The House of Dun

The word house means, of course, a residential building. But the word House signifies an extended family (such as might indeed have originated from a single dwelling in the far distant past). Think perhaps of the Royal Houses of Windsor, Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and so on back. All our ruling dynasties since 1066, in fact, none of them English in origin, most of them not even British in the modern sense!

And of course there are corporate brands such as House of Fraser, the retail chain that once included Harrods under its corporate roof. That's definitely British, well, Scottish anyway. And that brings me belatedly to the point that the great families of Scotland do often seem to have identified with a particular great house or castle, and in that sense House and house were broadly synonymous.

And so it was with the House of Dun – the Erskine family line whose senior members – the Lairds of Dun – dwelt in an unbroken line from 1392 until 1980 in the great house also known simply as the House of Dun. It had previously been occupied by the eponymous family of Dun, also most distinguished: a modern 'custom' emblazon of their arms is shown below, together with the long-established arms of Aberdeen Grammar School, founded even earlier in 1257.

Arms of Aberdeen Grammar School

The lower RH field clearly reproduces the conventional arms of Dun, but the lower LH field depicts a fort, or fortified tower, with three turrets. This is a pun on the family name – which in both Scottish and Irish Gaelic means "fortress". The three turrets and three padlocks may just be a numerical coincidence, but they all strengthen the common theme of security and safety. The Dun family's connection with the school dates from the late 16^th and early 17^th centuries, when indeed their family records begin, but their contact with the Erskines goes back to 1348, when – by some means or other – the ownership of the house and estate passed to Sir Robert Erskine of that Ilk: click here for such details of this as I've been able to find.

House of Dun, seen from the north side, late 18^th century

House of Dun, seen from the south side, today

The family chronicler, defined by Johnson as a harmless drudge, along with lexicographers, is indeed fortunate to have the benefit of an earlier soulmate, who has provided a template, a progress report, on which to build. Principal amongst these was the delightful Violet Jacob, one of those one hopes to meet in Heaven if circumstances and qualifications permit.

Not conventionally beautiful (though neither am I, God wot), she was one of those people with whom one feels a special bond across the years. Her book The Lairds of Dun gives an unrivalled account of those Erskines over almost six centuries. Stronger on events and relationships than dates, perhaps, but the fold-out family tree inside the back cover has been crucial to my own understanding of what unfolded from the time of Sir Robert Erskine of That Ilk (1310 – 1385), father of both the 1^st Laird of Dun and the 12^th Earl of Mar, through to Augustus John Kennedy-Erskine 20^th Laird of Dun.

• The Lairds of Dun, Violet Jacob (née Kennedy-Erskine); John Murray, London 1931

Other sources that have proved invaluable, or at least could be usefully consulted, include

• www.thepeerage.com
• erskinclan.com/gene3.html
• www.ancestor.abel.co.uk/Angus/Dun.html
• www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/

#	Individual	Spouse / Partner	Family
1	Sir John Erskine 1st Laird of Dun (ca 1380 – 1410)	Wife unknown	Alexander Erskine (d<1454)
2	Alexander Erskine 2nd Laird of Dun (d<1454)	Jonet (?)	John Erskine (d 1508)
3	John Erskine 3rd Laird of Dun (d 15 or 18 Mar 1508)	Mariota Graham (d 17 May 1504)	Robert Erskine John Erskine (KIA 9 Sep 1513, Flodden) Thomas Erskine (KIA 9 Sep 1513, Flodden) Alexander Erskine Isabella (Erskine) Lundy of Benholme
4	John Erskine 4th Laird of Dun (KIA 9 Sep 1513, Flodden)	Katherine Monypenny (d 3 Mar 1531)	Alexander Erskine Walter Erskine Sir Thomas Erskine of Brechin =1. Elizabeth Scrymgeour =2. Agnes Ogilvy (but see Wikipedia) John Erskine (KIA 9 Sep 1513, Flodden) Robert Erskine Janet (Erskine) Durham of Grange Elizabeth (Erskine) Falconer of Halcarton Isobel (Erskine) Cramond of Aldbar
5	John Erskine (KIA 9 Sep 1513, Flodden)	Margaret Ruthven Countess of Buchan (d 5 Aug 1540)	John Erskine 5th Laird of Dun (d 1589) Katherine (Erskine) Arbuthnott
6	John Erskine1,  2,  3,  4,  5 5th Laird of Dun (1509 – 12 or 22 Mar 1589) As per The Lairds of Dun pp 61-64, at age of 20 he murdered a priest, Sir William Froster. Religious reformer and harmoniser. As per The Lairds of Dun pp 91-94, mediated between John Knox and Mary Queen of Scots.	Elizabeth Lindsay (d 29 Jul 1538) (m ca Dec 1525)	Jean (Erskine) Forrester of Garden William Erskine Alexander Erskine = Christian Stratton Thomas Erskine = Helen Strathauchlin Robert Erskine of Arratt 6th Laird of Dun (d 17 Dec 1590) John Erskine (d 7 Sep 1563) =Margaret Hoppringle
		Barbara de Bearle (ca 1515 – 15 Nov 1572) (m Jan 1539)	John Erskine of Kirkbuddo (d 12 Jan 1572) = Barbara Strachan James Erskine (d 26 Apr 1562) = Jonet Graham Margaret (Erskine) Maule of Panmure
7	Robert Erskine of Arratt 6th Laird of Dun (d 17 Dec 1590)	Katherine Graham	Agedia (Erskine) Douglas of Tilquhillie Alexander Erskine = Madeline Melville John Erskine of Logie 7th Laird of Dun (d 15 or 27 Jun 1591) Arthur Erskine = Margaret Maule Thomas Erskine = Agnes Moncur Samuel Erskine = Grisell Forrester Henry Erskine Elizabeth (Erskine) Wishart of Drymme
8	Sir John Erskine of Logie 7th Laird of Dun (d 15 or 27 Jun 1591)	Agnes Ogilvy	Jean (Erskine) Panter of Newhameswalls John Erskine of Nathrow 8th Laird of Dun (d 1592) David Erskine (d<1610) Robert (d 1 Oct or 2 Dec 1613, beheaded) Isobel Erskine (d 1614, beheaded) Annas Erskine (d 1614, beheaded) Helen (Erskine) Halcro (banished, 22 Mar 1617) The Halcro Connection Portrait
9	John Erskine of Nathrow 8th Laird of Dun (d 21 Oct 1592)	Margaret Keith	Margaret Erskine John Erskine 9th Laird of Dun (d 1610)
9	David Erskine (d<1610)	Jean Maule	John Erskine 10th Laird of Dun de jure (1600 - Whitsunday 1613, poisoned) Alexander Erskine 11th Laird of Dun (survived poison, d 1662)
10	John Erskine 9th Laird of Dun (d 23 Mar 1610)	Magdalen (Halliburton) Carnegie (ca 1580 – 1650) daughter of Sir James Hal(l)iburton She later bore 6 children to her second husband John Carnegie, 1st Earl of Northesk	Margaret (Erskine) Durham of Grange
10	Sir Alexander Erskine 11th Laird of Dun (d 1662)	Margaret Lindsay	Marie (Erskine) 1. Allardyce 2. Dunbar of Burgie Sir Alexander Erskine (d 1650, predeceased father) Sir John Erskine (predeceased father) = Agnes Lichtoun
		Anne Beaton Portrait	David Erskine 12th Laird of Dun (d<1710) Robert Erskine James Erskine Portrait George Erskine Margaret (Erskine) 1. Carnegy of Boysack 2. David Lyall
11	David Erskine 12th Laird of Dun (d<1710) Portrait	Jean (Lumsden) Ramsay of Bamffe	Elizabeth Erskine Margaret (Erskine) Myll of Balwyllo David Erskine, Lord Dun 13th Laird of Dun (d 1758) James Erskine John Erskine = Anna Hannay of Kingsmuir Alexander Erskine = Jean Turnbull of Balhall
12	David Erskine Lord Dun, 13th Laird of Dun (1672 – 1758) Portraits	Magdalen Riddell of the Haining Portrait	Anne (Erskine) (1709 – 1735) 1. Earl of Airlie, Lord Ogilvy 2. Macdonald of Sleat Portrait Jean Erskine John Erskine 14th Laird of Dun (1712 – 1787) Portrait
13	John Erskine 14th Laird of Dun (1712 – 1787) Portrait	Margaret Inglis (1720 – 1747) Portrait	Magdalen Erskine Anne (Erskine) Wauchope of Edmonstone Portrait John Erskine 15th Laird of Dun (1742 – 1812) Portrait
14	John Erskine 15th Laird of Dun (1742 – 1812)	Mary Baird	Alice Erskine 16th Laird of Dun (d 1824, unmarried) Margaret Erskine 17th Laird of Dun (1772 – 1848) William-John Erskine (1775 – 1798) David Erskine (d unmarried) Anne Erskine (d unmarried)
15	Alice Erskine 16th Laird of Dun (d 1824, unmarried)
15	Margaret Erskine 17th Laird of Dun (1772 – 1848) Portrait	Archibald Kennedy 1st Marquess of Ailsa 12th Earl of Cassilis (Feb 1770 – 8 Sep 1846) (m 1 Jun 1793) Portrait	Lady Alicia Jane (Kennedy) Peel (d 1887) Archibald Kennedy (1794 – 1832, predeceasing his father; his son Archibald became 2nd Marquess of Ailsa) 13th Earl of Cassilis = Eleanor Allardyce Lady Anne (Kennedy) Baird (1798 – 1877) Lady Margaret (Kennedy) Radclyffe-Livingstone-Eyre (1800 – 1889) The Hon John Erskine Kennedy-Erskine (4 Jun 1802 – 16 Mar 1831, predeceasing his mother) He assumed the Erskine hyphenation on being named heir to the House of Dun.
16	The Hon John Erskine Kennedy-Erskine (4 Jun 1802 – 16 Mar 1831, before his mother)	Lady Augusta FitzClarence (3 or 17 Nov 1803 – 8 Dec 1865) (m 5 Jul 1827) (2nd m 24 Aug 1836) Portrait with children natural daughter of King William IV and Dorothy Jordan Portrait She later remarried to become Lady Augusta Gordon-Hallyburton. Portrait	William Henry Kennedy-Erskine 18th Laird of Dun (1 Jul 1828 – 15 Sep 1870) Wilhelmina (Kennedy-Erskine) 2nd Countess of Munster (27 Jun 1830 – 9 Oct 1906) Augusta Millicent Anne Mary (Kennedy-Erskine) Wemyss of Wemyss Castle (b 1831, in Windsor Castle – 11 Feb 1895) Portrait of all 3 children
17	Capt William Henry Kennedy-Erskine 18th Laird of Dun (1 Jul 1828 – 15 Sep 1870) Portraits	Catherine Jones (m 18 Nov 1862)	Violet Augusta Mary Frederica Kennedy-Erskine (1 Sep 1863 – 9 Sep 1946) Augustus John William Henry Kennedy-Erskine 19th Laird of Dun (12 Apr 1866 – 2 Feb 1908) Portrait Millicent Augusta Lilian (or Vivian) Kennedy-Erskine (12 Aug 1867 – 2 Nov 1883) John Kennedy-Erskine (d in infancy)
18	Violet Augusta Mary Frederica Kennedy-Erskine1,  2 (1 Sep 1863 – 9 Sep 1946) Portrait	Maj Arthur Otway Jacob (28 Aug 1867 – 29 Nov 1936) (m 27 Oct 1894)	Lieut Arthur Henry (Harry) Jacob (1895 – KIA 1916, Somme)
18	Capt Augustus John William Henry Kennedy-Erskine 19th Laird of Dun (12 Apr 1866 – 2 Feb 1908) Portrait	Alice Marjorie Cunningham Foote (d 3 Jul 1947) (m 3 Nov 1896) Portrait with children daughter of Reverend Alexander Leith Ross Foote	Violet Marjorie Augusta Kennedy-Erskine (1 Mar 1887 – 25 Dec 1934) Portrait (same) Millicent Alison Augusta (Kennedy-Erskine) Lovett 21st / last Laird of Dun (7 Apr 1899 – 16 Jun 1980) Portrait (same) Augustus John Kennedy-Erskine 20th Laird of Dun (14 Nov 1900 – 12 Oct 1966 ) William Henry Kennedy-Erskine (twin) (14 Nov 1900 – 21 May 1963)
19	Augustus John Kennedy-Erskine 20th Laird of Dun (14 Nov 1900 – 12 Oct 1966)	Unmarried?	Presumably sp
20	Millicent Alison Augusta Kennedy-Erskine 21st / last Laird of Dun (7 Apr 1899 – 16 Jun 1980)	Lt Col Thomas Maitland Lovett (29 May 1893 – 1946) (m 17 Jul 1943)	Presumably sp

Murthour Most Foul

This episode, though he wasn't entirely conversant with its details, was one of my father's party pieces when deputed to take me for a walk in my pre-school days. The murder of the nephews and the banishment of Margaret Erskine to the Orkneys was the gist of his tale, and it's only recently that I've learned the grisly details about her siblings' fate. Also, in fact, only the elder child died.

To better understand the story, we should first absorb a few dates (as per the table above):

• Robert of Arratt, 6^th Laird of Dun, died in 1590

• John Erskine of Logie, 7^th Laird of Dun, died in 1591

• John Erskine of Nathrow, 8^th Laird of Dun, died in 1592

• John Erskine of nowhere in particular, 9^th Laird of Dun, died in 1610, without a male heir

John of Nathrow, 8^th Laird, had two brothers, David and Robert. David had predeceased the 9^th Laird, but had begotten two young sons John and Alexander, John being heir apparent to the Lairdship and Alexander being his deputy so to speak (heir presumptive, I suppose). Now that the 9^th Laird had died, young John became the new 10^th Laird-in-waiting and Alexander still the heir presumptive.

Only if both children were to suffer an untimely demise would Uncle Robert succeed as 11^th Laird. And the wicked uncle decided to arrange just such a scenario. He rather surprisingly opted to confide this intention to his three sisters, and between them they concocted a plan to poison the youngsters with herbal potions obtained from Jonet Irving, a local witch, or 'wise woman' as she doubtless preferred to be called. (Not many people know that my brother and I were consigned to the care of a self-styled witch back in the 1950's, though hopefully I can tell you more about her elsewhen.)

The poison, if indeed it was effective, took nearly three years to work, and in an age when life expectancy was so pitifully low, and forensic evidence so utterly negligible, it would have been very hard to distinguish any one possible cause of death from all the others. Nevertheless, confessions were obtained from all four conspirators. Three were sentenced to death and eventually beheaded in public, but Helen, the youngest and apparently least culpable, was merely banished to the Orkney Islands.

The full story has been recounted by Violet Jacob in The Lairds of Dun pp 147-162 and is also told on pp 28-29 of The Erskine Halcro Genealogy, A Genealogical Study of the Ancestors, Kindred & Descendants Of the Rev Henry Erskine, Ebenezer Erskine Scott; Geo. Bell & Son, London, 1890 – also available in facsimile format: