A Brief History

Early Clan History...

The surname of the Berwickshire line derives its name from the hamlets of East Nisbet and West Nisbet, Berwickshire. Interestingly, until the 16th century, the lands were most often spelled Nesbit, which has a claim to be the original spelling. Some bearers of Nisbet/Nesbitt (and variant) names may originate from the village of Nisbet in Roxburghshire.The lowland family of Nesbitt or Nisbet has its roots in the county of Berwickshire, in the Scottish Borders. Like the families of Home and Swinton, its descent may be traced from Gospatric, Earl of Northumbria (d. 1073). In 1139 King David I confirmed a charter (now in the archives of Durham Cathedral) granting the lands of Nisbet to Aldan de Nisbet, the founder of the line of Nisbet of Nisbet (i.e. Nisbet of that Ilk) or so it's said.

In the 12th century, castles were built by the Nisbet family at West Nisbet which was two miles south of the town of Duns, and at East Nisbet, now known as Allanbank, was southeast of Duns on the Blackadder Water. The castle at East Nisbet has been long gone, but at West Nisbet the original pele tower was incorporated into the east end of a magnificent new fortified mansion house, built by Sir Alexander Nisbet of that Ilk (c. 1580-1660) in the 1630s. Nisbet House still stands, with an eighteenth century tower (with fine interior plasterwork) added to its west end. The house is privately owned.

The House of Nisbet Cadets...

His last surviving grandson, Alexander the Herald, wrote " A System of Heraldry," which provides details about all of the old Scottish families. He never married and upon his death in 1725, the title of Chief went to a descendant of his grandfather's brother.

Five related branches of the Nisbet family became established and known as the House of Nisbet Cadets, namely: Nisbets of Dirlton, Dean and Craigentenniews in Haddingtonshire; the Nisbet's of Johnston and Renfrew; the Nisbet's of Carphin and Dazell in Lanarkshire; the Nisbet's of Paxtoun, Spittle, and Swinewood in Berwick; and Nesbitt's of Ayrshire, known as the Nesbitts of Greenholm, Sorn, Sornhill and Louden.

Some Nesbitt/Nisbet's went to Ireland in the early 1600's seeking opportunity while others were driven there by religious persecution, and in the late 1680's, Nesbitt's began migrating to America
often by way of Ireland..

The history of the N/N family is unbroken for more than 500 years as the name constantly appeared in official documents such as: wittnessings, charters and deeds, acting as jurors, soldiers, and members of Parliament, to name but a few. Nesbitt/Nisbet's also participated in feuds and treasonous activities as well as fighting for the King's cause.

The family's male line continued through Sir Alexander's brother, the Reverend Philip Nisbet, who had moved south to York and become Rector of St. Martin's Micklegate. The Reverend Philip was a fervent Covenanter and supporter of the Parliamentarian cause. The future history of the family was to center on York, then London, with the spelling changing to Nesbitt in the 1830s.

Today, Nisbet House stands much as it did in the 1600s with an eighteenth century tower (including fine interior plasterwork) added to its west end. The Kers sold it in the early 1900's and then it went through hard times with one owner using the land for grazing and crops and later, another owner began the gigantic task of a do-it-yourself sort of rehabilitation. The present owner took possession in 2000 and has restored the property to it's original beauty. The owners of the property have asked not be visited or contacted. Please adhere to their wishes.

Nisbet House still stands!

In Colonial America...

"James Nesbit was a cadet of the Berwick branch of which Nisbet of Nisbet was the stirps. He was one of that little band of whom it has been said "was kin to the Nesbit's of Berwick that crossed the seas and settled in Penn's Land about 1728."

There came from Ireland a family of four brothers and two sisters three of whom became distinguished in the provincial and revolutionary history of Pennsylvania.

John Maxwell Nesbitt set up a mercantile firm, J.M. Nesbitt of Philadelphia. He held many offices of trust and honor, such as: Treasurer of Board of War and Paymaster of the Navy. In 1781 he assisted Robert Morris in founding the Bank of North America; he was the first President of the Insurance Company of North America. He died unmarried on January 22, 1802 and left his firm to his business partner. David Hayfield Conyngham.

Alexander Nesbitt - 2nd brother - was founder and first captain of the City Troop. In 1799 he formed a partnership with General Stewart and conducted the mercantile house of Steward and Nesbitt in Baltimore, MD where he died unmarried in 1791.

Jonathan Nesbitt - 3rd brother - represented the firm of J. M. Nesbitt and Company abroad, where he was best friends of Robert Morris and Benjamin Franklin. He became impoverished by the Revoluntionary War and dies in great distress in France, where he is buried at L'Orient.

James Nesbitt - 4th brother - was sent to live with his sisters at Springton Manor, Chester Co, PA where many of the members of the N/N family has settled to whom he often referred to as "our Caledonian Cousins.