Strachan of Knock, Kincardineshire

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Strachan of Knock

By Garry Strachan
Reprint from the Winter 2013 edition of Clachnaben!, Clan Strachan Society Newsletter

Thomas Strachan, is the first of the family to appear on record in the Mearns after David Bruce had confirmed the Abbey of Arbroath, in their possessions around Fordoun.

Thomas Strachan is first recorded at Aberdeen in the spring of 1333. He is in the company of Richard Lauder, Chamberlain to David II of Scotland, and several prominent Aberdonians. This group presided at an inquiry concerning the rights of the Bishops of Aberdeen to receive a percentage of the taxation due to the crown from the diocese of Aberdeen. [R.M.S. i, no.268; app.2 no.1564]

In 1341, the young King David II returned to Scotland after his long exile in France. There is no doubt that he had the allegiance of the Strachan family at this time.

In 1342, Thomas Strachan appears at Arbroath Abbey in order to take a lease of the lands of Kulbak, Kynkell, Neulandis, Fasdafach, Glenferkyn, Tubbertas and Blarys, for the term of 10 years [Arbroath Liber, ii, no. 19]. Thomas had married Mariota, widow of the previous tenant of these lands. As Monboddo was not mentioned in the lease, it may be that Thomas was already in residence there.

The lands recorded in this lease include the majority of the lands which Alexander Comyn had leased in 1268.

The charter that records the lease of these lands surrounding Monboddo, is unique, in that Thomas Strachan appends his seal to the document and has William Dalgarno, Abbot of Kelso, append his seal. Dalgarno was David Bruce’s tutor whilst exiled in France.

We know that in 1352, Thomas Strachan had a charter of Knock of Benholm designated Thomas Strachan de Knox [R.M.S. i, app.2, no. 1290]. If any Strachans were resident at Monboddo at this time, they may have been disputing their tenure with John Keith. (see next)

Despite Arbroath’s title to the lands it would appear that a certain John Keith had occupied some of the Abbey’s lands in Fordoun during the year 1354. King David was than a prisoner in England, leaving his nephew, Robert the Steward, as Guardian of the Kingdom.

In October 1354, Robert the Steward ordered Thomas Stewart, Earl of Angus, to maintain the Abbot of Arbroath in possession of the Abbey’s lands in Fordoun, including Monboddo. John Keith relinquished his claim to the lands shortly after this action.

Although we are not certain of the extent of Thomas Strachan’s family, we do know that Thomas Strachan, younger, was a witness to a charter concerning Melville Lord of Glenbervie before 1390. [The Mearns of Old, J.Crab Watt, 1914; p259]

We know the Strachans were still at Knock of Benholm in the mid-15th century, as it is recorded that one of the family served as sheriff depute:

20 July 1445 Alexander Strachan of Knox, Sheriff Depute of Aberdeen and Kincardine gives sasine to John Auchinleck, son and heir of Sir James Auchinleck to land in the barony of Kenmay, Aberdeenshire and also lands in the baronies of Barras and Glenbervie in Kincardine.

One of the witnesses is a certain David Strachan [Acts of the Lords in Council, Vol.III].

The last record we have concerning Alexander Strachan of Knox is in 13 April 1452. The register of the Great Seal states that “Alexander Strachan de la Knock is granted one-half the lands of Keyere, Perthshire, which John Strachan of Keyre has resigned.” [The main source for the succession of Strachan lairds from c. 1450 to 1615 is: Miscellany of]

At present, we have no record of the departure of the Strachan family from Knock of Benholm after 1452. However, we know that by this date the family had settled at Petgarvie and Thornton. There is also the possibility that Alexander Strachan of Knock was in fact son and heir of Alexander Strachan of Thornton and grandson of Sir John Strachan who died c. 1390.

It is probable that the Strachans were able to farm at Monboddo again by c.1390, as Alexander Strachan of Thornton was able to transfer the estate to his younger son, John, by c. 1450. [Ref. The Third Spalding Club, Vol. II. Copy of a Manuscript Entitled: A Genealogie of the Barons in the Mearns of Late Memory Deschending Lineally unto the Year of God 1578.]

Thus, John Strachan probably became the first of the Strachans to be designated ‘Laird of Monboddo’.

There appears to be some question on the exact location of Knock as charters make reference to Kincardine, and there is a Knock Hill House between Monboddo and Feteresso, near Drumlithie, just at Glenbervie, that may point to the older landmark. Other authorities point rather to Knock being near Strachan itself, as in Knock Wood and Knockhill. It is fairly safe to presume that this did not include the Knock Estate near Huntly.