6.
Mary Ann MacRae (Graham)-- The mother of Kate Graham Boone,
Mary Ann was born Feb. 25, 1823 in Henry, TN and died Oct. 26, 1878
(or 1873) in Big Sandy (Benton Co.), TN. Her parents were Alexander
MacRae (McRae or McCray) and Jane McLeod. Mary Ann first married Joseph
C. Melton in Benton Co. in 1839 and had three children by this first
husband before he died in the early 1840’s: Wesley (John?), Amanda
Jane & Matthew. After this, she married widower Robert Marshall
Graham (Oct. 14, 1849) and had six children before her death at age
fifty-five in 1878.
7. Alexander
MacRae-- The father of Mary Ann and Elizabeth McRae, both
of who married Robert Graham of Benton Co, TN. Alexander was born
either in 1786 or 1790 in North Carolina and died in 1877 in Big Sandy,
Benton Co. TN. (According to researcher Hulan Brewer, Alexander died
Oct.26, 1878.) His parents are probably Farquhar & Catherine MacRae
of Anson, NC. According to the historian, Goodspeed, Alexander
was born in NC in 1786 and came to TN as a young man around the beginning
of the nineteenth century, "locating on the river near where
Point Mason now is, and later removed to Sugar Creek (Benton Co.)
where he reared his family of two children by his first wife..."
He first appears in the 1828 tax records of Henry Co. TN and then
in the 1830 Humphreys Co. census (out of which Benton Co. was formed)
in 1840. (It is possible that he is indicated as a male 26-45, living
with John L MacRae--who may possibly be his relative--in the 1820
Dickson Co. TN census). In the late 1840’s Alex progressively bought
hundreds of acres of land and helped to develop the Sugar Creek area
of Benton Co. His first wife was Jane McLeod, the mother of
Mary Ann (b. Feb. 23, 1823 in Henry Co.) and Elizabeth Jane (b.1825).
(Her name is sometimes listed as Lavinia Jane McLeod but this is probably
a confusion with the name of Alex’s second wife.) According to the
late Humphreys Co. researcher, Hulan Brewer, Jane was born Dec. 9,
1799 in Benton Co. and had two children before her death. She probably
died between 1826 and 1829, because the first census on which Alexander
appears (1830, Humphreys Co.) shows no 20-49 year old wife in the
household (but only a 50-60 female [possibly Alex’s mother or mother-in-law?]
& two small girls, 5-15--Alex is 40-44 at the time); also Alexander
remarried and began having (10) more children right after that time.
There are a few other McLeods in TN in the 1820 census in the Humphreys-Benton
Co. area who might be related to Jane. By 1833, Alexander MacRae has
moved to Big Sandy and is remarried to a Lavinia (Lavina) Rumbly (Rumly).
Goodspeed’s history says she was from West TN, but the 1850 and 1860
Benton Co. census shows Alexander’s wife, Lavinia, to be from GA.
and born in 1810. The children of this second marriage were (ages
as of 1850 census ): Eliza Jane 17, John L. 15, Martha 13, William
9, Alexander Collins (Jr.) 7, Sarah 6, Esther 5, Daniel 2. Alex’s
second wife seems to have died before 1870 (She is said to be buried
at McRae’s Chapel, now called Sugar Hill, land that was donated to
the county in 1870 by their son, Alexander C. McRae Jr.) The 1870
census shows a 40 year old Catherine in Alex’s household as well as
his grown daughter Elizabeth Greer, who will later marry her sister’s
widower, R. M. Graham. The graves of Alexander and his wives are not
identified for certain. In nearby Carrol Co., there is a grave of
Alexander McRae and a Christopher McRae, both with no dates (It is
perhaps worth noting that there was a Mary McRae in [only] the 1840
Carrol Co. census), and at McRae’s chapel, there is a grave of a Lavina
McRae (1780-1877)--however these dates do not seem to completely fit
either of Alexander’s wives allegedly named Lavinia. But the censuses
do not seem to show any other Alexander or Lavina McRaes during this
period in West TN to whom this grave might belong.
Note:
One likely candidate for Jane McLeod MacRae's father
is the son of Duncan McLeod of Scotland, Roderick McLeod, who was
born 1764 in Scotland, moved to Anson Co. NC (and lived near Farquhar
McRae--very likely Jane's father-in-law as discussed below), moved
to Humphreys Co. TN around 1813, around the same time as did his son,
Alexander McLeod, and Finley Campbell, brother of Catherine Campbell
MacRae (wife of Faruqhar MacRae), finally moving to Yazoo Co., MS
where he died in 1844. Although records only show Roderick as having
three sons (Alexander, b.1782, Solomon b.ca.1784 and George, b.1786)
and unknown wife, the proximity of others connected with the Farquhar
MacRae family, makes Roderick a strong candidate for being Jane McLeod's
father. The household of Roderick's son, Alexander, in the 1820 Humphreys
Co, TN. census, shows, among others, an unidentified female aged 19-26,
who could be Jane (b.1799), if she is indeed his sister as I suspect.
8. Farquhar
MacRae – The father of Alexander MacRae, was born ca.1748-1750
in Scotland and migrated to America in the 1780's, where
he settled first in Richmond Co, NC, then in Anson Co. NC, where he
died between 1830 (when he appears on the Anson Co. NC census) and
prior to the land dispersal per his will on January 16, 1834. (I am
advised that the Scottish pronunciation of his name is “Farkar.”)
He married Catherine Campbell (possible daughter of John Campbell
of Richmond Co.) perhaps in Richmond Co. NC in the 1780’s, though
the marriage date (which is no later than 1794) is uncertain. Farquhar's
will shows him as having 7 children: Alexander (b.ca.1786-90), John
Campbell MacRae (ca.1795-1862), Archibald C. (ca.1798-1836), Hugh
(1802-1862), Margaret (b.ca.1810), Elizabeth, and Daniel (d. before
1834). After Farquhar’s death, his widow and many of their children
left NC and settled in Mississippi, his oldest son Alexander having
early on gone to Tennessee and lived to a ripe old age, according
to an old family letter dated May 26,1889. This correspondance, which
is presently the only known hard evidence connecting Farquhar’s son,
Alexander MacRae, with Alexander MacRae of Benton Co. TN, father of
Mary Ann MacRae, was written to Hugh McKenzie McRae (who was then
living in Texas) by his father, John Cornelius McRae, a confirmed
grandson of this same Faruhar MacRae, who was then living in Anson
Co. NC, at age 63. In the letter, which discusses genealogical connections
in the family, John mentions that his "uncle Alex [MacRae] went
to tenasee (sic) and lived to be a very old man. He died sometime
since the war" while "uncle John, uncle Hugh, aunt Betsy,
aunt Margaret all went to Mississippi in [(1832?)]." (We have
not been able to procure a fascimile of the original handwritten letter,
but only a transcription, but have found no reason to doubt its authenticity.)
Other evidence further confirms that Farquhar’s son Alexander, was
listed in Farquhar’s will, and that he was not present as a signatory
in NC for the reading of the will in 1834 (presumably because he had
moved to TN by that time). Matching very closely, Alexander of Benton
Co. TN, who is known to have been born between 1786-1790 in NC, first
appears in 1828 as a Benton Co. TN land owner, and dies there ca.1877-78,
near age ninety, living until after the (civil) war, facts that agree
completely with the above letter. There is no other Alexander MacRae,
with unidentified parents, in the TN censuses who is recorded as living
there from the 1820s to the 1870’s, just as Farquhar’s son, Alexander, is
said to have done. Several of the same names from Farquhar’s family
also appear in the family of Alexander MacRae of Benton Co.: Elizabeth,
Catherine, Anne, John, Daniel and Alexander Collins. Therefore, in
the absence of any other unidentified candidates in TN who are listed
over these many decades, it appears extremely likely that they are
one and the same person. Although Farquhar's wife, Catherine
"Kate" Campbell, is presumed to be the mother of Alexander,
records do not establish this beyond doubt, since we do not know for
sure when she married Farquhar. She probably married him prior to
1786-90 and gave birth to Alexander, however it is possible that Farquhar
could have had a first wife in the 1780's who gave birth to Alexander,
and died before Farquhar married Catherine. (There are no records
suggesting a deceased first wife--I am just noting an alternative
possibility). The evidence for the connection between the MacRaes
and Campbells of Anson County NC with relatives in middle TN is strengthened
further by records showing that Alexander MacRae's maternal uncle,
Finley Campbell (the brother of Farquhar MacRae's wife, Kate Campbell),
appears to have moved with his wife from Anson Co. NC to Humphreys
Co. TN. by the time of the 1820 census. Although Finley had died by
1829, the 1830 census shows Finley's widow, Christian Campbell,
in nearby Henderson Co. TN. By the 1840 census, she has joined the
other MacRaes in Layfayette Co, MS, moving next door to her nephew,
John Campbell MacRae.
Other
MacRaes in early TN: TN censuses show one Alexander MacRae in
Davidson Co. in 1820 but he disappears after that. In the next census
of 1830, there is again one Alexander MacRae, this time in Benton
Co. (no Alexander MacRae having been there in 1820). There is also
an Alexander MacRae, son of Duncan MacRae (1769-1837) and Rhoda Young
of Scotland, then Fayettesville, NC, who moved to Duck River TN and
died in 1820, who cannot be either Alexander MacRae of Benton Co.
but might possibly be the same Alexander on the 1820 census in Davidson
Co.. Another Alexander MacRae is shown in the early Maury Co. TN census
records of that era. This is Alexander MacRae, son of Donald (d.1789)
and Ann MacRae (d.1781) who were born in Strathglassshire of Ross
in Scotland. This Alexander was born in Scotland in 1766, married
Rachel Helton, then moved to Orange Co. NC and finally to Maury Co.
TN, where he married Mary Moody in 1824, and died in 1843. Among his
heirs who lived on in Maury Co. TN were sons named Duncan (b.1808),
Farquhar (1808-1854), and Alexander (1811-1866). There is another
family of MacRaes in early middle TN (whom I suspect are also related
closely to Alexander of Benton Co.), living in Stewart Co. and Dickson
Co. TN. from around 1808 until the 1820’s. They are brothers
Duncan MacRae (b. before 1787 and married Elizabeth Vinson in Davidson
Co. in 1810) of Stewart Co. and John L. MacRae (ca.1790-94-ca.1840’s-married
Dollie (Dorothea) Stone and died in Franklin Alabama) of Dickson Co,
who are thought to be the sons of Duncan MacRae Sr. of Camden
Road in Anson Co. NC. who married Mary McLeod, then Edith. (Martin?).
This John L. MacRae, who owned land in Humphreys Co. TN at the same
time as our Alexander did, is shown in the 1820 Dickson Co. TN census
as residing with another unidentified man near his age (2 males, one
19-26 and one 26-45) at a time when Alexander is not identified by
name in the TN census but is likely there in TN. In this census listing,
it is possible that John L. (b.1784) is the 26 year old and Alexander
(b.1786-1790) is the 19-26 year old in that household--perhaps they
are cousins. (We know that Alexander named one of his children John
L.) It is possible that our Alexander appears in the 1810 Anson
Co. NC, prior to moving to TN, for, among several listed Alexander
MacRaes in Anson Co, there is one who is 16-25 with only a woman of
the same age group in his household (his wife presumably) who might
be our Alexander. Unfortunately, there are 3 Faquhars and even more
Alexander MacRaes listed in Anson Co. in the censuses of the early
1800s, making positive identifications difficult. Thus, given all
the evidence, it appears extremely likely that Alexander MacRae of
Benton Co. TN is the son of Farquhar MacRae of Anson Co. as described
above, although this is not yet proven beyond doubt. We would like
to thank Bruce MacRae for sharing some of his research that helped
establish this connection, as well as Larry Cates who has also contributed
valuable information on the TN and NC MacRaes. We should note that
there is still some debate as to whether this Farquhar is the same
Farquhar, son of Alexander MacRae "who came to America",
mentioned in Alexander MacRae's History of the Clan MacRae.
The evidence suggesting that it is the correct Farquhar is that the
date of birth for the two Farquhars matches well and the family names
of all the siblings of the Farquhar mentioned in" History of the
Clan MacRae are identical with the names of the childrenof
Farquhar MacRae of Anson County, NC.: Alexander, Archibald, John,
Anne and Margaret. Also the name less common first name Hugh is noted
in both families. The only name missing is the mother Isabel (and
it is possible that an infant who died could have born that name.)
Also, there is no other known candidate in the Carolinas with such
exact family names matches who is thought to be this Farquhar
MacRae "who came to America."
The only evidence to the contrary
that I have heard is the assertion in a family letter written in the
early 20th century by Penelope Jane Jones (a great-granddaughter of
Farquhar MacRae of Anson County, NC.,
through Archibald MacRae) who wrote that she had been told that her
great-grandfather Farquhar was part of a large family who all came
over with him to America. This, of course, does not agree with known
information about Farquhar MacRae's siblings recorded in
the History of the Clan MacRae, who
are all documented as staying in Scotland. Were this letter's assertion
found to be accurate, it would mean we must look for some other parents
of Farquhar of Anson Co.--unfortunately there are no other likely
candidates at this point, given the fragmentary data we have from
the period. Jane's letter mentions a different set of siblings for
Farquhar, including Roderick, Finley/Phillip, Alexander and Mary.
(She says Mary stayed in Scotland, but the brothers came to America.)
She states that there were further siblings but she couldn't remember
them (suggesting that she did not have any accurate written list,
but was relying on memory of unconfirmed information that someone
had once told her--nor did her source know the names of Farquhar's
parents). In summary, if accurate, this letter would suggest that
Farquhar and his son Alexander of Benton Co TN. belong to a different
branch of the MacRae clan than that of the Farquhar
MacRae "who came to America." cited in the
History of the Clan MacRae----indeed, it would
appear that the Roderick, Alexander and Finley MacRae Jane refers
to are children of Donald and Anne (Cameron) MacRae of Fayettsville,
NC, whose son Alexander moved to Maury Co. TN, as mentioned above.)
However, evidence for the letter's accuracy is somewhat weakened
by the modern date of the letter, the lack of any historical documents
or Bibles cited concerning Farquhar's generation, and a few alleged
relationships in the letter that are appear to be at least partially
inaccurate. There is also not as close a matching of family names
according to her list of siblings. If Donald and Ann MacRae are identified
as the parents of the Roderick, Alexander and Finley MacRae mentioned
in the letter, there is a conflict in that they are already documented
as having had a child named Farquhar who died early and is definitely
not our Farquhar MacRae of Anson Co. NC. Perhaps they could have later
given another son the same name and that record has been lost, or
perhaps the siblings described in the letter are the children of some
other MacRaes (one speculation put forward for Farquhar's father is
Duncan MacRae Sr. of Hamer's Creek, NC. but his documented children
do not include a Farquhar, but do include Duncan MacRae Jr. who died
in Stewart Co. TN). So far, Jane's list of Farquhar's alleged siblings
in the letter doesn't lead us to any clear alternative identification
of parents for our Farquhar of Anson,. Co. NC. but would still likely
connect this Farquhar with the same Scottish ancestor, Rev. Farquhar
of Inverinate MacRae (see below), but through a different chain of
cousins. Hopefully, at some point, further evidence will be uncovered
which will clarify these relationships.
9. Alexander (of Inverinate) MacRae
-- The likely father of Farquhar
MacRae, Alexander was born ca.1690 in the
Kintail region of Scotland and died there ca.1790. He had one child
by a first marriage to a daughter of Fraser of Guisachan, who
left Alexander and subsequently died. Around 1743, he married Isabel
(or Isabella). Some sources name her as Isabel MacRae, daughter of
Alexander MacRae of Strathglass, others identify her as Isabel MacGilchrist,
daughter of Alexander MacGilchrist. The couple had seven children,
as follows: Archibald (ca.1744-ca.1830), Alexander (ca.1746-ca.1820),
Farquhar. (ca.1748-ca.1810), John (ca.1749-ca.1820), Anne (ca.1751-ca.1820),
Margaret (ca.1753-ca.1823).
10.
Hugh MacRae -- The father of Alexander
MacRae, Hugh was born in Kintail, Scotland ca.1664
and died in that area ca.1730.
He married Margaret MacLeod of Swordlan, daughter of Angus MacLeod
(ca.1694-ca.1746), whose ancestry goes back many generations to Harold
I the Black, King of Iceland (ca.840-933 AD), son of Halfdan the Black
Gudrodsson, King of Norway (d.ca.860) -- (see details elsewhere).
Their marriage is documented in The MacLeods of Arnisdale.
The couple had ten children beginning with Alexander (ca.1690-ca.1790),
Roderick (ca.1692-ca.1790), Finlay
(ca.1722-ca.1795), Duncan (b.ca.1723),
Barbara (ca.1724-ca.1800), Jane (b.ca.1725),
Donald (ca.1726-ca.1800), Mary (ca.1727-ca.1795),
Farquhar (b.ca.1730), John of Strathglass (ca.1730-ca.1800).
11.
Alexander of Inverinate MacRae -- The father of Hugh MacRae,
Alexander was born ca. 1612 in Rosshire, Kintail, Scotland and died
in that area in ca.1685. As Chamberlain of Kintail, he was the last
custodian of the castle at Eilean Donan which was destroyed not long
after the battle of Culloden, but was rebuilt many years later.
He first married Margaret MacKenzie of Redcastle ca.1612 and had four
children prior to her death. In 1650 he remarried Mary MacKenzie of
Dochmaluag Strathpeffer, daughter of Alexander MacKenzie (fouth laird
of Dochmaluag) and Margaret Munro, Mary being the mother of Hugh MacRae.
(This MacKenzie family can be traced to the Royal Houses of Stuart
and Plantagenet). Alexander and Mary had nine children (listed in
The History of the Clan MacRae by Alexander MacRae): Alexander
“Alister Og” of Achyark (b.ca.1652), Donald (ca.1654-ca.1719), Christopher
(b.ca.1656), Farquhar (ca.1658-ca.1730), Murdock (b.ca.1660), Allan
(b.ca.1662), Hugh (ca.1664-ca.1730), Isabel (b.ca.1666), and Margaret
(b.ca.1668).
12.
Rev. Farquhar (of Inverinate) MacRae
-- The Father of Alexander MacRae,
Farquhar was born in 1580-1590 in Eilean Donan Castle,
Rosshire, Scotland and died in Jan. 1662 in Kintail, Rosshire, Scotland.
He married Christine (of Park) McCullough
on Dec, 1, 1611. Christina, daughter of Macculloch
Of Park, Strathpeffer, was born about 1590 in Strathpeffer, Rosshire,
Scotland. They had ten known children: Alexander (ca.1612-ca.1685),
Rev. John of Dingwall (ca.1613-1673), Isabelle (b.ca.1616 or 1621),
Isabelle (b.ca.1616 or 1621), Donald (ca.1615/18-ca.1681), Miles (b.ca.1616
or 1620), Murdock (ca.1617/22-ca.1700), Helen (b.ca.1624), Christopher
(b.ca.1619 or 1626), Thomas (b.ca.1620 or 1628), and John "Ian
Breac" (ca.1618 or 1630-before 1696). Farquhar
's parents were Christopher 'MacGonnachie' MacRae and Isabella
Murchison, who was the daughter of either John "McMhurchaidh
Dhaibb" Murchison (Priest of Kintail , who became Constable of
Eilean Donan in 1565) or of Murdoch Murchison (also Constable of Eilean
Donan and Vicar of Kintail, probably John's son).
Farquhar
was simultaneously the Constable of Eilean Donan Castle (1618-1651),
the Chamberlain of Kintail and the Vicar of Kintail. He had a reputation
as a great preacher, but because he chose to live and preach in the
more remote highland areas, he did not become as well-known as he
might have in the populated cities in the South. He was educated at
Perth where he became proficient in Latin. From there he proceeded
to Edinburgh University where he studied classics, philosophy and
religion, excelling his fellow students to the point that he was chosen
in 1603 to succeed his professor , James Reid, as a Regent at the
University. However, Kenneth, Lord Kintail, greatly desired to have
him instead as headmaster of the famous Fortrose Grammar School in
the North of Scotland, a post which Farquhar accepted for 15 months
while preparing for admission to Holy Orders, which would allow him
to preach the Gospel, which he greatly desired to do. In 1608, he
was appointed Vicar of Gairloch, an office which he held for ten years,
during which he ministered to the English-speaking ironworkers of
the region. During that period, Rev. Farquhar lived in Ardlair (near
Letterewe) and became a close companion of the learned lawyer and
scientist, Sir George Hay, who later moved south and was appointed
High Chancellor of Scotland and Earl of Kinnoull.. (There is a prominent
rock still pointed out in Ardlair called the "Minister's stone"
where Rev. Farquhar was famous for preaching, both in English
and in Gaelic.) Farquhar went on to become the Vicar of Kintail and
Constable of Eilean Donan, succeeding in the post his elderly uncle
(some say it was his grandfather), Rev. Murdock Murchison, who died
in 1618. (The Island is named after Saint Donan, a religious hermit
who lived on there in the sixth to seventh century.) On the Island
of Lews, Rev. Farquhar succeeded in winning over a largely pagan population
to Christianity and to the services of the Reverend's ruler, Kenneth,
Lord of Kintail, who died in 1611. One tradition has it that so many
people came to be baptized by Rev. Farquhar that he was obliged to
sprinkle water on parts of the crowd at random with a heather besom,
rather than baptizing each one individually. It was Lord Kenneth's
son and successor, Colin, Earl of Seaford, who sanctioned Farquhar's
appointments as vicar and constable, placing him at Eilean Donan Castle
where the Rev. lived in "an opulent and flourishing condition,
much given to hospitality and charity," often hosting great banquets
for the Earl and hundreds of his men. After Earl Colin's death in
1633, Colin's brother and successor, Earl George also bestowed upon
Rev. Farquhar the wadset rights to lands in Aryugan, Dornie, Inig,
and Drumbuie, which he bequeathed to his son Rev. John of Dingwall
MacRae, adding to the lands which were already in the family. Rev.
Farquhar was also given charge of educating Earl George's son and
heir, Kenneth. Later , around the early 1630's, a complaint was sent
to the Bishop of Ross, Patrick Lindesay, accusing the prosperous
reverend of having become too worldly and neglecting his ministerial
duties. As a result, Rev. Farquhar was called upon to preach before
the Bishop at the next provincial Assembly of the Diocese, which he
did with great eloquence. The Bishop was so impressed with the sermon
(given on "Ye are the salt of the earth," a text upon which,
by coincidence, the Bishop had based his sermon the previous day)
that he dismissed the charges as groundless and received the esteemed
preacher into special favor. In 1651 (just after the defeat of Charles
II at Dunbar) after a 33 year residence at Eilean Donan, Rev. Farquhar
left the island (apparently under pressure from the late Earl
George's brother, Simon MacKenzie of Lockslin) saying "he was
well pleased to be rid of the Island, because it was a bad habitation
for a man of his age and corpulency." When General Monk's army
visited Kintail in 1654, they took away 360 of his cattle. But when
Charles II was restored in 1660, Rev. Farquhar refused to ask for
compensation, being so loyal to the House of Stuart that he considered
the King's restoration to the throne sufficient compensation for any
loss he had suffered in the Royalist cause. He died that same year
in Rosshire, Kintail, Scotland and was buried with his ancestors in
Kilduich in Kintail.
13. Christopher 'MacGonnachie'
MacRae --
The father of Farquhar MacRae, Christopher was born
in ca.1537/52 and died ca.1615 in Kintail, Rosshire Scotland. He married
Isabella Murchison (b.ca 1556), daughter of Rev. John "McMhurchaidh
Dhaibb" Murchison (John, "son of Black Murdoch"),
Priest of Kintail and Constable of Eilean Donan (who died in 1618).
They had four known children besides Farquhar: Duncan "Donnacha
MacGillechriosd" (1578-1560), John
(ca.1582-ca.1650), Finley (b.ca.1584), Maurice (ca.1586-ca.1660)
Christopher was the Constable of Eilean Donan Castle during the period
around 1580s. He is said to have been
"prudent and solid in counsel and advice, bold, forward and daring
when need required, yet remarkably merciful during the bloody war
'twixt MacKenzie and Glengarry." Besides being a bold and stout
warrior, Christopher was an enterprising businessman, the first in
his part of the country to send cattle to sell in the markets of the
South. While he profited handsomely from such trade he was prone to
spend it lavishly when he traveled to Inverness or Fortrose, wining
and dining all his acquaintances at the local inns before his homeward
departures. He was a close friend of Sir Donald MacDonald of Sleat
(also known as Donald Gorm Mor, grandson of Donald Gorm, whom his
father had slain at the battle at Eilean Donan), who was married to
the sister of their chief, Kenneth, Lord of Kintail.
13. Duncan 'Donnacha
MacGillechrisod'' MacRae --
The father of Christopher 'MacGonnachie' MacRae,
was born in ca.1502 and died ca.1560
in Kintail, Rosshire Scotland. He was a
prominet man in the affairs of Kintail and gained great
renown for himself by killing Donald Gorm MacDonald of Sleat at the
seige of Eilean Donan castle in 1539. This occurred after Donald Gorm
devastated the lands of McLeod of Dunvegan and laid waste to the district
of Kinlochewe, killing, among others, Duncan's uncle Miles, the son
of Finley MacRae. A retaliatory raid was made against Donald Gorm
after which he invaded Kintail and headed for the weakly garrisoned
castle at Eilean Donan. Duncan happened to be in the area when the
castle sounded the alarm that they were about to be attacked, and
rushed there to join the two men defending the castle. They briefly
held off and killed a number of attacking MacDonalds, protected by
the strong fortress walls until the Constable of Eilean Donan was
killed. The outnumbered Duncan, left to defend the castle now with
only the watchman, and having but one arrow left, held on to it until
an opportunity presented itself to shoot directly at his enemy, Donald
Gorm. He managed to shoot him in the lower leg with his barbed arrow,
just as the MacDonalds began to scale the walls. The attackers stopped
at once and bore their chief away to a nearby reef. When the chief
impatiently wrenched the barbed arrow from his extremity, it fatally
ripped an artery causing him to die within a few hours. Afterwards,
Duncan hoped, as a result of his brave deed, to succeed the Constable
of Eilean Donan, but he was considered too rash, and was passed over
in favor of John MacMhurchaidh Dubh (John, son of Black Murdoch),
the priest of Kintail. Offended by this treatment, Duncan and his
newly wed wife left Kintail and traveled to the country of Lord Lovat,
where he was kindly received and given lands in Culigeron, in Strathglass.
In 1557, he accepted an invitation to move back to his beloved Kintail,
where he received the quarter of land of Inverinate and Dorisduan.
At Invernate, a romantic spot on the north shore of Loch Duich, he
passed the rest of his days, as did his descendents after him for
two centuries. He married the widow
of John Dubh Matheson, the constable of Eilean Donan who had been
killed there by Donald Gorm's men in 1539. She was the daughter (name
unknown) of Duncan Ban of Glenmoriston and had formerly been
married to Sir Dougal MacKenzie. She and Duncan had at least two sons
together, Christopher and John MacRae (ca.1539-ca.1620), as well as
a daughter (of unknown name). Duncan's father was Christopher
'Gillechriosd' MacRae; his mother's
name is unknown.
15. Christopher 'Gillechriosd'
MacRae --
The father of Duncan 'MacGillechriosd' MacRae, Christopher
was born ca.1485 and died after 1539 in Kintail, Scotland. He was
appointed Constable of Eilean Donan Castle around 1511 and held the
office with trustworthiness and success until 1538, shortly before
Donald Gorm's invasion of Kintail. He married (wife's name unknown)
and had four known children besides Duncan: Christopher Beg (b.ca.1500),
Farquhar of Torlysich (ca.1504-ca.1550), Finley Dubh (ca.1506-ca.1550),
John (ca.1508-ca.1555), and Donald (ca.1510-ca.1560). His father
was Finley MacRae; his mother's name is unknown.
16. Finley MacRae --
The father of Christopher 'Gillechriosd' MacRae,
was born in Kintail, Scotland ca.1466 and died after ca.1490. He married
an unknown wife before ca.1485 and had four children: Christopher
(ca.1485-after 1539), John 'Ian Mor nan Cas' (b.ca.1486), Gilpatrick
(b.ca.1488), and Miles 'Maolmuire' (ca.1490-before 1539; killed at
Kinlochewe). His father was Christopher MacRae; his mother's name
is unknown.
17. Christopher MacRae--The
father ofy MacRae, Christopher was the first of the MacRaes born in
Kintail (ca.1350). He married an unknown wife sometime before ca.1350
and had one known son, named Finley or Fionnla Dubh 'MacGillechriosd'
MacRae. Christopher died ca.1410. His father was Fionnla Mor Nan Gad
of Clunes MacRath; his mother's name is unknown.
18. Fionnla Dubh 'MacGillechriosd'
MacRae --
The father of Christopher MacRae, Fionnla Dubh 'MacGillechriosd'
(Black Finley, son of Christopher) is
the reputed founder of the Clan MacRae of Kintail, Scotland. He was
born in Kintail ca.1380, married a unknown wife and had two sons:
Christopher (ca.1440-after 1472) and John (ca.1442-after ca.1420),
who took holy orders, married and became a priest of Kintail. Finley
is known to have functioned as counselor to the young prince Alexander
(Alister Ionraic), son of Murdo MacKenzie, fifth chief of Kintail
(d.1416), and helped the prince free the land from the influence of
Alexander's oppressive relatives, a friendship which helped bring
power and influence to the House of Kintail. Finley died ca. 1427.
His father was Christopher MacRae; his mother's name is unknown.
19. Christopher MacRae
-- The father of Finley MacRae, Christopher
was the first of the MacRaes born in Kintail (ca.1350). He married
an unknown wife sometime before ca.1350 and had one known son, named
Finley or Fionnla Dubh 'MacGillechriosd' MacRae.
Christopher died ca.1410. His father was Fionnla Mor Nan
Gad of Clunes MacRath; his mother's name
is unknown.
20. Fionnla Mor Nan Gad
of Clunes MacRath
--
The father of Christopher MacRae, Finley (Fionnla) was
the fourth son of Maurice of Clunes MacRath, who had emigrated to
Scotland from Ireland. Finley was born, probably in Ireland ca.1318
and died in Scotland sometime after 1350. As an adult he moved from
his home in Clunes to Kintail, in western Ross, Scotland where he
joined his older brother John ("Ian Charrich") who had earlier
been forced to move away from the rest of his family in Clunes after
killing a man of Lovat descent who had insulted his aged father, Maurice.
Finley married before ca. 1350 to an unknown wife and had only one
known child, whom he named Christopher MacRae
(ca.1350-ca.1410).
21. Maurice of Clunes MacRath
-- The father of Finley
(Fionnla) Mor Gad MacRath, (pronounced McCra in Gaelic) was born ca.
1280 in Ireland.and died ca.1350 in
Scotland. He married an unknown wife before ca.1315 and had four known
children: Duncan of Clunes (b.ca.1315), Christopher of Clunes (b.ca.1316),
Finley (Fionnla Mor Nan Gad) of Clunes MacRath (ca.1318-after 1350),
John 'Ian Charrach' of Clunes (Fidgety or Restless John). Sometime
during the first half of the 14th century, Maurice and his family
moved from Ireland to Scotland, settling on the lands of Lord Lovat
of Clunes (nor far from Inverness). The tradition as told by Ella
MacRae-Gilstrap is that Maurice MacRath and two others left Ireland
as the result of a quarrel after too much celebration at a wedding
feast, and came to Lovat country in Scotland, arriving just as a would-be
assassin was about to attack Bissett, Lord of Lovat. Having just fled
from trouble caused by becoming involved in an argument, the two others
declined to intervene. But MacRath killed the assassin and the grateful
Bissett invited MacRath to settle on his estates at Lovat, where the
MacRath family remained for some time, also developing a deep friendship
with the Frasers who inherited the Lordship of the lands. Maurice
was chief forester for the Lovats, and it was his responsibility to
assign starting positions in the forest to the hunters when great
hunts were held. On one such occasion, the illegitimate son of the
Earl of Lovat objected to his assigned position, and became abusive
to Maurice (by then an old man). One of Maurice's sons, John (Ian)
of Clunes, came to his father's defense, fought, and slew Lovat's
son. After this, John fled Clunes, settling in the Kintail region,
where he gained favor with the MacKenzie clan, beginning a close association
of the two families that would last for centuries.
Maurice stayed behind (as apparently did several of his sons) and
died in Clunes. His parents are unknown.
About the MacRaes and the MacLeods: The MacRae (McRae) ancestors
were from the Kintail district of West Central Scotland, and were
originally of Pictish origin. They were the Constables of the
castle Eilean Donan on Loch Duich, on behalf of the MacKenzies, to
whom they were loyal supporters, and became known as MacKenzie’s "Coat-of-Mail."
The name first appeared in print in 448 A.D. in The Annals of
the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters when 'Macraith the
Wise' was mentioned as being a member of the household of St. Patrick.
In Scotland, King Gregory (875-900) was known as Gregory the Macrath.
The earlier form of the name, MacRath, was pronounced McCra
in Gaelic.
The MacLeod ancestors, according
to popular tradition, were descended from the Norwegian King Olaf
the Black, father of Leod; but there is equally strong reason to believe
that at least the male line belonged to the ancient Celtic inhabitants
of the country. In the time of David II they possessed Glenelg and
slightly later came to possess Dunvegan castle (on Skye) through marriage
to a daughter of MacRaild, the heiress of a Norwegian chief. The MacLeod
chiefs also owned the Isles of Lewis and Harris, Skye and almost half
of the Hebradies.
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