Campbell of Auchinbreck facts for kids

The Campbell of Auchinbreck family was an important Scottish family, part of the larger Clan Campbell. They were founded by Duncan Campbell in Glassary, Argyll, Scotland. Duncan was the son of Lord Duncan Campbell, the first Lord Campbell, and his second wife, Margaret. Margaret's father, Sir John Stewart of Blackhall, was an illegitimate son of King Robert III of Scotland, making Duncan Campbell a grandson of the King.

Because of this royal connection, Duncan Campbell received a large estate, confirmed by a special royal document on June 19, 1452. The family lived at their estate called Auchinbreck, which is where they got their name, until 1641. The Campbells of Auchinbreck were known for their military skills. They were often asked by the Earls of Argyll (the leaders of Clan Campbell) to provide military training and support. In 1628, the head of the Auchinbreck family was given a special title called a baronetcy. This title also came with a grant of land in Nova Scotia, North America.

Arms of the Baronet of Auchinbreck

Family Symbols: The Auchinbreck Arms

The Campbell family's coat of arms, or family symbol, shows a shield divided into eight triangular sections, usually gold and black. This design is called a "gyronny." All Campbell family arms use this gyronny pattern.

The Campbells of Auchinbreck added their own special touch to this design. They have a checkered border around the edge of their shield, with white and green squares. Their crest, which is the symbol placed above the shield, shows a right hand holding a golden spur.

Main Family Home: Auchenbreck Castle

The main home of Sir Dugald Campbell of Auchinbreck was Auchenbreck Castle. Today, only small parts of the castle remain at Auchnabreck Farm. This castle became the family's property around 1500. It's believed that the remaining pieces are from the original Auchinbreck Castle. A stone from the castle, dated 1610, with Sir Dugald Campbell's initials and crest, can be seen in the wall of the nearby Kilmodan Church.

The only visible parts of the castle today are a wall in the middle of a garden and a slope on the north side, which shows where the castle once stood. The farmhouse and mill nearby were built using materials taken from the old castle.

In 1641, Sir Dugald Campbell, the 3rd Baronet of Auchinbreck, sadly died while trying to put out a huge fire at the castle. After this, his son, Sir Duncan Campbell, decided to move the family to Carnassarie Castle, which Sir Dugald had bought from the Earl of Argyll.

Important Battles and Military Roles

For a long time in the 1600s and 1700s, the Auchinbreck family held the inherited military rank of Lieutenant Colonel. This meant it was their family's right and duty to gather an army for the Duke of Argyll. The Duke would then lead these soldiers into battle. Some of the major battles and events where Auchinbreck forces were involved include:

• Battle of Flodden (1513)
• Battle of Langside (1568)
• Battle of Glenlivet (1594)
• Irish Rebellion of 1641
• Scotland in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms (1644)
• Battle of Inverlochy (1645)
• Massacre of Clan Lamont at Dunoon (1646)
• Monmouth Rebellion (1685)

Family Leaders (Lineage)

Here are some of the important leaders of the Auchinbreck family:

• Sir Duncan Campbell, 1st Lord Campbell of Auchinbreck & Kilmichael (About 1430–1462)
• Sir Dugald Campbell, 1st Baronet of Auchinbreck (1576–1641)
• Sir Duncan Campbell of Auchinbreck, 2nd Baronet (1597–1645)
• Sir Dugald Campbell, 3rd Baronet of Auchinbreck (About 1629–1662)
• Sir Duncan Campbell, 4th Baronet of Auchinbreck (Died around 1700)
• Sir James Campbell, 5th Baronet of Auchinbreck (1664–?)
• Sir Robin Auchinbreck Campbell of Auchinbreck is the 15th Baronet Campbell of Auchinbreck

The Nova Scotia Baronetcy

On September 10, 1621, King James I of England signed a special document for Sir William Alexander. This document gave him control over a huge area of land in North America, between the English colonies of New England and Newfoundland. This new territory was named "New Scotland," or "Nova Scotia" in Latin. It was even bigger than Great Britain and France put together!

To encourage people to settle in Nova Scotia, King James I planned to create a new group of special knights called "baronets." These would be Scottish gentlemen who were important because of their family, position, or wealth. King James I died in 1625, but his son, King Charles I, quickly continued his father's plan. By the end of 1625, the first 22 Nova Scotia baronets were created.

To become a baronet, a person had to agree to send six armed and supplied men to help settle the new colony for two years. They also had to pay Sir William Alexander 1000 marks for his efforts in exploring the land. Baronets could receive their official documents in Edinburgh, Scotland, instead of London. A part of Edinburgh Castle was even declared Nova Scotian territory for this purpose!

Sir Dugald Campbell, the 1st Baronet of Auchinbreck, was given this special title in 1628. He was knighted by King James I in 1617.

Royal Recognition and Honors

The Campbell of Auchinbreck family received many honors from the Scottish Crown over the years.

Sir Duncan Campbell, the 1st Lord Campbell of Auchinbreck, was granted large estates, which were officially confirmed by a Royal Charter on July 6, 1452.

Sir Duncan Campbell, the 4th Lord of Auchinbreck, was made Captain of Sween Castle in 1546. This castle, built in the 1100s, was one of the oldest stone castles in western Scotland. It stood at the mouth of Loch Sween, a sea loch, and was easy to see from the loch. When Sir Duncan was killed at the Battle of Glenlivet in 1594, his son Duncan inherited the castle. However, it was attacked and burned in 1644 and has been in ruins ever since. Today, the castle is owned by the government and is open to visitors.

King James I of England (who was also King James VI of Scotland) gave a special commission to Sir Dugald Campbell of Auchinbreck in 1615. King Charles I later made him a Baronet of Nova Scotia in 1628, recognizing his loyalty to the Royal family.

Sir Duncan Campbell of Auchinbreck, the 2nd Baronet, was a member of parliament for Argyllshire from 1639 to 1641. He also commanded Argyll's troops in Ireland in 1641, capturing Dunluce Castle. He later became Governor of Rathlin Island and was again a member of parliament for Argyllshire in 1643. Sadly, on February 2, 1645, he led Argyll's troops at the Battle of Inverlochy, where he was captured and died.

Sir Dugald Campbell, the 3rd Baronet of Auchinbreck, received 10,000 marks (a sum of money) as a thank you for his father's service and to help make up for the destruction of their lands. He commanded his father's army unit in Ireland but later supported the King. He became the 3rd Baronet in 1645 and was a member of parliament for Argyllshire in 1649. He did not marry or have children. After a failed uprising in 1685, Carnassarie Castle was destroyed by Royalist forces.

Challenges for the Auchinbreck Family

Sir Duncan Campbell, the 4th Baronet of Auchinbreck, faced many difficulties. In 1686, his title and lands were taken away (forfeited) and given to someone else. He was a member of parliament for Argyllshire from 1689 to 1698, but then he resigned and became Roman Catholic. In 1690, his lands were returned to him.

In 1684, many landowners in North Knapdale, including Sir Duncan Campbell of Auchinbreck, were forced to promise they would not help the Earl of Argyll or any other declared rebels. This upset the landowners and contributed to their discontent. In 1685, the Earl of Argyll tried to invade Scotland. Sir Duncan Campbell of Auchinbreck and others joined him, garrisoning Carnassarie Castle. Many local men joined the Earl's cause. However, when the Earl was captured, the Campbells surrendered the castle.

The rebellion had serious consequences for the Auchinbreck family and their neighbors. Many suffered property damage, lost goods and livestock, and couldn't collect rent for years. Sir Duncan Campbell of Auchinbreck lost a lot of money supporting Argyll's troops, which he never got back. When he returned home, his tenants were also poor.

In 1690, an Act of Parliament reversed many of the fines and forfeitures from 1665, including those against Sir Duncan Campbell of Auchinbreck. However, the family was still financially ruined. Many people from the area, including some MacTavishes, left Scotland in the 1700s, with some settling in Cape Fear in North Carolina.

Sir James Campbell, the 5th Baronet of Auchinbreck, was a member of parliament from 1702 to 1708. He was involved in supporting the "Pretender" (someone claiming to be the rightful king) in the 1740s, even signing a document promising Scottish support for a French invasion.

However, not all members of the Auchinbreck family supported the Jacobite cause (those who supported the Pretender). Some, like William Campbell, a descendant of Sir Duncan Campbell, the 2nd Baronet, fought against the Jacobites. William Campbell became a lieutenant colonel and played a key role in the Siege of Londonderry, helping to defeat King James's army.

The Auchinbreck Family's Decline

Eventually, the Auchinbreck family faced serious financial problems, leading to bankruptcy in 1762. Since they were a major family in the area, their downfall weakened the whole community, causing many smaller families to also struggle. Many of these smaller estates had borrowed money from Auchinbreck, and when the Auchinbreck family faced financial ruin, these smaller families couldn't repay their debts.