A Tolmie Crest

Mystery: A Tolmie Crest

The earliest current reference of a Tolmie crest is mentioned in 1874, in a text on the 'Perlustrations (surveying) of Great Yarmouth'. A three volume text that extensively surveys notable people and places of the area of Yarmouth by Charles John Palmer (F.S.A - Fellow of Society of Antiquaries).

The text makes mention of known historical Tolmie figure, David Tolme (1753-1825), the great great grandson of William Tolme of Fortrose, Scotland (1664-c1727), himself the eldest great grandson of the Tolmie progenitor, John Tolmach MacRory MacLeod. (Source: Davidson, 2019)

"David Tolme who we have seen has married one of the daughters of William Hurry, purchased the above mentioned house in 1808, and resided there until his death in 1825, aged 72... He bore a griffins head for a crest, with the motto - Audeo. He was descended from the Scotch family of Tolmie, but was born in London, and in his early life entered the marine service of the East India Company." (Source; The Perlustrations of Great Yarmouth, C.J. Palmer., F.S.A., 1874, p.439-440)

Another reference to the same Tolmie crest in 1927 by Rev. Canon Roderick Charles MacLeod of MacLeod (1852-1934), an avid historical chronicler of Clan MacLeod and younger son of Chief Norman MacLeod of MacLeod the 25th Chief of Clan MacLeod (1812-1895). Roderick's brother was Chief Norman Magnus MacLeod of MacLeod the 26th Chief of Clan MacLeod (1839-1929).

"... the more ancient crests being a lymphad or galley, a griffins head, or an eagle displayed. A griffins head, with the motto 'Audeo' , is the crest of the Tolmies, a sept of the MacLeods." (The MacLeods of Dunvegan; Rev. Canon Roderick Charles. MacLeod of MacLeod; 1927).

Reference to the same Tolmie crest is made again in 1941 by well known Clan MacKenzie chronicler, Hector Hugh MacKenzie (J.P.) (F.S.A Scot) in his seminal work on the Tolmies of Uiginish. His work includes a picture of the said brooch of a Tolmie crest picturing a Griffin and the Latin word Audeo which means 'I Dare'.

The crested brooch mentioned above was brought to New Zealand from Scotland, given to then eldest son Donald Allan Tolmie (1829-1902) by his father and eldest direct descendent of John Tolmach, John Tolmie (1793-1844). Donald bought the crest with him when he emigrated to Australia before coming to New Zealand. It was then passed to his son Edward Tolme (1875-1977), who having no male heirs passed it the next eldest Tolmie male of direct descent, in 1960. The same crested brooch is held by the senior branch of the Tolmie sept in New Zealand.

Continuing on from Hector Hugh McKenzie popular treatise on the Tolmies of Uiginish, along with Gordon L. Shanks (a notable US Tolmie & MacLeod chronicler) and Alick Morrison (a notable MacLeod chronicler); all agreed that in 1975 the 10th Chieftain of the Tolmie sept was a descendant of the Tolmies of Uiginish residing in New Zealand.

"The Tolmie family is the oldest Sept of Clan MacLeod, including the Harris and Lewis Branches, which was stated by Dame Flora MacLeod of MacLeod, our 28th Chief; to Gordon Shanks at the 1953 Banquet in Los Angeles. This statement was later confirmed by the MacLeod Clan Chronicler, Alick Morrison... also by the definitive history of the Tolmies, known as the MacKenzies of Ballone and Tolmies of Uiginish, by Hector Hugh MacKenzie... himself descended from Tolmies" (Four Sons of Skye, J.G.H. McKay, 2011).

Though the origins of the crest are not yet known, a growing body of information from different records at different times, over the past 145 years suggest that the symbol of the Gryphon and the word Audeo hold historical significance for the senior line of the Tolmie sept. While its origins still hold some mystery, its antiquity appears to be attested from the records of clan MacLeod and others.

Sources:

Davidson, J (2019). Tolme Tales: Whats in a Name?.
McKay, J,G,H. (2011). Four Sons of Skye: The History of a Tolmie Family from Skye.
MacKenzie, H.H (1941). The MacKenzie of Ballone.
Rev. Canon R. C. MacLeod of MacLeod. (1927). 'The McLeods of Dunvegan. Clan MacLeod.
Palmer, Charles John F.S.A. (1874). The Perlustration of Great Yarmouth, with Gorleston and Southtown. Genealogical and Historical Society of New York. Volume II.

(Source; The Perlustration of Great Yarmouth, C.J. Palmer, F.S.A (Fellow of Society of Antiquaries – of London)., 1874

Brooch of Crest (Source; MacKenzie of Ballone by Hector Hugh MacKenzie, p10. 1941. (J.P.) (F.S.A Scot)

Brooch of Crest, currently held in New Zealand by senior branch of the Tolmies. (Source: Four Sons of Skye, 2011)

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A Tolmie Crest.

Mystery: A Tolmie Crest