The Murrays (or Morays) of Aberscross (or Aberscors) were a minor noble Scottish family who were seated at Aberscross Castle, in the county of

Sutherland Sutherland ( gd, Cataibh) is a historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area in the Highlands of Scotland. Its county town is Dornoch. Sutherland borders Caithness and Moray Firth to the east, Ross-shire and Cromartyshire (later ...

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

. The Murrays in Sutherland are recorded specifically as a clan in two

Acts of the Scottish Parliament An Act of the Scottish Parliament ( gd, Achd Pàrlamaid na h-Alba) is primary legislation made by the Scottish Parliament. The power to create Acts was conferred to the Parliament by section 28 of the Scotland Act 1998 following the successfu ...

of the 16th century.

History

Origins of the clan

Despite their name, this Murray family were not part of the

Clan Murray Clan Murray () is a Highland Scottish clan. The chief of the Clan Murray holds the title of Duke of Atholl. Their ancestors were the Morays of Bothwell who established the family in Scotland in the 12th century. In the 16th century, descendants ...

Tullibardine Tullibardine is a location in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, which gives its name to a village, a castle and a grant of nobility. The village of Tullibardine is a settlement of approximately forty dwellings about southwest of Perth. It lies in the ...

and

Atholl Atholl or Athole ( gd, Athall; Old Gaelic ''Athfhotla'') is a large historical division in the Scottish Highlands, bordering (in anti-clockwise order, from Northeast) Marr, Badenoch, Lochaber, Breadalbane, Strathearn, Perth, and Gowrie. Histor ...

but were in fact a

sept A sept is a division of a family, especially of a Scottish or Irish family. The term is used in both Scotland and Ireland, where it may be translated as ''sliocht'', meaning "progeny" or "seed", which may indicate the descendants of a person ( ...

of the

Clan Sutherland Clan Sutherland is a Highland Scottish clan whose traditional territory is the shire of Sutherland in the far north of Scotland. The chief of the clan was also the powerful Earl of Sutherland, however in the early 16th century this title passed ...

, whose chiefs were the

Earls of Sutherland Earl of Sutherland is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created circa 1230 for William de Moravia and is the premier earldom in the Peerage of Scotland. The earl or countess of Sutherland is also the chief of Clan Sutherland. The origi ...

. The Earls of Sutherland were originally a family named "de Moravia", meaning "of Moray" or "of Murray" and shared a common ancestor with the chiefs of the Clan Murray in Tullibardine and Atholl. According to historian George Harvey Johnston, all of the different families of Moray or Murray were descended from the Morays of Bothwell (ancestors of the Murrays of Tullibardine and Atholl), but the connecting lines are now lost and the origin of each family is a matter of conjecture or dispute. The same historian also states that the Earls of Sutherland and all of their cadets were descended from Moray of Bothwell. The Murrays of Aberscross or Aberscors seem to have arrived in Sutherland in 1198. Hugo or Hugh de Moravia, second son of

Freskin Freskin (died before 1171) was a Flemish nobleman who settled in Scotland during the reign of King David I, becoming the progenitor of the Murray and Sutherland families, and possibly others. Origins Freskin was said to have come to the Lowlands ...

, was appointed as the first Lord of Sutherland and his son,

William William is a male given name of Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of Engl ...

, was the first Earl of Sutherland (d. 1248). In Hugo or Hugh's entourage were his cousins, or nephews,

Richard de Moravia Richard de Moravia or Richard de Moray of Culbin or of Cubyn, was a Scottish nobleman famed for his victory over the Vikings Vikings ; non, víkingr is the modern name given to seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (pres ...

and

Gilbert de Moravia Gilbert de Moravia (died 1245), later known as Saint Gilbert of Dornoch, or Gilbert of Caithness, was the most famous Bishop of Caithness and founder of Dornoch Cathedral. His name may suggest that he came from the semi-Gaelicized family of ...

who are said to have been the ancestors of the Murrays of Aberscross. Richard was a soldier who was famous for successfully defending the coast of Sutherland from the

Vikings Vikings ; non, víkingr is the modern name given to seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway and Sweden), who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded and se ...

at the Battle of Embo in 1245, and Gilbert became Bishop of Caithness and Sutherland. Gilbert granted to his brother Richard the lands of Skelbo, and they remained with Richard's descendants for two centuries. Richard's successors were men of distinguished valour and in high repute among their contemporaries for their war-like virtues. They held extensive possessions in the county of Sutherland and were allied with the powerful family of Sutherland. According to 17th century historian

Sir Robert Gordon, 1st Baronet Sir Robert Gordon of Gordonstoun (14 May 1580 – 1656) was a Scottish politician and courtier, known as the historian of the noble house of Sutherland. Early life Born at Dunrobin Castle, Golspie, Sutherland, on 14 May 1580, he was the fourth ...

, the ancestry of the Murrays of Aberscross can be traced back to Alexander Murray of Culbin (c. 1407), who in turn was descended from Richard de Moravia.

Feuds with the Mackays

As septs of the Clan Sutherland, the Murrays of Aberscross were the principal

vassal A vassal or liege subject is a person regarded as having a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch, in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. While the subordinate party is called a vassal, the dominant party is called a suzerain. W ...

s of the Earls of Sutherland and were charged with the defense of the shire. In 1431, the Murrays led the Clan Sutherland against the

Clan Mackay Clan Mackay ( ; gd, Clann Mhic Aoidh ) is an ancient and once-powerful Scottish Highlands, Highland Scottish clan from the far North of the Scottish Highlands, but with roots in the old Mormaer of Moray, Kingdom of Moray. They supported Robert I ...

at Battle of Drumnacoub where Angus Murray of Pulrossie was killed. Angus Murray's son, Neil Murray, led the Clan Sutherland at the

Battle of Skibo and Strathfleet A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...

in 1455 against the

Clan Donald Clan Donald, also known as Clan MacDonald ( gd, Clann Dòmhnaill; Mac Dòmhnaill ), is a Highland Scottish clan and one of the largest Scottish clans. The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry i ...

. According to historian D. M Rose, the 7th and 8th Earls of Sutherland did little to advance their family's reputation, leaving their kinsman the Murays of Culbin, Pulrossie and Aberscross to fight their battles. The Murray families of Culbin and Pulrossie were also descended from Richard de Moravia. In 1494, the Murrays were in dispute with the Kinnaird family over the ownership of

Skelbo Castle Skelbo Castle is a ruined 14th century keep, located near Dornoch, Sutherland, Scotland. The remaining wall is best preserved at the northern side of the castle. The remains are protected as a scheduled monument. The castle is located at a former ...

which eventually went to the Kinnairds, who were also descended from Richard de Moravia.

Vassals of the Gordon Earls of Sutherland

In the early 16th century a younger son of the

Earl of Huntly Marquess of Huntly (traditionally spelled Marquis in Scotland; Scottish Gaelic: ''Coileach Strath Bhalgaidh'') is a title in the Peerage of Scotland that was created on 17 April 1599 for George Gordon, 6th Earl of Huntly. It is the oldest existing ...

, chief of

Clan Gordon Clan Gordon is a Scottish Highlands, Highland Scottish clan, historically one of the most powerful Scottish clans. The Gordon lands once spanned a large territory across the Highlands. Presently, Gordon is seated at Aboyne Castle, Aberdeenshire ...

, married an heiress of the last de Moravia Earl of Sutherland. Murray of Aberscross may have been for a time partisan to Alexander Sutherland who rivaled the Gordon's claim to the Earldom of Sutherland. However, the Murrays of Aberscross then supported the new Gordon Earls of Sutherland at a number of battles including the

Battle of Torran Dubh The Battle of Torran Dubh also known as the Battle of Torran-dow or the Battle of Torran Du was a Scottish clan battle that was fought in 1517 in Sutherland, in the Scottish Highlands. There are two very different accounts of this battle. The f ...

in 1517 against Mackay of Strathnaver, and the Battle of Alltachuilain in 1518 or 1519 against Alexander Sutherland himself.Gordon (1813). pp. 95-97. Murray of Aberscross was victorious on both occasions, and was then offered women in marriage for his loyalty by the new Gordon Earls of Sutherland but he declined the offer. Historian Robert Mackay states that: "The year 1518 Adam (Gordon) Earl of Sutherland gave unto John Murray of Aberscors (Shiberscross), for his two sons Hugh and Thomas, the ward and marriage of Janet Clyne, and of her sister Elizabeth, the daughters and heirs of William Clyne of Clyne: all which and more did John Murray and his children deserve at Earl Adam his hands for their good service in defence of his earldom and country". According to

Charles Gordon, 11th Marquess of Huntly Charles Gordon, 11th Marquess of Huntly, PC, DL, JP (5 March 1847 – 20 February 1937), styled Lord Strathavon until 1853 and Earl of Aboyne between 1853 and 1863, was a Scottish Liberal politician. He served under William Ewart Gladstone, ...

(d. 1937), Earl Adam Gordon of Sutherland fled from the field of Flodden where his brother, the ''gallant'' Laird of Gight was killed, and that when his brother-in-law Alexander Sutherland tried to assert his right to the Earldom of Sutherland by force of arms, he remained quietly at home and got Leslie of Kinninvie and the ''old warrior Laird'', Murray of Aberscross, to fight his battles and recover his wife's possessions. Retaliation and vengeance against the Sutherlands was mainly suffered by the Murrays whose lands in

Rogart Rogart ( , , meaning "great enclosed field") is a small village in Sutherland, Highland Council area, Highland, Scotland. The village was the home of Major Andrew MacDonald, who fought in the French and Indian War. It was originally a scatter ...

and

Dornoch Dornoch (; gd, Dòrnach ; sco, Dornach) is a town, seaside resort, parish and former royal burgh in the county of Sutherland in the Highlands of Scotland. It lies on the north shore of the Dornoch Firth, near to where it opens into the Moray ...

were often laid waste, and after the Gordon Earl of Sutherland had been forfeited in 1563, the Murrays in Sutherland became involved in feuds and quarrels, mostly against the Clan Mackay, but also against the Sutherland Laird of Duffus and the

Earl of Caithness Earl of Caithness is a title that has been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland, and it has a very complex history. Its first grant, in the modern sense as to have been counted in strict lists of peerages, is now generally held to have ...

. In 1542, Hutcheon Murray of Aberscross led the Clan Sutherland at the Battle of Alltan-Beath against the Clan Mackay where the Mackays were defeated.

Feuds with the Earl of Caithness

In 1570, a feud arose between

Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland (died 1594) was a Scottish landowner. Early life He was the son of John Gordon, 11th Earl of Sutherland and Marion Seton. When he was about fifteen years old in 1567, his parents were poisoned at Helm ...

and

George Sinclair, 4th Earl of Caithness George Sinclair (died 1582) was a Scottish nobleman, the 4th Earl of Caithness and chief of the Clan Sinclair, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands. Early life He was the son of John Sinclair, 3rd Earl of Caithness and Elizabeth, daughter o ...

, chief of the

Clan Sinclair Clan Sinclair ( gd, Clann na Ceàrda ) is a Highland Scottish clan which holds the lands of Caithness, the Orkney Islands, and the Lothians. The chiefs of the clan were the Barons of Roslin and later the Earls of Orkney and Earls of Caithness. Th ...

. Caithness was supported by his father-in-law the Sutherland Alexander Sutherland, 8th of Duffus, (a descendant of the old de Moravia Earls of Sutherland). Caithness made Duffus's brother, William Sutherland of Evelick, attack the Murrays of Aberscoss in vengeance, taking prisoner John Croy-Murray. Hugh Murray of Aberscross then assembled his friends and made incursions upon the lands of Evelick as well as laying waste to several villages belonging to the Laird of Duffus and taking hostage a Sutherland gentlemen to secure the safety of John Croy-Murray. The Sutherland Laird of Duffus then gathered all of his kinsmen at

Skibo Castle Skibo Castle (Scottish Gaelic: ''Caisteal Sgìobail'') is located to the west of Dornoch in the Highland county of Sutherland, Scotland overlooking the Dornoch Firth. Although largely of the 19th century and early 20th century, when it was the hom ...

and proceeded to the town of

with the intention of burning it. However, the Murrays went out and met them in battle, overthrowing them and pursuing them back to the gates of Skibo. Prisoners were then exchanged for John Croy-Murray. This was known as the Battle of Torran-Roy. On hearing of the news of the Battle of Torran-Roy, the Earl of Caithness sent the Master of Caithness who, along with the Mackays, besieged the Murrays in

Dornoch Castle Dornoch Castle is situated opposite Dornoch Cathedral in the town of Dornoch, in Sutherland, Scotland, a little over north of Inverness. As of 2021, the castle was operated as a family-run hotel with 24 rooms. History Dornoch Castle was built a ...

and the church. The Murrays held out for a week before surrendering after which several of them were beheaded. George Sinclair, 4th Earl of Caithness later imprisoned his son, the Master of Caithnes, for making peace with the Murrays. Hugh Murray of Aberscross married a daughter of

John Mackay, 11th of Strathnaver John Mackay, 11th of Strathnaver (died 1529), was the eleventh chief of the ancient Clan Mackay, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands. Early life John Mackay, 11th of Strathnaver, was the eldest son of Iye Roy Mackay, 10th of Strathnaver, and ...

, chief of the Clan Mackay, and had a son by her also called Hugh who is recorded in a

charter A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified. It is implicit that the granter retains superiority (or sovereignty), and that the rec ...

from William Sutherland, 9th of Duffus, dated 21 February 1581, as "son and heir of Hugh Moray of Aberscross and grandson, and one of the heirs of, John Mackay of Strathnaver". In 1586, Hugh Murray of Aberscross held command in the coalition that defeated the

Clan Gunn Clan Gunn ( gd, Na Guinnich) is a Highland Scottish clan associated with lands in northeastern Scotland, including Caithness, Sutherland and, arguably, the Orkney Isles. Clan Gunn is one of the oldest Scottish Clans, being descended from the No ...

at the

Battle of Leckmelm The Battle of Leckmelm was a Scottish clan battle that took place in 1586, in the Scottish Highlands. It was fought between the Clan Gunn against the Clan Sutherland, Mackays of Aberach and the MacLeods of Assynt. Background The Battle of L ...

. A list from 1587 of clans who had a captain, chief or chieftains on which they depended but at times against the will of their land-lords includes the "Murrayis, in Suthirland". A list of clans in two

Acts of Parliament Acts of Parliament, sometimes referred to as primary legislation, are texts of law passed by the legislative body of a jurisdiction (often a parliament or council). In most countries with a parliamentary system of government, acts of parliament ...

in 1587 and 1594 includes the "Murrays, or Sutherlands". In 1590, John Murray of Aberscross was killed leading the Clan Sutherland against the Earl of Caithness at the

Battle of Clynetradwell The Battle of Clynetradwell was a Scottish clan battle that took place in 1590 in the county of Sutherland between the forces of Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland (chief of Clan Sutherland) and George Sinclair, 5th Earl of Caithness (c ...

Loss of the Aberscross estate

In the early 17th century there was little friendliness between the Murrays of Aberscross and the Gordon House of Sutherland ever since the Murrays had refused to fight at the Battle of Clynetradwell in 1590 unless they were allowed on the right wing of the army which they were accustomed to. Consequently they had, as a rule, increasingly looked to the chiefs of the Murray House of Tullibardine for countenance. Hugh Murray the

fiar FIAR S.p.A. (Fabbrica Italiana Apparecchiature Radioelettriche) was an Italian avionics and radar manufacturer; the Eurofighter's current radar contains its technology. History It was formed on 31 July 1941, as a spin off from Compagnia Genera ...

of Aberscross and

doyen Doyen and doyenne (from the French word ''doyen'', ''doyenne'' in the feminine grammatical gender) is the senior ambassador by length of service in a particular country. In the English language, the meaning of doyen (feminine form: doyenne) h ...

of the clan died in 1610 at a great age. In 1623, John Murray of Aberscross commanded the right wing of

's army that marched into Caithness and took the surrender of

George Sinclair, 5th Earl of Caithness George Sinclair (died 1643) was a Scottish nobleman, the 5th Earl of Caithness and chief of the Clan Sinclair, a Scottish clan based in northern Scotland. Early life George Sinclair, 5th Earl of Caithness was the eldest son of John Sinclair, Mas ...

who had been declared a rebel. According to Sir Robert Gordon, 1st Baronet, who himself was a younger son of Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland, in 1631, Alexander Murray ("Morray") of Aberscross ("Abiscors") died after a ''fall from a stair''. He left one son and two daughters. Half of the estate went direct to the Earl of Sutherland while the other half also went to the Earl of Sutherland because of the death of the last Laird of Duffus who was superior of that part of the estate under the Earl. According to Sir Robert Gordon,

John Gordon, 14th Earl of Sutherland John Gordon (1609–1679) was the 14th Earl of Sutherland. He was the son of John Gordon, 13th Earl of Sutherland and Agnes Elphinstone (d. 1617), a daughter of the Lord Treasurer, Alexander Elphinstone, 4th Lord Elphinstone. Civil War A stro ...

dealt nobly with Alexander Murray, his wife and his children in respect of the ancient and faithful service that the family had given to the Sutherlands. He gave part of the estate to the old widow (mother of Alexander and wife of John Murray of Aberscross), part to the widow of Alexander, and part to the children of Alexander to maintain, while another part was reserved to the Earl as acknowledgment of his superiority. According to Gordon, the estate of Aberscross ("Abiscors") became so overburdened with debt that it would never again be redeemed by the true and lawful heirs.Gordon (1813). pp. 449-450.

Jacobite risings

During the

Jacobite rising of 1715 The Jacobite rising of 1715 ( gd, Bliadhna Sheumais ; or 'the Fifteen') was the attempt by James Edward Stuart (the Old Pretender) to regain the thrones of England, Ireland and Scotland for the exiled Stuarts The House of Stuart, ori ...

the

tacksman A tacksman ( gd, Fear-Taic, meaning "supporting man"; most common Scots spelling: ''takisman'') was a landholder of intermediate legal and social status in Scottish Highland society. Tenant and landlord Although a tacksman generally paid a year ...

of Aberscross led twenty men in support of the Earl of Sutherland at the

Skirmish of Alness The Skirmish of Alness was a conflict that took place in October 1715 in Alness, in the county of Ross in the Scottish Highlands. It was part of the Jacobite rising of 1715 and pitted Highlanders loyal to the British-Hanoverian Government of Geo ...

against the Jacobites.

Aberscross castle

Today nothing remains of the family's castle at Aberscross which fell into ruin in the 17th century. Aberscross Castle was held by the de Moravia (Murray) family from when they first moved to Sutherland at the end of the twelfth century.

Lairds (incomplete)

*Angus Murray of Pulrossie (d. 1431) *Neil Murray of Aberscross (c. 1480) *John Murray of Aberscross (Shiberscross) (c. 1518) *Hutcheon Murray of Aberscross (c. 1542) *Hugh Murray of Aberscross (c. 1554) *Hugh Murray of Aberscross (Shiberscross) (c. 1570) *Hugh Murray of Aberscors (Shiberscross) (c. 1581) *John Murray of Aberscross (d. 1590) *Alexander Murray of Aberscors (d. 1631)

References

Scottish families Clan Sutherland Clan Murray

External links

* {{Canmore , num=5924, desc=Aberscross (castle)