Clan Bissett
| Clan Bissett | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Motto | Abscissa Virescit (That torn down re-grows)[1] | ||
 | |||
| Clan Bissett no longer has a chief, and is an armigerous clan | |||
| Historic seat | Aboyne Castle[2] | ||
| |||
| |||
Clan Bissett (Bisey, Byset, Bisset or Bissert) is a Scottish clan. The clan is recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms but does not have a clan chief recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms, therefore the clan has no standing under Scots Law.[3] Clan Bissett is considered an armigerous clan, meaning that it is considered to have had at one time a chief who possessed the chiefly arms; however, no one at present is in possession of such arms. The surname Bissett is also considered a sept of the Clan Fraser of Lovat.
History[edit]
Origins of the clan[edit]
The surname Bisset is believed to be of Norman origin and was brought to Scotland when William the Lion returned from captivity in England, accompanied by the Biseys.[3] The Bysets settled in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire in England.[4] They appear with other Norman families to have successfully established themselves and gained land in Morayshire, Scotland.[3] The power of the family spread and persons bearing the surname witnessed several charters in the 13th and 14th centuries.[3] A charter of Alexander III of Scotland to Paisley Abbey was witnessed by Thomas de Bissat.[3]
The rising fortunes of the family were eclipsed however by a feud with the Earl of Atholl.[3] In 1242 at a tournament held at Haddington, Walter Byset, Lord of Aboyne was defeated by the youthful Earl of Atholl (possibly Padraig, Earl of Atholl).[3] Allegedly, Byset, in a fit of anger murdered the earl while he slept and then set fire to his house to conceal the crime.[3] Walter Byset and his nephew John then fled to Ireland and then to England.[3] The feud followed the two fugitives as a pardon was later granted to the son of the Earl of Atholl for killing some Bysets in Ireland.[3]
Habakkuk Bisset was a lawyer and Writer to the Signet during the reign of James IV of Scotland.[3]
20th and 21st centuries[edit]
The principal line of the clan is now that of Bisset of Lessendrum, one of the oldest families in Aberdeenshire.[3]
Clan profile[edit]
- Motto: (Latin: Abscissa Virescit - English That torn down re-grows)
- Crest: The trunk of an oak tree sprouting a fresh Proper.
Castles[edit]
The following is a list of castles known to have been in the ownership of the family:
- Scotland
- Aboyne Castle, just north of Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, is a tall seventeenth century tower house but there was an earlier stronghold there that was held by the Bissets.[2]
- Maryculter House, seven miles to the south west of Aberdeen was held by the Bissets and Walter Bisset of Aboyne established a preceptory of the Knights Templar at Maryculter in 1225.[2]
- Redcastle, Black Isle, was originally a property of the Bissets that dates from the twelfth century.[2] It was later held by the Clan Fraser of Lovat and then the Clan Mackenzie.[2]
- Beaufort Castle, Beauly was originally held by the Bissets but passed by marriage to the Frasers of Lovat in the thirteenth century.[2]
- Kilravock Castle, six miles west of Nairn was also originally a strong hold of the Clan Bisset but passed by marriage to the Clan Rose in the thirteenth century.[2]
- Lessendrum, three and a half miles north east of Huntly was the seat of the longest lasting branch of the clan, the Bissets of Lessendrum.[2]
- Upsettlington Castle, near Upsettington (now Ladykirk), Scottish Borders, was the seat of the Bissets of Upsettlington.
- Ireland
- Glenarm Castle, Glenarm, Northern Ireland
- Red Bay Castle, Glenariff, Northern Ireland
- Rathlin Castle, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Peerages[edit]
- Barony of The Aird
- Barony of Lessendrum
- Lord Lovat
- Lord Aboyne
- Lord Beauly
- Lord Beaufort
- Lord of the Glynns
References[edit]
- ^ Clan Bisset Profile scotclans.com. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Coventry, Martin. (2008). Castles of the Clans: The Strongholds and Seats of 750 Scottish Families and Clans. pp. 44 - 45. ISBN 978-1-899874-36-1.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Way, George and Squire, Romily. (1994). Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). pp. 362.
- ^ "Battle Abbey Roll - Byseg". 2009. Retrieved 16 November 2009.
Further reading[edit]
- Temple, Rev. William. The Thanage of Fermartyn, quoted on rootsweb.ancestry.com, History of Bissets of Lessendrum 1251-1894
