Dewar (Dewar na Ferg) of Perthshire facts for kids

The Dewar na Ferg is a special part of the Scottish Clan Dewar. They come from Perthshire in Scotland. This family is famous for saying they are the true guardians of Saint Fillan's holy items, especially a special stone called the Ferg.

Who are the Dewars?

The name Dewar has changed a lot over hundreds of years. You might see it spelled as Deoir, Doire, or Deoireach. Some people even think Deuchars is another version of Dewar. In the Western Isles, Dewar was sometimes called Mac Gllie Dheodradha, meaning "son of the Dewar's lad."

The name Dewar comes from an old Gaelic word, 'deoir'. This word means "stranger," "traveler," or "pilgrim." But there's also an important job called 'dewar' or 'deoradh'. This job started around the 1000s. A 'deoradh' was a "relic keeper" or "custodian." This job was often linked to Saint Fillan's work in the Breadalbane area.

Dewar Family History

The Dewar family line continued for many centuries. In 1693, the Cranstoun family took over their land. Later, in 1890, Joseph Young Trotter-Cranstoun confirmed the Dewar family's special symbols, called 'arms'. You can still see these symbols above the door of the old Dewar farm.

Other old records also mention Dewar families who were connected to Saint Fillan's relics. During the time of King William I, a document for St Andrews Cathedral mentioned "the letters and toft of the deoradh." This shows how important the relic keeper's job was in church ceremonies.

Saint Fillan and His Holy Items

Fillan, also known as Foelan, was a monk from Ireland. He came to Scotland around 734 AD with his mother, St. Kentigerna, and his uncle Comgan.

Fillan first lived near the St Andrew’s Monastery in Fife. He became the leader, or Abbot, there. Later, he left that job and became a missionary. He then returned to Scotland to live a quiet life as a hermit near Glen Dochart in Perthshire. He built a church there and became famous for his miracles. He was especially known for healing sick people and those with mental health issues. People would bring their loved ones from all over Scotland to be healed at Strathfillan. Often, people believed to be mentally ill were dipped in a pool. Then, they were left tied up in Fillan’s chapel overnight. If they had freed themselves by morning, they were said to be cured. This practice continued for a long time, even into the 1800s.

Fillan's Important Times

Many stories tell of amazing miracles and deeds by Saint Fillan. He lived during very important years for the Medieval Church. Around the time he was born (700 AD), the Psalms were translated into Anglo Saxon. Famous books like the Lindisfarne Gospels were created. Monks from the Benedictine order finished converting England to Christianity. Just one year after Fillan arrived in Scotland, the Venerable Bede wrote his famous book, History of the English Church and People. Irish monks also created beautiful early medieval art, like that seen in the Book of Kells. Saint Fillan’s special day is still celebrated on January 9 or 19. The 19th is recorded as the day he died.

Saint Fillan's Relics and Miracles

Several holy items, called relics, are linked to Saint Fillan. It is believed that different Dewar families held these items, but they were likely related.

The Crozier

One of the most famous relics is the Crozier. This was a simple shepherd's staff. Its head and handle were covered in bronze around the 1000s. Later, in the early 1300s, an fancy silver crozier-head was added after the original was damaged. The person who owned or carried the Crozier was called the ‘Coigerach’. This name also means "pilgrim" or "traveler." This keeper traveled to many places with the Crozier.

The Coigerach helped people in Glen Dochart as a healer, messenger, and guardian. With the Crozier, he was said to find lost or stolen things, like sheep and cattle. For this, he received a small payment or gifts like shoes, beef, or mead. People greatly respected the Crozier. They believed it had healing and holy powers.

The Bell

Another famous relic was the Bell. Traveling monks often carried bells. Malcolm Dewar na Bernane was the keeper of this Bell. It is thought to be from France and dates back to the 800s. The Bell was known locally as the ‘bearnane’. It is about twelve inches tall and made of bronze. It has no clapper, just like bells carried by early French monks.

The Bell was very important. It was carried in a procession at the crowning of King James IV at Scone in 1488. Saint Fillan’s Bell disappeared for almost 200 years. It was probably hidden to protect it from people who wanted to destroy religious items. After the Reformation, it sat on a tombstone in an old churchyard. Like the Crozier and Stone, it was used to help cure the sick. It was stolen around 1799. It disappeared for 70 years until the Bishop of Brechin found it in Herefordshire and brought it back to Scotland. Both the Bell and Crozier are now on display in Edinburgh.

The Stone

Much less is known about Saint Fillan’s Stone, called the ‘Ferg’. There are very few mentions of it as a relic. Its importance was not fully known until a copy of a papal letter from 1252 was found in 1896. This letter mentioned the Stone.

The letter was copied around 1519. Later, it was moved to a monastery in Toulouse. A translation of it is now in a collection of papers in France. This papal letter is also mentioned in letters between Mary Queen of Scots and Catherine de Médicis.

Malcolm and the Stone

It is very likely that a letter from Pope Innocent IV in 1252 recognized Malcolm Robert (Dewere) Jore as a 'deoradh' or 'relic keeper'. The letter said Malcolm and his family could "display Our confidence and authority" by keeping the "Holy Relic of Saint Fillan."

Malcolm is thought to have traveled to France that year to get this letter. He probably took Fillan’s 'stane' with him for protection. However, three years later, in 1255, Malcolm Jore was listed as a "bishop-elect" who was removed from the King's council.

In 1276, a church official named Master Baiamundus said that all churches that honored Saint Fillan's relics did not have to pay taxes to Rome. Records show at least seven relics linked to Saint Fillan. Two other Dewar families also kept relics. The Dewar na Man family had the Saint’s forearm bone. The Dewar De Messer family kept the Saint’s prayer book, or missal.

Last Records of the Stone

The Stone as a Holy Relic was recorded by a church historian in the late 1700s. In Scottish historical papers, Archie Moncrief wrote about "the stane, as displayed and venerated at Murthly Kirk." It was later formally returned to the Dewar na Ferg family, who were the 'deoradh' or keepers.

The Dewars in History

Robert the Bruce and the Dewars

Many sources say that Dewar families fought with the Scottish armies at the Battle of Bannockburn on June 24, 1314. Before the battle, Robert the Bruce and his army received a blessing. Saint Fillan’s Crozier, held by Malcolm Deor, was raised before about 10,000 men. It is very likely that the Bell and Stone, held by their own keepers, were also there.

After his victory over the English, King Robert I (Robert the Bruce) built a church at Tyndrum. He dedicated it to Saint Fillan. King Robert also recognized Malcolm Deor and his family's right to be "Coarb of Saint Fillan." This meant they could "bear with honesty" his "holy letters of office." This special title was given only to the keeper of the Crozier.

Later Dewar Developments

On April 22, 1428, a meeting was held at Kindrochit Castle. Findlay Jore, also called Deoir, was recognized as the rightful Dewar Coigerach. This title was given by the Coarb of Saint Fillan, who was known as the Hereditary Abbot of Glen Dochart. Later, on February 9, 1468, a man named John Molcalloum M'Gregor said that the land he held was given to him by the Deoir de Meser and the Deoir Coigerach.

Final Decisions for the Relics

On July 6, 1487, King James III gave a special letter to Findlay Jore’s son, Malise Deoir or Dewar. This letter said Malise would peacefully keep the Holy Relic of Saint Fillan called the ‘Quigrich’. The King said that Malise and his family had kept this relic since the time of King Robert the Bruce. He also said they were not answerable to anyone about the relic. The King ordered his people to help Malise in his duties. They were not to stop him from traveling with the relic, as he and his family had always done. The King also said Malise should be kept "unthrallit and free" in using the relic.

The Dewar Family Since the 1500s

The Stone's Journey Continues

In August 1527, Archibald Deoir, a descendant of Malise Deoir, married Maria Jane Parcevaux from France. Maria Jane was a direct descendant of Maurice Parcevaux, a famous fighter and governor in France. Her family's symbols look similar to those later used by the Irish family O'Dwyer.

In 1547, Hugh Currie, a church leader, tried to claim the relics held by the Dewar families. He wanted the relics kept by Malise Deoir (keeper of the Quigrich), Malcolm Deoir (keeper of Saint Fillan's Bell), and Archibald Deoir (keeper of Saint Fillan's Stone). The Dewar families strongly defended their right to keep the relics. The Lords of the Privy Council dismissed the claim.

However, two years later, on March 4, 1551, Mary, Queen of Scots ordered Malise Deoir and his family to pay 40 shillings each year. This was for their lands that had been free from taxes before.

Then, about twelve years later, Queen Mary seemed to change her mind. She was likely influenced by the growing changes of the Reformation. On August 27, 1563, she gave a special letter of protection to Malise, Dewere na Ferg. In this letter, she directly called Malise the rightful "keeper" of a relic of Saint Fillan. She said she would protect "our loyal servitour Malise Dewere and hs successours of our burgh of Perth, in keping wi an relick of Saint Filane callit the Stane." Later, in 1575, Donald Macindeorca sold the Dewar lands to Duncan Campbell.

From the 1600s to the Early 1800s

The Dewar na Ferg family managed to survive the next two hundred years. There are not many records of them until 1792. In that year, Robert Dewar married Mary Peat. Mary was the daughter of Maria Peat, whose family came from Hungary in 1765. Mary was born in 1773 and was well educated.

Mary became friends with important people, including the poet John Leyden. Even after she married Robert Dewar, Mary helped Leyden financially. This continued until 1803 when Leyden went to India. In a letter from Leyden, he mentioned dining with Mary’s brother and Walter Scott. John Leyden died in Java in 1811 and never returned to Scotland.

From the 1800s to Today

Three generations later, William Martin Dewar married Margaret Bayne in 1881. They had a son named Robert Bayne Dewar. Robert worked as a farmer and married Edith McEwan Jack in 1898. Robert and Edith had ten children. Their youngest son, John Cameron Dewar, was born in 1918.

John served in the Royal Air Force from 1938 to 1946. After that, he worked as a market gardener. Later, he became a manager for Lord Ogilvie at Teases Estates. John married Catherine Baxter Ramsay and they had three children. John Cameron Dewar passed away in 1983, and Catherine Baxter Dewar passed away in 2006.

John Dewar's Folk Tales

In 1859, a man named John Dewar worked as a woodsman for George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll. He sent a letter to his employer with a copy of his Gaelic stories, "Tales of the Gael on the Wintry Nights." Soon after, John was able to spend all his time collecting folk tales across the Highlands.

He worked under the direction of J.F. Campbell. John Dewar traveled around the West Highlands for many years, writing down these tales in the Gaelic language. By the time he finished, his collection was the largest and most important group of local stories ever written down by one person. These collected works are known as the ‘Dewar Manuscripts’. John Dewar died in 1872 at the age of 70.

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