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Clan Charteris (Charteris Tartan)

1. About Clan Charteris (Charteris Tartan) Crest: A dexter hand holding up a dagger paleways, Proper Motto: This is our Charter Origin of Name : Placename, France Region: Lowlands Historic Seat: Gosford House, East Lothian Clan Chief: The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Wemyss & March KT 2. Charteris Clan History (Charteris Tartan) It is asserted that its name originates...

1. About Clan Charteris (Charteris Tartan)

Crest: A dexter hand holding up a dagger paleways, Proper
Motto: This is our Charter
Origin of Name : Placename, France
Region: Lowlands
Historic Seat: Gosford House, East Lothian
Clan Chief: The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Wemyss & March KT

2. Charteris Clan History (Charteris Tartan)

It is asserted that its name originates from Chartres, a city in northern France well known for its Gothic cathedral.

It is thought that one of the sons of a Lord of Chartres crossed the English Channel during the Norman conquests, and that one of his successors crossed the Irish Sea with David I and settled in the Borders.

The name 'de Carnoto', which could be a Latinized variant of the name, appears in a charter dated 1174 to the Abbey of Kelso (seen above).



East Lothian's Gosford House at Longniddry. The 7th Earl of Wemyss constructed Gosford, the clan's residence, between 1790 and 1800.


Alexander III appointed Sir Thomas de Charteris as Scotland's Lord High Chancellor in 1280. The infamous Ragman's Roll later in 1296 includes Andrew de Charteris' name.

But like many others who pledged loyalty to Edward I, he became a supporter of Scottish independence.

The family estates were lost as a result. William, Andrew's son, continued the family's support for the cause of independence by backing Robert the Bruce. In fact, William was present when Robert the Bruce murdered Comyn in 1306 at the Minorite Friars' Church in Dumfries.

The appointment of Sir Thomas Charteris as ambassador to England further cemented the nation's commitment to Scotland. At the Battle of Durham in 1346, Sir Thomas was killed.

Sir James Douglas of Drumlanrig challenged the eighth Laird, Sir Robert Charteris, to a duel in 1530. The King saw the duel from the walls of the castle and had to send warriors to break it up because it was so fierce.

Another family branch that made its home in Perthshire has long contested the chiefship.

They battled the influential Ruthvens, and after Patrick, Lord Ruthven, was removed from office and John Charteris of the Kinfauns was named in his place, Charteris had to launch an attack on Perth to obtain access.

The Ruthvens held the title until 1584 after Charteris was forced to relinquish it.

Despite being a supporter of the Covenant, Sir John Charteris of Amisfield was unwilling to use force against Charles I and spent two years in a Scottish prison. He then joined the Marquis of Montrose in the battle at Philiphaugh in 1645.

Alexander Charteris, who had accompanied Montrose, was likewise apprehended and killed in Edinburgh in 1650.

Alexander died at the hands of Scotland's very own guillotine, aka "the maiden." The Edinburgh Museum of Antiquities still has this horrifying gadget on display.

A daughter of Colonel Francis Charteris, who later wed the Earl of Wemyss, survived him. Francis, her second child, took on the name and crest of Charteris and received the holdings.

3. Charteris Tartans

There is no official Charteris tartan, however those who bear the name can don the Roxburgh District tartans, which are representative of the area where the Charteris name was historically prevalent.

 

Roxburgh District Modern

 

Roxburgh District Ancient

 

Roxburgh District Muted

4. Charteris Crest & Coats of Arms

4.1  Clan Charteris Crest

Worn by all of the name and ancestry

 

Crest Description:
A dexter hand holding up a dagger paleways, Proper

4.2 Clan Charteris Coat of Arms

Note on Coats of Arms: A coat of arms is given to an individual under Scottish heraldic law (with the exception of civic or corporate arms). A 'family coat of arms' does not exist.

With the exclusions listed above, the weapons depicted below are personal weapons. The only person authorized to use these weapons is the grantee.

 

CHARTERIS of Amisfield

Within a double tressure of flory counterflory on argent, a fess of azure Gules

5. Charteris Places & People

5.1 Clan Charteris People

Colonel Francis Charteris, (1672 – 1732)

A British aristocracy known as "The Rape-Master General" had amassed a significant fortune through gambling. For raping a servant in 1730, he was found guilty. Later, he received a pardon; but, not long after, he passed away naturally.

In Amisfield, Dumfriesshire, Charteris was baptized after being born into a prominent Scottish family. But even before he was found guilty of rape, he was well-known and hated as the stereotypical rake in London.

Although he served in the military repeatedly, he was expelled from the army four times—twice by Parliament for accepting bribes and once by the Duke of Marlborough in Belgium for card cheating.

In spite of being discharged from the military, he accumulated a sizeable fortune, and his daughter Janet married James Wemyss, the 5th Earl of Wemyss, in 1720.

Charteris served as the model for the characters in Fanny Hill, A Rake's Progress, and A Harlot's Progress (where he is depicted as the fat lecher in the opening plate). In his Moral Essay III from 1733, Alexander Pope denounced him.

There have been comparisons made between Charteris' sexual excesses and the avarice of politicians like Robert Walpole.

Although the renowned club created by Sir Francis Dashwood did not begin meeting until 1743, other accounts claim that he was a founder member of the Hellfire Club.

He might have belonged to the first "Hell-Fire Club," which Philip Wharton, 1st Duke of Wharton created in 1720. A subsequent admirer and legal name change from Leslie Charles Bowyer-Yin was Leslie Charteris, the author of Simon Templar, The Saint.

Martin Michael Charles Charteris, Baron Charteris of Amisfield GCB GCVO OBE QSO PC (1913–1999) - Main image

Queen Elizabeth II's confidante and assistant.

Hugo Charteris, Lord Elcho's son, and his brother, the 12th Earl of Wemyss, were the parents of Charteris.

He received his education at Eton and the Royal Military College Sandhurst before serving in the Middle East and earning the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. After his return, he wed Hon.

Mary Margesson, the first Viscount Margesson's daughter, on December 16, 1944. They had three children.

He was appointed as the then-Duchess of Edinburgh's private secretary in 1950 and served in that capacity until 1972, when he was upgraded to the position of private secretary following her accession in 1952.

Before returning to Eton as its Provost in 1977, he served in this capacity up to his semi-retirement.

Most people are probably familiar with Charteris from an interview he gave to The Spectator in 1995, during which he called the Duchess of York "vulgar," the Prince of Wales "whiney," and the Queen Mother "a bit of an ostrich."

6. Associated Names

Differences in spelling include: Chatres, Charters, Charteris, Chatters and Chatteris

Clan Branches

Charteris of Dumfries Charteris of Kinfauns