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When John of Lorn arrived as a fugitive in
England, King Edward was making preparations for that expedition, which terminated in the
ever-memorable battle of Bannockburn. John was received with open arms, appointed to the
command of the English fleet, and ordered to sail for Scotland, in order to co-operate
with the land forces. But the total defeat and dispersion of the latter soon afterwards
confirmed Bruce in possession of the throne; and being relieved from the apprehension of
any further aggression on the part of the English kings he resolved to lose no time in
driving the Lord of Lorn from the Isles, where he had made his appearance with the fleet
under his command. Accordingly, on his return from Ireland, whither he had accompanied his
brother Edward, he directed his course towards the Isles, and having arrived at Tarbet, is
said to have caused his galleys to be dragged over the isthmus which connects Kintyre and
Knapdale. This bold proceeding was crowned with success. The English fleet was surprised
and dispersed; and its commander having been made prisoner, was sent to Dumbarton, and
afterwards to Lochleven, where he was detained in confinement during the remainder of King
Robert's reign.
In the early part of the reign of
David II, John's son, John or Ewen, married a grand-daughter of Robert the Bruce, and
through her not only recovered the ancient possessions of his family, but even obtained a
grant of the property of Glenlyon. These extensive territories, however, were not destined
to remain long in the family. Ewen died without male issue; and his two daughters having
married, the one John Stewart of Innermeath, and the other his brother Robert Stewart, an
arrangement was entered into between these parties, in virtue of which the descendants of
John Stewart acquired the whole of Lorn possessions, with the exception of the castle of
Dunolly and its dependencies, which remained to the other branch of the family; and thus
terminated the power of this branch of the descendants of Somerled.
The chieftainship of the clan now descended to the family
of Dunolly, which continued to enjoy the small portion which remained to them of their
ancient possessions until the year 1715, when the representative of the family incurred
the penalty of forfeiture for his accession to the insurrection of that period; thus, by a
singular contrast of circumstances, "losing the remains of his inheritance to
replace upon the throne the descendants of those princes, whose accession his ancestors
had opposed at the expense of their feudal grandeur." The estate, however, was
restored to the family in 1745, as a reward for them not having taken any part in the more
formidable rebellion of that year. In Presidents Forbes Report on the strength of the
clans, the force of the Macdougalls is estimated at 200 men.
The Macdougalls of Raray, represented by Macdougall of
Ardencaple, were a branch of the house of Lorn. The principal cadets of the family of
Donolly were those of Gallanach and Soraba. The Macdougalls still hold possessions in
Galloway, where, however, they usually style themselves Macdowall. |
