Carruthers of Holmains:
After the demise of the last Chief of Mouswald, the Chiefship passed to the next senior line of Holmains who were descended from Thomas’s younger brother and former Chancellor to King David II. It was his son who received the Charter to the lands in 1361. However, it wasn’t until John, 5th of Holmains that they finally received their Baronetcy.
In 1563 a feud broke out between Carruthers of Holmains and the Kirkpatricks of Closeburn. John Carruthers, who was to become 7th of Holmains, was indicted, along with the Chief of the Irvines of Bonshaw, Edward Irvine for wounding Roger Kirkpatrick of Closeburn and slaying several of his relatives and retainers. However, the feud was amicably settled afterwards and no penalty was enforced that records show.
In 1585, George Carruthers, 6th of Holmains along with Edward Maxwell of the Isle was put to the horn for failing to appear before the Privy Council for failing to underlie the law. It is assumed this was because he had supplied a troop of cavalry along with his son Charles, who was a Coronet of the mounted garrison at Threave Castle where his father was Captain, to Lord Maxwell. All though the bloody feud between the Johnstones and Maxwells, Holmains played a considerable part in supporters of the latter, both on and off the field.
In 1672 after Lyons Act, which required all worthy men to have their Arms registered with the Lyon Court, the Arms we now recognise as Carruthers and were recorded. The Chiefs Arms are blazoned as;
Gules, two chevrons engrailed between three fleur-de-lis Or: Above the shield is placed a helmet befitting his degree with a mantling Gules doubled Or and on a wreath of his liveries is set for the Crest, a Seraphim volent Proper, and in an Escrol over the same this Motto, “Promptus et Fidelis”.
In Scotland, Arms belong to an individual and not a family, and these Arms have been passed down through patrilineal descent from father to child. Holmains continued leading the clan until financial disaster in 1772, under John Carruthers 12th of Holmains and 8th Baron, when they lost their lands and the family seat, which was now in Kirkwood House.
Clan Carruthers Coat of Arms, as pictured below, are the first coat of arms that can be used by every Carruthers. Like the reformation of the Clan, all rules of the Lord Lyons office in Scotland were followed. Also, Canada had some more specific rules that we followed also.
Above you read Seraphim volent Proper, which mean a group of seraphim angels. Clan Carruthers is the only clan to be given an angel for their clan. There were so many Carruthers that came home from a crusade, that King David said they all sit at the right and left side of God, King David , who is a Carruthers ancestor, gave us the Seraphim and the colors of red and gold.
A Seraphim is the highest group of angels, out of 9. Seraphims do not have a face, Cherubs or Cheraphims, at the 8th lever, have a face. We were guided on this Coat of Arms by the Armigers in the United States. There are two supporters, one on either side, a dragon and a unicorn. You can only have supporters if you are a corporation or business.
There are many clans outside of Scotland that have had to do the same thing. A clan with supporters can not de a non profit organization.
This coat of arms is the only one that any Carruthers, no matter where they live, can use.
OFFICIAL AND REGISTERED OLDEST SCOTTISH CLAN
CLAN CARRUTHERS SINCE 1983-CLAN OF OUR ANCESTORS
SCOTTISH CLAN – IRISH CLAN – NORSE CLAN
Preserving Our Past, Recording Our Present, Informing Our Future
Ancient and Honorable Clan Carruthers CCIS
carruthersclan1@gmail.com clancarruthers1@gmail.com
CLAN CARRUTHERS CCIS HISTORIAN AND GENEALOGIST
Preserving Our Past, Recording Our Present, Informing Our Future
Ancient and Honorable Clan Carruthers
clancarruthers1@gmail.com
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