Alexander was the "sheriff-principal of Aberdeen" from 1634, and had been made an Earl by King Charles I, but before he could "accept the Great Seal" a civil war broke out, the family not unsurprisingly supporting the King. They tried to escape to England but were captured by a committee of rebels where Alexander was executed or murdered, depending on the sentiments of the reviewing historian.
Alexander's son was imprisoned, but not executed, and later "restored to liberty". With the accession of King Charles II the king renewed to him the offer of peerage his father had been granted, but he denied it unless it bore the date of the one formerly granted to Alexander. (I don't know why that was such a big deal.) Some say his refusal was more likely because of the great reduction which his fortune and estates (plural?) had undergone. Twenty years later the king gave the family a charter (whatever that means), expressing his "appreciation for their service and sufferings in the royal cause".
Here is the current and
Sixteenth Laird of Kingcausie. Looks like he could use some landscaping around the old home place.
I wish I'd known all this a few months ago. I figure it should have been at least good enough for a VIP pass to the London Olympics. As usual I'm a day late and a dollar short. ;)
Sir S
I did sort of the same thing. Grand Pappy Karlovich is from Croatia. Original spelling is Karloviç. Our name means "The Son of Karl". In eastern Europe the name Karl is interchangeable for Charles. Like James and Jim is around here. OK. King Charles IV was the Holy Roman Emperor during the 14th century and we are supposedly descendants of old Great Great Great Grand Pappy Chuck. JK
ReplyDeleteSo to say you're an "old goat" is inaccurate....you're really an "old Croat". ;)
ReplyDeleteS
Are you changing the blog from Lowandslow to Highandmighty?
ReplyDeleteVery interesting.
Thank you, M'Lord!
my sister has done a lot of genealogical research as well. she's got us back to the 900s in Denmark. descended from the king no less, but a second son who got squat and emigrated to England to find his fortune.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm.....I hadn't thought of it, but now that you mention it.... ;)
ReplyDeleteS
Awesome post! I love ancestry, in fact? I inspired my father into it some years ago where he's combined much about out descendants from England. Course, I hadn't known the levels of lord's etc, and such, which made your post most interesting.
ReplyDeleteI should do some geneology work - but I'm pretty sure I just come from sturdy peasant stock :) (Although my maiden name is Wallace - maybe I'm kin to Mel Gibson!)
ReplyDeleteHow interesting to have this information about your ancestors. I've never done this because I suspect I have a hanged horse thief or two in my family tree.
ReplyDeleteInteresting stuff, this research into your ancestry. My brother-in-law has done extensive work and has traveled to Sweden to meet distant relatives. His research did go back quite a ways and there is evidence that somewhere along the lines, Hagar the Horrible was mentioned in the family tree.
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