 |
 |
By Keith A.
Forbes and Lois A. Forbes at keithaforbes@btinternet.com
We are married Scottish socio-economic and travel writers and historians. Our Forbes ancestors descended from John de Forbes of Scotland. We are based in Brora, Sutherland, Scotland, 60 miles north of Inverness and about 220 miles north of Edinburgh and Glasgow. Sorry, we don't do genealogy ourselves, we are merely trying to provide a basic outline of this famous Scottish clan, we don't have any more information beyond that shown below. For more details please check with Family History or specific genealogical societies or Ancestry.com. |
| World War 2
hero and prisoner of war repeated escape artist, He was the Patron of the Lonach
Highland & Friendly Society.
He is shown on the right of this photograph, wearing his own distinctive brown tartan. He died in 2007. His son and heir, on the left, is James Forbes, now Sir James, also of Newe, Strathdon, and California, USA. He is wearing the usual Forbes tartan. Photograph by author Keith A. Forbes at the 2001 Lonach Highland Games and Gathering |
 |
Solicitor, Law Society of Scotland. Aberdein, Considine & Co.; 8/9 Bon Accord Crescent, ABERDEEN, AB11 6DN.
|
Strathdon, Aberdeenshire. A private house and quite recently a guest house. At one point it was the laundry for Castle Newe. It is owned by Mr. and Mrs. George M. Hardie. Both are shown in this photograph by authors Keith A. Forbes and Lois A. Forbes. It is set in its own grounds in its own Scottish glen. It contains much Forbes memorabilia from the former Castle Newe, demolished in 1925. |
 |
|
Elspeth Hardie is a daughter of the late Sir John Stewart Forbes, Baronet, DSO, DL, JP, 1901-1984, shown in the photograph below. Her many talents include being an accomplished teacher of music. George Hardie, on the left, is a well-known artist, designer, teacher of art and for years an Honorary Vice President of the 160th Lonach Highland Games. One of their daughters is Katherine, an artist, jeweler and silversmith, with a studio nearby. A son is musician Jonathan Forbes Hardie. He plays the fiddle, mandolin and backs vocals. |
 |
| Further up the glen in Corgarff lives Elspeth's elder sister Zilla and her husband Colonel Tuck, in Allargue House. |  |
Some Forbes of Newe ancestors, from paintings
Scots and English, civil servant, he and his wife Anne work in London but live in Northamptonshire. They go to Scotland for two weeks every year for The Lonach Highland Gathering & Games.
Solicitor, Law Society of Scotland. Burness; 50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, EDINBURGH, EH3 9WJ.
1809-1868. Physicist and philosopher, fourth son of Sir William Forbes, 7th baronet of Pitsligo. Born in Edinburgh on 20th April 1809. He entered the university of Edinburgh in 1825, and soon afterwards began to contribute papers to the Edinburgh Philosophical Journal anonymously under the signature "S." At the age of nineteen he became a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and in 1832 he was elected to the Royal Society of London.
A year later he was appointed professor of natural philosophy in Edinburgh University, in succession to Sir John Leslie and in competition with Sir David Brewster, and during his tenure of that office, which he did not give up till 1860, he not only proved himself an active and efficient teacher, but also did much to improve the internal conditions of the university. In 1859 he was appointed successor to Brewster as Principal of the United College of St Andrews, a position which he held until his death in December 1868.
As a scientific investigator he is best known for his researches on heat and on glaciers. Between 1836 and 1844 he published four series of “ Researches on Heat.” His work won him the Rumford medal of the Royal Society in 1838, and in 1843 he received its Royal medal for a paper on the ”Transparency of the Atmosphere and the Laws of Extinction of the Sun’s Rays passing through it.” In 1846 he began experiments on the temperature of the earth at different depths and in different soils near Edinburgh, which yielded determinations of the thermal conductivity. Towards the end of his life he was occupied with experimental inquiries into the laws of the conduction of heat in bars, and his last piece of work was to show that the thermal conductivity of iron diminishes with increase of temperature.
His attention was directed to the question of the flow of glaciers in 1840 when he met Louis Agassiz at the Glasgow meeting of the British Association, and in subsequent years he made several visits to Switzerland and also to Norway for the purpose of obtaining accurate data. His observations led him to the view that a glacier is an imperfect fluid or a viscous body which is urged down slopes of a certain inclination by the mutual pressure of its parts. Forbes was also interested in geology, and published memoirs on the thermal springs of the Pyrenees, on extinct volcanoes and on the geology of the Eildon hills etc;
In addition to about 150 scientific papers, he wrote Travels through the Alps of Savoy and Other Parts of the Pennine Chain, with Observations on the Phenomena of Glaciers (1843); Norway and its Glaciers (1853); Occasional Papers on tile Theory of Glaciers (1859); A Tour of Mont Blanc and Monte Rosa (1855). He was also the author (I852) of the “Dissertation on the Progress of Mathematical and Physical Science,” published in the 8th edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica.
Alton's first commuter to St. Louis, USA. He founded the James H. Forbes Coffee & Tea Company in St. Louis before moving to Alton. He commuted back & forth to St. Louis daily on the packet boats. He was buried in the Alton Cemetery, Alton, Illinois, USA.
Born February 25, 1895, died July 26, 1968. He succeeded his father Robert Magnus Forbes and grandfather James Hyde Forbes - see above - as President of the Jas. H. Forbes Tea and Coffee Co. in St. Louis, MO. He was born in Alton, IL and commuted to St. Louis daily until his marriage to Muriel Morgan of St. Louis in 1938. They lived in St. Louis until his retirement in 1957, when they moved to Sarasota, FL. They had one son, Charles P. Forbes (b. Oct. 5, 1940, St. Louis). He is buried in the Alton Cemetery, Alton, Illinois, USA.
1823-1904. Chairman of various London Underground railways between 1899 and 1902. Also General Manager of the London, Chatham & Dover Railway. He was a keen collector of contemporary art, an art connoisseur and uncle to Stanhope Forbes, RA, the artist widely viewed as the founder of the Newlyn School of art at the end of the 19th Century. A likeness of him (# 10400883) is in the Science and Society Library
Solicitor, Law Society of Scotland. Procurator Fiscal Service; Procurator Fiscal's Office, St. Marnock Street, KILMARNOCK, KA1 1DZ.
Solicitor, Law Society of Scotland. Aberdeen City Council; Legal & Democratic Services, Town House, Broad Street, ABERDEEN, AB10 1AQ.
Died in 1914, at Rothiemay Castle in Banffshire. His ghost has been seen a number of times.
1743-1821, he founded the family fortune that led to the erection of Castle Newe and more. His estates in Strathdon alone included Ardgeith, Buchaam, Colquhonny, Culqaharrie, Deskrie, Bellabeg, Invernochty, Newe and the Forest of the Bunzeach, Skellater and Tollaskink.
1787-1861. Physician, born in Banffshire, in 1787. He attended the grammar school at Aberdeen, and afterwards entered Marischal College. After serving for nine years as a surgeon in the Royal Navy, he graduated as an M.D. at Edinburgh, and then began to practice in Penzance, then Chichester in 1822. He took up residence in London in 1840 and in 1841 was appointed physician to the royal household.
He was knighted in 1853, and died on the 13th November 1861 at Whitchurch in Berkshire. He was better known as an author and editor than as a practical physician. His works include the following :Original Cases, illustrating the Use of the Stethoscope and Percussion in the Diagnosis of Diseases of the Chest (1824); Illustrations of Modern Mesmerism (1845); A Physician’s Holiday (1st ed., 1849); Memorandums made in Ireland in the Autumn of 1852 (2 vols, 1853); Sightseeing in Germany and the Tyrol In the Autumn of 1855 (1856). He was joint editor of The Cyclopedia of Practical Medicine (4 vols., 1833-1835); and founded the British and Foreign Medical Review, which, after a period of prosperity, involved its editor in pecuniary loss. It was discontinued in 1847, partly in consequence of the advocacy in its later numbers of doctrines obnoxious to the profession.
In 1715, between Candacraig and the hamlet of Bellabeg at Strathdon, this gentleman built the beautiful Bridge of Poldhullie, with a single arch of 70 feet. Referred to as "Black Jock" because of his swarthy complexion, he was taken prisoner at Sherriffmuir and died at Carlisle in England in 1716 on the night before the day fixed for his execution by the English because he had served as a follower of the Earl of Mar and an officer in the (first) Jacobite Army that supported James Stuart. (The property owned nearly three centuries ago by John Forbes has not had a Forbes connection for a long time). The present Inverernan House, built in 1762, and estate came into Wallace hands when sold by the Tennant family. Inverernan Estate is still controlled by Wallace Brothers but Inverernan House is privately owned by another party.
A British Army officer, a lieutenant of the 30th Foot, he died of his wounds on 1st September 1855 in the Crimea. His name is on the Memorial at Cathcart's Hill.
Born 1808, of Monymusk, married Janet Yeoman in 1936, may have attended University of Edinburgh School of Divinity, but was not ordained. He and family emigrated to Canada between 1849 and 1852.
English actor.
Younger brother of The Master of Forbes of Castle Forbes in Aberdeenshire. He and his wife Nicky have several children including their eldest daughter Camilla (Millie) Forbes, mentioned earlier by name. She is a niece of The Master of Forbes of Castle Forbes and granddaughter of Lord Forbes.
Author, she was born in the USA on March 20, 1908 and died on May 15, 1966. She wrote "Mama's Bank Account," the basis for "I Remember Mama." She is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery, Section 5, Row 8, Grave 35, in Colma, California.
Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on July 4, 1892, he enlisted in 1914 and served with the 10th Royal Fusiliers. Following service in France, Captain Forbes was recalled to London and transferred to the Canadian forces as a war artist. One of his many paintings is of Canadian artillery in action. Forbes resigned from the Royal Canadian Army in 1959 and died in Toronto.
American, Vice Chairman of Forbes Inc, international magazine publishers, which also owns the Manhattan-based Forbes Gallery.
The watch-word of the men of Strathdon, The Lonach Highland Gathering & Games and the motto of the Forbes.
Born in the USA in 1919, he was a millionaire publisher of the famous Forbes business and finance magazine founder by his father. He was a State Senator for New Jersey from 1951-1958. He was also a frequent visitor to Scotland, an internationally famous balloonist, first person to fly from coast to coast in a hot-air balloon and an adventurer in many other ways.
Malcolm, the Master of Forbes, is the son of the Premier Baron of Scotland - a great grandson three times over of the 18th Lord Forbes. He is married to Jinny. They live at Castle Forbes in Alford. The Master of Forbes is an Honorary Vice President of the Lonach Highland & Friendly Society.
|
In the center of the area we show below is this historic township, once a Forbes bastion. The Monymusk Stone and Monymusk Reliquary or Brecbannock were here. Monymusk Castle was then owned by the Forbes. (Interestingly, Monymusk Castle still exists today, as a sleek 35 foot cabin cruiser on the Caledonian Canal running from Inverness to Banavie. Forbes lairds who acquired Monymusk from the commendatory prior of the monastery after the Reformation later sold it to Sir Francis Grant, later Lord Cullin. For the last 900 years, life in this beautiful village focuses around its church, the ancient Priory and Parish Church of St. Mary. The first missionaries were the Culdees or Servants of God. Very little is known about them but it is very unlikely they were Celtic or sent from Rome. They were probably followers of St. Ninian and his missionaries from Whithorn in Galloway. In its long list of recorded clergy from 1337, Forbes Clan members were prominent. They included:
|
 |
1616-1622.
Thomas Forbes.
In 1644, after Montrose had his victories, he went to Monymusk but Forbes, covenanting laird, fled (and never returned). Through diplomacy of his wife Jean (nee Burnett), both Church and House were saved from destruction.
1814-1853. Robert Forbes, MA. Born 16 August 1778 and died 22 February 1853 in the 30th year of his ministry.
1924-1927. James Grant Forbes
1616-1622. Thomas Forbes. In 1644, after Montrose had his victories, he went to Monymusk but Forbes, covenanting laird at the time, fled (and never returned). Through the diplomacy of his wife Jean (nee Burnett), both the Church and House were saved from destruction.
1814-1853. Robert Forbes, MA. Born 16 August 1778 and died 22 February 1853 in the 30th year of his ministry.
1924-1927. James Grant Forbes
Worth acquiring is the 6-page leaflet on St. Mary's Church in Monymusk, an Historical Sketch by Dr. Jon Whitely. Graves of Forbeses at the Monymusk Churchyard include Robert Forbes, MA. His children included Rachel and Robert (third son). Like him, they were buried there. Also interred there is Lewis Forbes. Died 25 January 1975 aged 62, the husband of Isabelle Thomson.
Solicitor, Law Society of Scotland. Stronachs; 34 Albyn Place, ABERDEEN, AB10 1FW.
A large village in Aberdeenshire to the south east of Fraserburgh. This is the last remaining link with the original Pittsligo. The Lords Pitsligo were descendents of William, a son of Sir John Forbes of Forbes. He lived in the reign of King Robert II (1371-90). In the days of the 4th and last Lord Pittsligo, a Forbes, before the Jacobite Uprising of 1745 when he fought for Bonnie Prince Charlie and had his entire estate and more forfeited by the British Government after the Battle of Culloden in Inverness-shire in 1746, it was a wilderness, then part of the upper barony of Pittsligo. The transformation was begun by Sir William Forbes, a banker and great nephew of Lord Pittsligo. The village is plain, the surrounding countryside is austere but New Pittsligo has contributed much to the life of Scotland because of Sir William Forbes.
In County Longford, Republic of Ireland (Eire). Named by the Earl of Granard (Irish Forbes), it is merely a hamlet near the large county town of Longford but is delightful. There is a lovely and charming hotel here, Eden House, once owned by the estate of Castle Forbes nearby. The authors stayed here in June 2002 and recommend it to all as far better value than any hotel in Dublin about 100 kilometers away - and with plenty of parking which many hotels in Dublin don't have. In the grounds of the hotel is a sign pointing to Castle Forbes Kitchen Gardens. Although there is an entrance in the middle of the hamlet to the huge estate (more than 2,000 acres) of Castle Forbes, the castle itself is nowhere to be seen. It is hidden deep in the woods and is strictly private although it has been painted by a local artist. The two churches in the village, Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic, on opposite sides of the street geographically, are interesting for their Forbes connections. The non-Catholic Forbes of Granard are buried at the Church of Ireland. Behind the Catholic church is a fascinating vault. Peer through it to see the coffins of a former Catholic Countess of Granard and family.
This village and parish is in Aberdeenshire between the Rivers Ythan and Deveron, in the area known as Buchan. It is best known for one of the most precious relics of the old Celtic church, the Book of Deer. Those with a particular fascination for Christian heritage will find fascinating the story of "The Rabbling of the Deer" in 1711. It involved Episcopalians and Jacobites who tried to incite a riot over the appointment of a Presbyterian minister to replace an Episcopalian minister who had died. As the majority of parishioners were Episcopalians, they had a temporary victory. But in 1719, the fiercely Presbyterian Reverend John Forbes - another of the ilk with the name John - was appointed to the Church of Deer. He was successful, but it may well have been due in part to the fact that he was a sturdy man who looked like he could win a fight - and preached his sermons with a sword showing clearly on the pulpit cushion!
He is the most
prominent of three Forbes bishops mentioned by name at the lovely
ancient Cathedral Church of St. Machar
in Old Aberdeen, e-mail education@stmachar.com.
It is one of the highlights of a visit to Aberdeen. It was founded in
580 AD by St. Machar, a companion of St. Columba of Iona. The present
building dates from circa 1350-1520. It was a Catholic church until the
Scottish Reformation of 1560. After 1690, it went from Episcopalian to
Presbyterian (without bishops). It is now the parish church of Old
Aberdeen, the most historic and university part of Aberdeen.
Bishop Patrick Forbes (1564-1635) was by birth the laird of Corse and O'Neil, Aberdeenshire. He was the elder brother of "Willie the Merchant" Forbes who built Craigievar Castle. He was at Stirling Grammar School, Glasgow University and St. Andrew's. He went to England to continue his studies at Oxford.
On his return, in obedience to his father’s wish he gave up study, lived in Montrose and married. In 1598 he inherited and returned to Aberdeenshire where he was called in as a prominent educated layman to help the Reformed Church then short of ministers and, in that area, struggling against a revival of Romanism. In 1611 he agreed to ordination and was presented to Keith, where he wrote a commentary to the Apocalypse in addition to several anti-Catholic pamphlets. King James appointed him to the See of Aberdeen in 1618. He was a moderate man for his times. He supported the burning of witches, disagreed with the toleration of nonconformists, searched out and punished Catholics and Jesuit priests. Yet his views on bishops were by no means those of Laud and the Anglicans: he held that Apostolic Succession was only of those ‘whose obedience and life are those of the apostles’. On the nature of the true church his views were like those of Calvin. While convinced of the right of the king to rule in certain matters, and he spoke in the General Assembly in favour of James’ hated Five Articles of Perth, he ruled against the king's wishes in one case, saying that he owed his appointment to the king but his conscience to God. He was among the best of the early post-reformation bishops and had his type continued over the next generations much division and bloodshed might have been avoided.
As Bishop of Aberdeen and later as Chancellor of King's College at the University of Aberdeen, he was much loved and admired.
Solicitor, Law Society of Scotland. Forbes & Co.; 184 West Regent Street, GLASGOW, G2 4RL.
On the right bank of the River Don in Aberdeenshire, it is a mile north of Monymusk, a rectangular block of four storeys with a large round tower, well worth seeing. Much of the castle fell in 1936 but has since been restored with assistance from the Historic Buildings Council of Scotland. At one time, it was a Forbes domain, but not until one of the previous owners of the Urrie or Hurry family (including General Hurry of the UK Civil War) was outlawed for raiding the homes of the tenants of the Forbes of Forneidlie and stole their cattle. In 1657, the property was acquired by the Forbes of Monymusk. John Forbes of Pitfichie raised taxes for the Jacobite army in 1715.
Solicitor, Law Society of Scotland. Iain Smith & Co.; 9 Market Square, STONEHAVEN, AB39 2BT.
Award-winning artist from Canada, she works primarily with gourds.
Solicitor, Law Society of Scotland. Aberdeen City Council; Legal & Democratic Services, Town House, Broad Street, ABERDEEN, AB10 1AQ.
Strathdon, Aberdeenshire. It was one of the famous estates of Forbes, consisting of a main house, cottage and outbuildings. It was built by Lachlan Forbes in 1727 who placed his motto in stone over the front door. All the Forbes of this house were staunch Jacobites despite being Scottish Presbyterian. By then the original Roman Catholic aspect of support for the Stuarts of the late previous century had become much more nationalistic and much less religious, especially after the first Jacobite Uprising of 1715 and again in 1745, sometimes dividing both clans and clan members. George Forbes of Skellater fought for Bonny Prince Charles at Culloden and after many attempts to hide from the victorious Hanoverians went into exile for his Prince and died in France in October 1767. General "Red Jock" John Forbes also lived here. Ian Roy (Red John in English) of Skellater was quite a soldier of fortune and reputed to have married a Portuguese princess. A very rare volume exists about him; "Ian Roy of Skellater, A Soldier of Fortune, Being the Life and Times of General John Forbes of the Portuguese Army." By James Neill M.D., Aberdeen, MDCDII. In the 1800s, the estate was sold to the Forbes of Newe family before it passed out of Forbes hands. Later, it became a McHardy house. Skellater House was re-built in the 1970's and recently resold. Current owners are Alan & Elizabeth Thompson who are in the process of moving from Washington DC to live at Skellater House. Mrs. Thompson has been doing some work on the history of the house and its occupants.
Son of a rail tycoon, also in rail. His brother William was knighted.
| Son of the famous Malcolm Forbes and grandson of the man who founded Forbes Magazine mentioned earlier. In the last US Presidential election, he stood as a moderate Republican candidate and urged a platform of fiscal responsibility. He was defeated in the election by George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore. Among his many functions, he leads group of Forbes Magazine readers on investment seminars on a cruise ship. |  |
With an emphasis on the second syllable. There is much to see in this region, covering a wide area of rural Aberdeenshire. From Glenkindie to Glenernan there is a considerable arable land along the river, with some fine haughs regularly subdivided and enclosed. The lower slopes of the hills are mostly covered with thriving plantations, especially Newe, Candacraig, Inverernan, and Edinglassie. From Glenernan to the Castle of Corgarff the strath becomes narrower, the mountains rising almost from the stream, with occasional patches of cultivation clumps of planted firs, and copse-wood consisting of birch and aspen trees. From Corgarff to the source of the Don 2,070 feet above sea level on the Banff-shire boundary, see moss and moorland mountains.
 |
The Parish Minister is the Rev. Richard Darroch. It is visible from five glens and is referred to locally as the "Cathedral of the Strath." It has a stately arch and steeple. It looks much older than it actually is. It was built in 1851 as an estate chapel - for the Castle Newe estate. Now it is the parish kirk. The original accommodation was for 650 persons. The mason was a local man of great character known as "Lame Willlie" who was known to be a drinking friend of the local carpenter who also made coffins. At one point, considerable restoration was done to re-roof the hammer-beamed building. Long-term restorations were finally completed in 1973. Broken monuments in the churchyard still testify to an early right of the parish minister to graze cattle on the churchyard grass. |
 |
Local history recounts earlier funerals. Coffins carried on stilts wound their way through winter snowstorms. "The Mort Safe" outside the church door ensured a lying in period safe from the hands of the less saintly or grave robbers, as six men were needed to raise the iron lid. Special clothing would be sewn for the departed whose departure would be well toasted with a dram. In 1875, this kirk (church) and parish were shown as Invernochty, in an area which included Corgarff. That name was because the church was situated at one period at the confluence of the Nochty and the Don. |
 |
But it was not known by the Invernochty name long before this. At one time, it was one of the few Gaelic speaking parishes in Aberdeenshire. But Gaelic has not been spoken in the district since the 19th century, unlike in the district of Corgarff where it was still known. The kirk is 952 feet above sea level. It has two graveyards - one besides the church and the other opposite the church. Both have many graves of men, women and children of the Forbeses. |
Inside the kirk is a feature more common among many much older churches - dozens of striking memorials, including a significant number of Forbeses such as those shown above and below photographed by this author.
In 1798, with the imminent Napoleonic threat of invasion from France, almost all the tenants of John "Bombay Jock" Forbes Newe in his many nearby estates of Ardgeith, Buchaam, Colquhonny, Culqaharrie, Deskrie, Bellabeg, Invernochty, Newe and the Forest of the Bunzeach, Skellater and Tollaskink, enrolled as volunteers in this militia unit. It never saw action.
Solicitor, Law Society of Scotland. Pacitti Jones; 87 Main Street, RUTHERGLEN, G73 2JQ.
Solicitor, Law Society of Scotland. Lamont's; 16 Miller Road, AYR, KA7 2AY.
Solicitor, Law Society of Scotland. McKinnon Forbes; 54 High Street, TRANENT, EH33 1HH.
Northeast of Monymusk is Tarves, another former Forbes domain. A picture of the village and distinctive landmark the Prop of Ythsie, which towers over the Tarves landscape, are shown above.
| Tarves was once in the Thanage of Fermartyn. In the 15th century, by then called the Thanage of Formartine (see old map above of Formartine), it was divided between the two heiress daughters of Sir Henry Preston of Fyvie. One married Alexander Meldrum who inherited the Fyvie half of the thanage. The other daughter, Marjorie, married Sir John Forbes, whose branch of the Forbes family - the Forbeses of Tolquhon - first obtained their land holdings in this vicinity in 1420. They were cadets of the family of Lord Forbes. They are descended from Sir John Forbes, third son of Sir John Forbes. He was the Chief Justice of Aberdeen in the reign of King Robert II of Scotland (1371-1390). |  |
One of their members fell at the battle of Pinkie on 10 September 1547. For her marriage, Marjorie was given title to the Tolquhon portion. They lived at Tolquhon Castle (see above), now a ruin, near Tarves, begun in the 15th century with the Preston Tower. William Forbes, seventh laird, built the large quadrangular mansion that became Tolquhon Castle. His stately tomb is in a special section of the graveyard of the parish church at Tarves, known as the Tolquhon Aisle. Sir Alexander Forbes of Tolquhoun saved the life of King Charles II at the Battle of Worcester in 1651.
Tolquhon Castle ruins are open daily to the general public, maintained by Historic Scotland at telephone 01651 851286 or e-mail hs.explorer@scotland.gov.uk.
There is also "A Short History of Tarves" - sponsored by the Tarves Literary Society of 1956, by the distinguished Aberdeen historian, W. Douglas Simpson.
Today, there is the wonderful book, "Tarves Lang Syne" - the Story of a Scottish Parish - by William A. Porter, available in Tarves for 9.99 pounds sterling. It has color front and back illustrations, with 216 pages. It mentions many Forbeses who were once prominent residents of Tarves and goes into their histories.
Inverness-shire. Not in Aberdeenshire, obviously, but it is not well-known that one of our ancestors was Alexander de Forbes. He was the eldest son of Fergus de Forbes. He was appointed Governor of Urquhart Castle. In 1303/4, after John Balliol (the "empty coat" king of Scotland at the time finally turned, after too many humiliations, against King Edward of England and made an alliance with King Philip of France - and began the long Scottish connection with France - he defended it against King Edward I of England. It was when William Wallace was being hunted down by Edward. Alexander de Forbes had with him in the castle his wife, heavily pregnant and about to give birth. For her safety and preservation of the succession of his family he was most anxious that a means be found of conveying her through the English lines. One day, the gate of the castle opened, and the English saw a beggar woman emerge, apparently involuntarily. The tale she told was that she had happened to be inside the castle when the siege began, but that now, as provisions were running short, the garrison were no longer willing to feed a useless mouth, and had driven her out.
The English believed this account and allowed her to pass. Her husband, Alexander de Forbes, Governor of the castle, personally saw her make her way to safety. Alexander de Forbes was forced to surrender with his garrison, but the English put every man alive to the sword, including de Forbes, after having accepted their surrender. But not long later, his wife gave birth to a son, and the succession of the Forbes family was preserved. Her late husband was buried under a rock in Glen Urquhart. Many of his clansmen were buried in unmarked graves on the site or also in the glen.
Alexander de Forbes (Alexander's son, also named Alexander, supported Robert Bruce and Bruce's son King David II. He was killed in 1332 at Duplin, fighting at King David's side).
A one-time professional Scottish soldier, probably in the continental wars. It is said that late in 1642 he accompanied a man called William Ogleby (Ogilvie?) to England to serve as an instructor to the Parliamentarian army Sir Thomas Fairfax assembled in the north of England. (There was also a man called Arthur Forbes, a lieutenant of horse who went with them.) Forbes was in sir William Fairfax's regiment of foot and by 1645 he appears to have had a regiment of his own. He played a key role in the Roundhead capture of Leeds in Jan 1643, and was in charge of the siege operations at Pontefract Castle for several months in 1645. A rather ironic situation as he was married to Mary Redman, daughter of Sir John Redman of Westmoreland, the former Royalist governor of Pontefract. He died sometime in 1646/7. Contemporary English writers confused him with Covenanter Sir William Forbes who was killed defending Aberdeen against Montrose.
Scottish banker.
Born at Corgarff Castle, he was a son of General Nathanial Forbes and a grandson of Charles Forbes of Auchernach. He died in London in September, 1900.
 |
Forbes Arms Hotel. (Small hotel) | Bridge of Alford, Alford, Aberdeenshire AB33 8QJ. Telephone 019755 62108. Fax 019755 62467. About 9 miles from Strathdon. |
Written, administered and web-mastered here in Sutherland, Scotland, by
Keith A.
Forbes, at keithaforbes@btinternet.com.
© 2009. Revised: June 4, 2009
