The Old Macleods of Lewis

The Old Macleods of Lewis A somewhat mysterious figure who doesn’t appear in any of the published Clan Macleod genealogies, Donald Macleod of Galtrigill (c. 1677-1749),1 was one of a network of related individuals who protected Charles Edward Stuart in the aftermath of the Jacobite defeat at Culloden in April 1746.2 Although an account of his ancestry has thus far eluded Macleod genealogists, there are families who claim to be descended from him. Indeed, one of those families, resident in Australia, still possesses a scarf pin said to have been found amongst clothes given to the fugitive Prince by either Lady Clanranald or Lady Margaret Macdonald.3 These Australian Macleods also possess a family tree (dated 1939) detailing their emigrant ancestor’s connection to a Norman Macleod, (son of Malcolm, son of Norman Mor) who lived at a place, named Bolvean, near Orbost in Skye. According to notes written by a Dr. Neil Ross, Norman Macleod of Bolvean was married to a lady (named Janet MacNeil), who was nurse to the Chief Norman Macleod of Dunvegan (1812–1895) and his siblings, in what was known as the yellow bedroom of the castle. Her own children were the same age. One of her sons Angus Dubh was a Sheriff Officer and in the late nineteenth century his son Kenneth Macleod of Kirkton Cottage, Dunvegan, was the Dunvegan estate joiner. Kenneth Macleod was succeeded in this position by his son Dugald. Prior to these men, the position of estate joiner was held by Macleod of Dunvegan’s hereditary galley makers, a family who lived at Colbost, near Galtrigill. Both the Colbost and Bolvean families trace their descent to a Norman Macleod, (though not necessarily the same man) who was probably born in the early part of the eighteenth century. Indeed the Colbost family’s ancestor Norman is said to have fought at Culloden as part of the Raasay contingent. The croft at Bolvean was subsequently occupied by a Macleod family who claimed the previous occupants as kin.4 Indeed, earlier generations of this family are on record in Galtrigill from the 1810s to the 1850s. Genealogical notes pertaining to the family tell us their ancestor Alexander Macleod (also likely born in the early eighteenth century) was ‘the first to take the mills to Skye to grind corn’, his descendants ‘were generally called the millers and the miller’s children for generations’.5 Another genealogical note tells us he was a son of Donald, son of John of Raasay.6 The obituary of his three times great granddaughter, printed in the 1962 Clan Macleod Magazine, states the following: Mrs Chirsty Macleod, Borreraig, Glendale, Skye. It was with regret that news was received of the death of Mrs Chirsty Macleod of the Parks, Borreraig, Dunvegan …. Her passing, however, strikes a page of history, 1 Known to history and tradition as Prince Charlie’s Pilot or ‘Am Pilat Ghlas’ (The Grey Pilot), see Evan Macleod Barron, Prince Charlie’s Pilot, (Inverness, 1913). Angus MacVicar, The Grey Pilot, (London, 1959), p. 11. 2 Donald Macleod’s wife Catherine was a sister of Angus Macdonald of Borrodale and a first cousin of the famous Flora Macdonald. 3 https://westernisles.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/galtrigill.pdf 4 Information from the writer’s late aunt Morag (Macleod) Jackson. 5 ‘Three volumes of photocopied literary papers of Major Neil Macleod, Royal Artillery, of Waternish, Isle of Skye and Dalkeith, Vol. 3. Reminiscences’, NLS, Acc. 12321. The compiler of these traditions, Roderick Macleod or Ruaraidh Na Tì, was a brother of Major Neil. See: Gordon Macleod, ‘The Macleods of Trumpan Reconsidered’. 6 Alexander Roger McLeod, ‘Letter to Sorley MacLean; enclosing a sketch of Roderick McLeod's family history’, NLS, MS.29521, folios 18–24. The lineage cited is found in notes written by Alexander Roger McLeod’s father Alexander Mathers, who was a son of Roderick Macleod (Ruaraidh Na Tì). says the Oban Times, as she was a direct descendant of the Pilot Donald Macleod of Galtrigal, who guided Prince Charles Edward Stuart from the mainland to South Uist after Culloden. As we have seen, the Pilot Donald Macleod of Galtrigill was born c. 1677 and in a tack of teinds from Andrew, Bishop of the Isles, to Iain Breac of Dunvegan, dated December 2nd 1679 and March 5th 1680, the proprietor of Raasay does appear to have been a John Macleod, the relevant line being: ‘Rasay and Unquakeille (Ung Na Cille) in Trotternes in Skye and not only these lands but any lands belonging to John Macleod of Rasay’.7 In 1967 Chirsty Macleod's brother Murdoch was interviewed on the subject of his ancestor Donald of Galtrigill by the School of Scottish Studies. A selected translation is given below:8 There was a mill in Glendale where he threshed his corn. He took a few bags of grain with him. “I’ll tell you what we’ll do” he said. “We’ll put one or two of these bags in the boat and we’ll take the Prince with us.” “It wasn’t long before a sailing boat with oars caught up with him. “Where are you going?” they asked. “I’m going to the mill” he replied. “Can’t you see I’ve got grain in my boat?” Nothing further was asked. Donald of Galtrigill himself, whilst being interviewed by Bishop Forbes in 1747, stated he had originally gone to Inverness ‘with a view of taking in a cargoe of meal for the inhabitants of Sky’.9 Bishop Forbes also noted the fact that Donald of Galtrigill was well known in Stornoway, on the Isle of Lewis, where he was said to have had an interest.10 Cordara in his ‘Commentary on the Expedition to Scotland by Prince Charles Edward’ stated the following of Donald of Galtrigill:11 ‘As he was a native of Stornoway, it was thought he would be very useful in wrestling with the difficulties of the flight.’ Donald of Galtrigill’s apparent connection to Lewis aligns with another tradition associated with the Miller Macleods of Galtrigill, which names them the family of Raasay, near related to John Garbh who fought the MacKenzies, who had taken Lewis from the Macleods.12 A similar tradition, found in the Morrison MS, says that when Cromwell’s soldiers took possession of Stornoway Castle, MacKenzie of Seaforth called for the aid of Iain Garbh Macleod of Raasay.13 MacKenzie agreed that Iain Garbh should attack one end of the town whilst he attacked the other end. Iain Garbh successfully broke open the main door of the castle with a big blacksmith’s hammer but later discovered Seaforth had fled to the village of Tong, leaving him to deal with the rest of the English soldiers in the town. Incensed by Seaforth’s failure to fulfil his part of their agreement, Iain Garbh later confronted the MacKenzie Chief, but was placated by Seaforth’s insincere praise of his prowess. Another tale in the same MS, however, tells us that Iain Garbh 7 R. C. MacLeod, The Book of Dunvegan, Volume First, (Aberdeen, 1938), p. 65. This man doesn’t appear to have been Iain Garbh/Mór, nor his probable nephew Iain Og, both of whom were drowned in April 1671 (see ‘The Genealogy of the Macleods of Raasay’ by Gordon Macleod) though it’s possible R. C. MacLeod wrongly assumed the Macleod of Raasay of 1679/80, was the same man on record in the 1650s and 60s? By the late 18th century the tacksman of Ung Na Cille was a Donald Macleod or Dhomhnall mac Alasdair. See Roderick MacCowan, The Men of Skye, (1902), pp. 47–60. 8 Dòmhnall MacLeòid à Galtraigil. – Tobar an Dualchais 9 Henry Paton, ed., The Lyon in Mourning, By the Rev. Robert Forbes, Vol. I, (Edinburgh, 1895), p. 159. 10 Paton, ed., Lyon in Mourning, Vol. I, p. 69. 11 Sir Bruce Seton, ed., ‘Commentary on the Expedition to Scotland by Prince Charles Edward Stuart, Prince of Wales, By Guilio Cesare Cordara’, Scottish History Society, Third Series, Vol. IX, Miscellany, (Edinburgh, 1926), p. 137. 12 ‘Literary papers of Major Neil Macleod, Vol. 3. Reminiscences’, NLS, Acc. 12321. 13 Norman Macdonald & Alexander Morrison, ed., The Morrison Manuscript, Traditions of the Western Isles by Donald Morrison, (Stornoway, 1975), pp. 90–92. was placated by way of a plan devised by John Morrison of Bragar.14 The tale containing the details of this plan was probably found in Volume five of the MS, which is now lost.15 Writing in the late 1600s, the same John Morrison of Bragar said the attack on Cromwell's garrison had failed because of a lack of artillery.16 Contemporary records (1654) state the ‘Old Natives’ i.e. the Macleods of Lewis, later joined with Cromwell’s troops and fought against the rest of the country, i.e. the Mackenzies and their adherents.17 Indeed, the castle was said to have been ‘destroyed … by some of Cromwell’s adherents, and afterwards sufficiently restored to become habitable by the McLeods … known to have been its latest possessors’.18 In 1868 a second version of the above tale was noted down by the folklorist Alexander Carmichael, in connection with a family living in Melbost, Isle of Lewis, who were considered by the people in the locality to be the heirs of the Lewis Macleods.19 His informant was an old man from the village of Knock, named Aonas Macaulay: Clann ic Leoid ic Thorcuil 16 18 under the stone at Aoi.20 The last was Calum Macleoid Mac Thor[cuil] ic Leoid small crofter. He was the heir of the Macleods. Iain Garbh killed 16 in taigh Iain Wylie in Stornoway. This old man's (Iain Wylie’s?) great great grandmother held the candle to him while this was done. She was but a little girl – Catriona nighean Sheorais. Iain Garbh made a compact with a Gobha that he wo[ul]d assist him, which the smith did not fulfil – Gobha Du Thonga. I[ain] G[arbh] met him and upbraid[ed] him for his cowardice. The smith pre[ferred] to be buried alive rather than be killed outright. I[ain] G[arbh] did this and I[ain] G[arbh] was walking over his grave while the latter was still alive.21 Se duin ro bhria bh ann Torcuil oighre – Torcul oighre nan gruai grios gris-neach. (A very handsome man was Torquil the heir – Torquil the heir of the ruddy cheeks). This was the first of the Lews Macleod[s]. His heir is Torcul Macleod in Mealabost. A Eaglais na h-Aoi is the oldest church in Lews also the bury[ing] place – St Columb. John Wylie built (i.e. taigh Iain Wylie) one of those who came here from Fife. The left house pro[ceeding] in[to] Stornoway. 14 Ibid, p. 268. F. W. L. Thomas, ‘Traditions of the Macaulays of Lewis’, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 14, (1880), p. 385. 16 Sir Arthur Mitchell, ed., ‘MacFarlane’s Geographical Collections Volume II, ’Publications of the Scottish History Society, Vol. LII., (Edinburgh, 1907), p. 215. 17 W. C. Mackenzie, History of the Outer Hebrides, (Paisley, 1903), p. 360. James Maidment, The Spottiswoode Miscellany, Vol. II, (Edinburgh, 1845), p. 196. 18 Ordnance Survey Name Books, Ross and Cromarty, (Insular) 1848–1852, Vol. 72, p. 9. 19 Carmichael Watson Project, Coll–97/CW7/18, folio 27r, line 1 to folio 27v, line 28. 20 I would speculate that Carmichael may have quoted the Rev. John Cameron’s assertion from The New Statistical Account of Scotland, Vol. XIV, Ross and Cromarty, p. 125 (written in 1833) that ‘in the chapel at Ui … eighteen lairds of M’Leod … were buried under one stone’ and Aonas Macaulay replied that while there had been eighteen deceased chiefs in 1833, only sixteen were buried at Ui. Carmichael wrote that number down but Macaulay then stated that two more had since been buried there, the last being Calum Mac Thorcuil, and that the number (in 1868) was therefore eighteen. See speculative list of chiefs below. 21 These two lines probably allude to John Morrison’s plan mentioned in the Morrison MS. Iain Garbh walking over Seaforth’s grave while the latter was still alive, sounds similar to the traditional tale ‘Uaimh Chaluim’: Macleod of Raasay was once declared an outlaw. To evade the king’s justice the crafty old chief and his son went one morning to a cave, flat on the top, with a fine green sward. Old Raasay went inside and his son stood above on the turf. After this ceremony, the son went to Edinburgh and sought an audience with the King, who asked him “What of that rebel, your father?” “Your Majesty”, said young Macleod, “I left him under the sod on the very morning I left Raasay.” “O, so he is dead” said the King. “Then as death ends all matters and as you have wisely come to make your submission, the sentence of outlawry is rescinded. I hope you will be a more peaceful subject than your father.” Young Macleod said nothing and just bowed respectfully. The sentence was rescinded and old Raasay lived for many a day after being “under the sod.” Perhaps John Morrison employed a similar ruse to save Seaforth from Iain Garbh’s fury? 15 Another tradition associated with the Melbost Macleods and preserved by John Macleod, the grandson of ‘Torquil Macleod in Mealabost’, is the tale of Donald and Torquil Macleod. This tale, although seemingly set during the period of the MacKenzie takeover of Lewis, looks very much like it may have originally been an account of the fate of Donald Dubh, last claimant to the Lordship of the Isles, and his chief supporter Torquil Macleod of Lewis. The bones of the story is as follows: Donald and Torquil Macleod were on the run. Their enemies were searching for them all over the island of Lewis. They sought refuge in a house but were betrayed and captured for a reward. They were subsequently taken to the mainland and imprisoned. Torquil was hanged soon after but Donald escaped and many years later he returned to the isles at the head of a ship of foreign soldiers.22 Donald Dubh was indeed captured and imprisoned in 1506 and he did eventually escape and return to the Isles in the 1540s. His chief ally and protector Torquil Macleod’s fate is uncertain; he disappears from history after 1506. ‘Torcall the heir …. the first of the Lews Macleods’, as noted down by Carmichael in 1868, is possibly also a reference to the chief Torquil who was forfeited in 1506. There are several instances of this chief being referred to as the ‘heir’ in the Knock MS.23 He probably acquired this moniker because: 1. He was a minor when his father died and a tutor named Rory the Black had to be appointed to lead the clan. During that period Torquil would probably have been referred to as ‘the heir’. 2. Rory the Black subsequently usurped him, which would have caused great consternation amongst Torquil’s supporters and a determination in many of them to see the ‘rightful’ or ‘lawful heir’ installed as chief. 3. After Torquil and his line were declared forfeit in 1506 it's likely his descendants would have continued to assert their cause or rights by declaring their ancestor Torquil to have been ‘the first of the Lews Macleods’ (i.e. foremost in rank)24 and therefore ‘the true heir’. Indeed, a muddled tale in the Morrison MS, which details the unfortunate fate of four Torquils, says the earliest of them, ‘Torquil the heir’ was hanged at Ullapool by ‘some men from the mainland’.25 Also amongst the papers left by John Macleod of Melbost, is the rough draft of a letter addressed to a Brigadier Torquil Macleod, which names the Brigadier’s ancestor Donald Beck (of the Macleods of Raasay), as the brother of Torquil who was hanged.26 A completed letter on this subject probably did reach the Brigadier, as the tale of Torquil who was hanged also appears in I.F. Grant’s ‘The Macleods The History of a Clan’.27 The Brigadier, then President of the Clan Society, was one of those thanked by Grant in the preface of her book. However, the byname ‘Beck’ does not appear in this published version of the tale, which suggests John Macleod was incorrect in identifying the Brigadier’s ancestor, Donald Beck of the Macleods of Raasay, as the brother of Torquil who was hanged. Brigadier Torquil Macleod, though, is also mentioned in connection with Donald Macleod of Galtrigill. The following extract detailing the late Chief John Macleod’s 21st birthday celebrations is taken from the 1956 souvenir edition of the Clan Macleod Magazine:28 22 W. Cumming, ed., Family Traditions John Macleod, 11 Melbost, (2018), pp. 21–25 & 29. J. R. N. MacPhail, Highland Papers, Vol. 1, (Edinburgh, 1914), p. 51. 24 An example of the word ‘first’ being used in this context by a nineteenth century Lewisman can be found in the Rev. Malcolm Maclean, ‘Extracts from a Lewis MS.’ in Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, Vol. XXXIX/XL, 1942–1950, (Stirling, 1963), pp. 141–166: 161, line 28. 25 Macdonald & Morrison, ed., The Morrison Manuscript, p. 37. 26 Cumming, ed., Family Traditions John Macleod, (2018), p. 29. 27 I.F. Grant, The Macleods The History of a Clan 1200–1956, (London, 1959), pp. 259–260. 28 Donald Mackinnon, ed., The Clan Macleod Magazine Souvenir Edition, (Edinburgh, 1956), p.13. 23 Brigadier Torquil, President of the Parent Society, also handed over two gifts of great historic value. A rare coin given to Rory Mor by James VI and I, when he was in Edinburgh in 1611, presented by five clanswomen in whose family it had come down through the years and was now returned to John. The second was a gift of the spectacles worn by Donald Macleod, who piloted Prince Charles Edward from Skye to the Long Island after the Battle of Culloden. This was given by Torquil’s cousin, Mrs Peggy Macleod of London. Brigadier Torquil and his cousin Peggy Macleod were great grandchildren of the well known ‘Dotair Ban’ – Alexander Macleod of Kilpheadair, North Uist – who was a son of Murdoch Macleod, an apothecary born c. 1742.29 Murdoch Macleod, according to Alexander Cameron in his history of Skye, was the son of Norman Macleod of Rigg.30 Cameron, a resident of North Uist, likely got his information from Murdoch Arbuckle, a grandson of the apothecary, whom he thanked in the preface. In 1903 Lieutenant Colonel Ranken Macdonald, a grandson of the ‘Dotair Ban’ sent for Exhibition a:31 Silver-mounted Spanish Barrelled Gun, having a small silver plate with the letters ‘C S 1745’ on the barrel, given by Prince Charles Edward Stuart, whilst in Skye, to Captain Macleod of Brae, Raasay, who took over the Prince from Flora Macdonald, and piloted him through Skye till he took boat for Moidart. The gun has been in the possession of Captain Macleod’s descendants since that eventful period, and was kept concealed while the Arms Act was in force in the highlands. Captain Malcolm Macleod of Brae was another member of the Rigg family, known in his day as Calum Ruadh and Calum Mac Iain Mhic Iain. The Raasay piper Angus MacKay, whose father John had been taught to play the pipes by the Captain said of him:32 ‘grandson of John Garve Macleod of Rasay, who was an excellent piper …. He held a Captain’s commission in the Prince’s army, to whose escape he was very instrumental.’33 Indeed, a strip of tartan cloth taken from a vest worn by the fugitive Prince, was for a long time, an heirloom of Captain Malcolm's descendants. The late Ron Macleod, a four times great grandson of the Captain, recalled his Raasay mother Julia's childhood memory of the relic in a recording made for Simon Fraser University’s Scottish Oral History Project.34 A first cousin of this Julia Macleod, her father’s, brother’s son Ewen, once had a conversation with the Raasay poet Sorley Maclean – which Maclean later wrote down – detailing the family's traditional origin:35 29 Alick Morrison, The Macleods – The Genealogy of a Clan Section Three, (Edinburgh, 1970), pp. 58–59. Alexander Cameron, History and Traditions of the Isle of Skye, (Inverness, 1871), p. 153. 31 ‘Articles in the Exhibition’, The Inverness Courier, 17 July 1903, p. 3. 32 Angus MacKay, ‘Historical and Traditional Notes on the Piobaireachds’, A Collection of Ancient Piobaireachd, (Aberdeen, Inverness & Elgin, 1838), No. LXI. 33 There is a tradition of illegitimacy associated with Iain Garbh which is probably connected to Iain Garbh/MacHardy’s probable descent from a forfeited line. Though there is also a tradition that Captain Malcolm was illegitimate.(See Clan Macleod Magazine, No. 82 April and No. 83 October, 1996). However, the following amusing tale from the Tobar an Dualchais site suggests it was Captain Malcolm’s father John who was illegitimate: “Iain Garbh of Raasay was courting a girl in Skye. Somebody stole his boat on one of his trips 30 to Skye and he took another one. The boat’s owner appeared and the two of them pushed the boat from either end until they crushed it. Iain Garbh said only his son would be capable of such a thing. This was, indeed, his illegitimate son”. See here: Mar a bhrùth Iain Garbh 's a mhac bàta ri chèile. - Tobar an Dualchais 34 35 Interview of Ron MacLeod : Interview | SFU Digitized Collections Somhairle Mac Gill-Eain, Ris A’ Bhruthaich: Criticism and Prose Writings, (Stornoway, 1985), p. 301. It is said that there are five Macleod families in Raasay who are not connected, as far as is known, on the male Macleod side. Some years ago I asked the late Ewen Macleod, Eóghainn Thorcaill Chaluim Mhic Tharmaid, then in his nineties, of which of the five families he was. His reply was: “Chan ann a mhuinntir Ratharsair a bha sinne idir; ‘s ann a Thainig sinne á Leódas o Thorcull Dubh a chaidh a chrocadh”. (It is not of the people of Raasay we were at all. We came from Lewis, from Torquil Dubh, who was hanged.) Ewen Macleod’s statement, then, contradicts John Macleod of Melbost’s unfinished letter addressed to Brigadier Torquil Macleod, which says the Brigadier’s ancestor was Donald Beck, the brother of Torquil who was hanged. As already noted though, John Macleod was probably incorrect in this assertion. He had probably been informed about a notable ancestor of the Brigadier’s named Donald Beck, (of the Macleods of Raasay) whom he incorrectly assumed was Donald from the tale of Torquil who was hanged. Who then was Donald Beck of the Macleods of Raasay? Most likely he was Donald, son of John or Iain Garbh of Raasay, the man named in the genealogy of the Miller Macleods of Galtrigill. As we have seen, this Donald was probably the man known as ‘Prince Charlie’s Pilot’ – Donald Macleod of Galtrigill in Skye – who was probably originally a native of Stornoway in Lewis.36 The traditional tale of how Donald's probable father Iain Garbh got possession of Raasay, says that on a visit to Edinburgh, Macleod (presumably of Dunvegan) made a bet that he could find someone to defeat an Edinburgh man’s champion in combat.37 Macleod won his bet when his representative, Iain Garbh, defeated the Edinburgh man’s fighter. Macleod was so happy with Iain Garbh’s victory, he put him in possession of his winnings, namely the Isle of Raasay. When the people of Raasay saw the strong and wild looking Iain Garbh step ashore they promptly paid up their rents. Iain Garbh had his own island after that. Another version of the tale, in which the protagonist is named MacHardy of Braemar, names the Earl of Mar as the instigator of the bout.38 At that time Mar appears to have possessed the estates of his grandfather the Earl of Seaforth, which would have made him the feudal superior of the estate of Raasay. In November 1680 he owed £2000 for Lewis39 and in March 1685 proceedings were taken against him by the Bishop of the Isles for ‘payment to the Bishop of his third of parsonage and vicarage teinds of lands and isle of Lewes’.40 The MacHardys of Braemar, according to their own tradition, were originally Macleods of Clan Torquil, who had once owned large portions of land in the islands and the north west. They also at one time held Raasay, which was subsequently owned by ‘Mac ‘ille Chaluim Camachasach’. The MacGillechallums of Raasay were their sept.41 Another tradition which says 36 The byname Beck may be derived from ‘Beag’ meaning little but another possibility is the Gaelic word ‘béic’, meaning to curtsy or hobnob, something which the following quote suggests, was very much a part of Donald of Galtrigill’s character: ‘In their conversing together they happened to talk of Donald Macleod of Gualtergill, upon whom the Lieutenant was pleased to bestow abusive language in great plenty, calling him knave, villain, etc. Captain Roy MacDonald very seriously asked him how he came to give such names to Donald Macleod, who was well known to have behaved himself throughout all his life in a very honest and neighbourly way; and not only so, but likewise it was remarkable that Donald was one of a gentlemanny temper, and that if he had a fault it was that he was rather too gentlemanny, for that he had frequently gone beyond one in his circumstances to keep the best company.’ See: Paton, ed., The Lyon in Mourning, Vol. II, (Edinburgh, 1895), p. 28. 37 https://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/23196?l=en In another tale Macleod of Dunvegan wins a bet when he is represented by a one eyed miller. Interestingly, the late father and great grandfather of the writer, a descendant of the miller Macleods, were both blind in one eye. 38 Alexander Laing, The Donean Tourist, (Aberdeen, 1828), p. 36. National Records of Scotland, Reference: GD112/39/132/12. 40 NRS, Reference: GD124/8/234. 41 W & A. K. Johnston, ‘The MacHardys’ in The Tartans of the Clans and Septs of Scotland with the Arms of the Chiefs, Vol. II (Edinburgh & London, 1906) and Alexander R. Forbes, Place-Names of Skye and Adjacent Islands, (Paisley, 1923), p. 286. 39 that Charles II restored Lewis, the old property of the family, to John Garbh MacGillechallum of Raasay, is probably then just a muddled remembrance of the Earl of Mar, Charles Erskine, restoring Raasay to John Garbh MacHardy of the old Macleods of Lewis.42 Indeed oral tradition has understandably conflated these two John Garbhs of Raasay. The Braemar MacHardy tradition goes on to say that when the king: was in the North quelling rebellious Northern Chiefs, he took hostages south with him … the hostages were placed for safe custody in charge of some of his vassals in the south. From the Macleods in Raasay (i.e. those Lewis Macleods later living in Raasay at the time this tradition was written down) he took hostages for their future good behaviour. These hostages he placed in Braemar, in Aberdeenshire, where on account of their skills as archers, they were chosen to be put into the king's bodyguard, in which they distinguished themselves as archers and for bravery and endurance, and then came to be called "Cruadalach" or "Hardy", and being ruddy-haired, also as the "MacHardy Buidhies", or yellow (headed) MacHardys. These events occurred in 1540 when King James the Fifth arrived in the Hebrides at the head of a powerful fleet.43 He subdued the islanders, captured their chiefs and brought them to Edinburgh. They were only allowed to leave when they gave up hostages as a pledge for their future good behaviour. The above events also seem to be referenced in the traditions of another family, the Macleods of Colbeck, in Jamaica (who usually styled themselves Colbecks), sometimes referred to as ‘the old Macleods of Lewis’.44 In a letter written in 1800, Colonel John Macleod 2nd of Colbecks stated the following:45 I have my line in a family as ancient and as honourable as any among the Clans – I bear it's arms; which though once disputed with me – belong legitimately to my house and confer on me the chief representation of a Clan – my place is in fact high in the ranks of hereditary feudal honor – my ancestors possessed the entire sovereignty of the Lews, an island of the Hebrides (now possessed by my lord Seaforth) and so certainly was this known that all the representatives of my family were educated in their succession by the lords of the collateral branches of it which survived its expulsion by James the Fifth. Colonel Macleod’s efforts in raising a fencible regiment,46 his candidacy for a peerage and the benefits that the attainment of such a title would bring to his clan are also mentioned in this letter: Yet though I feel I have not done more than my duty I cannot but recollect with pride that I have accomplished no common work … the entire union of an ancient and powerful Clan! – not possessing one acre in Great Britain – but aided by numerous friends, at an enormous expense, I have, as you know, raised a Regt of Highlanders. … to draw a large force from particular districts, to collect the scattered 42 John Burke, A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain & Ireland Vol. IV, (London, 1838) p. 591. 43 Ibid., p. 587. 44 Alexander Mackenzie & Alexander MacBain, History of the Mathesons, 2nd edition, (Stirling & London, 1900), pp. 86–87. 45 Rubenstein Library Card Catalog, Letter to Henry Dundas Viscount Melville, ‘John Macleod of Colbecks on his regiment and clan’, 17 September 1800, Dow to Durg: Drawer 176, page 53. 46 A list of the officers of the ‘Princess Charlotte of Wales Regiment of Fencible Infantry’ includes a Captain Robert B. E. Macleod, esq. (i.e. Robert Bruce Eneas Macleod of Cadboll) and an Ensign Malcolm Macleod, gent. (possibly Malcolm Macleod of Melbost, the man who later became chief?). See: Kentish Weekly Post or Canterbury Journal, 29th November 1799, p. 2. dependants, of several families, and rally them under one common banner, has always been allowed to indicate unremitting activity and unyielding perseverance in him, who fortunately, had succeeded in such an undertaking. … the great purpose of this letter may now be easily unfolded. I am a candidate for a Peerage of the Kingdom of Ireland. … I wish for it, because my family in all its heritors, has its roots in the nobility and the first families in the Kingdome – I wish for it, because it would tend to consolidate important local interests now distracted and derided in consequence of the ill omened violence of the second great family of the name.47 Colonel John Macleod 2nd of Colbecks was the son of a ship owner and trader named Donald or Daniel Macleod of Balallan in the Isle of Lewis.48 The Colonel’s mother Janet, a daughter of Malcolm Macleod (Calum Camachasach) 10th of Raasay, was the widow of Iain Dubh Mackinnon of Kilmarie/Kilmorie Strath, Skye.49 Indeed, the Colonel’s father Daniel Macleod later lived at Kilmarie. In 1762 he sent a letter to Edinburgh about the herring catch in Loch Slapin,50 in 1770 he was described as ‘late of Kilmorie’51 and in 1773 as ‘sometime tacksman of Kilmorie … before emigrating to America’.52 Donald/Daniel Macleod later returned to Scotland and married his second wife, Janet Urquhart of Kilbeachie.53 Records pertaining to the marriages of their daughters Ann and Isabella respectively refer to him as ‘Donald McLeod Esqr of Colbecks’54 and ‘the late Donald Macleod, Esq. of Lewis’.55 In 1782 his son Colonel John married Jane, daughter of John Macleod 11th of Raasay.56 The following quote, allowing for some misremembered details, is probably a reference to this marriage:57 My master was a distant relation to Laird M’l—— (Macleod of Raasay). He had, as I learned, originally little or no property, and had been chiefly brought up in this family. An uncle, who had amassed a great deal of money in the East Indies, dying childless, left him a large share of his riches, and he thus suddenly, and while in the laird's family, became a rich man. Being somewhat attached to one of the daughters, stipulations were presently entered into for their future union. The Colonel’s uncle John Macleod 1st of Colbecks, died in Jamaica in 1775.58 He derived his great wealth from the slave trade there. A letter from George Gillanders, dated December 1777, to 47 Old Rory and his sons. Montagu Chambers, ed., The Law Journal Reports For The Year 1841, Vol. XIX, New Series – Vol. X., (London, 1841), p. 33 and Angus Macleod, Lady Habost | Hebridean Connections 49 Alick Morrison, The Macleods – The Genealogy of a Clan Section Four, (Edinburgh, 1999), pp. 20–21. 50 Daniel M’leod, ‘Letter dated December 14th 1762’, The Dublin Courier, January 10th–12th, 1763. 51 NRS, Reference GD427/229. 52 NRS, Reference GD427/260. 53 This history echoes the following traditions associated with Donald of Galtrigill and his son, as related by Murdoch Macleod to the School of Scottish Studies in 1967: ‘He had a gig and he decided to go off to 48 America. He didn’t want to go but he decided to go anyway. He had some horses here. His mother said to him “If you go abroad, how will you take your money with you?” “I’ll tell you what I’ll do” he said. “I’ll take all the buttons off my clothes and put sovereigns on instead of them.” He went off like that and he was over in America and there was no word from him. When he was in America he bought some land and also bought a merchant boat. He had some kind of estate over there. Eventually a man called Donald Macleod – a son of this Donald Macleod arrived in Skye and was in Dunvegan for some time.’ 54 National Archives WO 42/1/A179. Her first marriage to George Assioti in 1799 took place at Geanies House and was witnessed by Donald Macleod of Geanies. 55 Morning Post, 15th September 1821, p. 4. 56 Morrison, The Macleods – The Genealogy of a Clan, Section Four, p. 21. 57 Paul Rodgers, The Memoirs of Mr. Matthias D’Amour, (London, 1836) p. 126. D’Amour was in Raasay in the early 1780s. 58 Louis P. Nelson, Architecture and Empire in Jamaica, (New Haven & London, 2016), p. 281. another John Macleod, Captain of the Fortrose Packet, Stornoway,59 informing him that the legacy left to him by his brother had been recovered from the naval office, may be a reference to the death of John Macleod 1st of Colbecks. It wasn’t uncommon in the highlands for two siblings to have the same Christian name. In 1762 John Macleod 1st of Colbecks matriculated his arms in the heraldic court of the Lord Lyon, he gave his descent as follows: John Macleod Esquire of Colbecks in the island of Jamaica, eldest son of Donald Macleod in the island of Lewis, who was eldest son to John Macleod of the said island of Lewis, who was eldest son of Torquil Macleod,60 who was only son of John Macleod, which John was only brother-german to Roderick Macleod last Baron of the island of Lewis and as such, nearest heir male of the said Roderick Macleod, who survived all the male issue of his own body. Bears Or, on a pedestal, a mountain vert, inflamed proper. In a dexter canton, the arms of the Isle of Man. Supported by two Eagles proper, standing on an escrol with these words I Ricke (smoke) While I See. Crest an eagle displayed in the midst of flames of fire, all proper. Motto Luceo Non Uro.61 Roderick Macleod (Old Rory Mac Calum), the chief who is usually considered the last undisputed Macleod Baron of Lewis, didn't have an only brother named John, with male line descendants. We know this because a 1572 charter to Old Rory's eldest son Torquil Conanach, names Gillecalum Garbh Mac Alasdair of Raasay as next in succession to Torquil Conanach and his heirs male.62 However, another Roderick Macleod, mentioned in a related sasine – ‘Roderick McAne McConyll McCloid in Lewis’ – likely did have a brother named John – ‘John Makane Makconill Wikcloid’ – who acted as ‘attorney for Torquil’.63 A generation earlier in 1546, the probable father of these brothers, ‘Johannis McDonald McCloid’ was second only to Old Rory in a list of the leading men of the Macleods of Lewis.64 Although Old Rory is usually thought of as the last Macleod Baron of Lewis, his predecessor John Mac Torquil, the son of a forfeited chief, was the last Baron of the senior line or the old Macleods of Lewis. More likely then, it was his brother who was the ancestor of the Macleods of Colbecks. That brother was probably Donald, the father of John on record in 1546, indeed, the maternal grandfather of Donald Ban Macleod of Assynt (born c. 1560) was a ‘Donald, brother of Macleod of Lewis’.65 Roderick and John, the probable sons of John on record in 1546, were likely excluded from the succession in 1572 because they were the representatives of a forfeited line. 59 NRS, Reference GD427/226. A letter written by a Mary Macleod (1830–1914) in 1912, says her grandfather Murdo (b. c. 1750) was a full cousin of John Macleod of Colbecks. This Murdo Macleod was the son of a John Macleod born c. 1720. Information from Helen Macleod Bonney. 60 ‘Cnoc taigh Iain’ and ‘Baile/Buaile Mhic Thorcuil’ are two place names associated with Brochel Castle in Raasay. See Rebecca S Mackay, Every Nook And Cranny Part 1, (Grosvenor House Publishing, 2013), p. 136. 61 These arms are almost identical to the “Lorde of Lewes – Maccloyd” arms depicted in the Sunderland Hall MS. The inclusion of the pedestal possibly indicates the bearer’s seniority over all other branches of the Macleods of Lewis? See: R. R. Stodart, Scottish Arms, A.D. 1370–1678, Volume First, (Edinburgh, 1881), Plate 23. Alternatively it may be a depiction of the tale of Ailech Neit/Imchell/Frigrenn. See: Gordon Macleod, ‘Síol Na Láir, Mac Gille Aoidh, Mac Leoid’. 62 John Maitland Thomson, Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum, The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland A.D. 1546–1580. (Edinburgh, 1886), p. 526. 63 NRS, Reference, RH6/2247. 64 D. Hay Fleming & James Beveridge, ed., Registrum Secreti Sigilli Regum Scotorum, The Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland Vol. III, A.D. 1542–1548, (Edinburgh, 1936), p. 356. 65 Alick Morrison, The MacLeods – The Genealogy of a Clan Section 5, (Edinburgh, 1999), p. 19. I am indebted here to Andrew P. Macleod, who was the first to suggest Donald Ban’s grandfather was the brother of John Mac Torquil. Gordon Macleod Acknowledgements I’d like to thank Marjorie MacInnes, the late Dr. Alex C. McLeod, the late Mrs. Morag (Macleod) Jackson, Mayanne Macgregor, Cathie Maccaskill, Rebecca Mackay, Neil McLeod, Noni Brown (the first to speculatively connect Donald of Galtrigill with the Macleods of Colbecks), Helen-Anne Ross, Alastair Paul Macleod, Andrew P. MacLeod, Ronnie Black and for Gaelic translations Gillebride MacIllemhaoil, Alasdair MacLeod and the late John Macleod. Appendix Speculative List of the Chiefs of The Old Macleods of Lewis and those of them Buried Under the Stone(s) at Aoidhe 1. Murdoch, 1st under the stone. 2. His son Torquil, on record in the 1340s, 2nd under the stone. 3. His son Rory, 3rd under the stone. 4. His son Rory, on record in 1403, 4th under the stone. 5. His son Sir Torquil, on record 1430s to 1460s, 5th under the stone. 6. His son Rory Og, on record 1460s and 1470s, 6th under the stone. 7. His son Torquil Og the Heir, on record 1498 to 1506, 7th under the stone. 8. His son John, on record 1530s, 8th under the stone. 9. His brother Donald, 9th under the stone. 10. His son John, on record in 1546, 10th under the stone. 11. His son Rory, on record in 1572, 11th under the stone. 12. His brother John, on record in 1572, 12th under the stone. 13. His son Torquil, 13th under the stone. 14. His son John Garbh of Raasay, on record in 1679/80, 14th under the stone. 15. His son Donald Beck the Pilot, on record 1746–1749, 15th under the stone. 16. His son John, 1st of Colbecks, on record 1743–1775. Buried in Jamaica. 17. His brother Donald/Daniel, on record 1762–1779, 16th under the stone. 18. His son Colonel John, 2nd of Colbecks, on record 1780s–1822. Buried in London. 19. His cousin Torquil, son of Torquil? son of Donald Beck? 17th under the stone. 20. His son Malcolm, on record 1840s–1860s, 18th under the stone. 21. His son Torquil of Melbost, on record 1840s–1890s. 19th under the stone? N.B. An article in the Oban Times states:66 ‘A beautiful black marble monument marks the spot where seven Chiefs lie buried, while a highland warrior in full costume is cut out of the solid slab.’ Later generations appear to have been buried under a stone with a sword incised on it.67 66 ‘The Cottars Invasion Of Aignish Sheep Run, And The Battle Of Bull’s Run’, The Oban Times, 28 January 1888, p. 2. 67 Cumming, Family Traditions John Macleod, (2018), pp. 5–7, 15, 31.