Religion played an integral part in Scottish life for hundreedds of years, from offering solice and support to the faithful, to giving blessings to the warriors on the battlefield, the church was seen as central to the community itself. It offered both a living and professional respect to those who went into the church and as such it was not unusual for it to be a route chosen in the middle ages by a lesser son, who would not be due any real legacy from the family.
Our family itself has always been involved in the church in some shape or form throughout time. Records reflect that in 1296 Simon de Carruthers, Parson of Middlebie swore fealty to Edward I of England. This was not unusual in those days as on the borders fealty to the crowns of either Scotland or England, changed with hour and week. Family loyalty took precedence over anything else. However, it did have serious consequences as Thomas 1st of Mouswald lost all his lands and titles when he bent the knee and accepted office in 1334 under Edward III of England. It is suggested he may have had very little choice but his brother William replaced him as 2nd of Mouswald.
In and around the same time as the Battle of Durham in 1346, when Sir Nigel Carruthers, youngets brother to Thomas 1st of Mouswald and Chamberlain to the Regent fell, a Nigel Carruthers is recorded as Canon of Glasgow.
A seperate Nigel Carruthers, another Carruthers churchman who in 1419 accompanied the Abbot of Paisley, Thomas Mowre as his Chaplain. The Abbot and his entourage were granted ‘safe passage’ through France and England and elsewhere.
Again in 1436, according to the Exchequers Rolls, Sir Laurence Carruthers, knight and chaplain to John Gray of Bruges, was involved in some secret service for the Scottish Crown. It is considered Sir Laurence was a member of the House of Mouswald.
In 1469, John of Mouswald, Vicar of Kilmaurs was noted as a witness to a deed registered in the Cartulary of Paisley (Cartulary – a collection of Charters and deeds).
It has be assumed that if arms were ever used by any of these individuals they would have been those of Mouswald.
However, on the death of Sir Simon Carruthers 10th of Mouswald in 1548, and the loss of his lands to the Douglasses of Drumlanrig, these arms along with the Mouswald titles became extinct.
As of 1548 and most certainly after the Lyons Act of 1672, the Arms of Holmains became dominant and it is from these that all subsequent Carruthers Arms are taken.
Our research has only uncovered three ecclesiastical arms since that date used by Carruthers churchmen, all three were entitled to replace their helm, mantle, torse and crest and with a black ecclesiastical hat and tassels as is portrayed below, however only two chose to.
Of the three, two are registered with the Lord Lyon in Scotland, and one with the Roman Catholic Church in their archives.
All three are represented below as Ecclesiastical Arms:
To the left are the Arms of the Bishop Andrew Carruthers, which are now historical and no longer in use. Note than in order to difference the arms twice, the engrailed chevrons of the chiefly arms of Holmains are now chevronelles with those being used by the Bishop, engrailed on the lower edge.
In the centre, the arms of the Rev William Mitchell Carruthers, Rector of Holbrook in Ipswich, England are shown and are still used by his family, Bruce and Cecilia, the latter being the Clan Commissioner for Europe. Interestingly, their grandmother was Sybil Sholto Douglas, granddaughter to the 9th Marquess of Queensberry who is known for the involvement in the formation of the pugilistic Queensberry Rules for boxing.
To the right are the arms of the Rev Arthur Stanley Carruthers, the co-author of the family tome ‘Records of the Carruthers Family’, which wrote with the renowned historian and researcher R C Reid. These arms, without the hat a tassels, now belong to Mr Iain Arthur Stewart Carruthers, grandson of the original recipient.
