In the run up to St. Andrews Day 1979 special invitations were sent out for an important event that would unite a Scottish Clan scattered throughout the continents. Those invitations bore a request for the presence of individuals to attend the Chapel Royal at Falkland Place, Fife to be witness to an event that had not taken place for 300 years. On Saturday the 17th of March 1979 at 11am, the Rev. James Forsyth conducted a ceremony that would unite The Clan Forsyth once again, the inauguration of their Chief, Alastair Forsyth of that Ilk. It was an historic moment that would bring together hundreds of years of Scottish diaspora around the world and unite a people with a shared cultural heritage and ancestry. 

The origin of Clan Forsyth is suggested to be dated to the Thirteenth Century, if not before, when it is recorded in the book, Scottish Arms: being A Collection of Armorial Bearings A.D. 1370-1678,[1] that “in 1296 William Frisith, of the county of Peebles [Scotland] did homage to Edward I.” This is further supported by the Ragman Rolls,[2] and although important, we can only theorize that this mention of ‘Frisith’ refers to one of the earliest Forsyth ancestors known.  

The available historical documentation confirms that the Clan Forsyth had its roots established, at least, between the years 1306 and 1329, when Osbert de Forsyth, or Osbert son of Forsyth, believed to be a descendant of William Frisith, is described in an entry in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland as a “servant of the King.” The Scottish crowned King at the time being the famous, Robert the Bruce. Another contemporary reference for Forsyth appears at the time, also in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland and thought to be referring to Osbert, as him being made Sergeant of Stirling and granted one hundred measurements of land in the tenement of Salakhill, within the county of Stirling.[3] This Land Grant is also recorded in the Lord Haddington Collections, by Thomas Hamilton, Ist Earl of Haddington, who was known to have begun making copies of earlier documents, his life spanning the years of 1563-1637. To our knowledge, Osbert’s life was never documented, but records show that he had at least three children, David Forsyth, William Forsyth, and Robert Forsyth. 

David Forsyth would become the forefather of the Forsyth of Dykes ancestral line that would be the foundation of the Clan Forsyth success. David had two sons, John and William, and it was John who was granted further lands of Gilcamstoun (Gilcomston), now in the City of Aberdeen. His only son, also called David, would become increasingly successful at court, and was knighted in 1488, receiving land and arms, “A shield of arms: on a fess betw. three crosses crosslet fitchées, as many lozenges,”[4] later described by Stobart as, “FORSYTH OF THAT ILK. Argent, a chevronel engrailed gules between three griffins segreant azure.”[5] David of Dykes was the first Chief of Clan Forsyth, he married and held the Castle of Halhill (Lanarkshire) until his death in 1513, when he fell at the Battle of Flodden “under’ the King’s standard.”[6] He was not the only Forsyth to die fighting for King James IV of Scotland that day, Alexander Forsyth of Nydie,[7] his kin, also fell at the battle leaving the family bereft of two men. David of Dykes son, also David (III), would inherit the property and title of Dykes, along with relief from the sheriff to cover rents for six years and land transfer costs, both owed to the crown, as compensation for his father’s premature death.[8]  

The Forsyth of Dykes castle of Halhill continued to be the residence of the Forsyth seat until 1585 when political change and the Reformation forced the family to concede ownership. The Forsyth’s had previously sold or exchanged other lands they held, and they acquired the Lands at Inchnock and Geyne, within the Barony of Monkland, presumably because they felt that change was coming, and they needed to protect themselves. They built a new castle at Inchnock that would become their formal residence. Their descendants would continue to live successfully until approximately 1700, when the Forsyth line of Dykes would fail from lack of descendants. We know from records that James Forsyth left his property to his nephew, James Bruce of Gavell, who adopted the name “Forsyth,”[9] and it is believed that any remaining inherited titles would have passed to the Forsyth of Nydie branch of the family. 

William Forsyth, son of Osbert de Forsyth, would become the forefather of the Forsyth of Nydie line of the family. He was the brother of David Forsyth, the forefather of the Dykes line, and William was the middle brother, the youngest of the three sons being Robert Forsyth. William was made a Bailie of Edinburgh at some time before 1365,[10] the position being like an Alderman, so he was actively involved within the management of the local and regional community. He is recorded as having at least two sons, William and John Forsyth, that would both go on to achieve eminent roles. 

Willam Forsyth (II), the elder son, would be granted lands and arms, thought to be around the year 1434, that would make him the Larid of Nydie. The arms were recorded in Stobart’s Scottish Arms: being A Collection of Armorial Bearings A.D. 1370-1678 as “gules, a chevron engrailed argent between three griffins segreant or, and also the coat in L.”[11]  The younger son, John Forsyth, would take Holy Orders and became secretary to the Bishop of St. Andrews, Henry Wardlaw, who was the founder of the University of St. Andrews, Edinburgh in 1413,[12] and who had also been a tutor to the young King James I of Scotland. The subsequent lines of Nydie would go forward successfully, marrying well and achieving success in their endeavors. 

The third and last known son of Osbert de Forsyth, was Robert Forsyth (II), the youngest brother. He would also have a prestigious role in society, he was granted lands near to the property held by his grandfather, also Robert Forsyth (I), and was known to have been a Constable of Stirling Castle.[13] His child and grandchild would carry on close links to Stirling Castle, following in their forebear's footsteps, and fulfilled similar roles.  

It is clear from early in the records that the Forsyth family were destined to have a successful future, forging close ties with the Royal House, acquiring titles, land, and arms, and to form what we now know as Clan Forsyth from 1488. As a Clan, they continued in their success, with members of the family continuing to enjoy accomplishments in their personal and public lives, remaining prominent in the lives of local and regional society. But with all great things over the distance of time, political change would take its toll on the Clan Forsyth and change its fortunes forever. 

With the unification of England and Scotland under one monarch in 1603, political maneuvering and favor became complicated, with Scotland always having a difficult and reluctant relationship with England. The later British King, William III, known as William II in Scotland, proclaimed that all Clan Chiefs were to swear an allegiance to him before 1 January 1692.[14] Although many Clan Chiefs swore allegiance to protect their interests, it is said that the Chief of Clan Forsyth refused, thus the clan would no longer be legally considered an official clan. Although their legal status was lost, no severe harm seemed to have befallen them with their decision, perhaps because of the family's already long history of maneuvering the politics of the court successfully. Other clans did not fare so well, the Chief of MacDonald of Glencoe accidentally arrived to take the oath too late which angered the King. The Campbells, “hereditary enemies”[15]  of the MacDonalds and working on behalf of the King, massacred 37 MacDonalds, including their Chief.  

The ‘Act of Union’ in 1707, that united the government of both England and Scotland,[16] further changed the way Scotland was governed, and the next sixty years would change the way of life in Scotland forever, rendering it almost unrecognizable. The Jacobite rebellions, attempting to reunite a Stuart heir to the British throne, would force the English to finally crush the Scottish clans and all those who opposed them across the border. At least two Forsyth’s are evidenced to have fought in the battle of Culloden, willing to sacrifice their lives for the Scottish cause. These were George Forsyth, a servant from Stonywood, Newhills who “Carried Arms at Falkirk and Culloden”[17] and James Forsyth, a Town Officer from Forress, who “Carried Arms and Recruited men for the Rebels.”[18] With the changing political and historical landscape, many Forsyth’s would disperse throughout the British Isles and beyond into the reaches of the wider world. Wealth would be lost, the land and castles left to go into disrepair, and the history all but forgotten. 

Almost beyond the realm of memory and on the brink of extinction, James Forsyth of Glengorm set forth the idea in 1913 to unite the Clan Forsyth and begin the careful search for a new clan Chief, saving the clan from inevitable obscurity. He contacted those Forsyth’s living within the bounds of Glasgow and voiced his intentions to find a Chief admissible to the Lord Lyon, King of Arms. The “Forsyth Family Association’ was born to represent its members with the express purpose of finding the heir apparent to the Chiefdom of Clan Forsyth. Their objective to establish who the Forsyth’s were and establish a history. The association did not go forward without issue, WW1 halted its resolution until 1920, and later failing membership forced it to take a break in 1966. Research was slow and painstaking with no internet or immediate access to digital copies of texts available in the comfort of home, but it was finally found who the closest heir to the Forsyth legacy was. In 1972 an International Gathering of Clans was held in Edinburgh, with an eventual invitation to Alistair Forsyth being extended to represent the Clan.  

With much research undertaken, it was established that Alastair Forsyth, as the closest living relative, was heir to the Chiefdom of Clan Forsyth. As with all Clan recognition submitted to the Lord Lyon, proven genealogical links are needed, together with the creation of a Derbhfine. A Derbhfine being a meeting to include nine Scottish armigers, or persons who have been granted a Coat of Arms in Scotland, together with the holding of significant Land ownership. Together the meeting council elects a “Commander of the Clan,” and after a set time, the Commander is considered the “Chief” of the Clan, accepted by the Lord Lyon. With all the requirements met to satisfaction, Alastair Forsyth was inaugurated to the Chief of Clan Forsyth, Chief Alastair Forsyth of the Ilk, at the Palace of Falkland Place, Fife on Saturday 17th March 1979. The historic moment would ensure that our history, heritage, and culture could once more be protected and established for future generations. It is our family connections that make us stronger and unite us in a common bond, we must all ensure that our legacy is never forgotten and can never be on the brink of extinction again.  

Instaurator Ruinae! 

[1] Stodart, R. R. Scottish Arms being A Collection of Armorial Bearings A.D. 1370-1678. Vol II. William Patterson, 1881. p.297. https://archive.org/details/scottisharmsbein02stoduoft : accessed 22 July 2024.

[2] Templeton, Gayla. Ragman Rolls of 1296-1291, transcription of part of an index of the 2,000 nobles and clergy who signed the Ragman Rolls of 1296 and 1291. Found at Electric Scotland’s Website: https://electricscotland.com/history/articles/ragman_rolls.htm : accessed 22 July 2024. 

[3] Thomson, John Maitland (ed). The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland A.D. 1306-1424. New Edition. Vol. 1 H. M. General Register House, Edinburgh. 1912. p. 451.

[4] Birch, Gray. Catalogue of Seals in the Department of manuscripts in the British Museum. Vol. IV. The British Museum/ The Oxford University Press. 1895. p.387. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015034105547&view=1up&seq=401 : accessed 22 July 2024. 

[5] Stodart, R. R. Scottish Arms being A Collection of Armorial Bearings A.D. 1370-1678. Vol II. William Patterson. 1881. p.227. https://archive.org/details/scottisharmsbein02stoduoft : accessed 22 July 2024. 

[6] MacKay, Ǽ. J. G. (ed.) The Exchequer Rolls of Scotland. Vol. XIV. A.D. 1513-1522. H. M. General Register House, Edinburgh. 1893. p.716. https://archive.org/details/rotuliscaccariir14grea/page/716/mode/2up?q=david+forsyth : accessed 23 July 2024. 

[7] Stevenson, J. H. The Scottish Antiquary or Northern Notes & Queries. Vol. XIII. George P. Johnston, Edinburgh. 1899. p.169. https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Scottish_Antiquary_Or_Northern_Notes/0d5ZAAAAIAAJ?q=forsyth&gbpv=0 ; accessed 23 July 2024. 

[8] MacKay, Ǽ. J. G. (ed.) The Exchequer Rolls of Scotland. Vol. XIV. A.D. 1513-1522. H. M. General Register House, Edinburgh. 1893. pp.626-627. https://archive.org/details/rotuliscaccariir14grea/page/716/mode/2up?q=david+forsyth : accessed 23 July 2024. 

[9] Stodart, R. R. Scottish Arms being A Collection of Armorial Bearings A.D. 1370-1678. Vol II. William Patterson, 1881. p.297. https://archive.org/details/scottisharmsbein02stoduoft : accessed 23 July 2024. 

[10] Burnett, George. (ed.) The Exchequer Rolls of Scotland. Vol. II. A.D. 1359-1379. H. M. General Register House, Edinburgh. 1878. pp.208. https://archive.org/details/rotuliscaccariir02grea/page/n9/mode/2up : accessed 23 July 2024. 

[11] Stodart, R. R. Scottish Arms being A Collection of Armorial Bearings A.D. 1370-1678. Vol II. William Patterson, 1881. p.297. https://archive.org/details/scottisharmsbein02stoduoft : accessed 24 July 2024. 

[12] The University of St. Andrews. ‘A brief history of the University,’ from The University of St Andrews. The University of St. Andrews, Edinburgh. 2024. https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/about/history/brief/ : accessed 24 July 2024. 

[13] Stodart, R. R. Scottish Arms being A Collection of Armorial Bearings A.D. 1370-1678. Vol II. William Patterson, 1881. p.297. https://archive.org/details/scottisharmsbein02stoduoft : accessed 24 July 2024. 

[14] Historic UK. ‘The Highland Clans,’ from Historic UK, Historic UK Ltd. 2024. https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/The-Highland-Clans/ : accessed 24 July 2024. 

[15] Historic UK. ‘The Highland Clans,’ from Historic UK, Historic UK Ltd. 2024. https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/The-Highland-Clans/ : accessed 24 July 2024. 

[16] Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Act of Union". Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Jul. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/event/Act-of-Union-Great-Britain-1707. Accessed 24 July 2024. 

[17] Rosebery, The Earl of (Preface). A List of Persons Concerned in The Rebellion Transmitted to the Commissioners of Excise by The Several Supervisors in Scotland in Obedience to A General Letter of the 7th May 1746, And a Supplementary List with Evidence to Prove the Same. Annotations by the Rev. Walter Macloed. The University Press by T. and A. Constable for the President of the Scottish History Society, Edinburgh. 1890. pp. 8-9. 

[18] Rosebery, The Earl of (Preface). A List of Persons Concerned in The Rebellion Transmitted to the Commissioners of Excise by The Several Supervisors in Scotland in Obedience to A General Letter of the 7th May 1746, And a Supplementary List with Evidence to Prove the Same. Annotations by the Rev. Walter Macloed. The University Press by T. and A. Constable for the President of the Scottish History Society, Edinburgh. 1890. pp. 104-105.