Edmonstone Chronicles, Royal Knights and
Scottish Kings
by Joan Wheeler La Grone
(including Edmonsdsons, Edminstons and other various spellings of the name), but to people of
Scottish descent thoughout the world. The book is a masterpiece of reconstruction and
research...informative and enthralling to read."
-Mary (Edmonstone) McGrigor,
Scottish author and historian
"Equal parts of action, adventure and political intrigue! The book is a wonderful
perspective on a historical family with keen attention paid to accuracy and detail."
-Cecile Cooper Higgins,
author and former director of marketing
for Harcourt, Vrace and Jovanovich
Ancient Home of the
Edmonstone Knights
U.S. author Joan La Grone made three trips to Scotland to find her ancestors who served the Kings of
Scotland and to determine why they emigrated to the American Colonies in the 1700s. In her search she
combed the ancient National Archives of Scotland back to 1063, as well as libraries, castles, burghs, and
the Scottish countrysided, talking to local historians and genelogists. She unearthed a wealth of fascinating
genealogical findings, including that she is realted to King Robert the Bruce.
In her reserach, La Grone also discovered that another ancestor, Sir James Edmonstone, a prominent
Jocobite and acquaintance of Rob Roy, was banished from Scotland for coming to the aid of a friend in a
murderous duel in 1696. Although Edmonstone was innocent of the crime, he was convicted under a newly
enacted English law purposely contrived to expel him from Scotland for defending the House of Stuart
against the English. Sir James never was pardoned, although his friend was. In spite of his banishment, he
returned to Scotland to carry the Royal Standard for King James VIII in the famous Battle of Sherriffmuir in
1715. Unsuccessful in this attempt to restore the King to the Scottish throne, Sir James had to give up his
land and inheritance. His sons, James and Matthew, were compelled to emigrate to America, where they
established themselves in Augusta County, Virginia.
As Scotland continues its pursuit of independence today, The Edmonstone Chronicles, with its abundance
of well researched anecdotes and new findings, illuminates the courage and tenacity of the Scottish people.