battle of Kiellliecrankkie -External links:* *...
in 1689. Referred to as James, son of David Rattray of Rannagullane. (Hunter, J. 1918)
18th Century & Jacobite Uprisings
Patrick’s son, John, was an Edinburgh surgeon and keen sportsman, who won the first competition of the The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers held in 1744, becoming club captain and the signratory of the first known rules of golf. He then became physician to Charles Edward Stewart, the Jacobite leader. He was with him throughout the Forty-five and was captured after the Battle of CullodenBattle of Culloden
The Battle of Culloden was the final confrontation of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Taking place on 16 April 1746, the battle pitted the Jacobite forces of Charles Edward Stuart against an army commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, loyal to the British government...
in 1746, but was fortunately reprieved by the intervention of a fellow golfer. The twenty-second and twenty-third Lairds died without issue, and the estates passed to a cousin, James Clerk Rattray, sheriff depute of Edinburgh. He was a good friend of Sir Walter Scott
Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet, popular throughout much of the world during his time....
who modelled "Tully-Veolan" the Baron of Bradwardine's castle in "Waverley" on Craighall.
James Rattray of Rannagulzion was commissioned as a major of foot in the Atholl brigade in the 1745 uprising. See commission into Prince Charles's army as a Major of foot in Tullibardines regiment National Library of Scotland. Served in the Ogilvie regiment,(Livingstone, et al. (Eds),1984). He was married to Jean, daughter of Sir James Kinloch of that Ilk 2nd Kinloch of Kinloch Bart.
19th Century & the British Empire
Col. Thomas Rattray, C.S.I., C.B., B.S.C. (a Rattray of Rannagulzion) Commanded the Viceroy's cavalry and raised a police battalion in 1856, which distinguished itself throughout the Indian mutiny. The battalion maintain their battles honours and name as the 3rd battalion the SikhSikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
regiment (Rattray's) in the modern Indian army. (McRae, H.St.G.M., 1933)
Clan Chief
The Chief of Clan Rattray is Lachlan Rattray of Rattray who is the 29th Chief of Clan Rattray. Lachlan Rattray of Rattray is a current member of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs.Castle and Seat
The family seat is at The Bonningtons-Rattray. http://www.scotclans.com/img/Rattray/Rattraycastle.jpg http://www.clanrattray.org/gathering_photos_III.htmlClan Septs
The septsSept (social)
A sept is an English word for a division of a family, especially a division of a clan. The word might have its origin from Latin saeptum "enclosure, fold", or it can be an alteration of sect.The term is found in both Ireland and Scotland...
of the Clan Rattray include: Rannagulzion, Dalrulzion, Brewlands and Persie.
Variations in spelling include Ratray, Ratre, Ratteray, Ratteree, Ratterree, Rattray, Retrey, Rettra, Rettray and Rotray.