A website of folklore and discovery.
Disclaimer: This section contains slightly more guesswork than the rest of the site. Corrections are welcome.
Families of Known Location:
Map locations: 1 - Peeblessshire, 2 - Carterhaugh
citing verse::
- warning is given of Tam Lin in Child 39AO I forbid you, maidens a',
That wear gowd on your hair,
To come or gae by Carterhaugh,
For young Tam Lin is there.
Family: From Loretta (Lynn) Layman, who runs the House of Lynn website:
Included among miscellaneous writs of the Montague-Douglas-Scott Family, Dukes of Buccleuch, are letters of reversion dated 1598/9 showing that Sir Walter Scott of Branxholm, knight, held “Carterhaugh, in lordship of Ettrick, sheriffdom of Selkirk”. Letters of reversion of course indicate that Scott had held Carterhaugh for some time prior. However, I have yet to locate an earlier record than the reversion. It is item #8 under reference #GD224/930/39 at the National Records of Scotland website
Carterhaugh lies between Branxholm and the town or village of Lyne - about 16 miles north of Branxholm and about 27 miles southeast of Lyne. Coincidentally, perhaps, Lyne was once part of a minor barony of the same name, which was held by the de Lyne family in the 12th and 13th centuries. While it went (by the marriage of a daughter) to Sir John de Hay in the mid 13th century, Lynes continued to live in nearby Peebles and Eddleston for several centuries. About a dozen sources reveal that this particular Lyne family in fact owned 4 properties: Lyne, Happrew, and Scroggs in Peeblesshire and Loquhariot a/k/a Lochwharret, Locherworth, etc. in Midlothian.
- “Caledonia: Or, an Historical and Topographical Account of North Britain, from the Most Ancient to the Present Times” (3 volumes)
- “Calendar of Writs Preserved at Yester House 1166-1625”
- “Liber S. Marie de Calchou. Registrum Cartarum. Abbacie Tironensis de Kelso. 1113-1567”
- “Liber Sancte Marie de Melros. Munimenta Vetustiora Monasterii Cisterciensis de Melros”
- “Origines Parochiales Scotiae. The Antiquities Ecclesiastical and Territorial of the Parishes of Scotland”, Vol. First
- “The Peerage of Scotland: A Complete View of the Several Orders of Nobility, of that Ancient Kingdom” by Kimber
- “Regesta Regum Scottorum Vol II : The Acts of William I King of Scots 1165-1214”
- “Registrum Sancte Marie de Neubotle, 1140-1528”
The Lyne family once held Lyne and other lands in Peeblesshire as well as Lynn and other properties in Ayrshire.
There are several other ballads with a main character named Tam Lin or Tamlane, and it is doubtful that they were all meant to refer to the same character. Tam O' The Linn is an old story about a bumbling man, and Burd Ellen and Tamlane which is also unrelated, uses it as a generic name. The male character also gives a variety of other names in different versions of the ballad.
The other entries on this page explore the lineage the male character gives to Janet later in the story, when identifying himself as a human.
Map locations: 2 - Roxburgh Castle
citing verse::
"Roxbrugh he was my grandfather,- Tam Lin speaks of his lineage, version 39A, similar verses in 39B and Oxford book of Ballads
Took me with him to bide
And ance it fell upon a day
That wae did me betide.
Family: From Loretta (Lynn) Layman, who runs the House of Lynn website:
As related in “A Topographical and Historical Account of the Town of Kelso” by James Haig, Edinburgh (1825), there was a Lord Roxburgh as early as 1614, when Parliament erected the town of Kelso into a burgh of barony in favor of Robert Lord Roxburgh ...
The charter makes reference to “Robert Lord Roxburgh, and his predecessouris”. For the date, see “The Scots Revised Reports: Morison’s Dictionary”, Edinburgh (1908)
Locations: There is a parish of Roxburgh near Kelso, in Roxburghshire, and a castle Roxburgh stands at this site.
Signifigance: In 1306 Roxburgh Castle was held by the English during the war with Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland. His sister, Mary, was placed in a cage and suspended from the walls of this castle as punishment. She remained in this cage for three years,until her death. In 1314 the castle was recaptured by the Scottish under the leadership of Sir James Douglas.
Website References: Douglas Library
Map locations: 3 - Dingwall
citing verse::
I have been at good church-door,- Tam Lin speaks of his lineage, version Child 39D
And aff her yetts within;
I was the Laird of Foulis's son,
The heir of all this land.
Family: (theory one)
The Laird of Foulis is the title given to the members of the Munro family holding lands near Dingwall, Scotland
Locations: The family is originally from Dingwall Scotland. Foulis Castle is located 1 1/2 miles from Evanton, Easter Ross.
Signifigance: The family is described as a Ross-Shire clan, originally vassals of the Earl of Ross.
Website References: Foulis Castle
Map locations: 4 - Broxmouth
citing verse:
I have been at good church-door,- Tam Lin speaks of his lineage, version 39D
And aff her yetts within;
I was the Laird of Foulis's son,
The heir of all this land.
Family:(theory two)
The lands of Fowlis passed in to the hands of the family Gray. This family lived near Broxmouth in Roxburghshire.
Location: Broxmouth is near Dunbar on a river called Brox burn.
Significance:: The first Lord Grey was laird of Foulis and Laird of Broxmouth. He was an ally of King James. His descendants married in with the Forbes and Murray families. During the battle of Dunbar, Cromwell is said to have taken refuge in Broxmouth house, owned by the Earl of Roxborough.
Map locations:: 5 - Ruins of Elcho Castle
citing verse::
'If Charteris ha be thy father's,- Tam Lin speaks, regarding Janet's Lineage, version 39E
I was ance as gude mysell;
But as I came in by Lady Kirk,
And in by Lady Well,
Family:: The Charteris family was founded after lands were granted to Thomas de Longueville by King Robert Bruce. The family later acquired the Earldom of March after marriage with the Douglas family (see Douglas, below)
Locations: Elcho castle, an early holding of the family, is near the river Tay, although this land passed out of the family hands some time ago.
Signifigance: Unknown
Website References: none
Map locations:: 6 - Castle Tolquhoun
citing verse::
O I hae been at gade church-door,- Tam Lin speaks, regarding his lineage, version 39G, similar verse in Greig-Duncan folksong index
An I've got Christendom;
I'm the Earl o' Forbes' eldest son,
An heir ower a' his land.
Family:: The Forbes family is an ancient one, the originally lands having been won (according to legend) as a prize in Abersdeenshire.
Locations: Castle Tolquhoun was built by an old branch of the family. There is supposedly also a Castle Forbes on the River Dee, but I have not discovered its location.
Signifigance: The Forbes were fierce opponents of King Edward of England, and the first Lord Forbes married a granddaughter of Robert II.
Website References: Castle Tolquhoun
Map locations:: 7 - Castle Douglas
citing verse::
- Tam Lin speaks, regarding his lineage, version 39J7.'I'll tell to you, fair lady,' he said,
What before I neer did tell;
I'm Earl Douglas's second son,
With the queen of the fairies I dwell.
Family:: The Douglas family was founded in the 12th century, after land grants made to Sir James Douglas, a lieutenant of King Robert.
Locations: The Douglas family castle, Castle Threave, is located near Kirkculdbright
Signifigance: Sir James Douglas was a leader in the rebellion of King Robert of Scotland against King Edward of England. he lead many assaults, and figures prominantly in the history of Scotland. At the time of Robert's death, James was comanded to take out Robert's heart and escort it to the holy land. he got only as far as Spain.
Website References: Castle Douglas
Map locations: 8 - Abercorn, Scotland
citing verse::
- Janet's lineage, version Child's NotesFair Janet, in her green cleiding,
Returned upon the morn,
And she met her father's as brother,
The laird of Abercorn
Family:: unknown
Locations: Abercorn is a small town near Queensferry
Signifigance: unknown
Website References: none
Map locations:: 9 - Castle Dunbar
citing verse:
- Tam Lin speaks, regarding Janet's lineage, version 39IRandolph, Earl Murray, was my sire,
Dunbar, Earl March, is thine;
We loved when we were children small
Which yet you well may mind,
Family:: The Dunbar family was founded by nobleman fleeing the invasion of William the Conqueror
Locations: The Castle Dunbar is in East Lothian
Signifigance: Patrick Dunbar, Earl of March(1285-1369), gave refuge to Edward II of England but later fought with King Robert Bruce against Edward III. He was married to "Black Agnes", daughter of Thomas Randolph, Earl Murray.
From Scott's Minstrelsy:
Both these mighty chiefs were connected with Ettrick Forest and its vicinity. Their memory, therefore, lived in the traditions of the country. Randolph, Earl of Murray, the renowned nephew of Robert Bruce, had a castle at Ha' Guards, in Annandale, and another in Peeblesshire, on the borders of the forest, the site of which is still called Randall's Walls. Patrick of Dunbar, Earl of March, is said by Henry the Minstrel to have retreated to Ettrick Forest after being defeated by Wallace.
Website References: ?
Map locations:: 10 - Strahdon
Randolph, Earl Murray, was my sire,- Tam Lin speaks, regarding his lineage, version 39I
Dunbar, Earl March, is thine;
We loved when we were children small
Which yet you well may mind,
Family:: The Murray or Moray family was created by King Robert of Scotland as a reward for the bravery of Thomas Randolp, 1st Earl of Murray.
Locations: One of the earliest references to Earl Murray described him as "a knight of Strahdon"
Significance: Thomas Randolph, Earl Murray (?-1332) was an early follower of Robert's revolt against Edward of England, but was captured in battle. When he was later freed by James Douglas (see douglas) he rejoined Robert and was made an Earl. He later served as Regent of Scotland at the time of David II.
From Scott's Minstrelsy:
Both these mighty chiefs were connected with Ettrick Forest and its vicinity. Their memory, therefore, lived in the traditions of the country. Randolph, Earl of Murray, the renowned nephew of Robert Bruce, had a castle at Ha' Guards, in Annandale, and another in Peeblesshire, on the borders of the forest, the site of which is still called Randall's Walls. Patrick of Dunbar, Earl of March, is said by Henry the Minstrel to have retreated to Ettrick Forest after being defeated by Wallace.
Website References: Douglas Library
Map locations:: ? - Crickmagh
citing verse::
- Tam Lin speaks, regarding his lineage, version Bronson"My name is young Lord Robinson, did you ever hear tell of me?
I was stolen by the Queen of Fairies when I was a young babié.
Tomorrow will be the first of May, we'll all go out to ride,
If you come down to Crickmagh, there we all will pass by.
Family:: unknown
Locations: unknown
Signifigance: unknown
Website References: none
Added to site August 2000. Graphics and text updated September 2014.
Information on Lyne family, Carterhaugh and Roxbugh records supplied by Loretta (Lynn) Leyman in March 2015