William Wallace
William "Braveheart" Wallace, Male 1270 - 23 August 1305
Born, Elderslie, Paisley, Renfrew.
Died, London, Middlesex, England (Hanged.
Married to Marion Bradfute. Father of Elizabeth Wallace. Son of Malcolm Wallace and Margaret Craufurd. Brother of John Wallace.
In 1291, Edward I, who was then King of England, ordered the Barons of Sco
tland to swear allegiance to him.
ce to the people of Scotland and they looked to him for their liberation f
rom the yoke of England. He realized that in refusing to do as the King re
quested, it would mean the giving up of his part in the affairs of the gov
ernment and in all probability would mean serious harm to him and his fami
ly, but to the Early martyrs, loyalty to one's country, meant more than li
fe itself.
at the opposing Barons and their families were to be hunted and put to dea
th. Sir Malcolm and his eldest son Andrew took refuge in Lennox, Scotlan
d. Jean Crawford-Wallace and the younger sons, William (later Sir Willia
m) and John, sought protection of a powerful and wealthy relative of Kilsp
indie, Scotland.
roism which has been unparalleled i all the history of Scotland. In retur
n, the people devotedly called him " The heoic Defender of Scottish Indepe
ndence" a title which certainly was truthfully used.
poken of as the heiress of Bradfute. Her vast estate bore her family nam
e. They had one child, Elizabeth, who was born in 1295. She married Sir Wi
lliam Baille, a Scotch nobleman. [note: many sources say Marion/Marian Br
adfute, Heiress of Lamington]
d, Sir William and his father, Malcolm, and his brothers, Andrew and Joh
n, continued their activities much to the annoyance of the British officia
ls.
llia Bradfute-Wallace, wife of Sir William. To avenge the murder of his wi
fe, he slew several of the governor's attendants and also the sheriff of D
undee. When he was pursued, he fled to the woods and was outlawed. Gatheri
ng together a great number of followers, he drove the English out of a gre
at section of Scotland and in 1297 defeated the English at the battle of S
tirling. It is on this site that the Wallace monument was so lovingly erec
ted by the people of his native land. Those of our families who have visit
ed Scotland report that this monument is one of the most wonderful piec
es of masonry in that part of the country.
ed one of the Commanders-in-chief of the Sottish armies and penetrated in
to England with fire and sword.
ctivities of the Scotch and hurried home in order to march his armies agai
nst Sir William whom he finaly defeated. Sir William, however, carri
ed on guerilla warfare against England for several years but was finally b
etrayed, captured and executed in London, on August 23, 1305, at the a
ge of thirty-one years. On the same day of his execution, his father, S
ir Malcolm and his brother Andrew, met the same fate. It is presumed th
at they were all together when capured and executed. Andrew left no fami
ly and Sir William left the daughter, Elizabeth.
sh in late 1291 at Loudoun Hill, the above may be referring to William's e
lder brother Malcolm?]
is wife, who was Mary Almour, and a small son John II who became the ances
tor of the Wallace clan.
Sources
- Alder, Kay A..ged - provided by LifeTimes Research
Created by LifeTimes Research ...
