OUR LIVES
22 REMINISCE.COM*SEPTEMBER 2019
A
fter tracing the history of my great-great-great-
grandfather David Kirkpatrick of Indiana, I found
an ancestor believed to have been pivotal in medieval
Scotland’s fight for independence from England.
Counting back 13 generations from David’s
grandfather Andrew, who lived in the Dumfriesshire area of
Scotland, I encountered Sir Roger Kirkpatrick ( 1276 - 1314 ),
a supporter of Robert the Bruce, who in 1305 was one of the
leaders of Scottish independence. Bruce’s rival for the Scottish
crown at the time was John “The Red” Comyn.
On Feb. 10 , 1306 , in Greyfriars Kirk in Dumfries, a fight
between Bruce and Comyn ended with Comyn badly hurt. Bruce
ran out and told Sir Roger that he’d stabbed Comyn but doubted
he was dead. So Sir Roger went in and stabbed Comyn himself,
killing him. Sir Roger emerged from the church with his dagger
high and a cry of “I mak siccar” (“I make sure”).
That March, Robert the Bruce became undisputed king of Scots.
He later led his countrymen in the war against English rule.
A plaque in Dumfries commemorates the death of Comyn,
and the Kirkpatricks adopted Sir Roger’s “I mak siccar” as
their family motto.
Of course, it’s hard to be sure of the truth of these events, which
are several centuries old and wrapped up with the legend of Robert
the Bruce, a beloved figure in Scotland. But it hasn’t stopped me
from adopting Sir Roger’s tale as part of my family lore.
That’s his story and I’m sticking to it. •DRAMA IN SCOTLAND
He couldn’t let his ancestor’s reputed
act of loyalty stay buried in the past.
BY IVAN NICHOLSON • BEMIDJI, MNFamily Tree
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SUBMIT-A-STORYIVAN CAN CLAIM
a revered piece of
Scottish folklore as part
of his family’s story.