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News from Scotland

by Mckerrell of Hillhouse

We are most fortunate to have as our Scottish representatives Charles and May McKerrell of Lochmaben, Scotland. Charles, officially and legally known as McKerrell of Hillhouse, or just Hillhouse, and his wife May (formally May Roberts), officially known as Madam McKerrell of Hillhouse, or The Lady Hillhouse, are extremely knowledgeable on Scottish history and the history of the McBraire family in Scotland. Charles is also the Chieftain of the McKerrell Clan and both are very active in various Scottish functions and donate much of their time to several different organizations of the country. McKerrell of Hillhouse was asked if he would provide our family a short account of some of his official duties and activities and just received are two of the first stories prepared by him and presented for publication within The McBrayer Family Online website. Our sincere appreciation to both McKerrell of Hillhouse and Madam McKerrell of Hillhouse for their many contributions to the McBraire/McBrayer family and for their continued friendship.

McKerrell of Hillhouse prepares and presents Petitions for grants of Arms to those who wish to bear a Scottish Coat of Arms, or those whose kin or ancestors were armigerous and wish to matriculate Armorial bearings in there own name. A coat of Arms belongs only to one person at a time, the eldest son the heir apparent or the nominated heir presumptive, uses his/her father’s/armiger’s Arms with a three point label of a suitable colour during his/her father’s/armiger’s lifetime, but other sons who require or wish to use Arms must matriculate the Arms in their own name with a difference, usually a border of a metal or colour, indicating their relationship within the family.

Hillhouse also advises on the legal requirements for the purchase and conveyance of lands suitable for a territorial designation, and assists with the client’s lawyer so that the lands are conveyed in the correct legal form.

When the Petition is ready and the proofs prepared, he will deliver them to The Court of the Lord Lyon and discuss the Petitioner’s wishes with reference to the Arms and motto and a crest if the Petitioner would like one to be granted.

Scottish coats of Arms are most important within the Scottish clan, Family or Name and gives a certain status, it also allows for a banner of the Arms to be flown or carried in a parade, the Armiger will be in the lead of that parade with his banner bearer carrying his banner, which can then be flown over his tent, perhaps a painted shield will be hung at the tent in addition.

Hillhouse assisted his late friend Dr Duffy McBrayer to receive a grant of Arms by the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the first record of Scottish lawful Arms for a McBrayer, up to that the time there had been no lawful Scottish coat of Arms of that name. Unfortunately the Arms used by McBrayer Family in the USA are in fact the lawfull Arms of McCrae of Orangefield, matriculated 19/7/1736 Vol I p192 Public Register of Arms Lyon Court, the wrongful use of these Arms in Scotland could leave the person’s open to prosecution.

Dr Duffy McBrayer took part in “Roots 93”, a large gathering of Clans at Names in the spring of 1993 at Drumlanrig Castle, seat of His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch, where Duffy paraded his armorial banner; the painted wood shield granted in memory of his ancestor James McBrayer, has been displayed annually for a number of years as part of an heraldic decoration at The Border Gathering.

( www.bordergathering.co.uk see under clans and names for photograph of the shield).

Only Arms that are matriculated in the Public Register for All Arms and Bearings in Scotland from 1672 are legal, and if unregistered Arms are used in Scotland the person bearing them can be fined and any property bearing those Arms can be defaced.

it and signs with the designation adding younger or ygr. As his father Broun of Fordel would be correctly personally addressed as Fordel, so he should be addressed as Fordel, so he should be addressed as Young Fordel, and referred to as such. Mr Broun or Broun would be wrong. When a female inherits an estate she is properly described by the name of that estate, for example, Lady Kilravock, and in the case of wives Lady Glensmith, wife of James Black of Glensmith... Formerly, a Laird and his wife should be addressed as Glensmith and Mrs Black of Glensmith or if her husband is a chief or chieftain, Madam Black of Glensmith. Informally they could be addressed as James and Catriona Black of Glensmith. The style ‘The Much Honoured’ is seldom used these days. It was the old prefix for a Laird or Chief. Some years ago I wrote to the then Lyon Clerk, JID Pottinger LVO. The reply was, “The Lord Lyon prefers that the style ‘The Much Honoured’ does not Appear in Letters Patent from the Court of the Lord Lyon, for many reasons to your request, but he would have no objection to your using this style if you so wish”.

It is not only the noblesse who may bear a territorial designation, but also the holders of heritable crofts and lands, but the Lord Lyon only officially recognises designations of armigers. However, in the case of a clan without a Chief and with no old line going back, a small landowner in Scotland may be qualified to be a member of a dearbhfine and would have a vote along with armigers.

A person can still at the present day obtain a designation by acquiring a suitable property. He will require to Petition Lord Lyon for a grant of Arms. Lord Lyon will then officially recognise his territorial designation. A new armiger with a designation becomes a noble in the noblesse of Scotland, along with Chiefs, Chieftains and Lairds, who have had their Arms officially matriculated at Lyon Court.

references: - Innes of Learney, The Tartans of the Clans and Families of Scotland.

# Tenants of lands were styled ‘in’ their lands, an example, Robert Burns in Mossgiel, who was referred to as Mossgiel, and also at that time referred to as Rab Mossgiel.

The above should not be edited in any way, because it can change the meaning and this is to do with a Scottish court of law.

CMKH