Lord Lyon on the early history of Clan Gunn 'chiefs'
The following is part of an 18 June 2013 email from Lord Lyon to a relative who has given me permission to use the text. I note Lord Lyon's last sentence and I thank him for permission to quote from his email which provides a very welcome clarification.
Thank you for your e-mail ... concerning the numbering of the Gunn Chiefs on the original Pedigree and the amended Summary charts which are referred to in my Interlocutor and Note of 20th September 2011. I can confirm that both pedigree charts were prepared by Mr Peskett. The Summary chart was lodged by Mr Peskett on 4th May 2011 and amends the original Pedigree as is explained in my Interlocutor and Note. The most important amendments concern the daughters of Donald Crotach who is numbered 7 by Mr Peskett in both Charts and designated in them as the 6th Mackeamish. In my Interlocutor and Note I have followed this enumeration.
You are correct in stating that the original pedigree does not list the first Mackeamish, but starts with the second, William Mor mac Allister Gunn, who is numbered 1. The Summary pedigree lodged in May 2011 is particularly concerned with the descendants of Alexander (or Alastair) designed there as the 5th Mackeamish and numbered 6, and his son Donald Crotach designed there as 6th Mackeamish and numbered 7. The Summary pedigree gives Alexander’s dates as c.1625 to before 1714, and Donald’s dates as c.1665 to 1709. This pedigree, unlike the original, does not give any of Alexander’s predecessors as chief, but starts with him.
Burke’s Peerage, overseen by Mr Peskett, is indeed confusing in that it suggests that William son of James son of the Crowner was the first chief to adopt the patronymic or style of “Mackeamish” and that his son Alexander (Alastair) was the 2nd Mackeamish. William Mor is here the 3rd Mackeamish; whereas in Mr Peskett’s original pedigree chart William Mor is designed as “WILLIAM Mor MacAllister GUNN OF KILLEARNAN, 2nd MACKEAMISH”. The matter is confused further by the omission in Burke of Donald Crotach as “Mackeamish” because he died vita patris. Hugh Peskett clearly had second thoughts after composing the entry in Burke. In any case Burke is not probative in a court of law. In the last resort differing views as to the enumeration and designation of the various chiefs do not matter, so long as it is clear – as I believe it is - which chief is being referred to. Hard evidence as to which chief first adopted the style “Mackeamish” is difficult to come by. Also Donald Crotach would not be the first Highland chief to take on the leadership of a clan because of his father’s advanced age.
...
I hope this helps! Do feel free to quote me on this.
Yours sincerely
(signed) David Sellar
Lyon
Thank you for your e-mail ... concerning the numbering of the Gunn Chiefs on the original Pedigree and the amended Summary charts which are referred to in my Interlocutor and Note of 20th September 2011. I can confirm that both pedigree charts were prepared by Mr Peskett. The Summary chart was lodged by Mr Peskett on 4th May 2011 and amends the original Pedigree as is explained in my Interlocutor and Note. The most important amendments concern the daughters of Donald Crotach who is numbered 7 by Mr Peskett in both Charts and designated in them as the 6th Mackeamish. In my Interlocutor and Note I have followed this enumeration.
You are correct in stating that the original pedigree does not list the first Mackeamish, but starts with the second, William Mor mac Allister Gunn, who is numbered 1. The Summary pedigree lodged in May 2011 is particularly concerned with the descendants of Alexander (or Alastair) designed there as the 5th Mackeamish and numbered 6, and his son Donald Crotach designed there as 6th Mackeamish and numbered 7. The Summary pedigree gives Alexander’s dates as c.1625 to before 1714, and Donald’s dates as c.1665 to 1709. This pedigree, unlike the original, does not give any of Alexander’s predecessors as chief, but starts with him.
Burke’s Peerage, overseen by Mr Peskett, is indeed confusing in that it suggests that William son of James son of the Crowner was the first chief to adopt the patronymic or style of “Mackeamish” and that his son Alexander (Alastair) was the 2nd Mackeamish. William Mor is here the 3rd Mackeamish; whereas in Mr Peskett’s original pedigree chart William Mor is designed as “WILLIAM Mor MacAllister GUNN OF KILLEARNAN, 2nd MACKEAMISH”. The matter is confused further by the omission in Burke of Donald Crotach as “Mackeamish” because he died vita patris. Hugh Peskett clearly had second thoughts after composing the entry in Burke. In any case Burke is not probative in a court of law. In the last resort differing views as to the enumeration and designation of the various chiefs do not matter, so long as it is clear – as I believe it is - which chief is being referred to. Hard evidence as to which chief first adopted the style “Mackeamish” is difficult to come by. Also Donald Crotach would not be the first Highland chief to take on the leadership of a clan because of his father’s advanced age.
...
I hope this helps! Do feel free to quote me on this.
Yours sincerely
(signed) David Sellar
Lyon
