Clan Maxwell Castle On History Visit To The South West Coast Of Scotland

Tour Scotland travel video of Caerlaverock Castle , with Scottish fiddle music, on ancestry, genealogy, history visit to the South West Coast. Caerlaverock is a medieval moated triangular castle first built in the 13th century. It is located close to where the River Nith flows into the Solway Firth, on the southern coast seven miles South of Dumfries. It was a stronghold of the Maxwell family from the 13th century until the 17th century, when the castle was abandoned. It was besieged by the English during the Wars of Scottish Independence, and underwent several partial demolitions and reconstructions over the 14th and 15th centuries. In the 17th century, the Maxwells were created Earls of Nithsdale, and built a new lodging within the walls, described as among " the most ambitious early classical domestic architecture in Scotland. " In 1640 the castle was besieged for the last time and was subsequently abandoned. Although demolished and rebuilt several times, the castle retains the distinctive triangular plan first laid out in the 13th century. Caerlaverock Castle was built to control trade in early times. The castle was a filming location for the 2011 romantic comedy movie The Decoy Bride. The surname Maxwell was first found in Roxburghshire. The earliest record of the name Maxwell was of a Herbert de Maccusweil, who moved to Scotland from England, where he came to hold the land at Max's weil or Maccusweil, and flourished under the kings Malcolm IV and William I in the second half of the 12th century. It is thought that Herbert was of Norman stock; even though the name itself had older roots. Of his sons, John de Maccuswell was recorded as Great Chamberlain of Scotland, and as Sheriff of Teviotdale. He came to have the barony of Cærlaverock in Dumfries, and is on record as a resident of that country in 1221. Another son Aymer de Maxwell was the first use the modern spelling of his surname; he migrated to the Scottish county of Peebles, where he was recorded as Eymer de Mackisuuell in 1262. Aymer married Mary, daughter of Sir Roland de Mearns, heiress of the barony of Renfrew from which would come the lines of Maxwell of Pollock and Maxwell of Calderwood. Branches were also established in Roxburgh and Berwick. Spelling variations of this family name include: Maxwaile, Makiswell, Makiswel, Makeswell, Maxwell, Maxwel, Maxswel, Maxville, Maxvile, Maxuel, Makeswel, Maxweel, Maxwale, Maxswell, Maxwal, Maxwaul, Maxwaale, Maxwul, Maxwail and many more. Caerlaverock Castle was the seat of the chief of Clan Maxwell. John Maxwell, arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship Navarino in 1837; James Maxwell, aged 20, a shepherd, arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship Aurora in 1840; Andrew Maxwell, arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1749; Margaret Maxwell, aged 24, arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, aboard the ship Salus in 1833; Rebecca Maxwell, aged 22, arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, aboard the ship Protector in 1834; Daniel Maxwell, settled in Boston, America, in 1652; Mary Maxwell arrived in Maryland, America, in 1659. All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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