Clan Forbes
Gaelic Name: Foirbeis
Motto: “Grace me Guide”
Badge: Broom/Stags Head
Lands: Aberdeenshire
Origin of Name: Placename, Aberdeenshire
Pipe Music: The Battle of Glen Eurann
Septs and dependents of the Clan: Bannerman, Berery, Berrie, Berry, Boyce, Boyes, Faubus, Fobes, Forbush, Fordice, Fordyce, Furbush, Lumsden, MacOuat, MacOwat, MacQuattie, MacWatt, Mechie, Mekie, Meldrum, Michie, Middleton, Walter, Walters, Watson, Watt, Watters, Wattie, Watts
Clan Forbes History
Forbes is a parish in the Aberdeenshire area. A reliable tradition tells that the “Braes o’ Forbes” were once uninhabitable because of bears living in the area. Oconachar, founder of the clan, killed the bears and claimed the land as “first occupier”. The present chief still holds part of the Lordship of these Forbes lands. In 1271, the chief of the time, Duncan de Forbes, obtained a charter from Alexander III for the land, confirming his claim. In the fourteenth century John de Forbes of the Black Lip had four sons with whom the family expanded widely and prosperously.
William began the Pitsligo line, John was progenitor of the branch of Polquhoun and Alistair of Brux was ancestor of extensions in Skellater and Inverernan. Alexander, the eldest of the brothers, fought in the 1411 Battle of Harlaw against the invaders from the Isles, led by Donald. He was created Lord Forbes by James I around 1444. To this day the Lordship is regarded as Scotland’s premier. His own three sons would extend the family with the branches of Corsindae and Monymusk, Corse, and later the Baronets of Craigievar. There was a point where, from the coasts of Banff and Buchan, to the mountains of Aberdeenshire, there were one hundred and fifty Forbes houses and estates.
Clan Forbes was, through the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, constantly at odds with their powerful, predatory neighbours the Gordons, Earls of Huntly. The consistent murders by both sides escalated, fuelled with the excuses of religious self-importance, into two battles at Craibstone and Tillieangus during 1571. These were followed by the plunder of Lord Forbes’ seat itself, and then the murder of twenty-seven Forbes’ of Towie at Corgarff. It eventually took two Acts of Parliament to force them to lay down their arms against each other.
During the 1715 rebellion, Duncan Forbes of Culloden, President of the Court of Session, was in opposition to the Jacobite cause. He is remembered however, for his efforts to win the rebels better treatment from their captors. Speaking out for the people after Culloden, Butcher Cumberland responded with the sneer, ‘that old woman talked to me about humanity.’ A memorial to Duncan Forbes stands in the Parliament Hall at Edinburgh. Built in 1815, Castle Forbes stands on the land claimed by Oconachar, overlooking the Don.
The Rev. Alexander and Mrs. FORBES
Alexander Forbes was born 17 February 1860 in St Nicholas Parish, Aberdeen City, Aberdeen, Scotland. His parents were Peter FORBES and Isabella McKENZIE, who married at St Nicholas on January 1 1857. Alexander was joined by six brothers and sisters: Patrick, Isabella Goldie, Henry James, Georgina, John Mackenzie, and Frederick.
Alexander attended the University of Aberdeen where he studied theology. The young man dreamed of serving the church on a foreign mission, and he applied for Africa when he graduated but the church board had found a place for him in Canada, and he was soon on his way! In December 1894 he arrived and soon was set up in Ft Saskatchewan, Alberta.
In 1895 Alexander was joined by his sweetheart - Agnes SORREL from Montrose, Angus, Scotland. Agnes was born to John SORELL and Margaret BURNESS on 17 September 1850. She was the fourth child in a family of eight - her siblings were James, Helen, Margaret Isabella, Ann, John, Georgina Steele, and David. In 1891 Agnes was a Matron in a Home for Girls in Aberdeen. It is interesting to note here that Agnes was 2nd cousin 2 times removed, of the poet Robert Burns, as her grandfather James Burness (1777-1856) was a 2nd cousin of the poet.
Alexander and Agnes were married in 1895, and were soon involved with the settlers in the Ft Saskatchewan area. They loved their work, making friends wherever they went!
Then in August 1909 the church asked them to make a trip to the Peace River country - the area was in the midst of settlement. Alexander and Agnes returned with all the news of their findings and were excited with great visions for this new land. The Presbyterian Church asked them to go northwest and in February 1910 they started out on their sleigh equipped with a caboose in minus 40 degree temperatures. Seventy three days later and over 600 miles away they finally arrived at what would become Grande Prairie. They lived with Mr. And Mrs. Clifford for several months at Flying Shot Lake and then moved on to Grande Prairie to help establish the town by building a church and hospital. McQueen’s Church was the first protestant church built in Grande Prairie.
On August 17, 1917 the Grande Prairie community was shocked and saddened by the death of Agnes Forbes. Alexander later went east to Ontario where he ministered a new flock.
The Grande Prairie Highland Games Association is very proud of these early pioneers and their contribution to building our community. Both Alexander Forbes Public School and Forbes Presbyterian Church bear their name. They will never be forgotten.
We salute all FORBES - both those who carry the name as well as those who are Forbes people through their connection with the school and church - as representatives of our 2008 Clan of the Day. Clan Forbes!