of Ardoch, with issue. She was maternal great great-grandmother
of the Rev. Gustavus Aird, D.D., Creich, ex-Moderator of the Free
Church General Assembly, and who has in his possession a copy of
the marriage contract dated as above.
5. Christian, who in 1681 married William Mackenzie, brother of
Murdoch Mackenzie, II. of Ardross.
6. Florence.
7. Agnes.
Colin married, secondly, Christian Munro, widow of William Ross,
Knockgartie (contract of marriage 16th of March, 1680).
He was succeeded by his eldest son,
III. COLIN MACKENZIE, third of Kincraig, who in 1679 married
Lilias, daughter of John Mackenzie, II. of Scatwell, with issue -
1. Colin, his heir and successor.
2. John, who succeeded his brother as V. of Kincraig.
3. Anne, who married John Mackenzie, brother of Alexander Mackenzie,
I. of Ardross, without issue.
4. Barbara, who married James Mackenzie, of Tarrel.
He was succeeded by his eldest son,
IV. COLIN MACKENZIE, fourth of Kincraig, who married, as her third
husband, Margaret, daughter of Sir Roderick Mackenzie of Findon,
without issue.
He was succeeded by his next brother,
V. JOHN MACKENZIE, fifth of Kincraig, Captain in Lochiel's Regiment.
He married Christina, daughter of James Menzies of Comrie, without
issue. She died at Kincraig on the 21st of December, 1775. He
was dangerously wounded at Malplaguet in 1709. On the 20th of
December, 1760, he made a disposition of the lands of Kincraig to
Roderick Mackenzie, VII. of Redcastle, in trust for his second son
John, then only nine years old.
John died a few days after, and was succeeded by his remote cousin,
VI. CAPTAIN JOHN MACKENZIE, sixth of Kincraig, second surviving
son of Roderick Ban, VII. of Redcastle, born there in 1751. He
served in Lord Macleod's Regiment (now 71st Highlanders), and
was wounded at Gibraltar. His descendants, since the death of
Roderick, IX. of Redcastle in 1798 without issue, carried on also
the representation of the main line of that family. He married
Mary, daughter of the Rev. Colin Mackenzie, minister of Fodderty,
with issue -
1. Roderick, his heir and successor.
2. Colin, Lieutenant 71st Regiment, killed in action at Vittoria,
on the 21st of June, 1813, without issue.
3. John, who died without issue, on the 20th of August, 1822, off
St. Helena, coming home from Java.
4. Kenneth Francis, Colonel 64th Bengal Native Infantry, who
married on the 6th of January, 1832, Margaret, daughter of the Rev.
Thomas Taylor, D.D., of Tibbermore, with issue - Captain Roderick
Boyd, H.E.I.C.S., who died at Cheltenham, on the 5th of October,
1867, unmarried Lieutenant Wedderburn Hannah, H.E.I.C.S.; Thomas
Harry, who died young Mary Christina, who married on the 17th
of December, 1849, Colonel Brown-Constable, with issue - twelve
children Margaret Jane, who on the 10th of October, 1850, married
Major-General H. F. Waddington, of Monmouthshire, with issue - six
children, several of whom married with issue; Isabella Fraser, who
died young; and Annie Colina, who on the 31st of October, 1866,
married Thomas H. Knolles, with issue - five children. Colonel
Kenneth Francis died at sea in 1856.
5. Hector, Major H.E.I.C.S., who died unmarried.
6. Hugh, late Colonel 2nd Bengal Europeans, who married, first, Anne,
daughter of Thomas Duncan, Advocate, Aberdeen, with issue - Captain
Harry Leith, R.A., who was twice married, with issue; John Hugh,
M.D. Thomas Duncan, Bombay Civil Service, who married on the 25th
of April, 1871, with issue; Mary Janet, who on the 31st of July,
1866, married Surgeon-Major Kilgour, with issue; and Sarah Anne.
Colonel Hugh married, secondly, Edith S. Hastings, Oxfordshire,
also with issue.
7. Charles Fitzgerald, H.E.I.C.S., who married the Hon. Mrs
Fergusson, daughter of Lord Kirkcudbright, and died, without issue,
on the 5th of September, 1850.
Captain John had also
8. Maxwell, a natural son, Lieutenant-Colonel 71st Regiment,
killed at Bayonne in 1813, to whom and his brother Colin a monument
by Chantry is erected in Rosskeen Church.
9. Mary, who on the 28th of January, 1813, married Major-General
Sir Donald Macleod.
10. Johanna Charlotte Menzies, who died unmarried in 1794.
11. Margaret, who married Donald Macintyre, Calcutta, with issue
- (1) Lieutenant-General John Mackenzie Macintyre, Royal (Madras)
Artillery, who, in 1857, married Marianne Margaret, daughter of
Alexander Nisbet Shaw, Bombay Civil Service, with issue - Donald
Charles Frederick, Captain 2nd (P.W.O.) Goorkhas; Alexander William;
Robert Cadell; Isabella Mary, who married George Wade, sculptor,
son of Canon Wade, Bristol; Margaret Faimy, the celebrated prima
donna and Georgina Caroline. (2) Major-General Donald Macintyre,
V.C., who in 1882 married Angelica Alison, daughter of the Rev. T.
J. Patteson, Kinnettles, Forfarshire, with issue - Donald; Francis
Hector Mackenzie; Ian Agnew Patteson; and Alison Margaret. (3)
Colina Maxwell, who, in 1844, married Dr William Brydon, "the last
man" or sole survivor of 13,000 men in the disastrous retreat from
Cabul to Jellalabad in 1842, who died in 1873, with issue - eight
children. (4) Mary Isabella, who in 1849 married General James
Travers, V.C.; and (5) Charlotte Anne.
12. Jane Petley, who died young.
13. Isabella, who married, first, Captain Allan Cameron, with issue
and secondly, General Sir Hugh Fraser, K.C.B., of Braelangwell,
with issue - (1) John Fraser of Braelangwell, who married Elizabeth,
daughter of Beauchamp Colclough Urquhart of Meldrum, Aberdeenshire,
with issue - Hugh K. Fraser of Braelangwell, and Annie M. Mackenzie
Fraser; (2) Hugh Fraser, Lieutenant 71st Regiment, who died without
issue; (3) Isabella Forbes Fraser, who married Beauchamp Colclough
Urquhart of Meldrum, with issue - Beauchamp Colclough Urquhart;
and Isobel A. Urquhart, who married Garden A. Duff of Hatton; (4)
Alexander, Captain 10th Regiment, who married a daughter of Major
D'Arcy, with issue. Isabella died in 1852.
14. Elizabeth Jane, who died unmarried in 1832.
Captain John's widow died at Park House, Dingwall, on the 4th of
January, 1838. He having died at Kincraig on the 29th of April,
1822, aged 72 years, when he was succeeded by his eldest son,
VII. RODERICK MACKENZIE, Major H.E.I.C.S., who married in 1836,
Katharine, daughter of Alexander Mackenzie, of Millbank, son of
Bailie Hector Mackenzie, of Dingwall, a cadet of Letterewe and
Gairloch, with issue -
1. Roderick, his heir and successor.
2. Katharine, who died unmarried in 1870.
3. Eliza Jane, who married George Martineau, with issue - George;
William; Alfred; and a daughter Katherine.
4. Mary Ann, unmarried.
5. Alice, who married Alexander Edmond, without issue.
Major Roderick died at Kincraig on the 6th of April, 1853, and was
succeeded by his only son.
VIII. CAPTAIN RODERICK MACKENZIE, late of Kincraig, who, on
the 5th of February, 1867, married Georgina Adelaide, daughter of
Roderick Mackenzie, IV. of Flowerburn, without issue.
THE MACKENZIES OF CROMARTY.
THIS family, next to the House of Kintail and Seaforth, played
the most important part in the history of the Highlands. They
are descended from Sir Roderick Mackenzie of Coigeach, Tutor of
Kintail, who in his day took such a conspicuous part in the affairs
of the Clan. His career is noticed at considerable length in
the history of the Seaforth family, and need not here be enlarged
upon. He was the second son of Colin Cam Mackenzie, XI. of
Kintail, by Barbara, daughter of John Grant, XII. of Grant. He
was a brave and resolute man. On a certain occasion he seized
MacNeil of Barra by stratagem, and carried that chief, of whom
Queen Elizabeth had been complaining, to the Court of King James
at Holyrood. When brought into His Majesty's presence MacNeil,
who, much to the surprise of all, was a tall, good-looking man
of reverend aspect, with a long grey beard, proved a match for
the King. When asked by His Majesty what could induce him to commit
so many piracies and robberies on the Queen of England's subjects,
he replied that he thought he was doing the King good service by
annoying "a woman who had murdered his mother." James exclaimed,
"The devil take the carle! Rorie, take him with you again,
and dispose of him and his fortune as you please." On another
occasion, when Sir Roderick was passing through Athole on his way
to Edinburgh, in the interest of his ward, he was stopped and found
fault with by the men of that district for passing through their
country without the permission of their lord. The Tutor dismounted
and sought out a stone, on which he began to sharpen his claymore,
whereupon the Athole men, from a safe distance, asked him what he
was doing? "I am going to make a road," was the ready answer.
"You shall make no road here." "Oh, I don't seek to do so; but
I shall make it between your lord's head and his shoulders if I
am hindered from pursuing my lawful business." On hearing this
retort the Athole men retired, and on reaching their master told
him what had occurred. "It was either the devil or the Tutor of
Kintail," his Lordship replied, "let him have a free path for ever."
That he was severe in his position as Tutor is clear from the
following proverb; still current in Ross-shire: "There are but
two things worse than the Tutor of Kintail - frost in spring and
mist in the dog days." He married Margaret, daughter and co-heiress
of Torquil Macleod, "Torquil Cononach" of the Lewis, Coigeach,
and Assynt, with whom Roderick obtained her father's mainland
possessions, previously, however, in 1605, granted by Torquil to
Kenneth Mackenzie, X. of Kintail, Sir Roderick's eldest brother.
He purchased Milton and Tarbat Ness in Easter Ross from the
Munroes. He had issue by his wife -
1. John, his heir and successor, afterwards Sir John Mackenzie of
Tarbat.
2. Kenneth, I. of Scatwell, of whose family presently.
3. Colin, I of Tarvie, who married Isobel, daughter of Alexander
Mackenzie, V. of Gairloch, and widow of John Mackenzie of Lochslinn,
with issue.
4. Alexander, I. of Ballone, of whom after Scatwell.
5. James. 6. Charles. Both died unmarried.
7. Margaret, who married Sir James Macdonald, IX. of Sleat, with
issue - his heir and successor, and others.
He had also a natural son, the Rev. John Mackenzie, Archdean
of Ross, who, by his wife, Christian, daughter of John Wemyss of
Lathocker, had issue - the Rev. Roderick Mackenzie, first of Avoch,
in 1671 Sub-Chaunter of Ross, and several other children. He died
in 1666.
In 1609 Sir Roderick was knighted for the part he took, along with
his brother Kenneth, first Lord Mackenzie of Kintail, in pacifying
the Lewis and civilising its inhabitants.
He died in 1628, and was succeeded by his eldest son,
SIR JOHN MACKENZIE of Tarbat, created a Baronet of Nova Scotia
on the 21st of May, 1628. He married Margaret, daughter of Sir
George Erskine of Innerteil, a Lord of Session, with issue -
1. George, his heir and successor.
2. John, who died young.
3. Sir Roderick, who has a sasine as third son in June, 1654. He
was M.P. in 1700 for Cromarty, and in 1703 for the Burgh of Fortrose.
He was subsequently raised to the Bench as Lord Prestonhall, and
married, first, Margaret, daughter of Dr Burnet, Archbishop of
St. Andrews, with issue - Alexander Mackenzie of Fraserdale, who,
in 1702, married Amelia, eldest daughter of Hugh, Xth Lord Lovat,
with issue--several sons and daughters. Alexander's representation
was proved extinct in 1826. Lord Prestonhall married, secondly,
Margaret, daughter of Haliburton of Pitcur, widow of Sir George
Mackenzie of Rosehaugh, without issue.
4. Alexander, I. of Ardloch, whose representatives became heirs
male to the Cromarty titles.
5. Kenneth, who married Isobell Auckinleck, with issue--Kenneth,
who died without issue.
6. James, M.D., who died unmarried.
7. Margaret, who married, first, Roderick Macleod, XV. of Macleod,
without surviving issue; and secondly, Sir James Campbell of Lawers,
Perthshire.
8. Ann, who married Hugh, IXth Lord Lovat, with issue.
9. Isabel, who married Kenneth, third Earl of Seaforth, with issue
- his heir and successor, and others.
10. Barbara, who married Alexander Mackenzie, VII. of Gairloch,
with issue.
11. Catherine, who married Sir Colin Campbell of Aberuchil, with
issue.
Sir John died in 1654, when he was succeeded by his eldest son,
I. SIR GEORGE MACKENZIE, created first Earl of Cromarty, who made
a distinguished figure in the history of his country during the
reigns of Charles II., James II., and William III. In 1661, at
the early age of 31, he was made a Lord of Session. He subsequently
held the offices of Lord-Justice-General and Clerk-Register of
Scotland. When Maitland got into favour Sir George shared the
fall of his patron, Lord Middleton, but on the death of the Duke
of Lauderdale he again got into favour, and, until the close of
the reign of King James, he held the principal sway and power
in Scottish affairs. He was accessory, if not the principal,
in putting Spence and Carstairs to the torture of the boot and
thumb-screw after the rebellion of Argyll. In 1685 King James
ennobled him by the title of Viscount Tarbat, Lord Macleod and
Castlehaven. During the reign of William III. his influence
became much diminished, but he afterwards got into power, and, on
the accession of Queen Anne, he again became a Royal favourite, and
was by her in 1703 created Earl of Cromarty, and made Secretary
of State for Scotland. He subsequently resigned this office
and took up his old post of Justice-General, and recompensed Her
Majesty's favours by strongly advocating with voice and pen the
Union between England and Scotland, of which he was the original
proposer. In 1710, after 60 years of the most active public
service, he retired into private life.
That he possessed ability of a very high order is undoubted, though
as a politician he held very loose and changeable principles.
Sinibert says that "as a judge, he was addicted to the old
practice of considering the litigants rather than their causes";
and Carstairs goes the length of saying that "he habitually
falsified the minutes of Parliament, and recorded in its name
decisions and orders never really made." In the course of his long
and checkered career he had been a member of so many Ministries
and changed sides so often that it was not to be expected that
he should escape charges of inconsistency. "Some do compare him
to an eel," said Lockhart of Carnwath, "and certainly the character
suited him exactly ... He had sworn all the most contradictory
oaths, and complied with all the opposite Governments since the
year 1648, and was humble servant to them all till he got what
he aimed at, though often he did not know what that was." Almost
every statesman of his time was as changeable as he was, but he
possessed a capacity for business which distinguished few if any of
his rivals. He is admitted on all hands to have been in private
life a gentleman of the most refined habits. He wrote well
on various subjects, his chief productions being Essays on the
Union of the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland; on the Gowrie
Conspiracy; and a "Plain Explication" of the Prophecies of Daniel
and St. John. He also wrote the MS. history of his clan, so often
quoted and referred to in this work, and he undoubtedly invented
Colin Fitzgerald.
His lordship married, first, Anne, daughter of Sir George Sinclair
of Mey, with issue -
1. Roderick, who died young.
2. John, who became his heir and successor.
3. Kenneth, who in 1704 obtained a baronetcy with his grandfather's
patent of creation, as Sir Kenneth Mackenzie, Baronet of Grandvale
and Cromarty. [Sir Kenneth and his younger brother, Sir James
Mackenzie of Royston, were created baronets in the same year,
the patent of the latter being dated 8th of February, 1704. Sir
Kenneth's patent (which is to his heirs male for ever), was dated
29th of April, 1704, and contained the original precedency of the
patent of his grandfather, Sir John, who was created a Baronet
of Nova Scotia in 1628. Sir Kenneth was a member of Parliament
for the County of Cromartie in the reigns of King William and
Queen Anne. He warmly supported the treaty of Union, was one
of the members nominated by the Parliament of Scotland, on 13th
February, 1707, to sit in the United Parliament of Great Britain,
and was chosen member for the County of Cromartie at the general
election in 1710. A new writ for that county was ordered On 22nd
January, 1729, in consequence of his decease, and his eldest son
Sir George, was elected in his place. - "Earls of Cromartie"] He died
in 1729, having married Anne Campbell, with issue - Sir George,
the second Baronet, M.P., who married Elizabeth, daughter of
Captain John Reid, of Greenwich, without issue. In 1741, his
affairs having become embarrassed, Sir George sold Cromarty to
Sir William Urquhart of Meldrum. He died in 1748, and was buried
at Dingwall; his lady having survived him 59 years, and died at
Inverness in 1807, aged 84. Sir Kenneth's other four sons were
Colin; James; Campbell; and Gerard, who all died young or unmarried
and Kenneth, who, in 1748, succeeded his brother Sir George,
as third Baronet, and died unmarried in 1763. His daughter,
Catherine, married Dr Adam Murray, of Stirling. He had several
other daughters, married and unmarried.
4. James, who on the 8th of February, 1704, was created a Baronet
by Queen Anne as Sir James Mackenzie of Royston, and in 1710 he
was appointed a Lord of Session by the title of Lord Royston. The
Baronetcy being limited to heirs male, and Lord Royston having died
in 1744 without surviving male issue, the title became dormant. He
married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh,
with issue - George of Farnese, who in 1743 married Isabella Stuart,
and died before his father, without issue; Anne, who married Sir
William Dick of Prestonfield; and Elizabeth, who married Sir John
Stewart of Grandtully, with issue.
5. Lady Margaret, who married Sir D. Bruce of Clackmannan, without
issue.
6. Lady Elizabeth, who married Sir John Brown of Coalstown.
7. Lady Jean, married Sir Thomas Stewart of Balcaskie.
8. Lady Anne, who married the Hon. John Sinclair, son of Lord
Murkle, and died in 1740.
The Earl married, secondly, Margaret, Countess of Wemyss, without
issue. He died in 1714, was buried at Dingwall, and succeeded by
his eldest son,
II. JOHN MACKENZIE, second Earl of Cromarty. He does not appear
to have taken a prominent part in public affairs, and he kept
out of the Rising of 1715. Notwithstanding the division which
had been made of the family estates to secure suitable provision
for the two Baronetcies, his Lordship still possessed extensive
possessions in the Counties of Ross, Inverness, Elgin, and Fife.
He married, first, Lady Elizabeth Gordon, daughter of the first
Earl of Aboyne, without issue. He afterwards divorced her and
married, secondly, the Hon. Mary Murray, daughter of the third
Lord Elibank, with issue -
1. Lord George, his heir and successor.
2. Captain Roderick, who married twice, with issue - Captain
Kenneth of Cromarty, who succeeded to the estates in 1789, and died
without issue male in 1796 and a daughter.
3. Lord William who died at sea, without issue.
4. Lord Patrick, who married, without male issue.
5. Lord Gideon, who died without issue male.
6. Lady Mary; 7. Lady Anna; 8. Lady Helen; all of whom died
young or unmarried.
The Earl married, thirdly, Anna, daughter of Hugh, Xth Lord Lovat,
with issue -
9. Lord James; 10. Lord Hugh; and 11. Lord Norman, all of whom
died young, the latter at sea in 1751.
12. Lady Emilia, who in 1740 married Archibald Lamont of Lamont,
with issue.
His Lordship died in 1731, and was succeeded by his eldest son,
III. GEORGE MACKENZIE, third Earl of Cromarty. He joined Prince
Charles in 1745 and fought at the battle of Falkirk at the head of
400 or 500 of his clan. Afterwards, on the 15th of April, the day
immediately preceding the battle of Culloden, he was taken prisoner,
along with his eldest son, Lord Macleod, and all his officers, at
Dunrobin Castle, by two companies of Sutherlands and Mackays. He
had previously detached himself from the main body of the Highland
army with the view of seizing this castle and repressing the
adherents of the Government in the far North. He was at once sent
to London and imprisoned in the Tower. His vacillating conduct and
uncertain correspondence with Lord President Forbes are notorious,
for he actually wrote to the latter as late as October, 1745,
saying that he was then "stirring actively in the cause of the
Government." He was in due course tried, found guilty of high
treason, and sentenced to death; but was afterwards pardoned through
the bold and urgent entreaties of his Countess. In support of his
own application for mercy, she waited personally on the members
of the Cabinet, and presented a separate petition to each of them
pleading for mercy, and on the Sunday after sentence was passed
upon him, she went to Kensington Palace, dressed in deep mourning,
accompanied by Lady Stair, to make a personal appeal to His Majesty
for the Royal clemency. She was far advanced in pregnancy, and
though a woman of strong mind, who had hitherto exhibited great
fortitude in her distressing position, on this occasion she
completely broke down, and gave way to grief. Taking her stand,
surrounded by her ten young children, in the entrance of the Chapel
through which the King had to pass, she awaited his arrival, and as
he approached she fell on her knees, seized him by the coattails,
presented her petition, and fainted at his feet. His Majesty
immediately seized and raised her, received the petition, and handed
it to the Duke of Grafton, who was present as one of his attendants.
He then requested Lady Stair to conduct the Countess to one of the
apartments. The Dukes of Hamilton and Montrose, the Earl of Stair,
and other courtiers, having subsequently supported her petition by a
personal application to the King, His Majesty, on the 9th of August,
granted the Earl a free pardon, and he was at once set at liberty.
His Lordship lived for several years in seclusion and poverty,
supported mainly by the contributions of his old tenants and
retainers on the forfeited estates.
He married Isabella, daughter of Sir William Gordon of Invergordon,
with issue -
1. John, Lord Macleod, his heir.
2. Lord William, who died young.
3. Lord George, a Colonel in the 71st Regiment, who died unmarried
in 1788.
4. Lady Isabella, who married George, VIth Lord Elibank, with
issue, and in 1796 succeeded her cousin, Captain Kenneth, in the
estates.
5. Lady Mary, who married, first, Captain Clarke, London;
secondly, Thomas Drayton, South Carolina and thirdly, John Ainslie,
Charlestown.
6. Lady Anne, who married, first, the Hon. Edmond Atkin, of South
Carolina and secondly, Dr John Murray of Charlestown.
7. Lady Caroline, who married, first, a Mr Drake, of London, and
secondly, Walter Hunter of Polmood and Crailieg.
8. Lady Jean; and 9. Lady Amelia, both of whom died young.
10. Lady Margaret, who in 1769 married John Glassford of Douglastown,
Dumbarton, with issue.
11. Lady Augusta, who married Sir William Murray of Auchtertyre,
with issue.
The Earl died in 1766, and was succeeded as representative of the
family by his eldest son,
IV. LORD MACLEOD, Major-General in the army, by whose noble and
patriotic conduct the fortunes of the family were afterwards to
some extent restored. Disdaining to live on the charity of his
friends and as a burden on his father, he joined the Swedish army
as a soldier of fortune worked his way there, was aide-de-camp to
the King, who created him Count Cromarty, and, in 1775, returned
to his native country, after twenty-seven years of distinguished
foreign service, full of fame and honours, with the rank
of Lieut.-General. In 1754 the re-grant of the Lovat estates by
George III. to General Fraser emboldened Lord Macleod to petition
the King for the restoration of the Cromarty ancestral possessions;
but his application at that time failed, although he succeeded
later on.