William RuleWilliam Rule, a man of the Rule River, was well known for his strength and abilities in many activities. The man lived by the River Rule and appears on several records throughout the 13th century. In 1300, his name appears upon a record as a witness for a grant of land to the Monks of Kelso from the Throne of England Edward the First.

The Fullest account of the whole situation was written by Hector Boece, an early Scottish Historian, in his Book "History of Scotland" which was published in Paris in 1526. The tale has been retold many times, but the most famous was by poet John Leydon in his "Scene's of Infancy".

At the time, the Rule Water area was in the Barony of the House of Douglas. The Rules were well known for their fighting qualities and in exchange for military services were given small lairdships throughout the area. A very happy arrangement for both parties; the Barony of Douglas for having such a well fitted army, and the Rules for the titles and benefits.

Sir James Douglas, a close friend of Robert The Bruce, may well have been the reason William Rule was with the King's hunting party that day.

By account a wild bull rushed the King of Scotland. This is another often disputed factor within our history. Those who choose the believe our name was not based on this, often dispute the legend because in the John Leydon poem he says a wild bison charges the king after shaking his yellow mane. The argument says there were no bison in Scotland, and that bison have no yellow mane. In defense to this, we simply tell them to re-read the poem but with a poets eyes. Poets everywhere have been known to use a poetic license in writing material. BUT, if we take a look at a Highland cow, we see that they have a thick growth of hair at their neck and in fact are a yellow color. " Therefore...a yellow mane"
In 1313 William leapt before the King, turned the bull down and killed it. Whether he killed it himself or others assisted we do not know. One point to consider is that if a large animal like a bull is turned hard and sharp onto his back...head first. The weight of it may very well break it's neck. As far as turning a bull, the event has happened before and will again.

In (ca.) 1315 the lands of the Western Part of the estates of Philiphaugh in Selkirkshire were given to William Rule, and he was dubbed Turn-e-bull. The payment is reported as being one broad arrow each Assumption Day of The Virgin (August 15). The name Turnbull never appeared before this date and after this date, the name Rule disappears and the new name Turnbull is known.
William became a national hero, his name was far and wide and his legend growing ever bigger.
Unfortunately, in 1333 at the Battle of Halidon Hill he met is fate. The battle against the English was led by a Douglas over a town called Berwick. William and his Huge Dog went to the front of the Scottish army and challenged any English soldier to fight him. A Sir Robert Benhale took William up on his challenge. Apparently the dog attacked first, and the knight cut the dog in two and after that a battle between the two. William lost first his arm, then his head. The Battle was lost and the English killed the Leader Douglas

A final story is told about William Turnbull's (ne Rule) fate. The story is out of the "Churches and Churchyards of Teviotdale" published in 1893 and written by James Robson.

The story goes to say, that in Digging graves in Bedrule, large bones were often found and unearthed. These bones were believed to be from the Turnbull Clan Chieftains as they were known to be men of very large and powerful build. The story is said be true because the writer can vouch for it's accuracy.

Upon digging one day, two men came across two very large thigh bones and had no difficulty in identifying them as those of William Turnbull the man who saved the king. The two men took the bones and to avoid suspicion placed one down each of their pant legs. The two soon found that placing them was not as easy as they thought...and thus one was buried in a "yaird" on the east and one on the west side of the village of Denholm..a neighboring village. It is also said they are there today.

This information about William Rule, who was the first Turnbull. The information was collected from the "I saved The King" by R. E. Scott and "RuleWater and It's People" by George Tancred.

article image

Aidan G. W. Turnbull

Do you recognise this rather rough and unsavoury fellow? This is Aidan G.W.
article image

Albert Turnbull

Meet 'King' Albert Feb 9 2007 By Daniel Thomson, The Journal When Albert Turnbull began looki...
article image

Albert Victor J.P. Turnbull

Alderman Albert Victor Turnbull J.P. 1913 – 1996 Albert V.
article image

Alexander Horsburgh Turnbull (1868 - 1918)

Alexander Horsburgh Turnbull was a merchant in Wellington, New Zealand with a deep interest i...
article image

Andrew Turnbull, Dr.

Andrew Turnbull (1718–1792) was a British Consul at Smyrna.
article image

Ann P. Turnbull

Ann P. Turnbull earned her degrees at The University of Georgia (B. Ed.
article image

Ann Rule (Author)

Ann Rule (1931-2015) is regarded by many as the foremost true crime writer in America, and th...
article image

Barbara Turnbull (Journalist)

Toronto Star reporter Barb Turnbull was posthumously appointed to the Order of Canada during ...
article image

C. Garnet Trimble

On the 16th of April 1884 Charles Garnet Trimble was born to Andrew Hill and Cynthia Wright T...
article image

Colin Turnbull

An upper class Oxford-educated Englishman, Colin Turnbull's life long affair with the African...
article image

David Trimble (Lord)

The Right Honorable (William) David Trimble, Lord Trimble Member of Parliament, Upper Bann, 1...
article image

David Trumbull

David Trumbull (1751-1822) — of Connecticut was born in 1751.
article image

Dorothy Turnbull Berk

In 1979, Dorothy Turnbull Berk, chartered a US branch of Turnbull Clan Association and began ...
article image

Douglas C. Turnbull

Douglas Turnbull, Jr, graduated from The Johns Hopkins University as one of its most celebrat...
article image

Douglas Trumbull

Filmmaking industry pioneer, Douglas Trumbull was the 2012 winner of the prestigious Gordon E...
article image

Eddie Turnbull

Eddie Turnbull signed for Hibs from Forth Rangers in 1946.
article image

George Turnbull (Abt 1562-1633)

George Turnbull (Abt 1562–1633), Scots Jesuit, was born about 1562 in the diocese of St.
article image

Grace H. Turnbull

Grace Turnbull was a renowned regional artist whose media included oil and water color, wood ...
article image

H. Rutherford Turnbull III

H. Rutherford Turnbull, III earned his degrees at The Johns Hopkins University (B.A.
article image

Helen B. Turnbull

Helen Brogden Turnbull was the sister of Jack and Doug and was the youngest member of the wom...
article image

Herbert Westren Turnbull

Born August 31, 1885; in Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, England.
article image

Jack I. Turnbull (Lt. Col.)

Lt. Col. Jack I. Turnbull Trophy National Lacrosse Hall of Fame induction of Jack I.
article image

James of Turnbull (Armiger)

Written by Angelo Arata In the town of Carmagnola, Piedmont, Italy there is an engraved tombs...
article image

James Trimble (Captain)

Captain James Trimble was born in Augusta County, Virginia, son of John Trimble and Mary Chri...
article image

James W. Turnbull, MD

A brief excerpt from the book, The Story of Saskatchewan and its People, By John Hawkes, Volu...
article image

James Youll Turnbull (Victoria Cross)

James Youll Turnbull VC (24 December 1883 - 1 July 1916) was a Scottish recipient of the Vict...
article image

Janet Turnbull Schwierking

Janet Carol Turnbull was born in San Francisco and called California home until her early 40s...
article image

Jeffrey Turnbull, MD

Dr Jeffrey Turnbull, chairman of the Department of Medicine at the University of Ottawa and t...
article image

John Charles Turnbull

John Charles Turnbull, born June 10, 1874 Woodsland, Duddington, Scotland.
article image

John Colclough Turnbull

As told by John Rodney Turnbull: John Colclough Turnbull, my father, was born in 1852 down ne...
article image

John Fisher Turnbull (TCA Founder)

John Fisher Turnbull Founder of the Turnbull Clan Society and proprietor of Turnbull’s Grocer...
article image

John Grason Turnbull (Judge)

This the obituary for Judge Turnbull that appeared in The Baltimore Sun, 2 April 1984: John T...
article image

John Howard Turnbull

John Howard Turnbull received the Distinguished Flying Cross - No.
article image

John I. Turnbull

John I. Turnbull ("Jack") was the younger brother to Douglas of lacrosse fame.
article image

John Q. Turnbull

On December 3rd1872 Mr. And Mrs. John Q.
article image

John Turnbull (Civil War Physician)

John Turnbull lived and practiced medicine in Bellbrook after he had enlisted as a private in...
article image

John Turnbull (fl. 1800–1813)

John Turnbull (fl. 1800–1813), traveller, was a sailor in the merchant service.
article image

John Turnbull (Indian Trader)

We start with the legacy left by John Turnbull via his son Daniel.
article image

John Turnbull (Judge)

John Turnbull Judge of the YearCROSSVILLE CHRONICLEDuring the annual Tennessee Judicial Confe...
article image

Jonathan Trumbull, Sr. (Governor)

Reprinted from The Scarlet Standard, Historical Series, Number Seven, January 1999, General I...
article image

Loretta Turnbull (Queen of the Seas)

In the summer of 1931, Loretta Turnbull, a 17-year-old girl from the United States, was compe...
article image

Malcolm Bligh Turnbull

Malcolm Bligh Turnbull (born 24 October 1954) is an Australian politician who has been the Me...
article image

Matt Turnbull

For the last several years, the Metro Branch of the Eastern United States Bagpipe Association...
article image

Peter Evan Turnbull

Turnbull, Peter Evan, 1786-1852 Author and Scholar https://archive.
article image

Robert Trimble (Judge)

Robert Trimble was born in 1777 in Virginia, moved with his family, at the age of three years...
article image

Ronald Bruce Turnbull

With the present popularity of a new James Bond and movie, it is interesting to note that Ron...
article image

Rupert Beach Turnbull

Rupert Beach Turnbull Jr., was born October 3, 1913, in Pasadena, California.
article image

Sir Richard Gordon Turnbull

Sir Richard Gordon Turnbull (1909 - 1998) was a British colonial governor and the last govern...
article image

Steve Turnbull

The Catamount Pipe Band was formed in Oct, 2000.
article image

Turner Brashears Turnbull III

By Frankie James 1998 Prologue In 1999, while the rest of Oklahoma and the nation celebrated ...
article image

W. Rupert Turnbull Stamp

W.
article image

Wallace (Wally) Rutherford Turnbull II

During his tenure as president, Wally was instrumental in acquiring official arms for TC...
article image

Wallace Rupert Turnbull (Canadian Aviation Pioneer)

Birthdate: October 16, 1870Birth Place: St.
article image

Walter J. Turnbull, Dr.

Recipient of the Heinz Award in 1998 Dr. Walter J.
article image

William Barclay David Donald Turnbull

TURNBULL, WILLIAM BARCLAY DAVID DONALD (1811–1863), archivist and antiquary, born in St.
article image

William Trimble

William Trimble has been pioneering the cause of saxophone in concert and new music for over ...
article image

William Turnbull (1729–1796)

William Turnbull (abt 1729 –1796), physician, born at Hawick about 1729, belonged to the fami...
article image

William Turnbull (Bishop)

A life of the great bishop and statesman who founded Glasgow University has never been writte...
article image

William Turnbull (Turnbull & Stockdale)

William Turnbull founded Turnbull & Stockdale, a leading and innovative textile manufactu...