Clan Carruthers

Clan Carruthers
"Cridders"

Crest: A seraphim volant Proper[1]
Motto Promptus Et Fidelis (Ready and faithful)[1]
Profile
Region Scottish Borders
District Dumfriesshire
Plant badge Fleur-de-lis (Lilly)
Clan Carruthers has no chief, and is an armigerous clan
Historic seat Mouswald Tower[2]
Holmains Castle (Howmains)[2]
Dormont House[2]
Last Chief Simon Carruthers[3]
Died 1548[3]

Clan Carruthers is a Lowland Scottish clan of the Scottish Borders. The clan is officially recognized by the Lord Lyon King of Arms; however, as the clan does not currently have a clan chief that is recognized by the Lord Lyon King of Arms it is considered an armigerous clan.[3]

History

Origins

The surname of Carruthers has arisen in Dumfriesshire and it appears to allude to the ancient British fort called Caer Rydderch or Rythyr.[3] The historian George Fraser Black asserted that this means fort of Rydderch, with Ryderch appearing to be a form of personal name.[3]

In the thirteenth century the chiefly family of Carruthers rose to become stewards of Annandale under the Clan Bruce.[3] The historian George Fraser Black writes of Nigel de Karruthers, a cleric who was also Rector of Ruthwell in 1380, and rose to become Canon of Glasgow Cathedral in 1351.[3] He was also named as chancellor to Robert, High Steward of Scotland in 1344.[3] At around the same time the chiefly family of Carruthers acquired the lands of Musfald (now called Mouswald).[3]

16th century

The Carruthers of Mouswald line came to an end with Simon Carruthers who was killed in 1548 during a border raid,[3] and his daughters were placed under the guardianship of the Clan Douglas.[2]

The Carruthers of Howmains line, however, continued to prosper and in 1542 their lands were erected into a free barony.[3] John Carruthers of Howmains was indicted, along with Edward Irvine of Bonshaw (chief of Clan Irvine), for an assault on Kirkpatrick of Closeburn (chief of Clan Kirkpatrick) in 1563, as well as for slaying several other persons.[3] In 1587 the Clan Carruthers was included on the roll of "unruly clans" in the West Marches.[3]

18th century to modern period

The Carruthers estate of Howmains was lost in 1772 when a financial disaster overwhelmed the family.[3] However, a younger son of the family acquired the estate of Dormont in Dumfrieshsire, and the family still holds it to the present day.[3]

A notable member of the clan was Colonel Francis Carruthers who served in Egypt and in the Boer War.[3] From 1915 to 1919 he was assistant director at the War Office.[3] He was also a brigadier in the Royal Company of Archers (the monarch's body guard in Scotland) as well as being Lord Lieutenant of Dumfries.[3]

Armorial History

The history of the Clan through its heraldry is a fascinating one. The changes to the arms and crest from the first Arms of Mouswald through to Howmains (Holmains) and Dormont to the present day show some important, albeit very subtle change to the Arms used by the senior branches of the family.

This is reflected in the arms of Carruthers of Dormont who, on registering their own arms in the 1900's, added a gold border around the Howmains arms, suggesting they see themselves as a cadet branch of the family rather than the continuation of the senior line.

The bordure (border) around the Dormont arms suggest that there may well be a member of the senior line of Howmains who could take up the position as chief otherwise Dormont may be willing to take on the role with the clans support, [4] rather than looking for someone linked with the senior line.

For Carruthers to move from its armigerous status, a clan chief would need to be chosen by the clan and accepted, after evidence of seniority, by the Lord Lyon.

Armigers, not claiming direct decendency from the senior lines, difference their arms from the chiefly arms of ' Gules, two chevrons engrailed between three fleurs de lis Or'. This usually means one or two differences on the arms themselves such as a change from the base Fleur d-lis to a pheon, as done by the last Carruthers armiger registered: Gules, two chevronells engrailed between in chief two fleurs-de-lys and in base a pheon Or. [5]

To date all registered Carruthers arms have used an angelic figure as their crest.

Tartan

Carruthers, as a sept of the family of Bruce, have always been entitled to use their tartan, however until 2017 no tartan was ever registered in the Carruthers name, historically or otherwise. As a Border Reiver (Riding Family), Carruthers never ever wore kilts but 'trews', which were far more conducive to reiving on fast, sturdy horses.

Family tartan as a concept, to include that of highland clans according to many experts, was basically a construct of Victorian times. Any plaid used, which did exist, would be only regional depending on the weave of the weaver.[6]

However, having ones own tartan is ever increasingly popular and is a preference of any Scottish Clan.

Therefore with a move towards Carruthers clan status, based on the 1587 Act and to differentiate and individualise the name, a Dr George Carruthers from Fife, had a tartan designed based on the Bruce sett and thread count and registered it with the Scottish Tartan Register for use by all of that name.

[7] This tartan has been made available to all named Carruthers or its derivatives.

The design was made to reflect and respect the close links with the family Bruce, but also to distinguish Carruthers as a distinct border reiver clan in their own right.

References

  1. 1 2 Clan Carruthers Profile scotclans.com. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Coventry, Martin. (2008). Castles of the Clans: The Strongholds and Seats of 750 Scottish Families and Clans. pp. 92 - 93. ISBN 978-1-899874-36-1.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Way, George and Squire, Romily. (1994). Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). pp. 370 - 371.
  4. ↑ name=https://www.clancarruthers.com/carruthers-armorial-history.html
  5. ↑ name=http://www.heraldry-scotland.co.uk/members-arms.html
  6. ↑ name=https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tartan
  7. ↑ name=https://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tartanDetails?ref=11700

See also

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