Forbes An ancient Aberdeenshire family which can trace its roots back to the 12th century and has its earliest origins linked to a brave hero of folklore. History and Characters
Said to be descendants of Ochonochar, who killed a ferocious bear in the Braes of Forbes in Aberdeenshire, the family’s first recorded member was John Forbes in the time of King William the Lion (1165-1214). A later John Forbes, (whose grandfather fell defending Urquhart Castle against the English in 1303, and whose father fell fighting the English at Dupplin in 1332) had four sons from whom sprang the Forbeses of Pitsligo, Culloden, Waterton and Foveran, and the House of Newe in Strathdon. In the reign of James I (1406-37) John’s descendant, Alexander, became the 1st Lord Forbes. Sir Alexander de Forbes played an important role during the Wars of Independence. When Edward I invaded Scotland in 1296, one of the castles seized by him was Urquhart. After being reclaimed by the Scots, it was attacked again in 1303 by the English who seized it despite a strong defence by Sir Alexander de Forbes, who was killed in the aftermath. In the 16th century, a tragedy, recalled in the traditional ballad of Edom o’ Gordon befell the Forbeses of Corgarff. In 1571, during a bitter feud between the Forbeses and the Gordons, Adam Gordon of Auchindoun, kinsman of the 4th Earl of Huntly, and his men attacked Corgarff Castle. The laird was away and his wife, Margaret Forbes, refused Gordon’s men entry. In retaliation, they burned the castle killing all 24 occupants including Margaret, her family and their servants. A Forbes immortalised for more positive reasons was the educated and well-travelled William Forbes – ‘Willie the Merchant’ or ‘Danzig Willie’ – who made his money trading with the Baltic, Scandinavia and the Low Countries. In the early 17th century, he invested in lands in Aberdeenshire and bought the unfinished Craigievar Castle from the Mortimers, who had run out of money. Forbes dedicated himself to its completion, employing the best architects and masons. Unfortunately he died only a year after the project was finished but today Craigievar, which is largely unaltered, stands as a monument to his vision. Another famous family member was Duncan Forbes, Lord Culloden. As President of the Court of Session, he opposed heavy punishment of the rebels after Culloden, despite the fact that Charles Edward Stuart, the Young Pretender (Bonnie Prince Charlie) had requisitioned the Forbes of Culloden mansion to be his base during the battle. Through the centuries, many different branches or cadets of the Forbes family developed: the Forbeses of Pitsligo, Boyndlie, Callendar, Castleton, Rothiemay, Culquohonny, Culloden, Tolquhon, Waterton, Thainston, Pitnacalder, Foveran, Brux, Ledmacoy, Belnabodach, Kildrummy, Towie, Invernan, Corsindae, Balfluig, Monymusk, Leslie, Corse, Craigievar and Echt. The current chief of the clan, Malcolm, Lord Forbes lives in Aberdeenshire, at Castle Forbes (not open to the public as a visitor attraction). The castle is on the same estate where the family has lived for over 600 years.
family’s first recorded member “The was John Forbes in the time of King William the Lion (1165-1214). ”
www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/homecoming
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