He has a sasine as "third lawful son now in life" of the lands of
Kildin, dated October, 1694. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John
Paterson, Bishop of Ross (marriage contract 1700), with issue - Major
William Mackenzie, who married Mary, daughter and co-heiress of
Mathew Humberston, county Lincoln, whose two sons - Colonel Thomas
Francis Mackenzie, and Francis Humberston Mackenzie, created Lord
Seaforth in 1797, and who died without surviving male issue, the
last of his line in 1815 - succeeded to the family estates.
V. Margaret, who married James, second Lord Duffus, with issue.
VI. Anne, who died unmarried.
VII. Isabel, who married, first, in February, 1694, Roderick
Macleod, XVI I. of Macleod, without issue; and, secondly, Sir Duncan
Campbell of Lochnell, with issue.
VIII. Mary, who, as his second wife, married Alexander Macdonald,
XI. of Glengarry, with issue - John, who carried on the succession,
and others. She has a life-rent sasine in 1696. Kenneth Mor died
in December, 1678, when he was succeeded by his eldest son,
XVI. KENNETH OG, FOURTH EARL OF SEAFORTH,
So described by the Highlanders to distinguish him from his father.
At an early age he began to reap the benefits of his predecessor's
faithful adherence to the fortunes of Charles II. In 1678, before
his father died, his name is found among the chiefs, who, by a
proclamation dated 10th of October in that year, were called upon
to give their bond and caution for the security of the peace and
quiet of the Highlands, which the leaders were to give, not only
for themselves but for all the members of their respective Clans.
In spite of all the enactments and orders hitherto passed, the
inhabitants and broken men in the Highlands were "inured and
accustomed to liberty and licentiousness" during the late troubles,
and "still presumed to sorn, steal, oppress, and commit other
violences and disorders." The great chiefs were commanded to
appear in Edinburgh on the last Tuesday of February, 1679, and
yearly thereafter on the second Thursday of July, to give security
and receive instructions as to the peace of the Highlands. To
prevent any excuse for non-attendance, they were declared free
from caption for debt or otherwise while journeying to and from
Edinburgh, and other means were to be taken, which might be thought
necessary or expedient until the Highlands were finally quieted,
and "all these wicked, broken, and disorderly men utterly rooted
out and extirpated." A second proclamation was issued, in which
the lesser barons - heads of the branches of clans - whose names are
given, were to go to Inverlochy by the 20th of November following,
as they were "by reason of their mean condition," not able to
come in to Edinburgh and find caution, and there to give in bonds
and securities for themselves, their men, tenants, servants, and
indwellers upon their lands, and all of their name descended of their
families, to the Earl of Caithness, Sir James Campbell of Lawers,
James Menzies of Culdarers, or any two of them. These lists are
interesting, showing, as they do, those who were considered the
greater and lesser barons at the time. We find four Mackenzies
in the former but not one in the latter. [For the full lists see
"Antiquarian Notes," pp. 184 and 187.]
On the 1st of March, 1681, Kenneth was served heir male to his
great-grandfather, Lord Mackenzie of Kintail, in his lands in the
Lordship of Ardmeanach and in the Earldom of Ross; was made a
member of the Privy Council by James II. on his accession to the
throne in 1685, and chosen a Knight Companion of the Thistle, on
the revival of that ancient Order in 1687. The year after the
Revolution Seaforth accompanied his Royal master to France, but
when that Prince returned to Ireland in the following year to make
a final effort for the recovery of his kingdom, he was accompanied
thither by the Earl. There he took part in the siege of Londonderry
and in other engagements, and as an expression of gratitude James
created him Marquis of Seaforth, under which title he repeatedly
appears in various legal documents. This well-meant and deserved
honour, however, came too late in the falling fortunes and declining
powers of the ex-King, and does little more than mark his Royal
confirmation of the steady adherence of the chiefs of Kintail to
the cause of the unfortunate Stuarts.
Viscount Dundee in a letter to the "Laird of Macleod," dated "Moy,
June 23, 1689" [About this time Viscount Tarbat boasted to General
Mackay of his great influence with his countrymen, especially the
Clan Mackenzie, and assured him "that though Seaforth should come to
his own country and among his friends, he (Tarbat) would overturn
in eight days more than the Earl could advance in six weeks yet
be proved as backward as Seaforth or any other of the Clan. And
though Redcastle, Coul, and others of the name of Mackenzie came,
they fell not on final methods, but protested a great deal of
affection for the cause." - "Mackay's Memoirs."] in which he details
his own and the King's prospects, gives a list of those who are
to join him. "My Lord Seaforth," he says, "will be in a few days
from Ireland to raise his men for the King's service;" but the fatal
shot which closed the career of that brilliant star and champion
of the Stuart dynasty at Killiecrankie, arrested the progress of
the family of Seaforth in the fair course to all the honours which
a grateful dynasty could bestow; nor was the family of Kintail
singular in this respect - seeing its flattering prospects withered
at, perhaps, a fortunate moment for the prosperity of the Empire.
Jealousies have now passed away on that subject, and it is not
our business to discuss or in any way confound the principles of
contending loyalties.
To check the proceedings of the Mackenzies, Mackay placed a garrison
of a hundred Mackays in Brahan Castle, the principal seat of the
Earl, and an equal number of Rosses in Castle Leod, the mansion
of Viscount Tarbat, both places of strength, and advantageously
situated for watching the movements of the Jacobite Mackenzies.
["Life of General Mackay," by John Mackay of Rockfield, pp. 36-37.]
Seaforth seems to have left Ireland immediately after the battle
of the Boyne, and to have returned to the Highlands. The greater
part of the North was at the time hostile to the Government, and
General Mackay was obliged to march north, with all haste, before
a general rising could take place under Buchan, who now commanded
the Highlanders who stood out for King James. Mackay was within
four hours march of Inverness before Buchan, who was then at that
place "waiting for the Earl of Seaforth's and the other Highlanders
whom he expected to join him in attacking the town," knew of his
approach. Hearing of the proximity of the enemy, Buchan at once
retreated, crossed the River Ness, and retired along the north
side of the Beauly Firth, eastward through the Black Isle. In this
emergency, Seaforth, fearing the personal consequences of the part
be had acted throughout, sent two of his friends to General Mackay,
offering terms of submission and whatever securities might be
required for his future good behaviour, informing him at the same
time that, although he had been forced to appear on the side of
James, he never entertained any design of molesting the Government
forces or of joining Buchan in his attack on the town of Inverness.
Mackay replied that he could accept no security other than the
surrender of his Lordship's person, at the same time conjuring him
to comply, as he valued his own safety and the preservation of his
family and people, and assuring him that in the case of surrender
he should be detained in civil custody in Inverness, and treated
with the respect due to his rank, until the will of the Government
should become known. Next day the Earl's mother, the Countess
Dowager of Seaforth, and Sir Alexander Mackenzie of Coul proceeded
to Inverness, to plead with Mackay for a mitigation of the terms
proposed, but finding him inflexible, they told him that Seaforth
would accede to any conditions agreed to by them in his behalf.
It was thereupon stipulated that he should deliver himself up at
once and be kept a prisoner in Inverness until the Privy Council
decided as to his ultimate disposal. With the view of concealing
his voluntary submission from his own clan and his other Jacobite
friends, it was agreed that the Earl should allow himself to be
siezed at one of his seats by a party of horse under Major Mackay,
as if he were taken by surprise. He, however, disappointed those
sent to take him, in excuse of which, his mother and he, in letters
to General Mackay, pleaded the delicate state of his health, which,
it was urged, would suffer from imprisonment; and indeed few can
blame him for any unwillingness to place himself absolutely at
the disposal of such a body as the Privy Council of Scotland then
was - many of whom would not hesitate in the slightest to sacrifice
him, if by so doing they could only see any chance of obtaining
a share, however small, of his extensive estates.
General Mackay became so irritated at the deception thus practised
upon him that he resolved to treat Seaforth's vassals "with all the
rigour of military execution," and he sent his Lordship a message
that if he did not surrender forthwith according to his promise, he
should at once carry out his instructions from the Privy Council by
entering his country with fire and sword, and seizing all the
property belonging to himself or to his clan as lawful prize; and,
lest the Earl should have any doubt as to his intention of executing
this terrible treat, he immediately ordered three Dutch regiments
from Aberdeen to Inverness, and decided on leading a competent body
of horse and foot in person from the garrison at the latter place,
to take possession of Brahan Castle. The General, at the same time
wrote instructing the Earl of Sutherland, Lord Reay, and Ross of
Balnagown, to send a thousand of their men, under Major Wishart an
experienced officer acquainted with the country, to take up their
quarters in the more remote districts of the Seaforth estates,
should that extreme step, as he much feared, become necessary.
Having, however, a friendly disposition towards the followers
of Seaforth, on account of their being "all Protestants and none
of the most dangerous enemies," and being more anxious to get
hold of his Lordship's person than to ruin his friends, he caused
information of his intentions to be sent to Seaforth's camp by some
of his own party, as if from a feeling of friendship for him the
result being that, contrary to Mackay's expectations, Seaforth
surrendered - thus relieving him from a most disagreeable duty,
[Though the General "was not immediately connected with the
Seaforth family himself, some of his near relatives were, both by
the ties of kindred and of ancient friendship. For these, and
other reasons it may be conceived what joy and thankfulness to
Providence he felt for the result of ibis affair, which at once
relieved him from a distressing dilemma, and promised to put
a speedy period to his labours in Scotland." - Mackay's "Life of
General Mackay."] - and he was at once committed a prisoner to the
Castle of Inverness.
Writing to the Privy Council about the disaffected chiefs at the
time, General Mackay says - "I believe it shall fare so with the
Earl of Seaforth, that is, that he shall haply submit when his
country is ruined and spoyled, which is the character of a true
Scotsman, wyse behinde the hand." [Letters to the Privy Council,
dated 1st September, 1690.] By warrant, dated 7th October, 1690,
the Privy Council directs Mackay "to transport the person of
Kenneth, Earl of Seaforth, with safety from Inverness to Edinburgh,
in such way and manner as he should think fit." This done, he was
on the 6th November following confined within the Castle of
Edinburgh, but, little more than a year afterwards, he was liberated,
on the 7th January, 1692, having found caution to appear when called
upon, and on condition that he should not go ten miles beyond the
walls of Edinburgh. He appears not to have implemented these
conditions for any length of time, for shortly after he is again in
prison almost immediately makes his escape is apprehended on the 7th
of May, the same year, at Pencaitland and again kept confined in the
Castle of Inverness, from which he is ultimately and finally
liberated on giving sufficient security for his peaceable behaviour,
["Records of the Privy Council," and "Mackay's Memoirs."] the
following being the order for his release:
"William R., Right trusty and right-well-beloved Councillors, &c.,
we greet you well. Whereas we are informed that Kenneth, Earl of
Seaforth, did surrender himself prisoner to the commander of our
garrison at Inverness, and has thrown himself on our Royal mercy;
it is our will and pleasure, and we hereby authorise and require
you to set the said Earl of Seaforth at liberty, upon his finding
bail and security to live peaceably under our Government and to
compear before you when called. And that you order our Advocate
not to insist in the process of treason waged against him until
our further pleasure be known therein. For doing whereof this
shall be your warrant, so we bid you heartily farewell. Given
at our Court at Kensington, the first day of March, 1696-7, and
of our reign the eighth year. By his Majesty's command.
(Signed)
"TULLIBARDINE."
During the remaining years of his life, Seaforth appears to have
lived mainly in France. Apart from his necessary absence from his
own country during the long-continued period of political irritation,
the exhausted state of his paternal revenues would have rendered
his residence abroad highly expedient. We accordingly find several
discharges for feu-duties granted by others in his absence, such
as the following:
"I, Maister Alexander Mackenzie, lawful brother to the Marquis of
Seaforth, grants me to have received from John Mathesone, all and
hail the somme of seaven hundred and twentie merks Scots money and
that in complete payment of his duties and or the lands of both
the Fernacks and Achnakerich, payable Martimass ninety (1690),
dated 22d November, 1694."
There is another by "Isobel, Countess Dowager of Seaforth, in 1696,
tested by 'Rorie Mackenzie, servitor to the Marquis of Seaforth,'"
and an original discharge by "me, Isobell, Countess Dowager of Seaforth,
Lady Superior of the grounds, lands, and oyes under-written," to
Kenneth Mackenzie of Dundonnel, dated at Fortrose, 15th November,
1697, signed, "Isobell Seaforth." [Allangrange Service, on which
occasion thc originals were produced.] It may fairly be presumed
that, during the whole of this period, Earl Kenneth was in retirement,
and that be took no personal part in the management of his estates
for the remainder of his life.
His clansmen, however, seem to have been determined to protect
his interest as much as they could. A certain Sir John Dempster
of Pitliver had advanced Seaforth and his mother, the Countess
Dowager, a large sum of money and obtained a decree of Parliament
to have the amount refunded to him. The cash was not forthcoming,
and Sir John secured letters of horning and arrestment against
them, and employed several officers to serve them, but they returned
the letters unexecuted, not finding notum accessum in the Earl's
country, and they refused altogether to undertake the duty again
without the assistance of the King's forces in the district. Sir
John petitioned for this aid, and humbly craved the Privy Council
to allow him "a competent assistance of his Majesty's forces at
Fort-William, Inverness, or where they are lying adjacent to the
places where the said dilligence is to be put in execution, to
support and protect the messengers" in the due enforcement of the
legal dilligence against the Earl and his mother, "by horning,
poinding, arrestment, or otherways," and to recommend to the Governor
at Fort-William, or the commander of the forces at Inverness, to
grant a suitable force for the purpose. Their Lordships having
considered the petition, recommended Sir Thomas Livingstone,
commander-in-chief of his Majesty's forces, to order some of the
officers already mentioned to furnish the petitioner "with competent
parties of his Majesty's forces" to support and protect the
messengers in the due execution of the "legal dilligence upon the
said decreet of Parliament." [For this document see "Antiquarian
Notes," pp 118-119.]
The Earl married Lady Frances Herbert, second daughter of William,
Marquis of Powis, an English nobleman, by Lady Elizabeth Somerset,
daughter of Edward, Marquis of Worcester, with issue -
I. William, his heir and successor.
II. Mary, who married John Careyl, with issue.
He died at Paris,in 1701, and was succeeded by his only son,
XVII. WILLIAM, FIFTH EARL OF SEAFORTH,
Generally known among the Highlanders as "Uilleam Dubh." He
succeeded at a most critical period in the history of Scotland,
just when the country was divided on the great question of Union
with England, which in spite of the fears of most of the Highland
chiefs and nobles of Scotland, ultimately turned out so beneficial
to both. He would, no doubt, have imbibed strong Jacobite feelings
during his residence with his exiled parents in France. But little
information of William's proceedings during the first few years
of his rule is obtainable. He seems to have continued abroad,
for on the 23d of May, 1709, an order is found addressed to the
forester at Letterewe signed by his mother the Dowager, "Frances
Seaforth." But on the 22d of June, 1713, she addresses a letter
to Colin Mackenzie of Kincraig, in which she says - "I find my son
William is fully inclined to do justice to all. Within fifteen
days he will be at Brahan." [Original produced at Allangrange
Service in 1829.]
At this period the great majority of the southern nobles were ready
to break out into open rebellion, while the Highland chiefs were
almost to a man prepared to rise in favour of the Stuarts. This
soon became known to the Government. Bodies of armed Highlanders
were seen moving about in several districts in the North. A party
appeared in the neighbourhood of Inverness which was, however, soon
dispersed by the local garrison. The Government became alarmed,
and the Lords Justices sent a large number of half-pay officers,
chiefly from the Scottish regiments, to officer the militia, under
command of Major General Whitham, commander-in-chief at the time
in Scotland. These proceedings alarmed the Jacobites, most of
whom returned to their homes. The Duke of Gordon was confined in
Edinburgh Castle, and the Marquis of Huntly and Lord Drummond in
their respective residences. The latter fled to the Highlands
and offered bail for his good behaviour. Captain Campbell of
Glendaruel, who had obtained a commission from the late Administration
to raise an independent company of Highlanders, was apprehended at
Inverlochy and sent prisoner to Edinburgh. Sir Donald Macdonald,
XI. of Sleat, was also seized and committed to the same place, and
a proclamation was issued offering a reward of L100,000 sterling
for the apprehension of the Chevalier, should he land or attempt
to land in Great Britain. King George, on his arrival, threw
himself entirely into the arms of the Whigs, who alone shared his
favours. A spirit of the most violent discontent was excited
throughout the whole kingdom, and the populace, led on by the
Jacobite leaders, raised tumults in different parts of the King's
dominions. The Chevalier, taking advantage of this excitement,
issued a manifesto to the chief nobility, especially to the Dukes
of Shrewsbury, Marlborough, and Argyll, who at once handed them to
the Secretaries of State.
The King dissolved Parliament in January, 1715, and issued an
extraordinary proclamation calling together a new one. The Whigs
were successful both in England and Scotland, but particularly in
the latter, where a majority of the peers, and forty out of the
forty-five members then returned to the Commons, were in favour
of his Majesty's Government. The principal Parliamentary struggle
was in the county of Inverness between Mackenzie of Prestonhall,
strongly supported by Glengarry and the other Jacobite chiefs,
and Forbes of Culloden, brother of the celebrated President, who
carried the election through the influence of Brigadier-General
Grant and the friends of Lord Lovat.
The Earl of Mar, who had rendered himself extremely unpopular
among the Jacobite chiefs, afterwards rewarded some of his former
favourites by advocating the repeal of the Union. He was again made
Secretary of State for Scotland in 1713, but was unceremoniously
dismissed from office by George I., and he vowed revenge. He
afterwards found his way to Fife, and subsequently to the Braes
of Mar. On the 19th of August, 1715, he despatched letters to the
principal Jacobites, among whom was Lord Seaforth, inviting them
to attend a grand hunting match at Braemar on the 27th of the same
month. This was a ruse meant to cover his intention to raise the
standard of rebellion and that the Jacobites were let into the
secret is evident from the fact that as early as the 6th of August
those of them in Edinburgh and its neighbourhood were aware of his
intentions to come to Scotland. Under pretence of attending this
grand match, a considerable number of noblemen and gentlemen arrived
at Aboyne at the appointed time. Among them were the Marquis of
Huntly, eldest son of the Duke of Gordon the Marquis of Tullibardine,
eldest son of the Duke of Athole; the Earls of Nithsdale, Marischal,
Traquair, Errol, Southesk, Carnwarth, Seaforth, and Linlithgow; the
Viscounts Kilsyth, Kenmure, Kingston, and Stormont Lords Rollo,
Duffus, Drummond, Strathallan, Ogilvie, and Nairne; and about
twenty-six other gentlemen of influence in the Highlands, among
whom were Generals Hamilton and Gordon, Glengarry, Campbell of
Glendaruel, and the lairds of Aucterhouse and Auldbar. ["Rae," p
189; "Annals of King George," pp. 15-16.] Mar delivered a stirring
address, in which he expressed regret for his past conduct in
favouring the Union, and, now that his eyes were opened, promising
to do all in his power to retrieve the past and help to make his
countrymen again a free people. He produced a commission from
James appointing him Lieutenant-General and Commander of all the
Jacobite forces in Scotland, and at the same time informed the
meeting that he was supplied with money, and that an arrangement
had been made by which he would be able to pay regularly any forces
that might be raised, so that no gentleman who with his followers
should join his standard would be put to any expense, and that
the country would be entirely relieved of the cost of conducting
the war; after which the meeting unanimously resolved to take up
arms for the purpose of establishing the Chevalier on the Scottish
throne. They then took the oath of fidelity to Mar as the
representative of James VIII. and to each other, and separated,
each going home after promising to raise his vassals and to be in
readiness to join the Earl whenever summoned to do so. They had
scarcely arrived at their respective destinations when they were
called upon to meet him at Aboyne on the 3d of September following,
where, with only sixty followers, Mar proclaimed the Chevalier at
Castletown in Braemar, after which he proceeded to Kirkmichael,
and on the 6th of September, raised his standard in presence of
a force of 2000, mostly consisting of cavalry. When in course of
erection, the ball on the top of the flag-staff fell off. This was
regarded by the Highlanders as a bad omen, and it cast a gloom over
the proceedings of the day.