The Clan Chief has been given authority by the Lord Lyon Court to represent all Hendersons. As Chief, to help spread enthusiasm, pride and support for our MacEanruig heritage, whenever and wherever, he charges us to ”Gather the Clan.”. To assist, he has delegated High Commissioners/Chieftains. Likewise, the Clan Henderson Society operates under his mandate to help “Gather the Clan.” We should all be proud to say…”THE HENDERSON’s ARE HERE!…AYE!!”
Alistair D. Henderson of Fordell
Chief of the Name and Arms of Henderson
Alistair D. Henderson of Fordell, was recognized as Chief of the Name and Arms of the Baronial House of
Henderson by the Lord Lyon in 2005. Alistair D. Henderson of Fordell was named chief following the passing of his father Dr. John William Philp Henderson of Fordell. Alistair currently resides in Torwood, a suburb of Brisbane, Australia. He is an electrical engineer, presently consulting in the field of air pollution control and travels throughout South East Asia.
He has two children. His daughter Claire, (Bachelors of Communications (Film & Television)) graduated from Griffith University with the Dean’s Award for high achievement and then went to Korea to teach English for a year. His son, Iain, is working in Japan and is a graduate of the University of Queensland.
Alistair is interested in Scottish history, and is a member of the Heraldry Society of Scotland, the Scottish Genealogy Society, and the Genealogical Society of Queensland. He is also a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
Iain Henderson, Younger of Fordell
Tanist
Tanistry was a the Gaelic system for passing on titles and lands. Under this system, a Tanist is the person who holds the office of heir-apparent to succeed to the chieftainship of the Clan. In the Clan Henderson, our Tanist is Iain Henderson, son of the Chief of the Name and Arms of Henderson, Alistair D. Henderson. Iain is a graduate from the University of Queensland in Australia and currently resides and works in Japan.
David S. Henderson
High Commissioner of North America and Chieftain
David Simmons Henderson was appointed the Clan Henderson High Commissioner for North America and Chieftain by the Chief, effective 21 July 2002. In October 2002 he was installed as the High Commissioner for North America at the Society’s annual general meeting in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
A resident of New Bern, North Carolina, David was one of the founders of the Clan Henderson Society that formed at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in the summer of 1988. He proudly holds the member number 0002.
David served the Clan Society as its vice president at the founding of the Society in 1988 and was elected to the position of Vice President/General Counsel at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in July 1992. His chosen profession being that of an attorney, David fufilled the Society’s needs for legal counsel until 1992 when he moved to this position.
David is married to the former Loulie Burns of Macon, Georgia and the family resides in New Bern, where David maintains his practice. David and Loulie are the proud parents of three daughters, all of whom are teachers; Loulie Henderson Sikes of New Bern, Barrie Henderson Whittington of Medina, Ohio and Elizabeth Henderson of New Bern.
Dr. John William Philp Henderson of Fordell
Chief of the Name and Arms of Henderson, In Memoria
The late Dr. John was recognized by the Lord Lyon in 1985 as Chief of the Name and Arms of Henderson. Although a direct descendant of Sir John Henderson, 5th of Fordell, Dr. John did not inherit the baronetcy because the title died out in 1839. He was the first chief of the clan in more than 150 years and served as a rallying force in the development of Clan Henderson Societies in his native Australia as well as the United States, Canada, and the UK.
Dr. John was born in southwestern Queensland on a sheep-raising ranch. He eventually moved to Toowoomba where he became a doctor of medicine and maintained his practice. The Chief and his wife, Gwen, are the parents of five children — Margret Lyn, Alistair of Fordell (the current Chief), Dugald, Lachlan – and ten grandchildren.
Dr. John William Philp Henderson of Fordell passed away September 27, 2004. He will always be remembered as the refounder, and possibly even the founder of the modern global reincarnation of our clan. He will be missed and may he be in peace with his ancestors, family, friends and chiefs of old.
Claude A. Henderson
High Commissioner for North America and Chieftain, In Memoria
The late Claude Henderson of Alexandria, Virginia was High Commissioner for North America and also Chieftain. He contributed greatly to creating the Clan Henderson Society of the United States and Canada. He was recognized as Chieftain at the Stone Mountain games in 1991 when Dr. John was visiting America. During his time as Chieftain of the Clan he travelled much and spread the message of the clan. The membership has exploded and Clan Henderson Society of the United States has changed much. Chieftain Claude A. Henderson passed away in 2001 and he is greatly missed.
Counselors, to the Chief
Rex A. Maddox, Cdr, USN (Ret.)
Retired 1975 as Commander, US Navy; Retired 1991 as Project Manager from Ford aerospace; Listed in Who’s Who in American Aviation; Joined CHS 1991; Designated Head of the Bodyguard in 1993; Commissioner Mid East Region 1998-2000; President 2000-2004 and again 2008-2010; received Chief’s Order ’93; Chief’s Prize ’95; High Commissioner’s Award ’98; President Emeritus 2003; Claude A. Henderson Scholar 2006; Claude A. Henderson Memorial Award 2009; Counsellor to the Chief 2010; Traveled extensively in Scotland and had overall responsibility for the Clan Henderson presence at the Gathering of the Clans in Edinburgh 2009; Attended meeting of Clan Chiefs at the Scottish parliament with Alistair Henderson, Chief of Clan Henderson.
Russell L. Henderson, COL, USA (Ret.)
Retired US Army Colonel; former Dir. of Communications, National Genealogical Society; Founding Member, Editor of An Canach, Mid East Commissioner Emeritus, VP, President, Chief’s Counsellor. Received Chief’s Order ’92, Chief’s Prize ’99, Claude A. Henderson Scholar ’03. A portion of his education was in England and he has traveled through Scotland several times.
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