Clan MacThomas
Clan MacThomas | |||
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Highland | |||
District | Perthshire | ||
Chief | |||
Andrew Patrick MacThomas of Finegand,[1] | |||
The Chief of Clan MacThomas.[1] (MacThomaidh Mhor.[1]) | |||
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Clan MacThomas is a Highland Scottish clan and is a member of the Clan Chattan Confederation.[2]
History
Origins of the clan
The progenitor of the Clan MacThomas was Thomas, who was a
16th to 17th centuries
The early chiefs of the Clan MacThomas ruled from the Thom, which was opposite the
The seventh chief was John Mccomie (Iain Mòr) who has passed into the folklore of Perthshire.[2] Tax collectors, particularly those of the Earl of Atholl seem to have been offensive to him.[2] The Earl employed a champion swordsman from Italy to slay Mccomie but the swordsman was himself slain by Mccomie.[2]
During the
After the
The MacThomas chief is mentioned again in 1678 and 1681 in Government proclamations but the clan had begun to drift apart.[2] Some moved south to the Tay valley where they became known as Thomson and others to Angus in Fife where they are known as Thomas, Thom or Thoms. The tenth chief took the name Thomas and then later Thoms.[2] He settled in northern Fife and successfully farmed.[2]
18th century to date
The chiefly family fled to Fife where they became successful farmers before moving back across the Tay to
Members of the clan from across the world gather every three years at the clan's land, "Clach Na Coileach" (The Cockstane), in Glenshee. The next such Gathering will take place in August 2023.[citation needed]
Clan profile
Motto and current chief
- Clan Motto: Deo juvante invidiam superabo (Latin) (With God's help, I will overcome envy).[3]
- Clan Chief: Andrew MacThomas of Finegand, 19th Chief of Clan MacThomas.[3]
Clan Septs
Sept names of Clan MacThomas (recognized by the Clan MacThomas Society):
Note: Prefixes Mac and Mc are interchangeable.
List of clan chiefs
Chief | Name | Dates | Notes |
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1st | Thomas (Tomaidh Mòr) | 15th century | Seated at the Thom, East bank of the Shee Water. |
2nd | John MacThomaidh of the Thom | Early 16th century | Son or Grandson of Tomaidh Mòr. |
3rd | Adam MacThomaidh of the Thom | mid-16th century | Son of John. |
4th | Robert MacThomaidh of the Thom | Murdered 1600 | The Thom was lost when his only daughter married a Farquharson. |
5th | John McComie of Finegand | 1600–1610 | Robert's brother; moved seat to Finegand. |
6th | Alexander McComie of Finegand[4] | 1610–1637 | Married a Farquaharson and gained more land at Benzian Mor in Glenshee. |
7th | John McComie (Iain Mor) | 1637–1676 | Alexander's son; known as "McComie Mòr", greatly expanded territory and prestige of the clan; acquired lands and Barony of Forter in Glenisla (1651);[5][6] rose to support Montrose in 1644[7][8] |
8th | James McComie | 1674–1676 | 3rd son of Iain Mor. |
9th | Thomas McComie | 1676–1684 | 5th son of Iain Mor. |
10th | Angus Thomas | 1684–1708 | Aka "Mr. Angus" educated at St. Andrew University, Fife; 6th son of Iain Mòr, anglicized surname, (dejure Chief). |
11th | Robert Thomas | 1708–1740 | Large estate at Cullarnie, later moved to Belhelvie; son of Angus, (dejure). |
12th | David Thomas of Belhelvie | 1740–1751 | Eldest son of Robert. Died Young. |
13th | Henry Thomas of Belhelvie | 1751–1797 | Second son of Robert. Continued to farm at Belhelvie. |
14th | William Thoms | 1797–1843 | Eldest son of Henry, became a merchant in St. Andrews, further Anglicized surname, died with no children. |
15th | Patrick Hunter MacThomas Thoms | 1843–1870 | Son of George Thoms (a son of Henry and half-brother of William). Provost of Dundee. Purchased estate of Aberlemno in Angus. |
16th | George Hunter MacThomas Thoms | 1870–1903 | Son of Patrick; Sheriff of Caithness, Orkney and Shetland. Bequeathed his vast fortune and lands to St. Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall. |
17th | Alfred MacThomas Thoms | 1903–1958 | Writer to the Signet. |
18th | Patrick MacThomas of Finegand | 1958–1970 | Great-grandnephew of Patrick, the first Chief known to be officially recognized by the Lyon Court since Thomas McComie in 1676. Army Officer. Married a 3rd cousin of Her Majesty the Queen. |
19th | Andrew MacThomas of Finegand (MacThomaidh Mòr) | 1970-date | Current Clan Chief , Retired Banker.
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See also
- Chattan Confederation
- Scottish clan
Notes
- ^ a b c Burkes-peerage.net
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa Way, George and Squire, Romily. Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). Published in 1994. Pages 258–259.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Andrew MacThomas of Finegand, The History of the Clan MacThomas, 2009, various pages.
- ^ Latta MS. (viz., The Scottish Genealogist, Vol. XII N. 4, p. 91, n5)
- ^ A. M. Mackintosh; Mackintosh Families in Glenshee and Glenisla, 1916; pp. 48-51
- ^ W. M'Combie Smith; Memoir of the Families of M'Combie and Thoms, 1889; pp. 30-36
- ^ W. M'Combie Smith; op. cit., p.165; mentions a tradition that Montrose and Iain Mòr became personal friends, and infers from the formers letter to the Tutor of Strowan, dated from Glenshee on 10 June 1646 (9 months after Philiphaugh), that "the Great Marquis" was then a guest at Finegand
- ^ A. M. Mackintosh; op. cit.; p. 52