Bid to find Declaration of Arbroath descendants

AC A DE M ICS h ave lau nched a sea rch for descenda nts of signatories on the Declaration of

Arbroath before the document’s 700th anniversary in 2020.

With major plans centred on the

Angus town and its ancient abbey well advanced to mark the milestone, Strathclyde University researchers have revealed they are exploring the lineage of people whose names are associated with the distinctive wax seals on the 1320 document. Identified maleline descendants are being invited to take DNA tests to confirm their heritage.

The outcomes of the study – the

Declaration of Arbroath Family

History Project – are to form part of an exhibition at Arbroath Abbey.

Graham Holton, a lead tutor in

Strathclyde’s genealogy staff team, said: “We can confirm direct ancestry by evaluating the Y chromosomes of male-line descendants, as it passes more or less unchanged from father to son.”

Several descendants have already agreed to take part.

Postgraduate genealogical studies students at Strathclyde are carrying out the research into the signatories, who numbered around 50 and were largely barons and noblemen.

The initiative follows a previous study into the Battle of Bannockburn that identified genetic connections between people living today and their ancestors who fought in the 1314 battle.

The National Museum of

Scotland revealed the declaration would go on display next year for the first time in 15 years. It will be exhibited at the Edinburgh museum for a month in the spring.

The Arbroath 2020 anniversary programme includes the creation of a grand tapestry and plans for a pageant event through the town.