from 1649 to 1710. Sir James Dixon Mackenzie of Findon says
distinctly that Roderick was "ancestor of Kernsary," ["Genealogical
Tables of the Mackenzies," Sheet 5.] and there appears to be no
doubt about it. But it is not at all clear whether he or his
brother Kenneth bought the estate from the Mackenzies of Coul,
who then owned it. Mr John H. Dixon, in his interesting book on
Gairloch, says that Roderick had a son Kenneth, born about 1703,
by a sister of the Laird of Knockbain, but if there was such a son,
which is highly improbable, he could not have been the purchaser
of any property during his father's lifetime, who died seven
years after Kenneth's alleged birth, when the father must have
been very advanced in years - close upon eighty. The probability
therefore is that Roderick's brother Kenneth - who, like himself,
during a portion of his ministry was an Episcopalian clergyman - was
the purchaser and that he died, without issue, before his brother,
and left the estate to Roderick, who died in 1710, or perhaps
to his eldest son Murdoch, who, in his marriage contract, dated
1708, two years before his father's death, is designated "of
Kernsary." Mr Dixon has several references to these men, but
being traditional they are more or less unreliable; and as yet no
papers have been discovered which throw any light on the original
purchase by this family.
Writing about their immediate progenitor Mr Dixon says - "In 1649
the Rev. Roderick Mackenzie, third son of Roderick Mackenzie of
Knockbackster, was admitted minister of Gairloch and continued so
until his death in March 1710, after an incumbency of sixty-one
years. He seems to have been a man of quiet easy-going temperament.
When he came to Gairloch, Presbyterianism ruled; when Episcopacy
was established in 1660, he conformed; and when the Revolution put
an end to Episcopacy, he became a Presbyterian again." But that
he never was a very enthusiastic one is clear from the Presbytery
records during his incumbency, for they show that he seldom
attended its meetings, though often specially cited by his brethren
to do so. His brother Kenneth, who appears to have continued
an Episcopalian all his life, was of a very different stamp. He
seems to have spent a considerable portion of his early life in the
Island of Bute, to which apparently he became very much attached,
for when he left it and went to reside with his brother at Kernsary,
probably as purchaser and proprietor of the estate, he took a smack
load of Bute soil along with him in order that he might be buried
in it when he died. A portion of this imported earth "was put
into the Inverewe Church, so that when Kenneth was buried there
he might lie beneath Bute soil the overplus was deposited in
the garden of Kirkton house, where the heap is still preserved."
[Dixon's "Gairloch."] The same writer states distinctly that Kenneth
came from Bute, that he was the actual purchaser of the estate,
that he resided in the proprietor's house at Kirkton, that
he officiated in the old church there, some remains of which are
still to be seen, and, he adds - "a loose stone may be seen in the
part of the ruined church which was used as the burial place of
the Kernsary family; it is inscribed 'K M K 1678' and is believed
to have recorded the date when the Rev. Kenneth built or restored
the little church." But is it not much more likely to record
the date of Kenneth's own death? Mr Dixon may be correct in
the assumption that Kenneth, who was a sincere Episcopalian, had
to leave Bute during the troubles of the Covenanting period, and
seek a safe refuge in his brother's parish, who very probably had
no objection to preaching in his church according to the Episcopal
form to which he had himself openly conformed not many years before.
Indeed, after the Revolution, in 1680, the Rev. Roderick, who had
for twenty years been the Episcopalian minister of the parish,
was allowed to remain in his charge until his death thirty years
after without submitting himself to the Presbytery, and most
amusing accounts are given of the manner in which his Presbyterian
successor was opposed on his induction and afterwards persecuted
by the Gairloch Episcopalians.
There appears to be no doubt that the Rev. Kenneth died before
his brother Roderick, minister of Gairloch, and left the estate
of Kernsary either to him or his eldest son, Murdoch, who, as
already stated, is described in 1708, two years before his father's
death, as then of Kernsary." It has been shown that the estate
was purchased by this family from the Mackenzies of Coul, and there
is a sasine, dated the 27th of July, 1762, on a precept of "clare
constat," granted by Sir Alexander Mackenzie of Coul in favour of
Roderick Mackenzie, IV. of Kernsary, as nearest heir male to his
grandfather.
The Rev. Roderick Mackenzie, minister of Gairloch married a daughter
of Bayne of Knockbain, his father's neighbour, with issue, among
several other sons, -
II. MURDOCH MACKENZIE, second of Kernsary, who married, first,
his cousin, a daughter of Alexander Mackenzie, II. of Fairburn,
without male issue.
He married, secondly, Anna, eldest daughter of Charles Mackenzie,
I. of Letterewe (marriage contract 1708), with issue -
III. RODERICK MACKENZIE, third of Kernsary, who as her second
husband married Margaret, youngest daughter of Alexander Mackenzie,
III. of Ballone (sasine to her in 1742), by his wife Barbara,
daughter of Kenneth Mor Mackenzie, I. of Dundonnel, and niece of
Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh, with issue -
1. Roderick, his heir and successor.
2. Hector, who died without issue.
3. Ann, who married George Mackenzie of Kildonan, third son of
James, brother of George Mackenzie, II. of Ardloch, with issue - a
son James.
4. Mary, who married John Ross, Inverness.
Roderick was succeeded by his eldest son,
IV. RODERICK MACKENZIE, fourth of Kernsary, who married his cousin
Mary, eldest daughter of Alexander Mackenzie, IV. of Ballone, by
his wife, Catherine, daughter of George Mackenzie, II. of Gruinard.
She was celebrated for her great beauty, and was immortalised as
"Mali chruinn donn" in one of the best songs in the Gaelic language,
composed by William Mackenzie, a native of Gairloch, better known
as "An Ceistear Crubach," or the Lame Catechist. By her Roderick
had issue -
V. ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, fifth of Kernsary, who sold the property,
and leased the farm of Arcan, near Brahan. He married Mary, eldest
daughter of the Rev. Roderick Morrison, minister of Kintail, by
his wife Jean, daughter of Fraser of Culduthel, with issue -
1. Roderick, planter in Demerara, who died unmarried.
2. Alexander, now residing at Lincoln. He was twice married, and
has issue - a son and daughter.
3. The Rev. Hector, late minister of Moy, Inverness-shire. He
married Margaret, daughter of William Macleod, I. of Orbost, with
issue - an only son William, who married, with issue, and emigrated
to Canada.
4. Davidson, a squatter in Australia, married, with issue.
5. Wilhelmina, who married Alexander MacTavish, Town Clerk of
Inverness, with issue - (1) Alastair, who went to New Zealand and
there married Jeanie Halse, of Wellington, with issue - Alastair
Henry; Hector; and Elsie; (2) William Tavish MacTavish,
Procurator-Fiscal for the Tam District of Ross and Cromarty; (3)
Mary who married Ranald Macdonald of Morar, with issue; and (4)
Catharine, who died unmarried.
6. Maria, residing at Inverness, unmarried.
7. Jean Fraser, who in 1844 married William Murray, tacksman
of Kilcoy, son of Francis Murray of Ardconnon Old Meldrum, with
issue - (1) Francis, an indigo planter in Kurnoul, Tirhoot, who
married, in 1875 Eliza Annabella, daughter of John Mackenzie,
Teetwarpore, Tirhoot, with issue - Francis Mackenzie, Walter William
Macdonald, Jean Fraser, Gertrude Mary, Florence Wilhelmina, and
Lisette Julia; (2) William, tacksman of Bellfield, North Kessock;
(3) Alexander, a fruit-grower in Australia, and editor of the
Mildewa Irrigationist. He marred Catherine, daughter of William
Mackenzie, C,E., New South Wales; (4) Robert Davidson, Surgeon-Major
Bengal Army. He married Mary, daughter of Surgeon-General Mackay,
Madras Army, of the family of Bighouse, with issue. (5) James,
M.D., practising in Inverness. He married Cecil, daughter of
John Scott, S.S.C., Toronto, with issue - two daughters, Violet
Cecil, and Janetta. (6) Edward Mackenzie, an indigo planter at
Mungulghur Tirhoot, who in 1893 married Annie Isabel Kingsburgh,
second daughter of General John Macdonald, Cheltenham,
great-great-grandson of the famous Flora Macdonald. (7) Alfred
Aberdein, an indigo planter in Tirhoot. He married Kathleen,
daughter of John Fraser Mackenzie of Belsund, Tirhoot, with issue - a
son Colin. (8) Mary Jane Elsie, who on the 5th of December,
1883, married John Hamilton Fasson, Bengal Civil Service, with
issue - Herbert, born in 1885; Elsie Isabel and Hilda. (9) Isabella
Leslie.
THE MACKENZIES OF KILLICHRIST, SUDDIE, AND ORD.
KENNETH, VII. of Kintail, had a fourth son by his second marriage
with Agnes of Lovat, from whom descended the families of Suddie,
Inverlael, Little Findon, Ord, Langwell, Highfield, and several
minor branches. The three first named being long extinct in
the male line, it is needless to enter further into detail than
is necessary to show their intermarriages with other Mackenzie
families. The progenitor of these branches was known as
I. KENNETH MACKENZIE, first of Killichrist. He was Priest of
Avoch, Chaunter of Ross, and perpetual Curate and Vicar of Coirbents,
or Conventh. He resigned this vicarage into the hands of Pope
Paulus in favour of the Priory of Beauly. There is a presentation
by James, Bishop of Moray, to Mr Kenneth Mackenzie, of the vicarage
of Conventh, dated June 27, 1518. ["Antiquarian Notes," p. 100] He
has a charter of the lands of Suddie from James V. in 1526. He
would not refrain from marriage, notwithstanding the orders of
the Roman Church promulgated some time previously, and the Bishop
attempted to depose him with the result described at pp. 107-108.
He married Helen, daughter of Robert Loval of Balumbie, Forfarshire;
his brother, John of Killin, IX. of Kintail, and his wife's father
being parties to the contract of marriage, dated 1539, by which
it was agreed that in case of his decease before her she is to
have an annuity of 600 merks Scots and other perquisites. By her
Kenneth had issue -
1. Alexander, his heir and successor.
2. Thomas, of Kinlochluichart, afterwards I. of Ord.
3. John Caol, or Slender, who married, with issue.
4. Roderick, who married, with issue - Alexander and John, and
a daughter, who married, first, a Mr Macdonald and secondly, the
Rev. Kenneth Mackenzie, of the Torridon family, minister of Sleat,
Isle of Skye.
Kenneth was succeeded by his eldest son,
II. ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, second of Killichrist, who, in 1571,
obtained a charter from James VI. of the lands of Suddie, which
had been granted to his father in 1526 by James V. He married
Agnes, only child of Roderick Mackenzie, third son of Allan, II.
of Hilton, with issue -
1. Kenneth, his heir and successor.
2. John, Archdean of Ross, I. of Inverlael, who married Margaret,
daughter of William Innes of Culrossie, and had a son, Kenneth,
II. of Inverlael, who married Agnes, daughter of William Fraser,
V. of Culbokie (sasine on marriage contract in 1629), without
issue male, and the Rev. Thomas, also Archdean of Ross, III. of
Inverlael. Thomas married Agnes, daughter of Hector Douglas of
Muldearg, with issue - John, who succeeded as IV. of Inverlael,
and Thomas, a W.S. in Edinburgh, who died unmarried. John, IV.
of Inverlael, had three sons who died without issue, and a daughter,
who married Alexander Mackenzie of Towie. John, the Archdean,
I. of Inverlael, had a third son, Alexander, a W.S., who died
unmarried; and a fourth, the Rev. James Mackenzie, minister of
Nigg, who married Mary, daughter of John Rose of Broadley, with
issue, from whom descended the late Right Hon. John Holt Mackenzie,
who married without issue; and the late Joshua Henry Mackenzie
of Belmont, Lord of Justiciary, who married Helen Ann, youngest
daughter of Francis Humberston-Mackenzie, last Lord Seaforth,
with issue - two daughters, Frances Mary and Penuel Augusta.
3. Murdoch, I. of Little Findon, who married Margaret, daughter
of Murdoch, second son of John Mackenzie, I. of Loggie, with
issue - John, II. of Little Findon.
4. Kenneth, of whom nothing is known.
5. Alexander, a natural son, Colonel in the army, and Governor
of Tangiers. He had also by a German lady two sons in the French
army, and two daughters, one of whom, Penelope, married Allan
Macdonald, XIX of Clanranald, killed at Sheriffmuir in 1715,
without issue.
Alexander died in 1575, and was succeeded by his eldest son,
III. KENNETH MACKENZIE, third of Killichrist, who married,
first, the widow of James Gray of Skibo, with issue - a daughter,
who married, first, John Dunbar of Avoch, and secondly, probably
as his second wife, Lachlan Mackintosh, VII. of Kyllachy. Kenneth
married, secondly, in 1605, Catharine, daughter of Roderick Mor
Mackenzie, I. of Redcastle (sasine of Suddie in 1607) with issue -
1. Alexander, his heir and successor.
2. Margaret, who married Fraser, Tutor of Foyers.
He was succeeded by his only son, who became first of
THE MACKENZIES OF SUDDIE.
I. ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, first of Suddie. He served under
Gustavus Adolphus, and married Mary, daughter of Bruce of Airth,
with issue -
1. Kenneth, his heir and successor.
2. Colin, who married Janet, daughter of John Mackenzie, Ardcharnach
and Langwell, with issue - Alexander, an officer in the Horse Guards;
Thomas, killed without issue, in the Scots Guards in Spain; John,
a Lieutenant-Colonel in Collier's Regiment in Flanders; and Colin,
in Lauder's Regiment, killed in Flanders, without issue.
3. Elizabeth, who married George Leslie, Sheriff-Clerk of Inverness,
with issue (sasine in 1653).
4. Agnes, who about 1630 married Roderick, sixth son of Alexander
Mackenzie, V. of Gairloch, without issue.
5. Magdalen, who married Alexander Graham of Drynie, with issue.
Alexander has a sasine of Suddie in 1650, and another in 1672. He
was succeeded by his eldest son,
II. CAPTAIN KENNETH MACKENZIE, second of Suddie. He served
in Dumbarton's Regiment in France in 1666, and as a Royalist
Captain in Scotland. He married Isobel, daughter of John Paterson,
Bishop of Ross, with issue -
1. Kenneth, his heir and successor.
2. George, killed with Lord Mungo Murray at Darien.
3. Margaret, who married; William Macleod of Bernera.
4. Elizabeth, married as his first wife, Colonel Alexander Mackenzie
of Conansbay, son of Kenneth Mor, third Earl of Seaforth, without
issue.
5. Alice, who married, first, in 1698, as his second wife, John
Macdonald of Balcony, son of Sir James Macdonald, IX. of Sleat;
and secondly, John Maclean, M.D., Inverness.
He was killed at the battle of Mulroy in Lochaber in 1688, [Scott
gives the following account of Captain Mackenzie's death - "He was
brave, and well-armed with carabine, pistols, and a halbert or
half-pike. This officer came in front of a cadet of Keppoch, called
Macdonald of Tullich, and by a shot aimed at him, killed one of
his brothers, and then rushed on with his pike. Notwithstanding
his deep provocation, Tullich, sensible of the pretext which the
death of a Captain under Government would give against his clan,
called out more than once, 'Avoid me, avoid me.' 'The Macdonald
was never born that I would shun,' replied Mackenzie, pressing on
with his pike on which Tullich hurled at his head a pistol, which
he had before discharged. The blow took effect, the skull was
fractured, and Mackenzie died shortly after, as his soldiers were
carrying him to Inverness." - "Tales of a Grandfather."] and was
succeeded by his eldest son,
III. KENNETH MACKENZIE, third of Suddie, who, in 1706 married
Katharine, daughter of John Shaw of Sornbeg, Ayrshire, with issue -
1. William, his heir and successor.
2. John, Lieutenant-Colonel in the army.
3. Mary, who married General Norman Macleod, XXII. of Macleod,
with issue.
4. Agnes, who married Lachlan Mackintosh of Kyllachy.
Kenneth has a sasine in 1695. He was succeeded by his eldest son,
IV. WILLIAM MACKENZIE, fourth and last of Suddie, who married
Margaret, second daughter of Sir Alexander Mackenzie, Baronet, and
V. of Coul, with issue -
1. Alexander, who died before his father, without issue.
2. John Randoll Mackenzie, Major-General in the army, killed at
Talavera in 1809, without issue.
3. Janet; and 4. Katharine, who both died without issue.
5. Henrietta Wharton, who in 1810 became her father's heir, and
married, as her second husband, Sir James Wemyss, fifth Baronet
and VIII. of Scatwell, M.P., Lord-Lieutenant for the County of
Ross, to whom she carried the Suddie estates, and had issue - Sir
James John Randoll Mackenzie, sixth Baronet and last of Scatwell,
who, about 1850 sold or alienated the estates.
THE MACKENZIES OF ORD.
KENNETH, first of Killichrist fourth son of Kenneth Mackenzie,
VII. of Kintail, had, as already shown, a second son, Thomas
of Lochluichart, who, in 1598, obtained from Kenneth, XII. and
afterwards first Lord Mackenzie of Kintail, a tack of the lands
of Ord. Thomas married, first, Isobel, a daughter of Roderick
MacAllan Macleod of Gairloch, with issue -
1. Murdoch Mackenzie of Scatwell, who married Catherine, daughter
of Alastair Roy Mac Eachainn, without issue. In 1619, he talzied
the estate of Scatwell to his foster-brother, Kenneth Mackenzie,
I. of Scatwell, son of Sir Roderick Mackenzie of Coigeach, Tutor
of Kintail.
2. Kenneth, progenitor of the Mackenzies of Langwell, whose
present representatives are in Australia; and of Mackenzie-Ross
of Aldie, who adopted the additional name of Ross on succeeding
to that property.
Thomas of Lochluichart married, secondly, Annabella, daughter of
Murdoch Mackenzie, I. of Fairburn, with issue -
3. John, who afterwards obtained a charter of Ord.
4. Thomas, who married a daughter of the Laird of Katewell, with
issue - two sons, John of Wester Kessock, who married Margaret
Maclean, and another son, who died unmarried, in 1642. Thomas
died before 1628.
5. Murdoch, servitor to the Tutor of Kintail, who died unmarried,
in 1628. This Murdoch, by his last will, dated 13th January,
1628, left his brother-german, John Mackenzie of Ord, executor
and legatee, and bequeathed 400 merks Scots and fiffteen boils
victual or the value thereof to the children of his late brother
Thomas. He also left three hundred and twenty-one merks Scots
to Thomas Graham, his sister's son, and the annual rent of one
thousand merks to Isobel Cuthbert, wife of his said brother and
executor, and discharged his sisters of all the monies they borrowed
from him.
Thomas of Lochluichart died before 1619. His eldest son,
I. JOHN MACKENZIE, was the first of the family who possessed Ord
and was designed thereof, though it was previously held in tack by
his father. John was locally called "Ian Dubh a Ghiuthais," or
Black John of the Fir. He obtained a charter from Kenneth, XIIth
Baron and first Lord Mackenzie of Kintail, of the lands and mill
of Ord, and the half of Corrievoulzie and Strathvaich, dated 23rd
July, 1607, and on the 15th of September, 1637, George second Earl
of Seaforth granted him a regular free charter of the whole.
John married Isobel, daughter of Alexander Cuthbert of Drakies,
by his wife Christian Dunbar, who long survived him, with issue -
1. John, his heir and successor.
2. Thomas, from whom the Mackenzies of Highfield.
3. James, who married a daughter of the Rev. Farquhar Clark. He
is cautioner, with his brother Kenneth of Ord, for Thomas Mackenzie,
III. of Inverlael, from which he is discharged on the 18th of May,
1659. He is witness to the registration of the marriage contract
of his brother John, at Inverness, on the 20th of February, 1666.
4. George, who married, first, a natural daughter of Alexander
Mackenzie, V. of Gairloch, and secondly, Janet, daughter of the
Rev. Mr Linen, minister of Fairnly, with issue - one son, Alexander,
who joined the Darien expedition, and afterwards settled and
married in Jamaica, where his posterity still flourish.
5. A daughter, who married Mackenzie of Tarradale.
6. Annabella, who in 1650 married Alexander Mackenzie, VI. of
Hilton.
7. Janet, who, in 1652 married Alexander Cam, fourth son
of Alexander Mackenzie, V. of Gairloch, with issue - Roderick and
Alexander, Mic Alastair Chaim, the author's ancestors. Two daughters
married respectively a son of the Rev. John Clark, minister of
Lochalsh, and Murdo Mackenzie Mhic Mhurchaidh.
John witnessed the burning of the Church of Killichrist by the
Macdonalds of Glengarry in 1602. He died before the 1st of December,
1644, and was succeeded by his eldest son,
II. CAPTAIN JOHN MACKENZIE, second of Ord. He fought under
Montrose against the Covenanters, and was in consequence summoned
to appear before the Presbytery of Dingwall on the 5th of March,
1650, as a Malignant. He confessed to have been at the head
of a Company at Balvenny, professed his grief and desired to be
received to the Covenant and public satisfaction.
He was ultimately ordained on the 19th of November, 1650, "to
make his repentance to James Graham's unnatural rebellion, the
unlawful engagements, and the late insurrection in the North, in
the kirk of Dingwall, in his own habits, the next Sabbath, and
to be received, and to subscribe the Declaration." On the 13th
of October, 1653, he is appointed to take charge of the Earl of
Seaforth's forest of Fannich, for which he is to receive a certain
number of boils victual yearly. On the 22nd of April, 1655, he
is tried by Court Martial in Edinburgh, for plundering the lands
of Fowlis on the 9th of November preceding, found guilty, and
sentenced to repair the damage to the extent proved, out of his
lands of Ord, and to be committed to prison until the General's
pleasure should be known thereon.
He married Magdalen, daughter of William Fraser of Culbokie (marriage
contract 21st July, 1633; tocher 2500 merks Scots) with issue -
1. Thomas, his heir and successor,
2. Kenneth, who is witness to a bond, dated 27th of April, 1724,
by Thomas Mackenzie of Ord, and his eldest son, Alexander, in favour
of John Mackenzie of Highfield. He married, in 1702, Elizabeth,
daughter of Assynt, with issue - one son, Kenneth.
3. Annabella, who married on the 28th of April, 1698, Charles
Maclean, Brae.
4. Helen, who married on the 25th of April, 1700, James Murray,
Culloden.
5. Janet, who married Donald Macdonald, South Uist (marriage
contract 1711).
6. Florence, married Kenneth Mackenzie, Kenlochewe.
Captain John died before the 19th of February, 1686, and was
succeeded by his eldest son,
III. THOMAS MACKENZIE, third of Ord. On the 6th and 8th of March,
1697, he redeemed the wadset of Corrievoulzie, duly and lawfully
premonishing and warning John Mackenzie, indweller in Wester
Kessock, and Margaret Maclean, his spouse, to repair to the
Tolbooth of Fortrose, commonly called the Charter house, on the
15th of May next, and there any time betwixt the sun rising and
the down passing of the same, to receive from Thomas Mackenzie
of Ord, or any other in his name, the sum of fifty thousand merks
Scots, whole and together in one sum, all copper and lay-money
excepted, and upon receipt thereof to deliver up the Wadset
of Corrievoulzie, etc., to him. On the 23rd of August, 1716, he
entered into an obligation with Kenneth Bayne of Tulloch and John
Mackenzie of Highfield, by which, upon their satisfying Colin Graham
of Drynie for a debt contracted between that gentleman and Ord,
the latter is to make an ample disposition to them and their
heirs, of all his lands lying within the Sheriffdom of Ross, with
reversion always, during all the days of his life, of the sum of
one hundred and twenty merks Scots, five bolls of bear, five bolls
of malt, five bolls of oatmeal, five bolls of bear meal yearly,
out of the rents of said lands and it was specially provided that
as soon as the sum of four thousand merks Scots was paid by Kenneth
Bayne and John Mackenzie, they should be obliged to give the said
Thomas Mackenzie one chaldron of victual, or one hundred merks
Scots yearly, over and above the reservation above-mentioned.
He married Mary, daughter of John Mackenzie, II. of Applecross.
with issue -
1. Alexander, his heir and successor.
2. Magdalen, who married William Mackenzie, son of Sir Alexander
Mackenzie, II. of Coul (marriage contract 18th July 1716).
He was succeeded by his only son,
IV. ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, fourth of Ord, who before the 29th
of June, 1723, married Jean, daughter of John Mackenzie, II. of
Highfield, with issue -
1. Thomas, his heir and successor.
He died before the 10th of October, 1748, and was succeeded by his
only son,