Clan Sandilands

Clan Sandilands is a Scottish clan. It is also considered a sept of the larger Clan Douglas.

History

Origins of the clan

The name Sandilands comes from lands by that name in Clydesdale. The family may have originally fled to Scotland from Northumberland in the reign of Malcolm III of Scotland.

Wars of Scottish Independence

During the Wars of Scottish Independence, Sir James de Sandilands distinguished himself in the wars against the English. For his services he was rewarded with a royal charter to his lands by David II of Scotland. He married Eleanor, the only daughter of Sir Archibald Douglas, Regent of Scotland. James Sandilands received from his brother-in-law, William IV, Lord of Douglas the lands of Calder in Lothian. In 1333 Sir James Sandilands was killed at the Battle of Halidon Hill.

15th century

Sir James Sandilands' son also called James was one of the hostages sent to England for James I of Scotland. James Sandilands was only returned to Scotland two years before his death. He was the presumptive heir to the Douglas estates and should have inherited them on the death of the James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas. However the estates went instead to George Douglas, Earl of Angus, Douglas's natural son.