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LAGGAN, the largest of
the Badenoch parishes, made, probably, from its altitude, until
within the last 25 years, less progress perhaps than any other
parish in the county. This was further to he expected, considering
who were the former leading owners. These, fortunately for the
prosperity, of the district, have disappeared, unhonoured and
unlamented.
The Comyns, the
oldest possessors of whom there is authentic note, grudged even the
trifling portion assigned to the Church.
In 1260, however, a
compromise is finally made whereby Walter Comyn grants to the Bishop
of Moray a davoch of land, thus described—" One davoch of the land
of Logy Kenny, to wit Edenlogyn, and also both Abyrcarden and the
land on which is situated the Church of Logy Kenny, which land lies
between two streams, to wit Kyllene and Petenachy." These lands were
afterwards known as the four ploughs or davoch of Aberarder, and
continued with the Bishops until shortly before the Reformation,
when acquired by the Grants, who had an eye far and near for any
Church lands going. The boundaries of the Church lands can only be
arrived at through the adjacent properties, viz., Kyleross to the
south-west, and MacCoul to the north-east. The streams Kyllene and
Petenachy are not now known as such, but there are several falling
into Loch Laggan on the west side.
The subsequent
ownership of Aberarder, in Laggan, may be given in brief. After
remaining with the Grants for about 150 years, the three wester
ploughs were feued in or about 1698 to Macdonald of Achnacoichan,
with a feu of £3 15s to the laird of Grant.
Shortly after, they
were acquired by Lachlan Mackintosh of Mackintosh, proprietor of
MacCoul to the north-east, also of the whole lands south of Loch
Laggan facing Aberarder, and were inter a/ia gifted by Mackintosh to
the Macphersons, under return, in the event of failure in certain
acknowledgments and services which, by the forfeiture of Cluny after
the 'Forty-five, were swept away by the House of Lords reversing the
Court of Session as inconsistent with the times. Restored in 1788,
the lands of Aberarder still remain part of the Cluny estate, but
the Mackintoshes received neither pecuniary price for them nor the
equivalent stipulated. Such was the act of the Hanoverian
Government. The person who continued loyal was deprived of his
property, while the attainted's descendants got an ordinary
unrestricted right in place of one burdened, restricted, and qualied.
The other quarter of
Aberarder was also feucd by the Grants to the Macdonalds of Gellovie,
and afterwards acquired by Cluny, who possesses the whole four
ploughs of Aberarder, a very beautiful estate, though narrow, with
the great natural curiosities of the Loch, the Posts, and the Window
of Corrarder.
While under the
Forfeited Estate Commissioners there occurred that frightful
depopulation of Aberarder, the full particulars of which I detailed
in the Celtic Magazine, No. XXXIII., Vol. II., P. 418, many years
ago. All I then wrote I now re-affirm, merely adding that the
several scattered green oases of former cultivation so striking amid
the vast extent of heather, as seen from Ardverikie, are still
prominent, and remain a standing protest against the infamous
removal of the people.
The name of
Ardverikie has been prominent in Laggan for the last fifty years,
but originally it was a pendicle of the great davoch of Gellovie,
which davoch, including MacCoul and Inverwidden, stretched along the
whole east side of Loch Laggan, from the Gulbin to the Pattaig, and
on the vest side from the Pattaig to Camuskillen, or rather the
stream which falls into the lake at the inn of Loch Laggan.
By planting,
building, and draining, this davoch of Gellovie has been immensely
improved, beautified, and increased in value since it came into the
possession of Sir John Ramsden in 1870.
Lachlan Mackintosh,
younger son of Malcolm the tenth Mackintosh, commonly called Lachlan
Badenoch, acquired the lands of Gellovie in the latter part of the
fifteenth century, and his son Malcolm received a precept from
Alexander, second Earl of Huntly, as son of Lachlan Mackintosh, in
the following terms :-
George Gordoune, Earl
of Huntlie, and Lord of Baidzenach, To our well beloved Alexander
Gordon of Muldare, Alexander Mackintosh of Rothiemurchus, John,
Donald Mackintosh's son, Donald, Angus Mackintosh's son, and
Alexander, John Reid's son, and either of them conjointly and
severally our baillies in that Part irrevocably constituted.
Greeting—We command and charge you that on sight hereof ye
immediately give and deliver state and heritable sitsine of all and
sundry the lands ot Gallovie with the pertinents to Malcolm
Mackintosh, as son of the late Lachlan Mackintosh, according to the
tenor of his charter, by delivery of earth and stone as use is. For
the doing whereof to you and either of you conjointly and severally
by the tenor hereof, we commit our irrevocable and full power,
saving the rights of everyone. And in token of such sasine delivered
by you, append your seal to these presents in the second tail after
our seal. Given under seal at Newark upon Spey, on the twentieth day
of April, in the year of our Lord, one thousand four hundred and
ninety-two."
Malcolm Mackintosh
was infeft on the 28th of September, the same year, by William de
Duffus, Presbyter of the Diocese of Moray, Notary Public, by
Imperial authority— Finlay vic Keir, William Charteris, Gillechrist
vic Aonas, John Duff, John, Alexander's son, Donald, Angus' son,
Farquhard, William's son, Donald vie William, John Iacleari's son,
and Patrick, William's son, Mair, with others being witnesses. Dying
without issue, Malcolm was succeeded by his brother William,
afterwards of Mackintosh, the superiority of the lands remaining
with the family of Mackintosh to this day, and now the oldest
possession for which there is an unbroken series of title in
Badenoch.
The names of some of
the possessors of Gallovie nearly 300 years ago may be given and,
perhaps later on, those of the whole heads of families, lairds,
tenants, cottars, and dependants in Badenoch generally. At the
period in question, surnames were not generally used—Lachlan
Mackintosh of Borlum, principal tenant of Benchar, Clune, and
Gallovie; Ewen Vie Allan Roy there, Neil vic Robert there, Dugald
vic Neill vic Coil there, Dugald vic Neill in Kinloch, William Dhu
vic Coil there, Donald Our vic Coil there, Duncan vic Ewen there,
John Vic Coil Roy there, John vic Conchie vic William, in MacCoul;
Allan vic Conchie vie William there, Angus vic William vic Coil
there, and John Macphail there.
For a very long
period there were no people living towards the head of the Spey
beyond Garvamore. By the authority after quoted it would, however,
appear that there were in 1637 at least one family living at
Mealgarbh, at the foot of Corryaraick, who carried on business as
wood merchants in the Brae of Lochaber. It is understood that
Braeroy is well adapted for planting, but Sir John Ramsden's
attempts above Garvabeg and elsewhere in Glenshiero have not
hitherto been entirely satisfactory. Want of drainage and sheep
grubbing have well nigh deprived the lands of profitable use:-
"We, George Marquis
of Huntlie, Earle of Enzie, Lord Gordoun, and Badenoch, gives our
full power and Commission to our lovite William Mackintosh of
Torcastell, to attach, take and apprehend all and whatsomever tymber
of whatsomever kynd, sort, or qualitie, cuttit in my wood of
Lochaber, or in any part thereof; found with whatsomever person or
persons dwelling upon any part of our land, within the Lordship of
Lochaber or any part of the same, carrying and transporting the
same, either by water, or land, to brugh or mercat (excepting such
as he's found with our men of Sliesgarve, called Donald, John, and
Allan vic Aonas Vors, who has our warrant already for cutting of
wood, and carrying off the same, to burgh or market upon their own
proper horses and no otherwise), In witness whereof we have
subscribed these presents with our hand at Huntlie the twenty-six
day of September, 1637. (Signed) "HUNTLYE."
From this it would
appear that there was considerable wood on the Gordon Lochaber
estates and a market therefor in Badenoch and elsewhere.
In the parish of
Laggan there is a good deal of the highest land in Scotland, some
peaks rising over 3700 feet in height, while its waters flow east,
west, and south, finding their way into the sea at Speymouth,
Fort-William, and Dundee. The office of forester was at one time
much appreciated, and, like that of bailie, often led to better
things. Questions of great hardship arose in Atholl and Aboyne in
especial, in connection with rights of forestry, as is well known to
the readers of old legal Court decisions.
Ben Alder was a very
ancient forest and, not thriving under sheep, has reverted to its
former occupancy. The east portion of Gallovie, known as
Garryvounuck, adjoining as it did the old Ben Alder forest,
naturally fell into similar use.
As I have not
observed the original sasine to Macpherson of Cluny, I do not know
its date, but have concluded that the original grant, certainly
after 1600, of the three ploughs of Cluny also included the
extensive grazings on Ericht side, extending from Dalinlongart to
the Perthshire march.
Cluny having these
grazings would naturally wish to extend his borders and rights.
Though Ben Alder forest, properly so called, lay adjoining, and did
not belong to Cluny till 1791, yet some right or interest in
Garryvounuck was highly desirable, even though of a temporary
nature. So Cluny was glad to accept the dignified office of forester
to Mackintosh by a written grant, as may he seen by a perusal of the
following attested document, dated 31st of May, 1678. Allan
Macdonald, sometime possessor or wadsetter of Gallovie, apparently
wished to include Garryvounuck, which lay immediately to the east,
within his possession, and the matter was referred by Mackintosh and
Gallovie, to William Mackintosh in Blargie, Lachlan Mackintosh of
Balnespick, John Macpherson of Shirrobeg, and John Macpherson, in
Kinloch, as arbiters. The arbiters, with the exception of Macpherson,
Kinlochlaggan, met at Dunachton on the 31st of May, 1678, and these
notes were taken by a Notary Public:-
"At Dunachton, the
last day of May, 1678, anent the reference referred by the Right
Honourable Lauchiane Mackintoshie of Torchastell, and Allan
Macdonald, sometime of Gallovie, on the one and other parts, of the
date the day of 1678 years, to William Mackintosh in Blairagie,
Lachlan Mackintosh of Baluespick, John Macpherson in Shirobeg, and
John Macpherson in Keanloich to declare what sheillings and grazings
did belong to the tenants, residenters, and inhabitants and
residenters of the half davoch of Galiovie, sometime possessed by
said Allan Macdonald, who had passed minute of the wadset right of
Gallovie with the said Lachlan there- anent, as at length specified
in the said minute.
"Compeared the said
William Mackintosh in Blairagie, Lachlan Mackintosh of Balnespick,
and the said John Macpherson in Shiro. The said John Macpherson in
Shiro deponed on solemn oath, as he who bath passed three score ten
years, that he did never see a tenant or possessor of the half
davoch land of Gallovie, sometime possessed by the said Allan, to
have sheilled on the sheilling called Loupvain since his memory,
neither heard formerly any in Gallovie claini right thereto but the
said Allan ; and that he remembered above 40 years since that
William Mackintosh of Strone and Angus, his brother, who lived in
Gaskinloan, to have sheilled on the said sheilling called Loupvain,
and that by the permission of the deceased Andrew Macpherson of
Clownie, as he who had power of Frosterrie (sic) from the laird of
Mackintosh to be froster (sic) of the forest of Gairvouneig, and
thereafter did see Donald MacAonas, vic lain Dhu, who possessed
Inverwidden, sheal on the said sheilling, and that he also heard
that the sheilling of Ailtan I)hu-na-Creallein did belong to the
forest foresaid.
"William Mackintosh
of Blaragie compearing thereafter, being sworn, deponed that since
he had memory, remembered his father and uncle to have shemlied on
the said Loupvain, as also heard that others was by the permission
of the said deceased Andrew Macpherson of Clunie, as being froster
to the Laird Mackintosh of the forest of Gairvouneig, to which
forest Ailtean Dhuna-CreaUein did belong.
"Lachian Mackintosh
of Balnespick being interrogate, answered that he was not old, nor
nothing known to him of the said sheillings as to his own knowledge,
but depones that lie heard from this present Duncan Macpherson of
Clunie that lie had as yet in his custody a power of frosterie,
which was granted by one of the Lairds Mackintosh to his Guidshir
Andrew, as a forester of Gairvouneig, and that he heard the like
report from others.
"This deponed day,
month, and place foresaid in presence of John Macpherson of
Dalraddie, Thomas Macpherson of Killyhuntly, and me 'David Cumming,
writer hereof and several others that were present who could not
write. (Signed) L. MCKINTOSHE.
"John Macpherson in
Shiro, and William Mackintosh in margie with our hands at the pen
led by the Notar under written. ha est David Cumming, Notarius
Publicus mandatis scribere nescien teste manu propria sub." (Signed)
"D. CUMMING, Notarius Publicus ut Asserunt."
By the marriage of
William, son of Lachlan Mackintosh of Gallovie, commonly called "Lach]an
Badcnoch," with Isabella Macniven, the heiress of Dunachton, the
possessions of the Mackintoshes were much enlarged. Later on,
through the murder of William Mackintosh at Strathbogie, Lachlan Mor,
his son and successor, received a great increase of estate from the
Earl of Huntly in form of assythment.
This occurred in
1568, and thereafter Mackintosh was owner of Gallovie, Dunachton,
Kincraig, South Kinrara, Dalnavert, part of Glenfeshie, Benchar,
Clune, etc. Another Mackintosh, ancestor of the Balnespicks,
possessed the three Gasks in Laggan, being the only heritors,
besides the Gordons and Bishops of Moray, in all Laggan prior to
1600.
Lachlan Mor
Mackintosh, assisted by his clever and energetic spouse, Agnes
Mackenzie of Kintail, raised the family of Mackintosh to great power
and influence, all of their seven sons being provided in landed
estate, and each of the five daughters making good marriages.
The Gordon family
could not endure to see the rising power of the Mackintoshes,
neither, it may be well supposed, did the Mackintoshes bear any good
feelings to Huntly.
In 1572, the Gordons
were again forfeited, and their opponents were glad of the
opportunity of crippling their power. Lachlan Mackintosh, after the
death of the Earl of Huntly, from whom he had received the
assythment lands, and to whom he had to give his bond, saw his
opportunity, and made a bold stroke for supremacy in Badenoch. He
had powerful friends and succeeded in obtaining from the Regent
Morton a gift of the 60 davochs of Badenoch, which unfortunately,
did not pass the Seals, and fell to the ground. After this the
Mackintoshes and Gordons were, with rare intervals, bitter and
hereditary opponents, In fairness it must be admitted that in the
view of the Gordons the Regent Morton gift was a deep offence, and
the present Lord Huntly is really to be admired when, considering
that his own family was passed over in favour of an heir female, he
in his book of Aboyne criticises Mackintosh in this business.
Modernizing the old
spelling, the gift, which is endorsed by the single word "
Macyntoshie," is in these words—
Our Sovereign Lord,
with advice, consent, and authority of his right trusty cousin,
James, Earl of Mortoun, Lord of Dalkeith, etc., Regent to his
Majestic, his realm and leiges, ordains a charter to be inide under
his Great Seal in clue form ; To his loved Lachlan Mackintoshie of
Dunachton, his heirs and assignees, of the heritable gift in feu
farm of all and sundry the lands underwritten. That is to say, (;arvttmore,
Garvabeg, Killarchill, Crathiecroy, Crathiemor, Shirrornore,
Shirrobeg, Tirfadoun, The Ord and Strathinashie, Blargiebeg,
Blargiemor, Gaskione, Gaskbeg, Gaskmor, Catciack, Breackachie,
Pitgoun, Clony, Owie, Covothilly, Nessintullie, Croubinbeg,
Croubinmore, Daleanach, Pressmtickerach, Ettridge, Invernahaven,
Foyness, Noidmore, Noidbeg, Biillidbeg, Biallidinor, Ye Strone,
Ballach roan, Pitmain, Kingussie, Ardbrylach, Ruthven, Killyhuntly,
Invertromie. Corrarnstilbeg, Corrarnstilmor, Countellaive, Farletter,
Invereshie, Inverinarkie, Raitbeg, Raitmor, Raitmeanach, the two
parts of Pittourie, Pitchern, l)alraddie, Kinraramor, Gortan na
Creich, Lynvuilg, Garlinmor, Dellifour, Lynvuilgmor. Rewymor, and
the two Tullochs, with the milns, multures, woods, fishings, towns,
fortalices, manor paces, outsetts, parts, pendicles, tenants,
tenandries, and service of free tenants of all and sundry the said
lands, and all the pertinents lying within the Lordship of Badenoch
and Sheriffdom of Inverness. Which all and sundry lands above
written, with the milns, multures, woods, fishings, towns,
fortalices, manor places, outsetts, parts, pendicles, tenants,
tenandries, and service of free tenants thereof, and all the
pertinents, pertained to George, some time Earl of Huntlie, Lord
Gordon, and Badenoch, heritable of before, holden by him immediately
of our Sovereign Lord, and now pertains to HisMajesty, and are
vacant in his hands by reason of escheat, through process and doom
of forfeiture orderly led against the said George, some time Earl of
Huntlie, for certain crimes of treason and leze-majestie committed
by him of the which he was convicted in Parliament, as in the
process and doom of forfeiture orderly led and deduced against him
thereupon at more length is contained - To be holden and To Hold all
and sundry the lands above specified, at length to be mentioned and
engrossed in the precepts and charter to pass hereupon, with all and
sundry milns, multures, woods, fishings, towns, fortalices,
manor-places, outsetts, parts, pendicles, tenants, tenandries and
services of free tenants thereof, and all the pertinents, to the
said Lachlan Mackintosh, his heirs, and assignees, of our sovereign
lord and his successors, in feu farm and heritage for ever.
By all rights meiths
and divisions as the same lie in length and breadth in woods,
plains, etc., mills, inultures, etc., balking hunting, fishing, with
Court plaint, herezeld, bluidvitt, and mei-clie/a muilerum, unlaws,
amerciaments, and escheats of said Courts, with common pasture, free
ish and entry ; and with all and sundry other commodities f eedoms,
etc., freely, quietly, etc . without any revocation etc., Payand
therefor yearly the said Lachlan Mackintosh, his heirs and
assignees, to our Sovereign Lord and his successors, the sum of two
hundred pounds usual money of this realm, at two terms in the year
Whitsunday and Martinmas in winter by equal portions, and also the
heirs of the said Lachltn Mackintosh doubling the said feu farm, the
first year of their entry to the lands above written with the
pertinents as use is, of feu farm allenarlie ; and that precepts be
directed orderly hereupon. Subscribed by the said Lord Regent at
Edinburgh ye 18th day of December, the year of God 1572 years.'
(Signed) ". JAMES,
REGENT, GRANTS."
On the same day,
Mackintosh's lands of Benchar, Clune, Kincraig, Dunachton's
Kinrara-na-choille, Dalnavert, Coignafearn, Essich, Dunteichaigs,
Tordarroch, and Bochrubin, formerly held of the Earl of Huntly, are
by a warrant from the Regent Morton to be held in future direct of
the Crown.
The Gordon rental in
the parish in 1677, amounted, as hereafter detailed, to 2675 merks,
or under £150 sterling. This may be contrasted with the rental when
these lands were offered for sale in 1829.
By 1677, some of the
lands had been feued on a money payment, attour services. The
Chamberlain then was Duncan Macpherson of Cluny, who had succeeded
Coil Patrick Grant, tutor of Grant. There were two mills in
Kingussie Parish, at Kingussie and at Nuide, one in the parish of
Alvie, at Dairaddy, but none in the parish of Laggan. There was a
mill at Gallovie at an early date, and after 1677 mills at
Strathmashie, Crathy, Cluny, and Aberarder.
The following
significant docquet to the rental may be given:-
"It is to be
remembered that there is noted that Cluny possesses the half davoch
of Kylarchill which ought to pay four score merks yearly which sum
is included in the total of the above specified rental, yet Cluny
never paid the said four score merks to Arradoull, or me the said
Lieutenant-Colonel Grant while I was Chamberlain, which the entering
Chamberlain is in like manner to consider."
(Signed) " PK.
GRANT., "D. McPHRSON."
By this date the
Macphersons began to show up. Cluny will pay nothing for Kylarchill,
and Ovie, apparently with justice, complains of being over-rented.
The following is the
rental in 1829 when the Gordon estates in Badenoch came into the
market:-
Thus the rental had
increased twenty fold since 1677, but what did that matter? At Duke
Alexander's death, he owed one creditor, the Royal Bank of Scotland,
the enormous sum of £450,000.
I now give a list of
the heads of families in Laggan in 1679, and perhaps some of the few
Macphersons now in Laggan may discover therein traces of their
ancestors:-
Cluny.—Duncan
Macpherson of Cluny, James Macpherson there, William vic lain vic
Andrew there, Dougal Oig there, John Macgillivray there, Donald Mac
Coil Oig there, John Miller there, John Miller his son there,
Allister Macgillivray there, Kenneth Mor there, Angus Mac Ian Mor
there, William Mac Ian vic William there, William Mac David, tailor
there, Allister Maclennan there, Duncan Mac Coil Oig there, Donald
Mac Ewen I)hu vic Keir there.
Ovie.—Ewen Macpherson
of Ovie, Malcolm Macpherson there, William Mac Coil there, Allister
Mac Harnish vic Lachlan there, Allister Mac Coil Kier there, John
Mac Coil Oig there.
Druminord.—Angus
Macpherson in Druminord, Angus Bain MacLachlan there, Duncan Mac-a-Gowin
there.
Strathmashie. --
Donald Macpherson in Strathmashie, John barn Mac Hamish vic lain Ban
there, Donald Mac Coil Oig in Heave (?), William Macpherson there,
Allister reoch vic lain ban vic Allister reoch there, Finlay vac
lain vic Mhurich theie, Finlay Macpherson in Strathmashie, Donald
Macpherson there, Murri;Leb Macpherson there, John Macpherson there,
Donald ban Mae Sonic vic Quian there Allister Gow there.
Tirfadoun.—Malcolm
Mac Ewen in Tirfadoun, John Mac Gillechallum there, Duncan ban Mac
Soirle there, Donald Mac Finlay vic Homas there, John Mac Coinneach
Roy there, Duncan Mac Coinneach his son there, Allister dhu Mac
Phail there.
Shirrobeg.—Join
Macpherson in Shirrobeg, Finlay ban Mac Aonash vic Gilliephatrick
there, Allister ban Mac lain there, Ewen Mac Rorie vie William
there, John Roy Mac lain vic Gilliephatrick there.
Shirromore.--John Roy
Mac Vurrich in Shirramore, Paul Macpherson his son there, Murroch
Macpherson his son there, l)ougall Mac Gilliechallum there.
Gaskinloan.—Thomas
Macpherson in Gaskinloan, Donald dhu vie Coinneach there, John dhu
Mac Homash, Mac un taillor there, 1)ugald Mac Homas Roy there,
William Mackintosh there, Finlay Mor Mac Coil vie Finlay there,
Duncan Mac Ewen vie Hoinas there, Donald Mac Ewen vie Finlay there.
Catlodge or
Cattilleck.—Donald Mac Eachen vie lain Roy there.
Breakachie.—Malcolm
Macpherson of Breackachie, Iver Mae Finlay vic Phail there, Donald
Mac Ferquhar vic Phail there, William Macpherson there, Allister Mac
lain there, John Mor Mac lain reoch there, Ewen Cattanach there,
Thomas Mac an Taggart there, John Mor Mac Coil vic Soirle there,
Paul Moukiter there, Donald Roy Mac a Greasieh Vor there.
Garvabeg.—Malcolm Mac
Soirle in Garvabeg, Ewen Mae Soirle vie Ewen there, John Mac Soirle
vie Ewen there.
Garvamore.—AlIan Mae
lain Gromaeh in Garvamore, John Mac lain Gromaeh there, Ewen Roy vic
Wirrich there, John Mac Coil vic Ruarie there, John Mac William vic
Phaill there, Duncan Mac lain vic William vic Phaill there, Ewen Mac
lain vic Coinneach there, Angus Mac Gillespie there, Donald Mac
Gilliephatrick there, John dhu Mac (illegible) there, John dhu Mac
Finlay oig there, Ewen Mac Aonas vic Ewen there.
Kylarchill.—Duncan
Mac lain dhu in Kylarchill, Duncan Mac Ewen Roy there, Duncan ban
Mac Soirle there, John Mac Ewen vic lain there, John Mac Ewen vic
Finlay there, Donald dhu Mac Eeen vic Kenneth there.
Crathiecroy. —John
Macpherson in Crathiecroy, Paul Macpherson there, linen Gow there,
John Fraser there, John dhu vic Coil vic Allan there, John ban Mac
Aonas vic Coil ban there, Angus Mac Bean dim vic Aonas there.
Crathiemor.—Angiis
Mackintosh in Crathiemor, Alexander Mckintosh there, John Mac Aonas
mor there, John Mac lain reoch dhu there, William Mac lain reoch dhu
there, John Mac lain reoch dhu there, Even Mac Coil vic lain dhu
there, James Dearg there, Arthur Forbes there, Donald Forbes his
son, Rorie Charles there, John Mac Ian dhu vic Aonas there, John ban
Mac Even-a-Gowin there, Alexander Mac lain dhu vic Aonas there,
Angus Mackintosh there, Allister Allan Mac Allister vic Allan there,
Angus ban Mac Soirle there.
Blargymor.—Angns
Mackintosh in Blargymore, John Mac Raild vic Allan there, Ferquhar
Mac Ferquhar vic lain there, Allister Mac a Greasich there, Donald
Mac Finlay oig there.
Geask.—Robert
Mackintosh in Gergask, Donald dhu Mac a Greasich there, Angus Mac
Coil oig there, Duncan Mac Gillie Glass there.
Gaskmore.—James
Mackintosh in Gaskmore, John Mackintosh the'é, James Mackintosh
there, Allan Mackintosh there, Finlay Mac Gill Andreis there, John
Mac lain ban there, Donald Macpherson there.
Pitgoun.—William
Fraser in Pitgoun, Donald Mac Cill Andrish there, William Mac Coil
ban there, Aonas Mac Gill Andrish there.
The name of
Macpherson, so common in Laggan, is not to be found among its
landowners until about the middle of the seventeenth century. Andrew
Macpherson, who fought at Glenlivat, and was alive in 1648,
sometimes styled "of Cluny," was latterly designed "of Grange" in
Banffshire, and is so described in his son Ewen's contract of
marriage with Anna, daughter of the first Duncan Forbes of Culloden,
dated the 16th of November, and the 2nd of December, 1641. In this
contract Ewen is designed of Cluny, and as only son of Andrew
Macpherson of Grange.
The bride's tocher
was 5000 merks, the cautioners for Cluny's obligations being John
Macpherson of Nuide, Donald Macpherson, his eldest lawful son and
apparent heir, Ewen Macpherson of Brin, Paul Macpherson of Dairaddie,
Dougal Macpherson of Ballachroan, and Alexander Macpherson of Essich,
the principals at the time of the name.
By a document dated
at Inverness, the 26th day of May, 1643, Cluny discharges all
Culloden's obligations, having received full payment. in presence of
David Paton, burgess of Inverness, Ewen Macpherson in Gaskinloan,
and others.
For assisting
Montrose Ewen and his father Andrew are prosecuted by the clergy.
E'.ven makes apology at Elgin, the value of which may be estimated
by his having asserted, according to the latest clan historian, that
he was in command of the Clan Chattan, a statement confuted at the
moment by several Mackintoshes who declare that they were in arms
under "the guid man of Stron," and Angus Mackintosh, portioner of
Benchar, second son of Borlum. Andrew Macpherson's personal presence
was dispensed with on account of his age and feebleness. Ewen
Macpherson and Anna Forbes had at least two sons, Andrew and Duncan.
Andrew Macpherson
succeeded, a youth of metal and courage. His portrait has been
preserved and is now at Cluny. He was contracted in marriage with
one of the Calder ladies in 1665, but died suddenly before the
marriage.
An elegy composed on
the occasion has been preserved, and though of no poetic value, is
yet an interesting memorial, and will, I hope, gratify such
Macphersons as may read it.
Duncan Macpherson
succeeded his brother Andrew, and reigned about 6o years. He had an
only daughter, Anna, and at her marriage with Archibald Campbell,
son of Sir Hugh Campbell of Calder, the Macphersons, fearing that
the estate and representation would be tailled away to a stranger,
met and subscribed the patriotic protest in favour of Macpherson of
Nuide, the heir-male, which is recorded at page 377 of the Book of
the Thanes of Cawdor, published by the old Spalding Club, and
printed in 1859. This protest, which was signed at Benchar on the
14th of March, 1689, by sixteen Macphersons of standing, is too well
known to require any particular description. The only point worth
consideration is, were the circumstances such as to justify or cause
general alarm to the Macphersons? No doubt the story of alienation
was current, and from the known hereditary character of the
Camp-)ells the Macphersons were wise to be on the alert. That the
parties to the contract got alarmed and modified its terms is
probable, but the finale as embodied in the contract, dated at Cluny,
the 15th day of March, 1689, a day after the protest, leaves the
matter in obscurity. The contract is signed by Sir Hugh Campbell and
his son, by Cluny and his daughter, before these witnesses—John
Macpherson of Dalraddie, John Macpherson, younger thereof; Malcolm
Macpherson of Breakachy, Cohn Campbell, son to Calder; Lachlan
Campbell, Chamberlain of Ila; Mr Thomas Macpherson, minister of
Alvie; Lachlan Macpherson of Dellifour, and John Campbell, servitor
to Calder.
Upon a perusal of the
contract as signed, the only clause which bears on the point is in
these terms, and readers can determine for themselves whether the
words in italics justified the energetic protest by and in favour of
Nuide, the heir-male-
Duncan Macpherson
steered his way carefully through the Revolution troubles. He is
very intimate with Lord Dundee, and has the good opinion of Mackay;
signs the address to George I.; and in his latter years is only
known by his hostility to the heir-male; and neither going out
himself in 1715, perhaps incapacitated by age, nor suffering Nuide
to do so.
After the death of
William Mackintosh of Borlum in 1717, long the Gordon Chamberlain of
Badenoch, the Gordons resolved to appoint a stranger and one of
their own name as most likely to be depended on. Accordingly that
gallant warrior John Gordon of Glenbucket, born in 1672, was
appointed, and getting a wadset of Strone, made it his residence.
This step greatly increased the irritation of th Macphersons, who
had chafed under the rule of the Borlums. Steps were taken to poison
the Duke of Gordon's ears, but being ineffective, bolder courses
were resolved upon—nothing less than slaying Glenbucket. The
circumstances are narrated by Burt; always on the alert to pick up
anything unpleasant about Highlanders of note ; by the Lord Advocate
on the trial of Stuart of Acharn; and by the Dowager Lady Mackintosh
in her very curious memoirs of events in her life.
Burt's account briefly is in these
terms—
Whereupon the tenants came to a resolution to put an end to his suit
and new settlement in the manner following. Five or six of them,
young fellows, the sons of gentlemen, entered the door of his hut;
and in fawning words told him they were sorry any dispute had
happened. That they were then resolved to acknowledge him as their
immediate landlord, and would regularly pay him their rent. At the
same time they begged he would withdraw his process, and they hoped
they should be agreeable to him for the future. All this while they
were almost imperceptibly drawing nearer and nearer to his bedside,
on which he was sitting, in order to prevent his defending himself
(as they knew him to be a man of distinguished courage), and then
fell suddenly on him ; some cutting him with their dirks, and others
plunging them into his body. This was perpetrated within sight of
the Barrack of Ruthven. I can't forbear to tell you how this
butchery ended, with respect both to him and those treacherous
villains. "He
with a multitude of wounds upon him, made shift in the bustle to
reach down his broad sword from the tester of his bed, which was
very low, and with it he drove all the assassins before him. And
afterwards, from the Duke's abhorrence of so vile a fact, and with
the assistance of the troops, they were driven out of the country
and forced to flee to foreign parts."
Old Glenbucket, born as just stated in
1672, had been out in 1715, took part in the Rising of 1745, and his
appearance, from the effects of the savage attack nearly 30 years
before, is described as incapacitating him to sit erect on
horseback. The gallant veteran escaped, first to Norway, then to
France, and lived comfortably, until June, 1750, on a pension of
1200 livres. I possess certain papers signed by him while
Chamberlain of Badenoch, and also some relative to his posterity,
the latest referring to John Charles Gordon, residing at Tomintoul
in 1812. As the
Glenbuckets intermarried with the Glengarrys, I may publish these
papers some day, including the appearance made, early in the
'Forty-five, by the people of Badenoch at the request of Lord Lewis
Gordon. The
Duke of Gordon was naturally furious at the attack on his
chamberlain, and not only threatened vengeance and extirpation on
the Macphersons, who held their whole lands of him, but took some
active steps in the matter. In their distress, the Macphersons,
under their new chief, Lachlan, whose mother was daughter of Lachlan
Mackintosh of Kinrara, bethought themselves of a reconciliation with
Mackintosh, and becoming independent to a certain degree of the
Gordons. Mackintosh fell into the snare, foolishly thinking that the
Macphersons, who had deceived his predecessors so often, had changed
their skin and spots, while his wife in her memoirs appears to have
seen clearly the folly of having any dealings with them.
Mackintosh's desires for the consolidation and unification of Clan
Chattan were highly praiseworthy. To make the Macphersons quasi
independent, and particularly of the Gordons, Mackintosh granted
them Gallovie and Aberarder, upwards of 40,000 acres, under certain
conditions, of which the forfeiture of Evan Macpherson of Cluny and
the passing of the Jurisdiction Acts deprived him, and of the
equivalents stipulated.
In the whole deplorable record of Crown
robberies arising out of the forfeitures of 1715 and 1745 there is
perhaps no greater wrong than that inflicted on the Mackintosh
family in connection with those lands in Laggan. The loyal subject
was punished, while the insurgent family benefited.
As I have not the slightest desire to be
enrolled among the Stevenson-Lang ghouls, the sordid detractors of
prominent Highland gentlemen of the past, I will say but little more
at present upon this very tempting subject.
The Cluny rental was so beggarly that
Evan Macpherson, a man of great strength and activity, was in his
father's time obliged to become a Captain of the Watch, a business
not taken up except by those in a secondary position. Sir Walter
Scott in depicting Fergus Macivor (the prototype of old Glengarry, a
chief of the first rank) makes a ridiculous blunder in assigning to
him the office of Captain of Thieves.
The following docquetted "Discharge of
Watch money payable to Clunie, 11th June, 1745," shows that he was
still engaged in the business very shortly before the landing of
Prince Charles-
Forres, June, 15, 1745.
"Received from Sir Robert Gordon of
Gordonstoun the sum of four pounds 16s 3d sterling, as his whole
proportion of the Watch money payable to Evan Macpherson of Cluny,
at the rate of half a crown out of the hundred pound of his valued
rent p. me.
(Signed) "JOHN DUFF, Junr."
A month later Lord Advocate Craigie
writes to Lord Tweeddale, whereby it would seem Government relied on
Cluny as its supporter—
"Edinburgh, 11th June, 1745.
"My Lord,—I have the honour of yours of
the 6th July, and you may believe the particulars you mention of the
situation of our affairs in Flanders, tho' not altogether such as
could have been wished yet being much better than was believed from
the former accounts gave me a sensible pleasure, and as I thought it
was of service to the Government to encourage his Majesty's real
friends and to discountenance disaffection I hope you'll approve of
my not keeping your intelligence a secret and even the mentioning
your authority, which I don't choose to do upon other occasions.
"We have all got up our spirits here
with an exception of those who are in anxiety about their friends
who were engaged in the late action near Ghent, and this anxiety
will continue until we have the particulars of those that perished
and escaped in the action.
"Sir John Cope communicated to me the
copy of the letter you sent him touching Cluny's management with
respect to the shire of Banff. I am persuaded from all I have heard
of Cluny's conduct from people of all sides that the insinuations
made against him will be found to be groundless. His character is to
be a perfect enemy to thieves and thieving. Last year he protected
the adjacent country at a very small expense in spite of the
opposition that was made to him by those from whom it would not have
been expected. Your Lordship knows he wished to have been employed
by the Government, but that he did not succeed in his application.
That the character he acquired last year procured him more numerous
applications this season, and it is not to be wondered at, because
though commissions were issued for these companies some time ago,
yet they are but now raised, and it's very lately that two of them
got their arms, and the third is still without arms, and none of
them are as yet stationed for the protection of the country, and at
the time referred to in the letter transmitted to you, Cluny had no
notice of his commission. This is what occurs to me and I have no
doubt that Cluny will be able fully to justify himself.
"Sir John Cope sends you by this post
Inveraw's opinion with respect to the French recruiting in the
Highlands. I own I believe he speaks what he knows, but I think he
is too lately come from Argyllshire to be able to discover what is
passing in the recruiting countries.
The Duke of Atholl is in town and
intends to wait for the Duke of Argyll's arrival. He is expected
here Monday next. I have the honour to be with great truth and
respect, my Lord, your Lordship's most obedient, and most faithful
humble servant.
(Signed) "Ron. CRAIGIE."
Further to support him, Mackintosh
allowed young Cluny as he did Keppoch, an annual present, or
"gratuity" as it is termed, of one hundred merks, as may be seen by
the following document, which is holograph of Cluny:-
"I, Evan McPherson, younger of Cluny,
grant me to have received from Angus Shaw, factor to the Laird of
Mackintosh, the sum of one hundred merks, and that as the Laird of
Mackintosh's gratuity to me payable Martinmas last, seventeen
hundred and thirty-six years. In witness whereof I have written and
subscribed their presents at Cluny the twentie-second day of
January, one thousand seven hundred and thirty-seven years. (Signed)
"Ev. MCPHERSON."
Conceive a "Chief" of the great
Confederation of Clan Chattan granting such an acknowledgment.
This same "Chief" appears to have by
himself or his men lifted and eaten poor William Robertson's cow-
"William Robertson in Badenoch, declares
young Cluny came to his house and ordered 20 cows and 6 horses to be
taken from him, and otherwise threatened him, and upon consenting to
go, they were all restored except one cow which was killed.
"WM. (his X mark) ROBERTSON.
A great deal is made of Evan
Macpherson's son, Duncan Macpherson. I have met with several people
who knew him well, and the concurring report was that he was an
insignificant looking little man, entirely ruled by his clever wife,
Catherine Cameron of Fassifern.
Lord Adam Gordon thus
writes of him in 1769 to the Marquis of Granby-
Prestonhall, 25th December, 1769.
As to some promotions I hope I may name
to you for a company Captain Macpherson on the half-pay, who has
undertaken to find forty recruits provided he gets on full pay. I
thought it a handsome offer and am certain he can make it good. lie
is a very pretty young man and who, for reasons of policy,
should be kept in the service. He is a nephew of Colonel Fraser's
and has been educated under the eye of Dr Robertson, the historian,
who does him great justice."
The italics are mine.
The following most interesting letter of
General Simon Fraser's should be perused with care, showing as it
does, how Duncan Macpherson was brought up, and how his surrounding
Macphersons behaved :-
"Oporto, 16th August, 1770.
It happens luckily that your letter of
12th July found me here and more so that there is a ship just ready
to sail for London by which I send this, for I am uneasy every
moment that I lie under the least suspicion with my worthy friends
the Laird and Lady Mackintosh, and as 1 am allowed now no more time
than is necessary for this letter, I desire you may immediately,
upon receipt of it, send to Lady Mackintosh a copy of what relates
to this business to clear me in the meantime till I have an
opportunity of writing her, which I am told I shall have in a week's
time by another ship from this place.
"In the first place it hurts me not a
little that the words of any man or set of men should be taken by
Lady Mackintosh against me without some proof. She has known me
about 20 years and I flatter myself in all that time has had no
instance of any unfair or underhand dealing in me. When my prospect
in life was at the worst I defy the world to tax me with unfairness
or ingratitude. It's not then likely that I should begin now to
expose myself and that for another to an imputation that I never
would put to the least hazard to promote my own affairs. I should
think myself so much obliged to the Laird and Lady Mackintosh that I
would sooner cut my tongue out than I would speak, or my hand off
than I would write, anything directly or indirectly to their
prejudice. If I could to-morrow get these lands for the asking to
myself, I protest to God I would not ask them nor any other, that
they had any pretentions to, far less for my nephew. Since the world
began there never was an imputation so void of foundation. What I
thought myself to blame for, turns Out to be lucky—that is that from
my leaving England in 1766 I never wrote a syllable to my nephew or
any of the name of Macpherson except an answer to a letter from
Breackachy's son informing me of his intention of marrying my niece
and my letter to him was simply upon that matter of his marriage,
without a syllable on any other business whatever. Judge then how I
could have been consulted or advised upon the application in
question. My nephew's coming to Portugal was not only not at my
desire but it was without my knowledge, the first notice that I had
of it was from Simon Fraser, Borlum, telling me of his being
embarked. I have still the letter wrote by James Macpherson and some
others of his friends in which they mention the purpose of his
coming being to show himself to me, and to have my advice for his
future plan of life, which they proposed to begin by purchasing a
company, and the real view was clearly pointed out to be their
expectations that I would advance the money for that purchase, but
they did not mention any other business, far less drop a hint of any
intention of an application for the lands.
"When he came I found him a fine looking
boy, but not enough broke to start in the world, and therefore I
thought it would be of great use to him to spend some months in
France, which I proposed to him and agreed to be at the expense of a
couple of hundred pounds for that purpose, and after staying about
three months with rue at Lisbon he set sail for Rheims, where he has
been since the beginning of June. As I was myself upon the wing I
had very little time to speak to him about business while at Lisbon,
and I found that he knew very little of his own affairs. He told me
that Mr James Macpherson had said to him that he meant to make an
application for him to the Treasury, but he could not give me an
account about what, and as you wrote me of the application for
Killihuntly's debt I took for granted it was that and altho' he is a
clever lad it's surprising how little he attended to or knew of his
own affairs his friends, I should rather say his relations, kept him
supplied with money and in such ignorance that it looked as if done
on purpose. He referred me for every thing of that sort to letters
they were to write me and which I have never received, and I
sincerely believe he knew nothing of the application for the gift
when he left Lisbon, which was in the month of May, and as to myself
I solemnly declare before God and by all that's sacred that I never
directly or indirectly advised, encouraged, or consented to any such
application being made and knew no more of it than the Great Mogul
till I received your letter, and that what I have here set forth 5
all I know of my nephew's affairs except some letters that I have
received within this month about their absurd disputes for the Tack
of Cluny, to which I made no answer. As he had accounts of his
uncle's death at Lisbon, I foresaw those disputes, and proposed to
him to leave me a Procuration to act for him, which he did, but I
have never made the least use of it, nor even mentioned it to any
body till now, and as to my corresponding with those people I might
have done it, and it was natural I should on my nephew's account,
but I am happy to be able to say that I not only never exchanged
word or wrote on the subject of the lands, but that except the
letter upon his marriage to young Breakachy, I have not put pen to
paper to anyone of the name of Macpherson these 4 years. If all this
is not enough, I don't know what will be enough to satisfy
Mackintosh, but let the Lady herself say what she will have me to do
to satisfie her and the world of my affection and gratitude towards
her and her family, and I will do it ; and if it will be of the
least use I am ready to write to the Lord Privy Seal my total
ignorance of my nephew's application, and that my wishes are for
Mackintosh in preference even to my nephew. She must allow that this
is a proposal inconsistent with any consciousness of guilt of the
imputation laid to my charge, and I hope will immediately restore me
to that share of her esteem which I have all my life put such a
value upon, and will rest assured that it is only with my life that
my attachment and gratitude to her and Mackintosh will end."
From whence did the surrounding
Macphersons get the cash which seemed so abundant ? I have an idea
which wild horses will not drag from me. The pleasant tradition that
young Cluny got his Commission so early, that he was a Major while
still eating his matutinal porridge, is contradicted by Lord Adam
Gordon's letter showing that he was only a Captain on half-pay about
the time he arrived at full age.
After the restoration of the Cluny
estates, these were well administered by Lachlan Macpherson at Ralia,
afterwards in Breackachie, predecessor of the present Glentruim. His
services to the family were truly great, having circumvented the
clever William Tod, Gordon Chamberlain, very handsomely in a great
adjustment of marches about 1791, and getting nearly 20,000 acres in
the heart of the forest of Benalder in exchange for a plough of
Kylarchill and certain grazing rights in the Braes of Spey. His
family certainly did not deserve to be treated in the contemptuous
way Mrs Macpherson of Cluny expressed herself when it was rumoured
that one of Ralia's sons was likely to become purchaser of the
estate of Glentruim. She would not give him a capital letter. No;
the poor man in the numerous letters I
have of hers is always "ralia." The same depreciatory spirit is
shown by her horror on hearing that one Allan Macpherson in the east
end of Kingussie, by the assistance of a relative in the West
Indies, was to purchase a good slice of Gordon land then in the
market, the feeling towards Allan being instantly changed on hearing
that the purchase was intended for Ewen, her own son. She also
fought very shy of the shrewd George Macpherson-Grant, rapidly
building up that position in Badenoch which placed his
family territorially at the head of the Macphersons. She cannot
understand him or his designs, but fears,
"Why it is, I cannot tell,
Thee I like not, Doctor Fell"
The Macphersons did not fare well at her
hands after she had the control on her husband's death. The bitter
persecution begun in his time of Colonel Duncan Macpherson's son,
Cluny's near relative, continued briskly after his death, but young
Barclay Macpherson was vigorously and successfully defended by his
other near relatives, Mrs Mackintosh of Borlum and her only
daughter, Margaret Mackintosh. By the marriage of the latter with Mr
John Macpherson, latterly at Gallovie, a doughty foe of the Clunys
came to the rescue, who for years when at Cluny Mains was a thorn to
the Cluny family. Colonel Duncan Macpherson of Bleaton and his son,
afterwards General Barclay Macpherson; John Macpherson, Cluny Mains;
Ewen Macpherson, MacCoul; and other Macphersons of note, were in
turn forced into litigation and another serious burden fell upon the
tenants more exacting and severe than I have noticed on any other
estate. This was, on getting a new lease, the giving of a present to
the lady. In the case of Cluny, large sums frequently exceeding
£100, were given, and taken by the lady, during her active
management, which, notwithstanding the son's affection for his
mother, he felt compelled when settling up with her, to call in
question. She did not deny these presents but pleaded a "voluntary
custom " in regard to them.
Such estates as fell under the control
of the lady's brother suffered, and in several cases sunk. When
Colonel Duncan Macpherson of Cluny married Miss Catharine Cameron of
Fassifern, the estates were held in fee simple, and destined by the
contract to the eldest son of the marriage. This did not suit or
satisfy the lady's friends and advisers, and in defiance of the
contract of marriage, which by the Scots law over-rides all
obligations, an entail was made out which cost Ewen Macpherson of
Cluny a deal of money to set aside, and apparently was one of the
leading causes which piled up the debt on the property,
necessitating ultimately a sale of some fifty thousand acres of the
Cluny estates.
There is perhaps no place in Badenoch at the present day better
known, or rather more frequently referred to, than "Cluny Castle."
It is a modern assumption, having no basis of time in its support.
Colonel Duncan Macpherson, it is only right to say, did not call his
house a castle, and never ! assumed the title of Chief or Captain of
Clan Chattan. He knew better, and those about him at his death did
not I understand (for I have not been within the grounds) place this
baseless designation on his tombstone. Those who succeeded Colonel
Duncan Macpherson made their first step of assumption in the month
of June or July, 1828. Lady Cluny's letters prior to the 12th of
June are all dated "Cluny House." By the 5th July, 1828, they bear
to be from "Cluny Castle," the good lady on one or two subsequent
occasions seeming to have overlooked the newly- fledged dignity by
dating from "Cluny House," as was her wont.
I must now allude in brief to another
modern assumption, viz., that of "Craigdhu" as the war cry of the
Macphersons. The two things which appear to throw simple Macphersons
into a state of ecstatic adoration are the contemplation of Ewen of
the 'Forty-five and the hill of Craigdhu. A certain native of
Scandinavian Scotland, where there is no Gaelic, is particularly
possessed. What does all this mean? The war cry of historic clans,
when a locality, indicated that it was centrical and the sole
undoubted possession of the clan, such as "Tullochard," "Craigellachie,"
"Loch Moy," "Loch Sloy," etc., etc. Let this rule be applied to
Craigdhu. It is very true that the whole mountain since about 1830
belongs exclusively to Cluny. But did it when c]anship was active
and gatherings common?
Craigdhu lies in the Parishes of Laggan
and Kingussie, having several distinctive and nominative summits,
whereof the waters of the western portion slope to and run into the
Calder, and on the east to the Spey. The three ploughs of Cluny, the
first heritable property of the Macphersons of Cluny, do not nearly
extend to the higher summit. The highest summit from the south was
part of the Duke of Gordon's Ovie and Achmore, which remained with
them until the final dispersion sixty years ago. The only part to
the east of the Cluny property which approached, if at all, to the
summit, was the hill of Biallid Beg; then came Biallid Mor and
Coronach, all facing the Spey, feued to Borlum in 1637, and latterly
again the Gordon property.
The whole of the west side of the
mountain sloping to the Calder belonged to the Borlums, being that
part of the hill grazings of Benchar called Tullichero. Thus at the
most, while clanship and clan cries were in vogue, the Macphersons
could only claim, if even to that extent, a third of Craigdhu, or so
much as followed Biallid Beg.
When Mr John Macpherson was tenant of
the mains of Cluny the shootings were let apparently for the first
time on rent, to the Peel family. In 1816 Mr William Peel and his
nephew, afterwards the distinguished statesman, came north. Being on
bad terms with the estate authorities John Macpherson took steps to
interdict the sportsmen and all others. The petition is well drawn,
and proceeds upon the allegation that he, Macpherson, had the lands
let to him exclusively, that the reports of shots and roaming of
dogs disturbed his sheep, preventing them from pasturing quietly,
and was likely to lead if not to their loss, at least to their harm.
I am not sure whether any decision was pronounced by the Sheriff, as
the Peels compromised matters so well that Mr Macpherson speaks
highly of their behaviour. After this landlords took good care in
their leases of sheep and arable farms to reserve game and power to
lease it separately. In time this reservation was in many cases
pushed to extremities, but public sentiment having been aroused
better feeling prevailed, and the grievance of two rents from the
same subject, and in especial that of fostering rabbits where hill
grounds for grouse are scarce, is now much modified.
THE MACPHERSONS OF BREACKACHIE.
The Breackachie family long held a good
position in Badenoch, but latterly they unfortunately incurred the
deep-seated hostility not only of their own Chief, but also that of
Mr Tod, the well-known Gordon factor.
Mr Donald Macpherson of Breackachie,
himself closely connected with Cluny, and whose son, Colonel Duncan,
had married Margaret, one of Evan Macpherson of Cluny's daughters,
was with his son evicted from Breackachie, in 1773, to be succeeded
by another Macpherson—Lachlan of Ralia. The removal was defended
vigorously, but the defences failing, it was effected, breaking the
heart of old Donald Macpherson, who had possessed under leases
granted in 1735 and 1752. His latter years were spent with his
daughter, Mrs Mackintosh of Borlum, and the last letter I have of
his dated, Raits, the 24th of July, 1777, in a tremulous hand, is a
strong appeal to William Mackintosh of Balnespick to cease
persecuting "the poor remnant of the Borlums and their estate,"
represented by his daughter.
Donald Macpherson was succeeded as
representative of the family by his son, Colonel Duncan Macpherson,
who at one time was very well 'off; being owner of Wester Gask in
Strathnairn, and Bleaton at the foot of Glenshee. Colonel Duncan,
who had seen a good deal of service, must, judging by his letters,
have been an accomplished gentleman, but unhappily getting mixed up
with the notorious "Black Captain," John Macpherson of Ballachroan,
lost both his estates and died in comparative poverty. He is said to
have built the first house in Kingussie towards the east end on the
upper side of the road, I believe still standing.
Colonel Macpherson was also proprietor
of Callag Etterish, or Catlodge, which had to be sold, and was
purchased by Cluny. The place occupied by several sub-tenants was
given by him for 29 years from 1787. He died early in the century,
and was succeeded by his son Barclay, afterwards General Barclay
Macpherson, in the lease of Catlodge and the house in Kingussie.
At Whitsunday, 1816, the lease of
Catlodge fell out, and for some reasons which I have not been able
to ascertain, Colonel Duncan Macpherson of Cluny, uncle of Barclay,
then Colonel, and abroad with his regiment, commenced certain
vindictive and outrageous legal proceedings connected with the
outgoing from Catlodge.
In Colonel Barclay's absence, his
paternal aunt, Mrs Mackintosh of Borlum, and her daughter, Mrs
MacEdward, looked after his affairs, but without any written
authority. The rent of Catlodge was only £18, and it had 8
sub-tenants. Cluny's first step was, before Whitsunday, to present a
petition to have the biggings valued to ascertain the pejoration. An
exparte report was got fixing them at over £200, a monstrous sum,
seeing that the meliorations payable by Cluny were not to exceed
£30. The proceedings were directed against Colonel Barclay, then
abroad, but he was neither served personally nor summoned edictally,
and it was by accident that Mrs Mackintosh heard of them. The next
step on the part of Cluny was to raise a summons for £2000 in name
of damages, before any damages had either been ascertained or
legally fixed, while arrcstments were laid in the hands of all the
sub-tenants. Whitsunday had now arrived when the rent had to be
paid, and Mrs Mackintosh, on applying to the sub-tenants to put her
in funds, was for the first time informed of the arrestments, and of
all these outrageous proceedings. But Cluny, or those advising him,
were not yet satisfied, for no sooner was the rent unpaid, really in
consequence of the arrestments used by himself, than sequestration
was applied for. Mrs Mackintosh and her daughter bestirred
themselves vigorously for their relative, and got one of the ablest
lawyers in Inverness to appear. Some of his allegations for Colonel
Barclay are scathing even in legal warfare, while Mr Alexander
Shepherd, who appeared for Cluny, after doing his best, had to
yield, and finally Cluny got nothing but his rent, which had always
been at his disposal.
Colonel Barclay Macpherson, the last of
the Breakachies, an honourabic and high-spirited man, took no legal
steps for redress, but took such a dislike to Badenoch that after
his retirement he ceased almost all connection with it, dying in
Stirling. He left 100, the interest to be allotted for keeping up
the burial place in St. Columba's Churchyard, and being satisfied
that Ewen Macpherson of Cluny, a child at the time of these
proceedings, had no concern in them, and indeed had afterwards
expressed his regret that such had taken place in his name,
nominated him one of the Trustees to administer the above fund, and
if I mistake not substituted one or two of the Cluny family to
succeed to the house in Kingussie, failing the institute. So much
regarding the three last Macphersons of the good old family of
Breackachie, one of whom, John, is mentioned in 1609 as concurring
in the Bond of Union among the Clan Chattan.
The Breackachies were not the only
Macphersons of standing who incurred the hostility of the restored
owners. Ewen Macpherson, tacksman of MacCoul, had, through
Ballachroan, got rather behind, and in 1811 was sequestrated at the
instance of Colonel Duncan Macpherson of Cluny. Ewen's rent was
£100, and his subject was worth £700. The rent due was forehand, yet
a sequestration was applied for and granted on the 25th of January,
1811, and a warrant of sale for ready money applied for and obtained
on the 6th of February, the sale to take place at Kingussie, 20
miles distant, on the 16th of February. To carry out a sale at that
period of the year, the weather being very inclement, when there was
no demand for cattle because no keep, and for a forehand rent, was
so oppressive that MacCoul and his trustee, for he was sequestrated
as a bankrupt by the Court of Session, came forward and obtained an
interdict. Bad as the factors of the forfeited estates were, I fancy
the tenants in Badenoch or some of them would, I should say, have
been glad to see them back.
THE MACPHERSONS OF OVIE AND MACCOUL,
ETC. Another
respectable family in Laggan was also oppressed and dispossessed
about the same time, namely, the Macphersons of Ovie. Hugh
Macpherson had the temerity to cross Factor Tod, and was ejected
neck and heel, to make way for James Shaw, from the parish of Alvie.
Shaw was foolish enough to offer a rent of £42 instead of the former
rent of £27, and not getting possession for months, in consequence
of the outgoing tenants retaining violent possession, his plans fell
through ; he could not pay his rent, and was in turn ejected like
Ovie. No more
interesting place exists in Laggan than Crathy, where there is at
this day the only cluster of small tenants in all Badenoch. Long may
they hold their place, and send out strong men and strapping lasses
to supply those services so much needed in the parish.
Crathy was threatened with extinction in
1806, but it has happily survived while the extirpators have
themselves been long since extirpated. The following were in that
year summoned to remove but maintained their place, viz.
James Mackintosh, Donald Macdonald alias
Macgillivantich, John Mackintosh, Alexander Kennedy, Donald
Mackillop, Angus Cattanach, Alexander Macpherson, Angus Macdonald,
and Alexander Macdonald. I hope to see the day when the lands from
Crathy Mor and Crathy Croy to Gaskmore and Gaskbeg will be peopled
as of old by Mackintoshes, that the ancient burial place of
Kylarchill will be enclosed and beautified, and the Brae of Spey and
of Roy opened up by railway.
THE "GENTLEMEN" OF BADENOCH.
The "Gentlemen" of Badenoch was the
honoured designation of many of the larger farmers, particularly in
Laggan. In the palmy days of sheep farming there flocked down to the
Inverness Wool Fair, where they kept "the crown of the causeway,"
Garvamore and Garvabeg; Shirramore and Shirrabeg; Tullochcrom and
Aberarder; Gallovie and Kinlochlaggan; MacCoul and Brae Laggan;
Druminord and losal an Ord Daichully and Strathmashie ;
Crathiemor and Crathiecroy; Gaskmore and Gaskbeg, and several
others, fine seasoned vessels, who never shirked their glass, and
could well hold their own with the choicest stalwarts of Lochaber.
The family of MacNab, terminating in the
last Dalchully, were long influential in Laggan, and to them chiefly
falls the credit of erecting on Tirfadoun, the pretty Roman Catholic
Chapel so picturesquely situated, guarding the pass into the Brae of
Spey and the famous Corryaraick. The natural beauty of the locality
has been much enhanced by Sir John Ramsden's plantation of the Dun.
The Macdonalds, long wadsetters of
Gallovie, nourished by the Mackintoshes, were dispossessed by the
Macphersons, who in 1790 got possession of the lands of Innisnagaul
on Loch Laggan side. The last of the Gallovie Macdonalds who had any
hold in Laggan was Ranald Macdonald, tenant in Strathmashie. Judging
from the paper after quoted, Ranald inherited the pugnacious
instincts of his predecessors without the opportunities which they
possessed of indulging in them. By i8ro the King's writ ran, even in
Laggan, though the relaxations of the "Gentlemen" were rather
startling.
Counsel did not see his way to recommend any legal steps in the case
to which the document refers, the evidence being too scrimp, and
Dalchu]ly had to put up with the assault, which must have been
particularly galling to him when it is recollected that according to
the veracious Aytoun, with four exceptions, "Of all the Highland
clans, MacNab is the most ferocious." The document is entitled—
"Memorial for Donald MacNab, Esq., at
Daichully, in the District of Badenoch and County of Inverness,"
dated the 2nd of November, 1810.
"The memorialist feels it to be a duty
which he owes to himself as at the head of a family as well as for
the sake of public example not to pass in silence an atrocious
attack lately made upon his person by a neighbour, who has been
hitherto held in the estimation of a gentleman, and is a Justice of
Peace in the county; but before proceeding to any legal measures, he
is desirous of having the best advice, how far, from the occult
nature of the assault, and the deficiency of evidence consequently
attending it, he will be able to establish a claim of reparation in
a court of law, on account of the injuries he has already suffered;
and what steps he ought to adopt for the safety and security of his
person and property in the future. With this view the consideration
of the learned counsel is requested to the following statement.
"The memorialist holds, as sub-tenant,
the farm of Dalchully, and Mr Ranald Macdonald rents that of
Strathmashie, both in the close vicinity of each other, and
separated by the water of Mashie, which forms the march between
them. About three months ago, the memorialist was informed from good
authority that Macdonald was making application to the Duke of
Gordon, the proprietor of both farms, for part of the farm of
Dalchully to be attached to that of Strathmashie at the next sett.
As the memorialist was a good deal interested in a measure of this
kind, and being on a perfectly good footing at that time with
Macdonald, he enquired of him if the report was true, which after
some evasion he admitted, and added that right or wrong he would
persist in his application. This produced some hasty words between
the parties, which ended in a formal challenge to fight by Macdonald
to the memorialist—but the quarrel was amicably settled by the
interposition of friends, and the memorialist thought no more about
it; tho' he at the same time made a counter application to the
proprietor and principal tacksman respecting Dalchully, and received
every assurance that Macdonald's views would be disappointed, and so
the matter rested.
"An application had also been made some
time before by Macdonald to the memorialist for payment of certain
mill dues or multures which he said were due to him, in answer to
which the memorialist addressed a letter to Macdonald, alleging that
the demand was unjust to the extent called for, and that it would
not be paid. In short, the terms of the memorialist's letter were
perhaps in some degree harsh and unpalatable to Macdonald. But
whether (as Macdonald afterwards alleged) that the origin of their
recontre was the view he had of asking an explanation of this
letter, or, whether some grudge rankled in Macdonald's mind
respecting the proposal about Daichully, or, if both circumstances
gave rise to a determined hostility on the part of Macdonald towards
the memorialist, cannot be ascertained, but so it is that for some
time he had meditated revenge against the memorialist. Accordingly
on Tuesday, the 16th ultimo, Macdonald resolved on carrying his plan
into effect. The memorialist had after breakfast taken a walk to
that part of his farm opposite the house of Strathmashie, where he
has some hay stacks. He had not been long there when he saw
Macdonald (who had been out of doors and must have seen the
memorialist) suddenly enter his house, and with equal haste come out
carrying something in his hand like a bludgeon, and then walk away
in the direction likely to be taken by the memorialist on his return
home. The memorialist after remaining some time where he was,
proceeded homeward, and when he had advanced a considerable way (at
least a mile's distance), and was in a private part of the road,
Macdonald crossed the water, and commenced his attack by knocking
down the memorialist with a large bludgeon. The memorialist received
no less than eleven cuts and blows on the head and face, which must
have appeared sufficient to extinguish life. After some time,
however, the memorialist recovering his senses a little, saw
Macdonald, and two men along with him at some distance. The
memorialist from his situation only knew one of these men, to whom
he called aloud, with the little exertion of which he was capable,
to keep in memory what he had observed, when both the men
immediately sneaked away. It has been since understood that they
were father and son. While the memorialist lay on the ground, he
recovered his senses so far as to ask Macdonald if he intended to
murder him, whose answer was, "I do, by God, you scoundrel," which
words were accompanied by another dreadful blow a little above the
temple, which again deprived the memorialist of motion and sense—and
there the bloody scene ended. The memorialist having been conveyed
home, a medical man was sent for, who found him in a state of the
most imminent danger, and declared that if some of the blows had
been an inch and a half lower they must have killed a much stronger
man instantly. The same medical man continued to attend the
memorialist constantly, and reside in his house for several days—so
late as the 20th ulto. the memorialist was so ill as to be
pronounced by no means out of danger. The only evidence which can be
adduced to prove this assault is the statement given by Macdonald
himself, in a letter to the Rev. i\Ir Macintyre (a copy of which is
herewith laid before counsel), and the depositions of the two men
who were in company with Macdonald, whose depositions, however,
cannot be relied upon, as it seems they are poor dependents and
cottars of Macdonald's and will swear to whatever suits his purpose.
Two circumstances operate strongly against Macdonald, namely, that
the attack was made in a private and unfrequented path, after having
crossed the water purposely to get at the memorialist, and that
Macdonald himself holds the situation of a Magistrate, being a
Justice of Peace for the county. It is alleged by Macdonald, in his
statement, that the memorialist was the aggressor. If so, it appears
extraordinary that Macdonald should carry no marks of injury on his
person, as the memorialist had a stick in his possession, which he
certainly would, in this case, have used—but the assertion is
totally false, and to account for the appearance of blows about him,
Macdonald pretends that the memorialist pulled him to the ground and
commenced the assault by seizing his neck-cloth. Upon the whole,
counsel will be pleased to give his opinion what proceedings it
would be proper in the memorialist to follow forth with the view of
protecting himself, his family and property from the future violence
of this outrageous man, and also in obtaining reparation for the
injuries which he has already sustained ; counsel will further say,
whether the circumstances, and the evidence are such as would
justify the memorialist in endeavouring to make the case the subject
of a public prosecution, and what steps he is to adopt for that
purpose." |
