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Local: Of Forbes, a town and barony in county Aberdeen. The famity possessed that lordship as early as temp. William the Lion, and were seated at Pitscottie in the same shire in 1476.
An old tradition records that in 870, Solvathius Forbes married Moravilla, daughter of King Gregory the Great. Another account states that, one Achonacher came from Ireland to Scotland about the end of the twelfth century, and having slain a monstrous wild boar, took the name of Forbear, afterwards turned to Forbeas, and used a boar's head in his arms to commemorate the deed. In the southeast corner of the parish of Au- chindon, is a spring, called the Nine Maidens Well, near which nine virgins were slain by a wild boar. The boar was afterwards killed by a young chief of the name of Forbes, the lover of one of the maidens. From this circumstance, the boar's head is now borne by the Forbes in their arms. This chieftain, who was named John de Forbes, was owner of the lands of Forbes in 1214 ; his son, Fergus de Forbes, was father of Alexander Forbes, whose son, Alexander Forbes, was the father of Sir John Forbes, who had three sons, Sir Alexander, Sir William, and Sir John: and from these three brothers are descended the families of Forbes.
Local: Lands free from military service, called 'Saor Forba,' or free lands. The name of a parish in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
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