McKerrell Document 1
A copy of a Certificate of uradel (ancient nobility) regarding the grandfather of Charles James Mure Mckerrell, 15th of Hillhouse, recorded in Court of the Lord Lyon, in the Birthbreives section, in 1906. Sir James Balfour Paul (later KCVO) was Lord Lyon at the time.
Charles McKerrell of Hillhouse is the current Commissioner for the EU and a Board member of the Society of Scottish Armigers
A typed copy of the text follows:
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WE the most noble John Douglas Sutherland Campbell, PC, KT, GCMG, GCVO, Ninth Duke of Argyle in the Peerage of Scotland, and The Right Honourable Claude George Bowes-Lyon, Fourteen Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne in the Peerage of Scotland,
Do hereby Certify that We are satisfied on our examination of the proofs produced that Robert Mure McKerrell of Hillhouse, Esquire Justice of the Peace and Commissioner of Supply for Ayrshire, holding the Volunteer Decoration, a member of the Royal Company of Archers, the King's Bodyguard for Scotland, Honorary Colonel of the First Volunteer Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers (late Honorary Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel Commanding ), and a Prison Commissioner for Scotland. Succeeded to the family estate of Hillhouse in the Parish of Dundonald and County of Ayr, Scotland on the sixteenth of April 1882,
as the thirteenth Laird of the name, and that he is descended in the direct male line from William McKerrell
of Hillhouse, the first Laird of the name, who acquired these lands and held them under a Charter from the Crown of Scotland granted to him by King James the sixth in March 1603; that William McKerrell of Hillhouse , the first Laird of the name, was son of John McKerrell described as “in Hillhouse”, and grandson of Martin McKerrell, also described as “in Hillhouse”, born circa 1490, who was descended
from the “Chevalier Jehan Makirel”, mentioned in Froissart's Chronicles ,Tome III, Chapter CXXVI, in the account there given of the Battle of Otterburn (1388) and therein described as the “Chevalier Ecossais” in the train of the Earl of Moray, who wounded and captured Raoul de Percy, younger son of the Earl of Northumberland and second in command of the English host.
We further declare that the McKerrells of Hillhouse are of “Gentle” blood, Knightly descent and ancient lineage, and they are equal in rank to the “Uradel” of Germany and to the members of the “Riddershap” of Holland.
In Testimony of whereof we have affixed Our hands and seals.
(Signed) Argyll seal
Oct 23rd 1907
(Signed) Strathmore and Kinghorne seal
Oct 23rd 1907
Edinburgh 31st October 1907
I, Sir James Balfour Pau;, Lord Lyon King of Arms of Scotland hereby declare and certify that the signatures of the two noble Lords appended hereinto do rightly pertain to them and are authentic. Given under my hand and seal of office this thirty first day of October 1907
(signed) J Balfour Paul, Lyon.
I am satisfied from the evidence given that Charles James Mure McKerrell of Hillhouse of Templepatrick in the County of Antrim is descended in the male line from the Robert Mure McKerrell referred to herein and that he is 15th Head of the Name.
Entered in the G.O.Ms 162A pp 455-6
Gerald Slevin Chief Herald of Ireland 23-6-1975
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2019 0301
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