Crest: Issuing from an antique ducal coronet Or, the head, neck and wings of a swan proper according to Bain, the crest is : an swan, proper, holding in its beak a key. or.
|The Rt. Hon. Robert Lindsay|
|The 29th Earl of Crawford and
The 12th Earl of Balcarres
|Historic seat||Crawford Castle
Origins of the clan
The Lindsays were prominent in both England and Scotland from the late 11th century. Sir Walter de Lindissie accompanied David of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon to claim his throne. Walter's great-grandson, Sir William de Lindesay, sat in the Parliament of 1164 and was later a justiciar. William Lindsay held the lands of Crawford. The chief's premier title was later Earl of Crawford. Sir William Lindsay sat in Parliament as Baron of Luffness in East Lothian. His wife was Etherlreda who was a granddaughter of Gospatric who ruled most of Northumbria.
Sir William Lindsay's son was Sir David Lindsay who married a member of the royal family named Marjory. David died in 1214 and was succeeded as Lord Crawford and High Justiciar of Lothian by his son who was also called David. This David also inherited the English estates of Limesay and Wolveray. One of his descendants was another Sir David Lindsay who was Chamberlain of Scotland in 1256.
Wars of Scottish Independence
The aforementioned David Lindsay's grandson was yet another David whose seal was appended to the letter of 1320 to the Pope, asserting the independence of Scotland, that was more often known as the Declaration of Arbroath. His second son, Sir James Lindsay, married Egidia, daughter of Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland and sister of Robert II of Scotland.
14th, 15th and 16th centuries
In 1390 Sir David Lindsay famously took part in a tournament at London Bridge, in the presence of Richard II of England. At the tournament Lindsay won the day and the admiration of the English king. Lindsay was created Earl of Crawford on the 21st of April 1398. In 1403 he was Lord High Admiral of Scotland and in 1406 he was sent as an ambassador to England.
The Clan Lindsay fought at the Battle of Arbroath in 1445. In 1452 Alexander Lindsay, 4th Earl of Crawford joined in a rebellion against James II of Scotland and fought at the Battle of Brechin where the royal forces were victorious. Alexander Lindsay was attained for treason but was later pardoned.
The fifth Earl of Crawford rose high in royal favour. He was successively Lord High Admiral of Scotland, Master of the Royal Household, Lord Chamberlain and High Justiciary. The sixth Earl of Crawford was killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1513, while on close attendance to James IV of Scotland.
17th century and civil war
Ludovic Lindsay learned his trade as a soldier on the Continent. He later fought for Charles I of England during the civil war where he commanded a cavalry regiment at the Battle of Marston Moor. He was later captured supporting James Graham, 1st Marquis of Montrose at the Battle of Philiphaugh in 1645. The earldom of Crawford was succeeded to by his kinsman John Lindsay, Earl of Lindsay. The Crawford title remained with this branch of the family until it passed to the Lindsay, Earl of Balcarres in the 19th century, who were descended from a younger son of the ninth Earl of Crawford. This branch of the clan had been created Earls of Bacarres in 1650 for services during the civil war.
18th century and Jacobite risings
The first Earl of Balcarres was made hereditary governor of Edinburgh Castle. He was also made Secretary of State for Scotland and High Commissioner to the General Assembly. His younger son was Colin Lindsay, third Earl of Balcarres who was a staunch Jacobite and fought during the Jacobite rising of 1715. He only escaped being attained for treason through the intervention of the Duke of Marlborough who was a lifelong friend. In 1739 John Lindsay, 20th Earl of Crawford was made Lieutenant-Colonel of the newly formed 43rd Regiment of Foot ("Black Watch" regiment) that supported the British Government during the Jacobite rising of 1745 and had been formed from the ten Independent Highland Companies of "Black Watch".
- Edzell Castle was the original castle of the Chief of Clan Lindsay which they acquired in 1358 and retained ownership until 1715.
- Crawford Castle was another seat of the chief.
- Carsluith Castle
- Spynie Palace
- Lordscairnie Castle
- Craigie Castle, Ayrshire
- Way, George and Squire, Romily. Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). Published in 1994. Pages 196 - 197.
- Arbroath canmore.rcahms.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
- Simpson, Peter. (1996). The Independent Highland Companies, 1603 - 1760. ISBN 0-85976-432-X. pp. 115 - 118.