Argyllshire Clans Authors(s): A. Maclean Sinclair Source: The Celtic Review, Vol. 8, No. 32 (May, 1913), pp. 334-340 Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/30070257 Accessed: 23-03-2016 21:07 UTC
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ARGYLLSHIRE CLANS
REv. A. MACLEAN SINCLAIR
THE MACLACHLANS
THE Maclachlans are descended from Gilchrist, a promin-
ent Highlander who lived in Cowall about the year 1250.
He knew nothing about railroads, telegraphs, and flying-
machines, but he had perhaps as much good sense in his
head as the people of the present day. He married probably
a daughter of Gillespie Campbell of Lochow, and had two
sons, Gillespie and Patrick. Gillespie appears on record in
1274, 1292, 1296, and 1314. He received, in 1274, from
King Alexander mi., a charter of Strath, Kilbride, Achnam-
breck, Glenfinnart, and other lands. In 1314 he made a
grant of twenty shillings yearly to the preaching friars of
Glasgow.
Patrick, second son of Gilchrist, and successor of
Gillespic, married Aiteag or Atega, daughter of Lachlan
MacRory, and had by her Lachlan Mor, the progenitor of
the Maclachlans. As the strath was a part of Lachlan's
estate, and the part of it in which he lived, it came to be
known as Strathlachlan. Atega, the name of Lachlan's
mother, means a cheerful and pleasant girl, and is quite a
pretty name.
Lachlan Mor married a daughter of Donald Mac Erick
Mac Kennedy, Lord of Carrick, and had by her Patrick,
his successor. Patrick married Elizabeth, daughter of the
Lord of Cowall, and had by her Lachlan Og, his heir.
Lachlan Og married Agnes, daughter of John Macdonald,
Lord of the Isles, and had by her John, his successor. John
married Catherine, daughter of Duncan Mac Lamond, and
had by her Kenneth, Patrick, and Gillespic. Donald,
chief of the Maclachlans in 1456, seems to have died without
legitimate male issue. John, son of Gillespic, son of John,
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son of Lachlan Og, succeeded Donald. Gillespic, son and
heir of John, appears on record in 1511. He was succeeded
by his son Lachlan, who was succeeded by his son Gillespic,
who was succeeded by his son Lachlan, who was succeeded
by his son Gillespic, who was succeeded by his son Lachlan
Og. Gillespic, son of Lachlan Og, was served heir to his
father in 1663. Lachlan, son and successor of Gillespic,
fought under the Earl of Mar at the battle of Sheriffmuir
in 1715. It is said that he was murdered by Campbell of
Ardkinglass in 1719 for having fought in behalf of the
Stewarts. He left two sons, Lachlan Og and Robert.
Lachlan Og succeeded his father. At the battle of Culloden
the Maclachlans and the Macleans formed a small regiment
of about seven hundred men. Lachlan Og, who was chief
of his clan, was colonel; Maclean of Drimnin, who was
chieftain of a branch of the Macleans, was lieutenant-
colonel. They were both killed. Lachlan Og was suc-
ceeded by his son Robert. Donald, son of Robert, was
laird of Strathlachlan in 1815.
Of all the Maclachlans the most eminent was Ewen
Maclachlan of Aberdeen. He was a scholar and a poet.
His poems on the seasons were composed when he was
quite young, and are of very little value. The other poems
written by him are excellent. The Rev. Dr. Thomas
Maclauchlan was also a prominent and worthy member of
the Clan Lachlan. He did good work in the interest of
Gaelic and Gaelic literature. I heard him preach in Edin-
burgh, 5th September 1869, and was delighted with his
Gaelic and with his sermon. I called to see him on the
following Monday, and was glad to have an opportunity of
shaking hands with a man who took such a deep interest in
the language and literature of the Highlanders as he did.
THE MACNAUGHTONS
Nectan, the progenitor of the MacNectans or Mac-
Naughtons, was born about the year 1100. He was the
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father of Donald, father of Gilchrist, father of Ferchar,
father of Gilchrist and Gilbert. Donald, son of Gilchrist,
fought against Robert Bruce at the battle of Dalree in 1306.
He was probably connected by marriage with M'Dougall
of Lorn, who was a bitter enemy of Bruce. Duncan, son
of Donald, was succeeded by his son Alexander, who died
without issue about 1360. Gilbert, brother of Gilchrist,
was succeeded by his son Malcolm. Maurice, son of Mal-
colm, was evidently a supporter of Robert Bruce. He
received a charter of certain lands from Colin Campbell, of
Lochow. Malcolm, son of Maurice, was succeeded by his
son Maurice, who was chief of the Clan Nectan, or Naughton,
in 1390.
Sir Alexander, chief of the MacNaughtons, was slain at
the battle of Flodden in 1513. He was succeeded by his
son John, who was succeeded by his son Malcolm of Glen-
shira. Malcolm had two sons, Alexander and John.
Alexander was knighted by Charles n. John, his brother,
had a small estate in Kintyre. Sir Alexander was succeeded
by John, his son, as chief of the Clan Naughton. John
fought under Dundee at Killiecrankie, 27th July 1689. He
got deeply into debt. He had two sons, Alexander and
John. Alexander was a captain in Queen Anne's guards,
and was killed in 1702. John was Collector of Customs at
Anstruther, in Fife. On the 24th of August 1710, Sir James
Campbell, of Ardkinglass, obtained possession of all his
lands. The year of John's death I do not know. He was
the last MacNaughton chief that lived in Scotland.
John Dubh, grandson of the Alexander who fell at
Flodden in 1513, went to Ireland 1850, and settled there.
His lineal representative, Sir Francis W. MacNaughton,
was created a baronet in 1836. Sir Francis was married
and had Sir Edmund, Sir William, and other sons. Sir
William was assassinated at Cabul, 25th December 1841.
Sir Edmund was born in 1790. He was married and had
five sons. Sir Francis, his eldest son, was born in London
in 1828. At a meeting of the Clan Naughton held in
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Edinburgh in 1878 Sir Francis was acknowledged Chief of
the Clan. He married a daughter of Sir William Howard
Russell, the famous war correspondent. He had an estate
in Ireland of eight thousand three hundred acres. He died
July 20, 1911, in his home at Bushmills in Antrim. The
descendants of Nectan have a perfect right to call them-
selves MacNaughtons. I question, however, if Mac-
Naughton has the same royal ring about it that MacNectan
has. There was a King Nectan in Scotland, but there was
no King Naughton.
THE MACEACHERNS
The genealogy of the Maceacherns, as given in the
Collectanea de Rebus Albanicis, is as follows :-' Andrew, son
of Colin, son of Macrath, son of Gilchrist, son of Macrath,
son of Marceartach, son of Cormac, son of Seth, son of
Ferchar, son of Finlay, son of Nichol, son of Maine, son
of Murdoch, son of Ectigern, who was called In Gamor.'
It is certain that In Gamor is an incorrect reading.
It might stand for An gainnear, the archer. It is probable,
however, that what it does stand for is An ceannair,
the driver. Ectigern, now Eacharn or each-thighearna,
means horse-lord or horse-manager. Ectigern, being a
horse-controller, would also be a horse-driver. He may,
indeed, have been a furious driver-a thorough Highland
Jehu.
Macrath, son of Ectigern, had three sons, Gilchrist,
Dugall, and Ranald. Gilchrist succeeded his father in
Kintyre, and was succeeded by his son Macrath, who was
succeeded by his son Colin. Andrew, son of Colin, was
Chief of the Maceacherns in 1385. Colin of Kilellan, a
descendant of Andrew, was Chief in 1493.
THE IMACCOULS OF CRAIGNISII
In the House of Argyll and the Collateral Branches of
the Clan Campbell, we are told that the MacCouls of Craig-
VOL. VIII. Y
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nish are descended from Dugall Campbell, third son of
Gillespic Campbell of Lochow. This statement is ground-
less, and contrary to known historic facts. MacCoul is a
shortened form of Mac Dhughaill or Macdougall. MacCoul
of Craignish means simply Macdougall of Craignish. There
were two clan Dougalls in Scotland, the Macdougalls of
Lorn, who were descended from Dugall, son of Somerled
of the Isles, and the Macdougalls or MacCouls of Craignish,
who were descended from Dugall, son of Macrath. Mac-
Coul is simply a contracted form of Macdougall. Both
names are the same in Gaelic-Mac Dhughaill.
Dugall, second son of Macrath, son of Ectigern, was the
progenitor of the Macdougalls or MacCouls of Craignish.
Dugall Og, son of Dugall, son of Dugall, son of the first
Dugall, died in 1350. He left two daughters, Christina and
Effreta.
Ranald, third son of Macrath, son of Ectigern, was born
about 1250 and witnessed a charter in 1270. He possessed
lands in Nether Craignish. He was succeeded by his son
Malcolm, who was succeeded by his son Malcolm Og.
Ranald Mor, son of Malcolm Og, was born about 1390. He
changed his name to Campbell, and was in high favour with
the lords of Lochow. In 1412 he obtained from Sir Colin of
Lochow a charter of the lands of Corvorran, Barrichibean
and others. He was succeeded by his son Malcolm. Ranald
Og, son of Malcolm, was drowned in Loch Fyne in 1447.
He left two sons, John Gorm and Malcolm.
THE MACCOULS OF BARRICHIBEAN
John Gorm, son of Ranald Og, was infeft in Corvorran
and other lands in 1448. He had two sons Gillespic and
Donald. Gillespic succeeded him.
Donald, second son of John Gorm, married Effreta
Mac Igheill, and obtained the lands of Barrichibean with
her in 1481. John, their son, was infeft in Barrichibean in
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1492. Ranald, son of John, son of Donald, son of John, son
of Donald, son of John, succeeded to the estate of Barri-
chibean in 1592. He was a man of ability and good sense.
He was succeeded by John, his second son, who was infeft
in 1623. Donald, son of John, had eight children: George,
Alexander, Donald, Archibald, Catherine, Alice, Mary, and
Ann. Catherine was married to John Maclean of Carsaig,
or Tarbert, and had Donald of Torloisk; Alice was married
to Archibald Campbell of Sunderland, and had Mary.
Donald of Torloisk married Mary, and had General Allan
Maclean and others. General Allan was a prominent and
useful man in Canada in 1775.
THE MACCALLUMS OF POLTALLOCH
Malcolm, second son of Ranald Og, was born about
1480. He was the progenitor of the MacCallums of Pol-
talloch. He had a son named Archibald and possibly a son
named Donald. Archibald was succeeded by his son Donald,
who was infeft in Poltalloch in 1562. Donald had two sons,
Archibald and John. Archibald succeeded him in Poltal-
loch; John, who was born about 1680, was ordained to the
ministry in 1609 and settled over the parish of Knapdale.
Archibald, son of John, was born in 1605. He was ordained
to the ministry in 1639 and settled in Glassary. He was
served heir in 1642 to his first cousin, Donald of Poltalloch,
son of Archibald. He had two sons, Zachary and Donald.
He died in 1685. Zachary was noted for his great strength
and for his skill as a swordsman. In the traditions of the
Highlands he is by far the most famous of all the Mac-
Callums. He succeeded his father in Poltalloch. He died
in 1692, and was succeeded by his son Archibald, who sold
Poltalloch to his uncle Donald. In 1715 we find Donald
described as Donald MacCallum of Poltalloch. Archibald,
his son and heir, is at the same time described as Archibald
MacCallum, younger of Poltalloch.
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THE MACIVERS
Iver, the progenitor of the Macivers, was born probably
about the year 1110. Macbeth, son of Iver, was judge of
Gourie and sheriff of Scone. Donald, son of Macbeth,
witnessed a grant by the Earl of Atholl in 1219. Iver
Crom, son of Donald, received the lands of Lergachonie and
others from King Alexander, about 1221. Malcolm, pro-
bably a grandson of Iver, was in possession of Lergachonie
in 1292. Iver Maciver, a son or grandson of Malcolm, was
chief of the Macivers in 1361. He married Christina,
daughter and co-heiress of MacCoull of Craignish.
In 1685 Iver Maciver of Asknish was forfeited for
having supported the Earl of Argyll in his rebellion. After
the revolution of 1688, Archibald, tenth Earl of Argyll, gave
the estates which had belonged to Iver to his son, Duncan;
but imposed as a condition that Duncan and his heirs should
bear the surname and arms of Campbell.
Some Macivers settled in Lochaber at an early period,
and in course of time made Campbells of themselves. A
large number of Macivers settled in Caithness, about 1680.
They all changed their name to Campbell. Thomas
Campbell, the famous poet, was not a Campbell at all:
he was a Maciver. The Macivers who settled in Lewis
remained Macivers. They had no wish to be classed among
those who are 'given to change.'
Principal Campbell of Aberdeen, author of the Disserta-
tion on Miracles, was a Maciver, and published an excellent
history of the Clan Iver. The work is now out of print. A
new edition of it with such notes and additions as are
required ought to command a ready sale.
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