Concerning the Badenloch Estate 1738; Alexander Gunn of Badenloch and later Wester Helmsdale 'Chief' of the Clan Gunn (in Sutherland)
PART ONE
I have looked through a pile of 1738 documents relating to the Badenloch Estate. This entry is to put some genealogy into the open; in other words I am just listing people and places with a time as it may help some family trees. Note that it's Gun at this time, not Gunn.
I point out - again - that a couple of years ago I was told by someone high up in the Clan Gunn Society of the United Kingdom that no new information about Clan Gunn history would ever occur. Lots of the above is new, in particular the material supporting Lord Lyon's decision is important and not seen before as shown by Lord Lyon not using it in his judgement, and his asking me to ensure that I made it available for others to use.
PART TWO
As said, I am writing the 1738 papers up to make a proper article but the summary is
PART THREE
There are a lot of unanswered questions about Alexander Gun (as he signed with 'Gun') and a new problem has arisen on page 28 of Lewis Balfour Oatts, Proud Heritage; Regular, territorial and service battalions H.L.I. and H.L.I. Canada 1919-1959 where he writes of
‘the three sons of Alexander Gunn of Badenloch, of whom William and James were killed in the campaigns in Southern India in 1780 and 1782 and Morrison at the siege of Gibraltar in 1778’
Now the normal view of Alexander's three sons go-
1. Alexander who served in the Dutch service (who may technically have been Chief of the Clan; that point need to be clarified)
2. William d India 1780
3. Morrison d. Gibraltar? 1783. (His exact date and place of death are awkward to verify...)
Anyway the key point is that the James killed in India is not otherwise known. It's probably a mistake as he's wrong about Morrison's death date, but it needs checking
I have looked through a pile of 1738 documents relating to the Badenloch Estate. This entry is to put some genealogy into the open; in other words I am just listing people and places with a time as it may help some family trees. Note that it's Gun at this time, not Gunn.
- The word Mckeamish is used to differentiate him from other Gunns, especially the MacHeorish line. Nothing special is attached to the term.
- Badenloch was held by 'Chief' Donald Crottach Gunn before Alexander took it over at his father's death no later than 1709. But Chief is not used.
- In Donald Crotach's time it had 'very good tennants (sic)' ; George Gun, John Gun McHeorish, Robert Gun McHeorish.
- In Alexander's time the town of Badenloch was sublet to John Mackay of Kirtomoy his father in law.
- Rumsdale a pendicle (meaning a linked land of the estate, but not on the estate) was tenanted by John Gunn McHeorish who moved from there to Knockfin. After him was Alexander Gun and his sons Alexander, Andrew and James 'and one Donald Gun' after them James More alias Gun who went to Caithness and returned to Rumsdale his wife having died he then went to Badenloch... after him Rumsdale was let to James McKay younger son of Kirtomy and after him to John Gordon now in Knockfin on Skilbo... after him to Donald MacLeod who lives there at present with four other tennants.
- Garvault (another pendicle) in Donald Crotach's time was tenanted by Robert Gun MacHeorish but who went to Ascaig / Ascoig and is still in good circumstances... and after him Alexander kept Garvault ... three tennants now...
- Badinchlaven another pendicle ... was enclosed by John Mackay of Kirtomy when tacksman of Badenloch
- Ellick another pendicle ;'Mckeamish' built a dwelling house for himself there. Mark Rugg Gunn page 171 has him residing at Badenloch ; he may have done so but he certainly resided at Ellick. His father in law had Badenloch for a considerable period of time ...
- Auldbreagach (Auldbreakachy?) another pendicle. Tenants Donald Gun, Mr Allarter and another Donald Gun, Mr William Macian?...
- John Gun in Garvault.. brother William Gun have 2/3rds of Garvault
- Donald McAllister alias Sutherland in Garvault / Garwall has the other third...
- Donald Gunn in Auldbreakach .. the town of Auldbreakach ...
- George Gun ... (has) a third part of Auldbreakach...
- Donald Macleod in Rhimsdale - John Gordon then tacksman of the whole -
- Robert Gordon possesses a part of Rhimsdale ... his brother and he ...
- Robert Gun in Badintivock married 57 years .. Badenloch not improved but Ellick is...
- Donald Gun in Badenloch married 50 years... he was a 'tennant' in Badenloch and Garvauld ... Rhimsdale was enclosed during Mr Gun's time...
- John McKay of Kirtomy .. subtacksman of Badenloch married man aged 42 years ... also had Baddachlavain... he argues he did all the improvements on the tack - not Mr Gun... discusses the house put up at Ellick for Alexander Gun ('there was a house put up at Ellick said years by Mr Gun, that the timber prof? was mostly moss firs')... Improvements of Rhimsdale 'was done by his brother James Mackay' .. his brother died 1726 ....
- John Gordon in Knockfin formerly tacksman at Rhimsdale ... married aged 40 .... had Rhimsdale for nine years... Mr Gun worked a summons of removal against him (and installed a brother in law, seemingly...) further summons by Mr Gun?... Brother Robert?
- William McKay alias McKay in Baddachlavain married, 50 (all these ages are 'or thereabouts')...
- Donald Phail Miller, Auldbreagach 30, married...
- William Gun in Kinbrace, married, 50
- Willaim Gun in Auchintoul 50
- John McDonald in Suisgale (Suisgill?) married, aged 30
- Donald Gun Wester Baddenloch married aged 50
- John Sutherland in Borable (Presumably Borrobol)
- John Fraser in Kildonan married aged 32
- Donald Sutherland in Kildonan married aged 40 years (and upwards) ... brother Angus
I point out - again - that a couple of years ago I was told by someone high up in the Clan Gunn Society of the United Kingdom that no new information about Clan Gunn history would ever occur. Lots of the above is new, in particular the material supporting Lord Lyon's decision is important and not seen before as shown by Lord Lyon not using it in his judgement, and his asking me to ensure that I made it available for others to use.
PART TWO
As said, I am writing the 1738 papers up to make a proper article but the summary is
- He was Gun (not Gunn) at this time. He was literate.
- He was 'of Badenloch' and later 'of Wester Helmsdale'. I have not seen anything to support that he held both at the same time.
- He inherited the Tack of Badenloch by 1709 from his father 'Chief' Donald Crottach Gunn.
- It was a wealthy Tack with lots of land and lots of sub-tenants.
- He renewed the Tack for much, much less than it was worth when the Earl of Sutherland was underaged and poorly advised.
- This led to a major law case in Edinburgh for massive amounts of backrent with Alexander continually protesting and trying to delay legal matters. Result? It's summed up by Alexander Gunn dying at Wester Helmsdale which is a much, much poorer and smaller estate. His male children all go into the army; cheap, lowly commissions are bought. In other words Alexander seems to have lost the major court case and died with little - if anything - to his name.
- Worth noting his role in the 1745 where he helped suppress the Jacobites. These 'Independent Companies' were Clan based; but Alexander Gun was part of the Clan Sutherland company. There was no Gunn company. Why did he join Clan Sutherland? Because there is an express clause in the Tack oblidgeing Mr Gun to wait on the said Noble Lord and his forsaids in all Hostings? Huntings and weapon shewings well armed when they be required by the said noble Lord In other words he had do to what the Earl of Sutherland required or he would lose his Tack - and given he had tried to 'cheat' the Earl of Sutherland out of his money I am sure the Earl made sure Alexander turned out... There is no mention of being Chief by him...
- Obviously this challenges earlier views of him but the above can be supported by primary evidence of the time.
PART THREE
There are a lot of unanswered questions about Alexander Gun (as he signed with 'Gun') and a new problem has arisen on page 28 of Lewis Balfour Oatts, Proud Heritage; Regular, territorial and service battalions H.L.I. and H.L.I. Canada 1919-1959 where he writes of
‘the three sons of Alexander Gunn of Badenloch, of whom William and James were killed in the campaigns in Southern India in 1780 and 1782 and Morrison at the siege of Gibraltar in 1778’
Now the normal view of Alexander's three sons go-
1. Alexander who served in the Dutch service (who may technically have been Chief of the Clan; that point need to be clarified)
2. William d India 1780
3. Morrison d. Gibraltar? 1783. (His exact date and place of death are awkward to verify...)
Anyway the key point is that the James killed in India is not otherwise known. It's probably a mistake as he's wrong about Morrison's death date, but it needs checking