CLAN MURRAY SEPTS: Balneaves, Dinsmore, Dunsmore, Fleming, Moray, Murrie, Murry, Neaves, Piper, Pyper, Smail, Smale, Small, Smeal, Spalding, and variations of these.

Septs are smaller clans and families with different surnames, who follow another family’s Chief. These smaller septs then comprise - and are part of - the Chief’s larger clan.  A sept might follow another Chief if both families were linked through marriage or if this offered greater protection. Occasionally, these septs were almost as powerful as the main clan and the bonding of the two brought added strength to both.

Lord-President Forbes of Culloden refers to the following names in the memorial regarding the Highland clans, which he prepared for the Government at the time of the rising of 1745, as being followers of the Duke of Atholl (Murray):- (1) MacMurray, Moray, are variations of the name Murray; (2) Rattray; (3) Small; (4) Spalding. ".. the Duke of Atholl is Chief and head of a number of barons and gentlemen of the name of Murray in the Lowlands; ... he is deservedly placed here [in the memorial] on account of his extensive following of about 3,000 Highlanders, a good many of them out of his own property, but most of them from the estates of the barons and gentlemen who hold their land of him on account of his great superiorities in Athole, Glenalmond, and Balquidder. The most numerous of these and the readiest to turn out on all occasions are the Stewarts of Athole, in number more than 1,000 men, as also 500 Robertsons, who do not follow their chief; likewise the Fergussons; Smalls; Spaldings; Rattrays; Mackintoshes in Athole; and MacLarens in Balquidder, with other broken names in Athole, are followers of the Duke of Atholl”.

In 1568, William Moncreiffe of that Ilk, the 11th chief of Clan Moncreiffe, enterd into a treaty with "the haill Name of Murray" - the powerful Clan Murray - for their mutual defence. The bond was increased further by frequent intermarrying between the Moncreiffes and the Murrays at least twice a century and sometimes more often. The Moncreiffes have been associated with Atholl since before 1266.  Lands formed part of the Barony of Moncreiffe until 1598.  All the last five lairds of Moncreiffe, chiefs of Clan Moncreiffe, have been officers in the Atholl Highlanders, the Duke of Atholl’s (chief of Clan Murray) private army. Moncreiffes wore the Murray of Atholl tartan until 1972 and, because of the long-term affiliation and alliance with the Murray clan, this tartan can still be worn. The Moncreiffe of Atholl tartan was approved by the Scottish Tartan Authority in 1998 and the designer, Morag Moncreiff, describes the tartan in this manner: "This design takes the same check as the Murray of Atholl Tartan that Moncreiffs used prior to 1974 but uses the colours of the Lachlan Sett adopted by Sir Iain Moncreiffe. In this way it combines the sentiments of Sir Iain and maintains the strong link to the Murray Clan".

Most of the local chieftains and lairds in Atholl, together with a large number of their followers, belonged to branches of the successive earls' kindred. Moreover, they intermarried with the families of later earls and amongst themselves, while through the centuries their younger branches gradually intermarried with their other followers. The Stewarts also intermarried with their neighbours, such as other old families of standing within the earldom as Barons Fergusson of Dunfallandy, their cadets of Baledmund, the Butters of Pitlochry, the Spaldings of Ashintully and the Smalls of Dirnanean.

The Clan Spalding is a highland Scottish clan and sept of Clan Murray that has territorial origins coming from the town of the same name in Lincolnshire, England. The clan does not have a chief recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms so it is considered an armigerous clan. The Spalding family lived in Perthshire, Scotland, for one hundred and sixty three years before 1746, and dispersed to Germany, Sweden, Jamaica, Georgia, Liverpool, Virginia and elsewhere. The Spaldings supported the Jacobite cause and like many others found themselves dispossessed when the reprisals against the risings began. Many of the Spalding who had lived near the clan lands dispersed far and wide across Scotland, into Liverpool, England and further afield to Germany, Sweden, Jamaica, Viginia & Georgia in the USA. The Castle of Ashintully [pictured] was the clan centre in Perthshire. The last Spalding of Ashintully was Flora Spalding who died in London in 1930. Within our 'museum' page ('documents'), there is a 250 page copy of Notes and Traditions Concerning the Family of Spalding, 1914, Henry Young & Sons, Liverpool.

The first Spalding, of the name was in Flanders, came to England at the time of the Norman Conquest: possibly in the train of Mathilda of Flanders, wife of William I. He received a grant of lands at Berwick-on-Tweed. According to an old tradition a Spalding took loyal part in a crusade under Richard Coeur de Lion. The first of this surname recorded in Scotland is believed to be Radulphus de Spalding who, in 1225, was witness to the signing of a charter of the mill of Caterline in Kincardineshire. In 1318 during Robert the Bruce’s seige of Berwick, one of the town burgesses, Peter de Spalding, was so disgusted with severity of the governor that he helped Bruce’s army retake the Castle. Peter was rewarded by the Scottish king for his aid and was given, in the May of 1319, the lands of Ballourthy (Balzeordie) and Petmethey (Pitmachie) in Angus, as well as the keepership of the royal forest of Kylgerry.

Ancestors from these Spaldings can be found all around the world.The Spalding Clan throughout the 17th and 18th century followed the Jacobite cause, their feudal lands and castles heavily encumbered with English sedition taxes lost all their holdings including their Baronial Seat held in Parliament for centuries. After the failed support of the last Stuart King, the Castles of Morcloich (Whitefield) and Ashintully which had been Spalding strongholds for centuries in Perthshire were lost and the Clan dispersed to far reaches of the world. Owing to the fact the Clan and its Chief fought for Prince Charles and Scotland, the clan today not residing in Scotland is considered armigerous clan, meaning it does not have a chief recognized by the Lord Lyon King of Arms. The last male heir descending directly from Sir Peter Spalding and carrying the surname died in 1954 in Savannah, Georgia. 

The last Clan Chief and heir to Scottish Feudal Barony residing in Scotland, by acknowledged primogeniture and in proper court standing, was James Spalding of Leith Mills, Jamaica and Georgia. This James Spalding was the son of Thomas Spalding who was born in Ashintully Castle  to Sir David Spalding and Grizel Lyon.  James’ son Thomas was named for his grandfather and was born on St Simons Island, GA USA in 1774. This Thomas Spalding, known as the Spalding of Sapelo, was the last British subject as heir apparent to his ancestral Baronial Estates and the Clan Chief of the Spalding Clan. His great grandson Randolph Spalding was the last male of the Ashintully and Morcloich line and died in 1954. Prior to his death he asked his cousin’s son Harold Willingham II of Marietta, Georgia to change his surname to Spalding so as to continue the direct bloodline that had been attached for centuries to the ancient hereditary title and estates. (In Scotland, unlike in England, abeyance has never existed. In the default of male heirs a Scottish peerage not limited in descent to the male line passes at once to the elder or eldest daughter or nearest female heir) Harold, eldest son of Elizabeth Spalding Wylly Willingham, chose not to change his surname. With male-preference primogeniture he was then recognised as next to hold the Spalding Clan Chief title. Harold Willingham II died childless in 2000.  

The name of Spalding is armigerous and the clan chief title today goes unpursued, this creates an appearance of terminated descent but is not the case. The few remaining direct descendants of Thomas Spalding of Sapelo, who’s grandfather was the grandson of Andrew Spalding who received the Act of Ratification dated Whitehall 1 July 1677 and guaranteed by King Charles ll, ask that history not be distorted or deranged for the sake of title seeking or exploitation: “conforming to a charter granted by his Majesty's said grandfather, under his Royal Highness's great seal, in favor of the deceased David Spalding of Ashintully thereupon, of the date 10 January 1615 whom perpetually confirmed to the said Andrew Spalding of Ashintully, and heirs of his body, heritably and irredeemably, erected in a whole and free barony, to be called the Barony of Ashintully.”

“1719 January 16 Sasine on Disposition by John Spalding elder and younger Brigend of Moreclach, with consent of David Spalding of Whitehouse and Charles Spalding of Moreclach, in favor of Thomas Fleming in Thommanean, of an annual rent of L40, out of that pendicle of lands of Moreclach called Craig of Moreclaih in the parish of Kirkmichael. Dated at Bridgend of Moreclach 11 November 1718, and Sasine given on 12 December 1718 in presence of Thomas Spalding son of the Laird Of Ashintully, James Spalding son of Andrew Spalding of Glenkilry, and John Robertson son of Andrew Robertson in Toleon.” Volume XVII  Fol. 335.

SPALDING of England and Scotland:  Armorial bearing first documented in 1192 and again 1318 representing the Feudal Barony of Spalding. Defined by Sir George Mackenzie High Authority "the oldest armorial as representing the ancient family of Spalding, on a cross azure. five crosses.” The five crosslets are the five holy wounds of Christ, representing the first Spalding who fought in the Holy Land as a crusader under King Richard. Motto: ”Hinc mihi salus" (Hence My Salvation)  

SPALDING of Ashintully:  1587  (Perth) a two-handed sword on pale azure A gateway or cross fetchy, proper, with the portcullis half raised, Gules. Motto: Nobile Servitium (Service Is Noble).

The surnames Balneaves and Piper are septs of Clan Murray. The people known in ancient Scotland as the Picts were the forefathers of the Piper family. Not surprisingly, it is a name for a person who played the bagpipes. According to George F. Black in The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History (1946): "Anciently the name of Pyper was very frequent in Perth, and very Considerable Persons are called by that name in the Charters of the Religious Houses. About the time of the Reformation, the principal Families of that name changed it for Balneaves."

An extract from Extracted from Volume 1 of the Red Book of Scotland states: "The early origins of the family of Balneaves are obsure with the name itself being a territorial designation and is likely to be derived from Gaelic "bai neamh" meaning "the township of the blessings". Several persons bearing the surname Balneaves, alias Piper, appear in the vicinity of Perth from an early date. Robert Balneaves, alias Piper, granted a tenement in Perth to his son Walter on 19th June 1506, and a John Balneaves, alias Piper, Burgess of Perth, granted a tenement in Perth to Thomas Lamb on 10th May 1520. The first established ancestor for whom there is evidence is:

John Piper, who was a Burgess of Perth, and was father of:

Walter Piper alias Balneaves, was a Skinner Burgess of Perth and was admitted to Burgess and Guild there in right of his father.

John Piper, also Burgess, on 7th February 1550. He died by October of 1578 and was father of,

1. Henry Balneaves alias Piper,

2. William Balneaves

3. James Balneaves alias Piper

4. Mr. Alexander Balneaves (see below).

Mr. Alexander Balneaves, Minister of Tibbermuir. He married firstly Elizabeth Robertson, and secondly, to Anna Murray.

The Smalls are a sept of Clan Murray. Spelling variations of this family name include: Smailes, Smale, Smail, Smalley, Smaley and others. According to George F. Black in The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History (1946): "A deed of 1283 runs in the name of Oliverus et Ricardus Smally prepositi et ceteri prepositi ac cives Glasguenses congregati in placitis burgi que tenebantur apud Glasgu". At about the same time, Ricardus Smaley witnessed a sale of land in Glasgow, circa 1280-1290.

A 1588 charter record states that Andrew Small was granted the lands of Dirnanean in Strathardle by John, the 5th Stewart Earl of Atholl. The name Dirnanean is likely a derivation of Gaelic term Dur-nan-eun meaning "the birds' water" or alternately, but similarly, Doire nan Eun meaning "bird grove". By the time James Small (1835–1900) inherited the estate on the death of his father, Patrick, Dirnanean had been passed from father to son for nine generations. When James Small died without a direct heir, the ownership of Dirnanean transitioned to a series of his nephews until Francis Keir Balfour, the owner of neighbouring Kindrogan House, purchased the estate in 1926. A distant Small family cousin through his mother, Amelia Jane Keir, Francis Keir Balfour continued the Small family ownership of Dirnanean into the 1970s. Dirnanean is now privately owned by a non-relative.

In 1790, the musician Robert Petrie of Kirkmichael (1767–1830) published several Highland music pieces with "Mrs. Small of Dirnanean" in their title. The compositions were published in "Petrie's Collection of Strathspey Reels & County Dances".

The Small family coat of arms is described as "Per fesse wavy, gules and argent, a lion passant sable, pierced through with a dagger in bend proper entering at the shoulder, hilted or", which translates to: divided in half horizontally (in the manner of a fess or band), wavy, gules (red) and argent (silver), a lion walking with a forepaw raised, sable (black), pierced through with a dagger, in bend, proper entering at shoulder, hilted, gold. The Small family motto is "Ratione non ira", which translates to "Do not anger". The Small family crest is a branch of palm.

A signed photo of James Small (1835-1900) laird of Dirnanean 

The Clan Fleming Scottish Society has sought to debunk the enduring belief that the Fleming family is a sept of Clan Murray stating that the myth seems to have originated with vendors of clan merchandise, especially tartans, and that there is no evidence of any association between the Fleming clan and Clan Murray. The clan has been without a leader since the eighteenth chief (Reverend Charles Fleming, 7th Earl of Wigtown and 12th Lord Fleming) died in 1747. Accordingly, Clan Fleming is now an armigerous clan (one without a recognised chief) until such time as a new chief is officially recognized by Scotland's Lord Lyon. Fleming, derived from the French, 'le Fleming', indicates the origin of the family as Flanders. The once-powerful medieval principality of Flanders is now split between the Netherlands, Belgium and France. During the reign of David I and his son Malcolm, the crown encouraged the settlement of Flemish nobles and merchants in certain areas of Scotland.

Margaret Fleming, Countess of Atholl (1536-1586) was a Scottish courtier and landowner rumoured to be involved in the occult. She is known for stories told about her by her contemporary enemies.She served as lady-in-waiting to Mary, Queen of Scots. She was a daughter of Malcolm Fleming, 3rd Lord Fleming and Janet Stewart, Lady Fleming, a daughter of James IV of Scotland.

Richard Bannatyne, a secretary of John Knox, recorded a story that when Mary, Queen of Scots was in childbirth in Edinburgh Castle, Margaret Fleming magically transferred her labour pains to Margaret Beaton, Lady Reres. Bannatyne was an enemy and political opponent of her husband, the Earl of Atholl, whom he described as an "idolator and depender on witches."

In October 1570, Mr. Archibald Douglas obtained a jewel that had been made for Mary, Queen of Scots as propaganda for the Scottish succession to the English throne. He showed it to the English diplomat Thomas Randolph, who sent the jewel to London. It was said to be shaped like an antler chandelier, in Scots, a "hart horn herse", possibly a mistake for "heart-shaped". It showed Mary enthroned with two fighting lions, with the inscription "Fall what may Fall the Lion shall be Lord of All", with a motif of intertwined roses and thistles. The allusion is to the prophecy of Berlington. Randolph was horrified by the implications of this piece which he said was a token to be sent to Mary. The jewel was conjectured to have been commissioned by the "witches of Atholl", meaning apparently Margaret Fleming, Countess of Atholl, and her daughters, or her companions at Dunkeld including Mary Fleming and a French lady in waiting, Marie Pyennes, Lady Seton.

The clerk of the Privy Council, Alexander Hay, mentioned the jewel in a letter to Regent Mar in November 1570, after speaking to Thomas Randolph. Hay said Lady Atholl sent it to Mary, but it fell into Elizabeth's hands. It was no bigger than the palm of a hand, and in the shape of a "hierse of a harthorne" and "well decked with gold and enamelled". According to Hay, the design included the royal arms of Scotland and an image of Mary herself in royal robes, with a lion worrying a leopard, and the motto quoted by Randolph. The matter, wrote Hay, was "daintie" and kept secret, but it was known Elizabeth was not pleased. Richard Bannatyne also described this jewel.

On 24 April 1579, her husband, the Earl of Atholl died at Kincardine Castle, near Auchterarder, soon after attending a banquet at Stirling Castle. Margaret Fleming was also unwell. A rumour started that they had been poisoned at the request of Annabell Murray, Countess of Mar, her sister-in-law, or Regent Morton. Agnes Graham, the wife of William Murray of Tullibardine, and also a sister-in-law of Margaret Fleming, wrote to Annabell Murray assuring her that the Countess of Atholl's complaints against her were "forged lies". Margaret Fleming appeared in person before the Privy Council to petition for her son's rights.

The Earl's will mentions their tapestries, and she had 186 stones weight of new wool in the wardrobe of Balvenie Castle. Their other homes were at Dunkeld and Blair.

In 1583 she was in credit trouble, owing an Edinburgh tailor John Young money, and her goods, widow's terce, and income were assigned to David Lindsay, 11th Earl of Crawford, a supporter of James Stewart, Earl of Arran. She wrote to Mary, Queen of Scots from her lodging in the Canongate of Edinburgh in March 1585. She had been away from the town because the plague. She was in litigation with her son the Earl of Atholl. She mentioned that the Scottish court "changes manners", meaning that at present the young king's advisors did not favour Mary, although James VI had great affection for her and her liberty. She hoped to see them together one day.

She offered to come to England and serve Mary with her daughter. Mary hoped she would come bringing news of her son James VI, and considered she would be as good a companion as Mary Seton and Mademoiselle Rallay had been. Queen Elizabeth would not allow it, and when she heard Mary was upset at the decision, she wrote to her jailer Amias Paulet with the suggestion that the request for companions was suspicious.

1) She married Robert Graham, Master of Montrose, by whom she had a son, John Graham, 3rd Earl of Montrose.

2) In 1549 she married Thomas Erskine, Master of Erskine, younger brother of John Erskine, 6th Lord Erskine, with a dowry paid by Mary of Guise.

3) She married thirdly John Stewart, 4th Earl of Atholl [pictured above]. Their children included:

Jean Stewart, wife of Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy, and mother of Colin Campbell of Glenorchy
Grizel Stewart, wife of David Lindsay, 11th Earl of Crawford
Mary Stewart, wife of Francis Hay, 9th Earl of Erroll
John Stewart, 5th Earl of Atholl, at whose death in 1595 the earldom in default of male heirs reverted to the crown.

Flemings also settled in Glenshee from the early 17th-century. Donald Fleming, who was born in the Blair Atholl area around 1720, was a Jacobite soldier in the 1745 rebellion and a distant ancestor of Ian Fleming, famous in the 20th-century as the author of the James Bond stories.