• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

A MEMO.RIAL HISTORY OF JiVHlCH INCLUDES RECORDS OF THE DIFFERENT HIGHLAND AND OTHER FAlllflLIES. vVJTH WHOM THEY HA VE INTERMARRIED. \ 1 0 c·..., ~ \ 1 I I _ "AIR A' CHUIDEACHD CHAOMH SO DH' FHALBH UAll\I. 71 "OF THE GREAT AND GOOD WHO ARE GONE." GAELIC SONG. :lJrintea for ~uhsr.ril.T.ers antr :tarHntf£ 01irrulation. L01VDON: SilVIl\iONS & BOTTEN, SHOE LANE, E.C. I 882. 1----,_ ' . ····-····---. ·-· ... ___ - ··-··--- ·····-··· ·- . - :: ··-·-·--- --"-~:::;]-" :=={:=_:_-:~~~~-: cC::= i : ·- - - -~ TH·E ·PASS OF MELFORT-.. PREF ACE. desire to preserve s·ome record or memorial of the origin and _descent of the Family of Campbell of Melfort, has been inspired by the wish to perpetuate the noble and _patriotic duty of a_ race during all time remarkable for their fidelity to their sovereign and to the chief of their clan. We are instructed by the Highest Authority that the glory of children are their fathers ; in this belief, and in expressing the hope that the honourable devotion to duty in the past may be emulated in future generations, I have been induced to undertake this labour of love, and_ to collate the materials I ha':.e put on record. In my researches, finding frequent mention of intermarriages between the families of Campbells of Melfort, Achalader, Barcaldine, Lochend, Kinloch, Dunstaffnage, and Duntroon, MacDougall of MacDougall, Maclachlan of Maclachlan, and Cameron of Lochiel, I thought it might interest were some mention of each included in this memorial of the M elfort family. In bidding my worthy" clansmen and fair clanswomen farewell, I do so with hearty thanks for their sympathy in my labours, wishing prosperity and happiness to all who may be sufficiently interested to devote a mom·ent to the perusal of these, I fear, but imperfect records of a family, whose lands, now possessed by strangers, might otherwise B . Vt PREFACE. be forgotten. We may say with Ossian, "The chiefs of other times are departed; another race shall arise." Lastly, . I beg _to express my thanks to my friend, I , may say kinsman, Mr. J. R. Scott, F .S.A., for his kind advice and valuable ~elp. The first idea of collecting these Melfort records was awakened by the perusal of his valuable and standard work both of family and historical interest in which he perpetuates the records of the Scott (Baliol) fan1ily of Scots Hall, Kent. To members of my own family, my recognition of their kind assistance is also due, and hereby tendered. MARGARET OLYMPIA CAMPBELL. Dece1nber, I 88 I. CONTE.NTS, PAGE HISTORY, LINEAGE, AND PEDIGREES I.-VII. OF THE C.AMPBELLS OF MELFORT . 1 RECORD, LINEAGE, AND PEDIGREE VIII. OF THE C.AMPBELLS OF ACHALADER . 20 RECORD, LINEAGE, AND PEDIGREE IX. OF THE MACDOUGALLS OF MACDOUGALL 50 RECORD, LINEAGE, AND PEDIGREE X. OF THE CAMPBELLS OF LOCHEND . 56 RECORD, LINEAGE, AND PEDIGREE XI. OF THE CAMPBELLS OF KINLOCH . 63 SHORT NOTICES. OF THE FAMILIES OF CAMPBELLS OF BARCALDINE, MACLACHLAN OF MACLACHLAN, CAMERON OF LOCHIEL, AND THE CAMPBELLS OF DUNSTAFF- NAGE AND DUNTROON . 72 PEDIGREES OF THE DESCENDANTS IN THE Fli.MALE LINE OF THE CAMP:BELLS OF MELFORT, XII.-XVIII. 85 APPENDIX. CHARTERS AND DOCUMENTS . 109 A LAMENT . 117 NOTES • 123 ILLUSTRA T,IONS. THE PASS OF MELFORT Frontispiece. CREST, ARMS, AND BADGES OF THE CAMPBELLS OF ARGYLL To face page I lv1EMORIAL CROSS. 6 LIKENESSES OF SOME M:EMBERS OF THE MELFORT FAMILY 18 ERRATA. Page I 3, for I 264, read I 2 54. J) 19, Pedigree III., for H~ndon, read Hendon. ,, 28, Pedigree IV., for I 3 read 16. 34, Note IV, far I 842, read I 846. " THE Boe I\iYRTLE IS THE BADGE OF THE CAMPBELLS. A FISH IS ALSO BORNE BY THEl\I AS A BADGE. THE 11AGPIE IS THE BIRD OF THE CLAN ; TRADITION SAYS, OF EVIL Ol\IEN. A HISTORY· OF THE CAM·PBELLS OF MELFORT (PATRONYMIC,. MACNIELL), ~bolning iltsttnt from tbe ·otlan ·otampbtll af lrin1ll. This Hlstory ls c01npiled fro1n CHARTERS, RECORDS, and HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS. HE lands and Barony of Melfort were granted by King David Bruce to Sir Archibald Campbell, Khight of Lochaw, for his loyalty and faithful service, to be held by the said Archibald and his heirs male of· the king and his heirs for service usual and wont, dated at Aberdeen, 2nd May, 1343. There· is also a confirmation of the_ same, dated 14th March, 1368. In this last ·charter there is notice of Duncan MacDuine, Baron of Lochaw, as progenitor of the Earls of Argyll. Extracts front Royal Commission on Histori"cal MSS.,from Argyll M SS., by W. Fraser, Esq. I 2 A HISTORY OF THE CAMPBELLS OF MELFORT. The progenitor of the Campbells of Kenmor (now Melfort) is described in the Argyll records as Niel, grandson of Sir Niel Campbell, and son of Sir Colin by a daughter of Ildhui of Mull ; a lineal descent from father to son is clearly shown until the death of Colonel John Campbell in 1861, ,vho was succeeded by his nephew. Colonel John Campbell sold the lands of his forefathers in I 838. The lands in the lordship of Melfort were besto\ived on Niel and his descendants. 1'here is no record of the exact date. The first charter now in possession bears date 1st September, I 502. It is by Sir Archibald Campbell, in favour of Nigel, ,vho on the decease of his father, Dugald, surrendered the lands to his chief of clan, according to the then usage ; each heir, on succeeding, received a fresh charter granting him the lands. In each charter a minute de?cription -of the different farms and islands is given. The charter of 1 502, by its ·details, clearly shows that· earlier charters existed. The chief of clan never renewed the grant of lands without the legal deeds showing titles to them. · As the lands of Argyll ,vere t,;vice forfeited to the crown, many of the older charters and MSS. have been lost in transfer ; tave perished by age or lack of due care. According to the Melfort charters and deeds, it would appear that the lands of lVIelfort were strictly entailed, and that failing the Campbells of Melfort, they would revert to the chief of claQ and his heirs. They_ ~ere held, -as. was,. the usage in those times, on the tenour of military service ; the Campbells of Melfort had also in addition to provide, fully manned, a galley of six oars (afterwards eight), for the service of their chief. It ,vas usual for those who held theit land from their chief to pay a tribute in kind. The Melforts were exempt from this; but the heir on succeed.ing had to throw down a glove at the cross of Inverary, in token of fealty~ and that he would support his chief and fight in his service. These ancient custqms and usages became obsolete when the Duke of Argyll resigned his feudal priv~leges into the hands of the sovereign, about the time of the union of the two countries . .One of these ancient feudal customs was revived to do honour to the present Duke of Argyll \ivhen he brought home his bride. · Twelve of the clan who had held their lands of their chief of clan, amongst them Colonel John Campbell of Melfort, held each a halbert jn front of the castle, in presence of the Duke and Duchess, on their arrival, to show they were ready to defend the interests of their chief to the last. A HISTORY OF THE CAMPBELLS OF I\1ELFORT. It may be interesting now to record an old custom peculiar to the Ca.mpbells of Dunstaffnage, Duntroon, and Melfort. •· When_' the head of- the family died, the chief mourners would be the other two lairds ; one supported the head to the grave, the other walked before the corpse. · In this manner friendship took the place of the, nearest con­ sang1~inity, for even the eldest son was not permitted to interfere with this arrangement. This legendary custom was carried· out, for the last time, at the funeral of Colonel John Campbell, I 86 r, when Dunstaffnage took his place as chief mourner. F ron1 historical records, it is shown that the descendants of the Argylls .,followed the fortunes of their chief, and we find John Campbell of Melfort disinherited, and lands forfeited to the crown and bestowed on the Earl of Perth, 168 r, reign of James I I. of England. The Earl of Perth still holds the title of Earl of Melfort. At this period the chief of clan was the Earl of Argyll, who was beheaded in r 68 5 ; he ,vas son of the good Marquis who suffered a like fate in 1661. John Campbell the younger, of Mel~ort, Lord Niel Campbell, of Ardmaddy, brother of the Earl, and others, were likewise condemned for treason, 1681. In 1669 Campbell of Melfort, with others, ,vere appointed to raise supplies in Argyllshire. In 1689 the title of Earl and the lands were restored to Lord Lorne, son of the late Earl. He was one of the ·few Scots peers who came from Holland and landed at Torbay, 1688, with the Prince of Orange, afterwards William I I I. In 1690 a petition was sent up to Parliament for compensation for losses sustained by ravages committed by .the troops of the Duke of Gordon, Marquis of Athol, and others. · Amongst the sufferers a long list is given of damages and losses sustained in cattle and other pro­ perty by the Melforts ( or l(enmors, as then designated).· In this list is given the names of the followers of the·- Melforts-the MacDermits, MacColls, M·acCallums, MacOran, and others who occupied the different farms.

Load more

  142

Copy Link