A Brief History

The Ancient History...

The original inhabitants of the British Isles were Gauls and Celts. Long before the time of Caesar, the inhabitants were engaged in agricultural pursuits. When Caesar conquered Britain he drove the Celts into Wales and the Gaelic tribes went further north settling within the boundary of Caledonia.

These tribes resentful of their treatment would often invade and brutally attack the Romans. Later, Hadrian built a line of fortresses one hundred miles south that led to the Tyne river. This region was the center of perpetual warfare. Within this territory was wide mossy moors that were interrupted by flat-topped hills and intervening valleys. Appearing as relief upon a portion of a land map was the land of Nisbet, a name derived from Naes or Nis, meaning a prominence signifying a nose-like piece of land. From these lands in the Parish of Edrom in the ancient "Kingdom of Fife," which was never absorbed by the Romans, the family of Nesbit or Nisbet took its name.

Another possible explanation of the surname is derived from two Anglo-Saxon words: Ness, a cape or bend and Byht, a dwelling. A simple translation of Nesebyth would be "a house on a bend."

The first family deriving its name from the lands of Nesbit is said to have been of Norman origin. Some authorities claim that Gospatric, Earl of Northumbria (d. 1073) was the progenitor of this family.

The Charters of King Edgar, circa 1097 AD, included a donation of land in Berwickshire "where the castle of Nisbet stood." The lowland family of Nesbitt or Nisbet has its roots in the county of Berwickshire, in the Scottish borders. Philip de Nesbyth was a witness to a charter given by King David I of Scotland to the monks of Coldingham in Berwick. 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). Willielmus de Nesbyth was a witness to a charter given by Malcolm IV to the monks of Durham. In the 12th century, castles were built by the Nisbet family at West Nisbet, two miles south of the town of Duns, and at East Nisbet, now known as Allanbank, southeast of Duns on the Blackadder River. Thomas de Nesbyth was prior of Coldingham from 1219 to 1240. Phillip de Nesbyth, now called de Nesbit, was a baron of Scotland who submitted to Edward I of England in 1296. James Nesbit and John Nesbit swore fealty to Edward I of England. Adam Nisbet is mentioned in the Ragman Rolls and he recieved from King Robert Bruce a charter to the lands of Knocklies in the Parish of Edrom, Fifeshire. Later, a great warrior during David II. Philip Nisbet succeeded to the family estates and was chief of the House of Nisbet, a house most renowned in Scottish history, until the times of Charles I of England.

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.

The family of Nisbet of that Ilk lost its estates in the Civil War. Sir Alexander Nisbet was sheriff of Berwick during the period of the religious wars in Scotland. Alexander Nisbet married his neighbor, Katherine Swinton circa. 1609. He took ownership of the old castle and build a new manse which still stands today. A devout adherent of King Charles, Alexander lost three sons in the King's Army and seriously encumbered the property in the fight against the covenanter's. He was finally forced to sell to the Ker's in 1652 but spent years trying to keep it by rendering to the king that the family had been faithful subjects for 600 years. He refused to give up the land until 1679.Five of his sons fought for the cause of the King and were fervent supporters of Charles I, but he was to lose three sons, as well as his newly built tower house. The family motto, "I byd it" (I endure it) was all too appropriate. The eldest son, Sir Philip Nisbet, was tried and executed for treason in 1646 in Glasgow after the Battle of Philiphaugh; Col. Robert Nisbet was captured with Motrose and executed at Edinburgh in 1650, and Major Alexander Nisbet was killed at the siege of York in 1644. His youngest son, Adam Nisbet, had one son, Alexander Nisbet (1657-1725), the well-known author of A System of Heraldry. Nisbet "The Herald" died unmarried, and is commemorated by a memorial in Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh.

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.

...Distinguished Members of the Nesbitt/Nisbet Clan

Murdoch Nisbet of Hardhill, born 1500, had to leave Scotland because of Religious persecution. who translated the New Testament, and the original text was found and purchased in 1889-90 by "Text Society of Edinburgh." Experts consider it very valuable as it maybe the purest form of Gaelic found to date.

Captain John Nesbit, born 1627, "Hero of Drumclog", After the battle of Bothwell Brig, he was denounced as a rebel and a price put on his head. He fled to the hills. His goods and gear was taken by the King and his wife and daughter were killed. Hearing the news, Capt John returned to avenge their death, but was captured and hanged in Glasgow in December of 1685.

Alexander Nisbet (1657-1725), heraldic writer, studied at Edinburgh University in 1675, and then became a private student of heraldry, making a living as a writer in Edinburgh.

Rev. Dr. Charles Nesbit studied theology at Divinity Hall; then left his charge at Montrose to become the first president of Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA in 1783, and he did the noble honor of officiating the marriage of the Rev. Jonathan Witherspoon, signer of the Declaration of Independance. He died January 18, 1804.

Edith Nesbit, the children’s writer (The Railway Children)

Mary Nisbet (Lady Elgin), and Frances Nisbet of Carfin, who married Admiral Nelson.

Elizabeth Nesbit

The current Chief, Mark Nesbitt of that Ilk succeeded his father in 2000 as 29th in succession to Aldan. He is a direct descendant, representing over 900 years of family lineage, and he is married with two children, lives in London, and takes an active role in clan affairs.

Tom Nesbitt, founder of the DNA project, is doing much to clarify relationships between different Nesbitt/Nisbet families in North America and the British Isles.

Enter supporting content here