The Routledges
Ignoring the section on the previous page regarding a farm in surrey which I can not prove nor disprove its safe to say that the Routledges most likely began somewhere in the now Scottish county of Liddlesdale. To the north is Hawick, to the south is Bewcastle and all around them lay the debatable lands. Possible breaking away from the main group some headed north and found lands to buy or rent from the Douglas and Scotts, while some headed south for Bewcastle and became loyal land owners and servants to the future King of England.
At roughly the same time their fortunes changed for ever. The Routledges at Hawick decided to raid, burn and sack the Scotts Castle at Buccleuch, while the those at Bewcastle had the lands stripped when Richard the III was killed in battle. Some Routledges in Hawick retained their lands and after perhaps loosing some family at the Battle of Flodden became the largest single land owner in the burgh.
The Routledges of the Debatable land though where gradually building up their reputation as a fearsome Border Reiver family, sharing lands with the Armstrong's and laying down roots in south Liddesdale near Bewcastle. But all good things must come to an end. The Routledges of Roxburgh disappear after 1537 and there is no evidence of them again till the parish records begin in 1640's. And as for the Reiver Routledges, they were about to be pushed out of history for ever. The English chased them out of the debatable lands and out of England. Some fled to Scotland and abandoned the name while others made the best of their fortunes and fled to Ireland to own a string of castles and hundreds of acres of land.
For those that stayed life would become hell. They would go down in history as Everyman's prey and a broken clan. No leader and no hope. They found themselves on the receiving end of raids, kidnappings, murder, and reiving from powerful families such as Elliots, Grahams and Nixon's. They were at the mercy of the sword.
But with the union of the crowns in 1603 their luck was to change for the better. They were to settle and acquire lands, slowly building up enough land and power to be come the largest family in the area. Although this was not to be the same for their cousins in Ireland. They were to have their lands, castles, and friends taken from them. They were to be massacred by Cromwell's sword in what would be know as a curse. They had no choice other than to accept protestant rule or flee Ireland. So for the second time in History the Routledges fled their home, but this time for the new world America.
Once in America they found them selves in a strange land with limitless opportunities. They built up their number and even tried to run for president. They left their mark on the landscape and on the bottom of a declaration. They even survived the Alamo and climbed Everest.
But what of the English Routledges. Well they survived civil war and interbreeding, diseases and death. And as a legacy they had Routledges at Trafalgar and exploring Easter Island. They became famous actresses and premiership footballers, they fought bravely in both World Wars, and lived to modern day. But perhaps in my eyes their greatest legacy is me!
I Hope you've enjoyed this site and please feel free to contact me with any comments or additions I can make to improve it or help you with any of your own research. And who knows, one day this might become a book like the History of the Armstrong's, Elliots, or Scotts. But not just yet.
"I've got a Farm to go raid, a widow to make and food to steal for my table"
