Halket

This family is believed to have taken its name from the lands of Halkhead in Renfrewshire. Black suggests that the place name may have originally meant Hawk-wood. Sir Henry Hackett was witness to a charter in 1230. The house of Pitfirran has long been accepted as the principal stem, and they have held their lands in Fife since the fourteenth century. They were already established when they obtained the lands of Luphannan and Ballingall from David II sometime prior to 1370. Philip Hagat, Lord of Ballingall, is recorded in 1390 in writs of Pitfirrane. Sir Robert Halket of Pitfirrane was knighted by James VI, while his eldest son, Sir James, supported the cause of the Covenanters in the reign of Charles I. He was elected MP for Fife in 1649 and subsequently raised his own cavalry regiment. Sir Charles Halket of Pitfirrane was created a baronet in 1662. His line ended in an heiress, Janet, who married Sir Peter Wedderburn of Gosford, created a baronet in 1697. He inherited the estate of Pitfirrane but was obliged to assume the name and arms of Halket. General Sir Colin Halket commanded a brigade of the German legion throughout the Peninsular War (1808–14) and was severely wounded at Waterloo. Sir Peter Arthur Halket of Pitfirrane, eighth Baronet, saw distinguished service with the 42nd Highlanders during the Crimean War and carried the Queen’s Colour at the bloody Battle of Alma in 1854. The baronetcy became extinct in 1904.