In 1511, Lewis and the other estates of the family were given, to the exclusion of the direct male heir, by charter under the great seal, to
IX.—MALCOLM Macleod, brother of the forfeited Torquil, who is described as Malcolmo Makloid filio et hairedi quondam Roderico M'Cloid. He is granted "the lands and castle of Lewis, and Waternish in the Lordship of the Isles, with other lands, erected in his favour into the barony and lordship of Lewis, the place and castle of Stornochway to be the chief messuage."f In 1515, when the Regent Duke of Albany commissioned John Macian of Ardnamurchan to reduce to obedience the inhabitants of parts of the Isles who had taken part with Sir Donald of Lochalsh in his attempt to gain the Lordship of the Isles, and to promise the less violent of them the favour of the Crown and remission for their past crimes, provided they made their submission, promised obedience in future, and made restitution to those who had suffered by their conduct, Malcolm Macleod of the Lewis was one of those specially exempted from the Royal clemency. He is again on record in 1517.
In 1518-19 Sir Donald of Lochalsh, accompanied by the Macleods of Lewis and Raasay, invaded Ardnamurchan, where, by pre-concerted arrangement, they met Alexander Macdonald of Islay, united their forces, and attacked Macian, whom they overtook at Craig-an-Airgid, in Morvern, where he was defeated and slain with two of his sons, John Suaineartach and Angus, and many of his followers. Sir Donald died very soon after this raid, and we can find nothing further regarding Malcolm Macleod, who appears to have died about 15 28.
From the date of the raid to Ardnamurchan till about 1532 the lands and barony of Lewis were taken possession of and held by John, son and direct male representative of Torquil Macleod forfeited in 1506, and nephew of Malcolm. On the death of his uncle, whose son Roderick was a minor, John Mac Torquil, aided by Donald Gruamach of Sleat and his followers, seized the whole Island. The vassals of the barony followed his banner, and, though excluded from the succession by his father's forfeiture, they acknowledged him as their natural leader by right of birth, and he was able to keep possession of the lands and the command of the Siol Torquil during the remainder of his life. In 1538 his name appears among nine of the Highland chiefs who made offers of submission to the King through Hector Maclean of Duart.
John left no male issue, but after his death the claims of his daughter, who afterwards married Donald Gorm Macdonald, fifth of Sleat, were supported by his kindred, and the Clan Donald of Sleat.
Writing of this John Mac-Torquil, under date of 1532-39, Gregory says, " that chief, the representative of an elder, though forfeited branch of the family of Lewis, had obtained possession of the estates and leading of his tribe; and although he did not hold these by any legal title, the claims of his daughter, after his death, were far from contemptible, especially when supported by the influence of the Clandonald. A compromise seems to have been entered into between Donald Gorme and Ruari Macleod, the legal heir of the Lewis, as formerly held by Malcolm Macleod, his father, and the last lawful possessor."*
Malcolm Macleod married Christian, daughter of Thomas Urquhart of Cromarty, with issue—
1. Roderick, his heir.
2. Malcolm Garve, progenitor of the Macleods of Raasay.
3. Norman, from whom the Macleods of Eddrachilles.
In 1532, on the death of his nephew John MacTorquil, who had been in undisturbed possession since Malcolm's death,*
Malcolm was buried in the Churchyard of Ui, in the immediate vicinity of Stornoway, where many of the Lewis chiefs are interred, " and particularly Malcolm, son of Roderick Macleod, Lord of Lewis, who died in the reign of James V. His tomb is still visible, and the inscription is entire, with the exception of the date."— Collectanea de Rebus Albanicis, p. .).
X.—Roderick Macleod succeeded to the lands and command of the Macleods of Lewis, in terms of an arrangement arrived at between him and Donald Gorm Macdonald of Sleat, who had married Margaret, daughter of John Mac Torquil. In terms of this arrangement, Roderick undertook to assist Donald Gorm in driving the Macleods of Dunvegan, who again managed to gain possession of Troternish, from that contested district . It is also alleged that Roderick became bound to support Donald Gorm in his attempts to establish himself in the Lordship of the Isles and Earldom of Ross.
In May, 1539, Macdonald, accompanied by Macleod and his followers, invaded the lands of Troternish and laid them waste, after which, taking advantage of Mackenzie of Kintail's absence from home, they, with a large body of followers, made a raid upon Kinlochewe and Kintail, and attempted to take the Castle of Eilean Donain, on which occasion Donald Gorm was killed by an arrow shot from the walls of the stronghold.
On the 2nd of April, 1538, James V. granted to Roderick Macleod, the son and heir of the deceased Malcolm Macleod of the Lewis, the nonentry and other dues of the lands and barony of the Lewis, from the 3iDth of June, 1511, till a year after the date of the grant.f When the King, on his famous visit to the Isles in 1540, visited the Lewis, Roderick Macleod and his principal kinsmen met him, and they weie commanded to accompany him in his progress southward. In 1541 King James V. granted Roderick and Barbara Stewart, his affianced spouse, the lands, island and barony of Lewis, with the castle and other lands, resigned by Roderick, when the whole was erected anew into the free barony of Lewis.
We find Roderick's name, on the 28th of July, 1545, among the seventeen of the Barons and Council of the Isles appointed as plenipotentiaries for treating, under the directions of the Earl of Lennox, with the English King, to whom, at this time, they had been arranging to transfer their allegiance, and in consequence of which they had shortly before been charged by the Regent Arran with rebellious and treasonable proceedings, and threatened with utter ruin and destruction, from an invasion by " the whole body of the realm of Scotland, with the succours lately come from France," for their attempts to bring the whole Isles and a great part of the mainland under the obedience of the King of England, in contempt of the authority of the Crown of Scotland. On the 5th of August following these Barons were at Knockfergus, in Ireland, with a force of four thousand men and one hundred and eighty galleys, where, in presence of the Commissioners sent by the Earl of Lennox, and of the leading officials of the town, they took the oath of allegiance to the King of England, at the command of the Earl of Lennox, who was acknowledged by them all as the true Regent and second person of the Realm of Scotland. It was in this capacity and for this reason that they agreed to act under his directions in their treasonable and unpatriotic conduct on this and other occasions. On the 17th of August in the same year he had, with Alexander Macleod of Dunvegan and forty others, a remission from that date to the ist of November following, that they might go to the Regent and Lords of the Privy Council for the purpose of arranging as to their affairs.
On the death of Donald Dubh, without lawful male issue, many of the Island chiefs adopted as their leader James Macdonald of Islay, though his pretentions to the Lordship of the Isles were far inferior to those of Donald Gorm Og of Sleat, who was then a minor. Among those who opposed Islay and who soon afterwards succeeded in effecting a reconciliation with the Scottish Regent, we find Roderick Macleod of Lewis, Macleod of Harris, Macneill of Barra, Mackinnon of Strath, and Macquarrie of Ulva. Roderick is, however, in 1547, absent from the battle of Pinkie, though several of the other Island lords responded to the call of the Regent Arran on that disastrous occasion, but Macleod appears to have been forgiven in 1548 on easy terms with several others outlawed along with him for not joining- the Regent's forces in the previous year when commanded to do so. He is, however, again in trouble within a very short interval. In 1551 Archibald Earl of Argyll was commissioned to pursue with his men Roderick Macleod of the Lewis for " obteening " certain persons out of his lands, and in 1552 Arran determined, on the advice of Mary of Guise, the Queen Dowager, to establish order among the Highlanders. With this object he summoned all the chiefs to meet him at Aberdeen on the I7th of June. Most of them submitted to the conditions imposed, either there or in the following July at Inverness, but in consequence of the disputes which occurred at his time between Arran and the Queen Dowager, regarding the Regency, the Highlanders again broke out. The Queen Dowager assumed the Government in June, 1554, when she at once ordered the Earls of Huntly and Argyll to proceed by land and sea to the utter extermination of the Macdonalds of Clanranald and of Sleat, the Macleods of Lewis, and their associates, who had failed to present the hostages demanded of them for good conduct and loyalty in future. The expedition seems, from various causes, to have turned out a complete failure. The Queen Dowager was determined, however, to secure order among the Highlanders, and in April, 1555, a process of treason was commenced against Roderick Macleod of the Lewis. In the following June a commission was granted to the Earls of Argyll and Athole against the islanders, but soon after, in the same year, Macleod submitted and made certain offers to the Privy Council through Argyll, in consequence of which the Queen Regent granted him a remission "for his treasonable intercommuning with various rebels, and for other crimes."
After this he appears to have led a more peaceful life for several years, for we do not again find any trace of him in the public records until he is summoned with several others, by proclamation, on the 2oth of September, 1565, to join the Earl of Athole in Lorn to put down the Earl of Murray's rebellion, arising out of
his opposition to the marriage of Mary, Queen of Scots, to Lord Darnley. This rebellion, however, collapsed, and there was no necessity to send the royal forces to Lorn after all. In 1572, during Roderick's life, James VI. granted to Torquil Conanach Macleod, described in the charter as " the son and apparent heir of Roderick Macleod-of Lewis," and to the heirs male of his body, with remainder to Gillecallum Garbh Macleod of Raasay, and his male heirs, and to Torquil's male heirs whomsoever bearing the Macleod surname and arms, the lands and barony of Lewis, which Roderick had resigned, reserving the life-rent to himself on condition that he.and Torquil should not again commit any crime against the King.*
Sources:
A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and ... - Page 590
by John Burke - Heraldry - 1838
Showing posts with label Roderick MacLeod. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Roderick MacLeod. Show all posts
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Tormod MacLeod and his son Roderick Rory MacLeod
A genealogical and heraldic history of the commoners of Great Britain and ...
By John Burke
Tormod Macleod, of Macleod, who in July, 1580, was infeft in the whole estate. He was the son of Alexander Alisdair Crotach MacLeod.
This laird m. first, Giles, daughter of Hector Maclean, of Duart, by whom he had issue,
I. William
II. Roderick
III. Alexander, of Minginish, from whom Alexander Macleod, of Fer- rinnilea, William Macleod, of Ose, and Lieut. Norman Macleod.
I. Margaret, m. to Donald Macdonald, of Slate. The feuds which subsisted between the Macleods and Macdonalds arose from the bad treatment of the lady by her husband.
II. ______ , m. first, to Macleod, of Lewis ; and, secondly, to Macdonald, of Ben- beaila.
Tormod wedded, secondly, a daughter of the Earl of Argyll, and had by her a daughter, Jannet, who became the wife of Maclean, of Coll. Macleod was a man of courage and conduct, and an adherent of the unhappy Mary, of Scotland. He died in March, 1584, and was s. by his eldest son,
William Macleod, of Macleod, who was served heir 31st July, 1585. He m. Janet, daughter of Lachlan McIntosh, of Dunachten, and dying in October, 1590, without issue, was s. by his brother, Roderick
Sir Roderick Macleod, of Macleod, commonly Rory more, or great Roderick, who received the honour of knighthood from King James VI. and was infeft in the whole estate as heir to his brother in September, 1596. This laird appears to have been involved in much difficulty, but his address and courage bore him eventually through. An act of parliament having passed, l0th December, 1507, obliging, under pain of forfeiture, all the chieftains and other landholders in the Highlands and Isles, to produce the title- deeds of their estates before the lords of the exchequer, to be considered by them previously to the 25th day of May following, and Sir Roderick refusing compliance, King James conferred his whole estate, with the exception of Trotterness, Slate, and Uist, upon James Lord Balmerinock, Sir James Spence, of Wolmerston, and Sir George Hay, of Nether Cliff, afterwards Viscount Duplin, equally between them, on which these gentlemen, taking out a charter under the great seal, were infeft, and Sir George Hay acquired right to Balmerinock's and Wolmerston 's shares. At the same time, to augment his embarrassment, Sir Roderick was on bad terms with Sir Roderick McKenzie, of Coigach, tutor of Kintail, ancestor of the earls of Croroartie, then a privy councillor and a man of considerable power and influence, who, aware of the fiery disposition of Macleod, affronted him in presence of the council, that he might commit some act which should render him amenable to the law ; — the desired effect was produced;—
Macleod knocked M'Kenzie immediately down, and thus subjected himself to capital punishment: at this period too his country was invaded by the Macdonalds of Slate, while himself and a large number of his clan were in the island of Mull; and although the invaders were gallantly opposed by Alexander Macleod, of Minginish, with so many of the clan as he could collect together, the Macdonalds, after a bloody skirmish in Guillen, carried away a spreath; in retaliation, when Sir Roderick returned, |he made an inroad into Trotterness, and burned and destroyed the whole country. He had also at this time deadly feuds with the family of Clankanald. He was however long and greatly befriended by the Earl of Argyll, and, on the 7th July, 1606, engaged himself by contract to resign bis barony of Glenelg into the king's hands in favour of that nobleman, on his lordship's becoming bound to grant to him (Sir Roderick) and his heirs male a charter of that barony, to be held of Argyll and his heirs by service of ward, marriage, and relief; he subsequently accommodated matters with Sir Roderick M'Kenzie, and entered into bonds of friendship with Macdonald, of Slate, Macdonald, of Clankanald, and Mackinnon; and at length, on the 4th May, 1610, obtained from James a remission. On the 18th July, in the same year, he purchased from Kenneth, Lord Mackenzie, of Kintail, the barony of Vaterness, disposing to Kintail of the Twopenny land of Trotterness, and the office of bailliary of the whole lands of Trotterness. On the 19th of the same month he obtained from George Hay, Viscount Duplin, a disposition of the whole estate, and on these titles, with his own resignation, he acquired from the crown a new charter, dated 4th April, 1611, of Vaterness and his other estates, containing a novoda- mus taxing the ward, and erecting the whole into a barony, to be called the barony of Dunvegan, in favour of himself and the heirs male of his body, remainder to his brother german, Alexander Macleod, of Minginess, remainder to William Macleod, alins Macwilliam Macleod, of Meidle, the heir male of Tormod, second son of John, sixth laird of Macleod, remainder to his own nearest and lawful heirs male whatsoever ; and upon this charter he was infeft 22nd October, 1611. On the 16th September, 1613, he was served heir in special to William Macleod, his uncle, in the lands of Trotterness, Slate, and North Uist, and was infeft in them llth February, 1614. Those lands he desposed of, in February, 1618, to Sir Donald Macdonald, of Slate. Sir Roderick became a great favourite with King James VI. who, on the 18th May, 1610, wrote to him a letter requiring his assistance in an affair to be communicated to him by the Earl of Dunbar, which his majesty says, " he shall not fail to remember, when any occasion fit for your good shall be offered." In 1613 the king conferred the honour of knighthood on him, and in the June of that year he wrote three several letters from Greenwich, recommending Macleod and his affairs, in the strongest terms, to the privy council of Scotland. On the 16th June, 1616, his majesty granted to Sir Roderick a license, under his hand and seal, to come out of Scotland to court whenever he should think convenient, without being liable to any challenge or pursuit for so doing. Sir Roderick died in the beginning of 1626, leaving issue by his wife, Isabella, daughter of Macdonald, of Glengary, five sons and five daughters, viz.
i. John, his successor.
ii. Roderick, of Talliskir.*
ill. Normand, of Berneray.
iv. William, of Stammer,
v. Donald, of Grishernish.
i. Margaret, m. to M'Lean, of Duart.
n. Mary, m. to — M'Lean, brother of Duart, and her son succeeded to the estate.
in. Moire, commonly called Moire Voire, m. to John Musdortich, captain of Clankanald, which marriage terminated the feuds between the two families.
iv. Janet, m. to John Macleod, of Ra- say.
v. Florence, m. to Donald M'Sween.
It is remarkable that this chieftain was a proficient in Latin, had travelled on the Continent, and spoke French with fluency, yet could neither utter nor understand the Scotch or English dialect. His eldest son and heir,
John Macleod, of Macleod, surnamed John More, from his great size, was confirmed in the whole family estate, 9th November, 1626, on a precept from the Chancery, and was subsequently under a decree of the Privy Council of Scotland, compelled to resign his barony of Glenelg in the king's hands, in favour of the Earl of Argyll, (son of the nobleman with whom his father had entered into the contract,) and to take a charter of it, holding of his lordship, paying twenty thousand merks for taxing the ward, marriage and relief, by which tenure it is yet held of die house of Argyll. This laird was a staunch Royalist, and opposed the measures of the Covenanters from the commencement, for which conduct he received a letter of thanks from King Charles I. dated at Durham 2nd May, 1639. He continued firm in his allegiance, to the hour of his death, which happened in September, 1649. He was remarkable for his goodness and piety, and took so much pains to civilize the country, that he acquired the appellation of Lot in Sodon. He m. Sibella, daughter of Kenneth, Lord M'Kinzie, of Kintail, and haa issue,
Roderick,
John,
successive lairds.
Mary, m. first, to Sir James Macdonald, of Slate, and secondly, to Muir, of Rowallan.
Marion, m. to Donald Macdonald, captain of Clankaland, and was mother of Allan, captain of Clankaland, who fell at Sheriff Mnir.
Giles, m. first, to Sir Allan M'Lean, of Duart, and secondly, to Campbell, of Glendaruel.
Sibella, i». to Thomas Fraser, of Beaufort, and was mother of Simon Fraser, the last Lord Lovat, (see p. 207).
Margaret, m. to Sir James Campbell, of
Laarg.
The eldest son,
Roderick Macleod, fifteenth laird of Macleod, was served heir in special to his father 22nd November, 1665,
* This gentleman, Roderick Macleod, of Tal- liskir, on the death of his elder brother, John, who succeeded his father, and became fourteenth laird of Macleod, was appointed tutor to his nephew, Roderick Macleod, the fifteenth laird, John's son and heir, then in minority. On the arrival of Charles II. in Scotland, in 1650, and the issue of his Majesty's proclamation, commanding all his subjects to repair to the Royal Standard with as many men as they could levy, Roderick immediately raised a regiment, seven hundred strong, of his clan and followers, and appointed hi» brother Nonnand, of Bernere, lien- tenant-colonel, who cheerfully obeyed the royal summons, and after remaining some time with the king's army, received orders to complete his corps by a levy of three hundred men more. This he accomplished ; but being in want of arms, he obtained an order on John Bunkle, then commissary, to supply him. The commissary, however, refused to comply, unless Tulliskir would pass his bond for the value, which, rather than prejudice the service, was passed. This bond was afterwards assigned to William M'Cullocb, who used utmost diligence upon it against Talliskir, during the Usurpation. These proceedings were at last suspended; and Colonel Macleod relieved from the claim by act of parliament, in 1661. At the head of this regiment, himself and his brother attended the King to the fatal field of Worcester, where almost every man of the corps was either killed, or taken prisoner, and transported to the plantations. The colonel had a narrow escape, and after concealing himself a short time in England, got in disguise to Scotland, where he became active in encouraging a spirit of loynlty among the Highland clans; the best affected of whom met at Glenelg on the 21st April, 1653, and agreed on raising a body of two thousand men for the King's service, and to apprise his Majesty of Great Britain, the King of Denmark, the Princes* Royal, and the States of Holland, with their resolution. This mission was entrusted to Lieutenant- Col. Normand Macleod, to be carried to Xing Charles, who conveyed in return a most flattering letter from the exiled monarch to his brother Talliskir. When, subsequently, the royal cause entirely failed, Colonel Macleod lived privately at dome until the Restoration, when the King, in consideration of his faithful services, conferred upon him the honour of knighthood. Sir Roderick m. first, a daughter of Donald, first Lord Kie ; and secondly, Mary, daughter of M'Kin- non, of that ilk : by the latter he had John, Magnus, who died a youth, and a daughter Isabel!, m. to Donald M'Lean, of Coll. She .;. about the year 1675. His son John was m. to Janet, only daughter of Alexander Macleod, of Grishemish, and had a son and heir, Donald, who m. Christian, daughter of John Macleod, nnd left issue. John, of Talliskir, lieut.-colonel in the service of the States of Holland; Magnus, on officer in Col. Campbell's regiment of Highlanders ; Roderick, professor of philosophy in the king's college of Aberdeen . Normand, captain-lieut. in the regiment of light-armed infantry in America, and one of the superintendants of the Indians. Janet, m. to Hugh M'Lean, of Coll; and Isabel), the wife of Hector M'Lean, of Islecomonk.
*Normand Macleod, of Berneray, third son of Sir Roderick, concurred most heartily during his nephew's minority in all the measures adopted by bis eldest brother, Sir Roderick, the tutor of Macleod. He was at the battle of Worcester, in the rank of lieut.-colonel of his brother's regiment, and being taken prisoner there, was detained in custody for eighteen months, during which period he was tried for his life on the supposition of being a Welchman, from the affinity, the surnames of Ap Lloyd and Macleod; but being well known to the Scots army, bis identity was easily established, when there was an end to the case, and the prisoner remanded. It was then proposed to him to subscribe the oath called the tender, and his liberty was offered to him ; but peremptorily refusing, his incarceration was prolonged, and his treatment rendered more severe; but being a man of abilities, address, and enterprise, he at length effected his escape, and joined his friends in the Highlands, attended the council of war already mentioned, and was deputed to convey the result of the proceedings to King Charles. He was afterwards active in the many attempts made to re-establish the King's affairs in Scotland, and when General Middleton was no longer able to keep the field, but obliged to retire to the Western Isles, Lieut.-colonel Macleod conducted him to his own house at Berneray, where he remained in security, until provided with means, by his gallant host, to make his escape beyond sea. After the Restoration, be received, with his brother, the honour of knighthood, but got no other reward, except through the Earl of Middleton be obtained the forfeited estate of a certain Highland family, which took place in consequence of a correspondence discovered between its chief and the usurpers. Sir Normand m first, Margaret, only child of John M'Kenzie, of Lochslin, second son of Kenneth, Lord Kintail, by whom he had an only son, John Macleod, of Contulich, who wedded Isabella, eldest daughter of Kenneth M'Kenzie, of Scatwell, and had a numerous issue, of whom the eldest son, John Macleod, of Muirnvonside, was father of Alexander Macleod, advocate, and Klizabeth, the wife of John Macdonald, of Largie, and the second son, Donald Macleod, of Bernera, had, by his first marriage, Norman Macleod, of Unish, and Captain Alexander Macleod, of the Lord Mansfield Indiaman, with several daughter*; and by his second marriage, John Macleod. Sir Normand espoused, secondly, Catherine, eldest daughter of Sir James Macdonald, of Slate, by whom he had
William, of Laskindir, father of Alexander, of Laskindir, of Roderick, clerk to the signet; of Margaret, m. to Ronald Macdonald, of Clankaland, and Alice, the wife of Roderick M'Neill.
Marion, m. to Donald M'Lean, of Colt. m. to Alexander Macleod, of R»-
say, and afterwards to Angus M'Donell,
of Scotherin.
MacLeod Wikipeida
By John Burke
Tormod Macleod, of Macleod, who in July, 1580, was infeft in the whole estate. He was the son of Alexander Alisdair Crotach MacLeod.
This laird m. first, Giles, daughter of Hector Maclean, of Duart, by whom he had issue,
I. William
II. Roderick
III. Alexander, of Minginish, from whom Alexander Macleod, of Fer- rinnilea, William Macleod, of Ose, and Lieut. Norman Macleod.
I. Margaret, m. to Donald Macdonald, of Slate. The feuds which subsisted between the Macleods and Macdonalds arose from the bad treatment of the lady by her husband.
II. ______ , m. first, to Macleod, of Lewis ; and, secondly, to Macdonald, of Ben- beaila.
Tormod wedded, secondly, a daughter of the Earl of Argyll, and had by her a daughter, Jannet, who became the wife of Maclean, of Coll. Macleod was a man of courage and conduct, and an adherent of the unhappy Mary, of Scotland. He died in March, 1584, and was s. by his eldest son,
William Macleod, of Macleod, who was served heir 31st July, 1585. He m. Janet, daughter of Lachlan McIntosh, of Dunachten, and dying in October, 1590, without issue, was s. by his brother, Roderick
Sir Roderick Macleod, of Macleod, commonly Rory more, or great Roderick, who received the honour of knighthood from King James VI. and was infeft in the whole estate as heir to his brother in September, 1596. This laird appears to have been involved in much difficulty, but his address and courage bore him eventually through. An act of parliament having passed, l0th December, 1507, obliging, under pain of forfeiture, all the chieftains and other landholders in the Highlands and Isles, to produce the title- deeds of their estates before the lords of the exchequer, to be considered by them previously to the 25th day of May following, and Sir Roderick refusing compliance, King James conferred his whole estate, with the exception of Trotterness, Slate, and Uist, upon James Lord Balmerinock, Sir James Spence, of Wolmerston, and Sir George Hay, of Nether Cliff, afterwards Viscount Duplin, equally between them, on which these gentlemen, taking out a charter under the great seal, were infeft, and Sir George Hay acquired right to Balmerinock's and Wolmerston 's shares. At the same time, to augment his embarrassment, Sir Roderick was on bad terms with Sir Roderick McKenzie, of Coigach, tutor of Kintail, ancestor of the earls of Croroartie, then a privy councillor and a man of considerable power and influence, who, aware of the fiery disposition of Macleod, affronted him in presence of the council, that he might commit some act which should render him amenable to the law ; — the desired effect was produced;—
Macleod knocked M'Kenzie immediately down, and thus subjected himself to capital punishment: at this period too his country was invaded by the Macdonalds of Slate, while himself and a large number of his clan were in the island of Mull; and although the invaders were gallantly opposed by Alexander Macleod, of Minginish, with so many of the clan as he could collect together, the Macdonalds, after a bloody skirmish in Guillen, carried away a spreath; in retaliation, when Sir Roderick returned, |he made an inroad into Trotterness, and burned and destroyed the whole country. He had also at this time deadly feuds with the family of Clankanald. He was however long and greatly befriended by the Earl of Argyll, and, on the 7th July, 1606, engaged himself by contract to resign bis barony of Glenelg into the king's hands in favour of that nobleman, on his lordship's becoming bound to grant to him (Sir Roderick) and his heirs male a charter of that barony, to be held of Argyll and his heirs by service of ward, marriage, and relief; he subsequently accommodated matters with Sir Roderick M'Kenzie, and entered into bonds of friendship with Macdonald, of Slate, Macdonald, of Clankanald, and Mackinnon; and at length, on the 4th May, 1610, obtained from James a remission. On the 18th July, in the same year, he purchased from Kenneth, Lord Mackenzie, of Kintail, the barony of Vaterness, disposing to Kintail of the Twopenny land of Trotterness, and the office of bailliary of the whole lands of Trotterness. On the 19th of the same month he obtained from George Hay, Viscount Duplin, a disposition of the whole estate, and on these titles, with his own resignation, he acquired from the crown a new charter, dated 4th April, 1611, of Vaterness and his other estates, containing a novoda- mus taxing the ward, and erecting the whole into a barony, to be called the barony of Dunvegan, in favour of himself and the heirs male of his body, remainder to his brother german, Alexander Macleod, of Minginess, remainder to William Macleod, alins Macwilliam Macleod, of Meidle, the heir male of Tormod, second son of John, sixth laird of Macleod, remainder to his own nearest and lawful heirs male whatsoever ; and upon this charter he was infeft 22nd October, 1611. On the 16th September, 1613, he was served heir in special to William Macleod, his uncle, in the lands of Trotterness, Slate, and North Uist, and was infeft in them llth February, 1614. Those lands he desposed of, in February, 1618, to Sir Donald Macdonald, of Slate. Sir Roderick became a great favourite with King James VI. who, on the 18th May, 1610, wrote to him a letter requiring his assistance in an affair to be communicated to him by the Earl of Dunbar, which his majesty says, " he shall not fail to remember, when any occasion fit for your good shall be offered." In 1613 the king conferred the honour of knighthood on him, and in the June of that year he wrote three several letters from Greenwich, recommending Macleod and his affairs, in the strongest terms, to the privy council of Scotland. On the 16th June, 1616, his majesty granted to Sir Roderick a license, under his hand and seal, to come out of Scotland to court whenever he should think convenient, without being liable to any challenge or pursuit for so doing. Sir Roderick died in the beginning of 1626, leaving issue by his wife, Isabella, daughter of Macdonald, of Glengary, five sons and five daughters, viz.
i. John, his successor.
ii. Roderick, of Talliskir.*
ill. Normand, of Berneray.
iv. William, of Stammer,
v. Donald, of Grishernish.
i. Margaret, m. to M'Lean, of Duart.
n. Mary, m. to — M'Lean, brother of Duart, and her son succeeded to the estate.
in. Moire, commonly called Moire Voire, m. to John Musdortich, captain of Clankanald, which marriage terminated the feuds between the two families.
iv. Janet, m. to John Macleod, of Ra- say.
v. Florence, m. to Donald M'Sween.
It is remarkable that this chieftain was a proficient in Latin, had travelled on the Continent, and spoke French with fluency, yet could neither utter nor understand the Scotch or English dialect. His eldest son and heir,
John Macleod, of Macleod, surnamed John More, from his great size, was confirmed in the whole family estate, 9th November, 1626, on a precept from the Chancery, and was subsequently under a decree of the Privy Council of Scotland, compelled to resign his barony of Glenelg in the king's hands, in favour of the Earl of Argyll, (son of the nobleman with whom his father had entered into the contract,) and to take a charter of it, holding of his lordship, paying twenty thousand merks for taxing the ward, marriage and relief, by which tenure it is yet held of die house of Argyll. This laird was a staunch Royalist, and opposed the measures of the Covenanters from the commencement, for which conduct he received a letter of thanks from King Charles I. dated at Durham 2nd May, 1639. He continued firm in his allegiance, to the hour of his death, which happened in September, 1649. He was remarkable for his goodness and piety, and took so much pains to civilize the country, that he acquired the appellation of Lot in Sodon. He m. Sibella, daughter of Kenneth, Lord M'Kinzie, of Kintail, and haa issue,
Roderick,
John,
successive lairds.
Mary, m. first, to Sir James Macdonald, of Slate, and secondly, to Muir, of Rowallan.
Marion, m. to Donald Macdonald, captain of Clankaland, and was mother of Allan, captain of Clankaland, who fell at Sheriff Mnir.
Giles, m. first, to Sir Allan M'Lean, of Duart, and secondly, to Campbell, of Glendaruel.
Sibella, i». to Thomas Fraser, of Beaufort, and was mother of Simon Fraser, the last Lord Lovat, (see p. 207).
Margaret, m. to Sir James Campbell, of
Laarg.
The eldest son,
Roderick Macleod, fifteenth laird of Macleod, was served heir in special to his father 22nd November, 1665,
* This gentleman, Roderick Macleod, of Tal- liskir, on the death of his elder brother, John, who succeeded his father, and became fourteenth laird of Macleod, was appointed tutor to his nephew, Roderick Macleod, the fifteenth laird, John's son and heir, then in minority. On the arrival of Charles II. in Scotland, in 1650, and the issue of his Majesty's proclamation, commanding all his subjects to repair to the Royal Standard with as many men as they could levy, Roderick immediately raised a regiment, seven hundred strong, of his clan and followers, and appointed hi» brother Nonnand, of Bernere, lien- tenant-colonel, who cheerfully obeyed the royal summons, and after remaining some time with the king's army, received orders to complete his corps by a levy of three hundred men more. This he accomplished ; but being in want of arms, he obtained an order on John Bunkle, then commissary, to supply him. The commissary, however, refused to comply, unless Tulliskir would pass his bond for the value, which, rather than prejudice the service, was passed. This bond was afterwards assigned to William M'Cullocb, who used utmost diligence upon it against Talliskir, during the Usurpation. These proceedings were at last suspended; and Colonel Macleod relieved from the claim by act of parliament, in 1661. At the head of this regiment, himself and his brother attended the King to the fatal field of Worcester, where almost every man of the corps was either killed, or taken prisoner, and transported to the plantations. The colonel had a narrow escape, and after concealing himself a short time in England, got in disguise to Scotland, where he became active in encouraging a spirit of loynlty among the Highland clans; the best affected of whom met at Glenelg on the 21st April, 1653, and agreed on raising a body of two thousand men for the King's service, and to apprise his Majesty of Great Britain, the King of Denmark, the Princes* Royal, and the States of Holland, with their resolution. This mission was entrusted to Lieutenant- Col. Normand Macleod, to be carried to Xing Charles, who conveyed in return a most flattering letter from the exiled monarch to his brother Talliskir. When, subsequently, the royal cause entirely failed, Colonel Macleod lived privately at dome until the Restoration, when the King, in consideration of his faithful services, conferred upon him the honour of knighthood. Sir Roderick m. first, a daughter of Donald, first Lord Kie ; and secondly, Mary, daughter of M'Kin- non, of that ilk : by the latter he had John, Magnus, who died a youth, and a daughter Isabel!, m. to Donald M'Lean, of Coll. She .;. about the year 1675. His son John was m. to Janet, only daughter of Alexander Macleod, of Grishemish, and had a son and heir, Donald, who m. Christian, daughter of John Macleod, nnd left issue. John, of Talliskir, lieut.-colonel in the service of the States of Holland; Magnus, on officer in Col. Campbell's regiment of Highlanders ; Roderick, professor of philosophy in the king's college of Aberdeen . Normand, captain-lieut. in the regiment of light-armed infantry in America, and one of the superintendants of the Indians. Janet, m. to Hugh M'Lean, of Coll; and Isabel), the wife of Hector M'Lean, of Islecomonk.
*Normand Macleod, of Berneray, third son of Sir Roderick, concurred most heartily during his nephew's minority in all the measures adopted by bis eldest brother, Sir Roderick, the tutor of Macleod. He was at the battle of Worcester, in the rank of lieut.-colonel of his brother's regiment, and being taken prisoner there, was detained in custody for eighteen months, during which period he was tried for his life on the supposition of being a Welchman, from the affinity, the surnames of Ap Lloyd and Macleod; but being well known to the Scots army, bis identity was easily established, when there was an end to the case, and the prisoner remanded. It was then proposed to him to subscribe the oath called the tender, and his liberty was offered to him ; but peremptorily refusing, his incarceration was prolonged, and his treatment rendered more severe; but being a man of abilities, address, and enterprise, he at length effected his escape, and joined his friends in the Highlands, attended the council of war already mentioned, and was deputed to convey the result of the proceedings to King Charles. He was afterwards active in the many attempts made to re-establish the King's affairs in Scotland, and when General Middleton was no longer able to keep the field, but obliged to retire to the Western Isles, Lieut.-colonel Macleod conducted him to his own house at Berneray, where he remained in security, until provided with means, by his gallant host, to make his escape beyond sea. After the Restoration, be received, with his brother, the honour of knighthood, but got no other reward, except through the Earl of Middleton be obtained the forfeited estate of a certain Highland family, which took place in consequence of a correspondence discovered between its chief and the usurpers. Sir Normand m first, Margaret, only child of John M'Kenzie, of Lochslin, second son of Kenneth, Lord Kintail, by whom he had an only son, John Macleod, of Contulich, who wedded Isabella, eldest daughter of Kenneth M'Kenzie, of Scatwell, and had a numerous issue, of whom the eldest son, John Macleod, of Muirnvonside, was father of Alexander Macleod, advocate, and Klizabeth, the wife of John Macdonald, of Largie, and the second son, Donald Macleod, of Bernera, had, by his first marriage, Norman Macleod, of Unish, and Captain Alexander Macleod, of the Lord Mansfield Indiaman, with several daughter*; and by his second marriage, John Macleod. Sir Normand espoused, secondly, Catherine, eldest daughter of Sir James Macdonald, of Slate, by whom he had
William, of Laskindir, father of Alexander, of Laskindir, of Roderick, clerk to the signet; of Margaret, m. to Ronald Macdonald, of Clankaland, and Alice, the wife of Roderick M'Neill.
Marion, m. to Donald M'Lean, of Colt. m. to Alexander Macleod, of R»-
say, and afterwards to Angus M'Donell,
of Scotherin.
MacLeod Wikipeida
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