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K
McKEAN HISTORICAL NOTES,
BEING
QUOTATIONS FROM HISTORICAL AND OTHER
RECORDS,
RELATING CHIEFLY TO
MAflAIN-MAcDONALDS,
/ /
-
MANY CALLING THEMSELVES
McCAIN, McCANE, McEAN, MAcIAN, McIAN,
McKEAN, MACKANE, McKANE,
McKEEHAN, McKEEN,
McKEON, ETC.
ARRANGED AND MOSTLY COMPILED BY
FRED. G. McKEAN, U. S. N.
WASHINGTON, D. C.
1906
PKEHS OF GIBSON BROS.
WASHINGTON, D. C.
1906
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
Introductory. .......... 5
Explanations. ......... 5
Sources of information, and Acknowledgments. . . 6
The name McKean. ........ 7
Manner of compiling data. ........ 9
Books and other authorities referred to. 1 1
List of illustrations, etc. .... ... 14
Section I. — Probable Early Ancestors. 125 to 1329. . . . 15
Section II. — Maclains of Ardnamurchan. 1260 to 1719. . . 34
Section III. — Maclansof Glencoe. Early in the 1 4th cent, to 1903. . 84
Section IV. — Other McKeans. 1 3th to the igth centuries. . . 164
Glossary. ....... . 205
Appendices. . . . . . . . . . . 213
The name Donald. . . . . . . . . 213
Local titles of some Mac Donalds. . . . . . . 214
Ranald. O'Cahan. ........ 214,215
" Sons of John. " . . . . . . . . 215
An old Document. ........ 220
Music. (The Massacre of Glencoe). . . . . . 224
Heraldic Notes. . . . . . . . . 228
Postscript ........... 232
Index. 233
INTRODUCTORY.
Some explanation to the subscribers to McKean Genealogies
seems necessary for the appearance of these Historical Notes,
so-called, and for the delay connected with them.
Mr. Cornelius McKean of Perry, Iowa, having decided more
than fifteen years ago to compile the genealogies of all families
of McKeans, McKeens, etc., in the United States and Canada,
wrote, about 1894, for the family history of one of the bearers of
the name in Washington, D. C. The latter replied that his branch
had no known history, but that no account of the McKeans would
be complete without notes from certain volumes in the State
Department Library, containing some quaint records of McKean-
McDonalds of bygone times, and including the official inquiry
into the Glencoe Massacre, etc.
In an evil day he was prevailed upon to promise a copy of
some of those documents, and Mr. Cornelius McKean in his
prospectus to subscribers, made such mention of the Historical
Notes intended to form Part IT. of the combined work, that
undue expectation was raised in reference to their importance.
At first the materials seemed scanty, and much irrelevant
matter was introduced, especially about the MacDonalds,
O'Cahans and others, while the gentleman in Iowa urged the
inclusion of illustrations and other things, which, while extremely
interesting, appeared to have little to do strictly with the subject.
One of the consequences was that in the course of time there
was too much bulk for the wishes of the generality of the sub-
scribers, and when its publication approached, the cost of the
whole was found to be much more than some of the subscribers
had specified that they would pay.
Finding there was no disposition to join him in printing the
whole at a sacrifice and distributing copies at less than cost,
the compiler of the historical part decided that his section of
the work was of secondary importance, and that Mr. Cornelius
McKean ought to publish the Genealogies as originally proposed ;
the Historical Notes to be laid aside until a more favorable oppor-
tunity should arise, and then to be re-written, omitting much
matter which did not particularly concern the McKeans, and
6 INTRODUCTORY.
awaiting the completion of that monumental work Clan Donald,
in which we were promised some new information about the two
branches of the Clan Maclan.
The last volume of that fine work having been published toward
the end of 1904, there seemed little further excuse for delaying
our Historical Notes, excepting interference owing to the printers'
strike. They have therefore been completely remodelled and
almost re-written for about the third time, and are intended
to be sent to the subscribers of the McKean Genealogies, and to
a few others who may be interested in them, in spite of many
imperfections known by the compiler to be contained therein.
Perhaps some future McKean may build upon the printed
Notes and others in manuscript as a foundation, and produce
the work much to be desired by later bearers of the name.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION, AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.
The notes originally collected were gathered from a series of
works in Washington, the full range of which was accidentally
discovered by the compiler during investigations in the State
Department Library, — on the origin of names. It is claimed
that the volumes alluded to, together with others not mentioned,
several hundreds in number, are unique in this country, and the
issue of them is still in progress in England. They are for the
most part, publications in print, of old parchment and other
records in various collections in Great Britain; were "Trans-
mitted by Direction of the Master of the Rolls," and, as a printed
fly-leaf in several of the folios sets forth, are ' 'To be perpetually-
preserved in the Library of the Department of State of the
United States." To writers on archaeology, history, theology,
philology, genealogy, military matters, law, sociology and
other subjects, they would be invaluable, if they were more
widely known. They are in several languages and styles, but
the ordinary student would probably have little difficulty in
deciphering the meaning of most of them. The prompt courtesy
with which the Librarians, and particularly Mr. William McNeir,
granted the privilege of making the extracts alluded to, and
others from their collections is hereby thankfully acknowledged.
(The volumes have been recently removed to the Congressional
Library.) Some notes obtained from books more accessible
to the general public, several of them examined in Boston,
INTRODUCTORY. 7
Philadelphia and Washington by the compiler's eldest son,—
an indefatigable collector of material; and some illustrations
and other valuable matter obtained from Scotland by Mr. Corne-
lius McKean, were afterwards incorporated therewith, and as for
the work Clan Donald, just finished, the references to it with
which these Notes bristle, testify to our consideration of its
value as an authority which every McKean, McDonald and
Scot should read, even if he may not possess it.
THE NAME
It is generally agreed now, that the name McKean, believed to
be already spelt in more than four hundred different ways, means
the son of John. Those who have paid attention to the subject
are aware that all the forms of John found in almost every Euro-
pean language and in a few Oriental ones, are referable to the
name of the beloved disciple. It was therefore Hebrew and
means in its present shape, "The Lord's grace," or in its old
uncontracted form, Johanan, "Jehovah is gracious." In each
country inquirers should try and find out to what particular
John the sons in whom they are interested may be traced. In
our case the Me, standing for mac, mic, mhic, M', Mc and when
aspirated, vac, vie, Vc, etc., points to a Scottish derivation first,
but also in some instances to the north of Ireland. It will be
noted that the small, hard c in Mac, became a capital K in this
as in a great many other Gaelic names.
McKean as a name can be traced through various spellings in
at least two large historically known families, those of Ardnamur-
chan and Glencoe, to their first progenitors, respectively Eoin
Sprangaich, or John the Bold, toward the end of the i3th century ;
and Iain Fraoch, or John of the Heather, in the very beginning
of the 1 4th century; and we will try to devote a Section of the
Notes to each of these Clans. There is also an Iain of the Clan
Gunn, perhaps in the isth century, but as they were Norse or
Manx in origin and translated their name later to Johnson,
they need not be included in our Notes. Besides these, there is
occasional mention in old books, of various spellings of the name
in Scotland and elsewhere, the bearers of which cannot always
be certainly connected with the two important branches; they
have been grouped in a Fourth Section called "Other McKeans."
That two or more Johns or lans should transmit their names
8 INTRODUCTORY.
to long lines of descendants, denotes that they must have been
men of mark ; for, while a certain Angus, for instance, might be a
Maclain, his son might be a MacAngus, and the Iain might
disappear in the second generation ; or if there was a succession
of Johns, as in the immediate descendants of Iain Fraoch, the
name Maclain might persist in that family for a while; but here
we have two notable Johns, owners of considerable land, hence
they gave rise to families or clans of Maclains, further distin-
guished by the name of their territory, — one of Ardnamurchan,
the other of Glencoe.
In the line which we are tracing, there were, long ago, Mac
Somerleds for a couple of generations, then certain of the descen-
dants became MacDonalds for a couple more, after which most
of the families continued to be MacDonalds, while twro at least,
descended from the Johns in question, were first and compre-
hensively MacDonalds, and secpnd and more specially Maclains,
but some using both names indifferently, sometimes one brother
calling himself Maclan and another calling himself MacDonald,
and in some old books MacEan may be indexed MacDonald
and vice versa. Certain families of MacDonald have called
themselves MacKechin (sons of Hector?) or Darraghs (Oaks),
and later in one notable case at least in the i8th century (that
of the Duke of Tarentum), changing back to MacDonald, etc.
Conversely, as mentioned in Stewart's Highlanders, a Scot might
change the clan name to something entirely different, like
Robertson of Straloch, the composer of "The Garb of Old Gaul,"
who took the name Reid (Red?) because the head of the family
was always addressed as Baron Rua (Roy?), and the latter for
the two-fold reason that the estate had once been erected into
a barony, and the then holder had red hair.
While there is a multitude of ways of spelling the name of Mc-
Kean ( we take this for the standard as being that of the Signer
of the Declaration of Independence, and therefore probably the
best known form in the United States), there are at least three
well recognized ways of pronouncing it: first, as if it was spelt
McKane or McCain (both spellings occur as family names) ;
second, as if spelt McKeen (which is frequently met with), and
third, as if it is still, as it was hundreds of years ago, Maclan
or MacEan, in three syllables and almost like McKeehan ( a
spelling which is not uncommon). The last pronunciation is
INTRODUCTORY. 9
probably the oldest, certainly denotes the origin, and, unless
McKane was also pronounced in three syllables (McKiain), is
perhaps the most correct ; but it is hopeless outside of Scotland ;
if it is tried on any one to whom the name must be given, he will
probably ask you to spell it, and immediately say: "O you mean
McKane," — or McKeen, or something which you don't mean.
Several authors in Scotland and elsewhere prefer to write the
two names which concern us most, in the forms Macian and Mac-
donald, and those spellings are generally followed through the
following notes, in quotations; but, apart from being equivalent
to writing John and Donald without capitals, it might lead an
un-Gaelic outsider to pronounce the former name Mashan.
The genealogist who restricts himself to the nineteenth century
spelling of a name, will seldom go back many generations in his
history, — certainly not many centuries; for, even some time
after the discovery of printing, the spelling of most names was
a matter in which every man did that which was right in his
own eyes; and when his friends and enemies wrote the name,
they generally did so from the sound, and took strange liberties
with it. On the other hand, the writer who includes every com-
bination of letters which can be claimed to look or sound like
the modern name, will probably err in the other direction. It
is sometimes difficult to strike the happy mean, and the compiler,
while omitting many examples which might be questioned, has
thought it well to include others, even stray references to possible
wanderers from home, and a few who are not McKeans except
in a faint resemblance to the name, — leaving it to the reader
to ignore those which may be considered too far-fetched. Great
care has been taken to follow the ever-varying old spellings of
names and words, and the occasional absence of punctuation,
though these will be pain and grief to the proof-reader.
THE MANNER OF COMPILING, ETC.
The only liberties taken with the original text, — besides
necessary selection from a large mass of possible material, have
been the substitution nowr and then, of a brief synopsis in modern
language, for irrelevant matter in archaic form, or an abridg-
ment made in later narratives, — to save time and space. But
few omissions or extenuations have been purposely made on
the score of those possible progenitors who were not "unco guid."
10 INTRODUCTORY.
Over-sensitive McKeans can rest assured that quite as many
peccadilloes or dark crimes can be brought to the charge of
names more famous in story, — if we go back far enough, not
only in Scotland but in other countries; they should remember
that the possession of land was a continual source of dispute
and warfare; that flocks and herds seemed to belong to those
who could capture and hold them; that property was almost
looked upon as common by the law of nature, and that, among
all sorts and conditions of men, from the laird to the gillie, some
actions of a questionable nature from our present point of view,
must be expected. As to the terms "traitor" and "rebel, "-
they are sometimes titles of honor.
There was too much fighting going on for modern ideas, be-
cause each clan was against almost every other; the Highlanders
were often against the Lowlanders; occasionally both were dis-
satisfied with the King; sometimes all united against their grasp-
ing Southern neighbor : these and other circumstances combined
to make the Scots a fighting, turbulent and sometimes lawless
people, but they were probably no worse than the average of
their day, in fact, it has been remarked that highwaymen plied
their trade in the suburbs of the very city of London, long after
the Borders were comparatively safe.
The Notes have been arranged according to date as nearly as
could be conveniently done, though that method is disastrous to
style, and may make continuous reading as uninteresting as a
chronology or dictionary would be.
The arrangement of the four genealogical charts is believed to
be original, though the facts were obtained from several sources,
chiefly Clan Donald] the compiler heard when too late for its
examination, that Lang's History contains a chart of that Clan.
To avoid folders the charts were reduced to the size of the page,
making the lettering small: we trust that those readers who
refer to the charts will be content to use a magnifying glass if
necessary.
It is hoped that the glossary will be found useful and fairly
correct.
The index is particularly full under the letters Mac, Mak, Me, etc.
But without further explanation or apology for admitted errors
of omission and commission, we will proceed to the subject,
hoping that if we are honored with criticism, it will be lenient.
BOOKS AND OTHER AUTHORITIES REFERRED
TO.
Account of Clan Maclean. By a
Seneachie.
Accounts of the Lord High Treas-
urer of Scotland.
Acta Dominorum Concilii.
Acts of the Lords Auditors of Causes
and Complaints.
Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland.
American Cyclopaedia.
Annals. Hailes.
Annals of Loch Ce.
Ann. Ult. (Annals of Ulster).
Athenaeum. (London).
Baronage of Scotland. Sir Robert
Douglas.
Blackvvood's Magazine.
Book of Clanranald.
Border Clans. B. Homer Dixon.
Bride of Lammermoor. Sir Walter
vScott.
British Chronologist.
Calendar of State Papers.
Calendarium Rotulorum Patentium.
Canadian Magazine.
Carew section of State Papers.
Celtic Scotland. Skene.
Century Dictionary.
Chartularies of St. Mary's Abbey,
Dublin.
Chronica Majora.
Chronica Rogeri de Hoveden.
Chronicles of Scotland. Robert
Lindsay of Pittscottie.
Churchman (of New York).
Clan Donald. Reverends A. Mac-
donalds.
Clanronald Family.
Clans of the Scottish Highlanders
Robert Ronald Maclan.
Clans of the Scottish Highlands.
James Logan
Classical Dictionary. J. J. Lem.
priere, D. D..
Coke upon Littleton.
Court Hand Restored. Andrew-
Wright.
Crests. Fairbairn.
Cromwell's Remembrances.
Croniques . . . de la Grant Bre-
tagne. Jehan de Waurin.
Culloden Papers.
Dictionary of National Biography.
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable.
Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL. D.
Diplom. Regior. Indices. Tytler.
Domesday Studies. Dove.
Early Metrical Tales. Laing.
Eccl. An'tiq. Reeves.
Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Essays on English Surnames. M.
A. Lower.
Exchequer Rolls of Scotland.
Fair Maid of Perth. Sir Walter
Scott.
Finales Concordia?.
Genealogical Collections. Macfar-
lane.
Genealogy, etc.. of Antient Scottish
Surnames. William Buchanan.
Genealogy of the McKean Family of
Pennsylvania. Roberdeau Bu-
chanan.
General Armory. Burke.
General Atlas of the World. Adam
and Charles Black.
Geography of the Clans. Johnston.
Grameid. Heroic Poem. James
Philip.
Guide to Scotland. Adam and
Charles Black.
Highland Clans. J. S. Keltic.
Highlanders and Highland Regi-
ments. Stewart.
Highlanders of Scotland. Skene
Highlands of Scotland. Andrew
Lang.
Historical Account of lona. L.
Maclean.
Historical Notes. Tindal.
History of England. T. B. Mac-
aulay.
History of Ireland. Keating.
12
BOOKS AND OTHER AUTHORITIES
History of Scotland. Andrew Lang.
History of Scotland. William Rob-
ertson.
History of Scotland. Tytler.
History of the Camerons. Alex-
ander Mackenzie.
History of the Chisholms. Alex-
ander Mackenzie.
History of the Clan Gregor. ' 'Char-
tulary. " A. G. M. MacGregor.
History of the Clan MacLean. J.
P. MacLean.
History of the Highlanders and
Clans. Browne.
History of the Highlands. Skene.
History of the Macdonalds. Mac-
kenzie.
History of the Western Highlands.
Donald Gregory.
Hundred Rolls.
I nquisitionum ad Capellam Dom-
ini Regis Retornatarum, etc.
Inquisitionum in Officio Rotulorum
Cancellariae Hiberniae asservatum
Repertorium.
Irish Pedigrees. O'Hart.
Landed Gentry. Burke.
Last Jacobite Rising. Terry.
Last Macdonalds of Isla. Fraser-
Mackintosh.
Law Dictionary. Black.
Legend of Montrose. Sir Walter
Scott.
Letters from the Mountains. Mrs.
Annie Grant (of Liggan).
Loyal Lochaber. W. D. Norie.
Macdonalds of Sleat. Hugh Mac-
donald.
Macdonnels of Antrim. Hill.
MacMillan's Magazine.
Manual of Dates. George H . Towns-
end.
Martial Music of the Clans.
Massacre of Glencoe. Poem. An-
gus Macdonald.
McKean Genealogies in America.
Cornelius McKean.
Memoirs of Lochiel. Maitland
Club.
Memoirs of the Lord Viscount Dun-
dee. Jenner.
Memoranda de Parliamento.
Moidart, or Among the Clanran-
alds. Rev. Charles MacDonald.
MS. of Dean Munro, 1549.
MSS., Woodrow's; 1450, 1700.
Newspapers and periodicals.
Notes and Queries. (English).
Old and Rare Scottish Tartans.
Donald William Stewart.
Origines Parochiales Scotise.
Paper Register of the Great Seal.
Papistry Stormed, etc. Poem.
Professor Tennant.
Patronymica Britannica. M. A.
Lower.
Percy Reliques of Ancient Poetry.
Pictorial History of Scotland.
James Taylor.
Pilgrim of Glencoe. Thomas Camp-
bell.
Pipe Music. Collection of Ancient
Pibrochs. Angus McKay.
Poetical Works. Robert Burns.
Poetical Works. Thomas Moore.
Poetical Works. Sir Walter Scott.
Popish Families of Scotland.
Proelium Gillecrankianum. Poem.
Professor Kennedy.
Record Interpreter. Chas. T. Mar-
tin.
Records of Argyll. Lord Archi-
bald Campbell.
Records of the Privy Council.
Register of Decreet of Council and
Session.
Register of the Privy Council of
Scotland.
Register of the Privy Seal.
Registrum Palatinum Dunelmense.
Registrum Secreti Sigilli.
Registrvm Magni Sigilli Regvm
Scotorvm.
Rob Roy and his Times. Macleay.
REFERRED TO.
Rob Roy. Sir Walter ScoU.
Rotuli Litterarum Clausarum.
Royal Letters.
Scots in Eastern and Western Prus-
sia. Th. A. Fischer.
Scotland, Historic and Romantic.
Maria Horner Lansdale.
Scottish Clans and Tartans. W.
and S. K. Johnston.
Scottish Dictionary. Jamieson.
Scottish Gael. James Logan.
Sketch of the Highlanders. Gen-
eral Stewart of Garth.
Special Inquisitions.
Standard Dictionary of the English
Language.
State Papers.
Stewarts of Appin.
Stories of Famous Songs. S. J.
Adair Fitz-Gerald.
Tales of a Grandfather. Sir Walter
Scott.
Tartans of the Clans of Scotland.
James Grant.
The Great Marquess. John Wilcox.
Tour of the Hebrides. James Bos-
well.
Tripartite Life of St. Patrick.
Vestiarum Scotiorum. Sir Richard
Urquhart, Knycht.
West of Scotland in History. Ir-
ving.
What is my Tartan ? Frank Adam .
Widow of Glencoe. Aytoun.
ILLUSTRATIONS, ETC.
PAGE.
Trophy of Arms, etc. ........ 15
Chart IA.— Early Ancestors. Conn to Somerled, Clan Cholla, etc. . 18
Chart. IB. — Clan Donald, nth to i6th century. The two lains. . 26, 27
Seal of Reginald (2 views). . . . . . . . 29, 30
Seal of Angus Mor of Isla. ........ 33
Tombstone of Angus Og of Isla. ....... 35
Seal (Galley) of Ardnamurchan. . . . . . . . 37
Chart II. — The Maclains of Ardnamurchan. ... 38
Inverlochy Castle. ...... . . 39
Tantallon Castle. ......... 40
Ruined Keep of Ardthornish Castle. . . . . . . 41
Dunaverty Castle Rock, Kintire. ...... 45
Map of Mull, Glencoe, etc. ....... 52
The Maclain Tombstone in lona. ...... 53
Mapof position of Maclans, some MacDonalds, etc., in the i6th cent. . 70
Mingarry Castle. (2 views) ........ 72
lona Cathedral and St. Oran's Chapel. ...... 80
Tombstone of the Last Maclains of Ardnamurchan. ... 82
Trophy of Arms, etc. ... .... 84
Chart III.— The Maclans of Glencoe 89
The river Coe, and view in Glencoe . . . . . . 100
The Mackeane Tartan. . . . . . . , no
Signatures of Dundee, Argyll and Dalrymple. . . . . 115
Pass of Killicrankie. (2 views). ..... . 118
Signature of Alexander MacDonald of Glencoe. ... 120
The Pass of Glencoe and "The Three Sisters." (2 views). . . 128,129
Scene of the Massacre of Glencoe. . . . . . . 131
Memorial picture, "MacDonald of Glencoe." . . . . 133
Sketch-map, Callender and Oban Railway. . . . . . 136
Bridge of the Three Waters, Glencoe; and Buchael Etive.
(2 views). . . . ... . . . . 141
John MacDonald, XIII. of Glencoe. ... . 147
Monogram on house in Glencoe. ...... 148
Culloden Field and Monument. . . . . . . . 153
Ewen MacDonald, XVII. of Glencoe. ... . 159
Major Duncan Cameron MacDonald, XX. of Glencoe. . . . 159
Macdonald's Monument, Glencoe. . . . . . . 161
Trophy of Arms, etc. ........ 164
Dunyvaig Castle, Islay. ...... . 168
Isle Davaar and Campbeltown Loch. ...... 182
Loch Ach-Treachtan, Glencoe. . . . . . . . 201
Thomas McKean, The Signer. ....... 202
Charter to Willielmus Maceoune, 1306? . . . . . 221
The Glencoe Lament. (Music). ..... 225 226,227
Arms, crests and mottoes of Glencoe and other MacDonalds. . . 229
McKEAN HISTORICAL NOTES,
BEING
QUOTATIONS FROM HISTORICAL AND OTHER RECORDS.
SECTION I. — PROBABLE EARLY ANCESTORS.
FROM LOGAN'S SCOTTISH GAELL
A few thoughts about the really probable ancestors of the
McKean-McDonalds and those who are supposed to have pre-
ceded even them, may be acceptable. The subject has been
handled at length and with much learning in the book Clan
Donald, I., Chap. I., and we will try to present briefly a very
small number of the facts mentioned therein.
Archaeologists assert that they have discovered traces in Scot-
land, of a prehistoric non-Aryan race, resembling the Iberians
and Aquitani, representatives of the so-called Stone Age. After
them came a Celtic Aryan race, the Gaidhels or Gaels, and still
1 6 EARLY 4th cent.
later, another Celtic Aryan race, the Britons. When the Romans
came, they mentioned among other inhabitants the Caledonii and
Picts, who remained unconquered.
Several new races appeared afterwards, but the Scots of Dalriada
concern us most, as they settled Islay, Mull and some of the
Southern Isles, having come probably from the North of Ireland.
In the beginning of the 6th century Ere, king of Dalriada died,
leaving three sons, Fergus, Lorn and Angus ; Lorn occupying the
district afterwards named after him, as well as most of Argyle,
while Angus acquired Islay and Jura. The question of suc-
cession caused civil wars, and Scottish history is dim for three
centuries and dark in the gth, but Angus MacFergus, King of
Ulster, had subdued the Dalriads; the Danes and Norwegians
invaded the islands and coasts, and the latter people under
Harold Harfager the Fair-haired, made settlements; treaties
were concluded in which the rulers of the west of Scotland pur-
chased some of the islands, but the Vikings left traces of them-
selves among the Highland people and in the place-names,
while the language was unaffected.
In the loth and nth centuries the name Alban came to be
recognized for part of what is now Scotland, and soon after,
the name Scotia came into being. English influence of various
kinds began to be felt under Malcolm Canmore, then for a while
all foreigners were banished, until David I. in the i2th century
introduced a Norman baronetage and a new feudal system.
Having hastily glanced at the earlier history of Scotland,
we have arrived at the period when the Clan Donald is about
to appear, and the question has been debated whether Somer-
led, the founder of the Family of the Isles, was of Norse, Pictish
(and therefore ancient Celtic), Scoto-Irish or foreign Gael origin.
The authors of the work we have already quoted from, are con-
vinced that the Clan Donald are descended from the Dalriadic
stock of Argyle (I., 28). Before the clan was known by the
name Donald, it was called the Clan Cholla, tracing back to
Colla Uais, a King of Ireland in the 4th century, and earlier
still, we have a few names until we reach an eminent supreme
Irish King, Conn Ceud-Chathach, who lived in the 2nd century.
We will first endeavor to give a suggestion for a genealogical
chart IA, of the Early Ancestors, based chiefly upon statements
in various shapes to be found in Clan Donald, supplemented
2nd cent. ANCESTORS. 17
by notes from several other sources, put together we fear, with
more pains than skill or correctness, but which must 'serve for
the present. The second chart, IB,is reinforced by scraps of infor-
mation in foot-notes and otherwise, about some of the persons
mentioned, and is brought down late enough to include the two
lains or Johns who concern the McKeans ; also some other people
either as progenitors of certain clans or for various reasons.
Other charts follow, carrying on the two Mac Ian families as far
in both directions as the compiler has been able to obtain notes
for the purpose.
It is not pretended that any American family of McKean can
be certainly traced hereby ; the utmost hoped for is that living
descendants of Glencoe or other Maclans or MacDonalds, who
have family records or traditions by which they can fill the
gaps between their remotest known ancestor and some name
on one of the later charts, may be reasonably confident that
they can make up an unbroken line for nearly 1800 years.
After giving some data in Vol. I., whereby the ancestors of
Colla Uais might be traced back about two hundred years, the
compilers of Clan Donald begin the Genealogy of The Lords of
the Isles in Vol. III., 173-184, with Colla himself; this is the
more strange, as they call attention to the error of Sennachies
who drop several generations. We will take the liberty of restor-
ing some names and of heading our chart with Conn in the 2nd
century, and call attention to the notes on the chart, showing
the authorities and the manner in which the first list consisting
of eighteen ancients was made up. But this is not the only
difficulty: in trying to construct a new and extended genea-
logical list, with an accompanying chart, two instances are found
in which names are given of men who succeeded and reigned,
and yet are not set down in the Clan Donald Genealogy ; and on
the other hand, at least one name is retained in that Genealogy,
with the statement that the man bearing it did not succeed
to the sovereignty. No doubt the apparent discrepancies arise
from the intention to recognize the line of Dalriada, while noting
interferences only by the line of Lorn and vice versa. Taking
the total of 23 names, and dividing it into 975, the years from
125 to noo A. D., will give the large average of 42.4 years for
each "reign," justifying the remark that some of the rulers
must have lived to almost patriarchal age.
18
EARLY
2nd-i2th cent.
In the 2nd century of our era, there is said to have flourished
the celebrated Irish King, Conn Ceud-Chathach, whose name has
been classicized into Constantinus Centimachus, later Anglicized
into "Conn of the Hundred Battles." He is said to have been
ruler over "Conn's half," and later supreme King of Ireland
"in Tara's Halls," and to have been one of the greatest heroes
of antiquity. Some genealogists who have few misgivings
ist~4thcent. ANCESTORS. 19
about the misty past, have connected the descent of the Clan
Donald, and through them the McKeans, with the mighty fighter
Conn or Cond, from whom the province Connaught derives
its name.
McKeans who are not "satiate" with the antiquity of Conn,
whose date has been given as 125 and 165 A. D., may be referred
to his grandfather Tuathal, surnamed "the Legitimate." He
is said to have led the free clans or Scots* in a combination
against the servile classes, and to have founded a kind of feudal
system which ruled Ireland for a while. He also formed Meath
("the middle"), the central county of Ireland, from portions of
the four provinces, in order to supply the table of the over-king.
(Encyclopaedia Britannica, article Ireland, from which source
some of these early notes are drawn.)
The successors of Conn were Art or Arthur, 212-220 A. D.,
giving a very long reign for Conn if the figures are correct, and
Cormac, 254-277, the latter of whom had sent a fleet across "the
plain of the sea," and obtained sovereignty of Alba or Scotland
about 240; each ruler had several names or titles; it may be
noted that there is already a gap between reigns. Then came
three brothers who carved out principalities or "sword-lands"
for themselves; each brother had a first name Cairpre, but the
one on our list was known as Liffeacher from the river Liffey,
near which he was nursed, and acquired territory in Antrim,
Ireland, called Dal Riata, a name which still survives in the
local title "the Route;" this Cairpre or some of his successors
also acquired lands in Scotland. He was slain by his nephews
the three Collas, a name thought to be given them because they
were rebellious, and to mean a strong man. After the rule of
Eochach, one of the Collas, named Uais or "the Noble," became
king about 327, and we will now generally follow the book Clan
Donald, III., 173-179.
Few particulars are known about this celebrated ancestor
Colla Uais or Uathais; but among other things he is claimed
to be either the fifth or the eighth in descent from the famous
Conn, and to have been one of the sons of Eochaid or Ochaius
Dubhlin, King of Ireland, and of a Scottish princess Aileach,
"a mild, true woman, modest, blooming," etc., and daughter of
*Some titles have been transferred; the present Irish were the Scots of
old times, the Scots were Albans and the men of Albion were Britons
20 EARLY 4th — 6th cent.
Uhdaire, King of Alba. Colla Uais is said to have lived fifteen
years in Scotland, to have reigned only four years and to have died
in 337-
Eochaidh, spelt in various ways, and latinized into Ochaius,
was the son of Colla and succeeded him. Art, Arthur or Cartan
followed, also known as Crimthand of Munster and otherwise,
but with all his names some of the Annals omit him altogether.
He was the father of Ere or Eric, mentioned early in this Section
as having three sons, Fergus, Lorn and Angus, all of whom settled
in Scotland or the Isles, after receiving the blessings of Saint
Patrick in their former home.
Here we will make a short digression : in the 5th century, it is
mentioned in the Tripartite Life of S. Patrick, that the Saint
came into the district of Calrige, and baptized (baptizauit) . . .
Caichan. . .and the latter offered Caichan's fifth part to God
and to Patrick; the boundaries of the land are given. . .
It is also mentioned that a lady "of the race of Caichan took
the veil from Patrick," etc. If ch is silent, as in Conchobar,
McConachie, etc., these Caichans were possibly the ancestors
of the O'Cahans and O'Canes, Keans, Keens, etc., mentioned
incidentally in Buchanan's Genealogy of the McKean Family.
Resuming: — The three brothers, sons of Ere, landed in Arygle
in 466, and Ere is said to have died in 502. Fergus, one of the
brothers, is called Mor, the great or first. He is said in the Ency-
clopaedia Britannica, to have founded a new Dalriata, known
as Airer Gtfedel, now Argyle, ultimately developed into the
Kingdom of Scotland, appropriating the name of the mother
country, or at least that which was its Latin name [the inhabitants
of Ireland being originally called Scots].
At this point we come to a great difference in the lists, for,
whereas the names in Vol. I. of Clan Donald give about 18 num-
bsrs, the Genealogy in Vol. III. gives 23 names, by inserting
several between two Ferguses, said above to have been dropped
by the preservers of traditions.
Domangart, son of Fergus, held the sovereignty three years
only and died in 505. He was succeeded by Comgall his eldest
son, who died in 538 [and does not appear in any of the lines],
but Gauran or Godfrey his brother succeeded him [and was the
progenitor of the line from which Clan Donald sprang].
Gauran wielded the sceptre over the Dalriads for twenty-two
6th — 8th cent. ANCESTORS. 21
years, and died in 560. Conall or Donal, the son of Comgall,
succeeded his uncle Gauran, reigned sixteen years, died about
574 [and is apparently not in either list].
Aidan or Hugh, the son of Gauran, next succeeded. He held
the principality for thirty-eight years, and died in 606. He
had a brother named Evvan, whose son was Rigullan.
Ethach or Eocha of the yellow locks, son of Aidan, assumed the
sovereignty over the Dalriads and died in 623. He had a brother
named Conan, and sons Conan Cearr Bran, Domangart, Eochfinn,
Arthur and Failbhe.
Donald Brec, the son of Ethach Buidhe, took the sceptre,
neither as the immediate successor of his father, nor of his elder
brother Conan (in power for three months), but as immediate
successor to Fearchar, son of Ewen, of the race of Lorn, who
reigned for sixteen years. Donald died after reigning either
five or fourteen years. He was succeeded by Conal or Donal,
son of Duncan, and grandson of Conal (already mentioned),
son of Comgall of the race of Fergus. Domgall, also of the
race of Lorn, reigned over that race at the same time. Conal
died in 660. Donald Duinn, his son, succeeded, and Maold-
uinn, his brother, succeeded him. The former reigned thirteen
and the latter seventeen years. They had a brother named
Conn. Ferchar Fada reigned over Argyle after Donald Brec;
was of the Lorn race, and died in 697, after reigning twenty-
one years.
Domangart, the son of DDnald Brec, did not succeed to the
sovereignty [yet his name appears to be in this line] His
brother Catasaigh, also died young.
Ethach or Eocha Rineval, son of Domangart, succeeded to
the throne after the death of Fearcher Fada, for two years.
The son of Fearcher took up the sceptre after his death, and
Selvach, another son of the same, succeeded Ainceallach. Dun-
can, a descendant of Fergus, by Comgall, next succeded. He
died in 721.
Ethach, son of the above, assumed the government in 726 and
died in 733. During his son's minority, Muireadach, the son
of Ainceallach, was sovereign prince for a short time, and was
succeeded by Ewen, his son.
Aidan or Hugh, the fair son of Eacha of the steeds, succeeded.
He held the power thirty years and died in 778,
22 EARLY 8th cent.
It must have been in this reign that St. Regulus or Rule brought
certain relics of St. Andrew to the northeast coast of Scotland,
"under orders delivered by an angel — to found a church wher-
ever his ship should be wrecked. This event happening near
the present harbor of St. Andrews, and the King of the Picts
receiving him kindly, the church was forthwith founded, and
St. Peter, hitherto the national saint, was deposed, and St. Andrew
put in his stead, 731-747". (Lansdale's Scotland, Historic and
Romantic, II., 164.) Who will gainsay this, except that Fife-
shire is hardly on the N. K- coast of Scotland?
Fergus, the son of Aidan or Aodhfin (fair-haired), next suc-
ceeded. He reigned three years, and during and after his son's
minority the sceptre was held by Selvach2nd of the race of Lorn,
for twenty-four years. Eocha Anfhuinn (weak), the son of
Aidan, followed, reigned thirty years, and after him Dungal,
the son of Selvach, swayed the sceptre for seven years. Eocha
or Ochaius established the throne by his marriage with Urgusia,
daughter of the Pictish sovereign, an alliance which enabled his
grandson Kenneth MacAlpin, afterwards to claim and acquire
the Pictish sceptre in right of his grandmother. The descendants
of Ethach kept firm hold of the Dalriadic sceptre to the exclusion
of the offspring of Fergus, and enabled them to extend the whole
of Caledonia without extirpating the Picts as asserted by his-
torians. Ethach was succeeded by Alpin, and Alpin by Kenneth,
who removed the seat of his court from the western coast of
Argyle to the interior. [From Dunnad on L,och Criman (?) to
Scone, near Perth.] The descendants of Fergus in the West
owned "Argayl" and some of the Isles, and are named as follows:
Maine, or Eacime ; his son was :
Godfrey, whose daughter was the wife of Kenneth MacAlpine,
and who was Toshach* of the Isles.
The Danes ravaged the coasts of Scotland and of the Isles
towards the end of the 8th century, about the period we have
reached, and it may be interesting to note what is given as the
origin of the Thistle of Scotland. "The Danes thought it
cowardly to attack an enemy by night, but on one occasion
*Toshach or Toisech was a Scottish officer immediately under the maor-
mor: the latter was the hereditary magistrate and administrator of a certain
territory: first a tributary king. (Standard Dictionary), Military leader,
distinct from hereditary chief, (Clan Donald. I., 419).
loth cent. ANCESTORS. 23
deviated from their rule. On they crept, barefooted, noise-
lessly and unobserved, when one of the men set his foot on a
thistle, which made him cry out. The alarm was given, the
Scotch fell upon the night-party, and defeated them with terrible
slaughter. Ever since the thistle has been adopted as the insignia
of Scotland, with the motto: Nemo me impune lacessit" [No
one attacks me with impunity].* (Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase
and Fable} .
Returning to dry names, the son and successor of Godfrey
was:
Nialgus, or Neill ; his son was :
Suibne, or Swyffine ; his son wras :
Mearrdha, latinized Marcus; and Hailes in his Annals states
that Kenneth, King of the Scots; Malcolm, King of the Cambri,
and Marcus, King of the Isles, entered into a bond of treaty for
mutual assistance and defence in the year 973. This shows that
Lords of the Isles existed before Somerled's time.
To prove this last fact more in detail, and to relieve the dulness
of the list of names, we will insert the following :
The Latin Chronica Rogeri de Ho-veden (in four volumes) relates
that in 973, King Edgar of England sailed around Britain, and
among others who did homage to him were "Kinath scilicet
rex Scottorum, Malcolmus rex Cumbrorum, Maccus plurimarum
rex insularum, et alii quinque, scilicet Dufnal [Donald], Siferth,
Hurald, Jacob [James], Juchil . . . "This mention of a Mac,
king of the greater part of the Isles in the loth century, is inter-
esting, because it is generally supposed that the title "Lord of
the Isles" was not assumed until four hundred years after, by
John MacDonald, and yet Roger de Hoveden writes this in the
1 2th century. It can hardly refer to a different aggregation of
islands, for, in another reference to the "eight kings who rowed
King Eadgar on the Dee," Matthew of Paris in the Chronica
Majora (seven volumes in Latin, written in the i3th century),
mentions "Maccus of Man," called by others "King of the Isles;
and history states Harold I. placed Orkney, Shetland, the
*We have tried to work out a design for our cover, embodying conven-
tional thistles in form of St. Andrew's cross, for Scotland; flanked by sham-
rocks for Ireland; anchors for the seafaring Ardnamurchans as well as for
the "Good Hope" that all McKeans should have; the whole surrounded by
the Stars beneath which so many Scotsmen and Irishmen have found home
and prosperity.
24 EARLY 1 1 th and 1 2th cent.
Hebrides and the Isle of Man under Norwegian government in
the nth century, apparently grouped together. (Encyc. Brit.,
article Hebrides.} O'Hart in Irish Pedigrees, states that the
MacDonnells and McDonalds intermarried with these [?] Nor-
wegian earls. Before leaving the above entry, it may be stated
that the king of the Scots was evidently Kenneth II., and that
the land of the Cumbreae of King Malcolm comprised what is
now Argyle, Ayrshire, etc.
To return to the genealogy; the son of Mearrdha was:
Solaim, Solan or Sella, whose son and heir in the Lordship of
Argyle and the Isles was :
Gilledomnan. It was during the lifetime of this chief that the
Western Isles of Scotland were completely subjugated by the
Norsemen.
In the nth century, Gilledomnan "servant of (St.) Adamnan, "
grandfather of Somerled, held sway over a considerable portion
of Argyle, and his daughter became the wife of Harold Gillies,
one of the Kings of Norway, but Gilledomnan was finally driven
from his territories by the Scandinavians and retired to Ireland,
where he devoted himself to pious duties. His son Gillebride
made ineffectual attempts to recover his inheritance. (Abridged
from Clan Donald I., 36, 37.)
Gilledomnan was succeeded by
Gillebride or Gilbert, * who is mentioned by the first Highland
genealogist as "rig eilean Shidir," that is, King of the Sudereys
or Southern Isles. His daughter was the wife of Wymund Mac-
Heth, Earl of Moray. He derived another Gaelic title from
living in a cave in Morvern when depressed in fortune. From
him are said to have descended, besides the Clan Donald and
Clan Dougall, etc., — the Maclachlans, MacKwin of Otter, and
others. His son was Somerled rex insularum, or, as he is
known in Highland tradition, Somhairle Mor Mac Gillebhride.
In the 1 2th century, Somerled, "the terror of the Norsemen
and the Achilles of his race," displayed his "immense force of
character, high military talents, great energy and ambition . . .
with . . .political sagacity and prudence." After a great
defeat he achieved a signal victory over the Scandinavian host,
drove out the Norsemen, assumed the title of Thane or Regulus
*It is a trifle, but Gilliebride is Gaelic and means Servant of (Saint) Brid-
get, while Gilbert is Teutonic for Bright pledge,
1 2th cent. ANCESTORS. 25
of Argyll, and was about to carry the war against the Isle of Man
and other Isles when Olave (the Swarthy), King of Man, gave
him his daughter Ragnhildis (or Effrica) under reman tic circum-
stances (in 1135)- A battle between Godred the son of Olave,
and Somerled, was followed by a treaty of peace, and all of the
"islands south of the point of Ardnamurchan, along with Kintyre,
came into the possession of" Somerled. But two years after,
war broke out again and the latter captured the Isle of Man, and
still later waged a war with Malcolm IV. of Scotland, who had
threatened his subversion: at first Somerled was successful and
peace was established between them in 1157, and which lasted
about seven years. Upon the renewal of the war, and when
Somerled, with some 15,000 men from Ireland, Argyle and the
Isles, and 164 galleys sailed up the Clyde to Greenock, he seems
to have been assassinated with his son at Renfrew in 1164 ("he,
and his swne bath was Left dede slayne in to that plas"), his
army dispersed, and the Celts began to give way to the increasing
power of the Gaels and of feudal institutions. "The dust of
the 'mighty Somerled' reposed within the sacred precincts of
the monastery" of Saddell, the ruins of which, together with a
view of the Castle, are shown in Clan Donald, from which work,
(I, 41-54) most of these particulars are taken. The Castle is a
"large, square battlemented tower still in a state of perfect
preservation." Though out of chronological order, it may
be mentioned here that it was in Saddell that Angus Og, Lord
of the Isles, first received Bruce; but "As Barber informs us,
Angus Og took his royal guest for greater security to the Castle
of Dunaverty, another Kintyre stronghold, and residence of
the Lord of the Isles :
'And for mair sekyrness gaiff him syne
His Castle of Donaverdyne. ' "
1163 or 64 is given by various authorities as the date of the
death of Somerled of Argyle, and as he is spoken of as the founder
of the dynasty of the Lords of the Isles, a few words may be devoted
to him in this place, and a brief sketch of his immediate descend-
ants will be given presently, although some of the latter are
referred to again, under their appropriate dates. His name in
the Norse language was Somerled, in Gaelic Somhairle, meaning
Samuel, and he was also known as Sorley, a name of some note
afterwards in Ireland. From Clan Donald I., 53, etc., and other
26
EARLY
i ith-i6th cent.
sources, we cull the following details. "Somerled, King of the
Isles and Argyle, 'the Sleat historian tells us, was a well-tem-
pered man, in the body shapely, of a fair piercing [blue] eye,
Of middle stature and of quick discernment.' [Another writer
calls him in La tin "Pirate, and most famous robber"]. He
nth- 1 6th cent.
ANCESTORS.
27
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was the paternal grandfather of Donald, the progenitor of the Mac-
Donald y, founded a family which played no ignoble part in Scottish
history, and is said to have had either three or four sons:
Reginald, his successor; Dugall, from whom came Lorn, the
MacDaugals, etc. ; Angus, who with his three sons was killed
in 1 210, and so his male line became extinct; and, according to
28 EARLY 1 3th and 1 4th cent.
some, Olave. "Reginald, son of Somerled, married Fonia,
daughter of the Earl of Moray. Their issue: Donald," afore-
mentioned and who ' 'married a daughter of Walter, High Steward
of Scotland. Their issue: Angus Mor MacDonald, who succeeded
to the Lordship of the Isles, married and had issue : Alexander
his successor, Angus Og, and John or Ian Sprangaich, progenitor
of the MacDonalds or Maclains of Ardnamurchan. After the
death of Alexander, Angus Og succeeded his brother in 1308,
'both in his lands and in the chief ship of the clan.' He married
Anna or Agnes, a daughter of Conbuidh O'Cathan or O'Kane ;
their eldest son John, who became Lord of the Isles [and has
been called 'First Lord'] married first, Euphemia or Amy
Macruari; their son Reginald was ancestor of the Clanranald
MacDonalds. John, son of Angus married second, 'Lady Mar-
garet, daughter of Robert II., now reigning king of Scotland.'
'Donald the eldest son by the second marriage, of John of Isla,
succeeded his father as Lord of the Isles to the exclusion of the
eldest surviving son of the first marriage, and was ancestor of
the MacDonnells of Isla, and the MacDonnells of Antrim, Ireland.
John [or Iain] Fraoch, son of Angus Og MacDonald, was the
progenitor of the MacDonalds of Glencoe, patronymically known
as Maclans, or as it is now written : MacKean, McKean, McKeen,
McKane, McCain, McKeon, and in various other forms." A
graphic view of the above and other relationships may be ob-
tained from Chart IB, of these Notes.
Reginald, "King of the Isles," and son of Somerled, died in
1207. Confusion has sometimes arisen in the early history of
the Isles, as to which son was the older in this case, Reginald
or Dugall, because the rule of primogeniture was not followed,
and lands were often "ga veiled" or divided among the male
members of a family. The seal of Reginald, shown herewith,
"adhibited to his charter to Paisley Abbey is thus described: —
' In the middle of the seal on one side a ship filled with men-at-
arms ; on the reverse side the figure of an armed man on horse-
back with a sword drawn in his hand.'" (Clan Donald, I., 60,
61, 66, from Orig. Par. Scot.). Both sides are presented.
Donald of the Isles, grandson of Somerled, died before 1249,
after having, as is reported, made a pilgrimage to Rome to obtain
absolution for deeds which, even in the i3th century and in
Scotland, were considered those of violence; in return for abso-
1^92-1308 ANCESTORS. 29
lution he enriched the Church with valuable gifts of land. (Clan
Donald I., 71, 72, etc.).
In 1292 there is a version in Old French, of a document in
which "Alisaundre des Isles fuiz Anegus fuiz Douenald" swears
on the Holy Evangels to maintain "la pees" of Scotland and
especially "des Ylles;" for at that time his alliance by marriage
with the family of Lorn, and associations with the English interest
made him "take the part of England in the efforts to accomplish
the conquest of Scotland;" in 1295 he is called Alexandrum de
Hyle, and about 1297 he held the office of Admiral of the Western
Isles under the English crown; in 1308 he was fighting against
Bruce, was taken prisoner and died very soon after. (Adapted
from Clan Donald, I., Appendices).
EARLY
1292-94
A safe conduct was granted to "Angus MacDonald, 'Lord' of
the Isles, and to Alexander his son/' both mentioned above, *"in
1292 at "Berewyke super Twedam." In the same year "King
John Balliol ordered Alexander of Argyle and his baillies of
Lochaw to summon Sir Angus, the son of Donald, and others to
do him homage within fifteen days after Easter, wheresoever he
might be in Scotland. Though his citation was repeated in 1293,
Angus Mor of Isla seems to have given no response . . . the
year of his death cannot be exactly determined [but is supposed
to be about 1 294] ... he was buried at Columkill the sacred
storehouse of his predecessors, and guardian of their bones."
(Adapted from Clan Donald, I., Appendices, also p. 84).
1301-14 ANCESTORS. 31
As to Angus Og, son of Angus Mor MacDonald of Isla, in 1301
he was at first zealous as his brother Alexander in helping the
English, and in his letter to Edward I., reproduced in Clan Donald,
he superscribes himself as his "humble and faithful Engus de
Yle," states that he is awaiting orders, and promises, God helping,
to destroy the enemies of the most noble man and most excellent
lord the King.
"Angus, fifth in descent from Somerled, was a faithful and
uncompromising friend of Robert Bruce in his attempt to
free his native land from the harsh grasp of England. He shel-
tered this monarch, after the disastrous defeat at Methven, in
his castle at Dunaverty, August, 1306." (History of the Clan
MacLeari). And he did so "at a time when his [Bruce's] for-
tunes were most depressed and his prospects of success least
hopeful." (Clan Donald I., 93). This is well, but the reasons
are not clearly known why Angus Og changed sides after 1301.
From the History of Clan MacLean and other sources we
gather that 1314 was the date of Bannockburn, fought on "Mon-
day, June 24. It was at this battle that the power of the English
Edwards was broken, and the sovereignty of Scotland once more
recognized. Robert Bruce's army consisted of thirty thousand
men, while that of Edward has been estimated at over one hun-
dred thousand . . . The Scottish army was arranged in a line
consisting of three square columns . . . The reserve, composed
of the men of Argyle, Carrick, Kintyre, and the Isles, formed
the fourth line of battle, and was commanded by Bruce in person.
In this reserve were five thousand Highlanders, under twenty-
one different chiefs, commanded by Angus Og MacDonald, father
of John, first Lord of the Isles," and of Iain or John Fraoch . . .
Before the attack, Bruce is thought to have made an address
similar to that immortalized by Burns in the lines beginning :
' 'Scots wha h'ae wi' Wallace bled,
Scots whom Bruce has often led,
Welcome to your gory bed,
Or to victory. "
"After the battle was fully on, Bruce brought up the whole of
his reserve, which completely engaged the four battles of the
Scots in one line . . . Step by step the Scots gained ground,
and fortunately, in a critical moment, the camp followers, desir-
ing to see the battle, appeared over the hill, and were taken by
32 EARLY 1314-29
the English for Scotch re-inforcements. Immediately dismay
spread through the English ranks, which, the Scots noticing,
made a fearful onslaught, which broke the English army into
disjointed squadrons. The flight at once became general." . . .
It will be remembered that Scott gives the supposed words of
Bruce at the supreme instant : —
"One effort more and Scotland's free!
Lord of the Isles, my trust in thee
Is firm as Ailsa rock;
Rush on with Highland sword and targe,
I with my Carrick spearmen charge ;
Now forward to the shock!"
As a reward for the great services of Angus Og, "Bruce con-
ferred upon him, in 1314, the Lordship of Lochaber — forfeited
by the Comyns, and the lands of Duror and Glencoe, and the
islands of Mull, Jura, Coll and Tiree, which had belonged to the
family of Lorn" (History of the Clan MacLeari). Logan's Clans
of the Scottish Highlands relates that the MacDonalds, who were
always eager to take on themselves "the first press and dint of
the battle, received from King Robert Bruce at Bannockburn,
the honour of taking position on the right of the army, and they
were ever most jealous of this privilege, alleging that no engage-
ment could be successful if it were overlooked, and they adduce
the defeats of Harlaw and Culloden (1411 and 1746) as striking
instances of this truth. Holding this position in the Scottish
armies they have performed prodigies of valour."
"Angus Og married Margaret or Agnes, a daughter of Guy or
Conbuidh O'Cathan or O'Kane, one of the greatest barons of
Ulster, Lord of Limvady, and Master of the whole County of Derry.
The O'Cathans were originally a branch of the Cinel Eoghain,
descended from Neil of the nine hostages, King of Ireland [about
379] . . . The lady's portion took the form of one hundred and
forty men out of every surname in O'Cathan's territory . . .
(Clan Donald, I., 100).
Angus MacDonald, called Angus Og, i. e., the Younger, [his
father being Angus Mor, i. e., the Older] died in Islay about
1329 or '30. The pictures of his interesting tomb
» " .... in lona's piles
Where rest from mortal coil the Mighty of the Isles,"
and of his father's seal, are copied from ClanDonald, I., 102. The
biorlin or galley is a notable feature in both figures, and the
1248-133°
ANCESTORS.
33
interlacings which form the continuation of the animals' tails 03
the tombstone, are characteristic of the Celtic (and Gaelic?)
schools of decoration; the triplication of the letter i in "Filiii"
is a curious slip of the chisel in the epitaph: "Hie jacet corpus
Angusii filiii Domini Angusii Mac Domhnill de Ila."
TOMBSTONE OF ANGUS OG OF ISLA
LORD OF THE ISLES, OB. 1330.
Inscription.
Hie jacet corpus Angusii filii Domini
Angusii Mac Domhnill de Ila.
SEAL OF ANGUS MOR OF ISLA I 248-94.
Legend.
SR. ENGUS DE YLE FILII DOMNALDI.
Having touched upon the earlier ancestors of the Maclains ,
and having reached the two Johns who immediately concern us,
we will proceed to the other Sections, and hope they will be found
less tedious than the first.
SECTION II.— MAC!AINS OF ARDNAMURCHAN.
From Clan Dcnald II.. 144.
This once important sept of the great Clan MacDonald obtained
its local title frcm the territory of Ardnamurchan about mid-
way on the outer west coast of Scotland, the name meaning in
Celtic "The promontory by the great ocean." The nature of
the country made hardy hillmen of the inhabitants, and as it
was nearly surrounded by water they also became bold mariners,
and the fact that the Norsemen settled to the north and south
as well as in the outlying islands, brought them into fighting
condition.
The authors of Clan Donald, II., 145 et seq., state that the
district was referred to by Adamnan, Abbot of lona, in the jth
century as "the rough and very rocky region which is called
Ardamuirchol." Also that when the district of Lorn was erected
into a sheriffdom by King John Baliol in 1292, it included the
lands of Ardenmuirich, — the first reference to them in any public
record. Moreover, that in 1309, Robert Bruce granted a charter
of Ardnamurchan with other lands to Angus Og MacDonald.
Finally, and this concerns the McKeans, Angus Og bestowed
Ardnamurchan and Sunart, together consisting of 87,753 Scotch
acres, on his brother Eoin or Iain Sprangach, or John the Bold,
always recognized by the bards who kept the traditions, as the
progenitor of the Maclain family afterwards spelling their name
i4th-iyth cent. ARDNAMURCHAN. 35
in various ways, but gradually approaching the modern ones.
A few facts relating to Angus Og are given in the Section refer-
ring to Early Ancestors.
Before coming to the genealogical chart and detailed account
of the Ardnamurchan family, it may be interesting to compare
two short, partial lists of the chiefs of the clan. The older one
is quaint and free from punctuation, and is by Dean Munro of
the Isles, about 1549 (?) ; it is quoted in Genealogy, etc., of Ancient
Scottish Surnames by William Buchanan of Auchmar. The
Dean says: "Heir followis The Genealogies of the Chieff Clans
of the lies; Collected by me Sir Donald Monro Heigh Dean of
of the lies. . . .Clan Ean of Ardnamorachin, the fourte house
of the Clan Donald. Alexander M' Donald Donaldi M'Ean Jo-
hannis M'Aloir Alexandri M' Angus M'Ean Achechterwache
M' Angus Moire, who was the lord of the lies, and him I impe
to the tree." The other list is from The Last Macdonalds of
Isla, which says: "The following pedigree is merely tentative
as I have no particulars to verify a complete table .... The
. . names are found, but the descent was not always by
father and son."
Angus Moire lord of the Isles. Angus Mor of Isla.
John Achechterwache (son of An- i . John, younger son of the above.
gus.) 2. Angus 1342.
Angus M'Ean (son of John). 3.
4-
5. Alexander 1448-78
Alexander M'Angus. 6. John 1494-1519.
7. Alexander 1530-45.
8. John 1588.
John M'Aloir (son of Alexander). 9. John pig 1596.
Donald M'Ean (son of John). 10. John vie Allister 1602-11.
1 1. Allister : . . . . : . . . . 1622-29
Alexander M' Donald (son of Donald
M'Ean).
Between the rival claimants Bruce and Baliol, England took
possession of Scotland for a while.
I. IAIN espoused the cause of Baliol and was granted more
lands, afterwards confirmed to him by Edward I. of England;
the English King also advanced him to the dignity of Baron of
the Exchequer* of England, and he became one of the magnates
sworn in Parliament to treat of affairs in Scotland; was further-
more appointed Justice of the Lothian and to other offices, from
*The treasury, called exchequer . . . from the checked cloth . . .
which covers the table there, according to Blackstone.
MACIAINS OF
I3th-i7th cent.
which, as the Reverends Macdonalds write : "it appears that John
Sprangach possessed no mean share of the undaunted spirit and
bold activity which characterized the conduct of his ancestors,
and in him we have a worthy progenitor of a family destined to
play a not unimportant part in the history of the Highlands."
I34I~I411 ARDNAMURCHAN. 37
II. ANGUS, the son of the above, and therefore the first Mac-
Iain, possessed Ardnamurchan in 1341 by charter from David
Bruce, and later under his cousin John the Good, Lord of the
Isles, though there is no account of a reconciliation between the
Bruces and Iain, nor of the death of the latter, which apparently
occurred about 1306. Little is known of Angus, but as Clan
Donald states, II., 151, "we may infer from the contents of the
charter of 1341 that he was a man of considerable importance
in the Highlands."
There are few facts known about the family in the next
century and a half besides the names of the head of the clan and
some dates, but this is not surprising: as vassals of the Lords
of the Isles, the Maclans of Ardnamurchan followed the banner
of those chiefs, and continued to support them in all their con-
tentions. The history of the minor is merged in that of the
larger family, and this no doubt accounts for the meagre ref-
erences we find to the family of Maclain during its early history."
(Clan Donald, II., 151, 152).
III. ALEXANDER of Ardnamurchan, the son and successor
of Angus, was in the battle of Harlaw, and we will refer to that
event.
From various sources we summarize that the immediate reason
for the rebellion of Donald, Lord of the Isles, was to obtain the
rights, (through his wife), to large territories claimed by Robert,
Duke of Albany, Regent of the Kingdom. The MacDonalds
with some seven other clans, (the Macleans, Mackintoshes, Cam-
erons, Mackinnons and Macleods are mentioned), took Inverness
the highland capital, after some fighting, and then assumed the
offensive with about ten thousand men, but were met upon the
field of Harlaw near Aberdeen, July 24, 1411, by a smaller but
much better equipped force, including the followers of twenty -
five clans and names, among whom were the Ogilvies, Lindsays,
Carnegies, Lesleys, Lyons, Irvings, Gordons, Abercrombies,
Arbuthnots, Bannermans, Leiths, Douglases, Barclays, Mowats,
Duguids, Fotheringhams, Frasers and Burnets. "It was not
a battle between civilization and barbarism, —the men-at-arms
in mail were as far removed from the civilization of to-day as
were the kilted warriors." The result is variously given as
indecisive and as a defeat, yet it is said to have terminated the
struggle between the Celtic and the Saxon races. The Lowland
army seems to have been almost annihilated, but Henry IV. of
38 MACIAINS Otf I4II-I2
England was too busily engaged to help Donald, who retired to
his Island strongholds where his fleet was superior in strength,
and he seems to have held his own. An old ballad says:
There was not sin' King Kenneth's day,
Sic strange, intestine, cruel strife,
In Scotland seen as ilk man says —
Where monie likelie lost their life,
Whilk made divorce tween man and wife
And monie children fatherless.
And monie a ane will mourn for aye,
The breme battle of the Harlawe.
The 3 1 st and last stanza gives the date in old style :
In July, on St. James his euin,
That four-and-twenty dismal day,
Twelve hundred, twelve score, and eleven,
Of yeirs sin' Christ the suthe to say; etc.
The field is said in Taylor's Pictorial History of Scotland, I.,
22, to get its name from several boundary stones (Hare or Hoar-
laws), and that book refers its readers to Laing's Early Metrical
Tales for probably the most ancient Scottish historical ballad
of any length now in existence for an account of the battle ; and
also states that a bagpipe tune with the title of the battle was
long extremely popular.
Moreover, "Sir Walter Ogilvy, on the 28th of January, 1426,
founded a chaplainry in the parish church of St. Mary of Uchter-
house, in which perpetual prayers were to be offered up for the
salvation of King James and his Queen Johanna; and for the souls
of all who died in the Battle of Harlaw." (Diplom. Regior.
Indices, I., 97; Tytler, III., Appendix, 156).
The Annals of Loch Ce* also mention in 1411, what must
have been the battle of Harlaw: — "A great victory of MacDom-
hnaill of Alba [MacDonald of Scotland], king of Airer-Gaeidhel
[Argyle], over the Foreigners of Alba; and MacGilla-Eoin
of MacDomhnailPs people was slain in the counter-wounding
of that victory." [MacGilla-Eoin has become MacClean, Mac-
Lean, etc., but this old form indicates that it means the son of
the follower of St. John].
IV. JOHN McEan of Ardnamurchan succeeded to the chief -
ship about 1412, and was one of the witnesses at the Chanonry
*Annals of the Old Abbey of Inis-Macreen, an island in Lough-Kea [or
Key].
1420-31 ARDNAMURCHAN. 39
of Ross, to an important document, in 1420. (Clan Donald,
II., 153; Tytler, III., 396). But he was also a fighter: in 1427
King James I. of Scotland having apparently instigated the death
of John Mor Tanistear, a powerful MacDonald and founder of
the family of Dunyveg and the Glens of Antrim, followed up this
act by another of treachery. He summoned a convention of
the Highland chiefs at Inverness, arrested them, imprisoning
some and executing others; Alexander, Lord of the Isles, after
his release from a short custody, stirred up a rebellion on these
accounts as well as his being deprived of the Earldom of Ross,
and MacEan of| Ardnamurchan, loyal to the MacDonalds,
"threw himself with all his energy . .' into the conflict."
From Macintosh's Last MacDonalds of Isla.
INVERLOCHY CASTLE.
The Lord of the Isles was at first successful in his invasion of
the main land in 1429, but owing to the activity of the King and
the desertion of some of the clans, he sued for peace and appears
to have made an ignominious submission.
Donald Balloch.in 1431, a cousin of Alexander, enraged beyond
measure at the pusillanimous submission of his kinsman, col-
lected a fleet and an army in the Hebrides, ran his galleys into
the neck of sea that divides Morvern from the island of Lismore,
and disembarking at Lochaber, swept over that district with all
the ferocity of northern warfare. At Inverlochy he met a su-
perior force of the king's army, commanded by Alexander, Earl
of Mar, and Alan Stewart, Earl of Caithness. With their broad-
MACIAINS OF*
H3I
swords and battle-axes, the Islesmen commenced a furious attack
upon the well-armed and disciplined Lowland knights. The
royal army was cut to pieces; the Earl of Caithness, with six-
teen of his personal retinue, and many other barons and knights,
were left dead on the field . Mar, although severely wounded and
barely escaping being made prisoner, succeeded in rescuing the
remnant of his army. In the engagement, Donald Balloch made
a main 'battle' and a front of his men. The front was com-
manded by Maclain of Ardnamurchan and John Dubh Mac-
Lean and the main 'battle' by Ranald Ban, while 200 Keppoch
archers sent swarms of arrows from their position on the steep
hill overlooking Inverlochy Castle, and later joined in with clay-
prom Lansdale's Scotland, I., 214.
TANTALLON CASTLE AND BASS ROCK.
mores and Lochaber axes. The royal army sustained a loss
of nine hundred and ninety, while that of Donald was but twenty-
seven men. Donald first descended on the Cameron and Chattan
lands, and later, with his plunder, retired to the Isles, but the
King bringing a superior force against him, he fled to Ireland
after several encounters and married a daughter of Conn
O'Neill. The King gave some of the Keppoch-MacDonald
lands to Mackintosh, whence arose a feud between those clans
for over two hundred years.
1431-62
ARDNAMURCHAN.
For his services at Inverlochy, John Maclain of Ardnamur-
chan obtained lands in Isla from the Lord of the Isles after the
release of the latter from Tantallon Castle; and also certain
lands in Jura from Donald Balloch; later he became one of the
councillors of John, Lord of the Isles, and in 1463 appears as a
witness to a charter by that nobleman. (Clan Donald, II., 153).
"A Charter by John de Yle, Earl of Ross and Lord of the Isles,
to his brother Hugh (son of Alexander), of the Isles, Lord of
Slate, and Fynvola nin Allister vie Iain of Ardnamurchan," is
dated 28th June, 1409, but the correct date is in all probability
1449. It bears the signature of Alexander Maclain of Ardnamur-
chan. (The Last Macdonalds of Isla).
From Photo, by Messrs. G. W. Wilson & Co., Aberdeen.
From Clan Donald, I., 126.
RUINED KEEP OF ARDTHORNISH CASTLE.
Mention may be made here, chronologically, of a Note to Scotts'
Poem, The Lord of the Isles, stating that from the castle of Artor-
nish, upon the igth of October, 1461, John de Yle, designing
himself Earl of Ross and Lord of the Isles, granted, like an inde-
pendent sovereign, a commission to Ronald of the Isles, and Dun-
can, arch-dean of the Isles, empowering them to treat with King
Edward IV. of England; John agreeing to become the vassal
of Edward, and to assist in subduing the realm of Scotland.
[For which he was branded as a traitor in 1462, and deprived
of the Earldom of Ross]. MacLean says: "The castle is lo-
42 MACIAINS OF1 1467-90
cated upon the point of a peninsula that projects into the Sound
of Mull. The ruins now consist chiefly of the remains of an old
tower, with fragments of outward defenses. The site of the
spacious apartment in which the ancient parliament met is still
pointed out, and in the face of the rock, overhanging the bay
of Ardtornish, is the precipice over which the transgressors
of feudal times were thrown."
V. The next chief signs himself "ALEXANDER Joannis (son
of John) Lord of Ardnamurchan," on a charter in 1467. And
he was one of the Council of the Isles in 1469. A daughter of
Alexander Maclain, called Fynvola nin Alister, married Hugh
MacDonald of Sleat in the same year, and the Lord of the Isles
granted lands to Hugh and his heirs male. Mariota, said to
have been another daughter, married Malcolm Macduffie of
Colonsay, and of this couple more hereafter. A daughter
Florence was the second wife of Allen Macrory of Clanranald.
In 1478 the name of the chief witnessing a charter, appears as
"Alexander McCane of Ardnamercho." The work Clan Donald,
II., 154, says: "Alexander Maclain evidently was a man of con-
siderable influence and power. The family now held, besides
Ardnamurchan and Sunart, lands in Kintyre, Isla and Jura ;
but, as we shall soon see, it had not yet attained the zenith of
its greatness in the Highlands." The date of his death is uncer-
tain, and by some authorities he is said to have -had a son Donald,
who, however, may have died young.
While endeavoring to restrict these Notes to the fortunes of
the Maclans, we will touch now upon those of the MacDonalds
of the Isles, the families having been intimately connected, and
the affairs of both having approached a crisis. Angus Og Mac-
Donald, the second of the Isles, and "Rider of the dappled steed,"
was assassinated at the instigation of the Lady of Moydart, on
account of the disputed lordship of the Island of Lewis. The
Annals of Loch Ce state that in 1490 MacDomhnaill [Aenghus]
of Alba, i. e., the young Lord, the best man in Erinn or in Alba
in his time, was unfortunately slain by an Irish harper, i. e.,
Diarmaid Cairbrech, in his own chamber." Mackenzie's account
(History of the Camerons, 34, note], is: "At Inverness, in 1485,
Angus Og of the Isles was assassinated by an Irish Harper, Hugh
Macdonald, the Sleat Seannachaid." Clan Donald gives the
date 1490, and the name of the assassin as Art O'Carley, and
1491-93 ARDNAMURCHAN. 43
goes on to say: "With the death of Angus Og, the fortunes of
the family of the Isles, took a downward tendency." The next
step in their fall is related thus :
A feud between the MacDonalds and Mackenzies, beginning
in an insult by the latter, followed by the burning of a church
full of Mackenzies by the former, had resulted in the battle of
Park (1488 or 1491) in which the MacDonalds under Alexander
of Lochalsh were defeated. "This insurrection cost them the
lordship of the Isles, as others had the earldom of Ross. At a
parliament held in Edinburgh in 1493, the possessions of the
Lord of the Isles were declared to be forfeited to the crown.
In the following February, John MacDonald, the aged Lord
of the Isles, made his appearance before King James IV., and
made a voluntary surrender of every thing, after which, for
several years, he remained in the king's household as a court
pensioner." (History of the Clan MacLean).
"Thus fell the Lordship of the Isles, and with it the dynasty
which for hundreds of years had continued to represent, in a
position of virtual independence, the ancient Celtic system of
Scotland." (Clan Donald, I., 280).
We have seen several spellings of the McKean name already,
but hereafter we will find several more. Alexander McCane
was succeeded by his nephew —
VI. JOHN MAKANE, Macian or Maclain, who was Chief of
Ardnamurchan from 1493-1518, was a notable man in his day,
and perhaps the greatest of the Clan.
"John inherited as 'grandson and heir of John, son of Alex-
ander, the son of [Angus the son of] John of Ardnamurchan' . . .
Hugh Macdonald, the Sleat historian, bastardizes this chief,
whom he calls 'John Brayach,' but this is Hugh's way, and there
are no grounds for putting in the bar sinister. Hugh describes
him as bold, intrepid, and not altogether sound in his mind . . .
on the contrary, he appears, judged by the standard of his time,
to have been no less famed for his statesman-like qualities than
for his personal prowess. He was one of the first of the vassals
of the Isles to make his submission to James IV. on the forfeiture
of the Island Lord in 1493. He married a lady of the Argyll
family, by whom he is said to have had: i. Donald. 2. Somer-
led. 3. A son whose name has not come down. 4. Alexander,
who succeeded." He must have had two more sons, — John
44 MACIAINS OF 1493-95
Sunertach (of Sunart), and Angus, who are named as having
been killed in his last battle at the Silver Crag. "He also had
a daughter [Catherine] who married Alastair Maclan Chathan
aich, 5th chief of Dunnyveg; and another, Mariot, who married
John Robertson of Struan." (Clan Donald, III., 211 and II. ,154).
On the 1 8th of August, 1493, James IV. held Court at Dunstaff-
nagfc and received the homage, "among others, of John of Dunny-
vaig, John Cathanach his son, John Maclan of Ardnamurchan,
and Alexander of Lochalsh" : he knighted the first and last and
confirmed them in their lands. Among other Clan Donald vassals,
"John Abrachson of Glencoe and Alister Maclan of Glengarry
had not yet acknowledged the new order of things. The only
chieftain of the Clan Donald who made any show of loyalty was
Maclan of Ardnamurchan, whose allegiance and services at
this time and afterwards were amply requited at the expense
of the other clansmen." (Clan Donald I., 285). That is, at
the expense of those who showed no loyalty.
The Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland show
that in 1494, "On the i4th of June, John Makane of Ardnamur-
chan had a charter of lands in Isla and of the office of bailie there,
which he had before held of the I,ord of the Isles. On the 2oth
of August, the King (James IV.) had returned to Stirling, but
it is said that, even before he had left the Isles, Dunaverty had
been recaptured by John of Isla, [otherwise known as Sir John of
Dunnyveg and the Glinns, also by his son John Cathanach],' the
governor put to death, and his body hung over the wall in sight of
the King and his fleet. This called for prompt action, and accord-
ingly, about the 8th of September, a messenger-at-arms was
despatched 'to summond Schir Johne of the His of tressone in
Kintyre.' He and four of his sons were quickly taken by John
Makane of Ardnamurchan, and brought to Edinburgh, where
they were found guilty and executed." [Probably early in
1495]. See also Lang's History of Scotland, I., 348. The Illus-
tration is from the Last Macdonalds of Isla.
By royal charter, certain lands in Isla were "granted to John
Maclan of Ardnamurchan for apprehending 'Johannes de
Glennys militis, Johannes Caynoch, ejus filii, et complicum
suorum,' " which was done "treacherously" [as one book states
without giving authorities for the charge] at the instigation of
Argyle, whose daughter he had married, and for the alleged
1493-96
ARDNAMURCHAN.
45
reason of a feud between them on account of Sunart and lands
in Isla. (Adapted from Clan Donald, I., 288, etc.) Lang also
(!•> 35°)» mentions valuable concessions received.
The fact that the King entrusted this Makane with the ? rdu-
ous and hopeless task of preserving order in the Highlands shows
the importance of the Ardnamurchan branch. James IV. twice
visited Dunstaffnage and Mingarry during 1493 [and 1495] in
the course of his visits of inspection. Exactly one hundred
years later will be found a reference to another Johnne McAne
DUNAVERTY CASTLE ROCK, KINTYRE.
of Ardnamurchane, showing the persistence of favorite bap-
tismal names in some old families.
The book Clan Donald, I., 296, charges the Maclan of 1495
with assassinating Alexander of Lochalsh during the repeated
rebellion of the latter in attempting to recover the Island Lord-
ship, but the authorities are mistaken in some at least of the
details, as that book shows. Probably Maclan was acting here
in his official capacity of Baillie as in the case of John of
Dunnyveg.
In 1496, according to the History of the Camerons, John
Macian of Ardnamurchan, Donald Angusson of Keppoch and
46 MACIAINS OF 1496-97
two others "appeared before the Lords of Council, and bound
themselves, 'by the extension of their hands,' to the Earl of
Argyll on behalf of the king, to abstain from mutual injuries
and molestations, under a penalty of .£500."
The Annals of Loch Ce note for 1499: "A great deed was com-
mitted by the King of Alba whose name was Stuart, viz. : — he
hanged John Mor MacDomhnaill, King of Innsi-Gall [the Hebri-
des], and John Cathanach,* and Alexander Ballagh [Domhnall?]
on the same gallows." This appears to refer to the occurrence
already mentioned as having taken place in 1494.
Hugh Macdonald, as quoted in Clan Donald, II., 161, 162,
relates a circumstance beginning with playfulness but resulting
in tragic misfortune; it may be abridged as follows: Two of the
chief's sons, Donald and Somerled, were "lusty, young strong
men," and one at least was so good a wrestler that he threw all
opposers; the chief, though old, wished to have a bout with
him, and the son, after trying in vain to excuse himself, threw his
father; whereupon the latter intimated that the son would
sooner overcome his father, than expel Alexander, John Cathe-
nach's son, from the Glens of Ireland. Immediately the two
sons started with a levy of men to Ireland, and upon landing
were met by Alexander. Some of the allies of the Maclains,
headed by "the Smith of Islay," deserted to the enemy, and
in the resulting battle the MacEans were routed, and most of
them, with MacEan's two sons were killed. Alexander at once
took the MacEan boats and crossed over to Islay, where he sur-
prised the Castle of Dunivaig, besieged MacEan in the Island,
and the latter surrendered on condition that he should give up
Islay to Alexander, and that Alexander should marry his daughter.
[It is worthy of note that the opposition chronicler begins by
calling John of Ardnamurchan "Maclain" and ends by writing
it "MacEan"].
As intimated in the last paragraph, Maclain of Ardnamurchan
in 1497 gave his daughter in marriage to Alasdair, son of Sir
John [of Islay], one of two sons who had escaped to their property
the Glens of Antrim [in 1494] (Lang, I., 350). In our suggest-
*"The Ann Ult. say that he was the son of John Mor MacDomhnaill.
The sobriquet 'Cathanach,' was given to him from his intimate connection
with the O'Cathains (O'Kanes) of Cianacta, or Keenaght (in Londonderry)
amongst whom he seems to have been fostered."
I497-I5°6 ARDNAMURCHAN. 47
tions for a Genealogical Chart, the married couple appear as
Catherine (Maclain) and Alexander Macdonell of Dunyvaig ;
the marriage must have been lamentable at first, judging from
Clan Donald, III., 376, where it is stated that the child was
Donald, surnamed, according to an Irish genealogical manu-
script, malak, i. e., 'cursed. The reason given is that "he was
cursed by his mother before his birth, because her husband had
killed her five brothers, in vengeance for the treachery wrought
upon his family by her father, Maclain of Ardnamurchan. She
prayed that her unborn offspring should never see light of day,
and the alleged result was that the first-born came blind into the
world. Another authority says he was deficient in courage,
which was the reason for his not succeeding to the lordship.
Donald, who was called Balloch, had two sons, Alastair
and Donald Gorm." But it appears that there were nine sons
and two daughters born to Alexander and Catherine, so we may
hope if there ever was the curse related, it yielded later to blessing.
In 1498, Maclain had a serious quarrel with Allan MacRuarie
of Clanranald about the lands of Sunart, and the dispute being
referred to the King, [James IV .], the latter decided in Maclain's
favor and gave him a charter of them. Apparently wishing
to crush the Macdonald families, the King divided up the lands
of the Lordship of the Isles among his supporters, and Maclain
was naturally well rewarded, and in one of the charters he is
given the Castle of Mingarry, mentioned hereafter. "John Mac-
Iain of Ardnamurchan had now become the most powerful chief-
tain of the Clan Donald, and the most effective instrument in
the hands of the King for their destruction." . . . To the end
of James's reign he was in constant communication with that
monarch, the King making frequent visits to Castle Mingarry
and holding courts there. Frequent references are also made
in the records of the time to payments made to messengers carry-
ing letters to Maclain from the King." (Abridged from Clan
Donald, II., 158, 159).
The History of the Clan MacLean also states that the rebellion
of 1499-1506, caused by the revocation of some charters recently
granted by the King, and headed by Donald Dhu and the Mac-
lans of Glencoe, found Maclan of Ardnamurchan on the royal
side and that the struggle resulted in the breaking up of the con -
federacv of the Island lords.
48 MACIAINS OF 1505-07
Upon the suppression of the first rebellion, "the King, for the
faithful and willing service rendered him by his 'dear John Mak-
kane of Ardnamurchane,' confirmed him in all the lands formerly
granted to him, with the houses and fortalices of Castle Mingary
in Ardnamurchan, and Dunnyveg in Isla, and in the bailiary of
that Island" — [which brought on great trouble with the Mac-
leans]. (Clan Donald, II., 139).
Further references to the grants mentioned above are made
as follows:
"John Maclain received from the King [James IV], on 24th
November, 1505, a ratification, for good services, of all charters
formerly made in his favour of whatsoever lands in the islands
of Yle and Jura, and the low land (bassa term) of Ardnamurchan
and Suynart, with the Castle of Mingarry, in Ardnamurchan,
and Donavagan, in Yle, etc. The King, at Edinburgh, igth
November, 1506, confirmed to John Maclain, as heir of his grand-
father, John vie Allister vie Iain, inter alia, two merks, and 6s.
8d. worth of lands in Jura, viz., a large eighth part of Aridscar-
nula, an eighth part of Knock-na-seolomon, which held of the
late Donald de Insulis, Lord of Dunyvaig and Glens, but now
in the hands of the Crown through the forfeiture of the late John
de Insulis of Dunyvaig, knight, heir of the said Donald de Insulis
on account of Sir John's treason . . . Maclain was also sent to Ire-
land to capture or slay Alexander [Macdonnell of Dunyvaig],
but failed, after long search, as he reported to the King. In
reality, Maclain seems to have relented, became reconciled to
Alexander, and gave him his daughter Catherine in marriage,
all unknown to the King . . . " (The Last Macdonalds of Isla,
also Clan Donald I., 291, etc.).
This ending is so different a version from the one already
quoted that it almost seems like a different incident.
We read many sneers and some harsh adjectives against Baillie
Maclain, but the facts are that he was an official of the Scottish
Government, and received his emoluments from that Govern-
ment, that his acts were against men in rebellion, and that he
was the most honest among the Macdonalds of his day, and did
not change sides with the same facility as the rest, and this the
attacks upon him show.
In Royal Letters, Richard III. and Henry VII., is one from
O'Donnel to James IV. of Scotland, in which the former asks
X507"I3 ARDNAMURCHAN. 49
on Mar. 13, 1507, for the assistance of the Scots against his Irish
enemies, and mentions "dominum Johanem filium Alexandri
McHean [indexed 'or McKeane'}. suae nationis principalem,"
[chief of his people], coupling him with the "Clanndonayll
and Clandompnayll," signing himself Odonipnayll, and alluding
to ^Eneas McDonayll : he wants the help by the next feast of
Saints Philip and James. The King answers, April 22, that4,ooo
armed men will be sent with John, son of Alexander McKeane,
but there is not time by the day named.
The fatal battle of Flodden in Northumberland was fought
September 9, 1513, between the English and the Scots; King
James of Scotland was killed with most of his army, while some
of the Macdonald clans were nearly annihilated, apparently
owing to breaking ranks and charging the English pikemen in
detail. John Maclan of Ardnamurchan was in the battle, and
was reported by mistake in the English Gazette among the killed .
In Taylor's Pictorial History of Scotland, I., 406-411, is a map
of the battle-field, and an illustration with a description, from
which last we copy a few paragraphs, as well as a few couplets
from Scott's Marmion, Canto VI. , Stanza XXXIV. "While the
English were crossing the stream [called the Till] with their
vanguard separated from their rear, the Scottish nobles in vain
begged the king to attack. Borthwick, master of his artillery
on his knees asked permission to bring his guns to bear on the
English columns as they defiled over the narrow bridge. 'But
the king,' says Pittscottic, I., 277, 'answered this gunner, Robert
Borthwick, like to ane man bereft of all wit and judgment,' say-
ing, 'I will cause hang thee and quarter thee if thou shoot a
shot this day, for I will have the enemy all in a plain field before
me, and assay them what they can do. " Whether this infatu-
ation was owing to the king's ignorance of tactics, or to a roman-
tic wish to give the enemy every chance, is a question. "On
the extreme right of the Scottish army the clans suffered so
from the volleys of the Cheshire and Lancashire archers :
The English shafts in volleys hailed,
In headlong charge their horse assailed :
that they broke their array to close with the enemy. The Eng-
lish pikemen reeled from the attack, but recovered and attacked
the disorganized Highlanders in frontand flank, routing them with
great slaughter. In the centre the struggle was severe, and
50 MACIAINS OF 1513 17
for a time the Scots had the better of it. No quarter was given
on either side, the ground became so slippery from blood that
the combatants pulled off their boots and shoes and fought in
their hose. The loss of the Scots in this disastrous field amounted
to from 8,000 to 10,000 men, but these included the flower of
their nobility, gentry and even clergy :
Their king, their lords, their mightiest low,
They melted from the field as snow.
Scarce a Scottish family of eminence, as Sir Walter Scott remarks,
but has had an ancestor killed at Flodden,
Where shivered was fair Scotland's spear,
And broken was her shield!"
An old version of "Flowers of the Forest" was composed in
commemoration of the battle, and the air is still played as a reg-
imental dirge in Scotland. But passing from grave to gay, — it
is related that a Scotch physician, many years after, went to
England to practice his profession. Sir Walter Scott, knowing
that he was unlearned, protested that he would kill a lot of
Englishmen; "Aye," said Sawney, "but not eneugh to mak' up
for Flodden."
The surviving Highlanders, including Alexander Maclan of
Glengarry, again "raised the standard of rebellion, and Sir Donald
of Lochalsh was proclaimed Lord of the Isles," but Maclan of
Ardnamurchan exerted his influence with some success, to keep
certain of the Islesmen from breaking the( peace, and in 1515
(August 23rd) there was "Ane Respit maid be avise of the Gov-
ernour [Regent Albany] to Donald of the His of Lochalsh" and
others, "for the space of IX dayis next to come after the date
hereof," and the rebellion was extinguished. (Clan Donald I.,
321 ; II., 160; and Lang, I., 361).
In 1516, as MacLean states, Donald of the Isles made redress
to John Maclan of Adnamurchan for injuries done by Lachlan
McClane of Do ward.
And in 1517 Lachlan obtained from the Lords of Council,
pardon for recent rebellion, and in return was obliged to promise
restitution to the Earl of Argyle and Macdonald of Ardnamur-
chan for injuries done to their vassals. (Abridged from Account
of Clan Maclean by a Seneachie, 25-27). In seven lines one
authority calls him Maclan, another writes Macdonald, both of
Ardnamurchan, and the next says Mac Iain.
I5I3~50 ARDNAMURCHAN. 5!
On the death of King James IV. [1513], Maclain found him-
self surrounded by many enemies, including nearly all of the
Western Clans, but none so determined as the Clan Iain Mhoir
to which Sir John of Dunnyveg had belonged, and whom Maclain
was instrumental in having executed in 1494. So powerful
were his enemies that the Duke of Albany, Regent during the
minority of James V., and the Council could not protect him.
In 1515 raids were made on his lands in Isla, and when summoned
to an account the raiders failed to appear, and his own tenants
in Isla seem to have been disloyal to him, and Maclain had to
rely upon his immediate followers on the main land; but the
Macdonalds of Dunnyveg,. Sir Donald of Lochalsh, the Mac-
leods of Lewis and Raasay formed a combination too powerful
for him. They invaded Ardnamurchan, wasted it with fire
and sword and sacked Maclain's Castle of Mingarry; Maclain
and his men retreated before this formidable host, but were pur-
sued to a place called Creag-an-Airgid [the Silver Crag] in Morven ,
where a sanguinary engagement took place. Here Maclain,
his two sons John Sunartach [of Sunart] and Angus, and many
of his followers were slain, apparently in 1518. "With John
Maclain departed the glory of the Maclains of Ardnamurchan.
He was buried with befitting pomp and ceremony in [lona] the
sacred Isle of the West." (Abridged from Clan Donald, II.,
161-164)
The accounts in Lang's History of Scotland, I., 363, and in
The Last Macdonalds of Isla are somewhat similar, and the latter
adds that Mariot, daughter of John Maclain, was served heir
to him in 1538, and two years after, Ardnamurchan fell into
the hands of the Earl of Argyle, who in 1550 alienated it . . .to
James Macdonal, and the grant was confirmed the same year by
Queen Mary."
The Maclain tombstone in lona is evidently that of John who
was head of that branch of the family at least between 1494 and
1518: it must have been a very fine stone before it was broken
and weather-beaten. In the upper half the effigies of John Mac-
Iain and his sister Mariota are distinguishable; in the centre
is the galley which was their armorial bearing; below that is a
beautiful and intricate figure compounded of crosses, sprigs,
etc., while the inscriptional border is subdivided by rosettes.
The text of Fr as er -Mackintosh (from whose book the plate is
ARDN AMURCH AN .
copied) implies that Malcolm Macduphie of Colonsay erected
the tomb to his brother-in-law John Maclain, I^ord of Ardna-
murchan and Mariota Maclain, sister of John and wife of Mal-
colm; but the inscription is very indistinct except at the right
hand lower half and bottom, where we may distinguish : " Ard-
namurchan * et Mariota . . . eain soror ejus [foror eius] *
THE MACIAIN TOMBSTONE IN IONA.
spousa * The authors of Clan Donald apparently make
Mariota the daughter of Alexander the uncle of John Mac Iain t
(III., 210).
VII. ALEXANDER was the son and heir of John Maclain, and
was a minor at his father's death. Colin Campbell, Earl of Ar-
gyle was appointed guardian. The policy of the latter being to
extend the influence of his house, and the Maclains with their
54 MACIAINS otf 1517-29
vast estates being entirely in his power, Argyle was not slow
to use his opportunity. His brother, Sir John of Calder became
his agent, and between them they set about dividing the pos-
sessions of the House of Ardnamurchan, but were not altogether
successful. Maclain, though not of age, led his men fighting
against the Campbells in a quarrel provoked by the murder of
Lachlan Catanach Maclean of Do wart. (Abridged from Clan
Donald, II., 164-166).
The Macleans and Macdonalds though later at feud with each
other, were united during the minority of James V. Some of
the lands forfeited by the Lord of the Isles being granted to them,
Argyle persuaded the Council to declare the grants null and void.
The two neighbors made a descent upon the lands of Argyle, and
the Government sent a herald to the Isles to command the latter
wrong-doers to peaceable behaviour and to give an explanation.
The herald returned unsuccessful. Argyle offered to repress
the two chiefs, but the Gavernn^nt doubted his disinterestedness
and patriotism, and gave the Macleans and Macdonalds a chance
to present their wrongs, and Ardnamurchan is mentioned among
those who sent in their submission, and Argyle gave two Camp-
bells as hostages to be confined in Edinburgh Castle in fulfil-
ment of these terms. (Abridged from Clan Maclean, 31-33).
A more important saving interference is thus described: Colin
Campbell, third Earl of Argyle, had been granted a Commission
of "lieutenandry" over the men of the Isles about 1517, but in
1529 it dawned upon the King and council that the Earl had
secretly fomented disturbances there in hopes of benefiting by
forfeitures, and he represented any attacks upon himself as a
rebellion against the sovereign. About this time Alexander
MacDonald of Islay, with the contemporary MacLean made a
descent upon certain lands belonging to the Campbells, and the
latter being worsted, appealed to the council, who summoned
Alexander of Islay and his followers to lay down their arms,
offering them royal protection. Nine of the principal Islanders,
including Alexander Maclan of Ardnamurchan, sent offers of
submission to the King, who deprived Archibald Campbell, fourth
Earl of Argyle, of the chief command of the Isles, conferring it
on Alexander of Islay, which caused Argyle to join the English
forces. (Adapted from the History of the Clan MacLeari).
1 5 3 1 -5° ARDN AMURCH AN . 5 5
In the Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland, Vol. II., James V.,
A. D. 1531, several persons, among whom were "alexander
makeane, alister de glengarry, Johanes mckane" and others,
were called upon to testify "sup. certis praeditorijs accoibus.in
dca. sumoicoe. contente;" [upon certain predatory gatherings
affirmed in the said summons]; the case was postponed at least
three times, and there is no record of it at the last date set .
"We hear no more of the young Chieftain of Ardnamurchan,
and he must have been dead before the year 1538; for in that
year Mariot Maclain, his sister, and wife of Robert Robertson
of Struan, was served heiress to her father in the lands possessed
by him at his death. Two years later, Mariot, with consent of
her husband, resigned these lands in favour of the Earl of Argyle,
but the King [James V.] the following year paid the sum of ,£5,000
to the Earl for resigning ad perpetuam remanentiam the same
lands. In 1543 Queen Mary granted to Argyle the lands of Ard-
namurchan and others for the space of twelve years. This last
transaction seems afterwards to have been thought irregular,
and in the year 1550 Argyle, in virtue of the old resignation in
his favour by Mariot Maclain, the heiress, received a crown char-
ter of the 80 merk lands of Ardnamurchan, which he immedi-
ately bestowed on his brother-in-law, James Macdonald of Dunny-
veg and the Glens to be held under the Earls of Argyle" (Clan
Donald, II, 166, 167).
It may be interesting to quote the royal document above men-
tioned; it is in the Register of the Great Seal of the Kings of Scot,
land, is in Latin, and may be rendered as follows :
"527 At. Edinburgh, 20 September (1550).
The Queen [Mary] &c ., has granted and quitclaimed to ARCHI-
BALD EARL OF ARGYLE [Ergadie Comiti], Lord Campbell and
Lome &c., his heirs and assigns, — the lands of Ardnamurchan,
with the castle and fortress of Castell-Mayerie, near Inverness; —
which Mariota McAne, daughter and heiress of the late John
M. of Ardnamurchan transferred into the hands of King James
V. at Holyrood* [apud monasterium S. Crucis]: — Attested, 27.
4. 26. 31. 30. 32. XXX. 496."
*This palace derived its name from a valued relic. The Holy Rood of
Scotland was a cross-shaped casket of wrought gold, containing a fragment
of the True Cross, "carried off later by that royal thief, Edward I." Still
later it was returned by treaty, afterwards captured by the English, and
lastly disappeared from the Cathedral of Durham at the time of the Reform-
ation. (Lansdale's Scotland, Historic and Romantic, I., 6, note).
56 MACIAINS OF 1,550
It is curious to see that in the copious Index of the work last
mentioned, Makeane is noted: "vide Makane," and at that place
we find: "Makane (McAne, Makaane, McEane, Makeane, Mc-
Carie, McCaine, McKane, McKayne, McKeane, McKaane ; cf Mak-
kany) de Ardnamurchan, Joh., 527." The locality has been
spelled Ardenmuirich, Ardmurquhane, Ardnamercho, Ardna-
mourach, Ardnamurch, Ardnamurchane, Ardnamurquhan, Ar-
mourche and otherwise.
In a document dated i2th day of October, 1550, is mentioned
the 80 merks land of the old extent of Ardnamurchan, with the
castle and fortalice of Mingarry, tenants, tenantries, and service
of free tenants, etc., etc., lying within the Sheriff dom of Inver-
ness . . . and ' 'James Macdonald took sasine at the Castle of Min-
garry of the lands of Ardnamurchan on yth January 1550-51."
(The Last Macdonalds of Isla).
"Henceforth the superiority of Ardnamurchan remained
nominally with the Argyle family, although it was many years
before their title was completed by possession, the Maclains
continuing to hold the estate as if it had been a male fief of the
crown. The fact that they continued to possess the lands of
Ardnamurchan, noth withstanding the charters to Argyle and
James Macdonald, is proved by several references to them in the
public records as 'of Ardnamurchan.' The only feasible explan-
ation of this state of matters is that considerable indulgence
must have been extended to the Maclains by all parties, for
otherwise it is difficult to see how they could have kept their
hold against so strong a combination as the Campbells and the
Macdonalds of Dunnyveg. The conduct of the Government
in depriving the Maclains of their just and lawful rights at this
time is somewhat difficult to explain. The loyalty of the family
during the troublous times that followed the fall of the Lordship
of the Isles seems to have been entirely forgotten, when it should
have stood them in good stead. As no reason is given for so
harsh a treatment we can only venture the surmise that the
family of the Maclain who succeeded to the chieftainship in
1538 must have made themselves obnoxious by their opposition
to the Government." (Clan Donald, II., 167, 168).
Alexander Maclain is said (Ibid., III., 211), to have had
three sons — i. John, who succeeded. 2. Donald. 3. Alexander.
This Alexander had two sons — i. John. 2. Donald.
Alexander was succeeded as head of the family by his cousin
I544~45 ARDNAMURCHAN. 57
"Alexander MacDonald Vclain of Ardnamurchan," who seems
to have held the leadership about forty-seven years, but who
does not appear in the Genealogy given by the Reverends A.
Macdonalds, in III., 211.
In 1544 he supported John Moydertach of Clanranald and
the Frasers of Lovat, and fought at Blar Leine or Kinloch Lochy
in 1545. A respite was granted him in 1548 by the Government
for his doings in this battle and for being absent from the royal
army summoned in 1547 (Abridged from Clan Donald, II., 168).
Some of the contemporary correspondence on public affairs
alludes to familiar clan names; e. g., under the date 1545, the
State Papers contain a very curious "Commission to make com-
pact with Henry VIII. and Lennox: — The Earl of Rosse, etc.,
to McAlister and McLean." The document itself is in part as
follows: "Be it kend till all men be vis present wryt, We, Don-
ald Lord of ye His and Erll of Rose, wicht awise and consent of
our Barronis and Counsall of ye Ilis, yet is to say, . . . Jhone Mac-
allister Capitane of Clanrannald . . . Anguse Maconill brudir ger-
mane to James Maconill. . .Alexander Mackeyn of Ardnamur-
chane . . . Alexander Rannaldsoun of Glengerre . . .to have maid,
constitude and ordanit, and be yir our presents makis consti-
tutis and ordainis, giffand our full powar exprese bidding and
command to honorable personis and our Kynnismen, yat is to
say, Rore Macallister Elect to ye Bishopre of ye Ilis in Scotland,
and Deyn of Morwarne, and Mr Patrik Maclane . . . brudir ger-
mane to ye said Lord Maclane, Bailze of Ycomkill and Justice
Clerk of ye South Ilis, conjunclie and severalie our afald and
indowtit Commissioners . . . and in speciall twetching our bandis
instantlie to be maid to ane most anobill and potent Prince
Harye ye Acht, be ye Grace of God King of Ingland, France
and Ireland . . . and for securite of yir present, we ye said Donald
has affiixit our propir seill wicht our hand at ye pen because
we can nocht wryte, and has causit ye Baronis aboun writtin,
becaus thai can nocht write, to cause ane Notar to subscribe
for yame wicht yair hand at ye pen, with yair bodely ay this
never to cum in ye contrar of ye sammyn. (Signed} : Donald
of ye Ilis and Erll of Ros, w* my hand at ye pen. . . Alexr Ranald-
son of Glegare, w* had at pen. . .Angus McConill Brudr Jarme
to Jamis Mcconill, w* my hand at ye pene. . . Allexad. McCane
off Annourche, w* my hand at ye pene..."
58 MACIAINS OF1 1545
But this is not enough: the State Paper DXLVIII., in the
same year, is the Oath of Rosse and the Lairds of the Isles; it
begins: "In Dei nomine. Amen," and proceeds to state that there
"comperit ane honorable Lord, Donald Lord of ye Ilis and Erll
of Rose, into ye Cheptour of ye Gray Freris of Knokfarguse"
and with several others including "Macallister capitane of Clan-
rannald. . . Anguse Macconill. . .Alexander Mackeyn of Ardnamur-
chan . . . Alexander Rannoldson of Glengarre . . . wncoakit or
imcompulsit, bot of yair awin free motive will" . . . [have
given their oaths to] "Patrik Colquhoun, as Commissionar to
my Lord of Lennox and servand to ye Kingis Majeste" . . . that
they had become the King's true subjects touching the marriage
of the Princess of Scotland, and in all other affairs, etc.
In 1545 also appears a very long communication on behalf
of Ross and the others, protesting loyalty to their new friends
the English, and, we regret to write, hatred to their own country-
men; asserting that it is not a question of money, while they
seem to be driving a pretty close bargain. It is from "McAlister,
&c. to The Privy Council. — To our werray good Lordis of ye
Counsall, these be giffen. Item first that. . .our lord and maister
thErlle (sic) of Rose and Lord of the His, promittis that his
Lordship schall destroye the tayne half of Scotland, or. . .mak
theyme to cum to the Kingis Majesties obedience. . .the Lord
Maclane, and the rest of the Barronis of the Ilis... the Lord
Maclane, Captane of Clanrannald. . .be includit therein . . The
fourt artikill, quhen it specifyeth ... to gif the said Erll of Rose
one zeirlie pensioun of two thousand crownis for service doyne,
and to be doyne . . . the said Erll of Rose desyris to have wachis
to tbre thousand of the said eycht thousand (men), the wther
fyve thousand to serve the Kingis Majeste in favour of my Lord
thErll of Lennox, not takand wagis ... we schall mak the number
of 6 thousand men with their galays and wischell to serve the
Kingis Hienes . . . Item secundlie, my Lordis, we exhort zour
Lordschepes to ramember and considder quhat honorable
and faythfull service we promit to do the Kingis Majeste on our
liffis and honour . . . Item thridlie . . . zour good Lordschepes . . .
[should] be the more ware with all the natioun of Scottis, trfis
for their fraud, and in speciale wyth ws that is callit the wyld
Ilis of Scotland;. . .we beseik zour Lordschepis to have no sich
consait in ws, . . .zour Lordschepas sail considder we have beyne
auld enemys to the realm of Scotland, and quhen they had
1545 ARDNAMURCHAN. 59
peasche wyth the Kingis Hienes, they hanged hedit presoned and
destroed many of our kyn freindis and forbears, as testifyis. . .
thElle of Rose. . .the quhilk hath lyin in presoun afoir he was
borne of his modir . . . And many wther crewell slachter burnyng
and herschep that hath beyn betuix ws and the sadis Scottis, the
quhilk war lang to wrytte. . .the hatrand wilbe the grittar be-
tuix ws and them van it was afore, and is able more to encrese . . .
Item fourtlie and last of all". . .[it is most important to act
immediately]. . ."that the precius and convenient tyme be not
lost, ye quhilk onis lost is wnrecoverable ; and, on our lyffis,
zour Lordschepps had never so good tyme as now. Finale, my
Lordis, to concluid, we pray zour Lordschepps to have ws ex-
cusit of our lang rusticall and barbarose ditment to consider
our mynd and nocht the wrytte, and that our mynd is not to
perswaid zour Lordschepps wyth wordis, or to be desyrars of
the Kingis Graceis mony, bot. . .quhar we desyre one crown of
His Hienes, we shall spend thre in His Graceis service, with
tie grace of God; prayand Christ Jesu to have ye Kingis Ma-
jeste in keiping an Zour good Lordschipps, with ansour as zour
Lordschipps thinkis expedient." It may be mentioned that
Ross gets his "pension," the Earl of the Isles gets his, and of
the 8,000 men, "6000. . .shall be employed. . .to annoye then-
emyes, thother 2000 remayning in their cowntrees for defence."
And soon there are such stirring items in the Contents as "Dry-
burgh taken," Tiviotdale forrayed," "Jedburgh burnt," "Merse
forrayed," "Dunse rased," etc., etc.
Perhaps the canny Scots were not the only people who may
be accused of double-dealing at this period. The State Papers
make mention, September 4, 1545, of two letters, both from
Henry VIII.; one to Donald McOnell, Earl of Ross, "Lord of
the Isles," and the other to Hector McLean, "Lord of the Isles;"
the letters are "to the same effect, and in the same words, "-
encouraging them to proceed in the invasion of Scotland. It
should be stated, however, that there may have been some doubt
at this time as to the rightful owner of the above title.*
*The title "of the Isles" was written in various ways: "Isla has continued
from the earliest times to the present; "Ilacht" and "Ilycht" meant the
Isla men; among Gaelic forms were "de lie" or "Yle." Younger sons were
styled "de Insulis" and "Illis " (The List Macdonalds of Isla). Besides the
above, there are found Ylis and Yllis, des Isles in 1292, de Hyle in 1295 and
d'Eyl in 1297, de Ysle in 1336, Ilys in 1346, the lyles in 1626, the Eylis in
1630, etc.
6o MACIAINS OF1 1545-06
It is apparent that McConel and McOnell are forms of Mac-
Donald; the reason for that form of the name is given in the
Appendix, in the Table of some spellings of the name (Mac)
Donald.
Donald Dubh, claimant to the forfeited lordship of the Isles
and earldom of Ross, having escaped from imprisonment in
which he had been detained from infancy by the King, was re-
ceived with open arms by the island chiefs; they instantly took
the field in support of his claims, and Alexander Macian (Mac-
donald) of Ardnamurchan is mentioned among his supporters
(Gregory's History of the Western Highlands, 70, note).
In 1545 Donald Dubh escaped for the second time (first from
Inchconnell, now from Edinburgh Castle), and "again summoned
the men of the Isles to his standard, . . . Alexander Maclain
was among the first to join him, and his importance may be
measured by his elevation to the position of one of the Council
of the Island Claimant. He also was one of the eighteen Com-
missioners appointed by Donald Dubh to treat with Henry VIII.
of England. We thus see that Alexander Maclain played an
important part during that stirring time." (Clan Donald, II.,
169).
"The death of Donald Dubh in 1545, left no claimant to the
Lordship of the Isles The Islanders, after a while, chose James
MacDonald of Isla, [and of Dunneveg and the Glinns], as their
leader — a chieftain whose pretensions to the Lordship of the
Isles were much inferior to those of Donald Gorm of Sleat." . . .
"The repeated failures of the western clans to re-establish, in any
shape, the old lordship of the Isles, proved to them the futility of
making another attempt. Having no longer a common object,
the clans, by degrees, became estranged from each other, and
the less powerful ones were forced to contend against the
aggressions of their stronger neighbors." (History of the Clan
MacLeari). James MacDonald here mentioned, "took no overt
action, but subsided once more into the attitude of a loyal sub-
ject, and was restored to favor with the Scottish Regent." With
this act passed away the hope that the ancient title ['of the
Isles'] might yet be restored. (Adapted from Clan Donald).
Referring to the above James, a few quotations follow, — of
portions of a document accompanying another in 1546, and
among the State Papers, — from "The Lord Deputy and Council
1546-80 ARDNAMURCHAN. 6 1
of Ireland to the Privy Council in England." The principal
one mentions "letters from one Jamez McConel, whiche nowe
declareth hymself Lorde of the Isles, by the consent of the no-
bilitie of the Insulans." The accompanying declaration says:
"At Ardnamurchan, the 24 day of Januar the zeir of God ane
thowsand fyef hundyr 46 zeir. We, James McConaill of Dunne-
waik and ye Glinnis, and aperand aeyr of ye Yllis," [pray the
Lord Deputy of Ireland and Council of Dublin to express to the
King] "that we ar raddy, efter owr extrem power, our kynis-
man and alya, naymly owr cusyng, Alan McKlayn of Gyga,Clan-
ronald, Clanchanrown [Cameron] Clancayn [Maclan] and owr
awyn sowrnaym, bayth north and sowth, to tak ane part with
the said Erl of Lenox, or ony oder quhat sumever, ye Kyngis
Majeste plaissis to haif autyrise or constitut be His Grace, in
Scotland". . . [and he mentions a bond] "maid to our seyf,
and Maister Donald Lord Yllis, qhowrn God asolyeit ye qhilk
deid in His said Graceis serwice . . .we requyer thwa orthre
schyppis to be send to ws to (ye yll of Sanday besyid Kintyr, at
vSanct Patrikis day next to cowm, or yair by) and . . .we haif
afixit our propir seill to the samyng, with our subscription man-
uall, the day zeir and place abowven expremit.
(Signed) James McConel of
L- S. Dunnewaik & Gli'nis."
"In a rental of the Bishopric of the Isles and Abbacy of lona
of the year 1561, we find that Maclain held the lands of Garga-
deill, in Ardnamurchan, as tenant of the Abbot of lona, while
he possessed the Isle of Muck, as tenant of the Bishop of the Isles.
(Clan Donald, II., 169). Furthermore there is the following
curious document:
"Act of the Lords of Council and Session, in causa Bishop of
the Isles against the Islesmen,*i5<So.
Tertio Decembris, anno 1580.
Anent the sumondis raisit at the instance of ane reuerend
father in God, jhonne Bischop of the lies aganes Gilemane
M'Neill of Baray, . . . Johne M'Ane of Arinamurchan . . .
To heir it be fundin, be decreit of the counsale, that the saidis
persones,andilk ane of thame, hes intromettit with the maillis,
fermes, teyndis and deuties pertenying and belanging to the landis
and kirks pert enying to the said reuerend father within the bischop-
*Register of Decreet of Council and Session, LXXXIL, 169
62 MACIAINS OF 1580-85
rik of His and abbay of Ycolmkill, ilk ane of them for thair awin
pairtis of the cropis and yeiris of God Imvc Ixxij, lxxiij,anddiuerss
vtheris yeiris . . . The said reuerend father compeirand be
Mr. Alexander Mauchane, his procuratour" . . .etc. (Historical
Account of lona, 91, L- Maclean).
VIII. JOHN succeeded Alexander. "He had by his first wife
his heir and successor John Og; also a daughter Una, who mar-
ried Allan Maclean of Ardthornish, of whom the Macleans of
Kinlochaline, Drirnnin, Pennycross and others. He married
(secondly) Janet Campbell, Dowager Lady of Duart." (Clan
Donald, III., 211, 212).
John appears to have become chief in 1585, in which year
began |a serious feud between the MacDonalds of Sleat and Mac-
Leans of Dowart, developing later into a war which involved
all the MacDonalds and MacLeans, and Maclain of Ardnamur-
chan took sides naturally with the MacDonalds. According
to a MacLean tradition, one incident in the feud was that John
Maclain falsely represented that Lachlan MacLean had executed
two MacDonald hostages: thereupon Angus MacDonald of
Dunnyveg executed two notable MacLean prisoners, following
which the MacLeans invaded Ardnamurchan, and according
to the MacLean Seanachies, "peace was purchased by the
marriage of Maclains' daughter Una, and Allan Maclean, to
whom certain lands were given in name of dowry." (Clan Donald,
II., 169, 170).
The Maclean account is of course somewhat different, and in
brief relates that the Bishop of the Isles granted Lachlan, 6th
Maclean of Coll, certain land in the Island of Muke [Muck?]
"formerly the property of the Maclans of Ardnamurchan, who,
keeping violent possession of the island, Coll had fourteen of their
number" put to death, for which the Maclans took their revenge
afterwards (p. 308) . . . Hector, son of Lachlan, had the island
of Muke given him by his father. "The Maclans of Ardna-
murchan from a feeling of revenge for some supposed injury
done them by Hector's father, [possibly explained by the pre-
ceding paragraph], and being privately instigated by their
cunning and artful enemy Sir Donald Campbell, now the possessor
of the property of the Maclan Chief," landed on Muck, seized
some cattle, and were fired upon by Hector, who was shot dead.
The murderers were afterwards apprehended and hanged (p. 322).
1586-88 ARDNAMURCHAN. 63
And as to hanging, Dixon in the Border Clans, 47, intimates
that retainers took it almost as a matter of course, and as better
than dying in their beds : when led out to execution they listened
calmly to the priest as he recited the Fifty-first Psal in Latin,
the Neck-verse, so called because said when the halter was on
their necks.
The troubles proceeded with other branches; in 1586 there
was an invasion of Mull and Tiree by the MacDonalds of Islay
and Skye under Angus MacDonald [of Dunnyveg], supported
amongst others, by Clanian of Ardnamurchan, in revenge for
the devastation of Islay by the MacLeans. (Lang's History of
Scotland. I., 417)-
In 1587 "certain charges are made against Maclain and others,
the Council meantime prohibiting him from gathering his men in
arms. In the same year his name is found in the Roll of Chiefs,
and the Clan Iain are found in the Roll of Clans sent down in
the Act of Parliament commonly called the General Bond. These
indicate the position of Maclain and his Clan in the history of
the Highlands at this time, and it seems to have been one of
considerable importance, despite the absence of crown charters."
(Clan Donald, II., 170).
The first of the rolls mentioned in the previous paragraph is
evidently the one in the Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland,
(James VI., A. D. 1587), and which reads in part: "THE ROLL
of ye names of ye landislordis and baillies of landis duelland in
the bordouris and in the hielandis quhair brokin men hes duelt
and pntlie duellis." In this long roll of names and titles is in-
cluded tnckane of ardnamrchin.
According to the Reg. Privy Council Scot., letters are directed
in 1587, to officers and sheriffs, to command and charge several
persons, including John Mckane of Ardnamurchan, to deliver
up eight hostages for MacLean, — to Archibald, Earl of Argyle,
Lord Campbell and Lome.
A painful piece of treachery is related by several authori-
ties as having occurred about this time :
MacLean of Dowart, in 1588, "having failed openly to kill
John Mckane of Ardnamurchin " treacherously invited him and
his friends to the marriage of Janet Campbell, the mother of
MacLean; and after the banquet and after McKane and his
friends had "fallen on sleep," the MacLeans killed about eighteen
64 MACIAINS OF 1588
"gentlemen, besides others," and but for his own defense and
the earnest suit of MacLean's mother, would have killed McKane;
however, he was detained in captivity, with Allaster McKane,
and Angus McKane, his page, — for all of which MacLean was
denounced rebel.
The foregoing is evidently the circumstance alluded to in
Browne's History of the Highlanders and Clans, as follows, — but
as having occurred in 1591: "In order to strengthen his own
power and to weaken that of his antagonist, (Angus Macdonald
of Kintyre), Sir Lauchlan Maclean attempted to detach John
Maclain of Ardnamurchan, from Angus Macdonald and his
party. Maclain had formerly been an unsuccessful suitor for
the hand of Macleans' mother, and Sir Hector now gave him
an invitation to visit him in Mull, promising, at the same time,
to give him his mother in marriage. Maclain accepted the invi-
tation, and on his arrival in Mull, Maclean prevailed on his mother
to marry Maclain, and the nuptials were accordingly celebrated
at Torloisk in Mull. Maclean thought that by gratifying Mac-
Iain in his long-wished for object, he would easily succeed in
obtaining his assistance against Macdonald, but he was disap-
pointed in his expectations, for no persuasion could induce Mac-
Iain to join against his own tribe, towards which, notwithstand-
ing his matrimonial alliance, he entertained the strongest affec-
tion. Chagrined at the unexpected refusal of Maclain, Sir Lauch
Ian resolved to punish his refractory guest by one of those gross
infringements of the laws of hospitality which so often marked
the hostility of rival clans. During the dead hour of the night
he caused the door of Maclains' bed-chamber to be forced open,
dragged him from his bed, and from the rms of his wife, and put
him in close confinement after killing eighteen of his followers.
After suffering a year's captivity, he was released and exchanged
for Maclean's son and the other hostages in Macdonald's posses-
sion." Fraser-Mackintosh adds in Last Alacdonalds of Isla:
"The evil doers were committed to the Castle of Edinburgh,
were afterwards reconciled and a severe penalty imposed upon
the first that would break the peace."
Lachlan Maclean was summoned to appear before the Privy
Council and to produce the persons of his prisoners: he failed
to do so and was pronounced rebel, but appears to have given
Maclain his liberty; the treatment the latter had received, how-
1588 ARDNAMURCHAX. 65
ever, aroused the indignation of the Macdonalds of Clan Ranald ;
and MacLean of Dowart, "not waiting to be attacked, invaded
the Islands of Rum, Cana, Eigg and Muck, which belonged to
the Clan Iain and Clan Ranald," after which he "made a descent
on the district of Ardnamurchan, and laid siege to the Castle of
Mingarry. Here he was met by the Macdonald chieftains, who
defeated him with great slaughter. (Abridged from Clan Donald,
II, 173)-
Disputes about the Rhinns, (certain lands in Islay), caused
depredations and trouble between the Clans of MacDonald and
MacLean, leading to the narrow escape of John Maclan of Ard-
namurch (otherwise Johnne McKane of Ardmurchin), and which
feud was sought to be allayed by ths marriage between Allan
MacLean and Una Maclan.
It may be a relief to quote a few archaic fragments about the
foregoing MacLean raid as quaintly set forth in the Register of
the Privy Council of Scotland, which relates in fulness of detail
and indignation in 1588, that Lachlan MacLean, "accompayed
with a grite nowmer of thevis, broken men, andsornaies of Clannis
besydis the nowmer of ane hundreth Spanyeartis,* come, . . .
byrnt the same Illis, with the haill men, wemen and childrene
being thoir intill, not spairing the pupillis and infantis, and at
that same tyme past to the Castell of Ardnamurchin, (Mingarry),
assegeit the same, and lay abowte the said Castell three dayis-
using in the meantyme all kind of hostilitie and force, baith be
fyre and swerd . . . the like barbarous and shamefull crueltie
has sendle bene hard of amangis Christeanis in any kingdome or
age." They were only forced from their warm attentions by
"gude subjectis." The MacDonalds on their part, employed
*These notable allies consisted of a hundred marines borrowed from the
Florida (Florencia, the Florentine galleon), one of the scattered remnants
of the Spanish Armada, and which ship had put into a bay in Mull for pro-
visions. She never left the bay, for a Scotch prisoner on board blew her up
"by sulphurous powder of her magazine," with the loss of himself and the
crew of some three hundred men.
It should be noted that in Tune, 1905, attempts were made after several
failures to bring up from the sunken hull bronze cannon, gold doubloons and
other expected treasure trove, under the action of the present Duke of Ar-
gyle. The newspaper accounts differ slightly from ours, in stating that
the ship was the Admiral of Florence, that she put into Tobermory Bay for
food and water, and being claimed for the king of Scotland, the commander
blew her up.
66 MACIAINS OF 1588-95
English mercenaries, and James VI., being in want of money,
and having induced the chiefs of both clans to come to Edin-
burgh on the pretence of consulting with the king and council
for the good of the country, seized and imprisoned them and
fined them ,£20,000 each, taking hostages in the meantime, and
they only returned to their estates in 1591, after being com-
manded to live in quietness. (Adapted from the History of
the Clan MacLeari).
John the elder died apparently about 1591. The Account of
Clan Maclean by a Seneachie, p. 330, intimates that he was
instrumental in the death of Allan Maclean's father, Ian Dubh
of Morvern, who was beheaded by Angus Macdonald of Isla.
John was succeeded by his son
IX. JOHN OG or OIG (the Younger).
In 1592 King James [VI.], being as usual, in sore need of money,
issued a decree commanding the Chiefs to find surety for the
payment of the rents of their lands ; those who failed to obey were
put to the horn :* John Og Maclain must have found the secu-
rity, for the King, with advice of his Council, ordered him to
be released from the horn. (Clan Donald, II., 174). The full
clause is found in the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland,
under date 1593: "the King . . . ordains letters to issue to
relax the following persons from the horn for any cause bygone,
receive them to the King's peace ' and gif to thame the wandf
thairof :' " among them are Johnne McAne of Ardnamurchane.
Also in 1593 (25th October), James VI. held his Court at Min-
gary, and he was again there on the i8th May, 1595. (The
Last Macdonalds of Isla) .
In 1594-95, Queen Elizabeth was hard put to it to retain Ire-
land, assisted as that "distressful country" was by the galleys
of the MacDonalds; for the Isles could, on an emergency, raise
a force of six thousand hardy troops, accustomed to danger both
by land and sea, and equipped for war on either element. To
keep this force away from Ireland, MacL,ean stood ready to
*Horning, or being put to the horn, was a process requiring a debt [or
fine?] to be paid within a limited time; probably so called from the procla-
mation being made with sound of horn.
flf this be not a contraction of "warrand" (or warrant), it must allude to
the baton of office borne by the messenger of a court of justice; when hin-
dered from enforcing the law, he broke his wand or staff.
ARDNAMURCHAN. 67
attack the possessions of any chief who left his home unprotected(
and with the aid of Argyle and the English ships, dispersed the
fleet of the Islesmen. He also surprised and took prisoner the
captain of Clan Ranald, Maclan of Ardnamurchan and others,
thereby gaining for himself the titles of "anevailyeantman of weir,
and ane man of honour," and strangest of all, a thousand crowns
from the parsimonious queen, but the last with such difficulty
and delay that his own force was nearly disbanded, and many
MacDonalds crossed over to Ireland to assist Tyrone. (Adapted
from the History of the Clan MacLeari).
The capture of the chiefs of Clanranald and of Ardnamurchan
is also mentioned in Clan Donald, II., 175, where they are called,
in a quotation "the maist doubtlit and able men in the Isles,"
and are said to have been thrown into a dungeon, but released
when Lachlan Mor MacLean was called upon by the King to
answer for his conduct. In Tytler's History of Scotland, IX.,
202, it is stated that Maclain and his men constituted part of
a force of 900 under the Captain of Clanranald, and which was
on the way to join Tyrone in Ireland.
Soon after these doings, John Og Maclain was witness to a
tack or lease by Angus MacDonald of Dunnyveg, of lands in
Sunart. "The lands of Sunart had been, as we have seen, for
a long time a bone of contention between the families of Dunny-
veg and Ardnamurchan, and from the fact that neither had a
legal title, it is somewhat singular to find the chieftains parties
to a transaction which in law could not be binding. By his
signing as a witness, Maclain would seem to acquiesce in the
disposition of lands by another which he formerly claimed as
his own. (Clan Donald, II., 175).
"In 1595, John Og Maclain is offered as a surety for Alexander
Macranald of Keppoch in a contract between the latter and the
Earl of Argyle. And as still further evidence of his importance
in the sphere of Highland politics, we find about the same time in a
bond of caution by Lachlan Maclean of Dowart reference made
to Maclain as one of the principal men of the Isles." (Ibid., II.,
176.)
The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland states that in
1596 "Lauchlane Macklane of Dowart gives bonds in 20,000 marks,
but the bond is not to extend to any action or quarrell with the
Clan Donald . . . Clan Eane, and their friends and partakers
68 MACIAINS OF 1596-1601
till the principals and chiefs of the said Clans find caution on
the like condition."
X. DONALD Mac MhicEoin, uncle of John Og Maclain, mur-
dered the latter about 1596, and has a position in this list, but
for a very short time, as he was killed in his turn, by the Mac-
lains and Camerons, about 1602.
It is stated in the History of the Camerons, page 70, that John Og-
Maclan of Ardnamurchan, who had been betrothed to one of
the daughters of Allan Cameron of Lochiel, was murdered about
1598 by his uncle MacMhic Hoin, with the view of succeeding
him in his estate arid command of the clan as the next heir,
lyochiel having the highest esteem for Maclan on account of his
many excellent qualities, determined to avenge his death, and
pursued the murderer, who fled to Mull to the protection of
Maclean of Duart, and was killed in the resulting skirmish at
Morvern, where his tomb is still pointed out.
Among other details of the lamentable occurrence given in
Clan Donald, II., 176, we read that his uncle Donald Maclain
the murderer, had had differences with John Og, about the pos-
session of Sunart, to which Donald laid claim, "he was besides,
presumptive heir to his nephew, and would, therefore, in the
event of the latter dying without issue, succeed him as head
of the family of Ardnamurchan. While preparations were being
made for the celebration of the marriage of the young chieftain,
and as he was returning from a visit to L,ochiel, accompanied
by a small retinue, he was attacked and slain by his uncle, who
was lying in wait for him at a place in Sunart."
The tradition is that being warm under the weight of his ar-
mor, Donald in the fight following the pursuit which resulted
in his death, was raising his helmet, and one of the Camerons
remarking: "though mighty, this will do for him," sped an
arrow which pinioned Donald's hand to his skull.
In 1 60 1 the necessities of the avaricious James VI. made
him again turn his eyes upon the highland chiefs and endeavor
to get up some fresh charge against them whereby he might
replenish his exhausted coffers . . . He tried process for non-
payment of crown rents, but this was abandoned by the Council.
He then gave commission of lieutenancy over the southern and
northern isles to Argyle and Huntly, and put an armed force at
their command, . . .finally "they were offered a royal grant
l6oi-03 ARDNAMURCHAN. 69
of all the lands they might conquer by the total extirpation
of the existing proprietors within a given period, provided they
agreed to pay rent for them. Huntly was called off by the
nobles and ministers of the reformed faith, and the privy council
with the king's sanction withdrew Huntly 's commission.
(Adapted from Records of Priiiy Council, 23rd June, 1607).
"On the death of Donald Maclain,
XI. JOHN MACALLISTER Vc IAIN succeeded as head of the
family, [about 1602], but his succession to the lands of Ardna-
murchan was disputed by the Earl of Argyle. The Clan Iain
being weakened by intestine broils, Argyle seized his opportunity
to enforce the deed of conveyance granted in favour of the fourth
Earl by the heiress, Mariot Maclain . . .The Earl further
promised faithfully to protect Maclain in the possession of these
lands ... it would appear that Maclain delivered up his old
title-deeds and did not receive the promised charter in return.
There is also a tradition to the effect that the title-deeds came
into the possession of Argyle by his having found them with
a burgess of Edinburgh, with whom Maclain left them as a
pledge for a debt incurred in educating his son. Be this as it
may, the old charter of 1499 granted to John Maclain for ap-
prehending the Macdonalds of Dunnyveg is now in the Argyle
charter chest." (Clan Donald, II., 177, 178).
"The departure of King James from his native Scotland to
take possession of the English crown, [in 1603], and the turmoil
which followed and continued for some time, no doubt prevented
Argyle, who was busy elsewhere, extending his influence and
possessions in the name of law and order, from taking actual
possession of Ardnamurchan . The history of the Ardnamur-
chan family from this juncture is one long and desperate strug-
gle, in which they succeeded for a time in holding their own
against several branches of the Clan Campbell. (Ibid., II., 178).
We hope the accompanying map will prove acceptable. It
shows that in the i6th century, the Maclans of Ardnamurchan
and of Glencoe, with occupants in Glencoan and Loch Aber,
were spread over a long stretch of territory about the latitude
56°: 45'. The map only partially indicates how widely distrib-
uted was the powerful parent Clan of MacDonald, extending
far beyond the limits of the map ; we have easily collected seventy-
MACIAINS
1 6th cent.
eight families of the title, each specified by a local name, and they
may be found tabulated in the Appendix. Indeed it was said
that there were more rascally MacDonalds than there were honest
men in all the rest of the clans, and as to their alleged acquisit-
Sketch-Mop indicating the position of some of the
Macdonalds, etc., in the 16th Century and afterwards'.
Compiled from Johnston, Black, etc., kj .F. G. M«K.
iveness that they were more like MacTak's than MacGi'es,
but we may accept this as the tribute of envy, because Robertson
the historian says: "Of all the clans, that of the MacDonalds
l6l2 ARbNAMURCHAN. 71
is by every rule of antiquity, power and numbers fully entitled
to be spoken of before any other." And in lists of Scottish
families with descriptive adjectives prefixed, will be found "The
brave MacDonalds;" but in reference to the numerous dependent
septs, and for the sake of certain definitions, we will make further
quotations in a footnote.* A few names, mostly of neighbor-
clans or of no ted places have been added in the map; but the
large letters "Argyle" are an anachronism, as they represent
the present shire of that name.
As to one place inserted, Hill's Macdonnels of Antrim has the
following: "Mingarry Castle stands on a low, rocky promon-
tory, south of Ardnamurchan Point. The Castle, fifty feet in
length and three stories in height, is surrounded by an irregu-
lar hexagonal wall nearly as high as itself, and rising immedi-
ately from the edge of the rock to the angles of which those of
the castle are adapted. Mingarrie was the ancient and celebrated
residence of the Maclan Macdonnells of Ardnamurchan until
their expulsion by the Campbells at the commencement
of the i yth century." We may continue that according to
Origines Parochiales Scotiae, in 1612 (?) a commission was
gran ted by Archibald, seventh earl of Argyle, to Donald Campbell of
Barbreck-Lochow, "to take and receive the castle of Mingaray,
and to put keepers in it at the Earl's expense, with power to sum-
*In an interesting little book published in 1896, and called What is my
Tartan? Frank Adam states that Gregory divides the Clan Donald into
nine main branches, including the Clans Ian of Ardnamurchan and Glencoe,
and he himself enumerates no fewer than seventy-two clan-septs out of five
hundred that he tabulates, which were septs and dependents of the various
branches of the MacDonalds, including Maclan, MacKean and some other
spellings to be found in a Table in the Appendix. His book quotes the defi-
nition of "Clan" as follows, though he also gives a much fuller description
of the term. "A Highland Clan is a set of men, all bearing the same sur-
name, and believing themselves to be related the one to the other, and to
be descended from the same stock. In each Clan are several subaltern tribes,
who own their dependence on their own immediate chief, but all agree in
owing allegiance to the supreme chief of the Clan or kindred, and look upon
it to be their duty to support him in all adventures." He also states that
"there were no Clans among the Gael until after the great Celtic Earls be-
came extinct, and which began in the thirteenth century. " Septs he de-
scribes as minor "families, who, though possessing no tartan of their own,
are entitled to wear that of the Clan, with whom they are connected or on
whom they are dependent. " The first list of Highland Clans was dated
1587, there was another in 1594.
MACIAINS OF 1 8th and 1 9th cent.
MINGARRY CASTLE, ARDNAMURCHAN.
1602-05 ARDNAMURCHAN. 73
mon before him the tenants of Ardnamurchan to fix and collect
the Earl's rents and punish refractory tenants."
The author of The Last Macdonalds of Isla writes: "It was
at Mingarry that Alexander Macdonald and his men landed
from Ireland to assist Montrose, and as a strong garrison was
kept there up to Montrose's overthrow, it may be taken for
granted that such of the Maclains as remained, rallied to their
kinsman's standard. [See date 1644]. The "Prospect of Min-
garry Castle" is copied here from the book just mentioned, and
is said to show the castle as it appeared in 1734. It is explained
that the wall around it formed "a kind of polygon for the pur-
pose of adapting itself to the projecting angles of the precipice
overhanging the sea, and on which the castle stands." A
more modern and artistic representation of the Castle, from
another point of view, is also given (reproduced from Clan
Donald, II., 158).
To resume the Notes:
About the middle of 1602, certain troubles originating in the
never-ending dispute about lands, culminated in the MacLeans
assisting the MacKenzies by invading the territories of the Mac-
Donalds of Islay, Ardnamurchan and Glencoe, those chiefs
being about to assist their namesakes the Clan Ranald of Glen-
garry; but Archibald Campbell, seventh earl of Argyle, claim-
ing the MacDonalds to be his vassals, procured criminal letters
against the MacLeans. It was probably in the course of the
"variance and contraversie " referred to, between the MacKen-
zies and Glengarries, that "Glengarry's son was killed in battle
near Ellondonan, and buried in the doorway of the Church of
Kintail, so that the MacKenzies might trample on him every
Sunday." (Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, 1602).
The following seems to be in some respects a different set of
occurrences from those under date 1601 :
The chiefs of the principal clans were summoned in 1605 to
appear at Kintyre before Sir David Murray, (Lord Scone),
Comptroller of Scotland, for the payment of the King's rents and
duties, showing of title-deeds, etc. ; only the MacDonalds of
Dunyveg went; the rest, including the Maclans of Ardnamur-
chan and Glencoe did not attend the meeting, probably knowing
that their only tenure was arms and men, and certainly not "crot-
chets upon parchment;" so the Marquis of Huntly undertook
74 MACIAINS Otf 1605-29
to extirpate "the barbarous people of the Isles, within a year."
Fortunately for them the marquis belonged to the church of
Rome, and the jealous Presbyterians of the council decreed that
he should hear sermons in order to reclaim him from his errors;
the delay actually seems to have postponed a "massacre of
Glencoe." (Adapted from the History of the Clan MacLeari).
"From all this it would appear that the authority of the Argyle
family had not been established in Ardnamurchan, and that the
Clan Iain still possessed that territory, though illegally, upon
the old charters . . .Lord Ochiltree was appointed lieutenant
[holding place for the King], in 1608, and held court at Aros in
Mull, in that year. Maclain of Ardnamurchan wisely avoided
falling into the trap which was so skilfully laid for the other
Chiefs. Lord Ochiltree, however, on his return from his expe-
dition, reported to the Privy Council 'anent the House of Ard-
namurchan that he held the bond of James Campbell of Lawers
that it should be delivered whenever required under a penalty of
£10,000' ... In 1609 the Lords of the Privy Council ordered
Maclain to be summoned before them, for a certain day, to
'underly such order as shall be taken with him touching his obe-
dience to his Majesty, under the pain of rebellion.' There is
no evidence that Maclain ever answered the summons, and the
probability is that he was dead before the day appointed . . . "
(Clan Donald, II., 179, 180).
John Maclain left a son,
XII. ALEXANDER, who was a minor at the time of his father's
death . In the year- 1 6 1 1 we find from the Register of the Privy
Seal, that the Clan Iain of Ardnamurchan were led by Donald
Maclain, uncle of the minor, who is referred to as Tutor of Ard-
namurchan." In 1612, taking advantage of a lull and of the
minority of young Maclain, Archibald, Karl of Argyle, made
one more effort to establish his authority in the district of Ard-
namurchan. (Abridged from Clan Donald, II., 180).
The effort is thus mentioned in another work :
"Intheyear 1612 . . . Donald Campbell, styled of Barbreck, got a
commission to ' receive the Castle of Mingarry and put keepers there .
He was also made Tenant of the Lands. . .In 1622 he made a
false charge against Allister Maclain that he was congregating
his men with a view to rebellion. Before 1629 he became Pro-
prietor of Ardnamurchan and was created a Baronet. His
1619-21 ARDNAMURCHAN. 75
oppression now was greater than ever, so that the poor Mac-
lains, driven from the land, became Sea Rovers, and were called
Pirates." The History of the Macdonnells of Antrim says of Sir
Donald Campbell and George Campbell of Airds: "Both uncle
and nephew were infamous for the cruelty and rapacity with which
they rooted out and destroyed the old family and clan of the
Macdonalds, known as the Maclains of Ardnamurchan." (The
Last Macdonalds of Isla) .
"In return for his services as Commissioner, Mr. Donald
Campbell ("Magister, " being originally a churchman) received
from Argyle a lease of the lands of Ardnamurchan." His sev-
erity was such that the Maclains broke out into open rebellion.
Then the Privy Council compelled the Tutor Donald to give a
bond "as taking burden for Alexander Maclain of Ardnamur-
chan, his nephew, and for all persons for whom his nephew was
by law obliged to answer, that they should keep good rule in
the country and obey the laws;" also that he would appear annu-
ally or oftener to render his obedience under penalty of 2000
merks. He looked for help to a third party, and Sir James
Macdonald of Dunnyveg having just escaped from Edinburgh
Castle, was joined by the Maclains of Ardnamurchan, who ren-
dered conspicuous service during his short and ill-planned cam-
paign, "and thus only succeeded in making themselves still
more obnoxious to the Government and the Clan Campbell."
Donald Maclain failed to appear, incurred the penalty of 2000
merks and the Council gave a decree against him. Campbell,
Argyle's tenant, hastened to put into force the sentence of the
Privy Council against Donald Maclain. "About 1619 Donald
McEan in Ormisage, John, Angus and Donald his sons, Alaster
McAngus VcEan in Ardsliginish, Alaster McConeill VcEan in
Camisingle, and a number of others of the Clan Iain were put to
the horn and denounced rebels." Matters went from bad to
worse, and about 1621 Alexander Maclain was at the head of
his men in open rebellion, and bidding defiance to the whole
Campbell Clan; and his sureties Macleod, Clanranald and Mac-
Lean of Coll were summoned for not exhibiting certain rebels
of the Clan Iain for whom they had pledged themselves, and
they also were declared rebels. (Abridged from Clan Donald
II., 181-185).
"The Clan Iain had now broken loose from all ordinary modes
76 MACIAINS Otf 1625
of warfare, and, taking to a piratical life, they became the
terror of the Western seas. It seems to us that, judged by the
standard of their time, and their peculiar circumstances, there
was much to justify the conduct of the Maclains. They had
been pressed hard for years by their enemies, the Campbells,
who had by unfair means dispossessed them of their lawful in-
heritance. For the repressive measures of the Government
itself, it is difficult to find excuse, for the Maclains of Ard-
namurchan were not sinners above all the other Hebrideans.
The piratical band of Clansmen having seized an English ship,
which they manned and armed, the Government at once took
steps to suppress the insurrection." (Ibid., II., 185, 186).
Some of the measures taken against the "Clan Kan" are de-
tailed in the work last quoted, and also in The Great Marquess,
by John Wilcox, p. 17; and among them warrant was given to
James, Archbishop of Glasgow [the Church was then a Church
Militant] and Sir William Livingston to provide vessels well
armed, for the pursuit of the Clan Ban; also a commission of
fire and sword was given to Lord Lorn and four lairds against
them ; the Maclains, however, continued operations which
would now be called piratical, but under the persuasion of those
times, that almost "all property was common by the law of
of nature."
In 1625 the Council wrote to 4;he King about the "rebellis of
the Clan Kane be whom not only your maiesties awne subjectis,
bot the subjectis of otheris princes yor maiesties friends and con-
federates were havelie distrest and robbed of thair shippis and
goodis and some of them cruellie and barbarouslie slain." The
rebels, pursued by Lord Lome and other notables, were driven
from the Southern to the Northern Isles; from the island of
Skye they were pursued across the Minch to the main land,
where, in the Clanranald's country, (some of whom had joined
them), they hid themselves in the woods and caves of Arisaig
and Moidart. (Abridged from Clan Donald, II., 186, 187).
"The Maclain rebellion being at length suppressed, Lord
Lorn and those associated with him, landed at Ardnamurchan,
and made a pretence of driving away the few followers of the
Clan Iain that still remained there. Lorn was thanked by the
Privy Council for his services, and Mr. Donald Campbell became
proprietor of Ardnamurchan for an annual feu duty of 2000
1629-44 ARDXAMURCHAN. 77
merks, payable to Argyle, the Superior. The Clan Iain now
ceased to exist as a territorial family. It appears, however,
that Alexander Mac Iain, the head of the family, received a con-
siderable sum of money in name of compensation for his claims
on the lands of Ardnamurchan. At Edinburgh, on the 22nd
of April, 1629, he gives his bond for .£40,000 Scots to Robert
Innes, burgess of Fortrose, a sum which represented at that
time a very large fortune. It appears from this transaction that
however much the family of Ardnamurchan may have suffered
otherwise, they were now, financially at least, in a very flourish-
ing condition." (Ibid., II., 187).
' 'Very little is known of the history of the Maclains as a family
from the time of their landing in the Moidart district in 1625
. . .According to the Morar MS., John Macdonald of Clanranald
became answerable to the King for the future good be-
'haviour of the Clan Iain. As we have seen, they had already
acknowledged Clanranald as their Chief, and the small rem-
nant now left of them identified themselves with his branch of
the Clan Donald." (Ibid., II., 187, 188).
Though we may have only one further mention to make of mem-
bers of the Ardnamurchan family, it may be interesting to note a
few quotations in which the names of their former places and
territories are mentioned; they themselves were included among
"The Islesmen."
Slightly different from the account above is one in Moidart,
or Among the Clanranalds, by the Reverend Charles MacDonald :
"When the Maclans of Ardnamurchan were chased from the
sea and forced to give up their career of piracy, it is related of
one of their bands that being hotly pursued by a Government
ship, and some galleys belonging to the hostile clans, they ran
their vessel ashore near Ardtoe, and taking to the woods betwreen
that place and Sheilfoot baffled the search of the enemy. They
afterwards crossed the Sheil river and became absorbed among
the Clanranald MacDonalds."
The Maclains had disappeared as a Clan, but mention remains
of their localities, their acts among the Islesmen, and of a few
individuals.
"In 1644 determined effort was made to support the King
[Charles] from Ireland. The Earl of Antrim got full power
from the Irish Confederates, exerted himself to the uttermost,
78 MACIAINS OF 1644-89
and under promise of Scottish support, raised and equipped over
2000 men, whom he placed under the command of Alexander
Macdonald. He sailed in the "Harp," the first body consisting
of about 1600 men, and they landed at Mingarry on 8th July(
1644. There was none to welcome them, and it is possible a
retreat would have been ordered, were it not that their trans-
ports had been surprised and burnt. Here the genius of Mac-
donald displayed itself. He determined to establish a safe
basis of operation, took and garrisoned the Castles of Mingarry
and Ivochaline, and felt secure enough to act on the aggressive
. . straggling bodies of these men were constantly cut off, and
quarter was never given. Indeed it may be said that hardly a
man returned to Ireland. (The Last Macdonalds of Isla).
Before 1670 a document, bearing no date, was drawn up, in
which Sir James Macdonald of Sleat was acknowledged as "chief
of the whole name and family of Macdonald," and the declara-
tion was signed by the chieftains of Ardnamurchan and Glencoe.
But previously, one of the Dunnyveg Macdonalds seems to have
been held responsible for "thair haill kyn of Clan Donald."
(Adapted from Clan Donald, III., 167). The Declaration, which
is very short, is among the appendices to the same volume,
and begins: "Be it kend till all men That we undersubscribers
do testify" etc.. The second statement in Clan Donald is found
in the Calendar of State Papers nearly a hundred years before,—
that in 1575 the Earl of Essex incloses information from Ireland
to Queen Elizabeth, that several chieftains in Scotland, and
among them "the Captain of Clan Rannall, have chosen among
them I^ord McConnell [indexed Donald McDonald] to be their
lord and ruler of the isles. "
About 1685 upwards of forty families in various districts of
the west of Scotland, including Sunart and Ardnamurchan,
gave up the Protestant religion, following the example of their
Chief Macdonald of Sleat, who wished to gratify King James II.
in that respect. It is thought that certain emigration from
Scotland to Ireland about this time, was to avoid being called
on to make a similar change. (Adapted from Rob Roy and his
Times}.
At the battle of Killiecrankie, fought in 1689, the reinforce-
ments from Ardnamurchan and other places had not joined,
because the day set had not arrived; but it was resolved to
6th- 1 6th cent. ARDNAMURCHAN. 79
attack at once, and the Islesmen were on the extreme left in
this victory.
Those McKeans who are able and willing to travel outside the
beaten path, should visit lona, a spot replete with historical
memories, and sacred to both branches of the clan, as containing
the graves of some of its ancestors (see the dates 1329, 1518, etc.).
Kingussie or Badenoch, in Inverness-shire, twenty-three miles
east-south-east of Fort Augustus (see 1719), must be easy of
access as it is on the Perth- Inverness railway. An interesting
description of lona and its Cathedral appears in the History
of the Clan MacLean, from which book and from other sources
we take the liberty of borrowing a few notes. The island is a
small one off the southern point of Mull, and variously called I,
Hii, Hy, loe, Aoi, and by the English Icolmkill (the church of
St. Columba). It is believed to have been one of the last re-
treats of the druids. St. Columba, of the royal family of Ireland,
with twelve companions, founded a monastery there in the
sixth century, and which was long the first seminary of learning
in Europe. His monks and priests were called Gillean-De, or
servants of God, whence the word Culdee, and for the most part
they kept aloof from the influence of Rome. In the eighth
and twice in the ninth century, Scandinavian rovers burned the
monastery, at that time the only European sanctuary of real
learning. It was rebuilt, but in the ninth and tenth centuries
suffered from the Danes, and in the eleventh from the Nor-
mans. In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, Romish monks
gained the ascendency, first the Cluniacs and later the Bene-
dictine monks and nuns, and the present ruins are those of the
Benedictine establishment. In 1561 an Act was passed by the
Convention of Estates "for demolishing all the abbeys of monks
and friars, and for suppressing whatsomever monuments of idol-
atrie were remaining in the realm." So the monastery was
bombarded with cannon, three hundred and sixty crosses cast
into the sea, the great library, together with the registers, burned,
(Keltic literature sustaining an irreparable loss thereby), and
the very sepulchres of the dead were rifled. The lands fell into
the hands of MacLean of Duard. The most commanding of
the remaining ruins is Saint Mary's Cathedral, some blocks in
its walls being of immense size. St. Oran's Chapel, close by,
is now roofless and stands in the principal cemetery; it was erected
So
MACIAIKS OF
1 6th cent.
i ith-2oth cent. ARDNAMURCHAN. 81
in the eleventh century by Queen Margaret. In the large en-
closure, in the cathedral and in this chapel have been buried
many saints; sixty-four monarchs of Ireland, Norway, France
and Scotland (the last including Mac Beth) ; chiefs and poten-
tates of the isles, notably MacDonalds [and as we have seen,
Maclans], MacLeans, MacLeods, MacKinnons, MacKenzies,
MacQuarries and others of powerful families; while ladies of
rank and prioresses are entombed within the chapel of the
Nunnery. The American Cyclopaedia states that in 1543 Anna
Macdonald, the last prioress, died. In 1635, King Charles I.
wrote to the MacLean of that time: "Trustie, etc. Whereas we
wer informed that of late yow and your umquhile brother Hec-
tour McCleane did without ordour or anie right violentlie intrude
yourself in the possession of the Yle of Ycolmekill which belong-
eth to the Bischop of the Yles for the time" . . . therefore he
is to restore the island to the bishop. Its present inhabitants,
two or three hundred in number, depend for their support on
fishing and agriculture.
"Lone isle! though storms have round thy turrets rode —
Though their red shafts have sear'd thy marble brow —
Thou wert the temple of the living God,
And taught earth's millions at his shrine to bow.
Though desolation wraps thy glories now
Still thou wilt be a marvel through all time
For what thou hast been ; and the dead who rot
Around the fragments of thy towers sublime
Once taught the world, and sway'd the realm of thought,
And ruled the warriors of each northern clime." — Moore.
One of the latest notices about lona appeared in The Church-
man of New York, in July, 1903: "The apparently unfounded
rumor that the Carthusians were about to purchase lona, the
island sacred to the memory of Columba, from the Duke of
Argyll, leads the Paris Figaro to raise this voice of protest, which
is not without general application: 'When a corner of the earth
possesses such a history, when the forces of nature and the aban-
donment by men have invested it with such an aureole of soli-
tude and of savage grandeur, is it not a mistake to flood it with a
new life? Has it not acquired the right to that respect which
we accord to relics? lona is unique of its kind, and surely the
Duke of Argyll is rich enough to preserve it as it now is, and to
defend it against whomever would come to disturb its sublime
memories.'"
82
MACIAINS OF
1719
ETNT I
THE
FA MI
TOMBSTONE OP THE LAST MACIAINS OF ARDNAMURCHAN,
IN ST. COI,UMBA CHURCHYARD, KINGUSSIE.
1719 ARDNAMURCHAN. 83
Of the tombstone of the last of the Maclains of Ardna-
murchan in St. Columba Churchyard, Kingussie, and which is
intimated to belong approximately to the date 1719— Mr. Fraser
Mackintosh says: "it would seem that two of the Maclains
remained in Ruthven in poverty and obscurity. Through the
exertion of Mr. Alexander Macpherson, Banker in Kingussie,
the old churchyard of that parish was, some years ago, restored
and beautified. A grave stone with inscription was brought to
light, of the rudest material, lettering and language, as may be
seen by the fac-simile given, prepared for these papers by the
kindness of Mr. Mackenzie, Surveyor's Office, Kingussie, and
Mr. John Campbell, Inspector of Poor, there." The inscription
indicates that even in its original condition the stone was a
broken fragment. Our illustration is from The Last Macdonalds
of Isla.
It is highly improbable that there are no descendants of the
chiefs of this once powerful House, in fact, a family will be men-
tioned hereafter, but as a broken clan could have no chief, and
professional genealogists would not record the histories of land-
less men with no following, there are probably no published
tables of descent of the later Ardnamurchan Maclans.
SECTION III. — MAC!ANS OF GUJNCOK.
ADAPTED FROM LOGAN.
This sept of the MacDonalds derived its local title from a glen
through which the stream called Coe or Cona, passing through
Lake Treachatan, flowed on in its way to Loch Leven in what is
now Argyleshire. in the west of the main land of Scotland. The
Glen is the traditional home of the poet Ossian, who was there-
fore called "the voice of Co'ana." On the north side of the valley
of the Cona is the Hill of Fingal, and close by is "the sunny
place of Darthula" (a woman so called from the beauty of her
eyebrows). Later we will have to allude to the rugged moun-
tains which encompass the Glen, but which did not shelter the
unfortunate inhabitants from powerful enemies.
A Smith is now Laird of the territory; no MacDonald of Glen-
coe has attained sufficient fortune to have an epitome of his family
history recorded in "Peerage" or "Landed Gentry." It there-
fore requires considerable research to trace anything like a con-
nected narrative of this sept of Clan Donald,
§4
i4th cent. GLENCOE. 85
Surrounded as they were by other clans: the Camerons on
the North, Menzies on the East, Campbells on the South and
Stewarts of Appin on the West, the Clan Ian Abrach has been
termed an "outpost of the Macdonalds," and much of their
history is interwoven with that of these neighboring clans.
Coke upon Littleton says that a man may have more than one
surname, and this appears to have been the case with the Mac-
Donalds or Maclans of Glencoe. The murdered chief who was
the victim of the famous Glencoe Massacre was known indiffer-
ently as M'Kean, Maccean, M'Ean, Maclan, and MacDonald
or M' Donald, and M'lan the artist is spoken of in the Diction-
ary of National Biography as being descended from the old
M'lans or Macdonalds of Glencoe. In cases like this it seems
to have been optional with the Highlanders to retain the sept
or family patronymic, or to revert to the clan surname. An
illustration is afforded of this, in the case of the celebrated French
marshal, MacDonald, whose father, a member of the Macdonald
Clan, was known as Neil McKechin.
The industrious and accomplished compilers of Clan Donald
begin their Chapter VII. of Volume II., ("The Macdonalds of
Glencoe"), by acknowledging that "The history of this branch
of the Clan Donald is beset perhaps by greater difficulties than
that of any other family in the wide confederacy. During long
periods its Annals are worse than obscure, they are hopelessly
blank . . . Even in the sixteenth century, when light
dawns upon the rest of the Clan Donald after the fall of the
Island lordship, the Clanian of Glencoe continue to lurk in their
dark and cavernous retreats, and their history, until the seven-
teenth century, is almost entirely a blank. One reason for this
was that the Chiefs of Glencoe never became Crown vassals,
or if they did, it was only at a very late period of their history.
They occupied lands which for the most part were held by Crown
vassals, and thus the public records which throw so much light
upon the ownership of land in the case of the other Clan Donald
septs, are silent on the Clanian, and it is only when the Records
of the Scottish Privy Council become available for purposes of
research that the Glencoe family, who gave the authorities a
lively time, cease to elude the historians' grasp. (Clan Donald,
II., 189, 190).
86 MACIANS OF 1325-27
Both M'Vurich and Hugh Macdonald* are at one as to the
tradition that Iain Og an fhraoich — young John of the heather —
the progenitor of the Glencoe family, was a natural son of Angus
Og of Isla, Lord of the Isles, by Dugall MacHenry's daughter.
Why he was called John of the heather we have now no means
of ascertaining, nor are there data available for confirming or
rejecting the tradition that there was a bar sinister on his escut-
cheon, f We know little of him beyond the fact that his father
gave him the land of Glencoe, apparently by verbal gift. (Ibid.,
II., 190.)
For the little that is known of some of the forefathers of Iain
Fraoch, including Conn the Fighter in the 2nd century, Colla
Uais in the 4th, the "Mighty Somerled" in the i2th and the first
Donald in the i3th, we refer the reader to other and more preten-
tious works, but a few paragraphs may be found in Section I. —
"Early Ancestors."
As to the lands mentioned above, it may be stated here that
Glencoe, together with the other territories of Angus were con-
ferred upon John the Good, in 1325, by Edward Balliol, who
claimed to be king of Scotland. The grants, also including
Ardinton (Ardnamurchan) were ratified by Edward III. of
England, for Balliol acknowledged the English king as his su-
perior and Lord Paramount, and in 1327 King Edward writes
him a "blandiloquent epistle."
MacKenzie's History of the Camerons, p. 2, states that accord-
ing to several authorities, the Camerons, as far back as can be
traced, had their seat in Lochaber, part held by the Lord of the
Isles as superior, and appeared to have been first connected with
the Macdonalds of Islay, in the reign of Robert Bruce, from
whom Angus Og of Isla had a grant of Lochaber. This is inter-
esting, because Iain Fraoch, the ancestor of the Maclans of
Glencoe, was also called Abrach, from his being brought up in
the district of Lochaber.
From Iain Fraoch or Abrach the sept got the title Maclain
and also Abrochson, both spelt in various ways at various times
*The former an ancient bard and genealogist; the latter the historian of
the MacDonalds of Sleat, and who wrote in the latter half of the seven-
teenth century.
f " John of the Heather " or " Lochaber," is said to have been illegitimate,
but clan genealogists were fond of bastardizing other lines. (Athenaeum, 1900,
part II., 1 14).
1427-31 GLENCOE. 87
as will be seen, and apparently it was not until 1617 that a con-
temporary document refers to a Glencoe chieftain as a Macdonald-
He married the daughter and heiress of Dugald McEanruig or
MacHenry of Glencoe, though Clan Donald says (III., 212),
that she was his mother: through her at any rate he seems to
have acquired the territory of Glencoe according to Logan's
Clans of the Scottish Highlands. Judging from the Genealogical
Table in Andrew Lang's History of Scotland he died about 1358.
He is said to have been buried in lona beside his father. Clan
Donald, (II., 191), states that "When we say that the founder
of the Glencoe family flourished about the beginning of the
fourteenth century we tell nearly the whole history of the sept
for hundreds of years."
The account of the beginning of the Glencoe branch, in Mac-
kenzie's History of the Macdonalds is much like that given above,
though he says: "It has been found impossible to give a complete
genealogy of the successive heads of the house. The legitimate
male-heirs are said to have entirely died out . . ." Logan
mentions the Clann Mhic Iain Ghlinne Comhann or Maclans
[of Glencoe], and gives the arms, crest, motto and badge, for
which See Heraldic Notes in the Appendix. "They held high
rank among the clans and were sometimes designated 'of the
Isles "... In the time of James VI. ... it does not appear
that the Glencoe people had any share in their [the Ardna-
murchans'] desperate conduct, although from the similarity of
names it is to be suspected they have been charged with partici-
pation in the misdeeds of others."
About 1431 there would appear to have been two John Maclan
Abrachs. To avenge an act of treachery by King James I. of
Scotland in 1427, Alexander, third Lord of the Isles, in 1429
burnt and pillaged Inverness. The king attacked the insurgent
clans unexpectedly in 1431, and the Camerons and Mackintoshes
having deserted the Lord of the Isles at Inverlochy, the latter
sued for peace, but his friends gave the Cameron lands to a
Maclean. Later the Camerons killed the young chief [of the
Macleans?] John Abrach, so called from his residence in Lochaber.
MacLean calls the latter "Maclan Abrach." (Abridged from the
History of the Camerons, 26).
"After John Abrach, there was an unbroken succession of
eight Johns." (Clan Donald, II., 192). "The special difficulties
88 MACIANS OF 1358-1497
of the genealogy arise from the fact that so many of the same
name followed each other in the chiefship, and that with nine
or ten John Abrachs and John Maclains and John Maclain
Abrachs, it is difficult to make distinctions. (Ibid., III., 212).
I. JOHN FRAOCH or Abrach, died 1358.
II. JOHN ABRACHSON. (Maclain Fraoch?)
III. JOHN ABRACHSON. (Og Maclain Fraoch?)
IV. JOHN ABRACHSON. (Maclain Og?)
V. JOHN ABRACHSON "of Glencoe," was one among other
Clan Donald vassals who had not yet acknowledged the new
order of things when James IV. held court at Dunstaffnage;
August 18, 1493, to receive homage. (Ibid., I. 285).
VI. JOHN ABRACHSON. "John of the Isles alias Abrochson"
is referred to as Chief of the Clan at the date of the last forfeiture
of the Lords of the Isles [1494]. (Gregory's History of the Western
Highlands, 67). We also find in the History of the Camerons, 44 1
that about 1497 the Mackintoshes successfully invaded the Clan
Ian of Glencoe.
This was in retaliation for a raid related in quaint language:
"Anno 1496 Cameronii de Lochabir, Appin, et Ronoch cum
quibusdam a Glencoona, et eadem nocte invadunt Brebadonoch-
iam et Strathnairn, et clancullum jumentum agmina exportant.
Gulielmus subitam in Ronoch et Appin expeditionem facit, ubi,
multis Clanchameroniorum trucidatis, eorum agros depopulavit.
Eodemque supplicio Glenco affixit, quoniam in praedictis, prse-
dationibus auxiliati sunt." That is to say: In the year 1496
the Camerons of L,ochaber, Appin and Rannoch, with some from
Glencoe (came), and on the same night invaded Brae Badenoch
and Strathnairn, and stealthily carried off herds of cattle.
William [i'3th of Mackintosh] made a sudden raid on Rannoch
and Appin, where, after killing many of the clan Camerons, he
wasted their lands. He inflicted the same punishment on
Glencoe, because they assisted the Camerons in the aforesaid
robberies (Macfariane's Genealogical Collections 231).
About 1497 also, the MacLaurins carried off a creach from
the braes of Lochaber. The MacDonalds followed the spoilers,
and having overtaken them in Glenurchie, recovered the prey,
after a sharp skirmish. The MacLaurins went straight to their
kinsman Dugal Stewart of Appin, who, joining them with this
followers, they marched hastily in pursuit, and intercepted the
I4th-i9th cent.
GLENCOE-
89
'JLA~4k^
J^i
. H.
MacDonalds somewhere about the Black Mount in Glencoe,
where a desperate conflict forthwith took place. There was
dreadful slaughter on both sides ; Dugal, and Donull MacAonghais
mhic Dhonuill of Keppoch, the chiefs of their respective clans
were slain. (Adapted from Logan's Clans of the Scottish High-
lands). Although this fight took place on their soil, no mention
90 MACIANS OF 1500-43
is made of the Maclans of Glencoe, but some authorities neglect
to mention Glengarry and Glencoe in the Battle of Mullroy,
and yet their presence there is well attested.
"In 1500 there is evidence that the Clanian of Glencoe have
lost the benefits of the kindly sway of the House of Isla, and
that there is an attempt to oust them from their lands. Archi-
bald, Earl of Argyll, Lord Campbell and Lome evidently tried
not only to evict 'John of the His utherwyis Abrochsoune,' but
also Duncan Stewart, son of Stewart of Appin, from the lands
of 'Durroure and Glencoyne.' But although decreet in Absence
was granted in favour of Argyll and against Glencoe by the
Lords of Council, Maclain continued in possession. (Clan
Donald, II., 193).
It may be stated that the lands of Glencoe had already passed
through several hands. In 1343 they were granted by David
II. to John of Yle [the Isles], then held from him by John of
Larin and granted anew to the latter in 1354; in 1475 they
were forfeited by John of Yle, Karl of Ross, and in 1476 were
restored to him. In 1494, after the insurrection of Alexander
of Lochalsh, the titles and lordship of the Isles were forfeited
and subsequently voluntarily surrendered and in that year
James IV. granted John Makgillion [Maclean] of Lochbuie, the
fifty- three merk lands of Durgwin and Glencole. These lands
were granted by the King to Duncan Stewart of Appin in 1500;
and the grant was renewed in 1501. (Stewarts of Appin, 98).
In the rebellion of 1499-1506, caused by the violation of his
promises by the King [the revocation of some charters recently
granted by him], a party, led by the Maclans of Glencoe, broke
into the dungeon where Donald Dhu, grandson of John, Lord
of the Isles had been shut up for forty years (having been carried
off from Islay when an infant), and sought to place him upon
the throne of the Isles. Maclan of Ardnamurchan was on the
royal side in this struggle, which resulted in the breaking up
of the confederacy of the Island lords, the capture and imprison-
ment for about forty years more of Donald ; but when he escaped
for the second time, in 1543, the faithful Islanders again em-
braced his cause. (Adapted from the History of the Clan Mac-
Lean?) The dates and ages seem irreconcilable.
Some explanation of this incident may be needed. Skene's
Celtic Scotland, III., 404, quotes from the Book of Clanranald:
1506-08 GLENCOE. 91
"The daughter of MacCailin [Argyll] the wife of Aonghus [Og,
son of Erin] was pregnant at the time he was killed [Angus Og
was murdered by his harper, see entry about 1490 in Section II.]
and she was kept in custody" . . . where she gave birth to
Donald Dubh; "he was kept in custody until he arrived at the
age of thirty years [in 1501?] when the men of Gleann Comhann
[Glencoe] brought him out by a Fenian exploit," from the castle
of Inchconnel or Innisconnel on Loch Awe. In Ossianic verse
"the Fenians are warriors of superhuman size, strength, speed
and powers" as the Century Dictionary says; this use of the
adjective "Fenian," which is equivalent to the heroic of Greek
mythology, is high praise on the part of the hereditary sennachie
or genealogist of Clanranald, who was of course a MacVurrich.
The rescue led to an attempt on the part of Donald Dubh to
resume the office and territory of his grandfather John, last
Lord of the Isles, as stated in Lang's History of Scotland, I., 256.
The attempt was brought to naught by the efforts of Maclan of
Ardnamurchan and others, but the conduct of the men of Glencoe
"was a clear indication that whoever was their feudal superior
they felt that their loyalty as a tribe was due to the patriarchal
head of their race." (Clan Donald, II., 192, 193). The book
Stewarts of Appin, about p. 98, says that Lachlan Maclean of
Duart joined Donald Dubh in his attempt . . . but that
Duncan Stewart of Appin, at the head of his own men and the
MacDonalds of Glencoe who then mustered about 150 claymores,
opposed Maclean in 1503: no authority is given for this state-
ment that the same men who rescued Donald Dubh but two
years previously now fight one of his staunchest allies. The
very stirring little war is ably described in Clan Donald "Under
James IV." However, Donald was again taken prisoner, and
almost all of the chiefs gave in their submission about, or a
little before, 1508.
VII. "(Old) JOHN, called Iain Abrach. There is no record of
his marriage nor of the marriages of the Johns who preceded
him. He had three sons — i. John Og, who succeeded; 2. Donald
Og; 3. Alastair Og." (Clan Donald, III., 213).
There appears to be a dearth of history of the Glencoe -men
at this time; probably they were enduring the disasters which
seem to have been common to all septs of the Clan Donald at
this period, and possibly were not present at the disastrous
92 MACIANS OF 1513-43
battle of Plodden in 1513, where Maclan of Ardnamurchan
fought on the Scottish side.
On June 6th, 1522, John Campbell of Calder, brother of the
Earl of Argyll, obtained from Maclean of L,ochbuy the assign-
ment of his obsolete and revoked charter (Gregory's Western
Highlands, 126), dated 1494, of the lands of Durrour, Glencoe
and part of the lands of L,ochiel, but the Stewarts of Appin,
MacDonalds of Glencoe, and Camerons of Lochiel effectually
resisted his efforts to take possession. The matter was arbitrated
at Edinburgh in 1528 with the result that the award was made
in favor of Calder. The latter resigned these lands to the King
[James V.], and the Council of which Argyll was a member,
(James being a minor), granted them to the Earl. On attaining
his majority the King revoked all charters granted during his
minority, and December yth, 1538, granted to Alan Stewart
. . . the twenty merk land of Glenkowne. . . . James V.
died in 1542, and in 1547, Queen Mary being a child and Argyll
regaining authority in the West of Scotland, Alan resigned the
lands of Diiror, Ballachelish and Glencoe to the Queen, and
they were re-conveyed to the Earl of Argyll, son of the former
Earl. Argyll then re-conveyed these lands to Alan at a smaller
feu-rent than that which Alan in his original charter had cove-
nanted to pay the Crown. (Stewarts of Appin, 105, 106).
In 1542 James V. was at war with England, but the Scottish
barons were disloyal or lukewarm; "the influence of Henry
VIII. with the leaders of the Reformation movement in Scotland
was the main cause of the disaffection of the barons to their
own King, who still continued to support the Church of Rome;
James felt the national lack of support so keenly that it has
been thought that his death in this year was largely due to that
cause. As is often the case, politics mingled with religion, and
about this time the Roman Catholics happened to be on the
side of Scottish independence with Franch aid, while the Protes-
tants opposed them and hoped for English assistance ; but Henry
VIII. interposed so bluntly, and his supporters in Scotland
sought to act so treacherously that for a while at least, all parties
in Scotland united. This stormy period seemed to be a fitting
opportunity for Donald Dubh, who escaped from Edinburgh
Castle in 1543, to lay claim not only to the Lordship of the Isles
to which he had once been proclaimed, but also to the Earldom
I544~88 GLENCOE. 93
of Ross, to which his claim was very shadowy; he therefore,
with the Islesmen, excepting James Macdonald of Dunnyveg,
invaded Argyle about 1544, with threats to proceed further,
insomuch that in Aberdeen "the hayll tooun" by "hand bell
passand throcht all the rewis and stretis " made "iugment"
. . . "of taxt, for furnising of ane thousand horse to remain
with the locumtenant on the bordouris, for resisting of our auld
enemies of Ingland" and also" for resisting of Donald His quhilk
with his complices is cumand, as is allegit upoun the quenes
[Regent's] landis of Ross for inuasion thairof and conquising of
the same." England made new advances for an alliance with
the House of Isla, and a treaty was entered into in 1545, so the
Scottish Government issued a proclamation against ' ' Donald
alleging himself of the Isles and other Highlanders his partakers."
(Abridged from Clan Donald I., 368, 371, etc.}.
VIII. JOHN OG (i), who appears first on record in 1563, and
in whose time and in that of his successor the Clan Iain Abrich
became very numerous. As his successor was also called John
Og, the two have to be carefully distinguished. John Og (i)
had a family of seven sons — (A) John Og (2), who succeeded.
(B) John Dubh, progenitor of the families of Dalness and Ach-
triachtan . . . (C) Alexander Maclain Oig, in Larach. (D)
Archibald Maclain Oig. (E) Allan Roy Maclain Oig. (F)
Ronald Maclain Oig. (G) Angus Maclain Oig. (Clan Donald,
III., 213).
"In 1 563. 'John Og Mac Ane Abrycht' was in lawful possession
or occupation of the lands of Glencoe under Colin Campbell of
'Glenurquhay, who held them from the Crown. On 6th May of
that year a contract of protection and manrent is signed by both
parties. In this bond Campbell undertakes to defend the Chief
of Clanian in the possession of his lands, while John Og on the
other hand becomes bound to serve the Laird of Glenurquhay
against all persons whatsoever, save only the authority and my
Lord Argyll. It is stipulated that the contract shall at once
become void if John Og does not instantly serve against the
Clan Gregor. In 1588 a Commission of Justiciary was given by
James VI. to George, Earl of Huntly, John Grant of Freuchie^
and others against a number of Highland chiefs, and amongst
them John M'Ane Oig in Glencoe and Alexander M'Ane Oig,'
probably sons of the John Og M'Ane Abrycht who gave the
94 MACIANS OF 1563-89
bond of manrent to Glenurquhay in 1563. That the Clanian
Abraich were at this time, as indeed they must have been at
all times, a terror to neighbouring communities, is proved by
contemporary records." (Ibid, II., 190).
Curiously enough, a letter from Campbell to the keeper of his
Castle of Glenurquhay, and dated August 18, 1570, shows that
the latter was named Gregor McAne, presumably of Glencoe
(Clan Gregor, I., 189). The beginning of the last paragraph
accounts for a Glencoe man holding office under a Campbell.
The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland contains in 1583
the complaint of Coline Campbell of Glenloyoun, — that a number
of persons, including four McAines, etc., "with their complices,
. . . cam by the break of day . . . and masterfully reft the
servants of the complainer, forth of their lands . . ." The
Lords of the Council order all the culprits to be denounced rebels.
[The Campbells of Glenlyon never rested from their complaints
until they had assisted in working the ruin of the Maclans at
Glencoe].
Allan Cameron, sixteenth of Lochiel, assumed command of
his clan for the second time in 1585; thirty pages of Mackenzie's
book are devoted to this chief, who interests us particularly as
he was called "Alein Maclan Duibh" and "Alein MacDhomnuill
Duibh," showing that the names Maclan and MacDonald were
in a sense interchangeable more than three hundred years ago,
the former being a personal and the latter the clan designation,
and indicating as Mackenzie states, that some at least of the
Camerons were originally MacDonalds. It is not so pleasant,
however, to read that "On the 3oth of June, 1589, we find Allan
and Grant [of Freuchie] entering into a bond of mutual friend-
ship, directed specially against the Macdonalds of Glencoe."
"The territorial position of the Clanian isolated them from
the more powerful branches of the Clan Donald, and they were
on all hands surrounded by powerful and hostile neighbours,
while their wild and almost unapproachable fastnesses, inacces-
sible to strangers save at most imminent risk of fatal ambuscades,
enabled them to carry on their forays and depredations almost
with entire impunity, and these, of course, were no infringement
of the ancient code of Celtic ethics." (Clan Donald, II., 194).
According to the Reg. Privy Council Scot., John Stewart of
Appin is summoned in 1586 to appear, because certain of his
1587-88 GLENCOE. 95
men, tenants and servants had committed wrongs: among them
are Allaster, John and Donald Oig Mcanebrych [Maclanabrich,
Maclan Abrich] ; not appearing, he was ' ' ordained to be de-
nounced rebel."
In the Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland (James VI., A. D.
1587), the Clane mckane of Avricht, (spelled Clan-Mackeane
Awricht in Townsend's Manual of Dates, and Clan Maclan of
Abrach elsewhere), is included in "THE ROLL of ye clannis yat
hes capitanes cheiffis and chiftanes quhome on thai depend
oftymes aganis ye willis of thair landislordis alsweill on ye borderes
as hielandes and of sum speale personis of branches of ye saidis
clannis."
It seems to have been about 1588 that a circumstance occurred,
referred to in Macleay's Rob Roy and his Times. Some young
Glencoe men being caught trespassing in the royal deer forest
of Glenartney, their ears were cropped. In revenge they cut
off the head of Drummond of Drummondernoch, the leader of
the men who had ill-treated them; and the sight of his bloody
head caused his sister, Mrs. Stewart of Ardvoirlich to be crazed
for a while, with the result that her son, (who was born soon
after), became the gloomy Stewart of Ardvoirlich, a character
in Scott's Legend of Montrose, and who murdered I/ord Kilpont,
Montrose's friend. The narrative, with more of its repulsive
details is told in Clan Gregor, II., i. Scott rejects the story
that the killing was done by any but the MacGregors; Macaulay
gives the incident as an illustration of Highland barbarity, in
his apology for the Glencoe Massacre, but even he does not
attribute it to the clan he was defaming, — the Macdonalds of
Glencoe.
Sometime toward the end of the sixteenth century, Stewart
of Strathgarry having taken possession of lands in the upper
part of Rannoch, which had been possessed by a Macdonald,
was surprised by a party of that clan and killed for dispossessing
their kinsman. . . . The Stewarts of Appin, Balquhidder and
Athol entered into a written bond to avenge the death of Strath-
garry, and they met at the Blackmount in Glencoe. They had
letters of Fire and Sword against the murderers of Stewart of
Strathgarry, which his widow had procured from the Privy Coun-
cil at Stirling. As it was in the month of June, the Macdonalds
of Glencoe were out at their shealings in the Blackmount, when
96 MACIANS OF 1590-91
they were surrounded by the Stewarts and a number killed.
The I/aird of Glencoe and his brother were among the slain, and
their heads were cut off, to be sent to Stirling and presented
to the Privy Council, as proof that their orders had been carried
out. The messenger appears to have been of a grotesquely
humorous turn of mind, and to have indulged in gibes at the
heads and to have "joked" with the Lady of Ardvoirlich in
reference to them. (Abridged from The Stewarts of Appin, 152,
153). The use of the term shealings indicates that the clan
were in rude huts for their summer quarters, it being the custom
in the Highlands for the natives to take their flocks and herds
into the mountains upon the approach of warm weather.
IX. JOHN OG (2), succeeded John Og (i), about 1590. He
had three sons — (A) John Abrach, his successor. (B) Alexander.
(C) Donald Bowie. (Clan Donald, III., 213). In 1588, 1591
and 1592, the name is spelt M'Ane Oig, M'Inoig and MacEan
Oig, respectively. (Ibid., II., 193, 195, 196).
"During the last decade of the sixteenth century, the Act
of James V. rendering a baron responsible for the behaviour of
his servants, or feudal inferiors, was called into requisition in
connection with the Clanian of Glencoe. Serious complaints
were laid before the King and Council in 1591 as to the numerous
cases of foray and plunder whereby the lieges were victimized.
The Earl of Argyll proved to be guilty, not only feudally and
vicariously, but really as particeps criminis in a serious foray in
which the men of Glencoe and others were involved during
1591." Briefly, a certain Campbell was invited to a wedding
among the Ogilvies, and managed to insult the bride and stab
her father: he narrowly escaped hanging, but being treated with
great indignity he was expelled; he complained to his kinsman
the Earl. "Argyll mustered the Glencoe men, the Keppoch
men, and others, and sent them to invade and spoil the Ogilvies
and their glen. The raid, we may be sure, was executed with
much zeal and success, and the rapidity with which the marauders
marched was such that Lord Ogilvie in his complaint to the
King said that he was 'nocht able to resist them, but with grite
difficultie and short advertisement he his wyffe and bairnis
eschaiped.' The complaint . . . referred to Archibald Earl of
Argyll and his friends, particularly Allan Roy M'Inoig son to
the Laird of Glencoe and 500 other marauders." Failing to
I592~I6OO GLENCOE- 97
appear on citation they were denounced rebels. Later in the
year, "John Og M'Ane Abrych in Glencone, Allaster Og M'Ane
Abrych his brother, and Donald Og M'Ane Abrick, brother to
John Og elder" made a raid against John Drummond of Blair,
and this time "without the countenance and patronage of the
Earl of Argyll." John Stewart of Appin was summoned to
answer for it, but "there is nothing to indicate the penal conse-
quences of this last outlawry." (Abridged from Clan Donald,
II., 195).
In 1592 "it wTas reported to the King and Council that John
MacEan Oig in Glencone" with two of his brothers, "were guilty
of open and manifest oppression, murder, sorning, theft — a
sufficiently formidable indictment," . . . and were declared
rebels and fugitives . . . "but it does not appear that the
men of Glencoe labored very long under the sentence of out-
lawry, for we find the same year [ or 1 593 according to the Regis-
ter of the Privy Council of Scotland] that 'MacAne Abrich of Glen-
cone,' along with MacAne of Ardnamurchane and others, was,
by the King and on advice of his Council, relaxed from the
horn." Abridged from Ibid^ II., 195, 196).
The General Index of the Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland,
a ponderous folio, states in 1593 that the Clan MacKane of
Aruicht is an unruly clan; (this refers to an entry given as Mac-
lans of Avricht) ; candor compels us to admit that such appears
to be the case.
"For several years after the foregoing events there is calm
in the stormy annals of Glencoe, at least so far as these are
disclosed by the Records of the Privy Council; but it is the
calm that follows as well as precedes the tempest. In 1599
Allaster MacEan Oig and his men, under John Og MacEan
Abrich, reft from David Craig out of his fold of Drumcharrie
'seven great kye' and a bull worth .£140. This was only pre-
liminary to much greater deeds of 'herschipp.' ' (Clan Donald,
II., 196).
The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland notes in 1600,
that Johnne McFatrick VcEane was delivered to Sir Duncan
Campbell of Glenurquhy for his keeping, as one of the pledges
of Allester McGregour of Glenstra. The authors of Clan Donald
intimate that this refers to "the slaughter of Lennox at Glen-
fruin, a conflict . . . where eighty of the Colquhoun Clan were
98 MACIANS OF 16OO-O2
slain," but that the connection of the Clanian of Glencoe with
the affair was "subordinate and incidental." We fear, however,
that dates and authorities refer to still another evil deed later
on, for which the Privy Council proceeded against Allan Oig
Mclntnach of Glencoe, who in 1609 was accused of assisting the
Clan Gregor of Glenfruin, and of murdering defenseless persons.
But here the MacGregors charge the act to the ferocity of a
single man of their tribe, said to have been an ancestor of Rob
Roy. (Irving's West of Scotland in History, 153). The Council
made it an offense punishable with death to bear the name
Macgregor, or to give any of the clan food or shelter: so some
of them assumed the name Gregory.
In the same year and Work, (Reg. Pri-v. Council, Scot.}, Ludo-
vick, Duke of L,ennox, complains that some McNauchtanes,
McGregours, Campbells and others, including half a dozen Mac-
Ian "abrichis," came at night to the wood of Ardincaple, remain-
ing till morning in order to kill Aula McCaula [Macaulay] or
"that they mycht have persewit him of his lyfe" . . . they
seized some messengers and servitours, one named Mclntailliour
. . . and "verie hardlie intertenyit them" . . . but "feiiing
to have bene persewit be the cuntrie people they depairtit,"
spoiling some houses and reiving some cattle . . . the defen-
dants not appearing, are denounced as rebels.
Moreover, in 1601, Archibald, Earl of "Krgyle" was charged,
as master and landlord of Allaster McCeane Oig of Glenco, for
not entering him, and was to be denounced rebel.
And we read in April, 1602, that there is a complaint of " Johne
Campbell, comissary of Invernes," that in February last a num-
ber of Highlanders, including nine hereafter tabulated among
"McEans and apparent connections," — came to Moy, "quhar
they tressonablie and awfullie raised fyre, brunt and destroyed
his haill houssis" . . . besides the "whole insight and plenish-
ings" within the said houses, while another company of the
said party committed murder — "the lyk of quhilk barbarous
and beistlie crueltie, committit sa fer within the incuntrey, has
semdle bene hard of." The order is to denounce them all as
rebels.
In June, George and James Dumbar are placed under "bands"
in 2,000 marks each, to obey the King's letters forbidding them
to "intercommune" with a long list of spoilers who had been
1602 GLENCOE. 99
denounced rebels, for coming, as described in the preceding
paragraph, in fair daylight to the lands of Moy, belonging to
Johne Campbell, Commissary of "Inuerness," and treasonably
burning of his buildings and corns, [sic] spuilying oxen and
sheep and slaying three men : among these rebels are twenty-
two of the scape-grace MacEans catalogued subsequently. It
may be interesting to note that one of them, — Alexander, had
a brother also called Alexander; for there are several instances
in old times, of living brothers bearing the same first or baptismal
name. On the same day, some of the Dumbars, one of them a
sheriff, were charged, among other things, with bringing into
the country of Murray several Maclans, one "of Glenko," and
becoming assurance for them and furnishing them with food
divers days and nights, etc.
In July, Duncane Meinzeis petitions that he is not answerable
for certain men, — among them Duncane McEane Cam in Fother-
gill, one of the tutors to the son of the late Geir McCondachy : —
as Robertson of Strowan (named also as a complainer) was so
answerable, he was ordered denounced a rebel. Some of the
McKechins, VcAchanes, etc., complain that many persons, —
"all the said Laird of Glengarry's men," came in the night, set
fire to houses, and "maist mercyleslie murtherit and slew"
several individuals; and "Immediately afterwards, the malefac-
tors had repaired to the Laird of Glengarry, and 'with all glaidnes
of hairt were ressett be him and upoun his landis;' " the order
is to denounce them. This appears to have been a family quarrel,
for there are names indexed Maclan on both sides, i. e., as com-
plainers and defenders; nine of them appear in the list following
the year 1550. Towards the end of the month, Katharene Reid,
relict of Mr. [Magister, he being a Cleric] Alexander Dumbar,
dean of Murray, brings a libel against the Baron of Kilravock
for resetting certain evil-doers, among whom was Johne Dow
McEane Roy, alias Girls. And on the same day there is a com-
plaint of William Ros of Kilraack [Kilravock aforesaid?] that
some sinners, indexed Maclan, with others, came "in the dawing
of the day," murdered Alexander McMiechell in Geddes and
servant and spuilyied his whole goods. And again one particu-
larly irrepressible Alaster, "in Glaik (of Glenko)," with others,
set on fire houses in Geddes, with the whole plenishing of the
same, estimated at .£5,000, etc., etc.
IOO MACIANS OF l6O2
In August, Archibald Earl of "Ergyle" was ordered to be
denounced for not appearing or presenting certain individuals,
including a McEane McAllaster in Glencoane and three McEwne
McGregours, for reiving horses and cattle. Archibald Herring
of Drummane accuses one Duncane McEane Birrach, with others,
of reiving: the property was to be restored or ,£10 paid for
each animal. Donnald Menteith of Carquhen charges that a
McEancheir [Maclan-Keir?] and his brothers, tenants of the
Laird of Strowane, had reft some animals.
In September a similar complaint is made by Johne Ferguson
of Dercullych, against a McEane Abrich, Duncan Stewart of
Appin's man, and others; for which, Stewart not appearing nor
producing the McEane, is to be denounced rebel. Sir Duncan
Campbell of Glenurquhy got into trouble for non-entry of his
man, a McEane VcGillechonane: some of our readers will be
agreeably shocked to learn that in this case two McEanes were
on the side of the law. Also that another, — one of the Laird
of Gairnetullie's men, actually complains of a spuilyie. But,
per contra, Sir Duncan had been charged to enter a McEane to
answer a complaint about a horse, which was ordered to be re-
stored in as good condition as when it was taken away. And
another McEane, servant of the Laird of Glenurquhy had been
"reiving kye." There is also entered an accusation of Alexander
Flemyng against certain "disorderit" men of Glenco, in which
case the complainer is to be paid £16 for each ox proven to have
been slain and eaten in a certain house. Our young friend
"Allaster McEane Oig of Glenko," accompanied by a number
of "sornaris of his awne Clan and utheris, came to Femes and
Auchnebechan " and elsewhere on their usual quest of pillage,
accompanied this time with murder; he had for accessories a
long list of Macs, some of whose names are suspiciously like
Maclan. Sir Johne Murray of Tullibairdin complains that he
is "wrongously" charged for not entering several persons, whereas
he had been "ordained " only to enter one, — Andro McEane Roy in'
the Head of Glencoich, servant to the complainer.
In November, Archibald, Earl of Argyle came under censure
for inefficient performance of his lieutenancy against the Clan
Gregor, which "hes bene and are als insolent and of als wicked
and unhappie a dispositioun as they wer at ony tyme preceid-
ing." For example, certain McEans took horses, some described
ARGYLESHIRE. — RIVER COE.
SCENE IN GLENCOE.
1602-03 GivENCOE. ioi
as "wild," also "great kye" ; they had also "spuilyed the plenish-
ing and moveables" of several people. It should be remembered
that a few of these rogues having committed many unlawful
acts, their names are repeated, some of them in several different
works, so that it seems as if the whole lot were bad. In this
month it was also to be proved that certain individuals were
men of Archibald, Earl of "Ergyll", — among them a McEane
VcGregour, "household man to the Laird of McGregour."
The same work specifies the petition in 1603, of Johne McEan-
doyn [MacEan the Dark?], "sometime in Tullimat, . . . touch-
ing the alleged ejection of him furth of the lands of Balligoun,
and reiving of his kye, plenishing and goods." Also the giving
of bonds in 500 marks by Johnne Cummyng for Thomas Hep-
burne, that the latter would not harbor certain people, includ-
ing two McEans, — during their rebellion.
The general process among the Highlanders of every clan
and name appears to have been to make a "spuilyie" upon some
neighbor's cattle and goods; then there would be a "summond"
issued, which they perhaps never heard of, — at the market-
cross of some town in the shire; then they would "fail to corn-
pear" on the day fixed for the hearing; so they would be "declared
rebel"; which would give an opportunity for the hostile clans
to join temporarily with the representatives of the law, in making
a counter-descent; in due time those of the sufferers who escaped,
would rally, and try to pay off old scores with liberal interest,—
and so on.
Although we will meet with mention of bows and arrows
later, [in 1665], it is claimed that firearms of a kind, swords
and portions of armor were used even by common soldiers at
the period we have reached. The Reverends A. Macdonalds
show this by "the slaughter of Lennox, which took place in
1603, when 400 freebooters, of whom Clan Iain Abrich formed
a large contingent, came armed with pistols, murriones, coats
of mail, etc. It is similarly proved that the trews were much
more frequently worn than is generally supposed." Some
mentions of the arms used of old in Scottish wapenschawings
verge on the comic, as when Dixon in Border Clans, 79, quotes
about "pistolettis and utheris ingynis of fyre work," but he
says that in 1540 the only firearms mentioned were culverins.
io2 MACIANS OF 1605-11
"In 1605, John, son of John Og Maclain, seems still to be
the Chief of Glencoe. That year there is a charge against him
to compear personally with tacks, securities, etc., at Loch Kil-
kerran in Kintyre; but there is no evidence that Maclain pre-
sented himself on that occasion, nor is it likely that he could
have satisfied the Government by the production of any feudal
title to Glencoe. The Maclain charter chest does not appear
to have held any parchments in the shape of instruments of
tenure early in the seventeenth century." (Clan Donald, II.
198).
The above non-compearance is alluded to by Gregory in his
Western Highlands, 306, from which it seems that Lord Scone,
Comptroller of Scotland summoned the chiefs; that Kilkerran
is now Campbelltown ; that they were to find sureties for the
payment of the rents of His Majesty, [James I. of England and
VI. of Scotland], under penalty of having their deeds declared
null and void and themselves "pursuit with fire and sword as
rebels to the King" in the event of their failure to appear.
In 1609 John and Alexander Stewart were slain by Glencoe
men, and the guilty parties were put to the horn in 1610, at
the instance of Hlspeth Stewart, relict of John. "During 1610
we are informed that 'Allaster Maclain Oig of Glencoe' . . .
seems to have been the last chief's brother, and judging by his
designation, to have succeeded him," but he does not appear
in the list of chiefs in Vol. III. of Clan Donald. Many hard names
are heaped upon Allaster Maclain Oig of Glencoe in connection
with the Stewart murders, "and Providence is devoutly thanked
for [his falling] into the hands of Colin Campbell of Abermichell."
James, Earl of Perth, and Stewart of Stratherne were to bring
the malefactor to trial. Commission was also given to a Colqu-
houn, Maclean and Cameron "to convocate the lieges to appre-
hend Angus Maclain Buy in Dalness, Allastair Maclain Duy in
Achtriachtan, Allan Dow Maclain Duy his brother, and John
Og Maclain Duy, [the families of Dalness and Achtriachtan
were Cadets of Glencoe], for not having found caution to underly
the laws for the slaughter of the late Allaster and John Stewart."
In 1611 "Allaster MacEan Oig of Glencoe is still in durance
vile in the Tolbooth of Edinburgh" and he "passes out of history
and is seen no more." (Abridged from Clan Donald, II., 198,
199)-
1615-3°
"It is highly improbable that the Maclans refrained from
supporting their brethren of Clan Donald in their struggle with
the intriguing Argyle, ['Fair and false like a Campbell'], — whose
treacherous doings culminated in the fight of 1615."
X. JOHN ABRACH or ABROCH appears in 1617 as the repre-
sentative of the family. We do not find any trace of sons of
this Chief, except his successor. (Clan Donald, II., 199; III.
214).
In 1617 a commission was given to the Sheriffs of seven places,
to apprehend and try three "servitors to John Abroch of Glencoe,
for not answering to the charge of murdering David Bowman.
During this year the feud with the Stewarts resulted in several
fatalities, and measures were taken for the apprehension and,
trial of John Abroch Macdonald of Glencoe, [apparently the
first application in a contemporary document, of the title Mac-
donald to a Glencoe chief], Donald Bowie Maclain Viclain Oig
Viclain Abrich, and a number of other Highlanders. The
result of these proceedings does not transpire. (Abridged from
Clan Donald, II., 200).
"The foregoing monotony of lawlessness gives a black picture
of the descendants of John Fraoch, but being drawn from the
national record of contemporary misdeeds it could hardly be
otherwise. There must have been in the inner life of the Clanian
much that was chivalrous and attractive, even in the ruder
stages of their history; but the centuries refuse to give up their
secrets, and we only see the Glencoe men in their role of Ishmael-
ites — their hand against every other, and the hands of many
others against them." (Ibid., II., 200).
From 1617 to 1634 there is a prolonged pause, during which
there is no trace of the men of Glencoe either in war and foray
or in the arts of peace, excepting that—
About 1630, as related by Macleay in Rob Roy and his Times,
Glencoe, the son-in-law of the chief of the Macgregors, aided
the latter in a raid on Kilmarnock on the banks of the Leven.
XI. ALEXANDER, according to the ordinary rules of calcu-
lation would have succeeded his father about 1630. He was
knownin his day as Alastair Ruadh. He had two sons — i. Alex-
ander, his successor. 2. Angus, known as Aonghas MacAlastair
Ruaidh, the well-known Gaelic bard. (Clan Donald, III., 214).
104 MACIANS OF1 1634
Glencos was the scene of much disorder at this time. "The
Chartulary* says, August i, 1634, Act in favour of certain Stewarts,
That whereas they having raised lettres of lawborrisf againis
Angus McDonald Vceane dowie vcalaster in Glenco, John Gaer
Mcallaster Roy there and aganis a number of otheris disorderit
and broken lymmars, some of the Clan Gregours and some other
Clanns all for the most part duelling in Glenco, they can get
no officer that will or daire repaire to the place where thir people
duellis to charge thame." Record of Secret Council Decreta.
(History of the Clan Gregor, II., 43).
In 1634 the Glencoe men went as far as Aberdeenshire, being
involved in a feud between the Chrichtons and the Gordons.
The Lords of Secret Council summoned the Gordons and Clanian
to compear personally, to give information and to restrain their
people. In January 1635, Allaster Maclain Abraich of Glencoe,
evidently the chief of the tribe, appeared to answer for his alleged
"misdemeanours. The Glencoe Chief seems to have spent a
considerable part of the year of grace 1635 within the precincts
of the Scottish capital ... he has to bind and oblige himself
to remain and keep ward in Edinburgh till he found caution
conform to the Act of Parliament. It is probable that until
the following summer Maclain of Glencoe did not tread his
native heath, but had still to submit to the uncongenial atmos-
phere of 'Auld Reekie, 'I and it is most likely that the curtailment
of the modified liberty he was first allowed was owing to some
suspicion that he either tried or purposed to break ward. In
any case, ... he was, with others, committed to ward within
the Tolbooth, Edinburgh, till he found security for observing
the relevant Acts; the permission to go a Sabbath day's journey
* This consists of extracts from various Records embodying every known
authentic passage regarding the Clan Gregor. The title is more correctly
the record of the temporalities or property of a monastery, or of the keeper
of the record.
t Law Borrois, Law Borrows, s. pi. The legal security which one man
is obliged to give, that he will not do any injury to another in his person
or property. Scottish Acts, James II. Law and borgh, or borrow, a pledge.
(Jamieson's Scottish Dictionary).
J This well-known name for Edinburgh (please call it Edinborough), is
not from any smokiness, but meaning royal, from righ, a king. (Lansdale's
Scotland, Historic and Romantic, I., i, note).
1640-41 GLENCOE. 105
beyond the city, which he formerly enjoyed, having been with-
drawn. As to Allaster's subsequent history we are left in the
dark ... It would not be safe, however, to conclude that
there was any sudden conversion from the ancient love of 'creach,'
or that their attitude towards neighboring clans had undergone
a radical change." (Adapted from Clan Donald, II., 201, 202).
" In 1 640 the Clan Iain took part in a foray in which the men
of Keppoch were the principals, and which resulted in serious
loss to both." Returning from the expedition, they were passing
through the Campbell territory without offering to pay toll on
their booty: the Campbells attacked them and in the bloody
conflict which followed, the Clan Donald were victorious, eighteen
of the Campbells being killed. . . . "But the victory was dearly
bought by the death of two Clan Donald chiefs." (Abridged
from Clan Donald, II., 203).
XII. ALEXANDER, the principal victim of the inhuman
slaughter of 1692. He married a daughter of Archibald Mac-
donald of Keppoch, — a sister of the famous Coll; and had two
sons, both of whom escaped from the massacre. — i. John, his
successor. 2. Alexander. The second son, Alexander, married
in 1696, Florence Macdonald, and died in 1707. (Ibid., III.,
214, 643).
Before coming to the following pathetic account in the Acts
of the Parliaments of Scotland, — of what appears from our present
point of view to have been a foul wrong, we should recollect
that manners change with the times. Also that Mistress Eliza-
beth Ross has given us no inkling of the provocation which the
McEans and others had probably received from her people.
Furthermore, we have no knowledge of the number of retainers
she had in the town and land of Milnecraig belonging to her;
they must have been numerous to have needed so many in the
attacking force, and the death of the late Donald may have
been quite incidental to what was probably a common foray.
Lastly, in those good old times, the best chieftain was the most
successful cattle-lifter, the best naval commander was the pirate
most impartial towards friend and foe, and the best soldier or
sailor was the most active pillager.
SUPPUCATIOUN of Elspeth Ros. Acts Parl. Scot., A. D. 1641.
"Mv LORDES and remanent estaites of this present parliament
now presently convenit wnto yor lo [rdships] humblie menes
106 MACIANS OF1 1641
and schawes Elspeth Ros relict of vmquhile Donald Roy miller
servitor to hew Ros of Tollie" [in brief, as Parliament was sitting
for the repressing of all oppressions and injuries, ... to see
Justice administered, and to purge the land of "murdor slachter
and Innocent blood" . . . the petitioners are imboldened to
show] "That vpoun the nyntene day of Maij last bypast" . . .
[a number of persons, among whom we regret to find the names
of Johne roy mceayne, Jon croy mceayne, Alexander mceayne,
mcfinlay vie eayne "fermorer in keatuall," Donald mceayne,
hector mceayne vie to Alister, Wm. mceayne, etc., congregated],
' ' And withothers thr complicis cam efter sune setting to the
number of [blank] persounes bodin in hoisteill maner with hagbutes
gunes pistolles carabines swordes tairgis bowes dorlaches and
other Invasive wapones by all ordor of law or Justice To the
toune and landes of Milnecraig pertening to me the sd hew Ros
of Tollie qr the sd wmquhile Donald roy miller and otheres of
myne the sd hew Ros my servandes war in ane most peceablie
maner at my service for the tyme And there maist crewallie
and wnmercifullie schot many and divers schottes of gunes
hagbutes pistoilles carabines and arowes at the sd wmquhile
Donald roy miller and wounded him in diverse pairtis of his
bodie And not being content therewith strak at him with
diverse naked swords till at last he fell doune deid to the grund
And Imediatelie therefter he depairtit this mortall lyff . . .
And the puire relict and hir sex Infantes and fatherles orphanes
wanting means defraudit of the benefeit of law competent to
ws Heirfor we beseik your lo[rdships] . . . To gif and appoynt
sik ordor and warrand as salbe thocht most fitting" [in short,
that no remission or respite be granted the aforenamed persons
for the said slaughter till the law should take its course against
them or the petitioners be satisfied; and that any respite pri-
vately procured be declared null].
In the above case the Estates of Parliament order the Deputy
Treasurer and Lords of the Exchequer to pass no remission in
favor of the parties named, until the petitioner be first called
and heard; and the Clerk was to give the "dowble heirof" to
the petitioner.
The next mention of the McEans, in Vol. V., Caroli I., A. D.
1641, would seem at first sight, to hint strongly of retaliation,
if not justice; as it speaks of the repression of the Clan, and
1636-44 6LENCOE. to?
(seeing the order of the documents), apparently in consequence
of the fray at Milnecraig; but if we are to judge from the date
1636 in the instrument, the "repression" preceded the skirmish,
and may have been, in part, the provocation to the Clan, for
which we otherwise look in vain. A few extracts follow:
"RATIFICATION to Archebald Lord Lome of the lordschip
of Kintyre, etc. OURE SOVERANE LORD with advyise and
consent of the estaites of this present parliament Ratefies and
approves the contract past betuixt his sacred majestic with
consent of his hienes [s's] heigh thesaurer and Remanent Lordis
of his majesties exchekker of this kingdome his hienes commis-
sionares On the ane pairt And wmquhyill Archibald earle of
argyle Lord Campbell and Lome for himselff . . . The yeir of
god JMVJC. [one thousand six hundred] and threttie sex yeires
... Quhairby and in respect of the bygane services of the
said wmquhyill earle of argyle in Repressing of the barbarous
races of the Clangregor and clandonald And of the services of
Archibald now earle of argyle father to the said Archibald now
Lord of Lome In repressing of the clan of Mcean and apprehend-
ing of that notable sorner called Gilroy and of the other onerous
and weightie causses particularlie mentionat in the said contract
His majestie with consent forsaid Ratefiet the former Infest -
mentis grantit be his majesties wmquhyill deirest father of
blissed memorie or his majesties selff" [and so on and so forth
through two folio columns bristling with "And quhilk," "!N
ALL," "And Sicklyke," "And Farder, fforsamekill," "With the
priviledge" and "THAIRFORE;" but containing nothing more
about the McEans]. There is much fighting indicated however,
in the word "repressing."
"In the political turmoil of the seventeenth century, the
Clanian, like the rest of the Clan Donald, supported the claims
of the House of Stewart. There is distinct evidence that they
took their own share of the toils and glories of the campaigns
of Montrose" . . . It is shown that the Glencoe men were in
a party to relieve the castles of Mingarry and Lochaline in Ard-
namurchan. A Council was held at Blair- Athole about 1644 to
consult . . . about winter quarters, and Colkitto joined with
recruits from Clanranald, Glengarry, Keppoch, Glencoe, Appin,
the Camerons and Farquharsons. "The Council declared for the
Highlands as being most secure. Montrose gave in to the ma-
IOS MACIANS OF1 1644-45
jority, on the assurance being given that food and quarters could
... be provided. 'But how shall we find a track? ' asked
Montrose, 'or how obtain subsistence at this season? ' Angus
the son of Allan Dubh, who appears to have been the leader of
the Glencoe men," offered himself as a guide after Argyle was
accustomed to say that he would not let any one know the passes
into his country from the east for 100,000 crowns; Allan . . .
was also prominent upon the question of commissariat . . .
and said he knew the stanch houses and could procure fat cattle
in the Campbell country of Argyle, and this assurance "turned
the scale in favour of wintering in the Highlands." (Adapted
from Clan Donald, II., 203, 204; and Taylor's Pictorial History
of Scotland, II., 622).
The Calendar of State Papers notes that in 1644 Alaster Mac-
Donell was a comrade of the Karl of Montrose: at first glance
this might seem to refer to Alexander or Alastair of Glencoe,
but it is improbable ; the first reference in the Calendar states
that the Earl "with a famous fellow called Kittock" are taken
prisoners by the Earl of Argyle; the next is that the enemy
was routed, Montrose missing and his comrade Kitto slain. But
this may have been a mistake, for in 1652 a certain Col. Alex.
Macdonall, possibly the same, was made a close prisoner, special
care was to be taken of him and 2s a day allowed him, etc.
We read in the Encyc. Brit., article Scotland, that about 1645
"Montrose erected the royal standard [of Charles I.] in Dumfries ;
then passing to the Highlands, after the victory of Tippermuir
he took Perth, and defeated L,ord Lewis Gordon at the Bridge
of Dee. Next, after ravaging the county of Argyll, he marched
to Inverness, but returned to defeat Argyll at Inverlochy, won
further victories at Auldearn near Nairn and Alford on the Don,
and by that of Kilsyth appeared to have recovered Scotland
for Charles." We quote these names partly because Glencoe
served under Montrose in his wars and fought with particular
valor at the battle of Inverlochy, according to Grant's Tartans
of the Clans of Scotland.
The Maclans took part in the celebrated raid of the Campbell
country ,as noted in Browne's Highlanders and Clans, I., 362,
and the Stewarts of Appin, 185.
And they were in the centre of the front line in the battle of
Inverlochy, fought Sunday, February 2nd, 1645. (Keltic's
I645-51 GLENCOE- 109
Highland Clans, I., 198). It was after this battle that Ranald
of the Shield, afterwards killed in the Glencoe Massacre, won
his sobriquet by fighting with dirk and target against a braggart
English dragoon. This incident has been given with much vigor
and eloquent detail in Clan Donald, II., 204-206, the hero being
Ranald Macdonald, (son of Allan of Achtriachtan), and who
remarked among other things in Gaelic: "There is no knowing
what may happen to me, but the very devil will happen to him.''
As Ranald fought at Worcester in 1651, it is probable the Clan
formed part of the Highland forces which defended that place
against ten times their number, until King Charles [II.] himself
ordered them to retreat.
We had hoped to show that the spirited military march called
"Blue Bonnets over the Border" was written by Sir Walter
Scott in commemoration of this invasion of England by the
Highlanders, but it evidently celebrated a period a few years
before, when General Alexander Leslie advanced toward Long
Marston Moor; and the names are decidedly of the Lowlands.
Perhaps the most stirring version is the one beginning:
March, march, Ettrick and Teviotdale,
\Yhy the de'il dinna ye march forward in order?
March, march, Eskdale and Liddesdale,
All the Blue Bonnets are over the Border." . . .
We read that about 1651 some plaids were known, and as
we have mention of them in Section IV. about this date, we
introduce the subject.
PLAIDS AND TARTANS. — It is well known that each Clan had
its distinguishing plaid and tartan, (the difference is said to be
in the texture of the goods, the former being much the thicker
of the two). They were originally worn only in the Highlands,
and "some were known in 1651," [we have just seen that plaiding
was known in 1649*]; their use was forbidden in 1747,! but
* Frank Adam quotes several items from official documents, showing that
"tartanes" were mentioned as far back as 1471, in the accounts of the royal
household. Among other quaint entries are found: "Four elne and ane
halve of tartane for a sparwort aboune his credill, [canopy above his cradle ?]i
foprice ane elne, ios."; also "Heland sarkis to the Kingis grace . . . r
twa unce of silk to sew thame . . . for iiij elnis of ribanis to the handes
of them ..."
t The following "Indemnity Oath," which may be found in the Encyclo-
110 MACIANS OF 1651
the Act was repealed in 1782. There were two principal marks
of distinction, — the green (or Maine) and the red (or dearg)
field ; a very few had yellow for the ground or conspicuous color,
and one or two were chiefly white, grey, blue or black. Upon
the various fields, generally green or red, the arrangement of
bars and threads of differing colors in various widths, formed
the clan plaid. And so the proverb said: "Kyth i' your ain
colours, that fowk may ken you."
These fabrics are still made in favorite patterns which are
often called for, but there being little or no demand for some, —
like that of the Maclans or McKeans, those have to be made to
order. We have the pleasure of presenting a sample of the
Mackeane arrangement, made by White of Edinburgh, and said
to be set forth in Old and Rare Scottish Tartans, by Donald
William Stewart, Edinburgh, George P. Johnston, 1893. "Sir
Richard Urquhart, Knycht, author of 'Vestiarum Scotiorum,' '
says: "Mackeane he the four stryppes of Blak upon ain scarlett
feilde, and upon the scarlett set ain spraig (sprainge) of yellow
of saxteen threidis, havand thereto ain bordure of Blak of twa
threidis." This seems conclusive of the color of the field, though
Maclan's "Clans of the Scottish Highlanders indicates the Glencoe
as one of the green plaids. W. and A. K. Johnston's Scottish
Clans and Tartans gives the MacDonald in general, and those
of Clanranald and of Glengarry with green or blue predominating,
and those of the Isles and Slate and of Staffa with red.*
paedia Britannica and in What is my Tartan? was extorted from the High-
landers, to guard against evasion of the Act: "I, A. B., do swear, and as I
shall answer to God at the great day of judgment, I have not, nor shall
have, in my possession any gun, sword, pistol, or arm whatsoever, and never
use tartan, plaid, or any part of the Highland garb; and if I do so may I
be cursed in my undertakings, family, and property, — may I never see my
wife and children, father, mother, or relations, — may I be killed in battle
as a coward, and lie without Christian burial in a strange land, far from
the grave of my forefathers and kindred; may all this come across me if
I break my oath." Among other indignant protests called forth by the
oath was a poetical one mentioned by Frank Adam and entitled, ''The
Anathema of the Breeks." The Act was repealed in 1782, but even in 1809,
one of the Scottish regiments was ordered to discontinue their Highland
dress, as it was "objectionable to the people of Britain! " (Adapted from
What is my Tartan?).
* Samples furnished by Simpson, Hunter and Young, of Glasgow, indi-
cate that the —
THE MACKEANE TARTAN
l65I-55 GLENCOE. in
The documents just quoted mention prices varying from
4-y. 4</. to i2.y. ["old style"] per ell (the Scotch ell used to be
37.2 inches): the price in Glasgow, in 1901, of any pattern ap-
peared to be 6s. per yard, 54 inches wide, — customs dues, ocean
freight, domestic expressage, etc., not included, but possibly
increasing the cost from 40 to 50 per cent. Any small quantity
can probably be supplied, but in the case of rare patterns being
ordered to be manufactured, perhaps a piece 25 yards long
and 21 inches wide would have to be taken at the least.
Lord Archibald Campbell's Records of Argyll, 428, referring
to "The search in Glencoe for mention or tradition anent dis-
tinctive clan tartan or clan colours," gives the following
"Letter from S. MacGregor to 'D.' Glencoe 2Oth Feb., 1883.
My dear Sir, . . . As to the wider question as to the existence
of tartans generally at and previous to the time of the Massacre
of Glencoe, we think that there can be no reasonable doubt.
Upon this subject tradition is full and undivided. An old woman
in the Glen (Mrs. Maclntyre), a descendant of MacEunruig or
Henderson, Maclan's family piper (MacEunruig Mor) — tells me
.that when a little girl she heard her grandmother, then a very
old woman, say that all her ancestors wore tartan and nothing
else."
James Logan in The Scottish Gael, 159, quotes from Heron
that before the middle of the fifteenth century, tartan was manu-
factured of one or two colors for the poor; but gives intimations
on p. 156 that tartans existed in Britain long prior to the com-
mencement of our credible history, and that Abaris the high
priest of the Hyperborei wore a robe which seems to be a Scottish
plaid.
Resuming historical notes proper: —
In the General Index to the Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland,
we read for 1655: "Glencoe with adjacent districts to form a
MacDonalds of Clan Ranald / had a plaid with dark blue or green field, with
Glengarry i" red and white bars and threads.
',, v , \ had a plaid writh dark blue or green field, with
j red bars and threads.
(Staffa, said) -had a plaid wkh dark red field> witH Wack>
( Glencoe ) blue and white threads.
( Sleat and ) had a plaid with dark red field, with black
( th°elsle°s ) and dark blue threads-
112 MACIAN3 OF 1655-74
new county;" and there is a similar entry about Glengarry,
but tri2 detailed reference appears to be missing.
Raids and feuds continue to occupy the attention of the sub*
jects of these Notes at this period of their history.
It was apparently in September, 1665, that some Maclans of
Glencoe, and MacGregors, joined the Camerons against the Mack-
intoshes, about lands in Lochaber; three hundred of the men
had bows, and it is stated that these were the last considerable
company of bowmen that appeared in the Highlands. [But we
will meet with them again]. Soon after, the Camerons being
joined by the MacDonalds of Glengarry, Keppoch, Glencoe and
others, marched into Mull, and prevented an intended invasion
by Argyll. (History of the Camerons, 162, 163). At this time
also, [see 1685] another fight took place between Glencoe and
some Breadalbane men at Killin. (Records of Argyll, 477).
And in June, 1671, the MacGregors, joined by the MacDonalds
of Glencoe and Keppoch, entered Menzies' lands, drove out his
tenants and performed warlike acts. "In consequence of which
they were on August i denounced rebels for not having compeared
before the Lords of Council on July 27, to answer for their assis-
tants and complices entering the lands of Rannoch and by force
and violence taking possession of a part of the said Sir Alexander
Menzies his lands and maintaining of the same by force of arms,
and committing divers other outrages," etc. (Clan Gregor, II.,
155)-
Sir James Macdonald of Sleat having laid claim to be chief
of the whole clan, he was held responsible for their good behavior
in the Isles and on the Mainland. In 1674 it was represented
to the Privy Council "that Alexander Macdonald of Glencoe
who had been committed prisoner within the Tolbooth of Invera-
ray by order of the Earl of Argyle, had succeeded in effecting
his escape" . . . his misdeeds are not specified. But "since
his escape he was accused, with John Macdonald of Achtriachatan,
and their accomplices, of having committed 'several murders
and depredations' in the County of Argyle." Sir James was
required "to assist in apprehending his clansmen, but nothing
further is heard of them in this connection. (Clan Donald, III.,
67, 68). A similar claim of precedence over "their haill kyn
of Clan Donald" had been made before, by certain Macdonalds
of Dunnyveg. (Ibid., 167).
1 66i-87 GLENCOE. 113
The clan entered the government service as part of the Highland
host brought down to curb the Covenanters in that bloodless
but devastating foray. " It may be explained that the 'High-
land host,' about 8,000 men, with headquarters at Stirling,
remained in the Lowlands some eight months. It overawed
the whigs so that the latter did not attempt to oppose the govern-
ment during the stay of these Highlanders. " (Keltic's Highland
Clans, I., 335). A letter in Woodrow's MSS., Advocates' Library,
dated Feb. i, 1678, says that among other clans of the Highland
host brought down to curb the Covenanters, "the Glencow men
were verie remarkable, who had for their ensign a faire bush
of heath, wel spread and displayed on the head of a staff, such
as might have affrighted a Roman eagle." The letter is published
entire in Black-wood's Magazine, April, 1817, p. 68. It is also
related, in one of the manuscripts of later date (?) that four
amber beads now in the Antiquarian Museum in Edinburgh,
and worn by a lady of the clan on the morning of the massacre,
were esteemed as a cure for blindness. The above letter is
mentioned here chronologically, though the Covenants appear
to have been suppressed before, and declared illegal in 1661.
Probably towards the end of the reign of Charles II. the Clan
incurred the enmity of Brcadalbane, (who had been recently
[Aug. 13, 1681] created an earl), and thus engendered a feeling
of hatred which vented itself in the Glencoe massacre. On
their return from a foray into the Lowlands, they attempted to
cross the lands of Breadalbane without asking permission, and
the Campbells sallied out in hot pursuit. They overtook the
Macdonalds near Killin, where the raiders took up their position
on some rising ground . . . and awaited the onset. They
received their assailants with swarms of arrows and repulsed
them, killing nineteen of the Campbells, and wounding among
others Colonel Menzies, who had urged in vain that the fiery
young Campbells should make a flank attack on their enemies.
(Abridged from Stewart's Highlanders and Highland Regiments).
In 1687 the Glencoe men took part in what it is a relief to
know was the last great clan battle of Scottish history, — Mullroy
or Glenroy. Mackintosh of Moy held a crown grant of certain
lands, which Keppoch was in actual possession of, and when
the latter was challenged to produce his title deeds he replied
that he held his lands not by a sheep's skin but by the sword.
114 MACIANS OF 1687
(Scott's Tales of a Grandfather, Chap. LVI.). Aided by an
independent company of government troops commanded by
Captain Mackenzie of Suddie, Mackintosh" with his clan marched
on Keppoch, and finding the chief's house deserted he set a
large force of workmen brought for the purpose, to build a fort
near by. The work was interrupted by news that the Macdonalds
of Keppoch, Glengarry and Glencoe were behind a neighboring
ridge intending to surprise Mackintosh at daybreak. The latter
determined to anticipate them and marched his men before
dawn, but the Macdonalds under Coll of Keppoch . . . appeared
upon the upper ridge while the Mackintoshes and their govern-
ment allies were scaling the heights of Mullroy. With bows and
arrows, broadswords and Lochaber axes the Macdonalds attacked
Moy so fiercely that they routed his men, killing Suddie and
taking Mackintosh himself prisoner. While the Macdonalds
were scattered in pursuit of the vanquished enemy, the Mac-
phersons appeared, and sending a flag of truce demanded thsa
Moy be surrendered to them. Mackintosh claimed to be head
of the confederation Clan Chattan of which the Macphersont
were members, and Keppoch realizing that in the disorganized
state of his forces resistance was useless, handed Mackintosh
over to the despised Macphersons. This was galling to the
pride of the haughty chieftain, but the good-natured Macphersons
set him free instead of taking him to their chief at Cluny. From
the Macdonalds gaining the higher ground at the outset of the
battle arose the words: "Macdonald took the brae on them,"
in a ' Salute ' ever after used by the pipers of the Keppoch Mac-
donalds. Coll besieged Inverness, exacted a fine from it and
compelled its people to ground arms to the MacDonald tartan
as a punishment for aiding Mackintosh. This resistance to
royal troops and the killing of their captain caused letters of
fire and sword to be issued against Coll Macdonald of Keppoch,
and soldiers were sent with orders to destroy man, woman and
child, and lay waste Keppoch's estates. He escaped and a
kinsman purchased his immunity from further punishment by
paying a large crick or fine. (Abridged from Skene's History
of the Highlands}.
We have thought that the accompanying signatures, selected
from a couple of pages of them in the Acts of the Parliaments
of Scotland, — would prove of interest to our readers. There is
1687-89 GLENCOU. 115
little to be explained about them : John Graham of Claverhouse,
the "Bonnie Dundee," was the head and front of the rebellion
in which several Macdonalds, McKeans and others joined, — as
will be set forth presently: Argyle and Dalrymple were their
inveterate enemies; the blot on the name of the former is literal
as well as figurative, and the latter exhorted the executioners
of Glencoe "to be exact in rooting out that damnable sect, the
worst in all the Highlands," and that they need not trouble
the Government with prisoners.
Le.
, 'fat^Jt,
Early in 1689, as we gather from MacKenzie's History of the
Camerons, 183, etc., MacDonald of Keppoch, with eight hundred
men, was to have conveyed Viscount Dundee to Lochaber, the
place fixed upon for the mustering of the adherents of King
James ; but Keppoch laid siege to Inverness, arrested the magnates
there and insisted upon their paying a heavy ransom; and
Dundee having rebuked Keppoch, the latter retired to his own
country instead of conducting the Viscount. At Lochaber the
first person who met Dundee was Glengarry with two or three
hundred men. He was followed by MacDonald of Morar at the
Il6 MACIANS OF 1689
head of about two hundred members of Clan Ranald; also by
Appin and Glencoe with about the same number. A letter
dated June 23, 1689, written by Dundee to Macleod of Macleod,
shows how much dependence he placed on the Highland chief-
tains, among whom he names Glencoe.
The letter is given in Browne's History of the Highlanders and
Clans, II., 146, and the following are extracts:
"Moy June 23, 1689.
. . . Captain of Glenrannald is near us these several dayes
... Apen Glenco Lochell Glengaire Keppoch are all raidy."
Towards the middle of the year, according to MacKenzie,
Dundee and his army being in Lochaber, Macdonald of the Isles
joined him with about seven hundred men, but it was concluded
to adhere to the Highland tactics and not to drill the force.
"An interesting word picture of several Highland chiefs is
given in a Latin poem composed by Dundee's standard-bearer,
and the portrait of the Chief of Glencoe before Killiecrankie may
be accepted as substantially correct, though somewhat hyper-
bolical in colouring. 'Next came Glencoe, terrible in unwonted
arms, covered as to his breast with new hide, and towering
above his whole line by head and shoulders. A hundred men
all of gigantic mould, all mighty in strength, accompany him
as he goes to the war. He himself turning his shield in his hand,
nourishing terribly his sword, fierce in aspect, rolling his wild
eyes, the horns of his twisted beard curled backward, seems to
breathe forth [?] wherever he moves." (Clan Donald, II., 206,
207, quoting from The Grameid, an Heroic poem descriptive of
the Campaign of Graham, Viscount Dundee in 1689, by James
Philip of Almerieclose, 1691).
The battle of Killiecrankie was fought on the 27th of July,
1689, an English force of 3,500 men and two troops of horse
having arrived at the pass on their march northward; Dundee
had with him about 1,800 Highlanders and 300 Irishmen. The
reinforcements sent for from various places, Ardnamurchan
included, not having joined the Jacobites because the day of
rendezvous had not arrived, the question with the latter was
whether to wait for assistance or attack at once. Alexander
Macdonald of Glengarry and Sir Hwen Cameron spoke so decidedly
in favor of fighting immediately, that Dundee concluded to do
so, though at first the council were disposed to stand on the
1689 GIvENCOE. 117
defensive. The Macdonalds of Clanranald and Glengarry were
with the right; Sir Donald Macdonald and the Islesmen were
on the extreme left, with the Camerons, according to Mackenzie,
who sums up the account of the engagement thus: "The High-
landers, though they had to mourn the loss of about a third of
their men, secured a complete victory, and few of the enemy
escaped; but having lost their brilliant commander, [Dundee,
"Greatest of Scots and last"], the result was dearly bought,
and the war may be said to have ended — before it was well
commenced — by a Highland victory, perhaps the most brilliant
on record." History of the Camerons, 196.
Taylor's Pictorial History of Scotland states (II., 786, 787),
that Dundee's men fought in their shirt-sleeves at Killiecrankie,
and that the Clans formed separate battalions and charged the
English lines in column. "When the English troops fired their
last shots on the advancing Highlanders the latter rushed in
with their double-edged broadswords before the royal troops
could screw their bayonets to the end of their muskets. This
experience led their general, Mackay, to invent the present plan
of fastening the bayonet to the outside of the muzzle."
A Latin poem written towards the end of the eighteenth cen-
tury by Professor Kennedy of Aberdeen, and entitled " Proelium
Gillecrankianum," says in part:
"Macneillus de Bara, Glencono, Keppochanus,
Ballechinus cum fratre Stewartus Apianus,
Pro Jacobo Septimo fortiter gessere,
Pugilis fortissimi feliciter vincere."
"The Maclan of Glencoe of this period was, according to
contemporary testimony, a person of 'great integrity, honour,
good nature and courage.' His loyalty to King James was such
that he continued in arms from Dundee's first appearance in
the Highlands till the fatal treaty that brought about his ruin."
(Grant's Tartans of the Clans of Scotland}.
Glencoe was not only engaged in the battle of Killiecrankie,
but also took part in the campaign which followed under General
Buchan. (Scott's Tales of a Grandfather, Chap. LVIII.).
In Vol. IX. of the Acts Parl. Scot., we come to official docu-
ments bearing upon the troublous times alluded to, and it is
somewhat difficult to reconcile dates and facts. Some quotations
MACIANS OF
1 689-1 9th cent.
PRESUMING THAT OUR READERS WOULD BE PLEASED TO SEE SOME VIEWS OF
THE PASS, WE HAVE SELECTED TWO CONTRASTING ONES OUT OF SEVERAL.
1690
may be necessary from the Appendix first, and afterwards from
the body of the work. Among the "Proceedings in the Parlia-
ment of King William and Queen Mary holden and begun at
Edinburgh April XV, M.DC.XC.," are many documents of
various lengths. We will quote one of the Bonds of Association
entered into by the Highland Clans after the Defeat of their
party at Dunkeld, and later give extracts from the decree of
forfeiture against the Viscount of Dundee and others for high
treason, as both of these instruments include the McKean-
McDonald of Glencoe in more or less good company with many
others.
"BOND of Association
WEE Lord James Murray, Patrick Stewart of Ballechan Sr John
McLean, Sr Donald McDonald, Sr Ewan Cameron, Glengarie,
Bembecula, Sr Alexr McLean, Appin, Enveray, Keppoch, Glencoe,
Strowan, Calochell, Lr, Coll : McGreger, Bara, Large, McNaughton,
doe herby bind and oblidge our selves for his Majesties* service,
and our oun safties to Meit att the day of
September next and to bring along with us of fencible
men,f that is to say L, James Murray and Ballechan
Sr John McLean 200, Sr Donald McDonald 200, Sr Alexr McLean
100, Appin 100, Enveray 100, Keppoch 100, L, Coll: McGregore
loo, Calochele 50, Strowan 60, Bara 50, Glencoe 50, McNawghton
50, Large 50, Bot in caice any of the rebells shall assault or Attaque
any of the above named persons betwixt the date hereof and
the aforsaid day of rendevouze, wee do all solemnlie promise
to assist one another to the utmost of our power as witness
thir presents signed by us att the Castle of Blair the 24 of August
1689 years
Tho Farqrsone D Mackdonald Alr Robertsone
Jo MacLeane D M D of Benbecula D McNeill
E Cameron of Locheill Al McDonald Alexr McDonald
Al Stewart Do McGregor
Alexr M Donell
* That is, for "James VII.," not William III.
t Men capable of bearing arms.
20 MACIANS OP 1690
[Endorsed ?] 13 June 1690
Produced by His Majesties Advocate
Signature of Alexr. Macdonald of Glencoe.
From Clan Donald, III.
The importance of the following documents may excuse long
quotations from them.
"DECREET of Forfeiture against John Viscount of Dundee
& others.
AT EDINBURGH the ffourteenth day of July one thousand sex
hundreth & nynty years Anent the lybelled Summonds and
Indytement for high treasone raised and persewed befor the
King and Queens Majesties and the Estates of Parliament written
in Latine and expede under the hand of the deputfy] of the
directors of Chancellary keeper of the Quarter Seall conforme
to ane warrand and act of Parliament after mentioned At the
instance of Sir John Dalrymple younger of Stair their Maties
advocat for their highnes Intrest in the matter under wrytten
Against John Viscount of Dundee, James Earle of Dumfermling
Viscount of ffrendraught Lord Dunkeld, Major
William Grahame of Balwhaple, Collonell Alexander Cannan,
John Cleiland of Fasken Mr Colin McKenzie uncle to the Earle
of Seaforth, Sir John Drummond of Machany, William Crawford
younger of Ardmillan James Crawfurd his brother,
Robertson of Strowan, David Grahame brother to the deceist
John Viscount of Dundee for himselfe and as representing the
said Viscount Halyburton of Pitcurr and Haly-
burton as air to the said deceist Halyburton of Pitcurr
his father James Edmonstoun of Newtoun of Doune, Sir Ewan
Cameron of Lochyeell Cameron his eldest sone, Donald
Mcdonald younger of Sclaite, the Laird of Mcnaughton,
1690 GUiNCOE. 121
Grant of Ballindalloch Stewart of Appin,
Mckean alias Mcdonald elder of Glencoe, Alexander Mcdonald
younger of Glengary Donald Mcneill of Gallahellie and Sir
John Mclean of Dowart and diverse others their associats and
accomplices. The authentick Copie whereof in English produced
in manner after specified maketh mentione That where the
Crymes of rebellione and treasone, ryseing and continowing in
in armes against their Majesties and their highnesses authority
& government and the assaulting of their Majesties forces, The
garisoneing of houses and strengths, The harbouring correspond-
ing and associateing with open rebells and traitours, The falling
upon, woundeing or robbeing their Maties forces in their retreate,
are high Crymes punishable with forfeiture of lyfe, lands and
goods, And by the third act first Parliament King James the
First It is statute and ordained that no man nottourly rebell
against the Kings persone under the pain of forfaulting of life
lands and goods And by the thretty seventh act of his second
Parliament it is statute that nae man wilfully resett entertaine
or doe favours to open and manifest rebells And by the fourteenth
& fyfteenth acts Parliament sexth of King James the second
and Parliament tuelth King James the sexth Caput one hundred
and fourty sex the ryseing in fear of weare or supplying the
rebells in help, red or councill or the stuffeing of houses for the
furthering of the Kings rebells are crymes for which the persones
are punishable as traitours against whom not only forfaultures
are allowed to proceed in absence by the eleventh act of the
first session second Parliament of King Charles the Second but
also by the sexty nynth act, Parliament sexth King James the
fyfth the summonds of treasone may be persewed against the
air for the treason committed by his predecessor Nevertheles it
is of verity that the deceist John Viscount of Dundee and"
[here follows 'the full list of names already given] "haveing
shaken off all fear of God and regaird to their Maties and their
Laws and love to their native Countrey they did ryse and con-
tinow in open armes . . . the first, second, thrid or ane or
other of the dayes of the moneth of Aprill Imvjc eighty nyne
years or ane or other of the dayes of the moneth of May there-
after the said year And upon . . . the said moneth and year
of God forsaid the said deceist John Viscount of Dundee and
the other persons amentioned did come to the toune of Perth
122 MACIANS OF 1690
in fear of wear and therein in ane hostile manner did seize and
carry away the deceist Laird of Blair and other officers of their
Majesties forces . . . And upon the day of June . . . did
attack a certain number of their Majesties forces ... As
also . . . having raised & assembled severall thousands of
rebells and Highland robbers, they had the boldnes to march
throw the Countrey oppressing and destroying their Majesties
good and loyall subjects and to oppose their forces . . . and
. . . did in a plain battle attack their Majesties Armie, betwixt
the Blair of Athole and the pass of Gilliechrankie and did kill
and wound severall of their Majesties forces and good subjects
And thereafter . . . did attack their Majesties forces at Dun.
keld . . . And haveing mett and assembled at Inverlochie
. . . they entred into treasonable Conspiracies bonds and
associacns for furnishing of certain numbers and proportions of
armed men for the maintenance and support of the rebellion
. . . and the other crymes above mentioned were committed
by the persones above named and ilkane of them ... Of the
which horrid and treasonable crymes above specified or ane or
other of them the haill fornamed persons and ilk ane of them
are actors airt & pairt . . . And therfore the saids haill defenders
above named to have compeared befor their Majesties
and the three estates of Parliament within the Parliament hous
of Edr at ane certain day bygone to have heard & seen sentence
and decreit given and pronounced against them . . . with the
usuall solemnities necessar upon tuenty fyve dayes warning at
the mercat cross of the head burgh of the shyre where the for-
named persones live . . . and accordingly all the persons
against whom the lybell or Indytement of high treasone is raised
were thryce publickly called by macers at the barr & at the
great door of the house and none of them compearing the said
Sir John Dalrymple their Maties advocat . . . did produce ane
executione of the said summonds . . . bearing that the said
George Ogilvy Albany herauld at command of the saids Letters
of treasone . . . and by vertew thereof with one of their
Maties trumpeters & witnesses thereunto subscryveing past
upon" [certain days and at market crosses specified] "with
their coats of arms displayed, sound of trumpet and other solem-
nities requisite and necessar open proclamation and publict
reading of the said sumonds of treasone he lawfully charged
1690 GLENCOE. 123
the haill persones above and after mentioned viz" [a recapitu-
lation of the names] . . . "to have compeared . . . and
that he made certification and affixt & left authentick doubles
. . . Together with another executione under the hand of
William Glover Rothesay herauld bearing that upon" [certain
days and at other market crosses named, he] ' 'summoned warned
and charged ilk ane of the fornamed persones above named
and others ... be sound of trumpet three severall tymes with
displayed coatt be open proclamatione & publict reading . . .
to compeir befor their Majesties high Court of Parliament . . .
and after publict reading of the said lybell of treason in Scots
. . . the same" [persons already named] ". . . being oft &
diverse tymes called by macers in the Parliament house and
at the great door which was cast open as use is and not com-
pearand . . . And sicklyke their Majesties Advocat produced
the writs after mentioned viz. Ane Bond of Association entered
into by ... and other highlanders wherby they bind and
obleidge themselves for his Majestic (the late King James)
service ... to meet . . . and to bring alongst with them
. . . fencible men ... as they pretend in testimonie of
their loyalty to their Sacred & Dread Soveraign . . . they vow
and protest befor the Almighty God and on their Salvation at
the Great Day to goe on secretly and with all the power and
strength they have to stick and byde by one another, . . .
So help them God; As also produced ane letter wryten by the
said Sir Ewan Cameron . . . and others of the highland Clans
direct to Major Generall Mckay ... in answer to his . . .
and that he might know the sentiments of men of honour they
declare to him & all the world they scorne his usurper and the
indemnities of his Government and to save his further trouble
by his frequent invitations they assure him that they are satis-
fied their King (James will] take his oun tyme & way to manadge
his dominions & punish his rebells And albeit he should send no
assistance to them at all they will all dye with their Swords in
their hands befor they faill in their loyalty and swore alleadgeance
to ther Soveraign . . . and that those of them who live in
Islands have already seen and defyed the Prince of Orange his
friggotts and that they had returned Duke Hamilton's letter
becaus he had more use for it then they. And after production
and reading of the said tuo bonds of associatione . . . By
124 MACIANS Otf 1690
which bonds they obleidge themselves to stick to one another
in his Maties service, which by the place and persons appears
to be the late King James . . . And farder . . . deponed in
the said matter of treasone as to the poynts admitted to the
Lord Advocat his probation in manner forsaid viz. against
[all the names and titles are here repeated] . . . that the
fornamed persons were actually in armes against their Majesties
. . . And haveing also considered the bonds of association and
missive letter above mentioned produced by the Lord Advocat
which he declared he made use of for adminiculating of the
probation against the said [the names appear again] . . . And
likeways their Majesties and the Estates of Parliament by the
mouth of the said John Ritchie Dempster of Parliament decern
and adjudge the said [above list of names excepting John, Vis-
count Dundee, who was already dead] to be execute to the death,
demained as traitours and to underly the pains of treasone
when ever they shall be apprehendit and that at such tymes
and places & in such manner as their Majesties or the Estates
of Parliament or the Commissioners of Justiciary shall appoynt,
And ordains the saids persons, their name, fame, memory &
honours to be extinct, their blood to be tainted and their armes
to be riven furth & delett out of the books of armes so that
their posterity may never have place nor be able hereafter to
brook or joyse any honours offices, titles or dignities in tyme
comeing And the saids persons imediatly above named to have
forfaulted amitted and tint all and sundry their lands heretadges
tacks steeding roums possessions goods and gear moveable and
immoveable whatsomever pertaining to them to belong to their
Majesties and to remain perpetually with them and their suc-
cessors in property, which was pronounced for doom, And wher-
upon their Majesties Advocat asked and took instruments.
THE fourteenth day of July 1690
THE depositions of the witnesses concerning . .
Stewart of Appin Macean alias Macdonald elder of
Glenco Alexr Macdonald younger of Glengarie Mac-
neill of Gallochellie and Sir John Macleane of Dowart The lybell
was found proven against all the saids persones The Estates
having past a severall vote upon advysing of the probation as
to ilk one of them . . .
. . the sentences being reade The same were putt to Hie
1690-9! GLENCOE. 125
vote and Approven And therafter the persones whose names are
contained in the sentences being called by Macers at the barre
and at the great doore of the Parliament House After sound of
trumpet the Heraulds being present with their Coates of Armes
displayed The two sentences of forfaulture were pronounced
with the vsuall solemnities And therafter the Coates of Armes
of the persones forfaulted were reversed & torne by the Lyon
deputt and his brethren Heraulds in presence of their Majesties
Commissioner and the Estates of Parliament And therafter the
Heraulds with the trumpeters went to the Market Croce of
Edinburgh to perfect the formalitie with the vsuall solemnities."
The narrative of the Massacre of Glencoe has been written
"in eloquent prose, impassioned verse" and in official reports.
Those who want a brilliant perversion, will find it in Macaulay's
"History;" others who may prefer an apparently just account
will get one in Black-wood's Magazine, Vol. 86, July, 1859. As
might be expected, the well-equipped authors of Clan Donald
go into full, and, all things considered, not too bitter detail:
their description, with that of the circumstances leading up to
it, being rather long, however, we will take the liberty of cur-
tailing it somewhat.
"On a Deposition by certain witnesses taken at Edinburgh
in May, 1690, Maclain's active support of the Jacobite move-
ment had been proved, and in September, a Commission was
given by the Privy Council to the Earl of Argyll to pass with
competent force to the lands of Glencoe and other rebels, and
reduce them to obedience. The reduction of the Highlands to
acceptance of the Government of William and Mary, was to be
the head and front of the new policy in Scotland.
"Circumstances were leading up to the terrible episode which
has left so dark a stain upon the British history of the age. The
deposed dynasty were guilty of political errors, but never schemed
a conspiracy so barbarous as that now to be enacted for the
pacification of the Highlands, by a Government professing the
principles of popular rights and liberties.
"In the summer of 1691, the Government took steps for the
settlement of the Highlands. They appointed the Marquis
[Earl ?] of Breadalbane to the task of pacification and gave him
,£12,000 to be applied to this end. No one less suited than he
could have been selected. It was hinted that a much smaller
126 MACIANS OF 169!
part of the fund went to the Clans than that which recompensed
his own dubious services. Besides which, he was at feud with
some of those he was appointed to pacify. He inaugurated his
mission of peace by fastening a quarrel on Maclain of Glencoe
about cows said to have been stolen by his clansmen, and threaten-
ing him with vengeance. The peace of the Highlands was
undoubtedly sacrificed for the sake of Breadalbane's cows. He
retained Glencoe's share of the Government fund in name of
payment for past depredations, and Glencoe exercised his in-
fluence with the other chiefs, to refuse or delay allegiance. The
Government, under the circumstances, seemed reasonable and
politic: a Proclamation recommended the Clans to submit to
the authority of William and Mary, offering pardon to all who
promised to live peacefully under their rule, if the submission
was made on or before the 3ist December, 1691, but all those
who held out after that date were to be regarded as enemies
and traitors.
"Yet behind the policy avowed there lurked the dark designs
of the Master of Stair and of Breadalbane; and the former
intended a crime exceeding that which was committed: the
clans of Keppoch, Glengarry and Lochiel were to be exterminated ,
as well as that of Glencoe. His orders to the commander of
the forces were: 'Your troops will destroy entirely the country
of Lochaber, Lochiel's lands, Keppoch's Glengarry's, and Glen-
coe's. Your power shall be large enough. I hope the soldiers
will not trouble the Government with prisoners.' *
"The other chiefs submitted in time, but Maclain's delay
proved fatal. Possibly he hoped for a fresh rally of the Jacobite
cause, and this failing, he only allowed himself sufficient time
to appear before Colonel Hill, the Governor at Fort William,
before the expiration of the last day granted.
"Arriving there, he found to his alarm and mortification that
the Colonel, not having a magistrate's commission, could not
receive the oath of allegiance; but he hastened him to Invera-
ray with a letter to the Sheriff there to receive Maclain as a
'lost sheep.' He went past his home without stopping, through
* Dalrymple's instructions were said to have been written on the back
of a playing card, the nine of diamonds, known as "The curse of Scotland.''
Of the five reasons for this title, given in Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and
Fable, none seems convincing.
1691-92 GLENCOE. 127
snow and tempest to meet further delays, being detained by
Captain Drummond, of whom more hereafter. He was three
days at Inveraray before Sir Colin Campbell, detained by stress
of weather could come to town. After some hesitation, the
oath was administered, though six days after the statutory
time, and Maclain, hoping all his difficulties were surmounted,
retired to his Glen. He called his people together, told them
he had taken the oath of allegiance and made his peace with
the Government, and charged them to be loyal to the new order
of things.
"The certificate was sent to Edinburgh written upon the
same page as several others bearing upon quondam Jacobite
rebels, and ought, like the rest, to have been submitted to the
Privy Council,but there were influences at work, taking advantage
of the fact that, despite Maclain's submission, he was technically
a rebel ; the favorable circumstances were to be left out of account.
Sir Gilbert Elliot, Clerk to the Council, refused to take Glencoe's
certificate on account of its irregularity as to time, and some
Privy Councillors opined that it could not be received without
a warrant from the King. So Colin Campbell, Sheriff Clerk of
Argyll erased the certificate and its submission to the Council
Board was prevented.
"On the nth January, 1692, the instructions were signed
by King William, by which the massacre was to be carried out.
Drawn up by the Scottish Secretary, Sir John Dalrymple, they
showed how necessary for the perpetration of the outrage was
the suppression of the certificate of the submission. The instruc-
tions distinctly empower the authorities to receive on mercy,
even at that late date, those who were willing to take the oath
of allegiance: Maclain's case was therefore clearly covered by
this last Proclamation — 'That chieftains and heritors or leaders
. . . taking the oaths . . . are to have quarters and indem-
nity for their lives and fortunes, and to be protected from the
soldiers . . .' Hence the grave significance of the last para-
graph of the instructions: — 'If MacEan of Glencoe and that
trybe can be well separated from the rest it will be a proper
vindication of the public justice to extirpate that sect of thieves.'
This had been effected by the suppression of the certificate.
"William's action has been defended and attacked: he was a
Dutch and not a British statesman, and domestic questions
had little interest for him. He governed Scotland by advice of
128
MACIANS OF
1692
his Council, English was a foreign tongue to him and even if
he had perused the fatal order and understood it he could hardly
be blamed for giving it his imprimatur. Maclain's submission
had been concealed from him ; to extirpate dens of robbers might
seem a proper function, and so the Prince of Orange was probably
an unconscious instrument in the plot so cunningly devised.
For the security of his British rule, increasing the irritation in
Scotland would have been madness But at a later stage he
was blameworthy.
"While the ancient Chief of Glencoe dwelt in fancied security
in his mountain home, his destruction was being worked. Sir
Thomas Livingstone, the Commander of the Forces in Scotland,
From the Illustrated London News, Sept. 22, 1894.
THE PASS OF GLENCOE
Photo by Valentine, Dundee.
was furnished with a copy of the instructions, accompanied by
letters from Stair, which left no doubt as to the Government's
intentions to put the Clanian to the sword. Livingstone was a
soldier and bound to carry out the royal instructions. He had
to regard Maclain as a rebel to be dealt with by military law;
much the same applies to his subordinates, Hill and Hamilton.
The orders to Hamilton were to take 400 of Hill's regiment and
400 of Argyll's regiment, to march straight to Glencoe, and
there put in execution the orders received by the Commander-
in-Chief.
1692
GLENCOE.
129
"Precautions were taken by the Scottish Secretary to secure
success: he made arrangements with Argyll and Breadalbane to
cut off the retreat of refugees, and the Laird of Weem was to
guard the passes of Rannoch. Yet the measures, though harsh
and cruel, were to be carried out so treacherously that the Clanian
must be destroyed under the guise of friendship. The Master
of Stair feared that on the first alarm the Clanian would take
refuge in fastnesses so naturally strong as to defy an armed
force to dislodge them: hence the Agents of the Government
must obtain entrance into the very houses and win the confidence
of the people of Glencoe.
THE "THREE SISTERS." — PASS OP GLENCOE.
"The practical working was to be divided between Captain
Campbell of Glenlyon, who was connected by marriage with the
family of Glencoe, and Lieut. -Colonel Hamilton. The former
was well qualified for the part he had to play: on the ist of
February, he marched into Glencoe at the head of 120 soldiers.
The sight of them created alarm among the inhabitants, and
John, Maclain's eldest son went to meet them with 20 men, and
asked them for what purpose they came. Lieut. Lindsay showed
them his orders for quartering there, and assured them they had
130 MACIANS OF 1692
no ulterior end in view. The system of quartering troops upon
communities supposed to be indebted to the Government, was
practised under parliamentary enactment, and the suspicions of
the Clanian were allayed; the officers and men were billeted in
the glen, and hospitable entertainment given them. Glenlyon
and some of his men were lodged with Macdonald of Inneriggan,
while Sergeant Barbour's party were with Macdonald of Ach-
triachtan, the principal cadet of Glencoe. Nearly every morning
Glenlyon came to Alexander Maclain's house, the latter being
his nephew by marriage, and took his morning draught, while
the evenings were spent in card playing and other forms of
friendly intercourse.
"The morning of the i3th February had been fixed for the
accomplishment of the purpose. Lieut. -Colonel Hamilton was
to arrive at Glencoe at five o'clock in the morning, with 400 men,
and to bar all possible avenues of escape. To the very end the
appearance of cordial friendship was maintained, and for that
same afternoon an invitation to the officers to dine at the Chief's
house had been given and accepted. On the evening before
the massacre the suspicions of the Chief's eldest son, John, were
aroused, and about midnight he went to Glenlyon's quarters to
make inquiries and found him and his men getting their arms
ready, but Glenlyon put him off with friendly assurances and a
story that they were getting ready to punish Glengarry's people
for a raid, and that he would be sure to mention any danger to
Sandy and his wife, that is, to Maclain's second son and his
own niece.
"The hour arrived but a snowstorm delayed Hamilton and
enabled the bulk of the Clanian to escape. Glenlyon's instruc-
tions were peremptory, and he was determined to carry them
out. Macdonald of Inneriggan, his host, with nine others were
slain in cold blood. Macdonald of Achtriachtan and eight of
his family were sitting round the fire when a volley of musketry
killed all but his brother, who asked of Sergeant Barbour the
favour of being allowed to die in the open air. Barbour granted
the favour 'for the sake of his meat which he had eaten.' Mac-
donald catne out, flung his plaid over the faces of his intending
murderers, arid escaped in the darkness.
"Others were busy in the residence of the Chief. Lieut,
lyindsay who lodged near by, knocked and asked for admission
1692
GLENCOE-
132 MACIANS OF 1692
in friendly terms. Maclain commenced to dress and ordered
his servants to open the door and provide refreshments. The
response was a number of shots, one of which passed through
Maclain's head, killing the Chieftain on the spot. His wife had
her clothes and jewels pulled off. As a result of the ill-usage
she was subjected to, she died the following morning.
"Maclain's sons were warned by faithful servants in time for
them to escape. As John, the older, left his house, 20 soldiers
approached it, but he and his brother Alexander, favoured by
the darkness, made their escape. Old Ranald of the Shield,
was dragged out of his bed, and knocked down for dead. Young
Ranald, the son, escaped, and his father recovering, went to
another house, but that was burnt, and the warrior and bard
met his death.
"When day had fully dawned, and Hamilton appeared, 30
individuals had fallen victims, but it is probable that as many
more., women, children and old men, died from exposure and
want upon the hillside. The orders were to slay all under 70,
but one aged clansman 80 years old was shot by Colonel Hamil-
ton. After setting fire to the hamlets, the soldiers drove away
from the smoking glen such sheep and goats, cattle and horses,
as could be found.
"Thus ended the massacre of Glencoe. It not only touches
the Macdonald heart with grief and indignation, but must bring
the blush of shame to the cheek of every countryman to think
that in the land of kindly Scots, individuals could be found
to besmirch the fair fame of Caledonia with so dark a stain."
(Abridged from Clan Donald, II., 207-220).
Parliament inquired into the matter, and, as will be seen
presently, "whitewashed" everybody except the Master of Stair
who was asked to resign the office of Secretary for Scotland ; no
military and no capital punishments appear to have followed.
In time the King exonerated Stair, and he, Hill, Glenlyon and
Livingstone were promoted or advanced in due course.
Original documents relating to the Glencoe Massacre are in
Culloden Papers, London, 1815, pp. 19-22. The chief's name
is there spelled "M'Kan of Glenco." Paper No. XXVII. con-
tains a letter -from Sir John Hill to the Laird of Culloden, dated
"Fort William, gth Oct., 1692," and says, (p. 22), "The Glenco
Men are abundantly civil ; I have put them under my Lord Argyle
1692
GIvENCOE.
133
MACDONALD OF GLENCOE.
From R. R. Mclan's "Clans of Scotland."
"The above figure illustrative of this cl-n repre-
sents a young man plunged in deep afflictive
emotion, beside the sad memorial of the death
of his ancestors. In a plain round bonnet he wears
an eagle's feather, and the appropriate badge of
his tribe. The jacket is of Lachdan or undyed
cloth, and the sporran or purse is of the olden
fashion." [Three feathers denoted a chief, two a
chieftain, and one a gentleman].
134 MACIANS OF 1692
and have Arkenloss surety for them till my Lord comes; for
they are now my Lord Argyle's Men; for 'twas very necessary
they should be under some person of power, and of honesty to
the Government . . . "
It is pleasant to record a tradition connected with this lament-
able business, and told in The Martial M u sic of the Clans, 54, 55.
It is that a Campbell piper played Lord Breadalbane's March
under its title "Wives of the Glen," early on the fateful morning,
in the hope of alarming the Maclans. The Gaelic words breathe
rather much of cattle and herdsmen, perhaps the following
paraphrase is a trifle less rugged:
Wives of Glen-Cona, Glen-Cona, Glen-Cona,
Wives of Glen-Cona, awake from your dreams!
Hark to my warning, Death comes with morning,
Hark to the warning that my pipe shrilly screams.
Herdsmen are falling, vain was their calling,
'Scape to the hills with your bairns and your men!
Danger is 'round ye, fiend-foes surround ye,
'Rouse from your slumbers faithful Wives of the Glen!
Readers with music in themselves will recognize the rhythm
that Sir Walter Scott has made popular to the same air in "Hail
to the Chief \ " (which it has been suggested might be called The
President's Salute if it were not used too frequently for other
people). This tune is also said to have been skirled through
the streets of Brussels on the morning of Ouatre-Bras to rouse
the slumbering highlanders, some of whom in a few short hours
immortalized themselves at Hougoumont. It should be stated
that Lord Breadalbane's March in Mackay's Pipe Music is
not like Hail to the Chief, but the title may have belonged to
more than one tune.
It is thought that no apology need be made for introducing
some views of Glencoe and neighboring places. Much stress has
been laid by various writers upon the barrenness and desolation
of the Pass; by Macaulay apparently to imply that the inhabi-
tants of such scenes must be expected to be savages, and that
not being able to derive a living from the soil, they subsisted
solely on plunder; whereas the Memoirs of Lochiel, Maitland
Club, p. 315, concludes a description with mention of "a beauti-
ful valley, where the inhabitants reside." A tourist very recently
1692-95 GLENCOE 135
wrote as follows in an English paper: "The grand and command-
ing object at the head of Loch Leven is Glencoe ... its preci-
pices rise like a huge wall, dark as though built of lava. Tre-
mendous buttresses, from base to summit, disengage themselves
from their surface, separated from each other by depths such
as might have been cut and cloven by Thor's great hammer,
wielded in stormy passion. The mountain is scored across, too,
by deep lines and platforms of trap, as though they marked the
successive floods of molten rock poured out by volcanic forces.
Nothing can be more utterly sombre, sad, and desolate than
this Glencoe . . ."
For the convenience of possible pilgrims to Glencoe, a sketch-
map of the railroad, etc., in that part of the country is here
inserted. It may be of assistance in laying plans, to know that
the railroad shown connects Glasgow or Edinburgh, via Stirling,
with Callender, thence to Oban, and that at a recent date, a
steamboat used, in the summer season, to make the passage
from Oban to the neighborhood of Ballachulish on Loch Leven,
where it is understood, conveyances may be procured for excur-
sions to the Pass and elsewhere. Invercoe, the residence of the
present proprietor of Glencoe, Sir Donald Smith, is near the
right bank of the junction of the Cona with Loch Leven ; Treach-
tan, spelled in more than one way, is a small loch through which
the Cona flows. For a few particulars about the locality, see
the first paragraph of this Section.
Alexander Macdonald of Glencoe was a man of gigantic and
muscular frame, and his bones were to be seen in 1845 in an
open niche of the ruined chapel of St. Munn. (Logan's Clans
of the Scottish Highlands). He was succeeded in the chiefship
by his older son
XIII. JOHN. There does not appear to be much known about
this chief after his escape from the massacre beyond certain
privileges accorded to himself and his clan in view of the ruin
brought about by the disasters of 1692. He died before 1714,
and left three sons— i. Alexander. 2. James, a captain in het
Prince's army in 1745. 3. Donald, out in 1745.
Resuming our extracts from Volume IX. of the Acts of the
Parliaments of Scotland, we find in the Session of May 23, 1695
(some three years after the occurrence) an entry that "His
136
MACIANS OF
1695
Majesties Commission under the Great Seal, for an inquiry about
the slaughter of Glencoe, [was] read." The Commission does not
appear in the Acts, but can be found among the Minutes in the
appendix; perhaps a couple of quotations may be interesting,
though the apologetic proceedings of the Parliament in search
of a scape-goat are rather long.
[CoMMissio pro inquirendo de csede de Glencoe
GULIEUVIUS Dei Gratia Magnae Britaniae Francise et Hyberniae
Rex fideique defensor Omnibus probis hominibus totius terras
CALLANDER AND OBAN RAILWAY.
From, Black's Guide to Scotland, etc.
suae ad quos presentes literae nostrae pervenerint salutem . . .
pro examinando et inquirendo de caede quorund Cognominis de
McDonald aliorumque de Glenco anno millesimo sexcentesimo
nonagesimo secundo . . . etc.]
Which may be rendered :
Commission for inquiry concerning the killing of Glencoe:
William, by the Grace of God King of Great Britain, France
and Ireland, and defender of the faith, To all well-disposed men
of his entire dominions to whom these our letters present may
come, greeting . . . for examining and inquiring into the
killing of certain of the name of McDonald and of others of
Glencoe, in the thousand six hundred and ninety-second year
. etc.
1695 GLENCOE- 137
[Endorsed] VOTED nemine contradicente, that his Majesties
high Commissioner transmitt the humble thanks of the Parlia-
ment to his Majesty for ordering an inquiry in that matter,
whereby the honor and justice of the Nation might be vindicated."
It is interesting to observe that some members of Parliament
becoming impatient, they asked several times for the Report,
as follows :
On June 14, 1695, it was "MovED, that the Commission for
inquiring into the Slaughter of the Glencoe-men, may give in
an account of their procedure therein."
On June 18, it was " MOVED that the Commission for inquiring
into the Slaughter of the Glencoe men may give an account to
the House of their procedure in the said affair."
On June 20, it was " MOVED again, that the Commission for
inquiring into the slaughter of the Glencoe-men, may give an
account to the House of their procedure in the said affair. His
Majesties Commisioner signifyed, that the Commission had now
brought the said affair to a conclusion, and a report thereof
was prepared, which in decency ought to be first sent to the
King, and that on Monday next, since they were so earnest, he
wold endeavour to lay the discovery of the said affair before
the Parliament."
On June 24, "SEVERAL members insisting to have the report
of the Commission for inquiring into the Slaughter of the Glencoe
men laved before the Parliament His Majesties Commissioner
told the Parliament, that the report of the Commission for
inquiry into the business of Glencoe, being sent to his Majesty
on Thursday last, he wold lay the same before them, with the
depositions of the witnesses, and other documents relating
thereto, for their Satisfaction and full Information, and if they
thought fitt to make any other use of it, he made no doubt it
wold be with that deference and submission to his Majesties
Judgement, that becometh so loyal and zealous a Parliament,
in vindication of the Justice and honor of his Majesties Govern-
ment. THEN the report . . . [was] read . . . AFTER hearing
of the said Report, it was voted, nemine contradicente, that
his Majesties Instructions . . . contained no warrand for the
execution of the Glencoe men, made in February therafter.
THEN the question stated and voted, if the Execution & Slaughter
138 MACIANS oF 1695
of the Glencoe men . . . be a murder or not, and caried in
the affirmative. MOVED that since the Parliament has found it
a murder, that it may be inquired into, who were the occasion
of it, and the persons guilty and committers of it, and what
way and manner they should be prosecute, . . . "
On June 26, "SUPPLICATION the Glencoe-men Craving redress
for plundering their Cattle, and burning their Houses, read, and
remitted to the Committee for Security of the Kingdom."
On June 28, "THEN the Parliament proceeded in the furder
inquiry of the Slaughter of the Glencoe-men; And in the first
place as to the orders given by Sir Thomas Livingstoun, in
two of his Letters directed to Lievetennent Collonell Hamilton,
and the saids Letters being read, after debate thereon, voted
first proceed or delay, and caried proceed. THEN the question
stated, whither Sir Thomas Livingstoun had reason to give such
orders, as were contained in these letters or not, it caried in
the affirmative nemine contradicente. COLLONELL Hill and
Lievetennent Collonell Hamilton ordered to attend the next
Ssierunt of Parliament."
July 2, 1695. "THEN the Parliament proceeded in the
further inquiry of the Slaughter of the Glencoe men as to these
who gave the orders, and were the Actors of it, and the Master
of Stairs Letters* directed to Collonel Hill, with Lievetennent
Collonell Hamiltons deposition, and Collonell Hills order* to
Lievetennent Collonel Hamilton, read, and Collonel Hill called
and compearing, his oath taken before the Commission was
again read, and it being moved that the Collonell may give his
oath, and depone upon what further Interrogator[ie]s any of
the Members of Parliament shall ba pleased to put to him, and
he having accordingly deponed on several Interrogators proponed
by several of the Members of Parliament, and signed the same,
his Deposition was read, and then the vote being put, if from
what was laid before the House, Collonell Hill was clear and
free of the Slaughter of the Glencoe men or not, it caried in
the affirmative nemine contradicente WARRAND granted to
cite Lievetennent Collonell Hamilton against the next Sederunt
of Parliament."
July 8, 1695. "LIEVETENNENT Collonell Hamilton being
* These letters and orders are in Black-wood's Magazine for July, 1859.
1695 GLENCOE. 139
Cited to appear this day and he being called, and not Compearing,
Certification was granted against him, and he ordered to be
denounced apprehended and secured in the terms of the former
order. THE Parliament having resumed the inquiry into the
Slaughter of the Glencoemen and who were the Actors . . .
voted, if from what appears to the Parliament Lievetennent
Collonell Hamilton be clear of the murder of the Glencoemen,
and whither there be ground to prosecut him for the same, or
not, and caryed he was not clear, and that there was ground
to prosecut him. THEN the Question stated and voted as to
Major Duncanson at present in Flanders ; if the King should be
addressed either to cause him be examined there, about the
orders he receaved, and his knowledge about that matter, or
that he be ordered home to be prosecut therefore, as his Majesty
shall think fitt, or not; and carried in the affirmative. THEN
that part of the Report of the Commission as to Glenlyon Captain
Drummond, Lievetenent or Adjutant Lindsay, Ensign Lundie,
and Serjant Barber, read with the Depositions of the witnesses
against them And the Question stated and voted, If it appeared
that the saids persons were the Actors of the Slaughter of the
Glencoemen under trust [i. e., that the slaughter was an act
of treachery] And that his Majesty be addressed to send them
home to be prosecute for the same according to Law or not, and
carryed in the affirmative. THERAFTER voted if it should be
remitted to the Committee for Security of the Kingdom to
draw this Address, or a new Committee elected for drawing
therof, and carryed Remitt. REPORT from the Committee for
Security of the Kingdom in flavors of the Glencoemen read, and
remitted to the said Committee, That there be a particular
Recommendation of the Petitioners case to his Majesty brought
in by the said Committee."
"AT EDINBURGH the Eight day of July One thousand Six
hundred and nynty five years Anent the Petition presented to
his Majesties high Commissioner and the Estates of Parliament
by John McDonald of Glencoe for himself and in name of Alex-
ander McDonald of Achatriechatan and the poor remnant left
of that Family Shewing that it being then evident to the con-
viction of the Nation how inhumanely as well as unchristianly
the deceast Alexr McDonald of Glencoe the deceast John Me-
140 MACIANS 0# 1695
Donald of Achatriechatan and too many more of the Petitioners
unfortunate family were murdered and butchered in ffebruary
One thousand Six hundred and nynty two against the Lawes
of nature and Nations, the Lawes of hospitality and the publick
faith by a band of men quartered amongst them and pretending
peace tho they perpetrated the grossest cruelty under the colour
of his Majesties Authority And seeing the Evidence taken by
the Right honorable the Lords and other Members of the Com-
mission which his Majesty was most graciously pleased to grant
for inquiring into that affair hath cleared to the Parliament
that after committing of the forsaid Massacre the poor petitioners
were most ravenously plundered of all that was necessary for
the sustentation of their Lives and besides all their Cloaths
money houses and plenishing all burned destroyed or taken
away That the Souldiers did drive no fewer than five hundred
horses fforteen or fifteen hundred Cowes and many more Sheep
and goats And that it was a proper occasion for his Majesty and
the Estates assembled in Parliament to give a full Vindication
of their Justice and freeing the publick from the least imputa-
tion which may be cast thereon by fforeign Enemies on the
account of so unexampled an action And that it is worthy of
that honour and Justice which his Majesty and the saids Estates
have been pleased to show to the world with relation to that affair
to relieve the necessity of the poor petitioners and to save them
and their exposed widows and Orphans from starving and all the
misery of the extremest poverty to which they were inevitably
lyable unless his Majesty and the saids Estates provide them a:
remeady And therefore most humbly Begging That his Grace
and the saids Estates wold from the principles of commiseration
to their petitioners sad circumstances as well as that of honour
and Justice ordain such relieff and redress to the Petitioners as
in their wisdom should be found most fitt Which Petition being
upon the twenty Sixth day of June now last bypast heard by his
Majesties high Commissioner and the saids Estates They
Remitted to the Committee for Security of the Nation to Consider
the same and to report And which petition being upon the second
day of July instant heard and Considered by the said Committee
They were of opinion that the Petitioners should be recommended
to his Majesties special favor for their reparation According to
1 695
GLENCOE.
141
BRIDGE OF THE THREE WATERS, — GLENCOE.
BUCHAEL ETIVE, FROM KING'S HOUSE, GLENCOE.
142 MACIANS OF 1695
which Report his Majesties high Commissioner & the saids
Estates having upon the day and date of thir presents heard and
Considered the same They Remitted to the forsaid Committe'e
to make a particular Recommendation of the Petitioners case
to his Majesty in the Address to be drawn by them in relation
to tha> affair." [And which address follows].
July X, M, DC, XCV.
PRAYERS said Rolls called
MINUTS of the last Sederunt read
WE your Majesties most loyall and dutyfull Subjects The
Noblemen Barrens and Burrowes assembled in Parliament Do
humbly represent to your Majesty That in the beginning of
this Session Wee thought it our duty for the more solemn and
publick vindication of the honour and justice of the Government
to inquire into the barbarous slaughter committed in Glencoe
in ffebruary One thousand Six hundred and nynty two which
hath made so much noise both in this Kingdom and your Majes-
ties other Dominions Bot wee being informed by your Majesties
Commissioner that wee were prevented in this matter by a Com-
mission under the great Seal for the same purpose Wee did
upon the reading of the said Commission unanimously acquiesce
to your Majesties pleasure, and returned our humble acknowl-
edgements for your Royal care in granting the same And Wee
only desired that the discoveries to be made should be Commu-
nicated to us to the end that wee might add our zeal to your
Majesties for prosecuting such discoveries and that in so national
a Concern the Vindication might be alse publick as the reproach
and scandal had been And principally that wee for whom it
was most proper, might testify to the world how clear your
Majesties Justice is in all this matter
AND now your Majesties Commissioner having upon our
repeated instances communicated to us a Copy of the Report
transmitted by the Commission to your Majesty with your
Majesties Instructions, the Master of Stairs Letters, the orders
givefi by the Officers and the depositions of the witnesses relating
to that Report and the same being read and compared Wee
could not bot unanimously Declare that your Majesties Instruc-
tions of the eleventh and Sixteent* dayes of January One thousand
* Those of the i6th January are in Black-wood's Magazine, July, 1859.
1695 GLENCOE. H3
Six hundred and nynty two touching the highlanders who had
not accepted in due time of the benefit of the Indemnity did
contain an Warrand for mercy to all without exception, who
should offer to take the oath of alleagiance, and come in upon
mercy tho first of January One thousand Six hundred and nyntie
two prefixed by the Proclamation of Indemnity was past And
that these instructions contain no Warrand for the Execution
of the Glencoe men made in February thereafter And here wee
can not bot acknowledge your Majesties Clemency upon this
occasion alse well as in the whole tract of your Government over
us For had your Majesty without new offers of mercy given
positive orders for the Executing the Law upon the Highlanders
that had already despised your repeated Indemnities they had
but met with what they justly deserved
Box it being your Majesties mind according to your usual
Clemency still to offer them mercy and the killing of the Glencoe
men being upon that account unwarrantable alse well as the
manner of doing it being barbarous and inhumane wee proceeded
to vote the killing of them a murder and to inquire who had
given occasion to it, or were the actors in it.
WE found in the first place that the Master of Stairs Letters
had exceeded your Majesties Instructions towards the killing
and destruction of the Glencoe men This appeared by the com-
paring of the Instructions and Letters wherof the just attested
Duplicats are herewith transmitted In which Letters the Glencoe
men are over and over again distinguished from the rest of the
Highlanders not as the fittest Subject of Severity in case they
continued obstinat and made severity necessary according to
the meaning of the Instructions bot as men absolutely and
positively ordered to be destroyed without any further Consider-
tion than that of their not having taken the Indemnity in due
time and ther not having taken it, is valued as a happy incident
since it afforded an opportunity to destroy them And the destroy-
ing of them is urged with a great deal of zeal as a thing acceptable
and of publick use And this zeal is extended even to the giving
of directions about the manner of cutting them off, from all
which it is plain that tho the Instructions be for mercy to all
that will Submitt tho the day of Indemnity was elapsed yet
the Letters do exclude the Glencoe men from this mercy.
144 MACIANS OF 1695
IN the next place Wee examined the orders given by Sir Thomas
Livingstoun in this matter and were unanimously of opinion
that he had reason to give such orders for the cutting off of the
Glencoe men upon the supposition that they had rejected the
Indemnity and without making them new offers of mercy being
a thing in itselfe lawfull and which your Majesty might have
ordered And it appearing that Sir Thomas was then ignorant
of the peculiar circumstances of the Glencoe men he might very
well understand your Majesties Instructions in the restricted
sense which the Master of Stairs Letters had given them or
understand the Master of Stairs Letters to be your Majesties
additional pleasure And it is evident he did by the orders which
he gave where any addition that is to be found in them to your
Majesties Instructions is given not only in the Master of Stairs
sense bot in his words.
WE proceeded to examine Collonell Hills part of the business
and were unanimous that he was clear and free of the slaughter
of the Glencoe men for tho your Majesties Instructions and the
Master of Stairs Letters were sent straight from London to
him alse well as to Sir Thomas Livingstoun yet he knowing
the peculiar circumstances of the Glencoe men shunned to execut
them and gave no orders in the matter till such time as knowing
that his Lievtennent Collonell had receaved orders to take with
him four hundred men of his Garison and Regiment for the
Expedition against Glencoe He to save his own honour and
authority gave a general order to Hamilton his Lievetennent
Collonel to take the four hundred men and to put to due execu-
tion the orders which others had given him.
LIEVETENNENT Collonel Hamiltons part came next to be
considered and he being required to be present and called and
not appearing Wee ordered him to be denounced and to be
seised on wherever he could be found And having Considered
the orders that he receaved, & orders he said before the Com-
mission he gave, and his share in the Execution Wee agreed
that from what appeared, he was not clear of the murder of
the Glencoe men And that there was ground to prosecut him
for it.
MAJOR Duncanson who receaved orders from Hamilton being
in Flanders alse well as those to whom he gave orders Wee could
1695 GLENCOE. 145
not see these orders And therefore Wee only resolved about
him that Wee should address to your Majesty either to cause
him be examined there in Flanders about the orders he receaved
and his knowledge of that affair or to order him home to be
prosecuted therefore, as your Majesty shall think fitt.
IN the last place the Depositions of the witnesses being clear
as to the share which Captain Campbell of Glenlyon, Captain
Drummond Livetennent Lindsay Ensign Lundy and Serjant
Barber had in the Execution of the Glencoe men upon whom
they were quartered Wee agreed that it appeared that the saids
persons were the actors in the Slaughter of the Glencoe men
under trust And that wee should address your Majesty to send
them home to be prosecuted for the same according to Law
THIS being the State of that whole matter as it lyes before
us and which together with the Report transmitted to your
Majesty by the Commission (and which we saw verifyed) gives
full light to it Wee humbly beg that considering that the Master
of Stairs excess in his Letters against the Glencoe men has been
the Original cause of this unhappy business and hath given occa-
sion in a great measure to so extraordinary an Execution by
the warm directions he gives about doing it by way of Surprize
And considering the high Station and Trust he is in and that
he is absent Wee do therefore beg that your Majesty will give
such orders about him for vindication of your Government as
yow in your Royal wisdom shall think fitt
AND likewayes considering that the Actors have barbarously
killed men under trust Wee humbly desire your Majesty wold
be pleased to send the Actors home, and to give orders to your
Advocat to prosecut them according to Law there remaining
nothing else to be done for the full vindication of your Govern-
ment of so foull and scandalous an aspersion as it has lyen under
upon this occasion
WE shall only add that the remains of the Glencoe men who
escaped the Slaughter being reduced to great poverty by the
depredation and vastation that was then committed upon them
And having ever since lived peaceably under your Majesties
protection Have now applyed to us that wee might interceed
with your Majesty that some reparation may be made them
for their Losses Wee do humbly lay their case before your Majesty
146 MACIA^NS OF 1695
as worthy of your Royal Charity and Compassion that such
orders may be given for Supplying them in their necessities as
your Majesty shall think fitt.
AND this the most humble Address of the Estates of Parlia-
ment is by order and their Warrand and in their name Subscribed
by
May it please your Majesty
Your Majesties most humble most obedient
and most ffaithfull Subject and servant
sic subscribitur ANNANDALE President].
I. P. D.* Parl:
Which Address was upon the tenth day of the Moneth of July
One thousand Six hundred and nynty five voted and approven
in Parliament.
RECOMMENDED to his Majesties Commissioner to transmitt to
the King the said Address, with Duplicats of the Kings Instruc-
tions, and of the Master of Stairs Letters. MOVED That his
Majesties Commissioner have the thanks of the Parliament for
laying the Discovery made of the matter of Glencoe before
them; As likewise, the Commission for their carefull procedure
therein, Which being put to the vote, approve or not, carried
in the affirmative nemine contradicente Which his majesties
Commissioner accepted of."
There is reason to believe that the redress sought in the peti-
tion above mentioned was in due time afforded. Pending the
royal pleasure in this respect, protection was given and renewed
to save from caption and other legal executions for civil debts
the following heads of the community of Glencoe :• — John Mac-
donald, the chief; Alexander Macdonald, his brother; Alexander
Macdonald of Achtriachtan ; Alexander Macdonald of Dalness ;
Ranald Macdonald in Lechentuim, Ranald Macdonald of Inveri-
gan, Alexander Macdonald in Braikled, and Angus Macdonald
in Strone. It is pleasant to read that as soon as news of the
Glencoe necessities reached the distant Isle of Monach, beyond
Uist, Alexander Macdonald of Griminish (Alastair Ban Maclain
Ic Uisdein), tacksman there, filled his birlinn with meal, and
brought it through stormy seas to the relief of Clanian. (Clan
Donald, II., 221, 222).
* In prsesentia Dominorum (in the presence of the Lords of Parliament).
1692
GLENCOE
MACDONALD OF GLENCOE.
Escaped from Massacre in 1692.
(Clan Donald, II., 219).
It may seem strangely careless to us, that the book Historical
Notes refers to Tindal I., 284, for "Maclean [sic] of Glencoe,"
but a writer in English Notes and Queries for 1887, vol. II.,
gives another instance of the same error in Popish Families of
Scotland, — "Makeans is erroneously printed Mackleans;" and
the Registrum Secreti Sigilli has been quoted: "John Makclane
of Ardnamurchane, " though the original appears to be : J. Makeane
of Ardnamurquhan.
148
MACJANS OF
1695-1714
On June 22nd, 1695, we find that Alexander McDonald, brother
german to John McDonald of Glencoe, younger son of the chief
killed in the massacre, and who had married the niece of Captain
Robert Campbell of Glenlyon is named as one of the cautioners
on the bond of the immortal Rob Roy. (Clan Gregor, subse-
quent to p. 156).
Though out of place in one respect, it may be mentioned
here that in Burke's Landed Gentry, Article, Stewart of Ballechin,
we read that in 1700, John Stewart, 4th of Ardsheal, married
Elizabeth, daughter of Charles Stewart, 8th of Ballechin in
Athole, and had Isabel, married to Alexander Macdonald of
Glencoe. (Stewarts of Appin, 134). This Alexander Macdonald
was the grandson of the chief murdered at Glencoe. (Scott's
Tales of a Grandfather, Chap. LXXXVL).
"The son of the murdered chief escaped the Massacre, and
succeeding his father in the chiefship reorganized the broken
clan. It was he who changed the religion of the clan. Like
most divisions of Clan Donald, the Glencoe Macdonalds had
been Roman Catholics, but some time in the reign of Anne
[1702-14] they became 'Episcopalians.' There is a story told
of Glencoe, which is found also in other places in the Highlands,
to the effect that the chief, having quarrelled with the local
priest, commanded his whole clan to change their creed; and
that on a certain Sunday morning he stood at the cross-rcads,
armed with a yellow stick (or, as some say, a gold-headed cane),
ry 15 GLENCOE. 149
and very forcibly pointed the way to the Protestant church as
the way in which the clansmen should walk. Hence it happened
that Protestantism became known to them as ... the Religion
of the yellow stick."
"To this day, [1903] at Glencoe, Invercoe, and Ballachulish,
there are large flourishing congregations of Gaelic-speaking Epis-
copalians . . . " (Jenner's Memoirs of the Lord Viscount Dun-
dee, Ivii, Iviii).
XIV. ALEXANDER. He must have succeeded shortly before
1714, as that is the time given for the death of his father John.
Among the 102 "chief Heritors and Heads of Clans in the
Highlands" who signed an address to George I. on his accession
to the throne in 1714, was "A. M' Donald of Glenco." By
court intrigue this was prevented from being delivered to the
King. (Clanronald Family, Appendix, xvii.). The non-delivery
of this address to His Majesty, and the non-recognition of the
signatories was the direct cause of the rebellion of 1715. (Clan
Donald, II., 222).
The laird of Glenco attended the famous hunting party of
the Earl of Mar on the Braes of Mar, August 27th, 1715. (Stewarts
of Appin, 122). The party was assembled ostensibly to hunt
ordinary game, but in reality to foment another rebellion.
In spite of the death of Dundee, the incompetence of his
successor, the liberal offers of the English Government and the
disarming of the clans, (in which Glencoe and the other chiefs
surrendered the worst arms and secreted the best), the Camerons,
Macdonalds, Macleans and some others held out. In August,
1715, the Keppoch and Glengarry Macdonalds captured some
English infantry at the end of Loch Oich; in September they
attempted to surprise the garrison at Inverlochy ; with a number
of Camerons and others they assisted in taking possession of
Dunkeld, Perth and Edinburgh. In this campaign the revival
of an Irish song gave Scotland the well known air: "The Camp-
bells are Coming."
On the march from Auchterador to Sheriffmuir a chosen body
of Highland troops, including the Macdonalds under Clanranald,
Glengarry, Sir Donald Mac Donald, Keppoch and Glencoe,
formed the vanguard under General Gordon. (Scott's Tales of
a Grandfather, Chap. L,XX.).
1 50 MACIANS Otf 1715-45
The Clanian fought at the plain of Sheriff muir, near Dumblane,
where the Scotch army under the Karl of Mar, was attacked
by the royal troops under the Duke of Argyll, November 13,
1715; the result being called a drawn battle.
Most of those who were "out" with Mar in 1715 received a
pardon under the Privy Seal, January 4, 1727, and engrossed
in a highly ornamental style, in the following terms: "Pardona-
mus, remittimus, relaxamus, pranfato, Robert Stewart de Appin,
Alexander Macdonald de Glenco, John Grant, Domino, Anglice
Laird, de Glenmorriston, Joanno Mackinnon, Anglice Laird de
Mackinnon, Roderick Chisholm de] Strathglass, etc." (History
of the Chisholm ^, 64).
Undismayed by the ill success of the prior Jacobite movements,
Prince Charles set sail for Scotland in the Doutelle, 18 guns, and
landed in July, 1745. (Johnston's Geography of the Clans).
McDonald of Glenco was among the chiefs who on July 24th
concerted measures with Prince Charles on board that vessel.
McDonald of Lochgarie led 600 men including those of Knoidart,
Glenco, Glenmorriston and his own immediate following the
McDonalds of Glengary, and met the Prince at Obertaive in
Glengarie. (The Last Jacobite Rising, 32, 44, etc.). On his
march to Dunblane the Prince was joined by Glencoe with 60
of his men and by James Drummond or MacGregor of Glengyle
at the head of 255 Macgregors; 60 of the Glencoe Macdonalds
had previously joined Charles Edward at Perth. (History of
the Highlanders and Clans, II., 49). The chief was a member
of the prince's council of war which met daily at Holyrood during
the occupation of Edinburgh. On the march to Kelso the
troops advanced in two columns ; the first under the command
of the Chevalier included the Macdonalds of Glencoe. (Last
Jacobite Rising, 77, 81, etc., Tales of a Grandfather, Chap. LXXIX).
"At Preston-pans or Gladsmuir, September 21, 1745, the
MacDonald regiments of Clanranald, Keppoch, Glengarry and
Glencoe formed the right wing, with Glencoe in the post of honor
on the extreme right. All did their part in putting to flight
the British veterans of Sir John Cope's army, with a loss to the
latter of 500 men." The clan were posted on the right of the
front line according to an official account published by Charles
in the Caledonian Mercury. (Browne, III., 79). They were in
1745 GLENCOE. 151
the front line according to Scott, and the text of Johnston, although
the map in the latter work placed them in the second line. They
were under the command of their chief Alexander Macdonald.
(Appin, 134). The clan was organized as a regiment. In the
clan regiments every company had two captains, two lieutenants
and two ensigns. The front rank was composed of gentlemen
[clansmen who could trace their descent from a chief], all with
targets when fully armed, as was generally the case; every
gentleman carried a musket and broadsword, with a pair of
pistols and a dirk in his belt; the target was generally of wood
and leather thickly studded with nails. (Browne, III., 123).
This organization does not agree exactly with the following
account, though the British Chronologist bears testimony to the
sturdy support by the Glencoe and other MacDonalds in "The
Forty-Five," — of what they considered their allegiance.
In November, 1745, "A list of the Pretender's officers and
troops contains among other names which we have met with
in the foregoing Notes :
The Clanronald regiment, Colonel Clanronald of Clanronald,
jun. . . . 200 Men.
The Keppoch regiment, Colonel Macdonald of Keppoch . . .
400 Men.
The Glenco regiment, Colonel Macdonald of Glenco . . ,
200 Men.
The Glengeary regiment, Colonel Macdonald, of Glengeary,
jun. . . . 300 Men.
The leaders are spoken of as "Colonels" because, although
their commands were only of battalion size, it was probably
thought more expedient to consider each clan as a regiment than
to arouse jealousy by consolidating them into one organization.
Mackenzie, in the part of his History of the Macdonalds touch-
ing upon those of Glencoe, quotes General Stewart of Garth,
(Sketch of the Highlanders], who "Relates how in one instanec
the force of principle, founded on a sense of honour, and its
consequent influence, was exhibited in the case of this persecuted
tribe in 1745; when the army of ^Prince Charles lay at Kirkliston,
near the seat of the Karl of Stair, whose grandfather, when
Secretary of State for Scotland in 1692, had transmitted to
Campbell of Glenlyon the orders of King William for the mas-
152 MACIANS Otf 1745-6
sacre of all the Glencoe men. MacDonald, the immediate descen-
dant of the unfortunate gentleman who, with nearly all his
family, fell a sacrifice to the horrid massacre, was at the time,
with his followers, in West Lothian. Prince Charles, anxious
to save the house of Lord Stair, and to remove from his followers
all incitement to revenge, but at the same time not comprehending
the true character of the MacDonalds of Glencoe, ordered that
they should be marched to a distance from Stairs' house and
park, lest the remembrance of the share which his grandfather
had in the war for extirpation of the clan should then excite
among them a spirit of revenge. When the proposed order was
communicated to the MacDonalds, they declared that in that
case they must return home; for, they said, 'if they were con-
sidered so dishonourable as to take revenge on an innocent man
for the conduct of his ancestor, they were not fit to remain with
honourable men, nor to support an honourable cause:' and it
was not without much explanation and great persuasion that
they were prevented from marching away next morning. Such
was the character of the massacred MacDonalds of Glencoe and
their descendants."
The battle of Culloden was fought April 1 6, 1 746, and showed
the disastrous effects of clan jealousy. It is claimed that tte
victory of the English over the Scots in this battle was due to
the defection of the MacDonalds, and that the defection was
due to their having been slighted in the posting of the Young
Pretender's troops. Since the battle of Bannockburn the Mac-
Donalds were always, except when they yielded from courtesy,
(as to the Macleans at Harlaw) placed on the right wing of an
army in recognition of their services to Bruce. But at Culloden,
Prince Charles' Adjutant, Sullivan, neglected to post them in
their hereditary place; the MacDonald commanders waived their
pretensions, but their followers were dissatisfied, and when the
time of conflict came, left the field with pipes playing and colors
flying, although their chiefs endeavored to persuade them to
remain, and one of them, Keppoch, fell while trying to urge
them against the enemy.
The foregoing is one account; but as to the Clanian there are
three possibilities: first, that it withdrew prior to the battle as
a result of the dissension arising from the accidental shooting
1746
153
of one Macdonald by another; second, that the clan participated
in the sullen refusal of the majority of the Macdonalds to advance
upon being refused their traditional post on the right of the
line, or third, that they were among those who followed Keppoch
in his charge on the English forces, and Clan Donald, II., 222,
223, states not only that Clanian fought at Culloden, but that
Donald, the descendant of Ranald of the Shield was able to
lead 130 men.
At all events their part in the general uprising was sufficiently
prominent; for their chief was among those expressly excepted
from the general amnesty of 1747.
CULLODEN MONUMENT.
Strange infatuation for the Stewarts and for "Bonnie Charlie,"
even after the latter had fled to France. Doubtless thousands
in Scotland were still moved by the sentiment voiced in the
simple, pathetic couplet of a well-known song:
"Mony a heart will br'ak in twa,
Gi'n ye no coirie back again."
According to the British Chronologist, a bill of attainder in
1746 includes, among other Scottish names and titles: James
Graham, called viscount of Dundee; Donald MacDonald the
younger, of Clanronald; Donald MacDonald, of Lochgarie;
154 MACIANS otf 1747-51
Alexander MacDonald, of Keppoch; Archibald MacDonald, of
Barrisdale, and Alexander MacDonald of Glencoe. And in 1747,
most of the above are mentioned among "Persons excepted by
name out of the King's general pardon."
As Mackenzie relates, (History of the Camerons, 238), it was
in 1746 that the Duke of Cumberland, backed by a servile parlia-
ment, sent out detachments of English soldiers, with orders to
burn the seats of Lochiel, Glengarry, Keppoch and others.
"The excesses committed on helpless men, women and children,
are universally admitted to be unparalleled in history . . .
It would have been literally possible to travel for days through
the depopulated glens without seeing a chimney smoke or hearing
a cock crow."
After the events of 1745 had consigned the Stewart prospects
to the limbo of lost and hopeless causes we find scions of the
Glencoe family in the service of the reigning monarchs. (Clan
Donald, II., 223).
Alexander Macdonald of Glencoe left issue — i. John, his
successor. 2. Donald, who was born in 1738, and died in 1821.
He married Flora, daughter of Donald Maclean of Kilmollaig,
Tiree, and had by her (a) Major-General Alexander Macdonald
of the Royal Artillery, C. B., K. St. A.; (6) Captain Macdonald.
(Clan Donald, III., 643).
XV. JOHN, who 1751 had the forfeited estate restored. [The
estate of his father Alexander was forfeited for the Rebellion
of 1715]. By charter dated 29th July, 1751, Robert Stewart of
Appin, heritable superior of Glenco — to whom the Duke of
Argyll had given the superiority forfeited by his father, John
Stewart — disponed to John the two merklands of Polvig and
the two merklands of Carnick with the Glen of Lecknamoy.
(Clan Donald, III., 215).
The notorious Alan Breck, immortalized by Robert Louis
Stevenson, stopped at Carnoch, then the home of Macdonald of
Glencoe, and informed the chieftain's mother of the death of
Campbell of Glenure, as he started to escape from the scene of
the murder. Andrew Lang in an article "Who shot Glenure? "
(Mac Afillan's Magazine, 1879, P- T36), says that May 15, 1752,
the home of Macdonald of Glencoe was Carnoch on the south
side of Loch Leven, exactly opposite Callart, and three miles
3 GLENCOE. 155
from Ballachulish and Ballachulish Ferry by which men cross
into Lochaber. He also states that Macdonald's mother had a
brief interview with Allen Breck shortly after the murder, and
that she was Ardishiel's sister. (See also Introduction to Scott's
Rob Roy). The relationship mentioned indicates that the chief
at that time was a son of XIV., Alexander, and that the latter
was now dead.
"That the sins of the fathers are visited upon the children is
a firm belief in the minds of Highlanders. The 'curse of Glencoe '
it is pointed out, was visited upon the house of Campbell of
Glenlyon, which has now no representative in the direct male
line, the family having merged in that of Garden-Campbell.
Campbell of Glenlyon, grandson of the perpetrator of the mas-
sacre of Glencoe, firmly believed this. He was an officer in the
British army and in 1771 was stationed at Havannah. Here a
marine was sentenced by court-martial to be shot, but was
reprieved. Notice of the reprieve was not given to the con-
demned man, and it was arranged by the authorities that all
the formalities of a military execution be proceeded with. The
signal for firing was to be given by Glenlyon producing a hand-
kerchief from his pocket, but instead of this he was to show
the pardon. By an unfortunate accident Glenlyon showed the
handkerchief instead of the pardon and the man was executed.
Campbell was overcome with horror, exclaiming: 'The curse of
God and Glencoe is upon me! I am an unfortunate ruined
man.' The disaster so preyed upon his mind that he resigned
from the service." (Adapted from Tales of a Grandfather, Chap,
LVIII.).*
We insert here a letter dated about the time we have reached,
and containing some touches of nature. Letter XI., May 17,
1773. After writing of "the young ladies of Glencoe," the
writer proceeds: "But, first, that you may estimate duly the
renown of this little glen, I must tell you what a tuneful and
warlike tribe inhabited it. The tribe of Macdonalds, called
Maclans, or sons of John, who dwelt in this sequestered spot,
were all, as the country people say, born poets; and this belief
* It was also a widely spread belief that the madness and murder depicted
in The Bride of Lammermoor, and founded upon an incident in the history
of the Stair family, was a retribution of fate.
156 MACIANS OF 1773-79
was so well established,' that, if a Maclan could not rhyme, his
legitimacy was called in question. This is not only very strange,
but very true ; but I think we may credit it, on the principle
of the old bye-word, 'Bode a gown of gowd and ye '11 aye get
the sleeve of it.' "... The writer philosophizes at great
length, alludes to the natural strength of the glen, the friendliness
of the clan towards the Stuarts their neighbors, and describes
the massacre. . . . "The present Laird, grandfather to my
young friends, was an infant two years old, and was carried off
to the hills by his nurse, unobserved. The only other male in
the chief's house who escaped was the bard. . . . Next day
. . The bard sat alone upon a rock, and, looking down, com-
posed a long dismal song, . . . They say it has not much
poetical merit. No wonder 'Small heart had he to sing.' '
(Letters from the Mountains, by Mrs. Annie Grant [of Liggan]).
The last time the old clan spirit was evoked was when Mac-
donald's Highlanders, the 76th Regiment, was organized. It
was authorized in 1777 and organized in 1778, through the
influence of Macdonald of Sleat. With the exception of one
Irish and two Lowland companies, the 76th was largely recruited
from the Macdonalds of Sleat and Glencoe. It was officered
from various families, including the Macdonalds of Glencoe
. . . The 76th sailed to New York and landed in August, 1779.
Here the flank companies [light infantry and grenadiers?] were
attached to batallions of that description and remained between
New York and Staten Island until February, 1781, when they
embarked under Major General Phillips for Virginia, the light
company being in the 2nd batallion of light infantry ; the grena-
diers remained at New York. The regiment landed at Ports-
mouth, Virginia, in March, 1781, and joined the troops under
Brigadier General Arnold [the renegade?]. In May they formed
a junction with the army under Lord Cornwallis. July ' 6th
La Fayette forced the pickets in front of Yorktown and drew
up in front of the British line. He was resisted by the 76th
and 8oth regiments, which formed Colonel Dundas's brigade;
the Both were covered by woods, but the 76th were exposed in
an open field. The 76th joined in the charge that routed La
Fayette, who lost his cannon and 300 men killed and wounded.
Soon afterwards 400 chosen men of the 76th, the majority of
1781-1837 GLENCOE. 157
whom had never before been on horseback, were detailed as
mounted infantry and attached to Tarleton's Legion. Upon
the surrender at Yorktown, when the British bands played
'The World Turned Upside Down,' the regiment was broken
up into detachments, and marched as prisoners into different
parts of Virginia. At the close of the war they embarked for
New York, whence they sailed for Scotland, where they were
disbanded in March, 1784, at Stirling Castle. (Adapted from
Stewart, II., 116; Browne, IV., 297; Canadian Magazine, VII.
259)-
"John Macian of Glenco had an only son, Alexander, to whom
he left a General Disposition of his Estates in 1785." (Clan
Donald, III., 215).
XVI. "ALEXANDER, who married Mary Cameron, and had
three sons, Ewen and two others, whose names we have not
been able to ascertain." (Clan Donald, III., 215). [The Ad-
denda, 643, states: He married Mary, third daughter of Sir
Ewen Cameron, Bart, of Fassifern, and had by her — i. Ewen,
his successor. 2. Ranald, a Captain in the Army, who married
a Miss Thomson, and had a son, Alexander, and a daughter.
3. John. 4. Jane Cameron, who, in 1817, married Captain Coll
MacDougall, of the 42nd Regiment].
At Martinmas of 1787, Alexander MacDonald of Glencoe was
paying ,£120 rent to Ewen Cameron of Fassiefern, for Corpach,
one of the estates of Lochiel. (History of the Camerons, 458).
Alexander made a Trust Disposition of his Estate in 1814
in favour of Trustees [he died igth December, 1814] and Sasine
was taken of the same in 1816. In 1817 a Deed of corroboration
of the previous procedure was executed by his successor. (Clan
Donald, III., 215).
XVII. EWEN Macdonald of Glenco. He was born iith
July, 1788, and succeeded his father about December, 1814.
He was a distinguished physician in the East India Company
Service, and it would appear that the affairs of the family became
more prosperous when, in 1828, the Trustees conveyed back to
him the patrimony of his house. In 1837 Ewen entailed the
estate on himself and male heirs; failing whom, heirs female;
failing whom, to his daughter Ellen Caroline Macpherson Mac-
donald, whose mother was the daughter of an Indian Maharaja.
158 MACIANS OF 1840-94
Ewen died i9th August, 1840. (Clan Donald, III., 215, 216,
644).
In 1856 the historical painter Robert Ronald M'lan, died;
he was born in 1803. He was descended from the old M'lans
or Macdonalds of Glencoe, Argyllshire. Amongst other subjects
he painted "The Battle of Culloden," in 1843. In 1845 his
illustrations of Highland costumes were published in "The Clans
of the Scottish Highlands." (Logan's). He was elected an
associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1852, in recognition
of the meritorious character of his work. Fanny M'lan, his wife,
painted "Highlander defending his Family at the Massacre of
Glencoe," which has been engraved. On the i3th day of Decem-
ber, 1856, M'lan died at Hampstead. (Dictionary of National
Biography. Vol. XXV.).
It has been intimated in Logan's Clans of the Scottish High-
lands, that Alexander, the nephew of Ewen, and son of Captain
Ranald MacDonald, succeeded Ewen as chief, but had no property.
This succession, however, appears to be a mistake, for the writers
of Clan Donald, in the Addenda to Vol. III., give [not as Chief,
but we presume, as real head of the House]:
XVIII. ELLEN Caroline Macpherson Macdonald, who was born
5th July, 1830. She married Archibald Burns, who afterwards
assumed the name of Macdonald; and had by him — i. Archibald
Maxwell, who succeeded her. 2. Duncan Cameron. 3. A daughter
who married Mr. Ballingal. 4. A daughter, who married Mr.
Cook.
Ewen having no other heirs of his body, the estate devolved
upon Mrs. Burns Macdonald, by whom it was disentailed in
1876, and whose son sold it in 1894 to the Honourable Sir Donald
Smith. (Clan Donald, III., 216). Mrs. Burns Macdonald died
March 3rd, 1887 and was succeeded by her son. (Ibid., 644).
We read that apparently after 1885, "Mr. Douglas Maclean
(New Zealand) and- of Kensington Garden Terrace, Hyde Park,
London, has the dirk and powderhorn which belonged to the
MacDonald of Glencoe who fell in the massacre. They came to
Mr. Maclean through a relative, the late General MacDonald of
Invercoe." (Records of Argyll, 288, Note).
XIX. ARCHIBALD Maxwell, succeeded his mother, Mrs. Mac-
donald; he died unmarried gth June, 1894, an^ was succeeded
by his brother —
1814-94
GLENCOE-
159
r6o MACIANS OF 1849-5
XX. DUNCAN Cameron Macdonald, a Major in the British
Army. He married Marie Thayer, only daughter of William
M'Intyre Cranston, late of Holland Park, London, and has by
her — i. William M'lain. 2. Roy Cameron. 3. Ellen Macpherson.
(Clan Donald, III., 644).
The following, gleaned from several English newspapers, gives
one of the latest public references to the MacDonalds of Glencoe.
Lord Archibald Campbell some years ago instituted the Inverary
Pipe Band, consisting of about a dozen bagpipers and drummers;
they are in the habit of accompanying him to attend the Gaelic
Mod. — an annual musical congress. In 1895 it was announced
that they would make an excursion through the Pass of Glencoe,
in September, on their way from Inverary to Oban, to the Mod;
and straightway certain journalists appear to have seen a chance
for items, — welcome in a dull season. So the "news" was pub-
lished, and telegraphed across the Atlantic, that the Macdonalds
of the Glen had sent word to his lordship that if any of the clan
which had murdered their ancestors attempted a demonstration in
Glencoe, the fiery cross would be sent around and heads would
be broken. Next came the "news" that Lord Archibald was
much annoyed at this threat, for, so far from intending a trium-
phal march, his object was to make expiation for the past by
appropriate dirges; but, the road through the Pass being the
public highway, he and his pipers would go through at all hazard,
and under police protection if necessary. In due time the
journalists had written articles in several moods; some seriously
giving the history of the massacre of 1692; others humorously
alluding to excursion trains which might bring people to places
well adapted for seeing the coming fight ; one at least insinuating
that even in their palmy days the Campbells never dared to
enter the Glen except by treachery; refusing to believe that a
Highland gentleman would persevere in outraging the sentiments
of the Macdonalds ; asserting that there were now no Macdonalds
or other inhabitants of the Pass, etc., etc. The gth of September
having come and gone, the public was informed of what actually
occurred, viz., that the pipers rode for the greater part of the
way in a large vehicle drawn by horses, but dismounted several
times to play, and that in Glencoe and wherever else they went,
the inhabitants, including some Highland cattle, came to hear
1895-97
GLENCOE.
161
them with many signs of interest. Incidentally it was mentioned
that the visiting party were welcomed at "Invercoe House, the
residence of Sir Donald Smith, now proprietor of Glencoe";
also at Dalness in a forest about five miles south of the Glen,
the proprietress of which is "Mrs. Stuart, a descendant of the
Macdonalds of Glencoe, and an enthusiastic Highland lady."
One writer stated that the last chief of the Glencoe Macdonalds
died in 1894, and in his account continues: "On an elevated spot
in the village stands an lona Cross, with the inscription — 'This
MACDONALD'S MONUMENT, GLENCOE.
Cross is reverently erected in memory of Maclan, Chief of the
Macdonalds of Glencoe, who fell with his people in the massacre
of the 1 3th Feb., 1692. By his direct descendant Ellen Burns
Macdonald, of Glencoe, August, 1883.' ' The picture is from
Lansdale's Scotland, II., 418.
Of Sir Donald Smith, mentioned in the foregoing paragraphs,
we were told by newspapers in 1897, (but some of the statements
have been denied by Sir Donald), that he was a self-made man
who started life as an errand boy in a village store in Moray shire,
emigrated at the age of seventeen to Canada, where he entered
the service of the Hudson Bay Company. He made an enor-
1 62 MACIANS OF 1903
mous fortune, was knighted for services in connection with the
construction of the Canadian Pacific railroad, and purchased
the estate of Glencoe, where he was building a magnificent country
seat. But the accounts continue that when he wished to assume
the title of Lord Glencoe, the whole of Scotland was up in arms
at the idea of a self-made man and a parvenu adopting for his
title a name so celebrated in the history of Scotland and the
annals of the grand old Clan MacDonald. It is presumed that
this is "Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal, of Glencoe in
the County of Argyle and of Mount Royal in the Province of
Quebec and Dominion of Canada," who in 1900 raised the Strath-
cona Horse for service in the South African campaign : a curious
"whirligig of time."
"At the present day [1903], the villages of Invercoe and Glencoe
are largely inhabited by Macdonalds, who claim descent from
those whom the Campbells . . . strove to exterminate. Large
numbers of them are employed in the Ballachulish slate quarries."
(Memoirs of the Lord Viscount Dundee, lix.).
"Glencoe, though so near a large quarrying village at Ballachu-
lish, abounds in legend and tradition, running back to Viking
times, and second-sight is by no means extinct in the glen. In
the haunted burial isle, there is a curious grave stone, with an
effigy of a Highlander cutting down a Dragoon." (Highlands
of Scotland, 162, Note).
"Clans are no longer what they were. The purposes for which
they once existed, as tolerated but not as sanctioned societies,
are not now lawful. To all practical purposes they cannot
legally act, and they do not legally exist. The law knows them
not. For peaceful pageantry mention may still be made of
clans and chiefs of clans; but the Highlands of Scotland, no
longer oppressed by arbitrary sway, or distracted by feudal
contentions, are now inhabited by loyal, orderly and peaceful
subjects of the Crown of Great Britain; and clans are not now
corporations which law sustains, nor societies which law recognizes
or acknowledges." (Legal decision as quoted in Skene's Celtic
Scotland, III., 366).
After their clan-ties were broken, the Maclans, spelling the
name in many^ways, and scattered in various parts of the world,
1906 GU3NCOE. 1 63
have acted individually, and their acts and names are in more
accessible publications than some of those quoted in these Notes.
A few have been set forth in the McKean Genealogies. We have
lett to other hands their family histories and the pleasant duty
of showing how faithfully those of them who were born or who
settled in the United States have served their country in the
legislature, the army and navy, in literature, or in the humbler
but necessary walks of life.
SUCTION IV. — OTHER MCKEANS.
ADAPTED TROM LOGAN & W- lAN
It was intended to place in this part of the work some historical
and other notices of McKeans in Europe, not known to be refer-
able to the Ardnamurchan and Glencoe families. But it was
concluded that some cadets of those families who retained the
name Maclain should be mentioned briefly, and a few Glenco-
men in one of the tables, and also some names which may not
be really sons of John, but which seem more or less equivalent
to, though not always spelt, McKean. The word "unidentified"
would apply to most of the persons, but not to all. A very few
O'Cahans, O'Kanes, etc., have been included. Americans were
intended to be dealt with in the book McKean Genealogies,
published by Mr. Cornelius McKean of Perry, Iowa, in 1902.
It is doubtful whether the McKeans, like some other families,
can (?) be traced back to Adam, but those of them who would
like a very ancient mention of an apparent form of the name,
apart from the tolerable certainties mentioned in Section I., may
be amused to know that in the Croniques , . . de la Grant
Bretagne . . . , by Jehan de Waurin, — an eight volume work
in old French, beginning with the siege of Troy and coming down
to the i^th century, — it is mentioned that "Bructus et sa com-
1 3th cent. OTHER MCKEANS. 165
paignie parvindrant en une isle qui a a non Makainie, ou ils
descendirent pour eulx rafreschir et prendre leurs necessitiz;"
i. e., Brutus and his company arrived at an island which had
the name Makainia, where they disembarked to refresh themselves
and attend to their wants;" "the Paris MS. reads Makaine"
[and a later volume has it indexed Macania]. This Brutus is
said to have been the son of Julius, the son of Ascanius, the
son of ^neas, the son of Anchises, who survived the siege of
Troy, — by a damsel who was the niece of Lavinia, the queen of
^neas aforesaid. The island was on the southern shore of the
Mediterranean, near the "royalme d'Aufriques," and probably
belonged to a people called Macae by Lempriere in his Classical
Dictionary. The Trojan war may also remind some of our
readers that Machaon, a celebrated physician and son of ^Escula-
pius, healed the wounds of the Greeks, and that he was one of
those concealed in the wooden horse.
We might pass from an impossible entry in the nth century,
B. C., to a very plausible one in the 2nd century of our era, but
that has been given in Section I.
Rad'[ulphus] and Thomas de Makeni, and "Cecilia mater
Thomae," met with in 1197 in Buckinghamshire, according to
Finales Concordia [Bounds of Grants],' were probably not Macs
at all.
About 1230, for the exact date does not seem to be given,
the Calendar of State Papers includes among the pleas and profits
of the Mint in Ireland : ' ' From Makan, for a false farthing of
new money, ^ mark." This was evidently not a case of counter-
feiting, as the old punishment for that crime was "to forfeit
the hands with which he wrought that false," and later it was
made high treason; when taken with false money, "true justice
was thereupon to be done." If Makan's first name was Rory,
(or Roderick), it was probably a case of official responsibility.
(See below, 1285).
The Chartularies, etc., of St. Mary's Abbey, Dublin, state that
about 1245 Wymarke Helier grants to Donald Makeyn [in another
entry "Makewe"] certain lands in "Ostmans" Town, Dublin,"
and Wymark and his heirs will guarantee ("warrantizabimus")
the said land against all men and women ' 'inperpetuum." Donald
Makeyn seems at first glance undoubtedly of the name and
1 66 OTHER MCKEANS. 1249-66
clan: our lains had not yet appeared, much less their sons, but
what then? There were certainly Johns and possibly lains
before ours.
In the Calendar of State Papers, for the date 1249, there is a
"Mandate ... to cause Raymond Makeyn, citizen of Bor-
deaux [which city belonged to England for about 300 years],
... to have 942 marks in which the K. [sic] is bound to him,
and 20 marks for his expenses." Also, in November of the
same year, we find in Royal Letters, Henry III., Vol. II., Appendix
II., No. 8, that The Sheriffs ("Vicecomites") of London are
charged to apprehend certain persons, including Reymundum
Ernaldi Makeyn, . . . Ernaldum Makeyn de la Ruchele, and
their aiders approving treachery (?) "rectatos de proditione"
and other transgressions against the king in Wasconia, [Gascony,
one of the English territories in France between the i2th and
1 5th centuries], . . . unless several evil-doers are produced,
. . . and the Constable of the Tower of London is commanded
to receive them and guard them with care "in medio stadio
Tunis."
The same series of Papers, "Ireland," mentions Raymond
again, for in 1257 "The King [Henry III.] permits 2,200 marks,
residue of a debt for 5,000 marks due to citizens of Bordeaux,
to be paid to Reymund Makayn and another, in the name of
the citizens, out of the issues of vacant archbishoprics, bishoprics,
abbeys and priories in Ireland." Also, on the next day, "A
grant to Makayn and the other, of 50 marks a year . . . until
full satisfaction shall be given to certain citizens of Gascony
for 2,200 marks . . . loan made by them to the K." Also,
in 1258, Makayn . . . having caused to be conveyed to Drog-
heda, "for the K.'s Welsh army," 50 hogsheads of wine, which
the K. does not require, ... his attorney is allowed to sell
the wine. Finally, in 1266, 95 3/. 5$. \d. were paid to the attorney
of Reymund Macayn and other citizens of Bordeaux, for the
K.'s debt to them. [The mention of wine for the army shows
a custom of olden times, and Dixon in Border Clans quotes
several accounts: "For - - days the army had no drink but
water."]
In the Hundred Rolls — the List of the Hundreds or divisions
of one hundred families or freemen into which English counties
1272-1400 OTHER MCKEANS. 167
were separated — in Vol. I., reign of Edward I. (after his return
from the Holy Land, say, about 1272), there is mention of Alanus
and Paganus Makene at Tunbridge in the Hundred of Wrotham,
County of Kent. This name may be one of three syllables, and
the same as the following. In Vol. III. of the same reign Radul-
phus de Mackene (also written MacKeneya) was a free tenant
in the County of Oxford, and Willielmus de Mackeneye is men-
tioned in Berkshire ; but these are perhaps only resemblances.
In the Calendar of State Papers and the i3th year of Edward
I., [1285], there is mention of a payment of £25 to Rory Mackan,
Baron of the Exchequer, "who takes £10 a year."
In Memoranda de Parliamento, 1305, a certain Donald McCan,
called in Latin fiz Can and Fiz Kan [Fitz Kan], and in an old
French copy having the name Campbell struck out and "fuiz
Caan" [Kane?] above the line, — prays the King [Edward I.] to
grant him .£10 for the term of his life, for ten librates of land
"les queux le dit Dovenald tynt en la Conte de Are . . . si come
avant est dit" [which the said Donald held in the County of
Ayr ... as aforesaid]. Donald is called a knight, and appears
to have gotten the land by charter from John Balliol, "formerly
King of Scotland."
1396 "yeiris fra the incarnation" was "the debait" called the
battle of the North Inch, said to have been fought on the banks
of the Tay, near the City of Perth, between thirty of the Came-
rons and thirty Mackintoshes according to some accounts, or
between the Clankayis and Glenquhattanis according to another,
or Clan Quhele and Clanchinyha according to a third; and in
which the single survivor on one side fled, — the eleven on the
other being so near death that they could not pursue him. Our
reason for mentioning the "debate" is that Scott, in the Fair
Maid of Perth, has given the name of the "morally brave but
constitutionally timid" survivor as Eachin Maclan. Impressible
McKeans may re-assure themselves by reading the preface to
the book, wherein Sir Walter discloses the fact that they were
"imaginary persons" in his relation of the "mortal encounter."
"The Isla branch of the Macdonalds was styled after John,
second son of John, Lord of the Isles, 'Clann Iain Mhoir' . . .
This John married about 1400, Marjory Byset, heiress of the
Seven Lordships of the Glens, in Antrim. After the marriage,
168
OTHER MCKEANS.
1400-31
John is found styled Lord of Dunyvaig and the Glens, also Lord
of Isla and Kintyre . . . Dunyvaig Castle, for centuries a
ruin [and of which we present a picture], stands on the estate
of Wildalton in Isla." (The Last Macdonalds of Isla).
Under the date 1408 the transiency of human affairs is quaintly
exemplified in a Gaelic Charter re-produced in Clan Donald,
(I., Appendices.) and by which Macdonald, Lord of the Isles,
grants certain lands "to Brian Vicar McKay and to his heirs
after him for ever and ever"; and if the conditions are not
DUNYVAIG CASTLE, ISLAY.
fulfilled, the lands are to be returned "to me, and to my heirs
after me, to the end of the world."
About 1431 there appear to have been two John Maclan
Abrachs, one in the Glencoe branch, (see that date in Section
III.), and the other a MacLean. (History of the Camerons, 26).
Browne's History of the Highlanders and Clans gives items of
clan feuds, forays and battles in the fifteenth and sixteenth
centuries, mentioning the Slaight or Sliocht-Ean-Aberigh, Slaight-
Ean Voir and Slaight-Ean-Rcy, -which apparently indicate
different septs of Eans or Johns, though the fact that the Slaight-
1468-95 OTHER MCKEANS. 169
Ean-Aberigh was at one time in Strath Naver in the extreme
north of Scotland and far from Ardnamurchan and Glencoe,
may denote a distinct family.
Volume IX. of the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, contains in
1468, among the Rentals of our Lord the King, [James III.], a
statement of seizin to Duncan McKane, of Tarren, Corblaren
and Garfauld in Argyle.
In the Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland, there
is entry of a composition with a certain McCane in 1473, for
harboring Gilbert McGay when the latter was an outlaw; the
amount is "viij li" [pounds].
In 1478 we find in the Acts of the Lords Auditors of Causes and
Complaints, that "duncain makmakyn" [indexed MacMakane],
was charged with several others by "elizabeth hamiltoun for
the wrangwise spoliation away taking and witholding ... of
sixty-six bolls of clean broddit aits."
The Exchequer Rolls of Scotland state that in 1481 and 1483,
half of Ester Lanerky and Caschdrapane were let to Donald
McCane; and to his widow and son Fergus in 1486. In 1483,
in the barony of Down, there are mentioned Lundy, Andrew
and Donald McCane [indexed McKane]; the last two are tenants
of Sessintuly, specified again in 1486.
According to the Ada Dominorum Concilii [Acts of the Lords
of Council (in Civil Causes)], in 1489 Johne mcmakane is charged
by Johne Kennydy of Carlok for wrongful occupation of certain
lands; and in the same year: "Before ye lordes comperit Sr.
Johne kenedy as procurator [for several persons including] alane
mckene . . . and protested that because Robert of Carlish gert
summon them at his instance and at the instance of our sovereign
Lord and wald nocht compere to folow them, that therefore," etc.
The Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland contain
an entry in 1494: "Item, the viij day of Nouember, gevin at
the Kingis command, brocht be the Bischop of Murray and the
Chalmerlane, to certain Masones that passit to cast down McKanys
house [indexed McKane, Makane] with the Lord Gordoun xviij
/." Another entry in the same work, shows that "At Kirkcud-
bright, [pronounced Kirco6bree], April 8, 1495, there was a
remission of 40 shillings to Thomas Makane," who seems to be
a Lowlander, — the occasion is not stated. Thomas evidently
170 OTHE;R MCKEJANS. 1497-1532
appears again in 1497: "Item, to William Yong and Thorn
Makachane, wrychtis in Dunbar, to make the ruf to Hannis
toure, thair xiiij dayis wage, xxxvij s. iiij d."
The MacEachen-Macdonalds were a branch of the Clanranald
and the name means Son of Hector. The progenitor lived
toward the end of the i5th century, and the family was in exis-
tence at the end of the igth. (Clan Donald, III., 239). As ch
in Gaelic names is often if not always silent, the name must
have been pronounced very nearly like MacEan. The Mac-
Eachens of Howbeg and Glenuig originated early in the i7th
century and came down to 1835. (Ibid., 248, 250). The Mac-
Eachens of Peniuren date from before 1638 to after 1786. (Ibid.,
251)-
Alexander Macdonald, V. of Dunnyveg and the Glens, 1499-
1538, a man of note in his day, was known in vScotland and
Ireland as Alastair Maclan Chathanaich, and married Catherine,
daughter of John Maclain of Ardnamurchan. (Ibid., 375, 376).
Allan IV. of Knoydart, about 1501, is "designed" Allan
Ranaldson McEanson, [because] his father was Ranald and
grandfather John. (Clan Donald, III., 238). A few similar
forms are met with now, Mc and son being used together, with
the same patronymic.
For 1512, or "The Kalends of January; the age of the Lord
one thousand, five hundred and twelve years," the Annals of
Loch Ce mention "A hosting by Garrett, Earl of Cill-dara [Kil-
dare?] ... on which occasion he took the castle of Bel-ferside,
and broke down the castle of MacEoin* and plundered the Glinns,
and a great part of the country; ..."
After the fatal battle of Flodden, in 1513, the surviving High-
landers, including Alexander Maclan of Glengarry, again "raised
the standard of rebellion, and Sir Donald of Lochalsh was pro-
claimed Lord of the Isles," but Maclain of Ardnamurchan seems
to have succeeded in helping to extinguish the rebellion.
(Adapted from Clan Donald, I., 319, 321; and Lang, I., 361).
The State Papers of 1532 include letters from Northumberland
to Henry VIII.: In one of them he " . . . haith sertyffyed
*" MacEoin, literally, 'son of John,' or Johnson; the cognomen of the
family of Bissett of the Glinns, in the County of Antrim. See Reeves's
Eccl. Antiq., p. 325."
1532-48 OTHEjR MCKEiANS. iyi
Your Highnes of the arryvall of certeyne Scottyshemen to the
nombre of foure thousand in your said land, [Ireland], under
the leading of Machonell, [MacDonald], intending to join with
Adonell [O'Donnell] . . . the vScottes Kyng hath sent fyye
hundreth archers from the owte isles of Scotland unto the said
Machonell in great hast . . ."In another letter soon after, he
writes: — "Your Highnes shall perceyve that for Makayn ys gone
over in to Ireland with the numbre of 7000 men, whereof most
parte be footemen, and it is said hath done myche harme in
Ireland . . . the Kyng of Scottes hath plucked from the Erie
of Argyle, and from his heires for ever, the rule of all the out
iles, and given the same to Mackayn and his heires for ever;
and also hath in likecase taken from thErle of Crafford suche
landes as he had ther, and gy ven the same to the said Mackayne ;
the which hath ingendred a great hatred in the said Erie's harte
against the said Scottes King." [James V.]. Here in eight
lines of an official document the name of Maclain is spelt in
three different ways.
In the same work are some possible mentions of Other McKeans,
but we will only quote that in 1534, among a number of "escriptes
and writings" called "Cromwell's Remembrances," there is
notice of Agnes and Ellen Macheon, in depositions about "the
breach of Ilchester prison." And in 1537, among Reports against
Ossory [the Earl] in Ireland, we find the names of Cosney McKey-
hone and Bollyagh McKeighon, possibly old forms of McKeon,
"judges to Okarill," and who testified.
Alexander Mackenzie in the History of the Camerons, 37, states
that in 1548, 21 merks of land, the property of Alastair Maclan
MacAlastair of Glengarry, were apprised to John Grant of Freuchie
and also 12 merks, "the hereditary fee of his son Angus, all of
which had been apprised for the sum of ,£10,770, 13^. ^d. Scots,
for satisfaction of a 'spulzie' committed by Glengarry, his son,
and their accomplices. These lands . . . were afterwards held
for a time by Glengarry, in right of his wife, Margaret de Insulis."
In the Register of the Great Seal of the Kings of Scotland, there
are certain passages in Latin, of various dates; one of them is
in Section II., the other may be rendered as follows:
"203. At Edinburgh, 4th May [1548].
The Queen [Mary] has confirmed to John Grant of Culkabok,
172
OTHER MCKEANS.
1545-79
his heirs and assigns — 2\ marcates of land situated in Lochar-
roun . . . which land of Locharron belonged to Alester Mc-
Kaane McAlestar de Glengawrie in free tenement, and to Angus
his son and heir apparent in fee . . . " In the note to this
grant we find: "Names of assize . . . Joh. McCane McComas
in Auchnaschallauch . . . and among the tenants and their
holdings ... Joh. McEane McGilleis, in the town of Culnakirk
in Urquhard . . . "
Mention is made in this volume, mostly as witnesses, from
1545 to 1579, of
Donald McEane McFerquhard,
1545-
Donald Owz (Owr?] McEane Mc-
Fyndlaw. (i), 1545.
Donald McEane McGilleis, 1545.
John Doy McEane McCoill, 1545.
John McCoill McKeane, 1545.
John McEane McConnill, 1545.
John McEane McWilliame, 1545.
Maria McKane McFale, 1545.
Donald Makane-bayne (McAne
Bayne), 1545.
Wil. McPatrick Makane-bayne (Mc-
Eane Vayne), 1545.
John Mclldonych Makane-boy (Mc-
Eane Boy), (2), 1545.
Joh. McCane McComas, (3), 1548.
McEane McConquhy, 1548.
Joh. McEane McGilleis, 1548.
William McDonald McKane (4) , 1 549
Matilda, wife of the last, and
daughter of Murdoch McKane,
1549-
i. In Wester Ballewat. 2. In Litill Invermorischtoun. 3. In Auchnas-
challauch. 4. To whom the Queen gave letters of legitimacy. 5. Of Balle-
manoch. 6. In Brasdale. 7. Of Carbarranbeg. 8. Son of the Vicar?
Like McPherson, son of the Parson. 9. In Eddirracharron in Lochcarne.
10. Of the burgesses of Rothsay.
From the six bulky volumes of the Register of the Privy Council
of Scotland, 1545 to 1604, we will make occasional abridged
quotations about names connected with the McKeans of old
times.
Margareta Neynthomas McKane
McEwin, 1551.
Dugall Makane (or McAkane Mc-
Nele of Sorba, 1553.
Neil Makeane Maknele, 1553.
Duncan Makane-bayne (McAne-
bane, McEane-vayne) McKey,
(5)- 1554-
Neil Makane-duffe (McAneduffe)
McKachane, (6), 1554.
Malcolm Makane McDonill,( 7), 1559.
Donald Makane Vekvicar (8), of
Sallychary, 1559.
Neil McCaine "cliens," 1559.
Duncan Makane-voir Vekeller, 1 562.
Willelmus McKayne, 1562.
Wil. Makeane, 1563.
Hector McAne Ekane, (9), 1567.
Duncan McEane McCondachie Mc-
Gillebred, 1574.
Ferquhard McCaine, alias Jame-
soun, (TO), 1579.
I545~l6°4 OTHER MCKEANS. 173
And a rather insubordinate set some of them appear to have
been at that time, — a time, however, when men all the world
over, cared more for force than for law, and when almost every
self-respecting Highlander thought raiding the Lowlands and
often his neighbors, to be right and proper. It is small comfort
to know that the enemies of the Maclans were about as bad, and
were also frequently denounced as law-breakers and rebels. The
compiler has waded through the whole record, disheartening in
its variety of violence and wrong, and will presently give a few
naive and archaic extracts as samples, instead of pages of quota-
tion, however curious. Before doing so, however, he will state,
in excuse for this long, frail record of our possible forefathers,
that several of the names are repeated over and over again, to
the scandal of their peaceful and law-abiding kinsfolk.
Some readers may be interested to see the style of names
borne in old times in the Highlands, so a list of various spellings
of McEans and connections, almost all from the Register men-
tioned, will be first given, nearly one-half being indexed as Mac-
lans, though that part of the name, or its equivalent, does not
always appear the last as in a surname of the present clay, and
would indicate alliances by marriage or otherwise, with a large
number of families. A few of the following bore nicknames
besides (which must have been a relief to their friends of short
breath and memory), one in particular, arouses our ardent
curiosity as to the reason of his bearing the alias "Girls," —
which charming sobriquet, however, he belied by rough conduct;
in other clans we have met with the nicknames "Traitour,"
"Vagabound," etc. Finally, as to standing in life, many of the
following-named men were tenants or retainers, and in some
cases servants, but evidently most enthusiastic to follow the
Laird when a neighborly incursion was to the fore.
SOME McEAxs AND APPARENT CONNECTIONS, mentioned in
forays, complaints, etc., chiefly in the Register of the Privy Council
of Scotland; — from 1545 to 1604. About twenty of these are
Glencoe-men.
Donald McEane Dowe (3) VcAllas-
ter (16) McEane Abrich (i, *).
Duncane McEane Dowveig (3, 12)
Mclndulich Birrach (i?, *).
Duncane McEane Cam (2, *).
Angus Me An Dow (3a).
Angus Dow McEane Dow (3a).
Ewin McEane Dow (3).
Johne Dow (3) McEane Dow
(3, *, 6).
i74
OTHER MCKEANS.
1545-1604
Johne McEan Dow (3b).
Donnald Mclnnes VcEane (16)
Dowy (3).
Neill McGilliechallum VcEane (16)
Dowy (3).
Tarloch McEane Dowy (30).
Donnald McEane Doy (3).
John McEane VcMurchie (16) Glas
(4).
William Dow (3) McEane Inche (5).
William McAine Inche (5, *).
Allaster McEane VcFer (16) Innes
(6).
John Moir McEane Keir (7, *),
alias Chamrone [Cameron].
Alexander McCain McAin.
Tarloch McAine (*, c).
Allane McAne of Inner loch (21).
Allaster M^aneabrych (i).
Donald Oig (13) Mcaneabrych (i).
John Mcaneabrych (i).
Johnne Dow McConeill (8) McEan.
Thomas McConeill (8) McEan
(stabler) .
Johne Oig (13) McEancheir (7, *).
Johne McEandecheir (7, *).
Johnne McEandoyn (3, *).
Allane McEane (*) in Ballochqu-
hindochie.
John McAllaster McEanwichts.
John Dow Mceane (9) McGregour
(d).
John Dow McEwne (9) McGregour
(d).
William McEane McHuchesoun.
Allane Mclnabrich (i, *) in Glen-
coan (10, e).
Allane Dow Mclnabrich (i, *) in
Lochquaber (n, e).
Allaster Mclndow (3) Mclnabrich,
alias McConei'11 (8).
Angus Mclnabrich (i, *) in Glen-
coane (10).
Angus Dow (3) Mclnabrich (i, *)
in Lochquaber (n).
Archibald McConeil (8) Mclna-
brich (i, *, f).
Archibald Mclndow (3) Mclna-
brich (i, *), alias McConeill (8, f).
Donald Mclndow (3) Mclnabrich
(i, *), alias McConeill (8).
Johne Mclnabrich (i, *) in Glen-
coane (10).
Johnne Beg (12) Mclnabrich (i, *).
Johne Dow (3) Mclnabrich (i, *)
in Lochquaber (n).
Ronald Mclnabrich (i, *) in Glen-
coan (10).
Ronald Dow (3) Mclnabrich (i, *)
in Lochquaber (n).
Allaster McAne [and McEane] Mc-
lnnes (6, *, g).
Allaster McCeane Oig (13, *, h) of
Glenco.
Allaster McEane Oig (13, *, h) of
Glenko.
Angus McEan Oig (13, *).
Rory McEane Oig (13, *).
Allane Roy (14) McEan _Oyge
(i3, *)•
Andro McEane Roy (14).
Ewne McEane McFindlay Roy
(H, *, i).
Gillespik McAllane McEane Roy
(i4).
Johne Dow (3) McEane Roy (14).
Johnne McAine VcFynlay (16)
Roy (14, *, i).
Johne McEwne VcAllaster (16) Roy
(14, 21).
Ewne McEane Tuich (k, 21).
Johnne McEan Tuich (k,- 21).
Gilliechallum McFarquhar Doy (3)
VcEane (16) Vane (15).
John McEane Vane (15, *).
John McFarquhar Doy (3) VcAine
(16) Vane (15).
Donnald Gar McEane Vany (15).
Donald Roy (14) Mceane VcAch-
ane (16, *).
John McAne VcConell (8) VcAglas-
sre (4?, 1 6).
Alexander McEane Vc Allane (16,*).
OTHER MCKEANS.
175
Alexander Oig (13) McEane Vc-
Allane (16, *).
Ronnald McEane VcAllane (16, *).
Donald McEanair Vc Allen (16, *).
Allan McEan Duy (3) VcAllaster
(16).
Allaster McEan Duy (3) VcAllas-
ter (16).
Donald McEan Duy (3) VcAllaster
(16).
Gillespik McEan Duy (3) VcAllas-
ter (16).
Donald McConeill (8) VcAine (16).
Johnne McGillandris VcAyne (16).
Donald Roy (14) McAine VcConell
(8, * 16).
Donald Moir (17) McEane VcConill
(8, 16).
Johne Dow (3) McEane Dowy (3)
VcConill (8, b?, 16).
Angus McAine VcConnell (8, *, 16).
Gillespik McAine VcConnell (8, *,
16).
William McAine VcConnell (8, *,
16).
Allaster Dow (3) McAllane VcEane
of Culchinny (21).
Angus Oig Mclnnes VcMartine
VcEane (21).
Johnne McFatrik VcEane (16, *).
Johnne Moir (17) McAllane VcEane
(16) of Collardy (21).
Johnne Oig (13) McAllane VcEane
(16, 21).
Ewne McCondoquhy VcEwne (16)
in Auchnesune (21).
Neill McEane Duy (3) VcEwne
(16, *).
Ewne McEane Dow (3) VcGillecho-
nane (16, *).
Allaster McCondochy McEane Dowy
VcGregour (16, *).
Allaster McEane Vclnnes (6, *, 16).
Angus McEane Vclnnes (6, 16).
Donald McEane Vclnnes (6, 16).
Finlay McEane Vclnnes (6, *, 16).
James McEane Vclnnes (6, *, 16).
John McEane Vclnnes (6, 16).
Ronald McEane Vclnnes (6, 16).
Donald Our Vclnnis (6, 16) VcEane
(16) VcMartine (16, 1, 21).
Donald Roy (14) McAngus VcEane
(16) VcMartine (16, 1, 21).
Duncan McAngus VcEane (16)
VcMartine (16, 21).
Donald Dow (3) McConeill (8)
VcEane (16) VcMartyne (16, 21).
Alexander McCaney (McEane) Vc-
Sir James (16, *, 20).
Angus McCaney (McEane) VcSir
James (16, *, 20).
Nicoll McEane Roy (14) Veig
(*, 12?).
Angus McEane Virich (i?, *, 18).
Allester McAllester Vrik (i?, 18).
Ewin McAin WcConeill (8, 19).
Alexander McAine Dow (3) Wc-
Krenald (19) [McRanald].
Angus McEan Doy (3) Vclnnes
(6, 1 6) Weill (*).
Angus Reoch (14) McEane Dowy
(3) Vclnnes (6, 16) Weill, etc.,
etc.
* Indexed "Maclan" in the Records, i. McEane Abrich, M^aneabrych,
Mclnabrich, but perhaps not McEane Virich and Vrik, — may refer to the
Clan-anverich, Clan Abarach, Maclan of .Avricht, Awricht, Abrach, etc.,
said by Logan (?) to have originated from one of their chiefs being fostered
at Lochaber. 2. Cam is crooked or bent. 3. Dow in various spellings is
black or dark. 4. Glas is green, possibly from the place of residence. 5.
Inche may be island, from the place of residence, or see 6. 6. Innes is for
Aonghais or Angus. 7. McEane Keir, McEancheir, McEandecheir, would
probably be now written McKean-Keir; the third form is indexed John
I?6 OTHER MCKEANS.
1557-9
In the " Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum,
quae in Publicis Archivis Scotiae adhuc ser7antur, Abbreviatio, " —
a work in Latin, in three volumes, and which is an Abridgment
of the Record of Proceedings by Inquest, or Verdict of Assize,
originating in Writs issuing from Chancery, between the dates
1486 and 1701, — there are several references which will be alluded
to in due course. For the present it may be stated that in 1557
under the heading of the County of Bute in Scotland, there is
a record that John McCame ("or McCaine"), heir of Nigellus
[Niell] McCame his father, had 23 solidates 4 denariates of land
in "Barnald" in the island of Bute. [We will presently find
this family name spelt McKaine].
Having mentioned in Section I., the founding of the Cathedral
of St. Andrew, the patron Saint of Scotland, it may be permis-
sible to state here that in 1559, that building was pulled down
by a mob, excited by a sermon of John Knox against idolatry.
Professor Tennant in his poem ' ' Papistry Stormed, or the Dinging
Doun o1 the Cathedral" tells how — "Great bangs o' bodies
. . . Gaed to Sanct Andro's town;
(Dachir) Maclan. 8. McCon?i 1 possibly for MacDonald; see foot-note to
Table of (Me) Donalds, Appendix. 9. Shows that Ewne is sometimes, at
least, the same as Eane. 10. Glencoan is on the other side of the Forth
of Lorn from Glencoe, though the stream in the latter, (celebrated by Ossian),
being "Cona Water," the two may be confounded, u. Lochquaber, prob-
ably Loch Ab2r. 12. Beg, little or small. 13. Oig, etc., in several forms,
younger or junior; literally, grandson or descendant, now written O'. 14.
Roy, spelled in various ways, the red [haired?]. 15. Vane might in some
cases be for VcAne, McAne, but more likely for bane, white or fair. 16. Vcformc,
old form of mac, son of. 17. Moir, mor, etc., large, great; sometimes elder
or senior. 18. Vrik, evidently a contraction of Virich, which was supposed
to be a form of Avricht, (see i , but more probably denotes one of the "race
of MacVurrichs," who were bards to MacDonald of Clanranald. Vuirich
is also given as the Gaelic for MacPherson, though that is considered to
mean "son of the Parson." 19. Wc for T/c, equivalent to Mac. 20. This
Sir James was probably the MacDonald, though indexed "Maclan." - a, b,
c, etc., . . . k, 1, indicate, in couples, equivalent forms of the same name.
2 1 . Also said to be Camerons.
Ean in various shapes means John in Gaelic, but it may be necessary to
caution some readers that, as a prefix in Saxon names, it is quite distinct.
That word is probably from earn, eagle, and is compounded with -bald,
-berht, -bert, -bryth, -dred, -flaed (-fleda), -frith, -ich, -mund, -red, -switha,
-thulf, -ulf, -wlf, -wolf, etc,
J559-77 OTHER MCKEANS. 177
And wi' John Calvin in their heads,
And hammers in their hands, and spades,
Enraged at idols, mass, and beads,
Dang the Cathedral down."
In 1567 the Carew section of State Papers records that Parlia-
ment passed an Act of Attainder against Shane O'Neale with
his assistants; among the latter were the sept of "McCan . . .
Clankanny or Mackans country" . . . etc. In the same
volume mention is made of Carbry McCan or McCann, "chief
of name;" also that 100 acres of land in the precinct of Oriel
were granted to Hugh McBrien McCan; 160 acres to McPhelim
McCan; 120 acres to Rory McPatrick McCan, besides which,
much is said of the McDonnells.
Also in 1568, an inclosure from the Lord Justice to the Queen,
notes: "The captain of the Scots called Donnell McCane and
others slain."
The Register of the Great Seal, contains under date of 1574,
two documents of one of which we give the following free trans-
lation :
"2270. At Holyrood, 8 Jul. [1574]. The King [James VI.],
etc., has confirmed a charter of John Grant of Fruquhy, — [by
which he has sold to Angus McAlestare, son and heir of the late
Alexander Makaane of Glengarrie], — the lands of Glengarrie
belonging to him by virtue of appraisement and conveyance in
fee executed above to his predecessors," [with other lands speci-
fied], "which they appraised to the said Angus; and this on
account of letters of homage and faithful service by the said
Angus for himself, his heirs and the successors of the lord of
Glengarrie, and his friends, kindred, partners and associates,
according to the form of law and the acts of parliament, by
royal dispensation, (comprising clauses in the contract between
the said John and Angus entered into at Elgin, 17 Nov. 1571),
with proper charges to the said John determined before, the
feast of Whitsuntide next ; also on account of filling up of other
articles of the said contract; in which if the said Angus, etc.,
fail, this fief [hec infeodatio] is to be void" . . . Among the
witnesses is Duncan McEane McCondachie McGillebred.
In 1576-77, according to the History of the Camerons, "Ewin
McAne, Capitane of Inverlochy, the fader brother" of a certain
178 OTHER MCKEANS. 1576-86
"Camroun and John Cam, his brother of surnawm," represented
them before the Secret Council in their application to be set
at liberty by the Earl of Athole, who had imprisoned them.
[Among other things they were charged with the slaughter of a
certain Donald Dow MacKewin].
There is mention in 1576, in the Reg. Priv. Council, of surety
that two individuals, one of whom is Johnne McAne VcConell
VcAglassre, shall answer at accusation of the Earl of Argyle;
the charge is not set forth.
The same work records in 1579 that John, Bishop of the
Isles, complains that although he is the lawful Bishop, several
fellows, including "Johnne McKane of the Rande [or Randy
(riotous ?)] made stop, trouble and impediment . . . and being
oftimes called and not appearing, letters of rebellion and horning
are to go forth." Something similar is recorded on page 61.
Among the names mentioned in the Clan-Allister beg bond,
"the year of God 1580 years," are Alester vie Iain Chittach
and his sons; and Angus vie Iain Chittach. (The Last Alac-
donalds of Isla).
The Carew (State) Papers include a letter in 1583 from Sir
Henry Sydney to Sir Francis Walsingham, to the effect that he
had informed the Earl of Tyrone that "he must not accept
the sirname of O'Nell without permission . . . and appointed
unto him the service of O'Chane MacKann [O'Kane McKane?]
. . . and other landlords." The reference to "O'Nell" is
interesting because he "esteemed the name more in price to
him than to be intituled Caesar."
Relative to names beginning with Me, and O', this may be a
suitable place to note that in 1586 the State Papers mention,
in an account of the rebellion of the Burkes in Ireland, that the
bearing of "titles of Mcs and O's was abolished," and again in
1587, reference is made to the previous "banishing of the Macs
and Goes;" but this appears to have been quite limited, for
in 1585, the names of only 41 Mc's and 26 O's are given in Con-
naught, who "surrendered their names and customs of inheri-
tance and received their castles and lands by patent, to them
and their heirs, in English succession. The law seems soon to
have been disregarded, for in 1596 we find that "the people of
I OTHER MCKEANS. 179
Connatight will seek to retain their new titles of Macs and Oes,
with their tainist* law;" and the fear is expressed that "through
the revival of the tyranny of the Macs and Oes Her Majesty's
laws shall no more be heard of amongst the Connaught people."
In the Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland, under date of 1585,
Jon and Dauid mckein and James mcquhune are mentioned,
apparently among residents of Esdale, Ewisdale and Wauchop-
dale.
Domhnull Maclain 'ic Sheumais III. of the Macdonalds of
Castle Camus, about 1585, appears to have been a warrior-bard
of some distinction ; the writer of lasting songs, and the wielder
of a terrible sword called "Five merks" from its price. There
is much about Donald Maclain in Clan Donald, III., 500-504.
In the Roll of names of Chiefs and landlords, etc., in 1587,
is that of allane mckane of Ilandterum.
And in the same year, according to the Register of the Privy
Council of Scotland, John Moir Mckane and others are charged
to deliver up eight hostages for MacLean, — to Archibald, Earl
of Argyle, Lord Campbell and Lorn.
The same work notes in- 1591 the registration of a bond of
caution, in ,£200 each, against a number of the tenants of the
Earl of Glencairn, among wrhom is Bartholomew McKane in
Aber, — that they will not harm James Cunynghame, pensioner
of Lesmahago, and Janet Wallace, his spouse. [It seems evident
from several instances, that a wife sometimes retained her own
name].
In the same year the tenants of Sir Duncan Campbell of Glenur-
quhy, being threatened, refused to pay their mails [taxes],
whereupon the sheriff and his messengers seized six cows belong-
ing to the tenants, and were driving them off, fearing "na vio-
lence," when several of the retainers of the Earl of Atholl, includ-
ing John McEan in Balnecaird, John McAllister McEanwichts in
Drumnacarff, etc., followed the said messengers on horse and
foot, overtook them, "utterit mony injurious and disdanefull
speichis," and violently reft the said goods from them, etc.,
and since they did not appear as charged, are to be denounced
rebels.
* Tanistrie is the allotted inheritance to the oldest and worthiest man
of the deceased's name and blood. — Black's Law Dictionary.
ISO OTHER MCKEANS. I592
Mention is made in 1592, of James McKane "councillor there"
[at Montrose]; the name is also spelt Mccayne and Makene, and
(by mistake) Mcrane.
Alexander Macdonald III. of Killiechonate is mentioned in
1592 as Alastair Maclain Vic Innes. (Clan Donald, III., 464).
In 1593, according to the Register of the Privy Council of Scot-
land, David McKene in Laicht, was one of several persons bound
in ,£500 each, not to harm Patrick Harvie in Wester Pennyveinzie.
In the same year and volume we find that the King relaxed
from the horn for any cause bygone, among others Chairles
McVcane of Duprene. This curious spelling means the son of
the son of Ane or Ean. It is sometimes found in Old Celtic as
mic mic preceding the name, but was afterwards superseded by
O' in Ireland.
It has been noted already that the spelling of proper names
yaried greatly in old times: we come now to a notable case of
this. The Maclans of Elanterim in the General Index of the
Acts of the Parliament of Scotland in 1593, are those of Ilandter-
rum in the special index; it is found as Yllanetyrum in 1608.
In a marriage contract dated 1613 we find Donald Makallane
Vic Keanne of Ilandtirme. In 1627, in the Inquisitionum ad
Capellam, etc., Joannes McDonald McAllane Viceane capitanus
de Clanronald, was heir male of Laird Donold McAUane Vic
Eane de Ellantirrin capitani de Clanronald, his father; [in this
case two evident McEans, Chiefs of Clanranald, are indexed as
MacDonalds]. In 1645 J. Mcorronald of Eyellantirrim is the
form in Clan Gregor, and Allane McKane of Ilandterrim (no
date) was the Chief of Clanranald. Here the personal name has
been spelt in five ways and the local one in seven. We are
tempted to give a few quotations from the marriage contract
mentioned above, which was between John Macdonald of Clan-
ranald and Marion (always called Moir in the document, possibly
a pet name), daughter of Roderick Macleod of Dunvegan, 1613,
but though Vic Keanne may be classed with "Other McKeans,"
the contract is very long in its references to the "airis" expectant,
the "tocher" of the bride (including "nyne scoir of gud and
sufficient quick ky" and ane gaillay of twentie foure airis with
thri sailling and rowing geir gud and sufficient"), etc., etc. Is
it not written in the third book of Clan Donald, Appendices?
I594~6 OTHER MCKEANS. l8l
On the 1 8th day of July, 1594, among witnesses to a Bond
of the Clan Neill, and in which Sir James Macdonald, the last
of those of Isla, is described as Apparent of Dunyvaig,- — one
is Donald Makayne. The bond was signed at Killeonane, now
incorporated with the modern Parish of Campbelltown. (Last
Macdonalds of Isla).
It is stated in the Reg. Privy Council, Scot., that in 1594 Hector
Monro complains of some men who had "awaytuke . . . ane
grite nowmer of his ky . . . to ane quiet place," whither he
followed them and "caryed thame with him"; but the Laird
of Balnagownis collected sundry accomplices, among whom were
a couple of the inevitable McEans, one described as a "stabler;"
they followed and overtook the complainer, "invadit him and
his cumpanie, . . . schoit arrowis at thame, wundit thame
with durkis . . . and drave with them the said ky;" and the
aforesaid Laird is to be denounced rebel. [After a repetition
of the complaint in 1596, the rest are denounced, but the McEans
do not figure in the later document, — had they reformed?].
According to the Inquis ad Cap. Dom. Reg. Ret., Willelmus
Makkeine was heir in 1595, of Joneta Makkeine, daughter of
his paternal uncle ("filiae patrui") in 3 roods of land in Watslakkis
in Dumfries; 3 acres towards Mill-dam-head (?) with tenements,
a garden and barn, etc. E. 30 /.
The Macdonalds of Achtriachtan, the second family of Cadets
of Glenco, [the Dalness family does not appear to have retained,
even in a few individuals, the name Maclain], was descended
from I. Alexander, son of John Dubh, son of John Og (i), Mac-
Iain Abrich of Glenco, — towards the end of the i6th century.
His son, II., Alexander appears on record in 1611 as Allaster
Maclain Duibh Mhic Alastair of Achtriachtan, the Maclain
Duibh being in this case the patronymic or tribe name. The
family has come down to the present time. (Adapted from
Clan Donald, III., 221). Their share in the Massacre of Glencoe
is mentioned in Section III. The time is doubtful, but it was
probably about 1644, that Patrick Aberach MacGregor, (son
and successor of Duncan, k. 1604), the leader of the MacGregors
under Montrose, married "Marion daughter of Macdonald of
Auchatrichatan, [perhaps II. Alexander], chief of the most
powerful tribe of the Macdonalds of Glencoe." (Sir Robert
182 OTHER MCKEANS, 1 597~&
Douglas' Baronage of Scotland, 1798, as quoted in History of the
Clan Gregor, II., 18).
"A branch of the Clan Iain of Glencoe that may be genealogi-
cally traced for a few generations, [from the end of the isth to
about the middle of the i8th century], consists of the descendants
of I. Allan [Maclain] Duibh, son of John Dubh, and brother
of the founders of Dalness and Achtriachlan." (Clan Donald,
HI-, 225).
ISLE DAVAAR AND CAMPBELTOWN LOCH.
From Last Macdcnalds of Isla.
There is a Bond signed "9th day of March, 1597 years," in
which Ronald McConnald vie Iain [McDonald Mclan] of Hand,
supposed to be the owner of Isles including Davaar of the mouth
of Loch Kilkerran, accepts the Right Honourable Sir James
McConnald of Knockransay, Knight, as his superior Master and
Foster, and obliges himself to fortify and defend Sir James
with all the men and gear he may have . . . against all deadly
or mortals without any exception in all time hereafter; and he
signs with his hand at the pen led by the writer under-written
[Johne McKay]. (The Last Macdonalds of Isla}.
In 1598 the Reg. Privy Council Scot, contains the complaint
1598-1601 OTHER MCKEANS. 183
of Johnne Dumbar and others, that a number of persons, among
whom were some of "Fraseris vagaboundis" and about a score
of McAnes, McEans, VcEanes, VcEwnes, etc., included in one
of the Tables already given, — "with convocation of the lieges
to the number of 200 . . . with tua handit swordis, steilbon-
nettis, etc. . . . came ... by way of briggancie to the said
George Dumbaris duelling house in Clune . . . and thair
tressonablie rased fyre in the said house," [and in short, behaved
most abominably, even to Mairjorie and Issobell Dumbar].
"And, not satisfeit thairwith," drove away horses and cattle;
"the order is to denounce them rebels."
In the following year. Vol. VI. of the same work tells about
"James McKene, one of the bailies of the burgh of Montrose,
and William McKene, one of the councillors thereof," — who got
into trouble for sturdily maintaining what they supposed were
their rights. It seems that the King [James VI.] had charged
the magistrates and council of Montrose to elect John, Earl of
Mar, to be provost of the said burgh for the year, but they dis-
obeyed the charge and wilfully passed to the horn: "the King
and Council therefore ordain the defenders to be committed to
ward in the castles of Blakknes and Downe of Menteith during
his Majesty's pleasure."
The Reg. Privy Council Scot., notes that Allane McEane in
Ballochquhindochie, complains in 1600, that he was denounced
rebel by letters raised at the instance of the Treasurer, — for
non-appearance before the King and Council . . . Complainer
was never lawfully charged to appear . . . and would wil-
lingly have done so ... and he had found caution in 300
marks to that effect . . . "Wherefore the said letters should
be suspended simpliciter" — which is done. [Under another date
it appears that Allan had given bonds through George Elphing-
stoun of Ballabeg [Belenbeg].
In 1 60 1, the Inquis. ad Cap. Dom. Reg. Ret. states that Andreas
McKaine ("or McKame") inherited the lands of "Barnale," [see
previous note for 1557, where the name was spelt McCaine], as
heir of John McKaine his brother. [This Andrew will appear
as McKainie in 1644].
We learn from the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland that
184 OTHER MCKEANS. 1602-3
in April, 1602, "James McKeane, merchant, burgess of Monrois,
for Patrik Buttir of Marytoun, 500 marks, to answer before
the King and Council at Dundie upon 24th instant for his lying
under the censure of [civil?] excommunication."
And in August of the same year there is complaint by Robert
Robertsoun of Strowane that he has been "straitit" to find
caution for a number of persons; yet, as they are not obedient
to him, nor acknowledge him in service or duty, he asks that
they be made to find caution for themselves; among them are
a McEane Keir in Rannoch (of Glenco?) and a McEane Virich
there [in Cannavoren]; the defenders not appearing, are to be
denounced rebels.
There is a document in the Carew division of State Papers,
called "A Survey of Ireland," written about 1574, but with
additions to the time we have now reached. Under the head-
ings: "Ulster . . . The Bounds . . . Men of name," — we
find McDonnell, O'Cane, McCan, O'Donnell, etc.
About 1603, as we learn from Mackenzie's Camerons, 77, a
Clanranald who was the son-in-law of Allan Cameron of Lochiel,
is mentioned as "a youth of extraordinary qualities, a polite
courtier, and very adroit in the management of business." It
may be stated that the laird of Glengarry of this period, [probably
Donald MacDonald and the eighth], was also a son-in-law of this
Cameron, and that his son Eneas, the ninth of Glengarry was
in 1660 created a Peer of Scotland, as Lord Macdonell and Arros.
Maclanduy, which is almost undoubtedly Maclan the Dark, is
the title of the Allan Cameron mentioned, — the sixteenth of
Lochiel.
We will depart from the resolution to omit everything con-
cerning the O'Cahans and O'Kanes, and introduce a few to
show their apparent intimacy with the McDonalds and McKeans
about the time we have now reached.
In the Inquisitionum in Officio Rotulorum Cancellarice Hiber-
nian asservatum Repertorium* under the heading "London-
* This work is a Catalogue of Records preserved in the Rolls Office of
the Court of Chancery of Ireland. There are two volumes, representing
Leinster and Ulster; but those for Connaught and Munster, if they were
ever published, appear to be missing from the Washington set.
1603
OTHER MCKEANS.
derry," and for the year 1603, there is apparent mention of a
parish church, erected and endowed long before by Dominus
O'Cane, in honor of the blessed Virgin Mary, in the town of.
Annaghe in Co. "Colrane," with lands in Balliowne; [the village
of Owen or John?]; also a hospital "sive termon" [or sanctuary]
in "Co. Coolrane," known as Gowry de Aghadowy, — "all of
which have for a long time been unjustly withheld from the
king." * Curiously, this record of Lord O'Cane seems to be
indexed "McConnell," and equivalent to McDonald, and also
curiously, "Gowry" appears possibly connected with a Gaur',
alias Gorry, alias Gaured O'Cahan, also in Londonderry, who
died in 1621, and who, together with two McGorry O'Cahans,
is mentioned in several documents along with McDonnells, like-
wise of Londonderry. f The same work also states that in
Longford, in 1603, Shaen and Tad O'Canyn were found attainted
as to their possessions.
This may be an appropriate position for the following Table :
SOME O'CAHANS, MCCANES, MCKEANES AND APPARENT CON-
NECTIONS IN IRELAND, from 1603 to 1617; mentioned in the
Calendarinm Rotulorum Patentium, [List of Open (or Public)
Rolls], — chiefly as having been pardoned for rebellion.
1603 Edmund Mclyn of Tulerie.
" Donnell O'Cahan of Laghbal-
leconnor.
Gilladuffe McKeane") gentlemen
Neile McCan !- £**«£
Patrick McCan J Antrim Co.
* Colrane and Coolrane are of course the place made famous by the Beauti-
ful Kitty, — she who according to the song was tripping
With a pitcher of milk from the fair of Coleraine,
When she saw me she stumbled,
The pitcher it tumbled,
And all the sweet butthermilk watered the plain.
But All's Well that Ends Well, though all the pitchers in the place were
broken soon after.
t The O'Cahans and O'Canes of Londonderry; O'Caanes of Antrim; O'Ca-
hans of Armagh; McCans of Armagh; O'Kanes of Fermanagh, etc., etc.,
mentioned or to be mentioned, may~ have been related to the O'Cahans of
Ulster alluded to in Mr. Roberdeau Buchanan's exhaustive Genealogy of the
McKean Family of Pennsylvania. All of the above Counties are in the
Province of Ulster.
i86
OTHER MCKKANS.
1604-17
1604 Redmond McMurtaghO'Kean,
Carlow Co.
Tirlogh boy McEane of Bal-
lynecowlagh, in Dublin Co.
" John McCahin of Bawnemore,
in Kilkenny Co.
1605 John Magiane ) yeomen, of
AT- u i n/r • i~ the Ards,
Nicholas Magiane* Down Co.
1607 Sir Donell O'Cahan, Knight,
of Tyrone Co.
" John Mechain [McKain?] of
Ballishannan, Donegal Co.
McShane O'Cahane 1
Shane Ballagh O'Cahane
" John O'Cahane McSwyne
" Brian O'Cahane McRichard
John Shallogh O'Cahane
Brian O'Donell McWm.
O'Cahane | ?
" Quoy McBrian Modder |
O'Cahane
1608 Shane McKeyne ) of Tyrone
" Coyne McKeynie* i Co.
" Donogh O'Cahan |_ Of Wexford
" Patrick McCahane^ Co'
" Brian oge O'Cahan
" Dermond O'Chane
Donell O'Chane
" Owen McCane "1
" McTowell[Dowell?] I Of Louth
McCane |" Co-
" Edmund McCane j
" Edmond McCany of Donegal
Co.
1608 Donohie O'Cahan
1609 Rowrie O'CahaneMcToole boy
" Brian McCany
" Richard O'Keen
" Gorie McShane O'Cahan , Of
" Mulmory McCahan bane | Dg°ane-
O'Reilie ) Co.
16 io Richard McBriane]
Carragh O'Cahane
" Donogh O'Cahane
McRowrie
Donogh O'Cahane
McCorbe J
" Rorie McPatrick"|
McCan j
" Hugh McBryan |
gentle-
i Colerane
Co.
grant of
lands to, in
Armagh Co.
McCan
Carberie oge
McCan
Toole McPhelim
McCan j
1612 Owen McYeone, yeoman,
Down Co.
Dermod oge O'Cahan
Cowy McRoory O'Cahan
Manus O'Cahan McOwen
" Owen O'Cahan McSenekyn j I
Murrey j "„.
Owen O'Cahan McDermod ]• o
" Brian O'Cahan McDonnell I 5"
" Roorye Duff O'Cahan Me- 5'
I ^
Donell • o
Cowie O'Cahan McBrian
JenkinMcHugh O'Cahan J
Carberie McCan,* gentleman,
(grant of land to), in Ar-
magh Co.
1613 Shane Crone ) laborers of
McKeane - Cloghtr, in
Owen McKeane'
1615 Philip O'Keine, in Mayo Co.
1617 James Machen,f of Drum-
carne, in Donegall Co.
" James McMakene.f of Do-
naghdie, in Down Co.
1617 Ran all boy McDonnell, and
several other McDonnells.
Donnogh O'Makin, gentleman,
of Cloonowen, in Roscom-
mon Co.
* Coupled with McKeyne. fThese names are coupled together in a grant
''to be free from the yoke of the servitude of Scotland, Ireland, or any
other nation, and enjoy all the rights and privileges of an English subject;"
l6o8-!5 OTHER MCKEANS. 187
In the Carew division of the Calendar of Slate Papers, among
the gentlemen of the Barony of Guery, is Calloigh McKeen of
Collonok; and among those of the Barony of Eallaighene is
Oyne McEnn of Rahendarg; both included in "The Giand
Panel of the County of Wexford," in 1608.
In the Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland, a certain Euphcmia
McKane appears, quite incidentally, in the following dry extract,
under date A. D. 1612: "RATIFICATIOUN In favcuris of Maister
Josua Durie of his pensioun. OURE SOUERANE LORD with the
aduise of the Estaittis of this pnt. parliament Ratifeis apprevis
and confirmes The Lettir of pension gevin and grantit Be his
hienes To Maister Josua Durie Minister at Sanctandrois Ewphame
mckane his s'pous and Johnne Durie their Lauchfull sonne Con-
tening the sowme of Sevin scoir of pundis money of Scotland,"
etc., etc.
"1612 [Feb.] Alexander Stewart of I.aggarie is debtor in the
testament of Agnes McKean — Commissary Books of Glasgow."
(Clan Cregor, I., 397. From the "Chartulary."
"Honestus Kilianus Makkien Scotus civis Bidgcsticnsis
(Bromberg) sells his garden and shed behind the hospital of
St. Stanislaus to Michael Normanth (Anglicus vel Scotus) for
50 gulden (1615)." (Scots in Eastern and Westein Prussia).
In the Appendix to Vol. III. of the Hist. Notes, about 1615,
it is stated that "Orgiel, Oriel or Uriel, a large territory compre-
hending the present counties of Armagh, Louth and Monaghan
[in the province of Ulster], had for the Names of Chiefs or Septs,
the McCahens or McCahans. Also that Clan-Bressail [one spelling
of which now is "Brazil" !] or Le Braskelough on south of Lough-
Neagh, in barony of O'Neland, was the country of the McCanes
— in short, naturalization papers. Machen has been considered as an English
name, but it must, sometimes at least, have been one of the Macs.
There are also no fewer than forty-two McEgans, McKeighans, McKeygans,
etc., spelled in eight different ways, besides McKavan, McKeveny (coupled
with McKeyne, McQjyn, etc., but we will spare the reader detailed reference
to them. Among place-names, however, we may include suggestive men-
tions of "the said O'Cane's country" in 1608; "a messuage in St. Michan's
parish near Dublin" in 1610; "Sept of the Carrowes". [Careys]; Cane in
Wexford Co.; Kilmcowne and CoilniPkeane [McKean's Church?], the latter
in Roscommon Co., and probably dedicated to the Saint aforesaid; "hospi-
tal or termoe in O'Cane's country;" "McCan's country" in 1605, etc., etc.
188 OTHER MCKEANS. 1616-28
or McCahans. The Calendar of State Papers for 1604 corrobo-
rates the latter account, defining the Braskelagh as "otherwise
McCan's country."
There is a long contract given in the Appendices of Clan Donald,
II., 768-770, between Donald Macdonald of Glengarry and
Donald Macdonald of Clanranald in 1616. The latter is described
in the instrument as Donald McAllane VcEan, also VcEane,
and when Johne and Rorie are mentioned the last name is plural —
VcEanes: they are of the family of Ilandterim. "Ye hono11
persones under writtin" are "allwayes of guid mynd and inten-
sioun that his maties peas be observit" . . . Each binds him-
self that he will "in na tyme cuming harme skaithe trubill molest
nor oppres" the others . . . "under ye paine of four thousand
punds toties quoties." And after VcEane's signature is the note:
"above written with my hand at ye pen led by ye notar." Simi-
lar remarks were often added to old documents, as the hand was
generally more expert in wielding the claymore or the Lochaber
axe. In the contract we find VcEan five times, VcEane thirteen
times, and VcEanes three times.
Among the Special Inquisitions, (a Section of the Inquis. ad
Cap., etc.), there is reference in 1621, to Joneta Buchanane,
wife of John Mackene in Ballaconochie, and co-heiress of John
Buchanane of the same place, her maternal uncle ("avunculi").
Of the Macdonalds of Benbecula, the first was Ranald fourth
son of Allan IX. of Clanranald, called Raonull MacAilein 'ic
Iain, about 1625, and the family extended into the igth century.
(Clan Donald, III., 277).
In 1627 Mariota and Joneta McKeane are mentioned in the
Special Inquisitions, as co-heiresses (haeres portionaria) of their
uncle James Harvey, formerly surgeon to S. D. N. [Our Sacred
Lady] the Queen [Henrietta-Maria]. It may be stated in passing,
that the same Joneta was heiress in 1647, of Mariota Trotter,
her mother.
And in 1628, under the heading Forfar, Robertus McKein is
described as the heir of Andrew McKein junior, his brother, in
one-half [" in dimidia parte"] of 16 librates of arable land called
Clayhalf, in Montrose: E. i8,y. yd.; land in St. John's croft
. . . E. i6s. yd.; in Clayhalf and Ouhytberriecroft, in The
Sandhalf, A. E. i2d. N. E. 4*.
1631-40 OTHER MCKEANS. 189
The Inquis. in Off. Rot. Can. Hib. makes mention in 1631, of
Eliz' Mageon, (which is essentially McKeon), as the wife of
Maur McObikin Fitzsimons of Knitagh. McCans, O'Cahans,
O'Caanes, McDonills, McDonnells, and McKegans spelled in a
variety of ways, appear also.
In the Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland, a "Chartour for
the fishing" may be found in Vol. V., according to which, Charles
I. in 1631, by letters patent, ordains "ane Societie" with certain
liberties and privileges in his Majesty's dominions. The charter,
though very quaint, is too long to quote, but in the list of names
there occurs a williame mckene.
According to the Inquis. ad Cap. Dom. Reg. Ret., in 1632 John
McKean, merchant, of Edinburgh, heir of Janet Bartane, his
mother, was seized of a tenement in said burgh. E. 5m[arks].
Browne intimates that it was about 1634 that the Clann
Mhic-Iain Dhuin, dependents of Lord I/orn, took part in a cattle-
rieving expedition. It is possible they were Maclans of Ard-
namurchan, though the probability is that the latter men
affiliated with the MacDonalds of Clan Ranald, their neighbors
and fellow-members of Clan Donald. (History of the High-
landers and Clans).
In 1638 the Inquis. etc., states that Joneta Patersone, spouse
of Robert McKean, furrier ("pellionis") of Edinburgh, heir of
Thomas Patersone, merchant, and oldest lawfully born son of
William Patersone, merchant, his brother, — had tenements in
Edinburgh. E. T>S. \d.
Turning aside for a moment to London, we find in the Calendar
of State Papers, that in 1640, Richard Makin, an old servant of
King James, [and possibly brought with him from "The land
o' cakes and brither Scots"), petitions the King that Robert
Wood, "your cormorant-keeper," has long owed him ,£633 and
more for promise of that position, but has given it to another.
According to the Domestic Papers for this year, Robert R~cd
writes to Thos [Secretary ?] Windebank that he does not remember
that he ever saw any resignation of Robert Wood to Mr. Makin,
but two parchments concerning the businerr, had not been
signed by the King. The remarkable apparent office of "cormo-
rant-keeper" might set some persons to wondering whether there
was an English "sport" in the waters parallel with that of fal-
IQO OTHER MCKEANS. 1640-44
conry in the air, coursing on land, etc. ; but probably the word
above is a misprint for commorant, and the office was therefore
that of keeper of some residence or palace in the absence of
royalty.
Among the Bards of Clan Donald, a certain John the Stam-
merer may be mentioned with Maclains, as his patronymic con-
tained no fewer than three, it being Iain MacDhomhnuill 'ic Iain
'ic Dhomhnuill 'ic Iain Aluinn : he apparently lived from about
1640 to 1710. It is said, probably without truth, that he could
neither read nor write, but that his productions were written by
another, as a wonderful memory imparted them to him. Charles
II. made him poet laureate in Scotland with a salary of .£100
sterling a year, "which the niggardly Scottish Exchequer reduced
to ,£100 Scots." (Abridged from Clan Donald, III., 570-575).
In 1643, the Inquis. ad Cap. Dom. Reg. Ret. states that in Dum-
fries, (which, however, is in the Lowlands), John McKewne was
heir of John McKewne his grandfather ["avi"], to part of church
and town lands in Duriadeir. E. los.
The same work in 1644 resumes that Matheus McKainie (or
McKame) is heir of Andrew McKainie, his father [mentioned as
McKaine in 1601] to the lands of Barnald or Barnale in the island
of Bute. "E. 2$s. ^d."
In the sixth volume of the Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland,
at "Edinburgh the 15 of Apryle 1644," we find that: "The Con-
vention of estates ordaines the gnall of the Artellerie to delyver
out of the publict magazen To Sir Williame Cochrane of Coudoun
for the vse of the srefdome of air Ane thousand muskettis and
bandelieris* tuo thousand weight of matche And ane thousand
weight of ball The said Sr. Williame assigneing to the generall
of the artellerie and his deputtis the contract whereby Alexander
Maxwell and James McKeane [indexed Macean (Mackean)] are
bund to delyver to him at Leith ane thousand muskettis and
bandelieris and tuo thousand weight of matche betuix [this
date?] and the sevent of May And als giveing band that if the
merchantis faile That he sail pay the said gnall. of the artellerie
and his deputtis The pryce thereof at that day for the vse of
the Publict."
* A bandoleer was a leather belt and case for the ammunition of muske-
teers.
1645-49 OTHER MCKEANS. IQI
In 1645, (viii Martii), the Acts Pad. Scot, mention Robert
Mackeane, Burgesse of Edinburgh, as a member (grouped with
the Barons) of the following Committee: "THE Estates of Parlia-
ment now conveened ... do hereby nominate, authorize and
appoint the persons following ... As ane Committee of
Parliament for Inbringing and distributing of moneys, and for
regulating of the publike Accounts and Burdens of the King-
dom, ... To consider and try the yeerly rent and worth of
the lands and estates of forefaulted persons, . . . and to do
every thing thereanent as might best clear the trueth, ... To
consider and try the rights and securities to have been given in
to them by the Ladies and wives of the forefaulted persons, with
their supplications, craving the benefit of their rights . . .
That thereafter sick course might be tane concerning the samine
. . . Therefore the Estates of Parliament : . . grants . . .
To the Committee of Estates now nominate, With power to
them or their Quorum foresaid, to do every thing thereanent,
as they shall think expedient and most usefull for the Publike,
in the same manner as the Parliament might have done if they
were sitting," etc., etc.
This Rob : Mackeane is also mentioned as one of the two Com-
missioners of the "Burro we of Edinbrughe;" and in 1648 he
was a member of a Committee nominated to consider the "great
and imminent dangers threatning the true Protestant Religion,
his Majesties Person and authoritie, Monarchicall Government,
the peace of this Kingdom, and union betwixt the Kingdomes,
from Papists, Malignants and Prelats, and from the prevalencie
of Sectaries and their adherents now in Armes:" etc., etc. The
last probably refers to one of the Covenants.
Furthermore, the General Index to the Acts Parl. Scot, gives
several entries about Robert MacKean, but the details do not
seem to be supplied; possibly portions of Vol. VI. are missing.
The Index implies that he was in Parliament for Edinburgh in
1645; gives two references to his presenting a petition In behalf
of the burgh in that year, and two more that hi 3 conduct is to
be inquired into before he is allowed to fit in Parliament.
The same work contains in 1661, a long and circumstantial
account of certain misdoings in 1649, of a number of persons,
among whom truth compels us to admit that several McKeans
192 OTHER MCKEANS. 1649
of various spellings were included. The specification of this
raid occupies about four and one-half folio pages, and for quaint-
ness and showing the canniness of the Scot, it is extremely inter-
esting; we will only make the following extracts, however:
"AcT and Decreit in favours of Thomas McKenzie of Pluscardin
Against Mcachan, Mcgilreoch Mcalaster & others
ANENT the supplication and lybell given in to his Maiesties
Commissioner his grace and Estates of Parliament be Thomas
McKeinzie of Pluscarden Against [many names besides] Donald
Mcean vie illi glas ther, [there, i. e., of the last place mentioned
(Stron in this case)], Donald Mcean more Vc govan in Clun,
Ewyn Mccewn tailyeour ther, . . . Duncan Mckean vc con-
dachie in Corinach, . . . Johne Mccodachie mcean ... in
Crathimore, . . . Johne Mcdonald vc ean ther, Johne McDonald
vc ean angus in Crachiecroy, Alaster Me William vc can vc ewin
in Blargiemore, . . . Dougall Mccoill vc ean ther [in Cluny],
. . . Johne Mcean . . . ther [in Cask], . . . Donald Mcean
vc finlay in Tullochronbie, . . . ffindlay Mccan ... in Gar-
vamore, Archibald Mcean ... in Garvamore . . . Ewin Mc-
ean . . . ther [in Muchgull], Ewine Mccean. . . in Muchgull,
. . . Donald Mcewyn Mceanyre ther, [of Purie?] . . . Shew-
ing that the fornamed persones defenders [defendants] in the
moneth of Junij 1649 robbed and destroyed the supplicant and
his tennents in the lands of Pluscarden without any order or
power from any Authority and long after the supplicant had
ended his capitulation with Leivt Genall [Lieutenant-General]
David Leslie which wes approven by the estats of Parlia* and
wes liveing in peaceable and quyet maner Wherby the perse wer
was damnified in above the summe of fourtie thousand pund
scots as the availl and pryce of the goods & others vnderwritten
by & attour the excressent proffeits thairof in maner after men-
tioned viz1 Inprimis ther wes robbed & away taken violently
be the fornamed persons defenders upon the first second third
fourt & remanent dayes of June or ane or other the yeer of God
1649 . . . the number of nyntie four labouring oxen, some
blak, others branded, broun coloured &c. ... ilk ane of them
worth tuenty pund scots overhead, . . . Item the excressent
proffeits of the said oxen which they wold have been worth to
the persewer if they had not been violently robd as said is be
1649 OTHER MCKKANS. 193
the space of twelve score work dayes in the yeer at three shilling
four pennies for the work of ilk ox per diem extends in the year
for the saids whole four-score fourtein oxen To the sume of ffyve
thousand sex hundreth and fourty merks inde since they were
robd now be the space of eleven yeers and sex moneths or therby
to the summe of sextie four thousand eight hundreth and Sextie
merks money Item . , . ane hundreth & threttein milk kyne
with calves of the culours forsaids . . . Item . . . Item more
the said kyne would have yielded the proffeits vnderwrittin viz
ilk second year a Calve for ilk kow Extending to ane hundreth
and threttein calves Wherof the second halff preserved for store
and breiding and the other calve for sale or slaughter Extending
. . . Item the other calves ... in the yeer 1653 would have
proven milk kyne and so would have been worth tuentie punds
the peice . . . Item the milknes thairof at ten merks the
peice ut supra [as above] yeerly the yeers 1657. 58. 59 & 60
extending the saids proffeits to the sum of ... Item . . .
ffiftie tuo one yeer old stirks whereof tuenty quoyes and thirty
tuo oxen stirks estimat to four punds the peice overhead, . . .
And siclyk the saids stirks within three years thereafter would
have been drawing-oxen in the year 1652 and then thair work
would have been worth . . . Item . . . nyn English mears
. . . Whairof three whyt red framed, . . . tuo duplin gray
. . . one mirk gray . . . another red sand colored whyte
faced . . . and another blak . . . Item the saids mares
wold . . . had yielded . . . ane foil every yeer being nyne
foals which at three yeers old would have been worth . . .
Item ... in maner abovespeit [above specified] one hundreth
threescore tuo goats . . . with ane Buck . . . Item the
proffeits of the saids goats being one hundreth threscore tuo
kids yeerly . . . Item four sheip . . . the wooll and fleice of
ilk ane of the said sheip . . . Item . . . the insight & ple-
nishing of his house such as pots pans bedding and other houshold
stuff . . . eight ells of plaiding at tuelff shelling the ell ...
a sword worth eight pund scots . . . his domicills . . . With
coat & trews & shoes . . . with'four pair of lining sheits . . .
ten elnes of tartan at threttie shilling the elne . . . tuo sute
of cloaths . . . tuo gouns with pittiecoats conforme with
weiring linings worth one hundreth pund scots. Item tuo Eng-
104 OTHER MCKEANS. 1649-61
lish hats the one blak the other gray worth ten pund the peice
with a gold string worth eight punds . . . three fether beds
three bolsters & sex cods . . . ane boll of ry . . . fyve
sirlots of malt broune in aill . . . His Maiestie and Estates of
Parliament Decernes and Ordeans the whole persons defenders
abovenamed To make pay1 and delyverance ... of the
summe of fourty thousand pund seots money . . . the number
pryces availls & proffeits of the saids goods proven by the oath
. . . conforme to the laws and practick of this Kingdome in
all such caces of spuilyie."
If these unfortunate Scotsmen had to pay, among other imagi-
nary items, for the prospective milk which would have been
yielded by eventual cows which would have been developed
from calves yet unborn, it is no wonder that they sometimes
showed distaste for the law.
Another Macdonald Bard, besides the one already mentioned,
but with two lains in his name, was known patronymically as
Iain Dubh Maclain 'ic Ailein. He was born about 1650, was
a prolific writer of songs and ranks high among the Gaelic bards.
(Abridged from Clan Donald, III., 575, 576).
The Special Inquisitions (ad Cap. Dom. Reg. Ret.} note that
in 1656, Rorie McAlister McEan Gig was "heir maill" of Alex-
ander Makean Gig, his father. [The repetition of "Gig" perhaps
implies a younger branch of the Makean family, or that Rorie
was the youngest son of Alexander who was the youngest son
in the generation before].
Donald Macdonald I. of Aberarder, alias Maclnnes Vic Ean
Duibh of Invervudden lived about 1659; the family existed
towards the end of the i9th century. (Clan Donald, III., 442).
In 1661, in Scotland, there was passed an "AcT & Decreit in
favours of Jeane Countes [s] of Annandale [and Viscountess of
Stormonth] against the tennents and occupyers of the tuentie
pund land of Lochmaben." Among other names are those of
John Mckean in Greinhill and James Mckein ther [in Hietae].
The lady complains that the "persons possessors of the saids
lands presuming vpon want of law & justice Doth altogether
refuise to mak payment to the supplicant of her rents as heirto-
fore they have done . . . Wherby the Supplicant is frustrat
of her aliamentarie subsistence" . . . [On the other hand the
l66l OTHER MCKEANS. 195
defendants produced] "ane warrand or order vnder the hand of
King James the sext of the date the tuelff day of July 1592
Wherby his Maiestie ordaines the keeper of the Castle of Loch-
maben to desist and cease from molesting poinding and vseing
violence against these complainers withinwrin Bot to suffer
them peaceablie to occupy their roums and possessions without
any trouble & impediment Together with ane other order super-
scry ved 'Rex' and subscryved 'James' of the date the [blank]
day of [blank] 1602 yeers Beareing these words" [in short, that
the poor tenants of Hietae, Greenhill, etc., were to pay no duty
nor service "further nor they and their predicessors were in vse
to pay." Parliament, however, having heard, seen and con-
sidered the case, decided in favor of the complainant, specifying
among other particulars]: "The said James Mckean ther for his
occupation of the saids lands possest be him the said terme of
witsunday 1658 fiftein punds More be him for his occupation
thairof yeerly the saids yeers threttie punds . . . The said
John Mckean ther for his occupation of that parte of the saids
lands possest be him yeerly the saids yeers Tuentie punds."
There was also passed in 1661, an "AcT and Decreit in favours
of Murdo Mcclean of Lochbowie against John McAlaster Roy
alias Campbell & others
Anent the criminall lybelled sumons raised and pursued befor
our Soverane Lord and estates of Parliament at the instance
of Murdo Mccleane of Lochbuie and Lauchlane Mcclean of Kal-
chellie for themselffs and in name and behalff of their kin freinds
tennents & followers . . . against" [sundry and divers persons
mentioned, and setting forth that although it had been declared
to be treason to murder our Lord's lieges] "Nevertheles the
saids defenders all boden in feir of warre with guns swords bowes
dorliches culvirines pistolls and other weapons invasive came
under silence & cloud of night to the lands of Glengarristill
belonging & perteaning to the said Murdoch Mcclean of Loch-
bowie And ther in the yeer of God 1647 and in ane or other
of the moneths of the said yeer The saids defenders most cruellie
& barbarouslie murthered . . . Donald Meangus vie ean . . .
tennents & servants to the said Murdoch Mcclean all liveing
quyetlie and peaceablie at thair oune homes exerc[is]eing thair
lawfull callings and vocations." [Parliament having repeatedly
196 OTHER MCKEANS. 1 66 1
summoned the defendants, and they proving contumacious and
not compeirand] "ordaines them to be declared rebells and put
to the home and all their moveable goods to be escheit & in-
broght to his Maiesties vse for thair contemption," etc.
We regret to find that in the same year, among "certain pris-
oners incarcerate within the tolbuith of Pearth," there was
one Donald Mcean vcean, "for alledged breaking & perturbing
of his Maiesties peace." It was granted that all the prisoners
should be put "to ane dew and legall tryell, and to execute
iustice against them for their rextive crymes alledged comitted
be them in maner forsaid." How Donald expiated the alleged
crime of perturbing the peace of the somewhat hilarious "Merry
Monarch," Charles II., — is not recorded.*
The Inquis. (Generates] ad Cap. Dom. Reg. Ret., mention in
1 66 1, Margaretta McKean, heiress of David McKean, merchant
of the burgh of Montrose, — her father.
As h is considered a mere aspirate in Gaelic names as in those
of other languages, we may note the circumstance that in 1662,
in a very formidable "AcT containing some Exceptions from
the Act of Indemnitie" by Charles II., is included "John Mchans
* If a digression is allowable, it may 'be stated that in this volume (VII.
of the Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland,) there is an item which should
interest every lover of good Scottish song. In 1667 there was appointed
for the sheriffdom of Nithisdale, a certain Robert Lawrie of Maxweltoun; a
happy lover has been supposed to sing:
"Maxwelton's braes are bonnie, Where early falls the dew,
And it's there that Annie Laurie Gave me her prcmi:e true."
But that iconoclast Fitz-Gerald, in his generally charming Stcries of Famous
Songs, tells us too much about this one (II. m-ii6). We are not sure
that the older McKeans have been sung by name in immortal verse; Ay-
toun's Widow of Glencoe speaks of MacDonald instead of Maclan, and the
same is true of Campbell's Pilgrim of Glencoe; Scott's Massacre is impersonal;
the "beautiful poem" by Angus Macdonald, on the massacre of Glencoe,
is, we presume, in Gaelic; as is also one of the songs "floating tmorg the old
people in the Glen [1883], and competed upon the Massacre of Glencoe shortly
after the event." (Records of Argyll, 428). In the Scottish Pastoral of
1568, called "Robin and Makyne," (Percy Reliques of Ancient Poetry, or the
collections of Allan Ramsey and George Bannatyne), the love-sick maiden,
afterwards so scornful, and who reminds Robin that "The man that will
not when he may, Sail have nocht when he wald," — is probably not a McKyn,
but a Mai-kin, i. e., little Mary.
1661-74 OTHER MCKEANS. 197
tanner ther [in Wigtown] sex hundth pd." The reasons for
fining John .£600, and others in various sums, are numerous; —
perhaps they may be summed up in the having "Assist the
murderer [Cromwell] in his Usurpation to the Royall Throne
. . . and sacrificed their homage and alledgeance to that sword
he caried in his hand smoaking with the blood of that glorious
Marty re [Charles I.] their oune Native Leidge Lord and King."
If these fines are paid before a certain date, the persons named
will obtain full pardon; if not, their estates shall be taken for
His Majesty's use, etc.
In 1662, in the County Antrim, Ireland, we learn from the
Inquis. in Off. Rot. Can. Hib., that "The said Owen McEdmond
O'Neile did, in his life time, sell and convey the premisses [in
Bally-Taunaghmore and Drumkeerin and — allshiny] unto Glesny
McKaine, clarke, and his heires, upon condition of redemption
and payment of 3i/. — The said Glesny did, in the year 1641,
engage in rebellion, whereby the premisses became forfeited."
A couple of English items may be culled from the Calendar
of Slate Papers. In i665(?) Capt. Angus Mackany (whose first
name proclaims him a Scotsman, and whose last has been seen
to be equivalent to Mackaine), — petitions "For supply in time
of need: has served His Majesty [Charles II.] in the wars, but
his wounds have brought a palsy and he cannot work." In
1666 the place of Yeoman of the buttery became void by the
death of John Mackune.
The lands of Uthred or Uthried McKean are mentioned in
some old document of 1672, the title of which the compiler has
apparently lost.
Donald McEachan in South Uist witnessed a contract between
Macdonalds of Clanranald and Glenaladale in 1674. (Clan
Donald, III., 658).
It has been suggested that the emigration of William McKean
of Argyleshire to Ireland, thought to have taken place about
this time, may be explained by his finding it difficult to remain
in a neighborhood where the people had changed their religion.
For Macleay's Rob Roy and his Times states that "At the acces-
sion of James [the Second, which was in 1685], the people of
Abertarf were wholly Protestants; but Macdonald of Sleat,
descendant of the lord of the isles, having also relinquished his
198 OTHER MCKEANS. 1674-1701
principles to gratify James, upwards of forty families, chiefly
Macdonalds in Skye, and the adjacent districts of Knoydart,
Morar, Arisaig, Sunart and Ardnamurchan, followed the example
of their chief, and had the same power, it would appear, over
the consciences, as they possessed over the services of their
vassals."
In thelnquis. ad Cap., (subdivision dePossessione Ouinquinnale) ,
there is reference to Gulielmus and Joannes McKeand in 1686,
"nuper aerarium et nuper balivum," — late coppersmith (?) and
late bailiff, respectively, of Wigtown; who. with others, being
sworn, say "magno sacramento interveniento," — that Master
William Gordon, Master William Ferguson, etc., are lawful
possessors of certain lands. [Some say that Magister denotes a
Cleric; others that it is the title of the eldest son of the chief,
or of the eldest brother if the chief has no son].
The sufferings undergone by the MacIan-MacDonalds of
Achtriachtan and Inneriggan in the Massacre of Glencoe, Feb.,
1692, and temporary protection from arrest, etc., are mentioned
in Section III.
The benevolence of Alastair Ban Maclain Ic Uisdein, tacksman
of Heiskir, etc., North Uist, in furnishing a galley full of meal
for the suffering Glencoeman in 1692, has also been alluded to
in the appropriate place.
The MacKains, MacKeans or MacKeands of Elgin are de-
scended from the Maclains of Ardnamurchan, one family of
that house at least having settled in Morayshire, and several
members afterwards becoming merchant burgesses of Elgin, the
first perhaps about 1700. (Clan Donald, III., 553-5).
In Volume X. of the Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland, and
in the year 1701, there is a six-page "RATIFICATION of a Contract
betwixt the Burghs of Glasgow and Dumbartoun anent their
rights & privileges to the river of Clyde;" but it only interests
us because among other names mentioned, is included that of
James Mackean, one of the "persons of the Common Council
of the said Burgh" [of Dumbarton].
In the Appendix to the same volume, and in the same year,
appear several addresses to Parliament, more or less largely
signed, and containing a curious mixture of religion and trade.
The address from the "Shyre of Dumbartoun" bears, among
1701-lS OTHER MCKEANS. 199
other names, that of Thomas McKean of Camsmawn. It sets
forth that certain "misfortuns and other callamities which of
late hath befallen us [were due to] the displeasure of the Almightie
God for the grate immoralities that everie whair abound . . .
to the dishonor of God and our hollie Religione and debauching
the spirits ... of the people. May it tharfor please . . .
Parlement to take some effectuall course for crubing of vice
. . . maintaining the poor . . . and for the incouradgment
of our manufactories at home and carving on our trade abrode
with advantage. And particularlie to lay on such impositions
on French wyne, and brandie, as may be as effectuall as a pro-
hibitione ay and whill we be allowed to export our herings to
France . . . and that all wolen and silke manufactorie from
England be prohibited" . . . etc.
Among the numerous signatures to the petition of the Inhabi-
tants of the City of Glasgow, January 9, 1701, we find that of
William McKeowne "The Address . . . Sheweth, That . . .
wee will not be able to subsist in this place, under our present
Taxes or Stents considering our extraordinary losses dureing the
late warr. May it therfor please . . . Parliament to make such
lawes as your wisdomes shall think fit, for the securitie of the
Protestant Religion and maintaining the Presbeterian Church
Government as it is now established by law, the incouradgement
of piety and vertue, the suppressing of iniquity & vice and to
assert our Companys right to our Collonie of Calledonia in which
so great a pairt of our stock is imployed, and to give such in-
couradgement to our manufactures at home that our poor so very
numberous may be imployed, and to discharge or discouradge
commerce with these Nationes that refuse our herrings & others
the product & manufacture of this Natione & to relive us of
unnecessary Stents & Taxes, And your Petitioners shall ever
pray."
A work which we have not seen, — The Paper Register of the
Great Seal, 1590-1707, is said to contain the pedigrees of such
Scotsmen as served in European armies other than the British.
Among the names on the Judicial Rental of Sir Donald Mac-
donald's estate of North Uist in 1718, are the following : Angus
Mclaian, Patrick McEanduin, Don. Mcilespickvic ean', Don. McCoil
vicean vuy, Finlay Mcean, John McEan Vayne, Rory McOil vice-
2OO OTHER MCKEANS. 1718-73
anduy, John McOil vicean vie uinlay, Annable McEan vie
illimartin ; with lists of places, the money rent generally in merks
or £ Scots, and the rent in kind, generally of victfuals], b[utter]
and meal; also in ells of plaid or blanket. (Clan Donald, III.,
Appendices, 659-662).
About 1 730, Margaret, daughter of the first Macdonald of Sartle
married Alexander Macdonald of the Ardnamurchan family
of Maclan. "This branch probably migrated to the friendly
territory of the kindred clan Uisdein, when adverse fortune,
coupled with Campbell machinations, rendered their native
country unsafe." The son of this couple, Somerled Macdonald,
was a Captain in the British Legion, "and greatly distinguished
himself in the first American War." He married a second wife
at the age of 94, and left three children of this marriage; he
died in 1839, aged 106. (Ibid., III., 532).
Roderick Macdonald, V. of Camuscross and Castleton, about
1734-1790, was known as Ruairidh Maclain, his father's name
being John. (Ibid., III., 520-522).
In 1748 an Act was passed by the British Parliament, abolish-
ing the "Heritable Jurisdiction of the Highland chiefs," i. e.,
the Clan system. This is said to have produced the emigration
between 1763 and 1775, of twenty thousand Highlanders. An-
other exodus followed between 1810 and 1850, owing to lands
being "cleared" for sheep-farms, deer-runs, etc. (Adapted from
What is my Tartan?).
Dr. Samuel Johnson made his "Tour of the Hebrides" in 1773,
and MacLean has noted an amusing incident which may be
condensed as follows: MacLean of Lochbuie finding that the
Doctor was related neither to the "Johnsons" of Ardnamurchan
nor those of Glencoe, exclaimed that he must, in that case, -be
illegitimate! (Hist, of the Clan MacLean). The sesquipedalian
reply of "The Great Bear" is not set forth.
In reference to the view of Loch Achtreachtan, it may be
stated that in the History of the Camerons and that of the Clan
Donald, there are several allusions to MacDonalds of the spot
illustrated, and who were Cadets of the Maclans of Glencoe.
The former authority states that Donald Cameron of Inverailort,
married Helen, daughter of Alexander Macdonald of Achatri-
achtan, Glencoe, with issue eight sons; and Helen, the sixth
1813
OTHER MCKEANS.
20 1
child of Ewen Cameron of Glenlevis, married, early in the last
century, Adam Macdonald of Achtreachtan, Glencoe, with sur-
viving issue, John Cameron, Isabella Jane and Jane Fraser.
Also, about 1813 there were certain Misses MacDonald of
Achtreactain, who were great-granddaughters of a Lady Glen-
levis of whom the following condensed account of a romantic
incident may be allowable. After Culloden, the Mrs. Cameron
in question took refuge in a cave, her house having been burnt
by the troops of the Duke of Cumberland, "The Royal Butcher,"
but was discovered. She refused to tell where she had con-
LOCH ACH-TREACHTEAN. — GLENCOE.
cealed some old silver plate, but one of the soldiers observing
that she evidently had something of value in the bosom of her
dress, cut the latter with the point of his sword, thereby wounding
her infant son in the neck, — for he was her hidden treasure.
History of the Camerons, 392, 3). Achatriechatan has also been
mentioned in the Petition of Jo"hn McDonald of Glencoe, in 1695.
"Other McKeans" of later date in Europe seem few and far
between, and their records perhaps are not of sufficiently striking
importance for us to try the patience of our readers any further.
Of Thomas McKean, The Signer, Member and President of
2O2
OTHER MCKEANS.
1817
Congress, Governor of Pennsylvania, etc., who died in 1817, we
need not write, after the minute and admirable account by Mr.
Roberdeau Buchanan, already referred to, and the copious
extracts in the McKean Genealogies, but we will take the liberty
of presenting his portrait here, so that some more of his country-
men may become familiar with the features of this eminent
American.
The compiler will rest from his labors, but not from lack of
material: — it seems as if "Notes" which might be found suitable,
spring from all manner of sources, and promise to do so almost
without end, while his eldest son has persisted in sending on
tempting discoveries, regardless of the injunction: "Hold!
Enough!" The compiler would suggest to persons who contem-
plate a history of Kanes, O'Canes and other families whose
OTHER MCKEANS. 203
names resemble those forms, that they could not do better than
consult the Annals of Loch Ce for records of the O'Cathains;
and any one in search of a picturesque subject could find it
in Randal McDonnell of Antrim, in some of the other volumes
quoted in these Notes.
Industrious workers with moderate means wishing to bring
into one view a list of modern "sons of John" in the United
States and other countries, with brief mention of the first name,
address and occupation, might begin work at low charge in a
curious and little visited collection of books in New York, known
as Trow's Directory Library; or, if unable to work there per-
sonally, can have notes taken by the Assistants there. These
lists could also be supplemented by examination of many long
catalogues of names in permanent records or in periodical publi-
cations.
GLOSSARY.
In this connection, a few of the differences between Scottish
and English writings will be given, as they may assist some of
our readers : — and may be used for the participial termination ing,
also for ant; es or is for the mark s of the plural ; i for ;', or -vice
-versa; it for ed in verbs and participles ; oun for on; qu for w; u
for oo ; u for v in old print, English as well as Scotch; yfor th, and
z for y; (the two last from their resemblance to Anglo-Saxon
forms of letters). Uniformity of spelling in names or words, is
exceptional; and punctuation in the originals, is generally con-
spicuous by its absence. As to true Scottish words which are
not defined, Jamieson's and other dictionaries will be found
useful; see also specimen in Appendix.
Abbay, abbey.
Abovespeit, above specified.
Abown writtin, above written.
Abowven expremit, above ex-
pressed.
Abrichis, plural of name Abrich.
Acht, Eighth.
Adhibited, attached.
Adminiculating the probation, con-
firming the proof.
Aduise, advice.
Aduocat, advocate.
Advertisement, notice.
Advysing of the probation, consid-
ering the proof.
Aeyr, heir.
Afald and indowtit, sincere and
undoubted.
Aganis, against.
Aill, ale.
206
GLOSSARY.
Air, Ayr, also heir.
Airis, heirs; also oars.
Airt and pairt, accessories and
participants.
Aits, oats.
Als, also.
Als and alse, as.
Alsweill, as well.
Alya, allies?
Amitted, stained.
Ane, one.
Anent, concerning, in reference to.
Anobill, noble.
Aperand aeyr, heir apparent.
Apparent aeyr, heir apparent.
Apprevis, approves.
Armourche, Ardnamurchan.
Asolyeit, absolve, assoilzie.
Assegeit, besieged.
Associacns, associations.
Attour, besides.
Autyrise, authorities.
Availl, value.
Awan, own.
Awaytuke, taken away.
Awise, advice.
Awne, own.
Ay and while, always and while.
Aye, ever.
Aythis, oaths.
Bairns, children.
Band, bonds.
Bandelieris, bandoleers.
Bandis instantlie to be maid, agree-
ment immediately to be made.
Bangs, noisy crowds.
Bath, both.
Bayth, both.
Be, by.
Bearing, setting forth.
Beris, shows, bears.
Beseik, beseech.
Beyne, been.
Biorlin, galley.
Birlinn, galley.
Blair, plain.
Bode, an offer of a price, a bid.
Bodely aythis, personal oaths.
Bodies, people.
Bodin, announcing, threatening.
Boll, a measure of four or six
bushels.
Bonnettis, bonnets, highland caps,
helmets.
Bordouris, borders.
Brayach, braw is worthy, excellent.
Breeks, trowsers, breeches.
Breme, fierce, also famous.
Brigancie, brigandage.
Brim, fierce.
Brocht be, brought by.
Broddit aits, sprouted oats.
Broken and brokin men, belonging
to a clan broken up, or expelled
from a clan, or who had broken
the law.
Brook or joyse, make use of or
enjoy.
Broune in aill, brewed in ale.
Brudr Jarme, brother german.
Bund, bound.
Burgess, inhabitant of a burgh,
and having full municipal rights.
Buttery, storehouse for provisions
or wine.
By, contrary to.
Caces of spuilyie, cases of spolia-
tion.
Caption, arrest.
Caution, bail, security.
Cautioner, one who stands security.
Chalmeilane, chamberlain.
Chaptour, chapter.
Chartulary, record of property in
a monastery.
Clannis, clans.
Clarke, clerk.
Claymore, a two-handed, double-
edged broadsword.
Cleared, made clear.
Coatt, tabard, herald's coat.
Cod, pillow.
GLOSSARY.
207
Collegis, colleagues.
Commorant, residence.
Conipearan'd, appearing.
Conipeirand, appearing.
Coniperit, appeared.
Competent, belonging.
Com plena iris, complainers.
Complicum suorum, their accom-
plices.
Composition, modified payment.
Conquising, conquering.
Contemption, contempt.
Contrar of ye sammyn, contrary of
the same.
Convocate, convoked, called to-
gether.
Creach, a highland raid.
Credill, cradle?
Crick, a fine.
Croce, cross.
Cropis, crops?
Crubing, curbing?
Culverins, very long pieces of early
ordnance.
Cum, come.
Cumand, coming.
Damnified, injured.
Dang, dash.
Dawing, dawn.
Dearg, red.
Decern, decree.
Decreet and decreit, decreed.
Defenders, defendants.
Deid, dead.
De'il. devil.
Delett out, stricken out.
Dempster, an official who repeated
the doom or sentence of a court.
Deponed, testified, deposed.
Deputtis, deputies.
Designed, designated.
Deulie, duly.
Deuties, dues?
Deyn of Morwarne, Dean of Mor-
vern.
Direct, directed, addressed.
Discovery, finding (in law).
Disorderit, disorderly.
Displayed coatt, official tabard of
the herald.
Dispone, grant, dispose of property.
Ditment, diction.
Diuers, divers, several.
Dorlache, dagger; also bag.
Dorlich, dagger.
Double, copy.
Dowble heirof, duplicate or copy
of this.
Doubtit, formidable, redoubted.
Doyne, done.
Duellis, dwell.
Duelt, dwelt.
Duplin, dappled.
Durkis, dirks.
Duvege and glenes, Dunevaig and
the Glinns.
Dwelland, dwelling.
Edr, Edinburgh.
Elne, ell, the measure, 37 inches
Scots.
Ergyle, Argyle.
Eschaiped, escaped.
Escheit, escheat, to confiscate the
estate of.
Estaittis, estates.
Euin, eve.
Excressant, accruing.
Expede, hastened, expedited.
Expremit, expressed.
Eycht, eight.
Fader, father.
Farder, further.
Fencible men, men capable of
bearing arms.
Far within, far inland.
Fermis, farms.
Fermorer in keatuall, farmer in
Keathvale.
Fermour, farmer.
Feu, duty, rent paid for lands held
in agricultural service.
208
GLOSSARY.
Fforsamekill, forasmuch (for as
mickle).
Find caution, give security.
Folow, attend.
For, as.
Forbears, ancestors.
Forefaulted, forfeited.
Forfaulting, forfeiting.
Forfaulturis, forfeitures.
Fornamed, aforementioned.
Fowk, folk.
Fra, from.
Freris, friars.
Friggotts, frigates.
Frustrat, made void, deprived of.
Fuiz, son. (Old French).
Fundin, proving, finding, estab-
lished.
Furder, further.
Gaed, went.
Gaeidhel, Gaels.
Gaiff, gave.
Gailley, galley, large boat.
Galays, galleys.
Gert, caused.
Gillie, servant.
Gin, if, (given that).
Glehes, the Glinns, valleys.
Gnall, general.
Gossiprede, relationship of a spon-
sor.
Gowd, gold.
Grite nowmer of his ky, great num-
ber of his cows, kine.
Grittar, greater.
Guid, good.
Gyffand, giving.
Hagbutis, harquebusses, heavy
hand-guns.
Haif, have.
Hail, whole of, all, entire.
Haill houssis, all of his houses.
Had, hand.
Handit, handed.
Hatraund, hatred.
Havand, having.
Havelie, heavily.
Hedit, beheaded.
Heigh, high.
Heirschippis, ruin, wrecking of
property.
Heritable, capable of inheriting.
Herschip, cattle-raising.
Hes, has.
Hes duelt, have dwelt.
Hethe, has, hath.
Hienes, Highness.
HonoH, honorable.
Horn, horning, put to the horn,
requiring payment of fines within
a limited time.
Hosting, gathering of armed men.
Hous, house.
Houssis, houses.
Hundreth, hundred.
Ic, 'ic, for vie, son.
Ilk, each, every.
Ilkane, each one.
Impe, (probably e), impend, sus-
pend over.
Incompulsit, uncompelled.
Incuntrey, inland.
Indorsit, endorsed.
Indowtit, undoubted.
Infestimentis, investings with lands,
ngynis, instruments, engines.
Insight and plenishings, appoint-
ments, household furniture.
Insulands, Islanders.
Intertenyit, entertained, engaged
in battle.
Intromettit, dealing by an agent
in the property of a principal.
Inver-, a meeting of waters.
lugment, judgment.
Jarme, german (relationship).
Joyse, enjoy.
Justiciar, chief justice.
Keatuall, Keathvale?
GLOSSARY.
209
Kend, known.
Kirks, churches.
Knokferguse, Kno^kfergus.
Kye, cattle, kine.
Kyn, kindred, kin.
Kynnismen, kinsmen.
Kyth, appear, show.
Laird, lord, proprietor of land,
landlord.
La Ruchele, Rochelle
Lauchfull, lawful.
Lawborris, security not to injure.
Lesematie, leze-majesty.
Lieutenandry, lieutenancy, place
of a superior.
Lieges, vassals.
Liffis, lives.
Likelie, well-favored, likely.
Lining, linen.
Lo, lordships.
Locumtenant, substitute, holding
the place.
Lybell, declaration.
Lybilled, published.
Lykmaner, like manner.
Lyon deputt, deputy Lion- King
at-arms.
Maharaja, a Hindoo great prince.
Macer, macebearer, an officer who
executes the orders of a court.
Mailis and maills, taxes.
Mair, more
Maist, most.
Manrent, homage of various kinds
to a superior.
Masterfully, by force.
Maties, majesty's.
Mears, mares.
Menes, purposes.
Mercat, market.
Merk, Scottish mark, about i~,\
cents, former value much greater.
Milknes, milkings.
Mirk, dark, murk.
Missive, letter, sent, writing.
Monie, many.
Monrois, Montrose.
More be him, besides.
Moritur, dies.
Morwarne, Morvern.
Murray, Morayshire or Elgin.
Murriones, morions, open helmets.
Nin, Neyn, etc., daughter.
Nocht, not.
Notar, notary.
Nottourly, notoriously.
Nowmer, number.
Obleidge, obligate, bind.
Onis, once.
Otheris, other (plural).
Overhead, per head.
Out, under arms against the gov-
ernment.
Owte, Outer (Isles), The Hebrides.
Pairt, participants.
Pairtis, parts.
Parliat, parliament.
Passand throcht, passing through.
Passit, went, passed.
Payt, payment.
Pearth, Perth.
Peasche, peace.
Pees, peace.
Pene, pen.
Pensioun, pension.
Persewed, prosecuted, sued.
Persewer, plaintiff.
Pertenying, belonging to, purtain-
ing to.
Plas, place.
Plenishing, household furniture.
Pnt., present.
Pntlie, duellis, at present dwell. •
Poinding, tax of a certain rate per
pound.
Practick, practice.
Pranfato, wounding, hurting, (pran
and facere).
Prayand, praying.
2IO
GLOSSARY.
Presentis, presents.
Presoned, imprisoned.
Principalem, chief.
Probation,' proof , act of proving.
Procurator and Procuratour, proc-
ton,or -solicitor.
Promit and Promittis, promise and
promises.
Publict, public.
Pundis, pounds.
Qr, where.
Qrby, whereby.
Quhair and Quhar, where.
Quhen, when.
Quhome on, on whom.
Quick, pregnant.
Quoye, cow.
Qwhilk, who, which.
Raisit, served, raised.
Red, advice.
Reft, deprived of, bereaved.
Regior, for regiorum (of royal).
Remanent, remaining.
Resett, resetting, ressett; received,
receiving.
Reuerend, reverend.
Rewis, lanes? (rues?)
Rextive, respective.
Ruf, roof.
Sa fer, so far.
vSadis, said (plural).
vSafties, safety.
Saidis clannis, said clans.
Salbe thocht, shall be thought.
Samine, sammyn, samyng; same
(sometimes plural).
Sanctandrois, Saint Andrew's.
Sarkis, shirts.
Sasine, sasyne, seizin, giving legal
possession.
Schawes, shows
Schir, Sir.
Schyppis, ships.
Scoir, twenty, a score.
Seannachaid, bard.
Sederunt, session (of Parliament).
Seill, seal. .
Seised, seized; seized, invested with
possession.
Seizin, possession.
Sekyrness, safety, security.
Serndle, sendle ; seldom.
Sennachie, bard.
Servardis, servants.
Severall, individual, separate.
Sevin scoir of pundis, seven score
pounds.
Sext, sixth.
Seyf, self.
Shealings, shepherds' or drovers'
rude huts.
Sicklykeand Siclyke, in like manner.
Sic subscribitur, signed thus.
Simpliciter, simply, absolutely.
Sin,' since.
Skirl, to shriek shrilly (said of the
bagpipe) .
Slachter, slaughter.
Sornaris, pi. of sorner, these who
obtain food or lodging by threat.
Sowme, sum.
Sowrname, surname.
Soytour, shoemaker.
Sparwort, canopy?
Speale, special?
Spraig or sprainge, stripe or streak.
Spuilyie and spuilying, raiding.
spoiling one of.
Srefdome of air, sheriffdom of Ayr.
Stadio, probably for statio, resi-
dence.
Statute, enacted by statute.
Steil bonnettis, steel helmets.
Stent, assessment for taxing.
Stirk, heifer.
Straitit, hard put, straitened.
Strength, stronghold.
Strowan, stream, etc., streamy,
abounding in streams.
Stuffing, crowding.
GLOSSARY.
211
Subscribitur, signed, written under.
Subscryveing, subscribing, signing.
Sumondis, summons.
Supplicant, petitioner.
Supplication and supplicatioun,
petition.
Surnawm, surname.
Suthe, truth, sooth.
Swne, son.
Swordis, swords.
Swore, sworn.
Syne, since, afterward.
Tack, tacks, leases, steeding-rooms,
farm-houses.
Tacksman, lessee or tenant of a
large landed proprietor.
Tairgis, targets, shields.
Takand, taking.
Tane, taken.
Target, shield.
Taxt, contribution.
Tauld, t9ld.
Tayne, the one.
Tent, tainted, also attention.
Teyndis, tithes.
Thair, their.
The Forty-five, the rebellion of
1745-
Thenemyes, the enemy (plural).
Ther, there, at the place last named.
Thereanent, in reference to.
Thesaurer, treasurer.
Thevis, thieves.
Theyme, them.
Tho, though.
Thocht, thought.
Thre, three.
Threidis, threads.
Thrid and thridlie, third, thirdly.
Throcht, through.
Thwa or thre schyppis, two or
three ships.
Till, to.
Tint, lost.
Tocher, dower.
Tolbooth or tolbuith of Pearth, the
Perth prison.
Toshach, military leader.
Toties quoties, as often, so often,
each time (the offence is com
mitted) .
Toure, tower.
Tract, duration.
Tressone, treason.
Trews, trowsers.
Tua handit swordis, two-handed
swords.
Tutor, guardian.
Twetching, touching.
Uaine, green (plaid).
Umquhile, formerly, late.
Unce, ounce.
Unco, remarkably, very.
Underly, undergo.
Under trust, confiding, unsuspect-
ing.
Utheris their collegis, others their
colleagues.
Utherwyis, otherwise.
Vastation, devastation.
Vc and Vic, son.
Wachis, wages.
Wald nocht compere to folow.
would not appear to attend.
Wapenschawings, inspections, wea-
pon-showings.
War, worse.
Ware, wary.
Warrand, authority.
Wear and weare, war.
Weiring, wearing or warring?
Werray, very.
Weschell, vessels.
Whilk, which.
Wicht awise, with advice.
Withinwrin, within written.
Wmquhyill, formerly, late.
Wncoakit, unconstrained.
Wnto, unto
212
GLOSSARY.
Wrangwise, wrongful.
Wrongously, wrongfully.
Wrychtis, wrights, workmen.
Wryt and Wrytte, writing.
Ws, us.
Wt, with.
Wther, other.
Yair awin, their own.
Yair by, thereabouts.
Yame, them.
Ye, the.
Yeiris and Yeirs, years .
Yir . . presentis, these . . presents.
Yis..wryt, this, .writing.
Yor, your.
Ys, is.
Zeir and Zeirly, year and yearly.
Zour, your.
APPENDICES.
THE NAME DONALD.
Some forms in which the name (Mac) Donald has been written,
may be of interest. Donald is said to mean "proud chief,"
O'Hart says it is from "world and all," in the sense of "mighty;"
the Revs. A. Macdonalds say the oldest form is Domvall = Dumno
Valdos, "a world wielder;" a more commonplace derivation is
•'brown man," or, according to Lower, "brown-eyed."
McChonell*
McCoynell.
McDonell.
McDouevald.
McCoil.
Me Daniel.
McDoneuall.
McDouenhal.
McComnaill.
McDhomhnaill.
McDonewaldus.
McDovenal.
McConaill.
McDhonell.
McDonil.
McDovenald.
McConald.
McDofnald.
McDonill.
McDownale.
McConall.
McDolfnal.
McDonivaldus.
McDownill.
McConeill.
McDomhnail.
McDonnalds.
McDufnal.
McConel.
McDomhnaill.
Mcdonnall.
McDuf-njall.
McConell.
McDomhnail.
McDonnell.
McDuneval.
McConil.
McDomnaill.
McDonnghal.
Me Dun wall.
McConill.
McDomnal.
McDonnill.
McKonnel.
McConnail.
McDomnaldus.
McDonold.
Mcodonill.
McConnaill.
McDomnall.
McDonuill.
McO'Donnel.
McConnal.
McDompnayll.
McDonull.
McOdonyll.
McConnald
McDonald.
McDonvalle.
McOnell.
McConnail.
McDonall.
McDonwal.
McWhannel.
McConnell.
McDonayll.
McDonyll.
McWhannell.
McConnill.
McDoneill.
McDopnalde.
etc., etc.
The local titles of some MacDonalds.
i
These are arranged alphabetically : in antiquity the Ardnamur-
chan and Glencoe families are respectively, gth and loth in Clan
Donald, but as MacDonalds they are in the 2nd and 3rd genera-
tions.
* The occasional confusion of Conaill and Domhnaill is explained in the
Annals of Loch Ce, as arising from the aspiration of the first letter of the
name "Domhnaill," which is hardly sounded in the pronunciation of the
name, and the attraction over, of the c of Mac.
2I4
MACDONALDS.
Aberarder.
Aberchalder.
Dalness. Lochgarry.
Drimore. Lundie.
Achnancoichean.
Dunach. Macheachan.
Achtriachtan.
Aird and Vallay.
Antrim.
Ardnabie.
Ardnam urchan .
Dunnyveg and the Milton.
Glens. Morar.
East Sheen. Murlagan.
Fersit. Ostaig and Capstill.
Gellovie. Peninuren.
Balishan.
Geridhoil in Uist. Rammerscales.
Balranald.
Barisdale.
Glenaladale. Rigg and Balvicquean.
Glencoe and Cadets. Sanda.
Belfinlay.
Benbecula.
Bohuntin.
Boisdale.
Glengarry.
Glenmore.
Greenfield.
Heisker and Skaebost.
Sartle.
Scothouse (and Scot-
us?)
Shian.
Bornish.
Herraich.
Sleat.
Camuscross and Cas-
tleton.
Howbeg and Glenuig.
Inch.
Staffa.
Tirnadrish.
Castle Camus.
Invercoe.
Totamurich and
Clanranald.
Clianaig.
Colonsay.
Cuidreach.
Culachie.
Keppoch.
Killichonate.
Kilmore.
Kingsburgh.
Kinlochmoidart.
Knock.
Totscor, Bernisdale
and Scalpay.
Tullieb.
Tulloch.
Cranachan.
Dalchosnie.
Dalelea>v ?
Dalily > '
Knoydart.
Largie (and Largo?).
Leek.
Lochalsh.
Tullocherom.
Tynekill.
Waternish.
etc., etc.
RANALD.
Some forms of the name entering into the title Clanranald,
which Clan became the refuge of some Maclains of Ardnamurchan.
Rignold.
Rinaldo.
Rinnell.
Rinnyll.
Ronald.
Ronall.
Ronnald.
Rynnell.
etc.
Raghnall.
Rannall.
Reignold.
Ranald.
Ranulph.
Reinald.
Ranall.
Ranulphus.
Reinhold.
Randal.
Raonaill.
Reinold.
Randell.
Raoniull.
Reinwald.
Randle.
Raonuill.
Renaud.
Randolfo.
Raonull.
Renyll.
Randolph. Reginald.
Reynaldo.
Randolphe.
Reginaldus.
Reynaldos.
Randulph.
Regnall.
Reynaldus.
Ranell.
Regnauld.
Reynold.
Rannald.
Regnault.
Reynolde.
O'CAHAN. — MCKEANS.
215
It may mean "strong ruler," "kingly," or "house-[or red-]
wolf," according as it is referred to one or other of three alleged
derivations, for it appears in Teutonic and Latin forms also.
O'CAHAN. A few variations of this name.
Cachain.
Cahan.
Caichan.
Cain.
Caine.
Cane.
Gahan.
Gethan.
Kane.
Kean.
O'Cahaine
Keane.
O'Cahan.
Keen.
O'Cahane.
Keene.
O'Cahen.
Kyan.
MacCahan.
O'Cain.
O'Cane.
MacKahan.
O'Caane.
O'Canyn.
O'Cathain.
O'Caen.
O'Chan.
O'Chane.
O'Kahan.
O'Kane.
O'Kean.
O' Keane.
O'Keen.
O' Keene.
i O'Keine.
etc.
Lower gives cain, Gaelic, beloved. Skene considers O'Cane
equivalent to Cathan or Chattan. O'Hart says the name is
from cath. battle, and an "one who" [joins in it]; also that O'Neill
of Tyrone (of the Nine Hostages), is said to be the ancestor of
the O'Cathains, and he is held to have been King of Ireland
in the 4th century. The de Caens, de Caynes, de Keynes, de
Cahaignes, etc., are evidently French and local, — i. e., from
places of those names.
MCKEANS (?).
The following Table, compiled from many sources, old and
recent, will indicate some of the supposed Gaelic and Celtic
equivalents of the patronymic "Son of John," either in meaning
or in form. If the various affixes fil, Fitz, O', Vic, etc., and the
suffixes son, sohn, zoun, ez, ski, vitch, etc., in different languages,
were added, the list might be greatly extended.
McAchen (i, 4).
McAchin (i, 4).
McAegan (2).
McAhan (6).
McAin.
McAine (3).
McAkane (i, 4).
Me An.
McAne.
McAnebane (37).
McAneny? (36).
McAnn.
Me Anna (5).
McAnney?
McAnroe (18).
McAntailyour (20).
McAny (5).
McAuin (n).
McAwan (n).
McAyne.
McCachane (r,
McCaghen (2).
McCahan (6).
McCahane (6).
4).
2l6
MCKEANS (?)
McCahen (6).
McCahin (6).
McCahn (6).
McCahon (6).
McCain.
McCaine.
McCainze (7).
McCame (22).
McCamey (22).
McCan.
McCana.
McCane.
McCaney.
McCann.
McCanna.
McCany.
McCanney (5).
McCanye.
McCanys.
McCanze (7).
McCanzie (7).
McCaughan (2).
McCaughen (2).
McCavan (8).
McCavins (8).
McCawan.
McCeane (9).
McCewin (12, 26).
McCewn, (12, 26).
McCewntailor (20).
McChain (10).
McChan (10?).
McChann (10?).
McCheyne (10).
McCheon.
McCiochain (i, 2).
McCoan (8).
McCoane (8).
McCon (8, 29).
McCone (8).
McConn (8).
McCoon (8).
McCoun (8).
McCowan (n).
McCowane (n).
McCowen (n).
McCowin (u).
McCown (n).
McCoyn (8).
McCoyne (8).
McCuean (12).
McCuen (12).
McCughen (2)
McCuin (12).
McCuinn (12).
McCune (12).
McCuney.
McCunn.
McCuny.
McEachan (i).
McEachen (2).
McEachin (i).
McEagan (2).
McEaghan (2).
McEan.
McEanair (13).
McEancheir (14).
McEandecheir (14).
McEandoyn (15).
McEanduy (15).
McEane.
McEaney.
McEanruig (18).
McEanvoy.
McEanwiehts (17?).
McEanyre.
McEayne.
McEgan (2).
McEgane (2).
McEgen (2).
McEggan? (2).
McEn.
McEnay? (5).
McEndow (15).
McEnenane (30).
McEnereogh (18).
McEnn.
McEnroe (18).
McEoain (n).
McEogain (2).
McEogan (2).
McEoghain (2).
McEoin (32).
McEoune.
McEowen.
McEvan.
McEven (8).
McEvene (8).
McEveny (8).
McEwan (12).
McEwen (26).
McEwin (26).
McEwine (26).
McEwing (26).
McEwn (26).
McEwne (26).
McEwoen ( 1 1 ) .
McEwyn, (26).
McEwyne (26).
McGaan.
McGachan (i, 2).
McGachen (i, 2).
McGachin (i, 2).
McGahan.
McGahen.
McGain.
McGan.
McGane.
McGann.
McGany.
McGaun (i i).
McGavin (8).
McGawen ( 1 1 ) .
McGeachan (i, 2).
McGeachin (i, 2).
McGean.
McGechan (i, 2).
McGeean.
McGeehan (6).
McGeehen (6).
McGeehin (6).
McGeen.
McGeeney ?
McGehan (6).
McGehean.
McGeiann.
McGeihen.
McGein.
McGenn.
McGeon.
McGeown (n).
MCKEANS (?)
2I7
McGeyann.
McGhan.
McGheen.
McGiane.
McGiann.
McGiehan (6).
McGien.
McGin.
McGing.
McGinn.
McGinney? (5).
McGoane (8).
McGoens (n).
McGone (8, 29).
McGouan (8).
McGoun (8).
McGowan (n).
McGowen (u).
McGowin (u).
McGown (n).
McGowne (n).
McGuan (26).
McGuane (26).
McGuegan (2).
McGuigan (2).
McGuighan (2).
McGuine (12).
McGuinn (12).
McGun.
McGune (12).
McGuown (n).
McGyn.
McHagan.
McHahan (6).
McHain.
McHan.
McHaney (5).
McHaon?
McHean.
McHegan (2).
McHen.
McHon (29).
McHune (12).
Mclain.
Mclaine.
Mclan.
Mclanduy (15).
Mclan voy (16).
Mcln.
Mclnabrich (17).
Mclndie (15).
Mclndoe (15).
Mclndow (15).
Mclndoy (15).
Mclnerney?
Mclnery (18?).
Mclnir (13).
Mclnnis? (19).
Mclnroth (18).
Mclnroy (18).
Mclnrye (18).
Mclntaillour (20).
Mclntailyeour (20).
Mclntaylor (20).
Mclnturff?
Mclntyn.
Mclnvoy (16).
Mclonack (33).
Mclonick (33).
Mclonin (21).
Mclonnicke (33).
Mclyn.
Mcjain.
Me Jan.
Mcjeane.
Me John.
Mcjonnin?
Mcjoyn.
McKaane.
McKachane (i, 2).
McKahan (6).
McKahin (6).
McKahn (6).
McKahon (6).
McKain.
McKaine.
McKainie (5).
McKainze (7).
McKainzie (7).
McKame, 22.
McKand.
McKandy (15).
McKane.
McKann.
McKanne (5).
McKany (5).
McKauny (23).
McKavan (8).
McKayn.
McKayne.
McKeachan (i).
McKeachin (i).
McKeagan (2).
McKeaghan (2).
McKean.
McKeand.
McKeane.
McKeanfoyle (16?)
McKeang.
McKeanna (5).
McKeanne (5?).
McKeanoig (24).
McKeany.
McKeanyeochsoun(a5).
McKechin (i).
McKechine (i).
McKechnie (i, 5).
McKeegan (2).
McKeehan (6).
McKeem (27).
McKeen.
McKeenan (30).
McKeener.
McKeeny.
McKeeon (6).
McKegan (2).
McKegen (2).
McKeggan (2).
McKehan (6).
McKeigan (2).
McKeigane (2).
McKeighan (2).
McKeighane (2).
McKeighon (2).
McKeigney (5).
McKein.
McKeine.
McKeinezie? (7).
McKeithen (34).
McKen.
McKena (5).
218
MCKEANS (?)
McKenane (30).
McKichen (i). McMakyn (28).
McKenay (5).
McKiegan (2).
McMechan (28).
McKene.
McKien.
McMechin (28).
McKeneya (5?)-
McKigan (2).
McMeekan (28).
McKeneye (5).
McKigane (2).
McMeeken (28).
McKenna (5).
McKiggin (2).
McMeekin (28).
McKenney (5).
McKigin (2).
McMeeking (28).
McKenny (5).
McKign (2).
McMeichan (28).
McKenroth (18).
McKikan (4).
McMeichen (28).
McKenyee.
McKim (27).
McMeikan (28).
McKenzie (7).
McKimm (27).
McMeiking (28).
McKeoan (n).
McKitnmie (27).
McMichan (28).
McKeochan (i, 2).
McKin.
McMickan (28).
McKeohan (6).
McKinder (15).
McMicken (28).
McKeon. McKiney.
McOine (n).
McKeone.
McKinn.
McOne (i i, 29).
McKeoner.
McKinney (5).
McOnie.
McKeonyn (21?).
McKinroth (18).
McOwan (i i).
McKeoun.
McKithan (34).
McOwen.
McKeoune.
McKoen (n).
McOwenan (30).
McKeowane (n).
McKon (29).
McOwin (n).
McKeowen (n).
McKone (n).
McOwine (n).
McKeown (n).
McKoon (n).
McOwne (n).
McKeowne (n).
McKoun (n).
McOwyne (n).
McKethan (34).
McKowan (n).
McQuain (12)
McKeuan (25).
McKowen (i i).
McQueen (12).
McKeune (26).
McKown (i i).
McQueeney?
McKevaine (8).
McKowne (n).
McQueine (12).
McKevan (8).
McKowyne? (i i).
McQuen (12).
McKeven (8).
McKuen (12).
McQuenn (12).
McKeveny (8).
McKuhn (12).
McQuewan (26).
McKevine (8).
McKune (12).
McQuhan (6, 26).
McKewan (26).
McKunn (12). McQuhen (6, 26).
McKewen (26).
McKyan. McQuhenze (6, 7).
McKewin (26).
McKygan (2).
McQuhin (6, 26).
McKewn (26).
McKyn.
McQuhune (6, 26)
McKewne (26).
McKynna (5).
McQuhyn (6, 26).
McKewonan? (30).
McKynne (5).
McQuigin (2, 12)
McKeygan (2).
McKynny (5).
McQuin (12).
McKeyhone (6).
McLean? (35).
McQuinn (12).
McKeyn.
McMachan ('28).
McQune (12).
McKeyne.
McMachen (28).
McQuoin (n).
McKeynie (5).
McMachin (28).
McQuown (n).
McKhan.
McMakane (28).
McQuoyn (n).
McKian.
McMakene (28).
McQuyn (12).
McKianny (5?).
McMakin (28).
McQuyne (12).
McKichan (i).
McMaking (28).
McQuynn (12)
MCKEANS (?) 219
McShane (31). McUin (26).
McShawn (31), etc. McUine (26).
MclJeen (12). McUny (26?).
McUen (26). McVcane (28).
McWaen (i i).
McWay ne ( 1 1 ?) .
McYeone (11?)
etc., etc.
i. ch is often silent; Kechin is also said to be one of the forms for Hector
2. When not from Eoghain, Owen or John, it is sometimes perhaps from
eoghain, a young warrior; but g and gh are often silent, as in Geogheghan
Callaghan, etc., so that these names may belong here; the McEgans "may
be the clan Aedhagain," but that appears to be simply Hugh-Owen; Ea-
chann is also said to mean a lover of horses. 3. As a female name, this is
a form of Hannah. 4. Possibly for McO'Kane,- — such combinations were
not unknown. 5. McAnna, McKenna, etc., like McAny, McKany, etc.?
McKechnie is said to be son of a horseman ; McKenna is claimed to be from
ionach, a dirk, but under date 1550, we have mention of Makkany of Ardna-
murchan, which points to McKane, "the son of John." 6. h being an aspi-
rate or breathing, is negligible in many names. 7. z was often written for
y, so that these forms may have been originally the same as McEany, Me.
Keany, etc.; the spellings McCanye, McKenyee, etc., give color to this
theory. 8. It may be questioned if these names should be included, as they
may be derived from caomhan, a noble person; and yet the T in Dovenald
was softened to / in Dofnald, and (with w in some forms), dropped in Donald;
besides which, if taken to be forms of McEvan, they have right of entry
by meaning, if not form. 9. r hard, like k, though possibly Anglicized in
some cases to McSeney, etc.; the list from 1545 to 1604, note h, shows that
McCeane is equivalent to McEan, McEane, and, McEwne. 10. Perhaps
soft, and pronounced McShane, which, however, also means "son of John."
11. Apparently McOwen, "son of John," though some are claimed to belong
to class 8, and McGowan and its corruptions may mean "son of the smith. ''
12. A few of these are said to be from ceann, a head, but may, occasionally
at least, be spellings of McEwan, etc., meaning "son of John;" Queen has
been given as equivalent to Sweene, (Norwegian, Sweyn) ; and Quin is said
to be from Irish, Con. 13. Shortened to McNair, McNeir, etc.? 14. Indexed
Keir [or Kerr], and would probably now be written with a hyphen, — McEan-
Keir. 15. Must be for McKean Dow, the dark. 16. Probably Mclan Boy,
the yellow (haired?). 17. Mclan Abrich? From residence in Lochaber. 18.
McKean Roy, the red; one family of Mclnroy has "a lymphad in full sail
sable," in the arms; McEanruig has been corrupted into McHenry.
19. Mclnnis, McGinness, etc., are also said to be from MacAonghais,
or Angus; or else from a word for island. 20. One old Index explains Mc-
antailyour as "McAn, tailor," but Mclntailyeout and McCewntailor also
appear, so they may denote marriage alliances, which wouldjiow be hyphen-
ated,— McKean-Tailor, etc. Some Camerons were known as Maclntaylors
afterwards Taylor, and descended from a celebrated warrior-tailor in the
i6th century. 21. These may be nuasi English forms of a diminutive,
22. Appear as alternative forms of McCane and McKane, under the dates
22O AN OLD DOCUMENT.
1557 and 1601. 23. Probably another name, now spelt McConaughy, Mc-
Conichie, etc., and meaning "son of Duncan?" 24. McKean oig would be
the younger, or the son; therefore the grandson of Ian, and equivalent in
form to O'Cahan, O'Kane, etc. 25. This extraordinary combination seems
to mean Mac-Ian-oig-son, i. e., the great grandson of John. 26. McEwan,
and see 12. 27. We have noted in 22, that m and n are sometimes interchange-
able here, as in other names. 28. Possibly equivalent in some cases to Mc-
McKane, — such forms were met with occasionally; the McMahons, etc.,
probably mean "son of the bear," there was also a Saint Michan. 29.
o long. 30. an as a Celtic termination sometimes means an individual, or
"one who" (possessed the attribute, etc., expressed in the rest of the name).
31. McShane, Shaen, Shean, Shine, Shawn, etc., are Irish forms of (the son
of) John. 32. Eoain equals Hoan or John. 33. Perhaps from ionach, a
dirk. 34. th sounded like h. 35. We have seen under date 1411, that Mac-
Clean, McLean, etc., was originally MacGilla-Eoin, the "son of the follower
of (Saint) John." 36. May be from eineach, affability. 37. Bane, yellow
(haired?).
AN OLD DOCUMENT.
In Clan Donald there are reproduced several charters and
letters which are only a little less mysterious to the ordinary
layman than some of the Egyptian papyri recently made familiar
to us.
The Washington collection alluded to in our Introduction
also contains some interesting reproductions of old writings.
We wish we could photograph a certain document among those
in the Register of the Great Seal of the Kings of the Scots, and
produce it in exact fac-simile, in order that our readers might
see a short and much easier specimen of legal writing of the
times in question. The reproduction of a copy in script, on
the following page, may give some idea of what the genuine
student of some ancient documents should be prepared to en-
counter; and when the writing is on curled, mouldy, torn parch-
ments; in obsolete languages, and in the differing hands of
numerous scriveners, each of whom had his peculiarities, "short
cuts" and abbreviations in the performance of his more or less
perfunctory duties, we may well be grateful for the learning,
patience and skill exercised by modern scholars, to give us so
many interpretations which can be " understanded of the people."
Our specimen follows, first as in the original, next without
abbreviations, and lastly translated into modern legal English.
AN OLD DOCUMENT. 221
MCCC vi _ *v. 0. MGCCCXXI y.
c^Ctrt^/yjt^^ tX<rv*y-£~ «^-t-m-c. «-*Vf. I. J5~.
L<jxx-i,
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^
First. — Expanding the foregoing to eliminate the old legal
contractions, and using modern letters and punctuation, it
becomes :
"Carta Willielmi Maceoune.
Robertus [dei gratia Rex Scotorum] et cetera. Sciatis nos
dedisse, concessisse, et hac pra?senti Carta nostra confirmasse
Willielmo dicto Maceoun dilecto et fideli nostro pro homagio et
servicio suo, decem libratas terre cum pertinenciis ; que fuerunt
Ingerami Cnouut et Johannis de Weston, in tenemento de Mer-
tone. Tenende et habende dicto Willielmo et heredibus suis de
nobis et heredibus nostris in feodo et hereditate; libere quiete
plenarie et honorifice, cum omnibus libertatibus, commoditatibus,
222 AN OLD DOCUMENT.
aysiamentis et justis pertinenciis suis. Faciendo inde nobis et
heredibus nostris dictus Willielmus et heredes sui servicium
debitum et consuetum tempore bone memorie domini Alexandri
Regni Scotise [Regis Scotorum?] predecessoris nostri ultimo
defuncti. In cujus rei [testimonio ?] et cetera."
Second. — Which, beginning overleaf, may be freely translated
as follows:
Register of the Great Seal of the Kings of the Scots; preserved
in the Public Archives. A. D. 1306 — A. D. 1424.
Register of Robert the First. Roll I., Section 15. Roxburgh-
shire.
"Charter of William MacEoun.
Robert, [by the grace of God King of the Scots], etc. Know
ye, that we give, grant, and by this our present Charter do con-
firm to our beloved and faithful the said William MacEoun for
his homage and service, ten librates* of land with the appur-
tenances; which belonged to Ingeramus Knowtf and to John
of Weston, in the tenement of Merton. To the said William
and his heirs to hold and to have from us and our heirs in fief
and heirship; in free, full and honorable quiet; with all their
privileges, benefits, easements and lawful appurtenances. The
said William and his heirs henceforth rendering to us and our
heirs the service owed and customary in the time of the lord
Alexander King of Scotland, of good memory, our predecessor
lately deceased. In testimony whereof and so forth." [we have
caused the Great Seal to be attached?].
As this is one of the first documents in the reign of Robert
Bruce, its date can not be far from 1306; it is certainly older
than 1329, the end of said reign.
Third. — Those who are in doubt whether Maceoune could be
an old form of McKean, are probably correct, and yet they may
* The exact extent of a librate is probably unknown at present; some
writers say any amount free (libera) from services to the superior; others
affirm that it is so much land that the yearly value of it amounted to nomi-
nally one pound (libra) of silver in weight. When it is added that land
measurements and pound values differed in Scotland, England and in some
shires of each, the uncertainty may be appreciated. See Dove's Domesday
Studies and other Works.
t This looks like Knut or Canute, — a Danish rather than a Scottish name
and probably became Knott in more modern times.
AN OLD DOCUMENT, ETC. 223
be reminded that the Mac seems evident, though this would be
one of the earliest instances of that spelling, ancient documents
(Celtic ones at least) being oftener found with "mic," denoting
son. (But note Donald McCan, 1305). Passing to eoune, which
we would now write Eoune, — critics will remember that every
Scottish spelling of a town ("ton" in modern local names) was
in old times toun, i. e., oun is equivalent to on. If, furthermore,
we conclude that the final e, which is not written but indicated
by the mark over the n, was either silent, or was a concession
to the ending of a supposed genitive or dative case in the Latin
version of the name, we might, if other circumstances did not
forbid, feel tolerably assured that Maceoune equals McEon, a
spelling of McKean which may be found in old lists, modern
directories or other collections of names.
It should be stated however, as possibly bearing upon the
name in the foregoing document, that in the Registrum Palatinum
Dunelmense [The Register of Richard de Kellawe, Lord Palatine
and Bishop of Durham], four bulky octavo volumes in Latin,
1311-16, there is a petition in 1314,, of Ralph le Maceon and
Emma his wife, relative to lands in Seggefeld ; but there again
the "le" before this name, (which was also spelt about that
period, Macoon, Machun, Macun, Mascun, le Massun and de
Mazun), and the persons and lands being in England, indicate
a different family in the latter case, — apparently one of those
now called Mason.
Before leaving the Charter given above, the subject of abbre-
viations may be alluded to: a short list of the most common
ones occurs in the Introduction to the Rotuli Litterarum Clausa-
rum,* and 130 pages in double-column can be found in Vol. IV.
of the Reg. Pal. Dun., just mentioned; but the thorough searcher
should be familiar with The Record Interpreter by Chas. T. Martin,
(London, 1892), and perhaps with Court Hand Restored, by
Andrew Wright.
* Close Rolls, i. e., documents of a private nature, as opposed to Patent
or public records.
224 MUSIC.
Music.
The Macdonalds' Gathering has five stanzas of eight lines each ;
the part which may interest our readers is :
"Gather, brave clan Donuil,
Many sons of might you know ;
Lenochan's your brother,
Auchterechtan and Glencoe."
The hereditary bards or pipers of the Glencoe chiefs appear
to have borne the surname of Iain Fraoch's mother, — Mac-
Eanruig, Anglicized to MacHenry or Henderson. One of them,
in the time of Montrose is said to have written a famous March
for the Stewart Clan: "We will take the Highway," and known
later as The Sheriffmuir March.
There is not much to be said in introducing the following
Lament. It is No. n in the volume of sixty-one "Ancient
Pibrochs" compiled by Aonghas MacAoidh (McKay) in 1838,
but the "History" promised at the end of the volume, consists
only of a short description of the valley of Glencoe, an allusion
to the massacre, and a declension to describe the latter. The
air alone is given, without accompaniment, that being supposed
to be furnished by the drones, three tubes each producing one
sustained note (two small ones tuned a fifth below E of the
chanter, and the larger one an eighth) : the chanter is the finger-
pipe upon which the tune is played. The Gaelic musical term
crumlua(th) denotes a finishing, quick movement.
LAMENT.
225
MURT GHLINNE A COMHANN.
The Massacre of Glencoe
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CRESTS, MOTTOES, ARMS, ETC.
A few heraldic data may be found of interest: they are chiefly
from Maclan's Clans of the Scottish Highlanders, Fairbairn's
Crests, Burke's General Armory, Skene's Highlanders of Scotland,
Adam's What is my Tartan? and O'Hart's Irish Pedigrees.
Burke gives the arms of three families of McKcans, one of
Edinburgh, one of Scotland and one of England. Fairbairn also
gives three crests for McKeans, two Scotch families and one
English; they are, a cat, a dog and a talbot (an heraldic dog),
each sejant or sitting; with the motto for the last, J'ai bonne esper-
ance (I have good hope). Perhaps the reason for selecting a dog,
was an old idea that the name, exclusive of Me, was from a Gaelic
word meaning dog, accepted in its heraldic or noble sense, as repre-
senting faithfulness and bravery. This derivation is probably
erroneous, though the word kene signifies daring, bold. Our
illustration comprises the mottoes of several houses, the bearings
of the two indicated, and two McKean crests. We have heard
of a McKean of that ilk, (whose surname and the name of the
estate were the same), but have no particulars.
MacIan-MacDonald of Glencoe bears: Ar. an eagle displayed
gu. surmounted by a lymphad sa. sails furled and rigged ppr.
in the dexter chief a dexter hand couped of the second. Crest. —
A raven perched on a rock az. ; another MacDonald has : on a
rock inflamed, a raven sa. Motto over, Cragan an Fhathich, —
otherwise Craggan an fhithich, (The raven's crag) ; another
branch has for motto: Sure. The MacDonalds of the Isles, of
Glengarry and of Keppoch have coats very similar to the above,
but the tinctures or colors, and some minor points, differ slightly :
thus the shield is or instead of argent; the lymphad [long-fada]
of Burke, (and which in Scottish heraldry is a biorlin or galley),
has the yard squared for The Isles, while the others have it
"cock-billed;" (a nautical sign of grief and therefore appropriate
enough for Glencoe) ; in the sinister chief a cross crosslet fitchee*
of the third for Glengarry, which also has for Supporters, — Two
MacDonald of Glencoe,
Of the Isles ««» Glengarry.
230 HERALDIC NOTES.
bears each having an arrow pierced through the body all ppr.
Motto: Per mare, per terras, (By sea, by land). The old arms
of the Lords of the Isles were: quarterly ist and 4th, sable, three
battle-axes or, 2d and 3d, gules, three biorlins or large Highland
boats of antique construction. McDonald of Moydart (Captain
of Clanranald) has over the crest (which is a castle, etc.) — My
hope is constant in thee, referring to the tradition that Bruce
made this avowal to the Lord of the Isles at a crisis in the battle
of Bannockburn, (see Scot's Poem) ; below the shield, the war-
shout : Dhandeon co Heiragha, or Dhandheoin Cotheir-aidh e, (In
spite of all opposition, or In spite of who would gainsay). Some
authorities, however, give the McDonald war-cry as : Fraocheilan,
(The Heathery Isle), and. the March Dhonuill Dhui. Mc-
Donald of Largie has over the crest, (which is an arm, dagger,
etc.), Semper pugnare paratus (Always ready to fight) ; below the
shield, Pro P atria (For Country). He of Dumfries has for
motto: 7 beir the bel, (I am first or leader, I bear the bell).
MacDonald of Lockhart has a boar's head erased, and the words :
Corda serata pando, (I open hearts locked up), alluding, possibly,
to the story of the heart of Bruce (locked in a silver case) being
brought back to Scotland after the unsuccessful effort of Douglas
to carry it to the Holy Land, and which was done by a Lockhard,
who thence assumed the name Lockhart. Other MacDonalds
have the mottoes: Pro rege in tyrannos, (For the King against
tyrants), and Victoria vel Mors, (Victory or Death). And
still another, who has for crest the Holy Bible, expanded, ppr.,
says: Coelestia sequor, (I follow heavenly things). The badge of
the MacDonalds, and also of the Glencoe-men, (See entry for
1678), is Fraoch gorm, erica vulgaris, the common heath.
McDonnell, Earl of Antrim has the motto :Sero sed serio, (Late,
but in earnest). McDonnell of the Glens of Antrim, of the Clan
Ian Vohr, Viscount Dunluce, bears for arms: Or, a lion rampant
gu., and for crest an arm, etc., in hand a cross crosslet, fitched
gu. For motto, he and MacDonald of Durham have — Toujours
* This cross with a very long and pointed stem, could be used as a walking-
staff, or, being stuck in the ground, was adapted for devotional purposes.
Tradition states that a MacDonald adopted it in consequence of his carrying
Saint Patrick over to Ireland in a boat: the Saint, however, belongs to the
4th century, while MacDonalds, — under that name at least, — do not appear
until long after.
HERALDIC NOTES. 231
pret, (Always ready), one branch retaining the archaic spelling:
Tout jours prest. O'Hart writes that the MacDonnells of Antrim
(Route and Glynnes) went from Ulster, settled in Scotland,
where they were generally called MacDonalds (of the Isles, etc.),
and some returned to Antrim, and formed alliances by marriage
with the O'Neills of Tyrone, the O'Donnells of Donegal, the
O'Kanes of Derry, etc. Another MacDonald of Ireland has
a talbot's head, az. He of Connaught bears the motto: His
vinces, (By these — Conquer), the plural referring no doubt to
both the galley and the cross in his arms; the latter device,
sometimes called the Cross Calvary, is in Scotch blazonry a cross
"degreice," and in English, "degraded," — both terms being from
the French degres, i. e., with steps, — three, in reference to the
Trinity. The MacKains of Elgin, descended from John Mac-
Iain of Ardnamurchan, have on their shield a demi-eagle, to
which the motto evidently refers: "Le Tout Ne Vaut Pas La
Moitie," (The whole is not worth the half). The McKeowns
of Ulster have for crest: An arm embowed in chain armor, the
hand holding a sword, blade wavy all ppr.
Most of the clans had distinctive pipe-music ; some MacDonalds
possessing a Gathering, Salute, March and Lament. The Glencoe-
men retain only the Lament — " Mort Ghlinne Comhann"
(Massacre of Glencoe).
The O'Cahan crests are A cat-a-mountain rampant, ppr., and
also salient. The cat borne by one of the McKeans indicates
another point of connection between the three names mentioned
in these Notes. The motto is Felis demulcta mitis, (The stroked
cat is gentle). And the cat perhaps shows Skene to be right in
connecting the O'Cahans with the Clan Chattan and their cele-
brated motto: Touch not the cat but [without} a glove.
Heraldry, however, is as much out of date as Clanship, though
the former has furnished many a "wise saw." And a McKean
may now, as in auld lang syne, be cheered with the noble motto,
even in an alien tongue : i HAVE GOOD HOPE.
POSTSCRIPT.
Having acknowledged indebtedness for literary material
used in the compilation of these Historical Notes, there remains
the pleasure of expressing obligations to the efficient helpers
who have worked upon the mechanical portions of the book.
Mr. George Gibson (of Gibson Brothers) is well known for
good work in a long career as printer, book-binder, etc. ; his
manager Mr. Jos. L Shipley has a happy faculty of causing
difficulties to vanish, and the proof-reader, Mr. H. Rule, has
been very correct in occasional intricate passages; Messrs. Robert
Gibson and George Mellis, foremen respectively, of the composing
and press rooms, and Mr. E P. Homer of the bindery, have
been painstaking and skilful; the industrious workers of various
departments also have my sincere thanks, as well as the pleasant
people in the office.
The Maurice Joyce Engraving Company have skilfully managed
the illustrations of different kinds, and yielded their better judg-
ment to my persistence in retaining the "Charts" in their reduced
size to avoid folders: their representative, Mr. Edw. E. Wilson,
has been willing and courteous, and their artist, Mr. Benson
B. Moore, has responded to request.
The M. Silverberg Company have shown patience in cutting
and preparing the tartan, and expertness in mounting it, — meeting
difficulties which had not been anticipated.
J. L. Shoemaker and Company of Philadelphia have done
much towards carrying out the design for the cover.
Last but not least, my wife has detected in time, several glaring
errors which had escaped notice, and has made not a few useful
suggestions.
To those named and others, I owe gratitude for the efficiency
and cheerfulness which have lightened my closing labors, and
have brought the latter to an end.
THE COMPILER.
1220 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVENUE,
WASHINGTON, D. C.
INDEX.
FOR SUB-HEADINGS, see BATTLES AND SONGS.
Abbreviations, 223.
Aberach McGregor, Patrick, Chart
III., 181.
Aberigh, Slaight-Ean-, 168.
Abrach, Abrachson, (Glencoe Mac-
lans), 44, 86, 87, 88.
Abrach or Abroch, John, X. of
Glencoe, 103; called Macdonald,
103.
Abrachs, John Maclan, Two, one
a Glencoe man, the other a
MacLean, 1431, 168.
Abrachson, John; Glencoe Chiefs II.
to VI., 44, 88.
Abrich, Donald Bowie MacIainVic
Iain Oig Viclain, 103.
Abrochsoune, John of the Isles, 89.
Abrycht, John Og MacAne, 93.
Account of Clan Maclean, by a
Seneachie, 50, 66.
Accounts of the Lord High Treas-
urer of Scotland, 44, 169.
Achtriachtan, 102, 109, 112, 130, 139,
146, 181, 198, 200, loch 201.
Acknowledgments, vi, vii, and post-
script.
Acta Dominorum Concilii, 169.
Acts of the • Lords Auditors of
Causes and Complaints, 169.
Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland,
55, 63, 95; Index, 97; Acts, 105;
Index in; Acts, 114, 117-124,
!35» Z79! Index, 180; Acts, 187,
189, 190, 191; Index, 191; Acts,
196 note, 198.
Aidan, 21, Chart I A.
Alan Breck, 154.
Alexander, III. of Ardnamurchan,
36-38.
Alexander Joannis, V. Lord of
Ardnamurchan, 42, 43 ; of the
Council of the Isles, 42; called
Alexander McCane of Ardnamer.
cho, 42; daughters Fynvola and
Mariota, 42; a man of consid-
erable influence and power, 42.
Alexander Maclain, VII. of Ardna-
murchan, 53-62; died before 1538,
55-57-
Alexander Maclain, XII. of Ardna-
murchan, 74.
Alexander, XI. of Glencoe, (Alastair
Ruadh), 103-105. Allaster Mac-
Iain Abraich to remain in Edin-
burgh, 104; killed by Campbells,
105.
Alexander, XII. of Glencoe, 105;
escapes from Tolbooth of Invera-
ray, 112; word picture of the
Chief and his men, 116; praise
of "Maclan," 117; signature of
"Macdonald," 120; decree of
forfeiture against, 120; Mckean
alias Mcdonald elder of Glencoe,
121 ; Macean 'alias Macdonald
elder of Glenco 124, 125; just
too late to take the oath, 126;
but it is administered, 127; cer-
tificate erased, 127; MacEan of
Glencoe, 127; Maclain, 129; shot
in the massacre, 132; M'Ean of
Glenco, 132.
Alexander McDonald, XIV. of Glen-
coe, 148; joined the rebellion
INDEX.
of 1715, 149, 150; pardoned for
same, 150; joined Prince Charles,
1745, 150; member of his council
of war, 150; commanded the clan
at Preston-pans, 150, 151; Cullo-
den, 153; excepted from amnes-
ty, 154; children, 154.
Alexander Macian or MacDonald,
XVI. of Glencoe, 157.
Alexandrum de Hyle, 29.
Alisaundre des Isles, 29.
Allegorical painting of Macdonald
of Glencoe, R. R. Mclan, 133.
American Cyclopaedia, 81.
Anathema of the Breeks, no, note.
Ancestors, Chart of the Early, 18.
Angus Mor MacDonald, 28, 31.
Angus Og MacDonald, 28, 31, 32, 33.
Angus Og second, of the Isles,
assassinated, 42.
Angus, II. of Ardnamurchan, the
first Maclain, 36.
Anna or Agnes O'Cathanor O'Kane,
28, 32.
Annals, Hailes, 23.
Annals of Loch Ce, 38, and note,
42, 46, 170, 203, 213, note.
Annals of Ulster, 46, footnote.
Annie Laurie, 1667, 196, note.
Antrim, Randal McDonnell of, 203.
Ardenmuirich, 56.
Ardmurquhane, 56.
Ardnamercho, 56.
Ardnamourach, 56.
Ardnamurch, 56.
Ardnamurchan, vii, Maclain of,
34-83; seal, 34; meaning of, 34;
description of, 34; given to Iain
Sprangaich, 34; lists of the chiefs,
35; Iain, 35; Angus, 36, 37; a man
of considerable importance, 36;
Alex. Joannis, 42, 43; John Mak-
ane, 43-53; Makkane, 48, called
Macian, Macdonald and Mac-
Iain, 50 ; Mariot or Mariota, 5 1 ;
Macian tombstone, 53; Alex-
ander, VII, 53-62; Argyle in-
trigues for lands, 51; Queen Mary
grants lands to Argyle for 12
years, 55, 56; 12 spellings of
Makane and 9 of Ardnamurchan,
56, 61, etc.; Clan Ian of, 71 note;
Macdonnells of, 71; Mac Donalds
°f> 73, 75; become Sea Rovers,
76; Clan Ban, 76, Eane, 76;
clan ceases to exist as territorial
family, 77; tombstone of the last
Maclains, 82, 83; place mentioned,
116; J. Makain of Ardnamur-
quhan, 147; 164, 198, 200.
Ardnamurchane, 56.
Ardnamurquhan, 56.
Ardthornish, 41, 42, 62.
Argyle, Ergayll, etc., the shire,
Earl, Lord Lorn, etc., 21, 24, 25,
3i, 32, 43, 44, 46, 51, 53, 54, 55,
56, 63, 67, 68, 69, 71, 73, 81, 84,
90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 96, 97, 98, ioo,
101, 103, 107, 108, in, 115 signa-
ture; 125, 128, 129, 150, 162, 169,
171, 179, 196 note.
Armourch, 56.
Art or Arthur, Chart I A., 19.
Aruicht (Clan Mackane), unruly,
97-
Athole, Earl of, 178, 179.
Auld Reekie, 104, note.
Baliol, John, 34, 35.
Baronage of Scotland, Douglas,
Chart III, 89, 182.
Battles: — Bannock burn, 1314, 31,
32; North Inch, 1396, 167; Har-
law, 1411, 36-38; Inverlochy,
1431, 39-41; Park, 1488, 43;
Flodden Field, '1513, 49, 50;
Blar Leine, 1545, 57; Inverlochy,
1645, 1 08; Mulroy, 1687, 113,
114; Killiecrankie, 1689, 78; 116-
118; Sheriffmuir, 1715, 149, 150;
Preston-pans, 1 745, 1 50, 151;
Culloden, 1746, 152, 153, 158.
INDEX.
235
Bishop of the Isles, 57, 61, 62, 178.
Blackwood's Magazine, 113, date
1706, 125, 138 note, 142 note.
Blair of Athole, 122.
Blue Bonnets over the Border,
Scott, 109.
Bond of Association, 119, 120.
Bonnie Dundee, Signature of, 115.
Book of Clanranald, Chart I A., 90.
Border Clans, Dixon, 63, 101, 166.
Borthwick, Robert, gunner, 1513,49.
Bows and arrows, 49, 101, 112-114
Breadalbane, 112, 113, 125, 126.
Breadalbane March, 134.
Breeks, Anathema of the, 1 10, note.
Bride of Lammermoor, 155 note.
British Chronologist, 151, 153.
Bruce, 25, 31, 35, 36.
Bruce's Address, 31.
Burns' Poetical Works, 31.
Caichan, 20.
Cairpre Liffeacher, Chart IA., 19.
Calendarium Rotulorum Patentium,
185, 186.
Calendar of State papers, 57, 58,
60, 61, 78, 108, 165, 166, Ireland;
1 66, 170, 171; Carew Section, 177,
178, 184, 187; Cal., 188, 189; Do-
mestic, 189; Cal., 197.
Camerons, 68, 85, 87, Chart III.,
92, 94, 107, 112, 115, 116, 117,
119, 120, 123, 126, 149, 154, 157
and Chart III., 168, 184, 201.
Campbell (Argyle) and others, 45,
5i, 53, 54, 55, 56, 62, 63, 67, 69,
70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 76, 83, 85, 89,
92, 93, 94, 96, 97, 98, Ergyle, g8(
99, loo, 102, 103, 105, 107, 108
113, 127, 129, 132, 134, 150, 154,
155, 160, 178, 179, 200.
Canadian Magazine, 157.
Carew section of State Papers, 177^
178, 184, 187.
Carnegies, 36.
Cartan, Chart I A., 20.
Celtic Scotland, Skene, 90, 162, 215.
Century Dictionary, 91.
Chart I A. — Early Ancestors, 18.
Chart IB.— The Clan Donald, 26.
Chart II. — Maclains of Ardnamur-
chan, 37.
Chart III. — Maclans of Glencoe, 89.
Charter of William MacEoun, 1306?
220-223.
Chartularies, etc., of St. Mary's
Abbey, Dublin, 165.
Chisholms, 150.
Chronica Majora, Matthew of Paris,
23-
Chronica Roger! de Hoveden, 23.
Chronicles of Scotland, Pittscottie,
49-
Clancayn (Maclan) of Ardnamur-
chan, 61.
Clan Cholla, afterwards Clan Don-
ald, 1 6, Chart I A.
Clan, Definition of, 71, note.
Clan Donald, (Book), vii, x, 15, 16,
17, Chart I A., 19, 20, 22 note, 24,
25, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 36, 39,
4i, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 50,
5i, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 60, 61,
62, 6.3, 6s, 66, 67, 68, 69, 73, 74,
75, 76, 77, 78, 85, 86, 87, 88, 90,
91, 92, 93, 94, 96, 97, 102, 103,
104, 105, 108, 109, 112, 116, 120,
125-130, 132, 146, 149, 153, 15^,
X57. I59, i6c>i 168, 170, 179, 180,
181, 182, 188, 190, 194, 197, 198,
200, 213, 220.
Clan Donald, Chart of the, 26, 27.
Clan Ean of Ardnamorachin, 35, 76.
Clan Gregor, (book), 94, 95, 104,
112, 148, 180, 182, 187.
Clan Gregor (MacGregors), 93, 95,
97, death to bear the name; 98,
100, 101, 103; "Chartulary," 104
and note; 107, in, 112, 119, 148,
150, 181, 182, 187.
Clan Gunn, Maclain first, Johnson
later, 7.
236
INDEX.
Clan Neill, 181.
Clanranald, 42, 47, 57, 58, 61, 65,
67, 73, 75, 76, 77, 78, 91, 107,
139, 151, 170, 180.
Clanronald Family, (Book), 149.
Clans as they once existed, no
longer lawful, 162.
Clans of the Scottish Highlanders,
Maclan, no, 228.
Clans of the Scottish Highlands,
Logan, 32, 87, 89, 135, 158.
Clan System abolished, 174S, 200.
Classical Dictionary, Lempriere, 165.
Cochrane, Sir Williame, 1644, 190.
Coilmckeane, McKean's Church (St.
Michan?), 187, note.
Coke upon Littleton, 85.
Colla Uais, 17, 18, Chart IA., 19.
Colrane, Coolrane, Coleraine, 185
and note.
Commission to inquire about the
slaughter of Glencoe, 136-146;
recommendation, 142-146.
Comyns, 32.
Conn Cetid-Chathach, 16.
Conn of the Hundred Battles, 16,
Chart I A., 1 8.
Cormac, Chart IA., 19.
Court Hand Restored, Wright, 223
Covenanters, 113, 191.
Crests, Fairbairn, 228.
Cromwell's Remembrances, 1534,
171.
Croniques . . . de la Grant Bre-
tagne, de Waurin, 164.
Culloden Papers, 132.
Curse of Glencoe, 155.
Curse of Scotland, 1 26, note.
Dalness, 102, 146, 161, 181.
Dalrymple, Master of Stair, 115,
1 20, 126 and note, 127, 128, 129,
132, 138, 142, 143, 144, 151.
Danish and Norwegian invasions, 16.
Debait of North Inch, 167.
Decree of forfeiture against many
persons, including M^kean alias
Mcdonald elder of Glencoe, 120-
125-
Description of Glencoe, 134, 135.
Dictionary of National Biography,
85, 158.
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable,
Brewer, 23, 126 note.
Diplom. Regior. Indices, Tytler, 38.
Domangart, Chart I A., 20, 21.
Domesday Studies, Dove, 222, note,
Dominus O'Cane, 1603, 185.
Donald Balloch's rebellion, 39, 40.
Donald Brec, Chart I A., 21.
Donald Dhu, or Dubh, 60, 90, 91
92, 93-
Donald Mac Mhic Eoin, X. of Ard-
namurchan, killed his nephew;
killed in his turn, 68.
Donald of the Isles, 28, 58.
Donald, the Clan, Chart IB., 26, 27.
Donald, The name, 213.
Dr. Samuel Johnson, 1773, 200.
Duke of Cumberland, about 1813,
201.
Dunaverty Castle Rock, Kintyre,
25, 3i, 45-
Dundee (Viscount), signature of,
115; supported by Highlanders,
115; letter mentioning Glencoe,
116; decreet of forfeiture against,
120-125, 149, 153-
Dunnyveg, Dunyvaig, etc., and the
Glinns, 39, 44; Sir John of, arrested
by Makane of Ardnamurchan for
treason, and hanged, 44; 46, 47,
48, 51, 56, 60, 61, 63, 69, 75, 78,
93, ii2, castle 168, 181.
Dunyvaig Castle, Isla, illus., 168.
Early Ancestors, Chart of the, 18.
Early Ancestors, Section I., 15-33.
Early Metrical Tales, Laing, 38.
Early races in Scotland, 15, 16.
Eccl. Antiq. Reeves,' 170 note.
Elspeth Ros, Supplicaticun of, 105,
106.
INDEX.
237
Emigration between 1763 and 1775;
also between 1810 and 1850, 200.
Emigration of William McKean of
Argyleshire to Ireland about 1674.
197.
Emigration on account of religion,
78, etc.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 19, 24,
108, no note.
Ensign of heath, 113.
Eochaidh, Chart I A., 20.
Ere or Eric, King of Dalriada,
Chart I A., 20.
Essays on English Surnames, Low-
er, 213, 215.
Ethach, Chart I A., 21.
Explanation to subscribers of Mc-
Kean Genealogies, v.
Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, 169.
Fair Maid of Perth, Scott, 167.
Farquharsons, 107.
Fenian exploit, 91.
Fergus, Chart IA., 20, 22.
Fergus, Lorn and Angus, Chart I A.,
16.
Finales Concordise, 165.
Firearms in use in the i6th century,
101.
Flodden (Battle of), 1513, 49, 50.
Florencia, of the Spanish Armada,
65 note.
Flowers of the Forest, 50.
Fraoch, The Heather, vii.
Garb of Old Gaul, viii.
Gauran, Chart I A., 20, 21.
Genealogies, McKean, in America,
C. McKean, v, vi, 163, 164, 202.
Genealogy, etc., of Ancient Scottish
Surnames, William Buchanan, 35.
Genealogy of the McKean Family
of Pennsylvania, 20, 185, note.
General Armory, Burke, 228.
General Bond, 63.
Gentlemen of a Clan, 133, 151.
Geography of the Clans, Johnston,
150.
Gillebride, Chart I A., 24 and note.
Gilledamnan, Chart IA., 24.
Glencoe, vii, 32, Maclans of, 84-163;
John Abrachson of, 44, Clan Ian
of, 71, note, MacDonalds of, 70,
73, 78, 84; A Smith is Laird, 84;
clan Ian Abrach, 85; not much
known of early history, 86; the
lands, 86; not called MacDonalds
till 1617, 87; Clann Mhic Iain
Ghlinne Comhann, 87; eight John
Abrachs, 87; Argyle tries to evict
the chief, 90, Glencoyne, 90; sup-
port Donald Dhu, 90, terror to
their neighbors, 94, 97; Glencone,
97; Glenko, 99; in the front line
at Inverlochy, 108; probably at
Worcester, 109, in, 112; in
government service, 113; 156;
mentioned in Dundee's letter,
116; word-picture of Glencoe and
his men, 116, 117, in Bond of
Association, 119; decree of forfeit-
ure against, 120; Massacre of, 125-
132; allegorical representation of
a Glencoe-man, 133; Commission
to inquire into slaughter, 136-146;
Parliament finds King's instruct-
ions no warrant for the execution
of the Glencoe men, 137, and that
their slaughter was a murder, 138;
portrait of John, XIII., 147;
protection given the clan, 146;
relief from distant isle, 146;
changed religion, 148; in rebel-
lion of 1715, 149; pardoned for
same, 150; joined Prince Charles,
1745, 150; at Preston-pans, 150,
151; refused to avenge their
wrongs on Stair, 151, 152; Cul-
loden, 152, 153, 158; Curse of
Glencoe, 155; 76th regiment at
Yorktown, 156; estate disposed
to trustees, 157; conveyed back
238
INDEX.
to next heir, 157; a lady as head
of the House, 158; her son sells
the estate to Hon. Sir Donald
Smith in 1894, 158; Major Dun-
can Cameron Macdonald is XX.
in line of descent, 160; passage
of pipers through the Glen, 160,
1 6 1 ; monument to the chief who
fell in the massacre, 161; present
inhabitants of the Glen, 162;
music of Lament, 224-227.
Glencoe, Description of, 134, 135.
Glencoe, Massacre of, Lament, 224-
227.
Glencoe, Pass of, illus. 100, 128, 129.
Glencoe, Scene of the massacre, 131.
Glencoe, Views in, 100, 128, 129,
131, 141, 161.
Glengarry, 57, 58, 73, 99, 107, in
note, 112, 114, 115, 116, 117, 119,
121, 124, 126, 130, 149, 150, 151,
154, 171-
Glenlyon, Campbell of, 94, 129, 130,
145, 148, 151; Curse of Glencoe,
155-
Glenurquhy, Campbell of, Chart
IB., 93, 94, 179-
Glossary, 205-212.
Godfrey, Chart I A., 22.
Graham, Viscount Dundee, 115 sig-
nature, 116,117,120-125, 149,153.
Grant of Culkabok, 171.
Grant of Freuchie, 93, 94, 171, 177.
Grameid, heroic poem, Philip, 116.
Hail to the Chief, Scott, 134.
Hamilton, Duke of, 123.
Hand at ye pen, 57, 182, 188.
Hanging in olden times, 63.
Heath, ensign of, 113.
Heraldic Notes, 228-231.
Heralds, Albany and Rothesay, 122,
123, 125-
Heritable Jurisdiction (Clan sys-
tem) abolished, 1748, 200.
Highland Clans, Keltic, 108, 109,
"3-
Highlanders and Highland Regi-
ments, Stewart, 8, 113, 157.
Highlanders of Scotland, Skene,
228.
Highland Host, 113.
Highlands of Scotland, Lang, 162.
Historical Account of lona, Mac-
lean, 79, 81.
Historical Notes, Tindal, etc., 147,
187.
History of England, Macaulay, 95,
125.
History of Ireland. Keating, Chart
IA.
History of Scotland, Lang, x, 44,
46, 50, 51, 63, 87, 91, 170.
History of Scotland, Robertson, 70,
7i-
History of Scotland, Tytler, 67.
History of the Camerons, Macken-
zie, 42, 45, 68, 86, 94, 112, 115,
117, 154, 157, 168, 177, 184, 200,
2OI.
History of the Chisholms, 1 50.
History of the Clan MacLean, J. P.
MacLean, 31, 32, 43, 47, 50, 54,
60, 62, 66, 67, 73, 74, 79, 90, 200.
History of the Highlanders and
Clans, Browne, 64, 108, 116, 150,
151, 157, 168, 189.
History of the Highlands, Skene,
114.
History of the Macdonalds, Mac-
kenzie, 87, 151.
History of the Western Highlands,
Gregory, 60, 88, 102.
Holy Rood of Scotland, 55, note.
Horning, or being put to the horn,
66 note, 180, 183.
House of Stewart, the Clanian
supported the claims of the, 107.
Hundred Battles, Conn of the, 16,
Chart I A., 1 8.
Hundred Rolls, 166.
Hunting party of the Earl of Mar,
149.
INDEX.
239
Iain Abrach, (Old) John, VII. of
Glencoe, 91-93.
Iain Fraoch, John of the Heather,
vii, Chart IB., 28, 86 and note,
Abrach, 87, 88, Chart III.
Iain Mhoir Clann, the Isla Mac-
donalds, 167.
Iain Sprangaich, The Bold, vii,
Chart IB., 27, 28, Ardnamurchan
given to him, 34; first chief, 35;
his offices and dignities, 35.
'ic Iain Aluinn, Iain MacDhom-
hnuill 'ic Iain 'ic Dhomhnuill,
1640? poet laureate in Scotland
to Charles II., 190.
'ic Iain, Raonull MacAilein, 1625?
1 88.
Ilandterrum, 179.
Illustrated London News, 128, 131.
Inquis. ad Cap. Dom. Reg. Retorn ,
176, 181, 183, (Spec.), 188, 194;
(Gen.), 189, 190, 196: (de Poss.
Quin.), 198.
Inquisitionum in Off. Rot. Cane.
Hiberniae asserv. Repert. 184, 189,
197.
Inscription on house in Glencoe,
148.
Inverlochy Castle, illus., 39; 108,
177, etc.
lona, 32, 51, 61, Ycolmkill, 62,
illus., 80; description, 79, 81.
Ireland, History of, Keating, Chart
IA.
Irish Pedigrees, O'Hart, 24, 213,
215, 228.
Islesmen and Islanders, 40, 50, 60,
Insulans, 61; 67, 77, 79, 117.
Isles, Title Of the, 59, note.
J'ai bonne Esperance, 228.
James VI., King of Scotland, 66, 68,
69, 189.
Jamieson's Dictionary, 205.
John Abrachson of Glencoe, 88,
Chart III.
John McEan, IV. of Ardnamurchan,
Chart II., 38-42; in rebellion, 39;
at Inverlochy, 39, 40; rewarded
with lands, 41.
John, VIII. of Ardnamurchan, 62-
66; A man of importance, 63;
John Mckane to deliver up host-
ages, 63; attempt by MacLeans
to murder him, 63, 64; 65; died
about 1591, 66.
John Mac Allister Vclain, XI., Ard-
namurchan, 69-74.
John Mor Tanistear, Chart IB., 39.
John of the His, utherwyis Abroch-
soune, 90.
John Og or Oig Maclain, IX., Ard.
66, 67; McAne, 66; released from
the horn, 66; an able man, 67;
witness to a lease, 67 ; surety for
Keppoch, 67; murdered, 68.
John XV. of Glencoe, 154-157; es-
tate restored, 154; Macian left an
only son Alexander, 157.
Kennedy, Sir John, 169.
Kenneth MacAlpin, Chart I A., 22.
Keppoch, Chart IB., note 26, 45, 67,
89, 96, 105, 107, 112, 113, 114,
115, 119, 126, 149, 150, 151, 154.
Killiecrankie, Views of, 118; pass of
Gilliechrankie, 122.
King of the Isles, 23, 26.
King William III., 136.
Kitty of Coleraine, 185, note.
Lament, Massacre of Glencoe, 224-
227.
Landed Gentry, Burke, 148.
Last Jacobite Rising, 150.
Last Macdonalds of Isla, Fraser-
Mackintosh, 35, 44, 48, 51, 56, 59
note, 64, 66, 75, 83, 168, 178, 181,
182.
Law Dictionary, Black, 179 note.
Lawrie of Maxweltoun, Robert,
1667, 196, note.
240
INDEX.
Legend of Montrose, Scott, 95.
Leslie, Lt. Gen. David, 1649, 192.
Letter of Dundee, 116.
Letters from the Mountains, Mrs.
Grant, 156.
Librate of land, 222, note.
Local titles of some MacDonalds,
214.
Lochaber, the place and the axe,
Chart IB, note 26, 32, 39, 40, 69,
86, 87, 112, 114, 115, 116, 126,
I55, 175 note.
Lochalsh (Donald and Alexander
of the His of) 43, 44, 45, 50, 51, 90.
Lochiel, Cameron of, 68, 184.
Loch Leven, 135, 136, etc.
Lord of the Isles, Poem, Scott, 32,
41, 228.
Lords of the Isles, 17, 23, 25, 28, 31,
32, 35, 35, 39, 4*. 43, 44, 5°, 57,
58, 59 and note, 60, 61, 87, 90, 168,
170, 228, 229, 230.
MacAlpin, Kenneth, 844-850, Chart
IA., 22.
MacAne Abrycht, John Og (i),
VIII. of Glencoe, 93-96; M^ane-
brych (Maclan Abrich), John
Oig, 95; mckane of Avricht, Mac-
keane Awricht, 95, John, killed
by Stewarts, 96.
Macayn, Reymund, of Bordeaux,
1258, 166.
MacBeth, 81.
Macdonald, Archibald Maxwell, XIX.
of Glencoe, sold the estate to
Hon. Sir Donald Smith in 1894,
158.
Macdonald, Duncan Cameron, XX.
in the line of descent, 1894, a
Major in the British Army, 159,
1 60.
Macdonald, Ellen Caroline Mac-
pherson, head of the House, and
XVIII. of Glencoe, died 1887, 158.
Macdonald, Ewen, XVII. of Glen-
coe, 1814-1840, 157, 158.
MucDonald position in battle, 32
152.
MacDonalds, viii, 24, 27; of Ardna-
murchan and Glencoe, 28; war
involving all the MacDonalds, 62 ;
of Keppoch, 67; of Ardnamur-
chan and Glencoe, 73, etc.
Macdonalds' Gathering, 224, 231.
MacDonalds, Local titles of some,
2\.\.
Macdonalds, see also Clan Donald,
(Book).
Macdonnels of Antrim, Hill, 71, 75.
MacDougals, Chart IB, note 6.
MacEachens, 1 5th century, 1 70.
MacEan, viii, 39, 75, 97, 98, 127, etc.
Macean alias Macdonald elder of
Glenco, 1690, 124.
MacEanruig or MacHenry of Glen-
coa, 85, 87, in, 219, note, 224.
MacEoin, son of John; Bissett of
the Glinns, Ireland, 1512, 170 note.
MacEoun? William, Charter, 1306?
221-223.
Machson, Agnes and Ellen, 1534,
171.
Miclain, Alexander XII. of Ardna-
murchan, a minor, 1611, 74; clan
led by his uncle Donald, 74; re-
sists the Campbell clan, 75; in
open rebellion, 75; driven to Clan-
ranald's country, 76; received
compensation for his claims, 77.
Maclain, Catherine, 1497, 47, an-
other, 1 70.
Maclain, Donald, Tutor of Ardna-
murchan, 74, MacEan, 75.
Maclain Diiibh Mhic Alastair, Al-
laster, of Achtriachtan, 1611, 181.
Maclain Daibh, Allan, end of i6th
cent., 182.
Maclain Duy, Allan Dow, Allastair,
Angus and John Og, 102.
Maclain 'ic Ailein, Iain Dubh, 1650?
194-
Maclain 'ic Sheumais, Domhnull,
1585, a warrior-bard, 179.
INDEX.
241
Maclain Ic Uisdein, Alastair Ban,
1692, 198.
Maclain, John, 1692, 129, 130, 132.
Maclain, Ruairidh, 1734, 200.
Maclain Vic Innes, Alastaii, 1592,
1 80.
Maclan, viii, 17, 42, 49; the artist,
85, 133, 158.
Maclan, Alexander, of Glengarry,
50; another, 1513? 170.
Macian and Macdonald, ix., 50.
Maclan Chathanaicb, Alastair, 170.
Maclanduy, a Cameron of Lochiel,
1603, 184.
Maclan, Eachin, 167.
Maclan MacAlastair, Alastair, of
Glengarry, 1548, 171.
MacIan-MacDonald, John, XIII. of
Glencoe, 135; escaped from the
massacre, 132; petition for re-
dress in property destroyed, 139-
142; portrait, 147; protection
given the Chief and others, 146;
changed the religion of the Clan,
148; died 1714, 148.
Macian of Ardnamurchan, Alex-
ander, 1545, 60.
Macian or MacDonald, Alexander
XVI. of Glencoe, 157; disposed
the estate to trustees, 157; died
1814, 157.
Maclan's family piper, MacEanruig
or Henderson, in, 224.
Maclans of Elanterim, 180.
MacKains, MacKeans, MacTIeands
of Elgin, 198, 231.
Mackan, Rory, Baron of the Ex-
chequer, 167.
MacKane of Aruicht, 97.
MacKann, O'Chane, 178.
Mackans or McCan's country, 177,
187, note, 188.
Mackany, Capt. Angus, 1665? 197.
Mackayn, 1532, 171. ) The same
Mackayne, 1532, 171.) man.
Mackean, James, Common Council-
lor of Dumbarton, 1701, 198.
Mackeane Awricht (Clan Ian of
Glencoe), 95.
Mackeane, Robert, Burgesse of Edin-
burgh, 1645, 191.
Mackeane, Rob : Commissioner, Mem-
ber of Parliament, etc., 1645, etc.,
191.
Mackeane Tartan, no.
Mackene, John and Joneta, 1621,
188.
Mackene, Radulphus de, i3th cen-
tury, 165.
Mackenzie, (yie), 43, 73, 81, 83, 114,
1 20, 192.
Mackeyn of Ardnamurchane, Alex-
ander, 1545, 57.
Mackinnon, 150.
Mackintosh, 36, 40, 113.
Mackintoshes, Chart IB, note 27; 36,
112, 113, 114, 167.
Mackune, John, 1666, 197.
MacLaurins, 88.
MacLean (s), etc., Chart II., notes
10, 12, etc., 36, 38, 41, 50, 54, 57,
58, 59, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67,
68, 70, 73, 75, 79, 81, 87, Chart
III., note 15, 90, 91, 92, 102, 119,
121, 124, for Mackean 147; 149,
152, 154, 158, 168, 179, 195, 200,
220, note and see Hist, of the
Clan.
Maclean, MacClean, McClane, etc.,
from MacGilla-Eoin, Son of the
follower of John, 38.
Macleod of Lewis and Raasay, 5 1 ;
of Dun vegan, 180.
Macleod of Macleod, etc., 75, 81, 116.
MacMillan's Magazine, 154.
Macpherson (s) 83, 114, 172 note, 176
note.
MacQuarries, 81.
Mageon (McKeon?) Eliz', 1631, 189.
Magiane, John and Nicholas, 1605,
i So.
Maine, Chart I A, 22.
Makaane, Alexander, of Glengarrie,
177
242
INDEX.
Makaane de Ardnamurchane, 1550,
56.
Makachane, Thorn, 1497, 170.
Makan, fined about 1230, 165.
Makane-bayne, Donald, 172.
Makane-bayne, Wil. McPatrick, 172.
Makane-bayne McKey, Duncan, 172.
Makane-boy, John Mcldonich, 172.
Makane de Ardnamurchane, 56.
Makane-duffe, Neil, 172.
Makane, John, VI., (Macian or
Maclain) 1493-1518, 43-53; per-
haps the greatest of the clan, 43;
children, 43, 44; Bailie in Isla,
44 ; arrested Sir John of Dunny-
veg, 44; two sons killed in Ire-
land, 46; marriage of daughter
Catherine, 46, 47; John intimate
with the King, 47, 48; receives
lands, 48; at Flodden 49; re-
dress to, 50; killed at Sunart, 51;
buried at lona, 51; tombstone,
53; 170, 171-
Makane McDonill, Malcolm, 172.
Makane McNele, Dugall, 172.
Makane, Thomas, 1495, 169, 170.
Makane Vckvicar, Donald, 172.
Makane-voir Vekeller, Duncan, 172.
Makayn, Reymund, 1257, 166.
Makayn, 1532, 171.
Makayne, Donald, 1594, 181.
Makcane, Wil., 172.
makeane, alexander, 1531, 55.
Makeane de Ardnamurchane, 56.
Makeane Maknele, Neil, 172.
Makean Oig, Alexander, 1656, 194.
Makene, Alanus and Paganus, 1 272 ?
167.
Makene, James, councillor at Mon-
trose, 1592, 180.
Makeni, Rad' and Thomas de; and
Cecilia, 165.
Makeyn, Donald, 1245? 165.
Makeyn, Raymond, 1249, 166; Mak-
eyn de La Ruchele, 166.
Makin, Richard, wants position of
"cormorant keeper," 1640, 189.
Makkane of Ardnamurchane, John,
1506, 48.
Makkany de Ardnamurchane, 1550,
56.
Makkeine, Joneta, 1595, 181.
Makkeine, Willelmus, 1595, 181.
Makkien, Honestus Kilianus, (Sco-
tus), 1615, 187.
makmakyn (MacMakane), duncain ,
1478, 169.
Manner of compiling, ix.
Manual of Dates, Townsend, 95.
Manuscript of Dean Munro, Chart
IA., 35-
Map of Mull, Glencoe, etc., 52.
Map of position of Maclans, Mac-
Donalds, etc., in the i6th cen-
tury, 70.
Margaret de Insulis, Chart IB., 171.
Margaretta and David McKean,
1661, 196.
Mariot or Mariota Maclain, Chart
II., note 6, 51, 52.
Marmion, Poem, Scott, 49, 50.
Martial Music of the Clans, 134.
Massacre of Glencoe, 125-132;
Scene of, 131; Commission to in-
quire into it, 136-146; Poetry in
reference to, 196, note; Music of
Lament, 225-227.
McAin, Alexander McCain, 174.
McAin WcConeill, Ewin, 175.
McAine, Tarlach, 174.
McAine, Dow WcKrenald, Alexan-
der, 175.
McAine, Inche, William, 174.
McAine, VcConnell, Donald Roy,
i?5-
McAine, VcConnell, Angus, 175.
McAine, VcConnell, Gillespik, 175.
McAine, VcConnell, William, 175.
McAine, VcFynlay Roy, Johnne,
J74-
Me and O', abolished in Ireland,
1586, 178, 179.
McAn Dow, Angus, 173.
Mcaneabrych, Allaster, 174.
INDEX.
243
Mcaneabrych, Donald Oig, 174.
Mcaneabrych, John, 174.
McAne, Allane, 174. .
Mcanebrych, Allaster, John and
Donald Oig, 95.
McAne de Ardamurchane, 55.
McAne Ekane, Hector, 172.
McAne, Ewin, Capitane of Inver-
lochy, 1576? 177.
McAne, Gregor, 94.
McAne Mclnnes, Allaster, 174.
M'Ane of Arinamurchan, Johne, 61.
M'Ane Oig, M'Inoig and MacEan
Oig, John Og (2), IX. of Glencoe,
96-103; raids against Ogilvies
and Drummonds, 96, 97; out-
lawed for a time, 97; released
from the horn, 97: of Glencone,
97; MacKaneof Aruicht, an unruly
clan, 97; abrichis, 98; to com-
pear personally, 102.
McAne VcConell VcAglassre, John,
174, 178.
McCahan bane O'Reilie, Mulmory,
1609, 1 86.
McCahane Patrick, 1608, 186.
McCahans or McCahens, 1615, 187.
McCahin, John, 1604, 186.
McCain, viii.
McCaine "cliens," Neil, 172.
McCaine de Ardnamurchane, 56.
McCaine, Ferquhard, 172.
McCame ("or McCaine"), John,
1557, 176.
McCame, Nigellus, 176.
McCan, Carbarie, 1612, i85.
McCan, Carberie, oge, 1610, 186.
McCan, Carbry, Hugh McBrien,
M;Ph^li-n and Rory McPatrick,
1567, 177.
McCan, Donald, 1395, 167.
McCan, Hugh McBryan, 1610, 186.
M;Can, Nsile, 1693, 185.
M-Cin, O'Cins, etc., 184.
McCan, Patrick, 1603, 185.
McCan, Rorie McPatrick, 1610, i£6.
McCan, Toole McPhelim, 1610, 186.
McCan's country, 1604, 177, 187,
note, 1 88.
McCans, etc. 185, note.
McCane, 1473, 169.
McCane de Ardnamurchane, 56.
McCane, Donald and Andrew, 1481,
83; Fergus, 1486, 169.
McCane, Donnell, 1568, 177.
McCane, Edmund, 1608, 186.
McCane McComas, Joh., 1548, 172.
McCane, McTowell, 1608, 186.
Mccane off Armourche, Allexad,
1545, 57.
McCanes, or McCahans' country,
1615, 187, 188.
McCane, Owen, 1608, 186.
McCany, Brian, 1609, and Edmond,
1608, 186.
Mccayne, James, councillor at Mon-
trose, 1592, 180.
Mccean, Ewine, 1649, 192.
McCeane Oig, Allaster, 1545-1604,
174-
McCeane Oig of Glenco, Allaster,
1601-11? 98, 100, 102.
McClane, etc., of Do ward, 50, 54, 63
65, 68, 79, 121, 124.
McComas, Joh, McCane, 1548, 172.
McConel, a form of MacDonald, 60,
McConnell, 78, 213 note.
McDonald, Alexander, of Glencoe,
148.
McEachan, Donald, 1674, 197.
Mcean, Archibald, 1649, 192.
McEan, Dow, Johne, 174.
McEan, Doy Vclnnes Weill, Angus>
175-
McEan, Duy VcAllaster, Allan, 175-
McEan, Duy VcAllaster, Allaster,
175- ^
McEan, Duy VcAllaster, Donald,
175-
McEan, Duy VcAllaster, Gillespik,
175-
Mcean, Ewin, 1649, 192.
244
INDEX.
Mcean, ffindlay, 1649, 192.
Mcean, Finlay, 1718, 199.
McEan, John, in Balnecaird, 1591,
179-
Mcean, Johne, 1649, 192.
mcean, Johne Mccodachie, 1649,
192.
McEan, Johnie Dow McConeill, 174.
Mcean more Vcgovan, Donald, 1649,
192.
M'Ean of Glenco, 132.
McEan, Oig, Angus, 174.
McEan, Oig, Rorie McAlister, 1656,
194.
McEan, Oyge, Allane Roy, 174.
McEan, Thomas McConeill, (stabler),
174-
McEan, Tuich, Johnne, 174.
McEan Vayne, John, 1718, 199.
Mcean vc finlay, Donald, 1649, 192.
Mcean vie illi glas, 1649, 192.
McEan vie illimartin, Annable, 1718,
200.
McEanair Vc Allen, Donald, 175.
McEancheir, 100.
McEancheir, Johne Oig, 174.
McEandecheir, Johne, 174.
McEandoyn Johne, ioi,and Johnne
174.
McEanduin, Patrick, 1718, 199.
McEans, 99, 100, 105, 106, 181, 183,
etc.
McEane, Abrich, 100.
McEane Abrich, Donald McEane
Dowe VcAllaster, 173.
McEane, Allane, 174, 183; letters
as rebel suspended, 1600, 183.
McEane Cam, Duncane, 99, 173.
McEane de Ardnamurchane, 56.
McEane Dow, Angus Dow, 173.
McEane Dow, Ewin, 173.
McEane Dow, Johne Dow, 173.
McEane Dowveig Mclndulich Bir-
rach, Duncane, 173.
McEane Dow VcGillechonane, Ewne,
175
McEane, Dowy, Tarloch, 174.
McEane Dowy VcConill, Johne
Dow, 175.
McEane Dowy VcGregour, Allaster
McCondochy, 175.
McEane Dowy Vclnnes Weill,
Angus Reoch, 175.
McEane Doy, Donnald, 174.
McEane Duy VcEwne, Neill, 175.
McEane Inche, William Dow, 174.
McEane Keir, John Moir, 174.
McEane, Me Allaster, 100.
McEane McCondachie McGillebred,
Duncan, 1571, 172.
McEane McConnill, John, 172.
McEane McConquhy, 172.
McEane McCoill, John Doy, 172.
McEane, McFerquhard, Donald,
1545, 172.
McEane McFindlay Roy, Ewne, 174.
McEane McFyndlaw, Donald Owz. ?
172.
McEane McGilleis Donald, 172.
McEane McGilleis Joh., 1548, 172.
McEane McHuchesoun, William, 174.
McEane McWilliame, John, 172.
McEane Oig, Allaster, 174.
McEane Oig, Rory, 174.
McEane Roy, Andro, 100, 174.
McEane Roy, Gillespik McAllane,
174-
McEane Roy, Johne Dow, alias
"Girls," 99, 174.
McEane Roy Veig, Nicoll, 175.
McEane, Tirlogh boy, 1604, 186.
McEane Tuich, Ewne, 174.
McEane Vane, John, 174.
McEane Vany, Donnald Gar, 174.
Mceane VcAchane, Donald Roy,
174-
McEane VcAllane, Alexander, 174.
McEane VcAllane, Alexander Oig,
175-
McEane VcAllane, Ronnald, 175.
McEane VcConill, Donald Moir, 175.
McEane VcFer Innes, Allaster, 174.
INDEX.
245
McEane, VcGillechonane, 100.
MgEane Vclnnes, Allaster, 175.
McEane Vclnnes, Angus, 175.
McEane Vclnnes, Donald, 175.
McEane Vclnnes, Finlay, 175.
McEane Vclnnes, James, 175.
MoEane Vclnnes, John, 175.
McEane Vclnnes, Ronald, 175.
McEane VcMurchie Glas, John, 174.
McEane Virich, Angus, 175, 184.
McEanson, Allan Ranaldson, 1501?
170.
McEanwichts, John McAllaster, 174,
'79-
Mceanyre, Donald Mcewyn, 1649,
192.
mceayne, Alexander, Donald, hec-
tor, Johne roy, Jon croy, mcfinlay
vie, Wm., 1641, 106.
McEnn, Oyne, 1608, 187.
McGregour, etc., 97, etc.
Mchans, John, tanner, 1662, 196.
McHean, Alexander, (indexed "or
McKeane"), 1507, 49.
Mclaian, Angus, 1718, 199.
M'lan, Robert Ronald, painter,
1803-1856, 158.
Mclnabrich, Allane, 1 74.
Mclnabrich, Allane Dow, 174.
Mclnabrich, Allaster Mclndow,
174.
Mclnabrich, Angus, 174.
Mclnabrich, Angus Dow, 174.
Mclnabrich, Archibald McConeil,
174-
Mclnabrich, Archibald Mclndow,
174-
Mclnabrich, Donald Mclndow, 174.
Mclnabrich, Johne, 174.
Mclnabrich, Johnne Beg, 174.
Mclnabrich, Johne Dow, 174.
Mclnabrich, Ronald, 174.
Mclnabrich Ronald Dow, 174.
Mclnoig, Allan Roy, 1591, 96.
Mclntnach, Allan Oig, of Glencoe,
1609, 98.
Mclyn, Edmond, 1603, 185.
McKaane de Ardnamurchane, 1550,
56.
McKaane McAlestar de Glengawrie,
Alester, 1548, 172, 177.
McKaine (or McKame), Andreas and
John, 1601, 183.
McKaine, Glesny, clarke, 1662, 197.
McKainie (McKaine ?) Andrew, 1644,
190.
McKainie (McKaine?) Matheus, 1644,
190.
McKane, viii, ix., 64, etc.
McKane, Allane, of Ilandterrim, 180
McKane, Allaster and Angus, 1588,
64.
McKane, Bartholomew, in Aber,
1591, 179.
McKane de Ardnamurchane, 1550,
5<5.
McKane, Duncan, 1468, 169.
McKane, Ewphame, (Euphemia),
1612, 187.
McKane, James, councillor at Mon-
trose, 1592, 180.
mckane, Johanes 1531, 55.
Mckane, John Moir, 1587, 179.
Mckane, John, of Ardnamurchan,
1587, 1588, 63.
McKane, Johnne, of the Rande, 1579,
178.
McKane, Matilda, 1549, 172.
McKane, McEwin, Margareta Neyn-
thomas, 1551, 172.
McKane McFale, Maria, 1545, 172.
McKane Murdoch, 1549, 172.
mckane of Ilandterum, allane, 1587,
179.
McKane, William McDonald, 1549,
172.
McKanys (McKane, Makane) house,
1494, 169.
McKayne de Ardnamurchane, 1550,
5.6-'
McKayne, Willelmus, 1562, 172.
McKean, Agnes, 1612, 187.
246
INDEX.
Mckean alias McDonald elder of
Glencoe, 1690, 121.
McKean Family of Pennsylvania,
Genealogy of the, 20, 185, note, 202.
McKean Genealogies in America, v,
vi., 163, 164, 202.
Mckean, John, 1661, 194.
McKean-McDonalds, 15, etc.
McKean, John, merchant, Edinb.,
1632, 189.
McKean, Margaretta, and David,
1661, 196.
McKean, pronounced in three differ-
ent ways, viii.
McKean, Robert, furrier, and Joneta
his spouse, 1638, 189.
McKeans, v, ix, x., 17, 19 ... 164,
196, 215-219, etc.
McKean, Thomas, of Camsmawn,
1701, 199.
McKean, Thomas, The Signer, d.
1817, 201, 202.
McKean, Uthred or Uthried, 1672,
197-
Mckean vc condachie, Duncan, 1649,
192.
McKean, William, of Argyleshire,
his emigration to Ireland, 1674?
197-
McKeand, Gulielmus, coppersmith,
1686, 198.
McKeand, Joannes, bailiff, 1686,
198.
McKeane de Ardnamurchane, 1550,
56.
McKeane, Gilladuffe, 1603, 185.
McKeane, James, merchant, bur-
gess of Montrose, 1602, 184.
McKeane, John McCoill, 1545, 172.
McKeane (Macean, Mackean), James,
1644, 190.
McKeane, Mariota and Joneta, 1 627,
1 88.
McKeane, Owen. 1613, 186.
McKeane, Shane Crone, 1613, 186.
McKechin (s), 85, 99.
McKeehan, viii.
McKeen, v, viii, ix, etc.
McKeen, Calloigh, 1608, 187.
McKeighon, Bollyagh, 1537, 171.
Mckein, James, 1661, 194.
mckein, Jon and Dauid, 1585, 179.
McKein, Robertus and Andrew,
junior, 1628, 188.
mckene, alane, 1489, 169.
McKene, David, in Laicht, 1593,
1 80.
McKene, James, bailie in Montrose,
1598, 183.
McKene, William, councillor in
Montrose, 1598, 183.
mckene, williame, 1631, 189.
McKeowne William, of Glasgow,
1701, 199.
McKewne, John, 1643, 190.
McKeyhone, Cosney, 1537, 171.
McKeyne, Shane, 1608, 186.
McKeynie, Coyne, 1608, 186.
m'makane, Johne, 1489, 169.
McMakene, James, 1617, 186.
McNaughton (s), 98, 119.
McOnell, a form of MacDonald, 60.
Mcorronald of Eyellantirrim, 1645,
1 80.
McVcane, Chairles, of Duprene,
1593, 1 80.
McVurichs, bards, 86, 91.
McYeone, Owen, 1612, 186.
Mearrdha, Chart IA, 23.
Mechain(McKain?) John, 1607, 186.
Memoirs of Lochiel, Maitland Club,
134-
Memoirs of the Lord Viscount Dun-
dee, Jenner, 148, 162.
Memoranda de Parliamento, 167.
Menzies, Menges, 112, 113.
Mhic-Iain Dhuin, Clann, 1634? 189.
Mingarry Castle, 45, 47, 48, 51, 56,
65, 66, 71, 72 illus., 73, 74, 78, 107.
Moidart, or Among the Clanranalds,
MacDonald, 77.
Montrose, 107, 108, etc.
INDEX.
Moore's Poetical Works, lona, 81.
Mr Cornelius McKean of Perry,
Iowa, v, vii, 164, 202.
Mulroy or Glenroy, Last great clan
battle, 113, 114.
Music of Lament, Massacre of Glen-
coe, 224-227.
Nemo me impune lacessit, 23.
Newspapers and periodicals, 160,
161, 162.
Nialgus, Chart I A., 23.
Nicknames, 173.
North Inch, Battle of the, 167.
Notes and Queries, 147.
O'Caanes, O'Cahans, etc., 189.
O'Cahan, Brian oge, 1608, 186.
O'Cahan, Cowy McRoory, 1612,
186.
O'Cahan, Dermod oge, 1612, 186.
O'Cahan, Donnell, 1603, 185.
O'Cahan, Donogh, 1608, 186.
O'Cahan, Donohie, 1608, 186.
O'Cahan, Gorie McShane, 1609, 186.
O'Cahan, Jenkin McHugh, 1612)
186.
O'Cahan, Sir Donell, 1607, 186.
O'Cahan McBrian, Cowie, 1612, 186.
O'Cahan McDermod, Owen, 1612,
1 86.
O'Cahan McDonell, Roory Duff,
1612, 186.
O'Cahan McDonnell, Brian, 1612,
186.
O'Cahan McOwen, Manus, 1612,
186.
O'Cahan McSenekyn Murrey, Owen,
1612, 186.
O'Cahane, Brian O' Donell, McWm.,
1607, 1 86.
O'Cahane, John Shallogh, 1607, 186.
O'Cahane, McShane, 1607, 186.
O'Cahane, Quoy McBrian Modder,
1607, 1 86.
O'Cahane, Richard McBriane Car-
ragh, 1610, 186.
O'Cahane, Shane Ballagh, 1607,
1 86.
O'Cahane McCorbe, Donogh, 1610,
186.
O'Cahane McRichard, Brian, 1607,
1 86.
O'Cahane McRowrie, Donogh, 1610,
1 86.
O'Cahane McSwyne, John, 1607,
1 86.
O'Cahane McToole boy, Rowrie,
1609, 1 86.
O'Cahan, The name, 20, 215.
O'Cahans, O'Caanes, O'Canes,
O'Kanes, etc., 1603-1617, etc.,
v., 20, 164, 184-186; 185, note.
O'Cane, Dominus, 1603, 185.
O'Cane, McCan, etc., 185, note.
O'Cane's country, 187, note.
O'Cathans or O'Kanes, 28, 32 ...
202, 215.
O'Chane, Dermond, 1608, 186.
O'Chane, Donell, 1608, 186.
O'Chane, MacKann, 178.
Ogilvies, 38, g6, 122.
O'Kanes and O'Cahans, 1603-1617,
184-186; O'Canes, O'Caanes, etc.,
164, 185, note.
O'Kean, Redmond McMurtagh,
1604, 1 86.
O'Keen, Richard, 1609, 186.
O'Keine, Philip, 1615, 186.
Old and Rare Scottish Tartans,
Stewart, no.
O'Neill, 40, 215.
"O'Nell," Earl of Tyrone 178,
O'Neill, 215.
Origines Parochiales Scotia?, 28, 71.
Ossiati, 8j, 91, 176 note.
Other McKeans, vii, 164-203.
Paper Register of the Great Seal, 199.
Papistry Stormed, poem, Tennant,
176.
Pass of Glencoe, illus, 128, 129.
Passage of pipers through the Glen,
1895, 160, 161.
248
INDSX.
Percy Reliques of Ancient Poetry,
196, note.
Pictorial History of Scotland, Tay-
lor, 38, 49, 108, 117.
Pilgrim of Glencoe, Campbell, 196,
note.
Pipe Music, (Mackay), 134, 224, 231.
Piper, Maclan's family, in, 224.
Plaids and Tartans, 109-111, 114,
193, 200.
Popish Families of Scotland, 147.
Postscript and Acknowledgments,
232.
Prince Harye ye Acht, 57.
Process in making a spuilyie, 101.
Proelium Gillecrankianum, Latin
poem, Kennedy, 117.
Queen Mary, 51, 55, 171.
Queen Elizabeth and Ireland, 66, 78.
Ranald of the Shield, 109, 132, 153
Ranald, See Clanranald.
Ranald, The name, 214.
Rebellion of Donald, Lord of the
Isles, 36.
Rebellion of 1715, 149, 150.
Record Interpreter, Martin, 223.
Records of Argyll, Campbell, in,
112, 158, 196, note.
Reginald, Chart IB, note 6, 27, 28;
seal 29, 30.
Register of Decreet of Council and
Session, 61, note.
Register of the Great Seal of the
Kings of Scotland, 171, 177, 220.
Register of the Privy Council of
Scotland, 63, 65, 66, 67, 73, 94,
95) 97, 98-101, 172, 178, 179, 180,
181, 183.
Register of the Privy Seal, 74.
Registrum Palatinum Dunelmense,
223.
Registrum Secreti Sigilli, 147.
Religion and politics, 92, 148, 191,
197, i98, 199.
Repressing of the clan of Mcean,
107.
Repressing the barbarous race of
. . . clandonald, 107.
Robert Bruce, 31, 32, 34, 35, 86,
221, 222.
Robertson of Strowan, Struan, etc.,
44, Chart II., 55, 99, 119, 120, 184.
Robin and Makyne, 196, note.
Rob Roy and his Times, Macleay,
78, 95, 103, 197.
Rob Roy, Scott, 155.
Roll of Chiefs, 63.
Roll of Clans, 63, 95.
Rotuli Litterarum Clausarum, 223.
Royal Letters, Henry VII, 48;
Henry III, 166.
Ruined keep of Ardthornish Castle,
41, illus.
Saint Andrew, Patron of Scotland,
Church of, 22, 176, 177, 187.
Saint Patrick, 20, 228, note.
Saint Regulus or Rule, 22.
Scene of the Massacre of Glencoe
illus., 156.
Scotland called Alba and Scotia, 16.
Scotland, Historic and Romantic,
Lansdale 22, 40, illus., 55 note;
104 note; 161 illus.
Scotland, The Thistle of, 22, 23 and
note.
Scots, Albans and Britons, 19 note.
Scots in Eastern and Western
Prussia, Th. A. Fischer, 187.
Scots of Dalriada, 16, 17, Chart I A.,
19-
Scots whaha'e wi' Wallace bled, 31.
Scottish Clans and Tartans, John-
ston's, no.
Scottish Gael, Logan, 1 1 1 .
Scott, Sir Walter and physician, 50.
Scotts' Poetical Works, 32, 41, 49,
50, 230.
Seal of Angus Mor of Isla, 33.
Seal (Galley) of Ardnamurchan, 34.
INDEX.
249
Seal of Reginald, 29, 30
Sept, Definition of, 71, note.
Signature of Alexander Macdonald
of Glencoe, r2o.
Signatures of Dundee, Argyll and
Dalrymple, 1689, 115.
Sketch of the Highlanders, Stewart,
151-
Sketch-map of railroad to Oban,
etc., 136.
Sleat, Slate, etc., 26, 27*, 41, 42, 60,
62, 78, 86 note, in note, 112, 120,
156, 197-
Smith, Hon. Sir Donald, proprietor
of Glencoe since 1894, 84, 135
158, 161, 162.
Solaim, Chart IA., 24.
Somerled, founder of the Family of
the Isles, Chart IA., 24, 25, Chart
IB., and note 3; 26, 28.
Songs, Ballads, etc., mentioned.
Annie Laurie, 196, note.
Battle of Harlaw, 38.
Bonnie Charlie's gone awa', 153.
Blue Bonnets over the Border,
109.
Bruce's Address, 31.
Campbells are Coming, 149.
Flowers of the Forest, 50.
Garb of Old Gaul, viii.
Hail to the Chief, 134.
Kitty of Coleraine, 185, note.
Macdonalds' Gathering, 224.
Wives of Glencona, 134.
Sons of John ?. . . 203, 215-220.
Spanish marines, A hundred, 65 and
note.
Spuilyie, process in making, 101.
State Papers, 60.
Stewart (s), 85, 88, Chart III., 90, 95,
97, 102, 104, 107, 117, 119, 121,
124, 148, 151, 224.
Stewarts of Appin, Book, Chart
III., 90, 91, 92, 96, 108, 148, 149,
151, 156.
Stories of Famous Songs, Fitz-
Gerald, 196, note.
Suibne, Chart IA, 23.
Supplication of the Glencoe-men
for redress for plundering their
cattle and burning their houses,
138, 139, 146.
Supplication of Thomas McKeinzie,
1649, 192-194.
Supplicatioun of Elspeth Ros., 105,
106.
Tales of a Grandfather, Scott, 114,
148, 149, 150, 155.
Tanistrie, 179, note.
Tantallon Castle, 40, illus., 41.
Tartan, Mackeane, no.
Tartans and Plaids, 109-11, 114,
193, 200.
Tartans of the Clans of Scotland,
Grant, 108, 117.
The Great Marquess, Book, 76.
The name Donald, 213.
The name McKean, vii-ix; 203;
215-220.
The name O'Cahan, 215.
The name Ranald, 214.
The two lains or Johns, vii., 17,
Chart IB, 28, 33.
Thistle of Scotland, 22, 23 and note.
Three Collas, Chart I A, 19.
Title "of the Isles." 59 and note.
Tombstones, Angus Og of Isla, 33;
Maciain, 53; the last Maciains of
Ardnamurchan, 82; Macdonald of
Glencoe, Monument, 161.
Toshach of the Isles, Chart IA.,
22, and note.
Tour of the Hebrides, Boswell, 200.
Tripartite Life of St. Patrick, 20.
Trophies of weapons, etc., 15, 84,
164.
Trow's Directory Library, 203.
Uais, Colla, 4th century, 16, 17,
Chart I A., 19, 20.
Una Maciain, 1585, 62.
Unruly Clan, MacKane of Aruicht,
97-
250
INDEX.
Uthred or Uthried McKean, 1672,
197-
VcAchanes, 99.
VcAine, Donald McConeill, 175.
VcAine Vane, John McFarquhar
Doy, 174.
VcAyne, Johnne McGillandris, 175.
vcean angus, Johne McDonald,
1649, 192.
VcEan or VcEane, Donald Mc-
Allane, 1616, 188.
v^ean, Donald Mcean, 1661, 196.
ycean, Dougall Mccoill, 1649, 192.
VcEan or VcEane, John and Rorie,
1616, 188.
vcean, Johne Mcdonald, 1649, 192.
v^ean vcewin, Alaster McWilliam,
1649, 192.
VcEane, Allaster Dow McAllane,
175-
VcEane, Angus Oig Mclnnes Vc-
Martine, 175.
VcEane, Johnne McFatrik, 97, 175.
VcEane, Johnne Moir McAllane, 175.
VcEane, Johnne Oig McAllane, 175.
VcEane Vane, Gilliechallum Mc-
Farquhar Doy, 174.
VcEane VcMartine, Donald Our
Vclnnis, 175.
VcEane VcMartine, Donald Roy
McAngus, 175.
VcEane VcMartine, Duncan Mc-
Angus, 175.
VcEane VcMartyne, Donald Dow
McConeill, 175.
VcGregour, McEane, 101.
Vclain of Ardnamurchan, Alexa-
ander MacDonald 57; leader of
the Clan, 57; supported Clan-
' ranald, 57; fought at Blar Leine
57; Mackeyn of Ardnamurchane,
57; Macian of Ardnamurchan, 57;
in Donald Dubh's rebellion, 60;
Councillor and Commissioner, 60,
61.
Vclain, John MacAllister, XI., of
Ardnamurchan, 69 ; succession
disputed by Argyle, 69, 74.
Vestiarum Scotiorum, Urquhart,
1 10.
vie can, Donald M^angus, 1661, 195.
vie can, Don. M^ilespick, 1718, 199.
VicEan Duibh, Maclnnes, 1659?
J94-
viceanduy, Rory McOil, 1718, 199,
200.
viceanvic uinlay, John McOil, 1718,
200.
vie can vuy, Don, McCoil, 1718, 199.
VicEane de Ellantirrin, 180.
Viceane, Joannes McDonald Mc-
Allane, capitanus de Clanronald,
1627, 1 80.
vie eayne, mcfinlay, 106.
viclain, Ronald McConnald, of
Hand, 1597, 182.
viclain Chittach, Alester and Angus,
1580, 178.
VicKeanne of Ilandtirme, 180.
Views in Glencoe, 100, 128, 129, 131,
141, 161.
Virich, McEane, 184.
West of Scotland in History, Irving,
98.
What is my Tartan? Frank Adam,
71, note, no note, 200, 228.
Widow of Glencoe, Aytoun, 196,
note.
William and Mary, 119, 125, 126.
Wine for the army, 166.
Wood row's MSS., 113.
CS McKean, Frederick George
479 (comp.)
M23 McKean historical notes
1906
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