CLSNA' LamontCentral Forum

While it is maintained (see "The History of the Clan Lamont, 1934"), that this branch of the Lamont are direct decedents of the McPhadrick Lamonts of Coustoun, Argyllshire, specific genealogical reference is absent. Lamont of Coustoun, the McPhadrick Lamonts of Coustoun were located on the western shore of Loch Striven, just about directly across the loch from the lands of Knockdow. In the old days, their geographic position isolated them, except for travel by sea. Even today, there are no major roads to the Coustoun lands. "The first record of the Lamonts of Coustoun, was a charter witnessed by Patrick Ladman of Calstane, in 1498. Shortly after this, the name McPhadrick is found in land titles. Papers from 1541 show the McPhadricks to be part of Clan Lamont, and subject to the chief. In 1646, seven McPhadrics were murdered at Dunoon by the Campbells, including four sons of Baron McPhadrick, gentlemen of Coustoun. The last Baron McPhadrick, Cornelius, sold the estates to John of Kilfinan, a natural son of the chief, Archibald Lamont. And so ended the history of the least known of the Cadets families. The McPHADRICK LAMONTS held a strip of country between Ardbeg and Invernellbeg at Strone with CAMPBELLS and MacLACHLANS breathing down their necks. Four sons of BARON McPHADRICK OF COUSTON, with another of their family, met their deaths on the hanging tree at Dunoon. The last of the family moved to Newcastle in the 17th century." ( Capitalization my own.)  According to Hector McKechnie in his tomb, "The Lamont Clan 1235 - 1935", "........the McPhadricks were: But the style of Baron which attached to its owner, as to Monydrain and Knockdow certainly suggests a former independent holding of the Crown. This was probably inaugurated by some Patrick Lamont as the patronymic which was adopted was "McPhadrick" (though it 'was little to the fore till the 17th century)." Doubtless the families of this surname, who are later found on the east side of the loch about Ardyne and Inverchaolain, are of the sept from those common men who perished by the sword, dirk, or strangulation.  Some direct descendants of the gentlemen of MacPhadrick did survive the gruesome wrath of the Campbell's. MaKenchnie identified several, one being my great grandfather, the Clyde shipbuilder, Henry Lamont of Gripton and Greenlaw.  However, as is his style, MacKechnie fails to draw a direct line.  Instead he refers to a clerical letter sent to my 2nd, great grandfather , one W'm Lamont of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire asserting the connection was correct. MacKechnie leaves it there.

Quotes indicate material taken directly from MaKenchnie's book.