Page:A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Colonial Gentry Vol 1.djvu/343

 BURKE'S COLONIAL GENTRY. 313 parishes of Kinellar and Kintore, on the west by the parishes of Kinnernie, now annexed to Clunie and Echt, and on the east by the freedom lands of Aberdeen. The barony consisted of two distinct portions. On the western or larger portion was situated the old tower of Skene, said by tradition to be the first built stone house in Mar. It now forms the west wing of the house of Skene. On Easter Skene was the Church of Skene, now a parish church, but formerly a vicarage dependent upon the mother church of Kin- tell. These lands were erected into a barony by King Robeet Beuce in the year 1317, and have from time immemorial been in the possession of the baronial family of Skene of Skene. The traditionary origin of the family is thus given by Mr. Alexander Skene, in 1678 : " Ane old tradition there is that the tribe and family of Skene had their origin from Struan Robertson of Athole, and they from M'Donald, and that our first author was a son of the Laird of Struans, and had his first donation immediately from tlie king, for killing ane devouring wolf in the forest near the freedom land of Aberdeen, for which he got the confirmation of East and Wester Skene to the freedom of Aberdeen, and that with ane coat of arms helmed and flurished relating to the valorous act, viz., three wolfs' heads erazed upon the points of three skeens, triumphant in a field of gules ; above the helmet ane naked hand holding a laurel branch with this motto, ' Virtutis Regia merces,' which arms are registered in the booke of Heraldry. Under the reign of what king that happened I am not cer- tainly informed, but sure I am that there was lately in the charter chest of the House of Skene a restauratioufrom a forfauture granted by K. W. the Lion. This is now amissing." Sir Greorge Mackenzie, in his Science of Heraldry, published two years after, in 1680, gives the same account. He says: — " Some also derive their names, as well as their arms, from some considerable action, and thus a second son of Struan Robertson, for killing of a wolf in Stocket Foi-rest by a durk in the king's presence, got the name of Skene, which signifies a durk in Irish, and three durk points in pale for his armes." Another manuscript, written not very long after, gives the king's name as " Malcolm Kenmore." But the first appearance of the name of Skene in any authentic document is in 1296, when " Johan de Skene del Counte de Edneburgh," and Johan de Skene, Patrick de Skene del Counte de Aberdene, did homage to King Edward the First (Calendar of Documents relating to Scotland, pp. 203- 208). The seals attached to these homages are preserved, and show that Johan de Skene del Counte de Edneburgh, and del Counte de Aberdene, was the same person. On the death of the last Laird of Skene, in 1827, the succession to his estates fell, under the deed of entail executed by his great grand uncle, Major George Skene, of Caraldstone, and by his elder brothei-, George Skene of Skene, to his nephew James, Earl Fife, while the male representation of the family devolved upon the Skenes of Hal- yards, in Fife. James, 5th Earl Fife, who succeeded his uncle (-Itli Earl) in 1857, was in the same year created a British Peer, by the title of Baron Skene of Skene. James Skene, in Bandodle, afterwards of Wester Corse and Ramore, second son of Alexander IX., of Skene, by " Lord Forbes' daughter," was the first of the sons of the family who bore the designation of " in Ban- dodle," the Tanistry lands having been acquired by his father. Prior to the 16th century there was little outlet for the sons of such lamilies except to enter the Church, or to have their names inscribed on the rental roll as kindlie tenants of some outlying farm (hence the term Tanistry), which their de- scendants, if the laird was embarrassed, acquired in property, or they descended to the condition of ordinary farmers. In 1538, James Skene in Bandodle appears as uncle and curator to Alexander Skene of that ilk, and in 1543 he is infeft in the sunny third of the lands of Blackball, He m. Janet Lumsden, daughter of Lumsden of Cushney, and by her had ten sons, viz., I. James (Mr.), who s. his father, ancestor of the Skenes of Westei Corse and Ramore. II. William (Mr.), commissary of St. Andrews, d. unm. III. Alexander (Mr.), advocate, d. s.p. IV. Robebt, of whom hereafter. T. Gilbert (Mr.). In 1536 he was ap- pointed professor of medicine in King's College, Aberdeen, and in 1575 settled in Edinburgh, and was physician to James VI. of Scotland ; d. s.p. VI. John (Mr.), afterwards Sir John Skene, of Curriehill, Lord Clerk Register, was a celebrated lawyer in the reign of James VI. He m. Helen, daughter of Sir John Somerville, of Camnethan, and had three sons, James (Sir), of Curriehill, president of the College of Justice, s. his father 1617, and was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia by Charles I., by a patent which is not dated, but which is recorded in the Register of Signatures, 15th January, 1630. He m. Janet, daughter of Sir John Johnston, of Hilton, by whom he had two sons. The elder son. Sir John Skene, 2nd baronet of Curriehill, *. his father in 1633. He sold the estate of CurriehiU 1637, and having levied a regiment of men upon his own charges, went to Germany, and d. there without issue. John, progenitor of the family of Skene of Hallyaeds, in Mid- lothian (now extinct). Alexander, Keeper of the Register