Clan MacThomas
Clan MacThomas (Gaelic: MacThomaidh) is a Scottish clan with ancient origins in the Highlands of Scotland associated with the Chattan Confederation. The center of the MacThomas lands was at Finegand (Feith nan Ceann) in Glenshee.
Variations and septs
The pronunciation of the original Gaelic form "MacThomaidh" (IPA: /makʰ homaɣ/ or /makʰ homih/) has led to various renderings in English, the most common of which are McComie, McComas and McCombie. However, the official name of the clan is "MacThomas", although comparatively few of its members ever carried that name. Other variations and septs include McComb, McCombs, McOmie, McThomas, Thom, Thomas, Thoms, Thomson.
Origins
From ancient times, the MacThomas families were a sept of the Clan Chattan. By the 15th century the Clan Chattan had become too large to be effectively managed as a single clan. Consequently, Tomaidh Mor (Great Tommy), a greatgrandson of the 8th Chief of the Clan Chattan, William MacKintosh, left the familial lands at Badenoch, which Chattan had recently wrested from Clan Comyn, with his kinsmen and followers, crossing the Grampians to settle in Glenshee. They flourished there, becoming an independent clan named "MacTomaidh" after Great Tommy, though maintaining very close ties with the other clans stemming from Chattan.
Tartan
The tartan of the Clan is the MacThomas tartan (which is quite distinct and not to be confused with MacTavish, Thomson or Mackintosh tartan). It is composed of blue and green divided by narrower bands of black; two adjacent lines of crimson crossing over the blue squares and two lines of heather-pink over the green. The tartan is available commercially in both "ancient" (illustrated) and modern shades (which respectively reproduce the softer shades anciently achieved by the use of the old vegetable dyes, and the darker colors made possible by the introduction of chemical dyes).
Motto
Deo juvante invidiam superabo (Latin: "With God's help, I will overcome envy.")
Chiefs
| Chief | Name | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Thomas (Tomaidh Mor) | 15th Century | seated at the Thom, east bank of the Shee Water |
| 2nd | Unknown | ? | presumed to be Ane (Iain), father of Aye |
| 3rd | Aye (Adam) MacAne MacThomas | ? | Led a MacThomas party to aid Clan Chattan on 2 May, 1543 |
| 4th | Robert McComie of the Thom | ?-1600 | murdered by cateran (cattle rustlers) in 1600 |
| 5th | John McComie of Finegand | 1600-1606 | Robert's brother; moved seat to Finegand |
| 6th | Alexander McComie of Finegand[1] | 1606-1637 | John's grandson; lands passed to Clan Farquharson in 1616 through marriage of Robert's daughter; a long feud and numerous battles restored the clan lands under John (below) |
| 7th | John McComie (Iain Mor) | 1637-1674 | Alexander's son; known as "McComie Mor", greatly expanded territory and prestige of the clan; acquired lands and Barony of Forter in Glenisla (1651);[2][3] rose to support Montrose in 1644[4][5] |
| 8th | James McComie | 1674-1676 | 3rd son of Iain Mor |
| 9th | Thomas McComie | 1676-? | 5th son of Iain Mor |
| 10th | Angus Thomas | ? | aka "Mr. Angus" educated at St. Andrew University, Fife; 6th son of Iain Mor, anglicized surname, (dejure Chief) |
| 11th | Robert Thomas | ?-1740 | Large estate at Cullarnie, later moved to Belhelvie; son of Angus, (dejure) |
| 12th | David Thomas of Belhelvie | 1740-1751 | eldest son of Robert |
| 13th | Henry Thomas of Belhelvie | 1751-1797 | second son of Robert |
| 14th | William Thoms | 1797-1843 | eldest son of Henry, became a merchant in St. Andrews, further Anglicized surname, died with no children |
| 15th | Patrick Hunter MacThomas Thoms | 1843-1870 | son of George Thoms (a son of Henry and half-brother of William) |
| 16th | George Hunter MacThomas | 1870-1903 | son of Patrick; Sheriff of Caithness, Orkney and Shetland (bequethed his vast fortune and lands to St. Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall |
| 17th | Unclaimed | 1903-1967 | with no estate, the title went unclaimed by any possible heirs |
| 18th | Patrick MacThomas of Finegand | 1967-1970 | great-grandnephew of Patrick, first chief known to be officially recognized by the Lyon Court since Thomas McComie in 1676 |
| 19th | Andrew MacThomas (MacThomaidh Mhor) | 1970-present | current chief |
The current chief, Andrew MacThomas of Finegand, was educated in both Scotland and England. As of July 2006, he is Director of Public Affairs for one of the world's leading financial services companies based in London, where he lives with his Dutch born wife, Anneke and their two children, Tom and Amy.[6]
References
- ^ Latta MS. (viz., The Scottish Genealogist, Vol. XII N. 4, p. 91, n5)
- ^ A. M. Mackintosh; Mackintosh Families in Glenshee and Glenisla, 1916; pp. 48-51
- ^ W. M'Combie Smith; Memoir of the Families of M'Combie and Thoms, 1889; pp. 30-36
- ^ W. M'Combie Smith; op. cit., p.165; mentions a tradition that Montrose and Iain Mor became personal friends, and infers from the formers letter to the Tutor of Strowan, dated from Glenshee on 10th June 1646 (9 months after Philiphaugh), that "the Great Marquis" was then a guest at Finegand
- ^ A. M. Mackintosh; op. cit.; p. 52
- ^ Google Cache of Clan MacThomas website
