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The
Barony of Loch Mullion,
west of Luncarty in
Perthshire, is
surrounded by the
baronies of Findowie,
Mullion, and
Logiealmond. These
baronies trace their
feudal origins to the
15th century under the
Fergusons, and
subsequently passed to
the Murrays and
Drummonds of Perthshire
through charter,
inheritance, and Royal
grant. By 1638, the
lands were consolidated
under the wider Barony
of Logiealmond, held by
the Drummond Stewarts of
Grandtully.
A distinct legend
surrounds Loch Mullion
of a woman named
Maireann, an almost
mythical figure who
united with James
Anderson in 1640. Family
lore long foretold that
their descendants would
one day claim the Barony
of Loch Mullion as this
land had belonged to
their ancestors through
Maireann since ancient
times. Many generations
had dismissed the family
legends as oral
tradition aimed at
preserving history.
In 1863, this family
lore seemed fulfilled
when William George
Drummond Stewart, having
been assigned the barony
in 1847 by his father
Sir William Drummond
Stewart, conveyed the
barony by disposition to
Alexander Anderson, a
friend and distant
cousin through the
Drummond line.
The barony passed
through several
generations of Andersons
to the current holder,
William Steven Anderson
in 2000. In keeping with
family tradition, the
current Baron is a
supporter of Jacobite
ideals. The Baron holds
great respect for the
office of the Lord Lyon
and the heraldic
traditions of Scotland.
However, for reasons of
honouring this Jacobite
legacy, and being a
resident of Australia
where grants by the Lord
Lyon offer no protection
to armorial bearings,
the present Baron has
chosen to assume arms
independently rather
than petition the Lord
Lyon. In an act
honouring tradition and
the enduring spirit of
Scottish sovereignty the
current Baron wrote to
Franz, Duke of Bavaria
the current Jacobite
pretender to the
Scottish throne.
Although the Duke views
his Jacobite claim as a
historical curiosity and
does not pursue the said
claim, he very kindly
gave his symbolic
endorsement with a
signature and
accompanying letter of
approval at the bottom
of the assumed arms of
William Steven Anderson,
Baron of Loch Mullion.
The
current Baron of Loch
Mullion has entries in
Debrett’s and the
Registry of Scots
Nobility as well as a
chapter in a coming book
of Perthshire feudal
baronies by historian
John Macleod.
The fess wavy Argent on
an Azure field
represents the loch
itself. In chief, the
tower Proper represents
the Anderson
family. The
crescent Argent, estoile
and, in base, a lymphad
sails furled and flagged
Argent represents the
Andersons' profession as
boat builders and their
journeys to Australia
and Canada.
The crest is a nod to
the family legend.
The livery colours of
Azure and Argent are
inspired by the colours
of Scotland and the
motto "Seas Cinnteach"
is the Scottish Gaelic
of Stand Sure, the motto
of Clan Anderson.
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