Richard (Keith) de Keith (1225)

Born 1225 in Humbie, Haddingtonshire, Scotland [uncertain]

Ancestors

Biography

Richard (Keith) de Keith is a member of Clan Keith.

The Border or Riding Clans By B. Homer Dixon KNL (1889) at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/borders/ridingndx.htm  :

The clan are descended from the Keiths, Earls Marshall, one of the most powerful families in Scotland, when, with the sole exception of the Royal Family, the title of Earl was the highest in the kingdom, and who had so many possessions that it was formerly said that they could journey from the north to the south of Scotland and sleep every night in one of their own castles.

Nisbet in his Heraldry (Edinburgh, 1722) says the Dicksons are descended from one Richard Keith, said to be a son of the family of Keiths Earls Marshall of Scotland, and in proof thereof carry in their arms the chief of Keith Marischal. ^[1]

This Richard was commonly called Dick, and his sons were styled after him, the affix of son in the Lowlands answering to the prefix of Mac in the Highlands.

The Assize Rolls for the County of Northumberland for 53 Henry III (1268/69) recorded a plea by David le Marischal, heir of Richard le Marischal, that he be allowed 300 acres common pasture in Belefford, which belongs to his free tenement in Middelton, as his father was disseised of the property unjustly and without judgment by Malise, Earl of Strathern. ^[2]

Research Notes

It is probable that he was the son of the Great Marshal Hervey de Keth, who died in 1249, by his wife Margaret, daughter of William third Lord Douglas, because it was customary in Scotland in those days before the introduction of quartering for cadets to compose their Arms by adding to their paternal bearing a part or the whole of their mother's Arms to show their maternal descent, and to difference themselves from other descendants of the family, and the Arms of Keith are Argent on a Chief gules three pallets or (but Nisbet says in several paintings the chief is paly of six or and gules, which agrees with their traditionary origin that at a battle with the Danes a chief of the Keith's slew the Danish leader, which being perceived by King Malcolm, he drew, with the blood of the dead man, long stripes on the conqueror's shield — and also agrees with the Chief of Dickson of Buhtrig), while the House of Douglas, before the death of the Bruce in 1329, bore simply Azure three mullets argent. The heart was added by William first Earl of Douglas, and appears on his seal in 1343.

Sources

1. ↑ Nisbet, Alexander. A system of heraldry, speculative and practical, with the true art of blazon, according to the most approved heralds in Europe, Vol 1 (Edinburgh, 1816), p74 (accessed 12 February 2024)
2. ↑ Great Britain: Courts of Assize and Nisi Prius (Northumberland). Three early assize rolls for the county of Northumberland (Durham, 1891), p204 (accessed 12 February 2024)

Acknowledgements

Profile created by by Leslie Ridley, Thursday, April 17, 2014.