Chapter 2.1
Scottish Mosman families 1400-1600
It has been possible to trace the early Scottish Mosman family so far back because they were goldsmiths who had close associations with Scottish royalty whose history has been well documented and preserved. The royal history was complex and eventful. You can find a summary of this royal history at this link Scottish Royal Families which might help give a better understanding of the lives of the early Scottish Mosmans.
Thomas Mosman (born around 1400, Liz’s 13th great grandfather)
Little is known about Thomas except he lived in Scotland, was married to Margaret Braun and had three sons, John, Alexander, and (Sir) Andrew.
Sir Andrew Mosman (1475-1567, Liz’s 12th great grandfather)
Andrew was a goldsmith but answered his Scottish King’s call to arms. At the battle of Flodden field in 1513 the Scottish were defeated and King James IV killed. Andrew was a survivor and was knighted with 500 other survivors by the widowed Queen. He also fought and survived at the battle of Solway Moss in 1542 where the forces of Catholic King James V were routed. |
| King James IV of Scotland |
His descendants never had to fight. They were some of the first merchants to be in the Scots Parliament. As merchants they provided more good to the army by supplying money to buy weapons and supplies. Previously nobles provided the men for war and the Catholic Church provided the money. After the reformation, the church had no money because the nobles had "appropriated" all the church wealth. Merchants were given seats in Parliament so they could take over the job of providing money in place of the church.
Andrew (wife unknown) had three sons, Alan (Liz’s 12th grandfather), Walter, and (Sir)John (see below).
Sir John Mosman (1506-1569) son of Sir Andrew
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| The Crown of Scotland |
John was also a goldsmith. In 1540 he was knighted by James V because he made the nuptial crowns for the King and Marie de Guise. More importantly, in 1540 he redesigned an older, damaged, open crown into a closed crown with many jewels and Scottish pearls, now known as the Royal Crown of Scotland. The crown was first worn by James V during to the coronation of his second wife Marie of Guise as Queen Consort at Holyrood Abbey. It was subsequently used in the child coronations of 6 month old child Mary Queen of Scots in September 1543, and 13 month old James VI, King of Scots in July 1567.The crown can still be seen today at Edinburgh Castle and is still used at some Scottish Parliamentary occasions.
Sir John married Katheryn Sym and had two sons, Walter and (Sir)James.
Sir James Mosman (1532-1573) son of Sir John
Sir James married Mariott Arres and had two daughters and two sons, Robert and John. His second wife was Janet King and they had two daughters, Janet and Marriotta. See below for their occupation of John Knox House.
Following family tradition James was also a goldsmith. Because they were Catholics, John and James were removed from their court offices in the Protestant revolution in 1559-60 but restored to favour when Catholic Mary Queen of Scots returned from France in 1561.
For his service to the Crown, James was knighted in 1565 during Mary‘s wedding to Henry Darnley and awarded a crest with the motto “ More honourable, more dependable, more worthy of trust than the rest” (see crest on John Knox house).
James remained one of the “Queen’s Men” loyal to Mary after she went into exile in England in 1568. He was part of defenders of Edinburgh Castle in her name during the ‘Lang Siege’. He helped raise money for the siege, hid the Crown Jewels and minted coin for Mary’s supporters.
In August 1573 the Castle fell to an English army. His luck ran out and he was arrested, and with two others was tried and convicted at Holyrood House. With his hands tied behind his back he was placed in a donkey drawn cart facing backwards (a big insult), and taken to the Mercat Cross in the centre of Edinburgh. There he was hung, drawn and quartered, then beheaded and his head placed on a pike on the walls of the Castle . The family was told they could have his head back “when the winds blew it down”. Fortunately his second wife was able to buy the head back before it fell off the pike.
John Knox House, 43 High Street, Edinburgh
“John Knox” House was built in 1549. It is a large townhouse in a prime position in the centre of Edinburgh. Fortunately, mainly because of its apparent association with Protestant leader John Knox, it has been preserved and is one of the best examples of a 16th century townhouse in the country.
The house was built from 1490 onwards and was inherited by Marriott Arres in 1556. It was occupied by the Mosman family when she married Sir James Mosman. Marriott died of pneumonia in February 1571. James continued to live there with his second wife, Janet King who he married the same year. The house was confiscated by the English after he was executed.
While James lived there he had the coat of arms given to him by Mary Queen of Scots carved in stone and emblazoned on an outside wall of the house. (see above).
John Knox was leader of the Scottish Protestant Reformation and a longtime critic of the Catholic Church. It would seem unlikely that he would live in a house previously owned by a such a prominent Catholic. The most believable story is that he was offered the house after Sir James was executed because his house was being repaired.
John Mosman (1567-1605, son of Sir James)
John was also a goldsmith. While traumatised by his father’s death he continued the family tradition of supporting Mary Queen of Scots. He approached her for payment of his late father’s expenses and sought financial support for his business.
He is thought to have been a courier who helped smuggle letters to Queen Mary in prison. He is known to have been under surveillance by agents of Sir Francis Walsingham. He was lucky to have avoided arrest as other couriers were arrested and executed.
James Mosman (1626-1722, great grandson of Sir James)
James married Anna and emigrated to Massachusetts in 1676 to be a blacksmith. There are many Mos(s)man descendants in Massachusetts, Maine and across the USA.
Sir James Mosman (1532-1573) son of Sir John
Sir James married Mariott Arres and had two daughters and two sons, Robert and John. His second wife was Janet King and they had two daughters, Janet and Marriotta. See below for their occupation of John Knox House.
Following family tradition James was also a goldsmith. Because they were Catholics, John and James were removed from their court offices in the Protestant revolution in 1559-60 but restored to favour when Catholic Mary Queen of Scots returned from France in 1561.
Mary Queen of Scots
For his service to the Crown, James was knighted in 1565 during Mary‘s wedding to Henry Darnley and awarded a crest with the motto “ More honourable, more dependable, more worthy of trust than the rest” (see crest on John Knox house).
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| Mosman Coat of Arms at John Knox House |
In August 1573 the Castle fell to an English army. His luck ran out and he was arrested, and with two others was tried and convicted at Holyrood House. With his hands tied behind his back he was placed in a donkey drawn cart facing backwards (a big insult), and taken to the Mercat Cross in the centre of Edinburgh. There he was hung, drawn and quartered, then beheaded and his head placed on a pike on the walls of the Castle . The family was told they could have his head back “when the winds blew it down”. Fortunately his second wife was able to buy the head back before it fell off the pike.
John Knox House, 43 High Street, Edinburgh
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| John Knox House |
The house was built from 1490 onwards and was inherited by Marriott Arres in 1556. It was occupied by the Mosman family when she married Sir James Mosman. Marriott died of pneumonia in February 1571. James continued to live there with his second wife, Janet King who he married the same year. The house was confiscated by the English after he was executed.
While James lived there he had the coat of arms given to him by Mary Queen of Scots carved in stone and emblazoned on an outside wall of the house. (see above).
John Knox was leader of the Scottish Protestant Reformation and a longtime critic of the Catholic Church. It would seem unlikely that he would live in a house previously owned by a such a prominent Catholic. The most believable story is that he was offered the house after Sir James was executed because his house was being repaired.
John Mosman (1567-1605, son of Sir James)
John was also a goldsmith. While traumatised by his father’s death he continued the family tradition of supporting Mary Queen of Scots. He approached her for payment of his late father’s expenses and sought financial support for his business.
He is thought to have been a courier who helped smuggle letters to Queen Mary in prison. He is known to have been under surveillance by agents of Sir Francis Walsingham. He was lucky to have avoided arrest as other couriers were arrested and executed.
James Mosman (1626-1722, great grandson of Sir James)
James married Anna and emigrated to Massachusetts in 1676 to be a blacksmith. There are many Mos(s)man descendants in Massachusetts, Maine and across the USA.
Next Chapter - 2.2. Scottish Mosman families 1600-1799