Patricius de Dunbar, comes Marchie, 9th Earl
of Scotland
1284?-1367?

Born: 1284 and died some time after 1367.
Son of: Patrick, 8th Earl (subsequently also fourth Earl of Moray)
Brother of:
1. John.
2. Possibly others.
Patricius married: Agnes Comitissa Marchie Et Moravie, the celebrated "Black Agnes of Dunbar,"
Patricius and Agnes had issue:
1. George Earl of Dunbar and March.
2. John Dunbar, Earl of Moray.
3. Patrick, Lord of Beill.
4. Lady Agnes, who married James Douglas Lord Dalkeith.
5. Lady Margaret, who married the first Earl Douglas.
6. Elizabeth, who married Lord Thirlstane.

Patricius de Dunbar: An Overview

We know of Partricius de Dunbar from the book "Records of the Heath Family", 1913 by George Heath.  The entry reads as follows:

"Patricius de Dunbar, comes Marchie," ninth Earl, son of Patrick, eighth Earl (subsequently also fourth Earl of Moray), was born in 1284, and in July, 1300, when sixteen years of age, was present with his father at the siege of Caerlaverock, and bore-gules a lion argent within a bordure of the last, with roses of the field and a label azure for difference.  On 6th April, 1320, he was one of the Scottish barons who sent the letter to the Pope, and he sealed with-on a shield a lion rampant within a bordure charged with eleven roses.  He married his cousin Lady Agnes Ranulph, daughter of Sir Thomas Ranulph, first Earl of Moray.  As Scotland was then under an interdict the marriage was solemnized in England, and afterwards Pope John XXII. granted a dispensation for it on 16th January, 1323-4.

" Patricke de Dunbar, Counte de la Marche," upon 13th May, 1334, sealed with-on a shield couché a lion rampant within a bordure charged with thirteen roses, crest on a helmet between two demi lions gardant, a tower embattled, issuing therefrom a lady with flowing hair vested, holding in each extended hand a coronet; supporters - two wild hairy men visible to the waist; below the shield a dragon.  The lady may be intended for the Earl's mother, who defended Dunbar castle in 1296, and the two coronets may be intended for "Dunbar" and "March."  This seal appears to be earlier by eleven years than any other connected with Scotland on which either a crest or supporters are associated with family arms.

" Patricius de Dunbar, comes Marchie," is first on the list of the six "Magnates of Scotland" who sealed the guarantee for the ransom of King David II. at Berwick on Tweed upon the 5th October 1357.  Appended to the document is an impression of the Earl's seal-couché a lion rampant within a bordure charged with eleven roses; crest on a helmet a horse's head bridled issuing from a coronet showing three long and two short points' supporters two men vested, visible to the waist, each having a long feather in his cap.

On 24th May, 1367, "Patricius de Dunbar, comes Marchie et Morauie," "apud Castrum nostrum de Dunbar" appended to a charter his secretum and what he called "sigillum nostrum magnum."  Representations of them are given in H. Laing's 'Ancient and Scottish Seals,' vol. ii., plate i., Nos. 1 and 2.  In both these examples the bordure is charged with eleven roses.

After having been in harness about sixty-seven years, and after having held the Earldom fifty-eight years, he resigned in favour of his son George; his resignation was confirmed by David Il. on the 25th July, 1367. Earl Patrick seems to have survived some years.

AGNES COMITISSA MARCHIE ET MORAVIE," the celebrated "Black Agnes of Dunbar," wife of Patrick de Dunbar, ninth Earl, successfully defended her husband's castle of Dunbar against the English for nineteen weeks in the spring of 1338.  At the death of her brother, John Ranulph, third, Earl of Moray, on the 17th October, 1346, she succeeded to his great estates, including Annandale and the Isle of Man.  On the 24th May, 1367, she and her husband used the additional title of Moray, and she appended her seal to her husband's above-mentioned charter.  Seal-four shields disposed as a cross, the base points meeting in the centre; on the upper shield is a lion rampant within the Royal treasure; on the dexter and lowest shields a lion rampant within a bordure charged with eight roses for Dunbar; on the sinister shield three cushions within the Royal tressure for Ranulph; in each of the four spaces between the shields is a coronet over a rose.

Earl Patrick was succeeded by his eldest son George as Earl of Dunbar and March, who was succeeded by his son George-in whose time, on 10th June, 1434, the Earldom was attainted and annexed to the crown.  Earl Patrick's second son John succeeded him as Earl of Moray.  He had another son Patrick, Lord of Beill and three daughters, Lady Agnes, who married James Douglas Lord Dalkeith; Lady Margaret, who married the first Earl Douglas; and Elizabeth, who married Lord Thirlstane.

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