William Alexander McClelland

THE sirname of MacLellan is of very great antiquity in the south of Scotland. They had vast possessions in lands, and were very numerous and powerful.

David MacLellan is mentioned in a char∣ter of king Alexander II.* the third year of his reign, which was anno dom. 1217.

All our historians agree, that the Mac∣Lellans of Bombie were heretable sheriffs of Galloway,* flourished with great lustre for ma∣ny ages; and there were twelve knights of that sirname in the south of Scotland at one time, of which Bombie was the chief.

But as there are few of them mention∣ed in our publick records, before the reign of king James I. we shall from that aera be∣gin to deduce their descent.

I. Sir PATRICK MACLELLAN of Bom∣bie, lived about 350 Years ago,* and married a daughter of sir Andrew Gray of Broxmouth, ancestor of lord Gray, by whom he had a son and heir,

II. Sir PATRICK MACLELLAN of Bom∣bie, who flourished in the reigns of king James I.* and II. and having been prevailed upon to take part with lord Herries his rela∣tion against the earl of Douglas, was besieged in his own castle of Raeberry, and being at last forced to surrender, was put to death an∣no 1452, leaving issue a son,

Sir William, of whom afterwards.

The clan MacLellan were so incensed at their chief's being slain, that they all joined, took up arms,* and committed vast depreda∣tions upon the Douglases territories, in de∣fiance of all law and justice, for which king James outlawed and forseited them, and the estate of Bombie was thereupon annexed to the crown.

About this time the county of Galloway was greatly infested with a company of rob∣bers or gypsies from Ireland, whereupon the king issued a proclamation, promising a con∣siderable reward to any who would disperse them, and bring in their captain dead or alive; which was at last performed by the said sir William,* son of the last sir Patrick of Bombie, who, with the assistance of his friends, dispers∣ed that lawless crew, killed their chiestain, and brought his head upon the point of his sword to his majesty; for which gallant behaviour the king put him immediately in possession of his barony of Bombie: and to perpetuate the memory of that brave action, he took for his crest, a Moor's head on the point of a sword, with Think on for his motto.