secured the family's fortunes by marrying a sister of Robert the Bruce. In March 1306 he was a witness at Bruce's coronation in Scone. Seton is also have said to have saved the king's life when he was unhorsed during the Battle of Methven in June 1306. Seton was captured at the battle by the English and was executed in London with great brutality. In 1320, Sir Alexander Seton, who was probably Sir Christopher's brother signed the Declaration of Arbroath that asserted Scottish independence. Sir Alexander Seton was later Governor of Berwick from 1327 until 1333 when the town surrendered to the English. The English had already hanged Seton's son whom they had held as a hostage. Seton's remaining two sons were also both killed - one drowning in a sea battle with an English fleet and the other was killed fighting Edward Balliol. His daughter, Margaret, therefore succeeded to the estates and it was her son who took the Seton surname and was created the first Lord Seton.
The Earl of Winton's brother, Alexander Seton, was created Lord President of the Court of Session which is Scotland's highest judicial office and later Chancellor of Scotland. In 1606, Alexander Seton was created Earl of Dunfermline. The Setons were staunch Jacobites and James Seton, 4th Earl of Dunfermline forfeited his title for supporting John Graham, 1st Viscount Dundee in 1689 as did George Seton, 5th Earl of Winton after the Jacobite rising of 1715. Another branch of the clan, the Setons of Abercorn, were created Baronets of Nova Scotia in 1663. Sir Alexander Seton, 1st Baronet was appointed to the Supreme Court bench in 1677 and was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia in 1684. Some members of the family moved to France, where they belonged to the Scottish Guard of the King. In particular Jacques Seton, sr de Lavenage becomes a lieutenant of the Scottish Guard, but becomes famous for another reason: since Mazarin wants French people to replace Scottish ones, he loses part and then the entirety of his job. Mazarin then proposes to him to be in charge of the French printmaking system, which was till then a free trade. But the printmakers protested, the idea failed and printmaking was confirmed a free trade, by royal edict.
Memorials
, Seton Collegiate Church and Seton Castle are all on the coast south of Edinburgh and stand as memorials to the clan. The Earldom moved to the Setons of Garleton and then to the Seaton Broad-bent family. The Earldom is now dormant.
Castles
Castles that have belonged to the Clan Seton have included amongst many others:
Seton Castle, also known as Seton House, was the main seat of the Clan Seton.
