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This page will deal with the known truths of Clan MacTavish, (Gaelic Clann MacTamhais)

A TRUE ANSWER TO THE MacTAVISH / CAMPBELL STORY: Col. Galloway is a past President of the "Heraldic Society of Canada", author of many historical works, as well as many articles on Heraldry. Col. Galloway is Bannerman for his Chief, Richard Carmichael of Carmichael and, a career soldier joining the Canadian infantry 1932. At the outbreak of World War II, Major Galloway served in Tunisia, and took part in the invasion of Italy in July 1943. Promoted to LT. Col. then full Col. Retiring from military service in 1969. In 1993, Col. Strome Galloway wrote this article for Dugald MacTavish who was at the time awaiting his petition for the Arms and Title of Chief of the Clan MacTavish.

THE

STRANGE CASE OF THE MacTAVISH OF MacTAVISH ARMORIALS

Late in the 18th Century, (17th April 1793) the claimant to the Chiefship of the MacTavishes was recognized as such by the Lord Lyon and obtained Arms as "MacTavish of MacTavish and Dunardry". A wealthy distant clansman Simon McTavish "put upon" Lachlan MacTavish to register his Arms. (It is noted that Simon McTavish had the differenced Arms granted to himself, by the Lord Lyon on June --- of the same year). The Lyon of the day was John Hooke Campbell. The Arms were quartered 1st and 4th CAMPBELL (the well-known gyronny of the Duke of Argyll and the Marquis of Breadalbane and other armigerous Campbell families) and 2nd and 3rd a buck's head, etc., for MACTAVISH, either anciently the adoptive Arms of MacTavish, or devised at that time for MacTavish by the Lord Lyon. Normally, the 1st quarter of any shield of arms is the ensign armorial of the Name of the armiger. Therefore, this shield would be taken as that of a man whose surname was CAMPBELL, which, of course, is NOT the case. Furthermore, the crest granted along with this Coat-of-Arms is the boar's head crest as used by both the Dukes of Argyll and the Marquises of Breadalbane, the two main houses of the Name of Campbell. This, too, is a strange concession on the part of the Lord Lyon. Six other titled CAMPBELLS (baronets) all have the Campbell gyronny as their 1st quarter if they bear quartered Arms, or occupying the entire shield. It is also of note that none of those six have the boar's head as their crest. Why, then, would a man whose name was MACTAVISH be granted the Crest of the Chief of the Clan Campbell and of the principal Chieftain (Breadalbane), when others bearing the Name of Campbell were either denied it, or petitioned for totally different crests? With the Campbell quartering (especially since it occupies the 1st quarter, and the Chief's boar head crest), pose several questions; namely: A. Was MacTavish accepted as a direct descendant of Campbell of Argyll from a son possibly named Thomas, who donned the Name of Campbell in preference for the patronymic MACTAVISH, i.e., in Gaelic "son of Tammie", (Campbell understood), and, if so, should he have been? Once a name is abandoned it is usually an heraldic inconsistency to show the Arms of the abandoned Name in the 1st quarter. In other words it would seem more proper that MACTAVISH would occupy the 1st quarter. B. How did the petitioner, or his "benefactor", Simon McTavish, influence the Lord Lyon to grant Lachlan MacTavish, the CAMPBELL crest and the CAMPBELL quartering? And, if he did, why? It is understood that Simon McTavish was a very rich man from North America, trading and a "social climber. Did he feel that by obtaining a crest and Arms belonging to the Dukes of Argyll and Marquises of Breadalbane, as Lachlan MacTavishes Arms, that this would indicate a close relationship to those two noble families, with his own future in mind? Did he bribe the Lord Lyon to accept Lachlan MacTavish as a genuine Campbell? It would seem that Simon McTavish wanted to "eat his cake and have it too". That is, he wanted the personal prestige of blood linkage with the great house of Campbell, (at that time) as represented by Argyll and Breadalbane, but he also wanted to become a Chief (i.e. Of the MacTavishes) and not just a Campbell cadet. If this was the case, he either bamboozled the Lord Lyon, or carried out a shady deal (the latter was probably the case). It is understood that the petitioner, Lachlan MacTavish, was the rightful Chief of the MacTavishes, but Simon McTavish, with pedigree manipulation and a long purse, obtained his Arms, with a "Bordure of the Second", which would be incorrect.

CONCLUSION This strange set of events seems to have resulted in:

A. A statement in the Encyclopedia Canadian that John George McTavish (note spelling), d..20 July 1847 "son of Lachlan MacTavish ( note spelling ) Chief of Clan Tavish (note omission of "Mac" ), changed his name (spelling) to "McTavish" to conform to the spelling of his "distant kinsman", Simon McTavish (who gave him a job), which Simon, the wealthy fur trader who returned to Scotland (after Lachlan died in 1796) to pass himself off as the Chief, seems to be the culprit --(Canadian, Vol 6, page 303).

B. Simon McTavish, desiring to share the glory of the Campbell's as well as assuming the Chiefship of the Lord Lyon, and, in such statements as confuse the issue such as: other feudatories of MacChalein Mor (Campbell of Argyll) were the MacTavishes of Dunardry in North Knapdale,"

The Highland Clans, page 116, by Moncreiffe).

MacTavish, Thompson, etc. -- The MacTavishes, Tawesons, Thompsons, Thomsons etc. are said to derive their origin from TAUS COIR, a son of the Lords of Lochow who lived in the days of King Alexander II. (According to the Campbell version of written history, The Lords of Lochow were progenitors of the Campbells.)

The late Henry White says of the MacTavishes: "Many of the Argyllshire MacTavishes now make Thom(p)sons of themselves where others are known as Tawesons. There was a strong colony of MacTavishes in Strathglass at an early period".

"The MacTavishes regard themselves as a clan, not a Sept." (as verified by Lyon Court 23rd July 1997 when Granting Dugald MacTavish of Dunardry Chief of the Clan). -- (As referenced in The Clans, Regiments and Septs of the Scottish Highlands. pg., 301 (8) by Frank Adam, Revised by Sir Thomas Innes of Learney.) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------BOAR'S HEAD

CREST Originally the emblem of the Mother Goddess may have come to the Campbells when they inherited LORNE through descent in the female line from the ancient Kings of ARGYLL. I CAN FIND NO REFERENCE TO THE CAMPBELL GYRONNY. It is well known that the gyronny is a heraldic symbol of France. No doubt, due to the fact that the Beauchamp line (Gillespic-Alexander) was born in France, then came to Scotland and married the heretrix of Lochawe, Eva O'Duine. This then ( at a later date) being the start of the name Cambel.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST Registration of Arms by the Lord Lyon was begun in 1542. Many Armigers failed to register their Arms, feeling that it was none of Lyon's business. In almost every case, Arms borne before 1542 (especially in the Highlands where the Clans were a law unto themselves) were "adopted". That is, the Chief chose his own emblem or emblems for display on his possessions, his tomb, and so on. Highlanders used a round leather targe , not a Lowland (Norman-type) shield, so did not place their symbols on such accoutrements, but rather displayed them on the CLAN BANNER, carried by their Banner Man, or flown over their castle or keep . In 1672, registration of Arms was made compulsory, or anyone using or in anyway indicating that the Arms were theirs were subject to fines and the destruction of any carvings, etchings, paintings, engravings, etc. they possessed, unless Lyon allowed them. So, naturally, even Lyon had to assume a lot and believe certain claims. Most of which would be mere tradition of myth. There is no doubt that the CAMPBELL gyronny is ancient as it is registered in the first Lyon Registry Book (Vol 1 ) as item No. 37 for ARGYLL; as item No. 60; and LOUDON is in Vol. 1 as item No. 60; CAWDOR is also in Vol. 1 as item No. 128; But for some reason BREADALBANE was a delinquent and has not registered until Vol. No. 8 as item No. 13. It is interesting that Cawdor quarters a hart's head cabossed Sable, attired Guils, though this has nothing to do with the MacTavish/Thomson/Thompson buck's head.

Signed by Col. Strome Carmichael-Galloway, 1994

The above report, done by Colonel Galloway, should also clear up any misconceptions that anyone may have as to why Dugald MacTavish's personal Coat of Arms shows a Boar's Head Crest and a Gyronny in the 1st and 4th quarter. However, regardless of color or similarities to any other Coat of Arms, it does not alter the fact that the Clan MacTavish is a distinct and independent Clan.

Below is Dugald MacTavish of Dunardry STANDARD.

A Chiefs Standard is 12 feet in length, 4 feet wide at the hoist (pole end)

It is flown when the Chief is in attendance.

Granted date of November 2000, Registered, 14 November 2001

Please note that the tinctures (colors, comform to the original liveries of Azure and Argent

(Blue and Silver ) contray to the tincture Granted in 1793.

Or and Sable (Gold and Black)

Below is the Chiefs BANNER.


	Chief-MacTavish Scotland \| home Mission \| The Clan \| The True Known Truth \| THE NAMES THOM(P)SON \| Septets: \| CLAN TARTAN: \| WEARING HIGHLAND DRESS, PROPERLY \| HOW TO BE SCOTTISH \| Scottish Heraldry \| BATTLES \| A Negative Fact \| Myths ,Deception and Confusion \| "TEMPORARY BOARD " \| Related Links \| Contact Us The True Known Truth This page will deal with the known truths of Clan MacTavish, (Gaelic Clann MacTamhais) A TRUE ANSWER TO THE MacTAVISH / CAMPBELL STORY: Col. Galloway is a past President of the "Heraldic Society of Canada", author of many historical works, as well as many articles on Heraldry. Col. Galloway is Bannerman for his Chief, Richard Carmichael of Carmichael and, a career soldier joining the Canadian infantry 1932. At the outbreak of World War II, Major Galloway served in Tunisia, and took part in the invasion of Italy in July 1943. Promoted to LT. Col. then full Col. Retiring from military service in 1969. In 1993, Col. Strome Galloway wrote this article for Dugald MacTavish who was at the time awaiting his petition for the Arms and Title of Chief of the Clan MacTavish. THE STRANGE CASE OF THE MacTAVISH OF MacTAVISH ARMORIALS Late in the 18th Century, (17th April 1793) the claimant to the Chiefship of the MacTavishes was recognized as such by the Lord Lyon and obtained Arms as "MacTavish of MacTavish and Dunardry". A wealthy distant clansman Simon McTavish "put upon" Lachlan MacTavish to register his Arms. (It is noted that Simon McTavish had the differenced Arms granted to himself, by the Lord Lyon on June --- of the same year). The Lyon of the day was John Hooke Campbell. The Arms were quartered 1st and 4th CAMPBELL (the well-known gyronny of the Duke of Argyll and the Marquis of Breadalbane and other armigerous Campbell families) and 2nd and 3rd a buck's head, etc., for MACTAVISH, either anciently the adoptive Arms of MacTavish, or devised at that time for MacTavish by the Lord Lyon. Normally, the 1st quarter of any shield of arms is the ensign armorial of the Name of the armiger. Therefore, this shield would be taken as that of a man whose surname was CAMPBELL, which, of course, is NOT the case. Furthermore, the crest granted along with this Coat-of-Arms is the boar's head crest as used by both the Dukes of Argyll and the Marquises of Breadalbane, the two main houses of the Name of Campbell. This, too, is a strange concession on the part of the Lord Lyon. Six other titled CAMPBELLS (baronets) all have the Campbell gyronny as their 1st quarter if they bear quartered Arms, or occupying the entire shield. It is also of note that none of those six have the boar's head as their crest. Why, then, would a man whose name was MACTAVISH be granted the Crest of the Chief of the Clan Campbell and of the principal Chieftain (Breadalbane), when others bearing the Name of Campbell were either denied it, or petitioned for totally different crests? With the Campbell quartering (especially since it occupies the 1st quarter, and the Chief's boar head crest), pose several questions; namely: A. Was MacTavish accepted as a direct descendant of Campbell of Argyll from a son possibly named Thomas, who donned the Name of Campbell in preference for the patronymic MACTAVISH, i.e., in Gaelic "son of Tammie", (Campbell understood), and, if so, should he have been? Once a name is abandoned it is usually an heraldic inconsistency to show the Arms of the abandoned Name in the 1st quarter. In other words it would seem more proper that MACTAVISH would occupy the 1st quarter. B. How did the petitioner, or his "benefactor", Simon McTavish, influence the Lord Lyon to grant Lachlan MacTavish, the CAMPBELL crest and the CAMPBELL quartering? And, if he did, why? It is understood that Simon McTavish was a very rich man from North America, trading and a "social climber. Did he feel that by obtaining a crest and Arms belonging to the Dukes of Argyll and Marquises of Breadalbane, as Lachlan MacTavishes Arms, that this would indicate a close relationship to those two noble families, with his own future in mind? Did he bribe the Lord Lyon to accept Lachlan MacTavish as a genuine Campbell? It would seem that Simon McTavish wanted to "eat his cake and have it too". That is, he wanted the personal prestige of blood linkage with the great house of Campbell, (at that time) as represented by Argyll and Breadalbane, but he also wanted to become a Chief (i.e. Of the MacTavishes) and not just a Campbell cadet. If this was the case, he either bamboozled the Lord Lyon, or carried out a shady deal (the latter was probably the case). It is understood that the petitioner, Lachlan MacTavish, was the rightful Chief of the MacTavishes, but Simon McTavish, with pedigree manipulation and a long purse, obtained his Arms, with a "Bordure of the Second", which would be incorrect. CONCLUSION This strange set of events seems to have resulted in: A. A statement in the Encyclopedia Canadian that John George McTavish (note spelling), d..20 July 1847 "son of Lachlan MacTavish ( note spelling ) Chief of Clan Tavish (note omission of "Mac" ), changed his name (spelling) to "McTavish" to conform to the spelling of his "distant kinsman", Simon McTavish (who gave him a job), which Simon, the wealthy fur trader who returned to Scotland (after Lachlan died in 1796) to pass himself off as the Chief, seems to be the culprit --(Canadian, Vol 6, page 303). B. Simon McTavish, desiring to share the glory of the Campbell's as well as assuming the Chiefship of the Lord Lyon, and, in such statements as confuse the issue such as: other feudatories of MacChalein Mor (Campbell of Argyll) were the MacTavishes of Dunardry in North Knapdale," The Highland Clans, page 116, by Moncreiffe). MacTavish, Thompson, etc. -- The MacTavishes, Tawesons, Thompsons, Thomsons etc. are said to derive their origin from TAUS COIR, a son of the Lords of Lochow who lived in the days of King Alexander II. (According to the Campbell version of written history, The Lords of Lochow were progenitors of the Campbells.) The late Henry White says of the MacTavishes: "Many of the Argyllshire MacTavishes now make Thom(p)sons of themselves where others are known as Tawesons. There was a strong colony of MacTavishes in Strathglass at an early period". "The MacTavishes regard themselves as a clan, not a Sept." (as verified by Lyon Court 23rd July 1997 when Granting Dugald MacTavish of Dunardry Chief of the Clan). -- (As referenced in The Clans, Regiments and Septs of the Scottish Highlands. pg., 301 (8) by Frank Adam, Revised by Sir Thomas Innes of Learney.) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------BOAR'S HEAD CREST Originally the emblem of the Mother Goddess may have come to the Campbells when they inherited LORNE through descent in the female line from the ancient Kings of ARGYLL. I CAN FIND NO REFERENCE TO THE CAMPBELL GYRONNY. It is well known that the gyronny is a heraldic symbol of France. No doubt, due to the fact that the Beauchamp line (Gillespic-Alexander) was born in France, then came to Scotland and married the heretrix of Lochawe, Eva O'Duine. This then ( at a later date) being the start of the name Cambel. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST Registration of Arms by the Lord Lyon was begun in 1542. Many Armigers failed to register their Arms, feeling that it was none of Lyon's business. In almost every case, Arms borne before 1542 (especially in the Highlands where the Clans were a law unto themselves) were "adopted". That is, the Chief chose his own emblem or emblems for display on his possessions, his tomb, and so on. Highlanders used a round leather targe , not a Lowland (Norman-type) shield, so did not place their symbols on such accoutrements, but rather displayed them on the CLAN BANNER, carried by their Banner Man, or flown over their castle or keep . In 1672, registration of Arms was made compulsory, or anyone using or in anyway indicating that the Arms were theirs were subject to fines and the destruction of any carvings, etchings, paintings, engravings, etc. they possessed, unless Lyon allowed them. So, naturally, even Lyon had to assume a lot and believe certain claims. Most of which would be mere tradition of myth. There is no doubt that the CAMPBELL gyronny is ancient as it is registered in the first Lyon Registry Book (Vol 1 ) as item No. 37 for ARGYLL; as item No. 60; and LOUDON is in Vol. 1 as item No. 60; CAWDOR is also in Vol. 1 as item No. 128; But for some reason BREADALBANE was a delinquent and has not registered until Vol. No. 8 as item No. 13. It is interesting that Cawdor quarters a hart's head cabossed Sable, attired Guils, though this has nothing to do with the MacTavish/Thomson/Thompson buck's head. Signed by Col. Strome Carmichael-Galloway, 1994 The above report, done by Colonel Galloway, should also clear up any misconceptions that anyone may have as to why Dugald MacTavish's personal Coat of Arms shows a Boar's Head Crest and a Gyronny in the 1st and 4th quarter. However, regardless of color or similarities to any other Coat of Arms, it does not alter the fact that the Clan MacTavish is a distinct and independent Clan. Below is Dugald MacTavish of Dunardry STANDARD. A Chiefs Standard is 12 feet in length, 4 feet wide at the hoist (pole end) It is flown when the Chief is in attendance. Granted date of November 2000, Registered, 14 November 2001 Please note that the tinctures (colors, comform to the original liveries of Azure and Argent (Blue and Silver ) contray to the tincture Granted in 1793. Or and Sable (Gold and Black) Below is the Chiefs BANNER.