MURRAY

Sir Andrew Murray, who was the sixth earl, distinguished himself greatly during the Scottish Wars of Independence.  When William Wallace raised the standard in defiance of English occupation in Scotland, Murray was the first great noble to rally to the banner.  When many of the other nobles deserted the campaign, Murray and Wallace stood firm and met the English at Stirling Brig.  These two great men led an army that destroyed the confident English beneath the shadow of Stirling Castle.  Murray cut down the Earl of Cressingham and the Scots army drove the English to their deaths in the River Forth.  The Earl of Surrey fled the scene, the enemy was destroyed and legends were made.  Murray had taken a mortal wound during the battle; sadly he died soon after and left Wallace to continue the campaign.  Murray’s son, another Andrew, took up his father’s sword after his death and eventually fought with Robert the Bruce.

ERSKINE

The surname originates from the Barony of Erskine in Renfrewshire, south of the River Clyde, which was held by Henry de Erskine in the reign of Alexander II.  Johan de Irskyne of Lanark rendered homage to Edward I of England in 1296.  Despite this, the Erskine’s resolutely supported the rise of Robert the Bruce, and Bruce's son, David II.  Bruce appointed Sir Robert de Erskine Keeper of Stirling Castle. He later became Lord Great Chamberlain of Scotland and Justiciar of the North.

WALLACE

Sir William Wallace (Medieval Gaelic: Uilliam Uallas), was a Scottish knight and landowner who is known for leading a resistance during the Wars of Scottish Independence and is today remembered in Scotland as a patriot and national hero. Along with Andrew Murray, he defeated an English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge, and became Guardian of Scotland, serving until his defeat at the Battle of Falkirk. A few years later Wallace was captured in Robroyston near Glasgow and handed over to King Edward I of England, who had him executed for treason.  Wallace was the inspiration for the poem The Acts and Deeds of Sir William Wallace, Knight of Elderslie, by the 15th century minstrel, Blind Harry and this poem was to some extent the basis of Randall Wallace's screenplay for the 1995 film Braveheart.

SINCLAIR

The Sinclair’s were a noble family which had its origins in Saint-Clair-sur-Epte, in Normandy, France. They first came to England with William the Conqueror during his invasion of England.  The name was originally "Saint-Clair" which was a place name.  Richard of Saint-Clair and Brittel of Saint-Clair are both mentioned in the Doomsday Book.  William of Saint-Clair accompanied Saint Margaret of Scotland, daughter of Edward the Exile to Scotland in 1068, where she eventually married Malcolm IIScotlandI of . In return for his efforts, the king supposedly granted Sinclair the barony of Roslin, Scotland in free heritage.  The Clan Sinclair was to fight in support of Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn.  After the battle Robert the Bruce gave William Sinclair his sword.  His nephew, another Sir William Sinclair, and his brother John are among the Scots killed attempting to carry Bruce's heart to the Holy Land. They were buried in Rosslyn Chapel.

LINDSAY

By the end of the 13th century the Wars of Scottish Independence had begun and it caused many dilemmas for the Lindsay’s as they had families on both sides of the border. However Sir Alexander Lindsay's patriotism made him take the side of Scotland. The Lindsay’s were supporters of both William Wallace and King Robert the Bruce. His English properties were forfeited and his sons there were imprisoned. The eldest of these sons Sir David Lindsay was later among the signatories of the Declaration of Arbroath, the 1320 assertion of Scottish Independence. Sir James Lindsay fought at the Battle of Otterburn in 1388 where the Scottish defeated the English. It was Sir Alexander Lindsay of Glenesk who during John Gaunts invasion of Scotland attacked and put to the sword the crew of one of the English ships that had landed above Queen's Ferry (South Queensferry).

STEWART

Walter the High Steward fought on the Scottish side at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, commanding the left wing of the Scots Army.  According to another version of events, he was the nominal leader of one of the four Scottish Schiltrons, and because of his youth and inexperience, its effective leader was his cousin James Douglas, Lord of Douglas.  Upon the liberation of Robert the Bruce's wife and daughter from their long captivity in England, the High Steward was sent to receive them at the Border and conduct them back to the Scottish Court.  Walter married, in 1315, Marjorie, only daughter of Robert I of Scotland by his first wife Isabella of Mar. The Lordship of Largs, forfeited by John Balliol, was bestowed upon Walter by Robert the Bruce, who also granted the Farme Castle estate in Rutherglen to him, as well as other lands and the feudal barony of Bathgate, Linlithgowshire.  Marjorie met her death whilst riding a horse from Paisley to Renfrew on 2 March 1316. She was thrown by the horse at a place called 'The Knock', broke her neck, and is said to have died instantly. She was, however, pregnant, and a "country fellow" is said to have instantly performed a caesarian operation and delivered the child alive; the future King Robert II.