History of the Homes
|
The name of Home originates from an Old English word Hôm, which in its dative form described a place on an hilly outcrop or height. The situation of Hume Castle readily explains this origin and through the ages it has been spelt in several different ways, appearing in documents over the past eight centuries in up to 8 various spellings. Always pronounced Hume, the barony, castle and village retained the Home spelling until the end of the 18th century; many families over the centuries have switched to the Hume version to avoid confusion of pronounciation for those living outwith the Borders, whilst others have retained the Home spelling. The first to change his style of surname to that of Home was William of Greenlaw, probably in the early 1200's. William's father Patrick was second son of Cospatrick, 4th earl of Dunbar and is mentioned as a witness to Melrose Abbey charters in 1166 and 1228. The earls of Dunbar descended from Cospatrick the first earl, who on leaving England was given the earldom by Malcolm III on the forfeiture of the former's earldom of Northumberland by William the Conqueror. The first earl's grandson, Cospatrick III, married Ada, the natural daughter of King William the Lion, the Dunbar earldom thereby acquiring the lands of Home. The first earl was himself descended from Malcolm II of Scotland (1005-1034 AD), his great grandfather, through his own father Maldred, son of Crinan the abbot of Duneld, who married Algitha, granddaughter of King Ethelred of England. Patrick of Greenlaw's son, William, married his cousin Ada, daughter of Patrick 6th earl of Dunbar, bringing the lands of Home with her. Thereafter William was known by the territorial designation of Home, thus giving rise to the name of the clan. From them are descended the many Homes and Humes who have subsequently either made their mark on our history or have contributed to maintaining the family name in many different ways, particularly in the affairs of Scotland from the mid 15th Century, and Britain and the empire from the 18th Century onwards. The Homes were the dominant magnates and lairds in the East March from the late 15th Century onwards; the wardenship of this March was held by them virtually without interruption right through to the Union of the Crowns in 1603 and they exercised dominant political power in Berwickshire through to the end of the 18th Century. Military involvement witnessed many gains, such as the early success of Lord Home at the Battle of Flodden in 1513 and many losses, particularly those of the Wedderburn Homes at that battle and at the battle of Dunbar in 1650. Different families of the name supported opposite causes especially during the time of Mary Queen of Scots and during the Jacobite rebellions, but between them all they left a fascinating built heritage which we can continue to admire today. The direct line, descended from the first William, died out on the death of the 2nd earl of Home, whence the chiefly family passed to Sir James Home of Cowdenknowes, who became the 3rd earl in 1638. From the mainline also descended the Homes of Spot, George becoming earl of Dunbar under James VI & I, as did the Homes of Ninewells, the family of David Hume, the philosopher. Descendants of the senior cadet line, the Homes of Wedderburn, inlcuded the Humes of Polwarth, who became earls of Marchmont, the first modern Scottish historian, David Home of Godscroft, Henry Home, Lord Kames and David Home, Lord Crossrigs, both eminent legal minds, as well as George Home of Spotsylvania who founded a large family of Humes in Virginia. There are many others of note, including John Home, minister and playwright in the 18thC, Sir Everard Hume, the surgeon, Allan Octavian Hume, founder and first secretary of the Indian Congress Party in late 19thC. In our own era, our chief's father, Lord Home of the Hirsel, Prime Minister and noted Foreign Secretary, Cardinal Hume Archbishop of Westminster, John Hume the Nobel Peace prize winner, together with other prominent folk in the worlds of fashion, the military, journalism, the arts and commerce, maintain the prominence of the name in the affairs of our time. Selected brief biographies of some of the more notable bearers of the name will appear on this website from time to time; this will enable readers to build up a fascinating picture of all our deeds, mostly good! The Murder of Lady BillieThere are many stories attached to this notorious murder of Margaret Home, the eldest daughter of Sir George Home of Wedderburn, who had married as his second wife, the Reverend Ninian Home of Billie. The fatal event took place at Old Linthill House in 1751; some of these stories have been handed down through oral tradition. The best known is perhaps the account of the funeral; the mourners had such a fine wake at Linthill that, by the time they reached the burial ground at Bonkle Church, they discovered that they had left the body behind. William Home of Broomhouse and Bonnie Prince CharlieWilliam Home was born in Duns in Berwickshire around 1731. At the age of 14, he joined the Jacobite army initially as Cornet and then as Ensign in Lord Balmerino's Life Guards. "Emigrant" George Hume & George Washington“Emigrant” George Hume was the son of George Hume, 10th Baron of Wedderburn. He was exiled to the New World at the time his father was stripped of his title and lands over the Jacobite Rebellion. Since he was proficent at mathematics the younger George took up surveying as a profession. George Washington was under Hume’s tutlage from the ages of sixteen to eighteen to learn surveying. Washington and “Emigrant” George worked together on several projects. Robert Home: A Brief Essay On The Life And Achievements Of A Dedicated Public ServantRobert was born in the small Tweedside village of Horncliff in the English county of Northumberland on 22nd January 1792, the son (and youngest child) of John Home and his wife Elisabeth Millar. Although he was born in England, Robert’s ancestry was very clearly Border Scots and firmly rooted in the county of Berwickshire. His father, John Home had been born in the Berwickshire village of Gordon and we believe that his forebears had been tenant farmers and tacksmen in that area for about 300 years, and were possibly settled on the land when it was purchased by Lord Home from the Earl of Huntly in the latter years of the 15th Century. |
Useful linksThere are various sites on the internet giving information about the history of the Clan Home. Some of the better ones are shown below, however there are inacuracies and inconsistencies in many of these histories.
www.electricscotland.com
www.scotclans.com/scottish_clans/ BibliographyWe are delighted to be able provide a link to an excellent bibliography covering a near complete range of books on the Homes and Humes, by kind permission of James Hume in America.
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/
|
