A System of Heraldry - Clan Strachan Society

OF THE CHEVERON.
tressure counter-flowered gules ; second and third azure, three cinqucfoiis ardent,
with a martlet in the centre for difference ; crest, a goat's head erased ai^ent,
aimed and collared azure, tlie last charged with three cinquefoils argent : motto,
Let the deed shaw.
There is another ancient family of the name of FLEMING of Barrochin, in the
shire of Renfrew, in the reign of Alexander III. mentioned in a charter of Mai
colm Earl of Lennox to Walter Spruel. And in another charier of James High
Steward of Scotland, grandfather to King Robert II. in the reign of King James !
William Fleming of Barrochin is sheriff of Lanark, but was killed at the battle of
Flodden with King James IV. anno 1513. He left issue by Marion, his lady, a
daughter of the family of Houston, James his son and heir, who was father of
William Fleming of Barrochin, from whom Patrick Fleming, now of Barrochin,
is the fifth in a direct line ; as in Mr Crawfurd's History of the shire of Renfrew.
He gives the armorial bearings of this family without naming the tinctures, thus,
a fesse cheque, surmounted of a bend, with a martlet in base. It is strange that
this ancient family carries nothing of the Flemings, but only the figures of the
Stewarts, over-lords and patrons of that country ; and the martlet as a maternal
mark from the House of Houston.
The surname of FLOCK.HART, with us, argent, a cheveron sable- Font's MS.
The family of WIDVILLE Earls of RIVERS in England carried argent, a cheveron
gules, which Imhoft" blazons thus, Insignia Comitum Rivers e I'Vidwilana stirpe prognati
: Usi sunt scuto argenteo cui norma impressa est rubea. Here the word nonna is
used for a cheveron.
FULFORD of Fulford in the county of Devonshire, gtiles, a cheveron argent.
SWILLINGTON in England, ardent, a cheveron azure.
When a cheveron is alone in the field, it is then the principal figure of the
name by whom it is so carried, but if accompanied with other figures, it is not
always to be looked upon as a principal, but as an additional figure ; but more of
this afterwards. I proceed to give examples of a cheveron accompanied and charged
with figures, by some principal families.
The surname of ELPHINSTONE, argent, a cheveron sable, accompanied
with three
boars' heads erased gules ; Plate VII. fig. 4. The first of this name is said to have
been a German, called Helphingston, which became a surname to his descendants.
One of them, an eminent man in the reign of King Robert the Bruce, married
Margaret Seaton, daughter of Sir Christopher Seaton of that Ilk, and his lady,
Christian, sister to King Robert the Bruce ; and got with her lands in East-
Lothian, which he called after his name, Elphinstone, which held of the family of
Seaton. The family of Elphinstone of that Ilk continued, and, by marrying Marjory
Airth, heiress of Airthland, or Airthbey, in Stirlingshire, got with her these
lands, till Sir Alexander Elphinstone of that Ilk was killed in the battle of Pepperden,
in the year 1436. He left behind him a daughter, Agnes, his heir, married
to Gilbert Johnston, who, in her right, was laird of Elphinstone, of whom before.
The other lands, belonging to this family in Stirlingshire, came to Henry
Klphinstone, as heir-male to his brother Sir Alexander Elphinstone, and these lands
they called Elphinstone. He was succeeded by his son John Elphinstone of that
Ilk, father of Alexander Elphinstone, who was created lord of Parliament, by the
title of Lord Elphinstone, by King James IV. This is evident by a charter, (in
the Earl of Haddington's Collections) where that king dispones to him, there designed,
Lord Elphinstone, and his spouse Elisabeth Barlow, an English lady, one
of the maids of Queen Margaret, the lands of Quarrel, lying within the sheriftdom
of Stirling, anno 1512, the 2pth of August. This Lord Elphinstone was killed
with the king at the battle of Flodden, and being not unlike the king in face and
stature, his body was carried by the English to Berwick for that of the king's.
His son and successor, Alexander Lord Elphinstone, was killed at the battle of
Pinkie, icth September 1547, and was father of Robert Lord Elphinstone, \\ho
married Elisabeth, a daughter of John Drummond of Innerpeffry, and by her had
several children. Alexander, the eldest, was by King James VI. made one of the
Privy Council, and preferred to be Lord High Treasurer 1599. He had four sons,
and as many daughters, by his lady, a daughter of William Lord Livingston :
Alexander, the eldest, succeeded him ; James, the second, of Barns ; third, Jonn