1976 MacIntyre Family from Bannockburn and Inverness Maryland Return to
Scotland
Glen Etive
Son of the carpenter. A traditional account
dates the origins of the name to the early twelfth century, when Somerled was establishing
his lordship in the Western Isles. After Olav the Red, Norse King of Man and the Isles,
resisted Somerled's ambitions, he then resorted to diplomacy, and sought the hand of the
king's daughter, Ragnhild, in marriage. Somerled's nephew, Macarill or Maurice, assured
his uncle that he could devise a scheme to win the bride. It is said that Macarill
sabotaged Olav's galley by boring holes in the hull, which he then plugged with tallow. He
contrived to be a passenger on the king's galley, and went well supplied with wooden
plugs. Heavy seas washed out the tallow and the galley began to flounder, at which point
Macarill promised to save the kings life if he would promise his daughters hand to
Somerled. The pact was sealed, and the plugs used to stop the leaks. Macarill was
thereafter known as the "wright or carpenter", and found high favour with his
uncle.
Macarill's descendents later established
themselves on the mainland where, according to legend, they were warned by a spirit only
to settle where a white cow in their herd came to rest. The land they settled was the rich
and fertile Glen Noe by Ben Cruachan on Loch Etiveside. By the end of the thirteenth
century the Macintyres were foresters to the Lord of Lorn, an office they held through the
passing of the lordship from the Macdougalls to the Stewarts and finally the Campbells.
As the family records have been lost, the Macintyre chiefs
cannot be listed with any accuracy, but the first chief of record was Duncan, who married
a daughter of Campbell of Bercaldine. Duncan died in 1695 and was buried in Ardchattan
Priory in a tomb worthy of his rank. Through the Barcaldine connection, the Macintyre
chiefs claim descent from Robert the Bruce. The civil war in Scotland provided a
convenient excuse for many clans to settle old scores. The Earl of Argyll was not only
leader of the Covenanter faction in the Scottish Parliament, but he was also the
implacable foe of many clans whose fortunes had been eclipsed by the rise of the
Campbells. The earl's lands were ravaged, but royalist forces commanded by Alasdair
Macdonald, Colkitto, spared Gen Noe on the grounds that the Macintyres were kinsmen. Many
Macintyres subsequently joined Colkitto's army, including the chief's piper. The chief,
however, was with Argyll at Inverlochy in February 1645 when the Campbells were surprised
by Montrose and routed.
Glen Etive, looking over Loch Etive towards Glen Coe.
The lands of the MacIntyres & the Campbells.
James, the third chief, was born around 1727. He was
sponsored by the Campbell Earl of Breadalbane and studied law, being regarded as a good
scholar and a poet. On his father's death he returned to Glen Noe. When Prince Charles
Edward Stuart raised his father's standard at Glenfinnan in 1745, James would have joined
him but for the influence of his Campbell wife and neighbours. Many clansmen, however,
slipped away and fought for the house of Hanover at the Battle of Falkirk in 1746. A
monument to the poet's memory was erected in 1859 near Loch Awe.
The Macintyres originally held their lands by right of the
sword, but they had acquired feudal obligations to the Campbells. The payments were purely
symbolic until the early eighteenth century, when Campbell of Breadalbane
persuaded the
Macintyre chief to pay a cash rent. The rent was then progressively raised to a point
where Donald, the fourth recorded chief, was unable to pay, and he emigrated to America in
1783, leaving his brother Duncan, to manage the estate. Duncan struggled on until 1806,
when he too left the glen. The chiefly line continued to honour their Scottish origins in
America, preserving the amorial great seal, signet ring and quaffing cup. In 1955 Alasdair
Macintyre of Camus-na-h-erie recorded arms in the Lyon Court as cadet of the chiefly house
of Macintyre. The shield was quite different from that which clan historians believed to
be correct. This unhappy state of affairs was corrected in 1991, when James Wallace
Macintyre of Glenoe, ninth of the recorded chiefs, matriculated the correct undifferenced
arms. The Macintyres once more take their seat on the Council of Clan Chiefs, and even
Duncan Ban's lonely monument is more accessible, with a Forrestry Commission stopping
place from which it may be viewed.
The current chief is Donald
Russell MacIntyre, 10th recorded chief of
Glenoe (really 30th from the first chief), but is a very private
person who does not wish to be involved with the Clan. We do have a
chieftain, Ian Malcolm MacIntyre, 17th of Camus-na-h-Erie, who lives in
Edinburgh.
Another Account of the Clan MacIntyre
The MacIntyres were known as Mac An t-Saoir, meaning the children of
the carpenter and came initially from the Hebrides settling in Lorn in the 14th century.
It is claimed in an old tradition that the family were formally Macdonald. One day at sea
a galley sprung a leak and one of the Macdonalds forced his thumb into the hole and cut it
off, thus enabling the boat to reach its destination safely. He was henceforth known as
"An t-saoir" and his descendants Macan t-saoir. Whatever the exact origins of
the clan they seem to have become established in Glenoe, Argyllshire around 1300, where
they became feudal inferiors to the Campbells of Glenorchy. This family were considered
the principal branch until 1806 when they were forced to part with their lands and
emigrated to America. The MacIntyres were also connected with several other clans, they
were hereditary foresters to the Stewarts of Lorn, and ten were killed or wounded in the
Appin regiment at Culloden in 1746. A branch of the clan followed the Campbells of
Craignish, while another moved to Badenoch, and in 1496 were admitted as a sept of Clan
Chattan by William 13th Chief of the MacKintoshes. MacIntyres of Rannoch were hereditary
pipers to the Menzies of Weem, while another branch held the same office to the MacDonalds
of Clanranald. One of the most famous of Gaelic poets was Duncan MacIntyre, Donnacha Ban
nan Oran, born in Glenorchy in 1724. He was imprisoned for a poem he wrote against the Act
of Proscription of the Highland dress and died in Edinburgh in 1812. In 1991, James
MacIntyre of Glenoe, who lives in the United States of America, was officially recognised
by the Lord Lyon as Chief of Clan MacIntyre. Prior to his claim being recognised, the
chiefship had been vacant since the 19th century.
While researching something else, came
across the following in Adam, F., and Innes of Learney, Lord Lyon, King of Arms, 'Clans,
Septs and Regiments of Scotland', 5th edn., 1955, p 252, "James, 3rd of Glenoe, ..
married Anne, daughter of Duncan Campbell of Barcadine. ... James's eldest son, Donald,
M.D., and Chief of Macintyre, emigrated to New York 1783 where he married Esther Haines.
Dying 1792, he was succeeded by his eldest son, James, born at Newburgh, Orange Co., NY,
1785, who returned to Scotland 1806 and married Anne, daughter of Peter Campbell of
Corries. Failing to retain Glenoe, he returned to the US, settling at Fulton Co., NY, and
died 1887, leaving by his wife Phoebe Shepherd, a family of whom the eldest son, James,
next Chief of the Clan, was born 1864. He and his brothers are said to have flourished in
business; but their whereabouts is meantime unknown, and the chiefship has never been
legally established [note: this is 1955].
The Clach an Laoigh Bhiata or Stone of the White Calf can still be seen in Glen Noe at
Ordnance Survey map reference 103.318 (Landranger series number 50). It is situated just
below the summit of the Lairig Noe. You should come off the A85 road onto the B8077. A
path then leads more or less straight to the stone from a bridge.
I've often travelled to the Loch Awe / Glen Etive area,
mainly to climb Cruachan. To tell you the truth, I've never actually been to the Clach an
Laoigh Bhiata, although I've known where it is for years. It's one of those things I've
been meaning to do for a while.
If you do intend to visit the stone I would recommend that you take a water proof jacket
and wear a stout pair of shoes or walking boots. It's a 5 km walk from the bridge on the B
road to the stone.
If your in the Glen Noe area you could also visit the site of the Larach a Bo Bainne or
Township of the White Cow (Map ref: 056.342). Local legend has it that the MacIntyres
hailed from the Western Isles. Prompted by a prophecy that fortune would be theirs if they
followed a white fairy cow and settled where it finally rested, they eventually found
their way to Glen Noe. Again, this is also approximately a 5 km walk.
Also, you can travel deep inside Cruachan courtesy of Scottish Power who run a Hydro
Electric Power Station deep inside the mountain. The visitor centre is on the A85 at the
foot of Cruachan on the shore of Loch Awe.
Here is another mention of a McIntyre
kindly sent in by Ranald
McIntyre
COMMISSION by John Earl of Breadalbane, to
John M’Intyr in Glacsgour, to be forrester of the south side of the
forrest of Corichiba for keeping the marches thereof, he being bound not
to have any Sheillings nor to pasture any goods within the old limits
thereof, and to stop all passengers travelling through it with guns; to
free himself, his family, and any who lodge with him of eating venison,
except the umbles and entrails of such as shall be killed for the Earl’s
use; to kill in seasonable time of year, that is, from Midsummer to
Hallowmas, the number of sixteen deer to be sent to the officer of Finlarg,
the chamberlin of Glenurchy detaining from him a boll of meal for every
deer he is short of the number; and he is to receive all the deer and roes
in the forrest at the sight of the chamberlin and honest men in the
country, and the chamberlin is to write on the back of the tack the number
so received that it may be known how the deer have increased under his
care; for which the Earl allows John the shealing of Blaraven, the said
John being bound to sheal himself upon the borders and extremities of the
forrest, where his predecessors did, in order to keep off broken men and
destroyers of deer; and the said John is to have eight bolls meal out of
Achnofavnich. Signed at Castle Kelchurne, 30 March 1687.
Another mention of MacIntyre's in
relation to Rob Roy McGregor
Rob Roy still maintained a considerable
band of his Watch, and when the need arose could call up a large body of
his clan. An instance arose in August 1722, when the MacIntyres, who
occupied a township at Invercarnaig (also called Easter Inverlochlarig,
since it lay at the head of Loch Doine), were dunned for arrears of rent
by Ian Og of Glencarnaig. The MacIntyres had had a bad year in 1721 to
1722, and had been unable to meet the rent due in kind or money. Iain Og
had won the court's adjudication of property, and was now about to
descend, bearing letters of horning and caption, with messengers-at-arms,
sheriff's officers, and a body of armed men, to evict the MacIntyres and
seize their stock and furnishings. In such dire straits, Donald MacIntyre
called to see Rob. He appealed for help.
Rob listened to the tale. If he acted, that
would mean yet another open clash with the law, and perhaps with Atholl.
He had no longer wish for this - furthermore, if he took up the lease of
MacIntyre's land himself, it would make provision for his son Duncan, or
Ranald. But the appeal was not one he could refuse. He knew too well the
physical and mental hurt to a family of eviction and loss of stock. When
he heard that eviction had been timed for next Wednesday, he called for
his gillies, and summoned a hundred men for Tuesday afternoon. His force
must be overwhelming to avoid bloodshed.
On Tuesday night, Rob laid an ambush on the
shores of Loch Voil, positioned his men, bivouacked, and put out scouts.
Iain Og walked straight into the trap next morning. He had 35 men strung
out on the track when Rob Roy jumped them at gun - and sword point. The
law officers surrendered and were taken hostage, together with three if
Iain Og's men. The main body was turned back. Rob released his prisoners
next day, after they had sworn on oath not to return.
Atholl's baillie, Robert Stewart in
Balquidder, reported direct to the duke:
'Ballqwidder, 11 August 1722. may it please
yr Gr. These are signifying that upon Wednesday last, being the 8th
instant, John Campbell of Glencharnek did come to the lands of Easter
Innerlochlareg shoon in ye morning with thirty armed men, two
messengers, and two other sub officers, for to uplift the whole goods of
the said town & Robert Roy McGregor having a kindnesse and favour for
the MacIntyres of Innercharnek, notwithstanding of the favour he had to
his own kindred, those of Innerlochlareg, did lie a night before John
Campbell came with his men, in ambush with his lads, and seeing John
Campbell come with his men, went out to meet them, & apprehended ye
two messangers and two sub officers, with other three of the partie, and
disarmed them & took them prisoners & kept a guard upon them 24
hours and at last kept their arms & did let them go, taking a
promisory oath of them that they would never come again upon that
occasione.
Atholl chose to take no action, Perhaps he
too thought the law unjust in this instance. He was ageing - he had only
two years to live - and must have thought twice of another, unrewarding
encounter. The Justiciary at Parliament House in Edinburgh were helpless
to act without Atholl or the army. Enforcement lapsed. Rob reigned supreme
in his glen.
I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but
for some time I've speculated that there was probably a kinship or common
descent with the O Brolchains of the Cenel Eoghain with the Irish Mac an
t-Saoirs, based on two annal entries, the first of which calls an O
Brolchain 'the prime t-Saoir' of Ireland, then a slightly later entry
which names a Mac an t-Saoir, presumably the son or ancestor of this first
O Brolchain.
Interestingly enough, there were
connections with Iona in this O Brolchain family. One, then Bishop
of Derry, was asked by Somerled to take over the abbacy of Iona - a later
O Brolchain carved an inscription in a church at Iona, stating that he had
built the building. Black's Surnames of Scotland list a number of
other Irish O Brolchains who appear in later Scottish records - and states
that the surname is of Irish origin.
With the O Brolchains at Iona, could their
kinsmen the Irish Mac an t-Saoirs have been far behind? The history
of the MacIntyres of Scotland is about as misty as can be. All they
seem to know for sure is that they sailed to their present homelands from
an island to the west accompanied by a mysterious white cow and a prophecy
about settling where the cow rested.
The white cow symbolism occurs frequently
in Celtic mythology and is probably impossible to trace with certainty.
But it is at least interesting to note that St. Bridgit of Ireland was
associated with a white cow; that she built a nunnery at Kildare, and is
most strongly associated with that area; and that the second O Brolchain
Mac an t-Saoir referred to above, was Bishop of Kildare.
In short, I wonder if the Scottish Mac an
t-Saoirs could have been Irish Mac an t-Saoirs, who sailed to their
present homeland from Iona (or Ireland) around 1200 A.D. or a little
later. Click here for further
information on this.
This comment system
requires you to be logged in through either a Disqus account
or an account you already have with Google, X, Facebook or
Yahoo. In the event you don't have an account with any of
these companies then you can create an account with Disqus.
All comments are moderated so they won't display until the
moderator has approved your comment.
The MacIntyres were known as Mac An t-Saoir, meaning the children of
the carpenter and came initially from the Hebrides settling in Lorn in the 14th century.
It is claimed in an old tradition that the family were formally Macdonald. One day at sea
a galley sprung a leak and one of the Macdonalds forced his thumb into the hole and cut it
off, thus enabling the boat to reach its destination safely. He was henceforth known as
"An t-saoir" and his descendants Macan t-saoir. Whatever the exact origins of
the clan they seem to have become established in Glenoe, Argyllshire around 1300, where
they became feudal inferiors to the Campbells of Glenorchy. This family were considered
the principal branch until 1806 when they were forced to part with their lands and
emigrated to America. The MacIntyres were also connected with several other clans, they
were hereditary foresters to the Stewarts of Lorn, and ten were killed or wounded in the
Appin regiment at Culloden in 1746. A branch of the clan followed the Campbells of
Craignish, while another moved to Badenoch, and in 1496 were admitted as a sept of Clan
Chattan by William 13th Chief of the MacKintoshes. MacIntyres of Rannoch were hereditary
pipers to the Menzies of Weem, while another branch held the same office to the MacDonalds
of Clanranald. One of the most famous of Gaelic poets was Duncan MacIntyre, Donnacha Ban
nan Oran, born in Glenorchy in 1724. He was imprisoned for a poem he wrote against the Act
of Proscription of the Highland dress and died in Edinburgh in 1812. In 1991, James
MacIntyre of Glenoe, who lives in the United States of America, was officially recognised
by the Lord Lyon as Chief of Clan MacIntyre. Prior to his claim being recognised, the
chiefship had been vacant since the 19th century.