Donald Gorm MacDonald

Donald Grumach MacDonald had a son named Donald Gorm MacDonald. Unfortunately there appears to have been several men by that name.

They are difficult to separate and their dates overlap somewhat. Here is the list the best I can piece together:

1. Donald Grumach d. 1539 son of Donald Gallach married

1st Catherine MacDonald of Clanranald.
2nd Margaret MacLeod of Lewis daughter of Roderick MacLeod

a. Donald Gorm d. after 1546

2. Donald Gorm d. after 1546 married
1st Mary MacLeod daughter of Roderick MacLeod

a. Donald Gomeson d. 1573

3. Donald Gomeson d. 1573 married
1st Mary MacLean daughter of Hector Mor MacLean of Duart and Morven

a. Archibald MacDonald
b.Donald Gorm Mor MacDonald d. Dec 1616

4. Donald Gorm Mor MacDonald d. Dec 1616 married
1st Margaret MacLeod daughter of Norman MacLeod of Harris
2nd Married Mary Mackenzie daughterof Colin Mackenzie of Kintail or Janet Mackenzie sister of Kenneth Mackenzie

1534
Donald Grumach died.

1539
Donald Gorm Mor MacDonald of Sleat laid waste the country of MacLeod of Dunvegan

1539
Donald Gorm died at siege of Eileandonan Castle. This appears to me to actually be Donald Grumach because of the date of death.

Sometime before 1553

A William MacLeod entered an agreement with Donald Gorm MacDonald of Sleat, making over all his old rights to Sleat and Troterness for a sum of money and appointed him the Taoitear of his grandson, in case of his death before his grandson came of age. William Macleod died in 1552-53

This is most likely the Donald Gorm who married Mary MacLeod He died after 1546

1589 Donald Gorm MacDonald, Angus MacDonald of Isla, and Lauchlan MacLean of Duart were invited to Edinburgh by James VI, and he treachorously ordered them to be arrested and subjected to a long and severe captivity.

1596,
Donald Gorm MacDonald of Sleat received a new charter, specifying that he was not to let North Uist to 'hielandmen' without permission.

1601
Donald Gorm MacDonald married a daughter of MacLeod. For some reason he decided to divorce her. The account I found of this written by Alexander MacGregor follows:

Donald Gorm MacDonald of the Sleat had married Sir Rorie MacLeod of the Harris' sister, and for some displeasure or jealousy conceived against her, he did repudiate her; whereupon Sir Rory MacLeod sent a message to Donald Gorm, desiring him to take home his sister. Donald Gorm not only refused to obey his request, but also intended divorcement against her; which when he had obtained, he married Kenneth Mackenzie, Lord of Kintail's sister.

Sir Rory MacLeod took this disgrace (as he thought it) so highly, that, assembling his countrymen and followers without delay, he invaded, with fire and sword, a part of Donald Gorms's ladnds in the Isle of Skye, which lands Sir Rory claimed to appertain to himself. Donald Gorm, impatient of this injury, convened his forces, and went into the Harris, which he wasted and spoiled, carried away their store and bestial, and killed some of the inhabitants. This again did so stir up Sir Rory Macleod and his kin, the Siol Tormoit, that they took a journey into the Isle of Uist (which appertaineth to Donald Gorm), and landing there, Sir Rory sent his cousin, Donald Glas Macleod, with some 40 men, to spoil the island, and to take a prey of goods out of the precinct of Kiltry- naid, where the people had put all their goods to be preserved as in a sanctuary, being a church. John Macian-MacJames (a kinsman of Donald Gorm's) being desired by him to stay in the island, accompanied with 20 others, rencountered with Donald Glas Macleod. This small company of the Clan Donald behaved themselves so valiantly, that, after a sharp skirmish, they killed Donald Glas Macleod, with the most part of his company, and so rescued the goods. Sir Rory, seeing the bad success of his kinsmen, retired home for that time.

Thus both parties were bent headlong against others with a spirit full of revenge and fury, and so continued mutually infesting one another with spoils and cruel slaughters, to the utter ruin and desolation of both countries, until the inhabitants were forced to eat horses, dogs, cats, and other filthy beasts. In end, Donald Gorm assembled his whole forces the year of God 1G01, to try the event of battle, and came to invade Sir Rory's lands, thinking thereby to draw his enemies to fight. Sir Rory Macleod was then in Argyle, craving aid and advice from the Earl of Argyle against the Clan Donald. Alexander Macleod (Sir Rory's brother) resolves to fight with Donald Gorm, though his brother was absent; so, assembling all the inhabitants of his brother's lands, with the whole race of the Siol Torino!t, and some of the Siol Torquil, out of the Lewis, he encamped beside a hill called Ben-a-Glmilimi, in the Isle of Skye, with a resolution to fight against Donald Gorm and the Clan Donald the next morning, which were no sooner come but there ensued a cruel and terrible skirmish, .which lasted the most part of the day, both contending for the victory with great obstinacy. The Clan Donald, in the end, overthrew their enemies, hurt Alexander Macleod, and took him prisoner, with Neil MacAlister Roy, and 30 others of the chiefest men among the Siol Tormoit, killed two near kinsmen of Sir Bory Macleod's, John MacTormoit and Tormot MacTormoit, with many others. After this skirmish there followed a reconciliation betwixt them, by the mediation of old Angus Macdonald of Kintyre, the Laird of Coll, and others. Then Donald Gorm delivered unto Sir Rory Macleod all the prisoners taken at Ben-a-Chuilinn, together with his brother, Alexander Macleod; since which time they have continued in peace and quietness.

The MacDonald's Salute, "Faille Chldnn Doinhnuill " will be found in MacKay's Collection. It was composed by Donald mor MacCrimmon on the reconciliation of the MacLeods and the MacDonalds after the battle of Beinn-a - Chuilinn in Skye. When the unfortunate differences which led to that battle were adjusted, Donald Gorm MacDonald of Sleat was invited to a banquet in Dunvegan Castle, by Ruairidh Mor MacLeod. When Donald Gorm appeared in sight of the Dun, he was met by MacLeod's famous piper, Donald mor MacCrimmon, who welcomed the Chief of the MacDonalds by playing the " MacDonald's Salute," which he had composer! for the occasion (see "History of the Clan MacLeod," p. 71). "

1609
The King commissioned Bishop Knox with power to make arrangements for promoting the peace and obedience of the Isles; and, at his instance, nine chiefs agreed to a bond of obedience to the authority of the King at Icolmkill on the 24th of August 1609. The names of these chiefs were--Angus MacDonald of Dunivaig in Islay; Hector MacLean of Duart in Mull; Donald Gorm MacDonald of Sleat in Skye; Lauchlan MacLean of Coll; Donald MacDonald of Ylanterim in Moydart, Captain of Clanranald; Lauchlan MacLean of Lochbuy in Mull; and Gellespie Macquharrie of Ulva: these bound themselves by solemn oaths to future obedience to the King and the laws of Scotland. This Donald is likely 3. above

1609
June 30, 1609, Kenneth Mackenzie and Sir George become cautioners for Donald Gorm MacDonald of Sleat to the amount of L10,000 that he will appear before the Lords Commissioners on the 2nd of February next, to come under their orders, and Kenneth is charged to keep Donald Gorm;s brother's son, "who is now in his hands," until MacDonald presents himself before the Lords Commissioners. (This is probably 4. above)

1610
February 22, 1610, this caution is repeated for Donald's appearance on the 8th of March. He appears and Mackenzie is finally relieved of the bond on the 28th of Jne following.

1616 Several West Highland and Island chiefs were brought before the Privy Council in Edinburgh, and bound over in restrictions as to the quantity of wine they wer respectively to use in their houses. Donald Gorm (Big Blue Donald) of Sleat and Skye, was among them. He died the same year.


1617
Donald MacDonald husband of Janet McKenzie appeared with other chiefs before the council and continued annually to do so

1622
Donald on his and their appearance to make obedience to the privy council as usual, severla acts of importance were passed relating to the Isles, one in which the chief of Sleat and three other chiefs were bound not to molest those engaged in fishing in the Isles under heavy penalties

1625
July 14, 1625 after having concluded in an amicable manner all his disputes with the MacLeods of Harris and another controversy with the captain of Clanranald he was created a baronet of Nova Scotia by Charles I, with a special clause making him the second of that order.
1639
The king commissioned Donald Gorm of Sleat and the Earl of Antrim, an Irish MacDonald, as his lieutenants in the Highlands.

1639
On January 23 1639 Dame Janet Mackenzie wrote a letter to her uncle Alexander Mackensie. She was the wife of Sir Donald MacDonald, who had been knighted by James I in 1617. (she the daughter of Baron Kenneth MacKenzie and Ann Ross) (See 4. Above)

1648
Donald MacDonald died



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