AGNEW

Agnew's have flourished in Wigtownshire and Galloway since the fourteenth century. The Name has generally been asserted to be Norman, from the Barony d'Agneaux. They settled in England, but the name is to be found in Liddesdale in Scotland by the end of the twelfth century. A Celtic origin has also been suggested through the native Ulster sept of O'Gnimh, hereditary poets or bards to the great O'Neils of Clan Aodha Bhuidhe in Antrim who acquired the anglicised name of Agnew. The name was first written in English as O'Gnive, which later became O'Gnyw,and, laterly, O'Gnew. This would give the Agnews a common descent with other great names such as Macdonald and Macdougall through Somerled, the twelfth- century King of the Isles. The Agnew eagle crest may echo the similar device which appears on the shield of the descendants of Somerled.

The fortunes of the family in Scotland were established when Andrew Agnew of Lochnaw was granted the lands and constableship of Lochnaw Castle in 1426. He was appointed hereditary Sheriff of Wigtown in 1451, an office still held by his direct descendants to this day. The sheriffs son, another Andrew, married a daughter of the chief of the Macdowalls, and it was from his second son, William, that the Lochryan branch of the family descended. Andrew Agnew of Lochnaw was killed at the battle of Pinkie in 1547. In 1661 Andrew succeeded his father Patrick and followed in his footsteps as MP for Wigtownshire. He had been created Sheriff of Kirkcudbright as well as Wigtown in 1650. He married Anne Stewart, daughter of the first Earl of Galloway.

The family prospered and made many alliances through inter-marriage with other prominent local families, the fourth Baronet married Lady Montgomery, sister of the Earl of Eglinton. One of his grandchildren, married Robert McQueen, the notorious "hanging judge", Lord Braxfield. Sir Andrew, the fifth Baronet, married his kinswoman, Eleanor Agnew of Lochryan, they had twenty one children. He commanded the 21st foot, later the Scots Fusiliers, at the battle of Dettingen in June 1743, the last occasion when the British monarch, George II, commanded troops in person. It is said the king remarked that Sir Andrew's regiment had let French cavalry in amoung them to which Sir Andrew replied "Yes,please your Majesty, but they didna win back again". Sir Andrew held Blair Castle against forces led by Lord George Murray in 1776.

The office of hereditary sheriff became purely honorary in 1747. When hereditary jurisdictions was abolished, Sir Andrew Agnew recieved 4,000 pounds in compensation.

In 1792, Andrew Agnes Baronet, renewed the family ties with Ireland when he married Martha de Courey, daughter of the twenty-sixth Lord Kingsale. Many of the Irish Agnews were early emigrants to the new colonies in the Americas, and in particular to Pennsylvania.

The Castle and lands of Lochnaw have since passed from the family, but a thriving caln society exists and a tartan has been designed by the chief, the world-wide family of Agnew has strong links with their Scottish homeland.

The present chief is Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw, eleventh Baronet. A retired soldier, member of the Scottish Bar and one of Scotland's leading heraldic experts and Rothesay Herald at the Court of the Lord Lyon.