Barony of Monycabbock, Tullimaddin and Cray

Donald Strachan, Baron of Monycabbock, Tullimaddin and Cray

Written by Maj. Benjamin Strachan, CMG;
edited by Jim Strachan, FSAScot

The noble family 'de Strachan' were, almost certainly related to the Great Comyn family. They subsequently supported the Balliol and Comyn claims to the Scottish Crown, and opposed Robert the Bruce.

At the Battle of Inverurie in 1308, forces loyal to the Bruce triumphed over the Comyns and their allies, killing them or driving them into exile.

On 1 November 1315, the King Robert I (The Bruce) disinherited the 'de Strachans', and granted the barony of Strachan to Sir Alexander Fraser, his future brother-in-law, and future Great Chamberlain of Scotland.

In 1341, King David II (Bruce's son and heir), had been defeated and captured by the English at the Battle of Neville's Cross. It was popularly thought that if one King could disinherit them, why should not another? With a little persuasion King David reinstated the Strachans, among others.

Shortly thereafter, between 1347-1355 all families that benefited from lands of the disinherited quickly rushed to make amends.

Grant of the barony

16 April 1343, David II granted to Donald de Strachan and his wife (Annabell Lindsay) very extensive lands in Forfarshire (Kingstour, Langleyis and Godefrayestoun), which had been resigned by one Andrew Burr in 1343 at Barbrothe. Also, the lands of Cardenbarclay and the Mill of Panmure in Forfar, as well as the barony of Monycabbock, Tullimaddin & Cray in the county of Aberdeenshire. (Robertsons Index, 48-34). According to the index in New Spalding Club, vol. 1, New Machar (or Newmachar) is formerly known as Monycabock. Newmachar is a parish and village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, about 10 miles to the north north-west of Aberdeen see below:

The interesting point about these grants is that they appear to have been made directly by the King, and not by one of the feudal lords. Moreover, when Donald died in 1380, his son and heir (Geoffrey Strachan) was made a ward of John of Lindsay, a relative of the Earl of Crawford. (source needed)

The fact that Geoffrey Strachan's mum was Annabel Lindsay, and that Geoffrey became ward of John Lindsay (relative to the Earl of Crawford) suggests that Geoffrey's mother, Annabel Lindsay, was kin to the Earl of Crawford's family, and that it was by virtue of Donald's marriage to Annabel that he had been granted the lands mentioned above.

A Link to the Scottish Crown

In 1424, Geoffrey de Strachan (sp. Geffray Sterthaughyn), together with Master Alexander of Lindsay, and Master Ingram of Lindsay were all granted safe conduct by the English to visit Alexander of Lindsay, Earl of Crawford (Bain, rv, 963, 1051).

These were days when the only people one could trust were their kin, so it seems highly probable that Geoffrey was related to the Lindsays, Earl of Crawford.

We got a hint of this relationship when we read that Geoffrey was made the ward of John of Lindsay on the death of his father, Donald de Strachan, who in 1343 had been granted large estates by David II on his marriage to one Annabel, who may well have been a younger daughter or sister of the then Earl of Crawford, James of Lindsay, who 8 years later was to stand hostage for David II in England. When David was finally ransomed and re-ascended his throne in 1357, James Earl of Crawford was appointed Ambassador to England.

If Donald de Strachan was indeed the brother-in-law of the Earl of Lindsay, then his son, Geoffrey, would of course have been the old Earl’s nephew, and the new Earl’s cousin. What more natural then, when the new Earl was in his turn captured by the English, that his cousin, Geoffrey, should have accompanied his sons on their visit to him?

As for the royal connection, the new Earl’s wife was Margaret, daughter of Sir William Keith, Earl Marichal of Scotland, and of his wife Margaret Fraser (heiress of the barony of Strachan), who was the grand-daughter of Mary Bruce, King Robert’s sister. Moreover, Margaret Keith’s brother John had married Jean, a daughter of Robert II, the first Stuart king.

The line appears to have died out, for nothing else is heard of Geoffrey or his descendants.