Clan Eliott facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clan Eliott |
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| Elloch, Eloth | |||
Crest: Raised fist holding a sword
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| Motto | Fortiter et recte (Boldly and rightly) | ||
| Profile | |||
| Region | Borders | ||
| District | Dumfries and Galloway | ||
| Plant badge | White hawthorn | ||
| Pipe music | "All The Blue Bonnets Are Over The Border", Sir Walter Scott | ||
| Chief | |||
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| Margaret Eliott of Redheugh | |||
| 29th Elliot Clan Chief | |||
| Historic seat | Redheugh Tower | ||
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Clan Eliott is a Scottish clan that comes from the Borders region of Scotland. They were known as Border Reivers, who were families living near the border with England who often raided for cattle and goods.
Contents
History of Clan Eliott
Where Did the Clan Come From?
The early history of the Eliott clan is a bit of a mystery. The Eliotts suddenly appeared as a clear clan with a chief in the late 1400s. We don't have much information because their old castle at Stobs burned down in 1712. Almost all their family records were lost in that fire.
A traditional story says the Ellots (which was the original spelling) came from a place called Glenshie in Angus. They supposedly moved to Teviotdale during the time of Robert the Bruce, a famous Scottish king. This move would have been unusual.
However, something that happened in 1320 might support this story. In 1320, William de Soulis, a very powerful Scottish noble, was found guilty of treason against Robert the Bruce. He was put in prison for life. His lands in Liddesdale and the large Hermitage Castle were given to Bruce's son. King Robert the Bruce would have wanted to make sure this important border area was safe. He likely encouraged a loyal clan, like the Ellots, to settle there.
The 1400s: A Clan Takes Shape
We know that an Ellot of Redheugh was living in the early 1400s. In 1426, a person named John Elwalde from Teviotdale is mentioned in records. By 1476, Robert Ellot of Redheugh was known as the tenth chief of the clan. This is when the official history of the clan truly began.
In 1470, Robert Ellot built a strong tower on a cliff. This tower overlooked a river crossing on Hermitage Water. This was one of about a hundred strong towers in Liddesdale. Many of these towers belonged to the Ellots. They shared the area with the Clan Armstrong, another Border Reiver clan.
The 1500s: Clan Conflicts and Battles
Robert Ellot, who was the thirteenth chief, was killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. This was a major battle between Scotland and England. The Eliotts also supported Scott of Buccleuch at the Battle of Melrose in 1526.
In 1565, a serious feud (a long-lasting quarrel) started between the Ellots and their neighbors, the Clan Scott. Scott of Buccleuch had four Ellots executed for a small crime: stealing cattle. To get revenge, three hundred Ellots rode out to fight. Both sides had many losses in the battle. Eventually, the two clans made peace with each other.
Another feud happened between the Ellots and James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell. He later became the husband of Mary, Queen of Scots. A fight took place near Hermitage Castle, and the Earl was hurt. In return, in 1569, a royal army of nearly four thousand men attacked the Ellot's lands. They caused a lot of damage.
The 1600s to 1800s: Changes and New Beginnings
In 1603, the Union of the Crowns happened. This meant the Scottish and English crowns were united under one king. This event marked the end of the Border Reivers. Many people from the Borders were executed. Others found new homes in Ulster (part of modern-day Northern Ireland) when that area was settled.
Robert Eliott of Redheugh left his lands in Liddesdale and moved to Fife. Around 1650, the spelling of the family name changed. The letter "i" was added, changing "Ellot" to "Eliott."
In 1666, Charles II of England made Sir Gilbert Eliott of Stobs a Baronet of Nova Scotia. He became the chief of Clan Eliott in 1673.
In 1764, the third Baronet rebuilt the old Tower of Stobs. He turned it into a large mansion house. His second son was George Augustus Eliott. He became famous for bravely defending Gibraltar in 1782.
A part of the chief's family bought the lands of Minto in 1703. Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto was a diplomat. He worked in places like Corsica and Vienna. He later became the Governor General of Bengal in India.
Clan Chief Today
The current chief of Clan Eliott is Madam Margaret Eliott of Redheugh. She is the 29th Chief of the Name and Arms of Eliott. She is the daughter of Sir Arthur Eliott, who was the twenty-eighth chief. In Scotland, women can become clan chiefs. However, the title of Baronet usually passes to a male heir.
Clan members use a special crest badge. It shows a raised fist holding a sword. This crest is surrounded by a strap and buckle. The motto on the badge is FORTITER ET RECTE. This Latin phrase means "Boldly and Rightly."
Eliott Castles
- Redheugh Tower was the historic home of the Eliott chiefs.
- Minto House was the home of the Eliott Earls of Minto. However, this house has now been taken down.
- The Tower of Stobs was the home of the Eliotts of Stobs.
Clan Eliott Tartan
| Tartan image | Notes | Tartan image |
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The Clan Eliott tartan is a special pattern of colored lines. There are two slightly different versions of this tartan available today. They are very similar, but they differ in how bright the colors are. The "ancient" tartan uses lighter colors. This is because the dyes used long ago came from plants and berries. In this version, the dark stripes look like a dark burgundy or brown, and the blue is a lighter shade. The "modern" tartan (shown on the left) uses stronger, newer chemical dyes. This makes the colors brighter and bolder. In this version, the dark stripes look almost black, and the blue is a bright sapphire blue. Also, the width of the colored bands can be different. The ancient tartan often has finer, more condensed lines. |  |
See also
- Scottish clan
- USS Elliot (DD-967)
