Vass of Lochslin Facts for Kids

The Vass family (sometimes spelled Vaus, Wass, or Waus) was a Scottish family of minor nobles. They were also known as septs (which means smaller groups or branches) of the Clan Ross and Clan Munro. Both of these are well-known Scottish clans from Ross-shire in the Scottish Highlands.

History of the Vass Family
- Where the Vass Name Came From
- Ties to Scottish Clans
Lochslin Castle: The Vass Home
Important Vass Family Members
See also

History of the Vass Family

Where the Vass Name Came From

The names Vass and Wass originally came from the de Vallibus or Vaux family. This name came from John Vaux or de Vallibus, who was a Norman settler. He was a witness to an important document called a charter in Kincardine, Sutherland in 1252. This charter was signed by Alexander III of Scotland, who was the King at that time.

Ties to Scottish Clans

The Vass family had close connections with the Munros and Rosses. Because these two main clans worked closely together, it was common for smaller families like the Vasses to support and serve both of them.

Lochslin Castle: The Vass Home

Loch Slin Castle (Lochslin) as it looked in 1870. This castle is near Fearn, Highland, and was once the home of the Vass family.

The Vass family lived at Lochslin Castle in Easter Ross. They lived there from the 1400s until 1603. In 1603, they were declared "rebels," which meant they were seen as going against the king. The castle is even mentioned in a Vass family charter from 1590. After the Vasses, the Munros of Meikle Tarrel took over Lochslin Castle.

Important Vass Family Members

Early Vass Family in Lochslin

The first time the Vass family of Lochslin in Easter Ross is mentioned is in 1457. This was in a charter (an official document) that confirmed land in Bambarroch, Wigtown, in south-west Scotland. In this document, John Vass of Lochslin is named as the brother of Robert Vass of Barnbarroch. Robert had only gotten these lands five years earlier. This might have been because of Alexander Vaus or Vass, who was a Bishop. This Bishop had already given a charter to Robert Vass's daughter, Margaret Vass, and to her husband, Thomas McDowall. Bishop Alexander also had strong links to the north of Scotland.

We don't know exactly when the Vasses first got the lands of Lochslin. However, they first appear in records in Inverness in 1440.

John Vass of Lochslin (Various Generations)

Several people named John Vass of Lochslin appear in records from 1456 to 1545. It's clear that these were not all the same person, but the records don't show how many generations shared the same name.

In 1456 or 1457, a John Vass is mentioned as the brother of Robert Vass of Barnbarroch in a royal charter.
In 1484, John Vass was one of the people from Tain who gave land in the town on behalf of the community.
In 1487, there's a story that John Vass of Lochslin was killed at the Battle of Aldy Charrish. He was fighting for the Clan Ross against the Clan Mackay. A historian from the 1600s, Sir Robert Gordon, 1st Baronet, wrote that several people were killed, including "John Wasse" and "William Wasse."
In 1498, John Vass of Lochslin paid 35 merks (an old Scottish coin) to a burgess (a citizen of a town) from Dysart in Fife. He did this with Angus MacCulloch of Plaids.
There's also a story that Alexander Vass, who was a sheriff (a local official) for William Munro, 12th Baron of Foulis, was killed supporting him at the Battle of Drumchatt in 1501.
In 1512, John Vass received a royal charter for the lands of Lochslin and Newton.
In 1514, he was a witness in Inverness for Lady Elizabeth Gordon.
In 1534, he mortgaged (used as a loan security) the lands of Lochslin and Newton to Robert Vass, who was a burgess of Inverness.
In 1536, John Vass and his wife, Elizabeth Urquhart, received a charter for the lands of Lochslin from the King.
In 1537 or 1538, he sold the lands of Lochslin and Newton to his relative, Robert Vass.
In 1544 or 1545, John Vass of Lochslin died. The document says he died "at the field of...", which might have been the Battle of Ancrum Moor.

Robert Vass: Inverness Burgess

Robert Vass was a burgess (a citizen of a town) of Inverness. He is mentioned in records from 1538 to 1545. He bought Lochslin in 1538. However, he is not usually called "Robert Vass of Lochslin," so he might not have lived long after John Vass died.

Jasper Vass of Lochslin: A Town Leader

Jasper Vass of Lochslin appears in records from 1542 to 1569. During this time, he was a burgess and provost (like a mayor) of Inverness. He was called "Jasper Vass of Lochslin" when dealing with matters outside the town.

In 1545 or 1546, he signed an Inverness rule against "outlandish men of great clans" who were not allowed to live or trade in the town.
He was a witness to a document as Jasper Vass of Lochslin in 1547.
He was the Provost of Inverness in 1560 or 1561.
Jasper Vass was last mentioned as Provost on August 1, 1562. He remained a burgess of Inverness and owned a lot of property. He died by December 19, 1572.
He married Elizabeth Dunbar in 1553 or 1554. Their children included John, Robert, Alexander, and Katherine.

John Vass of Lochslin (Later Generations)

Another John Vass of Lochslin is mentioned in records from 1567 to 1607. There might have been more than one person with this name during this period.

In 1567, John Vass, son of Jasper Vass, showed a charter for lands in Inverness.
In 1578, John Vass of Lochslin was a burgess of Inverness.
In 1578 or 1579, he received a royal charter that confirmed his purchase of land from Alexander Ross.
In 1580, he agreed to a rule that burgesses should only live in their own towns.
In 1585, he was mentioned in an official document with his son, also named John.
In 1587 or 1588, he was a bailie (a local official) for William Keith.
In 1589 or 1590, he mortgaged half of the Lochslin lands to his brother, Alexander. He kept the castle and its garden for himself.
In 1591, John Vass of Lochslin and his family were mentioned in a charter for lands in Galloway, which they would later inherit.
In 1600, John Vass of Lochslin, with his wife Katherine's permission, gave his brother Alexander a feu (a type of land ownership) for lands in Lochslin. Alexander was a merchant in Edinburgh.
In 1605, Alexander received a charter for more of John's lands.
In 1607, John Vass, with his second son David's permission, sold parts of his lands to John Munro of Fearn. His sons Alexander and Jasper were witnesses.

The Last Vass to Own Lochslin

The last John Vass of Lochslin is mentioned in records from 1608 to 1610. He was the last Vass to own Lochslin Castle. After selling it, he became a burgess of Inverness.

On April 28, 1608, he was mentioned in connection with his lands in Inverness as his father's oldest son. His younger brothers, David and Jasper, were witnesses.
On April 14, 1609, he was confirmed as the heir to his father's lands, including Lochslin and Newton.
With his brothers David, Jasper, James, and Alexander, he sold some lands to George Munro of Meikle Tarrel in 1610.
The rest of the Lochslin lands soon went to George Munro. In 1622, George Munro sold the lands of Lochslin and Newton to James Cuthbert.
In 1624, the lands passed from Cuthbert to John Mackenzie. After John Mackenzie died, the lands went to his younger brother, Simon Mackenzie. Simon was the father of George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh, a famous lawyer.

Vass of Lochslin facts for kids

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