Are the Watsons a Scottish Clan?
Simple answer… Yes.
Although, let’s clarify that there is no evidence to support Watsons ever being part of the feudal highland clan system or what some traditionalists may claim to be a “proper” clan.
Watsons, have for a long time been considered simply a sept of the Buchanan or Forbes clans. Whilst this was true in some geographic areas such as Dumbartonshire and Stirlingshire, or in the case of the Forbes clan, Aberdeenshire - we are infact recognised by the Court of the Lord Lyon as being a clan in our own right, albeit an armigerous clan. This means we once had a Clan Chief, however no current Chief as recognised by Lord Lyon.
The Court of the Lord Lyon is based in New Register House in Edinburgh and is a standing court of law. It regulates heraldry in Scotland maintaining the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland, as well as records of genealogies. So basically when it comes to this sort of thing in Scotland… what they say goes.
According to the records of the Court of the Lord Lyon King of Arms:-
“James Watson of Saughton in the County of Edinburgh Esquire, Chief of the Name in Scotland, Eldest Son and Heir of Charles Watson of Saughton deceased of Lady Carnegie daughter of George Earl of Northesk which Charles Watson as only surviving son and Heir of James Watson of Saughton deceased by Lady Helen Hope daughter of Charles Earl of Hopetown, which James Watson was descended in the direct male line from Richard Watson of Saughton Proprietor of those Lands A.D. 1537 – Bears Argent an Oak tree proper surmounted of a Fess azure; Crest Two hands holding the trunk of one Oak Tree sprouting out fresh branches the hands issuing out of Clouds all proper, Motto Insperata Floruit Supporters Two Griffins proper, each Gorged with a Ducal Coronet Or - Matriculated 3 June 1818”
According to A.S. Cowper in 1984, in the work “Watsons of Saughton - Tombstone in the South Aisle”, when James applied for supporters to his arms in 1818 he drew his descent not only from the Cranston line, but also from the Royal House of Stewart through his mother Lady Margaret Carnagie and grandmother Lady Helen Hope, who are reported to have lines of ancestry from James II, King of Scotland. I am undertaking research into the Watsons of Cranston, however, I’m not yet able to link them to the Watsons of Saughton, nor a line from the Royal House of Stewart.
Was there any other Chiefs?
For a long time, we operated on the assumption that James Watson of Saughton, was in fact the first and only individual to be recognised as Clan Chief.
However, in addition to what we learnt from the records of Lord Lyon, the book “The Antient and Modern State of the Parish of Cramond” by John Phillip Wood published in 1794 refers to Charles Watson of Saughton, the father of James mentioned above, as “Chief of the name in Scotland”.
It may not be an original source, but it is important to note that it was contemporary first published while Charles Watson was still alive, ten years before his death in 1804.
Why is there no Watson Clan Chief today?
The Watsons of Saughton line ended with an heiress, Helen Watson, daughter of James Watson of Saughton. She married the 18th Earl of Morton, Sholto John Douglas, joining the hereditary lands and titles of the Watsons of Saughton into the Douglas family.
Work is ongoing to find a legitimate heir to the title of Clan Watson Chief.