National Library of Scotland *B00007817r Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from National Library of Scotland http://www.archive.org/details/historyofclanmac1879mack HISTORY OF THE CLAN MACKENZIE; WITH GENEALOGIES OF THE PRINCIPAL FAMILIES. BY ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, Editor of the " Celtic Magazine" " The Prophecies of the Brahan Seer" "Historical Tales and Legends of tlie Highlands" &c, &c. LUCEO NON URO. (J INVERNESS: A. & W. MACKENZIE. MDCCCLXXIX. INVERNESS : rRINTED AT THE ADVERTISER OFFICE. ; To SIR KENNETH S. MACKENZIE OF GAIRLOCH, BARONET AS A SLIGHT BUT GENUINE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF HIS EXCELLENT QUALITIES AS A REPRESENTATIVE HIGHLAND CHIEF, AND AS A GENEROUS AND BENEVOLENT LANDLORD, THIS HISTORY OF HIS CLAN IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR. PREFACE. WHILE submitting to the Subscribers the HISTORY AND Genealogies of the Mackenzies, I feel fully alive to its literary demerits, but I am, at the same time, sensible of having done some little service to my Clan and to the Literature of the Highlands ; and it is no small pleasure to find that this has been already acknowledged in the most tangible and gratifying form—evidenced by the large and high-class List of Subscribers printed herewith. The amount of labour and research involved in the pro- duction of such a work is at once obvious. For generous and effectual aid to increase the number of my patrons, and for valuable genealogical notes, I am specially indebted to Major Thomas Mackenzie of the 78th Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs). For Mackenzie family MSS., and other valuable documents and information, I have to express my obligations to James F. Mackenzie, Esq. of Allangrange, Chief of the Clan ; to Sir Kenneth S. Mackenzie of Gairloch, Baronet, my own immediate Chief; to Major JAMES D. MACKENZIE of Findon ; to Captain MacRa ClilSHOLM, Glassburn ; and to Mr DUN- CAN A. Macrae, Monar. For the free use of an extensive and rare library, I have to express my gratitude to Charles Fraser-Mackintosh, Esq. of Drummond, M.P., F.S.A., Scot., and to his obliging Secretary, Mr Alexander Fraser, our best known and most distinguished local Anti- quarian ; as also to Bailie J. Noble, Bookseller, Inverness, who always granted me free access to the many curious and valuable historical and antiquarian books in his large stock. The Genealogies of the various families will be found in the order in which they branched off from the main stem of Kintail and Seaforth. A- M. Inverness, July 1879. — CONTENTS. PAGE ORIGIN OF THE Mackenzies—Fitzgerald-Irish Origin—Colin Fitzgerald at the Battle of Largs—Reputed Charter by King Alexander—Native Origin—Gaelic MS. Genealogy of 1450—Skene's Opinion—Origin of the Name Mackenzie ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 I. Coinneach, or Kenneth, from whom the name MacCoiunioh, or Mackenzie' —His Successful Contention with the Earl of Ross ... ... .24 II. Ian, or John MacKenneth- Shelters Robert Eruce in Islandonain Castle —Fights at Inverury—Rise of the Family of Kintail on the ruins of the Earls of Boss—Battle of Bannockburn ... ... ... 27 III. Coinneach, or Kenneth' na Sroine—Defeats the followers of the Earl of Ross at KenlOchewe—Killed in Revenge—Islandonain holds out 31 IV. MuRCHADH Dubh, or Black Murdoch of the Cave—A Minor—Sup- poited by Macaulay of Lochbroom—Leod MacGilleandreis attacks Islandonain Castle—Murders Macaulay—Becomes Master for a time of Kintail and Lochbroom—Obtains Kenlochewe from the Earl of Ross—Murdoch escapes to the Lews—Returns—Defeats Leod—Re-pos- sesses Kenlochewe— Is received with open arms in Kintail—Marries the daughter of his late benefactor, Macaulay—With her obtains the lands of Lochbroom and Coigeach—Receives a confirmation of his rights from the King in 1362—Attends the Scottish Parliament—King David's Ex- pedition to the Isles ... ... ... ... ... ... 33 V. Morohadh, or Murdoch of theBridge—How he came to be so described Receives a Charter in 1380—Fights under Douglas at Otterburn —Feuds in Sutherlandshire—Battle of Harlaw—The Duke of Albany goes into Ross—TakeB possession of the Castle of Dingwall—Mackenzie refuses to join the Earl of Ross against the Government—The MacRaes come to Kintail—The Blood of the Bruce and of the Kings of Man introduced into the Family of Kintail ... ... ... ... ... ... 39 VI. Alexander Ionraio—Meets King James at Inverness in 1427— King's decision to bring the Highlanders to subjection—Chiefs Executed at Inverness—Alexander Executes his Bastard Uncles—The Lord of the Isles BesiegeB Inverness—Retires to Lochaber—Is Attacked and Routed by the King—Afterwards Pardoned—Donald Balloch's Rebellion—The Lord of the Isles again in arms against the King—Kintail Supports the Government—Gets a Eoyal Charter in 1463 of Lands in Ross—Uses his Influence to bring about a Reconciliation between the King aid the Lord of the Isles—The latter obtains Remission, having unconditionally Surrendered the Earldom to the Crown—Kintail gets another Charter in 1476—Visit from Allan of Moydart—The Battle of "Bealach nam Brog"—Mackenzie refuses the Countess of Ross in Marriage—The Lord of the Isles marches to Inverness to attack Mackenzie, but is assassinated by an Irish Harper—Raid iDto Sutherland—Alexander's Character Dispute about his Marriage set at rest ... ... ... ... 45 VII. Kenneth a Bhlair—Marries Margaret of the Isles—Insulted by Mac- donald at Balcony- Escapes across the Firth—Sends away bis Wife ——— viii. Contents. t.\ge ignominioUBly in a violent Rage— Goes to Lov.it— Demands and takes away his daughter, Agnes—The famous Battle of Park between Kintail and the Macdonalds—The latter Defeated—Big Duncan of the Axe—His Extraordinary Valour— Duncan and the Irishman— After the Battle Terrible Slaughter and Revenge—The Lordship of the Isles Forfeited Kenneth's Character—His Union with Agnes of Lovat Legitimised by the Pope—Kenneth Knighted—Roderick of Fairburn on the Bass Rock —Enormous Strength—Defeats the Italian Champion before the King—Is Released and Rewarded by a grant of Fairburn to his Son—Anecdote of Roderick, and Kenneth Chaunter of Ross—Date of Kenneth a Bhlair's Death fixed ... ... ... ... ... ... .„ 59 VIII. Kenneth Og—Taken Prisoner to Edinburgh by the King with Favquhar Mackintosh of Mackintosh—They Escape— Mackenzie killed in the Torwood by the Laird of Buchanan—Mackintosh taken aud aigain Imprisoned—Kenneth's Illegitimate Descendants ... ... ... 81 IX. John of Killin—Hector Roy of Gairloch disputes his rightta Succeed, on the ground of Illegitimacy—Takes Possession of the Estates—Quarrel between Hector and Munro of Fowlis—Hector Defeats him at Knock- f&rrel— Commission to the Mackintosh and others against Mackenzie, " the King's Rebel," in 1499—Hector Roy defeats a force of 3000—John feigns to go to Ireland— Joined by 30 Resolute Followers—Returns from Torridon— Sets Fire to Hector's House at Fairburn—Allows Hector to Escape from the Flames—They are Reconciled— Arrangements Made Hector appointed Tutor—Hector keeps possession of Islandonain Castle —Hector is Summoned before the Privy Council in 1511— Ordered to give up the Castle— Hector at this time possesses Gairloch aud other 1 arge Properties of his own—John's Education at Court— Its Results Rapid Advance in Power of the House of Kintail—John and his Uncle, Hector, at Flodden—Marvellous Escape—Death of Kenneth Og Re- venged—Mackenzie, in 1515, Seizes the Castle of Dingwall —Large grants of Lands to John of Killin—Donald Gorm Mor of Sleat pillages Kenlochewe—Kintail sends his son, Kenneth, to Skye to Retaliate Donald Gorm Returns to Kintail—Kills Sir Dougald Mackenzie, one of the Pope's Knights—Kintail, in return, "Wastes the Isle of Skye—The Islesmen Return and Besiege Islandonain Castle—Donald Gorm killed by an Arrow —His followers return Home after Burning everything they could find—Dispute about the Governorship of the Castle—Mackenzie Receives additional Lands for Services to the King— Is taken Prisoner at the Battle of Pinkie—Joins King James, in 1540, on his way to Reduce the Islanders, at Loch Duich—Queen Mary giants him more Lands Refuses, in 1544, to join the Earl of Huntly against Donald Glass of Moydart—The Earl sends 3000 Men to punish him—The Chiefs decline to fight hira —Mackenzie, in 1545, enters into a Bond of Manrent with the Earl of Sutherland—The Earl of Huntly goes to Ross— Is Driven cut of it by the Mackenzies—Battle of Dingwall Bridge—Kintail joins the Earl of Sutherland against Mackay of Farr—His eldest son defeats Mackay at Biora—John and Kenneth, his heir, appointed Deputy Chamberlains of the Earldom of Ross—Obtains possession of Redcastle —His Character and Prudence —His peculiar Reception of Queen Mary's Commissioners in his House at Killin—Results ... ... ... S4 X. Kenneth (na Cumc) Delivers up Mary Maclcod of Harris to Qneen Mary — Contents. ix. PAGE —Sides with Huntly—Takes a Remission—Apprehends John Glassieh of Gairloch—Powerful Family Alliances ... ... ... ... 116 XI. Colin Cam—Made a Privy Councillor—Additional grants of Land Drives the Munros from the Castle of Chanonry—Acquires the Strong- hold and the Castle lands—Origin of Dispute between the Mackenzies and the Macdonalds—State of matters in Lochalsh and Lochcarron Peuds and Skirmishes— Euse to Capture Glengarry by Eory Mor of Red- castle —His Capture at Glaic nan Gillean, in Lochcarron—Massacre of Gorrie, Rory, and Ronald, Glengarry's Uncles, by their own Friends Remission in favour of Mackenzie and his friends for Slaughters com- mitted by them—Colin acquires the whole of Lochcarron and Lochalsh —Huntly obtains a Commission of Fire and Sword