MACCULLOCH,
the surname of an ancient family of Galloway, whose origin is lost
in antiquity; ultra memorium hominum, as it is phrased in one
of their early charters. It is understood that the M’Cullochs are
lineally descended from Ulgrie, the grandson of Owen Gallvus, king
of the Cludiensis, of Strathcluyd Britons, Ulgrie and
Douvenald being vice sovereigns of Galloway. In proof of this the
M’Cullochs, Mackuloghs, or Culaghs, are said to have held that
portion of land over which Ulgrie or Ulgrah reigned, and the
M’Dowalls the portion over which Douvenald had sway.
The first of the name of any note was Culagh or Cullagh, son
of Allil, who was killed in a skirmish in the land of the Picts in
864. As far back as the 11th century this ancient family
held the lands of Cardoness, Myretoun, and Ardwall,
Kirkcudbrightshire, and the last-named estate is still possessed by
the head of the name, Walter M’Culloch of Ardwall.
Amongst those who swore fealty to Edward I. at Berwick, August
28, 1296, was William Mackulagh. In 1305 Thomas Mackulagh was
sheriff of Wigtownshire.
Robert the Bruce granted lands to one Richard M’Colnach, June
13, 1324. On March 19, 1337-8, King Edward III. granted to Patrick
Maculach a pension of £20 yearly, for his good services in Scotland.
On Aug. 20, 1341, he also gave a mandate to Gilbert M’Culloch for 2
pounds and 14 pennies, for wages due to him in the king’s services.
(Rot. Scot, 612.) In 1350-1 Patrick M’Culloch, William de
Aldeburgh, and John de Wigginton, were commissioners for Edward
Baliol. (Rot. Scotiae.) But in 1353 the M’Cullochs submitted
to King David II.
On Oct. 17, 1488, a decree was given to Quentin Agnew, sheriff
of Wigtown, that he should restore to Archibald M’Culloch 28 oxen,
99 sheep, 4 horses, and other goods, the value of all which are
therein specified. (Acta Auditorum, p. 188.) In 1507, when
the earl of Derby, king of Man, made a descent on the town of
Kirkcudbright, Cutler M’Culloch, chief of the clan of that name,
collected a number of ships, and sailed for the Isle of Man, which
he ravaged and plundered.
In 1514 a charter was granted in favour of M’Culloch of
Myretoun, to the lands of Merton, constituting them into a barony
from that year to 1566. In the different civil wars and broils of
that stormy period, the lairds of Cardoness and Myretoun took an
active part. The chief of the M’Cullochs was one of the subscribers
to the bond entered into in 1567, to support the young King James’
authority.
In 1587 William M’Culloch of Cardoness and Myretoun, and Mary,
his wife, granted the lands of Ardwall to their nephew, William
M’Culloch. In 1612 M’Culloch of Ardwall was fined £1,200 for
opposing the king’s authority.
The family of M’Culloch of Myretoun was raised to the rank of
a baronet of Nova Scotia by Charles I. in 1634. The last baronet was
Sir Godfrey M’Culloch of Ardwall, who was beheaded at Edinburgh,
March 26, 1697, for having, in a passionate moment, shot one William
Gourdon. The proceedings of his trial, and his speech and letter to
his wife and children, will be found in Pitcairn’s Criminal
Trials.
The descendants of this ancient family have lived in the old
house of Ardwall since 1587. Walter M’Culloch of Ardwall, the 6th
in the direct line, for many years held the appointment of
sheriff-depute of Kirkcudbrightshire.
From the family of Myretoun descended the M’”Cullochs of
Drummoral and the M’Cullochs of Muill. The M’Cullochs of Piltoun
descend from the M’Cullochs of Cadboll.
