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In 1581, the Parliament of Scotland rendered a whole clan jointly answerable, in the way of retaliation, for the delinquencies of each individual. In another statute passed shortly after, the chief of each clan was made responsible of all the misdeeds of his surname. In consequence of these acts, a roll was made of the nobles, barons, chieftains and Clans residing on the Borders, and Highlands in 1587. In this roll (West Marche) appear the surnames; Scotts of Ewesdale, Batesons, Littles, Thomsons, Glendinnings, Irvings, Bells, Carruthers, Grahams, Johnstons, Jardines, Moffats, and Latimers. In addition, Monypeny’s Chronicle, published in 1587, enumerates sixty-five lairds and gentleman as residing in Dumfriessire. There were also twenty “chief men of name, not being lairds” among which are Young Archie Thomson and Sym Thomson.
A 1594 Act of the Scottish parliament for the “punishment of theft, robbery, oppression and sorning” cited a “great number of wicked thieves, oppressors and peace-breakers of the surnames of …..Bells, Carlisles, Beatsons, Littles, Thomsons, Johnstons, et al. (remainder omitted for brevity).”
The original Thomson Armorial is included in the 1565 Workman’s Manuscript, [folio55, shield #5] and is believed by some to have been copied from the Forman Armorial, National Library, with additions from David Lyndsay and others. The arms of Thomson of That Ilk, as described in the Workman’s Manuscript (1565-1568) were never included in Lyon Court registrations. Be that as it may, successive Lyons have used the design in subsequent arms granted to Thomson Petitioners (following) as indeterminate cadets with a central theme based upon that Armorial. The 59 Thomsons who have achieved arms comprise a community, as a name on its own.
