KINCAID - LENNOX - GALBRAETH
I have so far been able to trace the KINCAIDS in the direct
male line to AYKFRITH, or EGFRITH, who died in 1064. It is
important to remember that surnames were not in use at that
period. A man was known by his Christian name; and if an artisan,
by his trade, as Smith, Chandler, Butcher, etc.; or his clan or
family name with the addition of Mac in Scotland, O' in Ireland,
and Ap in Wales. The addition indicated "son of" as with Kenneth
I, King of the Scots and Picts. He was called Kenneth MacAlpin,
as son of Alpin. The first-born in direct descent from the head
of the clan was always Chief, unless disqualified for leadership,
and the loyalty of the Scottish Clans was equaled only by their
bitterness and hatred, in many cases, for other clans.
The third way families were known, was, in the case of
landed gentry, by the name of their property. The first mention
of KINCAID, which I have been able to find was in 1238, when the
lands of KYNCAITH were granted to WILLIAM GALBRAITH, together
with the lands of GALBRAITH proper. The owner of the KINCAID
lands became the LAIRD OF KINCAID, and the oldest son of the
family was known as KINCAID, younger, OF THAT ILK, the younger
sons being spoken of as, e.g., John Kincaid in, not of KINCAID.
As there is a gap in the records of over a hundred years, I
shall trace the line down thirteen generations, from EGFRITH, and
recommence with ROBERT, in the twentieth generation from VIRGINIA
and ROBERT. Information as to EGFRITH and his descendants is taken
from "THE LENOX", by Sir William Fraser, 2 vol, in the Library of
Congress. Other authorities, however, claim that the Lenox line is
descended from Alpin, first King of Scotland. (See the MacFarland
Genalogy.)
AYKFRITH, or EGFRITH, (PAR 1) Whose wife was EGFRIDA, died
in Northumberland, England, in 1064, quite a wealthy man for his
time.
EGFRITH, (1), dying in 1064, was succeeded by his eldest
son, ARCHILL, or ARKILL, (2), who according to "The Lennox", Vol.
I-192, went from Northumberland to Scotland about 1072, refusing
to make submission to William the Conqueror. He prospered
exceedingly, and died 1100. ARCHILL the Second,(3), died 1130. He
had one son of record, ALWYN, or ALLAN MacARCHILL, (4), who
became the First Earl of Lennox, and died 1155. He had two sons,
ALWYN II, and ETH, or ETHUS. ALWYN II,(5), Second Earl of Lennox,
from 1155 to 1217, married Lady EVA, daughter of GILCHRIST, EARL
of MESETEITH. They had issue, nine sons and one daughter, as
given below.
Issue (child): MALDWIN, (6), who predeceased his father.
Dugald: Malcolm: Aulay: Gilchrist: Christinus: Corc: Duncan:
Henry: Eva. Eva, the only daughter, married the Thane of Kalentyr
(Callendar), and through her son Alwin was the ancestress of the
Callendar family.
MALDWIN, (6), wife unknown, died before 1217. He had at least
Issue: Maldwin, Third Earl of Lennox, 1217 to 1280; m.
Elizabeth Stuart, daughter of Walter, son of Alan, High Steward
of Scotland, who resigned Dumbarton Castle to Alexander II.
GILLASPIC GALBRAITH, (7), wife unknown, appears very frequently
in the old records and charters. See THE LENNOX, I-222, also
CARTAE DE LEVEUAX: In the reign of Alexander II, Maldwin, Third
Earl, makes charter, undate, between 1217-49 to Umfridus of
Kirkpatrick of Colquobon; witnesses, his son Malcolm (who became
the Fourth Earl), and his four brothers, "fratribusmeis",
GILLASPIC GALBRAITH, humelyn, Malcolm, and Duncan. GILLASPIC
GALBRAITH had a least two sons:
Issue: ARTHUR or ARTURO: Maurice, m. Colpatrik
ARTHUR, (8), wife unknown, had a least one son,
WILLIAM, (9), the founder of the KINCAID FAMILY, who died before
1280. I quote from the CARTULARIUM DE LEVENAX; Carta 29. Carta
terrarum de Bathernockis et KYNCAITH, WILLIELMO GALBRAITH.
Omnibus Christi fidelibus tam cleriuis quam laicis hoc scriptum
visuris vol audituris Maldevesus Domes de Levenax, Salutem:
Sciant praesentes et futuri, me dedisse, concessisse er hac
presenti carta mea confirmasse, WILLIELMO filie ARTHURI fillii
GALBRAITH tres carucatas terre in Levenax, scilicet duas
Buthernockie et tertiam carucates terre que vocatur KYNCAITH, cum
omnibus pertinentils fuis libertatibus et aysiamentis;
**** 9 lines omitted ****
WILLIAM had at least two sons and three daughters:
Issue: ARTURO, (10): Maurice: daughters married Allan
Kalentyr (a cousin), Sir David Graham, and Johannes Machrudi
ARTURO or ARTHUR. (10), wife unknown; had
Issue: PATRICIO: Gilmychel: Maurice
PATRICIIO, or PATRICK, (11) married his cousin, a daughter of SIR
PATRICK, son of SIR DAVID GRAHAM, and had charter, 1280, with
reversion of KYNCADE lands from GRAHAM. PATRICK was Geneschalle
de Levenax under Malcolm Fourth Ear.
PATRICIO, or PATRICK, ( 11) married his cousin, a daughter of SIR
PATRICK, son of SIR DAVID GRAHAM, and had charter, 1280, with
reversion of KYNCADE lands from GRAHAM. PATRICK was Seneschalle
do Levenax under Malcolm, Fourth Earl. The charter of 1280 was
witnessed by his brother Maurice, and others.
It is necessary here, in order to keep the land records
straight, to remember that marriages between cousins were very
frequent, to avoid alienation of land
**** 16 lines omitted ****
Issue: ARTURO: probably others.
ARTURO or ARTHUR,(12) wife unknown, was Laird of Galbraith &
KYNCADE, under Robert I, and was living Sept. 28, 1306, when he
appears as witness to a charter. He was Constable of Edinburgh
Castle, as was his father before him. He had at least two sons,
of whom the younger, FRANCIS, (13), inherited KYNCADE about 1320;
to him was granted, by Robert II, the right to bear a castle,
triple-towered, as an honorable addition to his arms, as LAIRD of
KYNCADE.
The following is taken from Alexander Nisbet's work on
Heraldry, published at Edinburgh in 1722, devoted mostly to
Scottish Heraldry, and the differences between Scottish, English,
and Continental systems.
"KINCAID, of-that-Ilk: Gules, a Fesse Ermine between two
Mallets in Chief, Or, and a Castle in Base. It seems the Castle
represents that of Edinburgh, for those of the family were long
time constables thereof".
He goes on to say that he has recently seen a very old
"birth-writing", attested by a number of respectable people,
showing that Janet Kincaid, who was wife to Sir Alexander
Monteith, "was daughter to David Kincaid, lineally and lawfully
descended of the House of the Laird of Kincaid in Stirling Shire,
Chief of the name, whose predecessor, for his valiant service, in
recovering of the Castle of Edinburgh from the English in the
time of King Edward I, was made Constable of the said Castle, and
his posterity enjoyed that office for many years, carrying the
Castle in their arms in memory thereof to this day". He further
states that a sword was at that time in possession of a younger
brother of the Laird, a pharmacist in Edinburgh, with the above
device, and the motto: "Wha will persew, I will defend My Life &
Honour to the End. 1552".
It seems that King Alexander III appointed PATRICK of
KINCAID & Galbraith, Constable of Edinburgh Castle, which was a
very important position, both military and social, and entailed
considerable expense on the holder thereof. The reversion of the
KYNCADE lands and others, in the charter of 1280, furnished the
means for taking care of this expense. Patrick was succeeded by
his son ARTHUR as Constable, who of course lost the position when
John Baliol was awarded the throne of Scotland by Edward I of
England, acting as arbitrator; Baliol turning the castle, with
others, over to the English and an English garrison being
installed.
During the conflict between Robert Bruce (Robert I) and
Edward (Edward II after the death of Edward I), the Castle of
Edinburgh was invested (retaken?) in 1314 by Scottish forces
under Sir Thomas Randolph, Bruce's brother-in-law.
FRANCIS, a younger son of ARTHUR, came to Sir Thomas with
the information that, as a young man, during his father's
government of Edinburgh, he had carried on an affair with a young
lady in the town, and had made use of a secret path down the
almost perpendicular cliff on which the Castle was built, in
order to conceal his courtship from his father, to say nothing of
the garrison. He offered to lead a surprise attack by this path.
On a dark night, FRANCIS KINCAID, followed by Sir Thomas and a
handful of picked men, climbed this cliff, surprised the
garrison, and after a bloody battle, captured the Castle. FRANCIS
was knighted for this exploit, and granted the right, by the
Bruce, to bear in his arms, as an honorable addition thereto, a
triple-towered castle. He and his successors were also confirmed
in their hereditary constable-ship of Edinburgh, which the family
retained for many generations. The KINCAIDS were always attached
to the Stuart cause, and they naturally, after the accession of
William & Mary to the throne of Great Britain & Ireland, lost
this office.
I have not the name of FRANCIS' children: one of his
daughters in 1350, married Galbraith of Craigmaddie, and took as
her portion one-fourth of KYNCADE lands she had three daughters,
no sone; one daughter married, ca. 1375, a Hamilton, and her part
of land reverted nearly two hundred years later to KINCAID
through a descendant, Sir Robert, whose daughter, LADY MARGARET,
married JAMES KINCAID of-that-Ilk.
There is a gap which I have been unable to fill, between
FRANCIS KINCAID, and resuming the system of numbering generations
used with the other families, ROBERT KINCAID OF THAT ILK, (20)
Many of the KINCAID family papers were destroyed by a fire at
Canneton House, where they had been stored while tradesmen were
in possession of KINCAID HOUSE, engaged in building the new
mansion, and from ROBERT (20) to ALEXANDER (8), I have been
obliged to secure my information from the court records at
Edinburgh, and from The Parish of Campsie. This is necessarily an
incomplete method, especially as to names of al issue, and dates
of births and deaths. There can be no doubt, however, of the
actual line of ancestry back to ROBERT, who was Laird in 1448.
The citations of authority are given after each name.
The first American Kincaid of whom I find any record, is
Daniel, who came to New Hampshire in 1689. Patrick came to Maine
a few years later. In 1601, some of the family emigrated to
Ireland, with the Hamilton settlement, a short account of which
is given in the reference to the Hamiltons. Some of their
descendants emigrated to Pennsylvania, and by 1759 there were
at least nine different branches of the family scattered through
New England, Pennsylvania, the Carolinas, and Georgia.
As nearly as I can arrive at the facts of the case, by
diligent research, correlation of tradition, and correspondence
with KINCAIDS in Scotland, the cause of the emigration on my
immediate ancestors was as follows. The KINCAIDS, as a rule, were
naturally attached to the Stuart cause, by blood ties and clan
loyalty. David Kincaid, brother of the then Laird, took part in
the unsuccessful Stuart rebellion in 1715, and was in consequence
obliged to leave Scotland.
He (David) came to Spotsylvania County, Virginia, where he
took up land with George Robinson, later moved to Albemarle County,
then to Augusta (county), and finally died in Bath (kcounty).
When Charles Stuart attempted to retake his throne,in Dec 1745
and was defeated in Stirlingshire, four of the sons of ALEXANDER
KINCAID followed him. They fought under Cluny MacPherson, and in
he rear-guard action following Stuart's retreat were captured.
All this took place within a few miles of KINCAID, and the family
retainers soon learned of the capture. The wives of the two married
brothers, SAMUEL and GEORGE, were taken to Glasgow, with some of
their furniture, and the four brothers, SAMUEL, George, James and
Robert, were spirited out of the English camp, and all of them put
on board ship. They came to Virginia, fairly well supplied with
"siller"(silver?), and on the advice of their Uncle David, settled
in Augusta County.
The difficulties in the way of separating the KINCAID
families in the old records have been very great, as there were
at least four branches in Augusta County (Virginia) very early.
One of these was that of Thomas Kincaid, who came from Ireland to
Pennsylvania, thence to Augusta, and died shortly thereafter, his
eldest son being William, a Captain in the Revolutionary Army,
who married Eleanor Guy, and was the ancestor of a number of the
Kentucky Kindcads (Kincaids?), who have been very prominent in
the history of that state. Other descendants of Tomas remained in
Augusta and Greenbrier counties. Another was the family of David
Kincaid Sr., already mentioned, who came from Scotland to
Spotsylvania County shortly after 1715, and was an early settler
in Orange, and raised a large family. David built the first
Augusta County jail, A number of his descendants are still in
West Virginia, while David Jr. Went to Kentucky shortly after the
Revolution. Still another was John Kincaid, who came to Augusta
from Pennsylvania. He also has a large number of descendants in
this and other states.
William, Matthew, James, John, Joseph, Thomas and Andrew,
are among the names common to all three of these families, and
with the exception of Matthew and Joseph, to my own. Samuel,
George, and Robert, I have found in Virginia only in my own
branch. James is one of the commonest KINCAID names, and a
majority of Lairds of-that-Ilk have borne that name. There have
also been these Lairds: David, Thomas, George, William, John,
Patrick, Francis, and Robert.
SAMUEL(a), with his brothers Robert(b), George(c), and
James(d), came to America in 1746. James(d) went to the South;
George(c) settled on Jackson's River, in what is new Allegany
County, Virginia, near Falling Spring, about seven miles below
Covington. His wife's name is unknown to me. Here, in 1756, he(c)
was killed in an Indian raid, and his wife and three children
were captured by the savages, and returned in 1764, under
the terms of Boquet's treaty. Of his(c) children, Samuel married
Elizabeth, daughter of Col. George Wilson, and removed to
Pennsylvania. This Samuel(George's) was a Lieutenant in the
Virginia Militia in 1774 and was wounded in the arm in a fight
with the Indians near Wheeling, in that year. I do not know what
became of the other children. John Dean, two of whose daughters
married Kincaids, was administrator of George's(c) estate in 1756.
Robert(b) Kincaid *** 11 lines ommitted ***
SAMUEL(a), in 1754, bought 100 acres in Beverly Manor,
Augusta County, from John Richey, *** 11 lines omitted ***
About 1767, SAMUEL(a) moved to the Falling Spring section,
then in Botetourt County, where he bought 283 acres of land, which
had been patented to Robert Crockett in 1750, sold by Samuel,
Robert's heir, in 1762, to Alexander Hamilton,
(End Page 10)
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