William Forsyth, Heir of Dykes (1642)
/From the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, Volume IX, No. 1040
The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland is one of the richest sources for tracing noble and landholding Scottish families. Among its entries are the men and women who shaped Scotland’s history — including our Forsyth ancestors.
On 22 January 1642, we find the following reference:
“Wil. Forsyth, filium et heredem apparentem quondam Willelmi F. de Dykes…”
“William Forsyth, son and heir-apparent of the late William Forsyth of Dykes…”
In this charter, the Crown confirms a legal transaction involving lands in the barony of Monkland. While brief, the record provides critical genealogical and historical evidence:
A Forsyth family at Dykes
A father-to-son line of succession
The Forsyths positioned among other landed families in Lanarkshire
Recognition at the highest level of Scottish law and feudal authority
Though the charter’s main focus is a land conveyance to Jacob Hamilton of Boig, the Forsyth name shines through in its mention of inheritance — a reminder that Forsyths held respected status, property, and social standing in 17th-century Scotland.
Why this entry matters
For clan historians and family genealogists, each charter like this acts as:
a proof point of Forsyth landholding,
a link in our genealogical chain, and
a document showing the Forsyth presence in central Scotland during a time of political and religious change.
It reminds us that the Forsyth story is not only told in legends and family tradition, but preserved in the official legal heart of Scotland’s history.
Are you descended from Forsyths?
Curious about your Scottish roots?