Dunbar

The Dunbar family descend from Gospatrick, grandson of Crinan the Thane and Seneschal of the Isles and nephew to King Duncan I who became Earl of Northumberland after his father. In 1072 this title was deprived of him by William the Conqueror and he fled to Scotland, where he was granted the lands and earldom of Dunbar by Malcolm III thus becoming Earl of Dunbar. Patrick, the 8th Earl of Dunbar was also called Earl of March. He was one of the competitors for the crown of Scotland but withdrew his claim and swore allegiance to Edward I, his son also swore fealty to Edward II, however he later signed the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320 for Scottish independence. He had married the daughter of Bruce's friend Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray, the famous "Black Agnes". It was she who successfully defended the Castle of Dunbar in 1338 against the English troops. The Earldom of Moray devolved on herself and her sister, ultimately the estates of Moray and Dunbar passed to Isobel's children, also Dunbars. The Earldom of March and Dunbar devolved onto George and his brother John became Earl of Moray. The Earldom of Dunbar was forfeited in 1435 by James I who regarded it as a powerful threat so the title came to an end. John, Earl of Moray had married Marjorie, daughter of King Robert II and had two sons, Thomas who married the heiress of Frendraught and James who became 4th Earl and was the last of the male line. When he was murdered in 1429 the earldom passed down through his daughters and the son, Sir Alexander of Westfield from his second marriage became the 1st Baron of Mochrum in 1694, ancestor to the hereditary Sheriffs of Moray. The Dunbars prospered in Moray despite their feud with the Innes and many other cadet branches were founded; the Baronets of Durn, of Northfield and of Hempriggs in Caithness. Gavin Dunbar of the Mochrum family was appointed Archbishop of Glasgow and Lord Chancellor of Scotland in the reign of James V, while his exact namesake of the Westfield family was Bishop of Aberdeen and uncle to another Gavin Dunbar, tutor of the young James V. Sir Jean Ivor Dunbar was the 13th Baronet of Mochrum and hereditary Chief of the Clan Dunbar, and after his death in 1993, the title passed to his son, and now Sir James Michael Dunbar, 14th Baronet of Mochrum, is the new Chief of the Clan. He is also a full Colonel in the U.S.

Some additional information provided by Dick Schoenling: The 15th century is both the zenith and downfall of the Earl of Dunbar. Patrick, 9th Earl of Dunbar and March, married Agnes Randolph, daughter of the Earl of Moray. When her brother and father were killed in battle, she inherited Moray and made Patrick the Earl of Dunbar, March, and Moray on th 17th of October 1346. Patrick and Agnes had no children so the title passed to her sister, Isabella, who was married to Patrick's cousin, Patrick of Wester Spott. Their first son George became the 10th Earl of Dunbar and March, while their third son John Dunbar became the 5th Earl of Moray. John passed his title to his son Thomas Dunbar, the 6th Earl of Moray, who passed it to his son Thomas Dunbar the 7th Earl of Moray who passed it to James Dunbar the 8th Earl of Moray. James married Isabella Innes, his cousin. She died before a Papal dispensation could be granted for the marriage, and the title (Earl of Moray) passed to its current holder. Their son Alexander Dunbar became the 1st Baron of Westfield, held today by Sir Archibald Dunbar of Westfield. George the 10th Earl of Dunbar and March passed his title to his son, George, the 11th Earl of Dunbar and March. A jealous King James I, worried about the possible threat of the richest man in his Kindom, dispossessed George the 11th Earl, and stole his title and lands. George's son Patrick became the first Baron of Mochrum, the title Sir James Michael Dunbar holds today as the Baronet of Mochrum.