Clan Home

The Homes (pronounced and sometimes spelt Hume) are a Scottish family. They were a powerful force in medieval Lothian and the Borders. The chief of the name is David Douglas-Home, 15th Earl of Home.

History

Origins of the Clan

The origins of the clan are a matter of historical debate. Some sources maintain that William of Home (alive 1214) was son of Patrick, son of Gospatric II, Earl of Lothian. The Scots Peerage conversely indicates that this William, was the son of John de Home, son of Aldan de Home (alive 1172).

In 1266 a William de Home is recorded at Coldstream Monastery with grants of land. Geoffrey de Home's name is on the Ragman Roll as submitting to King Edward I of England. However, surviving records do not clarify the relationship of these individuals. The confirmed ancestry of the Homes starts with Sir John Home of Home. His son, Sir Thomas Home of that Ilk (alive 1385), married Nichola Pepdie, heiress of the Dunglass lands.

15th Century Conflicts

Chief Sir Alexander Home of Dunglass was captured fighting at the Battle of Humbleton Hill in 1402. He later followed the Earl of Douglas to France, where he was killed in 1424 fighting against the English at the Battle of Verneuil, part of the Hundred Years' War. He left three sons, from whom most of the principal branches of the family were to descend. His eldest grandson was created a Lord of Parliament, taking the title ‘Lord Home’ in 1473.

The Sir Alexander Home was created the 1st Lord Home in 1473, he died in 1491. During his life he established the collegiate church of Dunglass, was an ambassador to England and was among those who had the blood of King James III of Scotland on their hands in 1488.

16th Century & Anglo Scottish Wars

In the 16th century during the Anglo-Scottish Wars the Clan Home led by Chief and 3rd Lord Alexander Home fought at the Battle of Flodden Field in 1513. Here Alexander led the vangaurd of Scottish knights. George Home, who on several occasions led his Border spearmen against the English. On the eve of the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547 he was thrown from his horse and died of the injuries that he sustained. The Home lands were occupied by the English invaders and it fell to Lord Home’s son, Alexander, the fifth Lord, to retake them in 1549.

Later Alexander and his brother were found guilty of treason against the Regent Albany and they were executed. Their heads were put on display on the spikes at the tollbooth in Edinburgh.

In the time of Mary Queen of Scots the 5th Lord Home initially supported her. however he later fought against her at the Battle of Langside in 1568.

In 1573 the 5th Lord Home was accused of treason against King James IV of Scotland and imprisoned for life at Edinburgh Castle. His son however was a strong supporter of King James IV for all of his life and accompanied the King on his journey to claim the throne of the new kingdom. His support of the King earned him a raised status from Lord to Earl of Home in 1605.

17th Century & Civil War

In 1603 Queen Elizabeth I of England died without heir and King James of Scotland became King of England and Scotland in what became known as the Union of the Crowns. When James travelled to England to take possession of his new kingdom, he stopped at Dunglass, and Lord Home then accompanied him to London. In March 1605 he was raised to the title of Earl of Home.

During the Civil War the Clan Home were staunch royalist supporters of King Charles I. The third Earl was a staunch supporter of Charles I, and in 1648 was colonel of the Berwickshire Regiment of Foot. When Oliver Cromwell invaded Scotland in 1650 he made particular point of seizing Home’s castle, which was garrisoned by Parliament’s troops.

18th Century & Jacobite Uprisings

In the 18th century during 1715 to 1716 the Jacobie Uprisings the 7th Earl of Home supported the Jacobites and ended up being imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle. His brother, James Home of Ayton, had his estates confiscated for his part in the rebellion.

However by the time of the second rising in 1745 the 8th Earl changed sides and led the clan in support of the British Government. The eighth Earl joined the British Government forces under Sir John Cope at Dunbar and later fought at the Battle of Prestonpans. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant General and was appointed Governor of Gibraltar where he died in 1761.

Castle

• Wedderburn Castle was the seat of the chief of Clan Home, the Earl of Home.
• Fast Castle.
• Hume Castle, Berwickshire.
• Bothwell Castle

See also

• Scottish clan
• Armigerous clan
• Home Baronets

References

• Paul, James Balfour (ed.). (1904-14). The Scots Peerage Founded on . . . Sir Robert Douglas’s Peerage of Scotland, 9 volumes.

External links

• http://www.scotclans.com/clans/Home/history.html
• http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/htol/home2.htm