Patrick Fleming of Biggar (abt. 1292 - abt. 1340)

Born about 1292 in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, Scotland

Descendants

Died about 1340 at about age 48 in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland

Biography

Patrick Fleming of Biggar is a member of Clan Fleming.

Sir Patrick Fleming of Biggar, was born the younger son to Robert Fleming of Cumbernauld (Lanarkshire).^[1] His older brother, Sir Malcolm Fleming of Fulwood, later Earl of Wigtown, was young when at Bannockburn in 1314 and Patrick is not noticed suggesting he was born about 1292.^[2] The family, particularly, Malcolm, were popular favourites with Robert Bruce and their father had assisted Bruce in the murder of John Comyn at the church in Dumfries.

Very little is known about his life. He was dead prior to 1346 as his son appears as Lord of Biggar at the Battle of Neville's Cross.

He married a daughter (one of the two) and co-heiress of Sir Simon Fraser of Olivercastle and Neidpath in Peeblesshire. Sir Simon Fraser, another strong Nationalist, fighting first with Andrew Moray, and after this death, William Wallace and later John Comyn, together leading the Scots to victory at the Battle of Roslin. He later joined the Bruce camp but escaped the defeat at Methven. He was captured in 1306 at a subsequent engagement at Kirkencliff near Stirling by Sir Thomas de Multon and Sir John Jose. Fraser was sent to London, and hanged, drawn and quartered in September 1306. His head was impaled on a spike on London Bridge, alongside his brother, John Fraser, and William Wallace. He also held lands in Kincardineshire and these lands went to his cousin, Sir Alexander Fraser of Cowie. His lands in the south, Peebleshire, were split between his daughters. The marriage likely occurring shortly after his death and when Patrick was young, likely at the instigation of Robert Bruce.

As a result of this relationship Sir Patrick Fleming, quartered his arms to include Frasers and shown on this page. These became the arms of the Flemings of Biggar.

They had one child that is recorded:

• Malcolm Fleming, born about 1312, he will inherit the lands and titles.

References

1. ↑ #S-1 Balfour Paul; Vol 8, page 524
2. ↑ #S-2 William Hunter; page 470

Sources

• Source S-1 Balfour Paul. The Scots peerage : founded on Wood's ed. of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland; containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom. Vol. 8. Edinburgh: Douglas, 1904. archive.org

• Source S-2 William Hunter. Biggar and the House of Fleming: an account of the Biggar district, archaeological, historical, and biographical. Edinburgh: Paterson, 1867. archive.org