ANCIENT MACKENZIE, FITZGERALD, AND WELSH LINEAGES AND SOURCES

Introduction

I have separated these data to avoid cluttering shorter family descriptions. This is all either historical information which I have acquired from research, or responses to inquiries for that research. Some of the data following this introduction relate to historical figures and may be verified separately.

I have provided here four lineal genealogies; two for Coul, one prepared by my grandmother, the other is from Burke’s Peerage and Baronage, a third is an extract from Mackenzie Mackenzie’s book documenting the origins of the Clan; and the last gives Nesta's Welsh Pedigree. The Mackenzie Mackenzie book is an interesting account because it provides the full background to the Mackenzie family history. The author provided a convincing bibliography which appears to consist mainly of primary sources and includes some rare family manuscripts. He stated that the most valuable source to him was the FitzGerald History lent to him by the fifth Duke of Leinster, and this could not have been accessed easily by others . He has also included the descendent peerages for England, Ireland and Scotland.

The Burke’s genealogy is helpful because it provides a set of facts which are given in a highly structured manner. The amateur genealogist must become familiar with both genealogical facts and the arcane structure and language of the more professional histories. It should be noted that Burke’s Peerage and Baronage carefully avoids dates where they are not confirmed and that even professionals can err. That is the value of the FitzGerald data which comes directly from that family history - there are no better sources: the details are either there, or lost to us.

The Norman period of British history was filled with opportunity and it seems that our family needed no encouragement to take an active role. Of these, the FitzGeralds were in the right place at the right time. In 1169 Dermott MacMurrough, then King of Leinster asked Henry II of England for aid. Henry’s nobility responded all too quickly and put Dermott back on his throne - while they took large Irish estates. Henry demanded allegiance from his own as well as the Irish nobility and the Normanisation of Ireland was on. One hundred years later the Normans controlled most of Ireland and the FitGeralds had become a very powerful family. A FitzGerald founded the Mackenzies and demonstrated both his leadership skills and his followers' clan loyalty at the Battle of Largs in 1263. Gerald FitzGerald established a powerful force on the West coast in Kintail. Clearly, I have relied heavily on Mackenzie Mackenzie’s research for my own interpretation and I am indebted to his Grace the Duke, and Mackenzie Mackenzie’s heirs for permission to quote from it.

Not only did the FitzGerald's establish the Mackenzies, they married well: one married Nesta, a Welsh Princess. She was related to most of the Celtic kings and through many of them into the continental monarchies. Celtic power in Briton and Ireland was exercised by the Druid priests, who seemed to have had limited writing skills - by chance, or design. Although Welsh pedigrees date back through Biblical Israel and Rome I have accepted them only slowly and when confirmed by accredited historians. Notwithstanding my own caution, most of this data has been confirmed by other sources - up to a point.

Granny Mackenzie's Coul Pedigree

Below is a letter typed and copied herself by my grandmother, Helen [Moore] Mackenzie. It seems to have been written c1940 and describes her learning of the Coul claim c1898, during her engagement to George Mackenzie. This is the first evidence I have of the putative claim. Note there is no specific description of how my great-grandfather Mackenzie (Kenneth McKenzie) related to Sir George Steuart Mackenzie. Margaret Bechill and Phoebe Mackenzie are probably niece and sister of Kenneth, Phoebe must then have been a nickname (or second name) of Anne, Eve, Catherine, or Christy.

Kenneth McKenzie

In trying to follow up my granny's information I asked a genealogist to track down Kenneth McKenzie. Mrs Corry noted a large number of George Mackenzies, the absence of any apparent likely candidate, and the lack of any indication that George (the third son of the 7th baronet) had married. Notwithstanding Mrs Cory’s official pessimism, the Lochbroom Marriage Register extract below reflects a marriage of a George Mackenzie and an Anne Mackenzie in 1823, in Lochbroom Scotland. These are the same George and Anne who parented the only Kenneth George McKenzie, born (or baptised?) on 17 September, 1837.

Burke's Mackenzie of Coul Pedigree

This is a copy from Burke's.[3]

Sir E Mackenzie Mackenzie's Other Pedigree

I have based this lineage on Sir E Mackenzie Mackenzie's source book The Genealogy of the Stem of the Family of Mackenzie, Marquesses and Earls of Seaforth.[4] There is no doubt that Other and his descendants were historical figures and there existence seems assured. All these personalities are found in my database (accessible at this site). Sir E Mackenzie-Mackenzie clearly stated that he had been granted access to Fitzgerald family papers and documents. There is an alternate origin hypothesis for the Mackenzie Clan.

Further sources are shown in the database.

Gerald (Callan) Fitzgerald's Descendants

This family is also detailed in E Mackenzie-Mackenzie's key source book.[9] There are competing origins for the Mackenzies, but the pedigree outlined below is not common. I have no access to original documents and rely upon others for pedigree details. The lineage below depicts the commonly accepted origins from the Fitzgeralds - save that the Gerald shown as the first baron is often shown as a different Gerald. The potential for confusion is understandable as I have documented 178 Fitzgeralds in my database of whom 22 are named Gerald. Further sources are shown in the database.

The Rise and Fall of Mackenzie Power

All went relatively well in the Mackenzie clan until the Jacobite era. Kenneth Mackenzie, III Earl of Seaforth finished his life with his and the clan's power beginning to fade. Kenneth joined Charles II at Stirling, but the Royalists were defeated at Worcester in 1651. Cromwell then forfeited his estates and the earl was held prisoner until the Restoration, when he was made sheriff of Ross. General Monck arrived in Kintail with his army in June 1654, and he defeated the Highlanders at Loch Garry. Seaforth, Coul, Applecross and Lochslin were allowed freedom after bonds were put up, but much land land was 'burnt' as a lesson. After Cromwell died General Monck let the Earl only serve a further short spell of imprisonment in Inverness. In 1660, King Charles returned to England and the forfeited Seaforth estates were restored. In redress for the Jacobite support by William Mackenzie, 2 Marquess of Seaforth, V Earl of Seaforth an attainder was ordered in 1716, which forfeited the Seaforth titles and precluded further inheritance of those titles.

Further sources are shown in the database.

The Welsh Link

I have included Princess Nesta's pedigree here, because her line can be traced by to well before Julius Caesar’s invasion of Britain.[13] Nesta was a unique, extraordinarily beautiful and remarkable woman. She had children by King Henry I and married Gerald FitzWalter, (they are both our direct ancestors) and others. Another man kidnapped her, gave up his inheritance, and lost his life for her - he was killed by her husband Gerald. I have shown her pedigree here back to King Merfyn, since I have a high level of confidence to that point. Further sources are shown in the database.

There are claims that Merfyn was a descendent of Uter Pendragon (legendary parent to King Arthur of Camelot). Uter is to have been similarly descended from the Roman emperor Constantine. I have not shown these data, although I have no direct reason to suspect them. In fact, I am just undecided about their accuracy.

Ancient British Kings and Source Analysis

This next collection of data requires some explanation.[14] Historians up to late in the last century decided that the Celts could not have emigrated to either Britain, or Ireland, until c350 BC. If that were true then clearly ancient sources were wrong (Geoffrey of Monmouth - see below - amongst them). Later linguistic analysis noted that immigration to either Britain, or Ireland was either earlier (c700 BC), or linguistic evidence had to be ignored. The evidence is that Celtic speech patterns changed over time and migration can be traced to the recorded local linguistic styles. With this re-evaluation, some earlier sources have been re-credited.

Although Geoffrey of Monmouth gives a 'Kings List' (complete with some understandable minor inaccuracies), and not a genealogy, simple adoption here will not do. Readers will see some commonality between Geoffrey's list and names in our Mackenzie database, but those included names are based on other sources. I have not included any names from the list below, based on the authority of Geoffrey of Monmouth.

The table below was prepared for an entirely separate purpose in arguing Biblical descent, but the analysis shown seems sound ...to this point. The following is an extract from Bill Cooper's argument (his web site is found below). He starts by observing academic complaints about Geoffrey of Monmouth's data...

...Thorpe complains that Geoffrey of Monmouth provides too few clues for dating purposes, and that even those that he does provide only serve to confuse us. Upon examination of Geoffrey's Historia, however, we find that Thorpe was quite mistaken. The Historia is rich in clues compared to many other of these early accounts, and far from confusing us, they actually help us to build a most erudite picture.

Let us begin with Brutus, the very first king of the Britons and from whom the Britons derived their name. Geoffrey tells us in Book 1, chapter 18 of his Historia, that Brutus was born two or three generations after the Trojan Wars. The Trojan Wars having occurred around 1240 BC, that would place his birth in about the middle of the XII century, say around 1150 BC. Moreover, Geoffrey goes on to tell us that Brutus reigned as king for 23 years, and further, that he ruled Britain at the time that Eli was judge in Israel. We know that Eli judged Israel between the years 1115 - 1075 BC. Thus, we are given two synchronisms, not one, and both of these confirm each other, thus allowing us to date the reign of Brutus with much confidence. No cause for complaint there!

Following Brutus's reign, we are told that his son Locrinus ruled for 10 years, and that his, Locrinus's, widow, Queen Gwendolen, ruled after him for 15 years at the time when Samuel judged Israel (Book 2, chapter 6.) We know that Samuel judged Israel for the forty year period between 1075 - 1035 BC, and thus Geoffrey's synchronisms begin to take on an unexpected, and hitherto uncredited, aura of respectability.

Gwendolen abdicated in favour of her son, Maddan, and he went on to rule for 40 years after her. Then his son, Mempricius, ruled for 20 years, and his reign, we are told, roughly coincided with that of Saul (Book 2.6.) Saul was king in Israel between 1030 - 1010 BC.

Likewise Mempricius was succeeded by his son, Ebraucus. Ebraucus reigned for 39 years, and we are told that his reign corresponded roughly in time with that of David of Israel (Book 2.7.) Again, we know that David ruled from 1010 - 970 BC.

(Note: Between 1104 BC and AD 704, there are 1808 years. If we subtract from this the 203 years of civil war then we have 1605 years. From this, if we deduct the 11 years of Cadwallader's absence when he fled abroad, and a total of 31 years for joint rules, then we have 1563 years. In that time there was a total of 114 consecutive reigns. Thus, if we divide 1563 by 114, then we are given 13.71, say 14 years, as the average length of reign for the kings of the ancient Britons. This compares with an average reign of 16.5 years among the Saxon kings of the house of Wessex, and 22.5 years among the English kings and queens since the Norman Conquest. (The above reigns are in strict chronological order. That does not always necessarily agree with their genealogical order.

Table 1. The Chronology of the early British kings (Below)

The next two kings of the Britons were Brutus Greenshield and Leil who ruled for 12 and 25 years respectively, and their reigns, Geoffrey tells us, coincided roughly in time with that of Solomon who ruled between the years 970-930 BC.

Hudibras and Bladud, the next kings of the Britons, ruled for 39 and 20 years respectively when Elijah prophesied in Israel (Historia, Book 2.10.) We know that Elijah was active during the reign of king Ahab, and that Ahab was king of Israel between 874 - 853 BC. (The chronology in Table 1 gives these two reigns as running from c.920 - 86l BC.)

Cunedagius, who ruled for 35 years (2 of them jointly with Marganus I,) reigned during the time of Isaiah according to Geoffrey (Book 2.15,) and we know that Isaiah was active between 740 - 70l BC. Now, referring to the chronology in Table 1 where we have followed Geoffrey exactly, we see that his particular synchronism of Geoffrey's is about 20 years out by modern reckoning. But, and as anyone who has ever worked on ancient chronologies will tell you, that is not a bad error for this period! Geoffrey, I think, can be forgiven such a trivial margin of error, especially as he enjoyed neither the benefits nor the amenities of modern research, and so far, other than the much-lamented unreliability so readily laid at Geoffrey's door these days, we see he shows surprising accuracy and consistency in his dates!

Hereafter, and without synchronisms of any description, we are given, out of a total of 61 kings, the lengths of reign enjoyed by only five. Dunvallo Molmutius reigned for 40 years (2.15); Archgallo reigned during his second term as king for 10 years: Ingenius reigned 7 years (3.9): Enniaunus ruled for 6 years (3.9) and Heli ruled 40 years (3.9).

It is not until Book 4 of the Historia that we come to our next synchronism, that of Cassivelaunus who resisted Julius Caesar's invasions of 55 and 54 BC (4.1-10.)

Thereafter, we read that Guiderius and Arvirargus resisted the Claudian invasion of AD 44 (Guiderius was killed during that invasion, Book 4.l2- 15,) and that Vesparsian (AD 69-79) was emperor of Rome when Marius ruled Britain (4.16).

Lucius, as we have already seen, must have been alive at least after AD 75, and our chronology allows him a reign of 59 years from AD 137 - 186.

The death of Arthur we can allow to stand as having occurred in AD 542, as this fits in very comfortably with the rest of the chronology, and the reign of Cadwallader we have already corrected to its true dates. In all, we are given sufficient information in Geoffrey's Historia to compile the chronology that appears in Table 1. We obviously cannot be certain about he lengths of reign or even the precise dates of every king. That is ever possible in these early lists. Rather, the number of years of any given time-gap is divided up among the number of kings who reigned in that period, and each king is allotted an equal portion for his reign. This is an entirely legitimate exercise in perfect accord with accepted historical method.

For example, between Marganus II, who began to rule c. 289 BC, and Digueillus, whose reign ended c. 113 BC, there reigned 32 kings within a period of 176 years. That gives an average reign of 5.5 years for each king within this period. For convenience's sake, therefore Marganus II is allotted a reign of 5 years, and his successor Enniaunus is given 6 years. Enniaunus's successor is allotted 5 years, and his successor in turn is given 6, and so on. Now obviously, we know that some of these kings would have reigned for only a year or so, while others would have reigned for decades, but this is the best that we can possibly hope for at this remove.

The only thing that we are left to puzzle over is what on earth Thorpe and his colleagues have been complaining about all these years! What appears in Table 1 is an extremely comprehensive chronology, and it is, moreover, one that has been built entirely upon the information given us by Geoffrey of Monmouth. So why the reluctance to produce a perfectly feasible chronology similar to that which appears here as Table 1? Could it be that that would give Geoffrey of Monmouth (and Nennius) a credibility that would damage, rather than enhance, modern(ist) theories about our past?...

Dornie Manuscript Extracts: A Genealogical Account Of The Murchisons

On the banks of the river Lochy in Lochaber resided a Sept of the Celtic race named Clann Chalamain or MacCalmans of whom Murcadhdubh or black Murdoch who occupied the farm of Sroinnaba A.D. 1520 was not the least considerable of the branch.[15]

This Murdochdubh brought up his eldest son John to be a priest of the Episcopalian persuasion who got his first charge in Lochalsh. He built a chapel of unhewn stones on a prominent hill above Ardelve and the ruins of the edifice can be seen at this day.

Here John MacChalmain took his father's Christian name as his surname which is in English Murchison.

In the harvest of 1537 Donald Gorm MacDonald fifth Baron of Sleat came with a strong party to Kintail hearing that lslandonnan Castle was but weakly garrisoned and a conflict ensued between the assailants and defenders in which John Dubh Matheson the Castellan was killed. At this time there was none in the castle saving the crier and Duncan MacIllechriest MacRae who knew Donald Gorm by his garb and main among some other gentlemen of his party looking where they might easiest make a breach so as to take possession of the castle. Duncan MacIllechriost took the opportunity of shooting the only arrow he had left, which happened to be a barbed one, which lighted in and cut an artery of MacDonald's foot, who being impatient of the pain plucked it out, on which the blood gushed out so vehemently that it could not be staunched; seeing this, his followers carried him to one of his boats, as he was evidently dying fast; they landed him on a sea bank near Avernish, where he died. The bank is called Larachtaigh MhicDhomhnuill, i.e. The site of MacDonald's house.

But to return to John MacMhurchaidh duibh MacCalman -- after the Castellan John duibh Matheson was killed, a dispute arose between MacRaes and MacLennans of Kintail who should have charge of Island Donan Castle. To compromise the debate of these two clans, whom the Laird MacKenzie found irreconcilable, fearing they should kill one another, the laird of Faiburn advised Sir Kenneth who was the eleventh laird of Kintail to appoint John MacMhurchaidh duibh as Castellan of Island Donan Castle, he being a stranger in the country. The charge he faithfully discharged. Here we may quote the rhyme of a sarcastic old woman in Kintail who was much against John MacMhurchaidh being appointed;

Mhie'Illichalmain a dhuine
A sroin na-ba an Lochbar!
De rinn thus ad fear comhairle
Deagh Mhac Coinnich so thiagainn?

which may be englified literally though not poetically thus

Thou MacCalman 0 Man!
From Snoin na ba in Lochaber
what made thee a counsellor?

To the good MacKenzie we have For this trust John MacCalman the Priest was assassinated; for shortly afterwards Sir Kenneth left the country, and he, coming on a Sabbath Day from the Kirk of Kintail, the MacLennans sent a man in ambush near the road, and as he was passing he was shot with an arrow through the buttocks, so that he fell. The assassin seeing persons coming the way, and fearing he would be captured, made his escape. The priest was carried to a boat where he died. From this Priest are descended all the Murchisons in the Northern countries.

Manuscript History Of The Mackenzies
Transcribed by Colin Mackenzie of
Newburnside 1760

John Murchison the Priest was married to a daughter of Evander MacKay, Priest of Achgiurain in Glenshiel, and left a numerous family. One of his daughters was married to Christopher MacDhounchaidh, Chief of the Macraes, A.D. 1578. His eldest son Murdoch studied for the church, and succeeded his father as Priest of Kintail and Castellan of Castle Donan, in which trust he presided until his death, which happened in the year 1618, and he was succeeded by his nephew, Wm. Farquhar MacRae.

The above Murdoch Murchison the Castellan of Island Donan Castle commonly went under the name of Maighstir Mor, i.e. Big Master. He had a wad-sett of Auchtertyre, Lochalsh and left issue Evander, Donald, Mary and Rebecca.
Mary married Murdoch MacKenzie fifth Laird of Hilltown. Rebecca married Maurice MacRae, Kintail, and left issue.

Donald second son of Murdoch had a portion of the Farm of Auchtertyre. He left two sons and a daughter viz. John, Donald and Ann. Ann married Christopher MacRae Tacksman of Araidhbhuachain. Donald left issue viz. Donald father of Donald og who was an Innkeeper in Kyle of Lochalsh.

John, son of Donald second son of Murdoch, was tacksman of Bundaloch, Kintail and married a daughter of Alexander MacLennan Morvich, Kintail. He left issue two sons and two daughters viz. Donald, Murdoch, Margaret and Christina. Margaret married John Ban MacDomhnuil og MacRae and left issue.

Murdoch married Mary Daughter of Mr. Tulay (Finlay?) MacRae, Minister of Lochalsh. He resided in Brahan and left issue.

Donald Murchison the eldest son of John was born at Bundalach about the year 1687. At his birth he happened to be a weakling and had a squint in one of his eyes. The midwife said of him that if he lived for the space of four and twenty hours he would survive, and would be as brave a man as any in his day or generation. He survived, was sent to school and became a classical scholar, and was afterwards proficient in military tactics.
When William MacKenzie, Earl of Seaforth, raised his tenants in the year 1715 to join the Stuart Standard he chose Donald Murchison to be his Lieutenant Colonel; hence the following stanza by Matheson the Seaforth bard;

The crafty Colonel
Whose name is Donald
Will take the chief lead
Over thy country's people.

Seaforth raised all his tenants, who were able to carry arms, consisting of three thousand faithful mountaineers; they had been out in the insurrection of 1715 and fought manfully although their chief fled at the battle of Sheriffmuir where the flower of his adherents fell; they continued under arms and stood the field under the direction of Colonel Donald Murchison until the base Treaty at Perth, when the King fled to Montrose and then to France.
While the Parliament was engaged in devising means for maintaining the public tranquility the Earl of Seaforth retired to the Island of Lewis where he collected a considerable body of his men under the command of Brigadier Campbell of Ormidale, an officer who had just arrived from Muscovy, where he had served in the army of the Czar. General Cadogan sent a detachment into the island under the command of Colonel Cholmondeley In order to reduce it. The Earl, on the appearance of this force, crossed into Ross-shire, whence he escaped into France, and Campbell, being abandoned by his men after he had formed them in order of battle, was taken prisoner while standing in a charging posture.

After the flight of Seaforth to France, he left all his affairs in the hands of Colonel Donald Murchison who, consequently, acted as his Factor in Ross-shire and was always on the alert in the Highland passes to defend the Earl of Seaforth's estates from the Government troops.

In the year 1719 another project revived the hopes of the Jacobites in consequence of the expedition sent from Spain under the Duke of 0rmond which ended in disappointment, the armada as it was called, being dispersed and disabled off Cape Finisterre by a violent storm which lasted twelve days; only two of these ships reached Scotland and had on board the Earl Marischall and Seaforth the Marques of Tullibardine some field officers together with three hundred Spaniards and arms for two thousand men. This small force landed in Kintail and the fiary cross was sent through the country to rouse the men to arms -- the Kintail and Lochalsh men, with some forces from the neighbouring clans. This gallant band marched through the pass of Glenshiel to encounter some regular troops that were advancing from Inverness under General Wightman. There the Highlanders and their allies took up their position on an eminence at a defile of the upper forge of the plain, where they had a good view of the enemy coming. Colonel Donald Murchison advised them to keep themselves concealed till General Wightman would come into the pass, where he might be surrounded. But when they came near the Place where the Highlanders were ensconced one Donald MacLennan who was of a fiery temper fired his musket and killed a Dutch Colonel, hence the saying "The Dutch Colonel fell should be worth his weight in gold. " General Wightman was in the snare and the Highlanders commenced at once to pour down furious volleys upon him, by which many of his men fell and others threw their arms into a linn or Pool in the river and fled. There were none of the Highlanders killed in this skirmish excepting one Finlay MacRae. The Earl of Seaforth was wounded in the knee from a musket ball and the Highlanders seeing no chance of a successful issue in consequence of MacKenzie being badly wounded, and he himself giving no encouragement, dispersed during the night among the mountains and the Spaniards on the following day surrendered prisoners of war. After the skirmish General Wightman went a-foraging through Kintail and committed sacrilege by burning the Church of Kintail.

After this affair the Earl of Seaforth Marischall and Tullibardine with the other officers lurked in the braes of Kintail until Seaforth wounds were cured. At this Juncture Colonel Donald Murchison and Christopher MacRae son of Inverinate were busily engaged in fortifying the stronghold of Donan Castle and shortly thereafter a Government ship of war went into Lochduich, and opened a brisk fire on the Castle which the defenders found to be irresistible. Colonel Donald Murchison with his customary intrepid and vivid conceptions came to the conclusion that if Government got possession of the castle, a garrison would be planted there; that it would then become impossible to defend the country from the depredation of the Red Coats, and that they (the Sasanachs) would become a source of great annoyance to the Earl of Seaforth and his faithful adherents; therefore he concluded in the dilemma that their safest course would be to blow up the castle by setting a match to the powder magazine in the Fort, which proposition was at once complied with, so that it was laid in ruins. Tradition says that all the silver plate and other valuables in the Castle were thrown into the Fort. A view clear and vivid of this long ruined and deserted picturesque building when in its glory is conjured up in the mind's eye by the following incident. Writing in the year 1792 seventy three year afterwards, the minister of Kintail and Rev. relates--"The oldest inhabitants of the parish remember to have seen the Kintail men under arms, and dancing on the leaden roof of the castle just as they were setting out for the battle of Sheriffmure where the most of this resolute band were cut in pieces." After the battle Seaforth fled for refuge to the Island of Lewis: hence the following lines by the family Bard Murdoch Matheson:

If you shiped across the sea from us,
Thyself and Colonel Murchison
who was faimed in the courts of Albion,
That was the lion celebrated
whose fame was great at every board!
A choice of port I hale to thee
when you cross from Seaforth's sea
The chief of Harris is a friend to thee
From Lochlin come the thousands
On the Minch to the seat of MacLeod.

After the affair in Glenshiel Seaforth fled a second time to France and Government became more anxious to secure the estates of the insubordinate Lairds which were forfeited, and among the most notable of these was the Laird of Kintail whose domains extended from Brahan Castle to Eastern Ross across the country to Kintail and including the Island of Lewis. These lands were chiefly occupied by opulent Tacksmen and cattle grasiers and were difficult of access but by narrow mountain bye paths. Therefore it was hard for the Commissioners of King George whom the people considered as usurpers, to march through the Country, so that they could not survey effectually their fastnesses. The rents of the district were collected without the slightest difficulty for the benefit of the exciled Earl and regularly transmitted to him. At one time a large sum was sent to him to Spain by a desperate fellow from Lochalsh named afterwards in consequence Donall ban spainteach i.e. Spanish Donald ban. The chief agents in this business were MacKenzie of Fairburn, and Colonel Donald Murchison. In the 1720 the commissioners made a movement for substantiating their claim to the property, and in William Munro of Easter Fearn was found a man bold enough to take the leadership, but Colonel Donald Murchison, and Murdoch Matheson the Bard were the means of rescuing Brahan Castle out of the hands of Munro of Foulis and went round the country encouraging the people to stand out. The high spirited warriors declared they would stand out to a man.

In 1721 the commissioners Factors sent officers to the district, who assured the Tenants of good usage if they would yield. This they sternly resented by abusing the officers. The factor endeavored to retaliate by raising his own tenants or servants, and a considerable number of soldiers at Inverness to enforce his claim by force of arms, The commissioners' Factor held a court in Strathglass in which some people made a verbal promise of submission. Their next course was to march west to Kintail through Glen Affaric, but the undaunted Kintail and Lochalsh men headed by Colonel Donald Murchison, being informed of them, he (the Colonel) met them with sixty sturdy men at " Beulath nam Muileach i.e. the Mullmens' fords."

Beyond this at the gorge of the mountain stream which empties into Loch Affaric they concealed themselves in the heather intending to surround the troops which could not come up the pass but two abreast. Here should be mentioned lay the Colonel and the best of his few followers. Others stationed themselves on Toman a Bheatha i.e. bird hillock. The main body of the Royalists made a halt at a long distance and then moved slowly forward, young Walter Munro at their head, equipped in a scarlet cloak and riding a white steed. Whenever the Kintail man noticed him they considered him to be one of the commissioners and Malcolm MacRae and Donald Dearg MacLennan from Morvich scrambled down through a rocky burn where they took good aim and both let go the contents of their muskets by which lovely Walter fell, mortally wounded. After the young leader was shot Munro's party fled, himself taken prisoner. In this skirmish he found himself confronted with Colonel Donald Murchison who made him deliver the Commission he had from King George, besides to swear fealty and that he would not act further as Factor. Munro implored as a favour of Murchison to get a party to convey his wounded son till they should overtake the fleeing troops. To this request the noble Colonel acceded with his wonted generosity. A litter was constructed the best way they could of birch poles tied together with withes, and broom and heather laidover it. On this the young wounded man was placed and they retraced their steps to Beauly. The gallant convoy performed their duty with fidility and fortitude until they came near Knockfin. Few or none of them could understand English except Murdoch MacRae from Morvich in Kintail: he discerned from their conversation that when they got into the level country they would decoy them into an ambush and kill them, but when they came to Knockfin in the heights of Strathglass, they returned in consequence of MacRea's remonstrances.

A bloody grave for young Walter Munro of Eastern Fearn in the Beauly cathedral was the only print of the abortive attempt to take Seaforth Estates within the scope of the law of King George.
When passing through Beauly with the dead body of young Munroe an old woman met the procession and exclaimed sarcastically "Let pass the Earl of Seaforth's rent thou low mob." She composed some Gaelic stanzas on the occasion which can be translated thus:

Two rents, two rents, ho ro, ho ro,
Ho re, ho re for Donald.
When you met the valiant men
At Balathnam Muilleach joined,
It was down thro' the wolds of Affaric
You felled the lovely Walter,
And many a trust gun there was
Scaring them through the hills.
When the Red Coats saw that
They dispersed and scattered.
There fell in that shattering or battering
The man whose life forsook him;
Donald of the generous heart,
Who rides the steeds with reins,
I joy how it happened thee
And glad am I how ended.
Captain Fearn is aye disgraced.
His son is also mangled,
And the man with the scarlet coats
Made their complaints at Edinboro'
When you saw they were unmanageable,
The valiant Gillies under Donald,
You basely delivered the Commission
You got as a gift from George.
Two rents, two rents, ho ro, ho ro,
Ho re, ho re for Donald.
When you have brought the Marquis' rent
On two horses and a litter.

After Seaforth was restored, he used to glve the old woman a boll of meal yearly for her loyalty to his cause.
For some time after this affair there were no more demands by the Goverment commissioners for the rents of these mountainous fastnesses till August 1722 when a considerable body of troops, under Captain John Mac Niell left Inverness taking a route through Strath Conan considering it the safest. But Donald Murchison and his gallant band, being informed of their advancing, soon crossed Mam Attadile and posted themselves in the woods below, till the troops arrived at Allan ba Duihh where they were saluted by a volley of musketry by wihich several of them were killed. Malcolm MacRae fractured Captain John MacNeill's arm and the captain being in great pain desisted from further proceedings and the whole party took to flight. After this we learn of no renewed attempts to get possession of the Seaforth's property. The above Malcolm MacRae and Donald MacLennan of Morvich were such good marksmen that they always took deadly aim, and on their return from the skirmish they rested in Glenluinge and noticing some butter flowers growing in a meadow on the opposite side of the River the one said to the other, "try if you can bring one down of the butter flowers". MacRae cut the top of the flower and MacLennan did the same with the stalk with their musket balls.

It may be no digression to mention here that when the Earl of Seaforth was preparing for Sheriffmuir men from ll parts of his extensive lands were summoned, the fires on Tullochard ceased not night nor day and the castle which had a leaden roof was destroyed 1719.

Colonel Donald Murchison used to lift the rents of the Earl of Seaforth while an exile in France, and to go himself with them in the habit of a beggar to avoid detection. Being thus disguised in the year 1724, he happened to take up his lodgings in a country inn in England as he was on his way to Dover. Shortly after he entered, The Duke of Argyle came to the house, and on sitting, he enquired of the waiter if there were any guests within. She told him they had none save a mandieant who was sitting at the kitchen fire. He ordered him to be sent in. The call was at once obeyed, and when the door opened, the Duke said, "If I am not mistaken you are Colonel Donald Murchison who headed Seaforth's army at the Battle of Sherrifmuir". Finding that he was recognized (probably by the squint in his eye), he acknowledged the fact, and threw himself at the Duke's mercy. That nobleman said: You are one of the most faithful servants I know in all Scotland, therefore I will let you pass. After the night was spent over their cups the Duke took him up in his carriage and brought him to Dover, whence he got him safely ferried across. When he arrived at his destination, he found the Earl of Seaforth working in a garden for his own and Lady's support.

In the year of 1725, General Wade was waited upon by a body of about one hundred and fifty gentlemen of the name of Mackenzie, headed by Lord Tarbart, Sir Colin Mackenzie of Coul, and Sir Kenneth Mackenzie of Cromarty. The last informed the general that they had come as the representatives of Seaforth's tenants and vassals who would not come in themselves until they knew how they were to be received; that their rents had for several years been uplifted by Colonel Donald Murchison and that they were not able to pay them a second time, but that if they were discharged of these rents, they would pay them in future to the Government, deliver up their arms and live peaceably.
Wade, who according to Lockhart of Carnwath was "a good enough tempered man", at once acceded to his request, and informed the deputations, that if the clan performed what had been promised he would endeavor in the next session of parliament to procure a pardon for Seaforth and all his friends. After being well entertained for two or three days at Inverness the deputation, accompanied by Wade and a small body of dragoons, went to Brahan Castle where the arms of the clan were delivered up, but not until Colonel Donald Murchison had secreted all those of any value. Shortly after this the Commissioner puts up Seaforth's estates for sale and the Colonel purchased them so that they virtually became his own.

In 1726 through the King's great clemency Earl Seaforth received a pardon and returned home. For his services to the Earl, Colonel Donald Murchison thought he should get either the estate of Lochalsh or Loch Carron, but the Earl went with a party to his house, broke open a trunk in which he kept the title deeds of the estate, and offered him only the insignificant farm of Bundaloch in Kintail or Achadatonalain in Lochalsh. This he sternly refused, knowing his services deserved a much more liberal grant. He took the matter so much to heart that he went to bed. While confined there, Seaforth went to see him and said:-"Colonel Donald, if I have done you any earthly injury, I hope you will forgive me." The noble minded and faithful hero replied, "God may forgive you, but I will not." Soon after this conference, he died in the house of Mr. Morison at Laggy on the banks of the Conan in March 1727. The fidelity and bravery with which the Kintail men stood forth in all cases of emergency when their chief was interested, and their boldness and success in keeping the rents from the Government and sending them to him whom they considered as the lawful owner, are facts of themselves that should shed immortal lustre on their memories.

Evander Murchison the eldest son of Mr. Murdoch above stated was Tacksman of Auchtertyre Lochalsh and married Ann, daughter of Colin MacKenzie son of Sir Roderick MacKenzie of Cromarty commonly called the Tutor of Kintail. He left issue John born 1680, Roderick, Murdoch, Duncan, and a daughter Mary who was married to Farquhar Matheson of Fernaig Duncan, the youngest son, left two sons, John and William, which latter died in Lochalsh leaving issue Murdoch, who left Donald, who left two sons, Murdoch and Duncan, the latter presently at Dunbar and the former resided at Airdinarff in 1840, leaving issue Duncan Donald Roderick Finlay and Catherine. They all emigrated to New Zealand; John, son of Duncan, married Christina Murchison, sister of the Colonel Murchison and left issue Mary, who married Roderick MacKay, Dornie Kintail Murdoch the third son of Evander, was a cattle dealer and married at Dail na spidail in Athol and returned to Caplach in Lochalsh where he left a numerous family of whom were Alexander and Simon and Catherine who married Donald MacRae Cnoc nan carn i.e. hill of Cairns Camusluinie. Simon left a son Mr. Murdoch Murchison factor to MacLeod who lived in Glenelg a gentleman well known in many parts of Scotland. When Doctor Samuel Johnson and Mr. James Boswell on their Highland tour in 1773 the Doctor says:-Having surmounted the hill (of Ratagan) at last we were told that at Glenelg on the sea side we should come to a house of lime, slate and glass. This image of magnificence raised our expectation; at last we came to our Inn weary and peevish and began to enquire for meat and beds, of the provisions the negative catalogue was very copious: but however we had a very eminent proof of Highland hospitality; along some miles of the way in the evening a gentleman's servant had kept us company on foot with very little notice on our part. He left us at Glenelg and we thought of him no more till he came to us again in about two hours with a present of Rum and sugar from his master. The man had mentioned his company and the gentleman, well knowing the penury of the place, had thus his attention drawn to two man whose names perhaps he had not heard by whom his kindness was not likely to be ever repaid, and who could be recommended to him only by their necessities." This gentleman, according to Mr. James Boswell, was none else than Mr. Murdoch Murchison of Beolary, Glenelg and factor to the laird of MacLeod. He married a daughter of Murdoch MacRae of Morvich Kinttail by whom he left a numerous family. John, his son, was Tacksman of Beolary Glenelg but left no issue. Duncan, son of Mr. Murdoch, married a daughter of MacLeod of Scalasaig and left issue viz. Donald, Magnus and Roderick. The family emigrated to America. Magnus left issue Ludovic Murdoch Murchison sheep manager Inverguseran Knoydort, 1866.

Murdoch Murchison, third son of Evander Murchison of Auchtertyre, left a son Alexander who left Murdoch who married Katherine daughter of Kenneth MacLennan by whom he left issue Duncan and Janet. He married secondly Mary the daughter of Simon Murchison, issue one daughter, Mary who married Farquhar MacDonald Letterfearn. Janet married Alexander Ferguson at Montgerald Easter Ross. Duncan married Ann, daughter of Kenneth MacMillan Dornie issue Murdoch, Alexander, Ann, Catherine, Janet, Margaret, and Jaen. Ann married Farquhar MacRae pensioner Dornie. She was mother of the Rev. Alexander. MacRae, late Priest of Beauly. Both sons jointed the 78 regt. in 1793 Murdoch was a sergeant in the regiment, and on the eve of being promoted, was unfortunately lost in a transport coming from Bengal to Bombay which took fire on the 29th February 1804. Alexander, his brother, returned home from India. He was a strong powerful man and married Margaret MacKarlich, Bundaloch; he left issue Murdoch, John, and Janet who married Donald Mac Lennan, Bundaloch. They emigrated to Australia. Murdoch left issue and died at Bundaloch by his wife Flora MacKerlich namely Duncan, Alexander, and Margaret. John is married to Ann, daughter of Roderick Finlayson Bundaloch and has (1866) issue Murdoch and Janet.

Roderick, second son of Evander Murchison of Auchtertyre, left a son named John who left Roderick and Kenneth. Kenneth left a numerous family, one of them named Duncan was a tenant at Craig of Lochalsh and married to Christina, daughter of Roderick MacLennan, Durinish, issue Kenneth John and John who live presently (1866) at craig of Lochalsh.

Roderick son of John was a tenant at Ardelve Lochalsh where he died about 1840 aged 90. He was married to Margaret daughter of Kenneth Murchison, Achmore issue John Kemeth, Isabella, Mary, and Catherine. Isabella married John Matheson Salacy Lochalsh. and was mother to Dugald Matheson merchant Ardelve. Kenneth married Chirsty, daughter of Duncan MacRae, Ardelve, and left issue. He died at Achmore. John emigrated to South America where he lives in good circumstances.

John Murchison, the eldest son of Evander Murchison of Auchtertyre, comes now to be mentioned. He was very handsome and in bodily strength had very few equals. He went in the Highlands under the name of one of the four Johns of Scotland. He was a major in one of Earl William of Seaforth's three regiments A.D. 1715 and was at the Battle of Sheriffmuir where he fought gallantly defending his master's cause. Stimulating his brother soldiers to die on the field of battle rather than yield, he fell mortally wounded when his sword broke, and urging with his latest breath of life the survivors to continue faithful, he fell a hero in the prime of life at the age of 35 years; he was born In the year 1679. Here we may subjoin the poetical effusion so far as concerns him by an eye witness when he fell.

There was John Auchtertyre a King o'er men,
the real Hero sincere and firm
The wrathful Lion was valiant daring
Before the army when to the field
He was the Champion true and bold
From the Royal tribe of the comely mein
The lovely family whose praise went far
He was no coward who sprang from them.

John Murchison of Auchtertyre was married to Janet, daughter of Kenneth MacKenzie younger of Lochshiel near Tain by whom he left issue 3 sons and two daughters. The eldest daughter married Murdoch, son of Christopher MacRae of Araudg dhugain and left issue; the other daughter married John MacRae in Camusluenie and left issue. The sons were named Alexander, Simon and Kenneth.

Kenneth, the third son, was a man of great bodily strength and burst a blood vessel in his chest lifting a heavy stone in Glenudalain, which stone can be seen opposite the house of his great grandson Dugald Matheson merchant Ardelve. He died at Craig of Lochalsh leaving a family of daughters.

Simon emigrated to North Carolina with a respectable handsome family of nine sons in the year 1774.

Alexander, the eldest son of John was tacksman of Auchtertyre and for some time factor to Lord Seaforth A.D. 1773. He married Margaret MacKenzie, daughter of Alexander MacKenzie Esquire of Lentrom by whom he had issue, Kenneth and a daughter named Janet who married Captain Duncan MacRae of Inverinate in Kintail who was the chief of that name. Kenneth the son of Alexander studied medicine in which he made great proficiency. He went to Calcutta in 1772 as a surgeon in the Cafay's service. Being a very able man and a great classical scholar, he obtained the special notice of Warren Hastings, Sir Elija Impey and other notabilities, and after 12 years of service in the East made a trust fortune. He became a great favourite of the Habob (Nabob) of Acrot for curing a distemper in his daughter for which he gave him a heavy sum of Gold. He returned to Europe in 1784 and first traveled in France, Italy and afterward in parts of Ireland and England and finally returned to his native country he settled there by purchasing (1788) the Estate of Taradale from his maternal uncle John MacKenzie of Lentron and married in 1790 Barbara MacKenzie daughter of Fairburn the first issue Roderick Impey Murchison born 19 February 1792 second son Alexander who died a child, third son Kenneth born in 1794 and rose to be governor of Singapore and Penang and died in 1854 leaving two sons Kenneth and Roderick and one Daughter Charlott who is married to Colonel Cox R.A.

Roderick Impey Murchison the Eldest son of Doctor Kenneth was a celebrated Geologist and was created a Baron 1866.

ENDNOTES

1         Personal notes by my grandmother, Helen Elsie Moore, c1898.

2         Mrs Cory’s letter of 8 September 1992 with Lochbroom Marriage Register extract for George Mackenzies.

3         Burke's, Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage.

4        Sir E Mackenzie Mackenzie, The Genealogy of the Stem of the Family of Mackenzie, Marquesses and Earls of Seaforth, pp. 8-10. The FitzGerald history is confirmed by Geraldus Cambrensis in his book (written in Latin) The English Conquest of Ireland. The subsequent data are based on Sir E Mackenzie Mackenzie’s data.

5       The italics are mine. On the contrary, I can find no evidence of this. My own research suggests that Other was in Edward the Confessor’s court and was probably helpful to William in preparing the way and in easing the Normans into power, rather than by direct ship-funding and building. Sir Other’s ships may finally prove to have been donated, but the evidence is not yet found. Variations of Other’s name are also Otto, or Odo.

6        FitzWalter descendants were later participants in the later Wars of the Roses drama. See Alison Weir, The Wars of the Roses, pp. 262. Fox-Davies describes FitzWalter arms in The Art of Heraldry, p. 59.

7        I suspect that it was the Baron’s fourth son, also named Maurice, whose heir was in turn his daughter Juliana. At all events; one of these FitzGeralds named Maurice had such a daughter and she married Richard Clare, Earl of Hertford, as the heiress of Inchiquin and Youghal. The FitzGerald arms are described by Arthur Charles Fox-Davies in A Complete Guide to Heraldry, p. 525.

8        Since Thomas was himself the youngest of three sons, it is likely that his father’s title went to the eldest, a Gerald, and that Thomas gained the Geashill barony. One of Thomas'’ sons by Rohesia St Michael, was the first earl of Kildare, thus our ancestor, Gerald, would have had cause to feel a need to prove himself outside the local environment. A serious historian, Goddard Henry Orpen found evidence that Gerald (1 Baron of Kintail) had fought at the northern Irish Battle of Callan in 1262. That would lend credence to the historical assertion that Gerald then migrated to the nearby area of Scotland.

9        Sir E Mackenzie Mackenzie, The Genealogy of the Stem of the Family of Mackenzie, Marquesses and Earls of Seaforth, and Burke’s Peerage and Baronage, pp. 1702-1704. The English College of Arms confirmed that Baronies confer land not title, and that such barons were considered feudal lords, not peers. The later Barons Mackenzie were titled lord as a consequence of their elevation to the Scots Peerage.

10      Ibid, pp. 3-4. I have used his spelling of the title marquess throughout for consistency; however, marquis and marchioness are other variations. None of these Mackenzies is our direct relative closer than cousin as Kenneth the first Baron Mackenzie was a step-brother to our ancestor Alexander Mackenzie Baron of Coul & Applecross.

11      Alan McNie, Clan Mackenzie, p.27.

12      Ibid, p. 28.

13      James Anderson, Royal Genealogies, volume II, p. 160, World Family Tree # 2151, and World Family Tree # 4329.

14      Bill Cooper, http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/.

15      Colin Mackenzie of Newburnside, The History of the Clan Mackenzie, manuscript, 1760, http://www.clanmackenzie.com/history.htm.