| Notes |
- The Maxwells of Kirkconnel descend from one of the older cadets of the Maxwell family. Representing the family of Kirkconnel of Kirkconnel, it is one of the oldest families in Galloway, and has been settled in the parish of Troqueer for centuries. The Maxwells spell the name Kirkconnell.
The first of the house of Kirkconnel of that ilk is supposed to have been a person of Saxon origin, who had come from the north of England and settled at Kirkconnel, near the mouth of the Nith, in the time of Earl David, afterwards David I., or in that of King Malcolm his father. The names, John, William, and Thomas, which the Kirkconnel family used, indicate their north of England extraction; while the surname of the family being the same as the name of their hands, gives right to infer that they held these lands from the time of Malcolm Canmore (1057-1093) when family surnames derived from territorial possessions began to be used in Scotland.
The arms of the Kirkconnels, azure, two crosiers, or, placed in saltire ardossés, with a mitre of the last placed in chief (Nisbet’s Heraldry, Part 2, ch. 10) being the same as those of the bishops of Argyle or Lismore in the 12th century, might be thought to show that the one was derived from the other, but was probably assumed from the name of the territory and its connexion with the church.
The first of the name on record is John, “dominus de Kirkconnel, fundavit Sacrum Boscum.” (Dugdale’s Monasticon (1661) Caemobia Scotica, vol. ii. p. 1057.) He founded the abbey of Holywood some time in the 12th century, in the place of a former religious house. He was probably the father of Michael de Kirkconnel, whose son, William FitzMichael de Kirkconnel, about the year 1200 made a grant of lands in Kirkconnel, in favour of the abbey of Holmcultram in Cumberland (Hutcheson’s Cumberland, vol. ii., p. 331).
Gilchrist, the son of Gilcunil, is witness to a charter of lands in Dunscore near Dercongall or Holywood, granted by Affrica, daughter of Edgar, to the monks of Melrose, in the reign of William the Lion or of Alexander II. (Liber de Melrose, vol. i. p. 182).
There is no farther account of any one of the name until the contest arose for the throne of Scotland between John Baliol, lord of Galloway, and Robert Bruce, lord of Annandale. Among those who swore fealty to Edward I. in 1296, we find Thomas de Kirkconnel of the county of Dumfries, which then included both sides of the Nith. There can be little doubt that Thomas de Kirkconnel and his immediate successors, like the rest of the men of Nithsdale and Galloway, supported the cause of Baliol. IN 1324 mention is made of “dominus de Kirkconnell in valle de Nith,” (Chalmers’ Caledonia).
Owing to the wars and confusion of the times little is known of the Kirkconnels for two or three generations, but it is probable that they generally supported and shared the fortunes of their greater neighbours on the other side of the Nith, the Maxwells of Carlaverock. The connexion between the families of Maxwell of Carlaverock and the Kirkconnels was drawn closer by the marriage of Aymer de Maxwell, 2d son of Sir Herbert de Maxwell of Carlaverock and brother of Sir Herbert de Maxwell of Carlaverock, 1st Lord Maxwell, with Janet de Kirkconnel, the heiress of the ancient family of Kirkconnel, when the name de Kirkconnel was merged in that of Maxwell, and the property went to their descendants of that name. The date of the marriage is unknown, but it may have taken place before the year 1410.
On 11th July 1448, there was a perambulation of the marches of Little Airds, belonging to the abbey of Sweetheart, and Maikle Airds, belonging to Kirkconnel, to which Aymer de Maxwell was a party. (Original Papers and Deeds at Kirkconnel). On 20th March 1456, Aymer de Maxwell and Janet de Kirkconnel, his spouse, had a charter of resignation and confirmation of their lands of Kirkconnel, in the stewartry of Kirkcudbright. On 13th November 1461, Aymer de Maxwell of Kirkconnel, superior of the estate of Kelton, which probably was his own, and not acquired by his wife, granted a fen to George Neilson of part thereof.
Aymer’s son, Herbert Maxwell of Kirkconnel, succeeded him. He left two sons, and probably others.
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/nation/maxwell.htm
|
Ancestorium Family Tree Collaboration
- UNKNOWN