The Arms of Sir William Stuart-Forbes of Monymusk, Bt
Noel Cox
first published (Autumn 2004) 90 New Zealand Armorist 2-3
Sir William Daniel Stuart-Forbes of Pitsligo is the 13th baronet of Pitsligo and Monymusk, Aberdeenshire, in the Nova Scotian baronetage. The baronetcy was created in 1626. Born 21 August 1935, he succeeded his uncle, Sir Charles Edward Stuart-Forbes of Pitsligo, in 1985.
The Stuart-Forbes family has lived in New Zealand since 1956. Sir William lives at Macrocarpa Hall, Blenheim, Marlborough.
Sir William Forbes of Monymusk was forth in descent from Duncan Forbes of Corsindae, the second son of the second Lord Forbes. He was created a baronet in 1626, with remainder to his heirs male whatsoever.
Sir William Forbes, seventh baronet, in 1797 married Williamina Wishart, only child and heiress of Sir John Belshes-Wishart, afterwards Stuart, forth baronet of Fettercairn, who was descended in the maternal line from the Stuarts of Castlemilk.
Sir John Stuart-Forbes, the eighth baronet, added the surname Hepburn, and assumed the arms, as heir general of the last Lord Forbes of Pitsligo. The fourth baronet had married Mary, daughter of the third and sister of the fourth Lord Forbes. Sir John was now Stuart-Hepburn-Forbes. Sir Charles Forbes, the 11th baronet, dropped the surname Hepburn.
The original seat of the family, Pitsligo Castle, is now a ruin. It belonged to the well-known American millionaire, the late Malcolm Forbes, between 1988 and 1990.
The shield of the armorial bearings of Sir William Stuart-Forbes of Monymusk, Bt is divided quarterly, first and fourth, Azure, on a chevron Argent between three bears' heads, couped of the last, muzzled Gules, a man's heart Proper. These are the arms of the family of Forbes of Monymusk.
The second quarter is counter-quatered. The first and fourth are for the family Forbes of Pitsligo, Argent, three bears' heads, couped, muzzled Gules. The second and third are for the family of Fraser, Azure, three frases Argent. The frases (or fraises) are five-foiled flowers, a pun on the family name.
The third quarter is Or, a bend Gules, surmounted by a fess chequy Azure and Argent in chief a crescent of the third. These are the arms of the Stuarts of Fettercairn. The tenth baronet adopted the name and arms of Stuart.
The supporters are simply two bears Proper.
The crest is from that of the Forbes of Pitsligo: issuing out of a baron's coronet a dexter hand holding a scymetar Proper motto over 'Nec temere nec timidae'. The "scymetar" is of course the scimitar, a curved sword, with a broad blade, serrated at the back towards the top.
The motto is Fax mentis honestæ gloria.