There are about 2000 people in the world with the surname “Clugston”. Another 600 have the surname “Clogston”, 300 have the surname “Cluxton”, and 100 have other spelling variants. Of these 3000 people, more than half live in the USA. There are 300 in Australia, and 200 in each of England, Canada, and Northern Ireland.
This website was created to show that all of these 3000 people have a common ancestor, who owned the Barony of Clugston in Galloway, in the southwest of Scotland. This has now been proved by DNA testing. The Clugston Y-DNA is known to be of type R-S666 (even more specifically R-BY106100). To date, this DNA type has only been observed with the surnames Clugston, Dowell, and McDowell.
Combining the records from this site with the information from Clan MacDowall, an unexpected discovery has been made. There is now a definite possibility that the progenitor of the Clugston name, John de Clugestoun, was the grandson of Uchtred, Lord of Galloway (c1120-1174.9.22). At this time, Galloway was an independent kingdom, and John de Clugestoun was part of the Galloway Royal Family. Uchtred’s maternal grandfather was King Henry I of England, the son of William the Conqueror.
Further, the DNA shows that Clugstons and McDowells share a common ancestor c. AD 500 with the ancient O’Doherty clan of County Donegal, Ireland (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O%27Doherty_family), indicating that they moved to Galloway from northern Ireland during the Viking era. The O’Doherty clan claims descent from Conall Gulban (d. AD 464), the son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, High King of Ireland. However, the O’Neil clan claims descent from another of Niall’s sons, but O’Neils and O’Dohertys are not genetically close to one another! At least one of these claims must be wrong.
Family trees to 1910
If you have Clugston ancestry, you are probably most interested in your personal ancestry. Working backwards from the 1910 census records, it is possible to reduce the 3000 living family members into about twenty family trees. Most of these trees extend to 1800; several extend to the Middle Ages.
I’ve listed the main regions where descendants from each branch were living in 1900. Please note that this is an exhaustive list. This includes everyone mentioned in the censuses and birth, death and marriage records of the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the British colonies. For privacy reasons, in most cases it only includes people born over 100 years ago. Branches which have been DNA tested are indicated.
Most Clugston branches used Scottish traditional naming. The first son is given the first name of his paternal grandfather, the first daughter after the maternal grandmother. The second son is named after the father, and the second daughter after the mother. (Sometimes the maternal grandfather and paternal grandmother come before the parents). This propagation of names turns out to be extremely useful in distinguishing branches.
The Heirs: Descendants of the Belfast merchants
Cluxton USA – Connecticut Descendants of Michael Cluxton, merchant. Earliest Cluxtons in the USA (before 1700).
Dr William Clugston, Stranraer, Scotland This is the heirs, descendants of the Belfast merchants. The line died out in 1830 except for:
Wigtownshire Descendants of Robert Clugston born 1794, illegitimate grandson of Dr William. This family moved to Glasgow.
Distinctive name: Alexander
From Kirkcudbright to Glasgow Descendants of Alexander Clugston b 1685, father of John, William, Robert and Hugh Clugston born around 1720 in New Galloway, Kirkcudbrightshire.
A sub-branch is Glasgow to Victoria Most Clugstons in Victoria, Australia. [DNA: R-BY106100]
From DNA testing it appears another branch is Clogstons of New York. Descendants of Alexander Clogston 1763-1830. [DNA: R-BY106100]
Distinctive name: Andrew
Probably closely related: Minigaff, Kirkcudbright Descendants of Andrew Clugston born Ireland 1799.
Common names: Robert, John
County Down, Ireland Queensland, Australia.
A sub-branch is Isle of Man Also Liverpool, England, and Cheshire. Another sub-branch of poor Clugstons in Belfast appears to have died out in the late 1800’s.
[DNA: R-BY106100]
Unique name: Hugh. Also common: William, Samuel
County Antrim, Ireland Descendants of William Clugston who lived in Antrim in 1666. Indiana, some Glasgow and Canada. [DNA: R-BY106100. Identical to the DNA from Cluxtons in Ohio]
Cluxton USA – Adam’s County, Ohio [DNA: R-BY106100. Identical to the DNA from Antrim]
Common names: Robert
From Ireland to Pennsylvania Most Clugstons in the USA are from this branch, which dates back to 1715. The “Clugsten” spelling is unique to this branch. [DNA: Minimally tested, matches the Clugstons but not the Clogstouns. Autosomnal DNA shows a common ancestor with the Clugstons from Armagh]
Distinctive name: Thomas. Also common: Robert
County Armagh, Ireland Robert Clugston born ~1760 and his nephew Thomas. Descendants in NSW, Australia and Ontario, Canada. [DNA: R-BY106100. Autosomnal DNA shows a common ancestor with the Clugstons from Pennsylvania]
Unique name: Bailie. Common name: James
Cluxtons of Kildare Most Cluxtons in Ireland and Canada. Descendants of Gilbert Clugston of New Luce, Wigtownshire. [DNA: R-BY106100] A sub-branch is Clugstons of Lexington, Kentucky, 1815
Other branches
Hunterdon, New Jersey James Clugston b~1750 Scotland, wife from Northern Ireland. Descendants in Whiteley, Indiana.
Ireland to Lehigh, Pennsylvania, 1850 Descendants of James Clugston 1819-1891.
Other Clugstons in the USA. This is a work-in-progress.
Claxtons of Queen’s County All Claxtons from Ireland. Many went to Ontario or New Jersey. [DNA: One Claxton is R-BY106100] Most of these people are Claxtons from Norfolk, unrelated to the Clugstons.
Branches with “Clogstoun”, “Clougston”, or “Clogston” spelling
Clogstoun Antigua, Sri Lanka, Hampshire(England).
[DNA: Tested. Does NOT match the Clugstons. Also, unlike the Clugstons, none were Presbyterian]
Clogstons of New Hampshire Most Clogstons in the USA [DNA: One branch from New Hampshire does NOT match the Clugstons]
Lines believed to be extinct
Rev Josias Clugston, Larne, Ireland Descendants of Thomas Clugston of County Louth, born in the 1660’s. This line died out around 1800.
From Ireland to Orange County, New York The last Clugston from this branch died in 1861.
The Barony Of Clugston
Although most of the trees only extend to the late 1700’s, the surname can be traced deep into the Middle Ages. The most tangible relic from our ancient ancestors is this unnatural hill, in the Barony of Clugston.
(Credit: Andy Farrington – License)
This hill is all that remains of a primitive wooden castle next to the Bladnoch River, at Bordland of Clugistoun. In 1846 it was described as “a beautiful circular moat from 20 to 30 feet high”. It seems far too small to have been a proper Motte-and-Bailey castle, but it had a motte with a ditch around it 6 metres wide and at least two metres deep. There was a wooden tower or house at the top. Depressions from the house were still visible in 1930, possibly also today. The “Moit of Clugston” was mentioned in 1580, where it was used as a meeting place (Moot Hill). There are about 30 such mottes in Galloway, almost all near the coast or at the furthermost navigable point of rivers. The men who built them evidently expected attackers to come from the sea. The historian R. Reid believed they were built around 1200, as Galloway adopted the feudal system. If this is correct, it would have been built by John de Clugestoun, the very first man to bear the surname.
Next to the Motte is a hill named “Doon Hill” on the brow of which was “The remains of an ancient fort…The inhabitants speak of it as being of some strength at some very remote period.” (Ordnance Survey, 1846). The hill provides an excellent view of the region. The fort may be very much older than the Motte.
There are stone circles and many bronze age monuments in this region, built by the early Britons, but the Clugston male line is not descended from them.
The Barony of Clugston or Clugiston was an area of about ten square kilometres. 98 adults were living there in 1684 (1% of the population of Wigtownshire). The centre of the barony is a small lake called “Clugston Loch”. The barony was bounded on the eastern side by the River Bladnoch, which flows into the bay at Wigtown, about five kilometres away, and on the north by Tarf Water, a tributary of the Bladnoch. The soil is rocky and not very fertile, so the greatest asset of the barony was its location on a trade route. By the mid 1500’s the Clugstons were a merchant family, but they had probably been trading for centuries earlier.
As the region became more civilised, the fort was abandoned. By 1500, Castle Mindork had been built on the western side of the Barony of Clugston. Ruins of this castle were still visible 200 years ago, but now no trace of it remains. In 1508 it was occupied by the MacDowalls, who have been shown by DNA testing to have a common ancestor with the Clugstons.
(The Barony of Clugston. From John Thompson’s Atlas of Scotland, 1832. Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland.)
Very close to the Motte (“Moat Hill” on the map) is the remains of a farm called “Spittal”. This is a sure sign that in the early Middle Ages, the Knights Hospitaller operated an “Inn of Hospitality” or “Spital” at this place, where the ancient road from Wigtown to the port of Stranraer crossed the river Bladnoch. This was the main route from Ireland to Scotland and England. Most importantly, many pilgrims came from Ireland to visit the shrine of St Ninian, who brought Christianity to Scotland in the 4th or 5th century; they would have rested at the Inn. The sacred sites were in and around Whithorn, a few miles to the south. In 1539, the Knights Hospitaller received rental of 2s for their land at “Cludston”, one of the 37 properties they held in Galloway. The land had probably been donated to them as a tithe.
There was a mill near Spittal, called “the Myln of Glougston” (Clugston) in 1684.
Origin of the Clugston name
The surname is one of the oldest recorded in Scotland, and it is one of very few Scottish surnames which derives from a place name.
“Clugstoun” as a place name is apparently much older than the surname. The early records consistently end the name with “toun”, not “ton”. This is Old English in origin, and definitely means “estate” or “enclosure”; it gave us the word “town”. The “Clugs”, “Clougs”, “Clugis” or “Cloges” part is less clear. Even the original pronunciation is unclear. It originated in a Gaelic environment, which does not have a letter K or X, so the G may just be an approximation of the sound. It’s not even known what language this word comes from. It could even date from the Northumbrian or Brithonic era, before the Vikings or Gaels arrived. in which case it would be akin to Old Welsh. DNA testing has shown no relationship to the Viking name “Clouston”, which comes from the Orkney Islands. DNA testing also shows it is unrelated to the surnames Clucas, Claxton, and Clough.
Several theories have been proposed:
* P. McKerlie (1880) thought the name came from “Klungr”, Norse for “bramble”, but that does not match the terrain, and there’s negligible evidence of Norse influence in the region.
* Paul Clugston (1930) suggested “Clog”, the Irish Gaelic word for “bell”. Ballyclug in Ireland is “the town of the (church) bell”. This could happen if there was a chapel at that place, where pilgrims worshipped. This is an excellent theory; the weakness is that it does not explain where the S comes from. The Welsh word for bell is “Cloch” so this theory is also applicable if it is a Brithonic name.
* John Clugston (1985) suggested that that like several other Scottish surnames beginning with C, the leading “C” could be a vestigial “Mac”. The “Clucas” surname on the Isle of Man is a variant of McLucas. A problem with this theory is that there’s no trace of a “Mclugston”, and “Clogeston” pre-dates the earliest McLucas reference by 200 years. The name “Lucas” was practically non-existent in Scotland. However, the name Lucas comes from “lucis”, the Latin for “lights”. Near the barony of Clugston was Glenluce Abbey (“vallis lucis”, the valley of light), founded at the same time as the first Clugistoun reference.
* Another Irish word, common in place names, is “Cloch”, meaning “stone”. Again there is no explanation for the S. The barony of Clugston is not notably stony.
It is almost certain, therefore, that the name has a religious connection, either through a chapel or through the abbey.
The Lords of Galloway
The kingdom of Galloway is ancient. Around AD 150, Ptolemy produced a world map which included the city of Rerigonium (“very royal place”) in Galloway.
The Vikings dominated the Irish Sea starting from the mid 800’s. As they settled in both Ireland and Scotland, they intermarried with the local Celtic people. Their offspring were called Gall-Ghàidheil, ‘foreigner-Gaels’ in Scottish Gaelic. This gave rise to the name “Galloway” for the south-west region of Scotland where they were most dominant. Interestingly, DNA testing shows that almost all Gallovidians were of Irish descent; for all their talk of rape and pillage, Vikings did not succeed in getting Celtic girls pregnant!
In 2014, a huge Viking hoard was discovered in Kirkcudbrightshire, showing that the Vikings were more than just raiders.
https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/stories/scottish-history-and-archaeology/galloway-hoard/
Continuously recorded history begins with Fergus, Lord of Galloway (died 1161) who appeared to have ruled the area around Wigtown bay, probably from Cruggleton Castle.
In one document he refers to himself as a king. At this time, Galloway was not yet part of Scotland, and the inhabitants were considered to be neither Scottish nor English. Fergus married a bastard daughter of King Henry I of England, son of William the Conqueror.
I make the bold claim that a grandson of Fergus is the patrilineal ancestor of the Clugstouns, and that (virtually) all Clugston, Cluxton and Clogston males carry his Y chromosome. Unfortunately, there is very little early written material from Galloway, so the argument is necessarily based on circumstantial evidence. I attempt to trace the family tree from Fergus to the present day.
Fergus maintained the independence of his kingdom despite the growing power of Scotland and England. After he died, his sons Uchtred and Gilbert fought for control of the kingdom. Uchtred was mutilated and murdered by Gilbert’s son.
Ultimately Uchtred’s son Roland prevailed and ruled most of Galloway, but Gilbert’s son Duncan ruled the north-western part, including a large chunk of modern-day Ayrshire. Duncan’s great-grandson was Robert the Bruce.
Roland was a master of diplomacy, and played the kings of England and Scotland off against each other, to ensure the survival of Galloway.
Roland’s son Alan was the most powerful man in Scotland, after the king, and had a substantial army. In 1212 he sent 1000 Gallovidian troops to Wales at the request of King John of England. When King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta in 1215, he listed Alan of Galloway as one of his advisors.
Alan died without any legitimate sons. Alexander II of Scotland seized the opportunity, and ensured that Galloway was divided between Alan’s three daughters, making them far too small to be viable alone. Galloway became part of Scotland.
It is difficult to appreciate how wild Galloway must have been at this time. When Fergus was born, Scotland had no towns at all. Edinburgh, the first town, was founded around 1125. In Wigtownshire, none of the estates had been founded, and even the monasteries had not been built yet. Cruggleton castle was one of the few large stone buildings. So although Clugston Motte appears small and unimpressive, it would have been a significant structure at the time.
Fergus, Lord of Galloway c.1096-1161
= Elizabeth, illegitimate daughter of Henry I of England, son of William the Conqueror
Uchtred, Lord of Galloway 1120-1174.9.22 = Gunhilda of Dunbar
Lochlann ("Roland") Lord of Galloway, Constable of Scotland 1152-1200.12.19
= Elena de Morville, dau of Richard de Morville, Constable of Scotland
(In 1170, Elena's uncle, Hugh de Morville, assassinated Thomas à Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury)
Alan Lord of Galloway 1175-1234.4
Thomas (illegitmate)
Patrick de Galloway 1211-1242 (killed in a feud, no children)
Thomas (legitmate) d 1220 (no children)
Helen = Roger de Quincy d1264
=(3) Margaret of Huntingdon (dau of David Earl of Huntingdon)
Christiana d.1246 = William de Forz
Devorguilla d 1290 = John de Balliol d 1268
King John Balliol, King of Scotland
Thomas of Galloway d1231 = Isabella, dau of Henry Earl of Atholl. She later married Alan Durward. d 1275
(Thomas invaded Ireland with the support of King John of England)
Patrick, d.1242 Earl of Atholl from 1236 to 1241
(he and his house were burned up by Walter Bisset, whom he had beaten in a tournament)
(no children)
(no other legitimate sons)
Alan, bastard son
Eve of Galloway = Walter de Berkeley
____ (son) killed 1185. (Mentioned in the Melrose Chronicle)
Fergus (still alive in 1196)
Aufrica of Galloway = Olav King of Mann m1127
Gilbert of Galloway -1185.1.1
Duncan of Galloway -1250.1.13 Earl of Carrick
Niall, Earl of Carrick = Margaret Stewart
Marjorie, Countess of Carrick = Robert de Brus, 6th of Annandale
Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland
Clan MacDowall claim to be descended from Duegald, believed to be Ucthred’s son, possibly the son who was killed in 1185. The claim is broadly plausible because the McDowalls were the most powerful family in Galloway in the early 1300’s.
John de Clugestoun is the right age to be another son of Duegald, or (more likely) the son of Uchtred’s son Fergus. It is also possible that the Clan MacDowall claim is wrong. For example, the progenitor may have married a daughter of Uchtred. But certainly, the Clugston records provide evidence of a close connection to the Royal Family. The Clugston records predate the earliest MacDowall records by two or three generations.
As we will see later, the Clugstons were a family of monks — specifically, members of the Cistercian order. Clugstons were involved with Glenluce Abbey (founded in 1190), which was next to the Barony of Clugston, and Coupar Angus Abbey (founded in 1164) in Perthshire. Both were Cistercian monasteries. They likely had such powerful positions within the Order because John’s uncle, Roland of Galloway, had founded Glenluce Abbey.
The Cistercian monasteries which were founded by the Lords of Galloway were:
1142: Fergus founded Dundrennan Abbey in Kirkcudbright.
1191: Roland founded Glenluce Abbey, west of the barony of Clugston.
1275: Dervorguilla founded Sweetheart Abbey in Kirkcudbrightshire. (The word “sweetheart” comes from her; after her husband died, for the rest of her life she carried his mummified heart with her in a silver box).
The first generation: building the Motte
Although there are many breaks in the records, it is possible to construct a partial family tree leading from Fergus of Galloway, to most Clugstons alive today. The surname first appears at the right date to be Uchtred’s grandson. He had relatives in the senior nobility of Scotland, so the earliest records are far from Galloway.
Sometime between 1215 and 1259, Conan, son of Henry, Earl of Atholl, granted the use of timber and firewood from his forest of Tulyhen for the use of the monks at the Abbey of Lindores, in Perthshire. Most of the witnesses are relatives of the Earls of Atholl. One of the witnesses was Johanne de Klogestoun. Another witness was Michaele de Galewath (Michael of Galloway).
Henry, Earl of Atholl was the great-grandson of Duncan I, King of Scots, who was murdered by Macbeth. Henry’s daughter Isabella married Thomas, brother of Alan Lord of Galloway. John Clugestoun appears to be the cousin of Isabella.
In another charter (a grant of land in Cairncross, Aberdeen, again involving the Earl of Atholl), dating from 1235-1240, the last two witnesses are Gregory Melville, son of William, and Johanne de Clugestoun. William was the brother of Elena Melville, wife of Roland, Lord of Galloway. Thus, if my theory is correct, it would mean that both Gregory and John were nephews of Roland of Galloway. That charter, including the Clugestoun reference, was copied into another charter of 1428 between King James I of Scotland and James Stewart, Earl of Buchan, who was the commander-in-chief of the French army during the Hundred Years War.
John’s father would have been a younger brother of Roland, and so born around 1160. John Clugestoun would then be born around 1190.
He is likely to be the man who built the Motte of Clugston. The identity of “Michael of Galloway” is unknown.
John must have had a son, perhaps born around 1220. This man had a son Adam de Cloggeston, born around 1250-1260. Adam may have been a monk.
The next heir, Sir John de Cloggestone, was either Adam’s older brother (if Adam was a monk) or his son (if he was not).
Braveheart and the First Scottish War of Independence
In 1286, King Alexander III of Scotland died aged 44 without leaving an heir. This seems to be partly because he was a playboy. According to the Lancercost chronicle, after his first wife died “he used never to forbear on account of season nor storm, nor for perils of flood or rocky cliffs, but would visit none too creditably nuns or matrons, virgins or widows as the fancy seized him, sometimes in disguise.” He remarried but a month or so afterwards, he fell off his horse in the dark and broke his neck. This plunged Scotland into a succession crisis.
There were fourteen contenders for the throne, with the strongest claims being John Balliol, Lord of Galloway, and Robert de Bruce (both of whom incidentally were descendants of Fergus of Galloway). To avoid civil war, Scotland invited their friendly southern neighbour, King Edward I of England, to decide between then. He chose John Balliol, but first insisted that all Scottish nobles should declare their fealty to him. The process left him able to treat Scotland as a vassal state of England, with King John Balliol as his puppet. In a desperate attempt to preserve independence, Scotland made a secret alliance with France, the “Auld Alliance”. In retaliation, Edward invaded Scotland. The first “War of Scottish Independence” began.
Edward first conquered Berwick-on-Tweed, on the border, then approached Dunbar Castle. Scottish cavalry rushed to the defence, but suffered a humiliating defeat at the Battle of Dunbar, where 130 knights were captured. A list of the Scottish prisoners taken in Dunbar castle 1296.5.16 includes “Malcolm de Droman, John de Cloggestone, knights, Thomas de Alyght, Nigel de Kilpatrick, Reginald son of Reginald le Chen, Reginald de St Clair, esquires” who were committed to Kenilworth castle, Eoxburgh.
Scotland was essentially conquered. King John fled, but surrendered on 2 July. Edward took the Stone of Scone and other symbols of nationhood. He forced the Scottish nobles who were not already prisoners of war to pledge loyalty. The “Ragman Rolls” of 1296 lists all 2000 nobles who paid homage. The list includes “Adam de Cloggeston, del counte de Edeneburgh” (i.e. “of the county of Edinburgh”). There were 124 nobles in Edinburgh. There were 13 in Wigtonshire. “Dougal MacDowyl” and “Fergus MacDowyl” are listed, but no Clugstons.
Throughout his brief and paralyzed reign, John Balliol was staunchly supported by the Comyn family, who were the most powerful noble family in Scotland. The MacDowalls were closely allied to the Comyns. Sir John de Cloggeston also had a very close relationship to the Comyns.
In early 1297, William Wallace (“Braveheart”) began a successful revolt against England.
On 1297.9.4 John de Cloggestone was released from Kenilworth Castle. Sir Edmond Comyn of Kilbride, who had also been captured at Dunbar, was released at the same time. But the release came at a price: they had to join the army for the king of England in his expedition to Flanders, as part of his war against the French. (The County of Flanders was on the coast of modern-day Belgium). The expedition was a failure. In late 1297, King Edward I paid compensation for the expenses of “Domino Edmundo Comyn, militi, de Scotia, et domino Johanni de Clocstone, socio suo” (“Sir Edmund Comyn, knight, of Scotland, and Sir John of Clocstone, his ally/associate/partner”), 4 Scottish soldiers and their 13 shield bearers, because they had been stuck at Dover for six days, waiting for transport. Edmund had pledged allegiance to Edward on 1297.8.9.
But their relationship was deeper than this. Edmond Comyn of Kilbride had an estate in Fakenham Magna, Norfolk. He made two agreements (date uncertain, but probably after the return from Flanders) allowing land use by Sir Adam Gerard, chaplain of Fakenham. The first witness was Sir John de Clogeston, knight.
The Comyns were the most powerful noble family in Scotland. Because of their support for John Balliol, they became the major enemy of Robert de Brus.
Sir Edmund Comyn’s second cousin, John Comyn II “the Black Comyn” was married to Eleanor Balliol, sister of King John Balliol. Their son, John Comyn III “the Red Comyn” was Guardian of Scotland after the abdication of King John Balliol. In 1306, Robert the Bruce murdered John Comyn III in front of the altar at Greyfriars church in Dumfries, Galloway. Robert was crowned king shortly afterwards. He then burned to the ground vast areas of Buchan (controlled by Clan Comyn), and killed everyone loyal to the Comyns, destroying their homes, farms and cattle. This was regarded as an atrocity, even by medieval standards.
He stripped Edmond Comyn of his Scottish estates. Sir Edmond then fought on the side of England against de Bruce, and was killed at the battle of Bannockburn in 1314. His widow apparently lived in his other English estate in Northumberland, near the Scottish border, but suffered so much from raids that she went to Scotland, but then returned to England in 1327.
Since Sir John Clogston was the best friend of Edmund Comyn, it is likely that the Clugstons also suffered at the hands of the Bruce, further contributing to the rarity of the surname. But since even Edmund’s widow went to Scotland, we can be confident that Sir John Clogeston did not remain in England.
Clugstoun monks in the Middle Ages (A.D. 1300-1500)
We don’t have any Clugston records for the next hundred years. But based on their prominent roles in the 1400s, the family tree is reasonably clear. There were probably three generations during the century.
For all this period, the firstborn son inherited the family estate. The second son became a senior monk, with a title. Younger sons also seem to have been monks, but without titles.
The Clugstons were likely to have been significant in Glenluce Abbey. Unfortunately no records from the abbey have survived.
The Black Death, which reached Scotland in 1350, wiped out a third of the population. Scotland retained its independence, largely through its alliance with France against England in the Hundred Years war, which began in 1337.
On 17 June 1393, antipope Clement VII wrote to the archdeacon of Galloway to confirm the appointment of John de Crugilton, priest of Galloway diocese to the parish church of Crugilton, which was vacant by the death of the late William de Crugilton. John had been presented by Archibald de Douglas, Lord of Galloway, patron of the church. There is no surname “Crugilton”. It is possible that William and John were both Clugstons. Archibald Douglas “Archibald the Grim” (1328-1400) had been appointed Lord of Galloway in 1369, in place of the Balliols. Up until 1308, Cruggleton and its castle had been owned by John Comyn, Earl of Buchan, the cousin of the father of Sir Edmund Comyn, the best friend of Sir John Clugstoun.
There is a 1406 reference to Sir Alexander Frazer, Lord of the baronies of Philorth (in Aberdeen) and Clogstoune (in Wigtownshire). Frazer’s land in Clugstoune included “Drumdowle” and “Closerath”. These appear to be “Drumdow” and “Craigrath” in the map of Clugston shown above. They are south of the barony, in the Parish of Mochrum; this indicates that the barony was originally further south, and perhaps larger. That reference is very strange. In 1497, Patrick Clugstoun owned all of the barony, including “Drumdowle”, so the Clugstons must have reacquired both pieces of the land. In 1375 Alexander Frazer had been granted the barony of Cruggleton in Wigtownshire, along with Philorth. This is about 20km south of the barony of Clugston. It is not impossible that the barony of Clugstoun was actually part of the Cruggleton lands; the barony could have been confiscated by Robert the Bruce.
The Hundred Years War
In 1423, John Clugestoun witnessed an agreement between King James I of Scotland and James Stewart, Earl of Buchan, who was the commander-in-chief of the French army during the Hundred Years War. This document had some of the big names from one of the most significant wars of the Middle Ages. Almost all of the other signatories were Archbishops and Lords. My theory is that John Clugestoun was a senior monk, representing the church as a lawyer or notary. He was probably born around 1380.
Sir Robert Clogstoun, first Scottish law professor in Scottish history
From 1443 to 1452, Sir Robert of Clogston (jointly with John of Hawik) rented the Church of Mathy. He is the first ancestor we know much about. He was a Cistercian monk at the Abbey of Cupar Angus. In 1456, he was admitted as Doctor of Canon Law at the University of St Andrews. This is the third oldest English-speaking university (founded 1413), after Oxford and Cambridge. This indicates that he was one of the most learned men in the country. He was apparently the first Law professor in Scottish history. He was personally appointed by the pope, which illustrates the prestige of the Clugston family at that time.
On the 16th August 1456 was another letter from the Vatican: “The pope has been informed by Robert Clogstown, a Cistercian monk of Cupar in the diocese of St. Andrews, doctor of canon law,..” that the rector of Berwick was acting corruptly, together with a Trinitarian friar. The pope ruled that “the said Robert (who has made his open profession of the said Cistercian order, and in times past was of great service to the said monastery [of Cupar], and has a singular affection for the said Trinitarian order)” should replace the corrupt rector as friar of the rectory of Berwick, “the place thereof, situate in the realm of Scotland and on the borders of the enemies of the country, being unlawfully in the possession of the said enemies”.
This is fascinating: the pope seems to have regarded England as an enemy. The town of Berwick-on-Tweed was a hotly contested border town. It is the northernmost town on the English side of the Scottish border. Just five years later, in 1461, England gave it to Scotland. In 1480, King Edward IV changed his mind, and the English army invaded. They laid siege to Berwick Castle and captured it in 1482. Berwick-on-Tweed has been part of England ever since.
Robert seems to have a brother Thomas (probably another monk). Walter Clogstoun may be his nephew or grand-nephew.
From 1443 to 1452 Sir Robert of Clogston was a Cistercian monk at Coupar Angus Abbey, and in 1456 became friar at Berwick-on-Tweed.
In 1448 to 1462, Thomas de Clogstoun rented part of the Grange of Aberbothrie (owned by, and very close to, Coupar Angus Abbey)
In 1473 Robert Clogstoun and John Mychy leased part of Muirton (1km from the town of Perth). Makandrow of Aberothrie pledged for them.
In 1480 Walter of Clogstone had land near Dundee. I am not sure if he had any descendants, but there were Clogstons in Dundee around 1600 so the family likely retained some land there.
Sir Alexander Clugston
At this point, we have something very special. A Clugstoun from the Middle Ages whose personal writing has survived.
In 1485 Sir Alexander Clugston witnessed a bequest to a leper hospital in Glasgow. By 1489, he had become the Notary Public of the Abbey of Paisley, Glasgow. This seems to have been a very senior position. In 1490 “Sir Alexander Clukistone” was made a member of the University of Glasgow (the university was founded in 1451); this seems almost identical to the position which Sir Robert Clogstoun had had, 50 years earlier. It seems safe to assume that he was Sir Robert’s nephew.
In 1491, acting under authority, Sir Alexander Clugston pronounced sentence of excommunication against the Bishop of Lismore in the cathedral of Glasgow. His description of his activities has survived. King James IV of Scotland was a regular visitor to the Abbey (probably because he felt guilty about his role in his father’s death), and Sir Alexander Clugston was the only person at the abbey with a knighthood. They would have spoken together frequently. King James also made regular pilgrimages to Whithorn.
Sir Alexander is described as a “priest of Galloway”. This is very important, because it proves that these early references relate to our family, even though they were in completely different areas of Scotland. In 1498 he was still described as “domino” (Lord) “Alexandro Clugston”.
Both Sir Alexander and Sir Robert probably had titles based on their roles in the church, rather than from being secular nobles. As monks and priests, they would not have had descendants. Yet there were a dozen Clogstouns in Dundee a century later, apparently all descendants of one man born ~1520, presumably a grandson of “Walter of Clogistone” from 1480.
In 1579-1595 Thomas Clogston had 5 children in Monifieth, Angus, close to Dundee. His sister married in 1573, and John Clogtone had a daughter in 1588.
In 1620, Walter Clogistoune of Claverhouse, parish of Mains died (His testament exists) There’s also a John Clogstoun in Dundee in 1648 and 1651. After this, the line completely died out.
The only Clugston alive in 1500 who has Clugston descendants today, was a teenage orphan in Wigtownshire.
John Clougston in the Barony of Clugston, Wigtownshire
Putting all this information together, we can construct a family tree.
____ Clugstoun b~1360??
John?? Clugstoun, the heir. b~1390?
Sir Robert Clogstoun, of Coupar Angus Abbey, professor of law
Thomas Clogstoun
Walter Clogstoun of Dundee
Patrick? Clugstoun, the heir b~1410?
John Clugstoun, owner of the barony of Clugston in 1471, b ~1440?
Patrick Clugstoun, the heir, owner of the barony 1493 b~1475?
(all living Clugstons are descended from this man)
Sir Alexander Clugstoun, Notary at Paisley Abbey 1485-1498
Patrick Clugstoun, chaplain in Essex 1467
In 1471 John Clugston had sasine (ownership, rhymes with “raisin”) of the Barony of Clugston in Kirkcowan. He owned a “mansion” (a house with fields attached, not the modern meaning of a luxurious estate!) at Gass, west of Loch Clugston, and an oatmeal mill on the river. He had a son named Patrick. Sir Alexander was probably his brother. Sir Robert Clogston was still alive at this time, but was probably his uncle or an even more distant relative.
Just four years earlier is another reference to a Patrick Cloughston (probably John’s brother) which is astonishing: he became a citizen of England. Patrick was a Catholic priest, so would not have had children. The incredible fact is that although this was the Middle Ages, he was living 600 km from the Barony, not far from London!
“1467 May 1 Westminster. Mandate to all bailiffs and others to permit Patrick Cloughston, chaplain, born in Wigton in Galewey in Scotland, dwelling at Shopeland, co. Essex, to inhabit the realm peaceably and enjoy his goods. By p.s.” — Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Great Britain
Similar wording is used for eleven other men born in Scotland, and one man born in the Faroe Islands, from 1467 to 1477, so this citizenship change was a standard procedure but quite rare (Blog post). Four are chaplains. In most of the other cases it states that they swore an oath of fealty to King Edward IV (probably in person).
Patrick moved to England during the War of the Roses (the intrigue-laden wars which inspired “Game of Thrones”), so this was an extraordinary time to be an immigrant. The Norman church at Shopland was very small. Why did Patrick go there???
This record shows some fascinating things about the family. They travelled internationally. They had sufficient wealth, respect and connections to obtain a chaplain’s position in England.
Since John’s heir was named Patrick (whose grandson was also named Patrick), and an apparent brother named Patrick, it’s likely his father was also named Patrick.
John Clugston was in financial trouble, and was granted £25 debt relief in 1471. This is a rather large debt. Possibly Patrick had taken the chaplaincy partly because of the financial conditions. Or perhaps John had funded his brother to some extent.
Patrick Clugstoun and the Loss of the Barony
John must have died young, because in 1493 his son Patrick had sasine. (The last reference to Sir Alexander Clugston was in 1498, so he was still alive, but interestingly he was not involved). Patrick was not yet married so he must have been very young. A local overlord took advantage of the teenage baron.
On 15 Sept 1497, Sir John Dunbar of Mochrum paid the king £33s6d8 for the “mariage of the Lard of Clugstoune”. This meant Dunbar could chose the bride. He chose his niece, Elizabeth Dunbar. Patrick refused to marry her.
John Dunbar sued Patrick for £100. Patrick had no way to raise such a sum, so in 1499, Patrick sold the Barony to Dunbar. If you think John Dunbar was a nasty piece of work, you’re not alone: John Dunbar was murdered in 1503, killed by Sir Alexander Gordon of Kenmure. John’s son, Sir Patrick Dunbar, took over the lands of Clugston in 1508. Clugstons got on very well with the Gordons for the next two centuries.
In 1512, Patrick Dunbar sold Crosserne in the western part of the Barony of Clugston to Uchtred McKe. Before his murder, Sir John Dunbar had also bought the right to chose a bride for Alexander Stewart of Garleis, who was related to the Royal Family. Clearly, young men from prominent families had little choice in whom they would marry.
Sir Patrick Dunbar married Margaret Vaus, and had a daughter, Margaret Dunbar. He was killed (together with King James IV) in the Battle of Flodden in 1513. Margaret Dunbar married Sir Alexander Stewart. If Margaret had remained childless, the barony would have returned to the Dunbars. Alexander had a document in which Margaret assigned the barony to the Stewarts in that case, but Margaret was a feisty lady who knew her rights. She publicly denounced her husband’s document as a forgery. Hardly a happy marriage! But she produced an heir, so the Stewarts retained the barony.
She appears in some documents as “Margaret Dunbar, Lady of Clugston”, and because of this, some clan societies list the Clugston surname as a part of Clan Dunbar. This is a very recent mistake, dating from the 1980’s, and has no historical basis. During the period where clans were dominant in Scotland, the Clugstons were only a single household. They had direct access to the king (and the pope!) and would not need an intermediary. (Scottish clan societies shouldn’t be viewed as historical. For example, most clan tartans are based on an 1842 forgery, chemically treated to look old). We can be pretty certain that no Clugston ever wore a kilt. They had strong loyalty to their own family, and also to the monastaries, but never to any clan. In fact I have not seen any evidence that clans ever existed in Galloway.
Clugstons had consistently strong relationships and intermarriages with Vaus/Vans and Gordon families (and earlier with the Comyns), and rather more complex relationships with the MacDowall, Stewart and Dunbar families.
These families played a significant part in the life of the Clugstons in the next two centuries, so I will discuss them briefly.
The MacDowalls were the closest relatives of the Clugstons. They owned Castle Mindork in the Barony of Clugstoun, and also owned the land immediately to the south of the barony.
In 1451, Robert Vans was granted a charter of the Lands of Barnbarroch. This made him the southern neighbour of the Barony of Clugston. His son Thomas was Dean of Glasgow, secretary to the king, and keeper of the Privy Seal. Lord John Vaus of Edinburgh had been in the Ragman Rolls in 1291 and 1296. Patrick Clugstoun married the daughter of Sir Patrick Vaus, who was matchmaker of King James (of KJV Bible fame).
The Stewarts were descendants of Walter Fitzalan, High Steward of Scotland in 1150. They were the royal family of Scotland from 1371 until the union with England in 1707. A cadet branch owned Garlies castle, east of the barony of Clugston. In 1623, Sir Alexander Stewart of Garlies became Earl of Galloway. His father was mentioned in the will of Patrick Clugstoun (see below). In 1617, he attempted to assassinate William Clugstoun (see below).
The Gordons owned the land immediately to the north of the barony. They also owned an estate to the east, just across the river, facing the Clugstoun house. Later, they founded the town of New Galloway in Kirkcudbrightshire, and it seems one Clugston family followed them there.
After the loss of the Barony
Patrick Clugston immediately moved to “Derrevrame”, where he is recorded in October 1500. This seems to be the farm of Dervaird, on the road 8km west of the Barony of Clugston and 1km from the town of Glenluce. Earlier, Dervaird had been owned by Glenluce Abbey, the Cistercian monastery founded by Roland Lord of Galloway. It seems almost certain that the earlier Clugston monks had lived at the Abbey (Sir Robert Clugston was a Cistercian monk). Young Patrick may have lived there because of Sir Alexander Clugston. In 1561, Gilbert Kennedy, 4th Earl of Cassilis, acquired the monastry by forging a document and murdering one of the monks. The abbey now hosts a museum; the main hall survived and has spectacular acoustics.
Dervaird farm, with the Wood of Dervaird, and the farms of Barlockhart and Glenjorrie, all occupied by Clugstons. Note Glenluce Abbey to the west. Ordnance Survey, 1924. Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland.
Patrick had an heir, Gilbert, who lived at Dervaird. He had another son who moved south, close to the town of Whithorn. From this point there are two branches of the family, one in Dervaird and Wigtown, and the other branch in Whithorn. However, it still operated as a single family; in the mid 1600’s, members of both branches returned to the Barony of Clugston.
The Heir Branch: Clugstons in Dervaid and Wigtown
In 1561, Gilbert Cluggistoun and his sons Gilbert junior and Alexander lived in the farm of Dirvaird “and the wood thereof”. Thomas Cluggistone lived on the farm of Archibald Kennedy in Barlockhart nearby. The only way this is possible is if Gilbert senior is the son of Patrick, and his sons are born 1525×1540. Gilbert junior moved to Wigtown burgh, where he died around 1586. He owned a large house on the north side of the west gate of the town, a fantastic location for a merchant. This house remained in the family for over a century. This building still exists, it is currently a fish and shop named “The Frying Scotsman”. It extends slightly into the street because it once formed part of the town gate.
The family remained near Dirvird for about 200 years. In 1591, Gilbert Clugstoun (a third Gilbert!) was excommunicated for adultery with Malie Cwnnynghame in Clente (The register of the Privy Council of Scotland, 1545-[1689]: 1545-1625, p373). In 1594, John Clugstoun was in Glenjorrie, next-door to Dirvaird. In 1606 Alexander Clugston was living in the Wood of Dervaird. A grandson of one of these men, another Gilbert Clugston, moved to Glevet, Tyrella, on the eastern coast of County Down in Ireland. In 1684, William Clugstoun was one of three unmarried men living in Carscreuch (the farm directly north of Dervaird, just off the top of the map above).
A later Patrick (“Petir”) Clugston (died 1596) seems to have been the heir. He appears to be a son of Gilbert junior. He owned land in Lochcraigoch (which was later renamed Loch Clugston) in 1594. He was married to Helene Vaus, daughter of Sir Patrick Vaus. Petir will be discussed below. He had a brother John, and a sister who married Walter Douglas.
The Cadet Branch: Clugstons in Whithorn
In 1527, Patrick Clugstoun was a witness to a charter. The charter was signed in Whithorn, and one of the other witnesses was the Provost (Lord Mayor) of Whithorn. I do not know if this was the baron (who would be aged ~50 at that time) or his son, because in 1547 we see a man who is definitely his son.
In 1547, Patrick Clugston was living at a place called Neddir Wig, south of the barony and near the town of Whithorn. In 1550, Andrew Clugston was a servitor to William Dunbar in Culmazew, east of Neddir Wig. He was probably a younger son of Patrick Junior. Patrick Junior seems to have had another son named Fergus. Fergus was the first Clugston to get in trouble with the law.
Pirates
In 1565, the notorious pirate Andrew White stole three English merchant ships, and sold their cargo at Whithorn, Galloway. England was furious, and demanded that Scotland take action. Fergus Clugstone in Whithorn bought a puncheon of fine wine (about 320 litres!) and £5 worth of cloth, and was charged with receiving stolen goods. He wasn’t alone. It seems that half of Galloway was in on the caper. The mayor of Whithorn had bought a massive 19 puncheons of wine and a huge quantity of stolen plums. The Scottish Reformation had happened only 5 years before, and the men of the cloth were setting a fine example: the vicar of Craggelton bought £5 of stolen cloth. The vicar of Kirkinner bought two puncheons of wine. Uncle Fergus, the mayor, the two wicked ministers and a dozen others were locked up in the Castle of Threave, until they had repaid the stolen goods. When Sir John Dunbar of Mochrum died in 1578, Fergus Clugstoun in Whithorn owed him one puncheon of wine, price £15. Sir John Dunbar was also owed 20 bolls of oats by the tenants of Clugstoun.
John Clugstoun was on the town council of Whithorn in 1582. He may be a brother of Fergus, or a son.
At some point, Nicolas Clugstoun was a servant to William Houston of Cotreoch, in Whithorn (I have not seen this record and do not know the date), but it is before 1620.
Attempted assassination of William Clugstoun by the future Earl of Galloway
In 1617, William Clugistoun, burgess of Whithorn, having “suffered many wrongs by Alexander, Lord Stewart of Garleis, Archibald Stewart of Wig, and his son Alexander, and others” called on the law to protect him from violence; his petition was granted. They retaliated. Archibald and his son “lay in wait for him in his own lands near the town of Whithorn and committed a fierce assault on him by wounding him in three places and and on the left hand.” He barely escaped with his life. Lord Alexander Stewart, hearing he had survived, rode with great haste to Whithorn to kill Clugstoun and destroy his house. William fled by boat to Kirkcudbright, but they also embarked and chased him. He escaped only because a thick mist came down at nightfall. Lord Garlies and his friend the laird of Bomby searched all next day for him. William’s evidence was irrefutable; young Alexander Stewart was imprisoned in Edinburgh. The other two were absolved (that tells you all you need to know about the Scottish legal system) but had to pay a substantial bond. (https://books.google.de/books?id=YPtJVew9cM8C, p154)
Alexander Stewart of Garleis was made 1st Earl of Galloway in 1623, and was described as “a man of great talent, loyalty and integrity”. Indeed. But a fascinating question is, why did he want to murder William Clugstoun? What had William done?
William died soon afterwards; perhaps they managed to murder him eventually. In 1621 John Clugstoun, “son of deceased William Clugstoun burgess of Whithorn”, was a witness to the marriage of the minister of Penninghame (Lord Alexander Stewart of Garleis lived in in Penninghame). A couple of years later, Patrick Clugstoun was servitor to the same minister; he is presumably another son of William.
In 1682, William Clugstoun was Kirk Officer in Whithorn. I guess he is the son of John. All these close connections to the church make me suspect that William Clugstoun had told the minister about something nefarious that Lord Garleis had done.
In 1684 there was an Alexander Clugston in Whithorn, so that family stayed there for over a century. But soon afterwards they were all gone.
Patrick Clugstoun of Lochcraigoch (Loch Clugston)
Petir Clugstoun was a merchant of Lochcraigoche (which was later named Loch Clugston), married to Helene Vaus, daughter of Sir Patrick Vaus, matchmaker of King James (of KJV Bible fame), and who was the inspiration for the wonderful Tolkeinesque Ballad of Sir Patrick Spens.
Petir’s will, made in 1594 and probated on 1596.7.28, still exists. His eldest son, William Clugston, was under 14 and hence born after 1580. The will also mentions Petir’s brother Jonce Clugston and a sister, and mentions Robert Clugston in Dirvirds (the farm that was owned by Gilbert in 1561). In 1606 Alexander Clugston had sasine of the farm “Dirvirds”. Petir gave an ox to Sir Alexander Stewart of Garleis, the man whose son attempted to murder William Clugstoun of Whithorn.
In 1586, Gilbert Clugistoun was a merchant who owned land in the town of Wigtown. In 1635 Gilbert transferred this land to William Clugistoun, merchant, son of Michaell Clugistoun of Lochcraigoche. By 1663 Gilbert had moved to Glevet in County Down, Ireland. William had a daughter Janet who married John Stewart, merchant, in 1661, and a son William, born 1645, who was Provost (Lord Mayor) of Wigtown from 1676-1679. One source claims that he died in 1734.
In 1608, Andro Hannay of Dergollis was accused of adultery with Marioun Clugistoun; the minister of Glenluce led the investigation. Marioun was probably a daughter of Gilbert.(https://books.google.de/books?id=XBw5AQAAMAAJ, p193).
The important thing to learn from these early references is that the Clugstons in Glenluce, Kirkcowan, and Wigtown were all from a single family of merchants. The name “Patrick Clugston” is associated with all those places, and they all have a connection to the house at Dirvaids. This means that there was only a single Clugston family. We can be confident of this because there was a religious survey of Wigtownshire and Minigaff from 1684, which has survived. It gives the name of everyone 12 years or older. It shows that there were only 24 Clugstons remaining in Wigtownshire, mostly around Loch Clugston and Wigtown. This includes women who had married and whose children would no longer bear the Clugston name. It also includes grandparents. There may also have been a few Clugstons in Kirkudbrightshire, east of Wigtown; the survey from that area has unfortunately not survived, but by 1720 there seem to have been only a couple of Clugstons there – possibly only a single family.
For more detail on the records I have mentioned, see this collection of early Clugston references.
There were so few Clugstons in Scotland in 1684 because about half of the Clugstons had emigrated to Ireland. This doesn’t mean that the families were immediately split apart. Belfast is not actually very far from Wigtownshire. In the 1600’s, some pious settlers in Ireland were known to row back to Galloway for Holy Communion, and return the same evening.
The Migration to Ireland
The first Scottish plantation in Ireland began in 1606, when Sir James Hamilton and Hugh Montgomery settled in the Great Ards in the north-east corner of County Down. They brought many Scots from Galloway with them. Clugstons are mentioned in the Hamilton Manuscripts, and also in the Montgomery Manuscripts. Montgomery had gained these lands by helping the owner, the Irish chieftain Con O’Neill, escape from the dungeon of Carrick castle by smuggling him a rope ladder hidden in a wheel of cheese.
The first Clugston in Ireland was the merchant William Clugston, grandson of Petir, who moved to Belfast in 1636, followed by his brothers John and Robert in 1643. There are surprisingly many references to the Clugston merchants in Belfast in the 17th century.
Belfast was founded by Arthur Chichester (1563-1625). He built a castle there in 1611. The lordship of Belfast was taken over by his nephew, Arthur Chichester, 1st Earl of Donegall, whose daughter demised land to Robert Clugston Jr in her will. Arthur Chichester’s expense book includes an entry “Paid Mr Clugston for Mr. John Chichester’s clothes. £6” which indicates a close relationship.
From this point we can make a substantial family tree, which extends to the present day in a few cases.
Petir Clugstoun d1594 = Helene Vaus
(Helene dau of Sir Patrick Vaus)
(Petir had a brother John and a sister Uranae = Walter Douglas)
(Their eldest son was William, they had two younger children)
(Petir must have been born 1550x1560)
William Clugstoun b. after 1580-
(Raised by Sir Patrick Vaus of Barnbarroch and his son John Vaus)
(Must have died young, because Michael inherited the land)
Michael Clugstoun d1635 merchant of Lochcraigoche
(Must be born before 1595 because his son was a burgess in 1635)
(1624: Witnessed a charter)
(1627: made valuation of Kirkcowan)
William Clugstoun ~1610 -1665 = Janet McKie
(Must be born before 1614 because he was a burgess in 1635)
(1635.4.8: Gilbert Clugistoun merchant burges of Wigtown gave to William Clugistoun merchant, lawful son of Michael Clugistoun of Lochcraigoche, the house in Wigtown where the future provost William would live. Wigtown charters 133.)
(1637.2.8 Merchant of Belfast)
(1639: accused of conspiracy and imprisoned for a month)
(1642, 1643: Bailie of Wigtown)
(1643: Witness to the will of Robert Millikine of Belfast)
(1644: Assessment for the covenanter army in Belfast)
(1662: Merchant of Wigtown. Made a bond with William McGuffock of Altecray)
(Adam McKie was provost of Wigtown in 1666; Janet is likely related)
Jonet Clugston = John Stewart m1661.1 Wigtown
(dau of William Clugston former bailie of Wigtown. Wigtown Charters 146)
John Clugston Jr b~1640? = Alice Lawrensons m 1672/3.1.31 Lisburn
(Spent his childhood in Belfast)
(1661: Admitted to the Corporation of Belfast. Had served apprenticeship in Belfast)
(1672: Was one of 4 merchants to value the estate of John Clugston senior)
(1675.11: had 5 young children. Fled Belfast)
Thomas Clugston 1679.7.3 Lisburn.
Isabel Clugston of Belfast = William Hampton of Kelmre Co Antrim m 1684.12.15 Lisburn
Provost William Clugstoun 1645- = Mary Houstone
(1665.3.21: William Clugstoun merchant burgess son of deceased William Clugstoun. Wigtown Charters 149)
(1674, 1675, 1676: Bailie of Wigtown)
(1676.2, 1677.3, 1679.9: Provost of Wigtown)
(1679: William was granted Sasine of Lochcraigoch)
(1684.9.19: On Wigtown Town Council)
(1695: 2 hearths in Wigtown burgh)
(possibly 2 daus bap Dublin 1670,1672)
William Clugston d.1734
= Margaret Gordon m1705 Peninghame
(Margaret dau of the Laird of Grange)
(1707: Treasurer of Wigtown)
William Clugston 1707 (died in infancy)
James Clugston 1708-
Dr William Clugston 1711-1757 = Barbara Vans 1716-1788 m1744
(1739: Apprentice apothecary in Belfast, "got a ticket gratis")
Elizabeth Clugston 1711-
Margaret Clugston 1713-
=(2) Grissal Gordon m1722 Wigtown
(lived in Wigtown)
Alexander Clugston 1723-
Grissal Clugston 1726-
Agnes Clugston 1727-
(Must be another son)
Michael Clugston = Mary McNarine
Alexander Clugston 1754.10.30 bap Penninghame, Wigtownshire
Michael Clugston abt.1651 -1697 d. Connecticut
= Mary Wakeman
(1672.8.22 "Michaell Clugston, merchant, admitted as Freeman of Belfast. Served with Mr Clugston." (must be John) - Town Book of Belfast)
(1675.5.26: Lent 140 pounds to William Clugstoune Provost of Wigtown)
(1695: Merchant, Boston)
John Clugston Senior b before 1620. d. 1671.8.6 Belfast. Merchant
= Grissel Shaw
(In 1674 Grissel remarried William Smith, another merchant. She made a will on 1700.5.30 and died by 1705)
(1642: Bailie on Wigtown Council)
(1643: Freeman of Belfast)
(1657: Issued Merchant Tokens)
(1657: Gent, Belfast in Penders Survey)
(1657.1.21 Court of Chancery: plaintiff against John Parker)
(1666: Grantee in a bond where John Carson of Sennick (near Balmangan near Kirkcudbright) was the granter)
(When he died, "John Clugston" valued his estate)
(All these children born from 1650 to 1671. Robert was their only son)
(Grissel was given land in North St, Belfast in the will of Anne Chichester, Countess of Longford)
Robert Clugston. b abt 1757. Merchant (d before 1711)
= Margaret ____ d 1727.9.11
(1678: Admitted Freeman of Belfast)
(1678.1.15: Sasine of land in Balmangan near Kirkcudbright)
(1687 Court of Chancery: Defendant with brother-in-law William Crawford=Jane, Alexander Spence=Elizabeth, etc against Smith)
(1689: attainted because he supported William of Orange)
(Owned tenements in Castle St and North St, Belfast)
(Robert was given 34 acres in Lower Malone in the will of Anne Chichester, Countess of Longford)
(These are his only children)
Grissel Clugston
= William Proctor m1717.6.19 St Marys Dublin
("Cluxton" in marriage record)
(1713 Court of Chancery: plaintiff Grishold Clugston against John Clugston+John Montgomery)
John Clugston bur. 1736.1.24, bachelor.
(1713 Court of Chancery: plaintiff Grishold Clugston against John Clugston+John Montgomery)
(1725.7.8 Court of Chancery: plaintiff Elizabeth Montgomery spinster against John Clugston+John Montgomery)
(1726-1733: Sovereign of Belfast)
Elinor Clugston d.1758 spinster
Catherine Clugston = Arthur Gower
(Catherine was alive in 1727 but died by 1735)
(Hannah was only daughter)
Hannah Gower (born after 1722, before 1735)
Jane Clugston d. 1727.11.6
Margaret Clugston d. 1710
= Richard Dobbs 1660-1711 High Sheriff of Antrim
Margaret Dobbs
= George Spaight. Surveyor of Customs m1729.7.7
Richard Dobbs Spaight 1730-1763
Richard Dobb Spaight Jr 1758-1802 Governor
Mary Dobbs = Andrew Boyd Esq of Ballymoney
Ann-Helena Dobbs = William Ker of Ballymena
Ellenor Clugston
Margaret Clugston = Alex Delap m 1681.9.13 Lisburn
Grizell Clugstoun =(1) John Stoates of Armagh m 1686.11.23
=(2) David Smith
William Smith 1689.10.13 b Glasgow
Jennet Clugston bur.1729.12.13
= William Crawford bur.1716.7.14 merchant, MP for Belfast
(1724 Court of Chancery: Jennet, widow, was one of many defendants against William Savage=Lucy)
James Crawfurd 1689.12.24 b. Glasgow
Ann Crawford
= William Arbuckle
(William son of James Arbuckle and Priscilla Black)
Elizabeth Clugston
= Francis Henderson m 1691.4.1 Drirachy
Robert Clugston d1658 intestate
(1645: Merchant, Belfast)
(1653: Expelled to Leinster and Munster)
(Owned land in Balmangan near Kirkcudbright)
(1663: His brother John inherited his estates)
Petir’s descendants were not the only Clugstons in Wigtown. In 1635, Petir’s grandson William was given the house at Clugston’s Vennel by Gilbert Clugiston of Wigton. That house had earlier been owned by Gilbert Clugston d. 1586. In 1561, Dirvairds had been occupied by Gilbert Cluggistoun senior, Gilbert Cluggistoun junior, and Alexander Cluggistoun. To have two adult sons, Gilbert senior must be born before 1515, and must therefore be the son of Patrick, the last baron. He is probably born around 1505. His sons must be born before 1540; more likely 1530-1535. This is early enough that Petir could be one of their sons. The Gilbert who died in 1586 must be Gilbert Clugston junior who would be about 60 years old. Assuming that the 1635 transaction was to a close family member, Petir’s father was Gilbert junior. d1586. But Petir’s will does not mention Wigtown, so the 1635 Gilbert could not be Petir’s son. So he must be the son of John.
In 1575 John Clugston burgess of Wigtown was a witness to a charter of Gilbert Kennedy Earl of Cassillis. In 1594 John Clugstone of Glenjorrie was witness to a charter of John Kennedy, Earl of Cassillis. It seems clear that this is the same man. It is clear that he is the son of Gilbert junior, who owned the Clugston house in Wigtown.
In 1620 John Clugstoun, carpenter, was a witness to a charter by the provost of Wigtown. This will be the son of John.
This gives the following tree for all Clugstons (marked with ? for people who are possibly in the wrong generation, and ?? for people who are possibly in the completely wrong place in the tree). This contains all known Clugston references before 1640.
John Clugstoun, owner of the barony of Clugston in 1471, b ~1440?
Patrick Clugstoun, the heir, owner of the barony 1493 b~1475?
Gilbert Clugston senior ~1505
Gilbert Clugston junior ~1530
Petir Clugstoun b.~1560 d1594 = Helene Vaus
William Clugstoun b. ~1585 d.~1605
Michael Clugstoun b~1590 d1635 merchant of Lochcraigoche
William Clugstoun ~1610 -1665 = Janet McKie
--> Cluxtons of Connecticut
--> Clugstons of Leswalt -> Glasgow
John Clugston d.1671 merchant of Belfast
Robert Clugston d.1658
Nicholas Clugstoun (1616: Servatrix)
John Clugston
Gilbert Clugston (alive in 1635)
John Clugston (1620: carpenter in Wigtown)
Uranae Clugston = ___ Douglas
Alexander Clugston ~1530, adult in 1561.
?Robert Clugstoun
(1588: Got wool from Patrick Vaus's wife)
(1596: Lent a horse to Petir Clugstoun)
?Alexander Clugston
(1592: involved with Laird Livingston)
(1608: Dirvirds)
??Alexander Clugston
(Attorney in County Down 1547)
??Gilbert Clugston
(Moved to Tyrella, County Down by 1663)
--> Cluxtons of Kildare
Thomas Clugston (adult in 1561, brother or son of Gilbert senior)
Patrick Clugston
Fergus Clugston ~1530 (adult in 1565, alive in 1578)
Jonce Clugstoun bailie in Whithorn
William Clugstoun of Whithorn b~1570 d.1620
John Clugstoun b before 1600 of Whithorn
Alexander Clugston recusant of Whithorn in 1684
Patrick Clugston b.~1605
Patrick Clugston fugitive in 1679
??Robert Clugston ~1605 in Creochis
Andrew Clugston ~1530 (servitor in 1550)
In 1624 Patrick Clugstoun was a servant to Rev James Adamson of Penninghame; in 1621 John Clugstoun son of deceased William Clugston of Whithorn was a witness to newlywed Rev James Adamson’s sasine (John may have been the Rev’s brother-in-law). and in 1625 Robert Clugstoun in Creochis also witnessed a charter involving the ministers (This is just too early to be the son of Michael)
Another family living in Wigtown in 1684. This William cannot be descended from the Belfast merchants, and must be born before 1650. In 1695 he seemed to have moved to Barhoish, at the edge of the barony of Clugston, next to John Clugston, the miller, who may be his brother.
William Clugston = Elizabeth Gordon
(1684: Wigtown)
Archibald Clugston b. before 1673
William, John and Robert Clugston, merchants in Belfast
On 1637.2.8, William Cluggeston, merchant, was one of the first 20 members of the Corporation of Belfast. In May 1639 he was falsely accused of conspiracy, with two other merchants. They were imprisoned for a month, and their lands and goods (worth a whopping £2500) were seized. They returned to Wigtown and appealed to the King for restitution. This was probably related to the “Black Oath” of 1639, in which all Presbyterians were required to pledge loyalty to the king, and to renounce the Scottish Covenant. William Clugston, Provost of Wigtown, born about 1645, was his son.
His brothers John and Robert Clugston, were also merchants who were admitted to the Corporation of Belfast in 1643 and 1645.
In 1641, the Catholic Irish started a rebellion against the English which went horribly wrong. Casualties on both sides were high. Over ten thousand settlers died in the aftermath. “Clugston and Hannay” were lieutenants in a private army at Lisburn, south of Belfast; this was probably John Clugston, who in 1645 owed £40 to the merchant who had raised the army. The Hannay family lived next to the Clugstons in Wigtown, and by 1684 they operated the Mill of Clugston.
The Clugston merchants and their descendants appear prominently in the “The Town Book of the Corporation of Belfast 1613-1816”. (Worth a read! It’s fascinating and very entertaining, as the settlement stumbles from one near-disaster to another. Who’d have thought that wooden chimneys could be such a fire hazard? Or that dragging heavy cannons across the bridge would make it collapse? Or that butchers slaughtering cattle inside the town would cause “the corruption and putrefaccon of the River and anoyance of their neighbours by reason of the stinke and evill and infectious smell”?)
Belfast was tiny (population about 600), and was essentially a port. Small ships could moor in a dock along the main street. The major merchants built side-streets off the main street, which they then sub-leased. The alley nearest Belfast Castle was “Clugston’s Entry”; then was “Martin’s Entry” and “Biggar’s Entry”, and then “Bridge St”, closer to the docks. On the south side was
“Pottinger’s Entry” which still exists. The area around Clugston’s Entry has become Lombard St. In John Maclanachan’s survey map from 1715 it appears as “Cluxton’s Lean”(lane), it is the leftmost in this map.
There was a shortage of low-value cash, so like other Belfast merchants, John Clugston made his own coins (“Merchant Tokens”):
Robert died in 1658, apparently without children, because his brother John was described as his heir. John appears in the 1666 and 1669 Hearth tax rolls for Belfast as “Mr John Clugston Sen”; he had 2 hearths. “John Clugston Jun” had 3 hearths in 1666, 5 hearths in 1669. In 1669 there was a third John Clugston with one hearth, and William Clugston, smith, with two. I believe these are sons of the Provost of Wigtown. John senior died in 1671, leaving 6 children under 21. He left £10 to the poor of Belfast.
Michael Clugston (d. 1697) was another brother of Provost William. He served his apprenticeship in Belfast with his uncle, John Clugston senior. Later he moved to America. He was operating as a merchant in Maryland in 1690. Michael had many descendants, most of whom adopted the “Cluxton” spelling. Most American Cluxtons are descended from him.
Captain Benjamin Cluxton captured a French Privateer (a government-approved pirate ship) in the Carribean in 1702. He died in Virginia in 1708. The documents for the capture still exist, and would probably be interesting to read; but I suspect he may have been a Claxton from Norfolk, rather than a Clugston.
Their business in Belfast was potentially lucrative but involved high risk. In 1661, John Clugston owned a ship. In 1670, he was leader of a group of Belfast merchants whose ship, the “James”, was illegally siezed in the Carribean. The ship and goods were worth £5000. (For comparison, the total taxes for the barony of Clugston were £25 per annum).
The grandson, John Clugston Esq, was Sovereign (Lord Mayor) of Belfast 1726-1733, and his granddaughter Margaret married Richard Dobbs of Castle Dobbs, the High Sheriff of Antrim, an utterly fascinating man. He was a keen naturalist and made many contributions to science. Jonathon Swift, author of “Gulliver’s Travels”, was a regular guest.
As an old man, long after Margaret’s death, he moved to his large estates in America. At the age of 73 he caused a scandal by marrying a 15 year old.
Margaret’s great grandson, Richard Dobbs Spaight Jr (1758-1802), Governor of North Carolina, signed the US Constitution, and was killed in a duel with another senator. North Carolina made duelling illegal a few days later, taking all of the fun out of democracy.
The minister of Belfast, Rev John McBride, refused to sign the anti-Catholic Oath of Abjuration. Allegedly, John Clugston was the man sent to arrest him. But McBride had fled to Scotland. In a fit of rage, the future Sovereign stabbed a painting of McBride. The sword cut is still visible.
“John Clughston Jr” had to evaluate John’s estate. He was admitted to the Corporation in 1661 with the note “served his apprenticeship in this town”, which must mean he was born around 1640. Apprenticeship typically started at the age of 14, and lasted 7 years. I presume this means John senior was his uncle. We see from the letter of Lewis Thompson, below, that he spent his childhood in Belfast, but Robert had no children and John only had a single son Robert. We conclude that John Junior was a son of William (possibly the heir). Robert Junior was not admitted to the Corporation until 1678. He was a child when his father died (boys are always listed before girls, regardless of age).
Note that in that family tree, John Junior was the only one who had Clugston descendants. 3 years into his marriage, John Junior already had 5 young children – twins? Thomas was born 2 years later.
John Junior’s firstborn son would have been named Robert. There may also have been a John. It is likely that John Clugston who married ___ Lowry of Lisnaward, County Down, was his heir (see below).
Also near Lisburn was another marriage, surely related, possibly of a subsequent child of John Jr:
Mary Clugston = John Watt m 1714/5.1.5 Blaris
Note that all of the other Clugston males are accounted for.
In 1675, John Junior was in a desperate financial situation. He had borrowed heavily, and lost almost everything. It may have been his ship which was seized in Jamaica. On 6 Nov 1675, Lewis Thompson, merchant of Belfast, wrote to Jacob David, merchant of London, warning him about John Clugston “and as for John Clugston of whome you inquire he hath lived in this place from a childe but trewley at present his estate and reputation are both verey low in esteme with the most that know him for he hath bene out of credit stok and trade this four years and if you be cler of him keepe soe and if he owe you money I canot see aney prowbilitey how it will be had for he hath ben on his defens from his creditors this gret while and wher he is at present I know not but he hath a wife and five small children in this plase who are verey poor”. (“Markets and Merchants of the Late Seventeenth Century: The Marescoe-David Letters, 1668–1680”)
A big question is, where did John Junior go? The most obvious place would be to go back to Wigtown, to his brother William the provost. If he stayed there his family would eventually join him, and he would appear in the 1684 parish lists.
The name “Lawrensons” is not Scottish; Alice may have been the daughter of an English merchant. The mtDNA of Robert’s wife Margaret is known; it does not seem Scottish either. “Dobbs”, “Gower”, “Procter”, and “Speight” are very English surnames, mostly originating from Yorkshire. Some very English names (Henry, Edward) appear in the next generation.
However, “Delap” (a variant of “Dunlop”) and “Henderson” are Lowland Scots names. Thus we see that Robert’s family married into the English aristocracy but may have been the only Clugstons who did. It is surprising because Robert was definitely Presbyterian (in 1645 he signed a letter to Edinburgh requesting more clergy).
There was a William Clugston in Antrim town in 1666 who is probably related. He seems to be the ancestor of about one quarter of all Clugstons alive today.
Clugstons Charged With High Treason
Many (almost all?) of the early Clugstons were Covenanters. Their beliefs got them into a lot of trouble in the late 1600’s. They refused to accept the king as head of the church. The “Killing Times” was one of the darkest points in Scottish History, in which Presbyterians were presecuted by Charles II, and many died for their faith. Incredibly, about half of the Clugstons in the world are on record as having openly defied the government. Three Clugston families were charged with High Treason, another faced charges, and another was a ‘recusant’, who refused to submit.
The situation must have been extremely delicate, because William Clugston had been Provost of Wigtown from 1676-1679 or 1681, and was still a senior member of the town council in 1684, making him one of those responsible for carrying out the government orders. In 1685, a teenage girl and an elderly widow were sentenced to death for failing to renounce the covenant. The “Wigtown Matyrs” were to be tied to posts in Wigtown Bay and drowned by the rising tide. William apparently did not participate in this cowardly act. His father had fled Ireland to escape the Black Oath, and a relative, Patrick Clugston, was also facing the death penalty. (However, the matryrdom story cannot be factual. I do not believe the execution was carried out. The women were granted a reprieve, and none of the pro-matyrdom sources seem to know that the reprieve exists).
Patrick Clugstoun, merchant in Borland of Clugston, was a Covenanter. He was a fugitive in 1679, and was charged with high treason for habouring rebels. He may have been one of the 200 men, armed with pitchforks and muskets, who defeated the English army at the Battle of Drumclog; but he was certainly involved in the guerrilla war they waged from the hills of Galloway. He is likely related to Alexander Clugstoune of Whithorn, who was a ‘recusant’ (refused to take part in the communion).
John Clugstoun (probably Patrick’s brother) also faced charges; he owned a mill at Barhoise, a few km up the river.
Two Clugstons in Ireland, Robert and Thomas, were also “attainted” and charged with High Treason. This seems to be the reason they left Belfast and moved towards Dublin. I think it also made the New World more appealing. It probably also contributed to their support for American independence.
Interestingly, in Scotland in 1684, no Clugstons were named Robert or Thomas. But Robert Clugston of Dirvaids was mentioned in the 1596 will of Petir Clugston.
Clugstons in County Antrim, Ireland
In 1669, William Clugston was on the hearth money rolls for Culquemonny/Billy, Dunluce Lower, Antrim. This is at the northernmost tip of Ireland. It seems that he did not stay there for long.
There seem to have been at least two distinct Clugston families in southern Antrim. Some of them moved back and forth between Belfast and Glasgow. Some descendants of Hugh Clugston from Ballyclare moved to Indiana via Pennsylvania, and have many living descendants.
There were some relatively poor Clugstons near the coast around Carrickfergus.
There was a wealthy, highly educated and devout family of Clugstons in Ballyclare, Antrim, most notably Dr William Alexander Clugston, who may be descendants of Josias’ brother. They were Covenanters and were involved in establishing the Reformed Presbyterian denomination. This branch seems to have died out around 1930.
Robert Cluxton and his wife Mary Rice 1744-1825 emmigrated from Ireland in 1798, with a son John Cluxton 1791-1854.2.21 who married the daughter of a Methodist pastor, then settled in Adam’s County, Ohio. Most of the Cluxtons in the USA are his descendants. They left three children in Ireland. DNA testing shows an exact match with Hugh Clugston 1788-1865 of Ballyclare, County Antrim.
Dr William Clugston, who returned to Scotland
One of William’s grandsons was Dr. William Clugston. He served his apprenticeship with Henry Duncan, apothecary, who leased a house in Clugston’s Entry. William married his third cousin, Barbara Vans, and settled near Stranraer, Scotland. He appears to have been the heir to the family fortune. His family included Dr Alexander Grant Clugston, Surgeon General for the British Army in Bombay. A family of Clugstons born in Stranraer are his descendants. They moved to Glasgow in the early 1800’s.
Thomas Clugston of Carlingford, County Louth
On 1718.6.18, Thomas Clugston of Monaghan town, County Monaghan, bought an estate called “Menidees Park” on Carlingford Lough, on the border between County Down and County Louth. Thomas owned a “white house” and a “malt house” in Carlingford, County Lough. He was already a grandfather in 1731.
Interestingly, the surname spelling changed for most Clugstons that went south. Many records are spelt “Cluxton”, “Claxton” or even “Cluckstone”. Some records include both spellings. He totally abandoned Scottish naming conventions; I suspect his wife was English.
The third son James graduated from university in 1710, so must have been born before 1690. So, Thomas must have been born well before 1670, so he could not be the son of the Belfast merchant John Clugston Junior (whose son Thomas was born in 1679). He was probably much older, born around 1660.
He was probably related to Thomas Clugston who paid hearth tax in 1669 in Dunrod, Tullyrusk (south of Belfast, west of Lisburn).
Thomas Clugston d~1631
= Jean ______ d. Nov 1740
(Will dated 1731/2.1.24, probated 1764.9.23)
Henry Clugston (died by 1731) Innkeeper
= Elizabeth George
(1728: Henry was innkeeper of "The Jolly Sailor", Newry)
(Eliz remarried __ Daveyson by 1731)
Jean Clugston
= (1) Robert Corry
= (2) Robert Manly
Miss Manly
George Clugston. Deaf and dumb.
Elizabeth Clugston. Deaf and dumb.
James Clugston
(1712: MA from Glasgow University)
(Went to America before 1764, died without issue)
Christopher Clugston. 3rd son.
(Died in the lifetime of his father, evidently without issue)
Rev Josias Clugston -1775 minister at Larne 1717-1775.
(1710: MA from Glasgow University)
(allegedly only had one son, James)
Rev James Clugston -1780 = Elizabeth -1784
(Pastor of Bandon, County Cork 1745-1780
("ordained young" (born about 1725?))
Mary Clugston 1755.1.14 - 1826.10.12 b. Bandon
= George Allman 1750-1827
James Clugston Allman 1780-1845 b&d Bandon = Sarah Lane
(Owned a whiskey distillery)
James Clugston Allman 1822.3.24 b Bandon
Thomas Clugston bap 1756.12.1 b. Bandon
(1787: Merchant and Tanner, Bandon)
(Paid a large debt to George Wheeler 1812)
(Apparently died childless)
Jean Clugston. Never married.
Alexander Clugston. Never married.
Thomas’s sons Josias and James Clugston graduated with an MA from the University of Glasgow in 1710 and 1712 respectively. One of James Clugston’s classmates was the philosopher Francis Hutcheson, one of the founders of the Scottish Enlightenment. Most of his other classmates became Presbyterian ministers in America. Thomas left him only 1 shilling because he was in America. The other children died childless.
Clugstons in County Down and County Armagh, Ireland, and in the Isle of Man
As mentioned earlier, John Clugston Junior’s son Thomas had at least five older siblings. There are three likely candidates.
John Clugston of Drumballyroney, County Down, died in 1733. This is near the border between County Down and County Armagh. His only child was a daughter Mary, who married Samuel Crum and had one child in 1721.
John Clugston married ____ Lowry, daughter of ____Lowry (died by 1713) and Margaret Cameron (alive in 1726). John and his mother-in-law converted the Lowry farm into a freehold. Lisnaward is just a few km east of Lisburn, where the merchant John Clugston Jr had lived. This John must have been born before 1790.
By 1755 the Lisnaward farm was owned by Robert Clugston, almost certainly John’s son. By 1787 it had passed to John Clugston, who sold it. By 1769, this youngest John seems to have also owned land in Lisnafiffy near Banbridge, a few km south-west of Lisnaward.
John of Lisnafiffy had four sons, John, Aaron, Archibald, and Robert, all born around 1780. A large fraction of the Clugstons alive today are his descendants.
Around 1800 there were probably more Clugstons near Banbridge, County Down than anywhere else in the world, all apparently descended from John. One of John’s sons, Archibald, moved to the Isle of Man. Archibald’s descendants include almost all Clugstons in the Isle of Man, Liverpool and Cheshire in the UK censuses from 1840-1910. Archibald’s brother Aaron had two grandsons who emigrated from Banbridge to Brisbane, Australia.
The freeholders list for the 1753 election in County Armagh shows 6 Clugston men in “Ross” (actually “Rawes”, which is about 6km east of Monaghan): Thomas; Robert, John, Robert Jr, Joseph, William. George and John Willson were the only two other freeholders in Ross.
The “Jr” is very significant. It shows not only that Robert Jr is the son of Robert, but also that they were also trying to maintain the family name. Under Scottish traditional naming, the first sons are named after their grandfathers, and the next son is named after the father. This suggests that John, Robert, Joseph and William are sons of Robert Senior, and that Robert Senior’s father was another John. Thomas is likely the son of John Clugston Junior of Belfast. Robert is very likely to be his brother.
The history of Robert’s other sons (Robert Jr, William, and Joseph) is less clear.
There were three families of Clugstons in Armagh, Robert, Thomas, and James, all born 1780-1790. They seem to be sons of Robert Clugston of Ballintemple, Armagh. Their children emmigrated to NSW and Ontario. Another Cluxton moved to England.
These next two men would be a perfect match for two of the sons, but they had been in America for a decade before the Armagh election was made.
Joseph Clugston was living in Adam’s County, Pennsylvania in 1742. Robert Clugston (possibly his brother) also emmigrated there from Belfast around 1750. They have many living descendants in Pennsylvania and Kansas. The “Clegston” spelling comes from one of his grandchildren. About one quarter of all Clugstons today are from this branch.
Gilbert Clugston and his descendants in County Down and County Kildare
Alexander Clugston, an attorney, was living in Portaferry in the Great Ards in 1644 and 1648, near Hamilton’s settlement. Many of the settlers (including Hamilton himself) fled back to Scotland when Cromwell invaded Ireland in 1649; Alexander may have fled with them.
In 1663, Gilbert Clugston lived at Glevet, County Down. His son Samuel must have been born before 1665, so Gilbert was probably born around 1640. He could very well be a son of Alexander of Portaferry. The fact that his name was Gilbert indicates he was a descendant of Gilbert Clugston senior of Dirvirds.
Gilbert Clugston
(1663: Glevet, County Down)
Edward Clugston d 1710.9.13 Kilkenny
(1689: Edward was a gauger in Loughrea, Co Galway)
(probate granted to his sister-in-law Hanna)
Samuel Clugston of Islandmuck, Gent, co Down d1707
= Hanna _____
(Hanna =(2) Robert Macoom m 1710.3.1 Kilbegan, Co Meath)
(Children all under 21 in 1707, ie born after 1686)
Elizabeth Clugston
Edward Clugston
Hanna Clugston
John Clugston
Margaret Clugston
James Clugston
Alexander Clugston of Ballynaughnaugh (Ballynanny, Clonduffe), co Down
(1707: Clanduffe, County Down (Quaker tithe records))
(1710: Ballynaughnaugh, DOWN (Nephew of Edward))
(These next two are not proven to be sons of James, but they are brothers of one another)
James Clugston of Jigginstown and Killcullen Bridge, Kildare
Michael Clugston of Fonery, Co Down
Most descendants of this family used the Claxton spelling.
In 1690, John Clugston owned a house in Killyleagh Town, 6km from Portaferry. This might be John Clugston Junior, the bankrupt merchant, but may also be a son of Gilbert. Though the church records for Killyleagh exist, they do not mention any Clugstons, so John must have moved away.
In 1694 and 1697, John Clugston and James Clugston were Ruling Elders of the new Presbyterian church at Drumca. This was near the village of Seaforde, the residence of the powerful Forde family.
Descendants of this family remained in the area: in the early 1800’s, James, Alexander and Robert Clugston owned freeholds on the Forde estate.
The heir of James Clugston seems to be “James Claxton or Clugston”, Gentleman, of Kilcullen Bridge, County Kildare, who owned land at “Lurgan Linney, County Down” in 1722; this is at Ballyhafry. His brother Michael lived at Fofanney. The name seems to have mutated into Cluxton; this spelling is exclusive to County Kildare and County Louth. There was however a William Cluckston in Dublin in 1670.
A key battle of the Irish Rebellion of 1798, in which, imitating the American Revolution, Catholics and Protestants united to try to break free of English rule, was fought so close to the Cluxton farm at Kilcullen, that their furniture was damaged.
In 1804, James Clugston, farmer, bought 5 acres of land in Drumanaquoile, which is not far from Magherdrool. By 1824, he and his wife Sarah Clugston (1791-1866) were running a weaving business there. In 1810, Alexander Clugston bought 5 acres in Claragh, which is right next to Drumanaquoile.
We also know of Alexander (1655-1720) who was buried near Bangor, County Down. He probably related to the Alexander of Whithorn who refused Anglican communion in 1684. The Prebyterian minister of Wigtown fled to Bangor during the persecution. The most faithful of his flock probably followed him. Alternatively, Alexander could be the son of James.
In 1767, Joseph Clugston age 18 (born 1749) became an apprentice tailor in Newry. He was listed as a freeholder in Newry in 1787, 1789, and 1790. When he died around 1808, his daughter Mary was the sole heiress.
Thomas Clugston of County Monaghan
In 1663 and 1665, Thomas Clugston was on the hearth money rolls for the town of Monaghan, in County Monaghan. Thomas Clugston, Gent in Monaghan was attainted in 1691 for having joined in the 1689 rebellion in support of William of Orange, along with Robert Clugston of Belfast. Being attainted meant they were charged with High Treason and had their lands confiscated, though their heirs were unaffected. Thomas fled to Carlingford, County Louth, only just across the border from County Down.
The Clogstons of New Hampshire
John Clogston born in 1715, married Miranda Glassford in Massachusetts in 1740 and settled in New Hampshire. Most of the living Clogstons seem to be descendants of this man, though others are descended from Alexander Clogston who arrived in New York by 1790. (This needs further research).
The Clogstouns of Antigua
John Clogstoun (born around 1730), is the progenitor of the Clogstoun branch. DNA testing has shown they are unrelated to the Clugstons. I believe that they came from near London.
John’s son Robert was a senior official in Antigua. Robert’s son Samuel was granted a Coat of Arms which has a some similarity to Provost William’s heraldry (Unscrupulous companies try to sell this as “the Clugston family crest”; there is no such thing). One family member was awarded a Victoria Cross. One family member was a British officer who led Australian troops of Gallipoli. One daughter was adopted by the celebrated painter George Frederic Watts, and lived next to Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
The Clogstons and Clugstons of Glasgow
By 1800 most of the remaining Clugstons in Scotland had moved close to Glasgow. Most had come via Kirkcudbright, which is the next major town on the coast east of Wigtown. It is hard to know how long they had been there, but it was probably not long, because almost all Clugstons in Glasgow in the 1841 census seem to be descendants of either William or Hugh Clogston of Kirkcudbrightshire. Kirkcudbright is only about 40km from Loch Clugston, but it is also possible that they moved there from near Belfast. (An Isobell Congilstoun of Kirkcudbright left a will in 1606, but she was probably a Congleton, not a Clugston).
Two men called James Clugston, both born around 1760, were in Glasgow. One was a weaver, the other a tailor. They are probably sons of James and William Clogston, who were probably brothers. William was still in Kircudbright in 1762.
There were some devout evangelical Christians in this family, who were spectacular philanthropists. They were among the first teachers of working-class children in Scotland; they set up some of the first welfare schemes; they were involved in the abolition of the slave trade.
James Clugston, born Scotland, emmigrated to Hunterdon, New Jersey in 1775. His descendants moved to Whiteley, Indiana. One of his children was also a tailor.
John Clugston and Elizabeth Jaffray were married in Glasgow in 1806 (born around 1775). Their son Alexander is the ancestor of most Clugstons in Victoria, Australia.
Andrew Clugston(1799-1869) and Ann Buchanan moved from Ireland to Glasgow around 1828, and soon afterwards to Minigaff, Kirkcudbright, quite close to Wigtown. A daughter moved to Iowa around 1900.
Apart from the Clugstons in Newry, almost all Clugstons lived in rural areas. In 1840 there was only one family of Clugstons in Belfast: Robert Clugston (1785-1868), and his wife Margaret.
Other Clugstons in the USA
Two brothers, Robert (~1792-1845) and John Clugston(1805-1853), born Ireland, moved to Orange County, New York State, around 1820. The last Clugston from this branch died in 1861. Interestingly, John’s mother-in-law was born in Germany.
George and John Clugston moved from Ireland to Lexington, Fayette, Kentucky, around 1815.
James Clugston (1819-1891) and Elizabeth McHenry moved from Ireland to Lehigh, Pennsylvania, sometime around 1850.
Other Clugstons in the USA are here. (That page is a work-in-progress). This includes descendants of Alexander Clogston 1774-1830 and his wife Margaret Grace McLean 1774-1857; John Clugston born 1801 in Franklin, PA, and his wife Jane Martin; the Clugstons of Plum, Allegheny, PA, and Richard Cluxton 1827-1905 who emmigrated from Ireland to Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio. Most of these are likely to be siblings of branches already described above.
Records still to be obtained
Important documents which I am extremely interested in:
* Parish records from Carnmoney Presbyterian, Ireland for the mid 1700’s.
* The Wigtown burgh records (https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/sct/WIG/CourtRecords)
* The sasine register for Dirvirdes.
Unanswered Questions
Does the Cloggie surname (originating outside Glasgow) descend from Sir Alexander Clugston of Glasgow?
Where in Ireland did the Clugstons of Pennsylvania come from?
Were the Clugstons in New Galloway grandsons of William Clugston, treasurer of Wigtown? Or did they come from Whithorn?
Clugston Family History 
Hello, I’m interested in your theory about the provenance of Helen Vauss, wife of William Clugston. I must admit I can’t see any flaw in your reasoning though it’s a pity that there’s no mention of Patrick or William Clugston in the correspondence of Sir Patrick Vauss – but then, that’s not a complete record by any means. Mckerlie didn’t get far in researching the Clugstons either. Do you have a family tree I can get access to?
Regards,
Jamie Vans (of Barnbarroch)
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Hi Jamie,
Fantastic to hear from you. My other main doubt with my theory is that the dowry which Sir Patrick received for his other daughters was enormous, and I wouldn’t expect the Clugstons would have been able to raise a dowry of that magnitude.
I don’t have an actual family tree for the early period, but there are not very many possibilites, and I’m still trying to constrain the possibilities further. I have a lot of 1600’s records which are still not on this site but unfortunately we don’t have a complete line of descent for any of the extant branches. I’m most of the way through constructing the complete global family tree (it’s feasible because we are 30 times rarer than you are).
BTW I’m awaiting my Y-DNA test results. The thing I’m most interested in, is actually to see how similar they are to the Vans of Barnbarroch. I think there’s a decent chance that both families originally came from the same place.
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Wow – you have done a truly impressive amount of research! I am trying to find out when John Spottiswoode and Elizabeth (nee Cluxton) arrived in Ireland.
The Spottiswoodes (saddlers) are cousins of the Wilsons and Blackhams of Newry, County Down. They all migrated to South Australia with the Ragless family and continued to intermarry.
I have found a lot of fabulous stories about James Spottiswoode Wilson b.1813, husband and cousin of Elizabeth’s daughter Sarah, (nee Spotswood) . He was quite a remarkable man.
James is listed as a carpenter on the passenger list but I think his father may have been a merchant since James brother George Wilson owned a ship and sailed back and forth between Fremantle and Adelaide.
James had ambitions of becoming Surveyor General in South Australia.
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On the clugston group on facebook there is an old clugston name book that references some items too. The story I heard was two brothers moved to the states and the clugstons from the states a from either side. Ironically the names of people are the same …I had an uncle galen..who did live long…in my work I ran across a galen from the other side. And I didn’t see the metiom of the vankluges either..that was interesting.
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Interesting. For sure the the early Clugstons to the US were closely related to each other, for sure I could believe they could be brothers. I think the odds of the Clugstons being originally German or Austrian are about a million to one. They could be Scottish, or Norse, or English, or could have come from Clugny in France with the Normans. But soon we will actually know…
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A Dictionary of Members of the Dublin Book Trade 1550-1800
By Mary Pollard, Bibliographical Society (Great Britain). I didn’t get all pages as I didn’t pay.
c1785-1787, John Rice(1783-1803) was a bookseller, printer, music seller and harpsichord maker. Free 1792.
WDD: music seller, 5 College green (J. Chamberlain’s address), -1784. Philadephia from 1785-87. Bsr and str, 5 College green, 1790-91; 2 College green, 1791-1796; 111 Grafton st, Oct 1796-1805. Baltimore, My, 1803-1805. With Hanna Chamberlaine, 1790.
1784 Mar, new music from JR, harpsichord and pianoforte maker: 2 new songs by Giordani, Goldsmith’s Hermit set by Hooke (EM,Mar, wrapper p.6)
c 1785-87-, JR left Dublin in 1784 or 1785 and worked as bsr in Philadelphia, presumably with Henry Rice, bsr, and sometimes with William Spotswood. He had returned to Dublin by 1790 again joining H Chamberlaine in College green. She died Sep 1790.
It seems that the connecting link between the Wilsons, Spotswoods, Rice and Cluxtons may be the booksellers, printers and merchants of these families. They may have all been ‘New Lights’.
I think bsr stands for bursor, i.e. the cashier. So I guess you print the books, sell them and distribute?
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William Spotswood married his first wife in Newry, Ann Pasley (m. Jan 1772?) of Kildare. Maybe his gave rise to our lines? How do we find out the names of Ann’s progeny?
His second wife Miss Stewart of Enniskillen (1783?) may connect to the Tasmanian Spotswoods.
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This is very interesting as my maiden name is Clogston, but family lore traces ups back to an Alexander Clugston (born around 1750) who came from Scotland and settled in Schenectady, NY. I haven’t read all your research yet to see if he is mentioned, but plan to ASAP. Where are you getting DNA testing done? I have done it on Ancestry.com but it only goes back about 4 generations.
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Yes, the Clogstons are included. I have not put much effort into that since it seems that the Clogstons have already put a lot of effort into tracing their ancestry, so there is not much I can add; the real purpose of the site is to attempt to join the branches together. But every Clugston, Clogston, Clogstoun, Clougston, and Cluxton is included on this site, for everyone born before 1910. Yeah, it’s completely insane.
My DNA testing is with familytreedna. It is a Y-DNA test which is male only, but gives deep relationships (300+ years ago). This is really the perfect application for it. It would be fantastic if a Clogston male could be persuaded to take a Y-DNA test, since the Clogstons are by far the largest branch and are very well documented. There are only about a dozen Clugston branches, so we don’t need many Y-DNA results to reconstruct the global tree.
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