Clan Nesbitt

The surname Nesbitt is derived from the barony and lands near Edrom in Berwickshire.[2] The lands are likely to have been named after a geographical feature such as a nose-shaped hill or nose-shaped bend.[2] In clan circles the name is best known through the work of Alexander Nisbet (1657–1725), who was one of the greatest authorities on Scottish heraldry.[2] Alexander Nisbet established his connection to the chiefly line of the clan and he is regarded as authoritative on the pedigree of his own family.[2] He stated that the lands of Nesbit were of ancient denomination for, in the reign of King Edgar, son of Malcolm Canmore, in whose reign surnames came first to be hereditary, they were donated to the monks of Dunfermline to pray for the soul of his father, and for the health of his own.[2]

The historian George Fraser Black listed William de Nesbite as a witness to a charter by Patrick, Earl of Dunbar to Coldingham Priory in about 1160.[2] From 1219 to 1240 Thomas Nisbet was Prior of Coldingham.[2]

In 1296 Philip de Nesbit appears on the Ragman Rolls submitting to Edward I of England.[2] Also appearing on the rolls are James, John and Adam Nisbet.[2] It is likely that Adam was the Nisbet of that Ilk who received a charter from Robert the Bruce for the land of Knocklies with the feudal obligation of providing one knight for the king's army.[2] Adam or possibly his son of the same name continued in royal favour, distinguishing himself in defending the Scottish Borders in the service of David II of Scotland.[2]

Adam was succeeded by Philip Nisbet, who appears in important charters of the Earls of Dunbar.[2] Philip was succeeded by his son Adam.[2] Adam's great-grandson was another Philip Nisbet who married a daughter of Haldane of Gleneagles and their heir was Alexander Nesbit.[2]

Alexander Nesbit was a royalist who was devoted to Charles I of England.[2] Nesbit was appointed sheriff of Berwickshire, however when the king's policies led to military confrontation with his Scottish and English subjects, Nesbit and his sons joined the king's standard at Oxford.[2] Nesbit's eldest son, Philip, was abroad when the civil war broke out but when he returned he was knighted and given command of a regiment.[2] Philip Nesbit was lieutenant governor of Newark-on-Trent during the Siege of Newark that was carried out by General David Leslie, Lord Newark.[2] When Nesbit left Newark he became an officer for James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose.[2] Montrose was surprised by a strong force of Covenanter cavalry at the Battle of Philiphaugh where Philip Nesbit was captured.[2] He was then executed at Glasgow on 28 October 1646.[2] Two of Philip's brothers, Alexander and Robert, were also killed during the Scottish Civil War.[2] The youngest brother, Adam, survived and he was the father of the heraldic writer, Alexander Nisbet.[2]

Nisbet memorial

Alexander Nisbet initially trained as a lawyer but soon acquired a passion for history and heraldry.[2] In 1702 he published his first work, an essay on cadency.[2] His great work was System of Heraldry which was published in 1722 with more editions following in 1742, 1804 and 1816.[2] Nisbet died in 1725.[2]