Clan Macdowall
| Clan Macdowall | |||
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| Mac Dubhghaill | |||
Crest: Issuant from a crest coronet Or, a Lion's paw erased and erected Proper holding a dagger point upwards Proper, hilted and pommelled Or
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| Motto | Vincere Vel Mori (To conquer or die) | ||
| Chief | |||
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| Fergus Day Hort Macdowall of Garthland | |||
| The Chief of the Name and Arms of Macdowall | |||
| Seat | Barr Castle | ||
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Clan Macdowall is a Scottish clan.
The name Macdowall is from the district of Galloway which itself was named after the Galli or Gaelic settlers of the seventh and eighth centuries. There are many legends surrounding the foundation of the princedom of Galloway and even historian Alexander Nisbet narrated that Dovall of Galloway killed Nothatus the Tyrant in 230 BC. The royal house of Galloway is said to have also resisted the Romans and Nesbit also stated that it was because of these early deeds that the lords included a fierce lion on their shield with a royal crown.
The Lords of Galloway were powerful and scattered their princedom with abbeys and priories.Fergus of Galloway flourished in the reign of David I of Scotland and he divided his princedom between his sons. One of his sons or grandsons was Dougal. The last native Lord of Galloway was Alan who died in about 1234. Alan's daughter was Devorgilla who married Balliol, Lord of Barnard Castle. Their son was John who claimed Galloway through his mother. In 1295 Balliol as Lord of Galloway granted a charter of the lands of Garthland to Dougal. In 1296 both Dougall and Fergus M'douall appear on the Ragman Rolls swearing fealty to Edward I of England.
Dougal's grandson was Fergus, third of Garthland who during the reign of David II of Scotland was sheriff depute for Kirkcudbright. His grandson was Sir Fergus Macdowall, the fifth Laird who in 1401 was taken prisoner at the Battle of Homildon by the English.
Uchtred, the ninth of Garthland married Isobel Gordon of the branch of the Clan Gordon who controlled Lochinver. However he and his son Thomas were both killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1513 along with James IV of Scotland. John the eleventh Laird was also killed fighting the English at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547.
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Wikipedia