BISSETT-L Archives

From: James Rowe <>
Subject: [BISSETT-L] Clan or Family ?
Date: Thu, 04 Feb 1999 19:58:33 +0000

Michael Bisset of Hertfordshire, England, sent me the following letter
today. He and Rachel Bisset drafted it late last year, and it expresses
Rachel Bisset's view on the clan-vs-family discussion.

Michael located Rachel Bisset a couple of years back by looking up the
"Bisset" name in Burke's peerage (or similar), and giving her a call. It
would seem that they have since become firm friends.

I have scanned the letter, and am happy to send a picture of it to anyone
who wants it.

Regards,

Jim Rowe

------------------------------------------------------------------
Gamel's Cottage, Rush Green, Hertford, Herts., [England] SG 13 7 SB
Telephone: +[44-01920] 464022

16th December 1998.

To all Bisset kinsfolk:

I have received a letter from Rachel Bisset which has to be of general
interest, coming as it does, from one of the last Bissets to have been born
in Lessendrum and to have spent most of her childhood there up to the
outbreak of war in 1939.

It reads as follows:

"I do not agree with the opinion of the late Lord Lyon that the Bissets
of Lessendrum are a clan. If that were so, surely the late Lord Lyon, Sir
Thomas Innes of Learney, would have told my mother.

He was a friend of my parents and told my mother that the Bisset coat of
arms was one of the very oldest in Scotland because of the simplicity of
the design of the shield - azure with a bend argent. Later there were more
elaborate patterns.

My mother considered we were sib to the Frasers and the Bissets wore the
Fraser tartan. My brother, Mordaunt Murray Bisset, invented a Bisset
tartan and had it accepted - a frightful jumble of colour and a totally
unnecessary innovation, making everyone think we were a Celtic clan instead
of a Norman family.

I was carried out of the burning house at Lessendrum by the governess
when I was 4 years old to join my older sisters and one year old brother in
bed at the chauffeur's house!

Best wishes to all kinsfolk who want to learn about the remarkably long
history of the family as it emerges and I hope everyone from abroad will
have an opportunity to visit Scotland - Lessendrum in particular.

You will find the new owner, Gunnar Slemming (Danish) very interested
and most co-operative, providing you let him know you are coming.

For this and other advice, contact Michael Bisset at the above address."

Signed: [Sheelah Rachel née Murray Bisset]

In conclusion, best wishes to all for 1999.

Signed: [Michael Bisset]

HERALDRY:

Shield- Azure (blue)
Bend- Diagonal- stripe
Argent- Silver (or white)

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• [BISSETT-L] Clan or Family ? by James Rowe <>