Arms Intro
THE BARONY OF
Lag

Dumfriesshire | 1526

Lag is about seven miles west of Dumfries. It first appears in the early 15th century as property of the Griersons, who at this time were accumulating substantial land in Dumfriesshire and Kirkcudbrightshire. They built Lag Tower, which was converted into a tower house during the 16th century but today lies in ruins.

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History 1
In 1412 Gilbert Grierson of Lag married Isobel,
a daughter and co-heiress of Sir Duncan Kirkpatrick of Torthorwald

Who brought with her the lands of Rocail (now Rockhall) to the east of Dumfries. A house at Rockhall is believed to have been developed as the Grierson family home in the late 16th century and still stands today.

History 2
The Grierson family were prominent in the southwest of Scotland
during the later medieval period.

Roger Grierson of Lag had been sheriff of Dumfries and died from wounds received when fighting against King James III at the Battle of Sauchieburn in 1488. In September 1513 a Scottish army was heavily defeated by the English at the Battle of Flodden. The Scottish king was killed along with the flower of the Scots nobility, including Griersons of Lag.

History 3
In 1526 King James V confirmed John Grierson of Lag in the lands of Lag, Rockhall and others which were erected into
the free Barony of Lag.

King James VI knighted William Grierson of Lag in 1608, and he went on to serve as Commissioner to Parliament for Dumfriesshire and Sheriff of Dumfries. Subsequent Grierson Barons of Lag were MPs throughout the century. In 1685, Sir Robert Grierson of Lag was created a Baronet by King James VII.

History 4
During the 1680’s Sir Robert, as Steward of Kirkcudbright, was a leading opponent and persecutor of the Covenanters in southwest Scotland, carrying out the king’s orders.
In 1685 he killed several people at an illegal conventicle

and presided at the trial and execution of two female Covenanters who are now known as the Wigtown Martyrs. The evil deeds of ‘Cruel Lag’ have attracted many myths. One is that the tower house at Rockhall is haunted by his pet whistle-blowing monkey, who was supposedly killed by his servants after his death. It has also been said that Lag was in league with the devil himself, and that when he died his soul was taken to hell by a spectral horse and carriage. Walter Scott’s character Sir Robert Redgauntlet is allegedly based on him.

History 5
Sir Robert was succeeded by his son Sir William
Who served as MP for Dumfries until 1711 and as Commissioner of

Supply in 1704. Like his father he too supported the House of Stuart and participated in the Jacobite Rising of 1715. He was eventually pardoned in 1724 before succeeding to the lands and titles. His descendants include Elizabeth Grierson, widow of James Crichton, who founded the Crichton Royal Hospital for the old and insane; Sir Alexander William Grierson of Lag, an officer in the 78th Regiment of Foot; and Sir Alexander Davidson Grierson, an officer in the 3rd Battalion of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers and a Justice of the Peace for Dumfriesshire. The Griersons continued to hold the Barony of Lag into the 20th century.

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Arms Intro
History 1
History 2
History 3
History 4
History 5
Arms Intro
Forum for the Scottish Baronage monogram
THE BARONY OF
Lag

Dumfriesshire | 1526

Lag is about seven miles west of Dumfries. It first appears in the early 15th century as property of the Griersons, who at this time were accumulating substantial land in Dumfriesshire and Kirkcudbrightshire. They built Lag Tower, which was converted into a tower house during the 16th century but today lies in ruins.

Click icons to learn more
History 1
In 1412 Gilbert Grierson of Lag married Isobel,
a daughter and co-heiress of Sir Duncan Kirkpatrick of Torthorwald

Who brought with her the lands of Rocail (now Rockhall) to the east of Dumfries. A house at Rockhall is believed to have been developed as the Grierson family home in the late 16th century and still stands today.

History 2
The Grierson family were prominent in the southwest of Scotland
during the later medieval period.

Roger Grierson of Lag had been sheriff of Dumfries and died from wounds received when fighting against King James III at the Battle of Sauchieburn in 1488. In September 1513 a Scottish army was heavily defeated by the English at the Battle of Flodden. The Scottish king was killed along with the flower of the Scots nobility, including Griersons of Lag.

History 3
In 1526 King James V confirmed John Grierson of Lag in the lands of Lag, Rockhall and others which were erected into
the free Barony of Lag.

King James VI knighted William Grierson of Lag in 1608, and he went on to serve as Commissioner to Parliament for Dumfriesshire and Sheriff of Dumfries. Subsequent Grierson Barons of Lag were MPs throughout the century. In 1685, Sir Robert Grierson of Lag was created a Baronet by King James VII.

History 4
During the 1680’s Sir Robert, as Steward of Kirkcudbright, was a leading opponent and persecutor of the Covenanters in southwest Scotland, carrying out the king’s orders.
In 1685 he killed several people at an illegal conventicle

and presided at the trial and execution of two female Covenanters who are now known as the Wigtown Martyrs. The evil deeds of ‘Cruel Lag’ have attracted many myths. One is that the tower house at Rockhall is haunted by his pet whistle-blowing monkey, who was supposedly killed by his servants after his death. It has also been said that Lag was in league with the devil himself, and that when he died his soul was taken to hell by a spectral horse and carriage. Walter Scott’s character Sir Robert Redgauntlet is allegedly based on him.

History 5
Sir Robert was succeeded by his son Sir William
Who served as MP for Dumfries until 1711 and as Commissioner of

Supply in 1704. Like his father he too supported the House of Stuart and participated in the Jacobite Rising of 1715. He was eventually pardoned in 1724 before succeeding to the lands and titles. His descendants include Elizabeth Grierson, widow of James Crichton, who founded the Crichton Royal Hospital for the old and insane; Sir Alexander William Grierson of Lag, an officer in the 78th Regiment of Foot; and Sir Alexander Davidson Grierson, an officer in the 3rd Battalion of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers and a Justice of the Peace for Dumfriesshire. The Griersons continued to hold the Barony of Lag into the 20th century.

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Arms Intro
History 1
History 2
History 3
History 4
History 5
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