Notebook page 168

Clan Donnachaidh / Robertson

The home of my Scottish Clan is in the central highlands around Loch Rannock, Blair Atholl and Pitlochry. We visited the Clan Center at Bruar, just a short drive north of Pitlochry. They have the main treasure of the Clan, the Clach na Brataich, (Stone of the Standard), a mystical healing crystal about 4 cm in diameter. This crystal was miraculously revealed in 1314 when Donnachaidh men marching to support Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn planted their standard outside their camp. When the standard was lifted up, the crystal was found in the broken earth. Days afterward the Scots won a great victory. Later, on the eve of the disastrous battle of Sheriffmuir in 1715, the crystal suddenly cracked as an omen of impending doom.

Robertsons from Atholl were an important part of Bonnie Prince Charlie's forces in the 1745 rebellion, many were killed at the disastrous battle of Culloden and as a result they lost nearly all their fortunes. Many of the survivors deserted Scotland for America or for Scottish settlements in the north of Ireland.

In Scotland, until the 14th century people were named by "patronymics", that is, Robert son of Duncan, then his son would be Duncan, son of Robert. When people started to take permanent last names, the sons of Duncan (Gaelic "MacDonnachaidh" pronounced "Donnachie") got off-sync with the English, Robertsons. No one spelled too well, so the end result is that there are scores of variant spellings for Duncanson, McDuncan, McConaghy, McKechnie, Roberts, Roberson, etc., all cousins.

The Clan colors are red and silver, the badge is the three leaved bracken fern, there are several recognized tartans, the most common of which is very similar to the popular "Black Watch" tartan but with added slender red and white lines as shown.