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Historical Details
of Early Clan Genealogy and Development
Historical
Details :
A detailed history of early Clan
genealogy and development :
The history of the devolution from
the Kings of Irish and later Scots Dalriada, through the Tribe of Loarn
and the Royal House of Moray to the foundation of the Clan Mackay [Clann
MacAoidh], in Strathnaver by the 1st Chief, Iye MacAoidh by 1249.
Clan Mackay’s roots, as with all
the Gaelic speaking, Celtic, Highland and Western Isles clans descend directly
from the Dalriada Scots Kings of around circa 400 AD, and through them
back to the Irish High Kings of Tara. From around 500 AD, the small Scotia
Kingdom of Dalriada, based on to-days Argyle and the Western Isles, was
divided up between three kindred groups. Cenel nLoaim, the descendents
of Loam MacErc [from whom the Scots Royal House of Moray and Clan Mackay
descend], holding Ardnamurchan, Mull and Lorn. Cenel nGabran, descendents
of Gabran, son of Fergus MacErc holding lower Argyll, Cowal, Arran, and
Kintyre, and Cenel nOengusa, descendents of Angus MacErc, holding Islay
and Jura, into a united force. In 574 Saint Columba “Colum Cilli” [meaning
Dove of the Church, who settled on Iona [563 quickly organized the Scots,
he Ordained Aedan [Aiden], son of Gabran, as Ard Righ or High King of Dalriada
at Dunadd.
A long period followed, of interaction
and hostilities with the Picts of Northern and Central Alba [to-days Scotland,
north of the Roman Antonine wall], as well as the North British Celts of
the kingdom of Strathclyde and the Angles or English of Northumbria. By
843 Kenneth MacAlpine [MacAlpin] 36th High king of the Dalriada Scots,
through force, possibly treachery, and hereditary entitlement, became the
first High King of the Picts and Scots, establishing the Scots/Picts Kingdom
of Alba. The Albannachachd had begun. This United Kingdom of the two crowns
by Kenneth MacAlpine quickly became known to outsiders as Scotia.
Within a century of Kenneth MacAlpine’s
union of the Scots and Pictish Crowns in 843, the descendents of the Dalriadic
Kings, through Cenel nLoaim or the Tribe of Loarn [sometimes spelt Loam],
by descent from Aircellach [King of Dalriada circa 689] through his son
Ruadri, and by intermarriage, had inherited the lands, privileges, and
titles of the Pictish Royal House of Moray, [the senior dynasts of the Picto/Scots Kingdom]. Our Clan’s particular roots are to be found in the
cockpit of northern power and politics in the Northeast, Moray, one of
the original and arguably most powerful Mormaer-ships or sub-kingdoms of
late 1st and early 2nd millennium Scotland.
The descent of the Royal Mormaership
of Moray lead to Gillacomgain [grandson of Ruadri], Mormaer of Moray 1029,
who married Gruoch [granddaughter of Kenneth III MacAlpine]; they had a
son Lulach. Gillacomgain died in 1032 and Gruoch married MacBeth [her late
husband’s cousin and maternal grandson of Malcolm II]. In 1057 when Malcolm Ceanmor [with substantial English help] killed MacBeth in battle, in retaliation
for his earlier killing of Ceanmor’s own father Duncan I of the House of Atholl in 1040, in an attempt to gain the Scots Crown. After his stepfather’s
death Lulach Mormaer of Moray, became King in his own right [a] through
his mother’s MacAlpin lineage, and [b] through his father’s lineage [the
Royal House of Moray, through Aircellach]. Unfortunately for Lulach, Malcolm
Ceanmor and his English allies were too strong and he was killed in a decisive
battle in 1058 and his victor took the crown as Malcolm III.
Lulach had married Finnghuala daughter
of Sinill, Mormaer of Angus, and they had a son Maelsnectan Mormaer
of Moray 1058-85, [who was expelled from office by Malcolm III in 1085], and
a daughter [name unknown], who in turn married Aethelred [known in Gaelic
as Aodh or Eth] 1084-1150, 7th son of Malcolm III and his second wife Margaret
of England [and granddaughter of king Stephen of Hungary]. Aodh [sometimes
Aedh] Earl of Fife, became Mormaer of Moray by right of his wife [Jure
uxoris], and was installed by his father as the Celtic church’s Hereditary
Lay Abbot of Dunkeld, and Hereditary
Abthane of Dull. Both these offices
were inheritances through the MacDuncan lineage of his father. The holding
of the church offices debarred Aodh from succession to the Scottish Crown
through his fathers’ line but the reasons for his installation hinged on
attempting to control the “Celtic Christian” Church, and other matters
of high politics, as most actions of the manipulative Malcolm Ceanmor did!
“Aodh or Aoidh [the genitive case]”
is a Gaelic proper name, [for an “old Celtic God of Fire”,] which has been
translated into English as "Iye", hence ["Ma(ck) ay"], which means "son
of Aodh". Aodh and his wife had three children, two sons Angus and
Malcolm
and a daughter Gruaidh. Angus was Mormaer or Earl of Moray after his father,
and revived the Moray claim to the Scots throne, taking up arms against
his uncle, David I, in1130 while the King was absent at the English Court.
His Constable Edward [son of the English Earl Siward] fought Angus in Forfarshire
and Stracthro; Angus was killed along with some 4000 of his followers.
The Mormaership passed
to Malcolm Macaoidh who carried on the struggle. Malcolm MacAodh or Eth fled to the
Western Isles, where his cause gained the support of Somerled, the powerful
Regulus of Argyll and Lord of the Isles. Malcolm was married to Somerled’s
sister. The two men then raised an army to press the Moray claim to the
Scottish Throne. To resist this force the King’s uncle called for help
from the English barons of the Border districts. The threat of this advancing
army proved enough to thwart the Moraymen; Malcolm MacAodh was betrayed
into the King’s hands in 1134 and spent the next 23 years a prisoner in
Roxburgh Castle.
The daughter of Aodh, Gruaidh [sister
of Malcolm] was married to William, King Duncan II’s only son. King David
I gave the Mormaership of Moray to William after its forfeiture by the
imprisonment of Malcolm MacAoidh. The King hoped that would put an end
to Moray rebelliousness, however; Williams children’s loyalty lay with
their mother’s blood, and they took part in the further rebellions of the
son and grandson of Malcolm MacAodh. Malcolm was eventually released from
prison and given the title Earl of Ross in 1157 as an attempt at reconciliation.
Many of the Scots Gaelic speaking Highland Clans, to the north, west and
southeast of Moray, share with Clan Mackay, a root source of their genealogy
in the fiercely proud Royal House of Moray. Malcolm MacAoidh had a son,
Donald MacAoidh, and a daughter Flodath [sometimes given as Gormlath] who
married Harold, Earl of Caithness, and Norse Jarl of Orkney, [who was routed
by King William the Lyon at Dall-Harold, Strathnaver, in 1196].
On the succession of Malcolm IV to
the Throne, Donald with his brothers and supported by his maternal uncle
Somerled, King of the Sudreys and Lord of Argyll, took up arms against
the new King; Malcolm IV reacted by recognizing Somerled’s claim to the
Lordship of the Isles, Somerled in turn withdrew his support from the rebels.
Donald MacAoidh was captured in1156 and imprisoned with his father in Roxburgh
Castle; the remaining rebels continued for another year until father and
son were released. As trouble continued to ferment around the family, in
1161 Malcolm was again imprisoned and blinded; he died 23rd October 1168.
William the Lyon on his succession to the Throne in 1163 withdrew the Earldom
of Ross from Donald and bestowed it on the Count of Holland on his marriage
to the King’s sister. The Moraymen continued to control Ross and eastern
Moray as de jure Earls of Ross.
Donald’s son, Kenneth
MacAoidh [sometimes
MacAedh], de jure Earl of Ross, who in turn was in insurrection against
the Crown in 1215 with his MacWilliam cousins. They drove into the Province
of Moray at the head of a large army; they were opposed by Farquhar Mac
in Tagart, son of the Abthane of Applecross, at the head of a royalist
army. Kenneth and the three MacWilliams were killed, and the Earldom of
Ross finally and irrevocably lost to the family, which was driven deep
into the wild northwest of Caithness, that was to become the home and heartland
of Clan Mackay.
Kenneth MacAoidh’s son Iye MacAoidh,
[otherwise recorded variously as MacAeda, MacEth and Maceth born circa
1210]. In 1223 along with the others in rebellion, Iye was pursued by the
king, Alexander II, into Strathnaver, where, later, during the ‘Minority’
of Alexander’s son, Alexander III, Iye managed to secure a foothold within
the Norse Earldom of Caithness. He was the first of the family to settle
permanently in its later stronghold of Strathnaver. Iye MacAoidh is the
individual we recognize as the 1st Chief of Clann MacAoidh, styled of “Strathnaver”.
[Though there possibly were earlier Chiefs bearing the title Chief of MacAoidh].
For Clan Mackay the removal from
Moray had eventually lead to this settlement in Strathnaver, Dúthaic
Mhic Aoidh, ["MacKay's Country], as it was known by its Gaelic-speaking
inhabitants," the ancestral home of the Mackays. It is a geographical location,
which today is limited to the strath, or valley, in the parish of Farr,
Co Sutherland, along the River Naver from Loch Naver north to the sea,
but which then meant an extensive tract of country in the north western
quarter of the ancient Norse province of Caithness, the region in the very
northwest of Scotland, corresponding to the northern part of the modern
county of Sutherland.
Iye MacAoidh of Strathnaver, 1st
Chief of Clan Mackay, m, with issue known.
* Iye Mor MacAoidh of Strathnaver,
2nd Chief of Clann Mackay, [see below].
* Morgan MacAoidh, of whom nothing
further is recorded.
* Martin MacAoidh, who is said to
have settled in Galloway [Founding the Galloway Mackays].
After the dispersal of the House
of Moray and its fierce supporting Clans around 1160, the Clans carved
out territories throughout the Highlands, the Clan system entrenched and
prospering in the starkly beautiful yet harsh environment. This attempt
by Malcolm 111 “Ceannmor”, his followers and descendants, to destroy and
permanently root out the Ancient Celtic Royal Houses and their claims to
Scotland’s Crown for once and for all, failed. Though weakened and dispersed,
these Ancient Celtic families and their ardent supporting, fierce, hardy,
warrior Clansmen, would remain almost a constant threat to non Highland
based; English and Norman influenced Scottish Kings for another 600 years!
Iye Mor MacAoidh of Strathnaver,
2nd Chief of Clan Mackay. Iye was Chamberlain to Walter de Baltrodi, [otherwise
given as de Baltrode, Baltroddie and Baltrodin], Bishop of Caithness (confirmed
as such by Pope Urban IV in June 1263, and d.1270), from whom it is said
in the House of Forbes that he obtained 12 davochs of land in the parish
of Durness, Co Sutherland, which were considered the best grass and pasture
ground in the north of Scotland, and which was of old the Bishop of Caithness's
shieling or pasture farm. Iye Mor MacAoidh of Strathnaver, 2nd Chief of
Clan Mackay, m.ca 1263 dau (unnamed) of Walter de Baltrodi, with
issue.
Donald Mackay of Strathnaver, 3rd
Chief of Clan Mackay, first of the surname Mackay, who is said to have
been present at the Battle of Bannockburn 24 June 1314, at which the Mackays
of Strathnaver are known to have fought successfully for Robert I the Bruce,
32nd King of Scotland against an English army to finally secure independence
for the kingdom of Scotland. Donald Mackay of Strathnaver, 3rd Chief of
Clan Mackay, m dau (unnamed) of Iye MacNeil of the Isle of Gigha, which
lies between Kintyre and the Isle of Islay, and where Clan Mackay members
had settled, in the parish of Gigha. Co Argyll, with issue known.
Iye Mackay of Strathnaver, 4th Chief
of Clan Mackay, who was involved in the protracted feud between the Mackays
of Strathnaver and the Earls of Sutherland, principally caused by the grant
on 10 October 1345 by David II Bruce, 33rd King of Scotland, to William
Sutherland, 5th Earl of Sutherland, and his wife (the king's sister), Margaret
Bruce, Princess of Scotland, dau of Robert I ‘the Bruce’, 32nd King of
Scotland, of the earldom in regality. In 1370, a meeting was arranged in
Dingwall Castle, parish of Dingwall, Co Ross and Cromarty, between the
Earl of Sutherland, his brother Nicolas Sutherland of Duffus, Co Elgin,
and Iye Mackay and his son, Donald, with other chieftains (including the
John Macdonald, Good John of Islay, 6th Lord of the Isles, 5th Chief of
Clan Donald, and probably also William Ross, 5th Earl of Ross, Lord of
Skye, whose castle it was, and the Earl of Buchan, Justiciar of the North)
to act as umpires and decide upon the matter then in dispute. When Iye
Mackay was about to succeed to his claim, Nicolas Sutherland rose in the
night, murdered Iye and his son, and escaped, although pursued by Mackay
attendants. Iye Mackay of Strathnaver, 4th Chief of Clan Mackay, m...,
with issue.
* Donald Mackay, younger, of Strathnaver
(below).
* Farquhar Mackay, otherwise ‘Farquhar mac Iye’ and ‘Farquhar Leiche’, who was a physician or leecher to Robert
II Stewart, 35th King of Scotland, and in favour with the latter's son,
the Earl of Buchan [the Wolf of Badenoch] (we will look at this significant
Mackay in a later issue).
* Mariota Mackay, otherwise ‘Mariotafilia
Athyn’ (dau of Athyn or Atheyn, a Latin form of Iye), m. (handfast marriage)
(as his first wife) Alexander Stewart, ‘the Wolf of Badenoch’, Prince of
Scotland, Earl of Buchan, Lord of Badenoch, jure uxoris Earl of Ross.
Donald Mackay, younger, of Strathnaver,
who was murdered in 1370, along with his father in Dingwall Castle, parish
of Dingwall, Co Ross and Cromarty, by Nicolas Sutherland of Duffus, as
described above. Donald Mackay, younger, of Strathnaver, m..., with issue
known.
* Angus Mackay of Strathnaver, 5th
Chief of Clan Mackay (below).
* Huistean Du Mackay, later tutor
to his nephew Angus Du Mackay, in his minority. Huistean Du having in some
way offended Angus Du's widowed mother, her brother, Malcolm MacLeod,
invaded Strathnaver with a body
of men, laid waste part of that country as well as Brae Chat, but was slain
by the Mackays at a place now called Tuiteam Tarvach (Great Slaughter),
in Strathoikel, Co Sutherland, in 1406, leaving only one MacLeod surviving.
*Martin Mackay, of whom nothing
is known, [except that, according to Sir Robert Gordon, author of the Genealogical
History of the Earldom of Sutherland (1813), he settled in Galloway. This
author however is probably confused with the 1st Chief’s 3rd son of the
same name).
* Neil Mackay, [founder of the Neilson
Sept] who seems to have settled in the parish of Creich, co Sutherland,
where his sons owned considerable amounts of land, m..., with issue known
* Thomas Neilson Mackay, held the
lands of Creich, etc., of his cousin, Angus Du Mackay of Strathnaver, 5th
Chief of Clan Mackay, and his heirs (and which originated in the charter
of 1415 to Angus Du by Donald Macdonald, 7th Lord of the Isles, 6th Chief
of Clan Donald). He was beheaded at Inverness, Co Inverness, probably in
1426, for the burning of Mowat of Bucholly in the chapel of St Duthus,
near Tain, Co Ross and Cromarty, having been captured after his betrayal
by his two brothers. His lands were divided among his two brothers, Morgan
and Neil, and Angus Moray of Culbin, Co Elgin, their father-in-law, by
charters under the Great Seal from James I Stewart, 37th King of Scotland,
dated 20 March 1430.
* Morgan Neilson Mackay, who appears
to have settled in Brae Chat, Co Sutherland. Having betrayed his brother,
Thomas, he was granted the latter's lands of Golval and Balnaheglish in
Strathhalladale, Achanies, Altasmore, Leynfatmore, and Inveran in 1430
by the king. Morgan Neilson Mackay, who was killed by the forces of Ian
Aherach Mackay at the Battle of Drum nan Coup in 1433 with his brother
and father-in-law while invading Mackay territory, m..., dau (unnamed)
of Angus Moray of Culbin, Co Elgin, who had been granted Thomas Neilson
Mackay's lands of Spinnydale, Invercarron, Polrossie, Bighouse, the two
Trantles, and the two Forsies in Strathhalladale (which lands were later
alienated to the Mackays for 1,000 merks, and sold by the Mackays in 1830
for 58,000 pounds sterling).
* Neil Neilson Mackay, who, having
betrayed his brother, obtained in 1430 from the king, a charter of the
lands of Creich, Co Sutherland, and those of Gairloch, Daane, Moyzeihiary,
Conzcorth, Tuttin Tarwach, Langort and Amayde, escheated from his deceased
brother, Thomas. Neil Neilson Mackay, who was killed at the Battle of Drum
nan Coup, near Tongue, Co Sutherland in 1433, m..., dau (unnamed) of the
said Angus Moray of Culbin, Co Elgin, and sister of his brother's wife,
with issue.
* John Mackay alias John Bain [the
fair], who settled in Co Caithness, and became the ancestor of the Bains,
Banes and Baynes in that County (see Cadets of Mackay: The Bains).
* Angus Mackay, ancestor of the
Siol Angus.
* Paul Mackay, ancestor of the Polsons
and some MacPhails.
Angus Mackay of Strathnaver, 5th
Chief of Clan Mackay, who succeeded his grandfather as Chief and in the
blood-feud between the Mackays and Sutherlands, and may have been responsible
for the murder of William Sutherland, 5th Earl of Sutherland, who is known
to have died in 1370, possibly at the hands of avenging Mackays. Angus
Mackay of Strathnaver, 5th Chief of Clan Mackay, m..., dau (unnamed) of
Torquil MacLeod, 4th of the Lews (otherwise designed of Lewis, Co Ross
and Cromarty, who, in the reign of David II Bruce, 33rd King of Scotland,
obtained four davochs of land and a castle in Assynt, parish of Assynt,
Co Sutherland), by his wife, Margaret Nicolson, with issue known.
* Angus Du Mackay of Strathnaver,
6th Chief of Clan Mackay (below).
* Rorie Gald Mackay (Rorie the Islander,
so called because he was fostered by maternal relatives on the Lewis),
killed in battle near Dingwall, Co Ross and Cromarty in 1411, when Angus
Du Mackay of Strathnaver, 6th Chief of Clan Mackay, was endeavouring to
check an incursion of Donald Macdonald, 7th Lord of the Isles, 6th Chief
of Clan Donald.
Angus Du Mackay of Strathnaver, 6th
Chief of Clan Mackay, who led 4,000 of his clansmen against Donald Macdonald,
7th Lord of the Isles, 6th Chief of Clan Donald, who was then campaigning
in Co Ross and Cromarty in support of his claim on the Earldom of Ross.
Angus Du was captured by the Lord of the Isles, in Dingwall, Co Ross and
Cromarty, in 1411, and imprisoned. Joining the Lord of the Isles in an
alliance of some kind, he was shortly set free, and was granted a charter
by the said Lord of the lands of Strathhalladale and Ferancostgrayg, parish
of Creich, Co Sutherland, dated 8 October 1415. According to the historian,
Rector Boece, Angus Du also tuk an gret prey of gudis out of Moray and
Caithness, probably from the heirs of Nicolas Sutherland of Duffus. His
raid on Caithness was in 1426, when, with all hostility, he fought a pitched
battle with the men of that region on Harpsdale Hill, about two miles south
of Halkirk village. In 1427, with his son, Neil Vass, and other Highland
chieftains, including Alexander Macdonald, 10th Earl of Ross, 8th Lord
of the Isles, 7th Chief of Clan Donald, he was treacherously captured and
imprisoned by James I Stewart, 37th King of Scotland, at a Parliament held
at Inverness. Although Angus Du was released shortly thereafter, his son
remained in captivity as a hostage. Angus Du Mackay of Strathnaver, 6th
Chief of Clan Mackay, was slain by an arrow of a Sutherland man, lurking
in the bushes, while being carried in his litter over the field after the
victorious Battle of Drum nan Coup, near Tongue, Co Sutherland, in 1433,
m 1.ca 1411 Elizabeth Macdonald (sometimes erroneously called Mary or Margaret),
dau of John (otherwise Eoin) Macdonald, 6th Lord of the Isles, 5th Chief
of Clan Donald, by his second wife, Margaret Stewart, Princess of Scotland,
the dau of Robert II Stewart, 35th King of Scotland, formerly 7th Hereditary
High Steward of Scotland, with issue known.
* Neil Vass Mackay of Strathnaver,
7th Chief of Clan Mackay (below).
## Angus Du Mackay of Strathnaver,
6th Chief of Clan Mackay, m2. (a niece of his first wife)..., dau (unnamed)
of Alexander Alasdair Carrach Macdonald of Keppoch, Lord of Lochaber, 1st
Chief of Keppoch (son of John Macdonald, 6th Lord of the Isles, 5th Chief
of Clan Donald, above mentioned, by his second wife Margaret Stewart, Princess
of Scotland, the dau of Robert II Stewart, 35th King of Scotland), by his
wife Mary, dau of the Earl of Lennox, with further issue known.
* Ian Aberach Mackay (who, having
been fostered by maternal relatives in Lochaber, Co Argyll, gained the
name Tan Aberach, John the Lochaber man), was ancestor of the Slioc Fan
Abrich (see Cadets of Mackay: The Aberach Mackays).
* Roderick Mackay, m..., with issue
known.
* Donald Mackay, mentioned in a decreet of the Lords of Council and Session against the Mackays of Strathnaver
dated 27 July 1501.
* William Mackay, designated son
of Angus Duff in the decreet of 1501, m..., with issue known.
* John Mackay, also mentioned in
the above decreet.
* Angus Mackay, m..., with issue
known.
* John Mackay, m..., with issue
known.
* Angus Mackay, designated of Spanziedale
(otherwise given as Spenziedale), parish of Creich, Co Sutherland, granted
sasine to his son-in-law on the lands of Spanziedale and Bighouse m with
issue known.
* Dau (unnamed) m. Roderick Murray
of Spanziedale and Bighouse, Co Sutherland.
NeiI Vass Mackay of Strathnaver,
7th Chief of Clan Mackay, who was imprisoned on the Bass Rock (and thus
his name Vass) as a hostage for the good behaviour of his clan by James
I Stewart, 37th King of Scotland, having been captured with his father
and other Highland chieftains at a Parliament held in Inverness, Co Inverness
in 1427. Remaining in captivity for some years after the death of his father,
the clan's interests were maintained by Ian Aberach Mackay, his half-brother.
In February 1436, James 1 Stewart, 37th King of Scotland, was murdered
at Perth, and shortly thereafter Neil Vass was freed. In 1437, Neil Vass,
at the head of his clansmen, undertook an expedition into Caithness by
way of Reay, taking the precaution of leaving a strong body posted on Drum
Holstein to cover their rear. The main body advanced towards Thurso, plundering
and burning as they went. They were met somewhere in the vicinity of Thurso
by the forces of Caithness, before which the Mackays fell back fighting
and carrying their spoil. They retired in good order to Sandside, where
they were joined by their reserves from Drum Holstein, and there the real
battle began. Ian Aberach managed to corner the men of Caithness in a loop
below Sandside House, and to inflict a crushing defeat in a battle known
as Ruaig Handside (Sandside Chase), where many were driven into the sea,
while the survivors were chased for some distance along the shore towards
Dounreay, parish of Reay, Co Caithness. Neil Vass Mackay of Strathnaver,
7th Chief of Clan Mackay, m. Elizabeth Munro, dau of Hugh Munro, 9th of
Fowlis (otherwise Foulis), parish of Kiltearn, co Ross and Cromarty, by
his second wife, Margaret Sutherland, the dau of Nicholas Sutherland of
Duffus, parish of Duffus, Co Elgin (younger son of Kenneth Sutherland,
4th Earl of Sutherland), by his wife Mary Cheyne (according to History
of the Munros of Fowlis; or a dau of George Munro, 8th of Fowlis, by his
first wife, Isobel Ross. dau of Alexander Ross of Balnagown, according
to The Book of Mackay), with issue known.
* Angus Roy Mackay of Strathnaver.
8th Chief of Clan Mackay (below).
* John Roy Mackay, m..., with issue
known.
* William Roy Mackay, mentioned
in a decreet of the Lords of Council and Session against the Mackays of
Strathnaver, dated 27 July 1501; in which he is designated Wuziant Reed
McKy.
* Elizabeth Mackay, m. John MacGillion
(otherwise given as Macgilleom) Maclean, 3rd of Lochbuie (otherwise Lochbui
and Lochbuy), parish of Torosay, Island of Mull, Co Argyll, son of Murdoch
Murchadh Ruaidh Maclean, 2nd of Lochbuie, by his wife, a dau (unnamed)
of Roderick MacLeod of the Lews, with issue known.
* Hector MacGillion Maclean, 4th
of Lochbuie, who witnessed a charter under the Great Seal in 1478, m. Margaret
Campbell, who was still living in February 1474, with issue known, two
sons.
Angus Roy Mackay of Strathnaver,
8th Chief of Clan Mackay, who, sometime 1478, advanced into Caithness accompanied
by a body of Assynt MacLeods, joined the Keiths under Sir Gilbert Keith
of Inverugie, and won a bloody victory over the forces of Clan Gunn on
Tannach Moor, near Wick, Co Caithness. He was also involved in a feud between
the Mackays and Rosses of Balnagown over the disputed lands formerly held
by Thomas Neilson Mackay, which resulted in much slaughter on both sides.
After making various expeditions into Ross territory attended with greater
or lesser success, Angus Roy was overpowered ca 1486 and fled for refuge
into the church of Tarbat, parish of Tarbat, Co Ross and Cromarty. The
church was fired by the Rosses, and Angus was burnt to death. Angus Roy
Mackay of Strathnaver, 8th Chief of Clan Mackay, m [believed] to be a dau
(unnamed) of Kenneth a 'Bhlair Mackenzie (Kenneth of the Battle), 7th of
Kintail, parish of Kintail, Co Ross and Cromarty, 2nd Chief of Clan Mackenzie,
by his wife, Hon Agnes Fraser, the dau of Hugh Fraser, 1st Lord Lovat,
by his wife, Hon Margaret Lyon, the dau of Patrick Lyon, 1st Lord Glamis,
with issue known.
* Iye Roy Mackay of Strathnaver
and Far, 9th Chief of Clan Mackay (below).
* John Riavach Mackay, who, in revenge
for the slaying of his Chief by the Rosses, led the Mackays into Strathcarron,
co Ross and Cromarty, and at the Battle of Aldycharrish (otherwise Aldicharrish)
on 11 July 1487, “the inhabitants of Ross being unable to endure the enemies
force were utterly disbanded and put to flight”. Alexander Ross of Balnagown
was slain with 17 other landed gentlemen of that county, besides a great
number of common soldiers. From Strathoikel eastwards towards Tam, the
Mackays left the country blazing and returned home laden with spoil. For
this act, a remission was granted to John McKeye by the king at Banff,
Co Banff between October and November 1494. He is said to have fallen along
with many of his clansmen at the Battle of Flodden on 9 September 1513.
* Neil Naverach Mackay, mentioned
in the decreet obtained by the Rosses against the Mackays on 27 July 1501
as bruder of lye Roy Mackay, m..., dau (unnamed) of Hutcheon Sutherland
of Croystoun, with issue known.
* John Mackay of Croystoun succeeded
his maternal grandfather in the lands of Croystoun, and granted a procuratory
to Hugh Rig and David Ireland, advocates, for serving him “ane of the twa
airs of umql Hucheon Sutherland my guidsyre” in all their lands, etc.,
dated 4 November 1542 and recorded in the Register of Acts and Decreets.
* Dau (unnamed), m. Hector Cam Mackenzie
of Auchterned (now Aebterneed), parish of Fodderty, Co Ross and Cromarty,
son of Hector Roy Mackenzie, 1st of Gairloch, parish of Gairloch, Co Ross
and Cromarty, by his first wife, a dau (unnamed) of the laird of Grant,
with issue known.
* Alexander Mackenzie, m..., with
issue.
* Murdoch Mackenzie, dsp.
* Dau (unnamed), m. Sutherland of
Dirlot, united parish of Halkirk, Skinnet, and Spittal, Co Caithness.
Iye Roy Mackay of Strathnaver, 9th
Chief of Clan Mackay, who was eventually to hold a great amount of, landed
estate in Strathnaver, Co Sutherland and in Co Ross and Cromarty. On 15
February 1506, he caused the charter granted by Donald Macdonald, Lord
of the Isles, in 1415 to his great grandfather, Angus Du Mackay, 6th Chief
to be recorded in the Books of Council and Session. Thereafter, as a test
case, he laid claim to the lands and barony of Coigach, parish of Lochbroom,
Co Ross and Cromarty, but on 9 March 1512 the Lords of Council and Session
pronounced a decree finding that the lands of Coigach had become the property
of the Crown. On 4 October 1496, Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll, Lord
High Chancellor of Scotland, summoned Iye Roy Mackay and David Ross of
Balnagown to appear before him, binding each of them to keep the peace
towards each other under a penalty of 500 merks in case of failure. Despite
this, David Ross of Balnagown and others brought an action before the Lords
of Council of Session against the Mackays for spoils to the value of 6,000
merks, taken ca 1493 out of the lands of Langell, Invercarron, Grewnard,
Kincardin, Invercarsley and others in Co Ross and Cromarty. The decree,
dated 27 July 1501, was pronounced against the Mackays.
On 18 July 1496,
James IV, 40th King of Scotland, bestowed 20 pounds a year out of “our
lordship of Murray for gud and treu service doun to us be our lowit squyr
Y McKy of Straithnaver”, to continue until “we provide ane leving and fee
of land for the said Y MeKy in ane competent place lyand near the boundis
of Straithnaver”. Alexander Sutherland of Dirlot, who was pursued for some
debts by Sir James Dunbar of Cumnock, murdered his relative, Alexander
Dunbar, step-father of John, Earl of Sutherland, and was put to the horn.
Iye Roy received a Commission to apprehend Dirlot, and did so. He was rewarded
by a charter under the Great Seal, dated 4 November 1499, of the eseheated
lands of Dirlot, viz., Farr, Armadale, Strathy, Rennivie, Davach Lochnaver,
and Davach Eriboll, all in Strathnaver, of Kinald, Golspie and Kilcolumkill
in Co Sutherland, and of Dirlot, Cattack, Bronach and two pennylands of
Stroma in Co Caithness. In three expeditions, in 1503, 1505, and 1506,
lye Roy and his clan helped in putting down a revolt of Donald Dubh Macdonald,
a grandson of John Macdonald, 11th Earl of Ross, 9th and 1st Lord of the
Isles, 8th Chief of Clan Donald, and his confederates.
In 1506, Iye Roy
assisted the Earl of Huntly to take Stornoway Castle and capture Torquil
MacLeod of the Lews. As a reward for his services in crushing the Hebridean
insurrections, James IV Stewart, 40th King of Scotland, granted Iye Roy
on 15 March 1504 the non-entry of the lands of Straithnaver, Slichchilis,
Ferencostrig, Strathhalladale, Creichmore, Assent, Coigach, Gruidsdavach,
Strathflete, etc. The Strathnaver lands in non-entry at this time were
evidently those of Melness, Hope and the Little Isles of Strathnaver, pertaining
to the lineal heir of Farquhar, the royal physician. On a procuratory of
resignation to himself and his son, John, dated 30 September 1511, Iye
Roy purchased the lands of Melness and Hope from Donald McCorrichie (otherwise
given as Donald McDonachy), Farquhar's heir (although the Little Isles
did not come into possession of the family until they were purchased by
Donald Mackay, 1st Baron Reay, 14th Chief of Clan Mackay). Iye Roy is said
to have taken part in the Battle of Flodden on 9 September 1513, but escaped
with his life from the fatal field. On 31 July 1517, Iye Roy joined in
a band of friendship with Adam Gordon, Earl of Sutherland, his feudal overlord
in the lands of Strathflete and others within the Earldom of Sutherland.
Iye Roy Mackay of Strathnaver and Farr, 9th Chief of Clan Mackay; d. ca
1517, m..., dau (unnamed) of Norman O'Beolan (son of Patrick O'Beolan of
Carloway in Lewis, the lineal descendant of the well-known priestly family,
hereditary abbots of Applecross, Co Ross and Cromarty, whose ancestor was
St Maolrubha or St Mairuba who founded a church there in 673, and who appears
to have been the patron saint of Strathnaver). Since the marriage was not
in conformity with canon law, Iye Roy secured on 8 August 1511 from James
IV Stewart, 40th King of Scotland, a precept of legitimation for his two
surviving sons, leaving issue known.
* John Mackay of Strathnaver and
Farr, 10th Chief of Clan Mackay, (below)
* Donald Mackay of Strathnaver and
Farr, 11th Chief of Clan Mackay (below).
* Angus Mackay, who fell fighting
against the Rosses near Tam before 1511.
* Dau (unnamed), m. Hugh MacLeod
of Assynt, parish of Assynt, Co Sutherland (descended from Torquil MacLeod,
4th of the Lewis), with issue known.
* Neil MacLeod of Assynt, m. (his
cousin) Florence Mackay, dau of Donald Mackay of Strathnaver and Farr,
11th Chief of Clan Mackay, with issue (see below).
* Helen MacLeod, m. (as his
first wife) (her cousin) Iye Du Mackay of Strathnaver and Farr. 12th Chief
of Clan Mackay, with issue (see below).
* Dau (unnamed), m Alexander Sutherland,
b.1491, who resigned his rights to the Earldom of Sutherland in July 1509,
and was killed in a conflict near Kintradwell, parish of Loth, Co Sutherland
1519, son of John Sutherland, 8th Earl of Sutherland, by his second wife,
Fingole, the dau of William, Thane of Cawdor, with issue.
* John Mackay of Strathnaver and
Farr, 10th Chief of Clan Mackay, who, with his clansmen invaded Sutherland
in 1517, where he was joined by the Polson Mackays and Mathiesons, and
gave battle to the Murrays, the Rosses of Balnagown and the Gunns at Torran
Du in Rogart. The Mackays were defeated, but retired with the Mathiesons
to fight another day, while the PoIsons, who were caught in a trap, were
mercilessly slain. A few months later, the Mackays fought again at Loch
Salchie, above Strathoikel, near the borders of Co Ross and Cromarty, when
William Mackay of the Aberach Mackays and his brother, Donald, fell, while
John Murray of Aberscross fell on the other side. Only a few months later,
the Mackays turned up in the heart of Rogart, Co Sutherland, burning the
town of Pitfure in Strathflete. On 16 August 1518, John Mackay signed a
bond of friendship with Adam Gordon, jure uxoris Earl of Sutherland, and
secures from the Earl seven davochs of land in Strathflete. On 6 July 1522,
this bond is endorsed with Adam's son, Alexander Gordon, Earl of Sutherland.
John Mackay of Strathnaver and Farr, 10th Chief of Clan Mackay, d.ca 1529
spml, having sickened on an expedition to Skibo Castle, parish of Dornoch,
Co Sutherland, m. Margaret Fraser, dau of Thomas Fraser, 2nd Baron Lovat,
Chief of Clan Fraser, by his first wife, Janet Gordon, the dau of Alexander
Gordon of Midmar, parish of Midmar, Co Aberdeen, with issue known.
* Dau (unnamed), m. Hugh Murray
of Aberscross, with issue known.
* Hugh Murray of Aberscross.
* Margaret Mackay, m. Walter Murray
of Polrossie, (otherwise Pulrossie), Co Sutherland.
## John Mackay of Strathnaver and
Farr, 10th Chief of Clan Mackay, also had natural issue, of whom is known
* John Mor Mackay, m..., with issue
known.
* Neil McAne Moir Mackay, who, with
his four brothers and their uncle, Donald Mackay. 11th Chief of Clan Mackay,
was charged on 28 June 1550 with the murder of Alexander Ross.
* Rory McAne Moir Mackay, was Constable
of Borve Castle, parish of Fair, Co Sutherland, during its siege in 1554.
* Murdoch McAne Moir Mackay, m...,
with issue known.
* Donald “macMurdo macEan Mor” Mackay,
bur within the old church of Durness, parish of Durness, Co Sutherland.
* John McAne Moir Mackay.
* Tormat McAne Moir Mackay.
Donald Mackay of Strathnaver and
Farr, 11th Chief of Clan Mackay, 2nd son of Iye Roy Mackay of Strathnaver,
9th Chief of Clan Mackay became Chief of the Clan on the death of his brother
John Mackay of Strathnaver and Farr, 10th Chief of Clan Mackay ca, 1529.
We will continue the historical descent of the Chiefly Lineage in the next
and later issues.
Editors
note :
In this issue these study notes on
early Clan history are mainly compiled from edited excerpts from J L Cairns-Smith-Barth’s
excellent genealogy "The Chiefs of Clan Mackay and their Cadets", from
his Scottish Clan Chiefs series, published in December 1999 by Grub Street
Bookshop, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia.
In bringing accurate Clan information
to Clansfolk, encouraging your understanding of our common roots, as in
my own studies, I am heavily indebted to the scholarship, research and
writings of the above together with those of Ian Grimble, the Reverend
Angus Mackay and Dr George Mackay, as well web publishings of John Mackie
and Michael Mackay and others. I also acknowledge the multitude of subconscious
gleanings from the many authors who have influenced my researches for over
40 years.
Bran MacAoidh, Coimiseanair
Astralia Siar Chlann Aoidh 2002
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