Alexander John Forbes-Leith, 1st Baron Leith of Fyvie

A medieval royal stronghold that was cursed by the 13th century prophet Thomas the Rhymer, Fyvie Castle was held by five successive families who have created one of the most impressive castles in Scotland today. In 1390, King Robert III transferred ownership of the castle to Sir Henry Preston who built the oldest surviving structure called Preston Tower at the south east corner. In 1433, Sir Henry gave the castle to his eldest daughter who married Sir Alexander Meldrum. Sir Alexander built his own tower at the south west corner. In 1596, Sir Alexander’s great-great grandson Sir William Meldrum sold the castle to Sir Alexander Seton. In 1599, Sir Alexander built the grand Seton tower that forms the entrance with a high arched doorway flanked by twin drum towers. The castle was seized by the Crown when his grandson, James Seton, fourth Earl of Dunfermline, joined the Jacobites Rebellion of 1688. In 1733 the Crown sold Fyvie Castle to William Gordon, 2nd Earl of Aberdeen. His son William Gordon of Fyvie erected the Gordon Tower on the north end of the castle. Sir Maurice Duff-Gordon went bankrupt and sold the castle in 1889 for £170,000 to Alexander John Forbes-Leith (1847 –1925.) 

Forbes-Leith was born in Aberdeen but made his fortune in the steel industry in the United States. He and his wife Mary Louise (also known as “Marie”) Forbes-Leith (1848 – 1930) added the final Leith Tower to the immediate west of the Gordon Tower. They also restored the interiors and lavishly furnished the castle with his collection of paintings, tapestries, armor and furniture. His great-grandson Sir Andrew George Forbes-Leith, 3rd Baronet (1929–2000) sold the castle and contents to the National Trust for Scotland.

Learn more here: https://www.clan-forbes.org/post/fyvie

Forbes and the Thirty Years War

With estimated deaths of between 4.5 to 8 million, the Thirty Years’ War from 1618 to 1648 was a catastrophe to the people of Europe, lethal to the Scots, and calamitous to the House of Forbes. Four of the sons (one illegitimate) of Arthur, 9th Lord Forbes, died during the conflict. Fortunately, his eldest son Alexander survived to become the 10th Lord Forbes. Scots were initially motivated to fight by their loyalty to the House of Stuart. However, they were also lured by the opportunity for military advancement, wealth from spoils, and promises of lands and titles. Among the Scots who went abroad were six sons of Arthur, 9th Lord Forbes: Alexander, his eldest surviving son and Master of Forbes; John, the third son; William, the fourth son; Arthur, fifth son; James, sixth son; and John, an illegitimate (“natural”) son. However, members of the other branches of the House of Forbes joined the war effort, including James Forbes and Patrick Forbes of Thainstone; Arthur Forbes, senior, and Arthur Forbes, the younger, of Towie; and John Forbes of Tulloch (Tolquhon). According to William, 12th Lord Forbes, “fourteen field officers besides others, in the Swedish army of the name of Forbes, who were almost all killed or settled in Sweden and Germany.” 

Learn more here: https://www.clan-forbes.org/post/thirty-years-war

Castle Newe: Lost Treasure

Enlarged from a medieval stronghold to a stately mansion house, Castle Newe was once a showplace and a stop for the British Royal Family. Due to heavy financial losses the early twentieth century, the Forbes of Newe were forced to sell off their estates and to demolish the castle. The original Forbes of Newe is a cadet branch of the Forbes of Pitsligo. Unfortunately, the 9th Laird of Newe, Major John Forbes of the British 29th Regiment, became bankrupt. He sold the estate to James Forbes of Seaton. In the late 18th century, John “Bombay Jock” Forbes (1743-1821) amassed a sizeable fortune from trading, shipping, and banking in India. In 1796, he returned to Britain and purchased the estates of Newe. After his death, he left his estates of Newe to his nephew Charles Forbes, later 1st Baronet, (1773-1849) and bequeathed him funds for enlarging the family home at Newe. Sir Charles Stewart Forbes of Newe, 5th Baronet, sold Castle Newe in 1924 to Provost Donald Munro, Banchory. In 1927, he sold the castle to Charles Brand Dundee for demolition.

Learn more here: https://www.clan-forbes.org/post/castle-newe

Big Y-700 Test for Clan Chief Lord Forbes

Thanks to the generosity of two Clan Forbes Society members, FamilyTreeDNA (FTDNA) will conduct the Big Y-700 DNA analysis for the chief of Clan Forbes. The results will be included in the Forbes Surname Group project hosted by FTDNA. This analysis of the male Y-DNA will be very helpful in connecting modern day Forbeses to the House of Forbes. During the Clan Forbes Gathering in March 2021, FTDNA Group Administrator Philip Stead presented a complete analysis of the short tandem repeats (STR) markers, based the results of the clan chief's Y-111 test. Mr. Stead noted that the haplotype group for the chief is most probably R-DF27, a subdivision of haplogroup R-M269, which mutated about 4,200 years ago. However, he noted that he required test results with more precise Y-DNA single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) indicators, as provided through the Big Y-700 DNA test. As a result, Don and Brenda (Forbes) Chandler contributed to the FTDNA Forbes General Fund and covered the cost of not only the Big Y-700 test but also the autosomal DNA (“Family Finder”) and mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA (“mtFull Sequence”) tests. The autosomal DNA test is designed to find relatives on all ancestral lines within the last five generations and the mtDNA test allows for investigation into the maternal line. The results will probably be available in August 2021.

Learn more here: https://www.clan-forbes.org/post/lord-forbes-dna

Welcome Members!

Please welcome our new Active Members for May 2021:

• Ms. Kimberly Barker, British Columbia, Canada
• Mr. Thomas Edwin Forbes, Ontario, Canada
• Mr. Walter H. Boyes, Jr., Washington, USA
• Mr. Cory Ellis, Oklahoma, USA
• Ms. Monica Mary Forbes, Berkshire, England, UK 
• Ms. Wendy Hecker, Virginia, USA
• Mr. Edward John Forbes, New York, USA
• Mr. Ronald Kenny Forbes, Iowa, USA
• Ms. Vivien Forbes Baker Payne, Tasmania, Australia

Please welcome back our renewing Active Members for May 2021:

• Mr. Ernest (Ernie) Walters, California, USA
• Ms. Jean Stacy Gore, Texas, USA
• Mr. Jim L.W. Faulkinbury, California, USA
• Ms. Heather J. Forbes, Ontario, Canada
• Mr. Rick Forbes, Texas, USA
• Mr. Andrew Kim Forbes, New Zealand
• Ms. Susan Forbes Graham, New York, USA

Please welcome our new Patron Member in May 2021: 

• Mr. Edward John Forbes, New York, USA

Become an Active Member or Renew Now!

If you haven’t already supported the Society financially, please consider becoming a paid member! Active Membership is $25 annually will help the Society research the history and heritage of the House of Forbes; develop resources for tracing your genealogy with your cousins around the world; connect with other members in the Clan Forbes Community; and encourage more members to join us in events, tours and gatherings. Thanks to all our 2019 members – and now it’s time to renew your support for 2020!

Renew your membership here. 

Patron Members: If you don’t want the bother of renewing your membership every year, consider becoming a Patron Member for lifetime membership at the level of $600. 

Highland Games & Festivals

Some of the 2021 Highland Games and Scottish Festivals are being rescheduled. Please check the Clan Forbes Society website for the latest announcements: https://www.clan-forbes.org/games 

Scotland

Lonach Highland Gathering & Games

Cancelled for 2021, Bellabeg, Strathdon, Aberdeenshire

United States

Smoky Mountain Highland Games

May 15 - 16, 2021; Maryville, Tennessee

Texas Scottish Festival & Highland Games

May 1, 2021; Decatur, Texas

Clan Forbes Convener: Rick Forbes

Old Orchard Beach Scottish Festival & Games

June 5, 2021; Old Orchard Beach, Maine

Clan Forbes Convener: Leslie A. Furbish

Garrett County Celtic Festival

June 5, 2021; Friendsville, Maryland

Calaveras Celtic Faire (Formerly Sonora Celtic Faire)

June 18 - 20, 2021; Angel, California

Alaska Scottish Highland Games

June 26 - 27, 2021; Palmer, Alaska

McMinnville Scottish Festival

Jun 12 - 13, 2021; McMinnville, Oregon

Arizona Highland Celtic Festival

July 17 - 18, 2021; Flagstaff, Arizona

Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival

July 17, 2021; North Hampton, Massachusetts

Grandfather Mountain Highland Games

July 8 - 12, 2021; Linville, North Carolina

Clan Forbes Convener: Ron Pearson

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Maine Highland Games & Scottish Festival

August 21, 2021; Topsham, Maine

Clan Forbes Convener: Leslie A. Furbish

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Loch Norman Highland Games

April 9 - 10, 2022; Huntersville, North Carolina

Canada

Mosaic – A Festival of Cultures
May 27-29; Regina, Saskatchewan

Greater Moncton Highland Games
June 18-20; Moncton, New Brunswick

Red Deer Highland Games
June; Red Deer, Aleberta

Perth's World Record Kilt Run
June 26; Perth, Ontario

Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo
June 26–July 3; Halifax, NS

Almonte Celtfest
July 2-4; Almonte, Ontario

Penticton Scottish Festival
July 3; Penticton, British Columbia

Antigonish Highland Games
July 16-18; Antigonish, Nova Scotia

Okanagan Military Tattoo
July 23-24; Armstrong, British Columbia

Uxbridge Scottish Festival
July; Uxbridge, Ontario