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- or Dicson, Baron of Symington and Hazelside
Dickson or, as is common in England, "Dixon," is a patronymic surname, traditionally Scottish and thought to have originated upon the birth of the son of Richard Keith, son of Hervey de Keith, Earl Marischal of Scotland, and Margaret, daughter of the 3rd Lord of Douglas. "Nisbet in his Heraldry (Edinburgh 1722) says 'The Dicksons are descendants from Richard Keith, said to be a son of the family of Keith, Earls Marischals of Scotland' and in proof thereof carry the chief of Keith Marischal. This Richard was commonly called Dick and the 'son' was styled after him. The affix of son in the Lowlands answering the prefix Mac in the Highlands." As a result, Clan Dickson is considered a sept of Clan Keith. Richard Keith's son, Thomas, took the surname "Dickson," meaning "Dick's son" or "Richard's son."
Sir William "the Hardy" Douglas (d 1298) turned to him for help in recovering Sanquhar Castle in 1295. Thomas, the hero of the hour, made an unopposed entry in a wood cart with which he blocked open castle gates. He killed the porter with his dirk and he slew three gate wardens with an axe. The castle was retaken before the English defenders could rise from their beds. When 3,000 English later appeared to lay siege to the castle, Thomas slipped out through a secret passage to warn William Wallace. Wallace rescued the castle, with the English losing 500 men in the process.
Due to these heroic acts and others, Thomas was awarded the lands of Hazelside in South Lanarkshire, and ten years later in 1306 he was appointed hereditary warden of Castle Douglas and awarded the barony of Symington by charter of King Robert I.
The following year later saw him up to his old tricks, assisting James "the Black" Douglas to recapture Castle Douglas from the English (well at least according to Sir Walter Scott). The incident that became known for the slaughter of the English garrison is one in which Thomas lost his life. The English policy was to kill any Bruce supporters including women and children. Scots raiders of English garrisons needed to be careful that no English were left alive to identify locals amongst their party.
Thomas and a supporter were hidden in the parish church of St Bride's in Douglasdale on the morning of Palm Sunday 19th March 1307, when the English garrison left the castle to attend divine services. The war-cry "A Douglas a Douglas" went up from the outside and Thomas sprung his surprise but the main Scots force was at the castle dealing with the guard and not at the church. Thomas was killed on the doorstep of St Bride's Kirk. By tradition he fought on after being disembowelled by a sword slash until he dropped lifeless. This story was supposedly supported by a tombstone no longer to be seen in the churchyard of St. Bride's, on which was sculptured a figure of Thomas, supporting with his hand his protruding entrails, and raising his sword with the other in the attitude of combat. Enraged by his death Jamie Douglas sought bitter revenge. The English prisoners were beheaded. All the stores were piled together and the prisoner's bodies were placed on top of the pile, which was set alight. The local people gave the whole gruesome episode the name of the "Douglas Larder".
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