Clan Kennedy
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The Kennedy name in Ayrshire
seems to have evolved from the
family of Fergus, Lord of Galloway
(south of Scotland). The Lords of
Galloway were known formerly as de
Carrick, with a lesser name being
Kennedy (MacKenedi). Fergus could
have had family links to Brian
Boru, King of Ireland (the king
that overthrew the Vikings at the
Battle of Clontarf, Near Dublin, in
1014).
A descendant of Fergus was
Duncan de Carrick, who became Earl
of Carrick (a district of southwest
Scotland south of Ayr). The Earldom
of Carrick passed to the Bruce's
when Robert Bruce (father of Robert
the Bruce) married the widow
Marjorie, Countess of Carrick, in
1271. Her husband, Rolan de Carrick
(Kennedy) was killed in the Holy
War against the Saracens.
About the time Duncan de Carrick
gained control of the land of South
Ayrshire, one of the de Carrick's
seem to have began using the name
Kennedy so he could become head of
that name in the area. The very
earliest mention of the name being
used in Ayrshire is that of Gilbert
MacKenedi who witnessed a charter
of the Doon Fishings in William the
Lion's reign (1165-1214).
The title Earl of Carrick seemed
to have disappeared after Robert
the Bruce became king of Scotland.
It seems to have been replaced by
the title Earl of Cassillis some
centuries later, Cassillis being
the the main seat of the Kennedy's
at that time.
This began a fierce rivalry in
the late 1500s between the
Kennedy's of Cassillis and the
monks of Crossraguel Abbey as the
Cassillis Kennedy's set about
obtaining land gifted to the monks
by Duncan de Carrick in the early
1200s.
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John Kennedy was one of the first
Kennedy's on record in Ayrshire, being
the owner of Dunure Castle built in the
late 1200s. Dunure Castle, 6 miles south
of Ayr on the coast, was the
Kennedy’s first seat. John Kennedy
acquired lands at Cassillis (5 miles
southeast of Ayr) in the 1350s.
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The earliest parts of Cassillis House
were built around that time. Cassillis
then became the main seat of the
Kennedy's. John Kennedy's son, Sir
Gilbert, was one of the hostages
exchanged for the release of King David
II by the English in 1357.
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Gilbert’s son James married
Princess Mary, second daughter of King
Robert III. Their son, another Gilbert,
was created Lord Kennedy in about
1457.
Hugh Kennedy of Ardstinchar served as
commander of the Scots mercenary troops
who fought for Joan of Arc at the siege
of Orleans. The arms of the
Kennedy’s of Bargany have since
contained reference to Joan of Arc.
Sir David, 3rd Lord Kennedy, was
created Earl of Cassillis in 1509. He
died at Flodden in 1513 along side the
Scottish King James IV (Stuart).
The 2nd Earl was murdered in 1527.
The 3rd Earl, Gilbert, was one of four
Scottish commissioners poisoned at Dieppe
on their return from the marriage of Mary
Queen of Scots to the Dauphin in
1558.
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Late 1500s, The 4th Earl earned an
infamous reputation by roasting Alan
Stewart, Commendater of Crossraguel
Abbey, in the black vault of Dunure
Castle in order to obtain abbey land.
That act led to a feud between the
Cassillis and Bargany Kennedy's as the
young, hot headed Bargany, was the
brother in law of Alan Stewart. The
feuding escalated until the slaying of
Bargany by one of the Cassillis Kennedy's
men. Bargany's friend and relation, John
Mure, then murdered Sir Thomas Kennedy of
Culzean (uncle of the Earl of Cassillis).
John Mure and his son were later found
guilty of that murder and beheaded in
1611, this ending the Kennedy feuds.
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In the late 1500s, the Kennedy’s
built Baltersan Tower above within one
mile of Crossraguel Abbey along with
Maybole Castle left to serve as their
town house.
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1603, Greenan Castle south of Ayr was
built for John Kennedy of Baltersan.
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The 6th Earl of Cassillis, John, was
Lord Justice General of Scotland from
1649 to 1651. He supported the
Parliamentarians during the Civil
War.
When the 8th Earl died without heirs,
there was a three-year court dispute to
determine his successor. The House of
Lords finally found in favour of Sir
Thomas Kennedy of Culzean.
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The 10th Earl, David Kennedy, an
advocate, commissioned the architect
Robert Adam to extend the original tower
house at Culzean into what is now
considered by many as Adam’s finest
work. That work was carried out between
1777 and 1792.
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Adam also designed a Castle for Thomas
Kennedy of Dalquharran (15 miles
southeast of Ayr) in the 1780s. Thomas
Kennedy was Adam's brother in law.
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The castle at Dalquharran was built to
replace the existing castle at
Dalquharran built in the 1400s.
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On the death of the 10th Earl, the
title passed to Captain Archibald Kennedy
who had settled in America. He was an
officer in the Royal Navy who held
estates in Hoboken/New Jersey and became
the greatest property owner in New York.
His neutrality during the American War of
Independence led to him being mistrusted
by both sides. Half of his New York
properties were confiscated as a result,
including number 1 Broadway that became
the property of George Washington.
The 12th Earl was a close friend of
the Duke of Clarence, who, on his
coronation as William IV, created him
Marques of Ailsa.
The Kennedy’s handed Culzean
over to the National Trust for Scotland
in 1945. They then stayed in the west
wing of the castle for a few years before
moving to Cassillis House. The present
day Earl, Charles Kennedy, (19th Earl of
Cassillis) continues to use Cassillis
House as the family home.
Maybole Castle has been used recently
as a community council training centre.
It is now also open to the public for
viewing.
Dunure Castle is a ruin that attracts
many visitors. There is a car park and
kids play area next to the castle.
Baltersan Castle is expected to be
restored in time.
The ruin of Greenan Castle situated at
the south side of Ayr beach attracts many
visitors. There is a large car park close
to the castle.
Dalquharran Castle is currently being
restored to serve as a five star hotel
overlooking a championship standard golf
course; Old Dalquharran Castle will be
incorporated in the golf course.
Bargany Castles are now almost
unrecognizable as buildings as there is
so little of them left. Bargany Mansion
and scenic estate are now owned by the
Dalrymple Hamilton's, thought to be
descendants of the Kennedy's.
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