History of the Mackenzies

Chapter 51

2. James Wemyss, who succeeded his father.

3. Helen, who in 1790 died unmarried.

4. Katharine Morrison, who in 1819 died unmarried.

In 1795 Sir Roderick built, on his estate of Pittonachty, the present mansion, to which, with the property, he gave the name of the adjoining estate of Rosehaugh, and removed his family to it from the old house at Findon. He also built the present Church of Urquhart, or Ferrintosh, the old one having become uninhabitable from the acc.u.mulation of interments within it. He died on the 11th of June, 1811, and was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

VIII. SIR JAMES WEMYSS MACKENZIE, fifth Baronet and eighth of Scatwell, M.P., and Lord-Lieutenant for the County of Ross.

He resided for a time in Jamaica, and was Paymaster in the army.

He was born on the 10th of August, 1770, and married on the 26th of March, 1810, Henrietta Wharton, only surviving daughter and heiress of William Mackenzie, IV. of Suddie, by Margaret, daughter of Sir Alexander Mackenzie, V. of Coul, widow of Captain Robert Pott of Galallan, without issue; and on the death of her brother, Major-General John Randoll Mackenzie, of the 78th Highlanders, at Talavera, in 1809, she brought to Sir James the estate of Suddie. By her (who died on the 14th of November, 1840) he had an only child, who on his death in 1843, succeeded his father as

IX. SIR JAMES JOHN RANDOLL MACKENZIE, sixth Baronet and ninth of Scatwell, who was born on the 20th of June, 1814, and married on the 10th of October, 1838, Lady Anne Wentworth Fitzwilliam, daughter of Charles William Wentworth, fifth Earl Fitzwilliam, K.G. She died in 1879, without issue.

Sir James in 1849 obtained a disentail of the Scatwell estates, and soon after alienated or sold them. Findon went, under a deed of arrangement, to his cousin, the late Lewis Mark Mackenzie, grandson of Colin, second son of Sir Lewis Mackenzie, VI. and third Baronet of Scatwell, and was until recently possessed by his brother, Sir James Dixon Mackenzie of Findon and Mountgerald, who on the death of Sir James John Randoll Mackenzie, on the 22nd of February, 1884, without issue, a.s.sumed the Baronetcy of Scatwell, and who, failing the male representation of the Mackenzies of Ardloch, is heir male also to the Tarbat and Royston Baronetcies, and to the original Earldom of Cromarty. The estate of Scatwell was sold to Mr Murray of Polmaise; Lochluichart to Lord Ashburton; Rosehaugh in 1864, to the late James Fletcher, while that of Suddie was retained in the hands of the trustees under Sir James John Randoll Mackenzie"s marriage settlement.

THE MACKENZIES OF BALLONE.

I. ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, the first of this family, was fourth son of Sir Roderick Mackenzie, Tutor of Kintail, by his wife Margaret, daughter and heiress of Torquil "Conanach" Macleod of the Lewis, Coigeach, and a.s.synt, by his wife Margaret, daughter of Angus Macdonald, VI. of Glengarry. Alexander has a sasine as fourth son of the lands of Acha-ghluineachan, Lochbroom, in 1635, where Ballone, now called Inverbroom, is situated, and comprising Acha-ghluineachan, Achataskaill, Craigour, Strathnasealg, Arigholach, and other lands. On the 24th of June, 1637, he grants a disposition of the lands of Achataskaill to Sir John Mackenzie of Tarbat. He married Agnes, widow of Kenneth Mackenzie, II. of Inverlael (sasine on marriage contract in 1629), and daughter of William Fraser, V. of Culbokie, by his wife Christian, daughter of Alexander Chisholm, XVIII. of Chisholm, with issue -

1. Alexander, his heir and successor.

2. Jean, who married first, in 1663, Simon, second son of the Hon.

Simon Mackenzie of Lochslinn, and brother of Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh, with issue - Simon, I. of Allangrange. She married secondly, in 1667, Alexander Mackenzie, IV. of Loggie, without issue.

3. Margaret, who married first (sasines 1671 and 1673), Sir Roderick Mackenzie of Findon, fourth son of Alexander Mackenzie, I. of Kilcoy, with issue - (1) Alexander, who died young; (2) Lilias, who married Sir Kenneth Mackenzie, first Baronet and IV. of Scatwell (marriage contract 6th of July, 1682), with issue. She was served heir of entail to her brother on the 12th of October, 1693; (3) Isobel, who married her cousin, Simon Mackenzie, I. of Allangrange (marriage contract 22nd of August 1693), with issue; (4) Jean, who married John Chisholm, XX. of Chisholm, with issue; and (5) Margaret, who married Sir Kenneth Mackenzie, first Baronet and VIII. of Gairloch (marriage contract dated 21st of April, 1696), with issue. Margaret of Ballone married, secondly, Colin Mackenzie, I. of Mountgerald, without issue.

Alexander had also a natural son, Colin, who has a sasine of Kildonan of Lochbroom in 1684, and was Chamberlain to Lord Tarbat.

He died at Munlochy, in 1645, and was buried in St. Clement"s Church, Dingwall.

His widow, Agnes Fraser, married thirdly (marriage contract dated Kingillie, 12th of January, 1650), as his second wife, the Hon.

Simon Mackenzie of Lochslinn with issue - Kenneth Mor Mackenzie, I. of Dundonnel, and two daughters - Isobel and Elizabeth, married respectively to Murdoch Mackenzie, VI. of Fairburn, and the Rev.

Roderick Mackenzie, minister and laird of Avoch.

Alexander was succeeded by his only son,

II. ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, second of Ballone, to whom his uncle, Kenneth Mackenzie, I. of Scatwell, has a retour of Tutory in 1656 as "nearest agnate-uncle on the father"s side," Alexander being then under age. In 1673 he received a disposition and charter from his cousin, Sir George Mackenzie of Tarbat, afterwards first Earl of Cromarty, followed by a sasine in the same year of the lands of Ballone, and others. In 1708 he has a charter under the Great Seal in the superiority of Culinchmeanach, Culinchmore, Breakach, and Achnacloich. He married Lilias (marriage contract 20th July, 1670, and sasine 1671), daughter of Kenneth Mackenzie, VI. of Gairloch, by his wife, Anna, daughter of John Grant of Grant, with issue -

1. Margaret, who married, first, a Mr Cathcart, without issue; and secondly, George Mackenzie, II. of Gruinard, with issue - George, his heir, thirteen other sons and nine daughters, besides six sons and four daughters he subsequently had by a second wife.

The sixth son was Roderick Mackenzie, tacksman of Tighnafaoilin, who married Barbara, daughter of Alexander Mackenzie, I. of Ardloch, with issue, among others, Margaret, who married Captain John Mackenzie, VI. of Ballone. George had also Annabella, who married Murdoch Mackenzie, merchant, Stornoway, son of Roderick Mackenzie, III. of Avoch, with issue - two daughters, the eldest of whom, Jean, married John Tolmie, tacksman of Uiginish, Dunvegan, Skye, with issue - among others, Annabella, who married her cousin, Hector Mackenzie, second son of Captain John Mackenzie, VI. of Ballone.

He married, secondly, Mary, daughter of Roderick Mackenzie, V. of Fairburn (sasine 18th of February, 1676), by his first wife, a daughter of Patrick Grant of Glenmoriston, with issue -

2. Alexander, his heir and successor.

3. Isabell, who married John Macrae, second wadsetter of Conchra (sasine 1697), only surviving son of the Rev. John Macrae, Chaplain to one of Seaforth"s regiments at Sheriffmuir, where he was killed in 1715, leaving issue - three sons and a daughter.

Alexander died in 1724, aged 80 years, and was buried at Lochbroom, in a tomb built by himself in 1666, when he was succeeded by his only son,

III. ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, third of Ballone. In 1728 he has a disposition and ratification of his father"s charter of 1673 granted to him by Lord Tarbat In 1732 he is seised in a wadset of the lands of Achtaskaillriach in security for a loan of 3000 merks to the Earl of Cromarty; and in the following year he is seised in the lands of Culinchmore, Culinchmeanach, Breakach and Achnacloich.

He married his cousin Barbara, daughter of Kenneth Mor Mackenzie, I. of Dundonnel (sasine in 1727, long after the marriage), and niece of Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh, with issue -

1. Alexander, his heir and successor.

2. Colin, first of Badluachrach. Colin was a Captain in the Jacobite army under the Earl of Cromarty in 1745-46 and commanded the men of Ballone who were out on that occasion. He was captured at Dunrobin on the 15th of April, 1746, conveyed to London, but afterwards, through the instrumentality of the Rev. James Robertson, the famous "Ministear Laider" of Lochbroom, obtained his release, and subsequently rewarded his benefactor by marrying the lady to whom the reverend gentleman was engaged - Mary, daughter of William Mackenzie of Achilty and Kinnahaird, with issue - (1) Kenneth, served heir to his father in Badluachrach in 1772; (2) Alexander, who married Barbara Maclean, with issue - two sons and a daughter; (3) Donald of Fasna-crionach, who married Kelly Fisher, Greenock, with issue - a son, Kenneth.

3. Kenneth, who married, first, Barbara, daughter of Colin Ruadh Mackenzie, without surviving issue; and secondly, Barbara, daughter of Roderick, tacksman of Tighnafaoilin, son of George Mackenzie, II. of Gruinard, with issue - (1) Roderick, who married, first, Miss MacIver, in the Lewis, with issue - one son and two daughters.

He married secondly in Harris. (2) Kenneth, who died unmarried; and (3) Barbara, who married Roderick Mackenzie, Mellan Charles, with issue - Donald, who died unmarried, and Barbara, who married Simon Mackenzie, Doire-na-Muc, with issue.

4. Margaret, who married first, James Macrae of Balnain, near Dingwall, third son (by a second marriage) of the Rev. John Macrae, minister of Dingwall, without surviving issue; and secondly, in 1749, as his first wife, Colin Chisholm, IV. of Knockfin, with issue.

5. Anne, who married Roderick, son of Mackenzie of Achilty, with issue - four daughters, Annabella, Barbara, Christy, and Isabella, all married with issue. (See Findon"s Tables, sheet 10.)

6. Catherine, who in 1727, married Simon Mackenzie, II. of Loggie of Lochbroom, grandson of the Hon. Simon of Lochslinn, with issue - Annabella, who married Colin Riabhach Mackenzie, third son of Kenneth Mor Mackenzie, I. of Dundonnel, without issue.

7. Margaret, who married first, a gentleman at Craigour, without issue; and secondly Roderick Mackenzie, III. of Kernsary, with issue (sasine 1742).

Alexander"s wife died in 1768, aged 83 years, survived by over sixty children and grandchildren at her death. He died before 1752, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

IV. ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, fourth of Ballone, retoured to his father in 1752. He married Catherine, daughter of George Mackenzie, II.

of Gruinard (sasine in 1742, several years after the marriage), with issue -

1. Alexander, his heir and successor.

2. Captain John, who succeeded his brother Alexander.

3. Mary, who married her cousin, Roderick Mackenzie, III. of Kernsary (sasine in 1762), with issue.

4. Catherine, who married Colin Knight, in the Lewis, with issue.

5. Isobel, who married the Rev. Alexander Stronach, minister of Lochbroom, with issue.

6. Barbara, who died unmarried.

7. Alexandrina, who married Alexander Macrae, Strathmore of Lochbroom, with issue.

Alexander died in 1755, and was buried in Lochbroom. He was succeeded by his eldest son,

V. ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, fifth of Ballone, who was retoured to his father in 1756. He was at the same time served heir male in special to his great-grandfather, who died in 1724. He died unmarried, having been drowned at sea in 1762, when he was succeeded by his brother,

VI. CAPTAIN JOHN MACKENZIE, sixth of Ballone, who was retoured heir to his brother Alexander in 1764. He has a sasine of Ballone in 1792, but he alienated the estate six years later, in 1798, to Henry Davidson of Tulloch, whose representatives have since sold it to Sir John Fowler, Baronet, of Braemore, its present possessor. Captain John married Margaret, eldest daughter of Roderick Mackenzie, tacksman of Tighnafaoilin, by his wife, Barbara, daughter of Alexander Mackenzie, I. of Ardloch (sasine 1770), fourth son of Sir John Mackenzie, first Baronet of Tarbat, by his wife. Margaret, daughter of the Hon. Sir George Erskine of Inverteil, brother of Thomas, Earl of Kellie, with issue -

1. John, his heir and successor.

2. Hector, who on the 13th of November, 1826, married Annabella, youngest daughter of John Tolmie, tacksman of Uiginish, Isle of Skye, by his wife Jean, daughter of Murdoch Mackenzie, Stornoway, and his wife Annabella, daughter of George Mackenzie, II. of Gruinard, with issue - an only son, John Tolmie Mackenzie, the present male representative of the family. Hector and his wife first resided in Liverpool but afterwards at Dunvegan, Skye. In 1841 he emigrated to Cape Breton, intending to settle there with his family, a project frustrated by his a.s.sa.s.sination there a short time after his arrival.