Russel, James (1858 -1940)

There were at least three James Russels whose crest this could be:
James Russel (1787-1858) of Blackbraes, Stirlingshire, was a solicitor, and a former apprentice to James Aitken. In 1818, aged 31, he took over James Aitken's solicitor business in Falkirk following Aitken’s death. Thereafter he went into partnership with Henry Aitken of Darroch, and the partnership took the name Russel & Aitken. He was also the Town Clerk for Falkirk. James Russel married Catherine Crawford and they had seven children.

His eldest son, James Russel jnr of Blackbraes took over the coal and iron businesses. He died in 1860, surviving his father by only two years, and leaving his wife Eliza Curle, daughter of James Curle Esq. of Evelaw in Berwickshire, and a son, also named James, and two daughters. A Trust was established which ran the coal and iron business and managed the properties until James’s son, James Russel of Dundas Castle, became of age.

James Russel of Dundas Castle (1858-1940) was the grandson of James Russel, founding partner of Russel & Aitken, and son of James Russel of Blackbraes. He lived at Dundas Castle which was purchased in 1875 by the trustees of the James Russel Trust. According to the Lyon Register, the crest with the arms Argent a lion rampant gules between three pewits sable on a chief a fountain between three mullets or and the motto Che sara sara were granted to Russel of Blackbraes in 1860. In that case, the first two James Russels could probably be discounted, leaving James Russel III as the most likely candidate.