The Lie in the 1957 MacLaren Petition to the Lyon Court for Chiefship of Clan MacLaren

Map published in Highland Settlement in Western Perthshire a Thesis

The 1957 MacLaren Petition to the Lyon Court contains a lie, pure and simple. An intentional lie that mislead the court and resulted in a family member of an obscure family of McLarens from Achtoo and later London, to become chief of the surname MacLaren. The Petition was written and submitted by an officer of the Court, Iain Moncrieffe with Donald Maclaren and Margaret Maclaren assisting. Below within quotation marks is the salutation and item 1. from the MacLaren Petition.

"UNTO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD LYON KING OF ARMS.

The Petition of Major

DONALD MacLAREN of MacLAREN AND ACHLESKINE in the Earldom of Strathearn and County of Perth, CHIEF OF THE NAME OF MacLAREN, as Heir Male and Representative of the ancient House of Achleskine, HEAD OF THE CLAN LABHRAN.

Humbly Sheweth:

1. THAT the Petitioner, as hereinafter shewn, is the heir male and representative of the ancient House of Achleskine, Chiefs of the Name of MacLaren and hereditary Heads of the Clan Labhran; AND THAT the said Clan Labhran throughout its history has been centred on Achtoo within Achleskine in Balquhidder, in the ancient earldom of Strathearn."

Before we get to the lie, the Earldom of Strathearn fell during the time of Malise V in the 1350s. A stretch to the pedigree of peerage, since the first recorded McLaren in Balquhidder was Malcum Maklawryn at Invernenty in 1512, one-hundred-fifty years later. The first recorded Auchleskine McLaren was Finlay Makneill V'Laurent in Auchaliskin, a witness in a 1586 bond.

“Achtoo within Auchleskine in Balquhidder” is the lie, repeated frequently in the petition. Achtoo is not within Auchleskine in Balquhidder, never has been. In all of the ancient land deeds from 1511 to today, they are listed as seperate properties. Why would they write that “Achtoo within Auchleskine in Balquhidder” in the Petition and also in Margaret’s book ‘The MacLarens A History of Clan Labhran’ when you can see from the map that the three Achtoos are not within Auchleskine.

The reason is, the 'House of Auchleskine' was the clan MacLaren chiefs duchthus, according to Patrick Stewart (ex of Ledcreich, Balquhidder) living in Cheraw, South Carolina in 1763. Patrick’s assertion is the single primary source for the claim that the clan McLaren chief’s ‘duchthus’ was Auchleskine.

Unfortunately for the wanna be clan chief, Donald’s tenant ploughman McLaren ancestors lived at Achtoo, so they created the lie that Achtoo was within Auchleskine. The Achtoos later became part of the Edinchip estate, when the chiefs of clan Gregor owned it, and Donald McLaren's ancestors were their tenant ploughman on the estate.

Here are contemporaneous primary examples of Achtoo, never being considered as within Auchleskine, but as an adjacent property.

In 1511 King James IV grants the lands westward from the Edinchip estate that include Auchleskine, Tulloch, Lednascridan, Kirkton, the three Auctoos, Cuill and Drumness, all of them clearly defined none a part of the other, to Ross of Craigie. JRMS ii no 3668

That pattern continues for two more centuries. In 1541 Auahleskin, Kirktoun de Balquhidthir, Lauchinskreden, cum earundem molendinof, Tulloch, cum tribus Auchintowis, Cowill, Coltuchchir [FDY]1541 {RMS iii no 2448). In 1558 Auchlesken, Kirktoun de Balquhidder, Lauchinskreden, Tulloch, cum tribus Auchintowis, Cowill 1558 {RMS iv no 1331)

In 1558 John Ross of Craigie sold Auchleskine, the Kirkton of Balquhidder, Lednascriden with the mill, the three Achtows, Tulloch, and Cuilt to David Lord Drummond and his spouse Dame Lilias Ruthven. The lands were forfeited to the Crown by the Jacobite Drummonds in 1746.

So, as you can plainly see, Achtoo was never considered within Auchleskine. The MacLaren couple and their accomplice, repeat the lie throughout the Petition shown below. And is the sole justification for receiving chiefly ensigns from the Lyon Court. Nevermind that around 1711 their genealogical link to Auchleskine skips three generations. Since when can you skip generations in a legal document?

 

"Representative of the Clan from the Principal Branch"

Anybody who was anybody was a peer in 19th century Britain. You could become a peer by matriculating Armorial Ensigns in the lowest court in the land, The Court of the Lord Lyon. Daniel McLaurin (who changed his spelling from McLaren) from a solicitor in London, too Head of the Principal branch, the House of Auchleskine of the imaginary clan McLaren in Balquhidder.

 

Daniel MacLaurin of Auchleskine

Daniel and I are a lot alike, we both looked unsuccessfully, for the ancient history of Clan MacLaren. Daniel relates how he found the ancient Clan MacLaurin history, he had been looking for in vain for over forty years, in an 1845 coffee table book, McIan’s Costumes of the Clans, 1845. But, forgets that he was a Subscriber to the book, that financed the publication? A 19th Century Who's Who of Scottish Clans with color illustrations of fabricated tartans, if you will.

 

Did I tell you, in 1831, D. McLaurin Esq. was a Subscriber to The Scottish Gael written by James Logan, that has no mention of a Clan McLaren. In 1836, McLaurin, Daniel, Esq,. is a Subscriber to History of the Highlands and Isles Scotland, by Donald Gregory, that has no mention of a Clan McLaren. In 1845, Mac Laurin, Daniel, Esq,. was a Subscriber to McIan’s Costumes of the Clans of Scotland . That miraculously contains the Clan Laurin history that Daniel had been unable to find for forty years.

Daniel Mclaren, Solicitor in London, who changed his surname to MacLaurin and become ‘of Auchleskine’, one of the hand full of tacks or fermtouns associated with Mclarens in Balquhidder. In 1866 Daniel matriculates fron the Lyon Court, Armorial Ensigns and self publishes A History in Memorium of Clan Laurin with primary events coming straight from Scotland’s favorite novelist Sir Walter Scott. addenda by James Logan, an abridged version of Logans article itn McIan’s Costumes.

 

Daniel Maclaurin Matriculation 1866

Extract of the Lord Lyon's Letters Patent in favour of Daniel Maclauren Esquire dated the 23^rd day of April 1866

Wheras Daniel Maclaurin of Acacia Road, of St. John's Wood in the County of Middler sec? Esquire hath by Petition of date the fourteenth day of April current Represented unto Me that he is the only surviving son of the late John Maclaurin portioner of Leachinscridan Bulguhidder in the County of Perth and Janet his wife daughter of Hugh MacGrigor of Auchtowmore and that the said John Maclaurin was son of Duncan and grandson of Donald Maclaurin of Auchleskine, and hath Prayed that I would Grant My License and Authority to him and his descendants, and to the other descendants as his said grandfather Duncan Maclaurin to bear and use such Amorial Ensigns as might be found suitable and according to the Laws of Arms. Know ye therefore that I have devised, and do by these present's Asign Ratify and Confirm to the said Daniel Maclaurin Esquire and to his descendants and to the other descendants of his said grandfather Duncan Maclaurin with such congruent differences as may hereafter be matriculated for them, the following Ensigns Armorial, as depicted upon the margin hereof and Matriculated of even date with these presents in My Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland; veg? Or, two Chevronels Gules in base a Lymphad Sable Sails furled Flags flying and oars in action all within a Bordure nebuly of the second Above the Shield is placed a Helmet befiting his degree, with a Mantling Gules doubled Argent, and on a Wreath oof his his Liveries is set for Crest a Lions head erased proper surmounted by an Antique Crown Or between two Branches of Laurel issuing from the Wreath also proper and in an Escrol over the same thise Motto “Dalriada” and in an Escrol below the Shield this Motto "Aborigene fidus.” Matriculated the twenty third day of April 1866. James Lorimer ? Lyon Clerk

In his book, Daniel basically anoints himself “Representative of the Clan” that James Logan created in 1845, after the matriculation of Armorial Ensigns that practically any Scot could achieve. In his book A History in Memorium of Clan Laurin Daniel McLaurin states in the Introduction that

“Auchleskine, or principal branch of the “Clan Laurin,” claiming the Title of Representative of the Clan”

 That is not what the Matriculation said at all, Daniel made it all up!

Flash forward to 1957, when Donald MacLaren achieves chiefly Arms, MacLaren of MacLaren (chief of the surname) and “of Auchleskine”, because it is the “Principal Branch” based on Daniel’s claim. The 1957 MacLaren Petition to the Lyon Court, refers to the “House of Auchleskine.”

Logan manufactured the Clan MacLaren heraldry to support his Strathearn origin narrative. And the anonymous MacGregor Peter corroborated Logan, in The London Journal. Notice that Margaret MacLaren in her book The MacLarens, describes the Arms as UNRECORDED.

All you gotta do is write a book with a glossy cover to become a clan chief.

MacGregor Peter 1854

“ The London Journal,” 14th October, 1854, writing under the pseudonym of

" M'Gregor Peter,” gives an unrecorded version of MacLaren Arms as : “ Or, two chevrons ; in base, a lymphad, sails furled, oars in action. Sable : On a chief gules, a lion passant, argent. Crest : A lion’s head erased, crowned with an antique coronet {with four points), between two laurel branches;orlewise, proper.

Mottoes: Above “ Dalriada.” Under the Arms: “ Aborigine fidus ” (true from the beginning). Supporters : Two mermaids, the dexter holding a comb, the sinister a mirror, in the exterior hand proper.” The MacLarens by Margaret MacLaren, 1960

Here is the COA's of Donald MacLaren of MacLaren and Auchleskine, newly created from James Logan's 1845 Clan Laurin history description, in 1957.

 

 

Donald MacLaren Matriculation 1957 

 Copyright Hilton McLaurin, Oct 30, 2025