Alasdair Carrach 1 MACDONELL, of Keppoch

Notes:

ALEXANDER, LORD OF LOCHABER, 1st CHIEF of KEPPOCH

Alasdair Carrach (ca 1390 - ca 1443)

DEAN Munro in his M.S. History of the MacDonalds has described Alasdair Carrach as "the fairest haired man as they say of aney that ever was". The word "carrach" however, has a less complimentary meaning. Alasdair probably had a number of warts among his facial characteristics. He received as his share of his father's patrimony, the Lordship of Lochaber, which included the lands of Lochy, Glen S pean and Glen Roy. His seat appears to have been firstly at Tom a' Charraich, near Torlundy, (MacDonald Bards) and later at Tor Castle, near Banavie (Celtic Monthly).

On 5th September, 1394, Alasdair Carrach, as Lord of Lochaber, entered into an agreement with the Earl of Moray by which he undertook to protect all the possessions of the Regality of Moray and all the church lands in the province for the space of seven years. The Earl had, by a previous agreement, bound himself to protect these very same lands, but the marriage between the Wolf of Badenoch and the Countess of Ross in 1383, and the subsequent acquisition by the Wolf of the Earldom of Ross, had caused him to seek the protection of the Lord of Lochaber. By the terms of the agreement Alexander further undertook to protect the Earl and his property against all comers with the exception of the King, the Earl of Fife and the Lord of the Isles. In return, he was to receive from the Earl, 80 merks per annum and his support against all save the King, the Earl of Fife, the Earl of Mar and Alexander Lesley, heir to the Earldom of Ross. The death of the Wolf of Badenoch in the same year influenced events and made it impossible for the terms of the treaty to be carried out.

Donald, 2nd Lord of the Isles, in the interest of his wife, who was a claimant to the Earldom of Ross, quietly watched events and when the struggle began for the lands of the Earldom, he allowed his brother, Alasdair Carrach, to lead a strong force to Loss Ness side which was laid waste. Castle Urquhart was attacked and seized by the Lord of Lochaber and Glen Urquhart plundered by his followers. The rebellion was short lived and the Lord of the Isles and his two brothers, John Mor of Isla and Alasdair Carrach, were charged with treason. The two elder brothers submitted and were pardoned while the blame for the insurrection was conveniently taken by the Lord of Lochaber who was "imprisoned" by his brother Donald but soon released.

Alasdair was soon in trouble with the church over lands which he had distributed among his supporters. These included lands in Glen Urquhart with the keeping of Castle Urquhart to his loyal friend Charles MacLaine, a son of Lochbuie. On the 20th November 1398, a complaint was made against Alasdair by the Bishop of Moray for having the Church of Kinmylies and given the lands of Upper Kinmylies to one Ranald Mac Alexander and those of Lower Kinmylies to John Chishoim of the Aird besides having assigned the fishings of Lower Kinmylies to John White, a burgess of Inverness. Alasdair is here styled "Magnificus Vir et Potens Alexander de Insulis Dominus de Lochaber".

In 1402, when his bond was up, Alasdair Carrach took his revenge on the Bishop leading a strong body of his followers to Elgin where he raided the canonry, burnt most of the town and carried off spoils. For this he was threatened with excommunication and he thereafter repented and paid compensation for the damage done.

In 1411, the Lord of the Isles again attempted to enforce his claim to the Earldom of Ross. In this campaign he was ably supported by his brother, Alasdair Carrach. The Lord of Lochaber fought by his brother's side at Dingwall where the islesmen defeated the Sutherland clans under Angus Dubh MacKay, but is supposed not to have been allowed by his brother, Donald, to take a large part in the Battle of Harlaw "lest the whole of the brothers should be hazarded at once" (Hugh MacDonald's MS History).

Alasdair ably supported Donald during the rebellion of their brother, John Mor, instigated by the Abbot MacKinnon. The rebellion was eventually quelled and the brothers reconciled.

After the death of Donald, 2nd Lord of the Isles, in 1425, the treachery of the King, James I, resulting in the assassination of John Mor of Isla, at the hands of the King's agent, James Campbell, and the seizure of Alexander, the new Lord of the Isles and most of the principal chiefs at Inverness, in 1427, and the subsequent execution of some, including Alexander of Garmoran, a leading Macdonald chieftain, fanned the flames of rebellion and the fiery cross was sent through the dominions of the Lordship whenever Alexander was released. The army of the Isles, which included Alasdair Carrach and his followers marched, in 1429, through Lochaber, wasting the crown lands as it went and seized and burnt the town of Inverness. With the approach of the Royal Army and the desertion from the Banner of the Lord of the Isles by the Clans Chattan and Cameron the rebellion was soon quelled. After a series of reverses, Alexander surrendered to the King and was imprisoned in Tantallon Castle.

If the King thought the imprisonment of their Chief would quieten the Islesmen, he was much mistaken. In 1431, Alexander's cousin, Donald Balloch, son of John Mor of Isla, raised once more the Standard of rebellion in Sunart and called on the neighbouring clans to join him in attacking the Royal Army which was encamped before the Castle of Inverlochy. Donald Balloch set sail, with his followers, for lnverskippinish, two miles south of Inverlochy, where he remained until his force increased. He sent messengers to his uncle, Alasdair Carrach, requesting him to make ready for a combined attack. The forces of the Lord of Lochaber are said to have consisted, on this occasion, of a body of 220 archers which took up a strong position of strategic importance on the steep side of the hill overlooking the Castle of Inverlochy. From this vantage point Alasdair Carrach directed his archers to shoot their arrows at the unprotected flank of the Royal Army when it was hotly engaged with the Islesmen to its front. After this murderous discharge the Lochaber men swept down the hill in all the fury of a Highland charge, before which the Royal flank gave way. (Hugh MacDonald's MS History).

The Lord of the Isles was soon after released from captivity, but not before he had agreed to punish his relations who were responsible for destroying the King's forces at Inverlochy. Donald Balloch fled to Ireland for the time being and Alasdair Carrach, for his part in the rebellion, was dispossessed of all his estates. Most of his lands in Glen Spean and Glen Roy were granted to Malcolm Macintosh of Macintosh, Captain of Clan Chattan, who had fought on the Royalist side at Inverlochy, probably as compensation for what he had suffered as a result of the battle and almost certainly one of the conditions under which the Lord of the Isles was released. Alexander did not, however, grant Macintosh a charter for the lands until the year 1443, by which time Alasdair Carrach was probably dead. The Lordship of Loch aber was granted to the Earl of Mar.

Norman H Macdonald: The Clan Ranald of Lochaber - A History of the MacDonalds or MacDonells of Keppoch.

Family/Spouse: Mary STEWART, of Lennox. Mary (daughter of Earl Malcolm STEWART, of Lennox) and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

ANGUS OF FERSIT MACDONALD OF KEPPOCH, 2nd CHIEF

Aonghais Na Fearsaid (ca1478 - 1497)

The Clan continued to hold their lands by the might of the sword and although the 2nd Chief, Angus of Fersit (Aonghas na Fearsaid) as he was known, from the fact that his principal residence was at Fersit near the north end of Loch Treig, is little heard of in history, he is said to have been as great a man as his father and to have encouraged industry among his clansmen. Domhnall Mac Fhionnlaigh Nan Dan, the old hunter bard of Loch Treig and composer of An Comhachag (The Owl) a long Gaelic poem in the early 17th century refers to a mill founded by Angus at Fersit. A mill stone belonging to this mill, now suitably inscribed, can be seen at Fersit.

Angus of Fersit and his followers flocked to the Banner of John, 4th Lord of the Isles and Earl of Ross in 1451 when the High Chief of Clan Donald led his vassals along the shores of Loch Ness and through Badenoch as his contribution to the rebellion he had planned with the House of Douglas. During the insurrection, which lasted until the following year, the Castles of Urquhart and Inverness were seized and held by the Islesmen and the Castle of Ruthven entirely demolished.

Angus and his Clan took part in the naval expedition which Donald Balloch of Isla led to the Firth of Clyde in 1455, in pursuance of the same cause as that of 1451-52.

Angus is witness to a charter of John, Earl of Ross, at Dingwall in 1463 when he is styled "Angus Alexandri de Insulis'. He is said to have died at Fersit but the exact date of his death is unknown. He married a daughter of MacPhee of Glenspean, head of a prominent sept in the Braes at that time, by whom he had:

1. Donald, his successor.

2. Alexander, afterwards Chief.

3. Mariot, who married Allan Cameron of Lochiel (Ailein nan Creach).

Norman H Macdonald: The Clan Ranald of Lochaber - A History of the MacDonalds or MacDonells of Keppoch.

Family/Spouse: NicAngus MACPHEE, of Glenpean. NicAngus (daughter of Angus MACPHEE, of Glenpean) and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

DONALD MAC ANGUS MACDONALD OF KEPPOCH, 3rd CHIEF

Domhnall Mac Aonghais (c1478-1497)

DONALD, 3rd Chief - Domhnall Mac Aonghais - was of a restless disposition. In 1478, John, 4th Lord of the Isles was summoned before Parliament to answer charges which included resetting Donald Mac Angus and his accomplices who had invaded the King's lieges.

Donald gave his full support to Angus Og of the Isles when he resolved to recover the Earldom of Ross for the MacDonalds, and a contingent of Brae Lochaber men under Alexander, the Chief's brother took part in the Battle of Lagabraad (Lagebrad), near Conon Bridge, in 1483, when the redoubtable Angus defeated the combined forces of the MacKenzies, MacKays, Rosses, Frasers and Brodies commanded by the Earl of Athole.

In the following year a body of the Clan fought for Angus Og against his father John at the Battle of Bloody Bay off Mull when Angus was victorious.

In 1491, when Sir Alexander MacDonald of Lochalsh - Alasdair Mac Gilleasbuig - son of Celestine, second surviving son of Alexander, 3rd Lord of the Isles and Earl of Ross made a final attempt to regain Ross, Donald Mac Angus joined him with his Clan. According to tradition, Donald, with a small following was present at the Battle of Park (Blar na Pairc) fought near Jamestown in Ross-shire, where Alexander's raiding force was defeated by a numerically superior force of MacKenzies. Donald's brother, Alexander is said to have been on his way with 240 men but arrived too late to be of any assistance, the issue having already been decided in favour of the MacKenzies.

The Lordship of the Isles was finally forfeited in 1493 and King James IV, with the intention of restoring law and order among the clans, visited the West Highlands three times during that year. Among those who paid homage to the King at Mingary Castle in Ardnamurchan, was Donald Mac Angus. The Lochaber Chief and others were obliged, as further security for their good behaviour, to appear in the year 1496, before the Lords of Council and bind themselves "by the extension of their lands" to the Earl of Argyle, on behalf of the King, to refrain from mutual injuries each under a penalty of

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

5th of Keppoch. Killed 1498.

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Allan Cameron of CAMERON. Allan (son of Donald Dubh Cameron of CAMERON and Daughter MACMARTIN, of Letterfinlay) and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

'HANDSOME' JOHN MACDONALD OF KEPPOCH, 4th CHIEF

lain Aluinn (1497-1498)

JOHN, 4th Chief was known as lain Aluinn (Handsome John) and he only remained as Chief for about a year.

Donald MacGillivantic, the celebrated Domhnaill Ruadh Beag Mac Gille Mhantaich (little Red Donald Son of the Stammerer) who figured at the Battle of Leachdar, was a noted cattle lifter, and so often did he prey on the livestock of the Clan Chattan that MacIntosh resolved to bring his career to a close once and for all. The Captain of Clan Chattan, in order to get Donald Ruadh Beag into his hands demanded, in his capacity as Steward of Lochaber, that lain Aluinn, as his Chief should hand him over to answer for his crimes. lain Aluinn agreed to MacIntosh's request on condition that "his blood should not be spilled" so-worded in Gaelic, a condition which the Captain of Clan Chattan fulfilled to the letter, for as soon as he got hold of Donald, he had him hanged from a tree near Clach na Diolta, Torgulbin, at the end of Loch Laggan, in the march between Lochaber and Badenoch.

It had been evident since his accession as Chief that lain Aluinn was unfit to lead the Clan and this final act of weakness resulted in his being deposed by the head men. This the were entitled to do under Celtic tribal law.

Iain AIuinn, who appears to have accepted the decision calmly, retired to an isolated place called Urchair where he spent the remainder of his life. There is no tecord of whom he married. His descendants became known as "Sliochd Dhomhnaill" from his father, Donald, 3rd Chief, and also as "Sliochd a' brathair 'bu shine" i.e. the race of the elder brother. They continued to occupy the lands of Urchair until the late eighteenth century when they settled in various parts of the Braes of Lochaber. From one of lain's sons, Donald, was descended the Gaelic Poet Laureate of Scotland, the famous bard and politician, lain Lom, whose father was Domhnaill Mac lain Mhic Dhomhnaill Mhic lain Aluinn. Another family descended from lain Aluinn, which resided at Murlagan, became hereditary banner bearers to MacIntosh of MacIntosh.

The appointment of a successor to lain Aluinn set a difficult problem before the leading clansmen and it was some time before agreement was reached. The most powerful sept of the Clan at that time was the "Clann Mhic Gille Mhantaich" (The Children of the Stammerer), to which Domhnaill Ruadh Beag belonged. They claimed to have come originally from Barra and proposed to send to that island for one of their own kinsmen. Another sept proposed to send to Uist for Goraidh or Godfrey, a descendant of Goraidh 0f Garmoran, Lord of Uist, second son ofJohn, 1st Lord of the Isles by his first wife, Amy MacRuari. They claimed descent from that family and the said Goraidh came to Lochaber at their invitation and settled at Tirnadris. His descendants became known as "Sliochd Ghoraidh". The family of Alasdair Carrach naturally wished to keep the chiefship in their own family and eventually Alasdair, uncle of the deposed Chief was chosen.

Norman H Macdonald: The Clan Ranald of Lochaber - A History of the MacDonalds or MacDonells of Keppoch.

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Donald Glas Macdonald, 6th of Keppoch. Known as Domhnaill Glas (Grey Donald). He built the castle of Ceapach, anglicised as Keppoch on Tom Beag near the confluence of the Roy and Spean Rivers. The castle was moated with a drawbridge. Before beuilding the castle, Donald Glas lived at Coille Dia Bhan on Torran nan Ceap which had been the residence of his father. In 1498, Donald Glas with Lochiel, entered into a bond with Munro of Foulis, Grant of Freuchie and others through the mediation of the Privy Council in which they bound themselves to safeguard each others' properties. During the Rebellion of Sir Alexander Macdonald of Lochhalsh, Donald Glas had assisted in the capture of the Castle of Novar, belonging to Munro of Foulis, which Sir Alexander had garrisoned and held. For his part in that episode Donald Glas now agreed to make amends, by becoming a loyal subject of the King. In 1500 the Clan Chattan made a raid into Lochaber and committed great devastation. Gillies MacPhail and Patrick MacBain, the leaders of the raid were granted a remission for their crimes, dated 9th June, 1500. In the same year James IV granted the Lordship of Lochaber to the Earl of Huntly, and in the following year Huntly was instructed to collect the King's rents in Lochaber, but he got nothing from Donald Glas of Keppoch. In 1501, the Privy Council passed an act which declared that Donald Glas and others illegally held lands in Lochaber pertaining the Crown and demanded that they be given up without delay. Keppoch ignored the order and a commission of fire and sword was given to Huntly, Lovat and Munro of Foulis to proceed to Lochaber and let the King's lands to "true men" and at the same time to expel all "broken men". Donald Glas then appears to have submitted to Huntly and to have been granted by him a lease of the Lochaber lands occupied by him and his Clan. In l503 Stewart of Appin received a grant of Mamore during the King's pleasure. In the same year, Lochaber was again the storm centre when the Rebellion of Donald Dubh broke out. Although he gave his support to the Islesmen and took part in the invasion of Badenoch, Donald Glas does not appear to have been prominently concerned. In 1505, Alexander Gordon, 3rd Earl of Huntly was given full powers on the district of Lochaber, and made responsible for keeping law and order. Nothing more is heard of Donald Glas of Keppoch, 6th Chief. He married a daughter of Cameron of Lochiel by whom he had Ranald Mor, his successor. [From Ceapach: The Keppoch Newsletter by Joyce Haskell ([email protected]) in turn edited from Clan Ranald of Lochaber by Norman H Macdonald FSA Scot].

Family/Spouse: Daughter CAMERON, of Lochiel. Daughter and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Fynvola MACDONALD, of Lochalsh. Fynvola (daughter of Celestine MACDONALD, of Lochalsh and Finvola MACLEAN, of Duart) was born before 1476; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Marjory MacIntosh of MACINTOSH. Marjory (daughter of Lachlan Badenoch MACINTOSH) and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]