Please be advised these are very preliminary notes only 

The origins of the Symington surname are well documented and are recounted in Rev. Paton's Genealogy of the Symington Family, which was commissioned by Robert Brown Symington (1852-1918) of New Jersey, and printed in 1908. 

The surname Symington derives from the name of the village established by Symon Loccard (or Lockard) who was proprietor of the parish and founded the village and its church during the reign of Malcolm IV (1152-1165).

Multiple variations in the spelling of Symington may be found in parish registers of births and marriages, including Saymington, Semingtone, Symenton, Symingstown, Symingtone, Symingtoun, Symingtoune, Syminton, Symintone, Symintoune,  Symmington, Symmingtoun, Symondeston, Symondstone, Symondstoune, Symonton, Symontone, Symontoun, Symontoune, Symontown, Symontowne, etc. [1]

Variations recorded in the Indexes to Register of Deeds 1661-1695:

Symentone, Symeingtoun, Symeintoun, Symentoune, Symeontowne, Symingtoune, Symingtown, Syminton, Symintoun, Symintoune, Symintowne, Symmontoun, Symonton, Symontone, Symontoun, Symontoune

Additional variations from the Index to Particular Register of Sasines Lanark 1618-1720:

Simmington, Simonton, Symeintoune, Symengtoun Symenstoun, Symentoun, Symingetoun, Symintone, Symonetoun

From Index to Particular Register of Sasines Lanark 1721-1780:

Symington, Symingtone, Symingtoun

From Particular Register of Sasines Minute Book (Stirling, Clackmannan and the Stewartry of Menteith, Falkirk 1734): Simontoun

From the register of the Great Seal of Scotland, 1306-1424, Index Locorum: Symonstoine, Symondstoun, Symondstona, Symoundstona, Symundestone, Symmonstoun  [2]

THOMAS DICKSON OF HAZLESIDE (Heisleside) ALSO KNOWN AS THOMAS FILIUS RICARDI

Thomas Dickson was the progenitor of the Symington family. Thomas was the son of Richard de Keith. Homer Dixon, in his “Border or Riding clans,” identifies Thomas’ father as  Richard de Keith of the Earls Marischal family. In 1016 Malcolm II awarded Robert, a prince of the Catti tribe of Celts, the hereditary office of "Marischal of the King of Scotland." Robert was the legendary progenitor of the Keith clan. 

In 1307 Thomas Dickson of Hazleside sheltered Sir James "The Black" Douglas at Hazleside and assisted him in surprising the English garrison during the church service on Palm Sunday. His son may have been slain in the skirmish. In recognition of his support Thomas was awarded the hereditary office of Captain or Keeper of Douglas Castle. James Douglas was killed on a crusade in Spain in 1330. 

In about 1317  King Robert Bruce granted the barony of Symundstoun,  then in the possession of the crown, to Thomas Filius Ricardi (or Dickson) who then became progenitor of the Symington family. [2] Thereafter the family adopted the style of Symington of that Ilk. 

In 1419 William Symington, Lord of that Ilk, was Captain of Castle Douglas.

In 1476 John Symington was Captain of Castle Douglas.

In 1488 Archibald, Earl of Angus, and chief of the Red Douglas, appointed John Symington Bailie. He was thought to have been Sheriff depute of Lanark from 1478-1490.

1512 John Symington of that ilk was charged with “treasonably fabricating and making false money.” [3]

1541 Archibald Symington had a charter to the lands of Hazelside and others in the barony of Symington as heir of John Symington, his great grandfather and his wife Christian Baillie. He had the offices of Bailie of the Lordship of Douglas and Captain of the Castle of Douglas.

1555 William Symington of that ilk acted as guarantor in an indictment against the Bailie of Bagbie. [4]

1555 John Symington was parish clerk of Symington. [5]

1556 John Symington was heir to his father in the Barony of Symington and the offices of Bailie of Douglas and keepership of the Castle of Douglas.

In 1605 John Symington of that ilk succeeded his great grandfather William “in the custody of the Castle of Douglas, with the office of Bailie of the lordship thereof, and also in the lands of Hessilsyde, Kennok, Little Blantaggart and Polmukisheid.” [6]

1607 Margaret Symington, daughter of John Symington, received a legacy bequeathed by Archibald, Earl of Angus (Register of Deeds).

In 1612 John Symington of that ilk inherited the barony of Symington from his father John, along with the office of Baillie of the barony of Douglas, and captaincy of the castle. [7]

1612 James Symington, brother of John Symington of that ilk witnessed a deed (in the Sheildhill Charter Chest).

1621 John Symington resigned the offices of Bailie of Douglas and Captain of Douglas Castle.

1622 John Symington the younger of that ilk was fined for absenting himself from an assize. [8]

Irving observes that there was a rapid decline in the once powerful Symington family from that time. Prior to 1646 the barony of Symington was sold. The lands of Hazleside were relinquished in 1647. [9]

MONKSHEAD

Symingtons continued to occupy this small landholding to the west of Hazleside.

1695 John Symington was heir to his grandfather Andrew in the lands of Nether Polmuckhead. [10]

His son, John Symington, married Margaret Weir.

MONKSHEAD SYMINGTONS

The lineage of the Symingtons at Monkshead proceeds through John Symington, son of John Symington and Margaret Weir to William Symington and Grizzy Weir and their descendants.

The Paton Genealogy however follows the lineage of a presumed younger son of John Symington and Margaret Weir, Andrew, who married Margaret Sandilands. Paton focusses thereafter on their descendants.

[1] Note I have rectified all variations to “Symington” in these notes

[2] Thomson, John Maitland, editor, Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum. The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland A.D. 1306-1424. New Edition 1912 page 23 (Rotulus I, 78)

[3] Pit. Crim. Trials, I, 75

[4] Pit. Crim. Trials, I, 382

[5] Pit. Crim. Trials, I, 382

[6] Irving, George Vere, Murray, Alexander, The Upper Ward of Lanarkshire Described and Delineated. Thomas Murray And Son Glasgow 1864 Volume I, page 190 and Volume II, page 139 (Inquis. Spec., 56)

[7] Inquis. Spec., 478, 479

[8] Pit. Crim Trials, III, 539

[9] Inquis. Spec., 227

[10] inquis. Spec. 420

A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF THE LINEAGE OF THE SYMINGTONS OF MONKSHEAD

The progenitor of this lineage was William Symington, Tutor of Symington and Keeper of the Castle of Douglas.

His younger son was William, who had a son, John.

John Symington in Cambis, the grandson or great grandson of William Symington, Keeper of the Castle of Douglas; owner of lands of Polmuckishead in 1605

(1622 Andrew Symington wife Jean Cunningham)

(A John Symington, son of Andrew Symington and Marion Crawfurd, died May 1635)

16 May 1635 Andrew Symington, eldest son of John Symington of Nether Muckishead, married Jean Stevenson. He died in November 1660. 

John Symington wadsetter of Monkshead, eldest son of Andrew Symington and Jean Stevenson; married Marion Stevenson.

He died November 1685

(Thomas Symington the second husband of Marion Stevenson. He died August 1704)

John Symington, eldest son of John Symington and Marion Stevenson; married Margaret Weir.

Their son James Symington of Monkshead married Janet Tod

John Symington born 1741

James Symington son of James Symington and Janet Tod of Monkshead baptised 1 February 1742

William Symington married Grizzy Weir

Rev. James Symington of Muirkirk married Mary Gordon

William Symington of Monksfoot burial 31 December 1791 aged 26

SYMINGTON GENEALOGY

In 1984 Charles Symington junior of Baltimore published his  family history "Scotch and Soda" which he introduces with a 

fine dissertation (or, should I say, distillation) of the origins of the Symington family. Charles died in 2000.

The following are his introductory chapters, which relate to the origins of the family.

                                        INTRODUCTION

            This history will attempt to show that my branch of the Symington family is directly descended from Sir Hervey de Keith, great great great grandfather of Thomas, first Laird of Symington, from whom we got our surname.

             “The Genealogy of the Symington Family” was compiled, in 1908, by Henry Paton of Edinburgh, Scotland, for Robert Brown Symington of Newark, New Jersey. Mr. Paton was a recognized authority on Scottish medieval history, so the pedigree he compiled for Robert, showing descent from Thomas, first Laird of Symington, was accepted by the Lord Lyon’s court, and arms were granted accordingly.

            Thomas of Symington was born about 1247. He was known as Thomas “Son of Richard”, or its variants “Dick’s son” or “Dickson”, until the barony of Symington, in Lanarkshire, Scotland, was granted to him, at the age of about 70, by King Robert the Bruce. He then assumed the name Thomas “of Symington” and became the first Laird of Symington.

            In researching the Dickson family I found that they also claim Thomas as ancestor of their oldest branch, but more importantly the Dickson genealogist, Homer Dixon, in “Border or Riding clans,” identifies Thomas’ father as a Richard de Keith of the Earls Marischal family. This relationship between Thomas and Richard is further confirmed in Nisbet’s “Heraldry” (Edinburgh 1722) when he states that “the Dicksons are descended from one, Richard de Keith, said to be son of the family of the Earls Marischal of Scotland, and in proof thereof carry in their arms the Chief of Keith Marischall.”

            Our first historic ancestor was therefore the first historic “de Keith”, who, I have found, was named Hervey, born about 1100. He used “de Keith” as his surname to identify himself as owner of the Keith lands. His great grandson, another Hervey, was the fourth Laird of the Keith lands, and this Hervey's younger son, Richard, was our Thomas’ father.

            After some background information, this history of my paternal line, starting with the first Hervey, will summarize the five “de Keith” generations to Thomas. Then it will summarize the twelve Lairds of Symington, the last of whom was named John. He became deeply in debt, and sold the barony of Symington, about 1648, to settle his obligations. This history then shows John's nephew, John, as grandfather of James, my great great great grandfather. James’ son, James, was born in 1750 and emigrated to Philadelphia in 1785. He was the ancestor of the American Symington branch, which extends down seven generations to my grandchildren.

            In summary, then, this history traces a direct paternal line of twenty six generations, starting with Sir Hervey de Keith, who was born about 1100, and ending with my grandchildren’s generation.

CHAPTER I

A word about surnames

Surname History

“Surname” comes from the French “sur nom”, which originally meant a name “added on” to a Christian name to distinguish individuals with the same Christian name. An “eke name” in Middle English had the same meaning, and was the root of our word, “nickname”, when the “n” from “an” was absorbed. Sometime around 1300, in Scotland, a “surname” began to assume its present meaning as a family name, rather than identifying an individual. A “nickname” has retained its original meaning of distinguishing an individual, but when family names started to be adopted in the fourteenth century the father's nickname, such as “Little”, was one of the four major sources of family surnames. The other three were: a man's occupation, such as “Smith”; (called an “occupation” surname); a man's father's name, such as “Dick’s son”; (called a “patronymic” surname); and the place where a man lived, or the name of his lands, such as “Symington” (called a “location” surname). 

Surnames were unknown in England until after the Norman conquest. In Scotland, sometime after 1100, the owner of substantial lands (called a Laird) began adding the name of his land to his Christian name as an identifying “surname.”

Then the younger sons of a Laird began assuming their father's “surname.” Finally, in the fourteenth century, the “surname” of the father became his family’s “surname”, whether derived from the family’s lands, or from some other distinguishing attribute, such as the patronymic “Dickson”.

This explains how our first historic ancestor, born about 1100, with the Christian name of Hervey, assumed the surname “de Keith”, when he gained title to the Keith lands. His great great grandson, Richard, born about 1205, retained the “de Keith” surname, as a younger son of the owner of the Keith lands. “de Keith" had not become a family surname by the time Richard’s son, our Thomas, was born about 1247, so Thomas was identified as “Son of Richard”, or its variant “Dickson”. Thomas’ sons, Duncan and Thomas (II), followed the new custom of adopting their father's surname, “Dickson”, but when Thomas (I) was granted the barony of Symington, at the age of about70, he changed his surname from “Dickson” to “of Symington”. Duncan, Thomas’ eldest son, also changed his surname to “of Symington”, when he inherited the barony. Thomas (II), however, retained the “Dickson” surname, and used it as his family’s surname, thus establishing the oldest branch of the “Dickson” surname.

When the name of the land became the family’s surname, “of that ilk” was used, in Scotland, to distinguish the owner of the land from other members of his family. Thus the first three Lairds of the Symington barony used “of Symington” as their surname. The fourth Laird, William, born about 1380, used “of that ilk” to modify his name, indicating that he was the Laird, and distinguished him from the rest of his family, who had taken “Symington” as their surname.

A good example of this change in the surname's use is Archibald Symington, “of that ilk”, ninth Laird of Symington, born in 1517. A younger brother of Archibald was known as plain John Symington, and another younger brother, William, who obtained lands in Hardington, was known as William Symington “of” Hardington, not “William of Hardington.” Should William have been merely a tenant he would have been identified as William Symington “in” Hardington.

If Thomas had not been granted the Symington barony our surname would have been “Dickson”. If Richard de Keith had been born about 100 years later his son would probably have been known as Thomas Keith “of” Symington, if the barony had been granted to him at that time.  Thomas, therefore, would not have been the ancestor of the oldest branch of the Dickson family, and our surname would have been “Keith”.

Surname Spelling

The spelling of surnames, along with the spelling of everything else, was subject to variations until well after the publishing of Sam Johnson’s Dictionary in 1755. My great great grandfather James’ last name is spelt “Symonton” in the record of his marriage in 1787, and even in this century there have been changes in spelling. A John Symington of Dennis, Mass, responded to my mailing (see Appendix C) ,and his birth certificate read “Simenton”. In fact there arefamilies today who do not use the standard “Symington” spelling. For example, Theodore Simmington Jr. of Needham, Mass. somehow obtained a copy of my mailing. He had done extensive research on his branch of the family, which had emigrated from Northern Ireland to Massachusetts about 1880. He sent me copies of his findings, which show various spellings, in addition to Simmington and Symington.

Although the “de” or the “of”, connecting owned land to an individual, was dropped in Scotland by 1500, when the family name came into use, the spelling of the actual surname continued erratic, as shown above, because it was based on phonetics. For example, a father would go to the church office to register a birth, but the spelling of the surname would be at the whim of the parish clerk, depending on how the name sounded to him. Our name, now standardized as Symington, was spelt Symounstoun, Symundestone, Symonton, Symenton, Symontoun, Symontoune, Symountoun, Symingtoune, Syminton, Semintone, Symmentoun, Symmontone, Symmontoune among others, plus many of the above spelt with an “I” instead of a “y”. (See “The Surnames of Scotland” by G. F. Black)

For the purposes of this history I have used the standard spelling of “Symington” regardless of the sources’ spelling.

CHAPTER IV

The Keiths

Keith is an ancient Scottish family name whose traditional origin, as set forth by Fraser in his “History of Lawrencekirk” and Buchan in his “Earls Marischal of Scotland,” is summarized as follows.

The Keiths got their name and were descended from the Catti or Chatti, a Celtic tribe. In the early centuries of the Christian era they inhabited what is now Hesse in Southwest Germany, where they valiantly fought the Romans, as noted by Caesar. A section of the tribe emigrated to northeast Scotland in the tenth century, landing at Chattness, now Caithness. In 1010 a prince of the Chatti, named Robert, joined with Malcom II, King of Scotland, to defeat the Danes, under Camus, at the battle of Barry. Robert slew Camus, and Malcom is said to have dipped his fingers in Camus’ blood and then put stripes on Robert’s shield, which are still preserved on the Keith Coat of Arms.

Then in 1016 Malcom defeated a Northumbrian army at Carham, which established his hold on the area called Lothian, between the Forth and the Tweed Rivers. Malcom, in recognition of Robert’s services, granted him lands in East Lothian, east of Edinburgh, which came to be called the lands of Keith. He also made Robert a knight, and created the office, "Marischal of the King of Scotland," and gave Robert the hereditary title. Robert, therefore, became first legendary owner of the Keith lands, legendary progenitor of the Keith family, legendary ancestor of the Earls Marischal of Scotland, and legendary ancestor of the Symingtons.

Another tradition confirms the exploits of Robert, but has the Chatti arriving in Scotlandsomewhat earlier than the tenth century. They were not accepted by the Picts in the east, nor the Scots in the west, so they settled in the wilds of Lochaber, near present day Fort William. It was here that the Clan Chattan developed from various Chatti families.

The present Clan Chattan is a confederation of sixteen clans. Leader of Clan Chattan is now the head of the Macintosh Clan, but this has been hotly contested on many occasions by the Macpherson Clan. The Keiths (and therefore the Symingtons?) are members of the Macpherson Clan. (see Appendix G)

The 1932 edition of “The Complete Peerage” discusses the Keith pedigree under the section covering “Marischal.” It states that the laws concerning the office of “Marischal” attributed to Malcom II are probably apocryphal, as the first positive evidence it has found for the office of “Marischal (Marshal) of the King (Kingdom) of Scotland” is under David I (1124-1153). Furthermore the title does not seem to be limited to the Keiths, nor did all the Lairds of Keith appear to have held the title until after 1324. In that year Robert the Bruce issued a charter granting (some say confirming) the Marshalcy to the lands of Keith-Marshal, then owned by Sir Robert de Keith. This hereditary title was not created an Earldom until about 1458, when Sir William Keith became the First Earl Marischal, but because of the title's antiquity it was given precedence over some Earldoms created earlier.

             “The Complete Peerage” does not comment on the tradition that Robert was granted the Keith lands by Malcom II, though it indicates the existence of the Keith lands before David I. It does, however, relate an alternative Keith tradition, in which a certain Hervey and a Simon Fraser were among the foreign aristocrats imported by David I. They married two sisters, whose patrimony was the lands of Keith in East Lothian, and the lands were divided into Keith-Hervey and Keith- Simon. When the first Sir Hervey de Keith became "Marshal", his lands became known as Keith-Marshal.

            The “Keith” surname, therefore, comes from the lands of Keith, just as “Symington” comes from the lands of Symington. The name now standardized as “Keith” was spelt Keath, Keathe, Keyth, Key the, Keth, and sometimes Ket, (perhaps from Catti?) The pronunciation seems to have been standardized as in “Key” around the sixteenth century. (See “The Surnames of Scotland” G.F. Black)

CHAPTER V 

Our first five generations of Scottish male ancestors

Though it is documented that Sir Hervey (I) was succeeded by his son Malcom, Malcom by his son Philip, Philip by his son Hervey (II), and Hervey (II) by his son John, the dates connected with them by reference in charters, decrees etc. would indicate that title to the Keith-Marshal lands was inherited by the son prior to the death of his father in several cases. For example Sir Hervey (I), first Laird of Keith, was alive in 1176, as a decree of that date refers to him as “Marshal of the Kingdom of Scotland”. His great grandson Sir Hervey (II), the fourth Laird, must have been born about the same time (1175) as he became Laird of Keith and was married by about 1200. The birth dates in the following outline are therefore arbitrarily assigned to fit the known facts and known dates.

1st generation Sir Hervey de Keith (I) is the first Keith to be historically identified, and thus becomes our first identifiable male ancestor, as well as the first historic Laird of Keith. Whether he was descended from Robert, Prince of the Chatti, or was an Anglo Norman who acquired the Keith lands, through marriage, and adopted the “de Keith” surname, he must have been born about 1100. He was still alive in 1176, as noted above, and he had at least one son Malcom, who became the 2nd Laird of Keith.

2nd generation Sir Malcom de Keith, the second Laird, must have been born about 1125. He is recorded as a witness in a gift of a church to the Abbey of Kelso, in 1185, and lands to the same abbey in 1190. He is identified as “Son of Hervey”, and by his own name, but there is no known record in which he is referred to as “Marshal”, even though he was Laird of the Keith-Marshal lands. He had at least two sons, Philip and David, with Philip becoming the third Laird of Keith.

3rd generation Sir Philip de Keith, the third Laird, must have been born about 1150. He and his younger brother, David de Keith, occupied jointly the office of “Marshal” upon the death of their grandfather, Sir Hervey, which must have been about 1180. Thus the title at that time was not confined to the Laird. David also had a son, Richard de Keith, who became Marshal in the time of Alexander II (1214-1249), even though neither he nor his father ever owned the Keith lands. Another Richard de Keith is recorded as imprisoned by the English in 1296. His exact relationship to the main branch is not recorded except as being a younger son. Richard de Keith, our ancestor, therefore, had two relatives named Richard de Keith, and both of them were younger sons with the “de Keith” surname. Sir Philip had at least one son, Sir Hervey (II), who became the 4th Laird of Keith.

4th generation Sir Hervey de Keith (II), the fourth Laird, must have been born about 1175. He was married around 1200 to Margaret, only daughter of William of Douglas, first historic Laird of Douglasdale in Lanarkshire (see “The Douglas Book” by Fraser). He is recorded as confirming to the Abbey of Kelso the church of Keith granted to it by Simon Fraser. He later, as “Hervey the Marshal,” attested charters during the reign of Alexander II (1214-1249). He had at least two sons, John who became the fifth Laird of Keith, and Richard, our ancestor.

5th generation Richard de Keith must have been born about 1205 and is said to have died in 1249. His father and brother were both Lairds of Keith and “Marshals”, and his first cousin once removed, another Richard de Keith, was also “Marshal”. On his mother's side his uncle was Sir Archibald Douglas, and his first cousin was Sir William “Longlegs” Douglas. Richard had at least one son, our ancestor Thomas of Symington, who was born about 1247. Richard’s older brother John was succeeded by his son, William, and then his grandson, Robert, who received, from King Robert the Bruce, a charter in 1324 confirming the hereditary title of “Marshal” to the lands of Keith-Marshal. A Sir William de Keith succeeded to the title about 1350 and built the great Keith stronghold of Dunnottar Castle. Another Sir William became 1st Earl Marischal about 1458. There followed nine more Earls Marischal, inheriting the title of Lord Altrie in 1587. The tenth Earl, George, was a Jacobite who took part in the 1715 rebellion. He fled to Europe after the defeat and, because of his participation, forfeited all his lands and titles to the Crown.Supporters of the exiled Stuarts were called Jacobites, from the Latin Jacobus, for James. The Jacobite rebellions of 1715 and 1745 favoring James, The Old Pretender, and his son “Bonnie Prince Charlie,” The Young Pretender, were both defeated by the English troops. However my Scottish nurse called me after “The Young Pretender”, and, at least within the family, the nickname, “Bonnie”, has stuck.

THOMAS, FIRST LAIRD OF SYMINGTON

6th generation Thomas of Symington, first Laird of Symington, was born in Lanarkshire about 1247, to Richard de Keith, son of Sir Hervey de Keith and Margaret, only daughter of William of Douglas, first Laird of Douglasdale in Lanarkshire. As his father was not heir to the Keith lands, Thomas was known as Thomas, “Son of Richard,” “Dick’s Son” or “Dickson” during most of his life. About 1317, at age about 70, he was granted the barony of Symington in Lanarkshire by King Robert the Bruce, so he changed his name to Thomas of Symington.

            Sir Walter Scott bases his novel, “Castle Dangerous”, on “The Douglas Larder” outlined below. Thomas Dickson is described in the novel as a man of humble birth who was killed in 1307 during “The Douglas Larder”. Scott is wrong on both counts. Thomas was well born as his grandfather, uncle and first cousin all were Lairds of Keith and “Marshals of the Kingdom of Scotland”, and his grandmother was a member of the powerful Douglas family. Though Thomas was “servant and vassal” to his contemporary and second cousin Sir William “Le Hardi” Douglas, this was in the feudal terminology of the time without the modern menial connotation. Actually Thomas was treated as a friend and relative by both Sir William and his son Sir James “The Good” Douglas (see below). In regard to his death, Tytler and Godfrey, sources for Scott, both show Thomas as being killed during "The Douglas Larder". However the original source for this exploit is the metrical narrative of Barbour, written circa 1375, about Robert the Bruce. Barbour has Thomas severely wounded, but not killed, in 1307 at the church of St. Bride. (see “The Douglas Book” by Fraser) Furthermore the barony of Symington was granted by Robert the Bruce to Thomas, “Son of Richard”, after “The Douglas Larder” in 1307, as the Charter, granting the barony, is number 78 among 95 issued by Bruce between 1315 and 1321.

            The first historical record of Thomas is in a metrical history by Henry the Minstrel, or “Blind Harry”, written circa 1380. In 1295 the English had captured Berwick and occupied the surrounding lands, including the Castle of Sanquhar owned by Sir William “Le Hardi” Douglas (see Appendix I). Sir William sent for Thomas and, addressing him as “Dear Friend, born to myself” (i.e. related to me by birth), asked Thomas to attempt its recapture. Thomas agreed to try, so, disguised as the man who delivered fuel to the castle, gained entrance, killed the porter, the three guards, and took possession, with his men, before the garrison was alerted. A short time later the English, with three thousand men, laid siege to Sanquhar. Sir William, now in residence, knew he needed help, so he selected Thomas to pass through the enemy's camp for help from Sir William Wallace, who was nearby. Thomas got through and Wallace, with his men, raised the siege, killing 500 of the English as they retreated. For this Sir William granted to Thomas the lands and manor house of Hazelside in Douglasdale, about two miles from Castle Douglas, and this became the residence of Thomas.

THE DOUGLAS LARDER

The next historical record of Thomas is the abovementioned “The Douglas Larder”, described originally in Barbour’s metrical history of Robert the Bruce. Castle Douglas was occupied by the English in 1307. Sir James "The Good" Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas, son of Sir William "Le Hardi," was then the owner, and he asked his cousin, Thomas, to help him recapture the Castle. Thomas accepted the commission, and devised a scheme whereby Sir James, disguised as a peasant, and a number of his Douglasdale vassals, would come by night to Hazelside, Thomas’ home, about two miles from Castle Douglas, and stay there in hiding until Palm Sunday.

The English garrison at Castle Douglas was expected to attend Palm Sunday mass at the nearby Church of St. Bride. According to his plan, Thomas, Sir James and his armed vassals, all disguised as local peasants, went early to the church, on Palm Sunday. Some, with Thomas, went inside and the balance, led by Sir James, hid themselves outside. The entire English garrison arrived at the church on schedule, and, as soon as they were seated, Thomas shouted the Douglas war cry "A Douglas". The English garrison were attacked from inside and outside the church and were overcome, after fierce fighting, during which Thomas was severely wounded.

Sir James, proceeding to Castle Douglas with his followers and English prisoners, found it in the sole care of a porter and cook, whom he promptly killed. After feasting on what had been prepared for the garrison's holiday banquet, Sir James killed all the prisoners and threw them into the keep, along with food, provisions, furniture and everything else that was movable. Sir James then set an enormous bonfire reducing everything to ashes. Sir James let the fire destroy the castle as he did not want to leave it as a potential English stronghold.

This, then, was what came to be known in Douglasdale tradition as “The Douglas Larder”. For the part he played, Sir James appointed Thomas hereditary Captain (Keeper) of Castle Douglas, when it was rebuilt. This office and title was retained by the Lairds of Symington for some 300 years.

As noted above, Thomas was also rewarded for his loyal service and support during the Wars of Independence by Robert the Bruce when he, as king, granted Thomas the barony of Symington in Lanarkshire, near Douglasdale, about 1317.

Thomas had at least two sons, Duncan, the eldest who succeeded to the barony, and Thomas (II) who forfeited his lands in Sanquhar to Edward III in 1335. It is likely that Thomas (II), as Thomas Dickson, then took over Hazelside, as presumably Thomas (I) was dead by 1335, so Duncan would have already inherited the Symington barony. Though Hazelside was incorporated into the barony of Symington in 1541, Sir Alex Douglas-Home, current owner of Hazelside, has written to me that Dicksons, not Symingtons, had farmed Hazelside from Bruce’s time up to 150 years ago. These Dicksons, therefore, were probably descendants of Thomas II, and it is interesting to note that arms, similar to ours, appeared in an armorial, c.1624, for a “Dickson of Symington.” This would appear to be a Dickson of Hazelside, after its incorporation into the barony of Symington.

In summary Thomas, born about 1247, was descended from the Lairds of Keith-Marshal in East Lothian, and the Lairds of Douglasdale, in Lanarkshire. He became the first Laird of Symington, in Lanarkshire, and he died about 1325. Through his son, Thomas, he is ancestor to the earliest known branch of the Dickson family, and through Duncan, his oldest son, he is the progenitor of possibly everyone with the family surname of Symington. (see Chapter II)

For services rendered Thomas was granted, about 1300, the “lands of Hazelside” in Douglasdale by his cousin, Sir William "Le Hardi" Douglas, and this became his home. Sir William’s son, Sir James “The Good”, gave Thomas the hereditary office and title of “Captain of Douglas Castle” for the part he played in “The Douglas Larder”, which took place in 1307. For services rendered during the Wars of Independence, King Robert I granted Thomas the barony of Symington, about 1317, by charter, which, translated from the Latin, reads:

CHARTER 

By King Robert the Bruce of Scotland,

To Thomas, Son of Richard, 

of the Barony of Symington.

Robert, by the grace of God, King of Scots, to all good men of his whole realm, greeting. Know ye that we have given and granted and by this our present charter have confirmed to our beloved and faithful Thomas, Son of Richard, for his homage and service, the whole Barony of Symonstoun, with pertinents, within the sheriffdom of Lanark: To be held and possessed by the said Thomas and his heirs of us and our heirs, in fee and heritage by all their right marches and boundaries, freely, quietly, fully and honourably, with tenandries and the services of the free tenants of the said  barony and with all other liberties, commodities, easements and their just pertinents belonging to the said barony or which by any manner of way may be held to pertain thereto: Paying therefore yearly the said Thomas and his heirs to us and our heirs the service usual and wont to be paid from the foresaid barony. In witness whereof...&c.

This Charter was issued in about 1317. It was one of 95 issued by Robert the Bruce between 1315 and 1321.

Thomson, John Maitland, editor, Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum. The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland A.D. 1306-1424. New Edition 1912 page 23 (Rotulus I, 78)