Tour Scotland 4K Winter travel video of Caerlaverock Castle, with Scottish bagpipes music, on ancestry, genealogy, family history visit to the South West Coast of Dumfries and Galloway, Britain, United Kingdom. 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 and The Legend of King Arthur. Clan Maxwell is a Lowland Scottish clan and is recognized as such by the Lord Lyon King of Arms. The claimed origin of the name Maxwell is that it comes from Maccus Well, a pool in the River Tweed near Kelso, Scottish Borders. Maccus was believed to be a Norse chief who lived during the reign of David I of Scotland. Sir John Maxwell was Chamberlain of Scotland but he died without issue and was succeeded by his younger brother, Aymer. From Aymer's sons sprang many branches of the family throughout south west Scotland. Sir Herbert Maxwell appears on the Ragman Rolls of 1296, swearing fealty to King Edward I of England. Herbert's son, Eustace Maxwell held Caerlaverock Castle as a vassal of the English, however he later followed Robert the Bruce to the Battle of Bannockburn. John Maxwell, the seventh Lord Maxwell was a devout Catholic throughout the Scottish Reformation and he was linked to a number of plots to restore Mary, Queen of Scots to the throne. Lord Maxwell was also at feud with the powerful Clan Douglas over the Earldom of Morton, which he regarded as his inheritance. For this quarrel he was imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle in 1607. After escaping, he shot Sir James in the back during a meeting held "under trust", and he fled to France. He was convicted of treason in his absence and sentenced to death. On his return to Scotland in 1612 he was arrested, and was beheaded at Edinburgh on 21 May 1613. The fifth Earl of Nithsdale was a staunch Jacobite and was captured at the Battle of Preston during the Jacobite rising of 1715. He was sentenced to death and imprisoned in the Tower of London in England. However, with the assistance of his wife Winifred, he disguised himself as a serving woman and the couple fled to Rome where the earl died in 1744. 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. 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. Of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to visit one day. Find things to see and do in Scotland where you are always welcome.
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