Ebook Memorials of the Family of Forbes of Forbesfield

The first of the Family of Forbes of whom there is authentic record was Duncan de Forbes, who had a Charter by King Alexander III. of the lands of Forbes in 1272. "King Alexander gave and disponed to Duncan Forbeys tenementum de Forbeys, that is the lands and heretage of Forbeys quhilk charter is yet extant.

The old evidents of the Lords Forbes were revised by Sir John Skene, His Majesty's Clerk Register, in the month of September, 1593, when he stated that Alexander III., in the 23 rd year of his reign, which is the year of God 1272, gave and disponed to Duncan Lord Forbes terras et tenementum de Forbes.

II. John de Forbes

whose lands were forfeited after the conquest of Scotland by the English in 1303, was probably son of the last and Governor of the Castle of Urquhart. Reference to the forfeiture of John Forbes lands is made in 1306 when competing claims were made for them by Robert Chival and William Comyn brother to Sir John Comyn.

That he was Governor of the Castle of Urquhart rests on the tradition given by Boece, who states that after a brave resistance against King Edward, the castle was taken by storm and the inmates put to the sword, except the wife of Alexander Bois, the Governor, who escaped, and that she was delivered of a posthumous son of whom the Forbeses are descended.