The Border Reivers were essentially raiding families during the 15th to early 17th centuries on both sides of the border between England and Scotland. They lived outside of the laws of both countries and would not submit to their efforts to impose order. The Reivers engaged in theft, rustling, arson, kidnapping, murder and extortion. Their actions led to the terms “bereavement” and “blackmail” being added to our language.
England and Scotland were frequently at war during this period, and even when they were not the relationship was one of mistrust and tension. The violence which Anglo-Scottish warfare inflicted on the Border country caused great suffering. It is not too much of an exaggeration to say that Borderers were living on a battlefield for around 300 years. The effect of this was to drive them into allegiance to their family names rather than to England or Scotland, and to force them to protect themselves in the absence of state protection. They actually had little alternative but to live outside the rule of law. Robbery and blood feud became normalised as a result. Reiving families were frequently co-opted into the contending English and Scottish forces when battles were fought, but they could never be wholly relied upon, often switching sides once the outcome became clear, and maintaining allegiance to their name first and foremost.
Both England and Scotland established three “Marches” on their own side of the border, with Wardens appointed in an attempt to impose order; an unsuccessful attempt it should be said! These Marches were an East March, Middle March, and West March. There was also an area which became known as “The Debatable Land” since both countries laid claim to it.
Reiver Families whose names occur in Mary Besford (née Turnbull)’s ancestry
Turnbull
The Turnbull surname originates from a man who was known as William of Rule. The Rule Water is a river in the Scottish Borders and is a tributary of the River Teviot in Roxburghshire. William of Rule served under Robert the Bruce during the Scottish Wars of Independence in the early 14th century. He is recorded as having saved Robert the Bruce from a charging bull by intercepting it and wrestling it to the ground. As a result of this feat he became known as William Turn-e-bull, a surname which was adopted by his descendants. There is a Turnbull monument in Hawick, Roxburghshire, in the heart of Teviotdale.
The Turnbulls became a “riding family” (i.e. Reivers) in the Teviotdale area of the Middle March in Scotland. The Turnbulls are known to have had feuds with both the Armstrongs and the Kerrs.
Armstrong
One of the leading Reiver names, the Armstrongs were numerous on both sides of the border. Annandale and Liddesdale in particular were strongholds of the Armstrongs in Scotland. During the 16th century they were reputed to be able to call up 3,000 men into the saddle. They were undoubtedly the most dangerous and most feared reiving family in the borders. Walter Scott of Satchells wrote of them: “On the border were the Armstrongs, able men, most unruly and very ill to tame.”
Bell
A reiving family in Annandale. It has been suggested that the name originated from good looks (as in the French “Belle”). The Bells were active raiders.
Crozier
Based in Upper Liddesdale and Teviotdale. A relatively small but apparently hard-riding family, often allied to the Elliots and Nixons.
Irving
An Annandale family. According to George MacDonald Fraser (inThe Steel Bonnets published in 1971) the Irvings were “A very tough bunch indeed, contributing much to the general disorder, despite their comparatively small numbers. Thoroughly involved in all the West March mischief.”
The Scottish ancestry via Mary Turnbull‘s marriage to David Besford indicates that the Besfords undoubtedly have Border Reiver blood in their veins. The five surnames noted above all occur and are those of noted Reiver families. Moreover, these ancestors of ours from the 18th and 19th centuries lived in precisely the same locations as the earlier Turnbulls, Armstrongs, Bells, Croziers and Irvings.
Whilst Reiver ancestry is not necessarily something to be proud of, it is at least an ancestry which should be acknowledged and understood in the context of the times.
Main image: Reiver Statue, Galashiels
