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VIPONT: This name seems to derive from one of several places in Normandy called Vieupont from the Latin
meaning 'of the old bridge'. The Scottish Viponts descend from William de Ueupunt or Veteri Ponte circa 1165. The Veteri Pontes
held the lands of Carriden, West Lothian, for many generations and in about 1250, Nicholas de Veteri Ponte made a gift of
Swanston near Colinton to the Hospital of Soltre. Sir William de Vepont, 6th Baron, is described as being one of the two worthy
knights slain on the Scottish side at Bannockburn. On his death the estates passed into the family of Cockburn by the marriage
of his only child Mariota to Sir Alexander Cokburn. The Viponts were among the earliest known landowners in Fife, and the
refrain of a song sung by fishermen there runs: "The leal guidman of Aberdour, sits in Sir Alan Vipont's chair." This surname
is now almost extinct in Scotland. As the family does not comprise a clan, there is no chief, war-cry, crest, motto or plant
badge. There is however a tartan which seems to have been woven for the family of Vipont around 1930 but is rarely used by
them.
William Di Vipont
(William
de Vetereponte)
Monks of Holyrood
Abbey, Edinburgh, were granted a tithe by William Di Vipont during the reign of William the Lion (1165-1214) to dig
a tenth of the coal from his Carriden Estate, which was then carried to Holyrood in panniers strapped to the backs of their
horses; later it was taken to Leith by sailing ship. The tithe was significant as it first recorded the coal-mining or more
correctly at the time the digging of coal in Scotland. He also gave Holyrood “Karedyn Church”. In 1291 monks from
Dunfermline Abbey were also given the right to dig coal from outcrops around Bo'ness.
IS THIS THE SAME
WILLIAM WHO WAS GRANTED ALSTONE MOOR BY WILLIAM THE LION KING OF SCOTLAND?
1333. The Battle of Halidon Hill, Adam De Vipont, Knight Templar is captured by Edward III. The King
says “Vipont thy cross shield and tunic shows ill, waring against a Christian king”. Adam de Vipont responded
“Sire, I was a Scotsman ere I was a Templar, sworn to my Order ,yet I knew my country”. It was in this battle
that the Holy Rood of St. Margaret, is lost to the Scots,to be kept in Durham Cathedral. Near the battlefield,Edward 111,
dedicates a chapel and calls it the Holy Rood,to celebrate his victory .
1333.
Alan de Vipont was governor of Lochleven Castle this yearin the interest of David II.
1335. Lochleven Castle, under the command of Alan de Vipont, was, during the months of
May and June this year, besieged by a detachment of forces, commanded by Sir John de Strivling, in the interest of Edward
Baliol. The following is an abbreviated account of the Siege:-
"In the wars which harassed Scotland during the minority of David II, the Castle of Lochleven
was held in the patriotic interest by Alan de Vipont against the troops of Edward III, who acted in behalf of Edward Baliol.
John de Striviling blockaded it, erected a fort in the Churchyard at the point of the neighbouring promontory on the West,
and at the lower end of the lake at the extreme S. E. point, where the water of Leven issues out of it, it is said that he
raised a strong and lofty bulwark, by means of which he hoped, by preventing the water from running out, to raise its height
so far as to raise the Castle under water and thereby constrain Vipont to surrender, or drown out the besieged! The water
continued to rise daily, and the besiegers thought themselves certain of success, when, the English general and most of his
troops having left the camp to celebrate the festival of St Margaret at Dunfermline, the besieged seized the favourable opportunity
(June 19, 1335), and after much labour and perseverance they pierced the water-barrier, when the water rushed out with such
impetuosity as to overwhelm such of the English forces that lay encamped on that side. When Sir John came back from his pious
devotions at Dunfermline, and finding how matters stood, he swore that he would never desist from his enterprise till he had
raised the Castle and put the garrison to the sword. But the fates were against him. He shortly afterwards was compelled by
other circumstances to raise the siege and leave for other scenes of action. It has also been said that a small fort was erected
on St Serf's Isle by command of the English general, but this is uncertain.
Last of the Vipont Nobility in Scotland?
Mariota Da of Sir William de Vipont.
The first Cockburn we can be certain of is Alexander Cockburn whose date of birth
is unknown. In 1330 he married Mariota de Veteri Ponte or Vipont a Norman heiress." (Her father was one of the
three Scottish earls killed at Bannockburn in 1314). "They settled at Langton, near Duns in Berwickshire. Alexander
is known as the father of all modern day Cockburn branches. Much later in 1527 his descendent bought the lands at Cockburn
Law, near Duns, Berwickshire from the Earl of Crawford and started the branch Cockburn of that Ilk who became Lairds of Duns."
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