Scottish Clans - Clan Farquharson

SCOTTISH CLANS - FARQUHARSON


MOTTO BY FIDELITY AND FORTITUDE	CLAN TARTAN FARQUHARSON

The Farquharsons of Invercauld in Aberdeenshire are a prominent branch of the Clan Chattan.

In the period 1435-1565 the lands of Invercauld were part of the Earldom of Mar and held by the crown, and it was not until the next century that the clan acquired their right of tenure to these lands. The Farquharsons trace their descent from Farquhar, the 4th son of Shaw of Rothiemurchus, who was owner of the Braes of Mar. His son Donald married Isobel Stewart, heiress of Invercauld. Their son Findla or Findlay, was known as Findla Mhor, or Great Findla because of his size and strength. He was killed at the Battle of Pinkie in 1547, and it is he that is thought to be founder of the Clan and it is from him that the patronymic borne by subsequent Chiefs “MacFhionnlaigh” (son of Finlay) is derived. Before his time the Farquharsons were called in Gaelic, clan Erachar or Earachar, the Gaelic for Farquhar, and most of the branches of the family, especially those who settled in Athole, were called MacEarachar. Those of the descendants of Findla Mhor who settled in the Lowlands had their name of Mackinlay changed into Finlayson.

Strong supporters of the Stewart cause, they played a leading part in the Jacobite rising of 1715, in which they fielded 4 officers and 140 men, and John Farquharson of Invercauld was Colonel of the Clan Chattan Regiment. The Chief, owing to his advanced years, did not take part in the ’45 and raising the clan was led by the “Baron Ban”, Francis Farquharson of Monaltrie. Monaltrie was taken prisoner at Culloden and removed to London where he escaped the gallows by being pardoned on the eve of his execution. Also in the ’45 Anne Farquharson, “Colonel Anne”, raised Clan Mackintosh for Prince Charles while her husband, who was the Chief of Clan Mackintosh, fought on the Hanoverian side.

The Invercauld inheritance passed through the female line in 1806 when the Lord Lyon recognised Catherine Farquharson as chief of the clan. In 1936 chiefship again passed through the female line when Mrs. Myrtle Farquharson was awarded the ensigns of chiefship by Lyon Court. She was killed during an air-raid in 1940 and the succession passed to her nephew, the present Chief.