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THE HISTORY OF THE
FAMILY OF DALLAS
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JAMES DALLAS
THE HISTORY OF THE
FAMILY OF DALLAS
And their Connections and Descendants
from the Twelfth Century
BY THE LATE
JAMES DALLAS, F.L.S. etc. Oxford
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND
GENEALOGICAL TREES
PRINTED PRIVATELY BY
T. AND A. CONSTABLE LTD.
EDINBURGH
1921
T)A758
.3
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EDITOR'S NOTE
The late Mr, James Dallas, F.L.S., etc., Oxford, was Secretary
of the Antiquarian Society and Curator of the local museum
at Exeter. Latterly he was engaged in the preparation of
Dr. J. H. A. Murray's New English Dictionary till the time of
his death on 12th September 1916. From earliest years he
was greatly interested in genealogy, and collected a mass
of information regarding the histories of many English and
Scottish families. He was latterly occupied in writing a
history of the family of Dallas. He had not completed his
work at the time of his death.
The editor, who had corresponded with Mr. Dallas for
years, considered that his voluminous collection of material
should be preserved as far as possible for future reference,
and determined to print his family history. On revising Mr.
Dallas's manuscript, the editor observed that in many places
Mr. Dallas had not finished his work, and it devolved upon
the editor to supplement his investigations by completing
unfinished accounts of several families, and introducing others
which had escaped Mr. Dallas's notice.
The work is still incomplete, but the editor has done his
utmost to place before the reader all the available material
at his command in the hope that those interested in the family
history might avail themselves of the opportunity afforded
of tracing their genealogy.
C. S. R.
Edinburgh, June 1921.
949852
CONTENTS
CANTRAY HISTORY
Introductory
William of Ripley .
Sir William of Dallas
Thomas of Dallas .
John of Dallas
Henry of Dallas
John of Dallas
Archibald of Dallas
John of Dallas of Easterford [or
Henry of Dallas of Cantray
William Dallas of Cantray
Hei^ry Dallas of Cantray .
Alexander Dallas of Cantray
Alexander Dallas U. of Cantray
Marjory Dallas of Cantray
William Dallas II. of Cantray
Alexander Dallas III. of Cantray
Alexander Dallas IV. of Cantray
William Dallas HI. of Cantray .
James Dallas of Cantray .
William Dallas IV. of Cantray .
Dallases in the Brae of Cantray
Dallas of Petsal
Athelstaneford]
3
22
28
33
35
37
38
41
44
56
58
63
68
111
116
139
160
166
176
181
185
191
199
vii
Vlll
THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
BUDGATE HISTORY
William Dallas I. of Budgate
William Dallas II. of Budgate
William Dallas III. of Budgate
Alexander Dallas I. of Budgate
Alexander Dallas II. of Budgate
William Dallas IV. of Budgate
William Dallas V. of Budgate
John Dallas I. of Budgate
Dallas of Kirkmiohael
Hugh Dallas I. of Budgate
John Dallas of Bannans .
Robert Dallas, Writer, Edinburgh (Musselburgh Family)
William Dallas VI. of Budgate
Dallas of St. Martins
Dallas of Parkley .
Dallas of Dallas Castle, Jamaica
Stewart Dallas of Castlebarns .
Dallas of North Newton and Walmsgate
The Later Dallas of North Newton
Dallas of Riddooh Hill
Dallas in Galcantray
Dallas Correspondence with the Marquis of Wellesley and
Warren Hastings . . .
Dallas of Bracklie or Brackley and the Rebellion of 1745
Dallas in Ellerig ......
Dallas in Inverness .....
Dallas in Culloden, Inverness Parish .
Dallas in Croy . . . . .
Dallas in Petty ......
Dallas of Inchgeddle and Calder Parish
CONTENTS
Dallas in Nairn
Dallas in Dyke Parish
Parish Record Extracts
Dallas in Edinburgh
Dallas in Islay
Dallas in Forfar and Kincardine Shires
Robert Dallas of Dallas Castle and Dallases
Dallas in Jamaica .
Dallas in France and New Zealand
Davidson of Cantray
Cantray House
Modern Registers
Dallas of Jamaica and Connections
Price and Wrightson
Cantray Tree (1165-1770) .
Budgate Tree
Petsal Tree ....
Sir George Dallas of Petsal Tree
Index .....
IN America
IX
PAGE
466
469
471
485
488
490
495
517
520
521
523
525
538
553
572
575
577
579
581
ILLUSTRATIONS
Portrait of James Dallas . . . .
Frontispiece
Dallas Church and Michael Cross
PAGE
33
Dallas Village
33
Dallas Bridge ....
48
Tor Castle ......
48
Dallas Lodge ....
113
Dallas Bridge and Village
113
KiLRAvocK Castle ....
128
Cawdor Church ....
128
Cawdor Castle from North- West .
193
Cawdor Castle, King Duncan's Bedroom .
193
Cawdor Castle, Dining-Room
208
Cawdor Castle, Mantelpiece in Blub Room
208
Clava Stones ....
289
Cawdor Bridge ....
289
Brodie Castle
304
Rait Castle . .
. 304
Cantray House ....
. 512
CANTRAY HISTORY
INTRODUCTORY
The Barony or Lordship of Dallas, from which the family
takes its name, is an extensive tract of land in the shire of
Elgin on either side of the River Lossie, often referred to
as Strath Dallas. The spelling of the name has varied con-
siderably from time to time, the following being probably a
fairly complete list of the ' forms ' from the earliest recorded
period, arranged after the manner of the Oxford New English
Dictionary, 3 indicating those anterior to the year 1300, 4
those anterior to 1400, and so forth : —
3-4 Dolays, Doleys, 3-7 Doles, 4 Dolais, 4-7 Dolas, 5
Dolase, Dolesse, 5-7 Doless, Dolace, 6 DoUis, Dallyas (miique :
on the seal of William Dallas of Budgate, attached to a deed
dated 20th November 1510), DoUess, Dollece, 6-7 DoUos, 6-9
Dollos, 7 Dolass, Dolloss, Dolos, Dollous, Dolose, DaUais,
Doilies, Doilis, Dolaes, Doloas, DoUors, DoUers (Index to
the Register of Burials at Holyrood), 7-8 Dalas, 7-9 Dallace,
Dallass, 8 Daless, 9 Dalass, 7- Dallas.
Many surmises have been hazarded regarding the origin
or derivation of the name. Lachlan Shaw, in his History of
Moray, suggested that the etymology was Gaelic, dale, a
valley (apparently meaning dail, a meadow, field, or plain),
and uis (correctly uisge), water, thus describing the well-
watered valley of Strath Dallas, and this is the only plausible
etymology that has appeared until recently.
In Anderson's Scottish Nation, speaking of the family,
not of the place, the ludicrous assertion is made that the
surname was originally De Lossie, taken from the River
Lossie, which, as has been said, runs through the barony ;
4 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
but though this might conceivably have given a name to a
family, it could not possibly do so to a district.
The absurd suggestion that the name was originally not
territorial but personal, from the alleged Gaelic dolas (an
error for dall), blind, is hardly worthy of serious mention.
Li a modern edition of Jervaise's Funeral Monuments,
the editor says : ' Dallas (Dal-es) appears to mean the River
Haugh, and the Kellas (Keal-as), the narrow river, is quite
descriptive of the latter district as compared with the former.'
The Kellas forms the southern portion of the modern parish
of Dallas.
The most recently published derivation of the name
appears, however, in Professor Watson's Place- Names of
Ross and Cromarty, where the etymology of Little and Meikle
Dallas, in Ross-shire, is as follows : ' Gaelic Dalais mhor and
Dalais bhig. It is never used with the article. The old form,
as compared with the modern Gaelic, shows the common
transition from o to a, cf. Culboky, G. cuhhhdicidh ; -ais
is the Pictish ending seen in Allt-ais, etc., and the first syllable
is to be equated with dot in dolmen, used in place-names in
the sense of " plateau." Dallas is thus a Pictish word meaning
" place of the plateau," which describes its situation.'
Having submitted the forms occurring at various dates
in Morayshire and Inverness- shire to Professor Watson,
he has, in amplification of the above etymology, further
explained that the dol of dolmen, to which he refers, is a loan
from the Latin tabula, and that it is to the Welsh dol that he
should have referred. He goes on to say that ' Dallas in
Elgin is the same as that in Ross. The present Gaelic of it
is Dalais, showing the common change of old o to a in modern
Gaelic. Dol is to be compared with Welsh dol, a plain. It
is Pictish and closely connected with Dull, Gaelic Dul. Most
of the Dal- names in Inverness- shire are in Gaelic Dul, e.g.
Dalcrag in Stratherrick, Gaelic Dul-chrag, etc., etc. These
Duls are often plateaux above water. Dul is probably the
INTRODUCTORY 5
same root as duilleach, a leaf ; not a loan from Norse dal,
but a genuine Celtic word. The ending ^ais has been rightly
explained by M'Bain as representing a primitive (proto-
Celtic) vostis, aarv, Gaelic fois; the same word we have in
Foss, G. Fas, in Perthshire. Thus Dallas would be in full
Dal'fhais, Stead on the Flat.'
This, it may be concluded, is the last word upon the ety-
mology of the name of Dallas.
The extent of the ancient lordship of Dallas corresponded
precisely with that of the same property in later days, and was
then, as now, approximately 17,000 acres in total area. The
barony lies wholly within the shire of Moray, its most northerly
point being about 8 J miles S.S.W. of Elgin and 5 miles S.S.E.
of Forres. The boundary, starting from the extreme north,
begins at a point on the Black or Lochty Burn less than a
quarter of a mile to the east of Bognie, in the parish of Rafford,
and follows a slightly zigzag southerly course over the hill of
Mulundy, through Blackmyre, Mill Buie, and Clashninian,
then passes south-eastward across Loch Dallas, the waters
of which are almost entirely included within the barony, and
thence nearly due south to the summit of Cairn Kitty, leaving
Loch Noir just outside the boundary. From Cairn Kitty
the line runs at an acute angle in a north-easterly direction
past the easternmost of the Lochs of Little Benshalag and
to the north of the Loch of the Cowlatt, thence passing more
or less irregularly north-east through Souldow to a point on
the upper reaches of the Lennoc Burn, which thence flows
northward through Glen Latterach, joining the Lossie below
Lennochside, and is throughout its course external to the
barony. From the Lennoc Burn the boundary proceeds in a
straight line through Cairn Uish to the neighbourhood of
Woodhead, south of the Hillhead of Kellas, and thence
passing over the hill of the Wangie and through Wangle Wood,
rejoins the point on the Black or Lochty Burn already in-
dicated.
6 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
The barony is of a somewhat irregular shape, and is from
the extreme northerly point at the Black Burn to the extreme
south at Cairn Kitty approximately 8J miles in length, but a
straight line drawn between these points occasionally lies just
outside the boundary and to the west encloses but a very
small area of the barony, which lies almost entirely to the
east of it. The extreme breadth of the lands, measured from
Clashninian on the west to Lennoc Burn on the east, is about
5 J miles, and the land to the south of a line joining these two
points forms a figure closely approaching an equilateral
triangle.
There can have been little, if any, change in the physical
aspect of the country since these lands were granted to Wilham
of Ripley towards the close of the twelfth century. Then,
as now, it was doubtless ' considerably diversified with rising
grounds and beautiful straths lying between the hills, the
principal of which runs through the length of the parish along
the river.' The hills were then, as now, largely covered with
heather, and doubtless the river banks from the earliest days
afforded a suitable environment for a luxuriant growth of
alders, from the bark of which the inhabitants formerly
obtained a rich black dye. To the south still stands the
imposing Cairn Kitty, rising to a height of 1711 feet, and
below it lie the Lochs of Little Benshalag and Loch Trevie.
From the latter, which is about eight miles above the church,
and from Loch Noir the River Lossie takes its rise, and flows
through the heart of the barony until, at the south end, it
dashes over a rock thirty feet high, and emerges on the lands
of Kellas, formerly church property, whence in due course
it reaches the sea at Lossiemouth.
Li the north of the barony again may still be located
the lands of Blackhills, to which John of Dallas of Easterford
made, apparently unsuccessful, claim in the year 1453 ; but
nowhere is there a vestige of any building which in olden
days might have given shelter to the ancient lords of Dallas.
INTRODUCTORY 7
It may indeed be probable that at Torchastle, to the east
of the Lossie and of the modern village of Dallas, the early
barons made their home, but there is no evidence to support
such a supposition. On the other hand. Tor Castle, on the
western side of the river, a ruined fragment of which still
remains, may have been erected upon the site of an earlier
edifice. This fortaUce of the Cummings is, however, known
to have been built by Sir Thomas Cumming of Altyre, and to
have been designed by the notorious Robert Cochrane, soi-
disant Earl of Mar, who was hanged over the bridge of Lauder
in July 1482 by some of the Scottish nobles in resentment of
the lavish favours bestowed upon him by King James iii.
Cochrane' 8 earliest advancement at Court appears to have
taken place in 1476, in which year also Sir Thomas Cumming
obtained a Great Seal charter of the lands and barony of
Dallas. From this it may be assumed that Tor Castle was
at all events in the course of erection at about this period.
There is, however, no reason why it may not have been built
upon the site of an earlier and less imposing structure.
The ancient church of Dallas stood where the present
church now stands, on the western bank of the River Lossie,
about eight miles south-west of Bernie church and seven
miles north of the church of Knockando. It was dedicated
to St. Michael, and was in Roman Catholic times the seat
of the subdean of Moray. It is frequently mentioned in
the Moray Episcopal Registers, but there is no record of its
erection or dedication. It was doubtless the church of the
early lords of Dallas, and possibly to them it owed its original
foundation. The ancient church appears to have fallen
into ruins early in the seventeenth century after having been
repaired in 1580, and about the year 1627 a humble heather-
thatched structure was erected in its place. In a niche
on the outside towards the top of the east gable stood a
carved figure of St. Michael (probably derived from the earlier
building), of which the damaged trunk is still preserved in
8 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
the vestibule of the present kirk. This church, in its turn,
fell into decay, and a new one was erected in 1794, which
still stands and has been recently restored. In the church-
yard, in fair preservation, is an ancient stone cross, known as
St. Michael's Cross, formerly the ' Market Cross,' to which,
as late as the year 1808, according to Nicholas Carlisle, the
topographer, the cattle and effects of bankrupts were brought
to be sold.
The parish, originally a parsonage, has from an early
period included not only the barony of Dallas, but also
the lands of Craigmill and Branehill. Later the parish of
Altjo'e was, for ecclesiastical purposes, annexed to that of
Dallas, and when, in 1657, Altjo'e was transferred to the
parish of Rafford, Easter Kellas was annexed to Dallas,
these alterations in the two parishes being ratified by Parlia-
ment in 1661. These various annexations and changes do
not imply smy alteration in the parish boundaries, which
now, as formerly, include an area of 23,024*823 acres.
The earliest reference to the church and ecclesiastical
parish of Dallas appears to be in a confirmation by Bishop
Andrew of Moray, of the prebends instituted in the Cathedral
Church of Elgin by his predecessor, Bishop Brice or Bricius,
and of others newly founded by himself. This document
was dated at Elgin, 5th May 1226, and for the endowment
of one of the prebends thereby established were assigned the
altarage of Eren and the chapel of Innernarren, 'quam
prebendam assignavimus subdiaconatui nostro, et cui ad-
junximus ecclesiam de Dolays Mychel cum omnibus ad
eandem ecclesiam juste pertinentibus, sal vis nobis et suc-
cessoribus nostris terris que dicuntur ejusdem ecclesie esse
de Dolays Mychel per suas rectas divisas cum omnibus justis
pertinentiis suis, ita tamen quod predicta ecclesia habeat
mansum competens juxta ecclesiam cum crofto competenti,
et salvis nobis et successoribus nostris in eadem ecclesia de
Dolays Mychel episcopalibus.' One of the numerous church-
INTEODUCTORY 9
men who signed this charter was ' Symon vicarius de
Delays Michel,' the earliest cleric to be identified with the
benefice.
This endowment was confirmed in a later constitution
of Bishop Andrew in almost identical terms, while in the
statutes approved by the Bishop and Chapter of Moray in
1242, ' receptum est et approbatum ut in ecclesia cathedrali
perpetualiter sit subdecanus et habeat ad suam sustenta-
tionem et in prebendam ecclesiam de Dolays Mychel salva
dicto Episcopo dimidia dauacha terre apud Dolays Mychel
que est de mensa Episcopi et salvis episcopalibus in eadem
ecclesia.'
There are but few further notices of church or parish to be
found in the Episcopal Register. About the year 1350,
amongst the ' Procurationes debite Episcopo ' for the deanery
of Elgin, the Church of Dolasmychel is valued at forty shillings,
while for the ' Synodatica episcopatus Moraviensis,' at the
same date, the parson of Dolas is charged with two shillings.
Fifty years later, amongst the 'Procurationes Moravienses
recentioris evi,' for the procurations of the deanery of Elgin,
the Church of Doless Michael is charged with forty shillings,
while in the register of valuations of benefices in the diocese
in 1561, ' the parsonage of Doles belonging to the sub-
deanery is given up for five chalders, two bolls, and three
firlots.'
The church lands referred to in the charters above briefly
cited, though situated within the confines of the barony, were
clearly no part of the baronial possessions, and very shortly
after the date of the earliest record, in the year 1232, they
were granted in excambion to Duncan, the son of Gillemychel
M^Ath, who was thus holding Dallas lands simultaneously
with the earliest progenitors of the Dallases. Though this
Duncan has apparently no place in the Dallas pedigree, it
seems desirable to record the exchange effected between
him and the Bishop : —
10 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
' Escamhium supper terra de Dolays Michel et daicacha
terre in Straihardol
* Omnibus sancte matris ecclesie filiis hoc scriptum visuris
vel audituris Andreas permissione divina Moraviensis episcopus
eternam in Domino salutem. Noveritis universi nos de
eonsilio et voluntate et consensu decani et capituli nostri
dedisse et concessisse et hac presenti carta nostra confirmasse
Duncano filio Gillemychel M'ath totam terram nostram de
Dolays Mychel per rectas divisas suas et cum omnibus justis
pertinentiis suis, tenendam de nobis et successoribus nostris
sibi et heredibus suis in feodo et hereditate, quam scilicet
terram dedimus predicto Duncano in escambium unius
dauache terre in Strathardol que appellatur Petcarene.
Quare volumus ut predictus Duncanus et heredes sui habeant
et possideant predictam terram de Dolays Mychel, et teneant
eam de nobis et successoribus nostris in feodo et hereditate
libere, quiete, plenarie et honorifice in escambium preno-
minate terre de Petcarene, reddendo inde forinsecum servitium
domini Regis quod ad predictam terram pertinet de Dolays
Mychel, et sequendo curiam nostram, et de omni exactione
et servitio alio ad nos vel successores nostros pertinentibus
ipse et heredes sui perpetuo liberi erunt et quieti. In pre-
missorum autem firmum et indubitabile testimonium banc
cartam nostram appositione et appensione sigilli nostri et
capituli nostri cum sub scrip tionibus canonicorum fecimus
roborari. Testibus Thoma priore de Urchard, fratre Nicholao
vallis crescentis, Radulpho, Symone et Mauricio capellanis
nostris, Johanne et Andrea, Alexandro de Duglas, Andrea
Wysman, Symone de Orreby, Thoma dispensatore, Waltero
coco, Waltero marescallo servientibus nostris. Actum gratie
Moccoxxxn., vii. Kalendas Augusti.' {Beg, Epis, Morav,, 79,
p. 87.)
' Symon decanus Sancte Trinitatis de Elgyn,' the third
INTRODUCTORY 11
on the list, was no doubt identical with Simon, vicar of Dolays
Michel, already referred to in 1226.
No further reference to this Duncan or to his descendants
has been met with, nor are the church lands of Dallas again
referred to in the Episcopal Register until, in the Rental of
the bishopric of Moray in 1565, they are recorded as being
in the possession of John Cummyng, and ' solven in anno
liii5. m]d, firme, duas quaterias marte, duos mutones, unum
hedum, unam aucam, sex capones, duas boUas avenarum,
tres boUas aride multure, gressuma tantum, cum serviciis.'
(Ibid,, p. 442.) After the Reformation these church lands
appear to have been incorporated with the barony, and to
have passed into the possession of Gumming of Altyre. Shaw
records that in the Collector's Books referring to the church
lands belonging to the diocese of Moray the kirktown of Dallas
is credited with a feu duty of £5, 12s. 2d.
It has always been supposed, from the name and location
of the family, that it was of native Celtic origin, and that it
was lineally descended from the Mackintoshes. The more
commonly accepted view, however, is that it was a small but
independent clan affiliated to Mackintoshes or to Clan Chattan.
In Adam's What is my Tartan? it is definitely stated that
Dallas is dependent upon Mackintosh, and similar statements
are to be found elsewhere. The available facts are, however,
insufificient to substantiate the idea of dependence. The
few notices of the early barons give no indications of close
relations with Clan Chattan, and in later times the Dallases
are found much more intimately associated with the lairds
of Cawdor and Kilravock than with the Mackintoshes. In
1513 Henry Dallas of Cantray joined with the Mackintoshes
in what is known as the second heirship of Petty, but his
being married to a daughter of John Keir Mackintosh of
Rothiemurchus might well account for the part he took in
the affair. Again, in a ' contract of appoyntment betwix
the Laird of Calder and M'intosche ' in 1581, Alexander
12 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
Dallas of Budgate is mentioned as one of the ' kin ' of Lachlan
Mackintosh of Dunachten, but he too was married to a
Mackintosh, which may account for the relationship. Other
instances of kinship or of friendship might be cited in support
of the contention that the Dallases were affiliated to Clan
Chattan. Dallas of Cantray and some of his kinsmen served
with the Mackintosh Eegiment on the disastrous field of
Culloden, but these facts seem hardly sufficient to establish
the position that the Dallases, like the MacGillivrays,
Macbeans, Macqueens, and others, were incorporated in the
great Celtic Clan Chattan.
The question may be considered from another point of
view. The landed property in the north-east of Scotland,
in the dioceses of Aberdeen and Moray, had been from an
early period largely in the hands of immigrants from the
lowlands or from England.
Clustered together in the fertile valleys of this district
were a number of feudal families of lowland origin and name,
such as the Bissets, the Koses, the Cheynes, the Hays, the
Erasers, the Barclays, and the Grants, all of whom appear as
the holders of greater or lesser estates during the earliest years
of the thirteenth century, but seldom earlier. The circum-
stances which led to this settlement are obscure, yet something
may be deduced from the facts which have been transmitted
to us concerning the early history of the province of Moray.
It is recorded that during the reign of King Malcolm iv.
a rebellion broke out amongst the turbulent natives of the
district sujB&ciently serious to induce the King in person to
lead an expedition for its suppression in the year 1161, and
it is said that on its successful conclusion the entire population
of Moray was transplanted to the south, particularly to the
shires of Kirkcudbright and Wigtown, and was replaced by
settlers from the lowlands, having at their head feudal lords
to whom the King had granted the forfeited lands of the
ejected inhabitants, many of whom derived their origin from
INTRODUCTORY 13
the Anglo-Norman adventurers who are known to have left
England for Scotland during the period of the earliest
Plantagenet kings. Improbable as is this story of the complete
displacement of the native population in itself, it is rendered
still more improbable from the fact that during the succeeding
reign similar rebellions broke out amongst the Moravians,
for the suppression of which William the Lion led more than
one expedition to the north, the first having been undertaken
apparently in the year 1179 and the last in 1196. It was
doubtless as a reward for military services rendered during
these expeditions that the lands of Moray were apportioned
amongst those lowland knights and soldiers whose descendants
are found settled there in the following century, and to their
presence was due the anglicisation of the province and the
introduction of those Anglo-Norman feudal customs which
were unknown in the further highlands until centuries later.
Amongst these fortunate recipients of lands in what even
then must have been ' the granary of Scotland ' was doubtless
William de Ripley, who is mentioned in an interesting charter
by Ejng Alexander in. as the ' progenitor ' of Sir William
of Dallas in 1280. From that charter, quoted in its place, it
appears that the lands of Dallas Michael were granted or
confirmed to William de Ripley by King William the Lion,
presumably at the close of the twelfth century.
Before entering upon the history of the family, the editors
here insert an account of the Manse, Croft, and Mill, written
for Mr. Dallas by the late Rev. John Low Brown, minister of
the parish of Dallas.
It was about this date that the word ' manse ' came into 1226.
use as the residence of the parochial clergy. The 12th Canon ^^^^^e and
of the Provincial Councils of the Scottish Church (1237-1286)
has a proviso for ' a proper parsonage house to be built near
every church within a year's time,' and the 12th Statute of
the Provincial Council of 1557 provided that every curate
14 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
in charge of a parish church should have a manse and garden,
with a stipend of twenty merks annually in the dioceses of
Aberdeen, Moray, Ross, Orkney, and Caithness, and twenty-
four merks in the other dioceses.
There would doubtless be a ' croft ' as part of the church
lands in Dallas as elsewhere, which after the Reformation
became a provision for a glebe and minister's grass sufficient
for one horse and two cows.
About 1759 the condition of the church and manse is
described as ruinous — ^the church, and probably also the
manse, being humble, heather-thatched structures, liable to be
partially unroofed by gales — and heads of families were called
upon to bring a back-burden of heather to repair the damage.
There is no record of the building of the aforesaid manse,
but the church seems to date from about 1627. It was
in a niche in the eastern gable of this church that there
was placed a stone effigy of St. Michael, the mutilated
remains of which are still preserved. It was not till 1782
that a new manse was erected, and it gave place in 1905 to
the present commodious house. The present church was
built in 1793, and was the subject of a pretty complete re-
storation in 1903.
Glebe. The present glebe of Dallas extends to about 12 acres
arable, and is situated in equal parts on the north and south
sides of the Lossie, the manse and church occupying a
central position on the north bank of the river. Previous
to 1754 almost the whole of the glebe and grass lands belonging
to the benefice were on the south side of the river, and lay
' discontiguous ' to the manse. In 1754 a process of ex-
cambion was completed, whereby the more outlying portion
of the glebe was exchanged for certain lands belonging to
Sir Robert Gordon of Gordonstown, lying behind the manse
and church, and which now form the portion of glebe on the
north side of the river. In 1858 another modest excambion
INTRODUCTORY 15
was made, when it became necessary to encroach on the glebe
so as to obtain access to the new bridge over Lossie on the
east, and when a small cottage to the west of the manse became
the property of the benefice in exchange.
By decree of Court dated 5th February 1800, the stipend Ecclesiastical
of Dallas was fixed as follows : — ncome.
Teinds of Craigmill and Branehill
„ „ lands and estate of Dallas
„ „ Kellas — Earl of Fife
Item 200 merks of vicarage of the parish of
Auldearn, conform to use and wont
£99 4 2-068
To make up a stipend of £150, plus £8, 6s. 8d.
communion elements, there is paid by the
Exchequer annually .... £59 2 6
In 1894, under the Smaller Livings Scheme,
a voluntary endowment was raised yield-
ing annually . . . . . 30 4
And in 1906, Lord Mountstephen included
Dallas in his trust, per annum . . 100
£30
6
37
8
2i
20
7
H
11
2
2i
£288 10 8
Annual value of glebe , . . . 10
£298 10 8
The origin of the 200 merks payable by the heritors of
Auldearn to the minister of Dallas is obscure. The sum
has been paid seemingly for 250 years, and although the
Crown has more than once challenged it, they have found it
too securely settled to overturn it. The origin of it probably
goes back to the time when the parson of Auldearn was dean
and the parson of Dallas subdean under Elgin, the former
making a grant of 200 merks to the latter for services rendered
16 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
in connection with the Cathedral. The subdean had a manse
at what is now Dean's Crook, Elgin.
The rule, ' decimae debentur parocho ' — ^teinds belong
to the parish, ' is now strictly enforced, but the teinds were
at one time allowed to be diverted to other parishes than
those from which they were derived when the titular (being
the party in right of the teinds) consented, or did not object —
it being a matter of no moment to the parties from whom
they were exigible, to whom they rendered them.' {Church
of Scotland, Past and Present, vol. v. p. 595.) It must have
been under some such circumstances that this grant was
made and which still remains valid. The only ground on
which it could have been successfully challenged would have
been if there had been free teind in Dallas — ^there being, of
course, none.
Free Teind or (1) The five shillings payable by Clova to Dallas must be
Snd ^'"'^''^ included in the 200 merks, though I have not the details
by me. Clova must, however, be, or have been, within the
parish of Auldearn ; otherwise I have no knowledge of the
sum.
(2) The sum of £5, 12s. 2d. payable from the kirktown of
Dallas was a burden on the barony for bishop's teinds;
these, I understand, were all claimed by the Crown, and
probably still are paid to the Crown. Out of existing bishop's
rents the stipend of the Gaelic charge in Inverness (£250) is
still paid.
Kirktown. The Only vestige of the kirktown left is in a quaint thatched
cottage at Lossiebridge opposite the Cardingmill, called
Kirktown Green, which no doubt is the site of what was the
kirktown of Dallas. It was never more than a hamlet with a
very few houses, a school and teacher's house, and a tradi-
tional ' shop ' for local merchandise.
St. Michael's There is no tradition known to me as to any virtues
^®^ associated with St. Michael's Well. If ever there was a built
well, it has long since disappeared. The spring issues from
INTRODUCTORY 17
the steep bank of Lossie, haK-way up the bank, just opposite
the church and churchyard. The bank is exposed to the full
force of the current at the point, and there may have been a
built well near the level of the water, but if so, it has now
disappeared. Wells dedicated to the Virgin usually had
virtues ascribed to them, and no doubt many saints' wells also,
into which votive offerings of silver coins were dropped,
were supposed to have virtue to realise the ' wish ' then in
the mind of the offerer. There is also a pool near the well
still known as the ' Michael Pool.'
Each property had its own mill ; that for the barony was. Flour Mill
and still is, at Craigroy, a mile above the manse, and it is
not likely that there ever was a flour mill at the Cardingmill.
Was there wheat to grind ? Barley was ground at the meal
mill, or struck by each householder in their own ' knocking
stones,' many crofts still possessing these.
In 1668 Cuming of Altyre sold Dallas estate and barony Sale of
to Sir Ludovic Gordon of Gordonstoun ; Sir Robert Cuming Gordon.^
some years previously having married Lucy, Sir Ludovic' s stoun.
eldest daughter. It was through this marriage that the
Gordonstoun property fell in 1795 to the Cummings as heirs
of entail.
The Dallas estate was put up for sale, and offers were
received up to 20th December 1907. There was a tedious and
prolonged lawsuit, which ended in Sir W. Gordon Cumming
reserving a portion of the moor, and this restricted the bounds
of the original barony. Probably a tenth part of the area
of the barony is thus detached from the original bounds,
say 1500 acres. Roughly, this area lies along the west
boundary of the estate in an irregular strip, and lies between
a line drawn from the Cairn of the Leanoch to the Knowe
of Loch-i-nore, thence by a straight line to a point on the
Knockando march, forming the base of a triangle of which
Cairn Kitty is the apex. The parish b oundary to the west forms
the other line. The area lying within is the reserved ground.
18 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
Dallas What is now Dallas Lodge stands on the site of a previous
^^^^ house, built by Sir Robert Gordon of Gordonstoun about
1688. The original design was to be a complete circle of
buildings, after the circular steading at Gordonstoun, but
nothing more than a semicircle was ever completed. Some
three-fourths of this semicircle remains, terminating on the
west side in a large granary ; the other end of the semicircle
formed the dwelling-house proper, and in the centre of this
semi-periphery was and is an archway or bow.
Dallas Lodge comprised this original dwelling portion
till recent years, but only the doorway of the present house
marks the spot where the semicircle ended.
The Lodge lies snugly on the south side of Melundy Hill,
which carries a thriving young plantation of firs, a rather
flat stretch of ground lying on the other three sides. It is
being adorned by fresh and extensive planting, and will by
and by take on more of the appearance of a residence for
the property. I know of no other site or residence of import-
ance in the barony.
Catechisabie Catechisable= examinable persons, ^.e. persons not imder
Persons. twclvc ycars of age who were liable to be examined in religious
knowledge at the minister's visitation of his flock, and also
who presumably should attend church. The statutory accom-
modation of parish churches had to take account of cate-
chisabie persons — ^usually they would form about two-thirds
of the total population.
Population. From 1728-38 the population of Dallas was computed
at 700.
In 1778 at 915.
„ 1801 „ 888.
„ 1811 „ 871. (A detailed list of this census is given
in the Kirk Session Record —
name, occupation, residence, and
age.)
„ 1821 „ 1015.
n 1831 at 1153.
» 1841
„ 1179.
„ 1851
„ 1226.
„ 1861
JJ
„ 1871
„ 1060.
„ 1881
„ 930.
., 1891
„ 860.
„ 1901
„ 738.
„ 1911
„ 656.
INTRODUCTORY 19
(A pretty complete census of 1830
also found in a small notebook
by the late schoolmaster.)
From these figures it will be gathered that the population
of Dallas two hundred years ago was probably as great as it
is to-day. It reached its highest about the middle of last
century, when the then Sir William Gordon Gumming
encouraged the settlement of small holdings, which were im-
proved out of the moorland by the tenants at first, at a
nominal rent. The decrease of population now is largely
due to these small holdings having fallen out of cultivation
or being added to neighbouring holdings. In the last
eighty years no fewer than 127 holdings and cottar houses
have disappeared, only the names remaining. In recent
years emigration accounts in some measure for the decrease,
but it is due much more to the disappearance of the small
holding.
In 1811, in the details of the population, there is no trace Rise of the
of any family or holding on the site of the present village, ^^^^^s®-
It is believed that the first house was built by the then minister.
Rev. Richard Rose, who was translated to the parish of
Drainie in 1816. The building of the first house may be
placed about 1814. Advantage was taken of a ninety-nine
years' lease, with four Scotch acres of land allotted to each
house, by the proprietor, and the village seems to have sprung
up quickly, for by 1831 there were in it twenty-nine inhabited
houses and six uninhabited, with a population of 135 persons.
20
THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
In the ' Moray floods ' of 1829 all the lower rooms of the
village were flooded. At the present date there are forty-
five inhabited houses, three uninhabited, and a population
of 137 persons. There was no inn previous to the rise of
the village.
Post Office. Before 1880 the postal arrangements were rather primitive.
Letters were delivered at a dingy cottage and laid on the
coimter, and the public selected each their own out of the
general correspondence. Thereafter a regular postmaster
was appointed and order introduced into the receipt and
delivery of letters. A money -order office soon followed, and
about a dozen years ago the telegraph was extended from
Forres under a seven years' guarantee, during which time the
guarantors paid to the Post Office a sum of about £90, being
half the deficiency on the working expenses. Since then the
Post Office has maintained the system, which has proved a
great boon to the community.
Torchastie. The name does not belong at all to the fortalice built
by Gumming, and whose architect was Cochrane. Simply
because it was nominally a castle the name got transferred to it.
If ' Tor ' means a knoll, then there is no such natural feature
about the site of the fort, while there is a marked one at
Torchastie. The spelling a hundred years ago was Turacastle,
and the older Dallas people pronounce the name Torchastie
with the ' ch ' soft, as in loch. Before the date of the village
there was a considerable population on the east side of the
river, where the farms of Torchastie and Hillockhead now
are, and I think this was the chief seat of the population in
quite early times, and that it is quite likely that one should
look here for any house occupied by the early possessors of
Dallas. The site would command a view north, west, and
east, with the sweep of Lossie round two sides of it, and by
chmbing the hill to the south another wide view could be
obtained in that direction.
Bridge. The iron structure at the Cardingmill had no predecessor ;
INTRODUCTORY 21
there was only a ford till about 1858, when the present bridge
was built. The stone bridge of a single arch near the ruins of
the fort is called the ' Donall Brig,' over the Donall Bum.
We have nothing further to add beyond remarking that
it is most probable that Torcastle and Hillockhead indicate
that these were the sites of the original barony and seat of
the local jurisdiction, where probably there had been a mote
and a wooden castle, as proved by Dr. J. H. Round (Quarterly
Review, 1894, ' Geoffrey de Mandeville,' Appendix O), and
subsequently ably dealt with by Dr. George Neilson (Scottish
Review, vol. xxxii. pp. 209-38) and Mrs. Armytage (Early
Norman Castles of the British Isles), See also Melrose Regality
Records, Scottish History Society, vol. vi. new series, p. xxxi
of Introduction.
Lachlan Shaw refers to a Tower of Dallas built about 1460.
{Highland Papers, by J. R. N. Macphail, K.C., vol. i. p. 123.)
WILLIAM OF RIPLEY
Of William of Ripley, apparently the first feudal possessor
of the lordship of Dallas, one solitary glimpse has been obtained,
and that from a charter of the year 1279, hereafter to be
quoted, in which he is recorded as the ' progenitor ' of Sir
William of Dallas, and as having held the lands of Dallas
Michael under a grant or confirmation of King William
the Lion, who began his long reign in the year 1165 and died
in 1215.
As to the parentage of this earliest ancestor of the Dallases,
it is safe to conclude that nothing will ever be accurately
known. We may, at least, assume that he was a cadet of
the important family of Ripley of Ripley Castle in Yorkshire,
who were at a very early period benefactors of Fountains
Abbey.
Some particulars of this family have been preserved in
the ' Copies and Extracts from Original Charters and Religious
Houses in the County of York,' collected by John Burton,
for an opportunity to consult which we are indebted to the
kindness and courtesy of the late Lord Herries, who owned
the manuscripts. Unfortunately, the charters recorded in
these collections are undated, but they appear to be of the
twelfth century, and furnish us with the following information.
Thomas, son of Roger de Rippelay, gave to the Abbey of
Fountains two bovates of land in Ripley and two acres of
meadow lying nearest to Braitheng or Bridheng, in the territory
of Ripley, his relict, Margaret, quit-claiming her dower therein.
Thomas, son of Roger de Rippeley, confirmed a grant
by William de Goldeburg, ' serviens domini Regis,' of the land
of Groodwynscales in Ripley, to the Abbey.
WILLIAM OF RIPLEY 23
Roger, son of Thomas, son of Roger de Rippeley, con-
firmed to the Abbey all the lands which his father had given,
and added thereto three acres of land in a culture lying on
both sides of Halesic.
Bernard de Rippeley, clerk of Ripley, and Richard de
Rippeley, his brother, granted certain lands in Caiton in Ripley
to the Abbey, the witnesses being William, son of Rod. de
Aldefeld, Walter the Aleman, Robert de Mulwath, Richard
de Rondeclive, William de Salleia, Nicholas de Caiton, and
Walter Siding. The seals of Bernard and Richard are
appended, the former apparently representing an angel, or
possibly a churchman standing robed, with the legend SigilL
Bernardi de Bippeila. (Dr. Burton's Copies and Extracts,
vol. iv. 277-9.)
There are two charters by these persons which may be
quoted as giving further genealogical information : —
' Noverint omnes Sanctse ecclesiae filii presentes et futuri
quod Ego Bernardus de Rippelei dedi et presenti carta con-
firmavi Deo et ecclesise Stse. Mariae de Fontibus unam viam
quadraginti pedum Latitudinis, a ponte, scilicet Rivuli
de Rippelei qui est juxta domum Thomse de Ulecotes per
medium Nordscon usque ad calcedum de Dalbec, et west de
grangia sua de Kaituna juxta Frostunmel, concessi etiam
eis locum et firmationem unius stagni super Ripam predicti
Rivuli de Dalbec, et Refluxum Fontis unius ad trahen-
dum ad officinas prenominatse grangiae suae; qui fons est in
latere montis cujusdam ex alia parte de versus Rippelei
contra pomerium de Kaitun. Haec omnia monachis predictae
ecclesiae in puram et perpetuam elimosinam dedi, et super
altare Sanctae Mariae de Fontibus obtuli pro salute anirnae
meae, et pro anima patris et matris meae et omnium ante-
cessorum meorum, soluta, quieta et libera ab omni servicio
et exactione seculari de me et eis qui post me erunt imper-
petuum. Teste Rad. abb ate St* Agathae de Richemund,
et Ricard. capellano loci canonico, Roger, clerico de Hewic,
24 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
Ricard. capellano de Rippelei, Nich. fratre Bern., Rad. fil.
Audelini cum filiis suis Guil. et Ric. ; Gerlone et Gregorio
nepotibus Bern., Ric. Turpin, Wm. de Middelton.' {Ibid,,
vol. iii. 310.)
' Omnibus videntibus et audientibus banc cartam pre-
sentibus et futuris Ric. de Rippeleia Salutem. Sciatis me
dedisse et hac presenti carta confirmasse Deo et monacbis
ecclesise St* Mariae de Fontibus in puram et perpetuam
elemosinam pro salute animae meae et omnium antecessorum
meorum liberum Transitum per terras de Rippeleia sine
warda facta omnibus advenis suis et bominibus suis grangiae
de Caitun usque ad pasturam grangiae suae de Birnebem.
Hii sunt testes : Guill. Rob. Ricardus filii mei Ricardi,
Nicbolaus de Caitun, Jno. Ostiarius, Tbo. fil. Roberti de
Tornetun, Ernaldus fil. Rob" serviens mei Ricardi.' (Ibid.,
vol. iii. 307.)
Finally, in a sjniopsis of the estates of the monastery of
Fountains, Swjnie, and Nunkeling granted by patent to Sir
Richard Gresham, 1st October 1540, it is recorded that
in the twelfth century, WiUiam, son of Richard de Rippelay,
gives to the monastery in frank almoign, in the territory of
Rippelay, all land, as the brook which runs between the bounds
of Catton and Rippelay descends from the pool of Catton,
etc. They are to enclose with a hedge or ditch. He gives
them a right of way in his fee of Ripplay, except in corn and
meadow, and confirms the gifts of his ancestors of lands in
Ripley. Witnesses, Bom, his brother ; Hervey de Stanley ;
Nicholas de Catton ; Robert de Munketer ; and three others.
Red seal, floriated, with legend. (Hist, MSS, Commis, Rept,
vi. Appendix 359.)
Here may be left the question of the ancestry of William
de Ripley, with the suggestion that amongst these numerous
tweHth-century Ripleys his ancestor may perchance have been
casually included.
It is probable that William de Ripley himself assumed
WILLIAM OF RIPLEY 25
the name of his barony, and in later years was styled ' of
Dallas,' but of this there is no evidence. Besides his eldest
son and successor. Sir William of Dallas, he appears to have
been the father of Archibald of Dallas and of Alexander of Archibald of
Dallas, whose names are recorded on an inquisition held at^*^^^^*
Inverness, 27th November 1262. The relationship of these
two brothers to William de Ripley is not indeed disclosed,
but it is of interest to note that the lands of Mef th, the possession
of which formed the subject of the inquest, were given to
Yothre MacGilhys by King William the Lion, not improbably
at the same time that William de Ripley received the charter
of the lands of Dallas Michael ; and as Ewan, thane of Ratthen,
the great-grandson of Yothre, was doubtless a young man
at the time of the inquisition, the inference presents itself
that Archibald of Dallas was the son of William de Ripley
and the brother of Sir William of Dallas. The document is
at all events given below as the first authentic mention of the
surname of Dallas : —
'Inquisitio Facta super Terra de Mefth, a.d. 1262
'Inquisicio facta apud Invernys die Lune proxima ante
festum Beati Andree Apostoli anno, etc., Ixijo coram episcopo
Rossensi et Alexandro Cumyn justiciario Scocie et A. de
Monte Forti vicecomite de Elgyn et A. de Swineton per
Thomam Wisman, Willelmum Wisman, Archebaldum de
Doleys, Alexandrum fratrem suum, Jacobum de Brennath,
Adam filium Roberti, Walterum de Alveys, Andream Wishey,
Henricum de Seleltosh, Macbeth de Dych, Hugonem Ranald,
Willelmum filium Turpun, Michaelem filium Abraham,
Willelmum de Brennath, Johannem de Oggiston, Gilpatrich
MacGilbeg et Johannem Fabrum de Ineys, super terra de
Mefth cum pertinentiis scilicet utrum antecessores Eugenii
Thani de Ratthen tenuerint dictam terram de domino Rege
et antecessoribus suis hereditarie, in capite et si dictus E. et
heredes sui dictam terram de domino Rege de jure debeant
26 THE FAJVnLY OF DALLAS
tenere hereditarie secundum tenorem brevis domini Regis
eidem justiciario super hoc directi. Omnes jurati dicunt
quod dominus Rex Willelmus dedit dictam terrain de Mefth
cum sua domo in castro de Elgyn et uno rete super aquam
de Spe et cum pertinenciis Yothre MacGilhys hereditarie
per servicium imius servientis et faciendo exercitum Scoti-
canum qui dictam terram cum dictis pertinenciis in tota
vita sua eodem modo tenuit et postea Eugenius fiHus ejus avus
prefati Eugenii et Anegus fiUus ejus pater istius Eugenii
et iste Eugenius similiter hucusque prefatam terram predicto
modo pacifice de domino Rege in capite tenuerunt hereditarie
nee aUquid noverunt propter quod idem E. et heredes sui
dictam terram de cetero de domino Rege de jure hereditarie
tenere non debeant.' {Act Pari, Scotl,, vol. i. (91) lOL)
It is to be noted that Eugene, thane of Rothnoych,
was, with Sir William of Dallas, witness to the charter of
Lamabride, presently to be referred to, and is probably to
be regarded rather as a contemporary of Sir William than
of Archibald of Dallas.
W. de R. c. 1200 Yothre M'G.
I I
A. de D. Angus.
I I
Sir Wm. Eugene.
It may be pointed out that on this jury was WiUiam, son
of Turpun, while to the charter of Bernard de Ripley, above
quoted, Richard Turpin was a witness.
It has been conjectured that about this period the lands of
Cantray, or at least part of them, came into the possession of
the family. There is preserved at Kilravock an inventory
of titles, the first entry in which runs as follows : —
' Charter of donation by Marjory de Moravia, widow of Sir
Alexander de Strivlyn, to her daughter Isobel, and the heirs
of her body, of the lands of Cantra Freskin, with the mills.
WILLIAM OF RIPLEY 27
woods, fishings, and other pertinents, to be held of the granter
in fee and heritage, for yearly payment of a pair of gloves,
or a penny money at the feast of Pentecost, in name of all
duties and demands whatever.' No date ; but in the time
of Archibald, Bishop of Murray, who is one of the witnesses,
and a contemporary of King John BallioL' (Kilr,, 120.)
Cantray, or at least part of it, was included in the lordship
of Croy, and formed part of the vast possessions of the Morays
of Bothwell. Cantray Freskyn, or, as it was afterwards more
usually called, Cantray Freis, would appear to have been
given in dower to Marjory of Moray, who was a daughter of
Sir Freskyn (de Moravia) of Kerdale. She married, according
to Dr. Taylor (Edw, I, in the North of Scotland), in the year
1210, Sir Alexander of Stirling, thereafter apparently styled
' of Moravia,' and she was certainly his wife before the year
1234. (Reg, Mor,, 99.) She seems to have bestowed the lands
of Cantray Freskyn upon her daughter Isobel, upon her
marriage with a person unnamed, but who may well have
been Archibald of Dallas, or the grant may have been later
than the date of Isobel' s marriage, as it was subsequent
to her father's death. Bishop Archibald held the see of
Moray from the year 1253 until his death in 1298, so that
little can be adduced from the fact that he was a witness to
the charter of Marjory of Moray.
SIR WILLIAM OF DALLAS
The earliest record of Sir William of Dallas is to be found in
an undated charter of Sir Malcolm of Moray, Kt., granting
to his son, William of Moray, his lands of Lamabride, the
attestation clause to which runs as follows: 'Hiis testibus
venerabili patri domino A. Dei gratia episcopo Moraviensi,
domino W. priore de Hurchard, dominis Gilberto de Glen-
chernie, Willelmo de Haya de Lochorwill et Michaele de
Wemys militibus, Eugenio Thano de Rothnoych, Willelmo de
Doles, Willelmo Wysman, Johanne de Pethindreich, et
multis aliis.' (Reg, Mor., 461.) This charter was therefore
granted before Sir William of Dallas was kaighted, and
therefore in or before the year 1278. In the following year
(1279) he obtained from King Alexander m. a charter of con-
firmation of his lands of Dallas Michael, to which reference has
already been made. He is here described as a knight. The
charter is in the following terms : —
'Alexander Dei gratia rex Scottorum omnibus probis
hominibus tocius terre sue salutem : Sciatis nos dedisse con-
cessisse et hac presenti carta nostra confirmasse Willelmo de
Dolays militi pro homagio et servicio suo terram de Dolays
Mykel per easdem diuisas per quas bone memorie quondam
WiUelmus avus noster infeodavit quondam Willelmum de
Rypeley progenitorem suum Tenendam et habendam sibi
et heredibus suis de nobis et heredibus nostris in feodo et
hereditate in bosco et piano in terris et aquis in pratis et
pascuis in moris et marisiis in stagnis et molendinis cum socco
et sacca cum furco et fossa cum tol et them et infanganthef
et cum omnibus aliis justis pertinenciis suis libere et quiete
SIR WILLIAM OF DALLAS 29
plenarie et honorifice per servicium quarte partis vnius
militis saulvis episcopo Moraviensi illis duobus solidis quos
de dicta terra pro decima sua annuatim percipere consuevit.
Testibus Roberto episcopo Glasguensi Alexandro Cumyn
Comite de Buchan Willelmo de Moravia Johanne de Lyndesay
Domino Hugone de Abirnethy Willelmo Cumyn de Kilbrid
Reginaldo le Chen patre Galfrido de Mubray Willelmo de
Sancto Claro Symone Eraser Patricio de Graham et multis
aliis. Apud Strivelyn quinto die Septembris anno regni
nostri tricesimo primo.'
This charter is preserved in the Register House, Edinburgh.
It will be observed that several of those named as witnesses,
such as William of Moray, Simon Eraser, and Patrick of
Graham, were closely associated with the province of Moray.
Several later charters are still extant in which Sir William
of Dallas is recorded as a witness : these may be enumerated
seriatim without further comment : —
'Charter by Gilbert, third lord of Glenkerny, knight, to
Gilbert, his eldest son, of the land of Gerbothy, dated 2nd
February 1280 : Testibus, do minis Johanne de Striuelyn,
Johanne Prat, Willelmo de Dolays, militibus ; Jacob o de
Mar, magistro Henrico cancellario Morauiensi, domino Johanne
archidiacono Morauiensi, domino Radulpho subdecano Mora-
uiensi.' (Grant, iii. 7.)
'Charter by Gilbert of Glencarny to Duncan of Eeryn-
drawcht, of the east davoch of the land of Conynges, assigned
to the period 1281-98 : hiis testibus, venerabilibus patribus,
dominis Dei gracia Archebaldo et Henrico episcopis
Morauiensi et Aberdonensi, dominis Reginaldo le Chen et
Willelmo de Dolays, militibus, magistris Willelmo de Cresse-
well cancellario Morauiensi, domino Johanne de Dunde,
prebendario de Duffhus, Laurencio de Strathbolgy, A . . .
filio Stephani, Johanne Walensi, Roberti de Jonistoun,
Gilberto de Glencarny filio et multis aliis.' (Grant, iii. 7.)
' Charter by John of Moray, son of Sir Malcolm of Moray^
30 THE FMnLY OF DALLAS
to William of Moray, his brother, of the lands of Culnacloych
and Ruthtrelen, ascribed to the year 1284 : Hiis testibus,
domino WiUelmo comite de Ros, domino Willelmo comite
Suthirlandie, Johanne de Strivelyn et domino Willelmo de
Dolays militibus, dompno Willelmo priore de Hurchard,
domino Symone priore de Pluschardy, Adam de Moravia,
Willelmo de Lectona et multis aliis.' {Reg. Mor., 462.)
' Charter by Hugh Herock, burgess of Elgin, to the chapel
of St. Nicholas in the church of the Holy Trinity, and to the
chapel of the Holy Cross (Sancte Crucis) in the parish church of
Elgin, of the lands of Daldeleyt, dated 8th September 1286 :
Hiis testibus domino Andrea abbate de Kynlos, domino
Simone priore de Pluscardy, domino Willelmo priore de
Urcharde, domino Willelmo de Doleys milite, Willelmo
Wysman, Willelmo de Brenneth dicto Tatenel, Ada filio
Stephani burgensi de Elgyn, magistro Rogero de Innernarryn,
domino Roberto vicario de Dufhus, domino Nicholas capellano
vicario de Dundurkhus et multis aliis.' {Reg, Mor., 283-5.)
Finally, an undated indenture between Simon Joannes
Suryass, prior of Pluscardine, and William of Innes, of that
ilk, following the settlement of their marches by the arbitration
of Archibald, Bishop of Moray, and William, prior of Urquhart,
is witnessed by Sir John of Moray and Sir William of Dallas.
{Fam, Innes, 10.)
Sir William of Dallas must have been living throughout
that eventful period of Scottish history from the death of
Alexander in., in the year 1285-6, to the accession of Baliol
in 1292, recorded by Barbour : —
* Quhen Alexander the king wes deid,
That Scotland had to steyr and leid,
The land sex yeir, and maj^r perfay,
Lay desolat eftyr hys day ;
Till that the barnage at the last
Assemblyt thaim, and fayndyt fast
SIR WILLIAM OF DALLAS 31
To cheyss a king thar land to ster,
That off awncestiy cummyn wer
Of kingis, that aucht that reawte,
And mayst had rycht thair king to be.' {Bruce, i. 37-46.)
What part the lord of Dallas had in the troubles of those
times there is little to show, but that he was a person of con-
siderable importance is evident from the fact that he held,
at least towards the end of his life, the office of Sheriff of Forres.
To this office he must have been appointed by Alexander in.
at a date so far undiscovered, though the only evidence of his
shrievalty is in two receipts still preserved, the one amongst
the Tower and the other amongst the Chancery Miscellaneous
Rolls preserved amongst the Scottish Documents in the Record
Office, London. The first of these is the acknowledgment
of the receipt by Henry de Biche, castellan of Forres Castle,
on Saturday, Candlemas, 1291 (1st February 1291-2), by the
hands of William, the clerk to Sir William of Dolays, the
Sheriff of Forres, of the sum of £18, 6^. 8cZ. sterling of the farms
of the burgh of Forres, for keeping the castle : the seal of
de Biche, appended at Elgin, is no longer extant. (Doc, Illus.
Hist. Scot., ii. 563.) The second receipt, dated 15th May of
the following year, is here given in full : —
' Omnibus has litteras visuris vel audituris, Henricus de
Bycher [printed Ryther], castellanus de Elgin et de Forays,
per dominum Edwardum regem Angliae et superiorem dominum
regni Scotiae constitutus, salutem in Domino. Noveritis
universi me die Jovis in festo Ascensionis Domini anno
gratise M.cc nonagesimo secundo recepisse per dominum
WiUelmum de Dolays [printed Bolays] vicecomitem de Forays,
de firmis ballise suae anni prsedicti, quadraginta et quinque
libras et duodecim solidos sterlingorum legalium, nomine
vadiorum meorum pro custodia castrorum de Elgin et de
Forays. In cujus rei testimonium has litteras meas eidem
domino WiUelmo tradidi patentes. Datae apud Elgin anno
et die prsenotatis.' (Doc. Illus. Hist. Scot., i. 298-9.)
32 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
There is here nothing to show whether Sir William of Dallas
was a follower of Baliol or of Bruce, but amongst the principal
supporters of Bruce in the north in 1306 Dr. Taylor {Edward
I, in the North, p. 284) enumerates, besides the Earl of AthoU
and the Bishop of Moray, Allan of Moray of Culbin, Sir William
of Fentoun of Beauford, William of Dallas, John de la Haye,
Walter Herock, dean of Moray, and William Creswell, the
chanter, Alexander Pilche, burgess of Inverness, William
of Moray of Sandford, Hamelyn de Troup and Andrew Slegh ;
Andrew Byssop and Adam Chapen of Aberdeen ; Lawrence
of Strathbogie, John Forbes, Hugh Lovel, Allen Durward of
Fichelie, and Thomas of Monymusk ; while among the oppo-
nents of Bruce and supporters of the English interest were
the Earl of Buchan, Sir Duncan of Ferindraught, Sir Reginald
the Chen, the Earl of Ross, and the Earl of Sutherland. Dr.
Taylor gives no authority for these lists, and it may be that
for ' WiUiam ' he should have written ' Thomas ' of Dallas.
If, however. Sir William of Dallas was living as late as the
abdication of Baliol, it may be assumed from the fate which
overtook his successor that he threw in his lot with the national
party against the upholders of England. There appears to
be no authentic record of his career later than the receipt of
1292 already quoted.
Co 5 3
/. D. Veadon, Photographer, Elgin,
DALLAS CHURCH AND MICHAEL CROSS
/. ]). ] 'eadon, PJiotographer, Elgin,
DALLAS VILLAGE
THOMAS OF DALLAS
Little is found of Thomas of Dallas beyond the fact that he
was opposed to the English interest. Dr. Taylor afiirms
that he was forfeited by Edward i. in 1306, and this is con-
firmed by certain entries in a breviate of the petitions or
requests presented to the King for lands or preferment in
Scotland, and of the grants made thereon. The roll is in-
dorsed : ' Les demandes que furent f aites au Roy des terres
en Escosse en Ian de son regne xxxiiii ' ; and the entries relating
to Thomas of Dallas are as follows : —
* Item le xviii. jour d Augst au Neuborgh en Tyndale pria
au Roy Mons. Alexandre de Setone les terres Thomas de
Dolays.
'Item Aliain ad demandez les terres Thomas de Dolays
en Moreve que ne valent que x. livres per annum.
'Item Mons. WiUiam Conte de Sutherland ad demande
des terres Thomas de Dolays.' (Palgr. Doc, 310, 313, 314.)
No indication has been found of the events leading to
the forfeiture of Thomas of Dallas, but it is not improbable
that he was one of the followers of the patriotic William
Wallace.
Wallace had defeated the English at Cambus Kenneth
in 1297, but was himseK defeated at Falkirk on 22nd July of
the following year. He still, with the assistance of his faithful
companion-in-arms. Sir Andrew Moray of Petty and Bothwell,
appears to have maintained a gueriUa warfare against the
adherents of England, and he was one of the very few who
never swore fealty to England.
c
34 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
Little is known of his wanderings after the disaster at
Falkirk, but tradition affirms that for a time he found refuge
in the hills of Cromarty, and that he was even at Nairn on one
occasion. Wherever he was, he must have been accompanied
by a few staunch adherents, of whom Dallas may have been
one. It is recorded by Wyntoun and Bower that Wallace
was taken prisoner near Glasgow, apparently about April
1305 ; he was executed at Smithfield on the August following,
just a year before the petitions for Dallas's lands in Moray
were preferred, and it appears quite likely that the Dallas
forfeiture was in some way related to the downfall of the great
Scottish patriot.
JOHN OF DALLAS
John of Dallas, presumably lord of Dallas, appears on an
assize summoned by Sir Archibald of Douglas and John the
Hay, Sheriff of Inverness, for the settlement of a dispute
between Alexander, Bishop of Moray, acting on behalf of the
prior and monks of Pluscardine, and Sir Robert of Chisholm
of Quarrelwood (who was owner of the lands of Cantrabundie
and Little Cantray, which later passed in marriage to Hugh
Rose, fourth baron of Kilravock), concerning the mill lands of
Quarrelwood which were claimed by the priory. This assize
was held on 14th December 1369, and was thus constituted : —
'Nicholaus de Suthirlandia, Walterus Byseth, Robertus
de Innes, Johannes de Doleys, Johannes de Sancto Claro de
Fores, Johannes de Uruel, Willelmus Soreys, Adam Popp,
Willelmus Abbatis, Malisius Gerland, Thomas filius Willelmi,
Willelmus de Anandia, Robertus Mykil, Adam de Pilmore,
Robertus Popp, Willelmus Byseth. (Beg. Mor., 168.)
Contemporary with John of Dallas was John of Dallas,
thane or lord of Cromdale, who was a witness of the following
homage of Hugh Fraser of Lovat for his episcopal lands of
Kyntallirgy or Kyltarllyrgy and Esser or Esse : —
'Anno Domini mocccolx. septimo duodecimo die mensis
Septembris in capitulo ecclesie Moraviensis Hugo Fraser
dominus de Loveth portionarius terrarum de le Ard fecit
homagium pro parte sua dimidie dauache terre de Kyntallirgy
et de Esser et pro piscaria de Forn dicto domino Alexandro
episcopo Moraviensi presentibus domino Willelmo de Keth
mihte mariscallo Scotie Thoma priore de Pluscardyn Andrea
35
36 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
Berclay domino de Garntoly Johanne de Dolas thano de
Cromdol Adam Pyngill burgensi de Aberden et multis aliis.'
In the instrument following upon this homage, dated 12th
December 1367, the names of the witnesses are given in the
following clause : —
'Presentibus nobili viro et potente domino Willelmo de
Keth milite mariscallo Scocie et tunc locum tenente domini
Comitis Moravie, religioso viro domino Priore de Pluscardyn,
Andrea de Berclay domino de Grantoly et Birkynhill, Johanne
de Dolas, domino de Cromdol, Adam Pyngil burgensi de
Aberden et multis aliis.'
HENRY OF DALLAS
In an interesting document published at length by Mr. Cosmo
Innes, mention is made of Henry of Dallas, doubtless lord of
Dallas, who was one of the jurors at a court held by Robert of
Chisholm of that ilk, justiciary of the regality of Moray, at
' Le Ballocis Hill,' near Inverness, on the 26th January 1376-7,
before : —
' Istos subscriptos nobiles viros dominos Robertum de
Innes et Willelmum Pylchee milites, Alexandrum de Moravia
dominum de Coulbyn, Hugonem de Rosee dominum de
Kilravoc, Adam fleming, Ingeramum de Wenton, Eugenium
de Berkelay, Thomam de Brothy, Gilbertum de . . . on,
Thomam de Wenton, Johannem de le Cow . . ., Willelmum
lambe, Henricum de doles, et Laurencium Blac, cum pluribus
aliis.' (Forbes, Fam. Innes, 63.)
The seals of the members of the assise, or at least some
of them, were attached to this record, but they have all dis-
appeared, and only that of Chisholm remains — on a fess
between three boars' heads, three crenels or cushions.
JOHN OF DALLAS
The governing charter of the liberties of the burgh of Elgin,
granted by John Dunbar, Earl of Moray, 1st May 1390, records
as a witness John of Dallas, lord of Dallas, and though
this charter has already been printed by Mr. Cosmo Innes
(Forbes, Innes, 66), it may yet be appropriately introduced
here : —
'Carta Comitis Johannis data Burgo de Elgyn
' Omnibus hanc cartam visuris vel audituris Johannes de
Dunbarr Comes Mora vie eternam in Domino salutem. Cum
per tres mortalitates preteritas et oppressiones varias diver-
sorum post obitum quondam auunculorum nostrorum Thome
et Johannis Eanulphi comitum Moravie, qui pro defensione
regni et re publice in bellis ceciderunt burgum nostrum de
Elgyn in edificiis pro magna parte corruerit burgensesque
partim mortui et alii affectioneribus vix valeant suam vitam
et statum sustinere, nos volentes dictum burgum et burgenses
et ipsorum statum releuare ad ipsorum requestum humilem
et suplicationem deuotam seruisiam assise solitam quondam
constabularis castri nostri de Elgin de singulis exceptis pre-
vilegiatis seruisiam in burgo ipso vendentibus persolvi de
cuius solucione ipsum burgum et burgenses multum grauati
fuerant ipsis et communitati dicti burgi pro se et suis suc-
cessoribus inperpetuum ex special! gratia remittimus et
donamus pie et irreuocabiliter pro nobis et heredibus nostris
et successoribus comitatibus Moravie. Ita quod nunquam
decetero exigatur. Et vt constat omnibus nos voluntarie
hanc gratiam seu previlegium dictam seruisiam assise non
JOHN OF DALLAS 39
soluendi dicte communitati fecisse et concessisse obligamus
nos heredes nostros et successores comites Moravie Waran-
tizare et defendere ipsis istam nostram donationem contra
omnes homines et feminas et vniuersitates imperpetuum.
Et in casu quo ipsi burgenses vel communitas trahantur in
judicium circa huiusmodi vel vexentur nos subrogamus et
assignamus eis centum solidos de firma dicti burgi nobis
debitos annuatim retinendos per ipsos in loco ipsius seruisie
donee per nos heredes nostros et successores Comites Moravie
repositi fuerint in plena et pacifica possessione eiusdem et
hoc tociens quociens ipsos super hoc contigeret molestari.
In quorum omnium testimonium sigillum nostrum magnum
presentibus fecimus apponi vna cum sigillo coniugis nostre
domine Mariorie et cum sigillo domini Thome de Dunbarr
filii nostri et heredis consentientium ad premissa. Pre-
sentibus Keuerendis in Christo patribus dominis Alexandro
Dei gratia Abbate de Kynlos, Religioso viro domino Thoma
priore de Pluscardyne, Magistris Willelmo de Spyny precentore
Willelmo de Cheshelme Thesaurario ecclesie Morauiensis
tunc cancellario nostro, Dominis Johanne de Haya domino
de Tulybothuyle, Roberto de Cheshelme domino eiusdem,
militibus, Hugone Fraser domino de le Louet, Johanne de
Dolas domino eiusdem Alexandro de Ines domino eiusdem et
multis aliis testibus ad premissa. Datum apud Elgyn primo
die mensis Maij anno Domini millesimo ccc"^® nonagesimo.'
Some three years later, on the 30th August 1393, John of
Dallas was one of the jury summoned on an inquest for the
retour of Robert Sibbald, a minor, as heir to his late father,
John Sibbald, in the episcopal lands of Aldrochty, the names
of the jurors summoned being : ' Robertus Cheshelme miles
dominus ejusdem, Johannes de Dolas do minus ejusdem,
Alexander de Ines dominus ejusdem, Willelmus de Cheshelme,
Willelmus Hage, Willelmus Wysemen senior, Willelmus
Wyseman junior, Reginaldus de Innerlochty, Willelmus
40 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS ]
I
Vaws, Willelmus filius Michaelis, Thomas de Pilmor, Thomas
de Kirkton, Johamies Walker, Andreas Fawconer, Johamies I
filius Cristini et Johamies filius Willelmi.' j
John of Dallas must have died not long after this date, j
as at Michaelmas two years later another John of Dallas i
occurs as brother of the lord of Dallas, when he is witness to |
a Memorandum concerning the tenancy of the lands of
Findrossy. {Reg. Mor., 370.) I
ARCHIBALD OF DALLAS
The earliest indication we have of the succession of Archibald
of Dallas to the lordship is contained in a memorandum
recording that the episcopal lands of Findrossy were held by
one John Flathson, chief steward to the Bishop. This memo-
randum, dated 25th September 1395, does not indeed mention
Archibald by name, but records the following witnesses :
' Reginaldus de Innerlochy tenens ejusdem, Johannes de Doles
f rater domini ejusdem, Michael Broun et David de Inner-
locti.' This John of Dallas was doubtless brother of Archibald,
and will be referred to later. (Beg. Mor,, 370.)
There is only one charter record of the name of Archibald
of Dallas, who acted with others on a jury which tried one
William, son of Thomas, for the theft of a black horse from
Adam called Wode, the husbandman of William, Bishop of
Moray, on the 3rd February 1398-9 ; the jury consisted of the
following : ' videlicet Archibaldi de Dolas, Johannis de Galhagy,
Thome de Urchard, Ferticii de Dun, Willelmi de le Hage,
Johannis le Barde, Johannis Moravie, Willelmi Wyseman,
Johannis de Dolas, Johannis de Kelor, Thome de Pylmore,
Willelmi filii Michaelis, Malisei de Blary, Johannis Wilkyson,
[et] Philippi filii Ade.' (Reg, Mor., 212.) It is only fair to state
that William Thomson was acquitted of this and other thefts
of which he was charged.
That the connection of the family with their ancient
baronial possessions terminated with this Archibald of Dallas
is thus recorded by Hew Rose, the seventeenth-century
historian of the family of Rose of Kilravock : —
' The aimcient familie of DoUace of that Ilk was extinct.
42 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
It descended to Elizabeth DoUace, daughter and heir to
Archibald Dollace of that Ilk, who, with consent of her
husband, Duncan Eraser (a son of the famihe of Lovat),
did, in the year 1428, make over her right of Dollace to John
Dollace of Easterfurd, her uncle, and heir male of the familie ;
who in excambion of his lands in the south, gott from David,
second (i.e. first) Earle of Crafurd, the lands of Budzet, in the
year 1440 ; tho I find not why he recovered not the lands of
Dollace, the patrimony of his familie.'
It may be mentioned that the above Duncan Eraser was
the fourth son of Hugh Eraser of Lovat, who died in 1397,
and is said to have been ' ancestor of the Erasers in Moray.'
(Anderson's Fam. Fraser, 52.)
No confirmation of Hew Rose's statement has been found,
but there can be little doubt that Archibald of Dallas got
involved either in financial or political troubles, and the fact
that he granted a wadset over the lordship of Dallas is evidenced
by a writ dated 15th February 1422-3, addressed by Thomas
Dunbar, Earl of Moray, to John the Hay of Lochloy, son and
heir of WiUiam the Hay of Lochloy, who was still living in
1420.' (Reg, Mor., 475.) In this writ the Earl writes to Hay :
' It is in fresch memore with you, as we understand, that
throu certane tailye made betuix us and your fadir [William
the Hay], ye are oblisit to spouse a douchtir of ouris, for the
quhilk thing to be done we confermit to your fadir a tailye
betuix him and the lord of Dolas apon the lordschip of Dolas,
and forgeff till him fourty poundez, the quhilk suld haf bene
paait til us for the relefe of that land,' etc. (Fam, Kilr,, 124.)
This writ does not substantiate the account of the termina-
tion of the family of Dallas of Dallas given by Hew Rose, but
it proves that the last Dallas lord of Dallas, some time between
the years 1398 and 1423, alienated his lordship to WiUiam
the Hay of Lochloy, and a charter under the Great Seal,
dated 2nd August 1476, proves that Hay's title was valid
and complete, as from it we learn that his descendant and
ARCHIBALD OF DALLAS 43
heir, another William the Hay of Lochloy, transferred the
whole of the lands of Dallas to Thomas Gumming of Altyre,
in the hands of whose descendants they remained (though
for a time they were alienated to the family of Gordon of
Gordonstown), until this century they were purchased by
Mr. J. H. Houldsworth of Coltness.
The death of Archibald of Dallas must have taken place
about the end of the fourteenth century. Several writers
have asserted that his daughter and heiress resigned her
claim to the lordship to her uncle, John of Dallas of Easterf ord.
Of this resignation no adequate evidence has been obtained.
[The editor has, however, found the following entry in
the Calendar of Papal Registers, Papal Letters 8, 1427-47,
p. 91, which may or may not refer to Elizabeth Doles, the
heiress of Archibald Doles, but which certainly affects the
author's remarks : ' 8 Kal. May, 88, ApostoU Borne, fol. 170 : —
To the Bishop of Moray : Mandate to dispense Martin Doles
of the Diocese of St. Andrews, and Elizabeth Doles of the
Diocese of Moray to marry notwithstanding that they are
related in the third and third degrees of kindred by a common
stock. Oblate nobis.']
JOHN OF DALLAS OF EASTERFORD [OR
ATHELSTANEFORD]
John of Dallas of Easterford is accounted next brother
and heir male of Archibald of Dallas, last lord of Dallas.
He first occurs, as has been seen, in the year 1395, when he
is described as brother of the lord of Dallas, and again, with
his brother, Archibald of Dallas, in the year 1398. How he
became possessor of the lands of Easterford, in Haddington,
there is nothing to show. These lands were the property of
the family of Montfort, a member of which, John of Montfort
of Easterford, made submission to King Edward i. in 1295 ;
he was doubtless a descendant of Alexander of Montfort,
who was Sheriff of Elgin in 1263 (Taylor's Edw. /., 142). It
may be that John of Dallas married a daughter of one of these
Montforts, and so acquired the property, but his first associa-
tion with Easterford and with certain other lands is recorded
in abstracts of a lost roll of infeftments of the reign of King
Robert m., extending over the years 1397-1404, made about
the year 1629 by an industrious Scottish lawyer, known as
Robertson's Index, and which run as follows : —
' [Carta] to John Dallas, of the lands of Herbertsheills,
half land of Blacklawis, 4th part lands of Fisheartoun, in the
barony of Kineff [In vicecom.], Kincardin.
' [Carta] to ditto, of the lands of Elstandfurde, in the
constabulary of Hadingtoun [In vicecom.], Edinburgh.
' [Carta] given by John Doles to ditto [i.e, David, 1st Earl
of Crawford] of the lands of Herbertsheills, half of Blacklawis,
4th part of Fischeartoun, in the barony of Bamf [In vicecom.],
Kincardin.' (Robertson's Index, 141-2.)
JOHN OF DALLAS OF EASTERFORD 45
In a similar roll of the same reign extending over the years
1398-1406 were recorded other infeftments as follows : —
' Carta by John Dallas, in wadset to Gilbert Graham
of Morphie, of the lands of Blaeklawis, and his part of the
Fishertoun, in the barony of Kinneff [In vicecom.], Kincardin.
' [Carta] by David, Earl of Craufurd, to John Dolas,
of the lands of Boudingtoun, Newtoun, Balgerschache, in the
barony of Innercarity [In vicecom.], Edinburgh [and] Forfar.'
(Robertson's Index, 148.)
It seems not improbable that Hew Rose's statement
relative to the exchange of ' lands in the south ' for those of
Budgate, already quoted, may have been based upon these
charters, which at least prove that exchanges of land took
place between John of Dallas of Easterford and David,
first Earl of Crawford, but that Dallas still retained the
lands of Easterford is clear from documents presently to be
adduced.
The following register extract, for instance, shows Dallas
still in possession of these lands and furnishes some further
particulars as to their tenure : —
' A^d EdynburgK 8 Jun. [24: Jac. /., 1429].
' Rex confirmavit illas donationes quas Johannes de Dolas
dom. dimedietatis de Elstanfurd fecit Johanni de Tourris de
Inverleth, pro ejus benevolentiis, conciliis, auxiliis, et servitiis
dicto J. de D. impensis, — de duabus terris husbandariis quas
Ricardus . . . et Donaldus Betoun de dicto Joh. de D.
alias ad fir mam tenuerunt, et de duabus aliis terris husbandariis
quarum una fuit Valteri de Bekyrtoun militis, et alia Agnetis
de Tempill, in villa et territorio de Elstanfurd in constabularia
de Hadyngtoun, vie. Edynburgh : — Tenend. dicto Joh. de
T. heredibus ejus et assignatis in feodo : — Test. Joh. Episc.
Glasguensis, Wil. de Foulis, M. Tho. de Myrtoun, Decanus
Glasguensis, Johannes Forestarii de Corstorfyne, Walterus
46 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
de Ogilby, Thesaurarius.' (Reg, Mag. Sig, Scot, 1424-1513,
p. 25.)
It was, no doubt, John of Dallas of Easterford who, on
2nd May 1430, was one of those on the inquest for the retour
of Hugh Eraser of Lovat, as heir to his brother Alexander
Eraser of Lovat ; the names of those on this inquest were :
' Donald de Caldor thanum ejusdem, Joh. de Roiss de Kilrawas,
Hug. Roiss, Alex. Stantoun de Lethyn, Joh. de Haia de
Lochboy, Angusium Moravie, Tho. Caldor, Wil. Caldor
Joh. Dolas, Dav. Piccart, Wil. Sincler, Joh. Graneter, Adam
Brethi, And. Ostillar, Moricium Gray, Wil. Tarrail, Angusium
Horaldi majorem. Hob. Waus, Pat. Doulsoun, Aug. Horaldi
minorem, Alex. Kennathsoun, Valt. Andree et Mich.
Donaldi : — Sub sigillis dicti Joh. de Narn (substitutum
vicecomitis de Invernys) et pref atorum hominum.' (Beg, Mag,
Sig, Scot, 1424-1513, p. 39.)
A year later, on 11th April 1431, an inquest was held at
Nairn by Donald, thane of Cawdor, Sheriff of Nairn, for the
retour of Hugh Rose as son and heir of John Rose of Ealravock,
his father : ' per istos infra scriptos, videlicet, Hugonem
Eraser de Lovet, Walterum de Dwglas, Johannem de Narn,
Johannem de Hay, Willelmum de Caldor, Andream de Vrwel,
Thomam Eauconer, Johannem de Moravia, Alexandrum
de Vrchard, Thomam de Caldor, Johannem Eauconer,
Johannem de Doles de Cantre, Johannem de Doles de Terneway,
Andream Hostaler, Johannem Macalowne, Johannem de
Eynrossy, Hugonem filium Ade, Willelmum Mikil, Thomam
filium Nicholai, Willelmum filium Gilberti et Donaldum
Schewaneson.'
This record has been introduced here because it seems
probable that the John of Dallas of Cantray mentioned was,
in fact, John of Dallas of Easterford under another designa-
tion. The question will, however, be reverted to later.
Some time before the year 1440, John of Dallas appears
JOHN OF DALLAS OF EASTERFORD 47
to have sold or entirely denuded himself of that half of the
lordship of Easterford which in 1429 belonged to him, as the
following record shows : —
'Apud Crechtoun, 12 Jan. [3 Jac. II,, 1439-40J.
' Rex concessit Patricio de Hepburne de Walchtoun
militi, et heredibus ejus, — mediam partem terrarum de
Athilstanfurde et molendinum spectantibus et parcis super
aquam de Tyne, in constab. Hadingtoun, vie. Edinburghe ; —
quam Joh. de Dolas resignavit : — Test.,' etc. {Beg, Mag, Sig,
Scot,, 1424-1513, p. 51.)
He still, however, continued to be styled ' of Easterford,'
probably until his death, certainly until the year 1453-4,
when a very interesting letter concerning his claim to the
lands of Blackhills, in the lordship of Dallas, appears, and
brings to a close what little is known of his probably chequered
career. It is addressed by John the Rose, Baron of Kilravock,
to an unnamed churchman, and runs as follows : —
' Reverent Fadyr in Crist I Johne the Roos of Kilravock
to your worshipfuU faderhed sends honor with reverens.
Lyket your faderhed and your estat to wyt that Johne of
Doles of Eastafuird, your servant and my cousyng, befor
the lords of my countra spirituall and temporall, sayand
with apyn langage for the favor of witnessyng of yow and me,
quhylk witnessyng I trow we acht to do him be lowe, lawe,
and lawte, and for defaut of our testimoniall he tyns a toun
callit the Blackhills, in the barrony of Doles, and in the regale
of Morow, wedset till him be a mychtie Lord Thomas of
Dunbarr, umquhyle, Earle of Moraw, for twentie merks,
as his evident berys witnes, and as ye watt lachfullie followyt
be brewis of law of our soveran lords the Kings Chapell,
befor a hy and mychtie Lord, Alexander Stewart, Earle of
Marr and Garvyoch, and that tyme Shirraw of Innernes,
apon a mychtie Lord James of Dunbarr, that tyme Earle
48 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
of Moraw, and dynt of dome at Tarnewa be yow, me, and
John of Nairn, thereapon given us, as a worschipfuU squyre
your halie faderhed, that ye be wisHe awysit in this mater
befor God, and that ye make a testimonial! under your sele,
but fraud, falset or guyle, lelie and trewlie. Wrytten at
Kibavock, under my sele, the third day of March, the yer
of our Lord M.cccc.Lin yers, befor the wittnesses, William
of Calder of that Ilk, Hucheon the Rose, my son and my
hayr, William the Rose and Alexander, my sons, venerable
chappelanys Sir William Michelson, vicar of Dalcors, Sir
David, chapellan to the Thane John of Calder, Alexander
of Calder, and John of Angus, with mony others.' (Kilr., 46.)
It would appear that, in spite of this powerful intervention
in his behalf, John of Dallas failed to recover either the lands
of Blackhills or any other part of the lordship of Dallas, and
he probably did not long survive the transaction here recorded.
During the long life of John of Dallas of Easterford
numerous members of his family flit across the pages of local
history, and call for a more or less detailed record. Perhaps
first in importance as in date is a John of Dallas ' More,' who
about the close of the fourteenth century obtained from the
Bishop of Moray a feu of the lands of Middle Haugh under
circumstances set forth in the following mutilated charter : —
' Carta de Mydilhalch
' Omnibus banc cartam visuris vel audituris Willelmus
miseratione divina episcopus Moraviensis eternam in Domino
salutem. Noveritis universi quod nos dimidiam dauatam
de Mydilhalch jacentem inter terram de Ochterspyny ex parte
una et terram de Ferkoklaw ex alia ex parte boreali atque
de Lossy post mortem Johannis de Moravia ultimi tenentis
ejusdem in manus nostras saysiri et recognosci fecerimus
et per aliquod tempus tenuerimus, tandem Megota de Moravia
^^^^^
/. /'. y.aJ.'H. r-.:_>.,!!u'r,Elgi7
DALLAS BRIDGE
/. D. Yeadon, Photographer, Elgiv,
TOR CASTLE
\ : : i <
' \
JOHN OF DALLAS OF EASTERFORD 49
filia dicti Johannis et heres universalis et unica in mera
virginitate sua, informata quod dictus pater suus tenementum
illud contra bone memorie quondam Alexandrum dei gratia
episcopum Moraviensem predecessorem nostrum ultimum
in quadam plena curia super hoc tenta ex parte boreali partis
Episcopi juxta canoniam amiserat, et super ilia amissione
judicium in curia ipsa datum esset, dubitans quod ipsum
tenementum per viam juris recuperare non posset, amicorum
usa consilio, omne jus quod habuit vel habere potuit in ipsa
dimidia davata terre vel ad ipsam die Veneris in festo beati
Clementis Pape in manibus nostris pure libere et simpliciter
per fustem et baculum quem tunc in manibus tenebat pro se
et heredibus suis sursum reddidit et resignavit in presentia
capituli nostri tunc propter hoc capitulariter congregati
subiciens se gratie nostre et capituli antedicti. Nos vero
super hoc sepius ante et tunc cum dicto capitulo nostro
frequenti deliberatione et maturo consilio prehabitis, ipsam
dimidiam davatam de Mydilhalch cum pertinentiis suis, sic
nobis sursum redditam et simpliciter resignatam, Johanni de
Dolas More et predicte Megote, qui tunc de matrimonio inter
se contrahendo coram nobis se adinvicem obligarunt, de
consensu et assensu dicti capituli nostri dedimus et concessimus
et tenore presentium damns et concedimus eorum alteri
diutius superstiti et duobus heredibus ex ipsis legitime de-
cendentibus pro ipsius Johannis et heredum suorum labore et
servitio nobis et successoribus nostris et ecclesie impensis et
fideliter impendendis, reddendo inde nobis et successoribus
nostris episcopis Moraviensibus ipse et heredes sui annuatim
quinque solidos usualis monete ad festum Penthecostes et
Sancti Martini in hyeme per equales portiones, et faciendo
forinsecum servitium domini nostri Regis quantum pertinet
ad dictam terram et faciendo modo consueto multuram et
molendinum nostrum de Malathy super Lossy et stagnum
ipsius pro omni alio servitio exactione et demanda seculari.
Quibus duobus. . . .' (Reg. Epis, Morav,, 214.)
50 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
The date assigned by the editor of the Moray Cartulary
to this imperfect document is between the years 1397 and
1406, and it has therefore been not unreasonably conjectured
that John of Dallas ' More ' was identical with John of Dallas
of Easterford. But Carlisle has recorded (Topogr, Scot, s.v.
* Spynie '), that Auchter Spynie or Upper Haugh, Moray st on,
in the parish of Spynie, which he says was in 1378 called
Middle Haugh, was in that year feued by the Bishop of
Moray to John Dallas, son of William Dallas of Strathardel.
It is difficult to reconcile this statement with the Moray
charter above quoted, unless the conjectural date, 1397-1406,
is later than should have been assigned to it. Strathardel
is in Perthshire, bordering on Stirlingshire, so that we are
interested to observe a John of Dallas in the fifteenth century,
owner of the lands of Easter Lecky, which he then resigned to
their former owner, Murdoch of Lecky. Two charters under
the Great Seal relating to the transmissions afford no indica-
tion of the personality of John of Dallas or of the manner in
which he became possessed of the lands in question.
* Carta Confirmacionis pro Murdaco de Leky de
TERRIS DE ESTERLEKY CUM PeRTINENCHS
'Kobertus dux Albanie comes de ffyfe et de Mentethe
ac gubernator regni Scocie Omnibus probis hominibus tocius
regni predicti Clericis et Laicis salutem. Sciatis nos In-
spexisse et veraciter intellexisse quamdam cartam Johannis
de Dolas de Esterleky sub sigillo suo confectam dilecto nostro
Murdaco de Leky non rasam non abolitam non cancellatam
nee in aliqua sui parte viciatam. Sz omni prorsus vicio
macula et suspicione carentur, cujus tenor de verbo in verbum
sequitur sub hac forma. Omnibus banc cartam visurus
uel auditurus Johannes de Dolas dominus de Esterleky
salutem in dormino sempiternam. Sciatis me dedisse con-
cessisse et hac presenti carta mea pro me et heredibus meis
JOHN OF DALLAS OF EASTERFORD 51
imperpetuum ad feodi firmam dimisisse carissimo amico
meo Murdaco de Leky domino ejusdem dictas terras meas de
Esterleky cum pertinenciis jacentis infra vicecomitatum de
Struelyne, Tenendum et habendum tot as et integras pre-
dictas terras de Esterleky cum pertinenciis suis quibuscumque
predicto Murdaco et heredibus suis de me et heredibus meis
in feodi firma imperpetuum in boscis, planis, moris, marresiis,
viis, semitis, aquis, stagnis, pratis, pascuis, et pasturis,
molendinis multuris et eorum sequelis, cum curiis et curiarum
exitibus, aucupacionibus, piscacionibus et venacionibus fab-
rinis et brasinis et petariis et turbariis ac cum omnibus aliis
et singulis libertatibus commoditatibus, aisiamentis et iustis
suis pertinenciis quibuscumque ad predictas terras spectantibus
seu iuste spectare valentibus quomodolibet in futurum,
libere quiete plenarie integre honorifice bene et in pace.
Reddendo michi et heredibus meis annuatim apud Esterleky
dictus Murdacus et heredes sui de predictis terris cum per-
tinenciis decem marcas vsualis monete Regni Scocie ad duos
anni terminos, videlicet penthecostes et sancti Martini in
hieme per equales porciones, tantum pro wardis, maritagii
Releuiis secularibus seruiciis, omnibus exaccionibus seu de-
mandis, que de predictis terris cum pertinenciis per me ut
heredes meos infuturum exigi poterunt aliqualiter seu requiri.
Et ego vero prefatus Johannes de Dolas et heredes mei pre-
dictas terras de Esterleky, cum pertinenciis predicto Murdaco
et heredibus suis in forma prescripta contra omnes homines
et feminas warantizabimus aquietabimus et imperpetuum
defendemus. In Cuius Rei testimonium sigillum meum
presenti carte mee est appensum apud Leky decimo die
mensis Februarii Anno domini millesimo quadringentesimo
sexto. Hiis testibus magnifico domino et potenti domino
Duncano Comite de Leuenax, Johanne Gourlay burgensis
de Striuelyne, Alexandro Post burgensis eiusdam, Patricio
Lyndesay, Johanne Naper domino de Kilmehew cum multis
aliis. Quamquidem cartam donacionem et concessionem
52 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
in eadem contentas in omnibus punctis suis et articulis con-
dicionibus et modis, ac circumstanciis suis quibuscumque
forma partiter et effectu in omnibus et per omnia appro-
bamus. Ratificamus et auctoritate officii nostri gubernacionis
regni predicti imperpetuum confirmamus. Saluo domino
nostro Regi et heredibus suis de predictis terris cum pertin-
enciis seruicio debito et consueto. In cujus rei testimonium
presenti carte nostre confirmacionis Sigillum officii nostri
gubernacionis regni predicti apponi precipimus Testibus
Reverendo in xpo patre Gilberto Episcopo Aberodonense
cancellario Scocie WiUelmo domino de Grahame, Johanne
Senescallo de Lorn, Willelmo de Conyngham, Georgio de
Lesly militibus, magistro Ricardo de Cornell archidiacono
Dunkelde, Archibaldo de Conynghame, Dauid Berclay et
Andrea de Hawyk canonico Dunkelde secretario nostro apud
Perth vicesimo quinto die mensis Februarii Anno domini
millesimo cccc"^^ Sexto, Et gubernacionis nostre Anno
primo.' (Reg, Gt Seal Scot,, Rot. n.. Act 30.)
'Robertus dux Albanie comes de Fyfe et de Menteth ac
gubernator regni Scocie Omnibus probis hominibus tocius
regni predicti clericis et laicis salutem. Sciatis nos approbasse
ratificasse et hac presenti carta nostra confirmasse donacionem
et concessionem iUas quas dilectus noster Johannes de Dolas
de Estirleky fecit et concessit dilecto nostro Murdaco de
Leky pro suis benemeritis gratisque beneficiis sibi sepius
impensis ac pro quadam summa monete videlicet Centum
et viginti marcarum sterlingorum sibi persoluta et per ipsam
plenarie recepta de totis et integris terris de Esterleky cum
pertinenciis jacentibus infra vicecomitatum de Struelyne.
Tenendum et habendum totas predictas terras suas de Esterleky
cum pertinenciis prefato Murdaco heredibus suis et suis
assignatis de domino nostro Rege et heredibus suis per omnes
rectas metas et diuisas suas in f eodo et hereditate imperpetuum.
Adeo libere et quiete plenarie integre honorifice bene et in
pace in omnibus et per omnia sicut in litteris predicti Johannis
JOHN OF DALLAS OF EASTERFORD 53
de Dolas predicto Murdaco inde confectis plenius continetur,
Saluo domino nostro Regi et heredibus suis de dictis terris
cum pertinenciis servicio debito et consueto. In Cujus rei
testimonium Sigillum officii nostri gubernacionis regni pre-
dicti presenti carte nostre confirmacionis apponi precepimus.
Apud Falklande decimo octauo die mensis Octobris Anno
domini millesimo cccc"^^ Septimo, Et gubernacionis nostre
Anno Secundo.' (Ibid,, Rot. xi., Act 31.)
The name of Thomas of Dallas, lord of TuUyglen, recalls
the Thomas of Dallas who was forfeited by Edward i., and
may perhaps be taken to indicate relationship. TuUyglen
is a district on the east bank of the Findhorn to the south of
the great ' Park of Tarnaway,' within the bounds of which
perhaps were situate the Hills and the Hayning. There
is a discrepancy in the date of the Great Seal register and
the deed which it recites which is not easy of explanation.
'Apud Edynhurgh, 15 Sep. [25 Jac, 1430].
*Rex confirmavit quasdam literas impignorationis Thome
de Dolas de Tulyglenys factas Andree Ostler burgensi de
Fores — de terris ejus de Inchstacnyk, sub hac forma : — Til
al men that thir lettrez herys or seis Thom of Dolas, lord of
Tulyglenys, gretyng in God aylestand : — Wyt yhe me in my
strenyeand myster til haf put in wede til my lowyt and
tender frend Andro Osteler burges of Fores al the landis of
Inchstacnyk for a some of silver — ^that is to say 14 mark of
usuale mone of Scotland beforhand till me payit ; — till
HAF and till hald to the sayd Androw, hys ajo-is and hys
assignez, with al esimentis, profittis and rychtwys pertinentis,
quhil the sayd Andro of the forsayd some fuUely be content
and payit, the fermys and the frottis in the mene tyme tane
in the principale some of na maner of waye to be contyt, —
and gif it hapnys, the tanehalf of the sayd to be wonnyn fra
the sayd Andro be the law, the some that half lyis for to be
payit to the sayd Androw, the tothir half to remayne til he
54 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
be payit of the forsayd some, — and gif it happynys, as God
f orbede it do, me my ayris, executuris or assignez or ony othir
In our name to mak ony contradiccion or gayneallyng in thir
thingis, I oblys me myn ayris, executuris and assignez and al
my landis of the Hillis and the Haynyng and al othirs and al
my guddis movabill and unmovabil to warand this wedset-
tyng, and to be distreinyeit at the wil of the sayd Andro hys
ayris and hys assignez wythoutyn the ordinance of ony
Juge of haly kyrk or secular til the sayd Andro his ayris and
his assignez alswele of the costis and skathis that he sustenys
as of the principale det he fuUely sal be payit : — ^In the wytnes
of the quhilk thyng my sele is put to this present lettrez at
Fores the xxiiij day of May the yheir of our lord a thousand
four hundreth thuerty and thre yheir : — Test. Jac. de
Levingstoune de Calentare, Scutifer, M. Wil. Turnbule, Gustos
Privati Sigilli, Tho. de Peblis, Vicarius de Lmerlithane, Wil.
Comes Orcadie et Dom. de Sancto Claro.' {Reg. Mag, Sig.
Scot, 1424-1513, p. 38.)
In the year 1416 one Robert of Dallas presented to
Benedict xm. a petition for the vacant priory of Urquhart,
the abstract of the register running thus : —
* Robert de Dolas, monk of Dunfermline, of noble birth. For
the priory of Urcart, in the diocese of Moray, dependent on Dun-
fermline, value 201, old sterling, void by the promotion of William
de Sancto Andrea to Dunfermline. Granted, Peniscola, 6 Non,
March, an, 22.' (Pap, Beg,, i. 605 (fol. 285), Ixxxviii. 594.)
Probably Robert had been nominated to the priory by
the Abbot of Dunfermline, but notwithstandiQg that the
petition to the Pope for confirmation was granted, it would
appear that he never enjoyed this preferment. Benedict xm.
being only Antipope, it might be supposed that his acts
would be disavowed by the Church in Scotland, and that for
this reason the granting of Robert's petition was of no avail ;
but while the rest of Europe, except, indeed, the little kiagdom
of Aragon, had definitely repudiated the claims of Benedict
(Pedro de Luna) to the papacy, Scotland adhered to his
JOHN OF DALLAS OF EASTERFORD 55
pontificate until his death in 1424, and thus it was that
Robert's petition, instead of going to Rome, was presented at
Peniscola in Catalonia. No light, therefore, is thus thrown upon
the reasons which led to the failure of the petition. The only
further information to be obtained upon the transaction is con-
tained in the following subsequent petition of the year 1418 : —
* Richard de Bothwil, monk of Dunf ermlin, student of canon
law for three years. To the priory of Wrchart, dependent on
Dunfermlin, value 60Z. old sterling, which, on its voidance
by the promotion of William to the abbey, was given first
to Robert de Dolas, and then to William de Dalketh, monk
of Abirbrothok, between whom a question having arisen,
sentence was given that neither had right therein, notwith-
standing that Andrew de Rabuzy, monk of Dunfermlin, has
unlawfully held it for four months. Granted, Peniscola, 3 Id.
Dec, an. 25.' (Pap, Reg., i. 610 (fol. 3l9d.), Ixxxviii. 594.)
The accounts of the Great Chamberlain record, in the
year 1434, one John Dallas, a ' servant of the king,' but his
precise status is not disclosed ; the entry concerning him
runs as follows in the compotum of John Swyft and Thomas
de Berwik, custumariorum burgi de Edinhurch : — *. . . Et
Johanni Dolas, servitori regis, per assignacionem ejusdem, ut
patet per literas suas de precepto et dicti Johannis de recepto
ostensas super computum iiij li, . . .' {Rot, Scac, iv. 574-5.)
It seems probable that this John Dallas was he who, in 1426 and
1437, is recorded as holding certain lands in Edinburgh (Reg, St.
Giles, 48, 58), though who he was there is nothing to show.
In a dispute between the Prioress and Nuns of North
Berwick and the Burgesses and Community of Berwick
regarding their respective territories, the Justiciary, Thomas
Symmervell, Lord Carnebeith, caused an assize to be chosen
of twenty-five persons to determine the boundaries of the
marches. Among the jury chosen, who were all local persons,
is found John de Dolas, probably John Dolas of Easterford.
The notarial copy of the instrument is dated 14 October 1434.
(Laing Charters, No. 113, p. 29.)
HENRY OF DALLAS OF CANTRAY
The records of the family immediately subsequent to the
death of John of Dallas of Easterford, which probably occurred
not much later than the year 1453, are exceedingly scanty.
It has been seen that in 1431 John of Dallas of Cantray
and John of Dallas of Tarnaway were on the inquest for the
retour of Hugh Rose of Kilravock, but no further reference
to either of them is found, and the identity of John of Dallas
of Cantray has not been determined with certainty.
It has been surmised that he was the eldest son and
apparent heir of John of Dallas of Easterford, and that he
employed the designation of Cantray during his father's
lifetime in the same way that the apparent heir of Budgate
employed the designation of Galcantray, but such evidence
as exists (chronological and genealogical) points to the con-
clusion that John of Easterford and John of Cantray were
one and the same person.
A few years later there appears upon the scene a certain
Henry of Dallas, probably the son of this John of Dallas of
Cantray. On 5th February 1464-5, an inquest was held
at Inverness, under the authority of Celestine 'de Insulis,'
Sheriff-depute of Inverness, for the retour of Sir Duncan
Grant as heir to his grandfather, Gilbert of Glencharny,
in the lands of Kunnyngais, which was constituted of the
following jurors : * Alexandrum de Dunbare de Westfeilde,
Willelmum de Caldore, milites, Willelmum de Caldore,
iuniorem, Thomam Cummyn, Alexandrum Cummyn, Johannem
Hay de Mayn, Thanum de Brothy, Hugonem de Douglas,
Jacobum de Douglas, Alexandrum Flemyng, Patricium
56
HENRY OF DALLAS OF CANTRAY 57
Fergusii, Donaldum Coysoun, Johannem Scheras, Henricum
de Dolas, Willelmum Gaufridi, et Donaldum Johannis.'
{Grant, iii. 26.) No designation, it will be observed, is given
to this Henry of Dallas, but he appears among the well-known
neighbours of Cantray, and he was, there can be little doubt,
the grandfather of the succeeding Henry Dallas of Cantray,
and consequently father of William Dallas of Cantray, who
apparently succeeded to the estates about the year 1480.
No further mention has been found of Henry of Dallas,
whose name is recorded merely to fill the gap between the
death of John of Dallas of Easterford and the accession of
the owner of Cantray next to be mentioned.
So seldom does a member of the family appear in the
character of a churchman, that mention may here be made
of an instrument, dated 26th April 1470, regarding the non-
payment of the redemption money of Methill by Sir John of
Wemyss of that ilk to the sub-prior of St. Andrews, where
* Jacobus de Doless, presbiter Sanctiandree diocesis, publicus
autoritatibus imperiali et regali notarius,' acted as notary
{Wemyss, ii. 96), and of another instrument regarding a
wadset of the same lands, dated 8th June 1470, which was
witnessed by the same Jacobus Dolas.' {Ibid., 98.)
Mention may also be made of John Dallas, evidently a
prosperous manufacturer and notable citizen of Edinburgh,
who as textor in arras, attripotentus, textor attripotente or
attrahatensi, and finally textor in arreswerk, received sundry
payments from the King's exchequer, apparently not for
goods supplied, but as a recognised annual allowance — in fact,
pro feodo suo. These payments extend from the year 1468
to the year 1480, and may perhaps have some relation to the
money paid in 1434 to John Dallas, the King's servant, already
noticed. {Excheq. Rolls, vii. 590 ; viii. 192, 254, 315, 391,
465,548,630; ix. 80.)
WILLIAM DALLAS OF CANTRAY
William Dallas of Cantray, who was probably the eldest
son and heir of Henry of Dallas, was born about the year
1451. (Invernessiana, p. 185.) He first appears, after his
lands had been for some time in non-entry, as one of the
arbitrators on behalf of William, Thane of Cawdor, in a debate
concerning the marches of Cawdor and Kilravock, the in-
denture between the Thane and the Baron of Kilravock
being dated 18th September 1480 {Cawdor, 437), and the
decree arbitral pronounced on 4th November following.
{Ibid,, 439.) On 29th April 1488 he was one of the witnesses
of the charter of resignation of WiUiam Calder, eldest son and
apparent heir of William, Thane of Cawdor, who ' being
lame, and weak of body,' was devoted to the service of the
Church, and on 20th August 1490 he was one of the witnesses
of the contract of marriage between Hugh Mackintosh 'Allan-
son' and Marion Calder, daughter of the Thane of Cawdor, for
which a papal dispensation was required. (Cawdor, 73.)
On 10th May 1492 the contract for the marriage of John
Calder, son and apparent heir of William, Thane of Cawdor,
and Isabel, eldest daughter of Hugh Rose, son and apparent
heir of the Baron of Kilravock, was ratified, William Dallas
of Cantray and WiUiam Dallas of Budgate being two of the
sureties for the payment of a part of the lady's very con-
siderable tocher. {Cawdor, 76.)
On 13th August 1492 he was one of many ' arbitoris and
amiabille compositoris ' evenly chosen between Andrew,
Bishop of Moray, and Hugh Rose of Kilravock, for the settle-
ment of the marches between Kilravock, Kildrummy, and
58
WILLIAM DALLAS OF CANTRAY 59
the church lands of Croy, and on 6th January 1493 he and
William Dallas of Budgate witnessed the charter of foundation
of a perpetual chaplainry within the chapelry of Geddes
by Hugh Eose of Kilravock. {Kilr,, 140.)
About this time the Thane of Cawdor and the Dallases
of Cantray and Budgate fell into serious trouble, doubtless
owing to some hership or depredation of which no record now
remains. Whatever their crime, it was sufficiently heinous
to lead to their trial at Aberdeen before King James iv. in
person, when they were all sentenced to death. They were
good and loyal subjects of their sovereign, however law-
less in their dealings with their neighbours, and accordingly
the following free pardon was granted to them : —
'LiTERA PRO WiLLELMO ThANO DE CaLDOR
* James be the grace of God king of Scottis, to aU and
sundri owre justicis shireffis justice clerkis crownaris and thare
deputis and all utheris oure officiaris liegis and subditis
quham it efferis quhais knaulage thir oure lettres salcum
greting. Wit yhe that forsamekle as in oure court of justiciary
haldin be ws in propir persoun at Aberdene the xxvj day of
Aprile the yere of God i^ iiij^ Ixxxxiiij yeris, Wilyame Thane of
Caldor, Johnne of Caldor his soun and apperand air WiUiame
Dolace of Cantray and Williame Dolace of Budwite were
accusit and convict of certane criminale actionis commitit
be thame and dome gevin apoun thame til hau bene hedit
therefore, neuertheles we therfore mouit of piete considerand
and understandand thai wer evir our trew liegis and obedient
til our lawis and nevir fundin gylti of before grantit to thame
thare lifis heretagis and gudis to leif and remane in tyme to
cum oure trew liegis like as thai did of before the gevin of the
said dome apoun thame, and tharefor of our speciale grace
fauouris and auctorite riall has remittit and be ther oure
lettrez remittis to thame and ilkane of thame all actionis
criminale and ciuile commitit and done be thame, or ony of
60 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
thame in tyme bigane before the gevin of the said dome apoun
thame, and cassis and annuUis the said dome and all sentence
and process that mycht have folowit therapoun. . . . Gevin
under oure priue sele at Inuernes the xxv day of October the
yere of God i"^ iiij^ Ixxxxiiij yeris and of our regnne the
sevynt yere. — James R,.' {Cawdor, 8L)
On 7th February 1497-8 there is a complaint to the Lords
of Council, by Wilyeame Dolace of Cantray, that Donald
Glass came under the silence of night to the He of Rathamarcus
when he was coming from the Lord's assize at Norhame (July
and August 1497) and took away his clothes, silver graith, etc.,
and dragged him barefooted to Lochquhabir. He thereafter
sent him to Angus MacKane at Dourroure in the Isles and held
him for fifteen weeks. Glass was find £20. (Acts of Lords of
Council in Civil Causes in Scotland, 1497-1501, p. 103.)
On 11th February 1499, William Dallas of Cantray was one
of the witnesses to an instrument concerning the wardship of
the infant Muriel Calder, heiress of the old Thane William of
Cawdor, her grandfather (Cawdor, 104), and under the signet
of King James iv. at Inverness, 26th October 1499, he, together
with Alexander, Lord Gordon, Thomas Fraser, Master of Lovat,
and many others, was one of the sheriffs in that part specially
constitute for the purpose of obtaining redress for the injury
done by certain Monroes and others to the Baron of Kikavock
during his temporary possession of the Red Castle and
Ardmanach in the Black Isle in Ross-shire. (Kilr., 168.) On
21st January 1501, William Dallas of Cantray and William
Dallas of Budgate were witnesses to an instrument taken by
William, Thane of Cawdor, before John Rose, Sheriff-depute of
Nairn (Cawdor, 113), and this is almost his last appearance.
It is now necessary to consider certain documents printed
by the late Mr. Fraser-Mackintosh in his Invernessiana, one
of which has been accidentally misdated. There had, it
appears, been debates between the royal burgh of Inverness
WILLIAM DALLAS OF CANTRAY 61
and the two northern burghs of Dingwall and Tain, into the
particulars of which it is unnecessary to enter. The northern
burghs, however, had evidently taken their case before the
Lords of Council, and in consequence the King in Council on
the 3rd April 1501, issued letters addressed to the Sheriff of
Inverness by which that functionary was directed to summon
certain witnesses competent to give evidence on the question
in dispute — the relative rights of the two smaller burghs and
the principal burgh of the shire. Unfortunately, Mr. Fraser-
Mackintosh, in his account, omits the names of those to be
summoned, with the exception of Sir James Dunbar of
Cumnock, William, Thane of Cawdor, Alexander Urquhart,
and Andrew Davidson of Davidston.
On the receipt of these letters John Cuthbert of the Auld
Castle Hill proceeded, as one of the sheriffs-depute, to issue
his own letters in the matter. On the 13th May 1501, he says,
' I summoned, warned and charged Andrew Davidson of
Davidston, John Clunes, Thomas Reid, in Cromarty,
Hossoler in Rosemarkie, Donald Noble in Allan, James Clark
in Kilearnan, Thomas Duff and William Clark in Kilmuir,
Donald Young in Drynie personally apprehended, and
Alexander Urquhart, Sheriff of Cromarty, at his dwelling-
place, that they compear in the Tolbooth of Inverness, upon
Friday, the 28th day of this instant May, before the Sheriff
or his deputes, to swear and depone what privileges they have
heard or seen, the burgh and burgesses of Inverness brook
and enjoy provable, and rightly say what rights and privileges
that they have seen and heard the inhabitants of the towns
of Dingwall and Tain brook and enjoy : And the 24th day of
the said month I summoned Sir James Dmibar of Cumnock,
knight, William, Thane of Cawdor, William Dallas of Cantray,
personally apprehended, and Huchon the Rose of Kilravock,
William Dallas of Budgate, at their dwilling place, to compear
the said day and place before the Sheriff of Inverness, or his
Deputes, to swear and depone as said is.' (Invernessiana, 178.)
62 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
The inquiry which followed was held by John Ogilvy,
Sheriff-depute, not on the 28th May, according to Mr. Fraser-
Mackintosh, in ' the year of God, 1508,' but on the date
mentioned in John Cuthbert's summonses, 28th May 1501.
For not only are the witnesses who appeared, but also those
who did not appear, precisely those mentioned in Cuthbert's
writ. William, Thane of Cawdor, who gave evidence at the
inquiry, was dead in or about the year 1503 {Cawdor, 117),
and so could not possibly have appeared in 1508. Amongst
the witnesses examined before the Court were the two Dallases
of Cantray and Budgate. William Dallas of Cantray, who
deponed that he saw ever the burgh of Inverness brook and
enjoy all the freedom from Duncansbay to the West Sea,
stated his age to be fifty years ; and William Dallas of
Budgate, who ' deponed that the burgh of Inverness was ever
the principal burgh of the whole shire, and that he heard never
that Dingwall or Tain occupied any freedom but at their
licence,' claimed to be eighty years of age. (Invernessiana,
184-5.) Our chief interest in this document is in the record
of the ages of the two Dallases, which renders it easier to
unravel the subsequent genealogy.
No later reference to William Dallas of Cantray has been
met with until after his death, which occurred before 26th
October 1505. He married a sister of Walter Rose in Holme
{Kilr,, 65), who is said by the historian of the Roses to have
been of the family of the Provosts of Nairn. He was evidently
very nearly related to the Baron of Kilravock, as evidenced
by the letter of assythment on the murder of Archibald of
Dallas presently to be noticed. In 1508 Walter Rose acquired
by purchase from Sir William Ogilvy of Stratherne the lands
of Kinstary (Reg, Mag. Sig., 1424-1513, No. 3621), and was
subsequently known by that designation.
Of this marriage of William Dallas there were at least three
sons, Henry, John, and Archibald, the first of whom was his
father's successor.
HENRY DALLAS OF CANTRAY
Henry Dallas was under age when, in 1505, he succeeded
his father in the lands of Cantray and Lairgs, for on 26th
October of that year was issued at Aberdeen, under the King's
hand, ' A Lettre of Gift maid to M. John Caldour, chantour of
Ross, and his assignais, ane or maa, of the gift of the mariagis
of Henry Doles, son and aire to umquhile William Doles of
Cantray, and failzeand of hym, of the airis male succedand
to his heretage ; and of the gift of the ward of the samyn per-
tenand to our soverane lord because the said umquhile William
held of his hienes the landis of Largis, hand within the shirefdom
of Invernes.' {Re.g, Privy Seal, i. p. 166.) And when James,
Bishop of Dunfermline, rendered his Treasury Accounts for
the years 1504-6, he records the payment into the Exchequer
of a sum of forty pounds received by him from M. John Calder
for the marriage of Henry Dallas of Cantray. In 1506 the
young heir must have attained his majority, as he then had
sasine as Crown tenant of Lairgs. {Excheq, Rolls, Scotland, xii.
717.)
About the same time, viz. on the 16th August 1506, an
assize was held in Nairn for the retour of William Calder,
vicar of Ewayne (Barevan), the disinherited eldest son of
WiUiam, Thane of Cawdor, as heir of certain lands and annual
rents in Nairn, when it was found that ' the said Wilyame
thayne of Cauldour deit wessyt and seissit of the crofiftis
besyd Balmakeitht beyon the Water of Naryne . . . alsuay
of vj rudis lyand within the galois . . . and als of xxxc?. of
annuell of Cristane Flemyngis land . . . and of Henry Dolles
land of Cantray \]s. of annuel.' {Cawdor, 118.) This ap-
64 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
parently relates only to lands in Nairnshire, and not to those
in Inverness-shire.
The first appearance of Henry Dallas in the affairs of his
neighbours is on 10th April 1512, when William Dallas of
Budgate and he serve on a jury at Inverness for the retour of
William M'CuUoch of Plaidis. (Invern. Sh, Court Rec, vol. i.
in Register House, Edinburgh.)
A tragedy has now to be recorded of which nothing is
known but the fact. The relationship of the murdered man
to the laird of Clava does not even transpire, for the fact that
Henry Dallas's wife was, if certain Mackintosh pedigrees are
to be relied upon, a granddaughter of Alexander ' Keir '
Mackintosh of Rothiemurchus by a daughter of the then
Stewart, lord of Kincardine, would in no way account for the
cousinship mentioned in the following ' letter of assythment,'
in which, it will be noted, William Dallas of Budgate and his
kin had no part or interest.
* Be jt kend to all men be thir presentis lettres, we Henry
Doles of Cantray, Johnn of Doles, brethir germane to vmquhile
Archibald Doles, quhome God assolye, Valter Ross of Kinstary,
moder brother to the said vmquhile Archibalde, Huchone Ross
of Kilbauok, and vtheris the kyn and freindis of the said
vmquhil Archibald, for conding and thankful recompens,
plesour, and satisfactioun of party made to ws, and suffragis
done for the saule of the said vmquhile Archibalde, be our
louit cousing Robert Stewart of Clauok, to haue grantit and be
the tenour of thir presentis lettres for ws, our airis, kyne,
freindis and successouris, grantis and haldis weill and suf-
ficiently contentit and plesit, and fuUely assithit, as efferis,
be the said Robert, for the slauchter done and committit be
him on the said vmquhil Archibald ; remittand and forgiffand
him, his airis, kyn and freindis, or ony that mycht be accusit
therof in tymez cuming, nowe and for euire, be this present
writ ; to the quhilk, in witnessing of the premiss, we the saidis
HENRY DALLAS OF CANTRAY 65
Henry, Walter, and Huchone, for our selfis, and of the sup-
plicatioun of the said Johnn Doles, hafand na sell of his awyn
propir, and of the request of the remanent of the kyne and
freindis of the said vmquhile Archibalde, beand present, con-
sentand herto, and with the instance, becaus thai hed na
selis propir of thar awyn, thai procurit our selis to be appendit
to the presentis, quhilkis for ws and thaim we haue appendit
at Dawe the last day of May, the yeir of God ane thousande
five hundretht and thretteine yeris, before thir witnes Alexander
Ogilvy of Deskfurde, Gilbert Ogilvy, James Ogilvy, and
Greorge Craufurde, with utheris divers.' {Kilr., 183.)
Three seals are attached to this interesting document,
viz. : 1. A fesse between three stars, with the legend —
8'Henrici Dolas ; 2. A boar's head couped between three
water bougets, with the legend — S'Hugonis Bos haronis ;
3. A fesse between three water bougets, with the legend —
S* Valteri Eos. This is the first recorded instance of the arms
of Dallas of Cantray.
On the 21st July 1513, William Dallas of Budgate, Henry
Dallas of Cantray, and Robert Stewart of Clava, with many
others, served on an inquest for the retour of ' Sir ' Thomas
Paterson, rector of Assynt, as heir to his uncle, Sir William
Paterson, rector of Boleskine, in the lands of Durris, Culcabock,
and Knockyntennell, in the shire of Inverness. {Invern, 8h.
Court Rec, vol. i., and Invernessiana (transL), 191.) On 17th
September 1514 the two Dallases again appear on an inquest
at Inverness when Elizabeth Sutherland was served heir to
her brother John, ninth Earl of Sutherland, to whom she
succeeded in the earldom. (Invernessiana, 194.)
The latest appearance of Henry Dallas is in connection
with what is known as the second hership of Petty. This
sanguinary raid, in which twenty-four of the Ogilvys were
slain, occurred some time in the year 1513, not earlier than the
31st May, when letters of assythment passed between Dallas
and Stewart of Clava, in all probability during the troublous
66 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
times immediately following the fatal field of Flodden. It was
an exploit of certain Mackintoshes and their friends during the
chieftainship of Farquhar Mackintosh, but whether at his
instigation or with his approval there is little to show, save
that his successor Lachlan Mackintosh was subsequently held
responsible. The motive of the crime is also unknown, for
the reasons assigned by various writers are either negatived
by chronology or are wholly inadequate.
A remarkable catalogue of the booty carried off by the
raiders is, however, extant at Kilravock, being contained in a
' Decreet of Spuilzie ' addressed to the Sheriffs of Inverness,
Elgin, and Forres, and dated 23rd March 1515-16. This
decreet sets forth that ' Lauchlane Macintosh of Dunnachtane,
Doule More M'Gillecallum, Ferquhard, his sone, Robert
Stewart of Clavalge, Huchoun Ross of Kilrawok, Henry
Dolace of Contray, Walter Ross of Kinstary, and Donald
Glasche Macintoshe hes done wrang, in the masterfull destruc-
tioun and doun casting, counsale, help, and assistence gevin
thairto, of the Houss of Petty, caUit Halhill, within our
shirrefdom of Inuernes, pertening to umquhile Williame
Ogiluy of Stratherne, knycht, and now to Johnne Ogiluy, his
sone and are, and als hes done wrang in the masterfule spolia-
tioun and away taking fra the said vmquhile Williame, and
withhalding fra him, his said sone and are, his men, tenentis,
and seruandis, of thir gudis vnder writtin, spulzeit and takin
be the saidis personis furth of the said vmquhile Williamis
houss and place of Halhill, and landis pertening thairto.
And thairfor it is ordanit be the saidis lordis that the saidis
personis restore and deliuer the samin gudis agane to the said
Johne Ogiluy, as are forsaid, and to ane venerabiU Fader in
God, Maister James Ogiluy, commendatar of our abbay of
Driburgh, his tutour, of the prices, as ef tir f oUowis : That is to
say,' etc. (Spalding Club MiscelL, ii. 77-80). The decreet
further directs the offenders to pay a sum of five hundred
pounds to Ogilvy for the ' damnage and skayth ' done to the
HENRY DALLAS OF CANTEAY 67
dwelling-place of Hallhill, and instructs the sheriffs to distrain
upon their movable goods, and if necessary to apprise their
lands, with what result there is nothing to show.
Hugh Rose of Kilravock was probably led to take part
in the affair by the fact that his mother was a daughter of
Malcolm ' Beg ' Mackintosh, captain of Clan Chattan, and
Henry Dallas in consequence of his marriage with a Mackintosh
of Rothiemurchus, while Walter Rose of Kinstary was uncle
and Robert Stewart of Clava a cousin of the latter.
Henry Dallas married a daughter of John Keir Mackintosh
of Rothiemurchus by a daughter of Alan, third son of Malcolm
Beg Mackintosh, chief of Clan Chattan. He died in the year
1518, leaving a son and heir, Alexander, a minor : no record
has been found of other children.
ALEXANDER DALLAS OF CANTRAY
Alexander Dallas of Cantray was born about the year
1500, and was consequently between seventeen and eighteen
years of age at his father's death. He was of full age when,
on 14th August 1521, he, together with James Innes and
Alexander Keir, acted as bailie of James, Bishop of Moray,
for giving sasine to Allan Keir Mackintosh, son and heir of the
late John Keir Mackintosh of Rothiemurchus, of the lands of
Rothiemurchus. (Grant, iii. 65-6.)
The following abstract from the Exchequer Accounts for
the year 1521-2 shows that the lands of Lairgs had been
for some three and a half years in non-entry during the minority
of the heir : —
*Vicecomes de Invernyes respondebit pro xxxiijli. viiijd.
de firmis terrarum de duabus Largis cum molendino et per-
tinentiis eorundem jacentium in comitatu Moravie et infra
baliam suam, existentium in manibus regis per spatium trium
annorum et unius termini ultimo elapsorum sasina non
recuperata, et pro vjTi. xiijs. iiijd. de eisdem. Apud Edin-
burgh, vicesimo quarto Januarii anno regni regis nono' (Exch,
Rolls, Scot., XV. 595) ; while by chance one of the Lairgs writs
is still preserved amongst the Cantray charters, and though
it is somewhat injured, and the date in part obliterated, there is
no difficulty in ascertaining its purport. It is an instrument
of sasine, dated 8th May 15[21-2], in favour of Alexander
Doles, son and heir of the deceased Henry Doles of Cantra,
in the land d[e duabus Largis ?'] proceeding upon a precept
from Chancery in which it is stated that the lands have been
in non-entry since the death of the said Henry Doles, or for
ALEXANDER DALLAS OF CANTRAY 69
three years and one term. The precept is dated at Edinburgh,
25th January in the ninth year of the king's reign [James v.].
The witnesses to the sasine are WiUiam Doles of Bodwit,
Alexander Doles his son, and William Ros of Holme. (Cantray
Charters.)
From this time for nearly twenty years only casual
references occur respecting Alexander Dallas. On 30th April
1527 he and others witnessed a bond of mutual friendship
and support between Sir John Campbell of Cawdor, Hector
Mackintosh, captain of Clan Chattan, Hector Munro of Foulis,
Donald His of Slate, and Hugh Rose of Kilravock (Cawdor,
149) ; and on 27th April 1532 he, together with William Dallas
of Budgate and Walter and John Montgomery, witnessed a
protest by Sir John Campbell against the prejudice of his
right to the lands of Little Urchany and the crofts called the
sheriff's crofts, with the office of Sheriiff of Nairn, by the
service of the daughters of Hugh Calder, ' the old Sheriff,' as
heirs of their father (Cawdor, 153). On 6th November 1532
he witnessed at Easter Urquhard a grant by Robert Stewart
of Clava to John Grant in Ballindallach of the town of Easter
Urquhard and the lands of Cantradoun in the shire of Nairn,
which was confirmed under the Great Seal, 2nd January 1537
(Reg, Mag. Sig., 1513-46, 387), and on 14th April 1534 he and
William Dollace of Budgate were members of a jury for the
retour of George Munro of Doucharte (Invern. Sh. Ct. Rec, i.).
On 3rd October 1536 he served on a jury for the retour
of James Grant of Frewquhy (Grant, iii. 80), and on 4th May
1537 he, together with Alexander Strathauchin of CuUoden,
Robert Stewart of Clava, and others, were on an inquest held
at Inverness for the retour of Donald Cameron as heir to his
father Ewgene (Angus) Alanson, captain of Clan Cameron, in
the lands of Knockdort and Glenneves, which were thereupon
confirmed to him under the Great Seal on 8th November 1537
(Reg. Mag. Sig., 1513-46, 382). On the 22nd May 1539 a
letter is addressed by ' James erle of Murray lord of Abernethy
70 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
to our lowittis Alexander Doles of Cantray [and] Duncano
M'behan in Dunmakglass our bailyeis specialie constitut,' stat-
ing that he had made Sir John Campbell of Caldour ' our bailye
of all and sindry our landis of Stratherne,' who thus super-
seded Dallas and his coadjutor in that office. {Cawdor, 163.)
There occurs about this time a series of transactions
respecting the barony of Rothiemurchus, the exact significance
of which is hardly disclosed by the documents available.
These lands had for several generations been held of the
bishopric of Moray by a branch of the family of Mackintosh,
and had descended to Alan Keir Mackintosh, who had sasine
in 1521, as has been stated above. This Alan, however, fell
into pecuniary difficulties, and his lands appear to have passed
into the hands of his nephew, Alexander Dallas of Cantray,
as his principal creditor {Grant, i. 118) ; the exact nature of
Dallas's claim has not, however, come to light. That he at least
deemed himself fully vested in these lands is evidenced by a
contract between him and George Gordon, Constable of
Badenoch, son of George, Earl of Huntly, which, though
already printed by Sir WiUiam Eraser, is too important not to
be reproduced : —
'In Dei nomine amen. Per hoc presens publicum in-
strumentum cunctis pateat euidenter et sit notum, quod
anno incarnacionis dominice millesimo quingentesimo quadra-
gesimo secundo, die vero mensis Maij prima, indiccione
decimaquinta, pontificatus sanctissimi in Christo patris ac
domini nostri, domini Pauli diuina prouidentia pape tercii
anno octauo ; in mei notarii publici testiumque inf rascriptorum
presencia, comparuit honorabilis vir, Alexander Doles de
Cantra, venerabilemque virum dominum Jacobum Duf,
vicarium de Durris, debita cum instancia requisiuit quatenus
quemdam conthractum initum inter dictum Alexandrum et
honestum virum magistrum Georgium Gordone, constabularium
de Baidzenach, pro alienacione omnium et singularum terrarum
de Rathamurkus a dicto magistro Georgio prefato Alexandre
ALEXANDER DALLAS OF CANTRAY 71
facta, pro sua defensione, inquantum lis orta inter eosdem pro
dictis terris tempore confeccionis presencium fuit, sibi daret :
Quemquidem conthractum magister Georgius et Alexander,
vnanimo consensu, prefato domino Jacob o in custodia, vt
moris est, deliberabant, ac eundem conthractum ipso domino
Jacobo in cubiculo suo proprio apud burgum de Inuernis
existenti, per nominatum magistrum Georgium violenter et
minus iuste de manibus suis euulsum et raptum asseruit :
Super quibus omnibus et singulis antedictis, idem Alexander
Doles, a me notario publico subscripto vnum vel plura,
publicum seu publica, instrumentum aut instrumenta sibi
fieri peciit. Acta erant hec in plateis predicti burgi, coram
edibus venerabilis viri, domini Magni Waus, prepositi de
Thayne, hora vndecima ante merediem, aut eocirca, sub
anno, die, mense, indiccione et pontificatu quibus supra ;
presentibus ibidem honestis discretisque viris Fynlao
Wyllzemsone, Vilelmo Clark, Johanne Budet, Waltero Couper,
burgensibus dicti burgi. Beano M'Conquhyet Johanne M'Gilleis,
cum diuersis aliis ad premissa vocatis pariterque rogatis.
*Et ego vero Jacobus Farquhardi, arcium magister, pres-
byter Aberdonensis diocesis, sacra apostolica autoritate nota-
rius, quia premissis ' (etc., in forma communi). (Grant, iii. 87.)
George Gordon, however, did not long retain possession of
the lands and barony of Rothiemurchus, though there is nothing
in the following contract to indicate his reasons for divesting
himself of so valuable a possession. It gives, however, some
interesting information as to the extent and value of some
of Dallas's property, and the fact that Alexander Lesly,
younger of Wardes, is one of his cautioners, suggests a con-
nection between that family and Isobel Lesly, the wife of
Alexander Dallas : —
' Contract between George Gordoun of Rothemurcus, with
consent of his father, George, Earl of Huntlie, as his tutor
and governor, on the one side, and Alexander DoUes of
Canttraye, who alleges that he has the consent of James Keir,
72 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
eldest son and heir of the late Allan Keir, sometime of Rothe-
murcus, with advice of the well-advised friends of James Keir,
on the other side, as follows : — George Gordotin obliges himself
to sell and dispone by resignation, or by charter and precept of
sasine, to Alexander DoUes and his heirs heritably, all and
whole the lands and barony of Rothemurcus, with tenants,
tenendries, service of free tenants, fortalice, locks, woods and
fishings thereof, to be holden of Patrick Bishop of Moraye,
and his successors, in feu-farm, for payment of such feu
maills and duties, as the feu-charter of George Gordoun
specifies ; and to make Alexander Dolles, and his heirs,
assignees in and to an assedation of the teind sheaves of the
kirk of Rothemurcus, which he has of the bishop for nineteen
years ; and to deliver all the evidents which he has of the
lands of Rothemurcus, as well as the assedation already
mentioned, with an assignation thereof : Alexander Dolles,
on behalf of himself and his heirs, discharging and renouncing
all warrandice that he has or may have through this alienation
against George and his heirs, except that the Earl of Huntly
shall be obliged for himself and his heirs to warrand the lands
and barony referred to at the hands of George his son, and
his heirs, to Alexander and his heirs whatsoever, for which
Alexander shall content and pay to George, and to the Earl
his father, as tutor and governor in his name, the sum of
eighteen hundred merks at the making of this contract, three
hundred merks within eight days thereafter, and four hundred
merks at Whitsunday following : and for security thereof,
Alexander shall cause that Hucheon Ros of Kilrayok, John
Grant of Ballindallocht, Arthur Stewart of Kilmacloyne, and
Alexander Lesle, young Laird of Wardores be acted along
with himself in the official's books of Moray, each for one
hundred merks at the Martinmas term ensuing, and shall
infeft George Earl of Huntlie, heritably, by charter and
sasine, in all and whole the lands of Lairgis, in the sheriffdom
of Inverness, with the pertinents of the same, to be holden
ALEXANDER DALLAS OF CANTRAY 73
of the King of Scotland for the time, and his successors, as
Alexander himself holds them, the Earl giving to him a re-
version and letter of regress containing the sum of four hundred
merks, and also a letter of tack of the said lands of Lairgis after
the outquitting of them, for the space of five years, paying
therefor twenty merks yearly, in case Alexander shall not
have paid the sum of eight hundred merks at the term of
Martinmas. Also he shall infeft the Earl in all and whole the
six merk lands of Cantrafresser, to be held of Alexander and
his heirs blanche, for payment of one penny yearly, in security
of payment of two hundred merks of the whole sum, the Earl
to give him a reversion containing the sum, with a letter of
tack after the outquitting for five years, for payment of six
merks maill, in case Alexander fail to pay the complete sum of
eight hundred merks by the time above stated. The lands of
Lairgis and Cantrayfresser not to be redeemed by Alexander
unless at one time, and both together ; and for observing all of
the premisses contained in this contract each party is bound
and obliged, one to the other, by the faith and truth in their
bodies ; and for greater security they are content that the
contract be registered in the official's books of Moray, and
they be bound to the same under pain of cursing.' The
contract is subscribed by George Erie of Huntle, George
Gordoun and Alexander Dolles, and dated at Elgin, 29th
December 1542, in presence of Robert bishop of Orknai,
Alexander prior of Pluscardin, Robert Innes of Innermerkye,
Robert Dunbar of Durres, Alexander Bailze, constable of
Invernes, James Innes of Rothmakenze, and Schir Thomas
Hay, vicar of Duffus, as witnesses. A note is appended, of
the same date as the contract, and signed by Thomas Hay,
notar, calling upon the parties above enumerated to imple-
ment their securities. {Grant, iii. 369.)
Having thus apparently recovered possession of the lands
and barony of Rothiemurchus, Alexander Dallas, two years
later, entered into negotiations for their exchange with James
74 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
Graunt of Fruquhye, the results of which are embodied in the
following deed : —
At Elgin, the tuenty thrid day of Apryll, the zeir of God
ane thousand fife hundreth fourty and fife zeiris, it is ap-
punctuat, concordit, and finale aggreit abetuxe ane honorabill
man, James Graunt of Fruquhye, on that tain part, and
Alexander Dolas of Cantray on that todyr part, in manyr,
forme, and effect as eftyr foUowis : That is to say, the said
James Graunt bindis and obleissis hyme self, his airis, ex-
ecoutouris and assingnais, that, God willing, he sail infeft
heritabilly the said Alexander Dolas, his airis, execoutouris
and assingnais, be chartyr and precept of sesing, in all and
haill the landis of the half of Estyr Wrquhart, Cantray, Done
and Dalgramycht, lyand within the schirefdome of Name
and barony of Cloway, with all and sindry thair pertinentis,
and that odyx be assingnacione and confirmacione, to be
haldyne of our souerain lady the Quenis Grace and hir suc-
cessouris, or be plain alienacione, as likkas best atheris the
saidis parteis ; and this to be doin betuxe the dait heyrof and
the fest of Sanct Martyne nixt to cum immediate and sub-
sequent ; And als the said James bindis and obleissis hyme
self, his airis, execoutouris and assingnais, he sail infeft
heretabilly the said Alexander Dolas, his airis, execoutouris
and assingnais, in all and haill the landis of Cloway, lyand
within the forsaid barony and schyir, with all and syndry
thair pertinentis, mill multuris, and all maner of dewitteis
pertenyng the samyn, within the space of sewin zeiris nixt
following the dait heyrof ; or ellis the saidis James his airis,
execoutouris or assingnais sail content, refund, and pay to the
said Alexander, his airis, execoutouris or assingnais, the
sowme of ane thousand merkis usuale mone of Scotland, in
the space of the forsaid sewin zeiris : And in likwyis that the
said James, his airis, execoutouris or assingnais, sail pay to the
said Alexander, his airis, execoutouris or assingnais, the
sowme of xx merkis zeirly wsuale mone of [the] realme, at twa
ALEXANDER DALLAS OF CANTRAY 75
consueit termis of the zeir, viz. Witsunday and Martymes,
ay and quhill he, his airis, execoutonris or assingnais, infeft
heritabilly, as said is, the forsaid Alexander Dolas, his airis,
executouris or assingnais, in all and haill the landis of Cloway,
with the mill of the samyn, and that to be pait of the landis of
Clowre and West Cur : And mayratour, the said James, his
airis, execoutouris or assingnais, sail content and pay to the
said Alexander Dolas, his airis, execoutouris or assingnais,
the sowme of iiij hundreth merkis usuale mone, betuxe the
dait heyrof and the vij day of Maii nixt following ; and two
hundreth merkis at the fest of Witsunday nixt thereftyr
following : For the quhilkis the said Alexander Dolas bindis
and obleissis hyme, his airis, execoutouris, and assingnais that
he heretabilly infeft the said James, his airis, execoutouris
of assingnais, in all and haill the landis and barony of Ratha-
murkus, with tenentis and tenendry, tyndis, multuris, pro-
fitteis and all oderis commoditeis that pertenis or may pertein
thairto, lyand within the schirefdome of Inuernes and regalite
or Spyne, within viij dais that the said James Graunt, his
airis, execoutouris or assingnais infeftis the said Alexander
Dolas, his airis, execoutouris or assingnais in the forsaid landis
of Estyr Wrquhart, Cantray, Doune and Dalgrawmycht, as is
abune exprimit : And gif saye beis that this present conthrak
be nocht maid in dew forme, it salbe lesum the said conthrak
to be extendit in the maist vberior form practitak or specu-
latiue, with all clauses necessaris as men of law can dewis :
And gif saye beis, as God forbeit, that ony of the parteis
forsaidis resultis or gainstandis in ony punctis prenominat, the
pairty brakand sail pay the sowme of tuelf hundreth merkis ;
the quhilk tuelf th c. merkis salbe distribuit, viz., to the Quenis
Grace iiij hundreth merkis, fouyr hundreth merkis to the
reparacione of the cathedrall kyrk of Murray, and four
hundreth merks to the pairty that the fait is maid to : And
quhane and quhow schwin the said James, his airis, exe-
coutouris, or assingnais, infeftis the said Alexander Dolas,
76 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
his airis, execoutouris or assingnais, in the landis of Estyr
Urquhart, Cantray, Doune, and Dalgrawmycht, than and in
that cais the said Alexander Dolas, his airis, execoutouris or
assingnais, sail deliuer the said James, his airis, execoutouris
or assingnais, all charteris, documentis, instrumentis and
reuersionis of all landis that ar wedset at the making of thir
presentis ; and forder, that the said Alexander, his airis,
execoutouris or assingnais, sail nocht wedset, alienat, nor
away put nay landis of the forsaid barony of Rathamurkus
odyr nay thair is wedset at the makking of thir presentis :
And for observing and keping of all and syndry premissis,
atheris the saidis parteis ar content that this present conthrak
be registrat in the officialis buikkis of Murray, to be kepit
and obseruit ondyr the pain of infamite, inhabilite, cursing
and mensuering, and as God forbeid : And rycht saye hes
subscriuit this present conthrak, at Elgin, day, zeir, and
place forsaid befor this witnes, ane venerabill man Maister
Alexandjn? Suthirland, deane of Catnes and officiale of Murray,
Johne Grant of Culcabok, Thomas Name of Cromdall, Schir
John Scherar, vicar of Ardclauch, Schir John Maitland
chaipland, and Maister James Farquharson, and Schir Johne
Gibsone, notaris publice, with oderis diuerse.
* James Grant of Fruquhy, with my hand.
'Alexr. Doles of Cantray, wyth my hand on
the pen, led be Schir John Scherer, vicare of
Ardclach.' {Grant, iii. 94.)
It does not appear that this contract was ever fully carried
out, and, as will be seen later, Alexander Dallas continued to
regard himself as the legal owner of Eothiemurchus, though
Grant by some means seems to have obtained actual possession.
It is by no means clear that Dallas did not retain some effective
hold over the barony during his lifetime, and it may be that,
but for the long minority which followed closely upon his death.
ALEXANDER DALLAS OF CANTRAY 77
the Dallases would have succeeded in retaining possession of
these lands, the more so as it is certain that Grant failed to
fulfil his part of the contract as regards the lands of Cantray-
doun, Dalgramich, Easter Urquhart, and Clova.
On the 5th May following, Alexander Dallas was at Elgin,
where, in the cathedral church, he was one of many witnesses to
a charter by William Liell, perpetual curate of Duffus, with the
consent of the chapter, of the Kirklands of Duffus, together
with two acres called lie hrewin acris, and four acres belonging
to the vicar, to John Sutherland alias Bayn and the heirs- male
of his body, whom failing, to Alexander Sutherland, lord of
Dujffus, or to Richard Sutherland, lord of Forss, and their
heirs- male respectively, whom also failing, to the heirs- male of
the said John Sutherland whatsoever bearing the surname
and arms of Sutherland {Reg. Morav,, 402) ; and four days
earlier the following letter was addressed to Patrick Hepburn,
Bishop of Moray, prompted, doubtless, so far as Dallas was
concerned, by the anticipated grant of the episcopal lands of
Croy shortly to be noticed. It would, however, appear that
the laird of Cantray had already some interest in these lands : —
' Be it kend till all men be thir letteris. We Huchon Ros
of Kilrauok, Johnne Ros of Ballewaitt, Alexander Ros of
Holme, and Alexander DoUes of Cantray, that forsamekle
as ane reuerend fader in God, Patrik bischop of Murrey and
commendatoure of the abbay of Scone, hes been gude and
thankfuU to ws, in all materis concernyng us, our kyn, freyndis
allyas and part takaris, and thame of our surname, and in
speciall, in setting to ws and oure aris in few and heretage,
the landis of Kildrymme, with fisching vpone the watter of
Name ; Kilmony and Daltuly, with fischingis vpone the
watter of Fyndorne, with all and sundry pertinentis thereof ;
the landis of Ballewaitt, Auchingoure, with fischingis of the
samyn vpone the watter of Fyndorne ; Arclauch, with fisching
of the samyn vpon the said watter, togidder with croft of the
78 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
samyn, the croft of the Heremyte, the myhi of Arclauch, with
the half of the landis of Flenes moir ; the landis of Croye,
with the ailhous and croft of the samjni ; the lands of Ewan,
with the pendikillis and pertinentis thereof, with ailhous and
croft of the samyn, togidder with the halff landis of Flenes
moir, with all and sundrye pertinentis thairof ; and hes re-
baltit large of his proffitt that the few of the saidis landis ar
wourth : Heirfor and vtheris rasonable caussis moving ws,
to be bundin and oblesitt, and be the tenour heirof, bjnidis
and oblessis ws and ilkane of ws, and oure airis, in the stratest
forme of obligation and band of manrent vsit and wount
within this realme, that we sail doo lele and trew and afald
seruice to the said reuerend fader, with oure kyne, freyndis,
assistaris, part takaris, allyas, thame of oure surname, and
vtheris that will do for ws, induring all the dayis of the said
reuerend f aderis, and oure lyvetymez ; and sail tak his trew
and plane partt, ryde, gang and serve him in all partis quhare
he sail happin to have adoo, and quhattyme and quhow offt
we happin to be requyrit be him or thame havand power of
him in his absence, agains all mortall, our souerane lady the
Quenys grace, hir successouris, and my Lord Gouernour
alanerly exceppitt : and sail geiff the said reuerend fader
oure lele trew and afald counsele quhen we be requyrit therto :
and sail nocht wit of his hurt, skaith or damage, bot we sail
aduerteis him thairof. And for observing and keiping of the
premissis, we bynd and obleiss ws and oure airis be the faith
of Cristyn men, the haly ewangellis twichet, and undir the
panys of periure inhabilite and infamation. And for corobora-
tioun of the samyn, to this present write and band subscriuit
with oure handis, we have affixit oure seelis to the samyn, and
is contentit that this write be registraitt in the officiall bukis
of Murray, and to have strenth of act. At Spyne, the fyrst
day of Mail, in the yere of God ane thousand fyve hundreth
and fourtyfyve yeris, befor this witnes ; ane honorable man,
James Ogilvy of Cardell, Sir Thomas Wallace person of
ALEXANDER DALLAS OF CANTRAY 79
Unthank, George K3n:k, James Innes, and Johime Philp, with
vtheris diuers.
' HucHON Ros, baroxin of Kilrawok,
' JoHNE Ros of Ballewat,
' Alexr. Ros of Holm, and
' Alexr. Dollas of Cantra,
* With oure handis at the pen, led be ane honorable
man, George Strathauehin of CuUodin, at oure
speciall command.'
The Bishop's letter in response also supplies interesting
information with regard to the doings of our laird and his
neighbours and friends : it is noteworthy that his namesake of
Budgate has no part in these amicable arrangements : —
* Be jt kend till all men be thir present lettres, ws Patrik,
be the mercie of God, bischope of Murray, and comendatour
of the abbay of Scone ; fforsamekle as honorabill men, Huchon
Ros of Kilraok, Johnne Ros of Balliuat, Alex^ Ros of Holme,
and Alex^. DoUes of Cantray, ar bundin and obleist to ws, in
leill trew and anef old seruice, with thair kyn, f reindis, surname,
part takaris, allyas, and assistaris, as thair band of seruice
mair fuUie proportis, to be bundin and obleist, and be the
tenour heirof, bindis and oblesis ws, be the fayth and trewth
in oure bodie, in the stretast forme of obligacioun wsit within
this realme, that we sail manteine and defend the saiddis
Huchon, Johne, Alex^, and Alex^., thair aris, surname, kyn,
and f reindis, in all thair just and lesum actionis, querellis and
causis, with oure kyn, freindis, seruandis, allyas, part takaris
and assistaris, quhen ewir we be requirit therto, agains all
deidlie, our soueraine ladie the Quenis grace, my Lordis
Gouernour, thair auctorete, the Lard of Innes, James Grant of
Eruquhy, and Jhone Grant his sone and ayr, alanerlie exceppit,
and sail giff thame our leill trew and ane fold counsall, and
sail nocht wit nor here of thair skayth, hot shall aduerteis
80 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
thame therof , with all wther thingis that ar vsit and acustumat
in bandis of kyndnes and manteinans within this realme.
And for obseruing and keping of all and sundrie the premisses,
we haif subscriuit this owr bandis of manteinans, and caussit
our round seill to be affixit to the samyn At Spyne, the sext
day of May, the yeir of God ane thousand fif hundret and
fourte fif yeris, befoir thir witnes ; Sir Thomas Wallace,
Patrik Kynnard, Master Johne Innes, George Kirk, and
Johne Philp, with vtheris diuers.
* Patrik, bischope of Moraye, comendatar off Scone.'
On the day preceding the date of this letter, Alexander
Dallas obtained a grant of the episcopal lands of Croy, which
is duly recorded in the Bishop's register (Reg, Morav., 340).
The original grant is still preserved at Cantray. It is a
charter by Patrick, Bishop of Moray, and perpetual Com-
mendator of the Abbey of Scone, with consent of the Chapter
of the Cathedral Church of Moray, for the augmentation of
their rental to the extent of 3<§. 4:d. Scots, as also for the policy
of the kingdom and a large sum of money paid to them by an
honourable man, Alexander DoUes of Cantray, and for other
gratitudes and good deeds often done to them by him, granting
to the forenamed Alexander DoUes of Cantray and the heirs-
male of his body lawfully procreated or to be procreated,
whom failing the true and lawful and nearest heirs-male and
assignees of the said Alexander, bearing the surname and arms
of Dolles, of all and whole the lands of Croy, with the brewhouse
and croft thereof, lying as follows : — ' Begynnand at the north
est nuyk of the vicaris manse of Croy to the strjrpe that
cummis of the fuyrd at the kirkstyle and the landis of Kilravok
on the sowth syd of the stryp and the landis of Croy at the
north syde of the strype and the foirsaid strype to be haldynne
ever for ane marche betuix the landis of Croy and Kilrawok
sa far as Croy hes bundis and lyis on the said strype or the
pertinentes of the samyn ; ' within the barony of Arclaucht,
ALEXANDER DALLAS OF CANTRAY 81
regality of Spynie and sheriffdom of Inverness ; which lands
were formerly let in tack for the sum of £4, 13s. 4d., or mart
worth 24s., two sheep each worth 4s., and for two hens, each
worth Is. 2d., with a dozen poults each worth 3d., also for two
bolls of oats each worth 4s., and two bolls of dry multure,
each worth 6s. 8d., the whole amounting to £7, 12s. Od. ; for
the grassum yearly 26s. 8d., and for arreages and carriages
6s. 8d. yearly, to which is now added 3s. 4d. of augmentation
yearly. To be held of the granter and his successors in feu
farm for payment of the before-mentioned sums as feu duty,
with duplication at the entry of heirs. The charter contains
a clause of warrandice, and is dated at Elgin in the Chapter-
house, 5th May 1545, the names of the witnesses not being
filled in. Signed by the Bishop and by Alexander Sutherland
of Duffous, John Cohen of Inverkethny, prebendary, Thomas
Wallas, rector of Unthank, Alexander Hepburn, rector of
Rye (?) and Gavin Lesly, rector of Kingussie. The Bishop's
seal and the seal of the Chapter are still appended, though
somewhat broken. {Cantray Chart)
This charter was followed by a precept of sasine by Patrick,
Bishop of Moray, directed to James Innes in Drany, his bailie,
narrating his granting of the foregoing charter and direct-
ing him to give infeftment thereupon, and dated 5th May
1545 as the charter ; the witnesses being Henry Lumis-
dale, rector of Kynkell, James Ogilvy of CuUard, James Innes
in Drany, Patrick Hepburn, Hew Cragy, John Gibsoun and
William Vysman, notaries, signed as the charter, with the
addition of Thomas Gaderar of Calaracy : fragments of the
two seals are still attached. (Cantray Chart) Then followed
an instrument of sasine dated 7th May 1545, in these terms : —
'In Dei nomine Amen per hoc presens publicum instru-
mentum cunctis pateat evidenter et sit notum quod anno
incarnationis Dominice millesimo quingentesimo quadragesimo
quinto mensis vero Mail die septimo indictione tertia ponti-
82 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
ficatus sanctissimi in Christo Patris et Domini nostri Domini
Pauli divina providentia Pape tertii anno undecimo In mei
notarii publici et testium sub scrip torum ad hoc vocatorum
pariterque et rogatorum presentia personaliter constitutus
honorabilis vir Alexander DoUes de Cantray accessit successive
et respective ad terras ecclesiasticas de Croy Brasinam et
croftam ejusdem jacentes infra baroniam de Arclauth re-
galitatem de Spyne et vicecomitatum de Innernes Et ibidem
quoddam preceptum saisine sive literam baUivatus Reverendi
in Christo Patris et Domini Patricii miseratione Divina
Moraviensis Episcopi ac de Scona commendatarii perpetui
in pergamino scrip tum sigilloque rotundo et subscriptione
manuaU ejusdem ac sigillo communi capituHecclesie cathedraUs
Moraviensis canonicorumque ejusdem subscriptionibus manu-
ahbus sub scrip tum sigiUatum et roboratum provido viro
Jacobo Innes de Drany ballivo dicti reverendi patris in hac
parte per hujusmodi preceptum saisine speciaHter constituto
presentavit tradidit et deUberavit pro saisina hereditaria
omnium et singularum terrarum de Croy cum brasina et crofta
ejusdem predictarum danda eundemque Jacobum Innes
ballivum in hac parte predictum instanter requisivit quod
hujusmodi preceptum saisine sive Hteram baUivatus debite
executioni in omnibus suis punctis et articuUs secundum
vim for mam tenorem et ejBfectum ejusdem demandaret Quod-
quidem preceptum sive Hteram baUivatus idem Jacobus
baUivus in hac parte predictus et qua decuit reverentia re-
cipiens michi notario pubUco subscripto tradidit perlegendum
cujus precepti tenor sequitur et est tahs Patricius miseratione
divina Moraviensis Episcopus ac Monasterii de Scona com-
mendatarius perpetuus dilectis nostris Jacobo Innes de Drany
WiUelmo Morresoun BaUivis nostris in hac parte speciaHter
constitutis Salutem Quia cum expressio consensuit assensu
capituli nostri ecclesiae nostre cathedraHs Moraviensis ad hoc
capitulariter congregati in evidentem utUitatem prefate nostre
ecclesie et augmentationem nostri rentaHs ejusdem exten-
ALEXANDER DALLAS OF CANTRAY 83
dentis annuatim ad summam tredecim solidorum et quatuor
denariorum monete regni Scotie plusquam terre sub scrip te
prius nobis aut predecessoribus nostris persoluerunt necnon
ad decorum et policiam reipublice regni et contemplationem
statutorum parliamenti desuper editorum Et pro reparatione
et exstructione edificiorum domorum lapidearum stagnorum
pomeriorum hortorum et columbariorum super terris infra
scripto inquantum portare poterint Necnon pro quadam in-
sequa summa pecuniaria nobis per honorabilem virum
Alexandrum DoUes de Cantray gratanter et integre persoluta
et in usum nostrum et dicte nostre ecclesiae cathedralis con-
versa Et pro aliis gratitudinibus auxiliis et benemeritis per
ipsum Alexandrum nobis multipliciter prestitis dedimus con-
cessimus arrendavimus locavimus et ad feodifermam seu
empheteosim hereditarie dimissimus prenominato Alexandre
DoUes de Cantray et suis heredibus masculis de corpore suo
legitime procreatis seu procreandis quibus omnibus forte
deficientibus veris legitimis et propinquioribus heredibus
masculis dicti Alexandri et assignatis suis quibuscumque
arma et cognomen de Dolles gerentibus et portantibus Omnes
et singulas terras nostras de Croy cum brasina et crofta
ejusdem cum pertinentiis jacentas in baronia de Arclauch
regalitatem de Spyne et vicecomitatum de Innernes prout in
€arta nostra desuper confecta latius continetur Vobis igitur
ballivis nostris ante dictis et vestrum cuilibet precipimus et
fir miter mandamus quatenus visis presentibus indelate statum
saisinam et possessionem hereditariam dictarum terrarum cum
pertinentiis prenominato Alexandre Dolles vel suo certo
actornato latori presentium per terre et lapidis traditionem
super fundum earundem terrarum ut moris est in talibus
travatis deliberetis juste haberi faciatis et hoc nullo modo
omittatis et vestrum quilibet requisitus tradat deliberet juste
haberi faciat et hoc nullo modo omittat juxta et secundum
vim formam et continentiam carte nostre desuper facte Ad
quod faciendum vobis baUivis nostris ante dictis et vestrum
84 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
cuilibet cbnjunctum et divisum nostram liberam puram et
omnimodam potestatem damus et committimus per presentes
sine revocatione duraturum In cujus rei testimonium sigillum
nostrum rotundum presentibus est appensum cum nostra
subscriptione manuali una cum sigillo communi capitulari
Moraviense et subscriptionibus canonicorum ejusdem capituli
capitulum pro tempore representantium in signum eorum
consensus ad premissa Apud Elgin in loco capitulari Mora-
viensis quinto die mensis Maij anno Domini millesimo quin-
gentesimo quadragesimo quinto coram hiis testibus venera-
bilibus et honorabilibus viris magistris et dominis Henrico
Lumisdaill rectore de Kynkell Jacobo Ogilvy de Cullard
Jacobo Innes de Drany Patricio Hepburne Domino Johanne
Gib Sonne Hugone Cragy et Magistro Willelmo Wisman
Notariis publico Post cujusquidem precepti saisine produc-
tionem presentationem exhibitionem deliberationem et
lecturam idem Jacobus Innes ballivus in hac parte predictus
sentiens Hujusmodi requisitionem fore justam et rationi con-
sonam volensque hujusmodi precepto parere statum saisinam
hereditariam pariterque et possessionem realem actualem et
corporalem omnium singularum terrarum predictarum do
Croy cum brasina et crofta ejusdem et pertinentiis suis quibus-
cumque jacentarum ut supra respective et successive super
solum earundem terrarum per terre et lapidis fundi earundem
terrarum traditionem ut moris est juxta vim formam tenorem
et effectum dicti precepti saisine et carte desuper confecte
dicto Alexandro Dolles dedit realiter ac cum effectu de-
liberavit Eundemque Alexandrum Dolles in realem et cor-
poralem possessionem dictorum terrarum cum pertinentiis
suis universis induxit instituit et investivit ac in pace dimisit
ceteraque fecit prout in dicto precepto saisine continetur Super
quibus omnibus et singulis predictus Alexander Dolles de
Cantray a me notario publico subscripto sibi unum vel plura
publicum seu publica instrumentum seu instrumenta fieri
petiit Acta erant hec apud Croy super solum seu messuagium
ALEXANDER DALLAS OF CANTRAY 85
earundem terrarum horam circiter quartam post merediem
sub anno die mense indictione et pontificatu quibus supra
presentibus ibidem honorabilibus et discretis viris Hugone
Ros de Kilrawok Alexandro Ros de Holm Willelmo Moresoun
Johanne Dow Willelmo Ross et Thoma Trollis sargiando cum
diversis aliis testibus ad premissa vocatis pariterque rogatis
Et ego Willelmus Wysman presbyter Moraviensis dioceseos
publicus sacra auctoritate apostolica notarius Inia premissis
omnibus et singulis dum sic ut premittitur agerentur dicentur
et fierunt una cum prenominatis testibus presens interfui
Eaque omnia et singula sic fieri vidi scivi et audivi ac in
notam cepi Ideoque hoc presens publicum instrumentum
dicti precepti saisine in se continentem tenorem manu mea
propria fideliter scriptum cum appendatione sigilli prescripti
Jacobi ballivi saisinam dantis roboratum ex inde confeci et in
banc publicam instrumentalem formam redigi Signoque
nomine cognomine et subscriptione meis solitis et consuetis
signavi rogatus et requisitus in fidem et testimonium omnium
et singulorum praemissorum.'
It may be convenient to state here that the transaction was
completed four years later by a papal confirmation of the
foregoing charter on a commission of inquiry granted to John
Thornton, precentor of Moray, and Henry Forrous [Forrester],
canon of Ros, in which the charter is recited at length. The
confirmation is dated in the aisle of St. Giles within the
Cathedral Church of Moray, 20th May 1549, the witnesses
being James Dunbar of Conze, Sir Andrew Wallace, priest,
and others. The two seals of the Commissioners are still
attached. (Cantray Chart.)
It is probable that the engagements with respect to the
purchase and exchange of lands into which Alexander Dallas
had entered put him to some pecuniary inconvenience, and it
is found that, in consideration of a sum of money paid to him,
he granted a charter to David Baillie and Margaret Ros, his
86 THE FMIILY OF DALLAS
spouse, of the lands of Myd Lairge and Eister Lairge, in the
barony of Cardell and sheriffdom of Inverness, to be held by
the said David and his heirs of the Queen, dated at Inverness,
6th July 1546, and witnessed by George Strathauchin of
Cullodin, John M'Quheyn, Angus M'CuUoch, Pat. Strathauchin,
Rob. Vaus, burgesses of Inverness, and signed by the said
Alexander Doles by a notary. (Reg, Mag, Sig,, 1513-46, 769.)
A composition of £51 was paid on 1st October 1546 on con-
firmation of this charter. (High Treasurer's Accounts, vol. viii.
p. 204.) This charter would naturally be accompanied by
letters of reversion, and the lands did not pass permanently into
Baillie's hands.
Shortly afterwards Alexander DoUes of Cantray, baron of
Rathmurchus, granted a charter to Andrew Bayne Makyn-
naycht and his heirs and assignees of his lands of Kennapoild
and their pertinents in the barony of Rathmurchus, regality
of Spynie and sheriffdom of Inverness, to be held of the granter
and his heirs in free blench ; dated at Cantray, 2nd March
1549-50, and witnessed by John Dolles, William DoUes,
Patrick DoUes, John Dowe, and Sir Thomas Strathauchin,
curate of Nairn and notary. The laird signs by the aid of the
notary and appends his seal, on which is a shield containing
two bars and in chief three stars, with the legend S.
Alexandri Dolles de Cantray, This charter is followed by a
precept of sasine, dated and attested as the charter, and
having the granter' s seal still attached, though more broken
than the other. (Mackint, Mun., 23.) These documents are
specially interesting as giving the probable relative ages of
Alexander Dallas's three sons, and as showing him in actual
possession of the barony of Rothiemurchus.
On 18th August 1551, before the High Court of Justiciary,
Alexander Doles of Cantra, together with Lord Lovat, Archi-
bald Campbell of Calder, Robert Murray in Fyndorne, and
Alex^. Falconer of Lethane, was amerciated for not appearing
to pass on their assize. (Pitcairn's Crim, Trials, i. 359.) He
ALEXANDER DALLAS OF CANTEAY 87
was, however, at this period very active in the affairs of the
Sheriff Court of Inverness, and is frequently mentioned as
serving on assizes and juries there. As few of the retours of
these juries have been returned to Chancery, they may be
briefly recorded here. On 8th March 1554-5, Alexander
Dollace of Cantray and Alexander Dollace of Buddythe
served on a jury for the retour of Lord Gordon ; on 21st May
1555 Alexander DoUace of Cantray was on a jury for the
retour of Kobert Carnecors ; on 31st July 1556 of Huchoun
Fraysser ; on 31st July 1557 of Duncan Bayn of TuUyi ; and
on 15th April 1561 of Frennocht M'Kenze of Brayne.
After the death of James Grant of Fruquhy, in 155 , in-
ventories were made of his 'goods.' In the first of these,
dated 1st June 1553, Alexander Dollace of Cantray is recorded
as a debtor to the extent of £200, and in the second, dated
2nd August 1553, of £666, 13s. 4d. Though it may be
assumed that these debts had relation to the exchanges of
land arranged between Grant and Dallas, there is nothing to
disclose their exact nature. (Grant, iii. 109. ) In the same year,
in consideration of a sum of money, Alexander Doles of Cantray
granted a charter of his lands of Myd Large and Eister Large,
with the mill, multures, tenants, etc., in the lordship of
Strathnairn and sheriffdom of Inverness, to Thomas Name
of CromdaiU and his heirs or assignees, to be held of the Queen,
and witnessed by Henry Doles, son and apparent heir of the
said Alexander, and by John Doles, Donald Makkerane, Jo.
Name, M. Jac. Farquharsone and M. Martin Lagy, notary
pubhc, and dated at Inverness November 1553. (Reg, Mag,
Sig., 1546-80, 201.)
On 12th April 1555, Alexander DoUes of Cantray, in
presence of Sir Thomas Strathachin, notary public, Patrick
Dolles, and others, with consent of Elizabeth Lesle, his spouse,
appointed Henry Dolles, his eldest son, his assignee to the
nineteen years' tack made to him by James Ogilvy of Cardells
and Janet Gordon, his spouse. Lady of Dunnatin (?), of the
88 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
lands of Wester Lairge with the mill, etc., in the lordship of
Strathnairn (Prot BL, Douglas, xvii. fol. 1), and shortly
after he obtained from Robert Dunbar of Durris, with consent
of Cristane Leirmonth, his spouse, a charter of the lands of
Lowpane, to be held by him and his heirs by the late Issobel
Leslie, his spouse, of the Queen by the usual service and
homage. The charter is dated at Grangehill 16th August 1556,
and is witnessed by Wil. Croftis, Pat. DoUace, Jac. Dunbar,
Wil. Young and Francis Kardye, and is subscribed by the said
Cristane, with her hand at the pen, led by Sir David Cunyngham,
notary pubhc. (Beg, Mag. Sig., 1546-80, 244.)
Besides the lands of Lopane, Alexander Dallas had obtained
from Robert Dunbar other lands in Durris, and these are
referred to in the letters of reversion by Alexander DoUace
of Cantray, narrating that Robert Dunbar of Durris has sold
to him and Isobel Leslie, his spouse, the lands of Ballyblair
and their pertinents within the barony of Durris and sheriff-
dom of Inverness, and promising that whenever Robert
Dunbar or his heirs shall pay to them two hundred merks
upon the high altar in the parish church of Aulderne, he and
his heirs will renounce the same. The place and date of sub-
scription are not filled in, save 155 , but the deed is signed by
the granter with the aid of M. Marty ne Logye, notary, before
these witnesses, David Dunbar, son and heir of the said
Robert Dunbar, Sir Gilbert Cant, chaplain, James Tolmye,
Sir John Gibson and the foresaid notary. The granter' s
seal is attached, on which is a shield containing two bars
between two stars in chief and as many in base, with the
legend S. Alexandri Dolles. (Mackint. Mun., 24.)
It is much to be regretted that of an action commenced
in the Sheriff Court of Inverness about this time no record now
exists save the two entries which follow, and we are con-
sequently left in ignorance as to the nature of the dispute
between Cantray and Budgate. Both entries are dated 27th
April 1557 :—
ALEXANDER DALLAS OF CANTRAY 89
* That day AUexander DoUes of Cantray and Patric DoUes
his son hes constitut Mr. Alexander Dowglas thair procurators
in the action and caiss moved be thame agains AUexander
DoUes of Buddeth et promiserunt de rato.^
* That day AUexander DoUes of Buddeth hes constitut Sir
James . . . ton his procurator in the action and caiss moved
agains hym be AUexander DoUes of Cantray and Patric DoUes
et promisit de rato,'
In the same year Alexander Doles of Cantray, in con-
sideration of a sum of money paid to him, granted a charter
to Angus M'Cuintosych, son and apparent heir of Donald
M'Cuintosych, his heir and assignees, of the lands of Loppen,
with the mUl in the barony of Duris and sheriffdom of
Invernys, dated at Invernys 26th September 1557, and
signed by the said Alexander with his hand led at the pen,
the witnesses being Robert Marschall in Invernys, Sir David
Cuthbert, vicar of Warlaw, Eugene M'Ferquhar Reoch and
Sir James Bucheart, notary. (Reg. Mag. Sig., 1548-80,
p. 275.)
It would appear that not only the lands of Lairgs, but also
those of Croy, were disposed of to Thomas Nairn, for amongst
the Cantray charters is an instrument dated 20th May 1560,
whereby Thomas Nairn of Cromdale, within hi^ place of
Cromdale, grants receipt from John DaUas, son of Alexander
Dallas of Cantray, of the sum of thirteenscore merks as
the redemption money of half the lands of Croy which
had been wadset to Nairn by the said Alexander Dallas.
(Cantray Chart.)
On 14th January 1560-1, at the Sheriff Court of Inverness,
it was recorded : ' Alexander DoUace excussit because he is
seik ' ; but on 15th March following, Mr. Richard Strang, as
procurator for Alexander Doles of Cantray, appointed by
letters dated at Kilraway 1st November 1560, appears and
ratifies on behalf of the said Alexander and his heirs a decree
90 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
pronounced by the Lords of Council at Edinburgh on 7th
July 1557, in favour of George, Lord Gordon, and for ever
renounces all action, title, and claim which they had or may
have against George, Earl of Huntly, for warrandice of the
lands and barony of Rothiemurchus : the letters of procuratory
are inserted. (Bhs. Counc, and Sess., iv. 83.)
An act of lawless violence is revealed in certain entries
in the books of the Inverness Sheriff Court, the first of which
is dated 31st July 1561: 'That day Alexander Dolless of
Cantray being chargit for entering of Donald Talyeour quhilk
was attachit for the art and part of the crweU slachter of
Jannet M'Korkyll qwlk wes slane the xviij day of Julii and
thereafter the said Dolles intromitted and wald nocht entyr
hyme efter he wes chargit throw the quhilks he hes incurrit the
panes contained in the proces and breking of the generall band
and thairfoir hes to be persewit for the art and part of the
crwell slachter of the said Jannet M'Corkyll.'
The case is again referred to on 29th November 1561 : —
'That day AUexander DoUace of Cantray hes comperit this
day for relyf of his souertie he com for entering of Donald
Tayleour to onderly the law for the crwell murthj^ of Jannet
Myk Kerkyll apon foure days varnyng onder the pane of forte
pundis.'
The final entry, which leaves us still in ignorance of the
circumstances under which the ' crwell slachter ' was com-
mitted, is dated 21st March 1561-2 : ' That day Alexander
Dollas of Cantray enterit Donald Taillyeour as he com cautioun
to entyr him to this day befoir the Shiref principall of Inverness
quha hes tane Act of Court upon his entering and protestit to
be fre of his souertie.
'That day Alexander Dollace of Cantray is becummin
actit souertie to entyr Donald Taillyeour as he that wes
archin and part of the slauchter of Jannet M'Corker quha
was murdreist the xviij day of Julii last bypast to underly
the law upon ane xv dayes warnyng within the tolbuith of
ALEXANDER DALLAS OF CANTRAY 91
Innemess befoir the Shiref principall of Innernes or his
deputis under the pane of ane hundreth merkis.' (Invern.
Sheriff Court Books,)
Another entry in the Sheriff Court Books of Inverness
now to be noticed is of special interest, as the lady therein
mentioned must undoubtedly have been the widow of the
laird's eldest son Henry, and was probably making a claim
under her marriage settlement. The entry is dated 7th April
1562 : ' That day James Paterson procurator foresaid producit
in jugement ane shireff precept dewlie execute and indorsat
contra Alexander DoUace of Cantray for the wranguse haldin
fra Ellyne Ross the malis of the half myll of Cantray on
Witsonday and Martinnes in anno MV and saxte ane yeris
and the said Dollace desyrit the said Ellyne to produce hjrr
intres and the jugis hes consignit hir to produce the samyn
and to wairne the Dollace upon ane xv dayis warning.'
This Ellen Rose was, as will appear in a subsequent record,
infeft in the half mill and mill lands of Cantray on 26th April
1558, and married secondly, John Mackintosh Williamson
of Termet, and thirdly, John Stewart, baron of Kincarne :
she was the fifth daughter of Hugh Rose, ninth baron of
Kilravock. (Kilr., 70.)
After the death of his eldest Bon, which appears to have
occurred in 1561, the laird made provision for his grandson
and heir, Alexander DoUes, to whom he granted the lands of
Cantray, Croy, and others, the latest of these grants being
on 11th July 1563. He did not long survive this date, and
was dead on 25th January 1563-4, when John Grant,
burgess of Inverness, compears before the Burgh Court and
requires Sir David Cuthbert, as engaged for his relief, to pay one
hundred merks to Muriel Calder of that ilk. John, Com-
mendator of Archattan, also compears and produces an act
from the Consistorial Books of Inverness, dated 20th September
1556, in which Alexander DoUace of Cantrey and John Grant,
burgess of Inverness, are jointly engaged as cautioners for Sir
92 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
David Cuthbert, vicar of Warlaw, for the teinds of the burgh
of Inverness for the crop of 1556.
John Grant pleads that he is due nothing to the said Com-
mendator, but only to Muriel Calder ; but the Commendator
replies that it is quite well known that he has been in use to
uplift the teinds of the whole parish of Inverness as tutor and
curator to John Campbell, his brother's son, as son and heir to
the deceased Archibald Campbell of Calder, for the last thirteen
years or so, and avers that any discharges by Muriel Calder
could only be as factor for him. A discharge is produced for
ten pounds paid by the deceased Alexander DoUace of Cantrey
as cautioner for the said Sir David Cuthbert, dated 29th April
1557.
It may be mentioned that the case was still unsettled,
29th January 1567, when it was shown that Grant and DoUace
had been poinded at the instance of Muriel Calder, with whom
they compounded, and meanwhile John, Commendator of
Archattan, received ten pounds of the fifty merks due to him
from DoUace. The judges ordain John Grant to make
account and reckoning of the sum of one hundred merks
contained in the act, and summon Muriel Calder to give
evidence as to what she has received, sending, however, a
messenger to take her evidence on oath.' (Invern, Burgh Bee. )
Alexander Dallas had by his wife, Isobel or Elizabeth Lesly,
at least four sons : (1) Henry, who predeceased him, (2) John,
(3) WiUiam, and (4) Patrick ; and probably the person whose
singular name of AripiteU, Arpitell or Arpiter DaUas occurs
several times between 1577 and 1605 was another son.
1. Henry Dallas, the eldest son, married, as has been
said, Helen, daughter of the baron of Kilravock, and had,
besides his eldest son Alexander, who succeeded his grand-
father, two younger sons, Henry and John, the former of
whom, as heir- male, had sasine of the lands of Croy by an
instrument dated 17th April 1565, proceeding upon a precept
ALEXANDER DALLAS OF CANTRAY 93
of dare constat granted by Patrick, Bishop of Moray, and
dated at Scone 1st March 1564-5, one of the witnesses to
the sasine being John DoUes in Cantray. {Cantray Charters.)
Two years later he obtained from the Bishop a charter of con-
firmation in these lands, which is duly recorded in the episcopal
register, and furnishes particulars of Henry's marriage : —
'Confirmatio Ab Episcopo cartse dictarum terrarum de
Croye factse ab Henrico DoUes nepote et herede quondam
Alexandri DoUes predicti, honorabili domicellse Elspetse Ros
(fihse quondam Joannis Ros de Ballivat et Mariotse Dunbar
ejusdem relictse), in vitali redditu, pro perimpletione contractus
matrimonialis inter ipsos 9 Maii 1567. Apud Elgin, 9 Maii
1567 ; coram testibus Johanne Name de Cromdall, Johanne
Ross de Ballewate, Joanne Annand burgensi de Elgin, Alex-
andro DoUes de Buddiuet. Testibus ad confirmationem,
Jacob o Strathauchin rectore de Balhelvyn, Andrea Moncrefie,
Jacobo Moncreffe, ac Davide Cummyng servitoribus Episcopi.
Apud Elgin, 20 Maii 1567.' (Reg, Morav., 398.)
On 16th April 1568 there was registered a contract of that
date, made at Inverness, between Hendre DoUes of Croy
and Alexander Morrey in Croy, whereby Henrie DoUes sells
to Alexander Morrey one eighteenth and half of an eighteenth
part of the lands of Croy, lying on the east side of the kirk of
Croy, and others; and because Elspet Ross, spouse to the
said Hendre, has the liferent of the lands of Croy, he obliges
himself to get her consent and thereafter to infeft Alexander
Morrey, the grant to be under reversion for one hundred
merks. One of the witnesses to the contract is William
DoUas in Cantrafreis. (Prot, BL, W. Cuming, xxv. 92.)
On 23rd August 1568 Hendre DoUes of Croy complained
that David Ros of the Holme had made ' novatioun ' on his
lands of Croy by ' teling of land within the marches of Croy,'
and he takes instruments : the witnesses are Alexander
94 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
Dolles, John Dolles in Croy and George DoUes. (Prot. Bh,,
W. Cuming, xxv. 107.) As will presently be seen, he is
mentioned, 13th December 1569, as father's brother of Marjory
Dallas, the heiress of Cantray, but he must have died without
male issue not long afterwards, as in 1571 his episcopal lands
of Croy had passed to his brother John Dallas, as recorded in
the episcopal regi-ster : —
' Preceptum de clare constat ab Episcopo datum ad infeof-
andum in dictis terris de Croye, limitatis ut supra [see charter
of 1545], Johannem Dolles sicut heredem dicti Henrici DoUes
defuncti, fratris germani reservato vitali redditu predictae
Elspetae Ros. Testibus Andrea Moncreiff, Davide Cuming,
dominis Jacobo Sandeson, Jacobo Sibbald. Apud Spyne,
penult. Julii 1571.' {Reg, Morav., 398.)
For some reason another precept of clare constat was granted
by the Bishop a few years later, in the following terms : —
' Georgius miseratione divina Episcopus Moraviensis dilecto
nostro Johanni Ross filio Johannis prepositi de Nairne ballivo
nostro in hac parte ballivo Salutem Quia nobis clare constat
et est notum quod quondam Henricus DoUess nepos quondam
Alexandri DoUess de Cantray obiit ultimo vestitus et sasitus
ut de feodo ad pacem et fidem supremi domini nostri Jacobi
Dei gratia Scotorum regis eo nomine sexti de omnibus et
singuhs villa et terris de Croy cum brasina et croft a ejusdem
jacentibus prout sequitur in vulgari Begyunand at the north
nuik of the vicaris manss of [Croy] to the strype that cummis
of the fourd at the kirk styll and the landis of Kikawok on
the south syd of the strjrpe and the landis of Croy on the north
syd of the strype and the forsaid strype to be haldin for ewir
for eine merch betwix ye landis off Croye and Kilrawok sa
far as Croy his bondis and lyes on the said strype with the
pertinentis of the samyn ac infra baroniam de Ardclay the
regalitatem de Spyne et vicecomitatum de Innerness Et quod
ALEXANDER DALLAS OF CANTRAY 96
Johannes DoUess frater germanus dicti quondam Henrici
DoUess lator presentium est legitimus et propinquior heres
masculus dicti quondam Henrici in et ad predictas villam et
terras de Croy cum brasina et crofta ejusdem jacentas ut
supra Et quod dictus Johannes est legitime etatis Et quod
dicte villa et terra de Croye cum brasina et crofta ejusdem de
nobis tenentur in capite in feudifirma per solutionem an-
nuatim summe novem librorum octodecim solidorum octo
denariorum usualis monete regni Scotie per equales divisas
medias portiones ad festa penthecostes et Sancti Martini in
hyeme solita et consueta et aliarum denariorum et servitiorum
prout in antiquo infeofamento super dictis villa et terras de
Croy cum brasina et crofta ejusdem jacentibus ut supra dicto
quondam Alexandro DoUess avo dicti Johannis DoUess con-
fecto latius cavetur Vobis igitur precipimus et mandamus
quatenus visis presentibus accedatis ad predictas villam et
terras de Croye cum crofta et brasina ejusdem jacentas ut
supra Et ibidem super solo earundem sasinam hereditariam
statumque et possessionem omnium et singularum viUe et
terrarum de Croy cum brasina et crofta predictarum dicto
Johanni DoUess tanquam legitimo et indubitato heredi
masculo prefati quondam Henrice sui fratris germani in et ad
predictas villam et terras de Croy cum brasina et crofta
antedictis cum suis pertinentiis jacentas ut supra Tradatis
et deliberetis et hoc nuUo modo omittatis ad quod faciendum
vobis ballivo nostro antedicto nostram plenarium et irre-
vocabilem tenore presentium committimus potestatem In
cujus rei testimonium manuali nostra sub scrip tione munita et
roborata sigiUum nostrum rotundum hiis presentibus est
appensum apud palatium nostrum de Spyne decimo die
mensis Aprilis anno Domini millesimo quingentesimo septua-
gesimo sexto coram hiis testibus Dominis Alexandro Dowglass
vicario de Elgin et Georgio Dowglass vicario de Abirchirdour
cum diversis aliis. Georgius Epus Moraviens.'
{Cantray Chart)
96 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
Sasine followed upon this charter, the instrument being
dated 13th June 1577. (Cantray Chart) [This date is in-
correct.] On 10th June 1577 occurs a charter by John
Dolles, brother german and lawful nearest heir of the deceased
Henry Dolles, formerly of Croy, selling to David Rose of Holme
his lands of Croy to be held of the granter, upon which sasine
followed upon the 13th June. (Cantray Chart,) The lands
remained in possession of the Roses for some years, and then
passed into the hands of Sir John Campbell of Cawdor by
procuratory by John Ross of Holme as heritable proprietor
and feuer of the lands of Croy in terms of a contract between
him and Sir John Campbell of Calder, knight, for himself and
as burdentaker for Agnes Ross, relict of David Ross, some-
time of Holme, and Mr. William Campbell of Braicklie, now
her spouse, by which John Ross has bound himself to resign
these lands in the superior's hands in favour of the said Sir
John. He appoints Andrew Innes, writer in Elgin, his pro-
curator, for so doing. The deed is dated at Calder, 16th June
1608, one of the witnesses being Duncan Campbell, brother
to the said Sir John Campbell of Calder. (Cantray Chart.)
These lands were shortly afterwards conveyed by Sir John
Campbell to William Dallas of Cantray.
A very interesting deed, throwing some light upon the
ownership of Rothiemurchus and Lairgs, has now to be noticed.
It is an instrument of redemption, dated 19th I May 1587,
narrating that John Dollace, lawful son of the deceased Henry
DoUace of Rothiemwrquhuse, appeared within the place of
Calder about 2 p.m., and acknowledged that he had received
from Lachlan M'Yntoyschie of Dunnachtane for himself
and in name and behalf of William Ross, apparent of
Kilrawokis, the sum of 400 merks as the sum agreed upon
for the redemption of a plough of land of the lands of Lairgs
and of a piece of land called the Craygortane, with the ale-
house croft of Lairgs, then tenanted by John M'Inneire, and
four oxgang of the said lands sometime occupied by Donald
ALEXANDER DALLAS OF CANTRAY 97
MThaill Wycht, now deceased, all in the barony of Cardell
and shire of Inverness ; and the said John DoUace accord-
ingly renounces the same ; witnesses, John Campbell of
Caldor, James M'Yntoyschie of Gask, John Annand of
Mwraaistoun, Hugh Campbell in Calder and John Or in
Moye, Martin Logye being notary. {Mackintosh M union,)
After this date John DoUace cannot be traced, nor have
we any indication of his marriage unless he can be identified
with John DoUes, whose spouse, Janet Ross, had liferent
sasine of certain lands in the burgh of Nairn, with remainder
to her son, William DoUes, heritably, a note of which occurs
17th September 1575, and will be again referred to. (ProL
BL, W. Cuming, xxxii. 124.)
2. John Dallas, the second son of Alexander Dallas of
Cantray, has already been mentioned as receiving, on behalf
of his father, the redemption money of Croy in May 1560,
and he had appeared as a witness on more than one occasion.
On the death of his nephew, the young laird of Cantray,
he appears to have taken an active interest in the affairs of
the infant heiress, though unhappily with scant success, for,
as will be presently seen, the wide possessions of the old laird
were sadly diminished during the long minority of his great-
granddaughter. Whether on the death of John Dallas of
Croy he became heir- male of the family it is impossible to say,
but no evidence is forthcoming of any nearer heir, and the
manner in which he manipulated the affairs of Cantray,
ultimately in the interests of his eldest son, lends probability
to the belief. He was at first settled at Croy, but apparently,
about the year 1571, he removed to Cantray, where he resided
until his death, which may have occurred about 1586.
On 10th March 1560-1, John Dolles in Croy and others
became caution in the Sheriff Court of Inverness for the entry
of Thomas Stuart in Inverness, who was charged with theft
(Inverness Sheriff Ct Rec, vol. ii.), probably indicating some
G
98 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
lawless act of spuilzie or fire-raising so common to the period,
but what his interest in Stuart may have been there is nothing
to show.
A not very illuminating record of the possession of lands
in Nairn occurs on 13th December 1564, when John Dolles
has appointed John TuUoch, burgess of Nairn, as procurator,
to compear before the bailies of Nairn and resign all the lands
contained in the charter of alienation made by him to Thomas
Ross of Daltaleyth under reversion of one hundred merks :
on this sasine was given to the said Thomas Ross, the in-
strument containing a description of the lands. (Prot, Bh,
W. Cuming, xxv. fol. 24.) And the same day Thomas Ross
obhged himself that in case John Dolles was compelled to
keep his tacks set to Alexander Daloquhe, that he will grant
them and in return John Dolles promises him five years'
tack of the lands after redemption. (Ibid, ) On 18th February
1568-9 John Dolles, ' then in Croy,' had a charter of the
lands of Drumoir Dolles, to which further reference will be
made hereafter, and on 18th March 1570-1 the following
agreement is recorded : — ' It is appointit betwixt William
M'Queyne on the ane pairt and John DoUp^ in Croy on the
other pairt that William sail possess Joki Dolles in Croy
[in] Cantray for the quhilks John Dolless sail nocht mak
impediment nor contradiction to the varnyng quhilk William
M'Queyne and his vyf sail mak on Johne to remuif out of
Croy, bot schortle eftir the decreit sail remuif without f order
process and atheris of thame and otheris thair freindis sail
tak afald pairt with otheris. In case Johne fale Lachlan
M'Yntosche obliss him peaceablie possess William M'Queyne
in Cantray again. And this appointit before Lachlan
M'Yntosche, Angus Williamson, William Cuthbert, burgess of
Inverness, John Dolles in Brachlie, in the Castle of Inverness.'
(Prot BL, W. Cuming, xxv. fol. 127.)
M'Queen, who was of Corrybrough, derived his interest in
the lands of Croy from his wife, Elspet or Elizabeth Rose,
ALEXANDER DALLAS OF CANTRAY 99
who as wife of Henry Dallas of Croy had a life-interest in
those lands : how he came to possess a claim upon Cantray
enabling the exchange above recorded it is now impossible
to say.
The Nairn burgh lands on which John Dallas granted a
wadset to Thomas Ross in 1564 were on 10th November
1572 assigned to his eldest son: 'That day John Dolles hes
maid creat nominat and ordainit Alexander DoUes his son
lachfuU, sone and appeirand aire gottin betwix him and
Margrat Ross as follows : —
' Compeared personally John Dollas and for the singular
love favour and affection which he bears to Alexander Dolles
his lawful son and apparent heir begotten between him and
Margaret Ross and for other reasonable causes appoints him
his assignee to all and whole the lands roods acres and tene-
ments underwritten lying within the Burgh of Nairn, viz. : —
' Two roods of land lying together on the north side of
the said Burgh extending to the Highway on the South, to
the sea on the north, and lying between the lands of George
Chessolme on the west and the land of John Ross on the
east.
* Three roods of land lying together in the Gawis extending
to the highway on the south the sea on the north and lying
between the lands of John . . . Burgess of Nairn on the west
and the lands of Angus Ross on the east.
' Four roods of land lying together in the gatys extending
to the Gallowgate on the south to the sea on the north and
lying between the lands of John TuUoch both on the east and
west.
* Other three roods of land lying together in the Gawis
extending to the other Gallowgate on the south, the sea on
the north and lying between the lands of John Tulloch on the
east and the lands of John Ross Burgess of Nairn on the west.
* One rood of land in the said field between the lands of John
Ross Burgess of Nairn on the east and west. Other three
100 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
roods of land in the Landfield of the Gawi's extending to the
other Gallowget on the south to the sea on the north and
lying between the lands of Angus Ross on the east and the
lands of John Ross Burgess of Nairn on the west.
' One rood in the said field lying between the lands of
George Chessolme on the east and the lands of John Ross of
Ballivat on the west.
' Two roods of land in the said field lying together adjoining
the other Gallowget on the south the sea on the north and the
lands of Alexander Calder on the west and the lands of John
Ross of Ballivat on the east.
' One rood of land in the said field of the Gawis lying
between the lands of George Chessolme on the east and
" Magra " Calder on the west.
' Other two roods of land lying together in the said field
between the lands of " Mage " Calder on the east and the
lands of John TuUoch on the west and as far as these lands on
the south and north.
' Other three roods of land in the said field lying between
the lands of John TuUoch on the eaBt and the landls of the
deceased Alexander Ross of Holme on the west.
' One rood and a half-rood in the said field lying between
the lands of Alexander Caddell on the west and the lands of
Alexander Ross of Holme on the east.
' An acre of land called Villox Butts lying between the lands
of John Ross Burgess of Nairn on the north the Gallowget on
the south the lands of Angus Ross on the east and the lands of
the Community of Nairn on the west.
' An acre of land lying in the Mylbank between the lands
of John Ross Burgess of Nairn on the west and the Smyddie
Croft on the north the road to Kildrummie on the south and to
Abyrnydir on the north.
' One rood of land lying in the Mill Bank between the
lands of Alexander Caddell on the east and the lands of Janet
Cadell on the west the front thereof being towards the
ALEXANDER DALLAS OF CANTEAY 101
Galloget on the north and the back towards the freshwater of
Nairn on the south.
' Two roods of land lyuig together in the field called
the Mylbank between the lands of Angus Ross on the west
the lands of John Ross on the east fronting the Gallowget
on the north and having the freshwater of Nairn on the south.
* And other three roods of land in the said field of the
Mylbank lying between the lands of John Ross Burgess of Nairn
on the east the lands of the Community of Nairn on the west
fronting the highway on the north and with the back towards
the freshwater of Nairn on the south.'
Moreover, he gives him right to redeem all these lands
foresaid from Thomas Ross and his heirs by payment of one
hundred merkfe Scots within the parish church of Nairn.
The deed further mentions the fact of resignation made by
John DoUes in the hands of William TuUoch, one of the Bailies
of Nairn, and of sasine given to the said Alexander DoUes
before witnesses, one of whom is John Dolles, second son of the
said John Dolles. {Prot Bh, W. Cuming.)
The description of these burgh lands, useful for local
topography, is translated from the Latin, and would seem to
indicate property of considerable extent and value.
Not long after this assignment, on 17th September 1575,
sasine is given to Janet Ross in liferent, and to William Dolles,
her son, lawfully procreate between her and John Dolles, in
fee of certain acres (of which a description is given), etc., in
the burgh of Nairn under reversion of one hundred merks,
held by Alexander Dolles, son and heir apparent of John
Dolles in Cantray, amongst the witnesses being John Ross,
Provost of Nairn (Prot. Bh, W. Cuming, xxxii. fol. 124),
but there is no evidence as to the identity of this John Dallas,
spouse of Janet Ross : it is possible that he may be John
Dallas of Croy already mentioned, or he may be identical
with that person's half-brother, John Dallas, a natural son of
Henry Dallas, apparent of Cantray, who was living in 1576,
>^» 1 * *_
102 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
as will be presently shown. Nor has any evidence been met
with as to the ultimate destination of the extensive burgh
property dealt with in the foregoing deeds.
On 27th November 1577 Johne Dollass in Kantray serves
on an assize for the retour of Margaret Strachan in the lands
of CuUoden and others (Inverness Sheriff Ct. Blcs,, i.) ; and
two years later, on 22nd June 1579, John Sutherland and
Alexander Sutherland in Nairn discharge themselves of three
oxgang of land of the roods of Nairn occupied by them in
favour of John DoUas in Cantray. {Prot Bh,, W. Cuming,
xxxii. fol. 219.)
On 24th August 1583 a transaction is recorded which
accounts for the lands of Drummoir for some quarter of a
century. John Dolles in Cantray delivered to his brother,
in keeping till he should infeft him in the half town and lands
of Drumoyr Dolles, with the pertinents lying in the barony of
Strathnairn and shire of Inverness, with the ward and relief
thereof granted by John Kos in Cantradoun to John Dolles,
which ward and relief the said John keeps in his own hands,
the following writs : —
1. A charter and precept of sasine thereon by the said
John Ross to the said John Dolles then in Croy of the
said lands and ward and relief, dated at Kilravock
18th February 1568.
2. Instrument of sasine of same date.
3. Charter by Alexander Dolles of Cantrey to John Ros,
dated 27th January 1561.
These are delivered by the said John DoUes to WiUiam
Dolles till he fulfils his promise to infeft him in these lands
upon a reversion to be made by William for sixty merks.
{Prot Bh., W. Cuming, xxxix. fol. 27.) As will presently be
seen, this option of redemption was exercised by Alexander, the
son of John Dallas in Cantray, in 1588, when the lands of Drum-
moir became again incorporated with the Cantray property.
In November 1584 John Dolles in Cantrey served on a
ALEXANDER DALLAS OF CANTRAY 103
jury at Inverness for the retour of Donald M'Angus M'Allester
of Glengarie. {Inverness Sheriff Ct Bks,, i.) On 24th May
1585 he had sasine on a charter by WiUiam Ross, apparent
of Kilravock, of the mill and multures of Cantrey, dated at
Kilravock, 22nd May, one of the witnesses to the sasine being
Alexander DoUes, son and apparent heir of John Dolles in
Cantrey {Prot BL, W. Cuming, xxxix. fol. 62), and when
on 23rd March 1586, Marjory Dolles, his grand-niece, had
sasine of the lands of Cantralyse and others, John Dolles
protested that this should not hurt his right to the Mill of
Cantra. (Prot. BL, W. Cuming, xxxix. fol. 63.)
On 31st May 1586 Alexander Dolles of Buddet, John
Dolles in Cantray, and William Dolles, his brother german,
served on a jury at Inverness for the retour of Angus M'Intosh,
but he does not appear to have long survived this date, his
death certainly occurring before 13th February 1587-8.
He married Margaret Rose, apparently daughter and heir
of Peter Rose, son and apparent heir of John the Rose in
Nairn, who on 12th May 1531, at Kilravock, witnessed a
letter of lease by James Ogilvy of Cardall to Hugh Rose,
ninth baron of Kilravock, of the lands of Inverarny {Kilr.,
201), which John Rose on 16th November 1540, at the Water
of Nairn, witnessed a settlement of marches between Calder
and Kilravock. (Ibid. , 205. ) His death in July 1 543 is recorded
in the retour of Alexander Dallas, afterwards of Cantray,
2nd October 1582.
3. William Dallas, the third son of Alexander Dallas
of Cantray, is first mentioned in the laird's charter of 2nd
March 1549-50 already cited. On 10th July 1563 WiUiam
Dolles in Ballafreis acts as bailie for giving sasine to Alexander
Dolles of Ballafreish, his nephew, in the lands of Cantray,
as will be more fully related below ; and on 9th June 1568
there is registered a contract between John Ross in Cantra-
doun and WiUiam DoUes in Cantrafreis, whereby Ross makes
104 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
Dolles his assignee to the half of the town and lands of
Drummoyr which were granted to him under reversion by
the deceased Alexander Dolles of Cantrey for forty pounds,
and WiUiam promises to pay him £46, 13s. 4d. by two instal-
ments at the terms following. {Prot. Bk., W. Cuming,
XXV. fol. 98.) On 31st May 1586 Alexander Dolles of
Buddet, John Dolles in Cantra, and William Dolles, his brother
german, served on the jury for the retour of Angus M'Intosh,
as already noted, and on 15th April 1587, Alexander Dolles
of Budget and William Dolles in Cantray Frysser again
served on a jury. {Inverness Sheriff Ct Bee, i.) This appears
to be his latest appearance in the records. He married
Janet Boss, as will be seen by a reference to the sasine of
Alexander Dallas of Cantray in the lands and barony of Durris,
11th July 1563, presently to be mentioned, but no evidence
as to his issue has come to light. It may, however, be re-
garded as certain that Henry Dollas in BaUefriess, who is one
of the parties to a horning at the instance of David Rose of
Holme on 18th August 1599, was his son ; he was dead
before 13th October 1629, when John Dollas was served heir to
Henry Dollas in Bellafreish, his father. (Gen, Betours, 1536.)
Of his ultimate successors nothing can be Baid with certainty.
(Balfrei'sh means Town of the Bushes.)
4. Patrick Dallas, the fourth son of Alexander Dallas of
Cantray, appears with his brothers as a witness to his father's
charter of the lands of Kennapoild on 2nd March 1549-50,
and like them is frequently met with in the course of the family
history. His association with his father in an action against
Alexander Dollas of Budgate on 27th April 1557 has already
been recorded, and possibly had reference to a wadset over
the lands of Galcantray. Whether the following record in
the Sheriff Court Books of Inverness may be taken as in-
dicating a predilection for lawless associates is open to question,
but certainly the latest known episode in his career would
ALEXANDER DALLAS OF CANTRAY 105
not render the suggestion entirely gratuitous : * 25th December
1560 : That day Patryk DoUes is become suretie to entir
AUexander Morray in Croy to onderly the law for the thifteous
steling of certain blankattis and schettis perteining to John
Grant Burges of Inverness onder the pane of law.' (Inverness
Sheriff Ct. Bks,, ii.) It may be assumed that he was engaged
in agricultural pursuits from the fact that on 14th July 1561
Patryk DoUess protests against George Cuthbert for the highest
price of twenty bolls of victual he alleges he owes him. (Inverness
Burgh Ct. Bks.) On 20th December 1566, Alexander Dolles
of Buidzet and Patrick Dolles in Croy served on the jury
for the retour of David Ros of Holme (Inverness Sheriff Ct
Bee, i.), but he appears shortly afterwards to have become
possessed of the feu of Durris obtained by his father in 15 ,
and when on 21st June 1568 sasine of these lands was given
to Robert Dunbar and William Eraser, Patre Dolles protested
that this should not be prejudicial to the feu he has of the
same. (Prot BL, W. Cuming, xxv. fol. 99.) What his
claim may have been to the lands of Galcantray it is now
impossible to say, but evidently he had by some means
acquired the wadset upon them, for on 15th April 1569
Alexander Dolles of Budeth makes requilsition on Patre
Dolles, son to the deceased Alexander Dolles of Cantray,
who was personally present, to appear in the parish kirk of
Croy on , for receiving the sum to be consigned for re-
demption of the lands of Galcantry and mill thereof wadset
by him to them, when Patre denied that he was under any
such reversion. (Prot. BL, W. Cuming, xxv. fol. 115.)
On 6th October 1573, when he is for the first time styled ' of
Duiris,' he served upon the jury for the retour of Alexander
Dolles of Budzet, and later there are some records concerning
his possession of Durris. The first of these is on 26th September
1574 : That day Patre Dolles, Robert Dunbar of Durris, and
David Dunbar of Durris his superiors to receive and admit
him as tenant to the lands of Durris. They replied that they
106 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
would do so if he found caution for the bygone feus and the
duplication thereof, and instruments were thereupon taken
by both. Among the witnesses were Hugh Rose of Kilravock,
Alexander DoUes of Buddethe, and Alexander DoUes in Durris.
{Prot, Bk., W. Cuming, xxxii. fol. 6L) On the same date
Patrick Dolles of Durris and Alexander DoUes of Durris,
doubtless the ' apparent heir,' were witnesses to a warning
given by Alexander Dolles of Buddeth to William TuUoch
with reference to the redemption of DoUeschelle. (Ihid.)
Evidently the feu duties of Durris remained unpaid, for two
years later, on 21st November 1576, there is a decree before
' the fifteen ' in favour of the Dunbars : In the action by
Robert Dunbar of Durris, liferenter, and David Dunbar,
feuar, of the lands after specified, against Patrick Doles, son
and heir of the deceased Alexander Doles in Cantray, ' law-
fuUie gotten betwix him and Isobell Leslie his spous,' and
pretended heritable feuar of the lands underwritten, at least
lawfully charged to enter thereto as heir to his said deceased
father, for production of a pretended infeftment of feu farm
made by the said Robert Dunbar, liferenter, to the said de-
ceased Alexander Doles and Elizabeth [sic] Leslie, his spouse,
the survivor of them and their heirs, whom failing, the heirs
whomsoever of the said Alexander, of the lands of the barony
of Durris in the shire of Inverness, to be held for yearly
payment of the following duties, viz. : For the kirktown of
Durris called Lapannen with the brewland and croft thereof
twenty-eight boUs beir with a peck to every boll, and 16s.
money for the said brewland and croft ; for the lands of
BaUecharnache sixteen bolls ; for the lands of Lerachcrachin
26s. 8d. ; Dalnaghie £4 ; Drumdurris £6 ; for the mill of
Durris and millcroft £6, 13s. 4d. ; Bowblair, principal lands
and croft £11, 10s. and six kids ; and for the lands of half
Holme and fishings on the water of Ness £8, 13s. with 26s. 8d.
of augmentation ; in all forty-four bolls of beir and £40, 6s. 8d.
in money, with duplication on the entry of heirs, etc. Failure
ALEXANDER DALLAS OF CANTRAY 107
of two terms payment rumiing into the third constituted an
irritancy. Owing to non- compearance for the defence, the
Lord's decern in favour of Dunbar and declare the infeftment
of Doles to be revoked and null.
The same day Mr. David MacGill, procurator for the said
Patrick Doles, compeared and asked instruments that he
was repelled as procurator for the said Patrick to defend in the
said cause, because Mr. John Sharp, procurator for Dunbar,
produced letters of four forms purchased by Robert Dunbar
and Christian Leirmont, his spouse, charging the said Patrick
Doles to pay to them the teind sheaves of certain of the
lands in the parish of Durris for 1573 and 1574 only ; and
therefore he protested for remeid of law at time and place
opportune and asked instruments. (Acts and Decreets, Ixv.
414.) There appears to be little doubt that the revocation
of Dallas's infeftment was operative, and that from this time
he ceased to have any interest in the lands of Durris, nor
does he appear again until in August 1592, when he (now
described as 'in Durris') and John Dow M'Ane Vic Conel,
also in Durris, with others to the number of 1200 broken
Hielandmen, sorners and vagabonds in arms, came in battle
array to the barony and lands of DoUes, burning the dweUing-
house of Alexander Milnwart at the Mill of Dolles and other
fifteen buildings there, killing John Clark in Torbone by
striking him on the head with swords and shooting him through
the body with arrows, dags, and pistolets, and stealing a
great number of cattle and household goods and money.
Though doubtless Dallas and his associates in this sanguinary
raid were sufficiently lawless, the heirship out of the troubles
then existing between the Marquess of Huntly and the Earl
of Moray may be recalled to show that it was not merely a
predatory excursion of Highland caterans. The result so
far as Patrick Dallas was concerned was sufficiently serious,
for on 27th February 1613-14 the Sheriff of Inverness had
horning against him and his accomplices (Mackintosh Mun,,
108 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
65), and a draft gift of the escheat of Patrick DoUes in Durris
who is at the horn at the instance of Alexander Milnwort
in 1617, though not filled in to any person or signed, is suffi-
cient to prove that this escapade had struck the final blow
at his prosperity. (Ihid., 71.) The date of his death is un-
known, nor has the name of his wife transpired, but he had one
son, Alexander, who may be identified with Alexander Dollas
who in the first half of the seventeenth century is concerned
in certain fire-raisings and feuds for which his master, the laird
of Cantray, became responsible.
The present appears to be the appropriate place in which
to introduce some account of a tragic event, of which, however,
the details are singularly meagre. It has been stated by
local historians, with more or less circumstance, that the
barony of Rothiemurchus was forfeited by the Mackintoshes
as the result of a heinous crime committed by Allan Keir
Mackintosh, the last baron of Rothiemurchus of that family.
That such was not the fact appears to be sufficiently obvious
from the charters and documents already cited, but the state-
ment is doubtless based upon an account of the M^ackintosh
family, supposed to have been written by the Rev. Lachlan
Shaw in the year 1758, and based upon an early manuscript
of 1665, which we have not been able to trace. In this manu-
script it is asserted that : ' In this gentleman's [Allan Shaw's]
time, in the end of the sixteenth century, the Shaws lost the
lands of Rothiemurchus in the following manner : Allan,
a bachelor, lived at Balnespick, a part of his estate. His
mother [according to the history, a Campbell] (who to her
second husband married Dallas of Cantray in Strathnairn)
lived in the Doune of Rothiemurchus. The young gentleman
desired that his mother and stepfather should resign in his
favour the Doune, which was then the seat of the family,
but Cantray would not agree to it. This discord, aggravated
by other circumstances, was barbarously resented by Allan ;
ALEXANDER DALLAS OF CANTRAY 109
for chancing to meet Cantray on the pubHc road south of the
Doune, he assaulted and murdered him in a hollow called to
this day Lag-an-Dalasich, For this heinous crime, aggravated
by this connection with Dallas, Allan was prosecuted and
outlawed.' (MS. quoted in W. G. Shaw's Memor, of Shaws
(1871).) The account goes on to relate that John Grant
of Frewquhy purchased Allan's forfeiture, and afterwards
exchanged Rothiemurchus with his uncle, Patrick Grant, for
those of Muckerach. It is further said that the latter could
obtain no peaceable possession of his new acquisition until
at length Mackintosh of Strone, Allan's confidant, betrayed
him into the hands of a party of Grants, who conveyed him
to Castle Grant, 'where he was civiUy entertained,' and the
next morning was found dead in a chair in his room, after
which, says the history, ' Patrick of Muckerach had peaceable
access to the lands and Allan's brother and associates exiled
into the Western Isles and Ireland. . . . This traditional
account I have from men of probity whose fathers lived in
the times of these transactions.' (Ibid.)
This story appears to have been considerably embellished
in local tradition, and the murdered man is promoted to
the rank of Sir John Dallas. There was, it is said, bad blood
between stepfather and stepson, his mother's marriage having
been highly displeasing to the young Rothiemurchus. One
afternoon, as Allan was walking along the road, his dog, seeing
Dallas enter the smithy, followed, and was kicked out by him.
Allan drew his sword, entered the smithy, cut off Dallas's
head, and returning to the Doune, threw it down at his mother's
feet. The room she was sitting in is still pointed out. The
scene of the murder was a spot now included in the garden,
and every August the scent of blood is said to rise there in
memory of the deed committed in that month. (Memoirs of
Highland Lady (Mrs. Eliz. Grant), by Lady Strachey, 481.)
While it is impossible to reject this narrative as wholly
apocryphal, it is equally impossible to bring it into accord with
no THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
known facts. It seems quite impossible that any laird of
Cantray can have espoused the widow of John Mackintosh
of Rothiemurchus, who was the maternal uncle of Alexander
Dallas of Cantray, nor could his sons Henry, John, or
William have contracted such a marriage, as the names
of their wives have been transmitted, and amongst them
no Campbell is to be found. If, however, any reliance is to
be placed upon the tradition recorded by Lady Strachey,
it may be possible to identify the victim of the murder with
John Dallas of Croy, the third son of Henry Dallas, the
apparent of Cantray, who died in 156 L It is true that there
is some presumption that he was married to Janet Rose, but
this is by no means certain, and the alternative suggestion
would satisfactorily account for the traditional belief that
' Dallas of Cantray ' was the victim of his stepson's wrath.
The story of the forfeiture of AUan Mackintosh as a con-
sequence of the crime rests, of course, upon no solid foundation
of fact, and in face of documentary evidence to the contrary
must be regarded as wholly inadmissible. And here it must
be left, shorn indeed of much of its personal interest, but yet
conveying a vivid picture of the risks and hazards of life in
the Highlands even so late as the reign of King James vi.
ALEXANDER DALLAS IL OF CANTRAY
Alexander Dallas of Cantray, son of Henry Dallas of
Balfriesh, son and apparent heir of Alexander Dallas of
Cantray, appears to have succeeded his grandfather in all
his lands during the closing period of the year 1563-4, but no
contemporary mention of him as ' laird ' has come to light.
After his father's death his grandfather proceeded to put him
in possession of the fee of his estates, as is indicated by the
record of a series of sasines to that effect.
On 10th July 1563, William Dolles, in Ballafreis, as baihe
in a precept under the subscription of the Honourable Mr.
Alexander Dolles of Kantray (per notarium), went to the lands
of the barony of Kantray with the fortahce, garden, and mill,
and at the principal place of habitation of the said barony
gave sasine to Alexander Dolles of Ballafreis, his grandson
(nepot), who was present and accepted under reservation of
the liferent of Marjorie Dunbar of Ballewet.
The same day the same bailie also gave sasine to the said
Alexander Dolles in the lands of Croy in the barony of Ardclach.
(Prot Bk, W. Douglas, xvii. fol. 40.).
There is a further record of these transactions in somewhat
different terms, and giving some further information : ' 10th
July 1563. William Dolles in Ballafries as bailie gives sasine
to Alexander Dolles grandson (nepot) of Alexander Dolles
of Cantray on a charter by the latter of the lands of Cantray
to be held as in a charter which the granter has of the late
John Campbell of Calder reserving the liferent of Marjorie
Dunbar, widow of John Ros of Ballewe ; and the same day
there is a precept by Alexander Dolles for infefting his grandson
111
112 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
in Croy, both dated at Balevat 10th July 1563 ' ; and there
is also a precept to the same effect with respect to the lands
of Durris dated as above. (Prot BL, W. Douglas, xvii.
f 01.43-4.)
The sasine of the lands of Croy is in the following
terms : —
* In Dei nomine Amen. Per hoc presens publicum instru-
mentum cunctis pateat evidenter et sit notum quod anno
Incarnationis Dominice Millesimo quingentesimo sexagesimo
tertio mensis vero Junii die decimo indictione sexta ponti-
ficatus sanctissimi in Christo patris et domini nostri domini
Pii papae quarto anno tertio In mei notarii publici et testium
subscriptorum presentiis personaliter constitutus honestus
et discretus vir Alexander DoUes de Cantray habens et tenens
suis in manibus quandam cartam alienationis preceptum
sasine in se continentem dicti Alexandri Dolles de Cantray
dicto Alexandro suo nepoti factam et concessam sigillo et
sub scrip tione manuali dicti Alexandri Dolles de Cantray
vendentis manu sua per notarium publicum sub scrip tum ad
calamum ducta pro sasina statu et possessione sibi Alexandro
Dolles nepoti suis heredibus et assignatis danda et conferenda
de totis et integris terris ville ecclesiastice de Croy cum
pendiculis et pertinentiis suis universis jacentibus infra
baroniam de Ardclayth vicecomitatum de Innernes et regali-
tatem de Spynie honesto et [provido] viro Willelmo Dolles in
Ballafreis ballivo in hac parte specialiter constituto pro
sasina et possessione sibi dicto Alexandro nepoti conferenda
de dictis terris ecclesiasticis tenendis de reverendo in Christo
patris Patricio Episcopo Moraviensi et suis successoribus per
que se ratificatam directum in medium produxit cum qua-
quidem carta preceptum sasine in se continenti idem Alexander
nepos antedictus accessit ad personalem presentiam dicti
Willelmi Dolles ballivi ad infrascripta legitime con-stituti
eundemque requirendo reverentia qua decuit quatenus sibi
Alexandro Dolles nepoti antedicto statum sasinam heredita-
J. D. Vt'aa'on, PJiotograpJLcr, Elgin.
DALLAS LODGE
/. D. Vratfon, PJiotograpJier, Elgin.
DALLAS BRIDGE AND VILLAGE
ALEXANDER DALLAS II. OF CANTRAY 113
tiam realem actualem et corporalem possessionem totarum
et integrarum terrarum ville ecclesiastice de Croy cum pen-
diculis et pertinentiis universis sicut premittitur jacentium
conferre vellet. Quinquidem ballivus antedictus attendens
huiusmodi requisitionem justam fore et rationi consonam
[predictam] cartam preceptum sasine in se continentem ad
manus recepitet mihi notario publico infrascripto perlegendum
et in Scotica lingua interpretandum tradidit cuiusquidem
precepti fini dicte carte adjecti tenor sequitur — Alexander
DoUes de Cantray dilectis meis Willelmo DoUes in Ballafreis —
b alii vis meis in hac parte conjunctim et divisim [specialiter]
constitutis salutem Quia alias vendidi alienavi et per cartam
alienationis et venditionis a me heredibus meis et meis asssig-
natis confirmavi predilecto meo Alexandro DoUes meo nepoti
heredibus suis et assignatis quibuscunque totas et integras
terras meas ville ecclesiastice de Croy cum pendiculis et
pertinentiis suis universis [jacentes] infra baroniam de Ard-
clauch vicecomitatum de Innernes et regalitatem de Spynie
de reverendo in Christo padre Patricio Moraviense Episcopo
Monasteriique de Scone Commendatario perpetuo et suis
successoribus Moraviensibus episcopis tanquam dominis Super-
ioribus illarum in feodofirma seu empheteosi hereditfeirie
tenendas prout in carta mea quam de dicto reverendo patre
inde habeo plenius continetur Vobis igitur conjunctim et
divisim et ve strum cuilibet ballivis meis in hac parte [ante-
dicto] precipio et firmiter mando quatenus visis presentibus
statim et indilate accedatis seu alter vestrum accedat ad
totas et integras terras meas ville ecclesiastice de Croy cum
pendiculis et pertinentiis suis ut premittitur jacentes et ibidem
super solo earundem statum sasinam hereditariam realem
actualem et corporalem possessionem huiusmodi terrarum
ville ecclesiastice de Croy cum suis pertinentiis et pendiculis
universis cum domibus edificiis tenentibus tenendriis et
tenentium servitiis prefato Alexandro DoUes meo nepoti
vel suo certo actornato aut procuratori legittime constitute
114 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
latori presentium per terre et lapidis traditionem ut moris
est tradatis et deliberetis seu alter vestrum tradat et deliberet
et hos nuUo modo omittatis ad quod faciendum vobis et
vestrum cuilibet conjunctim et divisim meis in hac parte
ballivis antedictis meam plenariam et irrevocabilem tenore
presentium committo potestam. In cuius rei testimonium
sigillum nostrum proprium vnacum mea sub scrip tione ad
calamum (per notarium) publicum ducta de me mandato . . .
precepti est appensum. Apud Ballewaitt secundo die mensis
Julii anno Domini millesimo quingentesimo sexagesimo tertio (?)
coram Johanne Ross de Balevat Hugone Ros in Logye ejus
germano Johanne Glas ministerio de Dalcorse Willelmo
Brabner alias M'Huchone in Brokingellie cum diver sis aliis.
Sic subscribitur Alexander DoUes of Cantray w* my hand
led at the pen be William Douglas notar public at my com-
mand requerit heirto. Ita est Willelmus Douglas notarius
in premissis rogatus manu propria Post cuiusquidem precepti
sasine lecturam interpretationem et expositionem idem bal-
livus (officii virtute) cum me notario publico et testibus in-
frascriptis accessit ad huiusmodi terras ville ecclesiastice
de Croy cum partibus pendiculis et pertinentiis suis universis
et ibidem super solo earundem prefato Alexandro Dolles
nepoti antedicto statum sasinam hereditariam pariterque et
possessionem realem actualem et corporalem huiusmodi
terrarum ville ecclesiastice de Croy cum pertinentiis sic ut
premittitur jacentium per terre et lapidis traditionem ut
moris est tradidit et deliberavit ac eundem Alexandrum in
realem actualem et corporalem possessionem induxit instituit
nemine opponente aut contradicente in pace dimisit Super
quibus omnibus et singulis memoratus Alexander Dolles
nepos antedictus a me notario publico subscripto sibi unum
vel plura publicum instrumentum seu instrumenta fieri
petiit. Acta erant hec super solo dictarum terrarum hora
quarta post meridiem aut eocirca sub anno die mense et in-
dictione quibus supra presentibus ibidem Thoma M'Innes
ALEXANDER DALLAS IL OF CANTRAY 115
Alexandro Makintagert Alexandre Makmertin habitantibus
apud Croy cum diversis aliis.
'Et ego vero Wilhelmus Douglas Clericus Sancti
Andrea dioceseos apostolice auctoritate notarius
publicus ac per Dominos Consilii vigore Acti
Parliament! de novo admissus quia prefatarum
terrarum sasina, etc' {Cantray Chart.)
Alexander Dallas married Janet, daughter of John Rose
of Ballivat, and died before 1st March 1564-5, when his
brother Henry, as heir- male, had a precept of sasine from the
Bishop of Moray of the church lands of Croy. He left an only
daughter, Marjory Dallas, who succeeded to her great-grand-
father's rights in Cantray and other lands.
About this period we find the following entries in Dr.
Cramond's Records of Elgin (New Spalding Club) : ' 20th Novr,
1581. — WiUiam Chalmers decerned to pay William DoUas the
damage and skaith he has sustained through the insufficiency
of " ane half pund bowkaill seid." Janet Douglas, spouse to
Thomas Dallas, is sued for Slandering David Torre, Magis-
trate, on 17 July 1594. Isabel DoUas is brought before
the Kirk Session on 23 September 1604 for *' by ding at
hame." '
MARJORY DALLAS OF CANTRAY
The death of the old laird of Cantray, preceded as it was by
that of his eldest son, and followed after the briefest interval
by that of his grandson and heir, appears to have brought
the affairs of the family into a condition of hopeless disorder.
As has been seen, the lands of Croy were seized upon by the
male heirs, and by them irredeemably alienated, while the
hold over Rothiemurchus, never very secure, was entirely lost*
The lands of the two Lairgs passed in some mysterious way
into the hands of the Roses, and from them to the Mackintoshes,
while those of Loppen Durris passed to Patrick Dallas, and
the infant heiress appears to have been bereft of all the wide
acres which had owned the sway of her great-grandfather,
save the ancient patrimonial lands of Cantraylies and Cantray-
fries. As far as can be judged, her uncle, Henry Dallas of
Croy, was not inimical to her interests, though as heir- male he
did not scruple to appropriate the ecclesiastical lands of Croy,
while her grand-uncle, John Dallas in Cantray, appears to have
interested himself in his niece's affairs, though his goodwill
did not prevent him from making good his claims to the lands
of Drumoir and the Mill of Cantray.
Marjory Dallas, who succeeded her father, Alexander
Dallas, in the Cantray lands, was born some time in the
year 1564, and upon her father's death became the ward of
Hugh Rose of Kilravock. Her first appearance in the records
is as a child of four years, when a dispute arose as to the custody
of her person during her infancy. The decreet of the Lords
was given on 15th December 1569 in the following terms : —
' Anent our Souerane Lordis letteris purchast at the
116
MARJORY DALLAS OF CANTRAY 117
instance of Jonet Rose moder of Marjorie Doless dochter and
appeirand air to umquhill AUaster Doless of Cantray and
Marjorie Dunbar, his guid dame, agains Hucheoun Rose of
Kilrawok makand mentioun that qnhair the said Hucheoun
alledged him to be Tutour Dative to the said Marjorie Doless
dochter and appeirand air foirsaid and haveand gift of the
ward and mariage of the said Marjorie obtenit ane decreit
of the Lordis of Counsell for null defense againis the said
compleneris and Henry Doless fader brotheir to the said
Marjorie with letteris thairupoun in all the four formes chairge-
ing thame to exhibit and produce befoir the said Lordis the
said Marjorie Doless being ane infant of thrie or four yearis
of aige or thairby as the said decreit bearis to the effect that
scho may be decernit to be put in suir keiping gyding and
governing of sic qualifeit and unsuspect personis as the saidis
Lordis sail appoynt thairto within certane space under diverse
pains and last under pain of rebellioun and failyeing thairof
to put the saidis compleneris to the horn, — quha intendis to
put thame thairto wranguslie without thay exhibeit the said
pupill quhilk thay cane nocht nor may nocht do without
greit dangeir of her lyffe be ressoun that the said Marjorie is
ane infant in witht four yearis auld, seiklie and werry tender
quhilk cane nocht be twisit nor cargit sa attentiklie sa far
distand fra the burcht of Edinburcht be the space of sevin
scoir mylis or thairby without greit dangeir of hir lyffe be
resoun foirsaid and als in respect that the said Jonet is hir
mo their and the said Marjorie is bat thrie or four yearis auld
as it grantit in the said decreit scho thairfoir aucht and suld
have the rewling gyding keiping and governing of hir body
quhill scho be of sevin yearis of aige compleit or thairby
conforme to the la wis and practik of this realme^ and in
the meantyme the said Jonnett hes fundin cautioun for hir
keiping gyding and upbringing of the said Marjorie quhill
scho be of sevin yearis aige compleit or thairby gyff scho
be nocht preventit be deid in the meantyme and als that the
118 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
said Jonnet sail at the said Marjories aige of sevin yearis being
eompleit exhibeit and produce hir befoir the saidis Lordis to
the effect that scho may be gevin in keiping thairefter to sic
personis as the saidis Lordis sail think expedyent conform to
the tennour of the said decreit in respect of the quhilk the
saidis letteris in four formes and horneing contenit thairintill
aucht and suld be suspendit simpUciter upon the saidis com-
pleneris and the s'aid Henry Doless in tyme cuming for the
causis foirsaidis.'
Charge having been given to the said Hucheoun Rose of
Kilrawok, and he compearing by Mr. John Sharp and Henrie
Kinross, his procurators, and the said Jonet Rose and Marion
Dunbar compearing by Mr. Thomas M'Calzean and Alexander
Sym, their procurators, and parties being heard, the Lords
find the said letters orderly proceeded and ordain that they
be put to further execution notwithstanding the reasons and
causes above alleged. (Acts and Decreets, xlv. fol. 76.)
In other words, the Lords decreed that the infant Marjory
should remain in the custody of her mother and grandmother
until attaining the age of seven years.
There are naturally but few notices of the youthful heiress
during her long minority, but possibly some scheme for the
consolidation of her property may have led to the following
transaction : on 15th February 1575-6 it is recorded that
John Dolles, son natural to Hendre DoUes, has interdicted
himseK and granted that for good and reasonable considera-
tions he will not sell or alienate his heritage or goods but by
the advice and consent of John Dolles in Cantray and William
Dolles his brother, and this was done in the Tolbooth of
Inverness. (Prot, BL, W. Cuming, xxxii. fol. 139.)
In or before the year 1580, Hugh Rose of Kilravock
transferred his right to the ward and marriage of the heiress
to his son, as appears by the following writ : —
' I William Ros apperand of Kilrawok bindis and oblissis
me my airis and assignais to releif and keip skeithles ane
MARJORY DALLAS OF CANTRAY 119
rycht honorabill man Houchone Ros of Kilrauok at the
handis of the auctorite touiching and conserning his promes
maid the tyme of his obteining of the ward and marriage and
nonentrie of Mariorie DoUes oye and apperand air of wmquhill
Allexr. DoUes of Cantray touartis the thankill handhng of hir
and dispositione of hir to a perte agreabill to hir esteit for the
Weill of hir and hir heritage at quhatsumeuir handis heifand
or pretendand or may heif or pretend entres or actiowne
theirto according to the lawis of the realme and wse and
practik obsernit and kepit in sic caisis. Be thir presentis
sub scry vit with my hand at Kilraok the xxiiij day of December
the yeir of God ]^ v^ and fouir scoir yeiris. Wm. Ross.'
(Kilr., 272.)
Whether the marriage of Marjory Dallas with her cousin
Alexander Dallas was contemplated at this time is not certain,
but it was at all events arranged shortly afterwards, and on
28th January 1582-3 there was registered a contract, dated
at Aberdeen, Croy, and Inverness, 19th July and 8th and 12th
August 1582, between William Ross, apparent of Kilravock,
as assignee to the marriage aftermentioned, on the one part,
and John Doless in Cantray, Alexander Doless, his son and
apparent heir, and Marjorie Doless, pronepta and apparent
heir to the deceased Alexander Doless of Cantray, with
consent of Patrick Rose, son and apparent heir of John
Rose, Provost of Nairn, and William Doless in Cantray
Freische, her curators, for their interest, on the other part ;
whereby the said William Rose, as donator of the marriage of
the said Marjorie Doless, with her consent, and also at her
desire and that of her curators for the preservation of her
lands and heritage (to which she is to succeed as heir to the
said deceased Alexander Doless), to the surname of Doless,
dispones and transfers to the said John Doless and his heirs
and assignees the said marriage of the said Marjorie Doless
to the special end that she may marry one of the sons of the
120 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
said John Doless, and so her lands be preserved in the name
of Doless ; and failing of the said Marjorie, the marriage of
any other heir to the said heritage. He is also for further
security to deliver up the principal gift of the marriage made
by the Queen to Hew Rose, father of the said William, together
with an authentic extract of the disposition thereof by the
said Hew to him ; and he will also place in his hands the said
Marjorie herself (who for the present is in the keeping of the
said William), so that the said John may dispose of her in
marriage to one of his sons or otherwise as he shall think
expedient. Further, he is to deliver up to him all charters
and writs which belonged to the said deceased Alexander
Doless of Cantray, of the lands and mill of Largis and lands
of Cantray, in the barony of Stranerne, according as he or
his said father received them by inventory from the good wife
of Ballvell, to be kept and made furthcoming to the behoof
of the said Marjorie or next heir of the said deceased Alexander
Doless of Cantray ; and he is to infeft the said John Doless
and his foresaids in these lands ; and all before 10th November
next. For the which the said John Doless and his foresaid
son and apparent heir are to pay to the said William Ross
3200 merks, of which 1400 are to be paid before 14th August
next, and if this be bond, he is to take bond for the other 1800
merks, in which Alexander Doless of Budzet, John Ross in
Cantradoun, and William Dolace in Cantray freische are to be
cautioners. Further, the said John and Alexander Doless
are to renounce in favour of the said William Ross the acres,
roods of land, and tenements in Nairn, and give over the writfe
thereof before 10th August next. Moreover, as it is on account
of his goodwill to the said Marjorie that the said William has
at her earnest desire entered into this transaction, and has
disponed her marriage on easier terms than otherwise he might
have done, he stipulates that neither she nor they will ever
alienate the said lands of Lergs or Cantray without the special
consent of him or his successors, barons of Kilravock, bearing
MARJORY DALLAS OF CANTRAY 121
the arms and surname of Ross ; and if they do that the same
shall be null. Further, the said William promises that upon
their making payment to him in one sum of 600 merks, or
to his heirs, they will renounce all rights they have in and to
the said lands of Lerigs, with all bygones. The contract is
signed by the said Marjorie Doless and William Doless in
Cantray freische, John Doless in Cantray, Alexander Doless,
his son and apparent heir, Alexander Doless of Boydzett,
and John Rose in Cantraydoun, all by the aid of notaries, as
they are unable to write. (Beg, Deeds, xx.^ fol. 344.)
Meanwhile, Alexander Dallas, Marjory's future spouse,
appears to have been setting his affairs in order. On 2nd
October 1582 Alexander DoUes of Buddet, John DoUes in
Cantray, and others were on an inquest at Inverness for the
retour of John Grant of Corremonie and other retours of that
date, and also for the service of Alexander Dolles, when the
jury say that the late John Rose, burgess of Nairn, great-
grandfather of Alexander Dolles, bearer of these presents,
died last vest and seized at the peace and faith of the mother
of our supreme lady, the Queen of Scots, for the time of all
and haill the lands of Cantray Fryser, lying in the barony of
Strathmarne and sheriffdom of Inverness, and that the said
Alexander Dolles is lawful and nearest heir of the said John
Ross, burgess of Nairn, his great-grandfather, and is of lawful
age, and the said lands were held in chief of the late Alexander
Dolles of Kantrey and his heirs for payment of one rose in
summer in name of blench, and that these lands have now
been in the hands of the said Alexander Dolles of Kantrey
and his heirs for thirty- nine years or thereby through the death
of the said John Ross who died in July 1543. (Inverness
Sheriff Ct Bee, I)
Shortly afterwards Marjory was served heir to her great-
grandfather. On 20th December 1582 Marjorie Dolles, with
consent of Patric Ross, son and apparent heir of John Ross,
Provost of Nairne, and William Dolles in Cantray Fryser,
122 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
his curators, constitutes William Cuthbert, burgess of Inverness,
her procurator for serving her conform to her petition and
promisit de rato,
Alexander DoUes of Buddett was one of those on the
assize that day for serving her, and the jury say that the
deceased Alexander DoUes of Kantray, great-grandfather
of Marjorie Dolles, bearer of these presents, died at the peace
and faith of the mother of our supreme lady, Mary Queen of
Scots, that she is his lawful and nearest heir, and is of lawful
age. (Ibid,)
Some three years later, on 23rd March 1585-6, Marjorie
Dolles, pronepotis of the deceased Alexander Dolles of Cantrey,
had sasine of the lands of Cantralyse, Cantrafreis, and Drumoyr
on a precept by John Campbell of Calder directed to Henry
Dolles and stating that Alexander Dolles, great-grandfather
of the said Marjorie Dolles, died last vest in the lands of
Cantrales, Cantrafreskyne, and Dolles, in the lordship of
Strathnairn, which lands are held of the grantor as superior,
and she is lawful heir of the said Alexander Dolles, her great-
grandfather, and is of lawful age. The precept is dated at
Inverness, 22nd March 1585-6, one of the witnesses being
William Dolles, apparent of Buddet, witnesses to the sasine
being John Dolles in Cantra and William Dolles. John
Dolles protested that this should not hurt his right of the mill
of Cantra. {Prot Bk., W. Cuming, xxxix. fol. 110.)
It is probable that the marriage of Marjory and Alexander
Dallas took place about this time, and in the document next
to be noted the marriage is for the first time definitely recorded.
This is a disposition by way of contract, dated at Inverness,
1st June 1586, whereby William Rose, apparent of Kilrack,
dispones for 2900 merks to Lachlan MTntoschie of Dunnachtan
the lands and mill of Lairgis, in the barony of Calder and shire
of Inverness, to be held by him of the Crown in ward and
relief. It is agreed that if MTntosh shall happen to be evicted
from these lands by the former heretrix thereof, Marjory
MARJORY DALLAS OF CANTRAY 123
Delias and Alexander Dallas, her spouse, or by any other
person, the 2900 merks shall be repaid ; but he is not to accept
any title of these lands from them without the consent of
William Ross, but is to support him in his title against the
claims of Marjory DoUas ; witnesses David Ross of the
Holme, John Ross, burgess of Inverness, William M'Queen,
Subdean of Ross, and others. (Mackintosh Munim., 42.)
On the same date William Rose had granted a charter to
Lachlan Mackintosh of the lands of Lairgs with the mill
thereof and other pertinents, but there is no explanation of
the manner in which this property passed from the possession
of the young heiress to William Rose, though the first docu-
ment cited suggests that the transfer was not effected without
guile.
Though Drumoir was included amongst those lands of
which sasine was given to Marjory Dallas in 1585-6, that part
of the family property appears still to have remained in the
virtual possession of William Dallas in Cantrajrfries, who
obtained it from his brother John, but on 13th February
1587 Alexander Dallas, now, in consequence of his marriage,
laird of Cantray, warned William Dallas to the first of April
next for the redemption of the lands of Drumoyr (ProL Bk,,
xxxix. fol. 116), and from this time the property remained
a part of the Cantray estate.
After the lapse of some thirty years, there is a recrudescence
of the claim of Ellen Rose, widow of Henry Dallas, apparent
of Cantray, to the profits of the mill of Cantray, for on 5th
July 1591 an action is pursued by John Rose, indweller in
Edinburgh, alleged assignee constituted by Helen Ross,
relict of the deceased John Mackintosh, and John Stuart,
Baron of Kincarne, now her spouse, in and to the b3rrun maills,
farms, profits, and duties of the haK miln and miln lands of
Cantray, lying in the barony of Cantray and sheriffdom of
Inverness, of all years and terms since the date of the said
Helen's infeftment and sasuie, which was 26th April 1558,
124 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
against John Campbell, Marjory Doles of Cantray, and
Alexander Doles, her spouse, tenants to the said John Campbell,
of the said mill and lands, to make payment to the said pursuer
for the maills, farms, multures, profits, and duties of the said
mill and lands for the space of thirty-three years by past.
(Acts and Deer, Ct. of Sess,, cxxxii.) The case had been
formerly before George, Earl of Huntly, and was now con-
tinued to the 1st August. The result of the action has not
been found.
In the following year occurs a disposition by John, Earl
of Mar, donator of the ward of Calder through the death of
John Campbell of Calder, for twenty pound, to Alexander
Dolass of Chantray and Mairiorie Dolass, his spouse, of the
ward and non-entry duties of the lands of Chantrayleis,
Chantrayireis, and Drummore. One of the witnesses to this
disposition, which is dated at Edinburgh, 22nd June 1592, is
William Dollace, apparent of Budzet. (Cantray Chart)
About this time a violent quarrel appears to have occurred
between the Dallases and the Koses of Holme. The cause
of this is not even remotely indicated by the records, but
there is registered a bond of caution by Hucheoun Ros of
Kilraak and William Ros, his son and apparent heir, for David
Ros of Holme in £1000, and by the said David for Johnne
M'Allaster and James Rossis, his brothers, in 500 merks each,
not to harm Alexander DoUas of Cantra. Subscribed at the
Channonrie of Ros, 8th April 1593, before Williame Thomesoun
burgess of Rosmarky, Andro Gray in Kilraak, Andro Ferqu-
harsoun in the Kirktoun of Auchtirseir, David Ros, servitor
to the said David Ros of Holme, and Adam Dunbar, notary
public and commissary clerk of Ros, the last subscribing
for David Ros of Holme, Johnne M'Alexander, and James
Rossis. (Beg, Privy Counc, v. 586.)
This was followed by a bond of caution by WiUiam Doles,
apparent of Budyett, for Alexander Dolles of Cantra, in £1000,
and for Johnne Doles, his brother, and Johnne M'Arpitar
MARJORY DALLAS OF CANTRAY 125
Doles, his servant, in 500 merks each, not to harm David
Ros of Holme, or Johnne and James Rossis, his brothers, as
by King's letters under the Signet at Edinburgh, 16th April
last, charging the said principals for molesting the said David
and his brothers in their possession of the lands of Holme,
Drummurye, Iwen, and Altinhous, ' be balding and pasturing
of thair bestiall and guidis upon the saidis landis, bigging of
symmer sheillis thairupoun and be demolising and casting
down of the said David, Johnne, and James Rosis awise
houssis and sheillis. Subscribed at Elgin, 1st May 1593,
before Johnne Annand of Murrestoun, Mr. Thomas Annand,
his son, Mr. Williame Clerk, master of the school of Elgin,
George AiHiand, son of the said Johnne, — Johnne Annand,
younger, notary public, subscribing for the said William
Doles and Alexander Doles.' {Beg, Privy Counc, v. 588.)
These quarrels may have had some reference to the claim of
Elspet Rose, widow of Henry Dallas of Croy, to the teind
sheaves of Croy, for on 18th August 1599 there was horning
at the instance of David Rose of Holme against Elspet Rose,
relict of William M'Queen of Carrebroche, and James Innes of
Reidfurd, now her spouse, for his interest, and Henry DoUas
in Ballefruss, narrating that the complainer has all the teind
sheaves of the lands of Croy belonging to the said Elspet in
liferent, and all the teind sheaves of the lands of Cantra
belonging to the said [sic] Marjorie Dollas, with the teind
sheaves of the lands of Ballefrusche, having the tack thereof,
and for spoliation has put the said defenders to the horn under
the process whereof they remain manifesting a ' constant
ewill vill and injurie ' against him, and threatening and
troubling him and his servants. Wherefore charge is hereby
given to them to find caution not to do this under pain of horn-
ing. In the execution the complainer says he dreads harm of
these persons and of Marjorie Dollas of Cantra and Alexander
Dollas, her spouse. {Inverness Part Reg. Horn,, etc, i.-ii.)
In 1597 there is a general retour of service of Marjory
126 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
Dallas as heir of her father, Alexander Dallas of Cantray, in
the following terms : —
' Hec Inquisitio facta fuit apud burgum de Innernes in
pretoris ejusdem coram honorabili viro Johanne Karr burgense
de Innernes vicecomite deputatio vicecomitatus de Innernes
honorabilis viri Johannis Gordowne de Pitlurge, militis,
vicecomitis principalis vicecomitatus de Innernes vigore
commissionis nobilis et potentis domini Ludovici Ducis de
Levinax Domini Torbouttowne, Methven et Obbaine vice-
comes [sic] principalis vicecomitatus de Innernes per com-
missionem supremi nostri regis vigesimo tertio die mensis
Junii anno Domini Millesimo quingentesimo nonagesimo
septimo per hos probos et fideles homines subscriptos, viz. :
Hectorem Monro de Fowillis Hugonem Monro de Assin
Gilbertum Gray de Sordell Hugonem Monro de Urquhate
Alexandrum Bane feoditarium de Logy Hugonem Ross
apparentem de ToUe Valterum Ross de Prisehall Angusium
MakcuUoch de Craighous Jacobum Innes apparentem de
Innerbraikkie Jacobum Corbat portionarium de AirkboU
Kjnntigornum GoUan burgensem de Rosmarkie WiUiam
Thomesone in canonia Rossense Johannem Monro de
Pitconachtie Georgium Monro de Knokochoirle Farquhardum
Monro portionarium de Kyleis Alexandrum Cuithbert burgen-
sem de Innernes Vilhelmum Cuithbert burgensem ibidem Qui
jurati dicunt quod quondam Alexander Dolles de Cantray
pater Marjorie Dolles latoris presentium obbiit ad pacem
et fidem supremi domini nostri regis et quod dicta Marjoria
Dolles est filia legittima et propinquior heres prefati quondam
Alexandri patris sui et quod est legittime etatis. Datum
et clausum unacum breve regio huic Inquisitioni introcluso
sub sigillo officii vicecomitis de Innernes et sigillis quorundam
eorum qui dicti Inquisitioni interant anno die et loco predictis.
*Ita est Jasperus Cuming Notarius Publicus ac scriba
vicecomitatus de Innernes manu propria.' (Cantray Chart)
MARJORY DALLAS OF CANTRAY 127
Two years later there is a precept of clare constat for
infefting Marjory Dallas in the lands of Croy, though, as
has been seen, these had long been in the hands of Rose of
Holme : —
'Alexander Dominus Spynie dominus superior terrarum
sub scrip tarum dilectis meis Joanni Innes de Leuchhous
Villilmo Cuthbert burgensi de Innernes et vestrum cuilibet
conjunctim et divisim balivis meis in hac parte specialiter
et irrevocabiliter constitutis Salutem Quia mihi Clare Constat
et est notum per autentica documenta et instrumenta coram me
producta visa et lecta quod quondam Alexander Doles de
Cantray pater Marjoria Doles latoris presentium obiit ultimo
vestitus et sasitus ut de feodo ad fidem et pacem supremse
dominse nostras reginae Mariae Reginse Scotorum de totis et
integris terris villa ecclesiasticse de Croy cum pendiculis et
pertinentiis suis universis jacentibus infra baroniam de
Ardclayth vicecomitatum de Innernes et regalitatem de
Spynie ; et quod dicta Marjoria est legittima et propinquior
heres dicta quondam Alexandri Doles sui patris de dictis
terris ; et quod elst legittime etatis ; et quod dicte terrae ville
ecclesiasticae predictae cum sui pendiculis et pertinentiis pre-
scriptis de me Domino Spynie et successoribus meis tenentur
in capite tanquam dominis superioribus earundem pro annua
solutione feudifirmarum aliorum que annorum redditum et
ceteris in cartis et evidentiis suis inter Igiter vobis precipeo
et firmiter mando quatenus visis presentibus indilate statum
sasinam necnon possessionem hereditarium realem actualem
et corporalem totarum et integrarum dictaram terrarum ville
ecclesiastice de Croye cum suis pendiculis et pertinentiis supra
mentionatis memoratae Marjoria Doles vel suo certo actornato
vel procuratori eo nomine per terre et lapidis fundi ejusdem
traditionem et deliberationem tradatis et deliberetis secundum
presentis precepti tenorem suisque antiquis infeofamentis
quae inde habet ; et hoc nuUo modo omitatis ad quod faciendum
vobis et vestrum cuilibet conjunctim et divisim meam pie-
128 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
nariam et irrevocabilem tenore presentium comitto potestatem
Salvo tatem et reservato mihi et successoribus meis feudi-
firmis annuisque redditibus servitiis et ceteris aliis provisio-
nibus conditionibus et clausulis in cartis et evidentiis intert —
ratione non solutionis preteritorum Salvo jure cujuslibet ut
moris est In cujus rei testimonium presentibus scrip tis per
Joannem Traill manu mea sub scrip tis, sigillum meum pro-
prium est appensum Apud Leyis die ultimo mensis Augusti
anno Domini millesimo sexcentesimo primo coram his testibus
Domino Waltero Lyndesay de Davide Betoun de
Spittelfeilds, Magistro Davide E-utherfurd de Muirhouse et
Joanne Traill notario publico.
'A. L. Spynie.
* David Bettone testis. Mr. David Ruy^furd
witnes.
* S. W. Lyndsay of Balganys J. Traill testis N.P.'
testis.
In the years 1600-1601 Alexander Dallas was at feud
with certain Dunbars, if not personally, at least through the
actions of his ' men and servants.' Evidently after some
previous litigation, the cases came before the Privy Council
on 4th July 1605.
In the first case Robert Dunbar of Burgie complains that
Arpitell Doles, Alexander Doles of Cantray's man, Johnne
Glas M'CouU in Little Camlethtoun, and several others, Coline
Campbell of Boith's men, with Hucheun Doles and Waltir
Ros M'Hutcheoun, all armed with bows, darlochs, and two-
handed swords, came in November 1600 to the pursuer's
town and lands of Burgie, and there committed crimes of fire-
raising and spuilzie, and also slew Alexander Ainslie in Burgie
and George Greve, his servants. The accused being ' brokin
and disordourit hieland men,' pursuer can get no redress
unless their said masters enter them before the Council, and
charge had been given to the said persons, men and masters.
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CAWDOR CHURCH
MARJORY DALLAS OF CANTRAY 129
to answer under pain of ' rebellioun.' Here the narrative
abruptly ends, there being a gap of three foHos in the Register,
but the decision of the Council is recorded : ' Alexander
Doles of Cantray ordained to be denuncit for not presenting
Arpitell Doles, his man, tennent, etc., quho [had] stolen goods
fra Dunbar of Burgie.' {Reg. Privy Counc, vii. p. 75-6.)
The second case affords so admirable an account of the
lawless habits of the times, that we quote it in full.
' Anent our Soveraigne Lords letters raised at the instance
of Mr. James Dunbar of Tarbet and James Dunbar of Pennyk,
makand mention that quhair Hutcheon Doless and Henry
Doless, men, tennents and servants to Alexander Doless of
Cantray, with uthers thair complices, being all bodin in feir
of weir, come upon the day of October 1601 years to the
lands of Meikle Pennyk perteining to the said Jamee Dunbar,
and thifteously reft, staw and away-tuike furth thairof 34
heid of kyne and oxen, worth the peice, 12 horse and
meirs worth the peice, 60 heid of gait and sheep, . . .
perteining to the said James Dunbar, and being in his posses-
sione for the tyme pasturand upon his said^ lands, togidder
with the haill insicht and plenishing of the suid toun, estimat
worth 500 merks. And siclyke, upon the penult day of
September 1600 years, the saids persons forsaids came to the
lands of Sanquharr perteining to the said Mr. James Dunbar,
and thair treasonablie and awfully causit fyre, brunt and
destroyit the tour and fortalice thairof, togither with the
haill insicht and plenishing being thairintill, estimat worth
2000 merks, slew 24 goates and reft staw and away-tuike ane
grite number of horse and other goods and gear pertaining to
his tennents of the saids lands, estimat worth 1000 merks.
And siclyke the saids persons, with uthers thair complices to
the number of 300 persons, come upon the day of Jully
the year of God forsaid to the lands of Mundoill, pertaineing
to the said Mr. James, and thair maisterfuUy reft and away-
tuke 400 sheep, 40 heid of kyne and oxen, perteining to him
130 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
and his tennents of the said lands, togidder with the haill
insicht and plenishing of the said toun and lands, estimate
worth 500 merks, and schamfullie, cruellie and unmerci-
fuUie slew umquhile Thomas Allane, Robert Bell and John
Kitchaine, his tennents and servands. And siclyke the
persons forsaids come in the moneth of May, June and JuUy,
and upon divers days of the saids moneths, to the said Mr.
James lands in the Bray of Murray, and thair treasonably
causit fyre, brunt and destroyit his tour and fortalice of
Dumphaill, togidder with the haill insicht and plenishing
being thairintill, estimat worth 4000 merks, and maist sham-
fullie, cruellie and unmercifuUie slew umquhill Thomas Smith
alias Clerk, his tennent. As alswa, in the moneth of June
the year of God forsaid, the saids persons come to the said
Mr. James lands of Glenmoir and Phekirk and thair treasonably
raisit fyre, brunt and destroyit the bigging and houssis thairof
and insicht and plenishing being thairintill, estimat worth
400 merks, and reft and away tuke 8 heid of kyne and oxen,
and 12 peice of horse and meirs, 40 gait and 100 sheip pertein-
ing to the said Mr. James and his tennents, and being in thair
possession for the tyme pasturand upon the ground of the
saids lands, and maist schamfuUy, cruellie and unmercifully
slew umquhile James Young, his tennent. And last, the saids
persons come againe in the moneth of Jully 1601 years to the
said Mr. James lands in the Bray of Murray, and thair reft
and away tuike 40 heid of nolt, 100 sheip, 40 gaite and 12
horse, and uthers perteining to his tennents, and treasonablie
raised fyre, brunt and destroyit the said Mr. James tennents
houssis of the saids lands, togidder with thair insicht and
plenishing thairintill, pertaining to umquhill Bobertson,
his servant. Quhilks persons, committers of the particular
reiffs and heirschips abonewritten, were broken highlandmen,
unanswerable and obedient to justice, of quhom the saids
complainers wiU get no redres or order of law unles thair
master and landlord abonewrittine, wha, be the laws of this
MARJORY DALLAS OF CANTRAY 131
realme, Acts of Parliament, and general band aucht and
sould be answerable for thair entrie, present thaim personallie
befoir the Lords of Secret Councill, to the effect order may be
tane with them as apperteins.' (Reg, Privy Counc, vii. p. 76.)
The decision was of course inevitable : ' And anent the
charge, etc., given to the said Alexander Doless of Cantray,
Hutcheon and Henry Doless, his servants, to have presentit
the persons forsaids, his men, tennents and servants, he
failyieing so to doe, he and the said Hutcheon and Henry
Doless are ordained to be denuncit.' {Ihid., 78.)
In 1602 the Rothiemurchus exchange is again the subject
of litigation, and on 20th September of that year there is
horning at the instance of John Grant, now of Freuquhy, as
heir of the deceased James Grant, of Freuquhy, his grandchir,
narrating the contract of 23rd April 1545 already quoted.
This contract and the decree thereupon was by decreet of the
Lords of Council on 21st June 1594 transferred to the com-
plainer, John Grant, and to Marjory DoUas and Alexander
DoUas of Cantray, her spouse, but they decline to fulfil
the contract and several executions follow. (Invern. Reg,
Homings, etc, i.)
Marjory Dallas was dead before 23rd July 1605, at which
date her son William had already been served heir to her,
but her husband survived her some years, as on 19th March
1613 there is a registration of horning by Donald M'Queyne,
minister at Croy, narrating that on 5th January last Mr.
James Bishop, minister at Inverness, and Andrew BaKour,
minister at Ewane, as Commissioners of the Synodal Assembly
of the Province of Moray, at the complainers' humble suit, with
the express consent of the Elders of Croy, namely, David Ros
of Holme, Alexander Dollas of Cantray and Hendrie Dollas
of Ballafrische, designed a glebe and manse, namely, two acres
of land, which the persons above written deponed on their
consciences belonged to the parson and vicar formerly (the
boundaries of the glebe being mentioned). This they did
132 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
with consent of Alexander DoUes of Cantray, heritable pro-
prietor of the said town and lands, and yet he and the said
David Ros, and Elizabeth Ros, liferenter of the said glebe,
wilfully and violently detain the same from him, and they are
hereby charged to remove, and for contempt are put to the
horn, (Partic, Beg, Homings, vol. iii.)
This is apparently the latest occurrence of the name of
Alexander Dallas in the records, and he probably died before
3rd August 1613, when a commission was issued by the Privy
Council to his son and successor, William Dallas of Cantray.
Of the children born to Marjory and Alexander Dallas
only three son's can be definitely identified, William, the heir,
Alexander, and George. Of the latter, it can only be ascertained
that he was witness of the execution of horning against his
brother, Alexander DoUas in Galcantray, 23rd July 1627,
and before 21st August 1628 was concerned with William
DoUas of Cantray in oppressing the tenants of Lord Eraser
of Lovat, in the lands of Dalcross and others. Alexander Dallas
seems to have had four other sons : (4) Patrick, maltman ;
(5) Hugh, his servitor ; (6) Henry in Cantradown, and (7)
William, servitor to James Campbell of Moy.
Alexander Dallas, the second son of Marjory and
Alexander Dallas of Cantray, first occurs as a witness to a
Cantray sasine on 3rd July 1617, and as he is there styled ' in
Galcantray,' he had probably already married Margaret Hay,
whose first husband, William Dallas of Budgate, died in 1616.
In a decreet of horning against William Dallas of Budgate,
dated 12th March 1619, he is described as the spouse of
Margaret Hay, conjunct fiar of Galcantray, and as succeeding
in the place of the deceased William Dallas of Budgate in the
labouring of the lands of Galcantray with the miU thereof.
He is next mentioned in a sasine, dated 20th July 1620, to
Mr. Alexander Ros of Cantrey, on a precept from Chancery,
dated 20th June 1620, directed to Thomas Ros in Wester
MARJORY DALLAS OF CANTRAY 133
Cantrey, as bailie, in which it is narrated that the King, with
consent, etc., had confirmed a charter of sale and disposition
therein contained made by John Grant of Freuchieto Alexander
Ros of Cantrey and his heirs-male and assignees whomsoever
of the lands of Cantraydown, Delligrauche, and Drumtennell,
with pertinents, lying in the barony of Clavalg and shire of
Nairn, al^o the superiority of the towns of Clavalg, Delcroy,
Drumoir, and Easter Urquhill, with the pertinents and feu
farms thereof, extending to £21, 5s. Scots; und the King
further unites and erects the above lands into the barony of
Clava. The witnesses to the sasine are Alexander DoUes in
Galcantrey, Hugh Gray, servitor to Hugh Ros of Kilravocks,
James Hay in Woods of Kilravocks, Donald M'Mairrich in
Crossinteycht, Henry DoUes in Cantreydown, William Ros,
there, John M'Gowin in Lochsloy, John Ros, servitor of the
said Alexander Ros of Cantrey, George Ros in Cantrey, and
George DoUes in Toureoch, the notary being John Donaldson.
(Reg. Sasines, Elgin and Nairn, i. fol. 210.) The lands here
referred to are those which were to have been exchanged
by Alexander Dallas of Cantray for the barony of Rothie-
murchus in 1545 : they appear to have been retained by
Grant notwithstanding the failure of Dallas to retain pos-
session of Rothiemurchus.
On 15th September 1627 there is a registration of horning
by WiUiam Ross in Cantradown against Alexander DoUas in
Galchantray, who by bond dated 12th July of the same year
is due to him £80. George DoUas, brother german to the said
Alexander Dollas, who was personally present, was a witness
to the execution of the horning. (Reg, Homings, Inverness, i.)
It would appear that he married, as his second wife, Jean
Sutherland, a daughter of Sutherland of Kinsterie (thereafter
of Greenhal), as she is mentioned as executrix confirmed to
him in a summons issued by his son. Jean Sutherland after-
wards became the wife of John Rose of Blackhills, who died
in 1673. (Kilr,, 525.) He wus living in June 1662, when he
134 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
took a bond from Alexander Dallas of Cantray, his uncle,
for 2000 merks, but did not long survive that date. Besides
a daughter, Janet, he had (probably with other issue) an
eldest son, John Dallas, who is known as burgess of Nairn,
and is first mentioned in Cantray' s bond to his father, 19th
and 30th June 1662. His name occurs in the Nairn Burgh
Register of Sasines from the year 1670 as one of the
bailies of the burgh, and he appears to have held that
office until his death, except during the period from 20th
September 1670 to 1674, when he was annually elected
treasurer of the burgh. On 2lBt March 1670 he had a
bond from John Dallas, Dean of Boss, for 100 merks,
written by Hugh Dallas, notary public, and signed at Calder,
the witnesses being Alexander Dollas younger of Cantra,
the said Hugh Dallas, and Hugh DollaS, merchant at Chanorie.
(Nairn Burgh Reg, of Deeds.) There is also another bond to
him for £56, 13b. 4d. by Robert Dollars younger, merchant in
Fortrose, Bobert DollaS elder, merchant in Fortrose, being
cautioner, recorded at Nairn, 3rd October 1672 (Ihid.), and
a bond to him for £42, by Bobert Barbour, merchant in
Inverness, is witnessed by William Dollas, his servitor, and
not improbably his son. (Ibid.) Some time before 4th May
1675 he obtained a decree with reference to a bond granted
by Evan M'Pherson of Alichitie, 12th June 1667, to which
Bobert DoUas, merchant, burgess of Inverness, claims right
by assignation, but there is nothing to show a common
interest between the two. (Beg. Homings, Inverness-
shire, viii.)
On 29th July 1675 a summons was issued at the instance
of John Dollas, merchant in Nairn, as assignee, against Jean
Sutherland, relict of John Bose, sometime of Blackhills, who
was executor confirmed [and apparently widow] to the deceased
Alexander Dollas, sometime in Galcantray, for payment of
£309, 8s. Scots, left in legacy by the said deceased Alexander
Dollas to Janet Dollas, his lawful daughter, and assigned by
MARJORY DALLAS OF CANTRAY 135
her to the said John Dollas, 2nd October 1674. The record is
followed on the same day by an exoneration and discharge to
Jean Sutherland, in which John Dollas is stated to be brother
of Janet. (Reg. Decreets, Moray, ii. )
Just previously, on 8th June 1675, John Dollas, burgess of
Nairn (in what capacity is not clear), gives sasine of the town
and lands of Auchindoune and Auchnayme to John Campbell
of Auchindoune, son and heir of William Campbell of Auchin-
doune, his father, granted by Sir Hugh Campbell of Calder,
and subscribed by Hugh Dollas, notary. (Reg. Sasines, Elgin
and Nairn. )
In 1683 he acts as procurator for the recording of deeds in
the Sheriff Court of Nairn, and hife name so appears until 1691.
On 21st July 1683 he records a bond by John Hay of Lochloy
to Jean Sutherland, relict of John RoSe of Blackhills, for 400
merks, in behoof of his only son John Rose, a pupil or minor.
The bond was written by Hugh Rose, minister of Nairn, and
signed at Insheoch, 2nd July 1683, before the said Hugh Rose
and WiUiam Tuljoch, bailie of Nairn. (Sheriff Court Records,
Nairn; Deeds.) On 19th December 1691 he is designed
Sheriff- depute of Nairn, and continued to hold that office
until 6th April 1694, when he was succeeded by John Laing,
the deputes apparently being changed with a change of sheriff.
(lUd.)
On 14th October 1692 he and others are pursued by John
Sinclair of Stircock for a debt contained in a bond for £502,
gi*anted by them on 29th September 1691, to Mr. Robert
Dunbar of AnkergiU, who assigned it to the pursuer ; upon
which an inhibition was used. (Reg. Inhih., Elgin, Forres, and
Nairn, vii.) Whether this indicates that he was in financial
difficulties at this time it is impossible to decide, but at his
death in 1708 his testament- dative was given up (recorded 1st
July 1709) by William Falconer, executor qua creditor, in
respect of a bond dated 7th November 1698, when his effects
were stated to be : seven oxen at £10 Scots ; two cows at
136 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
£10 Scots ; a young coyack at 7 merks ; household furniture
valued at £30, Is. 8d. — a not very extensive property for a
bailie and sheriff-depute.
Moreover, on 24th September 1704, John Dallas had
disponed certain lands to his wife, Marie Urquhart, and of
these lands sasine was given on 20th December 1708, pre-
sumably after his death, to Colin Campbell of Delnies,
Alexander DaUas being bailie. {Reg, Sasines, Nairn
Burgh, ii.)
It seems certain that John Dallas was twice married,
though the name of his first wife has not transpired. By his
second wife, Mary Urquhart, he had a daughter, Ann, born
and baptized 25th January 1706, two of the witnesses being
John Rose of Newton and Alexander Dallas, bailie of Nairn ;
and a son, George, baptized 23rd April 1708, the witnesses
including George Munro, ' Laird of Cubrain,' Mr. George
Dunbar, minister of Nairn, William Bose, ' Clava's brother,'
Elizabeth Baily, Hugh Bose's wife, Elizabeth Leslie, the
minister's wife, and ' Elizabeth Bose, David Bose in Flines
his daughter.' (Par. Reg., Nairn.) Of these children nothing
further is known.
The eldest son and heir of John Dallas, presumably by a
former wife, was
Alexander Dallas, who was admitted a burgess of Nairn
in 1687 or 1688, having served his time with a litster in the
burgh. On 28th April 1703 both he and his father, as
witnesses, are described as baihes of Nairn, but his name
ceases to appear amongst the bailies about February 1706.
{Reg. Deeds, Nairn Burgh, 1672-1715.) He was concerned in
various bond transactions, in one of which, dated 24th
December 1700, he is described as ' litster and bailie of
Nairn.' {Ibid.)
That misfortune overtook both him and his father is
evident from a sasine, recorded 19th May 1712, in favour of
John Gumming, Kirk Treasurer, of the lands of the deceased
MARJORY DALLAS OF CANTRAY 137
John Dollas, proceeding upon an adjudication by the Lords
of Council and Session, dated 9th November 1711, against
Alexander Dollas, eldest son and heir of the deceased John
Dollas, bailie of Nairn : the lands are called the Milnbank,
and are described as lying between the lands of Hugh Rose of
Clava on the east, of Calder's lands on the west, and the lands
of Kildrimmie and the GaUowgate on the north. {Reg, Sasines,
Nairn Burgh, ii.) Another record, undated, but probably
of about the same period, bears that Alexander Dollas, litster
and bailie of Nairn, having granted a bond, dated 24th
December 1700, in favour of Alexander Falconer of Blackhills
for £153 Scots, and having granted a bond for £80, 13s. 4d.
to Alexander Ore, bailie of Nairn, on which latter bond horn-
ing, caption, etc., had proceeded, now, in consequence of
Falconer having paid Ore's debt and obtained a conveyance
of it, grants a disposition in favour of the former of his lead
caldron, press for pressing cloathes, shearing board and shears
and all his other effects. {Reg, Deeds, Nairn Burgh, 1672-
1715.) He is subsequently mentioned, now styled 'late
bailie,' on 22nd May 1713 {Ibid.), after which he disappears
from the records of Nairn.
There are but few Dallas entries in the Nairn parish
register, and none, save the two already mentioned, which can
be identified as descendants of Bailie John Dallas. Two
of these entries may, however, be mentioned: (1) John Dallas
at the MiU of Nairn was matrimonially contracted with
Elspet Mack Kercher in Nairn, 2nd November, and married
4th December 1711 : they appear to have had no issue ; (2)
John Dallas contracted with Janet Fraser, 24th January 1718 :
he was evidently ' in Ballavlarie,' and had a son James baptized
16th February 1719, another son, Mordache, baptized 16th
July 1721, and a daughter, Janet, baptized 22nd December
1723. It seems not improbable that these were sons re-
spectively of John and Alexander Dallas, the Nairn bailies.
138 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
George Dallas in Turrioch
George Dallas in Turrioch was probably the third son of
Marjorie Dallas of Cantray and Alexander Dallas.
In addition to William Dallas of Cantray and Alexander
Dallas in Galcantray, his brothers seem to have been
(4) Patrick Dallas, maltman ;
(5) Hugh Dallas, his servitor ;
(6) Henry Dallas in Cantradown ;
(7) William Dallas, servitor to James Campbell of Moy,
as before stated, but we have not traced their descendants.
John Dallas, Baihe of Nairn (p. 136), had probably a
third child, Jean, to whom he granted a bond for £133, 6s. 8d.
on 29th April 1699, to be paid to her within a year of her
marriage (Mackenzie, ii. p. 138). A witness to this deed is
WiUiam Dallas, Student in Nairn. The amount is evidently
one-third of £400, probably indicating that there were three
children thus provided for.
WILLIAM DALLAS 11. OF CANTRAY
William Dallas, the son and successor of Marjory and
Alexander Dallas, was probably born about the year 1590.
From a decreet of the Lords of Session it appears that he was
served heir to his mother, 23rd July 1605, but until after the
death of his father he has not been found as ' of Cantray.'
He first appears in a public capacity on 3rd August 1613,
when he and others were included in a commission issued
by the Privy Council, to apprehend and exhibit before the
Council Johne Calder and Donald Calder, sons of Thomas
Calder in Delnie, and five others, who were put to the horn
on 13th July last, at the instance of Coline Campbell of Clunes,
for not finding caution to appear before the Justices on 5th
November next, for fire-raising on the lands of Clunes and
mutilating and slaying three mares and a horse belonging to
the said Coline Campbell. (Reg, Priv. Counc, x. 132.)
As has been recorded, the episcopal lands acquired in 1542
passed from the possession of the Cantray line on the death of
Alexander Dallas of Cantray in 1565, but on ' 26th May 1617,
Sir John Campbell of Calder sold to Williame Dolles of Cantray
for 3000 merks, the lands of Croy, which he had acquired of
Holme, to be held of the Bishop, the liferent reserved of
Agnes Ros, and afterwards of Jonnet Campbell, spouse of the
said Williame Dolles. She was the natural daughter of the
Thane's father.' (Innes in Thanes of Cawdor, 241.) Careless
genealogists have made this Agnes Rose the first wife of
WiUiam Dallas : she was, in fact, the relict of David Rose of
Holme, brother of John Rose of Holme, from whom Sir John
Campbell purchased Croy, 16th June 1608. She was at the
1S9
140 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
time wife of Mr. William Campbell of Braicklie. The sale
of Croy to William Dallas was confirmed in a charter by
Alexander, Bishop of Murray, dated at Canongate, 24th June
1617, granting to Janet Campbell, spouse of William Dallas
of Cantray in liferent, and to Alexander Dallas, their eldest
lawful son, and his heirs- male in fee, the church lands of Croy,
and contains a special clause of dispensation with all defects
in previous infeftments of these lands as granted by the
Bishop's predecessors to Sir John Campbell of Calder, John
Ross of Holm, David Ross of Holm, or their predecessors or
authors from the earliest date to the present. {Cantray
Charters.) This was followed, 3rd July 1617, by the giving
of sasine of these lands to Janet Campbell in person, and to
Hugh Dallas in Cantray as procurator for her son Alexander
Dallas, the witnesses being Alexander DoUas in Galcantray and
WiUiam DoUas, son to the deceased John Dallas formerly in
Cantray. (Ibid,) Previously to this a tack of the teinds of
Croy had been granted by Mr. James Vaus, parson of Croy,
to William Dollas of Cantray (who himself wrote out the
document), and Janet Campbell, his spouse, and their heirs-
male for the yearly duty of £6, 13s. 4d., and £1, 2s. 2d. of
augmentation, dated 15th March 1617. (Ibid.)
It has been explained that Sir John Campbell of Calder,
having become possessed of an opulent estate by 1610, did
through either ambition or desire to purchase his native
county, meditate the conquest of the Island of Islay, and
to find money to undertake the reduction of Islay, sold Croy
to William Dallas of Cantray and other lands to various
neighbours. (Macphail's Highland Papers, vol. i. p. 132.)
Three years later the laird is found in collision with the
law, the King's Advocate making complaint before the Privy
Council, on 15th July 1620, that numbers of ' vagaboundis,
soirnairis, counterfute thevis and lymmaris, callit Egiptianis '
have been reset and entertained ' upoun the ground, land and
possessiounis, and within the houssis of William Dollas of
WILLIAM DALLAS 11. OF CANTRAY 141
Cantra and Alexander Ros in Cantrabrow, of thair speciall
knawledge, consent and permissioun at the least be thair
connivance ; ' but, the parties appearing personally, the Lords
assoilzie defenders, as in default of probation, they by their
oath of verity have denied the charge. (Reg, Priv, Counc,
xii. 292.)
Though William Dallas was only one of many to whom
the duty was assigned of bringing to order the turbulent Clan
Cameron and its chief, the details as to the conditions of life
prevailing in the Highlands at the time which are set forth
in the Commission issued to this end are so instructive that no
excuse is needed for recording them at length. The writ
issued by the Privy Council on 18th June 1622 sets forth
that : —
' Forsamekle as the Kingis Majestic haveing now by the
force of his royall pouer and auctoritie and by his most prudent
and wyse governament reducit the who[le] His and Heylandis
of this kingdome to obedience, and establisheit pace, justice
and quietnes within the same, to the comforte of all his
Majesteis goode subjecteis within the His and continent nixt
adjacent, thair is onlie ane limmer, to witt AUane Cameron
of Lochyell, that lyis out and refuisis to gif his obedience ;
who being unworthie of his Majesteis favour formarlie schawne
unto him quhen he stode in danger of the lawis, and haveing
maid schipwrak of his faith and promeist obedience, and
schaken of all feir of God, reverence of his Majestie and of his
auctoritie, and regaird of justice, and being diverse tymes
rebell and at the home for crewell and detestable murthour
and otheris insolenceis committit be him, he now hes associat
a nomber of otheris thevis, tratouris and lymmaris, by whom
he intendis to interteney ane oppin rebellioun, and to disturb
and disquiet his Majesties pace in the heighlandis quhilkis
his Majestie with so grite panes and travellis and expenssis
has satled in obedience ; and quhairas it is a matter tuitching
his Majestie verie heigle in honnour that suche ane onworthie
142 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
cative sail so long stand out as yi he war nather subject to
king, law, nor justice ; and his Majestic understanding the
goode affectioun of his traist cousigne CoUine, Lord Kintaill,
and of his trustie and weilbelovittis Sir Lauchlane M'Intoshe
of Dunauchtane, Sir Rorie M'Claud of Herries, Johne Grant
of Freuquhie, Sir Johne Campbell of Calder, [Sir Dougal]
Campbell of Auchinbrek, Sir Colline Campbell of Ardkinles,
Johne M'Donnald M'Allane V^Eane of Ilantyrum, Capitane of
the Clan Rannald, Sir Donnald Gorme of Slaitt, [Alexander]
Campbell of Lochinyell, Sir Rorie M'Kenzie of Coygathe, Sir
John Grant, apperand of Freuquhie, Johne Grant of Glen-
moristoun, [William] Sutherland of Duffus, and Sir Mungo
Murray of Drumcairne, Donnald M'Angus of Glengarrie,
[Walter] M'Farlane, apperand of Arroquhair, Johne Grant of
Ballundallache, David Ross of HoUme, Robert Campbell of
Glenfallach, WiUiam [DoUas] of Cantra, Andrew M'Fersane
of Clunie, Duncane M'Intoshe of Abirdour, Malcolme
M'Intosche of Brome, and Patrik Grant of Ballindallache, to
do his Majestic service, and how that they wilbe cairfuU and
willing to undergo quhatsomever panes and travel in his
Majesteis service that salbe concredite unto thame : Thairfoir
his Majestic, with advyse of the Lordis of his Sccreit Counsaill,
ordanes commissiouns to be past and exped under his Majesteis
signeitt, makand and constitutand the persones abone wrettin
and every one of thame, conjunctlie and scverallie, his Majesteis
justiceis and commissioneris in that pairt to the effect under-
wrettin, gevand, grantand and committand to thame con-
junctlie and severellie full pouer and commissioun, expres
bidding and chairge, to convocat his Majesteis liegeis in armes,
and to pas, serche, seik, hunt, follow, and persew with fyre
Slid sword, the said Allane quhairevir he may be apprehendit,
and to keep, hold, and detene him in suir firmance and
captivetie ay and quhill they may convenientlie exhibite him
befoir his Majesteis Counsell to the effect ordour and directioun
may be gevin for his punishment as accordis. And, yf it
WILLIAM DALLAS 11. OF CANTRAY 143
salhappin the said Allane for eschewing of apprehensioiine to
flee to strenthis and houssis [here foUow the usual powers in
such cases given to the Commissioners, with the usual in-
demnity for any violent accidents ; with powers also to use
hagbuts and pistols in the actual service]. Chairging heirby
all his Majesteis liegeis and subjectis to reverence, acknaw-
ledge, and obey, ryse, concur, fortifie and assist the saidis
commissioneris conjunctlie and severellie in all thingis tending
to the executioun of this commissioun, and to do nor attempt
nothing to thair hinder or prejudice, as they and ilk ane of
thame will ansueir to his Majestic and his Counsaill upon thair
obedience at thair heighest chairge and perrell. This com-
missioun untill the feast of Alhallomes in the yeir of God
jmyjcxxiij yeiris, but revocatioun, to indure. Sic subscribitur :
Mar, Sanctandrous, Mortoun, Glasgow, Wigtoun, Lothiane,
Roxburgh, Melros.'
This is followed by a proclamation for the arming of all the
Clan Chattan for concurrence with the Commission. The
preamble and list of Commissioners are almost identical with
those in the Commission, and the document then proceeds :
' in the executioun of the quhilk commissioun necessair it is
that the said commissioneris be assistit with some ressonable
forceis of his Majesteis goode subjectis : For quhilk purpois
the saidis Lordis ordanes letter is to be direct chairging aU and
sindrie persones of the Clan Chattane betuix saxtie and saxtene
yeiris and otheris fensible persones as well to brugh as to land
of the said clan, quhairever they duell, and all and sindrie
landit gentlemen and substantious yeemen within the boundis
of Moydert, Glengarrie, Morrell, Stratharrik, Athol, and
Rannoche, be oppen proclematioun at the mercat croce of the
brugh of Invernes and otheris placeis neidfull, that they and
everie one of thame, weill bodine in feir of weir in thair most
substantious and weirlyk maner, ryse, concur, fortefe, and
assist the saidis commissioners conjunctlie and severallie in
144 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
the executioun of this commissioun, and for this effect to con-
vene and meete with thame at suche dayes, tymes, and placeis,
and with sua many dayis victuaUis and provisioun as they
salbe adverteist be the saidis commissioneris, and to follow
thair directioun in all thingis towtching the persute of the said
Allane, under the pane of tinsall of lyffe, landis, and goodis,
And siclyk to command, chairge, and inhibit all and sindrie
his Majesteis liegeis and subjectis that nane of thame presome
nor tak upon hand to ressett, supple, nor intercommoun with
the said Allane, his wyffe nor barnes, furneis thame meit,
drink, housse, nor harborie, nor no other thing confortable
and necessair unto thame, nor haif intelligence with thame
privatle nor publictle be worde, wrete, nor message, nor to
sell or furneis unto thame victuall, armour, poulder, or buUett,
nor to tak thair goodis and geir in keiping, nor to hyde, horde,
or conceale the same, nor to minister unto thame ony kynd of
conforte, supple, or maintenance, under quhatsomever cullor
or pretext, under the pane to be repute, haldin and estemit as
favouraris, assistaris, and partakeris with thame in all thair
tressonable and wicked deidis, and to be calht, perse wit and
punist thairfoir with all rigour and extremetie. And yf ony
of his Majesteis subjectis do stand under bandis of freindschip
with the said Allane, that they immediatle upon the publica-
tioun heirof renunce and discharge the saidis bandis, and keip
no longer freindschip with him, hot to reput and hald him
as ane rebell and tratour to God, his prince, and countrey.
Sic subscribitur : Mar, Sanctandrouis, Mortoun, Glasgow,
Lotheane, Wigtoun, Roxbrugh, Melros.'
Then follows : —
' His Majesteis missive letter for warrand of the Actis
abonewrittin : —
' Right trustie and right weilbelovit cosines and coun-
sellouris, and right trustie and weilbelovit counsellouris, we
greete yow weele. — Whereas Allane M'Eanduy, in contempt
of us and our governament, standeth out in his rebellioun.
WILLIAM DALLAS 11. OF CANTRAY 145
oppressing his nightbouris and behaveing him self as yf thair
wer nouther king nor law in that oure kingdome, it is our
pleasour that yow ratifie quhatsoevir aetis yow haif heirtof oir
made aganis him, and forder that yow expeid a commissioun
in dew forme to Sir Lauchlane M'Intoshe, the Lord Kintaill,
the Laird of Grant, and suche otheris as the said Sir Lauchlane
sail nominat, to prosequute the said Allane with fyre and
swerd till they haif apprehendit or at least mak thame ansuerable
to our la wis, and that yow direct strait chargeis to all these of
the Clan Chattane, whersoevir inhabiting to follow the said
Sir Lauchlane in that service ; as also that yow charge the
Marques of Huntlie and the Lord Gordoun, as sheriffis of
Innernes, to be ayding and assisting to our saidis commis-
sioneris. Morover that chargeis be directit to the freindis
of the Earle of Argyll and all otheris nixt adjacent to
the said Allane in na wise to assist him, with certificatioun
that whosoevir sail ayde, assist, releve, or ■ intercommoun
with him salbe accompted pairttakar of his rebellioun, and
be punist accordinglie, — G^vin at Quhytehall the saxt of
May 1622.'
This missive letter was obtained by Sir Lachlan Mackintosh
in London, and was carried by him to Edinburgh, where he
obtained the Commission authorising his pursuit of his enemy,
Lochiel, but on his way north he died at Gartenbeg in
Strathspey, on 26th June, and many years afterwards, on 18th
March 1634, William Dallas was one of the jury for the retour
of his son and heir, William Mackintosh of TorchasteU, who
was an infant at the time of his father's premature death.
For good reasons, no doubt, the old law of Scotland pro-
hibited the promiscuous carrying of fire-arms by the Ueges,
and with this law the laird came in conflict, for in or before
October 1623 the King's Advocate complains before the Privy
Council that William Dollas of Cantra, Alexander Gordoun
Adamesone, David Rose of Madat and John Sutherland of
Clyne, have, during the years 1617, 1618, 1619, 1620, 1621,
K
146 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
1622 and 1623, borne hagbuts and pistolets, and sometimes
shot wild- fowl and venison. As the defenders did not appear
to answer the charge the Lords order them to be denounced
rebels (Beg, Priv, Gounc., xiii. p. 252), without, apparently,
any serious result to the delinquents.
With the accession of a new laird the dispute as to the old
Rothiemurchus excambion again emerges. On 8th July 1623
the Lords of Council give decreet transferring a decreet
of 21st June 1594, by which the cause was transferred to
John Grant, now of Freuchie, ' pronevoy ' and heir of the
said James Grant, his ' guidschir,' and to Marjorie DoUas,
daughter of the deceased ' Hendrie DoUas,' apparent of
Cantray, ' pronevoy ' and heir of the said Alexander Dollas,
' his guidschir,' and Alexander Dollas of Cantray, her spouse,
for his interest, and mention is made of the production of an
extract from the Sheriff Court Books of Inverness, dated
28th January 1582, under the signature of William Cunningham,
notary public, bearing that Marjorie DoUas was served nearest
and lawful heir to the said deceased Alexander Dollas, ' her
guidschir.' (Acts and Deer, Lords of Counc. and Sess,)
Either the writer or the scribe has made havoc of the
names and relationships. Marjory's father was, of course,
Alexander, and her grandfather Henry, while Henry was the
son, not the grandson, of Alexander Dallas, who entered into
the agreement with Grant in 1545.
This decreet was followed by an action brought by Sir
John Grant, ' now of Frewchie,' in the Court at Inverness, in
which the particulars of the agreement of 1545 are recapitu-
lated, and the record states that the contract is registered
* in the Officiall or Commissaris Bookes of Murray and his
decreit interponit thairto ' upon the said 23rd day of April
1545, and thereafter transferred by a Decreet of the Lords of
Council pronounced on 21st June 1594, ' in the said umquhill
Johne Grant of Frewchie, the saidis complaineris father as
pronevoy and air of the said umquhill James Grant of Freuchie
WILLIAM DALLAS IL OF CANTRAY 147
dctive and in Marjorie DoUas dochtar to umquhill Henrie
Dollas, appeirand of Cantray, pronevoy and air to the gaid
umquhill Alexander Dollas of Cantray his guidchir and
umquhill Alexander Dollas of Cantray hir spouse for his
entres passive,^ and which was thereafter transferred by the
said Lords' decreet pronounced 7th November 1621, ' in
William Dollas of Cantray, sone and air to the said umquhill
Marjorie Dollas quha wes dochter to the said umquhill Hendrie
Dollas appeirand of Cantray pronevoy and air of the said
umquhill Alexander Dollas of Cantray hir guidschir, procreat
betwix hir and the said umquhill Alexander Dollas of Cantray
hir spous passive, and which is since transferred by the said
Lords' decreet on 8th July last in the said complainer,' as heir
to the said John Grant of Freuchie. This contract the said
William Dollas now of Cantray has not yet observed and will
not unless compelled, but intends to sell and dispone upon the
said lands. Whereupon inhibition isused, dated 10th February
1624, and execution made on 3rd April 1624, at the place of
Cantrey, where William Dollas now of Cantrey dwells and
makes his residence and where ' his wyff, bairns and servantis
wes for the present.' The messenger, it is added, ' knockit
nyne severall knockis.' (Beg, Horn, and Inhih,, Inverness, v.)
In view of the fact that Rothiemurchus had for many years
been in the actual possession of the Grants, and that Easter
Urquhart, Cantraydoun, Dalgramich and the barony of
Clovag or Clava was securely held by the Roses of Clava, it
is difficult to understand the persistence of the Grants of
Freuquhy in demanding performance of this contract, but
that the Dallases' right to Rothiemurchus was recognised is
proved by the issue of Crown precepts, dated at Edinburgh,
30th August 1626, directing Sir John Grant of Freuchy and
' Alexander Dollas of Cantrey, baron of Rathamurchus,' as
superiors, to give sasine to Maria and Christma Bayne, two
of the three granddaughters of the deceased Andrew Bayne
M'Kinnauch of Kennapoill, in their respective thirds of
148 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
Keimapoill, in the barony of Rathamurchus. (Mackintosh
Mun., 82.)
On 18th September 1634, William Dallas was chosen,
among others, to act as a Justice of the Peace for the sheriffdom
of Nairn, his neighbour the Baron of Kilraack being nominated
convener, (Reg. Priv, Counc, 2 ser., v. p. 388.)
On 28th March 1636, John Campbell, fiar of Calder, granted
a charter of alienation and confirmation (registered 25th
May following) to William Dollas of Cantray, in favour of
himself in liferent and fee, and to Alexander Dollas, his eldest
son procreat betwix him and Jonet Campbell, his spouse,
and to the heirs-male lawfully to be procreated of his body,
whom failing, to the heirs- male whomsoever lawfully procreate
or to be procreated betwixt the said William Dollas and his
said spouse heritably, whom failing, to the heirs- male lawfully
procreate or to be procreated of the body of the said William
Dollas, whom all failing to the lawful and nearest heirs-male
and assignees whomsoever of the said William Dollas bearing
the surname and arms of Dollas, of the lands of Cantray Leis
with manor place, tower, etc., and mill and mill lands thereof,
and also of the lands of Cantray Freis and Drummin, with
houses, etc., in the barony of Strathnairn in the shire of
Inverness. (Reg, Sas,, Inverness, v. fol. 315.)
In the two following years WiUiam Dallas acquired two
small properties by purchase. On 11th May 1637 sasine was
given on charter by WiUiam Ross of Teirfogreine in favour of
WiUiam DoUas of Cantray in liferent, and to John DoUas, his
second lawful son heritably, of the lands of Terfogrein with
pertinents, together with the salmon fishing caUed Poile
Dowy upon the water of Findhorne in the thanage of Calder
and shire of Nairn. The precept is subscribed at Calder, 14th
June 1636, by the said WiUiam Ross, Jonet Neyne Donachie,
his spouse, and by Shiak Dollas ' for his interest,' in presence
of Colin CampbeU of Breachlie and others. (Reg, Sas,, Elgin
and Nairn, iii, fol. 130.) Shiak or Shaw Dollas must have been
WILLIAM DALLAS 11. OF CANTRAY 149
a near relative, but unfortunately cannot be identified. Then
on 2nd February 1638 there is sasine on charter, dated at
Inverness, 23rd January 1638, by John M'Quein in Coull,
with consent of Agnes Campbell, his spouse, in favour of
William Dollas of Cantray in liferent, and to John DoUas his
lawful son heritably and his successors whomsoever, of the
lands of Little Conlachan, with houses, parts, pendicles, and
pertinents thereof and salmon fishings on the water of
Findhorn. William Dollas, servitor to William Dollas of
Cantray, is one of the witnesses. {Ibid., fol. 161.) These
lands were, however, afterwards settled upon the second wife
of the Laird.
At this time, and for some years afterwards, Dallas was
much occupied with the ajQfairs of his neighbours at Cawdor.
On the marriage of his son John, thereafter styled ' the Fiar,'
Sir John Campbell resigned the fee of his estate to him, but
on 19th September 1639 the young thane was cognosced a
lunatic, and his affairs fell into the hands of his tutors, first, his
brother Colin, who died in 1642, and secondly, his brother
George, who continued to act as tutor until the death of John
' the Fiar ' without male issue in 1654, What Dallas's legal
status may have been has not transpired, but he was probably
one of the curators of the thane, as he was later of Hugh
Campbell of Cawdor, his nephew and successor. Thus, in one
of the tutor's discharges for the year 1639, he records that he
had ' depursit quhilk was spent be Dolles of Cantra out of the
rentis of Ardroseir in Murray, quhilk pertenit to me the said
Coleine, quhilk Dollas spent into the Lairdis effaires in supplie-
ing of the Lairdis place at all meitingis quher he was requyreit
be the Committies in the northe, and for goeing as heidis man
with the lairdis men to all thair convocatiounes quhilk the
publick had aganis the ante covenantaris bothe in the
shirradome of Aberden Banff Elgeine Forres Name and
Inuernes 1638, 1639, 1640 £433, 6s. 8d.' Whether the sum
of £37 * given out till beare John DoUas his charges and the
150 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
tua men that went about from Glasgow with the munitioun
to Ilia,' was paid to Dallas's second son or to some other
John Dallas is impossible to determine. (Cawd., 297-8.)
Following on the death of Colin, tutor of Cawdor, Sir Donald
Campbell of Ardnamorchyn and three other Campbells,
friends of the house of Cawdor, wrote to Dallas from Coulna-
dallich, 30th September 1642 : ' Right worthie and lowing
freind — Seing we ar inf ormit that the umquhill tutor of Calder
knawing himseK diseasit withdrew himselff to your hous as he
aucht of deutye, and left with yow the keyis of the trunkes
quherin the richtis of the estait of Calder and his awin lyes,
it is expedient that ye preserwe weill these keis and give thame
to no man as ye tender the standing of the hous and the weill
of the orphanes that he left behind him untill the tyme with
consent of the speciall freindis ye delywer thame to these
quha hes best entres therto, quhilk we ar confident ye will do,
knawing yow weill sett for the standing of the hous and
orphanes.' {Cawd., 289.) That the tutor ' aucht of deutye '
to retire to the house of Cantray indicates the intimate re-
lations existing between Cawdor and Cantray. The orphans
were the children of the tutor Colin, the son, Hugh, afterwards
succeeding to Cawdor. Another letter on the affairs of
Cawdor, dated from Ardchattan, 17th October 1642, is from
Archibald Campbell of Leragis, Dallas's brother-in-law, and
is whoUy devoted to the state of things produced by the death
of the tutor. It concludes ' in heast with my best wissis ever
rememberit to all weill affectit freindis thair, especially my
sweit sister your bedfellow,' and is superscribed ' For my
verie worthie and loveing brother William DoUes of Cantra.'
While thus engaged in the affairs of his neighbour he was
not neglectful of his own, for it must have been at this time
that he rebuilt Cantray house. Who was its architect and
what its aspect there is now nothing to tell, but when, some
two hundred years later, it was demolished to make room for
the present mansion, two carved stones were preserved, on
WILLIAM DALLAS II. OF CANTRAY 151
one of which was the monogram of Dallas and his wife, and on
the other a shield bearing the fess and three stars of Dallas,
and the date 1641. These stones were given to Miss Elizabeth
Jane Dallas, who placed them on the front of her house, 12
Church Street, Nairn, and on her death passed to Mr. Thomas
Yorke Dallas- Yorke of Walmsgate. The mason who removed
the blocks stated that there was a third stone, on which were
represented ' ships and other pictures,' but as it was broken
it was not preserved : these figures must have represented
the arms of Campbell of Cawdor, placed there to commemo-
rate Dallas's marriage with Janet Campbell.
At a meeting of the Scottish Parliament held 15th August
1643, it was resolved to grant a sum of twelve hundred thousand
merks Scots, for the purpose of supplying ten thousand men,
as the late Parliament, ' taking to thair consideratioune the
rebellioun in Ireland and danger upon that occasioun threatned
against the protestant religioune Did theirupon and out of
thair affectione to the Kingdome of Ingland ' recommend.
For the collection of this subvention eight sub- collectors were
appointed for the sheriffdom of Nairn, George Campbell,
brother to the laird of Caddell, and William Dollace of Contra
being named ' conveineres for the first melting and thairefter
the rest of the shyre to mak choyse of thair awin.' (Acts
Pari Scotl, VI. i. p. 26,)
As one of the curators of the youthful Thane of Cawdor,
Dallas was the first of six signatories of a letter dated at
Calder, 22nd April 1650, setting forth that ' the freindis of the
hous of Calder . . . fyndis it necessar that ther be sex so j oris
with the present porter and watch, be brought in for main-
teining the hous off Calder dureing the present and apareand
trublis' {Cawd,, 291) ; and a month later the tutor of Cawdor
writes to Mr. Alexander DoUas of Galcantray : ' Quhen the
152 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
Laird [of Cawdor] his tyme runes with you I have given
ordoris to Cantray and his sone to convoy him to Lome . . .,
and quhen ye have deljrv^ered the Laird to Cantray and his
sone, faill not to give young Cantray suche furnishing as heirin
specifeit viz. tuo feather bedis tuo bolsteris tuo coveringis 2
guid whyte plaidis 2 stand of curtines with their pandis 3
paire of sheitis 2 pair of codis. And stent horse of the countrie
people to carye thir thingis to Innerlochie, and let Cantray
and his sone with yow stent as maney of the Lairdis tennentis
and vassalis to convoy him as Cantray thinkis expedient.'
{Cawdor, 293.) The ' trublis ' here aUuded to are, of course,
those following the execution of King Charles i. and the
establishment of the Commonwealth in England : a journey
from Strathnairn to Lorn with a little boy only eleven
years of age must have been one of no small danger and
difficulty.
At this time the Laird made a small purchase of property.
James Cuthbert, who succeeded the deceased Colin Campbell
as Sherijff-depute of Nairn, on 3rd August 1650 disponed in
favour of WiUiam DoUas of Cantray, the half davach lands of
Braichlies called Calder's Braichlie, with the pendicle thereof
called BeUalaggan, in the thanage of Calder, which he had
acquired of John Campbell of Calder with consent of George
Campbell, his brother german, one of the witnesses to the
disposition being Alexander DoUas, fiar of Cantray : sasine
was given the same day. {Reg, Sas,, Elgin and Nairn, 30th
Sept. 1650 ; Beg. Sas,, Inverness, iv. fol, 49.)
The intolerable persecution to which the members of the
Church were often subjected under the specious forms of
kirk discipline has been frequently referred to by writers on
Scottish manners, and no better example could be found
than a case against the laird of Cantray, which is recorded in
great detail in the Session Records of Croy.
On 12th August 1649 ' the session did nominat William
Dolas of Cantrey and Alexander Ros in Cantredoune as rouling
WILLIAM DALLAS II. OF CANTRAY 153
elderie,' and on the 21st July following appears the following
entry : —
* Convenit minister and elders. ...
* Having incallit upon the name of the Lord.
* The quiche day the minister being inf ormeit of ane scandall
upon William Dolas of Cantray quhe being sitting in sessione
as ane elder is removit to have no place thair till he be free of
the said scandall. . . .
*28 July. The quiche day William DoUes of Cantray
being cittit and compearit being askit concerning the former
scandeU with Agnis Morisone his miller's wife answerit that he
was willing and desjrrent that the minister and elders use all
kand of tryall they could and withall defyeing them to the
uttermoist to prouve anie presumptione and withall yet com-
pleines upon minister and elders that upon ane simple repoirt
to rese aine citation against him. . . .
*11 August. The minister and aldaris having advysit
concerning the scandell reporttit upon William Dolas of
Cantrey hes thought it expedient to wairnet such personis
as ar neirest dwelling at Dolas houss to be cittit to the nixt
sessione daye. . . .'
On 18th August, John MTarquar, John Flach, and Arthur
TuUoch, all sworn and examined, stated that they had seen
no banting between Dolas and Agnis Morrison, and had never
seen her go into Dolas' s house except with her husband.
Alexander MThail, Milware, Morrison's husband, was also
examined, but declared he had seen nothing and had no
suspicions. He admitted a story about some one coming to
his bed at night, and that he had pursued the person and
another man with his sword, but he could not swear it was
Dolas of Cantray,
'3 September. . . . The quiche daye the alderie being
askit qut tryall thai had maid concerning th* scandall laid
gains William Dolas of Cantrey answerit thai have serchit
al the wayes thaii could but could find na foder y'foir thaii
154 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
to be advysit againe the nixt sessione daye and so that he may
be reponent againe as ane elder ais befoir. . . .
' 15 September, . . . The quich daye the minister having
askit the elderie according to the aith of fidehty in th^" chairge
to declare qut thai did knawe or heir concerning William
Dolas of Cantrey in that scandel lad againe him giffe thai did
try any privat banting betwix the said William Dolas and his
milwars wyffe thai being severallie askit be th' namis Declairis
that thai could not heir nor find ani privat hant betwix thaie
persons but onlie the vulgar report and thaii had na fudder to
saye in that bissinis.
* The minister to advise the presbytery that they had no
further process, etc'
Thus for two weary months was the victim of ' vulgar
report ' subjected to the ignominy of an examination more
trying than that of any court of law, subject to the lying
testimony of enemies and protected by no rules of procedure.
In many cases, of course, where the victims of ' delation '
were a young man and maiden, the results of the system were
still more cruel, as in the case of Alexander Dallas in the Brae
of Cantray and Margaret Law, who were delated at Croy
on 28th February 1647, and appearing before the Session on
7th March, ' did declair them selffies upon y^ oith that thai
war frie of the alledgit scandall.' They were apparently
exonerated, and were married at Inverness, 29th May 1649.
It may be added that Alexander Dallas died in January 1678,
his testament being given up by the widow. By his will he
left his property to his wife, Margaret Law, and his daughter
Margaret Dallas, and a legacy to John Dallas, his brother's
son ; the witnesses to his will were Hugh Dollas in Cantray,
John Dollas there, and William MIntosh in Dalkroce. These
Dallases were probably relatives of Cantray, but their con-
nection with the family has not been ascertained.
On 12th September 1651, WiUiam Dallas of Cantray and
Alexander Dallas, his eldest son, executed a procuratory
WILLIAM DALLAS 11. OF CANTRAY 155
for resigning the lands of Cantraylees, extending to three
merk land of old extent, and the lands of Cantrayfres and
Drummore, extending to a twenty shilling land of old extent,
in favour and for new infeftment of the same to the said
William Dallas in liferent, and Alexander Dallas in fee.
{Gantray Charters,) An instrument of resignation followed
{Ibid,), and on the same day John Campbell of Cawdor granted
a charter of resignation and confirmation with a de novo
damns of these lands, together with the miln and miln lands
thereof, to the same persons {Ibid.), and the instrument of
sasine thereon is dated 23rd February 1651-2. (Ibid,)
Of the death of Janet Campbell, the Laird's first wife,
there is no record, but in 1651 he is found marrying again.
The marriage contract is dated at Cantray and Suddie, 8th
and 21st January 1651-2, between William Dallas of Cantray
and Alexander Dunbar of Bennetsfield, as taking burden on
himself for Christian Dunbar, his lawful sister. Dallas
undertakes to invest her, ' his future spouse,' in liferent, and
the children of the marriage in fee, in the lands of Teirphogreine,
Little Conlachane, and salmon fishings on the Findhorn, and
in Calder's Bracklie and Bellalagan, and she and her brother
oblige themselves to convey what estate she may derive from
her late father, John Dunbar of Bennetsfield. The contract
is signed by William Dallas at Cantray, 8th January 1651,
before Colin Dunbar, brother german to the said Alexander
Dunbar, and James Anderson, Sheriff Clerk of Nairn, and by
Alexander Dunbar and Christian Dunbar at Suddie, 21st
January 1651, before George Dunbar, brother german to the
said Alexander Dunbar and William Dunbar in Lochloy. (Tain
Records, vol. ii. 7 Sept. 1671.) Sasine was given 3rd March
1651, Colin Dunbar, the bride's brother, acting as her attorney,
and in the record the fishings of Terphograine are stated to be
' called Poldowie.' (Reg, Sas,, Elgin and Nairn, iv. fol. 55.)
On 3rd May 1656, John Campbell, ' now of Auchindoun,'
resigned the lands of Carnoche and Drynachan to Hutcheone
156 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
Campbell, with consent of Alexander Dolles, fiar of Cantrey,
one of his curators, one witness being James Dolles in Budgett,
and on the 22nd May following sasine of these lands was
given to John Campbell of Auchindoun, as nearest heir to
James Campbell of Auchindoun, his grandfather, on a precept
of entry, dated 2nd May 1656, by Hutcheon Campbell of
Calder, with consent of his curators, one of whom is William
Dallas of Cantrey. (Reg. Sas., Elgin and Nairn.)
For some imexplained reason the Laird had neglected to
enter his son as heir of the lands of Croy, and accordingly in
the Court of the Regality sitting 9th October 1660 he appears
as one of those fined for the non-entry of the righteous heirs
to their lands, and the lands are decerned in the superiors'
hands. Two years later, however, on 9th October 1662, in
the same Court, ' Alexander Dolace of Cantrae producit his
seasing under the hand off Alexander Dunbar notar publict
off the dait the second off July 1628 registrat in the Register
of the seasings off Invernes at Chanonrie by William Lauder
Clerk on the second July 1628 and seit rollit.' (Court Book,
Regality of Spynie.)
A trial for witchcraft held at Aulderne, 13th April 1662, in
which Issobell Gowdie, spouse to John Gilbert, in Lochloy,
makes an interesting confession, which is too long for re-
production here, shows that at this time the Laird was filling
the office of Sheriff-depute of the sheriffdom of Nairn (Pitcairn,
Crim. Trials), and he is so described on 29th October of the
same year when, as bailie, he gives sasine of the lands of
Edlravok to Hugh Ros of Kilravok as nearest heir of Hugh
Ros of Kilravok, his father. (Reg, Sas., Elgin and Nairn.)
On 15th June 1664 suspension of horning was granted
at the instance of William DoUas of Cantrey, against Elizabeth
Campbell, relict of Donald Campbell, lawful son to the de-
ceased John Campbell, of Inchgeddell, by whom he has been
charged to wair and employ a sum of 600 merks, on land to be
forthcoming to her in liferent, and that by advice of Colin
WILLIAM DALLAS 11. OF CANTRAY 157
Campbell of Dunolidad (?) and Mr, David Campbell, minister
at Carristowie, in terms of the contract of marriage made
between John Campbell, portioner of Stedobreys, for himself
and the said charger and the said Donald Campbell as principal
with the complainer, and Mr. James Campbell, of Moy, as his
cautioner, dated 6th and 27th April 1636, The suspension
is granted on the plea that the time had not yet come, as it
was only to be when the tocher of 500 merks was paid, {Reg,
Homings, Inverness, vi.) The widow failed to get satisfaction,
and assigned her right to one who transferred it to William
Dallas, son to the deceased John Dallas, sometime in Islay,
and he, as assignee of a sum now of 800 merks, sues Campbell
of Moy for the amount. (Decreets, Court of Sess., Dairy mple
Office.) The relationship of these two Dallases to the Laird
cannot, unfortunately, be traced. [Unless John Dallas who
went to Islay was the second son of William Dallas of Cantray.
The fact that his son was called William Dallas supports this
view. — Ed.]
On 8th April 1667 the Laird signed a charter of the lands
of Budgate, cited elsewhere, as one of the curators of Sir Hugh
Campbell of Cawdor, and this is the latest notice of him
which has occurred. His death is recorded in the ' Diary of
Alexander Brodie,' on 24th October 1671 : ' I heard of the
death of old Cantra, and desires to be instructed, and was
cald to his burial against the 26.'
Although twice married, only three sons of William Dallas
are mentioned in the records — Alexander, his heir, John, and
(by the second marriage) Hugh, afterwards of Brackley.
John Dallas, the second son, has already been mentioned
as having a heritable interest in his father's purchases of
Terfogrein and Little Conlachan. His name first occurs on
10th August 1636 in a registration of horning by ' John
DoUas second lawful son to William Dollas of Cantray,' and
the said William Dallas as ' lawful administrator ' to him.
158 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
against Alexander Montgomerie of Little Orkney, who by-
bond, dated 6th November 1634, is due 440 merks which he
borrowed from the said John Dallas, besides interest. (Reg.
Homings, Inverness, vol. ix. fol. 74.) On 8th June 1643,
John Dallas was a witness to the sasine of William Campbell
of Auchindoun as son and heir of the deceased James Campbell
of Auchindoun, in which his father acted as bailie. (Reg.
Sas,, Elgin and Nairn, iii. fol. 315) ; and he was also witness
to a precept of clare constat, dated at Calder, 30th August
1648, by John Campbell of Calder, in favour of James M'Intosh,
son and heir of the deceased Mr. Angus M'Intosh, prior of
Kingussie, of the lands of Drumdich in the barony of Durris.
(Reg, Sas., Elgin and Nairn, vii. fol. 94.) Finall}^, he is
found as a witness of his father's procuratory of resignation of
12th September 1651. After this he cannot be identified, and
as the lands of Terf ogrein and Little Conlachan, to which he had
a heritable right, were shortly afterwards settled upon his
father's second spouse, the possibility is that he died between
September 1651 and February 1652, though there is a tempta-
tion to identify him with a John Dallas, styled ' of Cantra,'
who occurs as an elder of Croy, 15th May 1682, and whose
damaged tombstone in the kirkyard of Croy stiU records :
' Here lies ane honest man John Dallas ... his spouse and
their posteritie 1688.' The editor is inclined to favour the
view that he went to Islay and became the progenitor of the
family found there.
The third son, Hugh Dallas of Bracklie, obtained a
wadset of these lands on 23rd March 1681. He, however, con-
veyed them to his eldest brother, Alexander of Cantray, on
17th October 1684. (Great Seal, 19th December 1694.) He is
described late of Bracklie on 7th November 1696. (Inverness
Sasines, vi. 89.) He married Christian, second daughter of
Alexander Urquhart of Newhall, in 1684. (Elgin Sasines,
iii. 178, 1st July 1684.) He had two children at least — William
WILLIAM DALLAS 11. OF CANTRAY
159
Dallas in Balmachree and a younger brother John Dallas in
Dalziel. William Dallas married Grishald M'Intosh, daughter
of John M'Intosh of Dalmigivie, on 13th August 1709 and
had the following children : (1) Hugh, baptized 10th
September 1710; (2) Christian, baptized 24th July 1712;
(3) John, baptized 22nd December 1716 ; (4) Marjorie,
baptized 12th March 1719; (5) Ann, baptized 2nd September
1720. (Petty Par, Reg,) (Balmachree means Town of my
Heart.)
John Dallas in Dalziel married Marjorie M'Intosh (pro-
claimed 19th August 1712) {Petty Par, Reg,), granddaughter
of John M'Intosh there, and had the following children ;
(1) Donald, baptized 10th May 1714 ; (2) Lachlan, baptized
25th March 1716 ; (3) Margaret, baptized 15th March 1718 ;
(4) William, baptized 27th December 1719; (5) Isabella,
baptized 22nd December 1724; (6) a child, baptized 20th
January 1726; (7) John, baptized 26th July 1727; (8) Janet,
baptized 19th January 1729 ; (9) John, baptized 30th March
1731. (Petty Par. Reg.)
BRACKLIE
Hugh Dallas, third son of = Christian, second daughter
William Dallas of Can-
tray, and eldest son of
second marriage. Had
wadset of Bracklie, 22nd
March 1681. Married
1684.
of Alexander Urquhart
of Newhall.
William Dallas in = Grishald M'Intosh,
Balmachree. Mar-
ried 13th August
1709.
daughter of John
M'Intosh of Dal-
migivie.
John Dallas in = Marjorie M'Intosh.
Dalziel.
„l I 111 I
Hugh, Chris- John, Mar- Ann, Donald,
bap. tian, bap. jorie, bap. bap.
10th bap. 22nd bap. 2nd 10th
Sep. 24th Dec. 12th Sep. May
1710. July 1716. Mar. 1720. 1714.
1712. 1719.
I I I I I I I I
Lach- Mar- Wm., Isa- ? John, Janet, John,
Ian, garet, bap. bella, bap. bap. bap. bap.
bap. bap. 27th bap. 20th 26th 19th 30th
25th 15th Dec. 22nd Jany. July Jany. Mar.
Mar. Mar. 1719. Dec. 1726. 1727. 1729. 1731.
1716. 1718. 1724.
See page 431 for continuation of the history of this family.
ALEXANDER DALLAS III. OF CANTRAY
Alexander Dallas of C antra y, the eldest son and successor
of William Dallas, appears to have been born in 1617, and
was infeft in certain of his father's lands in his infancy. While
still an infant he appears to have become ' fiar ' of Croy,
for in a charter, dated at Elgin 7th May 1628, John Bishop of
Moray granted to Jonet Campbell, spouse of William Dollas
of Cantra in liferent, and Alexander, their eldest son, and
his heirs-male bearing the name and arms of Dallas, and
his assignees heritably, the lands of Croy in the barony of
Ardclache. Sasine was given on 2nd July 1628, Patrick
Dollas, servant to the said William Dollas, being procurator
for Alexander (Part, Reg. Sas,, Inverness, iv. fol. 89), and
when, many years later, a question of ownership was raised in
the Regahty Court of Spynie, this sasine was produced in
evidence on 9th October 1662, as already related.
On 2nd May 1642 a charter was granted by Alexander
Dollas, fiar of Cantray, with consent of his father and mother,
in favour of Christian Dunbar, eldest lawful daughter of Ninian
Dunbar of Granghill, in liferent, in implement of a contract
of marriage, of the town and lands of Croy, with the kiU and
croft thereof. Amongst the witnesses were Robert Dunbar,
apparent of Granghill, and William Dollas of Budzett. To
the sasine, given on the same day, the fiar is himself a witness.
(Part Reg, Sas,, Inverness, vi. fol. 44.) And on the same
date he granted another charter in favour of Christian Dunbar,
his future spouse, of the town and lands of Cantray Frische,
the sasine being witnessed by Mr. Alexander DoUas, apparent
of Budzett, Patrick Dollas, maltman in Dollas Cantray, Hugh
160
ALEXANDER DALLAS IIL OF CANTRAY 161
Dollas, his servitor, and William Dollas, servitor to Mr*
James Campbell of Moy, while to the precept William Dollas
of Budzett is a witness. {Ibid., 415.)
On a charter, dated at Boith, 21st September 1640, by
Patrick Paipley and Bessie Dunbar, his spouse, sasine was
given to Alexander Dollas, fiar of Cantray, and Christian
Dunbar, ' now ' his spouse, on 31st July 1646, of that part of
the lands of Meikle Greddes now called the lands of Brounehill,
in the shire of Nairn (Beg, Sas., Elgin and Nairn, iii. fol. 367),
but this was merely a wadset, which was subsequently re-
deemed.
Like his father, the fiar became an elder in his parish
kirk of Croy, his first appearance in that capacity being on
26th August 1648, when he, as ' ane ruling Elder is nominat
to go in to the presbetrie ' (Sess, Minute Book, Croy), and on
14th October following he and Mr. Alexander Dolas of Galla
Ca'trezie are included in the list of ' honest personis ' whom
the minister had required to be ' choissine and nominat as
elderie.' {Ibid,) Again, on 31st March 1650, ' according to
the order of o'^ kirk William Rose of Clava put in leitt
with Alexander Dolas fiar of Cantreye to be votit to go
to Elgin to the provincial Assemblie being the 2 of
Apryll ' {Ibid.), but the record does not disclose the success-
ful candidate.
A bond and disposition dated at Cantray, 12th February
1653-4, and witnessed by Robert Dunbar in Dalchouse and
John Carlyle in Calliecantray \sic\, the writer of the deed,
sets forth that : David Ross of Home for as much as the
deceased John Ross of Holme, by disposition dated at Elgin
22nd May 1608, sold to the deceased Sir John Campbell of
Calder the town and lands of Croy, with the brewhouse and
brewhouse croft thereof and pertinents in the barony of
Ardclach, to be holden upon the conditions and provisions
contained in the securities made thereupon, the said deceased
Sir John Campbell did sell and dispone to Alexander Dollas
162 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
fiar of Cantray, his heirs-male and assignees ' to be holden
upon the conditions reservations provisions and for payment
as is contained in the security made thereupon
• • • • •'• • •
and for certain onerous causes and for and in corroboration
and strengthening to the foresaid disposition of the lands with
the pertinents thereof lyand as said is Witt ye me the said
David Ross to have renounced quitclaimed and simpliciter
discharged the said David Ross [sic] likeas I by thir presents
quitclaim and simpliciter discharge analzie and dispone of
and from me and my heirs and successors to and in favours
of the said Alexander DoUas his heirs and foresaids all and
haill whatsomever right title and interest action petitor and
possessor, property and possession whilks I my deceased
father predecessors and authors had have or any manner of
way whatsomever may claim or pretend in and to the foresaid
town and lands of Croy,' and he accordingly promises never
to acclaim any right thereto. (Registered 5th January 1728 in
Beg, Deeds, Mackenzie, cxliii.)
The lands of Galcantray were purchased with Budgate
from William Dallas of Budgate in 1623 by John Campbell of
Cawdor. They were bestowed upon Colin Campbell, the
' tutor ' of Cawdor, and passed to his son Hugh Campbell,
who afterwards succeeded to the ' thanedom ' of Cawdor.
By him they were feued to Mr. Alexander Dallas, apparent
of Budgate, from whose heirs they were adjudged by two
decrees of adjudication in 1652 and 1653. These apprisings
were purchased by the fiar of Cantray, who then charged Sir
Hugh Campbell, now of Cawdor, and superior of these lands,
with horning to enter him as their owner. There followed
a charter by Sir Hugh Campbell of Calder in favour of
Alexander Dollas, fiar of Cantray, of the town and lands of
Nether Galcantray with the miln and miln lands thereof,
multures, sequels, and pertinents of the same, and the town
and lands of Over Galcantray with houses, biggings, etc.,
ALEXANDER DALLAS III. OF CANTRAY 163
also of the salmon fishings on the river of Nairn, which on
18th August 1652 Mr. John DoUas, preacher at Tain, apprised
from John Dallas, now deceased, the son and lawful heir in
special of the deceased Mr. Alexander DoUas of Galcantray.
This charter, which also confirms certain rights and titles of
the lands of Cantraylees, Cantrayfries, and Drummore, is dated
23rd February 1664. (Cantray Chart) Sasine, dated 13th
March 1665, was given to Alexander Stewart in Croy, as
attorney for the fiar, Hugh Dollas in Cantray acting as bailie.
(Ibid,)
On 29th July 1665 an action was brought by Alexander
Dollas, fiar of Cantra, against Alexander Ross of Holme and
others his tenants, for molesting him and his tenants in their
use of the moors and mosses of the lands of Drumurney, and
as the defenders did not appear, the Lords of Council and
Session granted a decree for citing witnesses to prove the
pursuer's case. (Decreets, Court of Sess., Mackenzie's Office,
p. 125, No. 18.)
It would appear that the fiar was not without financial
troubles, and had been forced to borrow money, for on 25th
July 1671 there is horning at the instance of James Ross,
brother german to Mr. Hugh Ross, minister at Nairn, narrat-
ing that Alexander Dollas, fiar of Cantrey, as principal and
Hugh Campbell of Little Budzeit and the deceased James
Adamson then in Budzeit, by bond dated 19th and 30th June
1662, obliged themselves to pay to the deceased Alexander
Dollas in Galcantray and John Dollas, burgess of Nairn, his
son, at Whitsimday 1663 a sum of 2000 merks with other
500 merks of expenses in case of failure, and due interest
thereof, which bond is registered in the Sheriff Court Books of
Nairn 10th April 1671, and decree upon which charge was
given to the said Alexander Dollas and Hugh Campbell to pay
the same, the said John Dollas having assigned on 8th April
1671 to the said James Ross. (Reg. Decreets, Commiss.
Moray, N.S., vii.) Notwithstanding this decreet, the debt
164 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
was not paid, and, as will be presently seen, the fiar's son was
pursued upon the same bond.
Immediately on his father's death Alexander Dallas, now
of Cantray, made provision for his younger children. By
bond dated at Meikle Geddes 16th November 1671 he pro-
vided a sum of 3000 merks amongst them, Hugh, John,
Elizabeth, Marjorie, and Christian, namely, the said two boys
to the sum of £1000 proportionally, and the said three lasses
to the sum of £1000 proportionally, as their patrimony and
bairns' part, in security whereof he infefts them in the wester
haK of the lands of Calcantra with the mill and pertinents
in the parish of Croy, reserving to Christian Dunbar, his
spouse, her liferent thereof. Sasine was given on 27th
December following. (Beg. Sas., Inverness, iv. fol. 120,
V. fol. 200.)
Alexander Dallas was in possession of the estates for little
more than a year, and his death is recorded in the ' Diary of
Alexander Brodie ' on 20th December 1672 : ' I heard of the
death of yong Cantra, and desired to be affected with it, so
soon after his father. . .. He is as yong as I am or
thereby. Shal I not tak warning ? ' Brodie was born
25th July 1617.
By his wife. Christian, eldest daughter of Ninian Dunbar of
GrangehiU, he had issue : Alexander, his successor ; Hugh,
ancestor of Dallas of Petsal ; John, ancestor of Dallas oi'
Inverness or Edinburgh; and three daughters, Elizabeth,
Marjorie, and Christian, all mentioned in their father's bond
of provision.
Elizabeth, or Elspet, appears to be identical with Eliza-
beth Dallace who in December 1674 was contracted with James
Mackqueene, eldest son to Duncan Mackqueene of Raackmore
(Sess, Book, Petty), and is mentioned in Fraser- Mackintosh's
account of the Macqueens in his Minor Septs of Clan Chattan
(p. 78).
ALEXANDER DALLAS IIL OF CANTBAY 165
Marjorie became the wife of Thomas Dunbar, merchant m
Eorres, before 25th February 1684, when their daughter
Margaret was baptized. (Par, Reg,, Forres.) She, with
consent of Thomas Dunbar, her husband, on , . . appointed
her mother and her heirs to her share of 500 merks, derived
from her father's provision. {Reg, Sas,, Inverness, v. fol.
394.) Thomas Dunbar, her husband, died before 15th
February 1691, when their two posthumous sons, David (or
Alexander : Par, Reg,, Forres) and Thomas, were baptized.
(Par, Reg,, Rafford.) The date of her death is not known.
Christian was married to Ludovick Tulloch. There is a
discharge and renunciation by Christian Dallas, lawful daugh-
ter to the deceased Alexander Dallas of Cantra, and spouse of
Ludovick Tulloch, brother german to Alexander Tulloch of
Tanachie, and he consenting, narrating her father's bond of
provision, and referring to her own contract of marriage,
which was made with consent of Alexander Dallas, now of
Cantra, her eldest brother, who bound himself to pay to her
and her said husband 500 merks, and this having now been
paid by him, they discharge him thereof. The discharge,
which is written by John Dallas, lawful son to Hugh Dallas,
Commissary Clerk of Ross, is dated at Fortrose, 15th January
1683, and as the lady cannot write, she signs by a notary.
{Reg, Sas,, Inverness, v. fol. 200.)
ALEXANDER DALLAS IV. OF CANTRAY
Alexander Dallas of Cantray, who succeeded his father in
1672, was probably born about 1645. He appears to have
been early involved in financial troubles, and in 1682 is found
parting with the lands of Galcantray, which had been acquired
by his father. There is recorded on 4th September 1682,
registration by Mr. William DoUas, writer in Edinburgh,
of sasine, dated 12th August 1682, by Alexander Dollas in
Budzett, as bailie of Alexander Dollas of Cantra, to Hugh
Dollas of Budzeat on a contract between them dated ' 30th
August last,' whereby Alexander Dollas disponed to Hugh
Dollas the lands of Over and Nether Galcantra as these
had been formerly possessed by the said Hugh's deceased
father and brethren and their predecessors. Mr. John Dollas,
Dean of Ross, is a witness to the disposition, and sasine is
given in presence of Charles Dollas, lawful son to Mr. John
Dollas, Dean of Ross, John Dollas, writer in Fortrose, and
others. {Gen, Reg. Sas,, Edin., xlvii. fol. 290.)
Further light is thrown upon these transactions by a
summons of 7th November 1682 at the instance of Hugh
Dollas, commissary clerk of Ross, narrating that Alexander
DaUas, now of Cantray, by his bond of corroboration, dated
15th October 1678, confirmed a bond granted by his deceased
father Alexander Dollas of Cantray as principal, with Hugh
Campbell of Little Budzet and James Adamson in Budzet
as cautioners, dated 19th and 30th June 1662, wherein they
are obliged to pay 2000 merks to the deceased Alexander
Dollas therein designed his uncle and John Dollas his son.
This John Dollas on 2nd February 1672, when he is designed
166
ALEXANDER DALLAS IV. OF CANTRAY 167
merchant in Nairn, with consent of his trustee James Rose,
brother german to Mr. Hugh Rose, minister at Nairn, assigns
the said bond to the pursuer. Moreover, the said deceased
Alexander Dollas on 17th October 1671 granted bond for 900
merks to William Campbell in Budzet and Rachael Campbell,
his spouse, and this, with some other bonds, are likewise
assigned. But the said Alexander Dollas, now of Cantray,
refuses payment.
Now his father at the time of his death was possessed of the
lands of Croy held from Colin, Bishop of Moray, and of the
lands of Over and Nether Galcantray, Cantrayfries and
Cantrayleis, and Drummoir, held of Sir Hugh Campbell of
Calder. In these defender might have been infeft as heir of his
father, but he delays entry. The sums addebted, besides
interest and penalties, amount to £2024, and the defender is
ordained to produce his titles, so that, according to law, such a
portion of his lands may be set aside as shall meet the said debt.
This is followed by an order, dated 16th January 1683,
to the Bishop of Moray and Sir Hugh Campbell of Calder to
infeft Hew Dollas, commissary clerk of Ross, in the lands of
Over and Nether Galcantry, Cantraf ries, Cantraleis, Drummore,
and Croy, with the pertinents, adjudged from Alexander Dollas,
now of Cantray [written Calder], as charged to enter heir to the
deceased Alexander Dollas of Cantray [written Calder], his
father, for a debt of £2909, 14s. 8d., dated 20th December
1682. (Gen, Reg, Adjudic, xxvii.)
Ihe claim on the old Cantray lands appears to have been
abandoned on 3rd March 1683. There is a disposition by
Alexander Dollas of Cantray, eldest lawful son and heir of
the deceased Alexander Dollas of Cantray, whereby he ac-
knowledges himself to be addebted to Hugh Dollas, com-
missary clerk of Ross, in the sum of £2024, for which he has
wadset to him his lands of Over and Nether Galcantra, and
that now having further received what makes up the full
value of these lands, he dispones them to the said Hugh Dollas
168 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
irredeemably. The disposition, which is dated at Ardersier,
mentions that these lands were formerly in the hands of the
deceased William Dollas of Budzet, father of Hugh Dollas,
and of Mr. Alexander Dollas and Mr. John Dollas, his elder
brothers, and is witnessed by Mr. John Dollas, Dean of Ross,
Hugh Dollas of Breachley, and John Dollas, lawful son of the
said Hugh Dollas. (Cantray Chart,) Apparently the sub-
sequent sasine of these lands was given in order to facilitate
the making up of the title. It is a sasine, dated 21st May
1683, given by Alexander Dollas in Budzett as bailie to John
Dollas in Newtoune as attorney of Alexander Dollas, now of
Cantra, proceeding upon a precept of clare constat by Sir Hugh
Campbell of Calder in favour of the said Alexander Dollas
as son and heir of the deceased Alexander Dollas of Cantra
in the lands of Over and Nether Galcantra, which lands were
held of the said superior in feu for the annual payment of
24 merks with duplication at the entry of heirs. The precept
is dated at Calder, 19th May 1683, one of the witnesses being
Hugh Dollas of Breachley, who, together with Mr. Hugh
Dollas, lawful son of Mr. John Dollas, Dean of Ross, is also a
witness to the sasine. (Beg, Sas,, Inverness, v. fol. 214.)
As a set-off to the loss of Galcantray is a discharge and
renunciation, dated at Ardersier 27th January 1683, by
Duncan MTherson, alias Mackturich, now in Cantra, formerly
in Dalnoce, narrating that on 10th June 1671, Alexander
Dollas of Cantra, now deceased, wadset to him for 2000 merks
his lands of Cantrafris, and also that piece of land called the
Toungue, and moss and muir thereof, which formerly pertained
to Galcantra, and who was infeft therein on 17th June 1671,
and now Alexander Dollas, now of Cantra, his son and heir,
having paid the said sum, he discharges him thereof and
renounces the said lands in his favour. Among the witnesses
are Hugh DoUas of Breachley and John Dollas, lawful son to
Hugh Dollas, commissary clerk of Ross. (Beg, Sas», Inverness,
V. fol. 201.)
ALEXANDER DALLAS IV. OF CANTRAY 169
In the following year, doubtless in anticipation of his
marriage, we find the laird consolidating his rights by Crown
charter. On 19th December 1684, there is a charter by King
Charles ii. confirming a charter dated at Edinburgh, 28th
March 1636, by John Campbell, fiar of Calder, to the deceased
William DoUas of Cantray, grandfather of the said Alexander
DoUas, now of Cantray, in liferent, and to the deceased
Alexander Dollas of Cantray, father of the said Alexander,
his eldest lawful son procreat betwixt him and the deceased
Janet Campbell, his spouse, in fee of the lands of Cantrayfries
and Drummoir, etc., in the barony of Strathnairn and shire
of Inverness ; and confirming also a charter, dated 12th
September 1651, by the deceased John Campbell of Calder
as superior, with consent of George Campbell, his brother, and
tutor to the said William Dollas, in liferent, and the said
deceased Alexander Dollas, his eldest son, in fee of the lands
above-mentioned ; as also a charter of confirmation thereof
by Sir Hugh Campbell, now of Calder, to the said deceased
Alexander Dollas and his ' heirs and assignees therein specified,'
dated 23rd February 1664 ; and confirming also a contract of
wadset by Sir Hugh Campbell of Calder to Hugh Dallas,
lawful son of the said deceased William Dollas of Cantray,
dated 23rd March 1681, whereby, for the sum of 4000 merks,
he disponed to him the lands of Bracklay, commonly called
Calder' s Bracklay, with the pendicle called Bellilaggan ; and
a disposition thereof by the said Hugh Dollas to the said
Alexander Dollas, now of Cantray, dated 17th October ' last.'
{Cantray Chart)
It is impossible to resist the conclusion that the laird's
somewhat tardy marriage was influenced by his financial
obligations to this future father-in-law. Of his marriage
contract it seems interesting to give somewhat fuU details,
though much of the verbiage is purely formal. It is dated at
Fortross, 29th December 1684, and is between Alexander
Dollas of Cantray and Christian Dallas, eldest lawful daughter
170 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
of Hugh Dallas of Budgate, with consent of the latter, whereby
Alexander Dallas binds himself and his heirs to infeft and
sease by liferent charter and sasine the said Christian Dallas
during all the days of her life in all and haill his town and kirk
lands of Croy, with the alehouse and alehouse croft thereof,
haill houses, biggings, parts, pendicles, pertinents, etc., of the
same. Also in all and haill the town and lands of Cantraf reish,
etc., together with the teinds great and small, parsonage and
vicarage of both Croy and Cantrafreish included, with stock,
and not to separate therefrom during the said space, and all
at the fee and effectual rent of five chalders of victual. He
further binds himself and his heirs to make the principal
dwelling-house of Cantrafreish and the small office house
adjacent thereto sufficiently habitable for his aforesaid
affidate spouse to enter and dwell therein in case she should be
the longest liver, and because these lands were then held in
liferent by Christian Dunbar, his mother, he binds himself
and his heirs to pay to Christian Dallas, should she outlive
him, during the lifetime of Christian Dunbar, fourscore bolls
of victual, ' twa pairts bear merchants wair and third pairt
good oat ferm meal,' yearly ; and it is not to be in the power
of Christian Dallas to resign any part of the said liferent to
her husband or any other person without the consent of Hugh
Dallas, of George Dallas of St. Martins, failing whom by death
without consent in writing of Hugh Dallas's two eldest sons
for the time being. The eldest son and heir of the marriage is
to be infeft in the lands of Cantrafreish, Cantraleish, Drumoir
and Croy, with their respective towers, fortalices, etc. If
there be an only daughter of the marriage, she is to be provided
for in 3500 merks ; if two, three, or more, the sum of 5000
merks is to be divided between them. Hugh Dallas of Budget
gives as tocher 3500 merks with the said Christian in full
satisfaction of all other portion she can pretend right to
through the death of the said Hugh Dallas or of Christian
Lauder, his spouse. And it is declared and agreed upon that
ALEXANDER DALLAS IV. OF CANTRAY 171
all execution necessary shaU pass hereupon at the instance of
the said Hugh Dallas, Mr. William, John, and Mr. Robert
Dallas, his sons, Mr. John and William Dallas, sons to the
Dean of Ross, the said George Dallas of St. Martins and James
Dallas, his son. The contract, written by Thomas Gair in
Fortross, is witnessed by William Dallas, merchant in
Inverness, Hugh Dallas of Breachlay, Alex'r Macra and
Donald Rioch in Fortross and the said Thomas Gair and
Ludovick Tulloch, brother of Tanuachy. (Rose Coll.) Sasine
was given 24th June 1685, by Mr. Hugh Dallas, student of
divinity, lawful son of Mr. John Dallas, Dean of Ross, as
bailie to Hugh Dallas of Budzeat, as attorney for Christian
Dallas, and is witnessed by John Dallas. {Gantray Chart)
The laird must at this time have been sorely troubled to
find the ' bairns' parts ' provided by his father for his younger
children. There are two discharges with reference to these,
dated at Cantra, 8th December 1686, and witnessed by John
Dallas, notary public in Fortrose, and John Dallas, son of John
Dallas MThadrick in Cantra. One by Hugh Dallas, ' second
lawful son ' of the deceased Alexander Dallas of Cantray,
narrates that his sister Marjorie, with consent of her husband,
Thomas Dunbar, had appointed her mother. Christian Dunbar,
to her share of 500 merks, and that the said Christian Dunbar
on . . . 168 . . . assigned the said sum to her son Hugh,
whereby he has right not only to his own portion, but also
to that of his sister Marjorie. And now seeing Alexander
Dallas, now of Cantra, ' my elder brother and sone and aire
of our said deceist father,' has paid to him 1250 merks, he
grants discharge thereof and renounces the lands assigned as
security. (Reg. Sas., Inverness, v. fol. 394.) The other, by
Elspet Dallas, acknowledges the payment of her share of 500
merks and grants a similar discharge. (Ibid., 395.)
Next year, 15th January 1687, the laird was one of the
witnesses of the marriage contract of his wife's niece Mary,
daughter of James Dallas of Kirkmichael (Rec. Sheriff Courts
172 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
Nairn, 28th Jan. 1687) ; and in the account of ' Valued Rent of
Inverness-shire, 14th May 1691,' the lands of Alexander
Dallas of Cantray and of his mother, in the parish of Croy,
are valued at £448 Scots. (C. Fraser-Mackintosh.)
Alexander Dallas died in June 1693 {Cantray Chart, 28),
leaving a family of (at least) five young children : William,
his heir, John, Alexander, Christian, and Lilias. His widow
became the second wife of Lachlan Mackintosh of Strone.
John Dallas, the second son, appears in a deed recorded
at Inverness, 14th November 1734, as follows : —
' Be it kend to all men be thir present Letters, me John
Dallas second lawful son procreate betwixt the deceased
Alexander Dallas of Cantra and Christian Dallas his spouse and
my mother, and me brother german to William Dallas now of
Cantra to have (at the term of Whitsunday last now be
it of this date) received from the said William Dallas of Cantra
all and heall the sum of 500 merks Scots money in name of
portion natural and bairns pairt of gear furth off (and without
any destination premonition or appointment be my said
father) his heretable and moveable goods, gear interests
voluntarily given and bestowed be the said William Dallas
in his naturall affection and good will to me, holding me there-
with well content and satisfied renouncing the exceptions of
not numerat money oath of party and all other exceptions
and objections of the Laws, etc. In witness whereof I have
subscribed thir presents written be John Dallas of Bannance
my uncle att Cantra the third day of October 1713 years
before these witnesses ; Mr. Hugh Dallas schoolmaster in
Bellafreishe and John Dallas in Galcantra. Sic sub' John
Dallas. Hu. Dallas witness. Jo. Dallas witness.' (Sheriff
Court Deeds, Inverness.)
This John is probably identical with John Dallas in the
parish of Calder who, on 17th November 1725, was regularly
married to Mary Campbell of the same parish, the witnesses
ALEXANDER DALLAS IV. OF CANTRAY 173
being Sir Archibald Campbell of Clunes and William Dallas
of Cantray, To them a son was born on the 14th September
and baptized by the name of Archibald on 16th September
1726 at Cawdor, Sir Archibald Campbell of Clunes and Lachlan
Mackintosh of Strone being witnesses. (Par Beg,, Cawdor.)
They have not, however, been traced further.
Alexander Dallas, the third (?) son, appears somewhat
discreditably in the records of the kirk session of Croy, yet,
as affording some intimate evidence of the life of the times,
the particulars may be admitted here. On 7th March 1719,
Catherine Eraser in Croy is delated with Alexander Dallas,
brother german to Cantra, and on 14th March, ' Compeared
Katherin Eraser and confessed herself guilty with Alex^
Dallas Brother german to Cantray : the Session finding this
to be her trelapse did refer her to the Presbytery of Inverness
for censure.' Alexander Dallas also compeared and confessed,
and was ordered to appear next Lord's Day before Congrega-
tion.
On 31st May Alexander Dallas gives his bill for his penalty
to the session clerk (Sess. Rec, Croy), but the money was not
paid, and on 17th June 1720 Alexander Rose, schoolmaster
of Croy, sues him for £8, the amount of his bill. {Sheriff
Court Bks,, Inverness.) Another year passed, and on 4th
June 1721, ' the Minister represents that he caused protest
and registrate Alex^ Dallas brother german to Cantray his
Bill for his Penalty containing £8 Scots for which he paid
half-a-crown.' The matter dragged on from year to year,
and on 26th October 1730 the minister reported having paid
£20, 16s. Scots for the protestation and registration of
Daltulich, Culmony, and Alex^ Dallas Cantray's brother their
biUs. Einally, on 21st December 1746, we have : ' To received
as Alex^ Dallas Eine £9,' so that for twenty-eight years the
penalty was hanging over the culprit's head — a sure sign,
apparently, that he remained unmarried. In the Sheriff
174 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
Court record already cited he is styled ' glover in Croy,' and
nothing further is known of him.
Christian Dallas, the eldest daughter, was married to
John M'Lean of Dochgarroch, on 6th January 1710. (Inverness
Parish Register.) The marriage contract, dated at Cantray,
13th January 1710, between John M'Lean of Davochgarrioch
and Christian Dallas, eldest lawful daughter of the deceased
Alexander Dallas of Cantray, with consent of William Dallas,
now of Cantray, her brother german, provides a tocher of 2000
merks to be paid by the said William Dallas and his heirs,
and the said John M'Lean obliges himself to provide a sum of
£3000 Scots in liferent to his ' promised spouse,' secured over
his town and lands of Davochnalurgan and mill thereof
commonly called the mill of Davochgarrioch. In the event of
there being no heir-male, provision is made for the daughters
of the marriage, and a sum of 3000 merks is to be divided
amongst them, by the advice of Alexander and Donald
M'Leans, brethren german to the said John, on his side, and
William Dallas of Cantray, John Dallas of Bannans, and Mr.
William Dallas of Budzett as friends on Christian's side.
The contract is written by Thomas Fraser, writer in Inverness,
and witnessed by Lachlan Mackintosh of Stroan, Collin
Campbell, younger of Delnies, John M'Lean, John, son,
burgess of Inverness, Alexander M'Lean, writer there, John
Dallas in Gallcantray, and the said Thomas Fraser. This
John M'Lean was son of John M'Lean who fought at Killie-
crankie, and, following his father's example, took an active
part on behaM of the Stuarts in 1715, serving as captain in
the Clan Chattan regiment. He was succeeded by his son
Charles Maclean, for some time an officer in the ' Black
Watch.'
LiLiAS Dallas, the second daughter, is so described in
her discharge to William Dallas, her brother german, who has
ALEXANDER DALLAS IV. OF CANTRAY 175
* of mere favour to me and in compassion of my circumstances
having been destitute of any provision or sustenance by my
father, who by reason of the debts he stood engaged in, was not
in the condition to provide his younger children, granted a
Bond of me of the date of these presents for the sum of 500
merks Scots money payable at Martinmas next with 100
merks of penalty and annual Rent from Martinmas last.'
The discharge is dated at Edinburgh, 8th January 1728.
(Reg, Deeds, Mackenzie's Office, vol. cxliii.) The fate of this
lady has not transpired, but the burial of a Lilias Dallas, aged
sixty or thereby, is recorded in the Canongate burial register
on 9th February 1738.
WILLIAM DALLAS IIL OF CANTRAY
William Dallas of Cantray cannot have been more than
seven years of age when he succeeded his father in June 1693.
He first appears in 1700, when he is recorded as a student of
Marischal College, where he must have remained a considerable
time, for in 1707 there is a discharge from which the following,
brief extracts are taken : —
' I William Dallas, minor, of Cantray ... to John Dallas
of Bannans my uncle and curator for Seven libs, threteen
shillings Scots as pryce of four elnes and ane quarter of cloathe
reed, by me . . . item £30 . . . given be Robert Rose,
Sackie, BaiUie of Inverness, when I was going to Aberdeen
College . . . and £8 14sh. he sent me to Aberdeen ... I
got ... in sumer ... 10 bolls ... for some Colledge and
regent dues ther ... 8 bolls 2 firlots ... for my main-
tenance before my going to y® Colledge ... 10 merks 5 sh.
payed to me in my south going to Edin' for my furder educa-
tion ... 35 bolls ferme victual ... for education and
subsistance at Ed^ . . . half boll to y^ taylor. . . . Written
be William Dallas son to Hugh Dallas of Breacklie.' (Macgill,
Old RosS'Shire, 155.)
Another paper gives the fiars' price for 1706 at £2, so that
the whole works out at close on £200 Scots for a young laird's
year, of which education takes £20 at Aberdeen, and some of
the £70 in Edinburgh. {Ibid.) Whether he proceeded to a
degree does not appear.
In 1712 the young laird married Isobel Dallas, eldest
lawful daughter to Mr. James Dallas, eldest lawful son of the
deceased George Dallas of St. Martins, with her said father's
176
WILLIAM DALLAS III. OF CANTRAY 177
consent, the contract being dated 22nd September 1712 ; and
on 4th November 1718 he was retoured as heir-male special
to his father in the lands of Croy.
In the session minutes of Croy there is a most interesting
account of the partition of the floor of the parish kirk amongst
the heritors. On 29th October 1720, there compeared the
Laird of Kilraick, William Dallas of Cantray, William Eraser
of Daltulich, and Hugh Eraser younger of Daltulich, Bailie
John Rose of Newton, commissioned by Hugh Rose of Clava,
and Bailie John Shaw, commissioned by the Laird of
Mackintosh, and these ' signified their willingness to have the
church divided among the several heritors according to their
real rents.' The record is far too long for quotation here,
but amongst other things they agreed ' that said Cantray
should have for his proportion that part of the church which
lyes between the pend of the Isle of his burial and the seat
of the Communion Table and forms opposite the pulpit, with
power to him to put seats in the place of the Communion
table, leaving a sufficient passage, but to remove them in the
time of the administration of the Lord's Supper.' (Sess. Rec,
Croy, vol. ii.) Needless to say, no signs now remain in the
church of the burial place here mentioned.
A precept of clare constat, dated at Edinburgh, 16th
November 1723, was granted by Sir James Campbell of
Auchinbreck and others as commissioners of John Campbell
of Calder, in favour of William Dallas of Cantray, as nearest
heir-male of the deceased Alexander Dallas of Cantrey, his
grandfather, in the lands of Cantrayleis and Drummoir
{Cantray Chart), and to the sasine following on 5th December
1723, James Dallas in Galcantra is a witness, Mr. Hugh
Dallas being notary. {Reg, Sas,, Inverness, viii. fol. 161.)
There is recorded another sasine dated 17th August 1724,
in terms of a precept from Chancery dated at Edinburgh,
3rd July 1724, which states that the late Alexander Dallas
of Cantra, father of William Dallas, now of Cantra, bearer
M
178 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
of these presents, died last vest and seased in the lands of
Croy : one of the witnesses is James Dallas, indweller in
Galcantray. (Cantray Chart)
The laird had for many years neglected to make provision
for his wife, as contemplated in his contract of marriage,
but on 12th September 1724 sasine was given to Isobel Dallas,
spouse to William Dallas of Cantray, in terms of a disposition
by him to her in fulfilment of their contract of marriage,
whereby he dispones to her in liferent the lands of Cantrey,
Ballafreis, Croy, and Drummoir, which is to be void if she
marry again after his death. Reservation is also made of the
liferent of Christian Dallas, his mother. The disposition
is dated at Cantray also on 12th September 1724, and is
witnessed by John Dallas, son to Bessie Dallas in Galcantra,
James Dallas there, and Hugh Dallas, Town Clerk of Fortrose,
while to the sasine the same John and James Dallas, and
WiUiam Dallas of Cantray himself, are witnesses. {Reg. Sas,,
Liverness, viii. fol. 196.)
Between the years 1714 and 1725 there are a large number
of protests and inhibitions against the laird, always with
relation to small sums. One, of 30th July 1714, is interesting
as being at the instance of William Duff of Dipple, the amount
in question being the trifling sum of £27, 15s. 7d. ; and another,
dated 10th July 1723, by Angus M'Intosh of Culilachy, is for
' quantity of fifty boals good and sufficient well winewed and
dight bear of the growth of the lands of Cantray.' But
generally the proceedings are entirely wanting in interest.
The latest notice of the laird which has been met with is
4th March 1736, when he was one of the witnesses of the
baptism of a child of Robert Mackintosh, son (by a first
marriage) of Lachlan Mackintosh of Strone, whose second
wife was Christian Dallas, the laird's mother.
From the retour of service of his son, it appears that
William Dallas died in December 1737. By Isobel Dallas,
his wife, he had, probably with other issue, three sons — James
WILLIAM DALLAS III. OF CANTRAY 179
his heir ; William, who is mentioned, in conjunction with his
elder brother James, in a ' decreet arbitral ' of 1st May 1738,
of whom nothing further is known ; and Walter ; and two
daughters — Anne, spouse of Duncan Mackintosh of Castle
Leather, ancestor of The Mackintosh ; and Isobel, married to
Angus Shaw of Tordarroch, ancestor of Alexander Mackintosh
Mackintosh (ne Shaw), the talented historian of Clan Chattan.
Walter Dallas, the youngest son, has not been discovered
in any original records as the son of William Dallas of Cantray,
and his identification rests upon a written statement of the late
Charles Eraser-Mackintosh of Drummond, to the effect that
he possessed documentary evidence of his parentage. He
was born about the year 1719, and on 17th November 1759,
when he is described as weaver in Nairn, he was contracted
with Jean Dallas ' in Delnies,' daughter of Alexander Dallas
in Forres (see Dallas of Petsal), who, after ' having been
thrice proclaimed, were married ' at Nairn. On 21st September
1767 there is recorded a disposition to Walter Dallas, manu-
facturer and stamp master in Nairn, and Jean Dallas, his
spouse, by Hugh Falconer, merchant in Nairn, of certain
land for which a ground annual of ten shillings is to be paid,
and in consideration of this conveyance Walter Dallas binds
himself to erect a dwelling-house upon the land ; the witnesses
are Alexander Rose, cooper in Nairn, and James Smith, mason
in Lethen. (Reg. Sas,, vol. iii.) During the years 1773 to 1775
he was a member of the Town Council of Nairn. His death took
place there on 20th August 1804, at the age of eighty-five
years : he is described as for ' many years Stamp-master of that
county ; a man of a most pious and exemplary life, and who
truly merited the character of a " Nathaniel without guile." '
(Times, 28th Aug. 1804.) He had the following children :—
1. William, baptized at Nairn, 1st September 1761, William
Dallas of Cantray being one of the witnesses. He died
in Jamaica, without issue.
180 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
2. Alexander, baptized at Nairn, 13th December 1762,
Miss Bell Dallas being one of the witnesses. He was
for a time a merchant in Great Tower Hill, London,
and in the London Directory of 1799, 1800, he is styled
' merchant, Wapping.' He married Ophelia Cordelia,
daughter of John Phipps of Great Marlow, Bucks,
sohcitor, and retiring on very limited means, he died
at Nairn on 9th January 1849, leaving an only daughter,
Elizabeth Jane Dallas, who was born about 1805,
and died at 12 Church Street, Nairn, probably in the
house built by her grandfather on the land acquired
in 1767, on 2nd November 1890, and was buried at
Croy. ' For some years back the deceased lady had
been afflicted with blindness and great weakness, and
had ceased to occupy the prominent position which she
once did in Nairn. . . . On settling in Nairn, both her
father and she took a leading part in this district at the
time of the Disruption, and were on intimate terms with
Dr. Chalmers, Dr. Candlish, and other leaders of the
Free Church. . . . She was held in very high respect
in Nairn. A gentlewoman of great intelligence and
wonderful memory, she was the great authority on aU
matters of family history and traditions in the district
in which she lived, and will long be remembered as a
quaint, interesting personage in Nairn.' (Nairnsh.
Telegr., 5th Nov. 1890.)
3. John, born 27th, baptized 29th November 1765, at
Nairn, Isabel Dallas being one of the witnesses. He
died abroad, without issue.
4. James, born 10th, baptized 12th August 1768. He died
at Nairn, without issue.
JAMES DALLAS OF CANTRAY
James Dallas of Cantray was, it may be fairly assumed,
his father's eldest son, named after his maternal grandfather,
and was probably born about the year 1715. He was as a
youth, 26th January 1730, one of the witnesses to the baptism,
at Inverness, of James, the infant son of Lachlan Dallas in
Inverness ; and in 1737 he succeeded to the paternal estates.
On 11th November 1738, John Hay, W.S., as commissioner
for John Campbell of Calder, issued a precept of dare constat
for infefting him in the lands of Cantray, as heir of William
Dallas, his father, sasine following on 21st June 1739 (Cantray
Chart), and his retour as heir- male special to his father in the
lands of Croy is dated 14th August 1739. (Ibid,)
Disputes as to marches having arisen between Cantray
and Clava, there is recorded, 13th September 1739, by
Alexander Clark, writer, for James Dallas of Cantray, and by
John M'Bean, writer, for Evan BaiUie and Alexander Munro,
arbiters, submission and decreet arbitral between Hugh
Rose younger of Clava for himself and Lachlan Forbes, son to
William Forbes in Dalegramich on one part, and James Dallas
of Cantray for himself and as burden-taker for William Dallas,
his brother german, and John Dallas, shoemaker in Cantray,
as to the marches and boundaries of their respective lands and
properties within the shires of Inverness and Nairn, and also
the criminal indictment returned in the Porteous Roll of the
said shire of Inverness at the instance of His Majesty's Advocate
and the said Lachlan Forbes and the said William Dallas.
After certain findings as to the marches, the arbiters adjudge
James Dallas liable in £196 Scots of expenses to Hugh Rose,
181
182 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
but though the decreet covers the criminal charge, there is
unfortunately no light thrown upon its nature. (Rec,
Inverness.)
The lands of Galcantray, anciently a part of the patrimony
of the Dallases of Budgate, had, as has been shown, been held
for a few years by Alexander Dallas of Cantray, who in 1683
disponed them to Hugh Dallas of Budgate. They were now
again by disposition, dated 26th- 29th June 1743, conveyed to
James Dallas of Cantray by Hugh Dallas of Bannans, the
grandson of Hugh Dallas of Budgate ; this disposition will be
referred to more fully later. It was followed on 28th July
1744 by a charter by the commissioners of John Campbell of
Cawdor in favour of James Dallas of Cantray, proceeding upon
a decreet of adjudication obtained by Hugh Dallas of Bannans
against William Dallas, W.S., as lawfully charged to enter
heir to his father, Hugh Dallas of Budgate. The acquisition
of these lands led to difficulties with the Laird of Cawdor,
' the over-lord and superior,' for no sooner had he been put in
possession than he began to make encroachments upon the
moorland between Galcantray and Budgate, the latter being
held in wadset by Sir Archibald Campbell of Clunes. He
convened the tenant of Galcantray, Hector MTntosh, in a
process of molestation, intrusion, and damages, at Nairn in
February 1744, and cited seven witnesses, of whom two were
John M'Bain in Dallaschyle, aged fifty-eight, and Alexander
M'Gilavrey, ' Waterside,' aged between fifty and sixty, who
was born in Budgate ; and their evidence was to the effect
that the moor had to be used as common property by the
tenants of Budgate and Galcantray. Decree was accordingly
obtained against Hector M'Intosh, the tenant. A letter
addressed by James Dallas to Cawdor's factor is perhaps
worth quotation, as an indication of his intentions with regard
to the moor ; it is dated 24th April 1744 : —
' Sir, — As I had always reason to believe you my friend
JAMES DALLAS OF CANTRAY 183
whenever I stood in need, besides a relation, I now propose
to sow the Burntlands, and I hope you will not interfere so as to
prejudice my interest. The tenants of Budgate, although
this be sown, if they keep from the spot, cannot lose anything
as the muirs will not be stopped them more than ever. And
although the wadsetters' representatives should incline to
trouble I 'd rather have to do with them in a law plea than my
cousin and Calder's factor. The note of the charter is not the
same with the copy I have, as you '11 see at meeting. Your
answer is expected by, dear Cousin, — Yours affectionately,
'James Dallas.'
Unfortunately the factor's name does not transpire.
There is but little more to be recorded of James Dallas.
It may be supposed that he had in view his service with
the young Chevalier when, on 9th November 1745, he gave a
bond, dated at Breachly, for £30, his cautioner being Hugh
Dallas, tacksman of Croy. (Commis. Crt, Deed, Inverness.)
But he did not at once take part in the Rebellion, and certainly
did not accompany the young Prince to Edinburgh and the
south. He attached himself to the Mackintosh Clan Regi-
ment, being appointed one of the six captains, his cousin
Donald Dallas acting as his lieutenant. He probably took
up arms at the end of 1745, and was one of the 700 or 800
gallant recruits who welcomed the Prince's return in January
1746, but there is no record of his occupation until the eventful
day of CuUoden, when he led his company against the forces
of the Duke of Cumberland. It is needless here to give any
circumstantial account of the engagement. ' The brimt of
the battle,' wrote John Hossack, ex-Provost of Inverness,
' fell on Clan Chattan,' and at its close only five of the twenty-
one officers of the regiment survived to tell the tale. James
Dallas is said to have been one of the first to fall, and he
appears to have been buried on the field, though his body was
afterwards disinterred in order to give it Christian burial.
184 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
In the Jacobite Memoirs occurs a list of questions addressed
to the Rev. Mr. James Hay, a Jacobite minister in Inverness,
one of which runs thus : * Can you give me the name of that
man whose body was taken up twenty days after being
covered, and the name of that man whose body was taken up
twenty-eight days after being covered, both which bodies
were without any corruption or smell in the least ? ' To which
Mr. Hay made reply : ' The gentleman whose body was taken
up after it was covered with a little earth was James Dallas
of Cantray, a loyall, kind, brave young man, who rais'd his
company at a great expense to serve his royall master. . . .
The other was Alexander M'Gillevry of Dunmaglass, who was
more than six weeks unburied, and without smell. . . . Had
all acted the part that these two gallant young gentlemen did
with Gallish M'Bain, major, Angus MTntosh of Far, Alexander
M'Gillevry, and Robert M'Gillevry, all three captains (who
fell upon the field), the rest of that clan with some others,
that day would have brought forth other things than it did.'
{The Lyon in Mourning (Scottish History Society), iii. 53, ^^.)
His testament dative, which records that he died 16th
April 1746, was given up by Margaret Hamilton, his relict,
and executrix dative decerned to him. The amount of the
inventory is not given, but a debt of 120 merks is mentioned
as contained in a bill drawn by James Dallas and accepted
by Alexander M'Gilliwray of Dunmaglas, payable at Mar-
tinmas 1745. The testament was confirmed 13th August
1747, Donald Dallas at Cantray being cautioner. (Commis,
Inverness, Test, v. p. 164.)
The parentage of his wife, Margaret Hamilton, who was
still living 1st April 1768, is not known. By her he had issue :
(1) WiUiam, his heir; (1) Isabel, living 1st April 1768; (2)
Ann, living 1st April 1768 ; (3) Katherine, living 1st April
1768; (4) Margaret, living 1st April 1768.
WILLIAM DALLAS IV. OF CANTRAY
William Dallas, ' last of Cantray,' was born 5th, and baptized
at Croy 5th March 1739, the witnesses being Angus Shaw of
Tordaroch and William Shaw of Craigfield. He was therefore
but a child of seven when he inherited the estates. Only
three years later, 27th September 1749, he and William
Dallas in Termitt were witnesses to the baptism of William,
the eldest child of Donald Dallas in Cantray, and on 10th
October 1754 he again witnessed the baptism of one of Donald's
sons.
In his youth he had the misfortune to incur the censure
of the Church, and as the proceedings recorded in the Croy
Session Record throw some light upon the customs of the
time, they may, though somewhat detrimental to the young
laird's character, be briefly recapitulated here : —
'28th December 1759. — Delated Katherine M'Kenzie in
Cantray as having brought forth a child to William Dollas
of Cantray.
* 10th January 1760. — Katherine M'Kenzie appeared and
confessed, but William Dollas did not appear.
* 9th March 1760.— William Dollas of Cantray, after the
Moderator had writ him twice on the subject of his delinquency,
submitted cheerfully to Church discipline, paid £20 Scots
for his fine and made public profession of his repentance
before the congregation in which he was absolved.
* Katherine M'Kenzie, his partner in guilt, having fully
satisfy'd discipline, was likewise absolved.'
The young laird came of age in 1761, and on 11th August
of that year he was served heir-male special to his father in
185
186 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
the lands of Croy with the alehouse and croft. {Cantray Chart)
There is also an extract retour of special service in his favour,
dated 2nd September 1761, in which mention is made of writs
granted to Alexander Dallas, his great-grandfather (proavi),
to WiUiam Dallas, his grandfather (am), and to James Dallas,
his father, for infeftment in the lands of Croy. (Ibid,) The
retour of his general service as heir to his father is dated 29th
August 1761 (Ibid,), and on 22nd October he had sasine of
the lands of Galcantray. (Min, Bh, Gen, Reg, Sas,, ccxl»
206.)
In the year 1756, the laird being a minor, his mother and
curators recommenced the so-called encroachments on the
large tract of moor and hilly ground lying east and south of
Galcantray which had been interrupted during his father's
lifetime. They continued to improve the moor by ploughing
and sowing until 1761, when John Campbell of Cawdor, as
proprietor of the lands of Budzet, claimed a common right
to the moor, and suspended the improvements by an order
of the Court of Session obtained in August 1761— that is, as soon
as possible after the coming of age of the yoimg heir. Against
this order William Dallas petitioned the Court on 21st January
1762, Campbell's ' Answers ' being dated 1st February follow-
ing, but the result of the petition has not been ascertained.
There is but little further to be recorded of William
Dallas. On 6th January 1761 he granted a tack of the
easter part of Drummore to James Dallas, in whose possession
it already was (Commis, Court Deeds, Inverness) ; on 24th
March 1764 he gave a tack of certain lands to Pryce Macarthur,
' presently residing in Galcantray ' ; and on 10th August
following he granted another tack of the lands of Wester
Galcantray to Captain Thomas Dunbar of General Holmes^
Regiment. (Sheriff Court Bks., Inverness.)
In 1763 he was in Edinburgh, probably studying at the
University, and perhaps domiciled with Hugh Rose, younger
of Kibavock, who was then engaged upon his thesis for the
WILLIAM DALLAS IV. OF CANTRAY 187
Scottish Bar. In a letter to his brother John, dated 12th
July of that year, Hugh Hose mentions his hesitation ' to
engage with packing up this [letter], as Cantray threatens to
reinforce the frank with some production of his,' and says,
' I hear Cantray' s pen scratching in the next room, so that for
fear of surfeiting you, I shall conclude,' etc. (Kilr,, 438-9.)
On 19th November 1766 he was admitted to membership of
the Speculative Society of Edinburgh, an association of
members of the University, and to this he contributed an
essay entitled ' Advantages and Study of Knowledge,' but he
resigned on 4th November 1767, no doubt on account of his
accumulating financial difficulties. (Hist. Spec, Soc, Edin,
(1845), 82.)
About this time the new church, said by Hugh Scott to
have been erected in 1767 by the exertions of Rev. James
Calder, the minister, must have been completed, for on 5th
February 1765 the Session Records of Croy give particulars
of the division of the ' new kirk ' among the heritors.
' Ealraick,' the principal heritor and patron of the parish,
had 35 feet 7 inches measurement, and Cantray follows with
15 feet 1 inch, while in the division of the Loft Kilraick again
comes first and Cantray second. To Mr. Bailly, Sir Ludovic
Grant, and ' CastlehiUs ' proportions are assigned, but it is
stated that these belong to the Session of Croy, and are to be
set apart for the benefit of the poor.
On 16th December 1765 he made a liferent disposition in
favour of Mrs. Margaret Hamilton, his loving and affectionate
mother, of forty bolls farm bear out of the lands of Easter
Galcantry, ' presently possessed by her and Alexander Dallas '
(Sheriff Court Deeds, Inverness), but the relationship of this
Alexander is not disclosed.
Financial troubles appear now to be pressing severely,
and on 7th February 1767 he executed a deed of factory in
favour of Mr. Colin Campbell for managing his affairs during
his absence, he having determined to go abroad. One of the
188 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
witnesses to this deed is Mr. Walter Dallas, manufacturer
in Nairn. (Ibid.) Whether the laird did in fact go abroad
at this time there is nothing to show, but on 29th July follow-
ing he must have been in Britain, for he then entered into a
contract to sell the lands of Croy, Cantray, Cantralees, and
Cantrafrees, Drummore and Over and Nether Galcantray
and fishings on the water of Nairn for £5250 sterling to Mr.
David Davidson, merchant or broker in London. (Cantray
Chart) The disposition followed on 2nd February 1768,
and was accompanied by an inventory of writs closed by the
following docket : * What is wrote upon the Twelve preceeding
pages of the foregoing Inventory contains an Inventory of
the Tittle Deeds and progress of the Lands and Estate of Croy,
Lands and Estate of Cantralees, Cantrayfrees and Drummoir
and of the Lands of Over and Nether Galcantray, miln and
miln lands, multures and sequels thereof and of the Salmon-
fishings on the Water of Nairn belonging to the said lands
referred to in a disposition of the foresaid lands and others
granted by WiUiam Dallas of Cantray to and in favours of
David Davidson, merchant or broker in London, and all which
writes and tittle deeds are delivered up by the said William
Dallas to the foresaid David Davidson along with the said
disposition and of which writes the said David Davidson
hereby acknowledges the receipt and Binds and obliges him,
his heirs and successors, to make the same forthcoming to the
said William Dallas and his heirs and successors in defence of
any action of Eviction that may be brought of the said lands
and other subjects or any part thereof which may affect the
said William Dallas or his foresaids directly or consequentially
upon a receipt for the same and obligement for presentation
and redelivery thereof within a competent time and under a
suitable penalty.' The inventory (of the same date as the
disposition) was executed and witnessed in London, and
is thus quoted at length to refute the persistent state-
ment that the laird reserved a power of redemption : the
WILLIAM DALLAS IV. OF CANTRAY 189
sale was absolute and unconditional, as this formal docket
shows conclusively.
One further step in the alienation of the estate is disclosed
by the renunciation by Margaret Hamilton, relict of James
Dallas of Cantray, and Isabell, Ann, Katherine, and Margaret
Dallas, lawful daughters procreat betwixt her and the said
deceased James Dallas, narrating that William Dallas of
Cantray, by a deed or liferent settlement dated 28th October
1766, pledged himself to infeft them in liferent in the lands of
Galcantray and pertinents, he having the liberty of enjoying
the lands for the annual payment of £50 sterling while the
mother and daughters remained in family together, and upon
which they were duly infeft on 30th October, their sasine
being recorded on 19th November, both in 1766 ; now the
said William Dallas has sold the lands and is obliged to clear
the same of encumbrances, and having paid to them an
equivalent, they hereby renounce. The deed is dated at
Aberdeen, 10th March 1768, the witnesses being Aberdeen
lawyers. {Gen. Reg, Sas,, cclxviii. 320.)
Of the subsequent career of the last laird of Cantray
nothing is known with certainty. In a brief biography
written in 1845 it is stated that ' he sold the estate ... re-
serving, however, a power of redemption, and went to India.
After residing there for some years, and amassing considerable
wealth, he sailed for this country with the intention of re-
deeming the property, but he never reached home, the vessel
having been lost on the passage.' That no ' power of re-
demption ' was reserved has already been shown, and Miss
Elizabeth Jane Dallas, writing from Nairn on 11th March
1870, said, ' From the loss of old family papers and documents
in China I fear little that is satisfactory can be made out,' with
regard to the later pedigree of the family. From this it appears
probable that it was to China, not to India, that William
Dallas proceeded in search of fortune, which, however, in spite
of the statement above, he does not seem to have achieved.
190 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
On 15th December 1778 the testament dative of WiUiam
Dallas of Cantray, who died abroad in 177-, was given
up by Stewart Dallas, only child of the defunct and executrix
dative. There was due to the deceased a sum of £10 sterling
as part of the sum of £166, 13s. 4d. sterling contained in the
contract of marriage entered into between the said William
Dallas and Stewart Mackenzie, his spouse, third daughter of
Sir Alexander Mackenzie of Coul, dated 10th May 1765, and
which sum was payable on the death of Sir Alexander
Mackenzie. The biography already quoted states that Dallas
died in ' 1773-4,' which is probably correct ; his wife must
have predeceased him, or at least have been dead before 15th
December 1778. His only child,
Stewart Dallas must have been but twelve years of age
when she thus gave up her father's testament, and can have
been none other than the ' little girl ' mentioned in 1773 in
Boswell's Tour, ' My cousin. Miss Dallas, formerly of
Inverness,' writes Boswell, ' was married to Mr. Eiddoch, one
of the ministers of the English chapel here \i,e. Aberdeen].
He was ill, and confined to his room ; but she sent us a kind
invitation to tea, which we all accepted. She was the same
lively, sensible, cheerful woman as ever. Dr. Johnson here
threw out some jokes against Scotland. . . . And he laid hold
of a little girl, Stuart Dallas, niece to Mrs. Riddoch, and re-
presenting himself as a giant, said, he would take her with
him ! telling her, in a hollow voice, that he lived in a cave,
and had a bed in the rock, and she should have a little bed cut
opposite to it ! ' Whether the little orphan ever reached
womanhood or married there is nothing to show. As, however,
she was unknown to Miss E. J. Dallas, her second cousin,
she probably died in her youth.
DALLASES IN THE BRAE OF CANTRAY
There has been a branch of the Dallas family for many
generations in the Brae of Cantray whose genealogy is not
quite clear, though the editor is of opinion that they were
closely related to the Cantray family.
William Dallas, born 27th December 1719, and who
occupied Tomluncart from 1745 to 1764, seems to have been
the third son of John Dallas and Margaret M'Intosh in Dalziel
and grandson of Hugh Dallas of Bracklie (now spelt Brackley),
eldest son by the second marriage of WiUiam Dallas of Can-
tray and Christian Dunbar.
From 1764 to 1767 he occupied Cantray, and appears to
have been the last Dallas tenant of those lands before they
passed into the hands of the Davidson family. In 1768 he
appears in the Brae of Cantray, which has been continuously
occupied by his descendants till the present time (1921).
His name frequently occurs in the Croy Parish Records.
He is mentioned as a witness on 20th February 1768 to the
baptism of John, son of William Dallas and LiUias Lessly in
Cantradown, and for the last time on 15th December 1778 in
conjunction with Donald Dallas, when they appear as witnesses
to the baptism of Beatrice, daughter of John Dallas, son of
Donald Dallas and Janet M'Lean in Brae of BaKreish.
He married Ann Man, daughter of James Man, Lochend of
Clans, by whom he had four sons and eight daughters : —
I. James, &. at Croy, 21st August 1754, married Janet
Rose, b. Cawdor, 26th August 1778, daughter of Hugh Rose,
Dalcross, by whom he had three sons and four daughters : —
I. William, Brae of Cantray, b, at Croy, 15th April 1806 ;
m. 29th May 1857, Catherine Primrose, b, at Croy,
101
192 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
10th December 1832, daughter of David Primrose,
Edinburgh, by Anne Munro, daughter of Hugh
Munro, parish of Croy, by whom he had four sons
and two daughters : —
1. James, Brae of Cantray, 6. Croy, 18th May
1858, married at Edinburgh, 24th December 1909,
Isabel, eldest daughter of John Forbes, Teanassie,
Beauly, Inverness- shire.
2. David, solicitor, Glasgow, 6. Croy, 16th August
1859 ; m. at Inverness, 7th September 1903, Janet JuUa
Eraser, eldest daughter of Simon Eraser, merchant,
Inverness, by Helen, youngest daughter of John Allen,
Mid Coul, in the parish of Petty, Inverness-shire.
3. WiUiam, h, at Croy, 7th March 1861, now of
Johnston River, Geraldtown, Queensland, Australia.
4. Hugh, 6. Croy, 1st November 1864, now of
' Lonnie,' Allen Fearn, Inverness ; m. 22nd December
1915, Jessie Calder, by whom he has (1) Catherine
Elizabeth, h. 1916, and (2) Annie Primrose, 6. 1917.
1. Jessie, h, Croy, 20th May 1863 ; m. at Inverness,
22nd June 1891, John Sinclair, Daltulich, by whom
she had four sons and four daughters : —
(1) Duncan, h, 24th May 1893.
(2) WiUiam Dallas, h. 24th June 1894.
(3) John, 6. 13th August 1899, d, December 1916.
(4) James Dallas, h. 6th October 1900.
(1) Catherine Annie, 6. 17th April 1892.
(2) Jeannie, 6. 17th August 1896, d, 13th August
1905.
(3) Annie Dallas, h, 24th February 1898.
(4) Kennethina, 6. 7th August 1906.
2. Annie, h, at Croy, 11th July 1866; died un-
married at Brae of Cantra, 19th October 1903, and
is buried in the family burying-place in Croy church-
yard.
/. D. Yeadon, PJiotographer, Elgin,
CAWDOR CASTLE FROM NORTH-WEST
/. D. Yeadon, Photog7-apher, Elgin,
CAWDOR CASTLE, KING DUNCAN'S BEDROOM
DALLASES IN THE BRAE OF CANTRAY 193
William Dallas died at Brae of Cantray 18th April 1867,
aged sixty-one years; Catherine Primrose, his wife,
died 23rd April 1904, aged seventy-one years.
They are both buried in the family burying-place in
Croy churchyard.
n. Hugh, b. at Croy, 28th June 1808 ; d, in infancy.
in. Hugh, of Escley Court, Herefordshire, 6. at Croy, 15th
October 1812; m. at Bebbington parish church,
Cheshire, 7th October 1851, Isabella, &. 25th December
1816, youngest daughter of Samuel Fergusson,
Killylung, parish of Holywood (of the Craigdarroch
branch of the family), by Mary Corrie, daughter of
James Corrie, Kerricks, in the parish of Tinwold,
county of Dumfries, by whom he had two sons and
two daughters: —
1. James, h, at Storeton Grange, Cheshire, 1852;
d. in 1856.
2. William, h. at Escley Court, Herefordshire,
16th May 1859 ; m. at Michaelchurch, Escley, 6th
September 1887, Ehzabeth Howell, b. Hereford, 16th
December 1863, eldest daughter of John Howell,
by Mary, daughter of John Williams, Ashperton,
Herefordshire.
1, Mary Sarah, b. at Storeton Grange, Cheshire,
6th February 1854, now of No. 4 Hyde Gardens,
Eastbourne.
2. Susan Walker, b. at Storeton Grange, Cheshire,
28th March 1856. She died unmarried at Malvern,
26th March 1887, and is buried in Cowleigh church-
yard, Worcestershire.
Hugh Dallas died at Holmer, Hereford, 30th June 1882,
and is buried in the churchyard, Michaelchurch,
Escley, along with his wife, Isabella Fergusson, who
died 13th December 1872.
I. Janet, b, at Croy 1810; m. at Croy, Alexander
194 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
Mann, by whom she had nine children. She d, 19th
March 1874, aged sixty-three years,
n. Anne, h. at Croy, 10th September 1814; m.
Mackenzie, Melbourne, Australia.
m. Jane, b, at Croy, 10th September 1818; m. John
Frazer, Melbourne, Australia, and had by him two
sons and one daughter. She d. 11th July 1898, aged
seventy-nine years.
IV. Mary, h. at Croy, 6th January 1820 ; went to Australia
about the year 1864, where she died unmarried, 6th
July 1899, aged seventy-nine years.
James Dallas died at Brae of Cantray, 15th November
1838, aged eighty-four years, and is buried in Croy church-
yard along with his wife, Janet Rose, who died 24th October
1854, aged seventy- five years.
XL William, h, at Croy, 14th October 1756; d. in infancy.
III. John, h. at Croy, 1st May 1758; m. Ann Macdonald,
by whom he had three sons and two daughters: —
L William, b. at Croy, 24th December 1798. His last
known address in 1865, No. 4 Carmelite Street,
Banff.
II. James, b, at Croy, 7th September 1802, d, before
1845, leaving a widow and one child who d, in
infancy,
in. John, b. at Croy 18 , went to America in the
year 1834, where he purchased a farm at Sugar
Grove, Warren County, Pennsylvania. He m. Janet
Hendry, by whom he had three children, but only
one son survived.
1. James.
Janet Hendry d, in 1840, and he m., secondly,
Mary Mackean, a native of Morayshire, who with her
mother and brother went to America in the year 1837,
but by her he had no children up to the year 1847.
L Mary, b, at Croy, 12th June 1806.
DALLASES IN THE BRAE OF CANTRAY 195
n. Anne, h. at Croy, 1800 ; she d. in 1870. There
is an inscription on a tablet with medallion to her
memory in the old Calton burying-ground, Edin-
burgh, erected by Cosmo Innes and his sister, Mrs.
Burton.
IV. William, b, at Croy, 24th June 1761, was at one time
in the army. He was a witness to baptisms in the Croy parish
register in 1813 and 1814. It may have been he who m.
Isobel Campbell and had a daughter Margaret, b, at Croy,
;26th June 1794.
at Tomluncart, 13th May 1745.
do. 18th August 1746.
do. 21st March 1748.
do. 1st November 1750.
do. 10th August 1752.
do. 4th May 1763.
do. 10th October 1764.
VIII. Isobel, b. at Cantray, 4th May 1767.
William Dallas and Ann Man his wife died at Brae of Can-
tray, and are buried in Croy churchyard.
After the greater part of this volume was in print the
editor and Mr. William Dallas of Pinewood Hill, Fleet, Hants,
with the latest record information before them, have come
to the conclusion that William Dallas in Tomluncart was, as
stated, of the Bracklie family dealt with at p. 159 and pp.
431-445 of this volume.
It is right to add that a claim was made by the late John
[Forbes] Dallas of Weymouth that his family and the above
family were both descended from a John and a James Dallas
who were tenants in Galcantray about 1720. A careful
examination of the records does not favour this view. These
gentlemen do not appear to have been brothers, and it would
also appear that as there were two distinct holdings of
Easter and Wester Galcantray, they had no connection with
each other. In the action between the heirs of Dallas of
I.
Maeie, b.
II.
Margaret,
III.
Anna,
IV.
Anne,
V.
Janet,
VI.
Jean,
VII.
Katherine,
196 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
Budgate and Dallas of Bannans (pp. 302-320), it is stated
that Henrietta Cockburn, widow of William Dallas of Budgate,
had upHfted £19, 14s. due by John and James Dallas in Gal-
cantray as part of their customs, and had received from John
Dallas in Galcantray a guinea in full payment of a bill due by
him to the said William Dallas.
It is possible that John [Forbes] Dallas was descended
from one of these, and we have made up his genealogy as
follows : —
I. John Dallas in Galcantray, by his first wife, Elizabeth
Rose, had issue : —
I. James Dallas, bp. Croy, 28th November 1727, resident
in Galcantray 1753, in the Brae of Cantray 1755,
and in Cantrabruich 1758. He m. Ann Jack, and
had issue : (1) William, hp, Croy, 17th August
1753 ; (2) John, bp, Croy, 16th May 1755, who may
have been identical with John Dallas in Cantradoun,
who by Elizabeth Brown, his wife, had a daughter
Janet, bp. Croy 4th October 1778; (3) Alexander,
bp. Croy, 27th February 1758 ; (4) James, b. 24th,
bp. Croy, 26th July 1761 ; (5) Isobel, b. 10th, bp.
Croy, 11th March 1764.
n. Alexander Dallas in Galcantray, bp. Croy, 6th May 1729,
m. (1) Isobel M'Arthur, 'of the family of Achneim
above Cawdor, and Patrick More M'Arthur, keeper
to the Earl of Cawdor, was her brother's son *
[John Forbes Dallas], and said to have been nurse
to the James Dallas of Cantray of the '45 {Ibid.)y
and by her had issue : —
1. William Dallas, b. 23rd, bp. Croy, 26th October
1760, ' a brave officer who volunteered in the ^'forlorn
hope " at the assault of Seringapatam in 1799 with
Sir David Baird, and executed such exploits of valour
(being an extraordinary strong man) that he caused
his death by over-exertion a few days after the battle.
DALLASES IN THE BRAE OF CANTRAY 197
A tomb has been erected there to his memory.'
{John Forbes Dallas,'] He died unmarried (?).
2. John Dallas, hp, Croy, 28th November 1762 ;
afterward in Holme, gardener at Inches, Warren-
field, and Lentron. He m, Janet Simson, and had
the following children i- —
(1) Isobel, hp. 29th November 1790.
(2) Mary, hp. 18th March 1793.
(3) Donald, hp. 6th June 1795.
(4) William, 6p. 24th July 1798.
(5) John [Forbes] Dallas, hp, Croy, 20th Decem-
ber 1800, a civil engineer who for a time belonged to
the Civil Department of the Royal Engineers. He
m, and d. at Weymouth 1883,
having had issue : —
(i) William Dallas, 'went to America in 1856
and not heard of since.'
(ii) John Dallas, a civil engineer, Indian Public
Works Department. He d. at Cardiff in 1884,
' leaving a widow and 2 daughters in India.'
(iii) George Alexander, h. 1834, d. 1853.
(iv) Walter James Dallas, l. 1835, d. 1875.
(i) Mary DaUas, h, 1831, m. Gale, d. 1902,
leaving issue : Wm. Forbes Gale, John Dallas Gale,
and Janet Elizabeth Gale.
(ii) Elizabeth Dallas, m. McRae, ' a widow with
two daughters in Philadelphia, U.S.A.,' in business
as drapers.
(6) Hugh, I. 19th, hp. 26th December 1804, d.
1881 without issue.
John and his brother Hugh are buried at Wyke
Regis, Dorset. [John Dallas Gale,]
3. James Dallas, bp, Croy, 3rd May 1765.
4. Mary DaUas, bp. Croy, 10th April 1768.
Alexander Dallas, by his second marriage with Annie
198 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
M'Intosh, had the following children: (1) Elizabeth,
h. 21st November 1769 ; (2) Annie, b. 8th January
1772 ; (3) Jean, 6. 15th, hp, 25th May 1774 ; (4)
Alexander, h. 1st January 1777 ; (5) James, h, 29th
November 1779.
in.-iv. Duncan and John Dallas (twins), hp. Croy, 28th
July 1731.
v. John Dallas, hp, Croy, 21st April 1734, m. 19th
November 1750, Jean or Catherine Sutherland in
Balafries, by whom he had (1) Ann, b, 1st December
1751 ; (2) Jean, b. 26th February 1758 ; (3) WiUiam,
b. 12th October 1760.
VI. Mary Dallas, b, 25th, bp, Croy, 30th March 1737,
one of the witnesses being James Dallas in Gal-
cantray.
VII. Wniiam Dallas, bp. Croy, 12th April 1741.
II. James Dallas in Galcantray was father of a son
Charles, bp. Croy, 9th June 1721, and a daughter Margaret,
bp. Croy, 3rd May 1727.
DALLAS OF PETSAL
Hugh Dallas, the second son of Alexander Dallas of Cantray
and Christian Dunbar, first occurs, a student in Nairn, as a
witness, with William Grant of Ardoch, to a deed by Alexander
Dunbar of Bennetsfield, and John Dunbar, his eldest son,
dated at Nairn, 18th August 1670, narrating bonds of provision
granted by them to the younger sons, James, Alexander,
George, William, David, and Patrick Dunbar. (Nairn Burgh
Rec) He was included in his father's bond of provision for
his younger children, dated 16th November 1671 ; and with
his brother german, Alexander Dallas of Cantray, witnessed
the giving of sasine of the lands of Brackley to Hugh Dallas
of Brackley, 21st May 1683.
He appears to have been his mother's favourite son. She,
in her widowhood, obtained a charter on a decreet of ad-
judication against Walter Dunbar deceased, sometime Bailie
of Forres, dated 5th January 1682, and on 29th October 1683
she was infeft by the Provost and Magistrates of Forres in the
following lands : ' (1) Part of the common lands in the burgh
of Forres called the Limekilns, lying between the lands of the
deceased Alexander Forsyth on the East, the commontie
of the Burgh on the West, the Back-way at the South, and the
yaird next described at the North. (2) A yaird to the North
of the above. (3) Anothir, called the New Yaird sometime
belonging to the said Alexander Forsyth.' On this charter
she had sasine 14th November 1683, and on 15th November
1686 a charter of these lands is granted by the Provost and
Magistrates (of whom one is George Dallas) to Hugh Dallas,
brother german to Alexander Dallas of Cantra, on a disposition
199
200 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
by Christian Dunbar, relict of the deceased Alexander Dallas of
Cantray, Sasine follows on the same date, the witnesses to
the precept being John Balmanno, burgess of Forres, Thomas
Dunbar, Thomas Forsyth, Patrick Tulloch younger, merchants,
and John Collie, while it is also signed by Patrick Tulloch,
Provost, James Urquhart, Bailies John Dunbar and George
Dallas. Following this, also on the same day, is sasine given
in favour of Isabel Tulloch, future spouse of the said Hugh
DaUas, in fulfilment of their marriage contract, dated 5th
November 1686, by which the said houses, yairds, and kiln
barn are conveyed. The witnesses are John Dunbar and John
Tulloch, merchants, and John Tulloch and John Smith younger,
glovers. (Beg. Sas,, Forres.)
About the same time there is discharge, renunciation, and
grant of redemption by Hugh Dallas, second lawful son of the
deceased Alexander Dallas of Cantra, referring to the bond of
provision of 16th November 1671, and narrating that Marjorie
Dallas (one of the children named therein), with consent of
Thomas Dunbar, her husband, on . . . appointed Christian
Dunbar, relict of the said deceased Alexander Dallas, and her
heirs and assignees to her share of 500 merks, and that the said
Christian Dunbar on ... 168 assigned the said sum to the
renouncer, whereby he has right not only to his own portion,
but also to that of his said sister Marjorie. And now, seeing
Alexander Dallas, now of Cantra, ' my elder brother and sone
and aire of our said deceist father,' has paid to him 1250
merks, he grants discharge thereof and renounces the lands in
which he and his sister were infeft in security. The deed,
written by John Dallas, notary public in Fortrose, is dated at
Cantra, 8th December 1686, the witnesses being John Dallas,
writer, and John Dallas, son to John Dallas MThadrick in
Cantra. (Reg, Sas., Inverness, v. fol. 394.) On 15th December
1687 he married Isobel, eldest daughter of Patrick Tulloch
of Bogtoun, but things did not apparently go happily for the
young couple, for on 20th September 1696 Hugh granted a
DALLAS OF PETSAL 201
charter of these Forres lands to Patrick TuUoch, in which the
following clause occurs : ' Foreasmuch as on 31st May 1690
Hugh Dallas second son of the deceased Alexander Dallas of
Cantray by bond for 3000 merks to Patrick TuUoch of Bogtoun
Provost of Forres did impignorate [these lands], the Burgh
Clerk now gives the said Patrick TuUoch charter thereof,
but redeemable by the said Hugh DaUas and his heirs-male,'
etc. (Beg, Sas,, Forres.) FoUowing this on the 8th October
1690 inhibition is granted at the instance of ' Patrick TuUoch
of Bogtoun, Provost of Forres, and [blank : no names]
DaUases, lawful children of Hugh Dallase, second son to the
deceased Alexander DaUace of [Cantray] procreate betwixt
him and Isobel TuUoch, his spouse, eldest lawful daughter of
the said Patrick Tulloch, against the said Hugh DaUas and
Christian Dunbar, his mother.' Mention is made of a process
between the parties before the Court of Session for the fulfil-
ment of the terms of the contract of marriage made between
them, it having been stipulated that the said Isobel shaU be
infeft in liferent and the said children, ' then to have been
procreate,' in fee, in certain considerable sums of money,
lands, etc., the contract bearing date 5th November 1686 ;
also, to make forthcoming all the goods pertaining to the said
Christian Dunbar contained in a disposition by her to her son
Hugh DaUas, which was transferred by him to his said spouse,
and again by her to her father. (Reg, Inhib,, Elgin, Forres,
etc., vi. ) His interest in his mother's property must have been
great, for on 27th April 1694 there was a registration of horning
at the instance of WiUiam M'Lay in Croy, narrating that by a
tack granted by Hugh DaUas, second lawful son of the deceased
Alexander Dallas of Cantray, with consent of Christian
Dunbar, liferentrix of the lands of BeUafreis, Galcantray, and
Croy, his mother, dated 21st March 1690, he bound himself to
renew the tack to the complainer or, in the case of his death, to
Anna MTherson, his spouse, for other three years under the
penalty of £100. The messenger executed the summons at
202 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
Hugh Dallas's dwelling-house in Bellafreish on 7th April.
{Reg, Horn,, Inverness, x. fol. 341.) It is probable that the
disputes with his father-in-law led to some pecuniary difficulties,
and in the next few years he is engaged in sundry bond trans-
actions, some of which are recorded in the Register of Deeds at
Forres. On 15th May 1696 there is recorded a bond by Hugh
Dallas of Bellafries to Nicol Falconer in Forres for £8, 6s. 8d.
Scots for lent money, the witnesses being John Falconer,
student in Forres, and Patrick Falconer, writer ; on 1st July
1697 there is another bond for £30 Scots by Hugh Dallas,
brother german to the deceased Alexander Dallas of Cantray,
witnessed by John Hucheon and John Wilson, students in
Auldearne ; on 2nd April 1698 is recorded a bond for £70, 12s.
Scots by Hugh Dallas, lawful son to the deceased Alexander
Dallas of Cantray, dated 11th November 1697, to George
Ogilvie in Holme, the witnesses being David Gumming, writer,
and William Gumming, student, both in Inverness ; and
finally on 2nd April 1698 there is recorded a bond for £4 Scots
by Hugh Dallas, lawful son to the deceased Alexander Dallas
of Gantray, and John Dallas his brother german as cautioner,
to William Guthbert, burgess of Inverness ; the bond is written
by Alexander M'Lean, writer at Bellfreishe and subscribed at
Bellfreishe on 5th March 1697, the witnesses being William
MTherson, burgess of Inverness, and David Gumming, writer.
Though he appears to have retained possession of his ' dwelling
house ' at Balfreish for some time after this date, he was
evidently settled later as a merchant in Forres, and on 28th
September 1704 it is recorded that he was one of the ' Absents '
from the Head Gourt there. In the rental of the town in
that year he is debited for ' ane 16th part and ane half common
land, 12s. ; for his yaird at the back of his house, 3s. 4d. ;
for his yaird next to Thornhill's lands, 3s. 4d. ; for his new
yaird, 10s.,' making a total of £1, 8s. 8d. towards the annual
burgh rental of £402, 5s., as recorded in the Forres Gouncil
Eecords for that and the following years. On 24th April
DALLAS OF PETSAL 203
1705 he was witness to sasines of Forres lands granted to
Barbara Allan and to John Cowie, when he is described as
burgess in Forres. In the Treasurer's Accounts Hugh Dallas
appears in a list of ' Deficients ' on 27th October 1707, and in
the rental of burgh lands, 24th June 1713, there appears
' Hugh Dallas for common lands at six merks per boll, £6,'
and for ' Salmon fishings, 16s.' He must have died very soon
after this date, as on 17th December 1713 his burgh lands in
Forres, still valued at £1, 8s. 8d., are entered in the rental as
in the hands of his heirs. By his wife, Isobel Tulloch, he
must have had a number of children, but the names of those
referred to in the inhibition of 8th October 1690 have not been
recovered, and it is only possible to specify two sons and one
daughter : —
1. Alexander, his heir.
2. Patrick, b, in Forres and hp. there 9th December 1697,
the witnesses being Patrick Tulloch elder and younger
of Bogtoun and Patrick Rose in Lochiehills.
1. Christian, m., first, 16th June 1728, Alexander, son of
late James Wood, farmer, Aucterless; second, 26th
March 1738, Patrick Farquhar. (Edin. Mar. Reg.)
Alexander Dallas, the eldest son, was born in Boglone,
where his parents appear then to have resided, and was
baptized at Forres, 8th February 1691, the witnesses being
Alexander TuUoh of Tanachie, Alexander Stewart in Forres,
and Isabel Tulloh in Lochiehills. He first appears, 15th June
1714, on an inquest for serving John Dunbar, indweller,
burgess, as heir to his father, John Dunbar, merchant,
burgess, when he is described as a burgess of Forres. (Forres
Council Records.) On 22nd September 1724 he was elected a
Councillor of Forres, when he is described as ' merchant ' ;
he retired from the Council in 1726 [Ibid.), when apparently he
removed to Nairn on being appointed excise officer there.
His connection with Forres did not, however, cease, for on
204 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
12th February 1733 there is a sasine in favour of Alexander
Dallas, officer of excise at Nairn, on a bond, dated 15th
December 1732, by Gilbert Hay, maltmaji in Forres, and
Bessie Urquhart, his spouse, for £800, under which they had
infefted him in a piece of land called Calfward and an acre
called Goskenooke. (Reg. Sas., Forres, iv.) A disposition by
other bondholders in his favour follow, and finally sasine is
given to Elizabeth Finlay, wife of Alexander Dallas, on a
disposition by him to her, dated 13th February 1733. (Ibid.)
These lands are stated to march with other properties held by
Alexander Dallas in the burgh of Forres. The date of his
death is not known ; nor is that of his marriage, which must
have been about 1722-3. His wife, Elizabeth Finlay, was in
all probability daughter or sister of John Finliay, merchant in
Forres, who witnessed the baptism of one of their sons in 1725.
It is unfortunate that no record of the baptisms of his children,
born after his leaving Forres, has been found, and it is probable
that the list following is incomplete : —
I. John, hp. Sit Forres in 1725, the witnesses being John
Brodie of Windiehills and John Finlay, merchant,
n. Robert, of whom below.
in. Duncan, h. about 1729 ; mentioned in the will of his
brother Charles Dallas ; m. Elizabeth (b. 8th
September 1736, d, at Kentish Town, 4th April
1814), widow of Mercer, and daughter
of Haslett Powell, 'probably of London,' owner of
land at Luton, co. Bedford. He resided at Stockwell,
and d,, aged eighty-five years, at Mr. Bush's,
Muswell Hill, 19th July 1814, and was buried at
Hornsey (?). His will, dated 13th February 1812,
was proved in P.C.C, 29th July 1814. He had
issue : —
1. Harriet, m. at Lambeth, 16th December
1789, James Bush, of Doctors' Commons, and had
issue. (Burke (1906), s. Cromwell.)
DALLAS OF PETSAL 205
2. Sophia, ' youngest daughter,' m. at Lambeth
Church, 29th June 1797, Peter Barnard, jun.,
surgeon, of Southampton (Times) ; d. at South-
ampton, 2nd April 1808, without issue.
IV. Charles, stock and insurance broker. Finch Lane,
Cornhill ; b. about 1745 ; by his will, dated 2nd
March 1808, he made bequests to the widow and to
the ' female children ' of his brother Robert Dallas,
to Robert Dallas, Esq., his nephew, to Robert Smith,
son of his sister Helen, and to Harriet, daughter of
his brother Robert Dallas ; he also left one shilling
to his brother Duncan Dallas ; but bequeathed the
bulk of his property, including his pictures, to his
godson, Charles Suewin; by a codicil dated 28th
February 1811, he revoked the bequest to Mrs.
Robert Dallas, ' as she departed this life on the 19th
inst.,' and left an additional sum of £200 to Mrs.
Sarah Suewin, and his house. No. 41 Penton Street,
Walworth, to his godson. He died at Walworth,
6th January 1812, and his will was proved (P.C.C.),
22nd April 1812.
I. Jean, bp. Forres, 30th March 1724, one of the wit-
nesses being John Brodie of Windiehills ; m.
Walter, third son of William Dallas, of Cantray.
n. Helen, mentioned in the will of her brother Charles
Dallas, as the mother of Robert Smith, a legatee
under that will.
Robert Dallas, the second, but apparently the eldest
surviving, son, like so many of his countrymen, emigrated
to London in search of fortune, and became a stock and in-
surance broker. He is first found in Copthall Court,
Throgmorton Street, in 1763, but in 1768 he had removed to
16 Exchange Alley, whence in 1777 he migrated to 2 Cooper's
Court, Cornhill. While here he was for two years (1781-2) in
206 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
partnership with Mr. Allen, but nothing is known of this brief
connection. In or before 1786 he made another move, this
time to 11 Mincing Lane, and here he is found until the year
1794, when his name disiappears from the London Directory,
His residence, at least during the later years of his life, was,
however, in Kensington, though the exact locality has not
been identified.
Owing to a fire at the Pantechnicon in London most of the
papers belonging to Robert Dallas were destroyed, and but
little is known either of his private life or his business trans-
actions ; but in the Arniston Collection of Law Papers (cxxii.
40) there is an information, dated 1st February 1778, for
Robert Dallas, of Exchange Alley, London, and his attorney,
pursuers, against Sir Thomas WaUace-Dunlop of Craigie,
Ayrshire, defender, from which it appears that in 1775, Sir
Thomas, in consideration of a sum of £1200 sterling paid to
him, granted a bond of annuity of £200 payable to Mr. Dallas
during the life of Sir Thomas. It is stated that Mr. Dallas
was an insurance broker, and entered into the transaction as a
matter of business, but the defender, after paying one
year's annuity, declined to make further payments, hence
the action. The defender, in his answer, alleges that Mr.
Dallas is a money-lender, and formulates various recrimina-
tory charges usual in written pleadings of this character,
which, of course, carry no weight. The result of the action is
not recorded.
He was baptized at Forres, 23rd April 1726, the witnesses
being the Hon. Robert Urquhart, of Burdsyards, Provost of
Forres, and Robert Logan, Bailie, Forres ; married 7th
January 1756, Elizabeth, only daughter of the Rev. James
Smith, A.M., minister of Kilbirnie,by his wife, Bethia, daughter
of Hugh Barclay of the family of Pierstoun (see Douglas's
Peerage (1764), s. Glasgow) ; died at Kensington, 9th April
1797, aged seventy-one years, having had issue : —
I. Robert (Sir), was educated at the celebrated school at
DALLAS OF PETSAL 207
Kensington conducted by Dr Elphinston, and was
admitted a barrister of Lincoln's Inn in 1777, and is
said to have obtained his training in oratory at the
Coachmakers' Hall. He rapidly acquired a large
practice in London and on circuit, and was one of
the counsel retained for the defence of Lord George
Gordon in 1788. He was noted as one of the most
elegant and accomplished orators in Westminster
Hall, and ' no one, in my humble opinion,' writes
Dibdin, ' combined elegance and eloquence more
felicitously.' During the years 1788-1795 he assisted
in the defence of Warren Hastings, and ' highly dis-
tinguished himself by his exertions, and by his
polished addresses to the lords ' — ' the more humane
and eloquent Dallas,' Macaulay styles him when
comparing him with Law. His celebrated epigram
on Edmund Burke, so often misquoted, was : —
* Oft have I wonder'd why on Irish ground
No poisonous reptile ever yet was found :
Reveal'd the secret stands of Nature's work —
She saved her venom to create a Burke.'
He was appointed King's Counsel in 1795, and
entered Parliament as member for St. Michael's,
Cornwall, in 1802; he was Chief Justice of Chester
from 1804 to 1813, and represented the Kirkcaldy
burghs in Parliament in 1805-6. He was ap-
pointed Solicitor- General, 4th May 1813, and was
knighted on the 19th of the same month. He
succeeded Sir Vicary Gibbs as a Judge of Common
Pleas in 1813 ; and on 5th November 1818 he was
sworn in Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, again
succeeding Sir Vicary Gibbs, but he was forced by
ill-health to resign his office shortly before his death.
He was h, 16th October 1756; m., first, 11th August
208 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
1788, Charlotte (d. 17th October 1792 in Great
Russel Street), daughter of Major (afterwards Lieut.-
Colonel, and H.M. Consul at Corunna) Alexander
Jardine, R.A. ; secondly, at Putney, 10th September
1802, Justina (d. 2nd December 1848 in Cumberland
Terrace), daughter of Henry Davidson of TuUoch
Castle, CO. Ross ; d. 25th December 1824. He had
issue by his first wife : —
1. Robert William, a major in the 9th Regiment
of Foot, was, while a lieutenant, severely wounded at
St. Jean de Luz, 14th December 1814 ; b, 18th June
1789 ; m. 9th May 1818, Lucy (d, 17th September
1871), eldest daughter of Henry Davidson, of TuUoch
Castle, CO. Ross, by his wife, Caroline Elizabeth,
daughter of John Diffell ; d. at Tunbridge Wells,
11th September 1849. He had issue : —
(1) Robert William, captain in the Queen's
Bays; h, 22nd March 1819; m. at Leamington, 3rd
April 1851, Emily Florence, only daughter of Charles
Earle, J. P., of Newbold Firs ; d. leaving a son : —
(i) Charles Caldwell, formerly a lieutenant on the
reserve of officers, b. 29th March 1858.
(2) Henry, b. 1822.
(3) Duncan, b, 1823 ; d. at Brussels in March
1830.
(4) George Frederick, major, 46th Regiment,
K.L.H., J.P. for Westmorland ; b. 3rd April 1827 ;
m, at Rottingdean, Maria Louisa (she m., secondly,
4th March 1889, Sir Herbert Edmund Frankland
Lewis, Bart.), daughter of James Arthur Taylor,
M.P., of Strensham Court, co. Worcester ; d.
. He had issue : —
(i) Frederica.
(ii) Lucy Clara, m., at Holy Trinity, Sloane
Street, 15th March 1892, Charles Edward Every-
/. D. Veadon, Photograp/ier, Elgin,
CAWDOR CASTLE, DINING-ROOM
/. n. y cad on, Photographer, Elgin.
CAWDOR CASTLE, MANTELPIECE IN BLUE ROOM
DALLAS OF PETSAL 209
Halsted, of Mainston Court, Ledbury, co. Hereford
(Burke, s. Every).
(iii) Alice MurieL
(1) Caroline, born 1820 ; d. 1865.
1. Charlotte, b, in Great RusseU Street, 14th
January 1792 ; m. 31st May 1817, Captain (after-
wards Admiral) Gowan Roberts, R.N. (d, 1848). Her
only child, Elizabeth Charlotte, m. John Charles
Burton, D.L., of Chetwyn Park, Salop, whose only
child, Jane Charlotte, m. Charles Eyre Bradshaw
Bowles, by whom she had : (1) Humphrey Charles
Bradshaw Bowles, b. 15th September 1879, m. 14th
November 1898, Emily Mary Mather; (2) Cicely
Frances Bowles.
Sir Robert had issue by his second wife : —
2. Magdalen, b. in Bedford Square, 21st June
1803; m. 23rd September 1828, Count Gustavus
Bliicher von Wahlstadt, grandson of Field-Marshal
Prince Bliicher von Wahlstadt ; d, 19th March
1870.
3« Justina Davidson, b, at Brighthelmstone, 21st
August 1804 ; d, at Baden-Baden, 15th June 1863.
4. Elizabeth, b. in Bedford Square, 22nd January
1806 ; m. at Lancaster, 5th November 1837, John
Penny Machell, of Penny Bridge, co. Westmorland ;
d. 5th June 1866.
5. Lucy Sarah, b. 6th October 1811 ; m. at Paris,
26th November 1834, George Marton, M.P., of
Capernwray HaU, co. Lanes. ; he d. 24th November
1867, leaving one daughter.
6. Catherine Harriet, b, in July 1815 ; m., 2nd
November 1842, Lieut.-Colonel Edmimd William
Wilton Passy, 56th Regiment ; d. 19th November
1858.
n. George (Sir), educated at Dr. Elphinston's school at
o
210 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
Kensington and in Greneva. He went to India as a
writer in 1777, and his knowledge brought him rapid
promotion, and for a few years he was Superintendent
of the Collections at Rajeshahi, but failing health
led to his retirement in 1786. While in India he
wrote ' a clever poem, entitled The Indian Guide-y
pubUshed at Calcutta, [and] said to have been the
first publication which was issued from the Indian
press ' : it dealt satirically with the social life of the
country as he saw it. On his return to England he
wrote several political pamphlets which were ' much
esteemed at the time,' and on 31st July 1798 he was
created a baronet, when he is styled ' of Petsal, co.
Stafford, and Upper Harley Street, Marylebone, Midx.'
He represented Newport (Isle of Wight) in Parliament
from May 1800 to 1802, but gained no parliamentary
distinction. He was h, in London, 6th April 1758 ;
m., 12th June 1788, Catherine (d. Henrietta Street,
Marylebone, 5th April 1846), fourth daughter of Sir
John Blackwood, Bart., by Dorcas, created Baroness
Dufferin and Claneboye ; d, at Brighton, 14th
January 1833. He had issue : —
1. WiUiam GemmeU, I. 11th April 1792; d. of
scarlet fever, 11th November 1799.
2. George, 6. 30th December 1797 ; wounded in
the hip and thigh ' in getting over a hedge while
shooting,' 19th January, and d. 14th February 1816,
at St. Margaret's Castle, Tichfield, co. Hants.
3. Henry, captain in the 78th Regiment ; 6.
in Upper Harley Street, 30th July 1802 ; d. in Dublin,
10th August 1830.
4. Robert Charles (Sir), published in 1819 an
Ode to the Duke of Wellington and other Poems,
written between the ages of eleven and thirteen, of
which Southey wrote : ' Sir George Dallas has sent
DALLAS OF PETSAL 211
me some marvellous verses by a son of his, not yet
thirteen — as great a prodigy as I have ever read of.
Verses appear as easy to him as speech ; Latin verse
is at his fingers' ends like English ; and he has acted
a part in a play of his own composition, like another
Roscius.' He matriculated at Oriel College, Oxford,
7th July 1821 (B.A. 1825 ; M.A. 1829) ; and was
admitted a barrister at Lincoln's Inn in 1829. He
succeeded to the baronetcy, 14th January 1833, and
became Lieut. -Colonel of the Royal Grenada
Militia and Militia Aide-de-Camp to the Lieut.-
Governor of Grenada. He was b. at Dawlish, 24th
December 1804 ; m. at St. Mary's, Bryanston Square,
Frances Henrietta (b. 11th February 1812 ; d.
Ashburn Place, Cromwell Road, 2nd March 1894),
widow of Charles des Voeux (Burke), and fifth daughter
of Edward Law, 1st Lord Ellenborough (Burke) ;
d. in Montagu Square, 2nd August 1874. He had
issue : —
(1) George Edward (Sir), entered the Foreign
Office in December 1863, and eventually became
Chief Clerk, an office from which he retired
in 1900, having succeeded to the baronetcy 2nd
August 1874. He was born in Henrietta Street,
9th October 1842; m., 17th September 1884,
Felicia Mary, eldest daughter of the Rev. Canon
George Earle Welby, B.A., rector of Harrowby, co.
Lincoln.
(2) Rupert Caradoc Francis, captain in the Royal
Lancashire Militia, 1880, lieutenant and adjutant
98th Foot, captain 5th battalion Rifle Brigade ; b.
14th July 1847 ; m., 31st March 1880, Harriet Ann,
youngest daughter of Charles Shannon ; d. without
issue, 20th August 1904.
(3) Theodosia Selina ; b, 16th January 1844 ;
212 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
m., 12th October 1870, William John Pepys, 3rd
Earl of Cottenham (d. 20th January 1881). Their
daughter, Lady Mary Pepys, m. 26th November 1910,
Mr. EUas Corbally.
1. Catherine Sophia ; b. 31st August 1789 ;
m., 9th December 1811, Vice- Admiral George Poulett,
R.N., son of Earl Poulett (d. 10th
February 1854) ; d. 11th April 1831.
2. Marianne, b, 6th August 1790 ; m., first,
11th February 1809, Sir Peter Parker, Bart,, captain
R.N. (killed at Bellair, near Baltimore, 31st August
1815), secondly, 15th August 1818, Michael Bruce,
oo. Inverness ; d, 20th February 1851.
3. Henrietta, b. 11th May 1801 ; m., 11th
September 1841, Henry Francis Earle.
With reference to Robert Dallas (p. 206), the editor finds
he is first mentioned in the records on 27th October 1753,
when he is designated as clerk to Mr. John van Rixtel, London,
and eldest lawful son of Alexander Dallas, officer of excise,
Elgin, and granted a factory and commission in favour of
Robert Roy, merchant, Forres, to sell certain burgh lands,
ackers and others, which belonged to Christian Dunbar, grand-
mother to said Alexander Dallas, his father. (Durie, 215.)
On 4th June 1754, John Gray, of Windsor Court, parish of
St. Clementsends, in the county of Middlesex, uses inhibition
against Robert Dallas of St. Martins, alderman, son of de-
ceased Alexander Dallas, late excise officer in Elgin.
Sir George Dallas had a grant of arms on being made a
baronet, dated 6th August 1798. This grant was in favour
of himseM and the issue of his father, Robert Dallas, with the
proper differences, and were : — Arms, Argent, a bend azure,
between three mullets sable; Crest, A crescent quarterly or
and gules ; Motto, ' Lux venit ab alto.' With the correspond-
ence relative to this grant at the Heralds' College is a card on
which are depicted the arms used by Robert Dallas, the father
DALLAS OF PETSAL 213
of Sir George, which are: Argent, a bend between three
mullets azure.
We thus find the Cantray descent portrayed in the three
mullets or stars already referred to on page 65. The motto,
'Lux venit ab alto,' is the second notarial subscription of
George Dallas of St. Martins, W.S., mentioned on page 321.
The editor has traced an interesting correspondence in
the British Museum, London, between Sir George Dallas,
his brother Sir Robert Dallas, Lord Wellesley, and Warren
Hastings, who was defended at his trial by Sir Robert. This
correspondence will be found at pp. 410-430.
BUDGATE HISTORY
WILLIAM DALLAS L OF BUDGATE
William Dallas, the first known Dallas proprietor of the
lands of Budgate and Galcantray, was born about the year
1421. It has been conjectured that he was a son of John
Dallas of Easterford, which is in no way opposed to chrono-
logy, and which would be greatly strengthened in validity
were the possession of Budgate by John Dallas of Easterford
confirmed. He first appears upon record in the year 1458,
when he executed the following very interesting deed, dis-
posing in the most summary manner of the marriage of his
heir to Hugh Rose, seventh baron of Edlravock, whose sister
he had married : —
' This endenture made at Elgyn the xvi day of the moneth
of Januar, the yeir of our Lorde a thousand four hundreth
fyffty and acht yeris, betuix honorabiles and worthie men,
Huchoun of Ross baroime of Kilravach, on a parte, and
William of Doles of Mikilbudwete and Galcantree, on the tother
part, proportis and berys witnes in maner, fourm and effect,
as efftir f olowes. That is to say, that the said William of Doles
sal gif and deliuer William his sone and apperant air and his
mariage, to the said Huchoun of Rosse, his eme, to be at his
will and disponyng at his liking, failliand of that, his sistris
sone and air ; the said Huchoun sal haf the airis mariage of the
said William richt sa, that sal be gettin betuix him therefftir
or any lauchful wife in spousale, and failliand the air to cum
of that wyfe, the airis mariage of the next vther wyfe that he
sal hafe, and swa furth fra ane air till ane vther air gettin of
his body lauchfully, vnto the tyme that the air of the said
William haf treuly and with effect, fulfillit the forsaid mariage
117
218 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
with quhat persone or in quhat place, it sal be spedeful to the
said Huchoune : for the quhilk air and mariage, the said
Huchoune sal content and pay to the forsaid William of Doles
at Kilravach, threty sevin markis of the vsuale money of
Scotland proportionaly at ther termes folowand ; that is to
say, at the terme of Witsonday next folowand the making
of this endenture, ten markis, and at the fest of Sanct Martyne
in wyntre next therefftir folowand, nyne markis, and at the
fest of Witsonday next therefftir folowand nyne markis, and
at the fest of Sant Martyne in wyntre next therefftir folowand
nyne markis, in ful payment and contentation for the ful-
filling and gifft of the said mariage, the said William deliuerand
at this next Witsonday to the said Huchone, the said son and
apperant air of the said William, togidder with the tane half
evinly with the pertinentis of his said land of Cantree, with
possessione, malez, and al vther profitis cummand therof, to
the liffing and sustentacione of the said childe. Atour gif the
said Huchoune may purchess the oure-lordis consent, that the
foresaid childe and air may be put in the fee of the landis of
Budwete and Galcantree forsaid, the franktenement therof sal
be reseruit to the said William his fader, for his lyve time.
Hereatour the forsaid William oblises and bindis him be the
treuth of his body that he sal nouther sell, wedset, na formale,
nor mak any alienatione of the said landis of Mukil Bud-
wete na Galcantree without the will and consent of the said
Huchoune grauntit and gevin theropon. Neuertheles the for-
saides Huchoune and William oblises and bindis thaim richt
sua be the treuthes of thair bodiis for thaim and all thair
airis and thair assigneis, that gif thai or any of thaim revoke,
againstand, or brek any poynt of ther conditiouns forsaid in
any maner, the brekkar therof, againstandar, or revokar, sal
gif to the reparatione of the chapell of Geddas, fourty poundis
of the vsuale money of Scotland, to be raysit be the Bischop
of Murraue, that sal be for the time, or be his officiall or com-
missar, or be the vicare generale, the sege of Murraue vacant.
WILLIAM DALLAS L OF BUDGATE 219
and to be compellit thertoo be the censure of Haly kirk. To
the quhilkis al and sundry conditions and apoyntmentis for-
said lelely and treuly to be kepit for euirmare, but fraud or gile,
the forsaid Huchoune and William for thaim, thair airis and
assigneis, the haly evangeliis toucheit, has gevin thair bodily
athes. And for mare sikkernes to thais endenturis, entir-
changingly has affixt thair seles, the place, day, and yere befor
writin, in presence of worthie men, Ferchard Lamb, Robert
of Rosse, Alexander of Rosse, Huchoun of Sutherland, and
Johne Stady, squieris, Johne of Murraue, alderman of Elgyn,
seris Thomas Boile, vicar of Duffous, and William Stady,
chaplane, witneses heretoo, specialy prayit and requirit.'
(Kilr,, 133.)
He is next mentioned in an undated precept by Sir James
Ogilvy of Deskford, probably issued between 1480 and 1490,
and on 10th May 1492 Alexander Roos of Dunheryn, Vilyam
Doles of Cantray and Wilyam Doles of Budwit became surety
for Hugh Rose of Kilravock for the payment of the tocher of
his eldest daughter Isabel, now contracted with John of Caldor,
the son and heir of William thane of Cawdor (Cawd., 76), while
on 24th May following Hugh Rose issued a precept directed
to William Hay of Lochloy, William Doles of Budwit, and John
Cheyn his bailies, to give sasine to the quarter lands of Geddes,
which had been pledged to the thane of Cawdor in security for
the payment of one hundred merks of Isabel Rose's dower.
(Cawd., 78.) On 6th January 1493-4 William Doles of Cantra
and William Doles of Bydvyt were amongst the witnesses to
the charter of foundation by Hugh Rose of Kilravock of a per-
petual chaplainry at Geddes (Kilr., 140), though it was only
three months later that they were tried and sentenced to
death at Aberdeen, as already related.
In the account previously given of William Dallas of
Cantray some details have been recorded with regard to a
dispute between the good town of Inverness and certain
northern burghs. In this cause, which was tried in the year
220 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
1501, William Dallas of Budgate was summoned as a witness,
and on 28th May deponed that the burgh of Inverness was
ever the principal burgh of the whole shire, and that he heard
never that Dingwall or Tain occupied any freedom but at
their licence, and that it is the head staple of Caithness, Suther-
land, and Ross, and states his age to be eighty years. (Inver-
nessiana, 185. ) On 21st January 1501-2 William Doles of Cantra
and WiUiam Doles of Bydvyt were amongst the witnesses to
a notarial instrument called forth by the dispute between the
thane of Cawdor and the baron of Kilravock with reference to
the marriage of the thane's son and the baron's daughter.
(Gawd., 113.) It may be safely assumed that WiUiam Dallas
of Budgate did not long survive this date, and that he was
succeeded by his son William. Of his other issue nothing is
known.
WILLIAM DALLAS 11. OF BUDGATE
It may be safely concluded that the ' child ' whose marriage
was so summarily disposed of in the year 1458 was identical
with William Dallas of Budgate, who is found in possession
of that property in the early years of the sixteenth century.
He married Margaret, daughter of William, thane of Cawdor,
as is evidenced by the following precept, the date of which
Cosmo Innes, in his Thanes of Cawdor, assumes to be about
1490-1500, but which might with greater probability be placed
ten years earlier, as the eldest son of the thane was married
in 1499, and his two other daughters in 1487 and 1490 respec-
tively. The precept runs as follows : —
' Jacobus Ogiluy de Deskfurd miles ac dominus de Strath-
narn dilectis balliuis meis Willelmo Thano de Caldor et
Patricio Ogiluy in Glassach in hac parte specialiter constitutis
et eorum cuilibet coniunctim et diuisim salutem. Quia dedi
hereditarie Willelmo Doles filio et heredi apparenti Willelmi
Doles de Bodwit et Margarete Caldor et eorum alteri diucius
viuenti . . . omnes et singulas terras meas de Westirgal-
cantra cum pertinenciis et duabus croftis de Estircantra et
perticatam terre ad valorem quinque solidorum et quatuor
denariorum de eadem Estircantra de terris propinquioribus
jacentibus prope Westercantra cum omnibus suis pertinen-
ciis jacentes in dominio meo de Strathnarn infra vicecomi-
tatum de Inuerness . . . vobis igitur et vestrum cuilibet
. . . precipio et mando quatenus accedatis ad predictas
terras cum pertinenciis et ibidem dicto Willelmo Doles et Mar-
garete Caldor . . . statum saisinam et possessionem heredi-
tariam predictarum terrarum . . . tradatis et deliberetis.'
{Cawd., 75.)
sn
222 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
On 3rd January 1509-10 a discreet man, Sir William Caldour,
Vicar of Evan, made a protest with respect to his lands of Litil
Urchtny, which was witnessed by, amongst others, William
Doles of Budwitt {Cawd., 120), and on 10th November 1510
he again appears as a witness, his appended seal bearing a
heron's (?) head contourne and on a chief three mullets, with
the legend Sig. vilelmi Dally as. (Laing's Sc, Seals,)
It is doubtful whether it was this William Dallas, or his
father, who some time before the year 1510 sold to Master
John Caldour, chantor of Ross, the fourth part of Mekil Budwit,
with the Croft Blayr, which with other lands the chantor had
destined by will to Hugh Caldour, the heir- male of the old
thanes of Cawdor. (Cawd,, 122.)
On 10th April 1512 William Dallace of Bugget and Henry
Dollace of Cantre served on a jury for the retour of William
M'CuUoch of Plaidis (Invern, Sheriff, Ct, Bee, i.) ; on 21st July
1513 they appear on a jury for the retour of Thomas Patersone
{Ibid,), and on 3rd October of the same year they again serve
on a jury for the retour of the Lady Elizabeth Sutherland
as heir of John, Earl of Sutherland, her brother. (Invernes-
siana, 194.) Finally, on 6th May 1515 Henry Dolles of
Cantray and William Dolles of Budwit are amongst the wit-
nesses to a contract of marriage between Alexander Caldor,
a son of William, the last thane of Cawdor of the old line, and
Elizabeth, daughter of Hugh Rose, eighth baron of Kilravock
{Cawd,, 185), and though evidence is again wanting, it appears
probable that William Dallas of Budgate did not long survive,
and that his lands passed to a son of the same name. It may,
however, be concluded that the youth whose marriage was
disposed of in 1458, when he may have been eight or ten years
of age, or even older, was not still living in the middle of the
sixteenth century.
WILLIAM DALLAS III. OF BUDGATE
William Dallas of Bud gate is assumed to have succeeded
to the family estates some time between the years 1515 and
1520. On 17th July 1520 Margaret Stewart, lady of Gordon
and of the conjunct fee of the lordship of Badenoch, issued a
precept of clare constat directing Allan M'Ane M'Allister,
son and apparent heir of John Keyr of Rathamurchus, William
Dolless of Buddet, John Ross in Name, Donald M'Gillewe,
burgess of Innernis, Thomas M'Ane McAllister, and Thomas
Clerk in Pettyn, as her bailies, to give sasine of the lands of
Dunnachtane More and others, to Lachlan Makintoischye, as
brother and heir of the deceased William Makyntoischye of
Dunnachtane (MacTcint Mun., 12). Dallas and his son, Alex-
ander Doles, were witnesses to the sasine of the lands of Croy
given to Alexander Doles of Cantray on 8th May 1522. On
13th February 1524-5 William Dolas of Budyet was one of the
witnesses to ' Ane Indentur and Compromit betwix Sir John
Campbell of Calder and Huchon Bos of Kilrawok, of mutual
friendship and amitie.' (Cawd,, 148.) He is mentioned in a
sasine in favour of his son in the year 1525, and on 27th April
1532 William Dolles of Buidvit, Alexander Dolles of Cantray,
and others were witnesses to a protest by the knight of Cawdor
against the prejudice of his right to the lands of Little Urchny
and the crofts called the Sheriff's Crofts, by the sasine granted
to the five daughters of the late Hugh Calder, sheriff of Nairn,
in certain roods, acres, butts, tofts, crofts, and annual rents
within the burgh of Nairn. (Gawd., 153.) On 5th November
1533 John Ogilvy of Carnowseys and Durne issued a precept
directing William Dolace of Budyait to give sasine to Sir
224 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
John Campbell of Cawdor, of the lands of Mekil Geddes and
half Rait (Cawd., 155), and on 14th April 1534 Alexander
Dollace of Cantray and William Dollace of Budyeth served on a
jury at Inverness for the retonr of Greorge Munro of Doucharte.
(Invern, Sheriff-Ct. Bee, i.) He was still living when, on 15th
October 1540, his son entered into a second matrimonial en-
gagement, but is mentioned as deceased in 1547, when his son
Alexander had already entered into possession of the family
estates.
ALEXANDER DALLAS I. OF BUDGATE
Alexander Dallas of Budgate first occurs as son of William
Dallas of Budgate on 8th May 1522, in a Cantray charter
already recorded, and three years later occurs a precept of
sasine by Alexander Ogilby, Lord of Fynlater and Strath-
nairn, in favour of Alexander Dolles, son and heir-apparent
of William Dolles of Budzeit, and Isabella Dunbar, his spouse,
in conjunct fee, of the lands of Milton, of Cantramore, and the
quarter lands of DoUeskayllye, dated at Findlater 14th July
1525. Either this marriage with Isabella Dunbar was
annulled or the lady died before the year 1540, when Alexander
Dallas entered into another matrimonial engagement, proved
by the following charter : —
' Omnibus banc cartam visuris vel audituris Alexander
Dolles filius et apparens heres Willelmi Dolles de Budyett
salutem. . . . Noueritis me . . . dedisse . . . dilecte mee
Katherine Campbell in sua virginitate pro toto tempore vite
sue in dotem maritagii, et heredibus inter me et ipsam legitime
procreandis . . . totas et integras terras meas de Myltoun de
Cantraygald . . . jacentes in baronia de Strathnairn . . .
Tenendas et habendas predictas terras . . . dicte Katrine
CampbeU in sua virginitate in dotem maritagii in vitali redditu
pro toto tempore vite sue . . . apud Elgin 15° Octobris 1540
coram hiis testibus honorabilibus et discretis viris Archi-
baldo Campbell filio et apparente herede Johannis Campbell
de Caldor militis Johanne Mountgumry Waltero Mont-
gumry. . . . Alex«. Dolles of Galcantra.'
226 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
Following upon this charter sasine was taken on 21st
October 1540, for ' honesta domicella, Catherina Campbell,
et in signum huiusmodi sasine et possessionis per dictum
ballivum (Archibaldum Campbell) tradite eidem, balliuus
unum bouem rubeum colore lie brandit cum cornibus albis
pro sasina bona recepit.' {Cawd,, 164.)
Cosmo Innes, in his book of the Thanes of Cawdor, has
identified this Katherine Campbell with another Catherine
Campbell, daughter of Sir John Campbell of Cawdor, who was
married first to the Master of Ogilvie, and secondly to David
Lindsay, ninth Earl of Crawford ; but as this lady was cer-
tainly the wife of James Ogilvie, younger of Ogilvie, before
1st October 1539 (Beg. Mag, Sig,), and did not become a widow
until his death on the disastrous field of Pinkie, 10th Sep-
tember 1547, her identification with the spouse of Alexander
Dallas is obviously erroneous. Though there can be no doubt
that Dallas's wife was a relative — ^possibly a niece — of Sir
John Campbell, she certainly was not his daughter by the Lady
Muriel Calder.
On 7th October 1544, Alexander Dallas was serving on
an assize in the Sheriff Court of Inverness. (Invern. Sheriff Ct.
jRec, i.). A dispute arose at this time between Hugh Rose
of Kikavock and Alexander Dolles of Budzeit regarding the
fishings on the water of Nairn and a piece of ground lying
between their lands. Certain arbiters were appointed, and a
decreet arbitral was pronounced at Kilravock on 28th March
1546, which was not recorded until 10th July 1744. {Mac-
Jcenzie, 170.) Under this decreet John Ross of Balevate,
Alexander Dollas of Cantray, Arthur TuUocht of Balnaheyt,
William Ross in Duldawt, James Ross in Leomacht, and
Huchoun Fraser in Ardrosshan as arbiters decided that all
the lands on the north side of the march between Kilravock
and Budzeit and Dolleshalze was the property of Hutcheon
Ross of Kibavock, and that all the lands along the march
from east to west pertained to Alexander Dallas of Budzeit.
ALEXANDER DALLAS L OF BUDGATE 227
Thereafter we find a precept of sasine by James Ogilvy of
Strathnairn, in favour of Alexander DoUes, son and heir-
apparent of the late William DoUes of Boudweit, in the lands
of Boudweit, Dolleschaylie, Milton, and Galeantray, all lying
in the lordship of Strathnairn, dated in the year 1547. (Cawd,,
263).
Having no legitimate issue, Alexander Dallas, shortly be-
fore his death, resolved to make one of his natural sons his
heir, and to this end obtained letters of legitimation in their
favour. As there is some misapprehension as to the effect
of such letters, it may perhaps be well to give their purport
in the present instance in detail.
* Queen Mary, with consent of James, Earl of Arran,
Governor of Scotland, and her Tutor, grants Alexander Doles
and William Doles, natural sons of Alexander Doles of Budzat,
full power at any time of their life, or on deathbed, freely to
dispone upon all their lands and possessions whatsoever and
wheresoever they may be within the kingdom, and upon all
their goods, moveable and immoveable, to whomsoever they
shall think good, notwithstanding that they were born in
bastardy, and that the escheats of such pertain to the Crown,
with power also to enjoy all dignities, offices, honours and
privileges, heritages and possessions in judgment and without,
and if they shall have any lawful issue that they shall succeed
to them, or if they shall die without lawful heirs of their bodies
and without making lawful disposition of their estates then
their nearest kin on father's or mother's side, and their heirs,
shall have right to be served as their heirs just as if the said
Alexander and William had been born in lawful wedlock.
Granted under the Great Seal at Edinburgh, 8th January
1546.' (Reg, Mag. Sig., xxx. No. 80.)
In fact, such letters gave a bastard all civil rights from
which bastardy precluded him.
Alexander Dallas died in October 1548, when he was
succeeded by the elder of the two sons just mentioned, but no
228 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
record of the name of their mother has been transmitted, and
in the absence of evidence it is perhaps futile to speculate
upon the subject, yet the surmise cannot be resisted that they
were the children of their father's first marriage with Isabella
Dunbar, and that their illegitimacy was due to the verdict of
an ecclesiastical court based upon some question of consan-
guinity. Such proceedings were by no means uncommon
during the corrupt days of the moribund Romish Church in
Scotland, being founded upon canonical obstacles existing
between the parties, and though no relationship has been
traced between the Budgate Dallases and the Dunbars, it is
more than probable that such in fact existed. No doubt,
had there been issue of the marriage between Alexander
Dallas and Katherine Campbell, no steps would have been
taken to legitimate these sons. It must be confessed that this
suggestion does not go far to prove that they were the children
of a marriage which had once been solemnised and afterwards
annulled.
ALEXANDER DALLAS IL OF BUDGATE
Alexander Dallas of Budgate succeeded his father in the
family estates in accordance with a settlement executed some
time during the year 1548. On 8th March 1554-5 he served on
the jury for the retour of Lord Gordon (Invern. Sheriff Ct. Bee),
and two years later, in April 1557, he was the defendant in
an action raised by Alexander Dallas of Cantray and Patrick
Dallas his son, to which reference has already been made.
On 21st April 1561 AUexander Dollis of Budeth was Chan-
cellor of an assize held at Inverness, from which Alexander
Dollis of Cantray is mentioned as absent (Invern. Sheriff Ct,
BeCy ii.), and a glimpse of the social life of the period is ob-
tained when on 31st October of the same year, Hucheon Roy,
compearing at the Sheriff Court of Inverness, allowed that he
had enacted himself to produce before the Sheriff ' ane tuay
handit sourd quhilk wes arreisted in the said Huchonis hands
and was acclamit be Alexander DoUace of Buddyt ' ; and now
' that quhair the said Alexander DoUace was possest with his
awin sourd,' he claims to be relieved of this act, and takes
instruments. (Ibid,) On 29th November 1561 Alexander
DoUace of Buddyt and his neighbour of Cantray served on
the jury for the retour of John CampbeU of Cawdor {Ibid,) ;
and on 4th March 1561-2 there is registered a contract dated at
Edinburgh 3rd March of that year between Donald M'Intosche
WiUemson in CuUernie, and George Munro of Dalcartie, in
which the said George Munro discharges all claim he has
against the said Donald, and Angus his son, for the violent
occupation of the lands of Conage within the barony of Petty ;
and he is content that Donald occupy the third part of these
220
230 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
lands until Whitsunday next, when he is to quit them, and
the said Donald and Alexander Doless of Budget, his surety
(who is unable to write), engage to refund all damages through
breach of this contract. (Bks, Counc. and Sess., v. 81.) It
must have been about this time that Alexander Dollace of
Bwiddeth was appointed a baron to go upon an assize for a
weighty matter, but the fact is recorded on a loose leaf of the
register, from which the date is omitted, as well as, unfortun-
ately, the details of the weighty matter. {Invern. Sheriff Ct,
Rec, ii.) A question having arisen as to the marches between
Kilravock and Holme, Hugh Ros of Kilravock, James Ogilvy
of Cardale, superior of the lands of Holme, and Alexander
Ros, their ' heritabill proprietar,' met upon the debatable
lands, and on I4th September 1562 came to an agreement
which was duly set forth by Master George Fraser, notary,
and witnessed by, amongst others, Alexander Doles of Budwit
and Patrik Doles in Croy {Kilr., 235-7), and on 20th December
1566 these two were members of a jury for the retour of
David Ros of Holme, who had now succeeded his father in
these lands. {Invern, Sheriff CL Rec, i.) On 20th May 1567
the laird of Budgate was one of the witnesses of the Bishop's
charter of the lands of Croy to Henry Dallas of Croy ; and
a few years later the particulars are disclosed of his succession
to his father's estates, for on 6th October 1573 Patrik DoUas
of Duiris and others are recorded as serving on an assize for
the retour of John (?) Fraser of Aberchalder, and also for that
of Alexander Dollis of Buddet, which proceeds as foUows : —
' Who being sworn say that the late Alexander DoUas, son
and apparent of William DoUas of Budzet, father of Alexander
Dollas of Budzet, bearer of these presents, died last vest and
seized as of fee at the peace and faith of the mother of our
supreme Lord the Eang of all and haill the half of the lands of
Estir Braychlycht with pertinents lately belonging to Sir John
Campbell of Calder, knight, lying in the lordship of Petty and
Brachhe and within the sheriffdom of Inverness, and that the said
ALEXANDER DALLAS 11. OF BUDGATE 231
Alexander Dollas, son and apparent heir [? grandson] of William
Dollas of Buidzet, is the nearest [heir] and successor to him by-
reason of entail and charter of alienation made by the de-
ceased Sir John Campbell of Calder, knight, to the late Alex-
ander Dollas, son and apparent heir of William Dollas of
Buidzet and Catherine Campbell his spouse, and the survivor
of them and their children born, or to be born, and because
there is no survivor nearer by the foresaid charter to succeed
to the said lands they pass now to his natural son and his heirs
and assignees. The lands are valued at 33s. 4d., and are
held in chief of John Campbell of Calder, son and heir of the
late Archibald Campbell of Calder, knight, and grandson of
the late Sir John Campbell of Calder, for payment of four
pennies Scots, in whose hands they are through the death of
the said Alexander Dollas, father of the said Alexander Dollas
now of Budzet, who died in October 1548.' (Invern, Sheriff
Ct, Bee, u)
Although in the retour of 1573 William Dallas of Budgate
is described as being seized as of fee in the lands of Easter
Brachlie, they were only held by his son on a wadset, for on
29th May 1574 Alexander DoUes of Buddet, then described
as heritable possessor of the half of the west town and lands
of Easter Bracklie in the lordship of Petty and Bracklie and
shire of Inverness, acknowledges that these lands, held by
him from Sir John Campbell of Calder, have been lawfully
redeemed by John Campbell of Calder, who had power so to
redeem them in terms of letters of reversion made by the
deceased Alexander DoUes of Buddet, son and apparent heir
of the deceased William DoUes of Buddet, father of the said
Alexander DoUes of Buddet, to the foresaid Sir John CampbeU
of Calder, but under reservation of his tack of the said lands
for three years. {Prot BL, W. Cuming, No. xxxii. fol. 47.)
The lands of DaUaschyle had also been wadset, as on 26th
September 1574 Alexander DoUes of Buddeth warned WiUiam
TuUoch to compear in the Kirk of Nairn on the 6th November
232 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
following, to receive the sum of one hundred merks contained
in a reversion made by the deceased Arthur Tulloch to William
Dolles of Buddeth for the redemption of the lands of Dalles-
chelle. Thereupon instruments were asked at Bannekeith,
and two of the witnesses were Patrick Dolles of Durris and
Alexander Dolles of Durris. {Ibid,, fol. 6L) This was
doubtless preliminary to the granting of a charter of life-
rent by Alexander Dolles of Budgate to his spouse, Margaret
Macintosh, of the lands of Dolaschaille, dated 19th November
1574. (Cawd,, 263.)
Disputes arose between Hugh Ross of Kilravock and
Alexander Dolles of Budget with regard to salmon-fishing
before the place of Ealravock, but these were amicably settled
by an agreement dated 26th April 1580, into the particulars
of which it is needless to enter. {Prot Bk., W. Cuming, No.
xxxii. fol. 233.)
The laird's first wife, Margaret Mackintosh, must have died
about this time, as on 14th May 1582 is recorded the sasine
of Marjorie Stray thauchin in liferent in the lands of Dallas-
chyle on a charter and precept under the subscription of Alex-
ander Dolles of Buddet (who signs by a notary), and sealed
with his own seal of white wax impressed with red, directed
to John Dolles in Cantradoun as his bailie, and dated at
Inverness 8th May 1582, amongst the witnesses there being
John Dolles in Cantrey, William Dolles in Cantreyfreis, and
James Dalles, son of Alexander Dolles of Buddethe, while
among the witnesses to the sasine are John Dolles in Cantrey
and John Dolles, son to Arpitill Dolles in Cantra. {Prot BL,
W. Cuming, No. xxxix. fol. 19.) This lady was one of the
three daughters and co-heiresses of George Strachane of Cullo-
din, of whose ward, marriage, non- entry and relief Lachlan
M'Intoische of Dunnachtin had become the donator before
12th December 1576, when Margaret Straychan, another of the
daughters, was contracted with Huchon Ross, son of the
deceased James Ross, sometime in Lyonach. {Mackint. Mun,,
ALEXANDER DALLAS 11. OF BUDGATE 233
112.) On 4th November 1582 Marjorie Strachan, Dallas's
wife, described as the eldest of the three lawful ' sisters ' of
the deceased George Strachan of CuUodyne, had sasine on a
precept from Chancery in the third part of the lands of Easter,
Mid, and Wester Gollodyne, etc., the witnesses to the sasine
being John DoUes in Cantray, Alexander Ros, son of John
Ros in Cantraydoun, and Alexander Dolles in HuUcrest.
(Prot BL, W. Cuming, No. xxxix. fol. 16.) The CuUoden
property did not, however, long remain in her hands, for at
Moye Hall is preserved a discharge by Marjorie Stray thauchin,
spouse of Alexander DoUace of Bwdeit, and her said spouse, to
Lachlan M'Yntoysche of Dunnachtane for 800 merks for her
third of the towns of Wester, Mid, and Easter CuUodyne and
Culquhonak, with the third of the mills, etc., which they have
sold to the said Lachlan M'Yntoyschie and Agnes M'Kenzie,
his spouse ; dated at Inverness 4th December 1582, and wit-
nessed by William Baillie of Dunnane, and John Cuthbert,
John Kar, Robert Waus, and William Gumming, burgesses of
Inverness. (Mackint Mun,, 131.) It was perhaps to this
marriage that the Kinrara manuscript referred when recording
the presence at Lethin of Lachlan Mackintosh, Captain of Clan
Chattan, at the marriage of one of the Dallases of Budgate
in February 1581-2, while the close intimacy of relationship
between Mackintosh and Dallas is vouched for by the inclusion
of Alexander Dolles of Budyett amongst Lachlan' s kin in a
contract of appointment concluded between Mackintosh and
Calder at Ardrosseyr, 17th June 1581. (Cawd., 182-3.)
Towards the close of his life the laird appears to have
divested himself of the fee of his estates in favour of his son,
for on 16th May 1590 Alexander Dolles of Budyet granted a
charter to William Dolles, his son and heir-apparent, of the
lands of Budyeitmoir, Dallaschyle, Nether and Over Gal-
cantray, etc. (Cawd., 264), but he undoubtedly retained the
liferent until his death.
Though no details of the affair have been transmitted.
234 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
there would appear to have existed, towards the close of
the sixteenth century, a violent dispute between the Roses
and the Dallases of Budgate, the laird of Cantray, it would
seem, ranging himself on the side of the former, no doubt on
the score of close consanguinity and friendship. Of this feud
the only record now existing appears to be contained in two
bonds of caution of the year 1593, by the first of which Hucheon
Ros of Kilrawak and David Ros of Holme, as principals, bind
themselves, each in 500 merks, not to harm Alexander Dolles
of Budyett, or Williame Dolles, his son and apparent heir,
subscribed at Kilraak, 1st September, before Williame Ros,
apparent of Kilraak, Johnne Ros of Cantray, Williame Ros
and Alexander Ros, servants to the said Laird of Kilraak ;
while by the second Alexander Dolles of Cantray becomes
caution for Williame Dolles of Ballechreist, and Henry Dolles,
his son, each in 500 merks, not to harm the said Alexander
and WiUiame Dolles, also subscribed at Kilraak, 1st Sep-
tember, before Hucheon Ros of Kilraak, William Ros, his son,
David Ros of Holm, and Johnne Ros of Cantray, John Ros,
notary public, subscribing for the principals. (Beg, Priv,
Counc., V. 566-7.)
After this date the name of Alexander Dallas of Budgate
has not been traced in the records, so that it can only be stated
that he was dead before Whitsunday 1597, when his son was
in possession of his lands. It would, however, appear that
the lands of Budgatemore, Dallaschyle, and Galcantray had
been sold by the laird, before his death, to Campbell of Cawdor,
and that he was able to transmit to his heirs a wadset upon
the property redeemable at any time by a money payment of
10,000 merks.
Alexander Dallas married, first, Margaret Mackintosh,
doubtless a near relative of the Captain of Clan Chattan, who
died apparently about the year 1580 ; and, secondly, in 1582,
Margaret, elder daughter and co-heiress of George Strachan
of Culloden : by the former he was father of William, his heir
ALEXANDER DALLAS II. OF BUDGATE 235
and successor, and James, who is casually mentioned as a
witness on 5tli May 1582. It is probable, however, that he
had several other children, possibly by both marriages, some of
whom may well have been the ancestors of those numerous
Dallases, presently to be mentioned, to whom it has been found
impossible, with the information at present at command, to
assign a place in the family genealogy.
WILLIAM DALLAS IV. OF BUDGATE
The first appearance of William Dallas is on 22nd March 1585,
when, as ' apparent of Buddet,' he witnesses a Cantray pre-
cept, and five years later he had from his father a charter of
Budgate lands as already recorded.
' On 22 July 1590, Katherene Roiss Lady Fowlis [was]
Dilatit of certane crymes of witchcraft. . . .
' The samyn day, Dauid Roiss of Holme and William
Dolace apperand of Buddet, Donald Ross of Balnamukkie,
Thomas Vmphra in Elgyn, and John Innes of Lewcheris,
oftymes callit, to compeir befoir the Justice or his deputes, the
said day and place, in the hour of cause, to haif past vpoune
the Assyis of the said Katherine, dilatit of the crymes aboue
writtin ; lawfull tyme of day biddin, and nocht comperand to
that effect ; they and ilk ane of thame wes vnlawit, in the
pane of fourtie pundis.' (Pitcairn, Crim. Trials, i. 201.)
They probably disliked the duty of sitting in judgment
upon the wife of a near neighbour, and the daughter of Alex-
ander Ross of Balnagown, who claimed kinship with the
Roses.
On 1st May 1593 he became cautioner for Alexander
Dolles of Cantra and others, and was concerned with his
father in his disputes with the Holme Roses.
In 1597 he was, at the instance of Sir John Campbell of
Cawdor, decerned, by decree of the Lords of Council, to remove
from the lands of Budgate, but he found means to evade this
decree, and continued to defy the demands of the Campbells
for the possession of his patrimony.
On 6th May 1605 he granted a charter to William Dallace,
286
WILLIAM DALLAS IV. OF BUDGATE 237
his son and heir-apparent (procreated between him and the
late Margaret Dunbar, his sometime spouse), and to the heirs-
male of his body, whom failing to the heirs- male bearing the
surname and arms of Dallas, of the town and lands of Mekill
Budzet, DoUascheill, Eastern and Western Galchantray,
reserving the usufruct or frank-tenement thereof to himself.
{Cawd., 264.)
On 27th April 1607 he was one of the cautioners for a loan
made by Alexander M'Kenzie, apparent of Garloche, to Lach-
lan M'Intoshe of Dunnachtin {Mackintosh Mun,, 59), and on
1st July 1611 he was one of those who served on an inquest at
Nairn for the retour of Hugh Rose of Kilravock as heir to his
father, William Rose of Kilravock. (Kilr,, 304.) No later
reference to him has been found beyond the fact that his
death occurred in 1616.
His first wife was Margaret Dunbar, above mentioned, who
was the mother of William Dallas, his heir. He married,
secondly, Margaret Hay, who as his widow had become the
spouse of Alexander Dallas in Galcantray before the year 1619.
Save his son and heir, no record has been found of any issue
by either marriage, though there can be little doubt that
other children were born to him.
WILLIAM DALLAS V. OF BUDGATE
William Dallas was a minor when, in 1616, he succeeded his
father in the Budgate lands, the fee of which had, however,
aheady been granted to him by his father's charter in 1605 ;
he was served heir to his grandfather, Alexander DoUes of
Budzett, in the lands of Budzettmoir and Dolleschyle, of Nether
Galcantray, with the mill, and of Over Galcantray, in the barony
of Strathnairn, 28th April 1618. (Inquis,, i., Inverness, 36.)
He was not, however, permitted to hold the lands in peace.
At the Com-t at Inverness, 8th May 1619, process was entered
by John Campbell of Calder, knight, before the Lords of Coun-
cil and Session against William DoUas, son and heir, at the
least charged to enter heir and behaving himself as heir, to
the deceased WilUam Dollas of Budzett, his father, for the
violent profits or the value and price thereof as libelled of the
lands of Meikle Budzett, Dollassyll, and Galcantray, with the
mills and mill lands for the years libelled, violently occupied
by the said deceased William Dollas and others in his name
from Whitsunday 1579, at which time he was decerned, by
decree of the said Lords of Council, at the complainer's instance,
to remove from the said lands and others, but removed not
and violently possessed the same imtil the year 1616 that he
died, thus amounting to twenty years. The said William
succeeded ' in the vice and violence of his said umquhill
father,' and the complainer seeks from him and his tutors
and curators, if he has any, the said profits for the three years
since his father's death, and to remove his wife, family, and
goods from the said lands. The complainer has also action
838
WILLIAM DALLAS V. OF BUDGATE 239
before the said Lords against Margaret Hay (described as
conjunct fiar of Galcantray), relict of the deceased WiUiam
DoUas, and Alexander DoUas, now her spouse, for his interest
as succeeding in the place of the said deceased WiUiam Dollas
in the labouring of the said lands of Galcantray, with the mill
thereof, for the years libelled (1616-1618), and he craves inhi-
bition against them, which is granted. (Part, Beg, Horn, and
Inhih,, Inverness, iv.) The decree is dated 12th March 1619,
and in it William Dallas is described as a minor.
On 20th December 1620, when he witnesses a charter by
John Campbell of Calder in favour of James Campbell of
Auchindoun, he is described as ' lately ' of Budzet (8as, Eeg,^
Elgin and Nairn, ii. 6) ; and at Budgate on 4th November
1623, William Dollas of Budzet, in fulfilment of a contract
between him and John Campbell, fiar of Calder, resigned and
renounced in favour of the said John Campbell the whole
lands of Budzeitmoir, etc., and that for the sum of 10,000
merks paid to him by the said John Campbell, fiar of Calder,
* so that baith propertie and superioritie is now consolidat in
the persoun of the said John Campbell.' {Cawd,, 264.) Not-
withstanding this absolute conveyance, William Dallas and
his successors continued to occupy the lands, and to be styled
' of Budgate,' for just a century beyond this date.
A few years later some right to Budgate seems to have
passed to Duncan Forbes, an Inverness merchant, for on
20th November 1630 John Campbell, fiar of Calder, gave
sasine to Duncan Forbes of Budzett of the lands of Nether
Galcantray, the witnesses being William and John Dollas in
Budzett {Reg, Sas,, Inverness, iv. fol. 263) ; and on 28th May
1631 Duncan Forbes, burgess of Inverness, and Janet Forbes,
his spouse, granted to William Dollas of Budzet a charter of
the lands of Budzet, Newton of Budzet, and DoUaschyle, the
witnesses being William Dollas of Cantray and John Forbes,
the granter's son. (Protocol Bk., Ixxi.) No explanation of
these transactions has been found.
240 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
It seems not improbable that the laird eked out a precarious
income by becoming a writer, for a deed of sale of household
goods by Sir John Campbell of Calder was ' vryttin be William
DoUas of Budyet, at Calder, 13 Junii 1636 ' {Cawd., 282) ; and
in the same year, on 4th June, he was a witness at Inverness of a
renunciation by ' John M'Queine son and heir lawful gotten
betwix the deceased Donald M'Queine, persone of Pettie, and
Agnes Douglas, his spouse,' in favour of David, Earl of Murray,
of the town and lands of MidcoulL (Beg. Sas., Inverness, v.
fol. 330.)
Between the years 1639 and 1649 the laird entered into
a number of bond transactions for the purpose of raising
money. They had, however, no immediate bearing upon
the progress of events during the lifetime of William Dallas,
and will be cited later in discussing the apprising of the
Budgate lands by John Dallas, Dean of Ross, in 1654.
On 8th January 1642 an action was brought by William
Dallais of Budiat as cautioner for Eupham Campbell, relict of
James Campbell of Auchindowne and his executrix appointed
by his testament dated 28th January 1635, and confirmed on
9th April following, when William Dallas became cautioner
for her, paying all lawful claims under the will ; in this she
obliged herself to relieve him of all damage. He now pursues
her and Allan MTntosh of Daviot, her spouse, for this relief ;
which they refuse, and therefore he seeks inhibition, which is
granted. {Horn, and Inhih., Inverness, N.S., i.) There is
no obvious reason why the laird entered into this cautionary,
but it is possible that Eupham Campbell was a relative of his
son's wife.
In the Parish Register of Dyke there is recorded on 24th
October 1647 a Sabbath marriage proclamation between
WiUiam Dollas and Christian Stewart ; no designation is
given to either party, but in a charter by John Dallas, Dean of
Ross, dated 23rd September 1658, mention is made of Christian
Stewart, ' mother-in-law ' of John Dallas, obviously the widow
WILLIAM DALLAS V. OF BUDGATE 241
of WiUiam Dallas of Budgate, who is thus proved to have been
twice married.
The laird was evidently upon the closest terms of friend-
ship with the lairds of Cawdor, for on 22nd April 1650 he was
one of the six signatories of a writ setting forth the military
precautions necessary ' for maintaining the hous off Calder
dureing the present and apareand trublis.' (Cawd., 291.) He
did not, however, long survive this date, and was certainly
dead before 24th July 1652.
He was twice married, but the name of his first wife has not
been discovered. By his second wife, Christian Stewart, he
is not known to have had issue ; by his first he had : —
1. Alexander, of whom below.
2. John, some time of Budgate, Dean of Ross, etc.
3. James, of Kirkmichael.
4. Hugh, of Budgate, W.S., Commissary Clerk of Ross.
5. George, of St. Martins, W.S., Edinburgh.
1. Margaret, wife of George M'Culloch, burgess of Fortrose.
On 2nd September 1670 sasine is given to George
M'Culloch, burgess of Fortrose, Margaret Dallas, his
spouse, and John M'Culloch, their son, on a wadset
to them by Hew Dallas of Ferritoun, whom failing, to
George M'Culloch, their second son, or to the heirs of
George M'Culloch, whom failing, to George Dallas,
son to the said Hugh Dallas, and their assignees
whatsoever, in the right of the tailzie of the lands
called Insche, with the crofts adjacent, in the parish
of Kirkmichael, under reversion of 3000 merks, it
being provided that this sum when paid ' be of new
waired and given out be advyce of me the said Hugh
or my aires that the liferent and tailzie above writtin
may remaine and continow in maner above mentioned;
and farder it is heirby provydit that the said George
with consent of me and my aires and failzieing of me
and my aires minoritie with consent of George Dallas,
Q
242 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
my brother, may grant renunciation and redemption of
the said lands.' The disposition on which sasine is given
is dated at Chanonrie, 24th August 1670. (Beg, Sas.,
Inverness, iv. fol. 60.) On 18th October 1683 there is
renunciation and discharge by Greorge MackcuUoch,
only lawful son now on life of the deceased George Mack-
cuUoch, burgess of Fortrose, and Margaret Dallas, his
spouse, wadsetter of the lands of Insch, and heir of
the deceased John MackcuUoch, his brother-german,
whereby, with the consent of his mother, he renounces
these lands. The disposition by Hugh Dallas, Com-
missary Clerk of Ross (in which he is designed of
Ferritoun), dated 24th August 1670, and the sasine
following are referred to, and it is narrated that the
said renouncer was on a precept of clare constat by
George DaUas of St. Martins, as superior, dated 19th
August 1674, served heir to his said brother and infeft
on 11th May 1675, and now George DaUas of St.
Martines, having the heritable and irredeemable
right of the said lands of Ferritoun and all right of
reversion ' competent to him and William Dallas, his
son,' of the said lands of Insch, has for himself and in
name of the said Hugh and William DaUas made pay-
ment to the renouncer and the said Margaret DaUas,
his mother, of the said sum of 3000 merks. (Beg,
Sas,, Inverness, v. fol. 247.) FoUowing this, on 22nd
October 1683, is an instrument of resignation by George
MackcuUoch in favour of George Dallas of St. Martins,
the resignation being made to George Dallas in Henry
Ross's dweUing-house in Ardersier before Mr. John
DaUas, Dean of Ross, and WiUiam Dallas, merchant
in Inverness. (Ibid., v. 248.) Then on 12th Novem-
ber 1683 George M'CuUoch and Margaret Dallas, his
mother, have sasine in terms of a bond of obligation by
George DaUas of St. Martins, W.S., stating that in
WILLIAM DALLAS V. OF BUDGATE 243
satisfaction of the 2500 merks remaining of the prin-
cipal sum of 3000 merks mentioned therein, the said
George Dallas, with consent of Hugh Dallas, Commis-
sary Clerk of Ross, agrees to infeft Margaret Dallas in
liferent, and her son George Mackculloch, and his heir,
whom failing, Mr. John Dallas, eldest lawful son to
Mr. John Dallas, Dean of Boss, and his heirs, in fee,
under reversion, in an annual rent of £100 secured over
Easter Balblair. The disposition is dated at Ardersier,
22nd October 1683, the witnesses being Mr. John
Dallas, Dean of Ros, and William Dallas, burgess and
merchant in Inverness, while to the sasine one of the
witnesses is Alexander Dallas, son to Mr. John Dallas,
Dean of Ross. {Ibid., v. fol. 251.) Finally, on 18th
April 1693, is sasine of Margaret Dallas, relict of
George MackcuUoch, and George Mackculloch, their
only lawful son now on life, in terms of a disposition
dated at Edinburgh 15th March 1693, by George Dallas
of St. Martins, W.S., to the said Margaret Dallas, his
sister, in liferent, and to the said George Mackculloch,
her son, and Margaret M'Kenzie, his spouse, and their
heirs, of his two and a half oxgates of the lands of
Caituall in the barony of Foulls and parish of Kil-
tearn, one of the witnesses being John Dallas, ' my
sone.' John Dallas, N.P., the notary, gives the
motto, Veritas vincit {Ibid,, v. fol. 614.) The date
of the death of Margaret Dallas is not known.
Alexander Dallas of Galcantray, the eldest son, did not
succeed to the paternal estate of Budgate, which was apprised
by his brother, John Dallas, Dean of Ross. In 1634 he gradu-
ated at Marischal College, and on 16th May 1642 he was witness
(as 'Mr. Alexander Dollas apparent of Budzett') to the sasine
of Christian Dunbar in the lands of Cantray fries, on her
marriage with Alexander Dallas of Cantray. On 23rd April
244 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
1644 there is sasine to Mr. Alexander Dollas and Jonet Camp-
beU, now his spouse, on a charter dated at Auldern, 26th
February 1644, by WiUiam Dollas of Budzett, his father,
to the said Mr. Alexander Dollas and Jonet Campbell, then his
future spouse, and their heirs- male, of the town and lands
of Little Budzett, with the woods and whole pertinents lying
in the parish of Ardclach, Alexander Dollas, fiar of Cantray,
acting as bailie (Beg, Sas., Elg. and Nairn, iii. fol. 343) ; but
they did not long hold these lands, as on 21st November 1649
they granted a charter of Little Budzeate to Hugh Campbell
and Agnes M'Intoische, his future spouse, of which they had
sasine on 29th November following. (Ibid,) There is a
renunciation dated at Calder, 8th December 1648, by Colin
Campbell of Clunes, cedent, and Mr. Alexander DoUace,
apparent of Budzet, and Jonet Campbell, his spouse, daughter
of the said Colin Campbell (assignees), in favour of James
Grant of Frewquhye, son and heir of the deceased Sir John
Grant of Frewquhye, of the lands of Over and Nether Finlarg,
in the regality of Spjniie and shire of Elgin and Forres, held in
reversion for 2500 merks, conform to a contract of wadset
dated at Lethen, 8th May 1633, to which Alexander Dollas
and his spouse had right by assignation dated 19th February
1644. (Beg, Sas,, Elg. and Nairn, iii. fol. 440.) On 14th
October 1648 he (as 'Mr. Alex^ Dolas of GaUa Ca'trezie ')
was nominated one of the elders of the kirk session of Croy,
though it was not until 8th December 1649 that there is sasine
on a charter dated at Brodie and Lethen, 20th October 1649,
by Hugh Campbell of Galcantray in favour of Mr. Alexander
Dollas, apparent of Budzatt, of the lands of Nether Galcantray,
with mill, mill lands, etc., and the town and lands of Over
Galcantray, with tofts, crofts, etc., with salmon fishing on the
water of Nairn. (Part, Beg, Sas,, Inverness, vii. fol. 67.)
From a long letter published in The Book of the Thanes of
Cawdor (p. 292), dated 20th May 1660, and containing ' In-
structions frohi the Tutor of Cawdor to Alexander Dollas of
WILLIAM DALLAS V. OF BUDGATE 245
Galcantray,' it would appear that he held some appointment
of factory on the Cawdor estate ; the Tutor concludes, ' Com-
mending yow and your bedfeUow to the Lord, I subsist your
loving freind, Geo. Campbell.' Whether he ever effectively
succeeded to his father's lands of Budgate is not clear, but he
could not long have enjoyed them, as he died before, but
probably not long before, 24th July 1652. He had issue : —
1. John, from whom the lands of Budgate were apprised
by his uncle, John Dallas of Budgate, 18th August
1652, when he was a student at Tain. On 31st
January 1653 he was warned at the instance of his
uncle, John Dallas, to enter heir in special to his
deceased father, but he died, no doubt unmarried,
before 21st December 1654, when a summons at the
instance of his uncle, John Dallas, mentions George
Dallas as oye and heir of the deceased William Dallas
of Budgate, his grandfather.
2. George, who was a witness to the warning given to his
brother John with reference to the apprising of 18th
August 1652. He is described as ' son lawful to the
deceased Mr. Alexander Dallas of Galcantray and oye
and heir to the deceased William Dallace of Budgate
his guidchir ' in the summons of 21st December 1654,
above referred to, and he is so described in an ordi-
nance of the Commissioners dated 13th October 1656,
directing the Laird of Calder to infeft John Dallas, his
uncle, in the lands of Budzett. He is again described
as heir in the sasine of Mr. John Dallace in the lands
of Budzett given on 6th April 1658. No further
reference has been found to him, but he was in all
probability the ancestor of Alexander Dallas of
North Newton.
3. Patrick, was witness to the service of a writ upon his
brother, George Dallas, on 24th July 1656, but he
has not been identified later.
246 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
As George Dallas, above referred to, son of Alexander
Dallas of Galcantray, is stated by Mr. Dallas, the author of
this work, to have been ' in all probability ' the ancestor of
Alexander Dallas of North Newton, the editor has introduced
the genealogy of his family at a later stage in this history.
About this period there appeared Robert Dallas, elder,
' Alexander's son,' and Robert Dallas, younger, ' James's
son,' both merchants in Inverness. After a careful examina-
tion of the records, the editor has come to the conclusion that
Robert, senior, was a younger son of Alexander Dallas of
Galcantray, whose children were evidently all in pupilarity at
the death of their father. Robert Dallas had the following
children: (1) Lilias, hp, 18th June 1677 — witnesses, Thomas
Watson, collector of the shire, Donald Fraser, merchant,
Donald Forbes, merchant, and Robert Dallas, younger ; (2)
Margaret, hp, 6th June 1679 — witnesses, John Lockhart,
Matthew Patersone, Donald Grant, and Simon Fraser,
merchants; (3) James, hp, 18th November 1680 — witnesses,
James M'Intosh, James Dunbar, and James Corry, merchants ;
(4) Loeline and Magdalene, hp, 31st January 1682 — witnesses,
William Dallas, David Duff, Simon Fraser, and Thomas
Hossacke. The names of the witnesses are aU significant of
the relationship and connections.
Consideration of the witnesses to the baptisms of the
children of Alexander Dallas, cordiner burgess of Edinburgh,
and his connection with the Budgate line, lead the editor to
conclude that he was also a son of Alexander Dallas of Gal-
cantray, as will be hereafter shown, notwithstanding the
statement in some of the legal pleadings that he was no blood
relation.
JOHN DALLAS I. OF BUDGATE
With the death of William Dallas of Budgate ended the
direct descent of those lands from father to eldest son. John
Dallas, the second son of William, now secured them by an
apprising from the direct heirs, and for a few years continued
to hold them through this process of law.
He was born about the year 1625, and was educated for the
Church. He entered as a student at Marischal College,
Aberdeen, in 1637, taking his Master's degree in 1643. He
then went through a course of theology, and some time before
4th July 1649 was appointed minister of Tain, when he must
have recognised the Presbyterian form of Church government,
which had been revived by the General Assembly in 1638, and
ratified by Parliament in 1641. His first appearance in his
ministerial capacity is on 19th February 1650, when he and
Mr. Robert Munro, ' from the presbytrie of Taine,' desired the
assistance of the presbytery of Dingwall for the trial of ' a
scandall ' against Mr. John M'Kenzie and Elizabeth Bayne.
{Rec. Presh, Invern, and Dingw.) On 5th September 1654,
and again on 15th May 1655, he appears at the meetings of
the Presbytery of Dingwall as assessor from Tain, and on 15th
October of the latter year he gave a written testimonial to
Mr. Murdo M'Kenzie, which the Presbytery apprehended
' could not be receaved better then befoire the provinciall,'
to which it was referred. (Ibid.)
It must have been immediately after the death of his
elder brother, Alexander Dallas of Galcantray, that he com-
menced proceedings which put him in possession of the lands
of Budgate, and on September 1652 ' the Commissioners for
247
248 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
the Administration of Justice to the People of Scotland '
ordain John Campbell of Caddell and George Campbell, his
brother-german, to infeft Mr. John DoUas, minister at Tayne,
in the following lands which pertained to Mr. Alexander Dollas
of Galcantray, viz. Nether and Over Galcantray and fishings
on the Nairn, the lands being bounded by the lands of Cantray-
freiss on the west, going from the Water of Nairn to the little
hill or knowe called Rywatschie, thereafter going to the mounth
from the lands of Auchindoun to the east, and to a common
hill or muir called the mounth at the south, with the Water
of Nairn on the north ; also in half the lands of Meikle Budzet
sometime occupied in maines by umquhill William Dollas,
servitor to the said Mr. Alexander Dollas, which, with the
ground, right, and property thereof, and all tacks, decreets,
etc., made to the said Mr. Alexander Dollas or his son [John]
after mentioned, or their predecessors and authors, with all
contracts, bonds, obligations, etc., and especially without
prejudice to the above generality, ' the right of the Contract
of Mariadge passed betwixt the said unquhille William Dollas
and the said umquhille Mr. Alexander Dollas, his son, and
[Janet] Campbell, his spouse on the ane and other parts,'
whereby the said William Dollas disponed to his son the
said half lands of Budget under reservation of the sum of
2000 merks, as specified in the said contract, which is dated
[26th] February 1644 ; also another bond granted by Colin
Campbell of Cammyes, as principal, and the deceased John
Inglis, merchant in Aberdeen, as cautioner, for the said
Alexander Dollas for 1000 merks, and which lands were ap-
prised from the said John Dollas, son and lawfully charged
to enter heir in special to the said Mr. Alexander Dollas of
Galcantray, his father, and from his Tutors and Curators if
he any has, at the instance of the said Mr. John Dollas, for
payment of the sum of 2240 merks of principal and 112 merks
of sheriff fee ; and the said lands are to be held of the said
John Campbell of Caddell and his Tutor as the said umquhill
JOHN DALLAS I. OF BUDGATE 249
Mr. Alexander DoUas or his said deceased father held the same
before this apprising.
This apprising was led in the Tolbooth of Tayne on 18th
August 1652, John Hay, messenger, having on 24th July
1652 gone to the said Mr. Alexander Dollas's dwelling-house
in Budgett, ' wherein he used to have his residence quhill he
wes one lyff,' and thereafter to the ground of the lands and
diligently searched the moveable goods pertaining to the said
John DoUas, to have poinded and apprised the same, and
having also made proclamation at the Market Crosses of In-
verness and Tayne, the latter being the head burgh of the
shire of Ross in which the said John Dallas has his residence,
on 27th July, and lawfully apprised the said lands. To the
personal warning of the party George DoUas and Patrick
DoUas, students in Tayne, were witnesses. {Oen, Reg, Decreets
of Appris., V.) On 26th February 1653 a simUar order was
directed to the Campbells to infeft Mr. John DaUace, minister
of Tain, in the lands of Galcantray and Budzett, formerly
heritably belonging to Mr. Alexander DaUace, which, with all
right competent ' to the said John DaUace as air foresaid,'
with aU contracts and rights competent to the deceased Mr.
Alexander DaUace, or to the said John DaUace, his said son,
and who is lawfuUy charged to enter heir in special to his
father at the instance of Mr. John DaUace for a debt of 9560
merks of principal and 478 merks of sheriff fee. The lands are
to be held by Mr. John DaUace as freely as the said Mr. Alex-
ander DaUace held them, or as the said John DaUace, his son,
might have held them if he had been infeft. John DaUace
was personally warned on 31st January in the burgh of Tain,
James DaUace and Alexander DaUace in Budzett being
witnesses. (Ibid., vi.)
The young heir must have died shortly after this decreet,
for on 21st December 1654 there is a summons by Oliver
Lord Protector at the instance of Mr. John DaUace, minister
of Tayne, narrating that the deceased WiUiam DaUace of
260 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
Budget as principal, and William Dallace of Cantray and
Alexander Dallace, fiar of Cantray, as cautioners, granted a
bond, dated 3rd June 1639, for 600 merks to Angus M'lntosh
in CouU and Isabell M' Queen, his spouse; that the said William
Dallace of Budzet granted another bond for 200 merks on
10th December 1646 to the same person, and that M'lntosh
assigned both bonds to the complainer on 20th June 1653.
Further, that William Dallace of Budzet granted a bond on
15th June 1641 for 200 merks to David Hay, burgess of Inver-
ness, which was also assigned to the pursuer. Likewise
William Dallace of Cantray and his eldest son, on 24th June
1647, granted a bond for 1000 merks to Francis Brodie in
Ballivat, brother-german to Alexander Brodie of Lethen,
which he assigned on 20th June 1653 to WiUiam Grant in
Budzet, brother-german to John Grant of Moyness, who
again assigned it to the pursuer on 2nd December thereafter.
Further, William Dallace of Budzet and Mr. Alexander
Dallas, fiar of Budzet, his son, on 16th June 1649 granted a
bond for 500 merks to Mr. Donald MTherson, minister at
Calder, and Agnes Calder, his spouse, which they assigned on
27th December 1652 ; and among other bonds there is one
for £400 granted by William Dallace of Budzet and Mr. Alex-
ander Dallace to Andrew Hendrie and Sarah FuUerton, his
spouse ; all of which sums are still addebted, and for payment
the pursuer sues George DaUace, son lawful to the deceased
Mr. Alexander Dallace of Galcantray, and oy and heir to the
said deceased WiUiam Dallace of Budzet his guidchir and as
charged to enter heir to him. A marginal note intimates that
the defender did not appear, and that decree was given in
favour of the pursuer. (Ct, Sess., Decreets, Dabymple's
Office, XX. p. 31.)
On 13th October 1656 the Commissioners again ordain the
Laird of Calder to infeft Mr. John Dallace, minister at Tayne,
in the lands of Meikle Budzett, Little Budzett, Newton of
DaUashiel in the shire of Inverness, and of Inchgeddell in the
JOHN DALLAS I. OF BUDGATE 251
shire of Nairn, which all pertained heritably of before to
William Dallace of Budzett, with all right belonging or com-
petent to Greorge Dallace of the same as if he were entered
and infeft as ' hair ' to William Dallace, ' his guidsir,' which
are apprised from the said George his 'oy,' and heir of the said
William Dallace, for a debt of 5415 merks of principal and 217
merks of sheri£E fee. Service of the summons was made
upon George Dallas at his dwelling-house on 24th July 1656,
one of the witnesses being Patrick Dallace, his brother-german.
(Gen, Reg, Deer. Appris., x.)
Some time elapsed before effect was given to this decreet,
but on 7th May 1658 there is registration of sasine dated
6th April 1658 by Hugh DaUace, merchant, burgess of Tayne,
as bailie to Mr. John Dallace, minister at Tayne, who went
successively to the grounds of the lands of Inschgeddell, the
lands and manis of Meikle Budzett and manor place thereof,
the lands of Dallaschyle, the lands of Newton, and lastly the
lands of Little Budzett and others after mentioned, having a
charter containing the precept afterwards inserted granted to
the said Mr. John Dallace and his heirs-male, etc., heritably
by Hugh Campbell, now Laird of Calder, superior of the said
lands, which formerly belonged to Mr. Alexander Dallace of
Galcantray, and were apprised from John Dallace, his son ;
also these lands pertained formerly to the deceased WiUiam
Dallace of Budzett, and were apprised by Mr. John Dallas
from George Dallace, his oye, as lawfully charged to enter heir
in special to him. In the precept the right of Hugh CampbeU
of Auchendoune in Little Budzett is reserved, ' which shall not
be prejudged by the foresaid confirmation.' It is also pro-
vided that so soon as it shall happen the said George Dallace,
or any other heirs of the said William Dallace, pay to Mr.
John Dallace or his heirs the sums of money, interest, and
expenses for which the lands were apprised, they should im-
mediately have access to the said lands, provided the redemp-
tion be made in due time. The precept is written by George
252 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
Dallace, writer in Edinburgh, and subscribed by Hugh Camp-
bell of Calder, and Alexander Brodie of that ilk, at Edinburgh,
4th March 1658, witnesses being Alexander JajBfray of King-
waittes, Director of the Chancery, Robert Irwing, servitor to
said superior, Rodger Mowat, servitor to the Laird of Brodie,
and the said Greorge Dollace ; by Joseph Brodie, also at Edin-
burgh the same day, Robert Irwing and George Dallace
witnesses; by Alexander Brodie of Lethen, at Kinloss, 3rd
April 1658, witnesses Mr. James Brodie, his son, and David
Duncan in Kinloss ; and by Francis Brodie, at Ballivat, 5th
April 1658, witnesses the said Hugh Dallace, merchant, and
Robert Dallace, his servitor ; also by William Dallace at
Cantray, 8th April 1658, witnesses Adam Smith in Calder and
John Campbell in Galcantray. The witnesses to the sasine
were, at Inchgeddell, Adam Smith in Calder, John Dunbar,
servitor to Colin Dumbar in Budzett, Finlay Maacurrich there,
and William M'Glashan in Bellachargon ; at the manor
place of Meikle Budzett and the other lands, the said Colin
Dunbar in Budzett, Patrick Dunbar, brother-german to
Alexander Dunbar, Bennetesfield, the said Adam Smith,
Finlay M'Currich, and William M'Glashan ; the notary being
William Man. {Gen. Reg, Sas., xiv. fol. 385.)
Possession of the family estates being thus secured, there
is, on 1st December 1658, registration by Hew Dallas, writer
in Edinburgh, of sasine, dated 12th October 1658, to John Rose,
elder of Bredler, as attorney for Marie Rose, spouse to Mr.
John Dallace, minister at Tayne, his lawful daughter, upon a
charter of liferent by Mr. John Dallace to his spouse in terms
of their contract of marriage in so far as extends to the sum
of 4500 merks in the lands of Meikle Budzett, Inchgeddle,
Newton, and DoUaschyle, reserving to Christian Stewart,
mother-in-law of the said Mr. John Dallace, her liferent of
Newton and DoUaschyle. The charter is dated at Tajme,
23rd September 1658, the witnesses being George Dallace,
writer in Edinburgh, and the said Hew Dallace. To the
JOHN DALLAS I. OF BUDGATE 253
sasine William Dallace, maltman in Budzett, is a witness.
(Ibid., XV. fol. 292.)
While concerned with these more personal affairs, he was
not apparently neglectful of his parish, for on 26th January
1665, Mr. John Dallas, minister of Tane, obtained the Council's
warrant of apprehension against a number of persons who
were denounced rebels, and put to the horn for not paying to
him certain sums adjudged due from them ' for building and
repairing off the parische kirk of Taine and kirkyeard dyke
yroff ' ; the sheriffs, provost, and bailies of Tain are accordingly
charged to ' seek tak and apprehend ' these persons, and to
keep them within the tolbuith upon their own proper charges
ay and till they obey. (W. Macgill, Old Ross, etc., 63.)
Some time before 20th December 1664, John Dallas had
been appointed Dean of Koss {Reg. Sas., Inverness, ii. fol. 236),
and before 18th April 1665 he was admitted minister of the
parish of Ardersier. From this time he ceases to appear as
minister of Tain, and is now usually, but not invariably,
described as Dean of Boss.
On 2nd March 1667 the Dean obtained from Sir John
Urquhart of Cromarty a bond to himself and Marie Boss, his
spouse, for 7000 merks, by which Sir John Urquhart secured
to them an annual rent of 420 merks secured over the lands of
Newton, Neilston, Craighouse, and Navaties and numerous
burgh roods and other lands about the town of Cromarty,
including Kirkmichaell, Balblair, Ester Culbo, Drumcuddin,
and Toberchurne {Reg. Deeds, Dalrymple, Ivii.) ; this bond he
afterwards assigned to his brother, George Dallas of St.
Martins.
On 11th February 1667 the Venerable Mr. John Dollas,
Dean of Boss, disponed the lands of Meikle and Little Budzett,
Newtoun of Buidzett, Inchgeddell, and Dollashyll to Hugh
Boss of Kihavock, one of the witnesses being Hugh Dollas,
Commissary Clerk of Boss, and on 19th March following
sasine was duly given. A few years later the Baron of Kil-
254 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
ravock conveyed his rights to Hugh Dallas, the Dean's younger
brother, but notwithstanding these transactions, it would
appear that some right of possession still remained to the Dean ;
and indeed on 20th June 1667 Mr. John DoUas, ' now Dean of
Ross,' had sasine of these lands ; one of the bailies in the
precept of sasine is Hugh Dallas, merchant in Tayne, and Hugh
Campbell of Inschdoun has his right in Little Budzet reserved ;
it also being provided that if George Dallas or any other of
the heirs and successors of the deceased William Dallas pay
to Mr. John Dallas the sums expended in apprising the lands
they will have regress thereto. (Beg. Sas,, Inverness, iii.
fol. 219.)
The Dean's wife, Mary Rose, died in July 1669. Not long
after, on 26th February 1672, sasine (witnessed by William
Dallas, writer in Fortrose) is given by Robert Urquhart in
St. Mertines as bailie to James Dallas of Balblair as attorney
for Mr. John Dallas, Dean of Ros, and Margaret Fraser, his
spouse, in terms of a bond by Hugh Fraser of Kilbokie, her
brother, disponing to them, but for her liferent use allenarly,
the sum of 3500 merks secured over the two davoch land of
Kilbokie in the parish of Urquhart. The bond, written by
Hugh Dallas, notary, is dated at Kinveachie 23rd February
1672, but whether it was given before the marriage there is
nothing to show. (Ibid,, iv. fol. 139.) It was subsequently
renounced by the Dean and his wife to Hugh Fraser, 26th
September 1672. (Ibid,, fol. 177.) In some unexplained
way related to this was doubtless a suspension obtained
5th October 1675 by Mr. Hugh Fraser, minister at Ealtarlity,
of the horning against him by Margaret Fraser, relict of Thomas
Fraser of Eskidaill, and Mr. John Dallas, minister at Ardersier,
now her husband. (Beg. Horn., Inverness, N.S., viii.)
On 13th September 1680 he had sasine of the lands of
Midcumlich in Strathriesdell, in the parish of Roskeine, dis-
poned to him, 28th May 1678, by John Ross of Auchenacloich.
(Beg. Sas,, Inverness, v. fol. 75.)
JOHN DALLAS I. OF BUDGATE 255
Admitted to the ministry at a time when the General
Assembly had revived in its full vigour the exercise of Presby-
terian government in the Church, John Dallas later conformed
to the Episcopalian forms sanctioned by Parliament in 1662,
but lived to see the bishops finally deposed and the Presby-
tery again established. Indications of the approaching change
could be discerned long before the time when, in 1689, the
Convention of Estates ' declared Prelacy a great and insup-
portable grievance to the nation, and that it ought to be
abolished,' and it was doubtless in anticipation of this change
that, on 18th October 1682, the Dean assigned to his son,
William Dallas, merchant in Inverness, all his rights as Dean
of Ross in the lands in the Dean's quarters in Kilmuir Wester,
the said lands being taken off the Chanorie and forming
part of the lands of Broomhill ; the witnesses to the deed at
Ardersier were John Dallas, lawful son to Hugh Dallas, Com-
missary Clerk of Ross, and Thomas Forbes, merchant in
Fortrose. {Reg. Deer, Bonds, etc.. Tain, 31st July 1683.)
He appears to have finally divested himself of Budgate in
1686, for there is a disposition, dated at Fortrose 22nd October
of that year, by Mr. John Dallas, Dean of Ros, eldest son and
heir of the deceased William Dallas of Budzett, and brother
and heir of the deceased Mr. Alexander Dallas of Galcantray,
to Hugh Dallas, Commissary Clerk of Ross, his brother-
german, of the lands of Meikle Budzett, Dollaschyll, Tombeg,
Toamlaggan, and Inshgaddall in the parish of Calder, and also
the lands of Nether and Over Galcantray, with the mill and
mill lands in the parish of Croy. He binds himself to serve
heir to his father and brother, and thereafter to infeft Hugh
and his heirs-male under a penalty of £2000, and he further
ratifies Hugh's present possession of the lands and grants
procuratory for resignation ; the witnesses are David Moni-
pennie, late bailie of Fortrose, Thomas Gair, writer in Fortrose,
and John Dallas, notary public there. {Reg, Deeds, Mackenzie,
vol. lix.)
256 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
In accordance with the Act of Parliament, John Dallas
must have been deprived not only of his deanery, but of the
ministry of the parish of Ardersier on 25th April 1690 ; but
Hugh Scott states that he was ' intruded ' into the parish of
Ardersier almost immediately after this date : the probabiUty
is that he was not actually disturbed in his tenure, but con-
formed to the new order of the Church. Scott states that he
died ' about 1693,' but nothing has been found in corrobora-
tion of this statement.
In Mathew Lumsden's Genealogy of the Family of Forbes
(Inverness, 1819, p. 17), it is stated that Marjorie, youngest
daughter of Duncan Forbes of Campbell, married ' Mr. John
Dollas, parson of Tanne,' but no confirmation of this state-
ment has been found in the records. If such a marriage took
place, which there is no reason to doubt, the lady must have
died in early Ufe ; and John Dallas married, secondly, Mary,
second daughter of John Rose of Broadley by Anne Chisholm,
his wife, and granddaughter of William Rose, eleventh Laird
of Kilravock. She died 22nd July 1669, and he married,
thirdly, Margaret, sister of Hugh Fraser of Kilbokie, and
widow of Thomas Fraser of Eskidale, of whom nothing further
is known : the children were probably by Mary Rose. He
had issue : —
I. John Dallas, of Primrosehill, of whom below,
n. William, merchant in Inverness, was one of the deacons
appointed 10th August 1680 'for ingathering of the
collections ' of the kirk session. In 1680 he m.
Christian Rose, and on 9th March 1682 there is a
summons at the instance of Christian Rose, relict
and executrix of James Dunbar younger, merchant
in Inverness, and William Dallas, merchant in Inver-
ness, now her spouse, against Thomas Falconer of
Kincorth, for a sum of 300 merks, with interest, in
terms of a bond by him to the said James Dunbar,
who died in 1679. {Beg. Deer., Moray, vol. ii.) On
JOHN DALLAS I. OF BUDGATE 257
18th October following he had from his father an
assignation of the deanery lands in Kilmuir Wester ;
and on 22nd October 1683, as ' burgess and merchant
in Inverness,' witnesses a disposition by George
Dallas of St. Martins, of an annual rent over the lands
of Easter Balblair, in favour of George M'Culloch
and others. On 27th December 1684 he had horning
against Hugh Eraser of Belladrum for a debt of £43
on a bond dated 22nd November 1680 (Beg, Horn.,
Inverness, vol. viii.) ; and on 29th December 1684
he is a party to and one of the witnesses of the con-
tract of marriage between Alexander Dallas of
Cantray and Christian Dallas, when he is described
as a son of the Dean of Boss. He died at Inverness,
20th March 1689 {Par. Beg., Inverness), having had
issue : —
1. William, bp. at Inverness 16th September
1688, the witnesses being William Bobertson of
Inches, William Duff, elder, bailie of Inverness,
William Duff of Diple, and William Bose of
Markines.
1. Marie, bp. at Inverness 27th May 1681,
one of the witnesses being James Smith, master
mason.
2. Christian, d. at Inverness 1st April 1708.
ni. Charles, was admitted to Marischal College in 1678,
and is recorded as paying fees ' for all, by the Princi-
pal's orders,' amounting to £6, 13s. 4d. in 1682-3.
He witnessed the sasine of Hugh Dallas of Budzeat
in the lands of Over and Nether Galcantray on 12th
August 1682 ; and the disposition by John Grant
of Dunskaith to George Dallas of St. Martins, of the
lands of Dunskaith and others, dated 17th October
1683. When, on 24th February 1683, he witnessed
the marriage contract of James Dallas, younger of
B
258 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
St. Martins and Elizabeth Riddell, he is described
as writer in Edinburgh, and he is so described 8th
April 1685, when he is cautioner for John Dallas,
afterwards of Bannans, on his admission as a notary.
When, however, on 8th October 1690, he was ad-
mitted a burgess of Edinburgh by paying £100 Scots
he appears to have forsaken the law, and is now
designated ' one of the Gentlemen of their Majesty's
life guards.' (Burgess Roll, Edinr.) Later, on 21st
April 1692, when he witnessed the baptism of a son
of Mr. Alexander Dallas, afterwards minister of
Kinnell, he is styled ' merchant.' On 15th July 1696,
he and his brother, Mr. Alexander Dallas, granted
a bond for 500 merks to Mr. James Dallas of St.
Martins. On 7th August 1698, at the baptism of
another son of Alexander Dallas, he is described as a
' vintner,' while on 5th February of that year John
Foulis of Ravelston records that he 'spent w*
dawick S'^ Jas. Justice, Sauchie, and ad. Rae at W^
black beyond the sheins and at charles dallas,' a sum
of £2, 8s. 6d. On 25th March 1702 he was declared
rebel at the instance of Edward Burde, merchant,
Edinburgh, and his estates were escheat to Gilbert
Stuart, merchant, Edinburgh. (Cal. of State Papers,
Domestic, vol. 1702-3.) On 22nd October 1705, ' Mr.
Charles Dallas, Vintner burgess,' was married in the
Edinburgh City Parish to ' Sarah Manderston,
daughter to the deceased John Manderston, merchant
in Tweedmouth, now in N.N.K. paroch,' by whom
he appears to have had no issue. He was buried in
the Greyfriars, Edinburgh, ' west end north alley,'
on 19th February 1707.
IV. Hugh, was at Marischal College in 1682-3, when he
paid 'for bibliotheck and maisse, having got his
ticket for privat graduation,' £4, 12s. He acted as
JOHN DALLAS I. OF BUDGATE 259
bailie to Hugh Dallas of Budgate in giving sasine to
Christian Dallas, wife of Alexander Dallas of Cantray,
on 24th June 1685, when he is styled ' Student of
Divinity,' and he was still a student of divinity when,
on 30th July 1687, he witnessed the sasine of Henrietta
Dallas, wife of David Rose of Drummuirnie, in an
annual rent ' furth of the towns and lands of Barri-
vans ' and others. In the Diet Book of the Com-
missariot of Berwickshire, under date 27th July 1708,
it is recorded that Margaret Yeaman, relict of John
Dallas of Primrosehill, in applying for decerniture as
executrix of her late husband, calls Mr. Hugh Dallas
and Margaret Dallas as next of kin ; and on 3rd
January 1709 there is a summons of forthcoming
by William Hay of Drumelzier, the claimant of John
Dallas's husbandlands in Preston, against Hugh
Dallas, Preacher of the Gospel at Connage, brother
and nearest of kin to the deceased Mr. John Dallas,
Bailie of Dunse. ' It is served in presence of William
M'Intosh of Bellenespick in the lockhole of the most
patent door of the said William his dwelling house
where the said Mr. Hugh resides, after six knocks
thereat.' No later reference has been found to him?
and he probably never married.
V. Robert, a student of Marischal College in 1682-3. On
24th May 1686, when he is described as ' Student in
Theology in Aberdeen University,' he was appointed
' Schoolmaster, professor and teacher of Humanity
in the School of Fortrose ' (Min. Bk., Fortrose), and
on 13th December 1690, as 'Mr. Robert Dallas,
schoolmaster at Fortrose,' he witnesses two sasines
given to Mr. James Dallas, younger of St. Martins.
He was apparently the Robert Dallas whose wife
was named Wood. Their daughter
Mary, was bp. at Cromarty, 13th March 1690,
260 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
witnesses being Alexander Urquhart of Newhall,
and Alexander Clunies of Dunskaith.
VI. Alexander, as ' son to Mr. John Dallas, Dean of Ross,'
witnessed a sasine dated 12th November 1683, in
favour of George M'Culloch and others. On 28th
June 1684 he was bailie for the sasine of Christian
Urquhart, spouse of Hugh Dallas of Brachlie, in the
lands of Brachlie. He next appears in Edinburgh,
where, described as a brewer in Canongate, he was
admitted a burgess, 18th November 1691, on pay-
ment of 200 merks. He continues to be described
as a brewer until 10th January 1700, when, on the
baptism of his son George, he is styled ' Student of
Divinitie.' He was licensed as a preacher by the
Presbytery of Dunse, 19th November 1700, and was
called and ordained on 23rd September 1703 at
Kinnell, in the Presbytery of Arbroath. In Scott's
Fasti he is said to have married, in February 1691,
Alison Watson, daughter of John Watson of Dunikeir,
but this is a mistake, for in the Edinburgh City
Parish Register there appears ' 20 February 1694,
Mr. Alex^^ Dallas and Alison Watson married dis-
orderly.' He died 20th January 1705 (Scott's Fasti),
his testament, dated 14th February and 16th May
1705, being recorded in the Commissariot of St.
Andrews, his ' plenishings ' being estimated at
£227, 15s. 3d., and the ' Inventar ' amounting to
£1165, lis. 3d. He had issue : —
1. John, hp, in Edinburgh, 21st April 1692, as
son of Mr. Alexander Dallas, brewer, and Alison
Watson, the witnesses being Mr. Charles Dallas,
merchant, Mr. William Dallas, W.S., and John
Urquhart, Laird of Craighouse.
2. Charles, 'born Saturday 17th afternoon,' hp,
in Edinburgh, 27th June 1693, a witness bemg,
JOHN DALLAS I. OF BUDGATE 261
Mr. John Dallas, bailie of Bonkle. He is described
as ' son to decease Mr. Alexander Dallas, late minister
of the Gospel at Kinnell, now in N.E. parish, &
married Margaret, daughter to Mr. James Robertsone,
minister of the Gospel at Athelston, 30 July 1721.'
{Edinr. Par. Beg,) He was a printer in Edinburgh,
and was admitted a burgess on 20th December 1721,
in respect of his father.
3. Alexander, bp. in Edinburgh, 14th March
1697, amongst the witnesses being George Dallas of
St. Martins and Mr. Charles Dallas, merchant.
4. George, bp. in Edinburgh, 10th January 1700,
a witness being George Dallas of St. Martins. He
was a merchant in Portsburgh, and m. Isabel Duff,
daughter of William Duff, farmer, Aberdeen, after-
wards residing in Edinburgh. They had the follow-
ing children : (1) George, bp. 24th January 1720 ;
(2) William, bp. 5th August 1721 ; (3) Ann, bp.
6th February 1723 ; (4) Margaret, bp. 5 April 1725 ;
and (5) Janet, bp. 28th May 1727, m. James Forsyth,
tailor, 22nd July 1749.
1. Margaret, bp, in Edinburgh, 12th November
1695, buried in the Greyfriars, Edinburgh, 22nd
December 1718.
2. Eupham, bp. in Edinburgh, 7th August 1698,
amongst the witnesses being John Watson of Duni-
keir, James Watson, brewer in Leith, and Mr. Charles
Dallas, vintner.
3. Alison, buried in the Greyfriars, Edinburgh,
having died 1st December 1715.
4. Lilias, b. 11th September, bp. at St. Cuthbert's,
Edinburgh, 4th October 1702, a witness being Mr.
WiUiam DoUas, W.S.
I. Lilias, was first m. (as second wife) to Mr. Alexander
Urquhart of Craighouse, but was early left a widow.
262 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
From a Joint Print of Documents in the ' Shandwick
Succession Case ' it appears that ' At Fortrose ye
14^ day of 1675,' there compeared
Alexander M'Rae, writer in Fortrose, as procurator
for Andrew Ross, and Thomas Gair, as procurator for
LiHas Dallas and Mr. John Dallas, for the registration
of the marriage contract dated at Chanonrie, 15th
August 1671, between Andrew Ross of Sand wick
and Mr. John Dallas, Dean of Ross, for himself
and for his daughter, Lilias Dallas, relict of Mr.
Alexander Urquhart of Craighouse, by which Andrew
Ross gave to his intended spouse and their heirs ' all
and haill the Easter Half Davoch of the Wester Davoch
of Fearn, commonly called Mid Fearn.' Following
this settlement, on 24th August 1671, at Fortrose,
sasine is given to Rorie FouUer of Meikle Allan as
attorney for Lilias Dallas, relict of Mr. Alexander
Urquhart of Craighous, now spouse to Andrew Ros
of Sandwick, in terms of the contract, in which he
dispones to his spouse and the heirs of their marriage
the lands of Mid Fearne in the parish of Edderton
and shire of Ros, and also the lands of Pitkealzeane
in the parish of Nigg. Mr. John Dallas signs the
contract, which is witnessed by Colin Campbell of
Delnie, and William Campbell, his son, Mr. James
M'Kenzie, subdean of Ross, and James Eraser of
Pitkealzean. {Reg, Sas,, Inverness, iv. fol. 108.)
On 8th February 1673 sasine is given to Andrew Ros
of Sandwick for himself and as attorney for Lilias
Dallas, his spouse, and William Ross, their son,
upon a disposition dated 24th January last by Sir
George M'Kenzie of Tarbet of the three-quarter
lands of Drumgillie. The disposition is witnessed
by Hugh Dallas, Commissary Clerk of Ross, and the
sasine by Alexander Ros, brother-german to the said
JOHN DALLAS I. OF BUDGATE 263
Andrew Ros. {Reg. Sas., Inverness, iv. fol. 197.)
In 1676 she is described as ' relict of the deceist
Andrew Ross of Sandwick,' when inquiry is insti-
tuted ' anent the Chartor chist of . . . Andrew . . .
and evidents away taken be Alexr. Ross in Pitma-
duthie, Andrew's brother, furth of LiUas' house in
Drumgillie,' and David Ross having ' given warrand
to seik throughout his ground,' they ' found great
quantitie of peapers in two Codwairs in ane chest
pertaining to Alexander Ross.' (Macgill's Old Ross.,
No. 924.) She did not, however, long remain a
widow, for on 15th July 1679 sasine is given by Mr.
Robert Urquhart, second lawful son to Alexander
Urquhart of Newhall, as bailie to Hugh Dallas of
Breachley, as attorney for Lilias Dallas, relict of
Andrew Ros of Sandwick, and now spouse to the
said Alexander Urquhart of Newhall, in terms of
their contract of marriage, dated 24th and 25th
December 1677, and witnessed by Hugh Dallas,
Commissary Clerk of Ros, Hugh Dallas, son lawful to
the deceased William Dallas of Cantra, whereby
Alexander Urquhart obliged himself to infeft her in
liferent in the lands of Wester Balblair. {Reg. Sas.,
Inverness, v. fol. 8.) From a volume of Signatures
past the Privy Seal, in the editor's possession, it
appears that on 26th March 1678 infeftment was
given of ' those oxgates Aikers of Burgess lands lying
in the towne of Cromartie,' and others, to Lillias
Dallas, relict of the deceased Mr. Alexander Urqu-
hart of Craighouse, and George Dallas, W.S., apprised
for £1384, 17s. lOd., the composition being 20 merks.
At Redcastle, 14th September 1679, disposition was
granted by Alexander Urquhart of Newhall to John
Urquhart, his eldest lawful son, of the lands and
barony of Newhall and others, reserving to himself
264 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
and Lilias Dallas, his present spouse, their liferent
of Wester Balblair (Beg, Deeds, Mackenzie, Ix.) ;
and at Fortrose sasine dated 1st June 1686 is given
by John M'Comie, servitor to Alexander Urquhart
of Newhall, as bailie to John Urquhart in Milton of
NewhaU, as attorney for Lilias Dallas, present spouse
to the said Alexander Urquhart, and George Urquhart,
their son, upon a disposition, dated at Fortrose,
15th December 1681, by John Urquhart, fiar of New-
hall, with consent of the said Alexander Urquhart,
his father, to the said Lilias Dallas in liferent, and to
George Urquhart, only surviving child of Alexander
Urquhart and Lilias Dallas, of the lands of Wester
Balblair, which are part of the barony of Newhall,
in the parish of Kirkmichael, under reversion of 6000
merks. The disposition, written by John Dallas,
lawful son to Hugh Dallas, Commissary Clerk of
Ross, is witnessed by the said Hugh and John Dallas,
Hugh Dallas of Breachley, and others, and sasine
is given in presence of William Urquhart of Braelang-
well, and James Dallas, writer in Fortrose. (Reg.
Sas,, Inverness, v. fol. 373.) On 23rd October 1696
she has sasine of the easter half of the west davoch
of Fern, called Midfern, in which her husband,
Andrew Ross, bound himself to infeft her by their
marriage contract (Beg, Sas,, Inverness, vi. fol. 83),
and on 2nd April 1701 she has sasine, as relict of Mr.
Alexander Urquhart of Craighouse, of certain acres
and roods of burgage lands in the burgh of Cromarty
and the lands of Navitie, Neilstoun, and Newtoun,
sometime belonging in heritage to the late Alexander
Urquhart of Cromarty ; this sasine is given upon a
crown charter of confirmation, and apprising dated at
Edinburgh, 26th July 1678. (Beg, Sas,, Inverness,
vi. fol. 231.) The date of her death is unknown.
JOHN DALLAS I. OF BUDGATE 265
n. Anna, was wife of Roderick Fowler, fiar of Coulnard.
On 12th November 1669 Korie Fouller, eldest lawful
son to Donald FouUer of Culnald, and Anna Dallas,
his affidat spouse, had sasine of the lands of Culnald
in terms of their contract of marriage dated the 9th
and 10th November, wherein reservation is made to
Margaret Ross, spouse to Donald Fouller, of her
liferent in Culnald and in the three-quarters of
Meikle Allan in the parish of Fearn in warrandice.
The contract is signed by Mr. John Dallas, her
father, by herself, and by Robert Dallas, elder, burgess
of Fortrose, as witness to her signature. (Beg, Sas,,
Inverness, iii. fol. 465.) There is another sasine to
them, in terms of a disposition by Donald Fouler
of Culdnaw, Rorie's father, in the lands of Little
AUan, dated at Nairn 23rd July 1670 (ProL BL,
cxii. fol. 20), but before this, on 22nd May 1670,
Margaret Ross, spouse to Donald Fouler of Coul-
nald, and Ann Dallas, spouse to Rorie Fouler, his
eldest son, grant a renunciation of their rights to
Donald Fouler, the act being recorded in the pro-
ceeding of the Town Council of Nairn, and signed
both by Anna Dallas and her husband. (Counc,
Bee, Nairn, vol. i.)
ni. Henrietta, was married to David Rose of Drummuirnie.
On 30th July 1687 is sasine of Hendretta Dallas, now
spouse to David Rose of Drummuirnie, on a contract
of marriage dated at Ardersier 11th January ' last '
between them, with consent of Mr. John Dallas, Dean
of Ross, the lady's father, whereby David Rose
settled upon his wife and children an annual rent of
£80 Scots yearly furth of the towns and lands of
Barrivans, Drummuirnie, and Dallacarne, in the
parishes of Calder and Berivan. The contract is
written by John Dallas, notary public in Fortrose,
266 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
and is witnessed by him and by Hugh Dallas, Com-
missary Clerk of Ross. The sasine is given to James
M'Donald, eldest lawful son of Donald M'Alester,
alias M'Donald, in Over Galcantray, as her attorney,
and is witnessed by Alexander Dallas of Cantra, Mr.
Hugh Dallas, student in divinity and lawful son of
the said Mr. John Dallas, John Dallas acting as
notary. {Reg, Sas,, Elg. and Nairn, iii. fol. 272.)
Henrie Rose in Arderseir, brother to Broadley, and
John Rose of Holme are also recorded as witnesses
to the contract of marriage. (Reg, Sas,, Inverness,
V. 422.)
I. John, of Primrosehill, as 'son to the said John Dallas,'
was, with Hugh Dallas, Clerk to the Records of Sasine in Ross,
witness at Ardersier, 20th May 1673, to an obligation by
Andrew Ros of Sandwick, as principal, and John Dallas, Dean
of Ros, as cautioner, for 1200 merks due to Finlay M*Coul
vie Brebader in Strathrushie. (Decreets, Tain Sess. Ct., vol.
ii.) He appears to have graduated at Marischal College in
1678, and as ' Mr. John Dallas, servitor to the said George
Dallas,' is mentioned as a witness in a horning obtained 8th
March 1678 by George Dallas, W.S., against Hugh Fraser of
Atoine. (Reg, Horn., Inverness, N.S., vol. viii.) He was, as
servitor to George Dallas, W.S., the writer of a tack dated
16th July and 14th August 1678, of the parsonage and vicar-
age teinds of Islay by Andrew Bishop of the Isles in favour
of Sir Hugh Campbell of Calder, signed at Edinburgh 16th
July 1678 by Andrew Bishop of the Isles and John Fraser,
Dean of the Isles, before George Dallas, W.S., and ' Mr. John
DaUas.' (Stent, BL, Islay, 415.) On 20th March 1678 there
is an order to infeft Mr. John Dallas, writer in Edinburgh, and
his heirs, in the lands of Guisachan, Killachie, Damchardany
and Kingihe in Inverness- shire, adjudged from Hugh Fraser
of Kilbockie for a debt of £4744, 14s. 8d. (Gen. Reg, Adj.),
JOHN DALLAS I. OF BUDGATE 267
but there is no evidence that he gained actual possession. It
must have been shortly after this date that he married his
first wife, Margaret Douglas, daughter of Archibald, and sister
of Sir John Douglas of Lumsden in Berwickshire, for on 16th
November 1680 their son John was baptized in the City
Parish, Edinburgh, amongst the witnesses being George
Dallas, of St. Martins, and Mr. William Lauder. On 25th
March 1682 there is a decreet following a submission sub-
scribed by Alexander Martin, bailie of Boncle and Preston,
on the one part, and Margaret Douglas, relict of John Colville,
portioner of Preston, and Mr. John Dallas, now her spouse,
for his interest, for themselves and in name and behalf of
James Colville, eldest son and heir of the said John ColviUe,
which deals with disputes concerning certain husbandlands
in the regality of Boncle and Preston, mentioned later, and
possesses considerable local interest : it is witnessed by David
Home of Whytfield and Mr. William Dallas, servitor to George
Dallas of St. Martins. {Beg, Deeds, Dalrymple, vol. Ivii.)
Under date 4th October 1686, in Bonkle and Preston Regality
Book, ' complains Mr. John Dallas, wryter in Edinburgh,
upon Christopher Sleigh, wright in Prestoune, that wherein
the moneth of May last bypast the perseuer agreed and bar-
gained with the defender for building him aine seat in the
Kirke of Prestoun, consisting the demensiones thereof two
ells squair with ane table in the midle . . . wered above with
ane hung door confurme all of firr timber work quhich seat
the defender agreed to build close round the height of a man's
breist,' yet now ' he most wrongouslie refuses and postpones
sua to do to the complainer's great prejudice.' The case is
decided in favour of Dallas and they were left next to prove
the price, but whether the ' seat ' was ever erected does not
transpire. It shows Dallas in the light of a prosperous denizen
of Preston, though stiU a writer in Edinburgh. On 27th June
1693, when he witnesses the baptism in Edinburgh of Charles,
the son of Alexander Dallas and Alison Watson, he is described
268 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
as Bailie of Bonkle. He appears to have acted for some time
as factor for the Earl and Countess of Sutherland in Berwick-
shire, as there occurs a discharge dated at Holyroodhouse,
1st July 1693, by Jean, Countess of Sutherland, narrating
a letter of factory granted to Mr. John Dallas over the lands
of Buncle and Preston, or any other lands of theirs in Berwick-
shire, and as he has now made just account and reckoning she
grants discharge thereof along with the Earl of Sutherland, her
husband. (Beg, Deeds, Mackenzie, vol. Ixxiii.)
Though two cases dealing with the ownership of Primrose-
hill were determined after the death of John Dallas, the
present seems a convenient place in which to refer to them.
On 14th February 1708 suspension is raised at the instance of
George Douglas and George Hastie, two of the tenants of the
Kirklands, and others in the town and regality of Preston and
Bonkle, against Agnes Loch, relict of the deceased Mr. John
Colville, advocate, who had put them to the horn, Douglas
for 600 merks and Hastie for 300 merks, the unpaid rent of
the lands possessed by them. In their defence they claim
that they are tenants in these lands of Margaret Douglas,
relict of the deceased John Colville of Primrosehill, liferentrix
thereof, and of Mr. John Dallas, Bailie of Dunse, now her
husband, for his interest. They plead therefore that they are
not liable to Agnes Loch, who founds upon an adjudication
led by her against Mr. John Colville' s son many years ago,
upon which infeftment followed, while the infeftment of
Margaret Douglas was twenty years before that, and further,
the right of Mr. John [written James] Colville, her husband,
was only upon another adjudication led by him against James
Colville, son to the said deceased John [written James] Colville,
portioner of Preston, husband to the said Margaret Douglas,
now spouse to John Dallas.
Conjoined with this case is another at the instance of
Elizabeth Renton, John and William Davidson, Henry
Breedie, John Rae, Archibald Sleich, Margaret Ogill, and
JOHN DALLAS I. OF BUDGATE 269
Thomas Johnstone, all tenants and possessors of the lands in
Preston, which formerly belonged to the deceased John Col-
ville, portioner there, against Sir Patrick Home of Renton,
advocate, Agnes Loch, relict of the deceased Mr. John Col-
ville, advocate, Mr. John Dallas, bailie of Dunse, Lieutenant
Archibald Colville, and Elizabeth Home, relict of Alexander
Trotter of Kettleshiels, in which they complain that they are
daily distressed and pursued before the Courts by these persons,
whereas the pursuers are only liable to make once payment,
and crave that it be determined to which of these payment
is due. Writs being called for, Agnes Loch produces some of
the adjudications above referred to and other legal documents
of about 1678, 1679, and 1700, and there are also produced : (1)
Bond by James Colville, portioner of Preston, with consent
of John Colville (his eldest son of the first marriage), to Eliza-
beth Home, his spouse, in liferent, and to Jean Colville, her
daughter, whom failing, to James Colville, with remainder to
his heirs, of a sum of lOOOmerks secured over his three husband-
lands in Preston, called the Kirklands, dated 11th July, and
recorded at Duns 1st September 1657 ; (2) bond of corrobora-
tion of the above by John Colville, to the said EUzabeth Home
and Alexander Trotter, her then husband, dated 13th Novem-
ber 1664 ; (3) sasine thereon, 25th November 1664 ; (4) horn-
ing and poinding at the instance of Elizabeth Home and
her husband against the said John Colville, 13th February
1666; (5) decreet of poinding the ground against him, 8th
January 1675 ; (6) contract of marriage between John
Brown, merchant in Kelso, and the said Jean Colville, fiar of
the said 1000 merks, dated 11th September 1675, by which
that sum is assigned as part of her tocher; (7) translation
of the said sum to take effect after the death of Elizabeth
Home in favour of Mr. James Brown, only lawful son of
the said John Brown, dated 21st January 1699 ; (8) assigna-
tion by Elizabeth Home, relict of Alexander Trotter of Kettle-
shiels, to the said Mr. James Brown, of her liferent in the said
270 THE FAMILY OF DALLAS
sum, 25th September 1704; (9) instrument of sasine thereof
to Mr. John Dallas, portioner of Preston, as he who was
singular successor to and then possessor of the said Kirklands
of Preston, out of which the said annual rent is upliftable,
4th April 1705. The further productions are of no interest.
So far as can be gathered from the portion of the decreet
preserved, it is found that Elizabeth Home had good right to
uplift the annual rents, and a commission is appointed to visit
the lands in vacation and collect further evidence. The case
was continued : ' In which action of competition the said Mr.
John Dallas, Bailie of Dunse while on life, and Mr. Robert
Dallas, writer in Edinburgh, after his decease, as deriving
right from him, compearing by Mr. Robert Eraser, Advocate,
produced the writs following, to wit ' : (1) Disposition by
William Maine, heir served to Mr. David Maine, writer in
Edinburgh (and as standing infeft by precept of dare constat
and charter of confirmation from James, Marquis of Douglas
as superior), with consent of Grizel Weir, his mother and
tutrix testamentrix, to the said John Dallas, dated 8th and
9th March 1696, narrating the following deeds[: (a) Contract,
dated 20th October 1652, between Archibald, Earl of Angus,
and the deceased James Colville, portioner of Preston, for him-
self, and in name and behalf of John Colville, his eldest law-
ful son, for the sale to them of his six husbandlands there
called the Kirklands, with two lands adjacent, belonging to
George Douglas, and the two belonging to John Lentron, the
said James having power to wadset the same; (h) contract
of wadset by the said James Colville to Alexander Douglas,
feltmaker in Edinburgh, and Jean Douglas, his spouse, of the
said six husbandlands for 2000 merks, dated 8th September
1654; (c) another wadset by the same to the same of the
same lands dated 5th August 1656; (d) disposition by the
said Alexander Douglas to Mary Douglas, his lawful daughter,
of these wadsets, dated 9th August 1667, in which it is
appointed that failing her by death before marriage, these
JOHN DALLAS L OF BUDGATE 271
should revert to her father or his two sons, Alexander and
William Douglas, equally between them; (e) sasine of Mary
Douglas, 14th October 1669; (/) decreet of declarator by
the Lords of Council and Session at the instance of the said
sons, with Mr. David Maine, writer in Edinburgh, and William
Veatch, merchant in Edinburgh, curators to William, the
younger son, that they had good right to the contracts and
arrears due thereupon from October 1669, the date of their
father's death, and John Colville, heritor, is ordained to
satisfy the same, dated 29th July 1673; (g) several other
conveyances of these wadsets in the person of the said Mr.
David Maine, whose son hereby dispones these six husband-
lands to Mr. John Dallas and his heirs in 1696 ; (2) instru-
ment of sasine on the disposition by William Maine, dated
25th April 1706; (3) bond and disposition, dated 25th May
1703, by the said Mr. John Dallas to Mr. Robert Dallas, writer
in Edinburgh, and Catherine Cochrane, his spouse, for certain
sums for work done, secured over these lands; (4) sasine
of Mr. Robert Dallas thereon, 25th April 1706.
After this the productions of Agnes Loch are again enumer-
ated, and then a claim is put forward by William Hay of
Drummelzier, who founds upon: (1) An adjudication at the
instance of Mr. John Dallas, Bailie of Dunse and portioner of
Preston, against Lieutenant Archibald Colville, son to the
deceased John Colville of Primrosehill, and charged to enter
heir to him, but which he renounced, founded upon the con-
tract of marriage between the said deceased John Colville
and Margaret Douglas, then his spouse, dated 12th February
1666, in terms of which she was to be infeft in his six husband-
lands in Preston, and Mr. John Dallas adjudged these lands
from Lieutenant Colville ; (2) extract disposition and assig-
nation by the said Mr. John Dallas to the said William Hay
of Drummelzier of the aforesaid adjudication, dated 13th May
1704.
In their deliverance the Lords prefer Agnes Loch in the
272 THE FAJVIILY OF DALLAS
first place, and Mr. Robert Dallas in the second place, and
though on 16th June 1709 Hay reclaimed, they adhered to
their decision.
In 1703 John Dallas married, as his second wife, Margaret
Yeaman, daughter of John Yeaman, portioner of Nungate„
Haddington. She was the widow of Alexander Loraine,
notary in Dunse, to whom she was contracted 21st November
1676, and whose testament in her favour was dated 17th
January 1699. He died in 1708, and on 27th July of that
year his widow, in applying for decerniture as executrix, calls
Mr. Hugh Dallas and Margaret Dallas as next of kin. (Corn-
miss. Diet Bk,, Berwick.) She was decerned his executrix
qua creditor 27th August 1708. (Commiss, Bee, Berwick.)
He left no issue, his brother, Mr. Hugh Dallas, minister at
Conage, being his heir-at-law.
His widow survived him many years, and on 2nd May
1723, for the love she has to the memory of Alexander Loraine,
late Bailie of Dunse, her only lawful son by the deceased
Alexander Lorain, notar and feuar in Dunse, her first husband,,
and in consideration she has for Anne Dallas, her son's relict,
and James, Archibald, and Elizabeth Lorain, her children,
' and an Posthumous child not yet born,' they| being left
unprovided for, she has disponed to the said Ann in liferent
and to the children in fee, all her estate. In case James
Lorain, by the decease of Alexander Lorain, eldest son of the
deceased Alexander Lorain, should succeed to any estate,
then he is to lose his share, and it also is to be divided equally
amongst the others. The trustees appointed are the said
Ann Dallas, Mr. Archibald Cockburn, younger of Langton,
and Mr. WiUiam Cockburn, second son to Sir Alexander
Cockburn of Langton, John Hay, junior, merchant in Edin-
burgh, and John Yeaman, factor to Sir James Suttie of Balgour.
(Orig, MS,) Ann Dallas was a daughter of James Dallas of
St. Martins. On 21st December 1742 there is an account of
debts given up and confirmed by Margaret Yeaman, as execu-
JOHN DALLAS I. OF BUDGATE 273
trix creditrix of Alexander Lorain, from which it appears that
her first husband's estate amounted to nearly £11,000 Scots,
but the details are too lengthy to repeat. In this document
the date of her death is given as 27th March 1742, and this is
confirmed by her inventar and eik recorded in the Commis-
sariot of Berwickshire, 5th July 1743.
DALLAS OF KIRKMICHAEL
James Dallas of Kirkmichael was the third surviving
son of William Dallas of Budgate, and was born in or before
1627. His marriage contract is dated 25th December 1656.
He appears in a sasine, dated 5th June 1662, to David Ros in
Balnagown and Isobel Ros, his spouse, of a fourth part of
the lands of Easter Midgany, on a disposition by James
Dallas in Ganyes, with consent of Grizzel Ros, his spouse,
but under reversion by Mr. Thomas Mackenzie of Inverloall :
the disposition is dated at Tayne and Hilton, 3rd and 5th
June 1662, the witnesses being Mr. John Dallas, minister at
Tayne, and Hugh Dallas, notary, while to the sasine one of
the witnesses is Duncan Dallas, son to the said James Dallas.
(Reg, Sas,, Inverness, Ser. 3, i. fol. 14.) On 18th July follow-
ing, when he is styled portioner of Ganyes, he and Hugh
Dollas, notary, are witnesses to the giving of sasine of the
quarter lands of Inverlauel to John M'Kenzie in Inverlael
(Ibid,, 65) ; and 25th May 1665 he acted as attorney for
Margaret Abercromby, spouse to George Dallas of St. Martins,
when he was designed ' in Bellacherrie.' On 31st March 1666
sasine is given to James Dallas in Ballacherrie on a contract
by Sir John Urquhart of Cromarty, dated at Cromarty 6th
October 1665, whereby he disponed to him and his heir irre-
deemably the lands of Easter Balblair, commonly called Kirk-
michaeU and Balblair, the contract being written by Hugh
Dallas, notary. (Reg, Sas,, Inverness, iii. fol. 51.) Those
lands he shortly afterwards disponed to his brother George in
security for a sum of 1000 merks, but they were restored to
him on payment of the debt in 1674, and remained in his
possession until his death, which occurred before 21st July
274
DALLAS OF KIRKMICHAEL 275
1681. (See Scottish Antiquary,) His wife was a daughter
of George Ross of Ballamuckie, and a ' portioner ' of Ganyes.
She was still living 21st July 1681. He had issue : —
I. George, his heir.
n. Duncan, witnessed his father's disposition of the lands
of Easter Midgany, 24th July 1662. As ' son to
James Dallas of Bellicharrie,' he was apprenticed
to Andrew Donaldson, a tanner in Edinburgh, 31st
January 1666.
m. William, a minor 21st July 1681.
IV. Alexander, a minor 21st July 1681. He is described
as litster in Nairn 15th January 1685, and was then
m. to Barbara Innes. He was served heir general
to his father, James Dallas of Kirkmichall, 30th
July 1708. He appears to have had an only child,
Lilias, hp, 15th January 1685, at Nairn, the wit-
nesses being Alexander Urquhart of Newhall, John
Urquhart of Craighouse, Alexander Clunies of Dun-
skaith, Lilias Dallas, spouse to NewhaU, and Jeane
Clunies. He is described as litster in Nairn, and
eldest son in life of deceased James Dallas of Kirk-
michael, on 14th January 1697.
V. Marmaduke, a minor 21st July 1681. As ' dyer in
Nairn ' he was one of the witnesses to the sasine of
James Dallas of St. Martins, younger, in the lands of
Davidstoun, 13th December 1690, but afterwards
established himself in Edinburgh, where, as ' mer-
chant,' he was made a burgess by paying 100 merks.
{Edin, Burgess Rec.) On 17th May of the previous
year he was, however, described as ' litster ' when in
the Edinburgh City Parish Register he appe 
