Draft:Thomas Dixon, 1st Baron of Symondstone
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Thomas Dixon 1st Baron of Symondstone | |
|---|---|
| Born | Thomas de Keith 1 January 1247 Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland |
| Died | 19 March 1307 (aged 59) Douglas Castle, Scotland |
| Cause of death | during battle |
| Resting place | St Bride's Kirk, Douglas |
| Occupation(s) | Hereditary Castellan of Douglas Castle, Laird of Symondstone and Hazleside |
Thomas de Keith was born in 1247, scion of the noble Clan Keith (by his father Richard de Keith (1225–1249), the Lord Marischals of Scotland, and Clan Douglas (by Margaret Douglas, daughter of William, Third Lord Douglas).[1]
Thomas was raised to the peerage as First Baron of Symondstone and Hazleside, Captain of Douglas Castle by King Robert Bruce, becoming progenitor of the Dixon family.[2]
Military career
[edit]Thomas de Keith's cousin Sir James Douglas enlisted his help to recapture Sanquhar Castle in 1295. Thomas led a charge of 30 men to seize the castle, posing as the fuel man. The English subsequently laid siege with 3000 men: Douglas and Thomas slipped through the enemy camp to carry a message to William Wallace,[3] who arrived with reinforcements and slew 500 English soldiers.[4] [[James Douglas, Lord of Douglas Sir James Douglas] granted Thomas lands at Hazleside for his services to William, Third Lord Douglas[5][6]
Thomas was made Hereditary Captain of Douglas Castle by King Robert Bruce in 1306, a role held by the Barons of Symondstone until 1646.
On Palm Sunday (19 March) 1307, he supported James Douglas to recapture the castle from occupying English forces, in what became known in legend as the 'Douglas Larder'.[7]
[[John Barbour (poet) John Barbour]'s The Brus[8] describes: Thomas Dycsone the nearest was, to them that were of the castle, who were all within the chancel, and when he so heard 'Douglas' cry, He drew out his sword, and fiercely rushed among them to and fro.
During battle, Thomas was mortally wounded, holding his abdomen closed to continue fighting, until he died.[9] Thomas Dixon is buried at St Bride's Church, Douglas.
Barony of Symondstone
[edit]King Robert Bruce created the Barony of Symondstone in 1317, granted posthumously to Thomas de Keith 1st Baron Symondstone, following his death. Chartered in Latin, as Thomas Filius Ricardus, translating to Thomas Dixon, thus creating the Dixon name.
To Thomas, Son of Richard, For the Barony of Symington. Robert, by the grace of God, King of Scots, to all good men of his whole realm, greeting. Know ye that we have given and granted and by this our present charter have confirmed to our faithful and beloved Thomas, Son of Richard, for his homage and service, the whole Barony of Symonstoun, with pertinents, within the sherriffdom of Lanark: To be held and possessed by the said Thomas and his heirs of us and our heirs, in fee and heritage by all their right marches and boundaries, freely, quietly, fully and honourably, with tenandries and the services of the free tenants of the said barony and with all other liberties, commodities, easements and their just pertinents belonging to the said barony or which by any manner of way may be held to pertain thereto: Paying therefore yearly the said Thomas and his heirs to us and our heirs the service usual and wont to be paid from the foresaid barony. In witness whereof...&c.
This Charter was issued in about 1317. It was one of 95 issued by Robert the Bruce between 1315 and 1321.
Barons Symondstone (1307–1646)
[edit]Thomas Dixon's heirs succeeded as Barons of Symondstone and Hereditary Castellans of Douglas Castle, whilst younger branches used Dixon.[10] The Barons later used of that ilk, to distinguish from the wider branches of Symondstone. The Barony was extant until 1646.[11]
- Thomas Dixon, 1st Baron Symondstone (1247–1307)
- Duncan Dixon, 2nd Baron Symondstone (XXXX-XXXX)
- Thomas Dixon, 3rd Baron Symondstone (XXXX-XXXX)
- William, 4th Baron Symondstone (1400-?)
- John, 5th Baron Symondstone (1462–1516)
- James, 6th Baron Symondstone (1457–1523)
- William, 7th Baron Symondstone (1480–1535)
- Archibald, 8th Baron Symondstone (1475–1545).[12]
- John, 9th Baron Symondstone (1545-?)
- John, 10th Baron Symondstone (1560–1643)[13]
- John, 11th Baron Symondstone (extinct 1646)
Dixon family (1460 - present)
[edit]Arms Red gules, gold fleur-de-lis, chief ermine. Crest Lion rampant
7 generations after Thomas Dixon, Sir John Dixon was born in London in 1460, married to Anne, of the Barons de Ros. The family lived at Furness Falls, Cumbria, and Heaton Royds, Yorkshire. From this line came the Dixon baronets of Astle and Gledhow Hall, the Dixons of Belford Hall, Dixon Knights of Ireland.
References
[edit]- ^ Nisbet's Heraldry (1722) A system of heraldry speculative and practical: with the true art of blazon, according to the most approved heralds in Europe: illustrated with suitable examples of armorial figures (1722) [1]
- ^ The Border or Riding Clans followed by a history of the clan Dickson (1888), B. Homer Dixon, pub. Albany, New York [2].
- ^ The Border or Riding Clans followed by a history of the clan Dickson (1888), B. Homer Dixon, pub. Albany, New York, p. 118 [3]
- ^ The Actis and Deeds of the illustere and vaileand champion schir William Wallace Knight of Ellerslie (1381), Henry the Minstrel [4]
- ^ A general history of Scotland together with a particular history of the House of Douglas (1648) p. 39, David Hume of Godscroft, pub. Edinburgh: prin. Evan Tyler [5]]
- ^ The Broken Cross, A Legend of Douglas: with Chronicles of the Black Douglases (1859), 2nd Ed., [6]
- ^ The Actis and Deeds of the illustere and vaileand champion schir William Wallace Knight of Ellerslie (1381), Henry the Minstrel [7]
- ^ The Brus (1375), John Barbour. Pub. 1909 London, A. and C. Black [8]
- ^ A general history of Scotland together with a particular history of the House of Douglas (1648), David Hume of Godscroft, pub. Edinburgh: prin. Evan Tyler [9]
- ^ Genealogy of the Symington Family (1908), compiled by Rev. Henry Paton. Pub. Edinburgh [10]
- ^ Vol 4, Correspondence of Douglas. By William Fraser. Edinburgh : Printed by T. and A. Constable, at the Edinburgh University Press, 1885.[11]
- ^ A Concise History of Scotland; F McLean, Scotland-the Making of a Kingdom; Voll&2, Robert the Bruce; R Scott, Castles and Strongholds; Muir, Robert the Bruce a Scots Life; Telfer, Scottish Local History; Moddy, Highlanders; F McLean, Collins Encyclopaedia of Scotland, The Stewart Dynasty; S Ross
- ^ Irving, George Vere, Murray, Alexander, The Upper Ward of Lanarkshire Described and Delineated. Thomas Murray And Son Glasgow 1864 Volume I, page 190 and Volume II, page 139 (Inquis. Spec., 56)