Crawford vs Kennedy
The feud between Clan Crawford and Clan Kennedy emerged in the 15th century during a turbulent time in Scotland. The Clans in the Ayrshire region were known for their fierce rivalries. Some time in the mid 15th century, after a growing hatred between these two powerful Clan families over land disputes, the chief of the Kennedy Clan, Gilbert Kennedy, arrived at the Crawford stronghold of Kerse Castle and announced his intention to move a sow onto Crawford territory. He proclaimed the date would be August 1st which was a holiday traditionally known as Lammas Day in Scotland. This was an obvious provocation by the Kennedys in order to spark a clan battle between the two hated rivals.
The Crawfords met and decided that the Kennedy’s encroaching on their land was an insult and decided to send a band of Clansmen to meet them on Lammas day, and force the Kennedys off their land. Leading up to the battle the government in Edinburgh attempted to stop the bloodshed by sending Maister Robert Bruce to the territory to try and negotiate a peace between the two families. Bruce’s negotiating attempts were rebuffed by both sides, he left the area frustrated by the defiance of both clans.
The Crawford Chief, the laird, sent his eldest son, Elspin, to lead the clan into battle against the Kennedys at the holms of Skeldon near Boreland Farm in Dunscore. The Kennedys were waiting for the Crawfords gathered troops that included pikemen, spearmen, hackbuttmen, and various other fighters. It was said that the sow was tied up, and to aggravate the Crawfords, a young Kennedy was put in charge of prodding the sow to keep it making loud grunts. Drums and pipes created a festive atmosphere among the Kennedy fighters.
The two clans clashed at nine in the morning, the Crawfords attacking with their horsemen first and then following with their pikemen. Unfortunately for the Crawfords their horses became stuck in the mud and their footmen had to charge in to fight hand to hand. It was said to be a fierce battle, with many clansmen on both sides being wounded or killed, including one of the Laird of Crawford’s son’s Jock. The death of the chief’s son seemed to spark the Crawford’s Clansmen to fight even harder and they were able to successfully drive the Kennedys back into the cold waters of the River Doon. Several dozen of the Kennedy fighters drowned in the treacherous river while trying to escape the battle.
Realizing the Crawfords had successfully pushed the Kennedys to the other side of the River Doon, off of their traditional lands, they celebrated their victory on the river bank among what was said to be a “ground covered with the dead and the dying”. Elspin immediately sent a messenger back to Kerse Castle to report the death of his brother to their father, the Laird of Crawford. Upon hearing of the death of his son he responded in anger, “Is the sow fitted?”. The messenger replied with “Aye, sir, the sow’s fitted”. The old chief responded gleefully with, “My thumb for Jock! The Sow’s Fitted!”.