He had an ancestor called Alex. "Rua," or the Red, from the colour of his hair. This name, when he became a Baron, was altered to Reid. A descendant of this Alexander named Robert (?) was a very great warrior. He did so much service for Scotland during the reign of King James I. that his whole lands were erected into a free Barony, dated 1457. - [See Vol. I., Page 101, Skene's Sketches of Scot. History.] It is stated by the historian Skene, that this same Robert Reid arrested the murderers of James (Walter, Earl of Athole, and Robert Graham), and then refused any reward excepting that Straloch with other lands given by James II. of Scotland should be for ever His Own and erected into a free Barony. The Arms of his family were also at the same time augmented, and he was to bear (upon an escutcheon of pretence) a man in chains, with motto "Virtutis gloria merces." Several large estates were added to Straloch and a Charter given by the Crown in 1457. 'They have been connected in marriages in the Royal families both in Scotland and England, and among many noble families both in Scotland and England, which is well documented, both by the Scots. and English historians ." - [History. Robertson's, and Poems of Alex. Robertson of Strowan.] Military records are difficult to locate for several reasons, in 1602 King Henry VII of England gave his daughter in marriage to James IV of Scotland. This gave rise to the Union of the Crowns in 1603. James VI of Scotland becomes James I of England bringing about the Union of the Crowns. Military records at this time became part of the history of England, rather than Scotland. WW II caused considerable destruction of records that had survived the centuries. However, English records do tell us that the name Reid "appears to have started in about the year 1000, with induction to the British Isles by the Norman's during the 11th century. They were a way of further identifying people and were usually patronymic (eg: J ohn son of Richard), local (eg: John by the Brook), a tradename or a nickname. The name Reid is a nickname from the Middle English word"reed" or Rede". meaning "red" and would have been used to describe someone with a ruddy complexion or red hair. Many different spellings of this popular name occurred and can be found spelt as Read, Reed, Reid, Reade. A family call Reid was establishing in America in the early 18th century by John Reid born in Dublin who was the sixth in descence from Sir Thomas Read of Berkshire. His son George Reid (note change of spelling) was a signatory to the Declaration of Independence. the ancient family motto was MEMOR NET FIDELIS (Latin) meaning "Mindful and faithful." Major John Reid, in 1600's, was induced by King James I of England to colonize North Ireland. Lands there had been forfeited to the British Crown on the failure of the Irish Rebellion, instigated by Phillip II, King of Spain. Thus the Reid's left their Scottish homeland, and ventured out into Ireland. A little history on the happenings of the times. In the 17th Century, King James 1 of England (James VI of Scotland) took over the Ulster Province in North Ireland, but this was followed by great unrest and disloyalty there to the Crown of England. At the same time the Presbyterians of western Scotland were not happy because they did not like the rule of the bishops and wanted to govern their churches in their own way. They were persecuted for their beliefs and there was much fighting with those who did not believe as they did. James I decided to encourage or force them to move to North Ireland to settle in that recently acquired area. This was a tactical move on the part of the king, and perhaps even a little brilliant, as it gave him subjects in North Ireland who would be loyal to him while at the same time, easing the religious friction.
Major John Reid in 1600s was induced by King James I of England to colonize North Ireland. Lands there had been forfeited to the British Crown on the failure of the Irish Rebellion, instigated by Phillip II, King of Spain. Thus the Reids left their Scottish homeland, and ventured out into Ireland.
John Reid * (1574 - 1665)
is our 7th great grandfather
Son of John Reid and Rose Lewis Bell
Son of John Reid and wife
Son of John Reid and Margaret Miller
Daughter of John Reid and Jean Reid
Son of Jean Reid and James Stewart
Son of James Stewart and Phoebe Hinton Cox
Daughter of Noah Stewart and Mary Springer
Son of Mary Lou Ella Stewart and Charles William Lute
I am related to John Reid!
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