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Clan Bisset (Tartans, Crest) and The Story Behind

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Bisset

Clan Crest: Crest Description: The trunk of an oak tree sprouting afresh, Proper

Clan Motto: Abscissa Virescit (That torn down re-grows)

Region: Lowlands

Clan Chief: None, armigerous clan

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Clan Bisset History

Henricus Byset, who witnessed a charter granted by William the Lion before 1198, is the first record of this name in Scotland. His son, John Byset, witnessed a charter by Henry de Graham in 1204 and obtained a grant of lands in the north from the king.

In 1204, Thomas de Bessat witnessed a Paisley charter, and in 1224, William Bisseth witnessed Alexander II's confirmation of a yar super Leven.

In 1226, Walter Biset witnessed Alexander II's charter concerning the levying of tolls at the Cross of Shettlestone, and in 1232, Walter Byseth and William Byset witnessed Alexander II's charter to Gylandris MacLeod in Brechin.

Following a Tournament held in Haddington that year, the family's fortunes plummeted in 1242. The young Earl of Atholl defeated Walter Byset, Lord of Aboyne.

Walter exacted his vengeance by setting fire to the Earl's sleeping quarters. The bishop of Aberdeen exiled Walter and his nephew John Byset from the kingdom and excommunicated them.

When Walter Biset died in 1251, his manor of Ulvington was found seized.

The following year (1252), Alan, Earl of Atholl and son of Thomas, was pardoned for killing some of John Biset in Ireland - most likely a continuation of the blood feud.

In 1364, Walter Buset of Lessendrum presided over a court in Banff where the bishop of Moray obtained a verdict finding that three men, Robert, Nevin, and Donald, were natives and leige-men of the bishop, the church of Moray, and his property.

In 1395, Jacobus Besat was recorded as prior of St Andrews, and in 1486, Thomas Byssate had a tenement in Glasgow.

Many Bissets can still be found in Aberdeenshire and Moray. From the 13th century until 1981, the family's main residence was the Lessendrum estate in Aberdeenshire.

Clan Bisset Places & People

Bisset, Charles (1717-1791)

Charles Bisset was both a doctor and a military engineer. He studied medicine at Edinburgh University and worked as a surgeon in Admiral Vernon's fleet in 1740 at the Military Hospital in Jamaica. He returned to England in 1745 and became an Ensign in the 42nd Highlanders the following year. He was in charge of preparing a report on the progress of the siege of Bergen-op-Zoom, a town now in southern Holland that was attacked by the French during the Austrian Succession wars, a siege that ended with the massacre of the holding garrison.

Charles joined the Engineer Brigade as a 'Engineer Extraordinary' and later practiced medicine in Skelton, Yorkshire. He wrote several books on fortifications and medicine.

James Bisset (1762-1832)

James Bisset was born in Perth, the son of a merchant who had run into financial difficulties. He began his education at Perth Academy before moving to Birmingham at the age of 13 to join his older brother, who had greater success as a merchant. By the age of 15, he was an apprentice japanner (a technique of ornate painting on a black enamel base) and later a miniature painter. He was very successful, and he was able to advance in society by marrying the daughter of a local landowner.

Bisset's business expanded into medal making and art dealing, and he was able to establish Birmingham's first art gallery in a large house on New Street. Lord Nelson was one of the gallery's celebrity patrons. He was able to relocate to Leamington Spa after selling two valuable Canaletto paintings.

Bisset was a prominent figure in Birmingham's cultural and commercial life, as well as a member of the Birmingham Book Club and a poet. His most notable work is his 1800 Poetic survey round Birmingham... - a directory of Birmingham trades at the time of the town's revolutionary industrial expansion, written in heroic verse and intended as a "grand tour"

Clan Bisset Tartans

The Scottish Tartans Society created one of the first tartans, the Bisset tartan. It was intended for Mrs. E Bisset. They desired that the colors represent:

The Bisset shield is blue and white.

Yellow from the axe's woodchips

The color black represents the motto.

The 'eternal flame' is represented by the color red.

Green represents new growth.

Threadcount R/18 G36 K12 G12 K6 Y6 G12 A6 W/6

Tartan Bisset Bisset

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Because the Bisset tartan is a special weave that is not widely available, the Bisset clan, as a sept of these clans, can wear the following tartans:

Modern Fraser

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Grant Contemporary

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McDonald Contemporary

Clan Bisset Crest & Coats of Arms

Clan Bisset Coat of Arms

Worn by everyone with the same name and ancestry

Description of the Crest:

Crest Description: The sprouting trunk of an oak tree, Proper

Coat of Arms of the Clan Bisset

A word about Coats of Arms:

A coat of arms is granted to an individual under Scottish heraldic law (with the exception of civic or corporate arms). A 'family coat of arms' does not exist. With the exceptions noted above, the arms depicted below are personal arms. Only the person who has been granted these weapons has the right to use them.