Malcolm Moncreiffe (abt. 1404 - abt. 1465)

Born about 1404 in Perth, Perthshire,, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Elena Murray — married 1415 in Perth, Perthshire, Scotland

Descendants

Died about 1465 at about age 61 in Perth, Perthshire, Scotland

Biography

Malcolm Moncreiffe is a member of Clan Moncreiffe.

Origins of the clan
The name Moncreiffe comes from the feudal barony of Moncreiffe in Perthshire.[2] The lands of Moncreiffe take their name from the Monadh croibhe which is Scottish Gaelic for Hill of the sacred bough.[2] The plant badge of the clan is the oak and this presumably comes from the sacred tree.[2] Moncreiffe Hill dominates the south-east Perth valley and was a stronghold of the Pictish kings.[2] This connects the clan with the lands of Atholl and Dundas, both of which were held by branches of the Picto-Scottish royal house.[2]

Albany Herald and chief of the clan Iain Moncreiffe (1919–1985) asserted that the coat of arms with the red royal lion on a silver shield were the colours of the house of Maldred, Regent of Cumbria and brother of Duncan I of Scotland.[2] Thus indicating that they were cadets of Maldred's line.[2] Maldred himself was a descendant of Niall of the Nine Hostages, king of Ireland.[2]

In 1248 Matthew Muncrephe received a charter from Alexander II of Scotland for lands in Perthshire.[2] Sir John Moncref and William de Moncrefe were amongst the many Scottish nobles who pledged loyalty to Edward I of England.[2]

15th and 16th Centuries Malcolm Moncreiffe the sixth Laird was a member of James II of Scotland's council and received from him a charter incorporating his Highland and Lowland estates into the barony of Moncreiffe.[2] He died in about 1465 and was succeeded by his son, the seventh Laird who was James III of Scotland's chamberlain and shield bearer.[2] The seventh Laird married Beatrix, daughter of James Dundas of that Ilk but was murdered some time before 1475 by Flemish pirates.[2]

The three main branches of the clan descend from the eighth Laird of Moncreiffe who died in about 1496.[2] The Moncreiffes of Moncreiffe are the chiefly line of the clan.[2] The principal cadets of the clan are the Baron Moncreiffs of Tulliebole.[2] From the barons descend the Moncreiffs of Bandirran, from whom the Moncreiffs of Kinmonth and the Scot-Moncreiffs descend.[2]

During the sixteenth century one branch of the Clan Moncreiffe joined the famous Scots Guard of Archers for the king of France and established at least three noble French families.[2] However the Marquis de Moncrif was one of the French nobles who met his end on the guillotine during the French Revolution.[2]

In 1513, Sir John Moncreiffe, the ninth Laird was killed at the Battle of Flodden, as was his cousin, John, Baron of Easter Moncreiffe.[2] His son was William Moncreiffe the tenth Laird who supported the Douglas Earl of Angus and in 1532 was fined for refusing to attend the Court that condemned Janet Douglas, Lady Glamis to be burned to death as a witch, when her only crime was that of being a Douglas by birth.[2] William Moncreiffe was later captured at the Battle of Solway Moss in 1542 and was imprisoned in the Tower of London.[2] When he was released he embraced the Protestant religion and was one of the barons who subscribed to the Articles in the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1567.[2]

In 1544, the Clan Moncreiffe supported the Clan Ruthven in a clan battle against the Clan Charteris.[3] The Ruthvens held considerable sway over Perth from their Huntingtower Castle.[3] In 1544 Patrick, Lord Ruthven was elected as Provost of Perth but at the intervention of Cardinal Beaton, Ruthven was deprived of the office and Charteris of Kinfauns was appointed instead.[3] The city refused to acknowledge Charteris and barred the gates against him.[3] Charteris along with Lord Gray and the Clan Leslie then attacked the town, however they were repulsed by the Ruthvens who were assisted by the Clan Moncreiffe.[3] As a result Ruthven remained Provost of Perth until 1584 when William Ruthven, Earl of Gowrie was executed.[3]

Malcolm was born about 1404. Malcolm Moncrieffe ... He passed away about 1465.^[1]

On 1 December 1455 he received a charter incorporating his Highland and Lowland lands into the free Barony of Moncreiffe

In 1456, was appointed one of the Judges or Lords of Council of King James II. " Malcolmus de Muncreyfe" is mentioned in the list of jurors in the Retour of William of Striueline as heir of his father in the lands of Redgortoun, 29th April 1432; ^[2] and " Malcholmus Muncrefe de eodem " occurs in assise " proborum et fide dignorum virorum " specified in the agreement between William Abbot of Cupar and Thomas Stewart of Grandtully concerning the marches of Murthly and Kyntully, 10th July 1449. 1 He married Catherine (Anna ?) Murray, of the family of Tullibardine, by whom, according to both Douglas and Playfair, he had three sons —

1. (Sir) John, his successor.

2. George Moncrieff of Tippermalloch (or Tubbermallo).

3. Matthew Moncrieff, first of the family of Easter Moncrieff, "of whom several families of the name of Moncrieff are descended."

Sir Malcolm died about the year 1465 (possibly between 15 Oct. 1464 and 15 June 1465), when he was succeeded by his eldest son, (Sir) John Moncrieff of that Ilk.

Sources

1. ↑ The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [LDS], "Pedigree Resource File," database, Roots Magic Family Search (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:3S1C-KMP : accessed 2015), Mathew Moncriegge/Moncrieffe; submitted by Brown-Ebel.
2. ↑ the Fraser's ' Stirlings of Keir,' p. 211.

• http://www.stirnet.com/genie/data/british/mm4fz/murray02.php
• The House of Moncrieff by GEORGE SETON, Advocate M.A. Oxon., F.S.A. Scot. AUTHOR OF ' SCOTTISH HERALDRY ' AND OTHER WORKS p.26
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan_Moncreiffe
• [2]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 276 - 277.
• [3]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 100 - 101.
• "John Moncrieff and Beatrix Dundas", database, Claire Keller, Our Family Tree Branch: Claire Keller Family Tree (http://www.ourfamtree.org/browse.php/John-Moncrieff/p234134 : accessed )"; submitted, [contact information for private use].