History of the Mackenzies

Chapter 40

Margaret, whose husband died in 1845, was buried at Ardross, and succeeded by her second son,

VII. MURDO MUNRO-MACKENZIE, seventh of Dundonnel, retoured in 1795. He sold Ardross to the Duke of Sutherland, and, in 1834, purchased Dundonnel from Thomas Mackenzie, VI. of the old family of Dundonnel. By the death of his elder brother, Hugh, without issue, Murdo became the head of the family of Munro of Teaninich.

In 1838 he purchased the detached portions of the Cromarty estates, including the forest of Fannich. He married Christina, daughter of Robert Ross, Strathcullanach, Balnagown, with issue -

1. Hugh, who, in 1813, died young.

2. John, who died before his father in 1815.

3. Hugh, who succeeded his father.

4. Kenneth, who succeeded his brother Hugh.

5. Robert, Lieutenant-Colonel H.E.I.C.S., residing in Brisbane, Queensland, married, with issue.

6. James, who died unmarried.

7. Murdo, who died unmarried.

8. Mary, who married Major-General Francis Archibald Reid, C.B., with issue.

9. Helen, who married Simon Mackenzie-Ross of Aldie, without issue.

Murdo died at Dundonnel, was buried there, and succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

VIII. HUGH MUNRO-MACKENZIE, who spent his whole time in beautifying, improving, and increasing his estates, upon which he constantly resided. He died unmarried, on the 30th of July, 1869, leaving his fee-simple estates of Mungasdale, Gruinard, and Strath-na-Sealg, to an illegitimate daughter, who afterwards married Mr Catton.

He was buried at Dundonnel, and succeeded by his brother, IX.

KENNETH MUNRO-MACKENZIE, who was trained to the medical profession, qualified in Edinburgh, and afterwards practised successively in Dublin, London, France, and Italy, and eventually emigrated to New South Wales, from which he returned in 1870 after thirty-four years - having established the members of his family in good positions there - to his native county, to take possession of his late brother"s property. But this he only succeeded in doing after many years of expensive litigation carried on against him by his brother"s natural daughter, Mrs Catton, who attempted to overthrow the family settlements and obtain possession of all the estates for herself. She, however, only succeeded in ruining her own property, which had to be old to pay the lawyers.

He married, in 1838, Julia Smith, relict of Captain Edmund Harrison Cliffe, of Sydney, New South Wales, with issue -

1. Murdo, his heir, who, born in 1843, accompanied his father from Australia and afterwards succeeded to the property.

2. Hugh, of Bundanon, Shoulhaven, N.S.W., now of Dundonnel.

3. Helen, who, in 1870, married John Robinson of Shoulhaven, N.S.W., with issue.

4. Mary, who in 1860 married James Thomson of Burner, Shoulhaven, N.S.W., with issue.

5. Julia Anna, who married, in 1867, the Rev. Robert Spier Willis, M.A., of the Church of England, Inc.u.mbent of Manly Beach, Sydney, N.S.W., with issue.

Kenneth died in 1878, was buried at Dundonnel, and succeeded by his eldest son,

X. MURDO MUNRO-MACKENZIE, tenth of Dundonnel. He died unmarried and was succeeded by his only brother,

XI. HUGH MUNRO-MACKENZIE, eleventh of Dundonnel. He resides in New South Wales. In 1876 he married Bella Mary, daughter of T.

T. Biddulph of Earie, Shoulhaven, N.S.W., with issue - Hugh, Bella, and Mary.

THE MACKENZIES OF FAIRBURN.

THIS family is also descended from Roderick Mor Mackenzie, I. of Achilty, by a daughter of William Dubh Macleod, VII. of Harris, by whom he had a natural son,

I. MURDOCH MACKENZIE, first of Fairburn, who was granted letters of legitimation by James V., dated 1st of July, 1539. On the 16th of March, 1541, there are also letters of legitimation in favour of "Alexandro Mackenze seniori, Joanni juniori, et Roderico b.a.s.t.a.r.dis filus naturalibus, quondam Roderici Mackenze." Murdo for some time lived at Court and was a Gentleman of the Bedchamber to James V. He obtained a charter for his lands, dated 1st of April, 1542, afterwards confirmed by Queen Mary in 1343. He married, first, Margaret, daughter of Urquhart, Sheriff of Cromarty, with issue -

1. Alexander, his heir and successor.

2. John, I. of Tolly, minister of Dingwall, who married Margaret, daughter of Ballindalloch, with issue, among others - Murdoch, II. of Tolly, who married Catherine, daughter of James Innes of Inverbreakie, with issue.

3. Annabella, who married, first, Thomas Mackenzie of Lochluichart and Ord, with issue; and secondly, Alexander Mackenzie, progenitor of Coul, also with issue.

4. A daughter, who married Ross of Priesthill. Murdoch married, secondly, a daughter of Rory MacFarquhar Maclean, with issue -

5. Roderick, of Knockbaxter, from whom the Mackenzies of Kernsary, of whom presently.

6. John, I. of Corry, who married a daughter of Donald Clark, with issue - three sons and four daughters.

7. Hector, Chamberlain of Lochcarron.

8. Isabel, who, as his second wife, married John Roy Mackenzie, IV. of Gairloch, with issue.

9. A daughter, who married Donald Glas Macdonald.

10. Mary, who married Wyland Chisholm, Kinkell, with issue - Agnes, who married her cousin, Hector Mackenzie, IV. of Fairburn, with issue.

Murdoch died in 1590, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

II. ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, second of Fairburn, who married a daughter of Walter Innes of Inverbreakie, with issue -

1. John, his heir and successor.

2. Hector, who succeeded his brother John in Fairburn.

3. Isobel, who married John Mackenzie, eldest son of John Roy, IV. of Gairloch, who died in 1601, before his father, without male issue. She married, secondly, Bayne of Tulloch.

4. A daughter, who married Murdo Mackenzie, II. of Kensary, with issue - a daughter.

Alexander was succeeded by his eldest son,

III. JOHN MACKENZIE, third of Fairburn, who married Janet, daughter of Torquil Macleod of Coigeach, without male issue, but by her he had four daughters who married - the eldest, Murdo Mackenzie of Sand; Agnes, first, Murdo MacCulloch of Park, and secondly, Roderick Mackenzie, II. of Corry; Isobel, John Mackenzie of Pitlundie; and Annabella, Roderick Mackenzie, Ardlair; the last three being heirs portioners. He has a sasine of Monar in 1620.

He died in 1645, and was succeeded by his next brother,

IV. HECTOR MACKENZIE, fourth of Fairburn, who married, first, his cousin Agnes, daughter of Wyland Chisholm, Kinkell, with issue -

1. Roderick, his heir, who succeeded; and five daughters, who married respectively, Roderick, son of Bayne of Tulloch, and secondly, Angus, third son of Alexander Mackenzie, V. of Gairloch, by Isobel Mackenzie of Coul another married Kenneth Mackenzie, I.

of Davochcairn, and, secondly, Murdoch Mackenzie, V. of Achilty; the third married the Rev. Alexander Mackenzie, minister of Lochcarron; the fourth, Roderick, second son of Colin Mackenzie, I. of Kincraig the fifth, the Rev. Alexander, third son of the Rev. John Mackenzie of Tolly, by his second marriage with a daughter of Thomas Fraser of Struy.

Hector married, secondly, a natural daughter of Alexander Mackenzie, I. of Kilcoy, with issue - two sons and three daughters.