Clan MacThomas
Encyclopedia
Clan MacThomas is a Highland
Scottish clan
from the Glens of Eastern Perthshire. The clan takes its name from Thomaidh Mor (Big Tommy), who was the great-grandson of the William Mackintosh, 8th chief of the Clan Chattan. The seat of the Clan MacThomas was at Finegand
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of the heads") in Glenshee.
Region of Scotland, south of Inverness. It was an inhospitable place and with the Clan Chattan becoming large and unmanageable (and not being heir to the Chattan Chiefship) Tomaidh Mor took his family and followers in an easterly direction across the Grampian Mountains before settling in Glenshee. There they flourished becoming an independent Clan in their own right, albeit retaining close ties with the Clan Chattan Confederation for defence reasons.
.
At the time, the Scottish Parliament was dominated by the Covenanters, who supported Presbyterianism and Alexander, the 6th Chief, acted as a Covenanter Government agent. He died in 1637 and was succeeded by his son, John, the 7th Chief, who was to become a legend in his own lifetime and a Highland hero to this day. McComie Mor (as he is often known) put to flight some tax collectors in defence of a poor widow; he killed the Earl of Athol's champion swordsman; he slayed a man who insulted his wife; he fights his son in disguise to test his courage; he overcomes a ferocious bull and he is even familiar with the supernatural.
In 1644, John McComie of Finegand joined the Royalist Army and for the next two years served throughout Montrose's "glorious" campaign with six brilliant victories but after a crushing defeat at Philiphaugh, he returned to cattle raising in Glenshee. McComie Mor prospered to such an extend that he sold Finegand and purchased the Barony of Forter,a much larger estate over the hill in Glen Isla leaving behind hundreds of clansfolk in Glenshee.
Towards the end of his life, the 7th Chief was won over by the prosperity Oliver Cromwell
brought to Scotland and started to co-operate with Cromwell's men. This was too much for his Royalist neighbours and when Charles II returned to the throne in 1660, his enemies saw an opportunity for revenge. A decree, lawsuit and a crippling fine together with a damaging feud with the Farquharsons
over land which led to the murder of his eldest and fourth son at a skirmish at Drumgley near Forfar 1673 led to his death the following year. The MacThomases were at a low ebb and when Thomas,the 9th Chief, was forced to sell the Forter Estate the Clan started to drift apart.
where the family, with interests in property and insurance, prospered as the population of Dundee doubled in the 18th Century. Other clansfolk moved to Aberdeenshire where one William McCombie
of Tillyfour MP, became famous for breeding Aberdeen-Angus cattle. Patrick, the 16th Chief, became Provost of Dundee in 1847 purchasing the Aberlemno
Estate in Angus. His son, George, became one of Scotland's youngest Sheriffs (Judges) in 1870. When he died George left his fortune (£4.3 million in today's terms) to St Magnus Cathedral in Orkney, together with the Aberlemno Estate. His heir, Alfred,17th Chief, contested the will in a famous court case in Edinburgh in 1905 but lost to the shocked dismay of his family. In 1954, the Clan MacThomas Society was founded by Patrick, 18th Chief, who married a 3rd Cousin of Her Majesty the Queen
. His son, Andrew, the 19th and current Chief, has dedicated much time to his clan with a result that you can not be in Glenshee without being aware of the historic connection with Clan MacThomas.
names of Clan MacThomas (recognized by the Clan MacThomas Society):
Note: Prefixes Mac and Mc are interchangeable.
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
Scottish clan
Scottish clan
Scottish clans , give a sense of identity and shared descent to people in Scotland and to their relations throughout the world, with a formal structure of Clan Chiefs recognised by the court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms which acts as an authority concerning matters of heraldry and Coat of Arms...
from the Glens of Eastern Perthshire. The clan takes its name from Thomaidh Mor (Big Tommy), who was the great-grandson of the William Mackintosh, 8th chief of the Clan Chattan. The seat of the Clan MacThomas was at Finegand
Finegand
Finegand is a farming hamlet located in eastern Perth and Kinross, Scotland and also refers historically to the portion of lands surrounding the hamlet...
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Burn (stream)
In Scotland, North East England and some parts of Ireland and New Zealand, burn is a name for watercourses from large streams to small rivers. The term is also used in lands settled by the Scots and Northern English in other countries, notably in Otago, New Zealand, where much of the naming was...
of the heads") in Glenshee.
Origins of the Clan
Tomaidh Mor lived in the 15th Century in the BadenochBadenoch
Badenoch is a traditional district which today forms part of Badenoch and Strathspey, an area of Highland Council, in Scotland, bounded on the north by the Monadhliath Mountains, on the east by the Cairngorms and Braemar, on the south by Atholl and the Grampians, and on the west by Lochaber...
Region of Scotland, south of Inverness. It was an inhospitable place and with the Clan Chattan becoming large and unmanageable (and not being heir to the Chattan Chiefship) Tomaidh Mor took his family and followers in an easterly direction across the Grampian Mountains before settling in Glenshee. There they flourished becoming an independent Clan in their own right, albeit retaining close ties with the Clan Chattan Confederation for defence reasons.
16th Century
The 4th Chief, Robert MacThomaidh, lived at the Thom in Upper Glenshee. In 1587, the Clan MacThomas was mentioned in the Acts of the (Scottish) Parliament as one of the " Clannis that the Capitannes,Cheffis and Chiftanes quhom on they depend". Robert was killed by a band of highland marauders at the end of the 16C and as he only had a daughter, the Chiefship passed to his younger brother, John, the 5th Chief, who lived three miles south of the Thom at FinegandFinegand
Finegand is a farming hamlet located in eastern Perth and Kinross, Scotland and also refers historically to the portion of lands surrounding the hamlet...
.
17th Century, Clan Conflicts & Civil War
The MacThomases were successful cattle breeders and had acquired considerable influence and power at the beginning of the 17th Century. But it was turbulent time and marauding groups of robbers (caterans) caused continuous trouble. In 1602, the largest raid took place when two hundred caterans rounded up some 3000 head of cattle on MacThomas territory. The robbers were pursued and a furious fight took place known as the Battle of the Cairwell. Eventually the caterans were defeated but not before they had killed most the cattle out of sheer spite which caused some financial loss to the MacThomases.At the time, the Scottish Parliament was dominated by the Covenanters, who supported Presbyterianism and Alexander, the 6th Chief, acted as a Covenanter Government agent. He died in 1637 and was succeeded by his son, John, the 7th Chief, who was to become a legend in his own lifetime and a Highland hero to this day. McComie Mor (as he is often known) put to flight some tax collectors in defence of a poor widow; he killed the Earl of Athol's champion swordsman; he slayed a man who insulted his wife; he fights his son in disguise to test his courage; he overcomes a ferocious bull and he is even familiar with the supernatural.
In 1644, John McComie of Finegand joined the Royalist Army and for the next two years served throughout Montrose's "glorious" campaign with six brilliant victories but after a crushing defeat at Philiphaugh, he returned to cattle raising in Glenshee. McComie Mor prospered to such an extend that he sold Finegand and purchased the Barony of Forter,a much larger estate over the hill in Glen Isla leaving behind hundreds of clansfolk in Glenshee.
Towards the end of his life, the 7th Chief was won over by the prosperity Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
brought to Scotland and started to co-operate with Cromwell's men. This was too much for his Royalist neighbours and when Charles II returned to the throne in 1660, his enemies saw an opportunity for revenge. A decree, lawsuit and a crippling fine together with a damaging feud with the Farquharsons
Clan Farquharson
Clan Farquharson of Invercauld is a Highland Scottish clan. The clan hails from Aberdeenshire and is a member of the Chattan Confederation.-Origins:Farquhar - from the Gaelic 'fear' and 'char' meaning 'dear one'...
over land which led to the murder of his eldest and fourth son at a skirmish at Drumgley near Forfar 1673 led to his death the following year. The MacThomases were at a low ebb and when Thomas,the 9th Chief, was forced to sell the Forter Estate the Clan started to drift apart.
18th Century to date
The Chiefly family fled to Fife where they became successful farmers before moving back across the Tay to DundeeDundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
where the family, with interests in property and insurance, prospered as the population of Dundee doubled in the 18th Century. Other clansfolk moved to Aberdeenshire where one William McCombie
William McCombie
William McCombie , Scottish agriculturist, was born at Tillyfour, Aberdeenshire, where he founded the herd of black-polled cattle with which his name is associated...
of Tillyfour MP, became famous for breeding Aberdeen-Angus cattle. Patrick, the 16th Chief, became Provost of Dundee in 1847 purchasing the Aberlemno
Aberlemno
Aberlemno is a parish and small village in the Scottish council area of Angus. It is noted for three large carved Pictish stones dating from the 7th and 8th centuries AD ; the stones can be viewed at any time in spring-autumn, but are covered by wooden boxes in the winter to prevent frost damage...
Estate in Angus. His son, George, became one of Scotland's youngest Sheriffs (Judges) in 1870. When he died George left his fortune (£4.3 million in today's terms) to St Magnus Cathedral in Orkney, together with the Aberlemno Estate. His heir, Alfred,17th Chief, contested the will in a famous court case in Edinburgh in 1905 but lost to the shocked dismay of his family. In 1954, the Clan MacThomas Society was founded by Patrick, 18th Chief, who married a 3rd Cousin of Her Majesty the Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
. His son, Andrew, the 19th and current Chief, has dedicated much time to his clan with a result that you can not be in Glenshee without being aware of the historic connection with Clan MacThomas.
Clan profile
Motto and current chief
- Clan Motto: Deo juvante invidiam superabo (LatinLatinLatin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
) (With God's help, I will overcome envy). - Clan Chief: Andrew MacThomas of Finegand, 19th Chief of Clan MacThomas.
Clan Septs
SeptSept
A sept is an English word for a division of a family, especially a division of a clan. The word might have its origin from Latin saeptum "enclosure, fold", or it can be an alteration of sect.The term is found in both Ireland and Scotland...
names of Clan MacThomas (recognized by the Clan MacThomas Society):
- Combie
- MacOmie
- MacOmish
- McColm
- McComas
- McComb(e)
- McCombie
- McComie
- McComish
- Tam
- Thom
- Thoms
- Thomas
- Thomson
Note: Prefixes Mac and Mc are interchangeable.
List of clan chiefs
| Chief | Name | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Thomas (Tomaidh Mor) | 15th Century | Seated at the Thom, East bank of the Shee Water. |
| 2nd | John MacThomaidh of the Thom | Early 16th century | Son or Grandson of Tomaidh Mor. |
| 3rd | Adam MacThomaidh of the Thom | mid-16th century | Son of John. |
| 4th | Robert MacThomaidh of the Thom | Murdered 1600 | The Thom was lost when his only daughter married a Farquharson. |
| 5th | John McComie of Finegand | 1600–1610 | Robert's brother; moved seat to Finegand. |
| 6th | Alexander McComie of Finegand | 1610–1637 | Married a Farquaharson and gained more land at Benzian Mor in Glenshee. |
| 7th | John McComie (Iain Mor) | 1637–1674 | Alexander's son; known as "McComie Mor", greatly expanded territory and prestige of the clan; acquired lands and Barony of Forter in Glenisla (1651); rose to support Montrose James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose was a Scottish nobleman and soldier, who initially joined the Covenanters in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, but subsequently supported King Charles I as the English Civil War developed... in 1644 |
| 8th | James McComie | 1674–1676 | 3rd son of Iain Mor. |
| 9th | Thomas McComie | 1676–1684 | 5th son of Iain Mor. |
| 10th | Angus Thomas | 1684–1708 | Aka "Mr. Angus" educated at St. Andrew University, Fife; 6th son of Iain Mor, anglicized surname, (dejure Chief). |
| 11th | Robert Thomas | 1708–1740 | Large estate at Cullarnie, later moved to Belhelvie; son of Angus, (dejure). |
| 12th | David Thomas of Belhelvie | 1740–1751 | Eldest son of Robert. Died Young. |
| 13th | Henry Thomas of Belhelvie | 1751–1797 | Second son of Robert. Continued to farm at Belhelvie. |
| 14th | William Thoms | 1797–1843 | Eldest son of Henry, became a merchant in St. Andrews, further Anglicized surname, died with no children. |
| 15th | Patrick Hunter MacThomas Thoms | 1843–1870 | Son of George Thoms (a son of Henry and half-brother of William). Provost of Dundee. Purchased estate of Aberlemno in Angus. |
| 16th | George MacThomas Thoms | 1870–1903 | Son of Patrick; Sheriff of Caithness, Orkney and Shetland.Bequethed his vast fortune and lands to St. Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall. |
| 17th | Alfred MacThomas Thoms | 1903–1958 | Writer to the Signet. |
| 18th | Patrick MacThomas of Finegand | 1958–1970 | Great-grandnephew of Patrick, the first Chief known to be officially recognized by the Lyon Court Court of the Lord Lyon The Court of the Lord Lyon, also known as the Lyon Court, is a standing court of law which regulates heraldry in Scotland. Like the College of Arms in England it maintains the register of grants of arms, known as the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland, as well as records of... since Thomas McComie in 1676. Army Officer. Married a 3rd cousin of Her Majesty the Queen. |
| 19th | Andrew MacThomas of Finegand (MacThomaidh Mhor) | 1970-date | Current Clan Chief, Retired Banker. |