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THE MACKINTOSHES IN THE
FRASER COUNTRY.
AFTER their
forfeiture, the great possessions of the Bysets in the Aird,
comprehending, with the exception of ecclesiastical property, the
whole of the present parishes of Kirkhill, Kiltarlity, and Kilmorack,
became much subdivided. A perusal of the Cess Rolls of 1644 and 1691
will show, however, that with trifling exceptions they fell into the
hands of the Frasers and Chisholms and their cadets. During the
seventeenth century the Frasers lost ground considerably. Amongst
those who strove to obtain a footing in the Aird were the Earls of
Argyll—the second Earl in 1497, receiving large portions from Sir
David Lvndsay of Beauford, while other lands were also acquired.
The first Mackintosh
who obtained land there was Farquhar Roy Mackintosh, son of Dougall
Mor Mac Gillie Callum, which Malcolm was youngest son of Malcolm Beg
Mackintosh, tenth of Mackintosh. Malcolm Mackintosh was slain at the
battle of Craigcailleoch in 1441, leaving a very young family, of
whom the eldest, Dougall above mentioned, was reckoned one of the
greatest warriors of his day. At Edinburgh, on the 16th of October,
1511, Archibald, 2nd Earl of Argyll, by charter of taillie and
donation, for the homage and service manifoldly rendered and to be
rendered to him and his, by Farquhar Mackintosh, son of Dougall Mor
Mackintosh, granted, to be held ward and relief, all and whole the
lands of Kirkton and Inchberry, with their pertinents, lying within
the Sheriffdom of Inverness, to the said Farquhar Mackintosh and the
heirs male of his body lawfully procreated or to be procreated, whom
failing to Donald Mackintosh his brother-german and the heirs male
of his body lawfully procreated or to be procreated, whom failing to
the heirs male of the body of the foresaid Dougall, their father,
lawfully procreated or to be procreated, whom all failing, fully to
return to the said noble Earl and his nearest heirs male whomsoever.
The charter was confirmed by James IV. at Edinburgh on 27th
February, 1512. Unfortunately Dougall Mor in his old age, instigated
by the evil advice of relatives, turned against his Chief, and with
his two sons was killed in an attack on the Castle of Inverness in
1521. Failing lawful heirs male, Kirkton and Inchherry reverted to
Argyll in terms of the charter, and the Earl's son, Colin third
Earl, after serving heir to his father in 1526, feued the lands the
following year to Hugh, fifth Lord Lovat, and they have since
remained with the Lovat family, although the superiority continued
for a considerable time in the Argylls. The first Mackintosh
acquisition was thus of brief duration.
The Fentons of Ogill
were descended of the same family that owned much of the Aird. In
1475 Alexander Fenton of Ogill is found, and on 6th December, 1507,
the before mentioned Archibald, Earl of Argyll, for an onerous
consideration sells and alienates to Thomas Fenton of Ogill, his
heirs and assignees, the lands of Beaufort with the pertinents.
Seventeen years later, James Fenton of Ogill, styling himself lord
of the lands of Beaufort, by charter dated Edinburgh, 13th December,
1524, granted to honourable persons, Lachlan Mackintosh of Dunachton
and Jean Gordon, his spouse, and the longest liver of them in
conjunct fee, all and sundry, his lands of Beaufort, with tenants,
tenancies, and services of free tenants of the same and their
pertinents, lying within the Sheriffdom of Inverness. The holding
was—the parties and longest liver in fee, and their heirs, whom
failing the nearest and lawful heirs of Janet—of the King in fee and
heritage, and doing to the King the service used and wont only. The
charter, which is witnessed by Master John Irwine, Rector of
Benholme, Sir David Edward, Sir Robert Gordon of the Glen, Walter
Chessman, Sir Walter Fairweather, and others, is confirmed by James
V. at Edinburgh of same date. From the destination being to Jean
Gordon's heirs, failing children of the marriage, it is probable the
price paid to Fenton was part of her own fortune. There were
three children of the marriage—William, who succeeded, Margaret and
Muriel—and after the cruel murder of her husband Lachlan Mackintosh,
the hand of Jean Gordon, heiress of Lochinvar, a young, wealthy, and
accomplished widow, was eagerly sought. I observe that on 25th June,
1527, at Darnaway, an agreement for her marriage was entered into
between her brother James Stuart, "the little Earl of Moray," and
Hugh Fraser, fifth Lord Lovat, then a widower. The marriage was to
be solemnized as soon as a dispensation was obtained, and in the
first instance Master Gilbert Strachan, or any other that had power
to dispense within the degrees of consanguinity or affinity the
parties stood to each other, was to be applied to, and failing in
this, the parties to "send to the Court of Rome, with all diligence
for harnebringing of the same dispensation." The Earl was to give
1203 merks in money, and Lovat 40 merks of land furth of the Barony
of Dalcross, as a jointure. Either the dispensation was refused, or
the contemplated marriage broken off for other causes, somewhat
hastily, for it is recorded that Jean Gordon married, the same year
(1527), James Ogilvie of Cardale, laird of Findlater. Curiously Jean
Gordon's son, William Mackintosh above mentioned, fifteenth of
Mackintosh, afterwards married Margaret Ogilvie, sister of James,
his step-aunt.
The lands contained
in Mackintosh's charter, under the general title of "Bewfurde,"
comprehended-
I. The Barony of
Drumchardiny, in the parish of Kirkhill, which apparently included
all the present Newton and Lentran estates, with the exception of
Kingillie, and extended to three davochs land of old extent,
ultimately sub-divided as follows:—Holm and Rhinduie, one davoch;
Cragach, one half davoch; Drumchardiny, one and a half davoch.
II. The half davoch
land of old extent of Easter Eskadale in the parish of Kiltarlity,
and
III. The half davoch
land of old extent of Kinnairies, also in the parish of Kiltarlity—the
whole lying within the ancient Barony of Beaufort; and in 1617 of
the value of Z7 old extent, and 35 new extent.
William, son of
Lachlan Mackintosh and Jean Gordon, does not seem to have made up
titles to these Aird lands, as his son Lachlan Mackintosh is
retoured thereto as heir of his grandfather Lachlan, on 9th June,
1567. Lachlan conveys the fee of the lands to his eldest son Angus,
by charter dated at Inverness, 15th June, 1568, confirmed by James
VI. at Dalkeith, 1st January, 1574. On the 21st of January, 1617,
Lachlan, afterwards Sir Lachlan Mackintosh, eldest son of Angus, is
served heir to his grandfather Lachlan in the whole lands.
The lands being
distant from the chief Mackintosh estates, it would appear that they
were dealt with in form of wadset, and not set to tenants in the
usual way. As regards the Kirkhill lands, Lachlan Mackintosh in 1570
wadsets Drumchardinv to Hugh, Lord Lovat, for £500 Scots, Lovat
granting at the same time a letter of reversion, and in 1583 his
Lordship's chamberlain gives an acquittance for the teinds of
Drumchardiny for crop 1583. It would appear that the lands remained
under wadset to the Lovat family up to 1617.
On 31st October,
1576, Mackintosh, in respect of a sum of 200 merks, wadsets Cragaig
to Allister Vic Homas Fraser, who grants letter of reversion the
same day. On 2nd June, 1598, a contract is entered into between
Lachlan Mackintosh and James Vic Allister Fraser anent the wadset of
the half of Cragaig, and on the following day James grants
Mackintosh a letter of reversion on the repayment of 700 merks. On
the 23rd July, 1593, Thomas Fraser of Moniack and spouse, get a
wadset of the half of Cragaig, and a letter of redemption on payment
Of 400 merks is granted by them of same date. A similar obligation
by Moniack is granted on 5th August, 1598. Mackintosh wadsets the
half of Cragaig to Andrew Vie Coul Fraser, and on 3rd June, 1598,
Andrew grants letter of reversion on payment of 500 merks and 50
merks. The lands above mentioned appear to include the whole one and
a half davoch of old extent of Holm, Rhinduie, and Cragach, and to
have remained with these families, after Lachlan Mackintosh's death,
and during the minority of his grandson and successor, up to 1617.
The Mackintosh lands
in Kiltarlity were held as follows-
1. Easter Eskadale.
On the 21st September, 1570, Mackintosh wadsets the lands of
Eskadale to William Fraser of Struy for 500 merks, and Struy grants
a letter of reversion on the same day subscribed with his hand. On
26th June, 1585, the wadset is renewed between the parties. The
Struy family continued in possession until 1618. The necessities of
the family of Mackintosh compelled the sale of their Aird estates,
and I find that on 10th of March, 1618, there is a Crown charter by
James VI. on the resignation of Lachlan Mackintosh of Dunachton, of
the lands of Eskadale, extending to half a davoch of land of old
extent, with shielings, ale house, and crofts, in favour of Thomas
Fraser of Struy and Elizabeth Dunbar his spouse.
2. Kinnairies. On the
11th May, 1569, Mackintosh wadsets the half davoch lands of
Kinnairies to Alexander Chisholm of Comar, for five hundred merks,
and the Chisholm grants a letter of reversion of the same date
signed with his own hand. The wadset and redemption are renewed by
the parties on 11th June, 1585, and again on the penult of May,
1589—Chisholm dying within a couple of months or so thereafter. He
appears to have left Kinnairies to a younger son, whose Christian
name, though I have not observed it, I apprehend was Allister,
called "Mor." It is certain that in 1618, there were two Johns
Chisholm, one John Chisholm of Comar and the other John Chisholm of
Kinnairies, cousins-german in the first and second degree. On the
22nd April, 1618, James VI., upon the resignation of Lachlan
Mackintosh of Tor Castle, grants a charter of the lands of
Kinnairies, extending to one half davoch land of old extent of the
value of 17s 6d, in favour of John Chisholm, styled of Kinnairies,
and the heirs male of his body, whom failing to Thomas Chisholm,
second son of John Chisholm of Comar and his nearest and lawful
heirs whomsoever. John Chisholm of Kinnairies was succeeded by his
only son Alexander, upon whose death, without male issue, Thomas
Chisholm, second son of Comar, in 1634, serves as heir male of
taillie and provision to Alexander, as his (Thomas') father's
brother's son. Thomas Chisholm of Kinnairies sold the lands shortly
after to Colonel Hugh Fraser, the first Fraser of Kinnairies, and in
the Valuation Roll for 1644 Colonel Fraser is assessed at the large
sum of £626 in Kiltarlity. In the same year Thomas Chisholm,
described as of "Wester (Lovat's) Eskadale," is assessed at £261,
while as "Thomas Chisholm of Kinnairies," he is assessed in
Kilmorack at £40. From this Thomas was descended the late Mr Cohn
Chisholm of Inverness. The half davochs of Easter Eskadale and of
Kinnairies adjoined. It will have been noticed that for some time
the Lovat family had been, as wadsetters, possessors of one and a
half davochs of Drumchardiny. It is recorded by Mr Anderson in his
History of the Frasers, apparently on good authority, that "the
family of Mackintosh held large possessions in the Aird which this
Lord Lovat (Simon, the eighth Lord), of whom we now speak, was very
anxious to get into his own hands. With this view he employed Fraser
of Belladrum and Fraser of Culbokie to purchase the lands of
Drumchardiny, Holm, and Cragach, but they over-reached him and
purchased for themselves. This was soon after 1617, and chagrined
his Lordship not a little." It was natural that Lovat should desire
these lands, for he was proprietor (excluding the island of Merkinch)
of the whole country from the River Ness to the Burn of Rhinduie,
comprehending Kinmvlies, Bunchrew, English- ton, Kirkton, Phopachy,
and Inchberry on the one side, with the properties or superiorities
of Moniacks, Achnagairn, etc., on the other. The character of this
Lord, although counted extravagant and a dilapidator of his estates
so far as regards his successors, is thus kindly noticed in the
history—
"This nobleman has
been represented in very different lights, for while he was
generally surnamed Simon 'Mor,' or the Great, other called him 'Shim
Gorrach,' i.e., Simon the Fool. He surely had several laudable
qualities. He was one of the best of landlords or masters. He never
would remove a tenant that paid his rents for any grassum or bribe.
He could never be prevailed upon to set a price upon the River of
Beauly, or to give a tack for a liquidate value on the fishing of
it, for he said that fishing was a casual, a contingent thing,
depending upon a special Providence, and that the over-rating a
thing so casual might provoke God to blast the common blessings. For
the same reason he would not set any of his orchards in tack, though
he had several of them, and a prodigious quantity of fruit in them.
From the orchard of Beauly alone he had usually six chalders of good
fruit, apples and pears. He had another excellent quality, that lie
could not endure to hear an absent person run down by any present.
It was a maxim of his, that as receipts made thieves so a credulous
receiver made the liar. This noble lord excelled in hospitality, and
was generous, liberal, and charitable—his house was an open harbour
for good men, and his heart was no less open to entertain and
receive them. The door of his house was seldom shut, and yet such
regularity was observed that none was ever seen drunk at his table."
By charter dated 1st
November, 1616, Lachlan Mackintosh of Dunachton, with consent of
John Grant of Freuchie and James Grant of Ardnill, interdicting
creditors, sold to Hugh Fraser of Belladrum, his heirs male and
assignees whatsoever, all and whole the town and davoch lands of
Holm and Rhindowie, the town and half davoch land of Cragach, with
the ale house and ale house croft of the same, with fishings and
grazings, together also with half of the miln of Holm, half of the
multures, sequels, and knaveships of the towns and lands of
Drumchardiny, Holm, Rhindowie, and Cragach, lying within the barony
of Drumchardiny and Beaufort and Sheriffdom of Inverness.
James VI,, at
Edinburgh, on 20th December, 1616, ratifies the above sale, and of
new granted the above-mentioned lands to the said Hugh Fraser of
Belladrum, together with half of the yair called Carriencoir,
pertaining to the said lands of Holm and Cragach, and to the lands
of Drumchardiny adjacent to them, with fishings of salmon and other
white fish in the sea, and in pools of which the tenants and
possessors of Holm and Cragach were formerly in use and possession,
and incorporated all into the free Barony of Holm.
On the 14th of
November, 1616, Lachlan Mackintosh of Dunachton with consent
foresaid sells to Hugh Fraser of Culbokie, his heirs male and
assignees whomsoever, the town and lands of Drumchardiny extending
to one and a half davoch land of old extent, with the ale house and
ale house crofts of the same with fishings and grazings, half of the
miln of Holm, half of the multures, sequels, and knaveship of the
town and lands of Drumchardiny, Holm, Rhindowie, and Cragach in the
barony of Drunichardiny and Beaufort, and Sheriffdom of Inverness.
James VI., at Edinburgh, on 20th December, 1616, ratifies the above
sale, and of new granted the above-mentioned lands to the said Hugh
Fraser of Culbokie, together with half of the yair called
Carriencoir pertaining to the said lands of Drumchardiny, and to the
lands of Holm and Cragach adjacent to them, with fishings of salmon
and of other white fish in the sea and in the pools of which the
tenants and possessors of Drumchardiny were formerly in use and
possession, and incorporated the whole into the free Barony of
Drumchardiny. The value of these lands were about equal—Belladrum in
the Roll for 1644 being assessed at £573 and Culbokie at £567 Scots.
The hill lands and Baronies of Holm (now Lentran) and of
Drumchardiny, incorporated out of the old Barony of Drumchardiny as
above in 16r8, were not formally divided as late as 1790.
Thus passed away the
hold of the Mackintoshes in the Aird, which lasted from 1524 to
1618. |
