Clan Forbes History
	Motto:	Grace me guide
	Badge:	Scotch Broom, Stag
	Lands:	Aberdeenshire
	Pipe Music:	The Battle of Glen Eurann
Forbes is a parish in the Aberdeenshire area. A reliable tradition tells that the “Braes o’ Forbes” were once uninhabitable because of bears living in the area. Oconachar, founder of the clan, killed the bears and claimed the land as “first occupier”. The present chief still holds part of the Lordship of these Forbes lands. In 1271, the chief of the time, Duncan de Forbes, obtained a charter from Alexander III for the land, confirming his claim. In the fourteenth century John de Forbes of the Black Lip had four sons with whom the family expanded widely and prosperously. William began the Pitsligo line, John was progenitor of the branch of Polquhoun and Alistair of Brux was ancestor of extensions in Skellater and Inverernan. Alexander, the eldest of the brothers, fought in the 1411 Battle of Harlaw against the invaders from the Isles, led by Donald. He was created Lord Forbes by James I around 1444. To this day the Lordship is regarded as Scotland’s premier. His own three sons would extend the family with the branches of Corsindae and Monymusk, Corse, and later the Baronets of Craigievar. There was a point where, from the coasts of Banff and Buchan, to the mountains of Aberdeenshire, there were one hundred and fifty Forbes houses and estates. Clan Forbes was, through the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, constantly at odds with their powerful, predatory neighbours the Gordons, Earls of Huntly. The consistent murders by both sides escalated, fuelled with the excuses of religious self-importance, into two battles at Craibstone and Tillieangus during 1571. These were followed by the plunder of Lord Forbes' seat itself, and then the murder of twenty-seven Forbes' of Towie at Corgarff. It eventually took two Acts of Parliament to force them to lay down their arms against each other. During the 1715 rebellion, Duncan Forbes of Culloden, President of the Court of Session, was in opposition to the Jacobite cause. He is remembered however, for his efforts to win the rebels better treatment from their captors. Speaking out for the people after Culloden, Butcher Cumberland responded with the sneer, 'that old woman talked to me about humanity.' A memorial to Duncan Forbes stands in the Parliament Hall at Edinburgh. Built in 1815, Castle Forbes stands on the land claimed by Oconachar, overlooking the Don.

1.	John de Forbes b. ca 1165 during reign of William the Lion, died ca 1214	+	unknown
2.	Fergus of Forbes (Nobleman), granted first charter of record b. ca 1200}	+	unknown
3.	Duncan Forbes (Nobleman), received charter from Alexander III b. ca 1250	+	unknown
4.	John of Forbes (Nobleman), loyal to Robert Bruce b. ca 1275, died 1305 defending Castle Urquart	+	unknown
5.	John (or Christian) Forbes (Nobleman) b. ca 1300, died 1332 in Battle of Duplin	+	unknown
6.	John of Forbes (Sheriff) b. ca 1320 Aberdeen, died 1387	+	Margaret (unknown last name)
7.	Sir John “Black Lip” Forbes (Knight/Judiciary) b. ca 1350, knighted ca 1390, died ca 1406	+	unknown
8.	Alexander Forbes, First Lord Forbes b. ca 1380, died 1448	+	Elizabeth Douglas
9.	James Forbes, Second Lord Forbes b. ca 1424, died 1462	+	Edigia Keith
10.	Patrick Forbes, First Laird of Corse, Armor Bearer to King James III b. ca 1446 died after 1476	+	Elspet Forbes
11.	David “Trail the Axe” Forbes b. ca 1478 Scotland, died date unknown	+	Elizabeth Panter
12.	Patrick Forbes, Third Laird of Corse b. ca 1506 Scotland, died after 1554	+	Marjorie Lumsden
13.	William Forbes, Fourth Laird of Corse b. ca 1525 Scotland, died date unknown	+	Elizabeth Strachan
14.	John Forbes (Reverend) b. ca 1568 probably Aberdeen area Scotland, died 1634 Ord	+	Cristian Barclay
15.	John Forbes, First Forbes in America b. 1610 probably Aberdeen area Scotland, died 1661 Bridgewater MA	+	Constant Mitchell
16.	Edward Forbes (Honorable Deacon) b. 1651 Bridgewater MA, died 1732 Bridgewater MA (Children)	+	Elizabeth Howard
17.	William Forbes (Fobes) b. 1698 Bridgewater MA, died 1764 Bridgewater MA (Children)	+	Thankful Dwelly
18.	Abner Forbes (Fobes) b. 1727 Bridgewater MA, died 1767 Bridgewater MA	+	Phoebe Leach
19.	Jotham Forbes Sr. b. 1758 Bridgewater MA, died 1851 Livingston Co NY	+	Lydia Batchelder
20.	Jotham Forbes Jr. b. ca 1796 Buckland/Plymouth Co MA, died 1875 York/Livingston Co NY	+	Marinda (unknown last name)
21.	Joseph B. Forbes, b. ca 1823 Leicester NY (1855 Census), died 1886 Milwaukee WI	+	Sally M. Smead
22.	Frank Eugene Forbes b. 1853 Leicester NY, died 1919 Youngstown OH	+	Katherine Higley
23.	Jay Forbes b. 1893 Union Springs NY, died 1969 Ft. Lauderdale FL	+	Frances ("Pete") Wheeler
24.	Robert Wheeler Forbes, b. 1923 Auburn NY	+	Elaine Strobridge
25.	Barry Robert (Bart) Forbes b. 1956 Norwalk CT