A System of Heraldry - Clan Strachan Society

OF THE CHEVERON.
Sir ROBERT FLEMING was amongst the first Scots patriots who stood up for the
interest of King Robert the Bruce, and independency
of Scotland for which he
;
from iiis Majesty the barony of Cumbernauld, and several other donations. He
had two SOBS, Sir Malcom his successor, and Sir Patrick Fleming, Sheriff of Peebles,
who got the barony of Biggar, by marrying one of the daughters and coheirs
of Simon Frazer Lord of Oliver-Castle ; upon which account this branch of
the Flemings quarters the arms of Frazer, viz. azure, three cinquefoils argent,
Of old they were five cinquefoils, disposed in saltier, 2, i, and 2.
Sir MALCOLM FLEMING of Cumbernauld was in great favour with King Robert I.
who, for his own and his father's merits, made him Sheriff of the county, and
governor of Dumbarton castle. He was succeeded by his son Sir Malcolm, who
singularly stood for King David II. and the Brucian line, and was also made
governor of Dumbarton castle. He discharged that trust with the utmost fidelity,
when the King's interest was very weak, after the loss of the battles of Duplin and
Hallidon-hill ; things growing worse and worse, and the King's person being in
danger, Sir Malcolm was pitched upon to wait on the King to France, which he
performed with safety and honour. After this he returned to his command of
Dumbarton Castle, which he kept out against Edward Baliol and the English, and
there happily preserved Robert Lord High Steward, afterwards King Robert II.
whose blood was very much sought after. And when the King's affairs took ano-
ther turn, Sir Malcolm went to France and attended the king home, 2d of July
1342; and on the 9th of November the same year, his majesty was pleased to
create him Earl of Wigton, by his royal charter : for which see Mr Crawfurd's
Peerage.
THOMAS Earl of WIGTON, grandson to Malcolm Earl of Wigton, having no issue,
sold the earldom with its dignity to Archibald Earl of Douglas, in the year 1371.
I find him designed in charters Thomas quondam Comes de : Wigtoun He died without
issue. In our illuminated books of blazons, I have met with the arms of
Archibald Douglas Earl of Wigton, thus, quarterly,
argent,
first azure, a lion rampant
crowned or, for Galloway ; second and third gules, a cheveron within a
double tressure counter-flowered argent, the arms of the Earl of Wigton ; fourth
argent, a heart gules, on a chief azure, three stars of the first, for Douglas.
MALCOLM FLEMING of Biggar, son of Robert, and brother to Sir Malcolm
Fleming of Cumbernauld beforementioned, continued the succession of the family,
which was dignified with the title of Lord Fleming, and afterwards by King
James VI. the ipth March 1606, with the title of Earl of Wigton, whose representative
is John Earl of Wigton. He carries, quarterly, first and fourth gules, a
cheveron within a double tressure, flowered and counter-flowered argent ; second
and third azure, three cinquefoils argent, as descended of the Lord Fraser abovementioned.
These are otherwise illuminated in James Esplin, Marchmont herald,
his Book, viz. first and fourth or, a cheveron within a double tressure counterflowered
gules ; second and third czure, six cinquefoils, 2, 2, and 2 argent ; which
in my opinion is a mistake, for in all other books they are as I have blazoned
them : supported by two stags, proper, attired and unguled or, and collared azure,
charged with three cinquefoils argent ; crest, a goat's head erased argent, horned
or : motto, Let the deed sbaw.
The FLEMINGS of Boghall, in Renfrewshire, were descended of a younger son
of Biggar now Earl of Wigton. I have seen a charter of John Fleming of Boghall,
of the lands of Sinton, to John Veitch, son and apparent heir of William
Veitch of Dawick, whereunto the seal of Fleming of Boghall is appended, having
his arms, quarterly, first and fourth a cheveron betwixt three wolves' heads ; second
and third, on a bend, other three figures which were defaced.
Sir WILLIAM FLEMING of Fern, Knight-Baronet, Commissary of Glasgow,
descended of a second son of the Earl of Wigton, carries, quarterly, first and fourth
Allies, a cheveron embattled within a double tressure counter-flowered argent, for
Fleming ; second and third azure, three cinquefoiis argent, for Fraser ; and for.
crest, a palm tree, proper ; with the motto, Sub pondere cresco. New Register.
And there also,
Lieutenant-Colonel JOHN FLEMING, descended of a third brother of the Earl of
Wigton's family, carries, quarterly, first and fourth or, a cheveron within a double