Clan Fraser
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| Clan Fraser | |
|---|---|
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| Motto | Je Suis Prest (French I Am Ready) |
| Origins | Gaul, Anjou, East Lothian, Beauly. |
| Gaelic | Friseal |
| Branches |
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| Septs |
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| Arms |  |
| Tartans |  
Fraser Dress Fraser Hunting
Fraser of Lovat Green Hunting |
| Plant badge | Iubhar (Yew) |
| Chieftain | Simon Fraser, 18th Lord Lovat |
| Clan seat | Beauly, Inverness-shire |
| Website | http://www.fraser-clan.org/ |
The Clan Fraser (Gaelic - Frisealach, French "Clan Frasier") is a Scottish clan of Gaulish origin. The French word for Strawberry is fraise and the plants are called fraisiers. The arms of Clan Fraser are Quarterly: 1st and 4th Azure, three fraises Argent, 2nd and 3rd Gules, three antique crowns Or, or in layman's terms, the traditional three cinquefoils, or Fraises (strawberry flowers), as they have come to be known, in the first and fourth positions and three crowns in the second and third positions.
Only the Lord Lovat is entitled to use these arms as such. Although Flora Fraser, 21st Lady Saltoun is the head of the Lowland family of Fraser, the current chief of Clan Fraser is Simon Fraser, 16th Lord Lovat, grandson of the famed Commando of the Second World War. He is traditionally referred to as the "MacShimidh," Gaelic meaning "Son of Simon." Simon is the traditional name for the chiefs of Clan Fraser, and the name of the Fraser from whom all Frasers of the Clan trace their lineage (Simon Fraser, who died in 1306.
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[edit] History
[edit] Origins
The Frasers probably come from Anjou, in France, and the name may derive either from Fredarius, from Fresel or from Freseau. It has even been suggested that they descend from a tribe called Friselii in Roman Gaul, whose badge was a strawberry plant. In his Bello Gallico, Julius Caesar mentions this tribe, wearing red checked pants. This is reminiscent of the Red & Black tartan in use by many Frasers today. It should be noted, however, that any connection between the Gaulish tribe and the Gaelic Clan is purely speculative.
[edit] Appearance and Early Movement in Scotland
In 1160, another Simon Fraser held lands in East Lothian at Keith. In that same year, he made a gift of a church at Keith in East Lothian to the monks at Kelso Abbey, the first recorded appearance of the Frasers in Scotland. This is our earliest written record of Frasers, yet there exist countless stories and folk tales as to the origins of the Clan Fraser.
Another story, favoured by Archibald Campbell Fraser of Lovat, and Sir George MacKenzie, Lord Advocate of Scotland, derives their descent from Pierre Fraser, Seigneur de Troile, who came to Scotland with the ambassadors of Charlemagne, around 807, mentioning the arms of the family, which are to this day, a field azure, semi, with strawberries flowers, or fraises. The only difference is that the arms once contained more strawberry flowers. Pierre was made Thegn of the Isle of Man in 814, and one group of Frasers still live there today under the Gaelic name of Frisael. His direct descendants were to become the lords of Oliver Castle. Another similar story can be found here. One which tells a tale involving William the Lion can be found here The stories of Julius de Berry were regarded by Archibald Campbell Fraser to have been of a second group of Frasers.
The Frasers moved into Tweeddale in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries and from there into the counties of Stirling, Angus, Inverness and Aberdeen.
[edit] Wars of Scottish Independence
Sir Simon Fraser fought with Sir William Wallace and Robert the Bruce during the Scottish Wars of Independence.
- Battle of Roslin - 1303 Sir Simon is famously celebrated for having defeated the English on three separate occasions on 24th February 1303.
- Battle of Methven - 1306 Sir Simon leads troops along with Bruce, saving the King's life in three separate instances. Simon was allegedly awarded the 3 Crowns which now appear in the Lovat Arms for these three acts of bravery. At the end of the day, he was captured by the English and executed with great cruelty by King Edward in 1306, in the same barbaric fashion as Wallace.
- Battle of Bannockburn - 1314 Simon's cousin or possibly son, Sir Alexander Fraser of Cowie, was much more fortunate. He fought at Bannockburn, married Bruce's sister, and became Chamberlain of Scotland. The Frasers of Philorth trace their lineage from Alexander.
- Battle of Halidon Hill - 1333 Another Simon Fraser, along with two of his brothers are killed while fighting the English.
[edit] A New Home
Sir Simon acquired the Bisset Lands around Beauly when he won the hand of its heiress, and these lands became the family home. King Alexander III granted the right of the "Lordship of Loveth, vulgo Morich," in the Aird, in 1253. A copy of this charter may be found here. A record from 1367 describes Hugh Fraser as "Lord of Lovat and portioner of Ard." By 1422 the Frasers of Lovat had extended their lands to include Stratherrick by Loch Ness, together with part of Glenelg. In the 13th century, the Frasers of Muchalls erected a towerhouse stronghold overlooking the North Sea in Kincardineshire, which later became known as Muchalls Castle.
Although the exact date of creation is uncertain, some time between 1456 and 1464, Hugh Fraser was raised to the peerage as Lord Lovat or Lord Fraser of Lovat. Around 1511, the chiefs established their seat at the site of their last three hereditary castles. The first was destroyed in the thirteenth century, Castle Dounie was burned down in 1746 as a result of the Clan's participation in the Jacobite risings (see below). The present Beaufort Castle is relatively modern, being in the Scottish Barronial style. The castle was sold by the Lord Lovat, to repay debts incurred by his son, Simon Augustine Fraser, Master of Lovat, in 1994. However, his son, the present Lord Lovat, has vowed to buy the ancestral home back.
[edit] Clan Wars
As most all Highlanders, the Frasers have been involved in countless instances of Clan warfare, particularly against the Macdonalds.
Two Fraser war cries have been largely recognized, both in Gaelic. The first, "Caisteal Dhuni" (Castle Dounie/Downie) refers to the ancestral Castle and Clan seat, which once existed near the present Beaufort Castle. The second is "A Mhor-fhaiche" (The Great Field).
- The Frasers fought a great clan battle against the Clan MacDonald of Clan Ranald in 1544, Blar-ne-Léine, in Gaelic, the Battle of the Shirts, over the disputed chiefship of Clan Ranald. The Frasers, as part of a large coalition, backed a son of the 5th Chief, Ranald Gallda (the Stranger), which the MacDonalds found unacceptable. Prevented from battle by the Earl of Argyll, the 300 Frasers were ambushed on their march home by 500 MacDonalds. Only five Frasers and eight MacDonalds are said to have survived the bloody engagement. Both the Lovat Chief, Lord Lovat and his son and heir were amongst the dead and were buried at Beauly Priory. Despite these atrocities, the Frasers were stronger than ever before within a hundred years.
- Robert Mor Munro, 15th chief of Clan Munro , was a staunch supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots, and he consequently was treated favourably by her son, James VI. Robert was also a faithful friend of Mary. Buchanan states, when the unfortunate princess went to Inverness in 1562, that: "as soon as they heard of their sovereign's danger, a great number of the most eminent Scots poured in around her, especially the Frasers and Munros, who were esteemed the most 'valiant of the clans inhabiting those countries in the north.' " These two clans took Inverness Castle for the Queen, which had refused her admission. The Queen later hanged the governor, a Gordon who had refused her admission.[1]
- In 1571 the Clan Fraser joined forces with the Clan Forbes in their feud against the Clan Gordon. The Forbes were also joined by Clan Keith and Clan Crichton. The Gordons were also joined by Clan Leslie, Clan Irvine and Clan Seton. The feud between the Gordons and Forbes which had gone on for centuries culminated in two full scale battles: The Battle of Tillieangus and the Battle of Craibstone. It was at the Battle of Tillieangus that the 6th Lord Forbes's youngest son known as Black Aurther Forbes was killed. Legend has it that "he stooped down to quench his thirst and one of the Gordons gave him his death blow through an open joint in his armour".
- A battle took place between the Clan Fraser and Clan Logan at Kessock where Gilligorm the Chief of Clan Logan was killed.
[edit] Call to Arms & Civil War
During the Civil War of 1644–1650, the Clan Fraser were as active as ever and supported the cause of the Covenantors.
- In 1645, at the Battle of Aldearn, in Nairnshire, the Clan Fraser opposed the Royalist leader James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose, and fought under a Fraser of Struy (a small village at the mouth of Glen Strathfarrar). Eighty-seven Frasers fell at Aldearn. On this battle, a poem was composed:
"Here Fraser Fraser kills, a Browndoth kills a Browndoth A Bold a Bold, and Lieth's by Lieth overthrown. A Forbes against a Forbes and her doeth stand, And Drummonds fight with Drummonds hand to hand. There dith Magill cause a Magill to die, And Gordon doth the strenth of Gordon try. Oh! Scotland, were though Mad? Off thine own native gore. So Much till now thou never shedst before."
- In 1649, the Clan Fraser was again joined by the Clan Munro to take Inverness Castle. This time, they were also joined by the Clan Urquhart and the Clan MacKenzie, who they had recently made peace with. They were all opposed to the authority of the current parliament. They assaulted the town and took the castle. They then expelled the garrison and raised the fortifications. However, on the approach of the parliamentary forces led by General Leslie, all of the clans retreated back into Ross-shire. Over the next year, several skirmishes took place between these parties.
- In 1650, at the Battle of Dunbar, the Clan Fraser fought on the side of the Scottish Covenanters who were opposed the forces of Oliver Cromwell. However, they were defeated by Cromwell's forces.
- In 1651, the Clan Fraser joined joined the King's army at Stirling. They fought at the Battle of Worcester where the King's army was defeated by Oliver Cromwell's New Model Army.
[edit] Jacobite Risings
[edit] Bonnie Dundee
In 1689, Thomas Fraser tried to hold his clan from joining Bonnie Dundee, to no avail. The Clan marched without him, in support of the Stewarts, and fought at the Battle of Killiecrankie. The following year, the Chief finally joined them.
[edit] The Fifteen
The Clan Fraser supported the British government during The Fifteen. In 1715 Simon Fraser of Lovat (who had been outlawed and in exile, by Stewarts), put pressure on the Jacobite garrison in Inverness, which was delivered upon the very day when the Battle of Sheriffmuir was fought and another Jacobite force was defeated at the Battle of Preston. Soon after this 31 year old Chief Colonel Robert Munro of Foulis marched into the town of Inverness with 400 Munros and took over control as governor from Fraser. In 1719 the Clan Fraser fought for the British government at the Battle of Glenshiel where they helped defeat the Jacobites and MacKenzies alike.
[edit] The Forty-Five
The infamous Simon the Fox was also chief during The '45, and supported the Jacobites and Bonnie Prince Charlie, contrary to his action during The Fifteen (though, his clan did indeed rally for Jamie). Frasers were on the front lines of the Jacobite army at the Battle of Falkirk (1746), and the Battle of Culloden in 1746.
[edit] Culloden
At the Battle of Culloden, Frasers made up the largest Centre Regiment of the Front line, with 400 men under Charles Fraser of Inverallochy, and Simon Fraser, Master of Lovat (the Fox was, conveniently, not present at the battle, reportedly trying to gather dispersed Clansmen to fight). Being on the front line, the Frasers were one of the few units to actually close with Government forces, breaking through Barrell’s regiment with 800-900 other Highlanders (Atholl men, Camerons, Stewarts of Appin), the ferocious Frasers were massacred by the Government second line. Shortly after the Battle of Culloden, Simon the Fox watched his castle go down in flames.
[edit] Aftermath
In 1746 Castle Dounie was burnt to the ground, while the Fox was on the run. He was tried for treason and executed in London on 9th April 1747, and his estates and titles were forfeited to the Crown. Many noted that the man possessed the utmost dignity to the end.
The Fox's son, Simon Fraser escaped punishment, and was pardoned - later raising a Fraser regiment for the British army which fought in Canada in the 1750s, including Quebec. Charles Fraser was mortally wounded and found by General Hawley on the field, who ordered one of his aides, a young James Wolfe to finish him off with a pistol. Wolfe refused, so Hawley got a common soldier to do it. We also know the fate of some of the clansmen. David Fraser of Glen Urquhart, who was a deaf-mute had, it was said, charged and killed seven redcoats, but was captured and died in prison. John Fraser, also called ‘MacIver’ was shot in the knee, taken prisoner and put before a firing squad, but was then rescued by a British officer, Lord Boyd, who was sick of the slaughter. Another John Fraser, who was Provost of Inverness tried to get fair treatment for the prisoners.
Castle Dounie was replaced by a small square building costing £300 in which the Royal Commissioner resided until 1774, when some of the forfeited Lovat estates were granted by an Act of Parliament to his son, Simon Fraser (1726-1782), by then a major general, in recognition of his military service to the Crown and the payment of some £20,000. Later, two modest wings were added. On the death of General Fraser’s younger half-brother, Colonel Archibald Campbell Fraser of Lovat (1736-1815), without legitimate surviving male issue, the Lovat estates were transferred, by entail, to Thomas Alexander Fraser of Strichen(1802-1875), a distant cousin who was descended from Thomas Fraser of Knockie & Strichen (1548-1612), second son of Alexander Fraser, 4th Lord Lovat (1527-1557). Knockie was sold about 1727 to Hugh Fraser of Balnain (1702-1735).
[edit] Frasers in the New World
[edit] Seven Years War
Under the chief, Simon (Who had led the Frasers in the '45 as the Master of Lovat) a regiment of Frasers, the 78th Fraser Highlanders, numbering fourteen hundred were raised and fought the French and Indians in the colonies and in Canada, from 1757-1759.
[edit] American rebellion
Fighting against American independence, Simon, by this time a General, raised twenty-three hundred men, the 71st Fraser Highlanders. He recruited two battalions, raised at Inverness, Stirling and Glasgow. Mostly men were not of the name, for the number of Frasers thirty years after Culloden and the end of the clan system, had been substantially reduced.
[edit] Diaspora
Many Frasers settled in the United States and Canada after the war against the French in Quebec. Many others emigrated to those countries and to Australia and New Zealand. There are Frasers by many names in many countries throughout the world.
Frasers in the U.S. have continued their proud military tradition, fighting on both sides of the American Civil War. Frasers from both sides of the Atlantic fought in the Great War, and the Second World War.
[edit] Two Chiefs
On May 1, 1984, by decree of the Court of the Lord Lyon, the 21st Lady Saltoun was made "Chief of the name and arms of the whole Clan Fraser". This single decree has turned over 800 years of history on its head.
When Simon the Pater's descendants first acquired the Lovat lands of the Ard, in the Highlands, they took to the Gaelic customs of the area. This included everything from language, ways of warfare, to clothing and fashion, even giving their children Gaelic names. By the time Simon's son came of age to lead the family, he was deemed to be the 1st Chief of Clan Fraser, the MacShimidh.
Frasers who stayed in the Lowlands, however, maintained Teutonic, or Norman culture. They became a very respectable and well-to-do family, but stayed well out of Clan affairs. They took no part in Clan warfare, spoke Scots, and dressed like Lowlanders.
According to Alexander Fraser, 18th Lord Saltoun, his family "continued to have their principal seat in the Lowlands, and those of the surname who remained in that section of Scotland, where Teutonic institutions prevailed, and whence the patriarchal system of Clans and Clanships had long been banished, had nothing to do with the origin or formation of the Highland Clan, and never belonged to it."
According to the Lady Saltoun, his descendant, "The Frasers of Philorth, the Lords Saltoun, being the senior line, are Chiefs of the name of Fraser, although a lowland family. Lord Lovat is Chief of the very numerous Highland Clan Fraser of Lovat, based in Inverness-shire." [2]
It should be noted that the Lady Saltoun is not a descendant of the Shimidh, the Simon from whom the Clan Fraser traces its lineage. As explained elsewhere, she is descended from the Shimidh's older brother. So, though the Lord Lovat is still the Chieftain of Clan Fraser, the MacShimidh, the Lord Lyon has made official the seniority of the Lady Saltoun's line.
This is not the only case of precedence where the head of a Lowland family has been made "Chief of a Clan." The selection of a clan chieftain is traditionally very different than the Teutonic/Norman system of inherited titles. A Clan would elect and follow whatever chief it chose. Unfortunately, from a history student's perspective, in the case of the Clan Fraser, this decree has muddied the waters a bit, regarding both what the Clan truly is and has been. [3] Frasers differ on the matter, but most Lovats still regard the Lord Lovat as their chief, while many lowland Frasers, who have latched on to the romanticised view of Clans and the Highlands, are happy to have found a way to link themselves to Highland culture. There is, of course, some cross-over of opinions, Frasers tend to respect each other as fellow Frasers, regardless of where they come from.
[edit] Military Regiments
Frasers have always been known for their fighting spirit, and their skill in the arts of war. Frasers fought in many, many wars, from the defending of Scottish lands against invading Danes and Norse, to the Scottish Wars of Independence, to the Jacobite risings, both World Wars, and continue to serve today. Among them, are the
- an Independent Highland Company in 1745.
- 2nd Highland Battalion, formed in January of 1757.
- 62nd Regiment of Foot formed 1757. The 62nd was redesignated as the 78th Fraser Highlanders.
- 78th Fraser Highlanders, formed in 1758, retired as a fighting unit in 1763, but still active as a fund raising organization under the authority of the Lord Lovat.
- 71st Fraser Highlanders formed October, 1775, two battalions raised at Inverness, Stirling and Glasgow for service in North America. Disbanded in 1786.
- The Fraser Fencible Regiment, raised by the Col. the Hon. Archibald Campbell Fraser of Lovat, as a home guard in the event of an invasion by Napoleon Bonaparte. Served in the Irish Rebellion of 1798.
- The Lovat Scouts, formed in January of 1900 by Simon Joseph Fraser, for service in the Second Boer War Saw extensive action during the Great War and the Second World War, Now a platoon, Company C, of the 51st Highland Regiment.
[edit] Distinguished Frasers
Many people distinguished in public life and the armed forces have been Frasers. Among them were:
- Simon Fraser, US born, Canadian explorer, who mapped the Fraser River and for whom Simon Fraser University is named
- General Simon Fraserof Balnian, of Saratoga fame
- Admiral of the Fleet the Lord Fraser of Northcape
- the Rt. Hon. Peter Fraser, Prime Minister of New Zealand 1940-1949;
- William Fraser, 1st Baron Strathalmond, Chairman B.P.
- Hugh Fraser, Baron Fraser of Allander (Hugh Fraser III), grandson of the founder of the House of Fraser, and at one time owner of Harrods
- Sir Hugh Fraser, 2nd Baronet chairman of Harrods and the House of Fraser
- Lord Fraser of Kilmorack, Chairman of the Conservative Party
- Professor Sir James Fraser, Professor of Surgery at the University of Southampton
- the Very Reverend John Annand Fraser, MBE, TD, DD, at one time Moderator of the Church of Scotland
- Simon Christopher, the 17th Lord Lovat, served in the Scots Guards and was an outstanding British Commando leader in the Second World War, noted for his service during the D-Day Landings in Normandy
- Alastair Sim, voted most popular actor in Britain in 1950
- John Syme, the renowned friend of Robert Burns, who organized the bard's funeral.
Many distinguished Frasers who are alive today:
- Peter Fraser, Baron Fraser of Carmyllie, Lord Advocate, 1989-1992
- Sir Charles Fraser, Pursebearer to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
- General Sir David Fraser, retired, author of many biographies and novelist
- Marion, Lady Fraser, Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
- Sir Simon Fraser (knighted 1918)
- the Rt. Hon. John Malcolm Fraser, Liberal Prime Minister of Australia 1975-1983
- Lt. Ian Edward Fraser, VC DSC, RD & Bar, Royal Naval Reserve
- Ian Frazer, Australian immunologist, worked on the development of a cervical cancer vaccine. Australian of the Year January 2006.
- Christopher J Fraser, member of the band Omatic.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Neil Grant. Scottish Clans and Tartans. Crescent Books, New York, 1987. ISBN 0-517-49901-0.
- J.R. Harper. The Fraser Highlanders. The Society of The Montreal Military & Maritime Museum, Montreal, 1979.
- Fraser, Archibald Campbell. Annals... of the Frasers of Loveth. Clan Fraser Association for California, 2003. Ed. Diolain Fraser.
- Forbes, George. the Frasers. Lang Syne Publishers Ltd, Glasgow, 2003. ISBN 1-85217-090-5.
[edit] External links
- Website of Lady Saltoun, Chief of the Name and Arms of Fraser
- The Frasers, an extensive site dedicated to all Frasers of Lovat and Scotland
- Baronage Press's Fraser section
- Fraser's Highlanders: Military Regiments
- Clan Fraser during the '45: an account of Jacobitism
- The Old Lords of Lovat and Beaufort by Marie Fraser
