LAMONT, John (Sir ) ¹

  General Notes:

The place of origin of the Clan Lamont (Lamond) was probably Co. Argyllshire, Scotland. The name itself comes from the Norse "lagamadr" meaning lawman or lawyer. The Gaelic name was Macerchar, q.v. and the Lamont name itself might have come from the fact that their Chief had judicial powers. The origins of the clan predate the Norse naming and are Dalriadic in nature. The founders came from Ireland to Scotland about 500 A.D. The first absolute records of the Clan Lamont occur in 1200. The grandson of Ferchar named Laumon was the first to use the heriditary name. In 1238, Duncan, son of Ferchar, and Luamon, son of Malcom and grandson of Ferchar deeded the monks of Paisley lands in Kimun, Kifinan and Kimory on Lochgilp. They had extensive land holdings in the records and it is tradition that the clan Lamont literally owned all of the District of Cowal (Central Scotland boardering the North Channel between Scotland and Northern Ireland). (CL-721) They were the only clan that could claim they had owned an entire district until the year 1646. The following book needs located for further information on this ancient clan. ""The Lamont Clan, 1235-1935, Seven Centuries of Clan History from Record Evidence" by Hector McKechnie, c1938. (CL-552) The name should be pronounced "Lam'ont" with the accent being on the first syllable instead of the common pronunciation of it in America which is Lam ont' according to "The Surnames of Scotland, Their Origin, Meaning and History".

In 1646, Charles I had lost the war against Cromwell. Clan Lamont had deserted Clan Campbell to join forces with General MacColla under Charles I's direction. After Charles conceeded defeat and asked his generals to stand down, the Clan Campbell's first retaliation led by Sir Colin Campbell of Ardkinglas placed a siege upon the two castles owned by the Clan Lamont and Sir James Lamont, known as Toward and Ascog. This was despite the fact that Sir Colin Campbell's daughter was married to Sir James Lamont. Sir James Lamont, being the clan cheif, signed a peace treaty that guaranteed the Lamonts safe passage by leaving their castles. However, when they opened the castle gates, the Campbell's attacked and killed between 200 and 350 Lamont men. They imprisoned Sir James for five years in Dunstaffnage Castle and other places where he was not allowed to ever change his cloths. He was released in 1651 when Oliver Cromwell invaded Scotland. The remaining prisoners, over 100, were taken to the Lamont town of Dunoon where their heads were tied behind their backs to their feet for three days. They then were shot, stabbed or had their throats cut. Three dozen of the leading "gentleman" or "chieftans" were hung in a tree by the old churchyard. Many were cut down before death and they were all buried in a large pit. Those who were still living were smothered to death in this manner instead. This place has been called Gallows Hill ever since. Sir John Lamont was apparently one of these "gentleman". He was the clan chief for the Cumbre Islands. (CL-719)

John's wife, Mary Young Lamont, was living on the Cumbre Islands where she was close enough to see and hear the battle. She fled with her four sons, presumably younger than their teens across 39 miles of ocean from Scotland to the town of Larne, co. Antrim, Northern Ireland. All those like her who were able to escape, typically changed their surnames for their own safety. Mary's oldest son, John, took the surname Sitlington, which was the name of the small stream on their Scottish estate. The middle sons called themselves (William?) White and Green, respectively. Their youngest son, Andrew, took his mother's maiden name of Young. Their life must have been quite difficult. Sons, John and Andrew in time developed a successful agricultural and linen manufacturing business that was carried on over a 90 year period by sons and grandsons. None of them ever returned to Scotland. The homes they lived in - in Ireland were still in the family in 1920 and still in good condition in the 1960's.

It is entirely possible that Mary and John had other older sons, but any in their teens or older would have been fighting alongside their father. They are James, Robert, Matthew, Charles and William, as found in the Carnmoney Church records in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

As far as Sir John's ancestry goes, the brother of Sharon Young Jebavy did extensive research among the possible John Lamonts of that region and found it rather obvious as to which John Lamont was killed in the massacre. According to him it was John the son of Gilbert. The ones he chose amongst were John Lamont, son of Duncan Ger, Lamont in Kilmarnock; John, son of Walter Lamont; John, son of Gilbert Lamont of Knockdow; and John Lamont in Auchnishelloch. ^{5 3 6 7}

John married Mary YOUNG before 1640.¹ (Mary YOUNG was born in 1611-1620 in Auldbar? ³ and died about 1682 in , Antrim, IRE ⁴.)