Chapter 10.3 - Biographies of the first 11 MacHamish generations ('Clan Gunn Chief')
.3 Biographies of the first eleven MacHamish generations
The individual chapters can be downloaded as pdfs from latrobe.academia.edu/AlastairGunn
Generation 1, number 1 - Coroner Gunn (Crunar) died 1450s
For his life see chapter 8. As already mentioned, Generation 1, number 1 is reduced to Gunn (1,1) and so on in the lives which follow.
Generation 2, number 2 - James, eldest son of Coroner Gunn b 1420s
We know little of James[1]
So what is known of James (2,2)? Sometime – no later than 1452 - Coroner Gunn died at a battle in or near St Tayres and James was not at the battle, given Sir Robert Gordon’s account which stated that all Gunns there died.[2] If James was the eldest by birth[3] it is possible he was not at the battle of St Tayres as he lived on his own estate. James might, of course, have lived at the castle which went his father’s position, but was not at the battle for other reasons such as being ill on the day.
A birth date for James of around the mid 1420s gives an age of thirty or so for James at his father’s death in the mid 1450s and around thirty is a reasonable time to have moved to one’s own estate. After his father’s death[4] – or before - James settled at rural Killernan[5] in the Parish of Kildonan.[6] Mark Rugg Gunn accepts James ‘may have had a residence there (Sutherland) beforehand (the battle of St Tayre’s) … (but certainly after the battle he had) land at Killernan from Adam Gordon, then Earl of Sutherland’[7] so James Gunn was a tenant of the Sutherland family, like many other people. The vast majority of the Sutherland Estate papers[8] still in existence are from the 1600s on, the paperwork of the earlier times seems not to have survived so we do not know the precise dates nor the nature and size of the wadset which James had. Wadsets are known as early as August 1419[9] so it is quite possible that they applied to the Gunns.
The issue is that we have no idea when the wadset for Killernan and possible associated lands was granted, nor for how long, nor how much James had to pay. It is important to note that the lands were held on a legal base, probably stronger as the years rolled on and the rule of law developed. Was the wadset of Killernan gained by money from the Coroner’s estate?
James T. Calder writes that after St Tayres ‘James Gunn … with his two brothers William and Henry, and a number of followers, removed to Sutherlandshire. The dwelling house … was at Killernan, in the parish of Kildonan’.[10] So James may have provided a home / employment / security for two younger brothers and some other random Gunns, ex servants from the castle perhaps?[11] This all seems quite reasonable, although evidence for Calder’s comment is not known. Note that it is possible more than one son of the Coroner lived and worked at Killernan for at least some period of time; this supports the idea that more than one MacHamish could live and work at Killernan in the following generations.
What is odd is that Gunn myth believers accept James left the castle at Caithness. Why would James leave the supposedly Gunn owned castle and go to Killernan after – or around - the death of his father? James would have owned the castle (and local Gunn land if there had been such a thing) if it had been his father’s (incidentally we know nothing about his mother, the Coroner’s wife) and there is no record – nor mythic report - that the castle was requisitioned, nor that it was destroyed and such events would have been mentioned in Sir Robert Gordon’s history. If the castle had been Gunn owned then James as the eldest son would not have left to establish a new home before his father’s death as he would have stayed in what would be his home in the future; real castles can readily handle several generations at the one time. Younger sons perhaps might leave a castle, not the eldest son. The law of the land was also on James’ side – according to the mythic history the Keiths killing the senior officer of the law (the Coroner) in Caithness would certainly have meant James kept his castle. Scotland – even the Highlands - in the 1450s was a much more civilised place than is suggested by various Gunn myths. James leaving the Castle to live on his own estate is further proof that Coroner Gunn never owned a castle. As already discussed, Coroner Gunn was a tenant - albeit a very important tenant - in a castle tied to his position of Coroner. With his death the castle was no longer able to be lived in by Gunns. The lack of permanency of the castle as home is why James moved. It also explains why members of his family went with him and why, perhaps, some ‘Gunn’ servants and / or farm hands moved with him to Killernan.
The 1896 Gunn family tree gives a date of 1487[12] against James’ name; 1487 might be when he died. The 1896 tree also records him as Cattach, which is more commonly attached to his son William. ‘Cattigh’ is generally viewed as an indicator that they lived in Sutherland.[13] If James did die in 1487 that gives him a lifespan of about sixty years; that’s not impossible but 1487 is just a possibility.
James is an unremarkable character; his invisibility is further proof that MacHamish is not a remarkable title, merely a word of convenience for a member of the family who lived at Killernan. To have a name become a title in following generations one needs to have done famous things but James is just anonymous.
Generation 3, number 3 - William MacHamish Cattigh b 1450s
William MacHamish Cattigh (3,3) was the son of James (2,2) and grandson of Coroner Gunn (1,1). Scottish naming tradition often has the first son named after the paternal grandfather[14] so was William the first name of Coroner Gunn?
Cattigh probably meant a resident of Sutherland. Why did William (3,3) gain the statement of the obvious – he had the wadset of Killernan so obviously lived in Sutherland? Donald Gunn (8,11) who is often called ‘the Scholar’ has a title which seems ironically applied; his August 1638 wadset acquisition of the Kinbrace Estate is signed by him and annotated ‘in my hand’ suggesting that he was barely able to do that but was proud that he could. Was William Cattigh’s (3,3) title equally ironic? In other words, did William (3,3) make too much of living in Sutherland in conversation with others?
There was a William MacHamish at the 1517 battle of Torran Dubh (near Rogart) but William MacHamish Cattigh (3,3) was too old for that battle. William MacHamish Cattigh (3,3) would have been in his mid-sixties. That’s old – and life expectancy of the time was against him.[15] Far more probable is that William (3,3) had a son William (4,4) who fought at Torran Dubh. Both would be MacHamishes. Alternatively, was William MacHamish of Torran Dubh from another branch of the MacHamish family (see chapter 10.1) who also lived at Killernan? Perhaps. Once all members of the family are MacHamishes the ability to say who was definitely where becomes tricky. The battle of Torran Dubh is discussed in the next life, namely William MacHamish (4,4).
William MacHamish Cattigh’s (3,3) son, according to myth, was an Alexander[16] and this Alexander supposedly married Barbara Mackay; she was certainly born around 1570. But William (3,3) was born around 1450 and the Alexander who married Barbara Mackay had to be born say no more than around ten years before his wife so the Alexander who married Barbara Mackay had to be born around 1560 which makes him born a bit over one hundred years after his supposed father. The myth does not work. The Alexander MacDavid Gunn (7,7) who married Barbara Mackay was actually the great great grandson of William MacHamish Cattigh (3,3).
Around William MacHamish Cattigh’s (3,3) time a Law Court was established at Wick in 1503[17]; the Highlands were not as free from law as many Gunn myths demand although the area could be still highly unruly. The Church Sessions also provided ‘justice’ over the centuries.
Overall William MacHamish Cattigh (3,3) has many stories attached to him but they fail under examination.
*****
From William MacHamish (3,3) to William MacHamish (4,4) to Unknown MacHamish (5,5) to David Gunn (6,6) I have presented the line as direct descent from one generation to the next; there is no proof for that idea. It could easily be the most able of the MacHamish family who took on Killernan – many possibilities exist including a younger son, a nephew, a brother when one generation became incapacitated. As well, as shown later with William Beag’s sons, MacHamish direct descent lines die out and so the next most senior line could take over.
Generation 4, number 4 - The next William MacHamish b 1480s
There is record[18] for a ‘William Jameson or William Mackames-Wick-Cruner’ living at Killernan ‘early in the sixteenth century’ and more specifically in 1525. It is possible that this MacHamish was the William[19] who fought at Torran Dubh in 1517. Given the life span of the time it is highly unlikely that William Cattach (3,3) lived long enough to be the William MacHamish who fought at Torran Dubh and was then still alive eight years later, so two William MacHamishes are far more likely. Time could easily merge successive Williams given the vast majority of Scottish Highland history of this time was oral. This William MacHamish (4,4) was perhaps born around 1480 to be old enough to have fought at Torran Dubh and be a witness to a document in 1525.
A William MacHamish at Torran Dubh 1517
The traditional view[20] is that the Torran Dubh battle happened because the new Countess of Sutherland (Elizabeth Sutherland) married Adam Gordon in that year. Adam was the second son of George Gordon Earl of Huntly, who was also Chief of the Clan Sutherland. John Mackay, who was Chief of the Clan Mackay of Strathnaver, did not like that the Gordon children from that marriage would therefore become Earls of Sutherland. So John Mackay invaded Sutherland ‘burning and spoiling all before him’.[21] Mark Rugg Gunn says William ‘led the Clan at Torran Dubh’[22] but this view is not supported by Sir Robert Gordon as he does not mention any Gunns at the Torran Dubh battle other than William who was one of the two subordinate leaders of the ‘the inhabitants of the (Sutherland) county’[23] who fought in the battle.[24] Yes, another ‘Clan Gunn’ battle has no historic support[25] and Sir Robert Gordon had no reason to ignore the ‘Clan Gunn’ if they had been there.
It makes sense for a William to be involved in this battle. Firstly, Chief John Mackay is ‘burning and spoiling all before him’ – the property of Killearnan would have been known so to defeat Mackay before Killernan was destroyed makes sense. And secondly, defending the Countess of Sutherland would help the MacHamishes keep the wadset[26] of Killearnan. In other words, William did not own Killearnan and the actual owner of the property – the Countess of Sutherland – presumably could take it back at any time if she repaid the money wadsetted to her for it.[27] If Killernan Gunns did not fight the Countess of Sutherland’s enemies then one can readily imagine the Killearnan wadset being reversed and Gunns being homeless (albeit wealthy from the repayment). And then where would the Gunns go as the Countess basically owned all the land?
It is not clear when the battle happened, I suspect it was after 6 December. Sir Robert Gordon noted[28] that Adam Gordon Earl of Sutherland went to Edinburgh in 1517 to ‘dispatch some of his affairs which did concerne his estate’. Note the word ‘his’. In the preceding paragraph Sir Robert Gordon discussed the death of John, Lord Gordon at Kinloss in Moray on 5 December 1517. This John, Lord Gordon was Adam Gordon’s nephew being the son of Alexander Gordon, the 3rd Earl of Huntly. It is reasonable to assume that Adam Gordon went to the Kinloss Abbey for the funeral and to Edinburgh for discussion of the impact of the death with family and lawyers. December would explain why his wife stayed at home. A trip to Edinburgh by the Earl in another season would, one suspect, have meant the Countess of Sutherland would also have gone to the capital. As well, the hardships of a Scottish winter could readily encourage men to think of what could be gained by raiding neighbours, at other times crops and animals would need tending; one needs to have someone at home to protect from raiders.
Sir Robert Gordon notes that the battle was a long fight and that the two subordinate leaders (including William) fought until ‘nightfall.’[29] Nightfall on a winter Scottish night is, what, 4pm? And it makes sense, who calls off a battle before it’s dark? No-one in a battle offers an early finish so one can have afternoon tea…
Sir Robert Gordon’s account is questionable as the person who was meant to have led the Countess of Sutherland’s forces seems to have been in prison[30] but whether this was an error or an attempt to inflate the importance of his family is not clear (the supposed leader was the Countess of Sutherland’s half brother). I suspect it to be an error. Why would you try and manipulate a fact which was checkable? To manipulate would be more sensibly done by always giving positive motives to Gordons. But this aspect does not involve the Gunns.
Various oral accounts / songs were around concerning this battle and are mentioned by the Reverend Alexander Sage ‘almost three hundred years later’[31] but these should be ignored as they are too long from the time to be viewed as accurate history. I note these Sage accounts make reference only to Gunns, not ‘Clan Gunn’. And they refer to ‘MacHamish of Sutherland’ not ‘Chief of the Clan Gunn’; if the myth believers want to accept that this battle involved many Gunns then they must also accept there was no ‘Clan Gunn’ and no ‘Clan Gunn Chief’ involvement.
It is to be regretted that Sir Robert Gordon also added to the Gunn / Keith myths[32] by writing ‘William Gunn, son of James, and grandson of the Crowner, intercepted in Sutherland George Keith of Ackergill and his son, with twelve domestics (and) ... cut off the whole party’[33] sometime after 1517. In other words, a William – presumably with others – was meant to have killed Keiths and servants.[34] Given the years this had to be William (4,4) and not William (3,3) as he would have been far too old; the wrong William is the first problem with this account. William (4,4) was the Coroner’s great–grandson. It all is highly unlikely. Firstly, I have already explored how Gunns and Keiths did not have a feud at all, so revenge for a non-existing feud is obviously absurd. See chapter 7. Secondly, the idea that a ‘grandson’ would take revenge for an event which killed his grandfather about seventy years earlier is ludicrous; that’s a huge time gap and meant killing no-one involved in the supposed Keith murder of the Coroner and it also involved killing ‘domestics’ (servants) which seems gratuitously nasty. Thirdly it’s no longer the mid-1450s, time had moved on. Sutherland now had an Earl and laws. One could not just go around murdering assorted people; the Sherriff of Inverness from 1503 was allowed to appoint sub-Sheriffs with courts at Wick and Dornoch[35] so the supposed killing of fourteen people – including powerful people – would certainly have meant the law would have heard of it and a trip to the courts would follow, but there is no mention of that in Sir Robert Gordon’s book. Fourthly, the battle of Torran Dubh was a battle for William to preserve property; why would he then risk losing it by involvement in a pointless feud (especially, as said, when the feud did not exist) – if he did murder these people then his property would have been forfeited to the King. Finally, it is worth noting that the Countess of Sutherland was related through her marriage to Adam Gordon[36] to the Keiths who were Earl Marischals of Scotland; the Keiths of Ackergill being a secondary branch of that family. The idea that William killed relatives of the richest and most powerful person in his area of Scotland is not logical, especially as the Countess owned the land he lived on. As well, it’s the Earl of Caithness who got into lots of trouble about Ackergill and the Keiths (including jailing them) in the 1550s; it’s all recorded[37] and he has to get pardoned by the Queen. If it’s recorded for the Earl of Caithness a few years later an even worse event in killing the Keiths would certainly have made the historic documents. And it’s not in any documents. The whole story just does not ring true; did Sir Robert Gordon just swallow a tall tale and repeat it? I suspect so.
Generation 5, number 5 - Unknown MacHamish b 1510s
We need a new MacHamish around every thirty years; generations roll on.
The next MacHamish[38] could be the anonymous male MacHamish of Sir Robert Gordon’s account. There is a 1542 battle (Aldi-Be-Beth) where a Mack-wic-Kaimes of ‘Killiernan’ is on the side of good and helps attack invading Mackays.[39] Sir Robert Gordon also mentions the work of a MacHamish in keeping out all sorts of undesirables in 1549[40] and he[41] also has a MacHamish of Killearnan involved at the battle of Garvary – but all with no first name. He also has a ‘Mack-wic-Kames’ being one of the leaders at a 1556 battle. These events have no mention of other Gunn involvement; no matter how much mythic Gunn history would like it to be otherwise MacHamish was not a ‘Clan leader / Chief’. This Unknown MacHamish b 1510s was the right age for MacHamish challenges of this time; his father would have been too old.
This MacHamish had a son David Gunn (6,6) born in the 1530s. I am making an assuption David is from Unknown MacHamish but he could be from the following Alexander MacHamish (5).
Generation 5 - Alexander MacHamish, younger brother to Unknown?
There is no number attached to this Alexander MacHamish as he has no known issue.
The preceding Unknown MacHamish (5,5) may have had a brother; there is a record for an Alexander Jameson[42] in Wester Killernan in 1564. Yes, next door to the traditional MacHamish Gunn property of Killernan there lived another MacHamish - Jameson - Gunn and Wester Killernan may have been part of the greater Killernan property. This brother could have been the person who fought in the battles mentioned in the life of Unknown MacHamish (5,5) – or some of the battles as MacHamish is (as already discussed) an anonymous title indicating a person from a particular family. One definite ‘subsidiary’ MacHamish / Jameson – namely this Alexander - shows the term MacHamish is open to all ‘sons’ (and daughters?) of James.
This Alexander could be of generation 6 but I think that unlikely due to the years.
An historical sweep -Much of the Highlands history of the 1500s was caused by the Earl of Caithness, with the help of the Aberach Mackays, being ‘involved’ in Sutherland. Depending on the time (and which Earls) this may be either with or against the Earl of Sutherland.
The Queen Regent visited Inverness in 1556[43] and dispensed judgement; this again showed the Highlands was not a totally lawless world. The Earl of Caithness was jailed (but granted remission according to the Origines Parochiales Scotiae[44]) and the Chief of the Mackays was later captured at the battle of Garvary in consequence of the Queen Regent’s decision, and jailed. A MacHamish was involved in the capture. The Earl of Sutherland was the person who organised the capture of the Mackay Chief. John Leslie’s history records vaguely that the Glengwn (Clan Gunn / Glen Gunn) had ‘done great injures and wrongs to the country of Sutherland nixt adjacent to them … sundry pledges was received for the Glengwn, who was kept in some strengths for their good rule during the Quene regent’s pleasure’.[45] In other words the Queen removed the two main people who were causing the disorder in Caithness and Sutherland. She liked the Earl of Sutherland who worked for her. The Gunns were basically told to ‘behave’. In modern terms it is as though the Queen took out the nasty lot who she blamed namely the MacKays and Caithness, and said now just ‘calm down’ Gunns…
It is not clear which Gunns were involved, nor exactly when, all this happened. As such it is not possible to award these events to a particular MacHamish.
*****
Strathnaver
Many stories exist for how much land Gunns supposedly owned in ‘ancient times.’ They never did. Gunns lived all over the northern Highlands, that was another matter. This included the Province of Strathnaver[46] - which stretched from Eddrachillis in the west though to the north coast through to Bighouse in the east - however much some would like it to have been otherwise.[47]
‘By 1553 the Bishop of Orkney had obtained the overlordship of Strathnaver … and bestowed the heritable use upon the Chief of Mackay… since time immemorial the Chiefs of Mackay had been described in every official document as the rulers of the entire province of Strathnaver.’[48]
Generation 6, number 6 - David MacHamish b 1530s
David MacHamish (6,6) does not appear in the MacHamish mythic stories.
The reason for the first name David is that his son is identified as Alexander MacDavid[49]; see the following life. Obviously, a David MacHamish is therefore needed as his father. Was David (6,6) the elder son of MacHamish (5,5)? Perhaps. Other possibilities exist including that a daughter of an earlier MacHamish married a David Gunn who acquired ‘MacHamish’ by marriage.
It is likely that this David MacHamish is the MacHamish mentioned by Sir Robert Gordon[50] who said that, in 1570, ‘MacHamish of Strathully’ being one of the ‘Earl of Sutherland’s trustiest freinds and followers’ went into ‘into Glengary, his cuntrey.’ The Earl of Sutherland’s friends had to keep low in and around the Highlands of Scotland at this time as the Earl of Caithness was extremely cross with the Earl of Sutherland and that Earl’s supporters / friends, and the Earl of Caithness was the stronger party. It seems the Earl of Caithness had wardship over the Earl of Sutherland until the Earl of Sutherland attained his majority in 1573. There is no suggestion that MacHamish going to ground involved other Gunns. The ‘MacHamish of Strathully’ is unlikely to be the Unknown MacHamish (5,5) b. 1510 as he would have been too old for the Earl of Sutherland.
David MacHamish Gunn had Alexander MacDavid Gunn (7,7) and William Beag Gunn (7,8).
Generation 7, number 7 - Alexander MacDavid Gunn b 1560s, d 1624?
Alexander MacDavid Gunn (7,7) married Barbara Mackay, a daughter from the second marriage of Iye Du Mackay of Farr, 12th of Strathnaver, chief of Clan Mackay.[51]
The Alexander who married Barbara Mackay is twice in The History of the House and Clan Mackay as Alexander MacDavid.[52] Alexander, son of David. David; that name does not appear in any of the traditional lists of MacHamishes. One David mentioned in a book could be a printing error, twice firms the idea that David was the father of Alexander MacDavid Gunn of Killernan (7,7), hence David Gunn (6,6) had to exist. Thomas Sinclair also adds support for the name.[53]
Barbara had a brother Huistean (Hugh) Du Mackay 13th of Strathnaver who is consistently given as born in 1561.[54] Huistean is the first mentioned of that second marriage of his father. A birth year for Barbara of about 1570 is reasonable as The Book of Mackay records[55] her as the fifth and last born of this second marriage. A birth year of c.1560-1570 therefore seems reasonable for Alexander MacDavid (7,7). But it is the definite birth year of about 1570 for Barbara which causes huge problems for some ‘Clan Gunn’ myths.
The first problem is the birth year of around 1560-1570 for Alexander MacDavid (7,7) using his wife’s birth year. As already discussed, Alexander’s (7,7) supposed father[56] for the myth believers was William MacHamish Cattigh (3,3) who has a provisional birth year of around 1450. The problem is obvious; are we meant to believe that William MacHamish Cattigh (3,3) fathered a child when he was a hundred years old? Such a biologically improbable event would be remembered – and it isn’t so remembered. This is just one of the reasons why the Alexander who married Barbara Mackay cannot be the Alexander who was supposedly the son of William MacHamish Cattach / Cattigh (3,3).
And there is more on Alexander MacDavid (7,7) who could also be called Alexander Davidson. Sir Robert Gordon records that an Alexander Davidson was still in Sutherland in 1624.[57] Sinclair also has an excerpt of a document[58] of 21 November 1623 which mentioned ‘Sir Robert Gordon knight-baronet and Alexander Gunn alias Jameson’ which also supports the idea that Alexander lived after 1613.
There is a potential problem with Alexander MacDavid’s (7,7) death year; if Gordon was correct Alexander ‘Davidsone’ Gunn was alive in 1624[59] but his son William Mhor (8) supposedly succeeded to the lands of Killernan in 19 February 1614.[60] Both can’t be right unless Alexander MacDavid passed on the lands early – a possibility. An alternative answer is that old legal documents often have a summary of the contents and date on the outside of closely folded documents, certainly the 1650s ones I have seen from the Sutherland Estate do; it is not unreasonable to assume that William Mhor’s Killernan document was really 1624 as a scribbled 2 or 1 can look similar. All references to this document lack further detail suggesting that all which was read was the exterior. On balance it is reasonable to assume that William Mhor did not inherit Killernan until 1624 or a shade earlier, which would be when his father died. The ‘1614’ document can no longer be found.
Another major problem about the mythic Alexander Gunn is with his supposed children. Traditionally an Alexander MacHamish of Killernan had two sons both called William; the elder was William Mhor / Mor and the younger William Beag / Bheg. That’s very unusual; it is quite possible to name another child with the name of an earlier child who had died but supposedly both William Mor and William Beag lived. Two living children with the same name is, at the very least, extremely rare. I have never heard of it in any use other than with ‘Clan Gunn’ fantasy history. This child problem is added to by the real detail known about Alexander’s (7,7) actual wife but we know absolutely nothing about his supposed second wife. That’s odd; one would expect both wives to be known in similar detail.
Solution? William Mhor (8) was son of Alexander MacDavid (7,7), but William Beag / Bheag (7,8) was the brother of Alexander MacDavid (7,7) and the evidence for this is in their lives in this chapter. Given this, the problem of lack of information of Alexander’s supposed second wife and the ludicrous idea of having two sons alive at the same time and with the same name disappears.
William Mhor (8), the son of Alexander MacDavid (7,7), died without known issue.
*****
Some further history
1) Alexander MacDavid’s (7,7) wife had a brother Huistean[61] (sometimes Uisdean) Du Mackay who was Chief of the Mackays - but he was the first Chief of the Mackay who was a ‘vassal of a feudal overlord’[62] namely the Earl of Huntly originally and later the Earl of Sutherland[63] – and he participated to a degree in the mess which was the attempt by the Earl of Caithness and the Earl of Sutherland in getting rid of the Gunns. This should mainly be viewed as an attempt to deal with the more lawless Braemore Gunn / Caithness Gunns, see chapter 11.1 for more on this family. Sir Robert Gordon pointed out that the attempt to get rid of the Gunns was against ‘chiefly such of that (Gunn) tribe as dwelt in Caithness, because they were judged to be the principal authors of … troubles and commotions….’[64]
2) It is noteworthy that Larence Nowell’s map of Scotland produced sometime between 1561 and 1566 detailed Caithness and Sutherland and showed the major landowners in red - namely the Earl of Caithness, the Earl of Sutherland and the Mackays. The Gunns were not mentioned – the castles of the region are also shown and there is no Gunn castle.[65] Again, proof that the Gunns were of no real importance and that the ‘Gunn castle’ story dealt with in chapter 8.5 is fiction.
3) The Battle of Allt Camhna / Altgown was meant to occur in 1586. It’s another of those Gunn / Mackay battles - or not. Sir Robert Gordon’s account has mention that ‘one of the principalls of the Clangun in Strathnaver called Angus-Roy’ [66]was killed but there is no mention of a Clan Gunn Chief in the battle. Nor do we know anything more about this Angus-Roy.
4) In 1589 a ‘John James-sone’… a principall gentleman of Catteynes’[67] was murdered; here again is a possibility that MacHamish is a title held by more than one person at a time. There is no John at this time in the traditional MacHamish line – and the person was significant in Caithness, not Sutherland. One must consider that not all Jamesons were of the MacHamish line, the further away from Killernan the more questionable the attribution of the MacHamish family identifier….
Generation 7, number 8 - William Beag, brother to Alexander MacDavid. b 1560s
William Beag (7,8) was the second son of David Gunn (6,6).
The 1896 Gunn tree has William Beag[68] (7,8) with a year of 1560 attached, possibly a birth year – Alexander MacDavid (7,7), his brother, has 1551 on the tree. Sir Robert Gordon[69] viewed William Beag as the main person of the Gunns in Sutherland; was Alexander MacDavid (7,7) more the quiet farmer? Crucially the 1896 tree also gives a year of 1590 to William Mhor (8). Now we can quibble as to the full accuracy of the years shown but what is important is the generational difference implied by the thirty years gap between William Beag (7,8) and his nephew William Mhor (8).
The Book of Mackay[70] records for 1589 that a ‘MacHamish Gunn of Killearnan again wasted Caithness with great ferocity’. This claim is of interest – I ignore the ‘of’ in ‘of Killernan’ as perhaps being an error - but it is not clear that the MacHamish was William Beag (7,8). It might have been his brother Alexander MacDavid (7,7) but, given William Beag’s (7,8) known later violent history, it is reasonable to assume it was William Beag (7,8). If these raids were on behalf of the Earl of Sutherland that would also suit William Beag’s (7,8) later actions.
The generational difference between William Beag (7,8) and William Mhor (8) is clearly shown by history – Sir Robert Gordon[71] records a William-Mack-wickames as the leader of forces the Earl of Sutherland sent to the Isle of Lewis around year 1600 / 1601.[72] The Earl of Sutherland’s force were part of a greater body to dispossess the islanders (‘genocide’ in Ian Grimble’s view[73] - legitimately as they could use ‘slaughter, mutilation, fire-raising or other inconveniences’[74] as these forces had the King of Scotland on their side[75]). Being leader suggests this William MacHamish was a fighter / planner of experience. This William has to be of an older generation than William Mhor (8) as William Mhor (8) could only have been about ten years old in 1600 as, already discussed, his mother was born around 1570.[76] There is no mention of other Gunns on the Isle of Lewis expedition, this activity is more a profession for William Beag (7,8). Again, we have MacHamish as a family indicator not a title held by one person.
Gordon has William Gun-Mack-wic-Kames ‘Killeirnan’ in July 1601[77] in action on the side of the Earl of Sutherland against the Earl of Caithness. This William was not part of the main force, he was in charge ‘with some of the Gordons … sent to draw a circuit about, and secretly to compasse the enemie, thereby to invade them at their backs.’[78] The Earl of Sutherland’s side won the battle. Again this was a William MacHamish with no mention of other Gunns; it is not a ‘Gunn clan’ battle. Again, this MacHamish seems a professional fighter and again this William MacHamish can not be William Mhor (8) as William Mhor (8) would be too young so presumably it was William Beag (7,8).
The 13th of February 1602 had[79] Earl John Gordon (c.1576-1615) of Sutherland and others visit a MacHamish in / of Killernan via the Glen of Loth; a snow storm hit them and those that drank whisky died but the Earl and some others survived. Given his work for the Earl of Sutherland in 1600 and 1601 I suspect the Earl visited William Beag (7,8); William Mhor (8) would have been too young to be visited by the Earl of Sutherland whereas the Earl had already had much business with the older William Beag (7,8).
There was violence in 1617 and 1620 (documented in 1624) which goes with William Beag‘s (7,8) warlike behaviour; for the 1620 / 1624 event see the documentary discussion in Alexander of Killernan and of Navidale’s (8,9) life. William Beag (7,8) was the right age and had adult sons with the correct names by 1617 and 1620 for these documents to apply to them and him. The sons were his eldest Alexander of Killernan and of Navidale (8,9) and his second son John (8,10) in Navidale of Borroble. Both Alexander (8,9) and John (8,10) were probably born in the 1590s. William Mhor (8) was born in about 1590 so he was too young to have adult sons in 1617 / 1620 although the myths have it otherwise.[80]
Some of the history attributed to William Mhor (8) is unsavoury and actually applied to William Beag (7,8).[81] Mark Rugg Gunn records an October 1617 incident where a ‘William Jameson in Killearnan and his son Alexander ‘in’ Borrobill (Borrobol) (and) John Jameson in Suisgill’ attack, with others, James Ross, the third son of the Laird of Balmucky. His source is unknown. William Beag (7,8) was always in Killernan and his eldest son was Alexander (8,9) and his second son was John – but he may not be John Jameson in Suisgill. Given William Mhor’s (8) approximate birth year meant having an adult son helping him be violent in 1617 is impossible. Even more so when the adult son was old enough to be living away from home ‘in’ Borroble which was a linked Gunn of Killernan property seemingly held by the next adult in line to Killernan. I suspect it was a separate Gunn property as I discuss in the life of George Gunn of Borroble (9,16). Note, again, how two William MacHamishes exist at the same time; MacHamish is only a family indicator.
A 1624 writ[82] includes mention of ‘John Jameson, Alister Jameson … Alister MacAlister Jameson … in Strathullie’ who were criminal and robbers; again we have more than one Jameson, but it is unclear if these were MacHamishes. And more than one MacHamish / Jameson family could easily have lived on the Killernan estate;[83] the assumption that only one family lived on it at any one time is a modern, flawed one. The ability to say that any particular MacHamish / Jameson of Killernan did something is often not possible due to the way MacHamish applied to many people at the same time.
William Beag (7,8) was, as already said, brother to Alexander MacDavid MacHamish (7,7) who married Barbara Mackay. This would explain William being at Killernan as close family could sensibly be of use on the estate. As well, it might explain why he was active in battle; he was not meant to inherit Killernan so was establishing a different career of ‘adventurer’. He may also have just been of a more aggressive temperament. It is not clear when William Beag died.
But crucially it’s William Beag (7,8) who was the founder of the Gunns of Killernan and Navidale after his nephew William Mhor (8) died without known issue.
William Beag’s (7,8) four sons (I note how few females were allowed to remain in Gunn history, are some missing here?) were –
1. Alexander Killernan Gunn (8,9)
2. John in Navidale of Borroble Gunn (8,10)
3. Donald the Scholar of Kinbrace Gunn (8,11)
4. William of Acheneccan Gunn (8,12)
The 1870 family tree has Donald the Scholar (8,11) and William of Acheneccan (8,12) as descendants of William Beag (7,8) including links down to Alexander ‘Osclay’ Gunn (11,31). The Sutherland Estate documents[84] of the 1671-1679 period clearly show, several times, a descent line involving various of these Gunns of Killernan and Navidale including their relationships to each other and properties / estates attached to them. These are legal documents of the time and so the order has to be accepted. The evidence is mainly shown in the lives of those sons. The descent order for William Beag’s (7,8) eldest son Alexander Killernan Gunn (8,9) was, and the relationship is that given in the Sutherland Estate documents -
1. William Gunn (7,8) ‘grandfather’ with no ‘of’ place attached to his name in any document.
2. Alexander Gunn (8,9) ‘of Navidaill’ ‘his (meaning the below John’s) father’. And from another document ‘of Killernan.’
3. John Gunn (9,13) ‘lawful son’ ‘of Killernan.’ In a 1679 document he was ‘of Navidaill’ at the time his son was ‘of Killernan.’
4. Alexander Gunn (10) ‘son to the said John Gunn’ and ‘eldest lawful son’ suggesting at least two further sons. He was ‘of Killernan.’ Now, both this Alexander and his father are identified as ‘principalls’ in a 1671 legal document; due to Scottish law this means that he may have been an adult at that time, but he could also have have been an adolescent.
As said, these documents all start with a William who was never ‘of’ a place. There is only one person this lack ‘of’ place names works with and that’s William Beag (7,8) as he was never the most senior person of an Estate. By implication it suggests that William Beag (7,8) was either dead, or frail, by the time of William Mhor’s (8) death as otherwise William Beag (7,8) would have been of Navidale and / or of Killernan. This makes sense – William Beag (7,8) was a generation older than William Mhor (8). William Mhor (8) had inherited Killernan and so should be in these Sutherland estate legal documents as ‘of’ Killernan if they applied to his children; the documents therefore prove William Mhor (8) did not have issue who survived as he does not appear in these documents and he should if he had children who inherited the property after him. With the lack of any known descent from William Mhor (8) – but primary documents clearly show the MacHamishes ‘of Killernan’ continued – the only possibility is that the descendants from William Beag (7,8) took over Killernan / Navidale. I suspect William Mhor (8) died around 1635 as William Beag’s (7,8) eldest son Alexander (8,9) took over Killernan before 1636. Did William Beag’s (7,8) military work for the Earl of Sutherland help make the transfer of Killernan easier or was it just a normal transition of the property going to the next most senior line?
The mythic idea that William Beag (7,8) was younger brother to William Mhor (8) is absurd not least as William Beag had to be, at the very least, the elder brother of William Mhor (a senior William MacHamish on the Isle of Lewis would work) but then William Beag (7,8) would have inherited Killernan as he would have been the elder son which he did not so do. The only logic which works is that William Beag (7,8) was uncle to William Mhor (8). Other problems with the idea that William Mohr (8) and Willam Beag (7,8) were brothers were discussed in Alexander MacDavid Gunn’s life (7,7) in this chapter. But is the story of William Mhor (8) and William Beag (7,8) being brothers based on confused oral history concerning how William Beag’s (7,8) family took over Navidale and Killernan after William Mhor (8) died?
The guarantors of one of the documents for John Gunn (9,13) and his son Alexander (10) being the last two generations given in the NLS documents include Learable Gunns, I have no exact idea how they fit in but they were surely MacHamish linked given how close Learable is to Kildonan, Killernan, Borrobol and Kinbrace. The other Gunn guarantors were Donald Gunn of Kinbrace ‘the Scholar’ (8,11), and George Gunn of Borroble (9,16) who was John Gunn in Navidale’s (8,10) son so adding support for the idea that Learable Gunns were MacHamish linked.
William Beag’s (7,8) third son Donald the Scholar (8,11) had the wadset of Kinbrace in August 1638; this is certainly after the Beag line took over the Killernan / Navidale property which happened before 1636. Such Killernan / Navidale property would explain how the money was found for Kinbrace. The mythic story that William Mhor (8) gave Kinbrace to his supposed ‘younger brother’ William Beag (7,8)[85] is wrong. But what if there was some truth behind the story namely that William Beag (7,8) organised Kinbrace to go to his younger son Donald the Scholar (8,11) in 1638 and the idea just got a little confused over time. Donald (8,11) certainly got Kinbrace in 1638 – I have a copy of the wadset document.
Generation 8
Generation 8 - William ‘Mhor / Mor’ Gunn b. 1590? Alive 1624. Dwi.
As already discussed, William’s (8) mother Barbara MacKay was born around 1570 and his father Alexander MacDavid (7,7) was born perhaps a few years earlier than his wife. This gives William (8) an approximate birth year of 1590 which matches the 1590 date on the 1896 Gunn tree. William Mhor (8) is recorded[86] as ‘William Macallister’ (son of Alexander) in The Book of Mackay which also records that William MacAllister succeeded to the lands of Killearnan 19 February 1614[87] but, as already discussed in his father’s life, it’s far more likely to be 1624.
A William MacHamish of Killernan was seriously involved[88] – with many others - in a September 1623 battle against the Earl of Caithness; a company of the ‘Clangun’ were involved but they were not part of the troops led by William MacHamish. This William MacHamish may have been William Mhor (8) but it could, just, be William Beag (7,8). It could also be another William MacHamish living at Killernan. The ‘of’ has to be viewed as questionable; 1623 was probably when no William was legally ‘of Killernan’ as William Mhor’s father was probably still alive. If William Mhor (8) was the person meant perhaps he was given an honorary ‘of Killernan’ as his father was frail or dead given William Mhor (8) inherited his father’s land the following year.
There are myths attached to William Mhor (8) and his supposed descendants. These stories fail mainly because of William Mhor’s (8) birth year of about 1590. One problem, already discussed, is shown by Mark Rugg Gunn[89] who wrote William Mhor (8) assisted ‘adventurers / settlers’ on the Isle of Lewis – but these events happened in 1601[90] when William Mhor (8) would be about ten years old. This error was probably caused by the belief that only one person could be a MacHamish at one time - Sir Robert Gordon had William Gun-Mack-wic-Kames Killeirnan (William Mhor was not mentioned) on the Isle of Lewis but in later books this William MacHamish somehow became specifically William Mhor (8). The William MacHamish on the Isle of Lewis was probably William Beag (7,8). Further William Mhor (8) problems including the idea that William Mhor (8) gave ‘Kinbrace to his younger brother William Beag, on wadset of 500 merks’[91] have been discussed in William Beag’s (7,8) life.
This leaves William Mhor (8) with no documentary support other than for who his parents were and that he inherited Killernan in 1624. There is no record of marriage nor children; real MacHamish history therefore does not involve descendants from William Mhor (8). But the MacHamishes continued as discussed in William Beag’s life (7,8) – Alexander Gunn (8,9) was of Killernan by 1636 so William Mhor (8) had to be dead by then.
Generation 8, number 9 - Alexander of Killernan and of Navidale dead by 1658
Alexander of Killernan and of Navidale[92] (8,9) was the eldest son of William Beag (7,8). Alexander (8,9) would have had to be born around 1590 as his father had to be born in the 1560s or so. He was first cousin of William Mhor (8) and presumably took over at Killernan following William Mhor’s (8) death. He was of Killernan by 1636.
There is a 1617 criminal record[93] for William Beag (7,8) ‘in’ Killernan and Alexander Gunn (8,9) in ‘Borrobill’ his son. William Beag (7,8) and (presumably at least some of his) children were in ‘Killernan’ but the most senior child from William Beag (7,8) was at Borroble; as mentioned earlier Borroble was where the Gunn who would inherit Killernan lived. It is possible that originally Borroble may have been part of the extended Killernan lands – if so we do not know when it was separated from the Killernan property but it was separated by the time of George Gunn (9,16) of Borrobol. Alexander’s (8,9) ‘in’ should be considered with care; without sighting the original documents the word could be a writing / printing mistake for ‘of’; to restate ‘of’ means ‘owns / or the wadsetter’ with ‘in’ having a secondary place as in you lived at that property but it was not yours.
Alexander (8,9) was involved with criminal behaviour along with his brother John (8,10) - a record of complaint[94] exists against Alexander MacHamish (8,9) and John MacHamish (8,10) dated 14 June 1624[95] concerning an event of January 1620 – the complaint says that ‘John M’Keymes in Navidale, and … Alest M’Keymes[96] his brother ... took and led me captive as their bond slave, and abused myself… John MacHamish and Alexander MacHamish (also) … took away most wrongfully the whole of my property’. So, two people were MacHamishes in this complaint, again proof that MacHamish was not a title held by a single person. The placement of John (8,10) first might reflect who was the nastier. John (8,10) being ‘in Navidale’ by 1620 is of interest; it is possible he had rented some of Navidale as a tenant.
Sir Alexander Gordon was ‘of’ Navidale from at least 1616[97] until at least August 1631[98] when he retired to Ireland as he was Catholic, but the 1631 ‘of’ may have been an historic leftover.[99] D. M Rose[100] says that Sir Alexander Gordon of Navidale granted in 1636 a ‘bond for £800 in favour of Alexander of Killernan … in that way the Gunns got Navidale.’[101] This provides the evidence that Alexander was ‘of Killernan’ before 1636. The document is confusing; a person taking over land either paid a wadset in advance of say £800 or signed a tack indicating the amount of money they would pay each year and how they would pay it, so it is more likely Alexander Gunn (8,9) paid Sir Alexander Gordon the sum of £800 rather than the reverse. 1636 works for why Sir Alexander Gordon would wadset the estate as he had left the country - and he was of the Gordons who owned Sutherland so had the ability to rent out Navidale. 1636 works well for Alexander (8,9) as he had taken over Killernan a little before this Navidale acquisition. Alexander’s third brother Donald the Scholar (8,11) acquired Kinbrace in 1638 - both the Navidale and Kinbrace acquisitions suggest that the Killernan and / or William Beag’s (7,8) money had not run out.
In August 1643 Alexander (8,9), was mentioned, along with other important people such as the Earl of Sutherland, in an Act of Parliament as ‘Alexander Gun of Calelnan.’[102] Alexander (8,9) also acted as witness[103] in a legal document 12 January 1644; again he was ‘of Killernan’. A further 1649 Act[104] again mentioned him being ‘of Killernan’, it also mentioned his brother John Gunn (8,10) of ‘Barraboll’ (Borrobool) – no longer ‘in Navidale.’ So they were both people of significance.
A Sutherland Estate document[105] recorded a joint contract (bond) of 1652 between ‘Alexander Gunn of Killernan’ (8,9) and ‘John Gunn of Borboll’ (8,10) with the Duke of Sutherland. Note both Alexander and John were ‘of’ – but Alexander was ‘of Killernan’ and listed first. That suggests he was the more important brother. But John being ‘of Borboll’ clearly shows the Borrobol Estate was separate from the Killernan wadset. Now, you don’t hold a joint, major contract in the mid 1600s with the Duke of Sutherland unless you are very closely related.[106] Lands mentioned included Killernan, Borboll, Learable and AuldBreakachie. Learable is interesting as it adds further to the idea that MacHamish Gunns have some link there but, as said, the nature of the link is not known. The writing of the document is fairly indecipherable but it might have something to do with the Borrobol Estate.
Marriage. Did Alexander get Killernan because of the importance of his marriage rather than because he was the senior son? Perhaps, and of course both reasons might apply. Alexander married Dame Mary Lady Foulis[107] whose first husband died April 1635[108] so Alexander’s marriage to her was obviously after that date. Dame Mary’s first husband was Sir Hector Munro 1st Baronet of Foulis and they married in July 1619[109] and so she would have been born around the same period as her husband namely 1600. This means the children from this Gunn marriage were born at the earliest to a mid thirty year old mother.
As already mentioned, Sir Alexander Gordon passed over Navidale Estate – and presumably Easter Balivanich - in 1636 to Alexander ‘of Killernan’. Given that could have been the year after Alexander’s marriage it suggests Navidale may have been bought by money Dame Mary Lady Foulis bought to the marriage. It has been wrongly suggested that she was given the lands of Navidale and Easter Balavanich in 1668 by her husband. That is inaccurate - it is their son Alexander (9) and his wife Christina Mackay to whom the 1668 document applies. Proof? Alexander (8,9) and Dame Mary Foulis are both dead by 1658.[110] As well, the 1658 document includes the name of ‘Christina Mackay’ who is the known wife of Alexander (9) of the next generation. Secondly Dame Mary Lady Foulis’ husband Alexander (8,9) is shown to be dead before 27 January 1666[111] in a second National Records of Scotland document.
The children of Alexander ‘Killernan’ Gunn (8,9) were
· John ‘Killernan’ Gunn (9,13)
· Catherine Gunn (9,14)
· Alexander Gunn (9) who married Christina / Christiana Mackay before 1668. Probably lived at Navidale. Died without known issue.
· Donald Crotach Gunn (9,15)
Generation 8, number 10 - John MacHamish in Navidale of Borroble. Alive 1652
The John Gunn (8,10) who was brother to Alexander (8,9) is poorly known; he was, as already noted, not the grandson of William Mhor (8) but a son of William Beag (7,8). He must not be confused with his nephew John Gunn (9,13), the senior son of Alexander (8,9).
As already discussed John (8,10) was ‘in’ Navidale’ in 1620 when he committed criminal activity. The 1624 document about the 1620 violence lists John (8,10), then Alexander (8,9). This is the reason John (8,10) has been viewed as the senior of the two brothers as shown by Mark Rugg Gunn[112] who wrote of the 1624 document that ‘This would seem to support the suggestion that John followed William Mhor…’. As already discussed, the wrong William is suggested here; it’s really William Beag (7,8) not William Mhor (8). It is not clear whether John (8,10) or Alexander (8,9) was technically senior; it is however clear that Alexander (8,9) took over Killernan which makes it reasonable to assume that Alexander (8,9) was the eldest son of William Beag (8,9).
A 1649 Act[113] of Parliament mentioned John Gunn (8,10) of Borrobol. The ‘of’ is important as it is a significant legal document; he is part of a major committee with his brother, they are both respected figures. And the ‘of’ shows it was his estate, not a part of Killernan. He was, as mentioned in the previous entry, alive in 1652. The 1652 document has the senior MacHamish at Killernan, being Alexander (8,9), and the next senior line John MacHamish (8,10) ‘of Borrobill’.
John (8,10) and Alexander (8,9) are certainly brothers; as discussed in the preceding section on Alexander (8,9) the Sutherland Estate papers make it logical to assume so. Alexander (8,9) presumably moved from Borroble to take over Killernan when that became available (presumably after William Mhor’s (8) death or incapacity), then it is reasonable to assume the next senior Gunn - John (8,10) – moved into Borroble.
It has been suggested[114] that John (8,10) married Catherine / Katherine Sinclair, daughter of Francis Sinclair fiar of Dun. This is an error, Catherine married John Gunn of Killernan (9,13) as I discuss in his life.
John (8,10) had George Gunn of Borroble (9,16).
Generation 8, number 11 - Donald the Scholar, Kinbrace / Osclay lines
William Beag (7,8) had at least four sons; the elder sons Alexander (8,9) and John (8,10) take over at Killernan and Borrobol after the death of William Mhor (8) without children and have already been discussed.
William Beag (7,8) also had Donald the Scholar (8,11) and William of Acheneccan (8,12). I suspect this is the right order due to the logic that the more senior sons would take over the main properties of Killernan and Borrobol. The third son Donald the Scholar had access to money (some Killernan Estate money?) to buy the wadset of Kinbrace (Kinbrays in the Sutherland estate documents of the time) and the final son William seemed to have lived at Acheneccan (Achneakin) which was a minor part of the Kinbrace Estate in 1810 and I suspect earlier.[115] It is the descendants of Donald the Scholar (8,11) and William of Acheneccan (8,12) which have been confused or wrongly placed in previous family trees and histories.
William Beag’s (7,8) third son Donald the Scholar of Kinbrace’s[116] (8,11) had –
· William Gunn of Kinbrace (9,17) who had
· Adam Gunn of Kinbrace (10,25) who had
· William Gunn (11,34) - who gave up Kinbrace – who had three sons,
o Adam Mulbuie Houstry (12,52) d 1776 and from whom came Rev Robert Gunn of Latheron with much issue),
o Robert (12,53) with issue.
o John Houstry Dunbeath (12,54) d 1780. John (12,54) married Margaret Gunn[117] (10,23) who was the daughter of ‘Chief’ Donald Crotach Gunn (9,15). Lord Lyon Sellar accepted[118] that a daughter of ‘Chief’ Donald Crotach Gunn (9,15) married a John Gunn ‘of or in’ Kinbrace.[119] Presumably John (12,54) was ‘in Kinbrace’ before his father gave up the estate. John (12,54) and Margaret’s (10,23) marriage is logical with William Beag’s (7,8) children taking over Killernan; it explains how they knew each other (they shared an ancestor). John (12,54) and Margaret (10,23) had
§ Alexander[120] (11,31 using Margaret’s descent numbers) farmer at Osclay who had many children including
· Catherine (12,38) who married Donald Gunn of Braehour and Brawlbin (13,65). There were many descendants, see Appendix 1.
Proof? Sutherland Estate documents in the National Library of Scotland
The Kinbrace Estate ownership is clearly shown in Sutherland Estate documents[121] held in the National Library of Scotland. This means we have primary source proof, as these documents are legal documents of the time, of the following –
1. Donald Gunn (8,11) was of Kinbrace by August 1638. He was called Donald the Scholar possibly ironically; his signature of ‘D Gune’ is followed by ‘in my hand’.
2. His son was William Gunn (9,17) of Kinbrace who also gained the lands of Achnahow in 1658. He was still of Kinbrace in 1672. His wife may have been Anna Cordover. He may have been ‘in Knockfinn’ before becoming ‘of Kinbrace’.
3. Adam Gunn (10,25) was son of William (9,17) of Kinbrace by 1678. He has been missing from the history texts. Dead by 1709? [122]
4. William Gunn (11,34) was son of the above Adam Gunn (10,25). He gave up (‘discharge’) the wadset of Kinbrace and Achnahow[123] in 1714.[124] His wife was probably Anna Sutherland.[125] They did not get on well, this was the basic cause of giving up the estate – a divorce, perhaps, in all but name?
So the Kinbrace ownership using National Library of Scotland documents was Donald Gunn (8,11) – William Gunn (9,17) – Adam Gunn (10,25) – William Gunn (11,34) who gave up Kinbrace.[126] By 1812 a Lieutenant William Gunn[127] has the wadset of the Kinbrace, Shinachy, Achneakan and Achnahow Estate but his family is not known.
The 1896 tree
The 1896 tree is, as already stated, by Captain Gunn Braehour, an acknowledged Clan Gunn historian[128] and son of Donald Gunn (13,65) the sennachy of the ‘Clan.’ Of real significance – as it shows his lack of bias – in that when this tree was written there was no idea that the female Gunn line was of any potential importance.
This tree has three Kinbrace owners in the order given by the NLS Sutherland Estate papers - namely William (9,17) 1650; who had son Adam Gunn (10,25) ‘Badenloch Kildonan and Kinbrace’ 1709 (the date matching the Sutherland Estate document) who had William (11,34) who gave up Kinbrace. The tree has an extra generation of an Adam after Donald the Scholar (8,11). No other Gunn history / genealogy gives this Adam any support so the Adam after Donald the Scholar (8,11) seems unlikely. Even if this extra Adam was correct the descent from Donald the Scholar (8,11) would still apply.
Living Memory
The William who gave up Kinbrace - and which the NLS Sutherland Estate documents fully supports - is four generations from Captain Gunn Braehour who drew up the 1896 tree, or three from his father Donald Gunn (13,65) the sennachy. Three generations is living memory for normal people today – that just gets you to your great grandparents. Three generations for an expert such as Donald Gunn (13,65) has to be viewed as child’s play. For Captain Gunn Braehour it is also impossible to believe he would be wrong for these four living memory generations especially as the accuracy of his tree after these generations is shown to be true as the NLS Sutherland Estate documents prove that what he drew up was accurate.
The 1896 tree shows the Captain’s mother was Catherine Gunn of Osclay (12,38) (who married Donald Gunn (13,65) of Braehour) and that she was the eldest child of Alexander Gunn of Osclay (11,31). (Further Osclay descendants as well as the Gunn who wrote the 1868 tree and 1870 tree, possibly include the Australian pioneer writer Mrs Aeneas Gunn[129] who was probably married to an Osclay Gunn.) This Alexander Gunn (11,31) of Osclay’s father was John ‘Houstry and Dunbeath’ Gunn (12,54) who was at one time ‘in Kinbrace’. Yes, the generation and numbers are correct but look wrong as the Osclay line descends from two lines of Coroner Gunn and I have only used the more direct line for numbering and generation purposes as it makes the process simpler to understand.
This marriage is of real importance in MacHamish Gunn history as John Houstry Dunbeath Gunn (12,54) was not merely a descendant of William Beag (7,8), but John (12,54) married Margaret Gunn (10,23) daughter of ‘Chief’ Donald Crotach Gunn (9,15). As already noted Lord Lyon[130] has accepted that an ‘unknown daughter of Chief Donald Crotach Gunn married John Gunn in Kinbrace’. So descendants of this marriage are twice descended from the Coroner. A third descent from the Coroner exists for one branch of the Osclay line, namely that from Catherine Gunn (12,38) of Osclay who married Donald Gunn of Braehour, Sennachy (13,65). See Appendix 1.
Further support for MacHamish Kinbrace descent
Further support – in one way or another - for Kinbrace Osclay line descent from the MacHamish line can be found.
Evidence is available on the 1868 and 1870 family trees; the 1868 tree in particular has John of Kinbrace marrying a daughter of Donald of ‘Kildonan’; ‘Kildonan’ is just a transcription error for Killernan. That is close to John ‘Houstry Dunbeath’ Gunn (12,54) – his father being of Kinbrace – marrying Margaret Gunn (10,23) daughter of Donald Crotach Gunn of Killernan (9,15). Yes, it’s not exactly the same, but it is supportive of the idea.
Other evidence can be found on Thomas Sinclair pages 111, 120-121, 126, 149 and 150. As well, Thomas Sinclair’s Supplement 31 quotes from the Sage Gunn history that ‘From William M’Hamish the son of (James) the coroner were descended two sons, both of them being called William, being by two marriages. The first was called Big William, and the second Little William. The latter was the ancestor of Gunns of Kinbrace… ‘[131] Here both William Mhor (8) and William Beag (7,8) are down as being both descended from William Cattaigh (3,3), which is partially right. Sinclair’s supplement 30 also provides support.
Mark Rugg Gunn pages 186-187 writes semi-accurately about William Beag (7,8) having two sons Donald the Scholar (8,11) and a William in Kinbrace. The William in Kinbrace (9,17) he meant was the son of Donald the Scholar (8,11) and not the brother. William Gunn (9,17) who had the wadset of Kinbrace married a Sutherland of Langwell according to Rugg Gunn – she is also mentioned as William Gunn’s (9,17) spouse in NLS Sutherland Estate Document Folio 218 deposit 313 / 208. Rugg Gunn’s page 270 has William Beag’s (7,8) descendants from William Beag to Gunns in Osclay from the William in Kinbrace (9,17) wrongly down as brother to Donald the Scholar (8,11).
The key point for all of these bits of evidence is the link to William Beag (7,8) for Kinbrace Gunns; although they may disagree on detail the point is the same – Kinbrace Gunns have descent from William Beag (7,8).
Other
At various times and various places Mulbuie Gunns are shown with descent from Donald the Scholar (8,11) – there was obviously strong belief that Mulbuie Gunns were of importance. Mark Rugg Gunn[132] has ‘Adam of Milbuie’ being the oldest son of Donald the Scholar (8,11). This probably reflected Thomas Sinclair[133] who had this view (and this is not from the ‘Appendix’ section where he used in effect the 1868 / 1870 trees so his source for his Mulbuie view was from elsewhere). The 1868 / 70 tree also has the view that Adam ‘Milbuie’ was a son of Donald the Scholar (8,11).
Now the identification of Mulbuie Gunn with Donald Gunn the scholar (8,11) is correct but the Adam is wildly in the wrong generation. Donald’s son was William ‘Kinbrace’ Gunn (9,17) - Adam Gunn of Mulbuie is actually Adam ‘Houstry’ Gunn (12,52) and this Adam (12,52) is clearly identified as ‘of Mulbuie’ in The Book of Lybster[134] which then identified a son as the Rev Robert Gunn (13,68) who had many children. Adam (12,52) in fact had two Reverends as sons; one feels a religious family with a sense of their family history and of local importance especially of the Rev Robert Gunn (13,68) – see his life - hence the attachment of ‘Mulbuie Gunns’ to Donald the Scholar’s line.
Again, Donald the Scholar’s line is not extinct.
*****
Thomas Wilson takes over Kinbrace in 1735. I suspect other Gunns take Kinbrace over after him, notably the Leveson – Gower - Gunn family one of whom was a claimant for the ‘Chief of Clan Gunn’ in the late 1960s to early 1970s.
Generation 8, number 12 - William Acheneccan / Acanaichan line
There has been much confusion in trees and histories about Donald the Scholar’s (8,11) line (of Kinbrace) and that of his younger brother William of Acheneccan / Acanaichan / Achneakin’s (8,12) line.
Achneakin was part of the greater Kinbrace in the early 1800s; it is described as ‘Kinbrace Shinachy Achneakans (Acheneccan) and Achnahow’ by 1811.[135] Acheneccan was probably therefore part of the Kinbrace estate at an earlier time. It adds support for the Kinbrace Estate going to Donald (8,11) as the third main estate of the Gunns and his younger brother being settled on a minor part of that Kinbrace estate.
This means William Beag Gunn’s (7,8) fourth son was William (8,12) with descendants in Acheneccan. The exact descendant sequence of names can be disputed but there were many descendants in the 1800s. Some of these descendants can be seen on the 1868, 1870 and 1896 trees and on the internet.[136] There are descendants alive today.
The Rev. Donald Sage’s view[137] is - ‘Robert Gunn of Achaneccan was another of the old men of my youthful remembrance. He was the acknowledged lineal descendant and representative of the Chiefs of the Clan Gunn in the Parish … He was a gentleman-like old man, who had been much in good society, and had received a somewhat liberal education. His descendants are still to be found here and there in the county of Caithness.’ The key point is that the Rev. Donald Sage accepted the Achaneccan line as an ‘acknowledged lineal descendant and representative of the Chiefs of the Clan Gunn’.
The 1868 tree for William of Acheneccan[138] (8,12) is –
1. William settled in Achanaichan. (8,12)
2. Had a son Donald. (9,18)
3. This Donald had a son William. (10,26)
4. This William had a son Robert. (11,35)
5. This Robert had a son William. (12,55)
6. This William had a son Robert the Senachie (13,70) 1806. Married twice
7. Robert (13,70) had four sons (order not given), perhaps more…
Robert’s (13,70) sons probably were
· Alexander (14,i) merchant in Thurso who had son Robert in London 1869
· John DWI (from ‘rough copy’). Was he really James?
· William Gunn (14,ii) who had William Gunn Officer Durness who had William Factor at Castle Leod.
· David Catechist (14,iii) died at Olgrinbeg, who had son John
Generation 9
Generation 9, number 13 - John Gunn of Killernan and Navidale
The first son of Alexander (8,9) was John Gunn (9,13) of Killernan who progressively bankrupted Killernan and Navidale. More Sutherland Estate documents are around for Navidale than Killernan in his time; did he live more at Navidale on the coast rather than the harsher inland which might be left to a younger generation? John’s (9,13) mother’s first husband died in 1635, so John (9,13) has to be born no earlier than about 1636. He is barely – and confusingly - mentioned in the mythic history.
He is mentioned as cautioner and heir apparent to Killernan in a marriage document[139] of September 1652; his father Alexander was alive at that date as John was only ‘heir apparent’. Scottish law did allow for under twenty-one year olds to be part of legal contracts.[140]
The National Records of Scotland has a May 1658 record[141] for John Gunn of Killernan.[142] His sister Catherine (9,14) is also mentioned, as are their parents Alexander Gunn (8,9) and Dame Mary Mackay Lady Foulis (Fowlis) who are both specifically noted as dead so John was head of the Killernan Gunns as the record makes clear. Given John is ‘of Killernan’ in the document it is probable he was over twenty-one years of age but he may have been younger.[143] It is possible he was senior to his sister but that is an assumption.[144]
By implication of John (9,13) being head of the family, all children were from from Alexander’s (8,9) marriage[145] to Dame Mary Mackay Lady Fowlis or otherwise John (9,13) would not have been head of the family. There is a story[146] that this marriage was the second for Alexander; the National Record of Scotland document clearly shows that if such was the case no male child survived from that first marriage as such a male child would have been the head of the Killernan Gunns, not John (9,13). The lack of any documentary support for an earlier marriage also makes it a questionable event.
A 26 April 1670 document[147] notes that this John Gunn (9,13) was heir of Alexander Gunn (8,9) and that the lands held by John (9,13) included Killernan, Navidale and ‘Balnavaliache’.
Marriage
Mark Rugg Gunn has the earlier John Gunn (8,10) - the never ‘of’ Killernan but ‘in’ Navidale and of Borroble - marrying ‘Catherine[148] only daughter of Francis Sinclair, fiar of Dun and his wife Jean, daughter of John Sinclair of Ulbster. That’s an error. Consider an approximate marriage year for Catherine. Her grandfather David Sinclair first married in 1606.[149] This suggests a birth year for her father, who was the eldest child, of no earlier than the mid 1620s. In consequence Catherine must have been born no earlier than the mid 1640s or so with a marriage in the mid 1660s. The date is supported by her uncle William Sinclair - who was immediately younger than her father - who married in 1643.[150] As already mentioned John Gunn (8,10) ‘in’ Navidale, of Borroble and never of Killernan was born around 1600 so Catherine most likely did not marry him as this would mean at least an about forty-five year age gap between them which seems highly unlikely. Catherine Sinclair’s marriage is with this John Gunn (9,13) who was born no earlier than 1636 which is far closer to Catherine’s age.
According to D. M. Rose this John Gunn (9,13) was much involved in debt in spite of his wife bringing him 4,000 merks.[151] Catherine was an only child so a reasonable dowry was quite possible. By 1679 John was owing,[152] amongst much else, two thousand Scottish merks to his first cousin[153] George Gunn of Borrobol (9,16). Specified debts (including George Gunn’s (9,16) of Borroble) of John’s (9,13) at this time were two thousand five hundred merks and £750 which make an approximate total owed of £2400 scots. That’s a lot of money. Remember that the Navidale wadset was acquired for £800 in 1636, so John owed the equivalent of the three Navidales. As well, there was ‘total failure of the crops’[154] in 1679 and the estate had poor crops at other times. The Killernan Estate was not a successful business at this time for a variety of reasons.
Sutherland Estate legal documents[155] clearly show that John had an eldest son Alexander (10) with an obvious implication that at least two more sons (10) existed. But nothing more has been found about these children. A 1679 document noted ‘John Gunn (9,13) for himself, Alexander Gunn (8,9) of Navidaill his father (the document implies Alexander Gunn (8,9) was still living and)… William Gunn (7,8) his grandf(athe)r’ showing the link back to William Beag (7,8) – note the William (7,8) is not ‘of’ a place which is a point already discussed. This is the last we hear of John Gunn (9,13).
When did the MacHamish Gunns lose Killernan? It has to be in the period 1679 – 1704. John (9,13) was still of Killernan in 1679 but his youngest and presumably only surviving brother Donald Crotach Gunn (9,15) is of Badenloch by 1704. John’s son Alexander (10) (and his other two sons (10)) disappear from history after the 1679 document.
Do Gunns lose Borroble at or about the same time as they lose Killernan? Does the amount of money removed from the Borroble Estate mean Borroble became unsustainable? Did the appalling weather[156] – and consequent dreadful harvests - of the 1690s provide the final straw for the end of Gunn ownership of Killernan and perhaps Borroble? One assumes the debts won…
Generation 9, number 14 - Catherine / Katherine b. no earlier than 1636. Alive 1676[157].
Catherine[158] (9,14) was a daughter of Alexander (8,9).[159] Her mother’s first husband died in 1635, so she has to be born no earlier than 1636. It is not clear whether her brother John (9,13) or Catherine (9,14) was the elder child.
She married (contract 1 / 8 May 1658[160] but another record has them married by February 1656[161]) her cousin Angus / Aeneas who was the second son of the first Lord Reay. Angus / Aeneas was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the service of Denmark. Aeneas started ‘The Melness Branch of Mackays’; Catherine is his second wife.
Catherine Gunn had six children with many descendants whose lives are not followed as they are too far away from the surname Gunn. The first generation was
1. Christina Mackay
2. John Mackay
3. Alexander Mackay
4. Donald Mackay
5. Angus Mackay
6. William Mackay
The belief shown on pages 166-167 of Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn and elsewhere that William Mhor (8) fathered a John who fathered an Alexander who fathered Catherine (9,14) is not sustainable for many reasons. A key problem are the years between Catherine (9,14) and William Mhor (8). William Mhor (8) was born around 1595, see his life. His supposed son John could not be born any earlier than say 1615. John’s supposed son Alexander could not be born any earlier than 1635. And Alexander had Catherine (9,14). But Catherine (9,14) had to be born no later than about 1640 because she married Lieutenant Colonel Mackay with contract of marriage 1 May 1658 (1656?) so that would have her marrying at eighteen. So, Catherine is born, if you accept this line of descent, when her father was no more than five years old.
Generation 9 - Alexander Gunn b. c 1638 dwi, married Christina Mackay
This Alexander (9) was not Alexander Gunn (10,19) of Badenloch and later of Wester Helmsdale (10,19) with whom his story is often confused; that Alexander was his nephew. Nor should he be confused with his father who was also Alexander (8,9) being the one who married Mary Christiane (Dame) (Lady Fowlis).
This Alexander (9) was born c. 1638, he married[162] Christina / Christiana Mackay (b circa 1645[163]) by 1668. The Book of Mackay[164] records him as ‘chieftain of the Machamish Gunns’ but does not attach ‘of Killernan’ to his name. This suggests Alexander (9) was the main MacHamish at one point but that Killenan was not in Gunn hands in his lifetime – by implication his younger brother Donald Crotach Gunn (9,15) was never of Killernan. Given Alexander’s (9) brother John (9,13) was alive in 1679 presumably Alexander must have been the senior MacHamish in or after that year, if the Book of Mackay is accurate. And that text also records Alexander (9) ‘had issue’. There is an unsubstantiated story of two MacHamish children being killed but it is not clear whose children and when.[165] It may have been children from this marriage, and it may have happened at Tacher.[166] If such an event happened it would explain why the issue disappeared from history. The idea of issue, may, of course be wrong – without supporting evidence it is only a possibility.
Now generations of Alexanders can confuse. The father of this Alexander (9) was Alexander (8,9), and this Alexander (8,9) was dead by 26 April 1670[167] - and Alexander’s (9) elder brother John Gunn (9,13) was heir of Alexander Gunn (8,9) on that date. The lands held by John Gunn (9,13) included Killernan, Navidale and ‘Balnavaliache’. In other words, in April 1670 Alexander (9) was not the senior MacHamish and nor did he have the main Estates, his elder brother John did.
But this seems to contradict the well-known February 1668 document, detailed in Thomas Sinclair[168] and elsewhere. It is a document aimed at passing over the lands of Navidale and Easter Balnavaliach from Alexander Gunn to his wife Christiana MacKay ‘for all the days of her life’. It also described Alexander Gunn as being ‘of Killernan’. This would mean Alexander ought to have been the senior MacHamish. But this ‘of Killernan’ and the ability to pass over Navidale and ‘Balnavaliach’ should not be treated as fact as there is a major issue; the original copy I have seen is not signed and the National Records of Scotland also record a similar copy.[169] Smibert points out the document is ‘not registered’.[170] In other words what we have is a draft document. People have treated it as a final – legally bindable - copy which it was not. And the draft was not finalised as shown by the 1670 document mentioned in the preceding paragraph. So what was the purpose of the 1668 draft? I suspect it was part of a proposal to buy out the, in effect, bankrupt John (9,13). This goes well with the idea that John Gunn was severely in debt (and with legal issues) and that Alexander (9) married well; MacKay money[171] may have been at the back of the 1668 document.
The 1668 document[172] mentioned Donald Crotach Gunn (9,15) as being ‘in’ Killernan and that he was ‘bailie’, a legal position. Donald (9,15) is not mentioned as ‘heir apparent’ to – or ‘of - Killernan; this reflected the Killenan ownership of the time with Alexander (10) and his brothers (10) being the sons of the senior MacHamish (John 9,13) and therefore the heirs. And of course, there was also Donald’s (9,15) older brother – this Alexander (9).
As already mentioned the Book of Mackay does not record ‘of Killernan’ against this Alexander (9), only the 1668 document already discussed suggested the plan was for this Alexander (9) to have Killernan. Was Alexander (9) ever of Killernan? I have not seen any documents of the time to confirm or deny that he was. One must consider whether the Killernan estate would have been in good condition in this Alexander’s (9) time given the debts of John (9,13) and perhaps his son (10); one suspects it was not. Especially as, in at least one view, this Alexander (9) ‘maintained great state ... (and) seldom moved without a great ‘tail’’[173] - did MacKay money help pay for the extravagance as well as - perhaps – Killernan? There is a questionable story about a fire burning the charters of Killernan and Navidale, one view is that it was in Alexander’s (9) time[174] others suggest Donald Crotach’s (9,15) time.[175] I discuss the incident in Donald Crotach’s life (9,15) where I think it more likely happened, if it happened at all.
When did Alexander die? When did his wife die? There does not seem to have been any surviving children as the next known Gunn MacHamish landholder is Alexander’s younger brother Donald Crotach Gunn (9,15).
Generation 9, number 15 - Donald ‘Crotach’ Gunn in / of? Killernan, of Badenloch
The final son of Alexander (8,9) was Donald Crotach / Croitach (9,15) who was born no later than 1647 when his mother was around forty-seven. Donald was in Killernan by 1668 but was tacksman of Badenloch by 1704. Some time in the 1679[176]-1704 period Killernan and Navidale left MacHamish control. John Gunn of Braemore - a Robson Gunn, see chapter 12.1 – acquired the wadset of Navidale in 1745.
Donald Crotach’s (9,15) years have been given as 1650-1723[177] but other dates are given including c. 1665-1709[178] which was impossible as Donald’s parents are on record as being dead by 1658.[179] Given Donald’s mother first married in July 1619, let us assume she was born in 1600 or so – she married her second husband Alexander MacHamish (8,9) no earlier than April 1635 being the month and year her first husband died. Given the approximate birth year of 1600 for his mother then Donald being born as late as 1650 is unlikely, although possible. Birth defects tend to increase with the age of the mother[180] and this might be linked to Donald being a hunchback, a ‘crotach’. His mother’s age also adds to the near certainty that Donald was the last born as even today a post fifty year old mother rarely occurs without modern, medical help. Given the 1668 document discussed in the previous Alexander’s (9) life it is possible that Donald (9,15) could have been born a little earlier than 1650 as it might be easier to act as a bailie if he was twenty-one. This puts Donald’s (9,15) birth year as no later than around 1647.
Donald’s (9,15) oldest brother John (9,13) was born in 1636 or so as was his sister Catherine / Katherine (9,14). John (9,13) and Catherine / Katherine (9,14) cannot be born earlier than April 1635 – and probably nine months later for at least one of them - and they cannot be born much later as the 1658 document[181] already discussed has them as adults. The next brother was Alexander (9) who married Christina Mackay. It is reasonable to assume more children who did not make it to adulthood were born to Donald’s (9,15) father Alexander (8,9) as between John (9,13) and Donald (9,15) – the oldest and youngest children - there is a roughly eleven year gap but only four known children.
Donald (9,15) was ‘of Badinloch’[182] by at least August 1704 as he was then recorded ‘For the Shire of Sutherland’[183] as a ‘Commissioner of Supply’[184]– basically the Commissioners were tax raisers with some local government functions. It’s a position of social standing; there were thirty Commissioners for Sutherland including the Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver. Sutherland Estate papers also show that Badenloch was a wadset holding.[185] It has the appearance of a tack but the shape of wadsets had altered over the years and was no longer paid upfront in the historic way. There are records in the Sutherland Estate papers detailing cows received by the Sutherland Estate from Alexander Gunn of Badenloch (10,19), being the son of Donald Crotach (9,15), as payments for the Badenloch estate. The earliest of these receipts is dated 1709; Donald was obviously dead by then as Alexander was ‘of’ Badenloch.
There is a very questionable story[186] about how Donald (9,15) – or it might have been in his brother Alexander’s (9) time - nearly lost Killernan; the Killernan House was on fire and suspicions were that some sort of plot to eject the Gunns – as they had lost ownership papers in the fire - was underway ‘encouraged’ by the Earl of Sutherland.[187] All this seems highly problematic. As one view said ‘All such stories are extremely plausible until properly investigated, but so far as regards ‘record proof’ these circumstantial tales must be treated as suspect. ... The relative papers show that it is very doubtful if there was any ejection at all as the parties came to terms.’[188] One view has that the event occurred in 1690[189] and Donald was ‘Chief’ and at Killernan. It is the lack of specificity to the event which makes the event highly questionable – and saying Donald being ‘Chief’ (which he never was) adds to the questionability. Supposedly once the fire was over Gordon of Kilgour[190] tried to get the lease of the lands of Killernan. I have trouble accepting the idea that the Earl of Sutherland was accepting of the idea to get the Gunns removed from the Killernan in this way. There is more than one copy of a wadset – the Sutherland Estate would have held a copy and as their archives in the National Library of Scotland make clear the wadsets were all fully witnessed and according to law. To have lost your copy in a fire would have been a minor legal hiccup for the Gunns and there was no reason for the Earl to acquiesce to a shady deal. Overall this fire story seems a very unlikely event; it screams a modern ‘alternative fact’ if you like for why the Gunns left Killernan. To say the Gunns left Killernan because they were broke does not have the same romantic tinge beloved by the myth believers.
But after the Gunns left Killernan certainly Donald Crotach (9,15) went to Badenloch before 1704. It is further inland – heading to it from Helmsdale on the coast (close to Helmsdale is Navidale) one goes up the Strath of Kildonan past Killernan and Borroble before arriving at Badenloch. Badenloch is in the middle of Sutherland. In the early 1700s it would have been a very desolate spot. Its desolation suggests that it is a less appealing – and presumably less expensive – property than Killearnan which is comparatively near the coast. And it seems less prestigious – the 1709 – 1714 receipts seen for Badenloch show that Alexander (his father Donald having died) was paying the ‘entry bond’ for Badenloch by a mix of cash and cows over a period of time. One presumably would have paid just cash if one had the money.
There is a story that Donald Gunn (9,15) brought his men out in the 1715 Jacobite uprising.[191] As mentioned there are documents in the National Library of Scotland which clearly show he was dead by 1709 so participating in the 1715 uprising is obviously absurd. And there are further documents for 1710, 1713 and 1714 all with his son Alexander (10,19) being of Badenloch so Donald (9,15) is definitely dead. There is also no historic record of the Gunns being involved in the 1715 uprising[192] although an occasional, random Gunn might have been involved. And there are many other problems with the idea. The Jacobite rebellions were, in general terms, a Catholic rebellion – but the Highlands were Protestant.[193] Gunn involvement on the losing Catholic side would also have meant, at the very least, instant removal from the Sutherland Estates. Gunn involvement on the Jacobite side in the 1745 rebellion is also not on historic record; there is, though, record of some Gunns turning out on the Government side in 1745.
Donald (9,15) married Margaret a daughter[194] of Captain (Major?) Sutherland of Torbal / Torroble / Torboll. And they had five known children. The marriage date is not known, nor are the birth dates of the children, nor – bar for Alexander of Badenloch (10,19) - do we know with certainty the sequence of the children. Alexander (10,19) was obviously the eldest son as he inherited Badenloch. Sinclair suggests Esther (10,21)[195] was the elder daughter. I suspect Margaret (10,23) was the last and second known girl. Traditionally it was the third daughter who was named after the mother[196] but given only two daughters are known this suggests at least one daughter died in infancy.
As already discussed, Donald (9,15) is best viewed as being born no later than about 1647. His eldest son Alexander Gunn of Badenloch (10,19) has dates of 1683-1763 on the 1896 tree. That may or may not be accurate. Thomas Smibert retells[197] a birth date for Alexander (10,19) of 1705. That’s impossible, as Alexander (10,19) is definitely running Badenloch by 1709 – see his biography. If we accept a birth date of around 1683/5 as being reasonable for Alexander (10,19) (given the 1896 tree and that he was responsible for Badenloch by 1709) that suggests Donald Crotach’s (9,15) children were born when he was in his mid thirties onwards. I suggest Donald (9,15) probably married about then; one could not delay having children in the 1600s. Donald (9,15) and his wife had five children (at least). I suspect more; in those times most mothers struggled and died after one or two children or had a baby every year or so for many years. Five children seems the right sort of figure for those who survived early childhood. His youngest known child Margaret (10,23) was probably born in the early 1700s. Margaret’s (10,23) mother, if she had been about the same age as Donald (9,15) would have been about fifty years of age when she had Margaret (10,23). Not impossible, but unlikely. This is the main reason for suspecting Donald’s (10,23) wife was younger than he was. When did they marry? One suspects when he got the money – or his part of the money – from what was left of the Killernan estate. Certainly having a property of his own would not have hurt his appeal as a husband, rather than living in a parental property.
Donald’s known children were –
· Alexander Gunn (10,19)
· George ‘Corrish’ Gunn (10,20)
· Esther Gunn (10,21)
· William Gunn (10,22)
· Margaret Gunn (10,23)
Generation 9, number 16 - George Gunn of Borroble (Borrobol)
George was the son of John (8,10) in Navidale, of Borroble.
One needs to consider the Borroble estate; Alexander (8,9) was in Borroble by 1617 before he became of Killernan. He was probably there when his uncle William Mhor (8) was in charge of Killernan – William Mhor (8) as already detailed, died without known issue. Alexander’s (8,9) brother John (8,10) was certainly ‘of Boroble’ by 1649 - and probably much earlier - as he was the next senior Gunn branch once Alexander (8,9) became of Killernan. It seems therefore that Borrobol was the Estate used by – but separate from - the senior MacHamish Gunn after the MacHamish of Killernan Gunn. The second senior MacHamish family, if you like. It is not clear when Borroble went into Gunn hands and I suspect it left Gunn hands in George Gunn’s time, or fairly soon after his death, as his son does not have Borroble attached to him in records I have seen.
John Gunn of Killernan (9,13) borrowed the huge amount of two thousand Scottish merks from George Gunn (9,16) by 1679. Presumably the money came from the the Borrobol estate over many years in some form; rent from tenants. perhaps. Now, if one accepted the traditional myth[198] that George Gunn of Borroble (9,16) was the younger brother of Donald Crotach (9,15) then George Gunn (9,16) would somehow have been in charge at Borroble and somehow earned huge amounts of money even though he had to be born a decade or so (to allow for the siblings supposdly between them) after his supposed eldest brother John Gunn of Killernan (9,13) who borrowed the money from him. That’s not logical. What does work is that George Gunn of Borroble (9,16) was first cousin to John Gunn of Killernan (9,13) with his own independent wealth, the Borroble Estate.
George Gunn of Borroble (9,16) was an important Gunn MacHamish figure as from his family descendants a ‘Chief’ of the ‘Clan’ Gunn was found when one was needed to satisfy the massively wealthy and dominant landowner of the Highlands namely the Duchess of Sutherland in the early 1800s - his descendant Hector Gunn (12,45) was made ‘Chief’ of the ‘Clan Gunn’ in 1803.[199] See Appendix 3. The reason for the Duchess’ demand was that the Highlands had become popular following the fiction of Sir Walter Scott so a ‘Clan’ Gunn ‘chief’ was needed to support the tartanised, fake history which is still in vogue. Hector’s son George Gunn (13,60), was ‘Chief’ in 1814 and George (13,60) was member Number 1 of the ‘Clan Gunn Society’ of the time. Letters from the society to him make it clear that he was viewed as the Head of the ‘Clan Gunn’.[200] As well ‘Hector Gunn, chief of the clan Gunn, who was father of George, the present chieftain, factor[201] on the Sutherland Estate, who led the men of Sutherland to Edinburgh, and appeared at their head when King George IV visited that city in 1821.’[202]
In Thomas Sinclair’s view ‘It must be fully accepted, on the legal and state evidence now produced, that George Gunn (13,60), factor Rhives,[203] was the true representative of the Kildonan valley, it does not necessarily follow that he was chief of all the Gunns, even though thus proved the head of the eldest branch of the ruling house.’[204] Incidentally the earliest known use of the ‘Clan’ Gunn Chief invented coat of arms can be found on the teaset donated by the Duchess of Sutherland to George (13,60) – it now lives in New Zealand.
Lord Lyon accepted this line’s MacHamish descent – although inaccurately - as he writes ‘the descent of no. 37 Hector Gunn in Thurso (12,45), served heir-male in 1803, through his father no 35. George Gunn (11,32) and grandfather no 35 John Gunn (10,24) … to his great grandfather no 34 George Gunn of Borrobol (9,16), younger son of no. 6 Alexander 5th Mackeamish’[205] (the Alexander is wrong – George (9,16) was son of John in Navidale of Borroble (8,10). Living American descendants[206] are known from ‘Chief’ George Gunn (13,60) but not through a direct male line. Even if one accepted Lord Lyon’s view it still means this descent from the Coroner is accepted, just from a slightly different way to that detailed in this text.
But this George Gunn of Borroble line has not been properly explored. Lord Lyon has accepted that George Gunn of Borroble’s male line to Factor George had died out but that is not the sole line; George had a younger grandson Alexander (11,33) from whom there are many descendants including the Osclay / Braehour line one of whom married a daughter of ‘Chief’ Donald Crotach Gunn (9,15) from which line I descend. See Appendices 1 and 2. The Hon. Donald Gunn[207] of Manitoba, Canada (being from William Gunn 13,63) – and his many descendants - is also from this Borroble line. The idea that the George Gunn of Borroble’s line (9,16) is extinct is wrong.
George’s son was John[208] (10,24) of Kinsuer? and Guumhay[209] - the place names are unclear in the 1896 tree. This John (10,24) had two sons George Gunn (11,32) Acherelate and Strathmore and Alexander Dalnaglaton and Strathmore (11,33) and he may have had an illegitimate son Captain? Lieutenant? John Gunn who served in a variety of campaigns[210] with the 12th Regiment of Foot.[211]
There are stories of ‘the beauty of Caithess’ type attached to a daughter of Jean Gunn (13,49) namely ‘Janet Gunn of the M’Hamishes of Kildonan’[212] who married William Mackay farmer of Braelaid, Braemore, 12 September 1787. Her descendants continued on the farm after her death. This Janet Gunn, the 1896 tree suggests, is a great, great grand-daughter of George Gunn (9,16) of Borroble.
Generation 9, number 17 - William ‘Kinbrace’ Gunn from Donald the Scholar Gunn
For further information on William (9,17) see Donald the Scholar’s (8,11) discussion. William (9,17) had Adam ‘Kinbrace’ Gunn (10,25).
Generation 9, number 18 - Donald Gunn from William of Acheneccan
For further information see William of Acheneccan’s (8,12) line. Donald (9,18) had William Gunn (10,26).
Generation 10
Generation 10 - Alexander Gunn and brothers
Alexander (10) and his brothers were sons of John Gunn of Killernan and Navidale (9,13).
A Sutherland Estate 1679 document[213] says - ‘Alexander Gunn of Killernan oldest lawfull son to the said John Gunn of Navidaill’. This document is from the Lords of Council in Edinburgh and this mention of ‘oldest lawfull son’ also appears in a further document. So we now have children for John Gunn (9,13) – an Alexander (10) who was the oldest son and was ‘of Killernan’ in 1679 and another two sons at least (by the implication of ‘oldest lawfull son’). It’s quite reasonable - John Gunn of Killernan and Navidale (9,13) was born say 1636, and could have had children by 1657 or so. The children would be adults by 1679. The legal age of capacity – the ability to make a contract - in Scotland for a male was from 14 years old.[214] But note Alexander’s (10) father John (9,13) lived at Navidale; Alexander was at Killernan. Was Navidale the working home of the senior MacHamish and Killernan a secondary property, or was Navidale a retirement home?
What happened to Alexander (10) and Unknown (10) brothers? Are these the Gunns who were killed in various, vague Gunn stories?[215] It’s possible as these MacHamish Gunns disappear. Mind you, they could just have died from any manner of causes. Alternatively, the three Gunns may have disappeared from the history books because, as already discussed, John Gunn (9,13) may have lost Killernan as he ran out of money, and his family faded out of history.
Did MacHamish Alexander (9) - being the second son of Alexander (8,9) and, as such, the younger brother of John Gunn of Killernan and Navidale (9,13) – having married well take over Killernan? It’s possible. That idea is more fully explored in his life.
Generation 10 - Children of Generation 9, number 14 Catherine Gunn
Catherine Gunn (9,14) married Lt. Col. Angus Mackay of Melness with whom she had six children with many descendants. These lives are not followed in this text[216] as they are too far removed from the surname Gunn. The children were -
1. Christina Mackay
2. John Mackay
3. Alexander Mackay
4. Donald Mackay
5. Angus Mackay
6. William Mackay
Generation 10, number 19 - Alexander Gunn of Badenloch, later of Wester Helmsdale
Alexander (10,19) was the eldest son of Donald Crotach (9,15).
Alexander Gunn (10,19) – he used the surname Gun[217] - had years of perhaps 1683 to 1763.[218] He had taken over the tack of Badenloch from his father by 1709[219]and later Alexander (10,19) was of Wester Helmsdale.[220] Another view has he was born in 1692[221]- this is unlikely as it would mean taking over the legal responsibility for Badenloch before aged twenty-one but it is not impossible. Alexander’s (10,19) father Donald Crotach (10,15) was certainly born no later than 1657 as his parents were dead by January1658[222] and was far more likely born around 1647 as his mother was born c.1598, so a birth date for Alexander (10,19) of either 1683 or 1692 is quite reasonable. Conventionally one would assume the earlier birth year to be more likely; a birth date of 1692 would mean Donald had his first son when aged forty-five. It is logical to assume Alexander (10,19) was the eldest son as he became ‘of’ Badenloch.
First Marriage
Alexander’s first wife was Margaret / Mary Mackay of Kirtomy ‘by whom he had a numerous family.’[223] His 1712[224] marriage contract is unusually phrased, with marriage the following year, as it mentioned Alexander’s (10,19) grandfather[225] - also called Alexander (8,9) - in the present tense. This grandfather Alexander (8,9) was dead by about 1658. By contrast the contract also has no mention of this Alexander’s (10,19) father Donald (9,15), nor his mother; his father was dead by the time of the contract, we do not know if his mother was or was not alive at that time. Given other phrasing in the contract – Alexander (10,19) and Mary were told by the contract to ‘love, treat and constantly caress one another’ it is possible that this was not a serious contract, more, perhaps some piece of fun from a celebratory event. Mary may have died 6 June 1746.[226]
The children from this marriage were – and all died without adult issue -
· Mary / Margaret (11) married Major Hugh Mackay of Rearquhar 28 July 1737, and they had a daughter Elizabeth[227] (12) who died young.
· Elizabeth (11) 1713? / 1715?-1722.
· John (11) b. 1719? died young.
· Alexander (possibly William?) (11) b. c. 1722 died 1746 whilst a member of the Dutch army.[228]
Life and a legal battle
There are receipts from Dunrobin Castle in the National Library of Scotland Sutherland Estate documents which clearly show that Alexander Gunn (10,19) was head of the family ‘of Baddinloch’. The receipts make it clear that the Badenloch Estate was not held as a traditional wadset but possibly was held as a tack. Alternatively, Badenloch was a wadset but rent was dealt with more in the traditional tack way. The first known receipt for Badenloch shows the long term nature of the entry bond needed for a tack and it also proves Donald Crotach (9,15) was dead by 1709. Other receipts exist showing Alexander’s payments for the rent / bond. Examples of these receipts are -
‘Received from Alexr Gunn of Baddinloch an Receipt granted by us to him dated this ninth day of … January + nyne years for the number of fiteen cows in part payment of an entry bond granted by the deceased Donald Gunn his father. And which receipt from the date forwd shall be allowed when counting For the bond ... 5th day of January and twenty years.’
Dunrobine (sic) 5 December 1710 ‘Received from Alexr Gunn of McHomash[229] the sum of fifteen pounds Scots and that in paymt of fiteen cows in payt of hundred cows due to us
at Dunrobin 10 July 1713 Alexr Gunn of Badenloch paying Lord Strathanaver £240 Scots as the price of twenty cows which shall be allowed to acct. of his ...
And 15 July 1714 ‘And from Alexr Gunn in Badenloch assorted Bill of Ro. Grays ... to the Laird of Skibo for fifty pounds ... for cows...’ (Dunrobin, Strathnaver)
For Thomas Sinclair ‘Alexander Gunn of Wester Helmsdale was served heir to his father Donald Gunn in Badenloch in 1723’[230] - this has caused much confusion in Gunn histories as it has been taken that 1723 meant that Donald (9,15) died then.[231] That’s wrong. As shown, a primary source document clearly shows that Donald Gunn (9,15) died no later than 1709. What we have in 1723 was either a late legal tidy up or a straight transcription error. The source for Sinclair’s statement is not given and his date should be ignored.
Alexander (10,19) supposedly acquired the wadset of Wester Helmsdale on 31 October 1718[232] for 4000 merks from William, Lord Strathnaver. The contract mentioned ‘William Gun brother german of said Alex Gunn’[233] was there. Now, brother german means full brother - William Gunn (10,22) was a younger brother of Alexander (10,19) and in Scotland in 1718 (mostly he was in the Netherlands). Now, paying money owed by cows in 1709 for the wadset / tack of Badenloch to getting the wadset of Wester Helmsdale nine years later for cash is, at the very least, interesting as Alexander (10,19) was already in debt to the Sutherland Estate for money owed on Badenloch which I discuss later in this life.
There is also a suggestion that Alexander (10,19) was extravagant[234] with a ‘piper, band, armour-bearer, an armoury and the fiery cross.[235] When he built his new meal mill he put the whole machinery to work by whisky…’. I find this story ridiculous – that much whisky? No. A bottle put in to christen the building perhaps… But there may be something about Alexander’s spendthrift tendency behind the various stories. Alexander Gunn (10,19) was meant to live in ‘considerable style and pomp’[236]; he should have had the money for it as is discussed later.
So what is known of Alexander (10,19)? He organised cattle to be driven to market; but there is record of him complaining about the accounts of the drovers. He sublet the tack of Badenloch in September 1730[237] to his father in law and lived at Wester Helmsdale, the tack included tenant farmers. He also sublet the pendicle of Badenloch called Badiclavan – and the subletting document was ‘beautifully written by Lt. William Gunn’– presumably William (10,22) had elegant handwriting.[238] Alexander (10,19) also built a house on the Badenloch estate which he claimed cost £50 but for which he got £20 when the estate reverted back to the Earl of Sutherland as that was its real worth according to law. The house was at ‘Ellick’; his father in law considered it a poor build. (It was discussed in the following legal documents.)
But crucially we have to consider legal matters. Mark Rugg Gunn says Alexander (10,19) was ‘so distinguished in legal matters that he was regarded as infallible as he could hang men or drown women who were criminals.’[239] There is no evidence to support the literal truth of this claim and the idea that a random person in the 1700s could arrange capital punishment lacks support.[240] I suspect what is behind this claim is that Alexander (10,19) was an unpleasant, ruthless landlord for those on the Badenloch and linked properties which Sutherland Estate papers make clear, and he was also something of a legal shyster. This is certainly one way he could have made the money to wadset Wester Helmsdale in 1718.
Sutherland Estate papers show that by 1738 Alexander (10,19) was in a major legal battle with the Earl of Sutherland[241] as at least forty-six pages of claim, counter claims and evidence exist. The case involved legal arbiters, judicial review of the Badenloch rents, interviewing of Badenloch tenants, summons to appear in Edinburgh at the ‘Lords of Council’, accounts and much else. The dispute centred on Alexander’s renegotiation of the Badenloch tack / wadset on 5 September 1720, importantly when the Earl of Sutherland was underage and when people with knowledge were not there to help the Earl. In other words, Alexander (10,19) seems to have got Badenloch at markedly under the correct market rate from an underage Earl.
The key points from the documents[242] are
· Badenloch in Alexander’s father’s (9,15) time had great tenants. Alexander Gunn (10,19) overstocked Badenloch and so lost much cattle. Some of Alexander Gunn’s (10,19) new tenants were of doubtful character one ‘fled from Caithness for theft and another that pitted a great number of standing trees in the Bounds of Badenloch and sent them back to Caithness and when the thing was known he fled to Caithness...’. And as to Alexander’s (10,19) wadset of Wester Helmsdale (Alexander bought the wadset in 1718) ‘it was on good tenantry at his entry but now it is almost all gone to ruin by both for want of Tennants and Biggings(?) The change house on said Tack is as publick as any in the country and commodious for travellers but the Doors are shut up with stones rendering it almost ruinous. There is hardly Barns to thresh the corn in and notwithstanding of this he is gifting away the Timber to others...’
· Badenloch was renewed as a tack (wadset and tack seem interchangeable in many of the documents) in 1720 for twenty-five years for £100 (and £20 for converted customs) per year but tenants rent on Badenloch was £651 per annum. The Earl requested the legal arbiters that the extra rent so gained from 1729 onwards – namely £451 yearly – be paid to the Earl for the length of lease. It seems that one should pay rent to the owner of property to match the money coming in from tenants.
· Alexander Gunn (10,19) did not make the improvements he said he made on Badenloch; it seems that such improvements could be deducted from the amount owed to the owner of the Estate.
· A 1731 statement of account between Alexander Gunn (10,19) and William Lord Strathnaver going back to 1708 showed Donald Crotach Gunn (9,15) was tacksman before Alexander (10,19). The statement began in 1708 and grew quickly to March 1720. Assorted rents, crops, cows and similar items meant that Alexander Gunn (10,19) owed £4827/13/9d to Lord Strathnaver at December 1730. The amount was finally paid by Alexander Gunn on 29 April 1731. The vast majority of the money was owed on the original wadset / tack negotiated by Donald Gunn (9,15) so one wonders whether Alexander (10,19) was deliberately not paying the amount so he could negotiate a new wadset for Badenloch at a lower rate than his father. Fascinating that once the money was added up for legal purposes he paid the large amount due inside five months. Again, how did he get the money?
· Alexander Gunn (10,19) never provided some sort of crop which was part of his wadset / tack obligations to the Earl.
· A 16 June 1736 Copy of Summons for Alexander Gunn (10,19) of Wester Helmsdale to appear in Edinburgh before the Lords of Council & Session where Alexander (10,19) had to answer all the ‘instances’ (complaints) of Lord William Earl of Sutherland.
· There is a major set of documents examining the sub-tenants of the greater Badenloch estate. It consisted of about twenty-one tenants under oath detailing (and interrogated by ‘Mr Gunn’ (10,19) and the Earl of Sutherland’s legal people) what they rented from Alexander Gunn (10,19), how much they paid, ‘services’ they did and whether they have ‘written tack’ from Alexander Gunn (10,19) – and they did not have ‘written tack’ so they had no security so could be thrown off their smallholdings at will. The documents point out ‘Mr Gunn’s’ (10,19) duties including those which he had not done. John McKay of Kirtomy – Alexander’s father in law – paid Alexander Gunn (10,19) £195/6/8 Scots yearly for the ‘Easter / Wester Baddinloch’ land and a further £22 for the lands of Baddachlavain and assorted other lesser lands. He provided support for how nice Alexander (10,19) was but the amount he paid was more than Alexander Gunn (10,19) was paying the Earl for all of the Badenloch Estate. (When his mother in law died in 1734 Alexander (10,19) also claimed one third of her estate.[243]) And then Alexander (10,19) also received money from the tenant farmers as well! Many tenants were against Alexander (10,19), including at least one turned off his tack.
· A follow up to the previous document included ‘Remarks on the queries condescended on by McKeamish upon which he wants a new proof to be taken by Mr Sellar 23 September 1738’. The use of McKeamish here was to identify Alexander Gunn (10,19) from other Gunns. Line three, for example, of the document uses ‘Gunn MacHeorish’ (another Gunn sub-group) again showing the term MacHamish was nothing special, just a way to identify a particular family of Gunns.
· The 1738 response written (I wish the sentences had been shorter!) by ‘Alexr Gun of Wester Helmsdale’ – note he views his residence as Wester Helmsdale – pointed out MacHamish Gunns were ‘not of the common class of tenants’. So a reminder that Gunns never owned their estates, they were tenants of large estates which had sub-tenants on these properties. And Alexander (10,19) writes in detail about the past, money, duties to the Earl but there is not the slightest mention of Alexander (10,19) being Chief of the Clan with duties he needed to do. It would have been right and proper to put it in this document; the absence of such statement is further proof that he was never a Chief of the ‘Clan’ Gunn
· Alexander also noted ‘there is an express clause in the Tack oblidgeing Mr Gun to wait on the said Noble Lord and his forsaids in all … Huntings and weapon shewings well armed when they be required by the said noble Lord and his foresaids for that within 24 hours warning’.
That’s interesting. At the very least it explains why Alexander Gunn (10,19) was required to turn up in the 1745 militia, which is discussed later in this life and it was not done due to being Head of a Clan. If you were Chief of a Clan here is another time when it would be mentioned. Ian Grimble points out that people on the Sutherland estate had ‘to enlist in the family (Sutherland) regiment on demand’[244] so it is of no surprise that Alexander (10,19) had to show up ‘well armed’ when required.
Alexander writes all / most of the documents for his side of the case and he was trying to put the best case forward, but at no time is the slightest mention made of him being ‘Chief of the Clan Gunn’ even when it would be appropriate to use the title – he lists all the Lord of Strathnaver titles for example but he remains ‘Alexr Gun of Western Helmsdale’ or similar depending on the year. No document has him as ‘of Badenloch and Western Helmsdale’.
Summary of the legal problem.
The Sutherland Estate documents show there was not enough of Alexander Gunn’s (10,19) receipts to believe the cost of running Badenloch and there were doubts over whether he made any claimed improvements on the estate except on his father-in-law’s property. The documents also suggest the Earl was not fully informed of details which he should have had before Alexander (10,19) renewed Badenloch. If you like, in modern terms there was a strong suggestion that Alexander Gunn (10,19) used sharp practice to get his Estate at Badenloch at much less than commercial rates, and that he then did not invest in Badenloch in any meaningful way when he said he had so done.
So what does this mean? Basically Alexander (10,19) and the Earl of Sutherland were in a massive legal brawl in 1738 and Alexander (10,19) seems to be in the wrong. We do not have any clear statement as to how this battle ended but firstly it puts paid to the idea that Alexander (10,19) was some sort of legal genius who could execute people. Secondly, consider the amount of money involved which included £450 claimed by the Earl for each year for Badenloch for the rest of the new lease. That was fifteen years at £450 Scots which makes £6750 Scots. The 1808 monetary rent for the complete Sutherland estate was a bit over £10,000[245] which shows that the 1739 back-rent owed by Alexander Gunn of £6000+ was enormous. Alternatively, the wadset of Wester Helmsdale in 1718 was 4000 Scottish merks, about £2666 pounds. So, if Alexander Gunn was found liable he had to find the monetary value of two large estates.
I have not been able to find the papers saying how the dispute was resolved but it’s clear by the physical outcome – none of Alexander’s sons lived on an estate after him and his last two sons held lowly positions in the British army. So, although Alexander at one time held the wadset / tack of two major Estates but by the time of his wife’s second marriage there was basically no Gunn money left. It seems likely, therefore, that his legal battle with the Sutherland Estate was comprehensively lost.
Second marriage.
His second wife was Anne / Ann b. 12 September 1733[246] d. 28 February 1793[247] who was the second of five children of the Reverend William Rose[248] (of Loth 1739 to 1745 but formerly of Kildonan – he died February 1755[249]). Alexander (10,19) and Anne / Ann had William (11) and Morrison (11). These are the supposed last two ‘Clan Gunn Chiefs’. Anne probably married around 1753/55,[250] perhaps soon after the death of her father in 1755. She was much younger than the children of the first marriage.
William (11) and Morrison (11) were born between the year of her marriage and about 1759. This 1759 year is because William was a Lieutenant[251] in the First Battalion of Lord MacLeod’s Highlanders by April 1778 and Morrison was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Sutherland Fencibles on 24 July 1779.[252] Being a lieutenant in 1778/1779 matches their approximate birth years twenty years earlier. It is possible that they may have been older than twenty but unlikely to have been much younger.[253]
But this second marriage was unusual. Alexander Gunn (10,19) was born about 1681/1683. Anne/Ann was born 1733. That’s a fifty-year age gap. Let’s say Anne married soon after her father died in 1755. That means she married a man in his early seventies; such an age gap today would be remembered. I have trouble believing it was common in the 1750s. Why would she marry someone so much her senior especially as Alexander (10,19) was obviously not a major catch given the legal battle he lost with the Sutherland Estate? The records for historical demography in rural Scotland are basically non-existent – ‘The only reliable listings for Scotland before the mid-eighteenth century relate to urban communities’[254] – so we have no idea of how common such an age gap was.
So what might be the reason? An arranged marriage? Very unlikely as such marriages were occasionally for the elite[255] to preserve massive estates or make political progress and I can find no record of one with such an age gap. As well, this idea does not apply with Anne / Ann and Alexander (10,19); she was the daughter of a common Minister, he was the person who had lost money in a legal case with the most important landowner in the county and one of the richest families in the country. Certainly, the wealthy of Sutherland would not be interested in such a loser as Alexander (10,19). As well, an arranged marriage involving a Minister’s daughter seems unlikely – the Minister’s position could easily be at risk given the relationship the Earl of Sutheland had with Alexander (10,19). Anne / Ann’s youngest sister Barbara married a Minister about ten years older than herself; why did Anne / Ann not have a similar marriage? If Anne / Ann was an average twenty-year-old surely a man closer to her age to marry could be found rather than Alexander (10,19)?
Was Anne / Ann perhaps Alexander’s (10,19) housekeeper and somehow married him? Possible; her father had, after all, been Minister at Kildonan before he moved to Loth so he would know the households of Kildonan. Was Anne / Ann pregnant when she married? Unlikely given her father’s position; ‘The trend of illegitimacy was steadily downwards from the 1660s … in Caithness … and the Highlands demonstrating the spread of church discipline’.[256] But it’s possible – William’s (11) birth year could easily be around 1755; being commissioned slightly over twenty years of age would not be unusual. Being pregnant would explain why she might marry anyone who would have her including a man fifty years her senior. She might have been pregnant and a Housekeeper.
Her behaviour when she marries again after Alexander’s (10,19) death in 1763[257] (perhaps 1764) is of interest. Anne / Ann married the Rev. John Ross Minister of Kildonan probably on 7 September 1770[258]; the stresses for the mother and her children William and Morrison are obvious in the gap between 1763 and 1770. The Reverend Donald Sage wrote that -
David Ross, the miller at Claggan in Strathbeg was the only son of Mr. John Ross, Minister of Kildonan ... His Mother was the widow of Gunn MacSheumais (MacHamish) (10,19) who had resided at Badenloch, which he had rented, or held as wadset, from the Earl of Sutherland. MacSheumais had a number of sons, who all went into the army and died in action. Mr. John Ross married the widow, and the whole family then came to reside at Kildonan manse. They were all very extravagant, however, and nearly ruined Mr. Ross in wordly circumstances. By the decease of all her sons by MacSheumais, the direct line of the Clann Gunn MacSheumais became extinct. Mr. John Ross had two children David and Catherine. Kate Ross married David Gunn (14), eldest son of Robert Gunn of Achaneccan[259] (13,70), who, after the death of his wife’s half brothers, by the highland law[260], succeeded to the Chiefship of the Clan Gunn. David Gunn however, never laid claim to the honours. He was an eminently pious man; and leaving the honours of this world to be ursurped by Hector Gunn at Thurso (12,45), he himself humbly but ardently aspired after the honours which came from above … he lived at Achaneccan, but afterwards went to reside in Caithness-shire in 1827.’[261] The Rev. John Ross died 28 March 1775[262] aged forty-two.
The Reverend Alexander Pope of Reay wrote (probably) of William (11) and Morrison (11) ‘it is to be wished that some generous person would take care of their education’.[263] Both Sage’s and Pope’s comments suggest a carefree attitude to money; it might also suggest a carefree attitude to life which might have resulted in Anne / Ann’s need to marry a much older man than herself. Why Ann married Alexander (10,19) is unclear without a date for her marriage and a birth date for her elder son William, perhaps these could be found in his enrolment papers for the army. To me the least likely option is a straight love match; the fifty-year gap makes that too unlikely.
Military ‘career’
Alexander’s (10,19) military ‘career’ needs rethinking; he is often referred to as Captain Alexander Gunn (10,19) of Badenloch. He was certainly Captain of the Clan Sutherland Independent 1st Company at Inverness in 1745. This Independent Company was formed to help put down the Jacobites; these independent companies were normally drawn from a Clan but in Alexander Gunn’s (10,19) case it was Clan Sutherland.[264] Of the eighteen Independent Companies (they were an irregular militia) so formed only Clan Sutherland 1st Company and one from the town of Inverness, had a Captain not of the Clan they were leading. There was also a Clan Sutherland Independent 2nd Company led by Peter Sutherland. The two Sutherland companies were listed as ‘The earl of Sutherland’s men.’[265] In the list of officers of all the Independent Companies raised in 1745 (meaning Captains, Lieutenants and Ensigns) there was only one Gun(n) and it’s ‘Alexander Gun, Esq.’[266]
Certainly, the two Sutherland companies fought at the Siege of Fort Augustus in December 1745 and one of the two companies fought at the skirmish of Tongue[267] but I suspect neither event involved Alexander Gunn (10,19) as he is not listed in those who received prizemoney[268] from the captured Jacobite money which would be expected as he was Captain. By June 1746 the role of the companies had been markedly reduced and by October 1746 they were disbanded. Alexander’s (10,19) military activity seems to have lasted, at most, eleven months. His age needs to be considered – he was probably born about 1683 so he would be about 63 years old when the action occurred so lack of participation is understandable.
How serious was this soldiering to be viewed? ‘In Sutherland during 1745-6 tenants negotiated conditions that reduced soldiering to little more than an ancillary activity shaped and limited by the needs of the agrarian sector ... As a result, young men were to be taken in order ‘to relieve those that have gone out of the parish of Farr and Kildonan that are tenants and have families...’’[269] It seems probable that these independent companies were not important cogs in the military machine as they consisted of young farmers and farm labourers who could be briefly spared.
I would suggest, paying attention to the legal battle of 1738 involving the Earl of Sutherland and Alexander Gunn (10,19), that Alexander Gunn (10,19) may have been forced to turn out for Clan Sutherland or lose Wester Helmsdale. He would certainly not be paid as it was part of his rent to turn out when required as already discussed. I am doubtful that his men – as mentioned by Mark Rugg Gunn[270] in the semi-official history – meant many – if any – Gunns; after all it was the Clan Sutherland’s company. The Earl of Sutherland would have been responsible for the presentation of the company, not Alexander Gunn (10,19).
Summary
There is little to commend Alexander Gunn (10,19).
Generation 10, number 20 – George Gunn of Corrish
George (10,20) was the second son of Donald Crotach Gunn (9,15) and was born around 1682.
George (10,20), tacksman of Corrish[271] married Isobel Polson, with descendants.[272] There are questions as to whether their children were legitimate[273] including whether he only had one legitimate child William drowned at sea.[274] On balance I am supportive of the idea that George Gunn’s (10,20) descendants exist. See http://clangunn.weebly.com/george-gunn-of-corrish.html for early trees showing such descendants.
There is a messy February 1736 legal story about George (10,20)[275] which includes Edinburgh legal letters and in which his brother Alexander of Badenloch later Wester Helmsdale (10,19) supposedly swallowed the evidence against his brother George (10,20). I find the idea that a person could swallow evidence in an actual court of law and get away with it unlikely – if you are an in a court and you destroy evidence then you are surely in big trouble. I am reasonably sure of a court case due to the letters, but the rest seems to have moved into myth.
George probably had George Gunn (11,27) and Alexander (11,28).
*****
The Book of Mackay says[276] ‘The two sons of Alexr of Badenloch (10,19), who were both soldiers, died without issue and the MacHamish line reverts to George of Corrish (10,20) … According to the Revd. Alexr Gunn, Watten … the descent from from Corrish was as follows; George of Corrish (10,20) had a son Alexr. (11,28), whose son William (12,36), whose son Alexr of Backlass was the father of William Gunn, now for many years manager of the Spittal Works, Watten. As far as we have found evidence it goes to confirm the contention of the Revd Alexr. Gunn.’
So, for some, George Gunn (10,20) of Corrish did not have any legal descendants but I am reasonably convinced that he did. But it is an awkward line to unravel…
Generation 10, number 21 – Bessie / Esther Gunn
Bessie / Esther (alive 1723[277]) perhaps married Donald Mackay of Skerray.[278] The following is from History of the House and Clan of Mackay[279] - ‘Donald Mackay of Skerray (who had sasine in his father’s lands 17th May 1723) married Esther (10,21) daughter of Donald Gunn (9,15) … issue a daughter married to John Mackay of Moudale[280], issue George who emigrated to America, Major Donald Mackay of Eriboll[281]; Lieutenant William; and four daughters all mentioned in the Clan Aberach branch’. Many descendants are known[282] and are readily traceable on genealogical websites. But pages 257-259 of The Book of Mackay by Angus Mackay totally disagree with this idea and provide a different wife for Donald Mackay of Moudale with the same children as given in this paragraph for Esther, which therefore rejects all Gunn descent from this line. More research is needed to ascertain which is the correct history. So, Esther Gunn (10,21) may have had an unknown daughter an Unknown Mackay (11,29) but then again she may not have had.
Generation 10, number 22 – Lt.-Col. William Gunn b. c. 1695 d. 28 May 1768
Lt. -Col. William Gunn b. c. 1695 d. 28 May 1768[283] Naarden, Netherlands
Lieutenant – Colonel William Gunn (Gun in the Brigade records) served in the Scots Brigade in the Netherlands. William Gunn was acting as a Captain by 6 May 1745[284] and was still Captain in the First Battallion of Major General Marjoribank’s Company on 25 March 1752. By 3 July 1766 he was a Lieutenant Colonel of the 6th Company of Lieutenant-General Marjoribanks Regiment, 1st Battallion.[285] At that time William was only leading a company and there were seven companies in each of the two Battalions. The other company leaders had the ranks of a Major-General, four Lieutenants General, a Comm Coll (Commandant Colonel?), two Colonels, two Majors and three Captains. The amount of senior ranks seems high from a modern perspective.
Unlike the British Army the officer corps of the Scots Brigade in the Netherlands were officers by merit, they did not pay for their commissions.[286] As John Childs wrote of this Brigade ‘nearly all of the Scottish officers, from the lowliest ensign to the most senior colonel, had little income apart from their service pay.’[287] As such it provided a paid occupation for Scots with little – or no - money such as those without their own Estates as in William’s case.
He was witness to his brother’s wadset (the brother being Alexander Gunn (10,19) of Badenloch and later Wester Helmsdale) in 1718, thus suggesting William was born no later than around 1695 as it seems likely that one would have to be over twenty-one to be a witness. He married Anne Ross at Breda in the Netherlands on 5 January 1728. The name Ann Ross is of interest. Alexander Gunn (10,19) of Badenloch and later of Wester Helmsdale’s second wife, after his death married the Reverend John Ross of Kildonan and so became an Ann Ross. Was the Anne Ross who married in the Netherlands related to the Reverend John Ross?
The children from William Gunn’s marriage were
· Margaret Gunn (11,30)
· Helen Gunn
· Mary Gunn
· Donald Ross Gunn
· James Gunn
· Alexander Gunn
· Hugh Gunn
Living descendants exist but I believe none hold the name Gunn.
Generation 10, number 23 – Margaret Gunn daughter of Donald Crotach
Margaret[288] (10,23) was the daughter of ‘Chief’ Donald Crotach (9,15) and she married John ‘Houstry Dunbeath’ Gunn (12,54). I suspect Margaret (10,23) was born around 1700 which matches an approximate birth date for her husband. Margaret (10,23) and John (12,54) had Alexander ‘Osclay’ Gunn (11,31). The different generations marrying may seem confusing but are accurate – we are talking ten to twelve generations from the Coroner and people have children at different times. Catherine Gunn of Osclay (12,38) – the daughter of Alexander (11,31) – married Donald Gunn (13,65) sennachy of Braehour and Brawlbin who descended from George Gunn of Borroble (9,16).[289] See Appendices 1 and 2 for the Osclay line descent from Coroner Gunn.[290]
Generation 10 number 24 – John Gunn ‘of Kinsuer and Guamhay’
John Gunn (10,24) of ‘Kinsuer and Guamhay’ – the place names are hard to read on the 1896 tree. He was the son of George Gunn of Borrobol (9,16) and he had the following children
· George Gunn Acherelate and Strathmore (11,32)
· Alexander Gunn of Dalnaglaton and Strathmore (11,33)
· John may also have had a Captain John Gunn – but then again, he may not.
Generation 10, number 25 - Adam ‘Kinbrace’ Gunn
Adam was the son of William of Kinbrace (9,17) who was the son of Donald the Scholar (8,11) of Kinbrace. He died in 1709. For more information on this line see Donald the Scholar (8,11) of Kinbrace. Adam had generation 11, number 34 William ‘Kinbrace Houstry Dunbeath’ Gunn.
Generation 10, number 26 - William Gunn (Acheneccan)
The Acheneccan line is not totally clear - random extra names can occur but their descent from the coroner is definite. This William probably had Robert Gunn (11,35).
Generation 11
As said before, biographies without a ‘number’ are because those people died without known issue. William and Morrison Gunn are viewed as ‘Clan Gunn Chiefs’ by the Gunn myth supporters.
Generation 11 – William Gunn born circa 1757, died India 10 Sep 1780.
William Gunn was born circa 1757 and died at Conjeveram, Mysore (now Tamil Nadu), India, on 10 September 1780. William (11) was the elder son from the second marriage of Alexander Gunn (10,19) of Badenloch and later of Wester Helmsdale. For his early life see Alexander’s (10,19) biography. We do not know William’s (11) exact birthdate (although his military enrolment document might show it if it could be found) nor the date of his parents’ marriage. William joined (most likely through a bought commission) the First Battalion of the 73rd (Highland) Regiment of Foot[291] (MacLeod’s Highlanders) as a lieutenant. It was raised in December 1777. The First Battalion landed at Madras 20 January 1780. ‘Of the 19 lieutenants of the 1st battalion (of the 73rd Regiment), William Gunn stood 15th... six feet three’[292].
William Gunn died in the Battle of Pollilur of the Second Anglo-Mysore War of 1779-1784. It was a battle of importance;
After the treaty of Paris in 1763, the only serious political threats to the British in the Madras area came from Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan. During the war of 1780, the prowess of Hyder Ali and his cavalry sometimes greatly intimidated the British. In no situation was this more apparent than during the battle of Pullalur, an area about ten miles north of Kanchipuram to the west of Madras. This battle was fought by a British force under the command of Colonel John Baillie against those of Hyder Ali and Tipu on 10 September 1780, shortly after the beginning of the war. Various mistakes made by the British commander-in-chief Sir Hector Munro and by Baillie himself resulted in the isolation of Baillie’s force. Hyder Ali and Tipu, aided by the French, soundly defeated Baillie’s forces: of the eighty-six officers in Baillie’s force who participated, thirty-six were killed or died of their wounds, thirty-four were wounded and taken prisoner, and sixteen were unwounded but taken prisoner.
Though the military encounter was brief, it had great consequences for the fortunes and self-esteem of the British at the time and long afterwards. Moreover, because the defeat placed in doubt the British ability to defend Madras, Hyder’s rout of Baillie greatly decreased British political and economic credibility...[293]
In other words, William Gunn was killed in a battle which the British lost, to a significant extent because of British mistakes. He was unfortunate; out of the British force of 3,820 only 336 were killed.[294] The final result of this war was the East India Company was told by the British government to make peace with the Kingdom of Mysore and basically the status quo resumed.
The official view of the events[295] involving William Gunn is simple –
‘Upon this unfortunate occasion, the flank companies were almost annihilated. Capt. Baird received seven wounds, and fell into the hands of the enemy. Lieut. Lindsay received nine and was also made prisoner. Lieut. Lindsay was totally disabled by his wounds; and Lieut. Gunn, of the grenadiers, and Lieut. Geddes Mackenzie, of the light company, killed, being the sum total of the officers serving at the time with the two companies. Of the non-commissioned officers and privates, only two men joined the battalion, and those were found in the jungle, desperately wounded. The melancholy fate of these companies rendered it necessary for Lord M’Leod to form two new flank companies from the battalion’.[296]
Generation 11 - Morrison Gunn, born c. 1758
Morrison was the second son from the second marriage of Alexander Gunn (10,19) of Badenloch and later of Wester Helmsdale. For his early life see Alexander’s (10,19) biography. Morrison may also have been six foot three inches.[297]
It is mythically supposed[298] Morrison joined the Second Battalion of the then 73rd Regiment - Lord Macleod’s Highlanders – probably on the basis that his brother joined the First Battalion and it is also supposed that Morrison died at Gibraltar whilst part of that Second Battalion. These suppositions seem to originate from this story - ‘Morrison died of consumption, immediately after the siege of Gibraltar[299] which he went through. He was most anxious to return to his native land as soon as the fortress was relieved, but his Colonel seeing that he had only a few days to live refused leave… The 2nd (Battalion) came home from Gibraltar in 1783…. Rev. Archibald Gunn, New Brunswick, Canada…says that the chief died not of consumption but of his wounds’. [300]
The Gibraltar story is extremely doubtful -
· There is a record[301] of the officers of the Second Battalion of the 73rd Regiment and Morrison Gunn is not on the roll as an officer. If you are not on the Unit records you were not there. His brother was certainly in the First Battalion; he is on the rolls as a Lieutenant.[302]
· There is a range of primary sources[303] from the Gibraltar siege detailing life, deaths and injuries sustained by many, including the soldiers. I have not found any mention of Morrison Gunn although I have found injuries and deaths relating to the 73rd Regiment.
· The idea of a Commander being concerned with leave in 1783 from siege worn Gibraltar is odd; I doubt there would have been much chance of leave from such a place as the Battalion was getting ready to return to Britain. Gibraltar was not a holiday spot with regular transport for occasional military personnel.
A Morrison Gunn was gazetted as a lieutenant from the war-office on 24 July 1779 to the Sutherland Fencibles which was raised in February 1779. The Fencibles recruits were from the Sutherland Estates.[304] It was officially formed at Fort George (near Inverness) in February 1779 and then served at Edinburgh. Recruiting originally went poorly; but then ‘the promise of land in return for service’[305] was offered. This offer may well have motivated Morrison to enlist. The Regiment was disbanded in 1783. It was a sort of home guard. I suspect this Sutherland Fencibles lieutenant was Morrison Gunn (11) as there were very few Morrison Gunns, the Sutherland Fencibles came from the Sutherland Estate where Morrison lived, Morrison had the example of his older brother joining the real army (an expensive occupation) and Morrison needed a job as the family no longer owned Estates as money probably had run out especially after William’s (11) commission had been bought. As well, the Sutherland Fencibles makes sense with the being ‘refused leave’ of the original story; you could get leave from Edinburgh or Inverness far more sensibly than from war-torn, isolated Gibraltar. Also, this was the second incarnation of the Sutherland Fencibles, so supporting the use of ‘2nd’ in the original story. It is to be regretted that the records[306] of the 2nd Sutherland Fencibles are minimal.
It is most likely, therefore, that Morrison died from consumption (given the lack of glamour of the death I suspect it may have a real origin) in Scotland sometime after being commissioned on 24 June 1779 but the exact date[307] – and cause - of his death is not known. Given William died 10 September 1780 it is not clear that Morrison was ever the most senior of the MacHamish line.
*****
William and Morrison had a half sister Catherine Ross whose husband was also from the MacHamish line. See David ‘Catchechist’ Gunn (14) son of Robert ‘Sennachy’ Gunn (13,70).
Generation 11, number 27 George, son of George of Corrish[308]
The descendants of George Gunn of Corrish (10,20) are problematic but, on balance, I suspect they existed and have not been fairly dealt with by tradition.
There may have been a William[309] who was brother of this George (11,27) and also brother of Alexander (11,28). This William – if he existed – probably died without issue.
This George had four sons – Alexander (12), James (12), Thomas (12) and William (12). their descendants – if any - are unclear.
Generation 11, number 28 Alexander, son of George of Corrish
Alexander[310] (11,28) married Ann Gunn? of Achinochiel? and had three children.
· William Gunn (12,36)
· Donald Gunn
· Robert Gunn
Generation 11, number 29 Unknown Mackay
Unknown Mackay (11,29), who may have been the daughter of Esther Gunn (10,21) who was daughter of Donald Crotach Gunn (9,15), married John Mackay of Moudale and had seven children
· Lt. William Mackay of Moudale (12)
· Four daughters Mackay of Moudale (12)
· George ‘USA’ Mackay of Moudale (12)
· Major Donald Mackay of Moudale (12)
But, as already discussed in Esther’s (10,21) life, it is not clear that she actually did marry John Mackay of Moudale.
Generation 11, number 30 Margaret ‘Netherlands’ Gunn
Margaret (11,30) was the daughter of Lt. Col. William Gunn (10,22). She was born, lived and died in the Netherlands. She married Johan Friedrich Brocades and had Johannes Wilhelmus Brocades. Descendants exist.
Generation 11, number 31 Alexander ‘Osclay’ Gunn
Alexander ‘Osclay’ Gunn (11,31) descended in two different ways from Coroner Gunn; the first was from his mother Margaret Gunn (10,23) who was the daughter of Donald Crotach Gunn (9,15). The second way was from his father John ‘Houstry Dunbeath’ Gunn (12,54) – yes the generations are correct, that’s how they spread over time and for this Alexander (11,31) I use his mother’s descent number as it shows his real closeness to the Coroner, not his father’s descent number which is a little less close. And I have not used both descent numbers for reasons of simplicity. John ‘Houstry Dunbeath’ (12,54) descended from Donald the Scholar (8,11) of Kinbrace who was a son of William Beag (7,8). See Appendices 1 and 2 for detail.
Alexander ‘Osclay’ (11,15) married Barbara Weir (Wheir). They were buried at the old Parish Church in Latheron. They had nine children of whom the eldest Catherine ‘Osclay’ Gunn (12,38) married Donald Braehour and Brawlbin Gunn (13,65) who descended from John in Navidale of Borroble Gunn (8,10). So, Gunns from the marriage of Catherine ‘Osclay’ Gunn and Donald Braehour and Brawlbin Gunn descend from Coroner Gunn in three different ways, see Appendices 1 and 2.
The children of Alexander Gunn (11,31) and Barbara Weir (Wheir) were
· Catherine (12,38)
· George Gunn (12,39)
· Robert Gunn born 1792 dwi (12)
· Sgt John Gunn (12,40)
· Margaret Gunn (12,41)
· James Gunn (12,42)
· Adam ‘USA’ Gunn (12,43)
· William Gunn (12,44)
· Alexander Gunn who died in Jamaica 1828 (12)
Generation 11, number 32 George Gunn of Acherelate and Strathmore
George Gunn – of Acherelate and Strathmore[311] - was born about 1683, he married a daughter of M McLean of Dulphate. He had one son who became ‘Chief’ Hector Gunn (12,45) with descendants. See Appendix 3 for the ‘Chief’ invention of the early 1800s.
Generation 11, number 33 Alexander ‘Dalnaglaton and Strathmore’ Gunn
Alexander was the younger brother to the preceding George (11,32). Alexander was born 7 January 1685 and died in June 1765. He married Janet Macleod. They had six children -
· John ‘Dalanaha, Strathmore and Braehour’ (12,46) whose son was Donald Braehour and Brawlbin Gunn (13,65) who married Catherine ‘Osclay’ Gunn (13,38). See Appendices 1 and 2.
· Christian Gunn (12,47).
· Angus / Aeneas Gunn (12,48).
· Jean Gunn (12,49).
· George (Dalnaglaton) Gunn (12,50). George Gunn had may have had four children; 1) Betty who married her first cousin Alexander, son of Angus Gunn (12,48), 2) Janet who married John Sinclair of Reay with daughter Janet who married William Gunn in Braehour (13,63) with children including William Gunn of Waranga Basin in Victoria, Australia and the Hon. Donald Gunn of Manitoba, Canada. 3) Donald ‘Dalnaglaton’ Gunn and perhaps 4) ‘Hester’ Gunn.
· Margaret Gunn (12,51). Margaret Gunn (12,51) married Robert Elder. It is believed that through this ‘Elder’ line that Gunn of Banniskirk claimed the ‘Chiefship’ of the ‘Clan’ Gunn in the late 1990s. See the last Appendix.
Generation 11, number 34 William ‘Kinbrace Houstry Dunbeath’ Gunn
William (11,34) was the son of Adam ‘Kinbrace’ Gunn (10,25). They descended from Donald the Scholar of Kinbrace’s (8,11) line; for detail of William’s (11,34) life see Donald’s biography. William (11,34) died in 1740. He had three children –
· Adam ‘Houstry’ Gunn (12,52).
· Robert Gunn (12,53).
· John ‘Houstry Dunbeath’ Gunn (12,54) who married Margaret Gunn (10,22) who was the daughter of ‘Chief’ Donald Crotach Gunn (9,15). See Appendices 1 and 2.
Adam (12,52), the first son, is referred to in The Book of Lybster[312] as ‘Adam C. Gun’ tacksman of Mulbuie;[313] Adam of Mulbuie has been wrongly placed as the first son of Donald Gunn the Scholar of Kinbrace (8,11) in both main Gunn histories and the 1868/70 family trees.[314] Adam (12,52) was actually the great, great grandson of Donald the Scholar of Kinbrace (8,11). This Adam ‘Houstry’ Gunn (12,52) – tacksman of Mulbuie - had the Reverend Robert Gunn[315] (13, 68) –
ROBERT GUNN, born 1750, son of Adam G., tacksman of Mulbuie, Dunbeath ; was tutor in the family of Sinclair of Dunbeath ; licen. by Presb. of Caithness 27th Feb. 1775; ord. 27th Sept. that year ; died 29th Nov. 1819. He marr. (1) 6th June 1778, Mary (died 8th Nov. 1784), daugh. of David Henderson of Stemster, and had issue—Cecilia, born 28th July 1780, died 26th Feb. 1811 ; Adam, born 11th May, died 5th Aug. 1783 ; David, born 19th Aug. 1784, died 5th Feb. 1785: (2) 1st Sept. 1787, Louisa (died 22nd May 1794), daugh. of Colonel Clunes, Crakaig, and had issue—Mary, born 30th Sept. 1788 ; Gordon, born 26th Dec. 1789, died 4th March 1790 ; William, born 30th Dec. 1790 ; Gordon, born 8th May 1792 ; John Hugh, born 14th March 1794 : (3) 31st Aug. 1798, Elizabeth Gun, Forres, who died at Dunbarton, 6th Nov. 1843, and had issue — Thomas, min. of Keiss, born 11th Oct. 1800; Adam, min. of Hope Street Gaelic Church, Glasgow, born 7th Aug. 1802 ; Louisa, born 26th Oct. 1803, died at Greenock, 27th Dec. 1854; Margaret, born 2nd April 1805 ; Robert, born 5th April 1806, died 27th Feb. 1818; James, born 29th Aug. 1807 ; Cecilia, born 8th March 1811 ; Eliza, born 2nd July 1813; William Gordon, born 14th April 1815; John Arthur, born 11th Nov. 1816, died 7th March 1869. Publication—Account of the Parish (Sinclair's Stat. Ace, xvii.).[316]
The above is accurate but dry as dust. The Book of Lybster[317] is more concerned with the man; it records him as ‘a shrewd legally-minded man with much force of character but not very popular as a preacher… (he had) nicknames of Robbie-na-process and Robert McProcess… Mr Gunn prosecuted … for repairs to the church and manse and also for fines imposed by the session … children of (his) … three marriages were residing at one time with the third wife at the Manse…’
I suspect the Reverend Robert – or his father Adam (12,52) - knew his Gunn genealogy well and had the profession to make it known in the area but given the oral nature of the time the idea that Adam Mulbuie Gunn (12,52) descended from the son of Donald the Scholar of Kinbrace (8,11) blurred over time into Adam Mulbuie Gunn being the son of Donald the Scholar of Kinbrace (8,11).
The Reverend Robert Gunn (13,68) had the Reverend Thomas Gunn (14) –
THOMAS GUNN, born 11th Oct. 1800, son of Robert G., min. of Latheron; educated at King's College, Aberdeen, M.A. (March 1818) and Univ. of Edinburgh; elected schoolmaster of Latheron'in 1819; licen. by Presb. of Caithness 19th July 1827; pres. by George IV. 13th July, and ord. 29th Sept. 1829. Joined the Free Church in 1843; min. of Free Church, Madderty, 21st Aug. 1844-86 ; died 8th March 1886. He marr. 11th Jan. 1830, Helen S. Innes Gunn, and had issue — Robert, born 31st Aug. 1833 ; Helen Innes, born 15th April 1843.[318]
The Reverend Robert Gunn (13,68) also had the Reverend Adam Gunn A.M. (14) – born 7 August 1802 and who worked as Minister of Hope Street Gaelic Church in Glasgow in 1851.
Adam Houstry Gunn (12,52) also had the Reverend William Gunn (13) -
WILLIAM GUNN, son of Adam G., tacksman of Milbuie, Dunbeath; educated at King's College, Aberdeen; M.A. (28th March 1771); schoolmaster of Tongue ; licen. by Presb. of Tongue 25th Oct. 1774 ; pres. by tutors of Elizabeth, Countess of Sutherland, in Feb., and ord. 15th Aug. 1776 ; died 28th Dec. 1785, aged about 34, one of the most popular preachers in the North. He marr. 9th July 1779, Anne (died senior annuitant of Ministers' Widows' Fund 3rd July 1841), daugh. of David Henderson of Stemster, and had issue — Cecilia, born 16th June 1780, died 14th Nov. 1785; Adam, born 18th Jan. 1782; Mary, born 14th Nov, 1784.[319]
Stories exist about his godliness; his death was supposedly due to witches. Robert (13,68) and William (13) married sisters.[320]
Generation 11, number 35 Robert Gunn
Robert Gunn’s father was probably William (10,26). They descended from the William of Acheneccan Gunn (8,12) line. Robert had at least William (12,55) who had Robert the Sennachy (13,70). The exact sequence of these Acheneccan Gunns is not totally clear; but their descent from William Beag (7,8) is perfectly clear. Of the family it is said –
‘One Free Presbyterian from Westerdale was the notable Chirsty Gunn. Her grandfather Robert had lived at Achaneccan in Kildonan, and Donald Sage remembered him as "a gentleman-like old man who had been much in good society, and had received a somewhat liberal education". He had the best claim to the disputed chieftainship of the clan Gunn but he had fallen on hard times. David, her father, was his eldest son and had married Catherine, daughter of John Ross (c1733-1775), the minister of Kildonan from 1761 to 1775. Catherine was a woman "as remarkable for her deep piety as for her prepossessing appearance", and David too was an eminently humble and pious man. When Kildonan was cleared, he moved to Strath Beag above Westerdale and became the catechist for the district. John Munro, Halkirk, held him in high regard. On one occasion, shortly before the Communion, his only cow died. The subject at the Fellowship Meeting was the marks of love to the brethren, and Ensign Joseph Mackay gave the meeting a practical turn by declaring, "If we only had among us a little of the love of which we have been speaking and hearing today, David Gunn would not be long until he got a new cow". David died in 1827, while his wife Catherine, who had been born on 12 June 1773, lived to be about 100.
Chirsty Gunn herself died aged 85 on 16 July 1900 and was buried near her parents in the Achreny burying-ground. She in turn had outlived her husband James Bain by 39 years.’[321]
Catherine was half-sister to William (11) and Morrison Gunn (11) – see their lives and see the life of Alexander Gunn of Badenloch, later of Wester Helmsdale (10,19). David ‘Cathechist’ Gunn was son of Robert ‘Sennachy’ Gunn (13,70).
*****
For details of generations 12, 13 and 14 see section 10.2. The more interesting include –
· Hon. Donald Gunn of Manitoba, Canada. See https://www.redriverancestry.ca/GUNN-DONALD-1797.php
· Osclay Gunns. See Appendices 1 and 2.
***
[1] Page 62, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[2] Page 92, Sir Robert Gordon, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland.
[3] We have no firm knowledge of the Coroner’s children’s birth order; it has to be surmised for those Gunns who lived after the Coroner’s death by the estates they held and their place in history. This then means James was the eldest surviving son and Robert the next. Page 320 John Henderson W.S. Notes on Caithness Family History 1884 has James as a possible fifth son but the evidence for that is not given.
[4] Page 92, Sir Robert Gordon, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland. says it is after the Coroner’s death.
[5] Page 142, Thomas Sinclair The Gunns.
[6] Page 110 Thomas Sinclair being but one reference; no place is given in the 1896 tree however.
[7] Page 62. Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.Technically it would have been from Elizabeth de Moravia the 10th Countess of Sutherland who married Adam Gordon, younger son of the second Earl of Huntly. The lands of the Province of Strathnaver were also not owned by Gunns; see M. Bangor-Jones ‘From Clanship to Crofting; Landownership, Economy and the Church in the Province of Strathnaver’ in ed. R. J. Baldwin The Province of Strathnaver.
[8] http://www.nls.uk/catalogues/online/cnmi/inventories/dep313.pdf accessed 14 February 2013.
[9] Page 331, Walter Ross, Lectures on the History and Practice of the Law of Scotland Volume 2.
[10] Page 87, James T. Calder, Sketch of the Civil and Traditional History Of Caithness, from the tenth century etc.
[11] What is meant by ‘followers’ is unclear. Servants from the castle who were no longer employed? Farmhands? Assorted obscure relatives? The source for James Calder is not known.
[12] Burke’s Peerage has him dying in 1496, killed in action, no idea why.
[13] Page 2, Sir Robert Gordon A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland. points out that the inhabitants of Sutherland were called in ‘old Scottish or Irish language’ Cattigh. Page 92 also has William as born and bred in Sutherland. There is a suggestion (Page 37 Thomas Sinclair The Gunns) that it might also mean he was of Caithness origin, which covers both options!
[14] https://blog.findmypast.co.uk/traditional-scottish-naming-patterns-2115646700.html accessed 29 May 2018.
[15] ‘The mean life expectancy of kings of Scotland and England, reigning from 1000 AD to 1600 AD were 51 and 48 years, respectively. Their monks did not fare as well. In the Carmelite Abbey, only five per cent survived past 45. … wealthier people would have a life expectancy of more than forty years.’ http://www.sarahwoodbury.com/life-expectancy-in-the-middle-ages/ accessed 29 May 2018. This detail shows it would have been extremely unlikely that this William Gunn (3,3) would have been alive in 1517, let alone fighting at Torran Dubh. He also would not have killed the Chief of the Clan Keith which Gunn mythology has him doing – see chapter 8.3 and the next life. See also page 166 Mark Rugg Gunn The Gunns.
[16] Page 166, Mark Rugg Gunn, ibid.
[17] Page 374, Donald A. Young, The Book of Lybster.
[18] Origines Parochiales Scotiae Part 1. Page 740. records ‘Early in the sixteenth century ... William Jameson or William Mackames-Wick-Cruner … had part or whole of the lands of Killernan… witness to a seisin of Pronse in 1525 …’ See https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=737lAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA779&dq=Earl+of+Caithness+1556&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjKlcrNnpvXAhXMJsAKHQ9oAB8Q6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=Earl%20of%20Caithness%201556&f=false accessed 31 October 2017. Note there is no mention of him being a ‘Gunn Chief’.
[19] Page 91, Sir Robert Gordon, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland has ‘William Mackames_Wick-Chruner’.
[20] Based on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Torran_Dubh accessed 2 October 2017.
[21] Page 91, Sir Robert Gordon, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland.
[22] Page 168, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[23] Page 91, Sir Robert Gordon, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland.
[24] Also known as Torran-dow and Torran-Du.
[25] The Rev. Gunn of Watten in 1804 quoted an anonymous poem saying Gunns arrived at the fight; but this is a song / poem given three hundred years after the event. It is not history. See https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=B9MRAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA76&dq=john+mackay+strathnaver+1517&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjHk9utndzWAhUMJMAKHfFCCc8Q6AEILjAB#v=onepage&q=john%20mackay%20strathnaver%201517&f=false accessed 6 October 2017. Also see page 147 Thomas Sinclair The Gunns where more of the song is given. One line discusses the ‘columns’ of those fighting in the battle. This shows the fiction – ‘columns’ are heavily associated with trained troops, not civilians.
[26] To restate on wadset. In essence you wadset land for a period of time by paying the owner of that land a sum of money which had to be returned by the owner at the end of the wadset period. If the owner did not return the money then the wadsetter owned the land. The length of a wadset could vary, and it could be for a very long time. For example, a 1786 wadset was redeemable at the death of the original wadsetter or every nine or nineteen years thereafter. See
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ieVCAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA16551&lpg=PA16551&dq=wadset+length+time&source=bl&ots=cwCajZ1pDQ&sig=gHs-8xiEeykDSXWJP6daeuEgI24&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjS_t-x4tnWAhXMXhoKHRYRAy8Q6AEILDAB#v=onepage&q=wadset%20length%20time&f=false accessed 5 October 2017. The wadset of Killearnan was probably given to James, and then passed to his heir and so on. The Sutherland Estate wadsets of this time no longer exist so we do not know the exact conditions of the Killearnan wadset but it is reasonable to assume they would have matched the general wadsets of the time.
[27] See pages 414 on of John Erskine of Carnock, An Institute of the Law of Scotland Volume 1.
[28] Pages 90 – 91, Sir Robert Gordon, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland.
[29] Page 91, Sir Robert Gordon, ibid.
[30] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Torran_Dubh accessed 15 September 2017. As well Sir David Dalrymple has this Alexander Gordon ‘in ward’. See https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=LicAAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA142&dq=Alexander+Sutherland+brother+of+the+Countess+of+Sutherland&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiC6_uS3PzWAhXB7hoKHWfxCnsQ6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=Alexander%20Sutherland%20brother%20of%20the%20Countess%20of%20Sutherland&f=false accessed 19 October 2017.
[31] Page 69, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[32] Page 92, Sir Robert Gordon, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland.
[33] Page 88, James T. Calder, Sketch of the Civil and Traditional History Of Caithness, from the tenth century etc.
[34] Page 82 onwards, Donald Sage Memorablia Domestica, (see also Mark Rugg Gunn page 69 on) embellished Gordon’s story to include a Royal Pardon for the Keith involved at St Tayre’s. But that’s absurd – the Coroner died in the mid-1450s, this supposed killing was after 1517. The Keith involved in the supposed killing of the Coroner was not living seventy years after the ‘murder’ of the Coroner. There is further nonsense about MacHamish being drunk and sobering up, cutting the head of George Keith in two and so on.
[35] Page 386, Barbara Crawford, The Northern Kingdoms; Orkney and Caithness from AD 870 to 1470. Page 122, Ian Grimble Chief of Mackay points out that in 1631 King Charles 1 created the position of Sherriff of Sutherland including Strathnaver and the position was held by the Earl of Sutherland. Again, the idea that the Highlands was totally lawless was wrong.
[36] Adam’s great, great grandmother was Elizabeth Keith whose father was William Keith, Earl Marischal.
[37] Origines Parochiales Scotiae Part 1. See https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=737lAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA779&dq=Earl+of+Caithness+1556&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjKlcrNnpvXAhXMJsAKHQ9oAB8Q6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=Earl%20of%20Caithness%201556&f=false accessed 31 October 2017.
[38] Page 20, Thomas Sinclair The Gunns gives the name of William, seemingly quoting Gordon. But when checked against Pages 107 and 108 of Sir Robert Gordon’s A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland Gordon did not apply a name to the person involved in the battles.
[39] Page107, Robert Gordon, ibid.
[40] Page 108, Robert Gordon, ibid.
[41] Page 135, Robert Gordon, ibid.
[42] Page 740 Origines Parochiales Scotiae Part 1. See https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=737lAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA779&dq=Earl+of+Caithness+1556&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjKlcrNnpvXAhXMJsAKHQ9oAB8Q6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=Earl%20of%20Caithness%201556&f=false accessed 31 October 2017 which records ‘Alexander Jameson in Westir Killernane witnesses a seisin of Doill and Carrell in 1564…’. https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=737lAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA779&dq=Earl+of+Caithness+1556&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjKlcrNnpvXAhXMJsAKHQ9oAB8Q6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=Earl%20of%20Caithness%201556&f=false accessed 31 October 2017.
[43] Page 256 John Leslie The History of Scotland etc. shows that page 77, Mark Rugg Gunn Clan Gunn is not accurate.
[44] Origines Parochiales Scotiae Part 1. Page 779. See https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=737lAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA779&dq=Earl+of+Caithness+1556&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjKlcrNnpvXAhXMJsAKHQ9oAB8Q6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=Earl%20of%20Caithness%201556&f=false accessed 31 October 2017.
[45] Page 257 John Leslie The History of Scotland etc.
[46] For an excellent map see Page 36 of ed. John Baldwin The Province of Stathnaver.
[47] Page 34 Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn as one example.
[48] Page 131-132, Ian Grimble, Clans and Chiefs.
[49] Page 108 A. Mackay The Book of Mackay, page 199 Thomas Sinclair The Gunns and page 361 Sir Robert Gordon A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland.
[50] Page 157, Sir Robert Gordon, ibid.
[51] Pages106-7, A. Mackay, The Book of Mackay.
[52] Page106, Robert Mackay, History of The House and Clan Mackay.
[53] Page 199, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns, ‘Iye Mackay, who died in 1571 had a daughter ‘married to Alexander Davidson’’. Page 64, Thomas Sinclair, ibid., ‘daughter of Iye MacKay, who died in in 1571, was married to Alexander Gunn (Davidson).’
[54] Page106-7, A. Mackay, The Book of Mackay.
[55] Page106, A. Mackay, ibid.
[56] Page 166, Mark Rugg Gunn Clan Gunn is but one of many examples.
[57] Page 361 Robert Gordon A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland. Sir Robert Gordon is geographically poor in this area. He suggests that Alexander Davidson retrieved his ancient possession of Braemore, which traditionally is the land of the Robson / Braemore Gunns from the second son of the Coroner, and that the Robson Gunn got the land of Kinbrace which was by 1638 in the hands of the Donald the scholar MacHamish line. I think Robert Gordon has, at best, reversed who got which land and which would suggest names and people have been wrongly connected – MacRobs got back their Braemore land, Alexander Davidson may have got Kinbrace but we have no record to support the idea. Was Kinbrace a slip of writing for Killernan? This Braemore link is repeated by page 172 Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[58] Page 113, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns. Page 106 A. Mackay, The Book of Mackay.
[59] Page 361, Sir Robert Gordon A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland.
[60] Page 165, Sir R. Douglas, The Scots Peerage ‘William Macalister … succeeded to the lands of Killernan 19 February 1614’ and page 106, A. Mackay, The Book of Mackay.
[61] Uistean’s son Donald Mackay was appointed a Justice of the Peace before 1610; the Highlands were not as totally lawless as many believe. Page 59, Ian Grimble, Chief of Mackay. This was possibly related to the Mackays being Justiciars of the Diocese of Caithness from earlier times. Page 43, Ian Grimble, ibid.
[62] Page 42, Ian Grimble ibid.
[63] Pages 40-43, Ian Grimble ibid.
[64] Quoted on page 44, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[65] See page 41, C. Fleet, M. Wilkes and S. W. J. Withers, Scotland Mapping The Nation.
[66] Page 183, Sir Robert Gordon, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland.
[67] Page 189, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[68] Pages 272-273, Sir Robert Gordon, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland. William Beag (7,8) is viewed by Gordon as ‘Chieftane of the Clangun in Southerland’. As previously said Gordon uses Chief / Chieftain to mean main person, not ‘Clan Chief’. It shows that William Beag is viewed as the main Gunn, not his brother Alexander (7,7).
[69] Page 273, Sir Robert Gordon, ibid.
[70] Page 116, A. Mackay, The Book of Mackay.
[71] Page 273, Sir Robert Gordon, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland.
[72] Page 175, James Hunter Last of the Free. ‘King James wrote Lewis’s colonisers were to proceed ‘not by agreement with (the Lewis people) but by extirpation of thame’. That’s ethnic cleansing…
[73] Page 142, Ian Grimble, Clans and Chiefs.
[74] Quoted Page 14 Ronald Williams, The Heather and the Gale, but being from 1598, Record of the Privy Council, V.
[75] Pages 38-41 Donald MacDonald, Lewis A History of the Island.
[76] This historic absurdity has been made due to the mythic belief that ‘MacHamish’ was a title only held by one Gunn at a time.
[77] Page 242, Sir Robert Gordon, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland. Gordon records the name as ‘of’ Killernan which can be ignored – it is not a legal document of the time but a later history where small confusions can occur.
[78] Page 242 Sir Robert Gordon, ibid.
[79] Page 246, Sir Robert Gordon, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland.
[80] Page 117 and page 167, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[81] Page 117, Mark Rugg Gunn, ibid.
[82] Page 118, Mark Rugg Gunn, ibid.
[83] Of course, many tenants not of the family could also be on such an estate.
[84] NLS Sutherland Estate assorted documents from deposit 313, numbers 276 and 277.
[85] Page 167, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[86] Page 106, A Mackay, The Book of Mackay.
[87] Page 106, A. Mackay, ibid.
[88] Page 378, Sir Robert Gordon, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland.
[89] Page 167, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[90] Page 242, Sir Robert Gordon, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland has the name as ‘of’ Killernan’ which can be ignored – it is not a legal document of the time but a later history where small confusions can occur.
[91] Page 167, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[92] See NRS GD84/1/27/7 for detail.
[93] See page 117, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[94] Page 119, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn being a rough summary of pages 151-153, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[95] See page 152 Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[96] Page 152, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns, also spelt John M’Hamish and Alexander M’Hamish in the document.
[97] Page 77, Keith Brown, Noble Power in Scotland from the Reformation to the Revolution. NRS GD84/1/11/13 for 9 July 1622.NRS GD 139/8 for 23 February 1668. The year also involved Sir Robert Gordon and Gunn Robsons in the burning of corn at Sandside; it is detailed in history texts and is briefly explored in chapter 11.
[98] Page 449, Sir Robert Gordon, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland.
[99] Page 30, David Dobson, Scots-Scandinavian Links in Europe and America 1550-1850.
[100] Page 167, Mark Rugg Gun Clan Gunn provides detail.
[101] Page 167, Mark Rugg Gunn, ibid. provides detail.
[102] Page 82, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns. And Charles I: Translation; 1646, 3 November, Edinburgh, Parliament; Parliamentary Register; 26 March 1647; Legislation; Act anent the committees of war in the several shires; 1646/11/532.
[103] NRS GB84 /1/20/2B
[104] Charles I: Translation; 1649, 4 January, Edinburgh, Parliament; Parliamentary Register; 15 February 1649; Legislation; Act for putting the kingdom in a posture of defence; 1649/1/133. Pages 84-85, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[105] Sutherland Estate documents deposit 313, number 297.
[106] It seems extremely unlikely that unrelated friends would put up a joint contract in the 1650s, money is too scarce.
[107] Dame Mary seems to have been independently wealthy from her first marriage. See pages 427-428, A. Mackay, The Book Of Mackay. And see page 124 for her marriage and which records John and Kathrine Gunn as her children.
[108] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Hector_Munro,_1st_Baronet accessed 13 December. The date is also that which is commonly given elsewhere for example ‘Hector Monro of Fowlis …died in Hamburgh in Aprile 1635’ page 40, Publications of the Scottish History Society Volume 33.
[109] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Hector_Munro,_1st_Baronet accessed 20 March 2018. See also https://archive.org/stream/historyofmunroso00mack/historyofmunroso00mack_djvu.txt accessed 20 March 2018.
[110] See National Records of Scotland GD84/1/27/7 for detail. People sometimes have him alive later; that is because they are confused with his son Alexander (9).
[111] NRS GD84/1/27/3 see http://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue/overview.aspx?st=1&tc=y&tl=n&tn=n&tp=n&k=alexander+Gunn&ko=a&r=&ro=s&df=1650&dt=1700&di=y
[112] Page 167. Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[113] Charles I: Translation; 1649, 4 January, Edinburgh, Parliament; Parliamentary Register; 15 February 1649; Legislation; Act for putting the kingdom in a posture of defence; 1649/1/133 . Pages 84-85, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[114] Page 167, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[115] Page xlvi, ed. R.J. Adam, Papers on Sutherland Estate Management 1802-1816, Vol. 1.
[116] Donald the Scholar (8,11) had a wadset contract for Kinbrace drawn with the Earl of Sutherland; it is in the NLS.
[117] As already said, this marriage is shown on the 1896 tree. See Appendix 1.
[118] See http://www.lyon-court.com/lordlyon/files/Gunn,%20Michael%20James%20-%20Interlocutor%20and%20Note.pdf accessed 9 November 2017.
[119] This John Gunn (12,54) was only ever ‘in’ Kinbrace - his father William (11,34) clearly gave up the estate as is discussed in his life, so John could never be ‘of’ Kinbrace. However, ‘in’ meant John (12,54) lived there at some time.
[120] Alexander could really have two numbers as he descends from the Coroner in different ways. I have only used one for reasons of keeping hierarchy clear – and used the number appropriate for the more direct descent, in this case being descended from the daughter of ‘Chief’ Donald Crotach Gunn (9,15).
[121] The NLS documents are
1) A 1638 Folio 208 MS Deposit 313 / 302. This document has a Donald Gunn in Kinbrays (Kinbrace) in August 1638. It is signed by Donald Gunn - signed ‘Gune’ with the addition of ‘in my own hand’. This delight in literacy supports the idea he was ‘Donald the Scholar’.
2) A 1658 Folio 208 MS Deposit 313 / 303. This document shows William Gunn of Kinbrace also took on Achnahow of Kildonan in 1658.
3) A 1672 Folio 208 MS Deposit 313 / 204. This document has William Gunn of Kinbrace in 1672.
4) A 1672 Folio 208 MS Deposit 313 / 206. This document clearly states that Adam Gunn was of Kinbrace in 1672, that ‘William Gun of Kinbrace, my father’ and ‘Donald my grandfather’.
5) A 1709 Folio 208 MS Deposit 313 / 207. This document shows that the Adam Gunn of Kinbrace fathered William Gunn.
6) A 1714 Folio 208 MS Deposit 313 / 208. This document is a discharge by William Gunn in Knockfinn to Lord Strathnaver of the lands of Kinbrace and Achnahow. It says he is ‘lawful son of Adam Gunn’ and that ‘William Gunn my grandfather’.
[122] Page 126 Thomas Sinclair The Gunns has William ‘Gun’ of Kinbrace was served heir general to his father Adam Gunn of Kinbrace 7 July 1709.’ .So Sinclair supports the document in the National Library of Scotland and provides the approximate death date for Adam Gunn.
[123] As already discussed, the estate in 1809-1820 also included Shinachy and Achneakans (Acheneccan); did it include these earlier? Page xlvi, ed. by R.J. Adam Papers on Sutherland Estate Management Volume 1.
[124] Page 126, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[125] See page 149, Thomas Sinclair The Gunns. Both Thomas Sinclair and Mark Rugg Gunn have a story about the end of Kinbrace which does not match the NLS document. Kinbrace ends in what would have been a messy divorce if such was available at the time. But ‘Sutherland’ is mentioned in both.
[126] The following is inaccurate but does have the NLS ownership list of Donald – William – Adam - William clearly stated; Thomas Sinclair ‘Supplement 30’, 14. 7. 1903, where he repeats ‘Sage’s manuscript’ From William M’Hamish, the son of James the coroner, were descended two sons, both of them being called William, being by two marriages. The first was called Big William, and the second Little William. The latter were the ancestors of the Gunns of Kinbrace. These formed two branches, the Gunns of Melbuie and Achanakin. The son of Little William, ancestor of the Melbuie family or branch, was Donald the Scholar, whose posterity were William, Donald, William, Adam, William, Adam, and Rev. William and Rev. Robert Minister of Latheron. The other branch of the Kinbrace family is Achinikin. Their ancestor was Donald the Scholar’s son William, who was followed by Donald, William, William, Robert, William, Robert a venerable aged man, and ordained an elder in Achanakin, parish of Kildonan. Little William or his son Donald wadsetted the lands of Kinbrace for 500 pounds Scots...
[127] Page 103, ed. R.J. Adam, Papers on Sutherland Estate Management 1802-1816 Volume 1.
[128] As already mentioned - Captain Gunn, Braehour … is admitted to be, if not the greatest, at least a genuine, living authority on Gunn questions … It were strange if the captain had not been well posted up in all historic points, seeing that his father, Donald Gunn, Braehour, was the acknowledged sennachy or historian of his time … an unusually learned sennachy. Pages 185-186Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[129] See the ‘Australian Dictionary of Biography’ entry on her at http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/gunn-jeannie-6506 .
[130] http://www.lyon-court.com/lordlyon/files/Gunn,%20Michael%20James%20-%20Interlocutor%20and%20Note.pdf Lord Lyon makes reference to a child of this marriage - George Gunn in Dalfridh. Accessed 7 March 2016. There is no support for this idea that I can find; it would be in the 1896 tree as such a George would be a great uncle to the maker of the tree and so would not have been forgotten.
[131] From the ‘Sage Gunn History’, being from Thomas Sinclair’s ‘Clan Gunn History Supplement 31’ 14 July 1903 from the ‘Northern Ensign’.
[132] Page 270, Mark Rugg Gunn, ibid.
[133] Pages 120-121, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[134] Page 204, D. A. Young. The Book of Lybster.
[135] Page 103, Ed. R. J. Adam, Sutherland Estate Management Volume 1.
[136] See, for example http://www.fpchurch.org.uk/publications/the-free-presbyterian-magazine/1998-to-2003/november-2003/the-achreny-mission-3-after-the-disruption-part-1-rev-d-w-b-somerset-698/ accessed 10 November 2017. See http://clangunn.weebly.com/william-in-achanaichan--achaneccan-line-being-the-2nd-son-of-donald-the-scholar.html for detail of descendants accessed 12 November 2017.
[137] Page 137, Rev. Donald Sage Parish life in the North of Scotland (chapter 10, Home and College Life 1804-1805) http://www.electricscotland.com/history/parishlife/chapter10.htm accessed 12 November 2017.
[138] See pages 120-121, 149, 169 and elsewhere in Thomas Sinclair The Gunns. He is not always accurate and can argue against himself. The main point is ‘Little William’s (William Beag (7,8)) … son William (Acheneccan (8,12)) had sons John (wrong – not Acheneccan line – but John Gunn in Navidale of Borroble (8,10)), and Donald (9,18), from the former of whom William and Gunns of Osclay’ pages 120-122. Now, that again shows that the Osclay Gunns – see the first two appendices - certainly descend from the MacHamish line. See, as well, the chart on page 270, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn. It also is again not totally accurate but has the Gunns of Osclay descending from William Beag (7,8).
[139] Caithness County Archives, Wick library, Gunn Mss pages 1-3, retold on page 168 Mark Rugg Gunn, The Gunns.
[140] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Legal_Capacity_(Scotland)_Act_1991 accessed 24 April 2018.
[141] See NRS GD84/1/27/7 for detail. http://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue/overview.aspx?st=2&tc=y&tl=n&tn=n&tp=n&k=&ko=a&r=GD84%2f1%2f27%2f7+&ro=s&df=&dt=&di=y&dc=&dco=s&t=&to=o& accessed 19 March 2018.
[142] See NRS GD84/1/27/7 for detail.
[143] See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Legal_Capacity_(Scotland)_Act_1991 accessed 6 August 2019.
[144] They could be twins, but there is no mention of that in any history of which I am aware.
[145] See NRS GD84/1/27/7 for detail.
[146] Pages 166 and 168, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn for example.
[147] Page 91, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[148] The 1896 tree records her name as Christina, other records give her as Katherine.
[149] See http://www.fionamsinclair.co.uk/genealogy/caithness/Dun.htm accessed 27 February 2018.
[150] See http://www.fionamsinclair.co.uk/genealogy/caithness/Dun.htm accessed 27 February 2018.
[151] Page 167, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[152] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html for detail. Other debts included about £750 to the brother of Lord Duffus, and 500 merks to John Sutherland.
[153] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html accessed 15 March says John Gunn (9,13) and George Gunn (9,16) were brothers german – full brothers. This is an error – they were first cousins.
[154] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html for detail.
[155] Sutherland Estate documents deposit 33, numbers 276 and 277 at the National Library of Scotland.
[156] Page 13, Eds. R.A. Houston and I. D. Whyte, Scottish Society 1500-1600.
[157] Page 575, Robert Mackay, History of the House and Clan of Mackay.
[158] Page 168, Angus Mackay, The Book of Mackay.
[159] Page 143, Angus Mackay, ibid. and NRS GD84/1/27/3.
[160] See NRS GD84/1/27/7 for detail.
[161] NRS GD84/1/21/4B at http://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue/overview.aspx?st=1&tc=y&tl=n&tn=n&tp=n&k=gun&ko=a&r=&ro=s&df=1650&dt=1700&di=y accessed 7 July 2018.
[162] Page 158, Thomas Sinclair The Gunns says Henderson recorded them marrying in 1650; this is obviously wrong. There is an attempt to argue by some that Alexander was first married to Catherine Sinclair with assorted descendants. The dates and titles don’t work; the marriage is too early (1641) and none of the children are ‘of Killernan’ or ‘Navidale’ which they would be if they were the most senior children. Rather the most senior child is of Achintoul, but other places like Knockfinn and Dalnaglaton occur. These descendants are in the 1896 tree down as descending from George Gunn of Borrobol. My suspicion is that in the past Achintoul was misread from Borrobol, or mistranscribed.
[163] Pages 142-143, A. Mackay, The Book of Mackay has her father the 1st Lord Reay marrying three times. Christina is the last child of the third wife. The second wife died in 1637. The third wife had five children.
[164] Page 143, A. Mackay, ibid.
[165] Page 168, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn for example.
[166] Page 168, Mark Rugg Gunn, ibid.
[167] Page 91, Thomas Sinclair The Gunns.
[168] Pages 156-158, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns and the Gunn papers at the Wick archives, Scotland.
[169] NRS GD139/26.
[170] Page 156, Thomas Smibert, The Clans of the Highlands of Scotland.
[171] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html ‘Alexander... The provision he made on his marriage saved the situation’ accessed 7 August 2019.
[172] Pages 156-157, Thomas Smibert, The Clans of the Highlands of Scotland has the document passing over the lands of Navidale and Easter Balnavaliach from Alexander Gunn to his wife Christiana MacKay.
[173] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html accessed 1 March 2018.
[174] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html accessed 3 March 2018.
[175] Pages 140-141 Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[176] See John Gunn’s (9,13) biography.
[177] Page 166, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[178] Burke’s Peerage
[179] See NRS GD84/1/27/7 for detail. People sometimes have him alive later; that is because they are confused with his son Alexander (10,19).
[180] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_maternal_age accessed 5 June 2018.
[181] See chapter 9.1.
[182] In modern documents often spelt Badanloch, such as on OS maps.
[183]http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=u8ArAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA677&dq=gunn+sutherland&hl=en&sa=X&ei=DRK7Utm5EK3H7AbKqoC4DQ&ved=0CDYQ6AEwATgo#v=snippet&q=gunn&f=false accessed 23 March 2018.
[184] Anne: Translation; 1704, 6 July, Edinburgh, Parliament; Parliamentary Register; Saturday 5 August 1704; Legislation; Act anent supply; 1704 / 7 /69. He was not a Commissioner in 1685. https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=u8ArAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA23&lpg=PA23&dq=1685+++sutherland+commissioner++supply&source=bl&ots=st71xquWDi&sig=tM60hmLXlOeuBWAsyZ3tpwW2-NI&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjC2fnt4trZAhXSFsAKHahyBEcQ6AEISDAI#v=onepage&q=1685%20%20%20sutherland%20commissioner%20%20supply&f=false accessed 7 March 2019.
[185] See discussion on his son Alexander (10,19).
[186] Pages 139-140, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[187] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html accessed 1 March 2018.
[188] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html accessed 1 March 2018.
[189] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html accessed 6 March 2018; page 148. Thomas Smibert, The Clans of the Highlands of Scotland.
[190] Gordons of Kilgour in this mid-late1600s time are very hard to find.
[191] Page 169 Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[192] See Appendix, page 64. Chantel Duijvesteijn, The Highland Clans and the ’45 Uprising being a Master’s Thesis for the University of Utrecht, 2009.
[193] See, for example, M. G. H. Pittock The Myth of the Jacobite Clans; The Jacobite army in 1745.
[194] From the1896 tree.
[195] From page 149, Thomas Sinclair The Gunns - ‘(Donald Crottach’s) eldest (he meant elder) daughter Esther married Donald Mackay of Skerray, and was alive in 1723, while the other became Mrs John Gunn of Kinbrace.’ This is from discussion of Aeneas Gunn’s Appendix in the text.
[196] https://scottishkin.com/the-traditional-scottish-naming-system accessed 15 May 2019.
[197] Page 195 Thomas Sinclair The Gunns.
[198] Pages 166 and 269, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn for example. The 1896 tree has George Gunn (9,16) as the elder brother of Donald Crotach (9,15) with John (9,13) as the senior son which is bit more logical than having him as the younger brother of Donald Crotach (9,15) but neither is accurate.
[199] Thomas Sinclair Supplements in the ‘Northern Ensign, 4th Instalment 23.12.1902. ‘In 1803 Hector Gunn Thurso, was by legal inquisition, 31st May, made chief of the clan.’
[200] See pages 170-174, Thomas Sinclair The Gunns.
[201] A factor is a person who manages an Estate for a landowner.
[202] Being a quote from R. Mackay’s History of the House of Mackay in Thomas Sinclair Supplements in the ‘Northern Ensign, 5th instalment, 30.12.1902.
[203] ‘Rhives’ was the Sutherland Estate’s Factor’s House near Golspie; pages 168 -172 Thomas Sinclair The Gunns.
[204] Page 175, Thomas Sinclair. The Gunns. Page 168 notes a letter from Lord Lyon’s office 13 August 1803 saying that Hector Gunn – the above George Gunn’s father – was ‘now the chief of the clan Gunn’.
[205] http://www.lyon-court.com/lordlyon/files/Gunn,%20Michael%20James%20-%20Interlocutor%20and%20Note.pdf accessed 28 March 2013.
[206] See http://clangunn.weebly.com/thomas-sinclair-supplement-8-2011903.html accessed 9 August 2019.
[207] For a brief life see http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/gunn_donald_10E.html accessed 11 April 2018.
[208] This son is sometimes said to be ‘of Kinbrace’; that is wrong. The Kinbrace estate was held by the Gunns who descended from William Beag until 1714 (Sutherland Estate Folio 218 / MS deposit 313/208). The next reference for Kinbrace is in 1734 when it was held by the Wilson family of London.
[209] The 1896 tree gives something like these names; I wish I could better read the handwriting.
[210] Pages 164-167, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[211] The 1896 tree.
[212] Thomas Sinclair ‘Northern Ensign’ Gunn Supplement 12, 17 December 1903. And see http://greyhenswell.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/the-strong-man-rambling-recollections.html accessed 9 July 2019. For a mythic version, see ‘The Strong Man of Dalnaglaton’ chapter in Robert P Gunn’s Tales from Braemore.
[213] NLS Sutherland Estate documents deposit 313, numbers 276 and 277.
[214] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Legal_Capacity_(Scotland)_Act_1991 accessed 8 August 2019, but I am not clear as to the full legal position at this time.
[215] Page 168, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn being one example.
[216] https://gw.geneanet.org/sduggan?lang=en&pz=shayla+nicole&nz=duggan&p=angus&n=mackay&oc=2 provides one version of the family line. Accessed 21 May 2019.
[217] Alexander used ‘Gun’ when signing his name; NLS documents. He was certainly literate and could write letters to individuals.
[218] Page 195, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns, 1896 tree and http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-1531911.html and the 1896 tree.
[219] Assorted NLS receipts for the Badenloch Estate.
[220] Page 167 Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns and http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html
[221] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html accessed 22 March 2018.
[222] See National Records of Scotland GD84/1/27/7 for detail.
[223] Page 149 Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns for much of this detail sourced from the Aeneas Gunn material.
[224] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html accessed 22 March 2018
[225] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html accessed 22 March 2018.
[226] Burke’s Peerage.
[227] The Book of Mackay, page 329 and http://www.thepeerage.com/p42871.htm#i428709 accessed 6 August 2018.
[228] Page 170, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn, the 1896 Family tree and Burke’s Peerage.
[229] ‘MacHamish’, surely.
[230] Page 126, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[231] Page 166, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn, has a chart which gives a death year for Donald of 1723, for example.
[232] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html accessed 22 March 2018 for the full document.
[233] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html accessed 22 March 2018 for the full document.
[233] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html accessed 22 March 2018 for the full document.
[234] Page 195, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[235] Being the origin of the Ku Klux Klan symbol. It is interesting that the rebirth of the Ku Klux Klan at Stone Mountain in Georgia in 1915 is also the place for the main USA Highland Games; is white American interest in Scottish Highlands heritage little more than a (hidden) assertion of white, patriarchal strength? Stone Mountain is also the site of a huge memorial commemorating the Confederate leaders of the USA in its Civil War – the memorial is a 1.2 hectares sculpture on the side of the mountain. Given the Confederacy is most notably known for racism the sculpture further supports the issue of what motivates Scottish heritage / Clan societies in the USA. The Highland Games growth in the USA notably came into its own in the 1960s when Afro-Carribbean consciousness developed strength. At least one book notes ‘The Klan is also increasingly obsessed by its ‘Celtic’ … Scottish roots.’ Page 180 George Rouse Curious Scotland Tales From a Hidden History. Is Scottish heritage nothing more than a form of colonialism, that is, a view of the past which is based on myths to preserve a sense of personal superiority? Or, if you prefer, the interpellation of Gunn myths defines the believer…
[236] Page 171, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[237] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-831911.html for the evidence for this paragraph.
[238] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-831911.html accessed 9 August 2019.
[239] Page 170. Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[240] See Rachel E Bennett’s ’Capital Punishment and the Scottish Criminal Justice system’ for details on the legal system involved with Scottish capital punishment following the 1704 Act of Union. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-62018-3_2 accessed 28 March 2018.
[241] William Sutherland, 17th Earl of Sutherland 1708-1750.
[242] Sutherland Estate papers, National Library of Scotland, Deposit 313, 298 (bundle 24) and 309 (bundle 35).
[243] Page 163, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[244] Page 254, Ian Grimble, Clans and Chiefs.
[245] Page 215, ed. R. J. Adam, Sutherland Estate Papers Volume 1.
[246] Page 90, 96, H. Scott, DD, Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae The Succession of Ministers in the Church of Scotland from the Reformation.
[247] Page 90, 96, H. Scott, DD, ibid.
[248] He died 12 February 1755. Page 241 H. Scott, DD, ibid.
[249] Page 517, R. Mackay, History of the House of MacKay, gives 1753 as death date. But see https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=_lwAAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA108&lpg=PA108&dq=ann+rose+William+Rose+Loth&source=bl&ots=x8bf78QxCp&sig=i-8uVFBEq_Eu0AOFSYKMCujuiEw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjDp8370Z7bAhVMCcAKHfHNDugQ6AEIcjAR#v=onepage&q=ann%20rose%20William%20Rose%20Loth&f=false accessed 25 May 2018.
[250] Burke’s Peerage.
[251] http://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotreg/macleod/1777.htm accessed 24 May 2018.
[252] Page 400, The Scots Magazine, Volume 41.
[253] ‘We think of men joining the army in their late teens … most British soldiers enlisted later than that’. D. N. Hagist ‘How old were the Redcoats? Age and Experience of British Soldiers in America’. https://allthingsliberty.com/2014/05/how-old-were-redcoats-age-and-experience-of-british-soldiers-in-america/ accessed 31 March 2018. For details of the enrolments of William and Morrison in the army see their lives.
[254] Page 8, R. A. Houston, The Population History of Britain and Ireland 1500-1750.
[255] See page 20 ‘Elite women and the Life-Course in Eighteenth-Century Scotland’ being from Katherine Glover’s Elite Women and Polite Society in Eighteenth-century Scotland.
[256] Page 119, I. D. Whyte, Scotland before The Industrial Revolution, An Economic and Social History c. 1050 – c. 1750.
[257] Page 162 Thomas Sinclair The Gunns, the 1896 tree andd Burke’s Peerage for examples.
[258] Burke’s Peerage.
[259] http://clangunn.weebly.com/william-in-achanaichan--achaneccan-line-being-the-2nd-son-of-donald-the-scholar.html accessed 31 March 2018. And see http://www.fpchurch.org.uk/publications/the-free-presbyterian-magazine/1998-to-2003/november-2003/the-achreny-mission-3-after-the-disruption-part-1-rev-d-w-b-somerset-698/ accessed 31 March 2018.
[260] I am not sure of the basis for this law (tradition) claim; I suspect it is hyperbole like the assumption of a ‘Chief of the Clan Gunn’ and the ‘Clan Gunn’. More interestingly I note that on the following page Sage mentions ‘One Lieutenant Gunn lived at Ach-na-h’naighe. He held the place on lease from the proprietor for nineteen years … He married a Miss Bruce of Thurso, a woman of colour, daughter of Mr Harry Bruce, a West Indian planter, by whom he got some money, which was soon dissipated. They had a large family. After the dispersion of the tenantry in 1819, Gunn, for a compensation, resigned his lease and went to reside, first at Thurso, and afterwards at Balfruch, parish of Croy… He died at Inverness in 1814.’ There is no known relationship to the MacHamish family, it’s just too interesting a life to not mention in this text.
[261] Page 209, Donald Sage, Memorabilia Domestica; or, Parish Life in the North of Scotland.
[262] Page 144, David Dobson, Scottish Highlanders on the Eve of the Great Migration 1725-1775 – The Northern Highlanders.
[263] Page 33 Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[264] See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Highland_Companies#endnote_note_a1 accessed 10 July 2013
[265] Page 105, James Brown A History of the Highlands and of the Highland Clans, Volume 3.
[266] Page 334, David Stewart, Sketches of the Character, Manners and Present State of the Highlanders of Scotland with details of the Military Service, Volume 2.
[267] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Highland_Companies accessed 22 July 2013.
[268] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skirmish_of_Tongue accessed 22 July 2013.
[269] Page 194, ed S. Murdoch and A. Mackillop, Scottish Military Experience c 1550-1900.
[270] Page 193 Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn says that Alexander’s ‘financing of his regiment during the Stewart (sic) rising … reduced his finances considerably’ and that explained why the Gunns ran out of money which does not match the facts, not least that it was not a Gunn regiment.
[271] Page 168 Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn, records this George Gunn as being ‘of Borrobol’; this seems to be an error. If it is not an error it would add support to this line being the senior male descent line.
[272] See http://clangunn.weebly.com/george-gunn-of-corrish.html accessed 1 July 2018 for descendants. And http://clangunn.weebly.com/thomas-sinclair-supplement-4-23-12-1902.html and page 3 and page 269 of Mark Rugg Gunn’s, Clan Gunn. Page 146, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns is also of use. And see http://www.melville-connections.co.uk/webpages/gunn.htm and http://www.alannon.freeserve.co.uk/gunn.html accessed 1 July 2018.
[273] Pages 184-185, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[274] The 1896 family tree agrees…
[275] Pages 160- 163, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[276] Page 124, Angus Mackay, The Book of Mackay.
[277] Page 149, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns and http://www.lyon-court.com/lordlyon/files/Gunn,%20Michael%20James%20-%20Interlocutor%20and%20Note.pdf
[278] Page 149. Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[279] Page 572, Robert Mackay, History of the House and Clan of Mackay. There is confusion in the Mackay book as to who Donald Mackay’s parents were, and the four unnamed daughters, as a generation shifts as pages are turned, but they are descended from Esther Gunn no matter how one places them – so long as you accept she did marry into this line.
[280] So who was John Mackay of Moudale who may have married Esther Gunn? One view: ‘A notable member of the Mackay of Aberach family is Ensign John Mackay of Moudale. A cadet of the Mackays of Aberach, he is infamous for leading an independent company of soldiers in support of the British Government during the Jacobite rising of 1745 – 1746. He and his men defeated a Jacobite force in what is now known as the Battle of Littleferry in 1746. Historian Angus Mackay calls John Mackay of Moudale a “hero” as he also captured George Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie. John Mackay of Moudale descended directly from a younger son of Neil MacEan MacWilliam, V of Aberach.’ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mackay_of_Aberach accessed 28 June 2013.
[281] ‘Donald Mackay of Eriboll, son of Ensign John of Moudale, the hero of the engagement of the Little Ferry in 1746; had been Lieutenant in the Duke of Gordon's North Fencibles; resigned 30th November 1796; appointed Major to the Northern Battalion of Sutherland Volunteers in 1803; died at Eriboll.’ See http://archive.org/stream/oldhighlandfenci00scobuoft/oldhighlandfenci00scobuoft_djvu.txt accessed 10 August 2019.
[282] See http://clangunn1.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/concerning-clan-gunn-chief-1.html for details of descendants. And https://www.geni.com/people/Donald-Mackay-of-Skerray/6000000020865869229 accessed 15 March 2018.
[283] Military references give a date of death of 22 June 1768. See https://archive.org/stream/papersillustrat01scotgoog#page/n439/mode/2up/search/231 accessed 4 April 2018.
[284] https://archive.org/stream/papersillustrat01scotgoog#page/n439/mode/2up/search/231 accessed 4 April 2018.
[285] Drawn from ed. John Scott, James Ferguson Papers illustrating the history of the Scots brigade in the service of the United Netherlands, 1572-1782; Volume 2.
[286] http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/_doc003198401_01/_doc003198401_01_0004.php accessed 4 April 2018.
[287] http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/_doc003198401_01/_doc003198401_01_0004.php accessed 4 April 2018.
[288] http://www.lyon-court.com/lordlyon/files/Gunn,%20Michael%20James%20-%20Interlocutor%20and%20Note.pdf accesed 5 April 2018. The 1896 tree provides her name and marriage details.
[289] There are two versions for this descent – the key point is that both descents are MacHamish line. The other requires a different descent from John in Navidale and of Borrobol. I have no evidence to support that version.
[290] As said this is the line from which I descend. I again note my family have always held the surname Gunn from the Coroner.
[291] From 1786 the Regiment was called the 71st Highland Light Infantry.
[292] From Thomas Sinclair’s first supplement, published by the ‘Northern Ensign’ 2.12.1902.
[293] http://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft038n99hg&chunk.id=s1.1.2&toc.id=ch01&brand=ucpress accessed 27 March 2013.
[294] Figures abstracted from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Anglo-Mysore_War accessed 27 March 2013.
[295] There, are of course, all sorts of other stories attached to how William died, none of which have supporting evidence.
[296] Page 278, The United Services Journal and Naval and Military Magazine, 1831, Part III.
[297] Page 193, Mark Rugg Gun, Clan Gunn.
[298] Page 196, Mark Rug Gunn, ibid.
[299] The Great Siege of Gibraltar lasted 24 June 1779 – 7 February 1783.
[300] http://clangunn.weebly.com/thomas-sinclair-supplement-4-23-12-1902.html accessed 2 April 2018.
[301] https://www.archive.org/stream/historyofscottis02kelt#page/596/mode/2up accessed 2 April 2018. Or http://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotreg/macleod/1777.htm accessed 2 April 2018.
[302] http://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotreg/macleod/1777.htm accessed 2 April 2018.
[303] For example, John Drinkwater’s 1785 A History of the Late Siege of Gibraltar. He was a member of the 72nd Regiment.
[304] http://www.electricscotland.com/history/sketches/highlandsketches91.htm accessed 2 April 2018.
[305] Page xxvii, ed R. J. Adam Papers on Sutherland Estate Management Volume 1.
[306] Page xii, R.H. Burgoyne, Historical Records of the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders.
[307] Lord Lyon http://www.lyon-court.com/lordlyon/files/Gunn,%20Michael%20James%20-%20Interlocutor%20and%20Note.pdf accessed 1 April 2018 provides a date of 1 May 1785 for Morrison’s death; this is wrong. If the Gibraltar story had been true then Morrison needed to die before May 1783 when his battalion returned from Gibraltar. The Sutherland Fencibles had been disbanded in 1783.
[308] See http://www.melville-connections.co.uk/webpages/gunn.htm accessed 4 April 2018.
[309] 1896 tree.
[310] 1868 and 1870 family trees. See http://clangunn.weebly.com/george-gunn-of-corrish.html.
[311] According to the 1896 tree.
[312] Page 204, D. A. Young, The Book of Lybster.
[313] Page 204, D. A. Young, ibid.
[314] See page 270, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn and pages 120-121, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[315] ‘Gun’ on Page 204, D. A. Young, The Book of Lybster.
[316] Page 126, H. Scott, D.D., Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae: The Succession of Ministers in the Church of Scotland from the Reformation. The 1896 tree has a different order for the children who reach adulthood.
[317] Page 204, D. A. Young, The Book of Lybster.
[318] Page 124, H. Scott, D.D., Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae: The Succession of Ministers in the Church of Scotland from the Reformation.
[319] Page 128, H. Scott, D.D., Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae…
[320] Being from ‘Notes of my Family History’ by the Rev. George Sutherland. Minister of the United Free Church, Mull. 1903/1909.
[321] ‘The Achreny Mission 3. After the Disruption’ - Part 1 by the Rev D W B Somerset at http://www.fpchurch.org.uk/magazines/fpm/2003/November/article3.php accessed 10 August 2018.
The individual chapters can be downloaded as pdfs from latrobe.academia.edu/AlastairGunn
Generation 1, number 1 - Coroner Gunn (Crunar) died 1450s
For his life see chapter 8. As already mentioned, Generation 1, number 1 is reduced to Gunn (1,1) and so on in the lives which follow.
Generation 2, number 2 - James, eldest son of Coroner Gunn b 1420s
We know little of James[1]
So what is known of James (2,2)? Sometime – no later than 1452 - Coroner Gunn died at a battle in or near St Tayres and James was not at the battle, given Sir Robert Gordon’s account which stated that all Gunns there died.[2] If James was the eldest by birth[3] it is possible he was not at the battle of St Tayres as he lived on his own estate. James might, of course, have lived at the castle which went his father’s position, but was not at the battle for other reasons such as being ill on the day.
A birth date for James of around the mid 1420s gives an age of thirty or so for James at his father’s death in the mid 1450s and around thirty is a reasonable time to have moved to one’s own estate. After his father’s death[4] – or before - James settled at rural Killernan[5] in the Parish of Kildonan.[6] Mark Rugg Gunn accepts James ‘may have had a residence there (Sutherland) beforehand (the battle of St Tayre’s) … (but certainly after the battle he had) land at Killernan from Adam Gordon, then Earl of Sutherland’[7] so James Gunn was a tenant of the Sutherland family, like many other people. The vast majority of the Sutherland Estate papers[8] still in existence are from the 1600s on, the paperwork of the earlier times seems not to have survived so we do not know the precise dates nor the nature and size of the wadset which James had. Wadsets are known as early as August 1419[9] so it is quite possible that they applied to the Gunns.
The issue is that we have no idea when the wadset for Killernan and possible associated lands was granted, nor for how long, nor how much James had to pay. It is important to note that the lands were held on a legal base, probably stronger as the years rolled on and the rule of law developed. Was the wadset of Killernan gained by money from the Coroner’s estate?
James T. Calder writes that after St Tayres ‘James Gunn … with his two brothers William and Henry, and a number of followers, removed to Sutherlandshire. The dwelling house … was at Killernan, in the parish of Kildonan’.[10] So James may have provided a home / employment / security for two younger brothers and some other random Gunns, ex servants from the castle perhaps?[11] This all seems quite reasonable, although evidence for Calder’s comment is not known. Note that it is possible more than one son of the Coroner lived and worked at Killernan for at least some period of time; this supports the idea that more than one MacHamish could live and work at Killernan in the following generations.
What is odd is that Gunn myth believers accept James left the castle at Caithness. Why would James leave the supposedly Gunn owned castle and go to Killernan after – or around - the death of his father? James would have owned the castle (and local Gunn land if there had been such a thing) if it had been his father’s (incidentally we know nothing about his mother, the Coroner’s wife) and there is no record – nor mythic report - that the castle was requisitioned, nor that it was destroyed and such events would have been mentioned in Sir Robert Gordon’s history. If the castle had been Gunn owned then James as the eldest son would not have left to establish a new home before his father’s death as he would have stayed in what would be his home in the future; real castles can readily handle several generations at the one time. Younger sons perhaps might leave a castle, not the eldest son. The law of the land was also on James’ side – according to the mythic history the Keiths killing the senior officer of the law (the Coroner) in Caithness would certainly have meant James kept his castle. Scotland – even the Highlands - in the 1450s was a much more civilised place than is suggested by various Gunn myths. James leaving the Castle to live on his own estate is further proof that Coroner Gunn never owned a castle. As already discussed, Coroner Gunn was a tenant - albeit a very important tenant - in a castle tied to his position of Coroner. With his death the castle was no longer able to be lived in by Gunns. The lack of permanency of the castle as home is why James moved. It also explains why members of his family went with him and why, perhaps, some ‘Gunn’ servants and / or farm hands moved with him to Killernan.
The 1896 Gunn family tree gives a date of 1487[12] against James’ name; 1487 might be when he died. The 1896 tree also records him as Cattach, which is more commonly attached to his son William. ‘Cattigh’ is generally viewed as an indicator that they lived in Sutherland.[13] If James did die in 1487 that gives him a lifespan of about sixty years; that’s not impossible but 1487 is just a possibility.
James is an unremarkable character; his invisibility is further proof that MacHamish is not a remarkable title, merely a word of convenience for a member of the family who lived at Killernan. To have a name become a title in following generations one needs to have done famous things but James is just anonymous.
Generation 3, number 3 - William MacHamish Cattigh b 1450s
William MacHamish Cattigh (3,3) was the son of James (2,2) and grandson of Coroner Gunn (1,1). Scottish naming tradition often has the first son named after the paternal grandfather[14] so was William the first name of Coroner Gunn?
Cattigh probably meant a resident of Sutherland. Why did William (3,3) gain the statement of the obvious – he had the wadset of Killernan so obviously lived in Sutherland? Donald Gunn (8,11) who is often called ‘the Scholar’ has a title which seems ironically applied; his August 1638 wadset acquisition of the Kinbrace Estate is signed by him and annotated ‘in my hand’ suggesting that he was barely able to do that but was proud that he could. Was William Cattigh’s (3,3) title equally ironic? In other words, did William (3,3) make too much of living in Sutherland in conversation with others?
There was a William MacHamish at the 1517 battle of Torran Dubh (near Rogart) but William MacHamish Cattigh (3,3) was too old for that battle. William MacHamish Cattigh (3,3) would have been in his mid-sixties. That’s old – and life expectancy of the time was against him.[15] Far more probable is that William (3,3) had a son William (4,4) who fought at Torran Dubh. Both would be MacHamishes. Alternatively, was William MacHamish of Torran Dubh from another branch of the MacHamish family (see chapter 10.1) who also lived at Killernan? Perhaps. Once all members of the family are MacHamishes the ability to say who was definitely where becomes tricky. The battle of Torran Dubh is discussed in the next life, namely William MacHamish (4,4).
William MacHamish Cattigh’s (3,3) son, according to myth, was an Alexander[16] and this Alexander supposedly married Barbara Mackay; she was certainly born around 1570. But William (3,3) was born around 1450 and the Alexander who married Barbara Mackay had to be born say no more than around ten years before his wife so the Alexander who married Barbara Mackay had to be born around 1560 which makes him born a bit over one hundred years after his supposed father. The myth does not work. The Alexander MacDavid Gunn (7,7) who married Barbara Mackay was actually the great great grandson of William MacHamish Cattigh (3,3).
Around William MacHamish Cattigh’s (3,3) time a Law Court was established at Wick in 1503[17]; the Highlands were not as free from law as many Gunn myths demand although the area could be still highly unruly. The Church Sessions also provided ‘justice’ over the centuries.
Overall William MacHamish Cattigh (3,3) has many stories attached to him but they fail under examination.
*****
From William MacHamish (3,3) to William MacHamish (4,4) to Unknown MacHamish (5,5) to David Gunn (6,6) I have presented the line as direct descent from one generation to the next; there is no proof for that idea. It could easily be the most able of the MacHamish family who took on Killernan – many possibilities exist including a younger son, a nephew, a brother when one generation became incapacitated. As well, as shown later with William Beag’s sons, MacHamish direct descent lines die out and so the next most senior line could take over.
Generation 4, number 4 - The next William MacHamish b 1480s
There is record[18] for a ‘William Jameson or William Mackames-Wick-Cruner’ living at Killernan ‘early in the sixteenth century’ and more specifically in 1525. It is possible that this MacHamish was the William[19] who fought at Torran Dubh in 1517. Given the life span of the time it is highly unlikely that William Cattach (3,3) lived long enough to be the William MacHamish who fought at Torran Dubh and was then still alive eight years later, so two William MacHamishes are far more likely. Time could easily merge successive Williams given the vast majority of Scottish Highland history of this time was oral. This William MacHamish (4,4) was perhaps born around 1480 to be old enough to have fought at Torran Dubh and be a witness to a document in 1525.
A William MacHamish at Torran Dubh 1517
The traditional view[20] is that the Torran Dubh battle happened because the new Countess of Sutherland (Elizabeth Sutherland) married Adam Gordon in that year. Adam was the second son of George Gordon Earl of Huntly, who was also Chief of the Clan Sutherland. John Mackay, who was Chief of the Clan Mackay of Strathnaver, did not like that the Gordon children from that marriage would therefore become Earls of Sutherland. So John Mackay invaded Sutherland ‘burning and spoiling all before him’.[21] Mark Rugg Gunn says William ‘led the Clan at Torran Dubh’[22] but this view is not supported by Sir Robert Gordon as he does not mention any Gunns at the Torran Dubh battle other than William who was one of the two subordinate leaders of the ‘the inhabitants of the (Sutherland) county’[23] who fought in the battle.[24] Yes, another ‘Clan Gunn’ battle has no historic support[25] and Sir Robert Gordon had no reason to ignore the ‘Clan Gunn’ if they had been there.
It makes sense for a William to be involved in this battle. Firstly, Chief John Mackay is ‘burning and spoiling all before him’ – the property of Killearnan would have been known so to defeat Mackay before Killernan was destroyed makes sense. And secondly, defending the Countess of Sutherland would help the MacHamishes keep the wadset[26] of Killearnan. In other words, William did not own Killearnan and the actual owner of the property – the Countess of Sutherland – presumably could take it back at any time if she repaid the money wadsetted to her for it.[27] If Killernan Gunns did not fight the Countess of Sutherland’s enemies then one can readily imagine the Killearnan wadset being reversed and Gunns being homeless (albeit wealthy from the repayment). And then where would the Gunns go as the Countess basically owned all the land?
It is not clear when the battle happened, I suspect it was after 6 December. Sir Robert Gordon noted[28] that Adam Gordon Earl of Sutherland went to Edinburgh in 1517 to ‘dispatch some of his affairs which did concerne his estate’. Note the word ‘his’. In the preceding paragraph Sir Robert Gordon discussed the death of John, Lord Gordon at Kinloss in Moray on 5 December 1517. This John, Lord Gordon was Adam Gordon’s nephew being the son of Alexander Gordon, the 3rd Earl of Huntly. It is reasonable to assume that Adam Gordon went to the Kinloss Abbey for the funeral and to Edinburgh for discussion of the impact of the death with family and lawyers. December would explain why his wife stayed at home. A trip to Edinburgh by the Earl in another season would, one suspect, have meant the Countess of Sutherland would also have gone to the capital. As well, the hardships of a Scottish winter could readily encourage men to think of what could be gained by raiding neighbours, at other times crops and animals would need tending; one needs to have someone at home to protect from raiders.
Sir Robert Gordon notes that the battle was a long fight and that the two subordinate leaders (including William) fought until ‘nightfall.’[29] Nightfall on a winter Scottish night is, what, 4pm? And it makes sense, who calls off a battle before it’s dark? No-one in a battle offers an early finish so one can have afternoon tea…
Sir Robert Gordon’s account is questionable as the person who was meant to have led the Countess of Sutherland’s forces seems to have been in prison[30] but whether this was an error or an attempt to inflate the importance of his family is not clear (the supposed leader was the Countess of Sutherland’s half brother). I suspect it to be an error. Why would you try and manipulate a fact which was checkable? To manipulate would be more sensibly done by always giving positive motives to Gordons. But this aspect does not involve the Gunns.
Various oral accounts / songs were around concerning this battle and are mentioned by the Reverend Alexander Sage ‘almost three hundred years later’[31] but these should be ignored as they are too long from the time to be viewed as accurate history. I note these Sage accounts make reference only to Gunns, not ‘Clan Gunn’. And they refer to ‘MacHamish of Sutherland’ not ‘Chief of the Clan Gunn’; if the myth believers want to accept that this battle involved many Gunns then they must also accept there was no ‘Clan Gunn’ and no ‘Clan Gunn Chief’ involvement.
It is to be regretted that Sir Robert Gordon also added to the Gunn / Keith myths[32] by writing ‘William Gunn, son of James, and grandson of the Crowner, intercepted in Sutherland George Keith of Ackergill and his son, with twelve domestics (and) ... cut off the whole party’[33] sometime after 1517. In other words, a William – presumably with others – was meant to have killed Keiths and servants.[34] Given the years this had to be William (4,4) and not William (3,3) as he would have been far too old; the wrong William is the first problem with this account. William (4,4) was the Coroner’s great–grandson. It all is highly unlikely. Firstly, I have already explored how Gunns and Keiths did not have a feud at all, so revenge for a non-existing feud is obviously absurd. See chapter 7. Secondly, the idea that a ‘grandson’ would take revenge for an event which killed his grandfather about seventy years earlier is ludicrous; that’s a huge time gap and meant killing no-one involved in the supposed Keith murder of the Coroner and it also involved killing ‘domestics’ (servants) which seems gratuitously nasty. Thirdly it’s no longer the mid-1450s, time had moved on. Sutherland now had an Earl and laws. One could not just go around murdering assorted people; the Sherriff of Inverness from 1503 was allowed to appoint sub-Sheriffs with courts at Wick and Dornoch[35] so the supposed killing of fourteen people – including powerful people – would certainly have meant the law would have heard of it and a trip to the courts would follow, but there is no mention of that in Sir Robert Gordon’s book. Fourthly, the battle of Torran Dubh was a battle for William to preserve property; why would he then risk losing it by involvement in a pointless feud (especially, as said, when the feud did not exist) – if he did murder these people then his property would have been forfeited to the King. Finally, it is worth noting that the Countess of Sutherland was related through her marriage to Adam Gordon[36] to the Keiths who were Earl Marischals of Scotland; the Keiths of Ackergill being a secondary branch of that family. The idea that William killed relatives of the richest and most powerful person in his area of Scotland is not logical, especially as the Countess owned the land he lived on. As well, it’s the Earl of Caithness who got into lots of trouble about Ackergill and the Keiths (including jailing them) in the 1550s; it’s all recorded[37] and he has to get pardoned by the Queen. If it’s recorded for the Earl of Caithness a few years later an even worse event in killing the Keiths would certainly have made the historic documents. And it’s not in any documents. The whole story just does not ring true; did Sir Robert Gordon just swallow a tall tale and repeat it? I suspect so.
Generation 5, number 5 - Unknown MacHamish b 1510s
We need a new MacHamish around every thirty years; generations roll on.
The next MacHamish[38] could be the anonymous male MacHamish of Sir Robert Gordon’s account. There is a 1542 battle (Aldi-Be-Beth) where a Mack-wic-Kaimes of ‘Killiernan’ is on the side of good and helps attack invading Mackays.[39] Sir Robert Gordon also mentions the work of a MacHamish in keeping out all sorts of undesirables in 1549[40] and he[41] also has a MacHamish of Killearnan involved at the battle of Garvary – but all with no first name. He also has a ‘Mack-wic-Kames’ being one of the leaders at a 1556 battle. These events have no mention of other Gunn involvement; no matter how much mythic Gunn history would like it to be otherwise MacHamish was not a ‘Clan leader / Chief’. This Unknown MacHamish b 1510s was the right age for MacHamish challenges of this time; his father would have been too old.
This MacHamish had a son David Gunn (6,6) born in the 1530s. I am making an assuption David is from Unknown MacHamish but he could be from the following Alexander MacHamish (5).
Generation 5 - Alexander MacHamish, younger brother to Unknown?
There is no number attached to this Alexander MacHamish as he has no known issue.
The preceding Unknown MacHamish (5,5) may have had a brother; there is a record for an Alexander Jameson[42] in Wester Killernan in 1564. Yes, next door to the traditional MacHamish Gunn property of Killernan there lived another MacHamish - Jameson - Gunn and Wester Killernan may have been part of the greater Killernan property. This brother could have been the person who fought in the battles mentioned in the life of Unknown MacHamish (5,5) – or some of the battles as MacHamish is (as already discussed) an anonymous title indicating a person from a particular family. One definite ‘subsidiary’ MacHamish / Jameson – namely this Alexander - shows the term MacHamish is open to all ‘sons’ (and daughters?) of James.
This Alexander could be of generation 6 but I think that unlikely due to the years.
An historical sweep -Much of the Highlands history of the 1500s was caused by the Earl of Caithness, with the help of the Aberach Mackays, being ‘involved’ in Sutherland. Depending on the time (and which Earls) this may be either with or against the Earl of Sutherland.
The Queen Regent visited Inverness in 1556[43] and dispensed judgement; this again showed the Highlands was not a totally lawless world. The Earl of Caithness was jailed (but granted remission according to the Origines Parochiales Scotiae[44]) and the Chief of the Mackays was later captured at the battle of Garvary in consequence of the Queen Regent’s decision, and jailed. A MacHamish was involved in the capture. The Earl of Sutherland was the person who organised the capture of the Mackay Chief. John Leslie’s history records vaguely that the Glengwn (Clan Gunn / Glen Gunn) had ‘done great injures and wrongs to the country of Sutherland nixt adjacent to them … sundry pledges was received for the Glengwn, who was kept in some strengths for their good rule during the Quene regent’s pleasure’.[45] In other words the Queen removed the two main people who were causing the disorder in Caithness and Sutherland. She liked the Earl of Sutherland who worked for her. The Gunns were basically told to ‘behave’. In modern terms it is as though the Queen took out the nasty lot who she blamed namely the MacKays and Caithness, and said now just ‘calm down’ Gunns…
It is not clear which Gunns were involved, nor exactly when, all this happened. As such it is not possible to award these events to a particular MacHamish.
*****
Strathnaver
Many stories exist for how much land Gunns supposedly owned in ‘ancient times.’ They never did. Gunns lived all over the northern Highlands, that was another matter. This included the Province of Strathnaver[46] - which stretched from Eddrachillis in the west though to the north coast through to Bighouse in the east - however much some would like it to have been otherwise.[47]
‘By 1553 the Bishop of Orkney had obtained the overlordship of Strathnaver … and bestowed the heritable use upon the Chief of Mackay… since time immemorial the Chiefs of Mackay had been described in every official document as the rulers of the entire province of Strathnaver.’[48]
Generation 6, number 6 - David MacHamish b 1530s
David MacHamish (6,6) does not appear in the MacHamish mythic stories.
The reason for the first name David is that his son is identified as Alexander MacDavid[49]; see the following life. Obviously, a David MacHamish is therefore needed as his father. Was David (6,6) the elder son of MacHamish (5,5)? Perhaps. Other possibilities exist including that a daughter of an earlier MacHamish married a David Gunn who acquired ‘MacHamish’ by marriage.
It is likely that this David MacHamish is the MacHamish mentioned by Sir Robert Gordon[50] who said that, in 1570, ‘MacHamish of Strathully’ being one of the ‘Earl of Sutherland’s trustiest freinds and followers’ went into ‘into Glengary, his cuntrey.’ The Earl of Sutherland’s friends had to keep low in and around the Highlands of Scotland at this time as the Earl of Caithness was extremely cross with the Earl of Sutherland and that Earl’s supporters / friends, and the Earl of Caithness was the stronger party. It seems the Earl of Caithness had wardship over the Earl of Sutherland until the Earl of Sutherland attained his majority in 1573. There is no suggestion that MacHamish going to ground involved other Gunns. The ‘MacHamish of Strathully’ is unlikely to be the Unknown MacHamish (5,5) b. 1510 as he would have been too old for the Earl of Sutherland.
David MacHamish Gunn had Alexander MacDavid Gunn (7,7) and William Beag Gunn (7,8).
Generation 7, number 7 - Alexander MacDavid Gunn b 1560s, d 1624?
Alexander MacDavid Gunn (7,7) married Barbara Mackay, a daughter from the second marriage of Iye Du Mackay of Farr, 12th of Strathnaver, chief of Clan Mackay.[51]
The Alexander who married Barbara Mackay is twice in The History of the House and Clan Mackay as Alexander MacDavid.[52] Alexander, son of David. David; that name does not appear in any of the traditional lists of MacHamishes. One David mentioned in a book could be a printing error, twice firms the idea that David was the father of Alexander MacDavid Gunn of Killernan (7,7), hence David Gunn (6,6) had to exist. Thomas Sinclair also adds support for the name.[53]
Barbara had a brother Huistean (Hugh) Du Mackay 13th of Strathnaver who is consistently given as born in 1561.[54] Huistean is the first mentioned of that second marriage of his father. A birth year for Barbara of about 1570 is reasonable as The Book of Mackay records[55] her as the fifth and last born of this second marriage. A birth year of c.1560-1570 therefore seems reasonable for Alexander MacDavid (7,7). But it is the definite birth year of about 1570 for Barbara which causes huge problems for some ‘Clan Gunn’ myths.
The first problem is the birth year of around 1560-1570 for Alexander MacDavid (7,7) using his wife’s birth year. As already discussed, Alexander’s (7,7) supposed father[56] for the myth believers was William MacHamish Cattigh (3,3) who has a provisional birth year of around 1450. The problem is obvious; are we meant to believe that William MacHamish Cattigh (3,3) fathered a child when he was a hundred years old? Such a biologically improbable event would be remembered – and it isn’t so remembered. This is just one of the reasons why the Alexander who married Barbara Mackay cannot be the Alexander who was supposedly the son of William MacHamish Cattach / Cattigh (3,3).
And there is more on Alexander MacDavid (7,7) who could also be called Alexander Davidson. Sir Robert Gordon records that an Alexander Davidson was still in Sutherland in 1624.[57] Sinclair also has an excerpt of a document[58] of 21 November 1623 which mentioned ‘Sir Robert Gordon knight-baronet and Alexander Gunn alias Jameson’ which also supports the idea that Alexander lived after 1613.
There is a potential problem with Alexander MacDavid’s (7,7) death year; if Gordon was correct Alexander ‘Davidsone’ Gunn was alive in 1624[59] but his son William Mhor (8) supposedly succeeded to the lands of Killernan in 19 February 1614.[60] Both can’t be right unless Alexander MacDavid passed on the lands early – a possibility. An alternative answer is that old legal documents often have a summary of the contents and date on the outside of closely folded documents, certainly the 1650s ones I have seen from the Sutherland Estate do; it is not unreasonable to assume that William Mhor’s Killernan document was really 1624 as a scribbled 2 or 1 can look similar. All references to this document lack further detail suggesting that all which was read was the exterior. On balance it is reasonable to assume that William Mhor did not inherit Killernan until 1624 or a shade earlier, which would be when his father died. The ‘1614’ document can no longer be found.
Another major problem about the mythic Alexander Gunn is with his supposed children. Traditionally an Alexander MacHamish of Killernan had two sons both called William; the elder was William Mhor / Mor and the younger William Beag / Bheg. That’s very unusual; it is quite possible to name another child with the name of an earlier child who had died but supposedly both William Mor and William Beag lived. Two living children with the same name is, at the very least, extremely rare. I have never heard of it in any use other than with ‘Clan Gunn’ fantasy history. This child problem is added to by the real detail known about Alexander’s (7,7) actual wife but we know absolutely nothing about his supposed second wife. That’s odd; one would expect both wives to be known in similar detail.
Solution? William Mhor (8) was son of Alexander MacDavid (7,7), but William Beag / Bheag (7,8) was the brother of Alexander MacDavid (7,7) and the evidence for this is in their lives in this chapter. Given this, the problem of lack of information of Alexander’s supposed second wife and the ludicrous idea of having two sons alive at the same time and with the same name disappears.
William Mhor (8), the son of Alexander MacDavid (7,7), died without known issue.
*****
Some further history
1) Alexander MacDavid’s (7,7) wife had a brother Huistean[61] (sometimes Uisdean) Du Mackay who was Chief of the Mackays - but he was the first Chief of the Mackay who was a ‘vassal of a feudal overlord’[62] namely the Earl of Huntly originally and later the Earl of Sutherland[63] – and he participated to a degree in the mess which was the attempt by the Earl of Caithness and the Earl of Sutherland in getting rid of the Gunns. This should mainly be viewed as an attempt to deal with the more lawless Braemore Gunn / Caithness Gunns, see chapter 11.1 for more on this family. Sir Robert Gordon pointed out that the attempt to get rid of the Gunns was against ‘chiefly such of that (Gunn) tribe as dwelt in Caithness, because they were judged to be the principal authors of … troubles and commotions….’[64]
2) It is noteworthy that Larence Nowell’s map of Scotland produced sometime between 1561 and 1566 detailed Caithness and Sutherland and showed the major landowners in red - namely the Earl of Caithness, the Earl of Sutherland and the Mackays. The Gunns were not mentioned – the castles of the region are also shown and there is no Gunn castle.[65] Again, proof that the Gunns were of no real importance and that the ‘Gunn castle’ story dealt with in chapter 8.5 is fiction.
3) The Battle of Allt Camhna / Altgown was meant to occur in 1586. It’s another of those Gunn / Mackay battles - or not. Sir Robert Gordon’s account has mention that ‘one of the principalls of the Clangun in Strathnaver called Angus-Roy’ [66]was killed but there is no mention of a Clan Gunn Chief in the battle. Nor do we know anything more about this Angus-Roy.
4) In 1589 a ‘John James-sone’… a principall gentleman of Catteynes’[67] was murdered; here again is a possibility that MacHamish is a title held by more than one person at a time. There is no John at this time in the traditional MacHamish line – and the person was significant in Caithness, not Sutherland. One must consider that not all Jamesons were of the MacHamish line, the further away from Killernan the more questionable the attribution of the MacHamish family identifier….
Generation 7, number 8 - William Beag, brother to Alexander MacDavid. b 1560s
William Beag (7,8) was the second son of David Gunn (6,6).
The 1896 Gunn tree has William Beag[68] (7,8) with a year of 1560 attached, possibly a birth year – Alexander MacDavid (7,7), his brother, has 1551 on the tree. Sir Robert Gordon[69] viewed William Beag as the main person of the Gunns in Sutherland; was Alexander MacDavid (7,7) more the quiet farmer? Crucially the 1896 tree also gives a year of 1590 to William Mhor (8). Now we can quibble as to the full accuracy of the years shown but what is important is the generational difference implied by the thirty years gap between William Beag (7,8) and his nephew William Mhor (8).
The Book of Mackay[70] records for 1589 that a ‘MacHamish Gunn of Killearnan again wasted Caithness with great ferocity’. This claim is of interest – I ignore the ‘of’ in ‘of Killernan’ as perhaps being an error - but it is not clear that the MacHamish was William Beag (7,8). It might have been his brother Alexander MacDavid (7,7) but, given William Beag’s (7,8) known later violent history, it is reasonable to assume it was William Beag (7,8). If these raids were on behalf of the Earl of Sutherland that would also suit William Beag’s (7,8) later actions.
The generational difference between William Beag (7,8) and William Mhor (8) is clearly shown by history – Sir Robert Gordon[71] records a William-Mack-wickames as the leader of forces the Earl of Sutherland sent to the Isle of Lewis around year 1600 / 1601.[72] The Earl of Sutherland’s force were part of a greater body to dispossess the islanders (‘genocide’ in Ian Grimble’s view[73] - legitimately as they could use ‘slaughter, mutilation, fire-raising or other inconveniences’[74] as these forces had the King of Scotland on their side[75]). Being leader suggests this William MacHamish was a fighter / planner of experience. This William has to be of an older generation than William Mhor (8) as William Mhor (8) could only have been about ten years old in 1600 as, already discussed, his mother was born around 1570.[76] There is no mention of other Gunns on the Isle of Lewis expedition, this activity is more a profession for William Beag (7,8). Again, we have MacHamish as a family indicator not a title held by one person.
Gordon has William Gun-Mack-wic-Kames ‘Killeirnan’ in July 1601[77] in action on the side of the Earl of Sutherland against the Earl of Caithness. This William was not part of the main force, he was in charge ‘with some of the Gordons … sent to draw a circuit about, and secretly to compasse the enemie, thereby to invade them at their backs.’[78] The Earl of Sutherland’s side won the battle. Again this was a William MacHamish with no mention of other Gunns; it is not a ‘Gunn clan’ battle. Again, this MacHamish seems a professional fighter and again this William MacHamish can not be William Mhor (8) as William Mhor (8) would be too young so presumably it was William Beag (7,8).
The 13th of February 1602 had[79] Earl John Gordon (c.1576-1615) of Sutherland and others visit a MacHamish in / of Killernan via the Glen of Loth; a snow storm hit them and those that drank whisky died but the Earl and some others survived. Given his work for the Earl of Sutherland in 1600 and 1601 I suspect the Earl visited William Beag (7,8); William Mhor (8) would have been too young to be visited by the Earl of Sutherland whereas the Earl had already had much business with the older William Beag (7,8).
There was violence in 1617 and 1620 (documented in 1624) which goes with William Beag‘s (7,8) warlike behaviour; for the 1620 / 1624 event see the documentary discussion in Alexander of Killernan and of Navidale’s (8,9) life. William Beag (7,8) was the right age and had adult sons with the correct names by 1617 and 1620 for these documents to apply to them and him. The sons were his eldest Alexander of Killernan and of Navidale (8,9) and his second son John (8,10) in Navidale of Borroble. Both Alexander (8,9) and John (8,10) were probably born in the 1590s. William Mhor (8) was born in about 1590 so he was too young to have adult sons in 1617 / 1620 although the myths have it otherwise.[80]
Some of the history attributed to William Mhor (8) is unsavoury and actually applied to William Beag (7,8).[81] Mark Rugg Gunn records an October 1617 incident where a ‘William Jameson in Killearnan and his son Alexander ‘in’ Borrobill (Borrobol) (and) John Jameson in Suisgill’ attack, with others, James Ross, the third son of the Laird of Balmucky. His source is unknown. William Beag (7,8) was always in Killernan and his eldest son was Alexander (8,9) and his second son was John – but he may not be John Jameson in Suisgill. Given William Mhor’s (8) approximate birth year meant having an adult son helping him be violent in 1617 is impossible. Even more so when the adult son was old enough to be living away from home ‘in’ Borroble which was a linked Gunn of Killernan property seemingly held by the next adult in line to Killernan. I suspect it was a separate Gunn property as I discuss in the life of George Gunn of Borroble (9,16). Note, again, how two William MacHamishes exist at the same time; MacHamish is only a family indicator.
A 1624 writ[82] includes mention of ‘John Jameson, Alister Jameson … Alister MacAlister Jameson … in Strathullie’ who were criminal and robbers; again we have more than one Jameson, but it is unclear if these were MacHamishes. And more than one MacHamish / Jameson family could easily have lived on the Killernan estate;[83] the assumption that only one family lived on it at any one time is a modern, flawed one. The ability to say that any particular MacHamish / Jameson of Killernan did something is often not possible due to the way MacHamish applied to many people at the same time.
William Beag (7,8) was, as already said, brother to Alexander MacDavid MacHamish (7,7) who married Barbara Mackay. This would explain William being at Killernan as close family could sensibly be of use on the estate. As well, it might explain why he was active in battle; he was not meant to inherit Killernan so was establishing a different career of ‘adventurer’. He may also have just been of a more aggressive temperament. It is not clear when William Beag died.
But crucially it’s William Beag (7,8) who was the founder of the Gunns of Killernan and Navidale after his nephew William Mhor (8) died without known issue.
William Beag’s (7,8) four sons (I note how few females were allowed to remain in Gunn history, are some missing here?) were –
1. Alexander Killernan Gunn (8,9)
2. John in Navidale of Borroble Gunn (8,10)
3. Donald the Scholar of Kinbrace Gunn (8,11)
4. William of Acheneccan Gunn (8,12)
The 1870 family tree has Donald the Scholar (8,11) and William of Acheneccan (8,12) as descendants of William Beag (7,8) including links down to Alexander ‘Osclay’ Gunn (11,31). The Sutherland Estate documents[84] of the 1671-1679 period clearly show, several times, a descent line involving various of these Gunns of Killernan and Navidale including their relationships to each other and properties / estates attached to them. These are legal documents of the time and so the order has to be accepted. The evidence is mainly shown in the lives of those sons. The descent order for William Beag’s (7,8) eldest son Alexander Killernan Gunn (8,9) was, and the relationship is that given in the Sutherland Estate documents -
1. William Gunn (7,8) ‘grandfather’ with no ‘of’ place attached to his name in any document.
2. Alexander Gunn (8,9) ‘of Navidaill’ ‘his (meaning the below John’s) father’. And from another document ‘of Killernan.’
3. John Gunn (9,13) ‘lawful son’ ‘of Killernan.’ In a 1679 document he was ‘of Navidaill’ at the time his son was ‘of Killernan.’
4. Alexander Gunn (10) ‘son to the said John Gunn’ and ‘eldest lawful son’ suggesting at least two further sons. He was ‘of Killernan.’ Now, both this Alexander and his father are identified as ‘principalls’ in a 1671 legal document; due to Scottish law this means that he may have been an adult at that time, but he could also have have been an adolescent.
As said, these documents all start with a William who was never ‘of’ a place. There is only one person this lack ‘of’ place names works with and that’s William Beag (7,8) as he was never the most senior person of an Estate. By implication it suggests that William Beag (7,8) was either dead, or frail, by the time of William Mhor’s (8) death as otherwise William Beag (7,8) would have been of Navidale and / or of Killernan. This makes sense – William Beag (7,8) was a generation older than William Mhor (8). William Mhor (8) had inherited Killernan and so should be in these Sutherland estate legal documents as ‘of’ Killernan if they applied to his children; the documents therefore prove William Mhor (8) did not have issue who survived as he does not appear in these documents and he should if he had children who inherited the property after him. With the lack of any known descent from William Mhor (8) – but primary documents clearly show the MacHamishes ‘of Killernan’ continued – the only possibility is that the descendants from William Beag (7,8) took over Killernan / Navidale. I suspect William Mhor (8) died around 1635 as William Beag’s (7,8) eldest son Alexander (8,9) took over Killernan before 1636. Did William Beag’s (7,8) military work for the Earl of Sutherland help make the transfer of Killernan easier or was it just a normal transition of the property going to the next most senior line?
The mythic idea that William Beag (7,8) was younger brother to William Mhor (8) is absurd not least as William Beag had to be, at the very least, the elder brother of William Mhor (a senior William MacHamish on the Isle of Lewis would work) but then William Beag (7,8) would have inherited Killernan as he would have been the elder son which he did not so do. The only logic which works is that William Beag (7,8) was uncle to William Mhor (8). Other problems with the idea that William Mohr (8) and Willam Beag (7,8) were brothers were discussed in Alexander MacDavid Gunn’s life (7,7) in this chapter. But is the story of William Mhor (8) and William Beag (7,8) being brothers based on confused oral history concerning how William Beag’s (7,8) family took over Navidale and Killernan after William Mhor (8) died?
The guarantors of one of the documents for John Gunn (9,13) and his son Alexander (10) being the last two generations given in the NLS documents include Learable Gunns, I have no exact idea how they fit in but they were surely MacHamish linked given how close Learable is to Kildonan, Killernan, Borrobol and Kinbrace. The other Gunn guarantors were Donald Gunn of Kinbrace ‘the Scholar’ (8,11), and George Gunn of Borroble (9,16) who was John Gunn in Navidale’s (8,10) son so adding support for the idea that Learable Gunns were MacHamish linked.
William Beag’s (7,8) third son Donald the Scholar (8,11) had the wadset of Kinbrace in August 1638; this is certainly after the Beag line took over the Killernan / Navidale property which happened before 1636. Such Killernan / Navidale property would explain how the money was found for Kinbrace. The mythic story that William Mhor (8) gave Kinbrace to his supposed ‘younger brother’ William Beag (7,8)[85] is wrong. But what if there was some truth behind the story namely that William Beag (7,8) organised Kinbrace to go to his younger son Donald the Scholar (8,11) in 1638 and the idea just got a little confused over time. Donald (8,11) certainly got Kinbrace in 1638 – I have a copy of the wadset document.
Generation 8
Generation 8 - William ‘Mhor / Mor’ Gunn b. 1590? Alive 1624. Dwi.
As already discussed, William’s (8) mother Barbara MacKay was born around 1570 and his father Alexander MacDavid (7,7) was born perhaps a few years earlier than his wife. This gives William (8) an approximate birth year of 1590 which matches the 1590 date on the 1896 Gunn tree. William Mhor (8) is recorded[86] as ‘William Macallister’ (son of Alexander) in The Book of Mackay which also records that William MacAllister succeeded to the lands of Killearnan 19 February 1614[87] but, as already discussed in his father’s life, it’s far more likely to be 1624.
A William MacHamish of Killernan was seriously involved[88] – with many others - in a September 1623 battle against the Earl of Caithness; a company of the ‘Clangun’ were involved but they were not part of the troops led by William MacHamish. This William MacHamish may have been William Mhor (8) but it could, just, be William Beag (7,8). It could also be another William MacHamish living at Killernan. The ‘of’ has to be viewed as questionable; 1623 was probably when no William was legally ‘of Killernan’ as William Mhor’s father was probably still alive. If William Mhor (8) was the person meant perhaps he was given an honorary ‘of Killernan’ as his father was frail or dead given William Mhor (8) inherited his father’s land the following year.
There are myths attached to William Mhor (8) and his supposed descendants. These stories fail mainly because of William Mhor’s (8) birth year of about 1590. One problem, already discussed, is shown by Mark Rugg Gunn[89] who wrote William Mhor (8) assisted ‘adventurers / settlers’ on the Isle of Lewis – but these events happened in 1601[90] when William Mhor (8) would be about ten years old. This error was probably caused by the belief that only one person could be a MacHamish at one time - Sir Robert Gordon had William Gun-Mack-wic-Kames Killeirnan (William Mhor was not mentioned) on the Isle of Lewis but in later books this William MacHamish somehow became specifically William Mhor (8). The William MacHamish on the Isle of Lewis was probably William Beag (7,8). Further William Mhor (8) problems including the idea that William Mhor (8) gave ‘Kinbrace to his younger brother William Beag, on wadset of 500 merks’[91] have been discussed in William Beag’s (7,8) life.
This leaves William Mhor (8) with no documentary support other than for who his parents were and that he inherited Killernan in 1624. There is no record of marriage nor children; real MacHamish history therefore does not involve descendants from William Mhor (8). But the MacHamishes continued as discussed in William Beag’s life (7,8) – Alexander Gunn (8,9) was of Killernan by 1636 so William Mhor (8) had to be dead by then.
Generation 8, number 9 - Alexander of Killernan and of Navidale dead by 1658
Alexander of Killernan and of Navidale[92] (8,9) was the eldest son of William Beag (7,8). Alexander (8,9) would have had to be born around 1590 as his father had to be born in the 1560s or so. He was first cousin of William Mhor (8) and presumably took over at Killernan following William Mhor’s (8) death. He was of Killernan by 1636.
There is a 1617 criminal record[93] for William Beag (7,8) ‘in’ Killernan and Alexander Gunn (8,9) in ‘Borrobill’ his son. William Beag (7,8) and (presumably at least some of his) children were in ‘Killernan’ but the most senior child from William Beag (7,8) was at Borroble; as mentioned earlier Borroble was where the Gunn who would inherit Killernan lived. It is possible that originally Borroble may have been part of the extended Killernan lands – if so we do not know when it was separated from the Killernan property but it was separated by the time of George Gunn (9,16) of Borrobol. Alexander’s (8,9) ‘in’ should be considered with care; without sighting the original documents the word could be a writing / printing mistake for ‘of’; to restate ‘of’ means ‘owns / or the wadsetter’ with ‘in’ having a secondary place as in you lived at that property but it was not yours.
Alexander (8,9) was involved with criminal behaviour along with his brother John (8,10) - a record of complaint[94] exists against Alexander MacHamish (8,9) and John MacHamish (8,10) dated 14 June 1624[95] concerning an event of January 1620 – the complaint says that ‘John M’Keymes in Navidale, and … Alest M’Keymes[96] his brother ... took and led me captive as their bond slave, and abused myself… John MacHamish and Alexander MacHamish (also) … took away most wrongfully the whole of my property’. So, two people were MacHamishes in this complaint, again proof that MacHamish was not a title held by a single person. The placement of John (8,10) first might reflect who was the nastier. John (8,10) being ‘in Navidale’ by 1620 is of interest; it is possible he had rented some of Navidale as a tenant.
Sir Alexander Gordon was ‘of’ Navidale from at least 1616[97] until at least August 1631[98] when he retired to Ireland as he was Catholic, but the 1631 ‘of’ may have been an historic leftover.[99] D. M Rose[100] says that Sir Alexander Gordon of Navidale granted in 1636 a ‘bond for £800 in favour of Alexander of Killernan … in that way the Gunns got Navidale.’[101] This provides the evidence that Alexander was ‘of Killernan’ before 1636. The document is confusing; a person taking over land either paid a wadset in advance of say £800 or signed a tack indicating the amount of money they would pay each year and how they would pay it, so it is more likely Alexander Gunn (8,9) paid Sir Alexander Gordon the sum of £800 rather than the reverse. 1636 works for why Sir Alexander Gordon would wadset the estate as he had left the country - and he was of the Gordons who owned Sutherland so had the ability to rent out Navidale. 1636 works well for Alexander (8,9) as he had taken over Killernan a little before this Navidale acquisition. Alexander’s third brother Donald the Scholar (8,11) acquired Kinbrace in 1638 - both the Navidale and Kinbrace acquisitions suggest that the Killernan and / or William Beag’s (7,8) money had not run out.
In August 1643 Alexander (8,9), was mentioned, along with other important people such as the Earl of Sutherland, in an Act of Parliament as ‘Alexander Gun of Calelnan.’[102] Alexander (8,9) also acted as witness[103] in a legal document 12 January 1644; again he was ‘of Killernan’. A further 1649 Act[104] again mentioned him being ‘of Killernan’, it also mentioned his brother John Gunn (8,10) of ‘Barraboll’ (Borrobool) – no longer ‘in Navidale.’ So they were both people of significance.
A Sutherland Estate document[105] recorded a joint contract (bond) of 1652 between ‘Alexander Gunn of Killernan’ (8,9) and ‘John Gunn of Borboll’ (8,10) with the Duke of Sutherland. Note both Alexander and John were ‘of’ – but Alexander was ‘of Killernan’ and listed first. That suggests he was the more important brother. But John being ‘of Borboll’ clearly shows the Borrobol Estate was separate from the Killernan wadset. Now, you don’t hold a joint, major contract in the mid 1600s with the Duke of Sutherland unless you are very closely related.[106] Lands mentioned included Killernan, Borboll, Learable and AuldBreakachie. Learable is interesting as it adds further to the idea that MacHamish Gunns have some link there but, as said, the nature of the link is not known. The writing of the document is fairly indecipherable but it might have something to do with the Borrobol Estate.
Marriage. Did Alexander get Killernan because of the importance of his marriage rather than because he was the senior son? Perhaps, and of course both reasons might apply. Alexander married Dame Mary Lady Foulis[107] whose first husband died April 1635[108] so Alexander’s marriage to her was obviously after that date. Dame Mary’s first husband was Sir Hector Munro 1st Baronet of Foulis and they married in July 1619[109] and so she would have been born around the same period as her husband namely 1600. This means the children from this Gunn marriage were born at the earliest to a mid thirty year old mother.
As already mentioned, Sir Alexander Gordon passed over Navidale Estate – and presumably Easter Balivanich - in 1636 to Alexander ‘of Killernan’. Given that could have been the year after Alexander’s marriage it suggests Navidale may have been bought by money Dame Mary Lady Foulis bought to the marriage. It has been wrongly suggested that she was given the lands of Navidale and Easter Balavanich in 1668 by her husband. That is inaccurate - it is their son Alexander (9) and his wife Christina Mackay to whom the 1668 document applies. Proof? Alexander (8,9) and Dame Mary Foulis are both dead by 1658.[110] As well, the 1658 document includes the name of ‘Christina Mackay’ who is the known wife of Alexander (9) of the next generation. Secondly Dame Mary Lady Foulis’ husband Alexander (8,9) is shown to be dead before 27 January 1666[111] in a second National Records of Scotland document.
The children of Alexander ‘Killernan’ Gunn (8,9) were
· John ‘Killernan’ Gunn (9,13)
· Catherine Gunn (9,14)
· Alexander Gunn (9) who married Christina / Christiana Mackay before 1668. Probably lived at Navidale. Died without known issue.
· Donald Crotach Gunn (9,15)
Generation 8, number 10 - John MacHamish in Navidale of Borroble. Alive 1652
The John Gunn (8,10) who was brother to Alexander (8,9) is poorly known; he was, as already noted, not the grandson of William Mhor (8) but a son of William Beag (7,8). He must not be confused with his nephew John Gunn (9,13), the senior son of Alexander (8,9).
As already discussed John (8,10) was ‘in’ Navidale’ in 1620 when he committed criminal activity. The 1624 document about the 1620 violence lists John (8,10), then Alexander (8,9). This is the reason John (8,10) has been viewed as the senior of the two brothers as shown by Mark Rugg Gunn[112] who wrote of the 1624 document that ‘This would seem to support the suggestion that John followed William Mhor…’. As already discussed, the wrong William is suggested here; it’s really William Beag (7,8) not William Mhor (8). It is not clear whether John (8,10) or Alexander (8,9) was technically senior; it is however clear that Alexander (8,9) took over Killernan which makes it reasonable to assume that Alexander (8,9) was the eldest son of William Beag (8,9).
A 1649 Act[113] of Parliament mentioned John Gunn (8,10) of Borrobol. The ‘of’ is important as it is a significant legal document; he is part of a major committee with his brother, they are both respected figures. And the ‘of’ shows it was his estate, not a part of Killernan. He was, as mentioned in the previous entry, alive in 1652. The 1652 document has the senior MacHamish at Killernan, being Alexander (8,9), and the next senior line John MacHamish (8,10) ‘of Borrobill’.
John (8,10) and Alexander (8,9) are certainly brothers; as discussed in the preceding section on Alexander (8,9) the Sutherland Estate papers make it logical to assume so. Alexander (8,9) presumably moved from Borroble to take over Killernan when that became available (presumably after William Mhor’s (8) death or incapacity), then it is reasonable to assume the next senior Gunn - John (8,10) – moved into Borroble.
It has been suggested[114] that John (8,10) married Catherine / Katherine Sinclair, daughter of Francis Sinclair fiar of Dun. This is an error, Catherine married John Gunn of Killernan (9,13) as I discuss in his life.
John (8,10) had George Gunn of Borroble (9,16).
Generation 8, number 11 - Donald the Scholar, Kinbrace / Osclay lines
William Beag (7,8) had at least four sons; the elder sons Alexander (8,9) and John (8,10) take over at Killernan and Borrobol after the death of William Mhor (8) without children and have already been discussed.
William Beag (7,8) also had Donald the Scholar (8,11) and William of Acheneccan (8,12). I suspect this is the right order due to the logic that the more senior sons would take over the main properties of Killernan and Borrobol. The third son Donald the Scholar had access to money (some Killernan Estate money?) to buy the wadset of Kinbrace (Kinbrays in the Sutherland estate documents of the time) and the final son William seemed to have lived at Acheneccan (Achneakin) which was a minor part of the Kinbrace Estate in 1810 and I suspect earlier.[115] It is the descendants of Donald the Scholar (8,11) and William of Acheneccan (8,12) which have been confused or wrongly placed in previous family trees and histories.
William Beag’s (7,8) third son Donald the Scholar of Kinbrace’s[116] (8,11) had –
· William Gunn of Kinbrace (9,17) who had
· Adam Gunn of Kinbrace (10,25) who had
· William Gunn (11,34) - who gave up Kinbrace – who had three sons,
o Adam Mulbuie Houstry (12,52) d 1776 and from whom came Rev Robert Gunn of Latheron with much issue),
o Robert (12,53) with issue.
o John Houstry Dunbeath (12,54) d 1780. John (12,54) married Margaret Gunn[117] (10,23) who was the daughter of ‘Chief’ Donald Crotach Gunn (9,15). Lord Lyon Sellar accepted[118] that a daughter of ‘Chief’ Donald Crotach Gunn (9,15) married a John Gunn ‘of or in’ Kinbrace.[119] Presumably John (12,54) was ‘in Kinbrace’ before his father gave up the estate. John (12,54) and Margaret’s (10,23) marriage is logical with William Beag’s (7,8) children taking over Killernan; it explains how they knew each other (they shared an ancestor). John (12,54) and Margaret (10,23) had
§ Alexander[120] (11,31 using Margaret’s descent numbers) farmer at Osclay who had many children including
· Catherine (12,38) who married Donald Gunn of Braehour and Brawlbin (13,65). There were many descendants, see Appendix 1.
Proof? Sutherland Estate documents in the National Library of Scotland
The Kinbrace Estate ownership is clearly shown in Sutherland Estate documents[121] held in the National Library of Scotland. This means we have primary source proof, as these documents are legal documents of the time, of the following –
1. Donald Gunn (8,11) was of Kinbrace by August 1638. He was called Donald the Scholar possibly ironically; his signature of ‘D Gune’ is followed by ‘in my hand’.
2. His son was William Gunn (9,17) of Kinbrace who also gained the lands of Achnahow in 1658. He was still of Kinbrace in 1672. His wife may have been Anna Cordover. He may have been ‘in Knockfinn’ before becoming ‘of Kinbrace’.
3. Adam Gunn (10,25) was son of William (9,17) of Kinbrace by 1678. He has been missing from the history texts. Dead by 1709? [122]
4. William Gunn (11,34) was son of the above Adam Gunn (10,25). He gave up (‘discharge’) the wadset of Kinbrace and Achnahow[123] in 1714.[124] His wife was probably Anna Sutherland.[125] They did not get on well, this was the basic cause of giving up the estate – a divorce, perhaps, in all but name?
So the Kinbrace ownership using National Library of Scotland documents was Donald Gunn (8,11) – William Gunn (9,17) – Adam Gunn (10,25) – William Gunn (11,34) who gave up Kinbrace.[126] By 1812 a Lieutenant William Gunn[127] has the wadset of the Kinbrace, Shinachy, Achneakan and Achnahow Estate but his family is not known.
The 1896 tree
The 1896 tree is, as already stated, by Captain Gunn Braehour, an acknowledged Clan Gunn historian[128] and son of Donald Gunn (13,65) the sennachy of the ‘Clan.’ Of real significance – as it shows his lack of bias – in that when this tree was written there was no idea that the female Gunn line was of any potential importance.
This tree has three Kinbrace owners in the order given by the NLS Sutherland Estate papers - namely William (9,17) 1650; who had son Adam Gunn (10,25) ‘Badenloch Kildonan and Kinbrace’ 1709 (the date matching the Sutherland Estate document) who had William (11,34) who gave up Kinbrace. The tree has an extra generation of an Adam after Donald the Scholar (8,11). No other Gunn history / genealogy gives this Adam any support so the Adam after Donald the Scholar (8,11) seems unlikely. Even if this extra Adam was correct the descent from Donald the Scholar (8,11) would still apply.
Living Memory
The William who gave up Kinbrace - and which the NLS Sutherland Estate documents fully supports - is four generations from Captain Gunn Braehour who drew up the 1896 tree, or three from his father Donald Gunn (13,65) the sennachy. Three generations is living memory for normal people today – that just gets you to your great grandparents. Three generations for an expert such as Donald Gunn (13,65) has to be viewed as child’s play. For Captain Gunn Braehour it is also impossible to believe he would be wrong for these four living memory generations especially as the accuracy of his tree after these generations is shown to be true as the NLS Sutherland Estate documents prove that what he drew up was accurate.
The 1896 tree shows the Captain’s mother was Catherine Gunn of Osclay (12,38) (who married Donald Gunn (13,65) of Braehour) and that she was the eldest child of Alexander Gunn of Osclay (11,31). (Further Osclay descendants as well as the Gunn who wrote the 1868 tree and 1870 tree, possibly include the Australian pioneer writer Mrs Aeneas Gunn[129] who was probably married to an Osclay Gunn.) This Alexander Gunn (11,31) of Osclay’s father was John ‘Houstry and Dunbeath’ Gunn (12,54) who was at one time ‘in Kinbrace’. Yes, the generation and numbers are correct but look wrong as the Osclay line descends from two lines of Coroner Gunn and I have only used the more direct line for numbering and generation purposes as it makes the process simpler to understand.
This marriage is of real importance in MacHamish Gunn history as John Houstry Dunbeath Gunn (12,54) was not merely a descendant of William Beag (7,8), but John (12,54) married Margaret Gunn (10,23) daughter of ‘Chief’ Donald Crotach Gunn (9,15). As already noted Lord Lyon[130] has accepted that an ‘unknown daughter of Chief Donald Crotach Gunn married John Gunn in Kinbrace’. So descendants of this marriage are twice descended from the Coroner. A third descent from the Coroner exists for one branch of the Osclay line, namely that from Catherine Gunn (12,38) of Osclay who married Donald Gunn of Braehour, Sennachy (13,65). See Appendix 1.
Further support for MacHamish Kinbrace descent
Further support – in one way or another - for Kinbrace Osclay line descent from the MacHamish line can be found.
Evidence is available on the 1868 and 1870 family trees; the 1868 tree in particular has John of Kinbrace marrying a daughter of Donald of ‘Kildonan’; ‘Kildonan’ is just a transcription error for Killernan. That is close to John ‘Houstry Dunbeath’ Gunn (12,54) – his father being of Kinbrace – marrying Margaret Gunn (10,23) daughter of Donald Crotach Gunn of Killernan (9,15). Yes, it’s not exactly the same, but it is supportive of the idea.
Other evidence can be found on Thomas Sinclair pages 111, 120-121, 126, 149 and 150. As well, Thomas Sinclair’s Supplement 31 quotes from the Sage Gunn history that ‘From William M’Hamish the son of (James) the coroner were descended two sons, both of them being called William, being by two marriages. The first was called Big William, and the second Little William. The latter was the ancestor of Gunns of Kinbrace… ‘[131] Here both William Mhor (8) and William Beag (7,8) are down as being both descended from William Cattaigh (3,3), which is partially right. Sinclair’s supplement 30 also provides support.
Mark Rugg Gunn pages 186-187 writes semi-accurately about William Beag (7,8) having two sons Donald the Scholar (8,11) and a William in Kinbrace. The William in Kinbrace (9,17) he meant was the son of Donald the Scholar (8,11) and not the brother. William Gunn (9,17) who had the wadset of Kinbrace married a Sutherland of Langwell according to Rugg Gunn – she is also mentioned as William Gunn’s (9,17) spouse in NLS Sutherland Estate Document Folio 218 deposit 313 / 208. Rugg Gunn’s page 270 has William Beag’s (7,8) descendants from William Beag to Gunns in Osclay from the William in Kinbrace (9,17) wrongly down as brother to Donald the Scholar (8,11).
The key point for all of these bits of evidence is the link to William Beag (7,8) for Kinbrace Gunns; although they may disagree on detail the point is the same – Kinbrace Gunns have descent from William Beag (7,8).
Other
At various times and various places Mulbuie Gunns are shown with descent from Donald the Scholar (8,11) – there was obviously strong belief that Mulbuie Gunns were of importance. Mark Rugg Gunn[132] has ‘Adam of Milbuie’ being the oldest son of Donald the Scholar (8,11). This probably reflected Thomas Sinclair[133] who had this view (and this is not from the ‘Appendix’ section where he used in effect the 1868 / 1870 trees so his source for his Mulbuie view was from elsewhere). The 1868 / 70 tree also has the view that Adam ‘Milbuie’ was a son of Donald the Scholar (8,11).
Now the identification of Mulbuie Gunn with Donald Gunn the scholar (8,11) is correct but the Adam is wildly in the wrong generation. Donald’s son was William ‘Kinbrace’ Gunn (9,17) - Adam Gunn of Mulbuie is actually Adam ‘Houstry’ Gunn (12,52) and this Adam (12,52) is clearly identified as ‘of Mulbuie’ in The Book of Lybster[134] which then identified a son as the Rev Robert Gunn (13,68) who had many children. Adam (12,52) in fact had two Reverends as sons; one feels a religious family with a sense of their family history and of local importance especially of the Rev Robert Gunn (13,68) – see his life - hence the attachment of ‘Mulbuie Gunns’ to Donald the Scholar’s line.
Again, Donald the Scholar’s line is not extinct.
*****
Thomas Wilson takes over Kinbrace in 1735. I suspect other Gunns take Kinbrace over after him, notably the Leveson – Gower - Gunn family one of whom was a claimant for the ‘Chief of Clan Gunn’ in the late 1960s to early 1970s.
Generation 8, number 12 - William Acheneccan / Acanaichan line
There has been much confusion in trees and histories about Donald the Scholar’s (8,11) line (of Kinbrace) and that of his younger brother William of Acheneccan / Acanaichan / Achneakin’s (8,12) line.
Achneakin was part of the greater Kinbrace in the early 1800s; it is described as ‘Kinbrace Shinachy Achneakans (Acheneccan) and Achnahow’ by 1811.[135] Acheneccan was probably therefore part of the Kinbrace estate at an earlier time. It adds support for the Kinbrace Estate going to Donald (8,11) as the third main estate of the Gunns and his younger brother being settled on a minor part of that Kinbrace estate.
This means William Beag Gunn’s (7,8) fourth son was William (8,12) with descendants in Acheneccan. The exact descendant sequence of names can be disputed but there were many descendants in the 1800s. Some of these descendants can be seen on the 1868, 1870 and 1896 trees and on the internet.[136] There are descendants alive today.
The Rev. Donald Sage’s view[137] is - ‘Robert Gunn of Achaneccan was another of the old men of my youthful remembrance. He was the acknowledged lineal descendant and representative of the Chiefs of the Clan Gunn in the Parish … He was a gentleman-like old man, who had been much in good society, and had received a somewhat liberal education. His descendants are still to be found here and there in the county of Caithness.’ The key point is that the Rev. Donald Sage accepted the Achaneccan line as an ‘acknowledged lineal descendant and representative of the Chiefs of the Clan Gunn’.
The 1868 tree for William of Acheneccan[138] (8,12) is –
1. William settled in Achanaichan. (8,12)
2. Had a son Donald. (9,18)
3. This Donald had a son William. (10,26)
4. This William had a son Robert. (11,35)
5. This Robert had a son William. (12,55)
6. This William had a son Robert the Senachie (13,70) 1806. Married twice
7. Robert (13,70) had four sons (order not given), perhaps more…
Robert’s (13,70) sons probably were
· Alexander (14,i) merchant in Thurso who had son Robert in London 1869
· John DWI (from ‘rough copy’). Was he really James?
· William Gunn (14,ii) who had William Gunn Officer Durness who had William Factor at Castle Leod.
· David Catechist (14,iii) died at Olgrinbeg, who had son John
Generation 9
Generation 9, number 13 - John Gunn of Killernan and Navidale
The first son of Alexander (8,9) was John Gunn (9,13) of Killernan who progressively bankrupted Killernan and Navidale. More Sutherland Estate documents are around for Navidale than Killernan in his time; did he live more at Navidale on the coast rather than the harsher inland which might be left to a younger generation? John’s (9,13) mother’s first husband died in 1635, so John (9,13) has to be born no earlier than about 1636. He is barely – and confusingly - mentioned in the mythic history.
He is mentioned as cautioner and heir apparent to Killernan in a marriage document[139] of September 1652; his father Alexander was alive at that date as John was only ‘heir apparent’. Scottish law did allow for under twenty-one year olds to be part of legal contracts.[140]
The National Records of Scotland has a May 1658 record[141] for John Gunn of Killernan.[142] His sister Catherine (9,14) is also mentioned, as are their parents Alexander Gunn (8,9) and Dame Mary Mackay Lady Foulis (Fowlis) who are both specifically noted as dead so John was head of the Killernan Gunns as the record makes clear. Given John is ‘of Killernan’ in the document it is probable he was over twenty-one years of age but he may have been younger.[143] It is possible he was senior to his sister but that is an assumption.[144]
By implication of John (9,13) being head of the family, all children were from from Alexander’s (8,9) marriage[145] to Dame Mary Mackay Lady Fowlis or otherwise John (9,13) would not have been head of the family. There is a story[146] that this marriage was the second for Alexander; the National Record of Scotland document clearly shows that if such was the case no male child survived from that first marriage as such a male child would have been the head of the Killernan Gunns, not John (9,13). The lack of any documentary support for an earlier marriage also makes it a questionable event.
A 26 April 1670 document[147] notes that this John Gunn (9,13) was heir of Alexander Gunn (8,9) and that the lands held by John (9,13) included Killernan, Navidale and ‘Balnavaliache’.
Marriage
Mark Rugg Gunn has the earlier John Gunn (8,10) - the never ‘of’ Killernan but ‘in’ Navidale and of Borroble - marrying ‘Catherine[148] only daughter of Francis Sinclair, fiar of Dun and his wife Jean, daughter of John Sinclair of Ulbster. That’s an error. Consider an approximate marriage year for Catherine. Her grandfather David Sinclair first married in 1606.[149] This suggests a birth year for her father, who was the eldest child, of no earlier than the mid 1620s. In consequence Catherine must have been born no earlier than the mid 1640s or so with a marriage in the mid 1660s. The date is supported by her uncle William Sinclair - who was immediately younger than her father - who married in 1643.[150] As already mentioned John Gunn (8,10) ‘in’ Navidale, of Borroble and never of Killernan was born around 1600 so Catherine most likely did not marry him as this would mean at least an about forty-five year age gap between them which seems highly unlikely. Catherine Sinclair’s marriage is with this John Gunn (9,13) who was born no earlier than 1636 which is far closer to Catherine’s age.
According to D. M. Rose this John Gunn (9,13) was much involved in debt in spite of his wife bringing him 4,000 merks.[151] Catherine was an only child so a reasonable dowry was quite possible. By 1679 John was owing,[152] amongst much else, two thousand Scottish merks to his first cousin[153] George Gunn of Borrobol (9,16). Specified debts (including George Gunn’s (9,16) of Borroble) of John’s (9,13) at this time were two thousand five hundred merks and £750 which make an approximate total owed of £2400 scots. That’s a lot of money. Remember that the Navidale wadset was acquired for £800 in 1636, so John owed the equivalent of the three Navidales. As well, there was ‘total failure of the crops’[154] in 1679 and the estate had poor crops at other times. The Killernan Estate was not a successful business at this time for a variety of reasons.
Sutherland Estate legal documents[155] clearly show that John had an eldest son Alexander (10) with an obvious implication that at least two more sons (10) existed. But nothing more has been found about these children. A 1679 document noted ‘John Gunn (9,13) for himself, Alexander Gunn (8,9) of Navidaill his father (the document implies Alexander Gunn (8,9) was still living and)… William Gunn (7,8) his grandf(athe)r’ showing the link back to William Beag (7,8) – note the William (7,8) is not ‘of’ a place which is a point already discussed. This is the last we hear of John Gunn (9,13).
When did the MacHamish Gunns lose Killernan? It has to be in the period 1679 – 1704. John (9,13) was still of Killernan in 1679 but his youngest and presumably only surviving brother Donald Crotach Gunn (9,15) is of Badenloch by 1704. John’s son Alexander (10) (and his other two sons (10)) disappear from history after the 1679 document.
Do Gunns lose Borroble at or about the same time as they lose Killernan? Does the amount of money removed from the Borroble Estate mean Borroble became unsustainable? Did the appalling weather[156] – and consequent dreadful harvests - of the 1690s provide the final straw for the end of Gunn ownership of Killernan and perhaps Borroble? One assumes the debts won…
Generation 9, number 14 - Catherine / Katherine b. no earlier than 1636. Alive 1676[157].
Catherine[158] (9,14) was a daughter of Alexander (8,9).[159] Her mother’s first husband died in 1635, so she has to be born no earlier than 1636. It is not clear whether her brother John (9,13) or Catherine (9,14) was the elder child.
She married (contract 1 / 8 May 1658[160] but another record has them married by February 1656[161]) her cousin Angus / Aeneas who was the second son of the first Lord Reay. Angus / Aeneas was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the service of Denmark. Aeneas started ‘The Melness Branch of Mackays’; Catherine is his second wife.
Catherine Gunn had six children with many descendants whose lives are not followed as they are too far away from the surname Gunn. The first generation was
1. Christina Mackay
2. John Mackay
3. Alexander Mackay
4. Donald Mackay
5. Angus Mackay
6. William Mackay
The belief shown on pages 166-167 of Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn and elsewhere that William Mhor (8) fathered a John who fathered an Alexander who fathered Catherine (9,14) is not sustainable for many reasons. A key problem are the years between Catherine (9,14) and William Mhor (8). William Mhor (8) was born around 1595, see his life. His supposed son John could not be born any earlier than say 1615. John’s supposed son Alexander could not be born any earlier than 1635. And Alexander had Catherine (9,14). But Catherine (9,14) had to be born no later than about 1640 because she married Lieutenant Colonel Mackay with contract of marriage 1 May 1658 (1656?) so that would have her marrying at eighteen. So, Catherine is born, if you accept this line of descent, when her father was no more than five years old.
Generation 9 - Alexander Gunn b. c 1638 dwi, married Christina Mackay
This Alexander (9) was not Alexander Gunn (10,19) of Badenloch and later of Wester Helmsdale (10,19) with whom his story is often confused; that Alexander was his nephew. Nor should he be confused with his father who was also Alexander (8,9) being the one who married Mary Christiane (Dame) (Lady Fowlis).
This Alexander (9) was born c. 1638, he married[162] Christina / Christiana Mackay (b circa 1645[163]) by 1668. The Book of Mackay[164] records him as ‘chieftain of the Machamish Gunns’ but does not attach ‘of Killernan’ to his name. This suggests Alexander (9) was the main MacHamish at one point but that Killenan was not in Gunn hands in his lifetime – by implication his younger brother Donald Crotach Gunn (9,15) was never of Killernan. Given Alexander’s (9) brother John (9,13) was alive in 1679 presumably Alexander must have been the senior MacHamish in or after that year, if the Book of Mackay is accurate. And that text also records Alexander (9) ‘had issue’. There is an unsubstantiated story of two MacHamish children being killed but it is not clear whose children and when.[165] It may have been children from this marriage, and it may have happened at Tacher.[166] If such an event happened it would explain why the issue disappeared from history. The idea of issue, may, of course be wrong – without supporting evidence it is only a possibility.
Now generations of Alexanders can confuse. The father of this Alexander (9) was Alexander (8,9), and this Alexander (8,9) was dead by 26 April 1670[167] - and Alexander’s (9) elder brother John Gunn (9,13) was heir of Alexander Gunn (8,9) on that date. The lands held by John Gunn (9,13) included Killernan, Navidale and ‘Balnavaliache’. In other words, in April 1670 Alexander (9) was not the senior MacHamish and nor did he have the main Estates, his elder brother John did.
But this seems to contradict the well-known February 1668 document, detailed in Thomas Sinclair[168] and elsewhere. It is a document aimed at passing over the lands of Navidale and Easter Balnavaliach from Alexander Gunn to his wife Christiana MacKay ‘for all the days of her life’. It also described Alexander Gunn as being ‘of Killernan’. This would mean Alexander ought to have been the senior MacHamish. But this ‘of Killernan’ and the ability to pass over Navidale and ‘Balnavaliach’ should not be treated as fact as there is a major issue; the original copy I have seen is not signed and the National Records of Scotland also record a similar copy.[169] Smibert points out the document is ‘not registered’.[170] In other words what we have is a draft document. People have treated it as a final – legally bindable - copy which it was not. And the draft was not finalised as shown by the 1670 document mentioned in the preceding paragraph. So what was the purpose of the 1668 draft? I suspect it was part of a proposal to buy out the, in effect, bankrupt John (9,13). This goes well with the idea that John Gunn was severely in debt (and with legal issues) and that Alexander (9) married well; MacKay money[171] may have been at the back of the 1668 document.
The 1668 document[172] mentioned Donald Crotach Gunn (9,15) as being ‘in’ Killernan and that he was ‘bailie’, a legal position. Donald (9,15) is not mentioned as ‘heir apparent’ to – or ‘of - Killernan; this reflected the Killenan ownership of the time with Alexander (10) and his brothers (10) being the sons of the senior MacHamish (John 9,13) and therefore the heirs. And of course, there was also Donald’s (9,15) older brother – this Alexander (9).
As already mentioned the Book of Mackay does not record ‘of Killernan’ against this Alexander (9), only the 1668 document already discussed suggested the plan was for this Alexander (9) to have Killernan. Was Alexander (9) ever of Killernan? I have not seen any documents of the time to confirm or deny that he was. One must consider whether the Killernan estate would have been in good condition in this Alexander’s (9) time given the debts of John (9,13) and perhaps his son (10); one suspects it was not. Especially as, in at least one view, this Alexander (9) ‘maintained great state ... (and) seldom moved without a great ‘tail’’[173] - did MacKay money help pay for the extravagance as well as - perhaps – Killernan? There is a questionable story about a fire burning the charters of Killernan and Navidale, one view is that it was in Alexander’s (9) time[174] others suggest Donald Crotach’s (9,15) time.[175] I discuss the incident in Donald Crotach’s life (9,15) where I think it more likely happened, if it happened at all.
When did Alexander die? When did his wife die? There does not seem to have been any surviving children as the next known Gunn MacHamish landholder is Alexander’s younger brother Donald Crotach Gunn (9,15).
Generation 9, number 15 - Donald ‘Crotach’ Gunn in / of? Killernan, of Badenloch
The final son of Alexander (8,9) was Donald Crotach / Croitach (9,15) who was born no later than 1647 when his mother was around forty-seven. Donald was in Killernan by 1668 but was tacksman of Badenloch by 1704. Some time in the 1679[176]-1704 period Killernan and Navidale left MacHamish control. John Gunn of Braemore - a Robson Gunn, see chapter 12.1 – acquired the wadset of Navidale in 1745.
Donald Crotach’s (9,15) years have been given as 1650-1723[177] but other dates are given including c. 1665-1709[178] which was impossible as Donald’s parents are on record as being dead by 1658.[179] Given Donald’s mother first married in July 1619, let us assume she was born in 1600 or so – she married her second husband Alexander MacHamish (8,9) no earlier than April 1635 being the month and year her first husband died. Given the approximate birth year of 1600 for his mother then Donald being born as late as 1650 is unlikely, although possible. Birth defects tend to increase with the age of the mother[180] and this might be linked to Donald being a hunchback, a ‘crotach’. His mother’s age also adds to the near certainty that Donald was the last born as even today a post fifty year old mother rarely occurs without modern, medical help. Given the 1668 document discussed in the previous Alexander’s (9) life it is possible that Donald (9,15) could have been born a little earlier than 1650 as it might be easier to act as a bailie if he was twenty-one. This puts Donald’s (9,15) birth year as no later than around 1647.
Donald’s (9,15) oldest brother John (9,13) was born in 1636 or so as was his sister Catherine / Katherine (9,14). John (9,13) and Catherine / Katherine (9,14) cannot be born earlier than April 1635 – and probably nine months later for at least one of them - and they cannot be born much later as the 1658 document[181] already discussed has them as adults. The next brother was Alexander (9) who married Christina Mackay. It is reasonable to assume more children who did not make it to adulthood were born to Donald’s (9,15) father Alexander (8,9) as between John (9,13) and Donald (9,15) – the oldest and youngest children - there is a roughly eleven year gap but only four known children.
Donald (9,15) was ‘of Badinloch’[182] by at least August 1704 as he was then recorded ‘For the Shire of Sutherland’[183] as a ‘Commissioner of Supply’[184]– basically the Commissioners were tax raisers with some local government functions. It’s a position of social standing; there were thirty Commissioners for Sutherland including the Earl of Sutherland and Lord Strathnaver. Sutherland Estate papers also show that Badenloch was a wadset holding.[185] It has the appearance of a tack but the shape of wadsets had altered over the years and was no longer paid upfront in the historic way. There are records in the Sutherland Estate papers detailing cows received by the Sutherland Estate from Alexander Gunn of Badenloch (10,19), being the son of Donald Crotach (9,15), as payments for the Badenloch estate. The earliest of these receipts is dated 1709; Donald was obviously dead by then as Alexander was ‘of’ Badenloch.
There is a very questionable story[186] about how Donald (9,15) – or it might have been in his brother Alexander’s (9) time - nearly lost Killernan; the Killernan House was on fire and suspicions were that some sort of plot to eject the Gunns – as they had lost ownership papers in the fire - was underway ‘encouraged’ by the Earl of Sutherland.[187] All this seems highly problematic. As one view said ‘All such stories are extremely plausible until properly investigated, but so far as regards ‘record proof’ these circumstantial tales must be treated as suspect. ... The relative papers show that it is very doubtful if there was any ejection at all as the parties came to terms.’[188] One view has that the event occurred in 1690[189] and Donald was ‘Chief’ and at Killernan. It is the lack of specificity to the event which makes the event highly questionable – and saying Donald being ‘Chief’ (which he never was) adds to the questionability. Supposedly once the fire was over Gordon of Kilgour[190] tried to get the lease of the lands of Killernan. I have trouble accepting the idea that the Earl of Sutherland was accepting of the idea to get the Gunns removed from the Killernan in this way. There is more than one copy of a wadset – the Sutherland Estate would have held a copy and as their archives in the National Library of Scotland make clear the wadsets were all fully witnessed and according to law. To have lost your copy in a fire would have been a minor legal hiccup for the Gunns and there was no reason for the Earl to acquiesce to a shady deal. Overall this fire story seems a very unlikely event; it screams a modern ‘alternative fact’ if you like for why the Gunns left Killernan. To say the Gunns left Killernan because they were broke does not have the same romantic tinge beloved by the myth believers.
But after the Gunns left Killernan certainly Donald Crotach (9,15) went to Badenloch before 1704. It is further inland – heading to it from Helmsdale on the coast (close to Helmsdale is Navidale) one goes up the Strath of Kildonan past Killernan and Borroble before arriving at Badenloch. Badenloch is in the middle of Sutherland. In the early 1700s it would have been a very desolate spot. Its desolation suggests that it is a less appealing – and presumably less expensive – property than Killearnan which is comparatively near the coast. And it seems less prestigious – the 1709 – 1714 receipts seen for Badenloch show that Alexander (his father Donald having died) was paying the ‘entry bond’ for Badenloch by a mix of cash and cows over a period of time. One presumably would have paid just cash if one had the money.
There is a story that Donald Gunn (9,15) brought his men out in the 1715 Jacobite uprising.[191] As mentioned there are documents in the National Library of Scotland which clearly show he was dead by 1709 so participating in the 1715 uprising is obviously absurd. And there are further documents for 1710, 1713 and 1714 all with his son Alexander (10,19) being of Badenloch so Donald (9,15) is definitely dead. There is also no historic record of the Gunns being involved in the 1715 uprising[192] although an occasional, random Gunn might have been involved. And there are many other problems with the idea. The Jacobite rebellions were, in general terms, a Catholic rebellion – but the Highlands were Protestant.[193] Gunn involvement on the losing Catholic side would also have meant, at the very least, instant removal from the Sutherland Estates. Gunn involvement on the Jacobite side in the 1745 rebellion is also not on historic record; there is, though, record of some Gunns turning out on the Government side in 1745.
Donald (9,15) married Margaret a daughter[194] of Captain (Major?) Sutherland of Torbal / Torroble / Torboll. And they had five known children. The marriage date is not known, nor are the birth dates of the children, nor – bar for Alexander of Badenloch (10,19) - do we know with certainty the sequence of the children. Alexander (10,19) was obviously the eldest son as he inherited Badenloch. Sinclair suggests Esther (10,21)[195] was the elder daughter. I suspect Margaret (10,23) was the last and second known girl. Traditionally it was the third daughter who was named after the mother[196] but given only two daughters are known this suggests at least one daughter died in infancy.
As already discussed, Donald (9,15) is best viewed as being born no later than about 1647. His eldest son Alexander Gunn of Badenloch (10,19) has dates of 1683-1763 on the 1896 tree. That may or may not be accurate. Thomas Smibert retells[197] a birth date for Alexander (10,19) of 1705. That’s impossible, as Alexander (10,19) is definitely running Badenloch by 1709 – see his biography. If we accept a birth date of around 1683/5 as being reasonable for Alexander (10,19) (given the 1896 tree and that he was responsible for Badenloch by 1709) that suggests Donald Crotach’s (9,15) children were born when he was in his mid thirties onwards. I suggest Donald (9,15) probably married about then; one could not delay having children in the 1600s. Donald (9,15) and his wife had five children (at least). I suspect more; in those times most mothers struggled and died after one or two children or had a baby every year or so for many years. Five children seems the right sort of figure for those who survived early childhood. His youngest known child Margaret (10,23) was probably born in the early 1700s. Margaret’s (10,23) mother, if she had been about the same age as Donald (9,15) would have been about fifty years of age when she had Margaret (10,23). Not impossible, but unlikely. This is the main reason for suspecting Donald’s (10,23) wife was younger than he was. When did they marry? One suspects when he got the money – or his part of the money – from what was left of the Killernan estate. Certainly having a property of his own would not have hurt his appeal as a husband, rather than living in a parental property.
Donald’s known children were –
· Alexander Gunn (10,19)
· George ‘Corrish’ Gunn (10,20)
· Esther Gunn (10,21)
· William Gunn (10,22)
· Margaret Gunn (10,23)
Generation 9, number 16 - George Gunn of Borroble (Borrobol)
George was the son of John (8,10) in Navidale, of Borroble.
One needs to consider the Borroble estate; Alexander (8,9) was in Borroble by 1617 before he became of Killernan. He was probably there when his uncle William Mhor (8) was in charge of Killernan – William Mhor (8) as already detailed, died without known issue. Alexander’s (8,9) brother John (8,10) was certainly ‘of Boroble’ by 1649 - and probably much earlier - as he was the next senior Gunn branch once Alexander (8,9) became of Killernan. It seems therefore that Borrobol was the Estate used by – but separate from - the senior MacHamish Gunn after the MacHamish of Killernan Gunn. The second senior MacHamish family, if you like. It is not clear when Borroble went into Gunn hands and I suspect it left Gunn hands in George Gunn’s time, or fairly soon after his death, as his son does not have Borroble attached to him in records I have seen.
John Gunn of Killernan (9,13) borrowed the huge amount of two thousand Scottish merks from George Gunn (9,16) by 1679. Presumably the money came from the the Borrobol estate over many years in some form; rent from tenants. perhaps. Now, if one accepted the traditional myth[198] that George Gunn of Borroble (9,16) was the younger brother of Donald Crotach (9,15) then George Gunn (9,16) would somehow have been in charge at Borroble and somehow earned huge amounts of money even though he had to be born a decade or so (to allow for the siblings supposdly between them) after his supposed eldest brother John Gunn of Killernan (9,13) who borrowed the money from him. That’s not logical. What does work is that George Gunn of Borroble (9,16) was first cousin to John Gunn of Killernan (9,13) with his own independent wealth, the Borroble Estate.
George Gunn of Borroble (9,16) was an important Gunn MacHamish figure as from his family descendants a ‘Chief’ of the ‘Clan’ Gunn was found when one was needed to satisfy the massively wealthy and dominant landowner of the Highlands namely the Duchess of Sutherland in the early 1800s - his descendant Hector Gunn (12,45) was made ‘Chief’ of the ‘Clan Gunn’ in 1803.[199] See Appendix 3. The reason for the Duchess’ demand was that the Highlands had become popular following the fiction of Sir Walter Scott so a ‘Clan’ Gunn ‘chief’ was needed to support the tartanised, fake history which is still in vogue. Hector’s son George Gunn (13,60), was ‘Chief’ in 1814 and George (13,60) was member Number 1 of the ‘Clan Gunn Society’ of the time. Letters from the society to him make it clear that he was viewed as the Head of the ‘Clan Gunn’.[200] As well ‘Hector Gunn, chief of the clan Gunn, who was father of George, the present chieftain, factor[201] on the Sutherland Estate, who led the men of Sutherland to Edinburgh, and appeared at their head when King George IV visited that city in 1821.’[202]
In Thomas Sinclair’s view ‘It must be fully accepted, on the legal and state evidence now produced, that George Gunn (13,60), factor Rhives,[203] was the true representative of the Kildonan valley, it does not necessarily follow that he was chief of all the Gunns, even though thus proved the head of the eldest branch of the ruling house.’[204] Incidentally the earliest known use of the ‘Clan’ Gunn Chief invented coat of arms can be found on the teaset donated by the Duchess of Sutherland to George (13,60) – it now lives in New Zealand.
Lord Lyon accepted this line’s MacHamish descent – although inaccurately - as he writes ‘the descent of no. 37 Hector Gunn in Thurso (12,45), served heir-male in 1803, through his father no 35. George Gunn (11,32) and grandfather no 35 John Gunn (10,24) … to his great grandfather no 34 George Gunn of Borrobol (9,16), younger son of no. 6 Alexander 5th Mackeamish’[205] (the Alexander is wrong – George (9,16) was son of John in Navidale of Borroble (8,10). Living American descendants[206] are known from ‘Chief’ George Gunn (13,60) but not through a direct male line. Even if one accepted Lord Lyon’s view it still means this descent from the Coroner is accepted, just from a slightly different way to that detailed in this text.
But this George Gunn of Borroble line has not been properly explored. Lord Lyon has accepted that George Gunn of Borroble’s male line to Factor George had died out but that is not the sole line; George had a younger grandson Alexander (11,33) from whom there are many descendants including the Osclay / Braehour line one of whom married a daughter of ‘Chief’ Donald Crotach Gunn (9,15) from which line I descend. See Appendices 1 and 2. The Hon. Donald Gunn[207] of Manitoba, Canada (being from William Gunn 13,63) – and his many descendants - is also from this Borroble line. The idea that the George Gunn of Borroble’s line (9,16) is extinct is wrong.
George’s son was John[208] (10,24) of Kinsuer? and Guumhay[209] - the place names are unclear in the 1896 tree. This John (10,24) had two sons George Gunn (11,32) Acherelate and Strathmore and Alexander Dalnaglaton and Strathmore (11,33) and he may have had an illegitimate son Captain? Lieutenant? John Gunn who served in a variety of campaigns[210] with the 12th Regiment of Foot.[211]
There are stories of ‘the beauty of Caithess’ type attached to a daughter of Jean Gunn (13,49) namely ‘Janet Gunn of the M’Hamishes of Kildonan’[212] who married William Mackay farmer of Braelaid, Braemore, 12 September 1787. Her descendants continued on the farm after her death. This Janet Gunn, the 1896 tree suggests, is a great, great grand-daughter of George Gunn (9,16) of Borroble.
Generation 9, number 17 - William ‘Kinbrace’ Gunn from Donald the Scholar Gunn
For further information on William (9,17) see Donald the Scholar’s (8,11) discussion. William (9,17) had Adam ‘Kinbrace’ Gunn (10,25).
Generation 9, number 18 - Donald Gunn from William of Acheneccan
For further information see William of Acheneccan’s (8,12) line. Donald (9,18) had William Gunn (10,26).
Generation 10
Generation 10 - Alexander Gunn and brothers
Alexander (10) and his brothers were sons of John Gunn of Killernan and Navidale (9,13).
A Sutherland Estate 1679 document[213] says - ‘Alexander Gunn of Killernan oldest lawfull son to the said John Gunn of Navidaill’. This document is from the Lords of Council in Edinburgh and this mention of ‘oldest lawfull son’ also appears in a further document. So we now have children for John Gunn (9,13) – an Alexander (10) who was the oldest son and was ‘of Killernan’ in 1679 and another two sons at least (by the implication of ‘oldest lawfull son’). It’s quite reasonable - John Gunn of Killernan and Navidale (9,13) was born say 1636, and could have had children by 1657 or so. The children would be adults by 1679. The legal age of capacity – the ability to make a contract - in Scotland for a male was from 14 years old.[214] But note Alexander’s (10) father John (9,13) lived at Navidale; Alexander was at Killernan. Was Navidale the working home of the senior MacHamish and Killernan a secondary property, or was Navidale a retirement home?
What happened to Alexander (10) and Unknown (10) brothers? Are these the Gunns who were killed in various, vague Gunn stories?[215] It’s possible as these MacHamish Gunns disappear. Mind you, they could just have died from any manner of causes. Alternatively, the three Gunns may have disappeared from the history books because, as already discussed, John Gunn (9,13) may have lost Killernan as he ran out of money, and his family faded out of history.
Did MacHamish Alexander (9) - being the second son of Alexander (8,9) and, as such, the younger brother of John Gunn of Killernan and Navidale (9,13) – having married well take over Killernan? It’s possible. That idea is more fully explored in his life.
Generation 10 - Children of Generation 9, number 14 Catherine Gunn
Catherine Gunn (9,14) married Lt. Col. Angus Mackay of Melness with whom she had six children with many descendants. These lives are not followed in this text[216] as they are too far removed from the surname Gunn. The children were -
1. Christina Mackay
2. John Mackay
3. Alexander Mackay
4. Donald Mackay
5. Angus Mackay
6. William Mackay
Generation 10, number 19 - Alexander Gunn of Badenloch, later of Wester Helmsdale
Alexander (10,19) was the eldest son of Donald Crotach (9,15).
Alexander Gunn (10,19) – he used the surname Gun[217] - had years of perhaps 1683 to 1763.[218] He had taken over the tack of Badenloch from his father by 1709[219]and later Alexander (10,19) was of Wester Helmsdale.[220] Another view has he was born in 1692[221]- this is unlikely as it would mean taking over the legal responsibility for Badenloch before aged twenty-one but it is not impossible. Alexander’s (10,19) father Donald Crotach (10,15) was certainly born no later than 1657 as his parents were dead by January1658[222] and was far more likely born around 1647 as his mother was born c.1598, so a birth date for Alexander (10,19) of either 1683 or 1692 is quite reasonable. Conventionally one would assume the earlier birth year to be more likely; a birth date of 1692 would mean Donald had his first son when aged forty-five. It is logical to assume Alexander (10,19) was the eldest son as he became ‘of’ Badenloch.
First Marriage
Alexander’s first wife was Margaret / Mary Mackay of Kirtomy ‘by whom he had a numerous family.’[223] His 1712[224] marriage contract is unusually phrased, with marriage the following year, as it mentioned Alexander’s (10,19) grandfather[225] - also called Alexander (8,9) - in the present tense. This grandfather Alexander (8,9) was dead by about 1658. By contrast the contract also has no mention of this Alexander’s (10,19) father Donald (9,15), nor his mother; his father was dead by the time of the contract, we do not know if his mother was or was not alive at that time. Given other phrasing in the contract – Alexander (10,19) and Mary were told by the contract to ‘love, treat and constantly caress one another’ it is possible that this was not a serious contract, more, perhaps some piece of fun from a celebratory event. Mary may have died 6 June 1746.[226]
The children from this marriage were – and all died without adult issue -
· Mary / Margaret (11) married Major Hugh Mackay of Rearquhar 28 July 1737, and they had a daughter Elizabeth[227] (12) who died young.
· Elizabeth (11) 1713? / 1715?-1722.
· John (11) b. 1719? died young.
· Alexander (possibly William?) (11) b. c. 1722 died 1746 whilst a member of the Dutch army.[228]
Life and a legal battle
There are receipts from Dunrobin Castle in the National Library of Scotland Sutherland Estate documents which clearly show that Alexander Gunn (10,19) was head of the family ‘of Baddinloch’. The receipts make it clear that the Badenloch Estate was not held as a traditional wadset but possibly was held as a tack. Alternatively, Badenloch was a wadset but rent was dealt with more in the traditional tack way. The first known receipt for Badenloch shows the long term nature of the entry bond needed for a tack and it also proves Donald Crotach (9,15) was dead by 1709. Other receipts exist showing Alexander’s payments for the rent / bond. Examples of these receipts are -
‘Received from Alexr Gunn of Baddinloch an Receipt granted by us to him dated this ninth day of … January + nyne years for the number of fiteen cows in part payment of an entry bond granted by the deceased Donald Gunn his father. And which receipt from the date forwd shall be allowed when counting For the bond ... 5th day of January and twenty years.’
Dunrobine (sic) 5 December 1710 ‘Received from Alexr Gunn of McHomash[229] the sum of fifteen pounds Scots and that in paymt of fiteen cows in payt of hundred cows due to us
at Dunrobin 10 July 1713 Alexr Gunn of Badenloch paying Lord Strathanaver £240 Scots as the price of twenty cows which shall be allowed to acct. of his ...
And 15 July 1714 ‘And from Alexr Gunn in Badenloch assorted Bill of Ro. Grays ... to the Laird of Skibo for fifty pounds ... for cows...’ (Dunrobin, Strathnaver)
For Thomas Sinclair ‘Alexander Gunn of Wester Helmsdale was served heir to his father Donald Gunn in Badenloch in 1723’[230] - this has caused much confusion in Gunn histories as it has been taken that 1723 meant that Donald (9,15) died then.[231] That’s wrong. As shown, a primary source document clearly shows that Donald Gunn (9,15) died no later than 1709. What we have in 1723 was either a late legal tidy up or a straight transcription error. The source for Sinclair’s statement is not given and his date should be ignored.
Alexander (10,19) supposedly acquired the wadset of Wester Helmsdale on 31 October 1718[232] for 4000 merks from William, Lord Strathnaver. The contract mentioned ‘William Gun brother german of said Alex Gunn’[233] was there. Now, brother german means full brother - William Gunn (10,22) was a younger brother of Alexander (10,19) and in Scotland in 1718 (mostly he was in the Netherlands). Now, paying money owed by cows in 1709 for the wadset / tack of Badenloch to getting the wadset of Wester Helmsdale nine years later for cash is, at the very least, interesting as Alexander (10,19) was already in debt to the Sutherland Estate for money owed on Badenloch which I discuss later in this life.
There is also a suggestion that Alexander (10,19) was extravagant[234] with a ‘piper, band, armour-bearer, an armoury and the fiery cross.[235] When he built his new meal mill he put the whole machinery to work by whisky…’. I find this story ridiculous – that much whisky? No. A bottle put in to christen the building perhaps… But there may be something about Alexander’s spendthrift tendency behind the various stories. Alexander Gunn (10,19) was meant to live in ‘considerable style and pomp’[236]; he should have had the money for it as is discussed later.
So what is known of Alexander (10,19)? He organised cattle to be driven to market; but there is record of him complaining about the accounts of the drovers. He sublet the tack of Badenloch in September 1730[237] to his father in law and lived at Wester Helmsdale, the tack included tenant farmers. He also sublet the pendicle of Badenloch called Badiclavan – and the subletting document was ‘beautifully written by Lt. William Gunn’– presumably William (10,22) had elegant handwriting.[238] Alexander (10,19) also built a house on the Badenloch estate which he claimed cost £50 but for which he got £20 when the estate reverted back to the Earl of Sutherland as that was its real worth according to law. The house was at ‘Ellick’; his father in law considered it a poor build. (It was discussed in the following legal documents.)
But crucially we have to consider legal matters. Mark Rugg Gunn says Alexander (10,19) was ‘so distinguished in legal matters that he was regarded as infallible as he could hang men or drown women who were criminals.’[239] There is no evidence to support the literal truth of this claim and the idea that a random person in the 1700s could arrange capital punishment lacks support.[240] I suspect what is behind this claim is that Alexander (10,19) was an unpleasant, ruthless landlord for those on the Badenloch and linked properties which Sutherland Estate papers make clear, and he was also something of a legal shyster. This is certainly one way he could have made the money to wadset Wester Helmsdale in 1718.
Sutherland Estate papers show that by 1738 Alexander (10,19) was in a major legal battle with the Earl of Sutherland[241] as at least forty-six pages of claim, counter claims and evidence exist. The case involved legal arbiters, judicial review of the Badenloch rents, interviewing of Badenloch tenants, summons to appear in Edinburgh at the ‘Lords of Council’, accounts and much else. The dispute centred on Alexander’s renegotiation of the Badenloch tack / wadset on 5 September 1720, importantly when the Earl of Sutherland was underage and when people with knowledge were not there to help the Earl. In other words, Alexander (10,19) seems to have got Badenloch at markedly under the correct market rate from an underage Earl.
The key points from the documents[242] are
· Badenloch in Alexander’s father’s (9,15) time had great tenants. Alexander Gunn (10,19) overstocked Badenloch and so lost much cattle. Some of Alexander Gunn’s (10,19) new tenants were of doubtful character one ‘fled from Caithness for theft and another that pitted a great number of standing trees in the Bounds of Badenloch and sent them back to Caithness and when the thing was known he fled to Caithness...’. And as to Alexander’s (10,19) wadset of Wester Helmsdale (Alexander bought the wadset in 1718) ‘it was on good tenantry at his entry but now it is almost all gone to ruin by both for want of Tennants and Biggings(?) The change house on said Tack is as publick as any in the country and commodious for travellers but the Doors are shut up with stones rendering it almost ruinous. There is hardly Barns to thresh the corn in and notwithstanding of this he is gifting away the Timber to others...’
· Badenloch was renewed as a tack (wadset and tack seem interchangeable in many of the documents) in 1720 for twenty-five years for £100 (and £20 for converted customs) per year but tenants rent on Badenloch was £651 per annum. The Earl requested the legal arbiters that the extra rent so gained from 1729 onwards – namely £451 yearly – be paid to the Earl for the length of lease. It seems that one should pay rent to the owner of property to match the money coming in from tenants.
· Alexander Gunn (10,19) did not make the improvements he said he made on Badenloch; it seems that such improvements could be deducted from the amount owed to the owner of the Estate.
· A 1731 statement of account between Alexander Gunn (10,19) and William Lord Strathnaver going back to 1708 showed Donald Crotach Gunn (9,15) was tacksman before Alexander (10,19). The statement began in 1708 and grew quickly to March 1720. Assorted rents, crops, cows and similar items meant that Alexander Gunn (10,19) owed £4827/13/9d to Lord Strathnaver at December 1730. The amount was finally paid by Alexander Gunn on 29 April 1731. The vast majority of the money was owed on the original wadset / tack negotiated by Donald Gunn (9,15) so one wonders whether Alexander (10,19) was deliberately not paying the amount so he could negotiate a new wadset for Badenloch at a lower rate than his father. Fascinating that once the money was added up for legal purposes he paid the large amount due inside five months. Again, how did he get the money?
· Alexander Gunn (10,19) never provided some sort of crop which was part of his wadset / tack obligations to the Earl.
· A 16 June 1736 Copy of Summons for Alexander Gunn (10,19) of Wester Helmsdale to appear in Edinburgh before the Lords of Council & Session where Alexander (10,19) had to answer all the ‘instances’ (complaints) of Lord William Earl of Sutherland.
· There is a major set of documents examining the sub-tenants of the greater Badenloch estate. It consisted of about twenty-one tenants under oath detailing (and interrogated by ‘Mr Gunn’ (10,19) and the Earl of Sutherland’s legal people) what they rented from Alexander Gunn (10,19), how much they paid, ‘services’ they did and whether they have ‘written tack’ from Alexander Gunn (10,19) – and they did not have ‘written tack’ so they had no security so could be thrown off their smallholdings at will. The documents point out ‘Mr Gunn’s’ (10,19) duties including those which he had not done. John McKay of Kirtomy – Alexander’s father in law – paid Alexander Gunn (10,19) £195/6/8 Scots yearly for the ‘Easter / Wester Baddinloch’ land and a further £22 for the lands of Baddachlavain and assorted other lesser lands. He provided support for how nice Alexander (10,19) was but the amount he paid was more than Alexander Gunn (10,19) was paying the Earl for all of the Badenloch Estate. (When his mother in law died in 1734 Alexander (10,19) also claimed one third of her estate.[243]) And then Alexander (10,19) also received money from the tenant farmers as well! Many tenants were against Alexander (10,19), including at least one turned off his tack.
· A follow up to the previous document included ‘Remarks on the queries condescended on by McKeamish upon which he wants a new proof to be taken by Mr Sellar 23 September 1738’. The use of McKeamish here was to identify Alexander Gunn (10,19) from other Gunns. Line three, for example, of the document uses ‘Gunn MacHeorish’ (another Gunn sub-group) again showing the term MacHamish was nothing special, just a way to identify a particular family of Gunns.
· The 1738 response written (I wish the sentences had been shorter!) by ‘Alexr Gun of Wester Helmsdale’ – note he views his residence as Wester Helmsdale – pointed out MacHamish Gunns were ‘not of the common class of tenants’. So a reminder that Gunns never owned their estates, they were tenants of large estates which had sub-tenants on these properties. And Alexander (10,19) writes in detail about the past, money, duties to the Earl but there is not the slightest mention of Alexander (10,19) being Chief of the Clan with duties he needed to do. It would have been right and proper to put it in this document; the absence of such statement is further proof that he was never a Chief of the ‘Clan’ Gunn
· Alexander also noted ‘there is an express clause in the Tack oblidgeing Mr Gun to wait on the said Noble Lord and his forsaids in all … Huntings and weapon shewings well armed when they be required by the said noble Lord and his foresaids for that within 24 hours warning’.
That’s interesting. At the very least it explains why Alexander Gunn (10,19) was required to turn up in the 1745 militia, which is discussed later in this life and it was not done due to being Head of a Clan. If you were Chief of a Clan here is another time when it would be mentioned. Ian Grimble points out that people on the Sutherland estate had ‘to enlist in the family (Sutherland) regiment on demand’[244] so it is of no surprise that Alexander (10,19) had to show up ‘well armed’ when required.
Alexander writes all / most of the documents for his side of the case and he was trying to put the best case forward, but at no time is the slightest mention made of him being ‘Chief of the Clan Gunn’ even when it would be appropriate to use the title – he lists all the Lord of Strathnaver titles for example but he remains ‘Alexr Gun of Western Helmsdale’ or similar depending on the year. No document has him as ‘of Badenloch and Western Helmsdale’.
Summary of the legal problem.
The Sutherland Estate documents show there was not enough of Alexander Gunn’s (10,19) receipts to believe the cost of running Badenloch and there were doubts over whether he made any claimed improvements on the estate except on his father-in-law’s property. The documents also suggest the Earl was not fully informed of details which he should have had before Alexander (10,19) renewed Badenloch. If you like, in modern terms there was a strong suggestion that Alexander Gunn (10,19) used sharp practice to get his Estate at Badenloch at much less than commercial rates, and that he then did not invest in Badenloch in any meaningful way when he said he had so done.
So what does this mean? Basically Alexander (10,19) and the Earl of Sutherland were in a massive legal brawl in 1738 and Alexander (10,19) seems to be in the wrong. We do not have any clear statement as to how this battle ended but firstly it puts paid to the idea that Alexander (10,19) was some sort of legal genius who could execute people. Secondly, consider the amount of money involved which included £450 claimed by the Earl for each year for Badenloch for the rest of the new lease. That was fifteen years at £450 Scots which makes £6750 Scots. The 1808 monetary rent for the complete Sutherland estate was a bit over £10,000[245] which shows that the 1739 back-rent owed by Alexander Gunn of £6000+ was enormous. Alternatively, the wadset of Wester Helmsdale in 1718 was 4000 Scottish merks, about £2666 pounds. So, if Alexander Gunn was found liable he had to find the monetary value of two large estates.
I have not been able to find the papers saying how the dispute was resolved but it’s clear by the physical outcome – none of Alexander’s sons lived on an estate after him and his last two sons held lowly positions in the British army. So, although Alexander at one time held the wadset / tack of two major Estates but by the time of his wife’s second marriage there was basically no Gunn money left. It seems likely, therefore, that his legal battle with the Sutherland Estate was comprehensively lost.
Second marriage.
His second wife was Anne / Ann b. 12 September 1733[246] d. 28 February 1793[247] who was the second of five children of the Reverend William Rose[248] (of Loth 1739 to 1745 but formerly of Kildonan – he died February 1755[249]). Alexander (10,19) and Anne / Ann had William (11) and Morrison (11). These are the supposed last two ‘Clan Gunn Chiefs’. Anne probably married around 1753/55,[250] perhaps soon after the death of her father in 1755. She was much younger than the children of the first marriage.
William (11) and Morrison (11) were born between the year of her marriage and about 1759. This 1759 year is because William was a Lieutenant[251] in the First Battalion of Lord MacLeod’s Highlanders by April 1778 and Morrison was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Sutherland Fencibles on 24 July 1779.[252] Being a lieutenant in 1778/1779 matches their approximate birth years twenty years earlier. It is possible that they may have been older than twenty but unlikely to have been much younger.[253]
But this second marriage was unusual. Alexander Gunn (10,19) was born about 1681/1683. Anne/Ann was born 1733. That’s a fifty-year age gap. Let’s say Anne married soon after her father died in 1755. That means she married a man in his early seventies; such an age gap today would be remembered. I have trouble believing it was common in the 1750s. Why would she marry someone so much her senior especially as Alexander (10,19) was obviously not a major catch given the legal battle he lost with the Sutherland Estate? The records for historical demography in rural Scotland are basically non-existent – ‘The only reliable listings for Scotland before the mid-eighteenth century relate to urban communities’[254] – so we have no idea of how common such an age gap was.
So what might be the reason? An arranged marriage? Very unlikely as such marriages were occasionally for the elite[255] to preserve massive estates or make political progress and I can find no record of one with such an age gap. As well, this idea does not apply with Anne / Ann and Alexander (10,19); she was the daughter of a common Minister, he was the person who had lost money in a legal case with the most important landowner in the county and one of the richest families in the country. Certainly, the wealthy of Sutherland would not be interested in such a loser as Alexander (10,19). As well, an arranged marriage involving a Minister’s daughter seems unlikely – the Minister’s position could easily be at risk given the relationship the Earl of Sutheland had with Alexander (10,19). Anne / Ann’s youngest sister Barbara married a Minister about ten years older than herself; why did Anne / Ann not have a similar marriage? If Anne / Ann was an average twenty-year-old surely a man closer to her age to marry could be found rather than Alexander (10,19)?
Was Anne / Ann perhaps Alexander’s (10,19) housekeeper and somehow married him? Possible; her father had, after all, been Minister at Kildonan before he moved to Loth so he would know the households of Kildonan. Was Anne / Ann pregnant when she married? Unlikely given her father’s position; ‘The trend of illegitimacy was steadily downwards from the 1660s … in Caithness … and the Highlands demonstrating the spread of church discipline’.[256] But it’s possible – William’s (11) birth year could easily be around 1755; being commissioned slightly over twenty years of age would not be unusual. Being pregnant would explain why she might marry anyone who would have her including a man fifty years her senior. She might have been pregnant and a Housekeeper.
Her behaviour when she marries again after Alexander’s (10,19) death in 1763[257] (perhaps 1764) is of interest. Anne / Ann married the Rev. John Ross Minister of Kildonan probably on 7 September 1770[258]; the stresses for the mother and her children William and Morrison are obvious in the gap between 1763 and 1770. The Reverend Donald Sage wrote that -
David Ross, the miller at Claggan in Strathbeg was the only son of Mr. John Ross, Minister of Kildonan ... His Mother was the widow of Gunn MacSheumais (MacHamish) (10,19) who had resided at Badenloch, which he had rented, or held as wadset, from the Earl of Sutherland. MacSheumais had a number of sons, who all went into the army and died in action. Mr. John Ross married the widow, and the whole family then came to reside at Kildonan manse. They were all very extravagant, however, and nearly ruined Mr. Ross in wordly circumstances. By the decease of all her sons by MacSheumais, the direct line of the Clann Gunn MacSheumais became extinct. Mr. John Ross had two children David and Catherine. Kate Ross married David Gunn (14), eldest son of Robert Gunn of Achaneccan[259] (13,70), who, after the death of his wife’s half brothers, by the highland law[260], succeeded to the Chiefship of the Clan Gunn. David Gunn however, never laid claim to the honours. He was an eminently pious man; and leaving the honours of this world to be ursurped by Hector Gunn at Thurso (12,45), he himself humbly but ardently aspired after the honours which came from above … he lived at Achaneccan, but afterwards went to reside in Caithness-shire in 1827.’[261] The Rev. John Ross died 28 March 1775[262] aged forty-two.
The Reverend Alexander Pope of Reay wrote (probably) of William (11) and Morrison (11) ‘it is to be wished that some generous person would take care of their education’.[263] Both Sage’s and Pope’s comments suggest a carefree attitude to money; it might also suggest a carefree attitude to life which might have resulted in Anne / Ann’s need to marry a much older man than herself. Why Ann married Alexander (10,19) is unclear without a date for her marriage and a birth date for her elder son William, perhaps these could be found in his enrolment papers for the army. To me the least likely option is a straight love match; the fifty-year gap makes that too unlikely.
Military ‘career’
Alexander’s (10,19) military ‘career’ needs rethinking; he is often referred to as Captain Alexander Gunn (10,19) of Badenloch. He was certainly Captain of the Clan Sutherland Independent 1st Company at Inverness in 1745. This Independent Company was formed to help put down the Jacobites; these independent companies were normally drawn from a Clan but in Alexander Gunn’s (10,19) case it was Clan Sutherland.[264] Of the eighteen Independent Companies (they were an irregular militia) so formed only Clan Sutherland 1st Company and one from the town of Inverness, had a Captain not of the Clan they were leading. There was also a Clan Sutherland Independent 2nd Company led by Peter Sutherland. The two Sutherland companies were listed as ‘The earl of Sutherland’s men.’[265] In the list of officers of all the Independent Companies raised in 1745 (meaning Captains, Lieutenants and Ensigns) there was only one Gun(n) and it’s ‘Alexander Gun, Esq.’[266]
Certainly, the two Sutherland companies fought at the Siege of Fort Augustus in December 1745 and one of the two companies fought at the skirmish of Tongue[267] but I suspect neither event involved Alexander Gunn (10,19) as he is not listed in those who received prizemoney[268] from the captured Jacobite money which would be expected as he was Captain. By June 1746 the role of the companies had been markedly reduced and by October 1746 they were disbanded. Alexander’s (10,19) military activity seems to have lasted, at most, eleven months. His age needs to be considered – he was probably born about 1683 so he would be about 63 years old when the action occurred so lack of participation is understandable.
How serious was this soldiering to be viewed? ‘In Sutherland during 1745-6 tenants negotiated conditions that reduced soldiering to little more than an ancillary activity shaped and limited by the needs of the agrarian sector ... As a result, young men were to be taken in order ‘to relieve those that have gone out of the parish of Farr and Kildonan that are tenants and have families...’’[269] It seems probable that these independent companies were not important cogs in the military machine as they consisted of young farmers and farm labourers who could be briefly spared.
I would suggest, paying attention to the legal battle of 1738 involving the Earl of Sutherland and Alexander Gunn (10,19), that Alexander Gunn (10,19) may have been forced to turn out for Clan Sutherland or lose Wester Helmsdale. He would certainly not be paid as it was part of his rent to turn out when required as already discussed. I am doubtful that his men – as mentioned by Mark Rugg Gunn[270] in the semi-official history – meant many – if any – Gunns; after all it was the Clan Sutherland’s company. The Earl of Sutherland would have been responsible for the presentation of the company, not Alexander Gunn (10,19).
Summary
There is little to commend Alexander Gunn (10,19).
Generation 10, number 20 – George Gunn of Corrish
George (10,20) was the second son of Donald Crotach Gunn (9,15) and was born around 1682.
George (10,20), tacksman of Corrish[271] married Isobel Polson, with descendants.[272] There are questions as to whether their children were legitimate[273] including whether he only had one legitimate child William drowned at sea.[274] On balance I am supportive of the idea that George Gunn’s (10,20) descendants exist. See http://clangunn.weebly.com/george-gunn-of-corrish.html for early trees showing such descendants.
There is a messy February 1736 legal story about George (10,20)[275] which includes Edinburgh legal letters and in which his brother Alexander of Badenloch later Wester Helmsdale (10,19) supposedly swallowed the evidence against his brother George (10,20). I find the idea that a person could swallow evidence in an actual court of law and get away with it unlikely – if you are an in a court and you destroy evidence then you are surely in big trouble. I am reasonably sure of a court case due to the letters, but the rest seems to have moved into myth.
George probably had George Gunn (11,27) and Alexander (11,28).
*****
The Book of Mackay says[276] ‘The two sons of Alexr of Badenloch (10,19), who were both soldiers, died without issue and the MacHamish line reverts to George of Corrish (10,20) … According to the Revd. Alexr Gunn, Watten … the descent from from Corrish was as follows; George of Corrish (10,20) had a son Alexr. (11,28), whose son William (12,36), whose son Alexr of Backlass was the father of William Gunn, now for many years manager of the Spittal Works, Watten. As far as we have found evidence it goes to confirm the contention of the Revd Alexr. Gunn.’
So, for some, George Gunn (10,20) of Corrish did not have any legal descendants but I am reasonably convinced that he did. But it is an awkward line to unravel…
Generation 10, number 21 – Bessie / Esther Gunn
Bessie / Esther (alive 1723[277]) perhaps married Donald Mackay of Skerray.[278] The following is from History of the House and Clan of Mackay[279] - ‘Donald Mackay of Skerray (who had sasine in his father’s lands 17th May 1723) married Esther (10,21) daughter of Donald Gunn (9,15) … issue a daughter married to John Mackay of Moudale[280], issue George who emigrated to America, Major Donald Mackay of Eriboll[281]; Lieutenant William; and four daughters all mentioned in the Clan Aberach branch’. Many descendants are known[282] and are readily traceable on genealogical websites. But pages 257-259 of The Book of Mackay by Angus Mackay totally disagree with this idea and provide a different wife for Donald Mackay of Moudale with the same children as given in this paragraph for Esther, which therefore rejects all Gunn descent from this line. More research is needed to ascertain which is the correct history. So, Esther Gunn (10,21) may have had an unknown daughter an Unknown Mackay (11,29) but then again she may not have had.
Generation 10, number 22 – Lt.-Col. William Gunn b. c. 1695 d. 28 May 1768
Lt. -Col. William Gunn b. c. 1695 d. 28 May 1768[283] Naarden, Netherlands
Lieutenant – Colonel William Gunn (Gun in the Brigade records) served in the Scots Brigade in the Netherlands. William Gunn was acting as a Captain by 6 May 1745[284] and was still Captain in the First Battallion of Major General Marjoribank’s Company on 25 March 1752. By 3 July 1766 he was a Lieutenant Colonel of the 6th Company of Lieutenant-General Marjoribanks Regiment, 1st Battallion.[285] At that time William was only leading a company and there were seven companies in each of the two Battalions. The other company leaders had the ranks of a Major-General, four Lieutenants General, a Comm Coll (Commandant Colonel?), two Colonels, two Majors and three Captains. The amount of senior ranks seems high from a modern perspective.
Unlike the British Army the officer corps of the Scots Brigade in the Netherlands were officers by merit, they did not pay for their commissions.[286] As John Childs wrote of this Brigade ‘nearly all of the Scottish officers, from the lowliest ensign to the most senior colonel, had little income apart from their service pay.’[287] As such it provided a paid occupation for Scots with little – or no - money such as those without their own Estates as in William’s case.
He was witness to his brother’s wadset (the brother being Alexander Gunn (10,19) of Badenloch and later Wester Helmsdale) in 1718, thus suggesting William was born no later than around 1695 as it seems likely that one would have to be over twenty-one to be a witness. He married Anne Ross at Breda in the Netherlands on 5 January 1728. The name Ann Ross is of interest. Alexander Gunn (10,19) of Badenloch and later of Wester Helmsdale’s second wife, after his death married the Reverend John Ross of Kildonan and so became an Ann Ross. Was the Anne Ross who married in the Netherlands related to the Reverend John Ross?
The children from William Gunn’s marriage were
· Margaret Gunn (11,30)
· Helen Gunn
· Mary Gunn
· Donald Ross Gunn
· James Gunn
· Alexander Gunn
· Hugh Gunn
Living descendants exist but I believe none hold the name Gunn.
Generation 10, number 23 – Margaret Gunn daughter of Donald Crotach
Margaret[288] (10,23) was the daughter of ‘Chief’ Donald Crotach (9,15) and she married John ‘Houstry Dunbeath’ Gunn (12,54). I suspect Margaret (10,23) was born around 1700 which matches an approximate birth date for her husband. Margaret (10,23) and John (12,54) had Alexander ‘Osclay’ Gunn (11,31). The different generations marrying may seem confusing but are accurate – we are talking ten to twelve generations from the Coroner and people have children at different times. Catherine Gunn of Osclay (12,38) – the daughter of Alexander (11,31) – married Donald Gunn (13,65) sennachy of Braehour and Brawlbin who descended from George Gunn of Borroble (9,16).[289] See Appendices 1 and 2 for the Osclay line descent from Coroner Gunn.[290]
Generation 10 number 24 – John Gunn ‘of Kinsuer and Guamhay’
John Gunn (10,24) of ‘Kinsuer and Guamhay’ – the place names are hard to read on the 1896 tree. He was the son of George Gunn of Borrobol (9,16) and he had the following children
· George Gunn Acherelate and Strathmore (11,32)
· Alexander Gunn of Dalnaglaton and Strathmore (11,33)
· John may also have had a Captain John Gunn – but then again, he may not.
Generation 10, number 25 - Adam ‘Kinbrace’ Gunn
Adam was the son of William of Kinbrace (9,17) who was the son of Donald the Scholar (8,11) of Kinbrace. He died in 1709. For more information on this line see Donald the Scholar (8,11) of Kinbrace. Adam had generation 11, number 34 William ‘Kinbrace Houstry Dunbeath’ Gunn.
Generation 10, number 26 - William Gunn (Acheneccan)
The Acheneccan line is not totally clear - random extra names can occur but their descent from the coroner is definite. This William probably had Robert Gunn (11,35).
Generation 11
As said before, biographies without a ‘number’ are because those people died without known issue. William and Morrison Gunn are viewed as ‘Clan Gunn Chiefs’ by the Gunn myth supporters.
Generation 11 – William Gunn born circa 1757, died India 10 Sep 1780.
William Gunn was born circa 1757 and died at Conjeveram, Mysore (now Tamil Nadu), India, on 10 September 1780. William (11) was the elder son from the second marriage of Alexander Gunn (10,19) of Badenloch and later of Wester Helmsdale. For his early life see Alexander’s (10,19) biography. We do not know William’s (11) exact birthdate (although his military enrolment document might show it if it could be found) nor the date of his parents’ marriage. William joined (most likely through a bought commission) the First Battalion of the 73rd (Highland) Regiment of Foot[291] (MacLeod’s Highlanders) as a lieutenant. It was raised in December 1777. The First Battalion landed at Madras 20 January 1780. ‘Of the 19 lieutenants of the 1st battalion (of the 73rd Regiment), William Gunn stood 15th... six feet three’[292].
William Gunn died in the Battle of Pollilur of the Second Anglo-Mysore War of 1779-1784. It was a battle of importance;
After the treaty of Paris in 1763, the only serious political threats to the British in the Madras area came from Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan. During the war of 1780, the prowess of Hyder Ali and his cavalry sometimes greatly intimidated the British. In no situation was this more apparent than during the battle of Pullalur, an area about ten miles north of Kanchipuram to the west of Madras. This battle was fought by a British force under the command of Colonel John Baillie against those of Hyder Ali and Tipu on 10 September 1780, shortly after the beginning of the war. Various mistakes made by the British commander-in-chief Sir Hector Munro and by Baillie himself resulted in the isolation of Baillie’s force. Hyder Ali and Tipu, aided by the French, soundly defeated Baillie’s forces: of the eighty-six officers in Baillie’s force who participated, thirty-six were killed or died of their wounds, thirty-four were wounded and taken prisoner, and sixteen were unwounded but taken prisoner.
Though the military encounter was brief, it had great consequences for the fortunes and self-esteem of the British at the time and long afterwards. Moreover, because the defeat placed in doubt the British ability to defend Madras, Hyder’s rout of Baillie greatly decreased British political and economic credibility...[293]
In other words, William Gunn was killed in a battle which the British lost, to a significant extent because of British mistakes. He was unfortunate; out of the British force of 3,820 only 336 were killed.[294] The final result of this war was the East India Company was told by the British government to make peace with the Kingdom of Mysore and basically the status quo resumed.
The official view of the events[295] involving William Gunn is simple –
‘Upon this unfortunate occasion, the flank companies were almost annihilated. Capt. Baird received seven wounds, and fell into the hands of the enemy. Lieut. Lindsay received nine and was also made prisoner. Lieut. Lindsay was totally disabled by his wounds; and Lieut. Gunn, of the grenadiers, and Lieut. Geddes Mackenzie, of the light company, killed, being the sum total of the officers serving at the time with the two companies. Of the non-commissioned officers and privates, only two men joined the battalion, and those were found in the jungle, desperately wounded. The melancholy fate of these companies rendered it necessary for Lord M’Leod to form two new flank companies from the battalion’.[296]
Generation 11 - Morrison Gunn, born c. 1758
Morrison was the second son from the second marriage of Alexander Gunn (10,19) of Badenloch and later of Wester Helmsdale. For his early life see Alexander’s (10,19) biography. Morrison may also have been six foot three inches.[297]
It is mythically supposed[298] Morrison joined the Second Battalion of the then 73rd Regiment - Lord Macleod’s Highlanders – probably on the basis that his brother joined the First Battalion and it is also supposed that Morrison died at Gibraltar whilst part of that Second Battalion. These suppositions seem to originate from this story - ‘Morrison died of consumption, immediately after the siege of Gibraltar[299] which he went through. He was most anxious to return to his native land as soon as the fortress was relieved, but his Colonel seeing that he had only a few days to live refused leave… The 2nd (Battalion) came home from Gibraltar in 1783…. Rev. Archibald Gunn, New Brunswick, Canada…says that the chief died not of consumption but of his wounds’. [300]
The Gibraltar story is extremely doubtful -
· There is a record[301] of the officers of the Second Battalion of the 73rd Regiment and Morrison Gunn is not on the roll as an officer. If you are not on the Unit records you were not there. His brother was certainly in the First Battalion; he is on the rolls as a Lieutenant.[302]
· There is a range of primary sources[303] from the Gibraltar siege detailing life, deaths and injuries sustained by many, including the soldiers. I have not found any mention of Morrison Gunn although I have found injuries and deaths relating to the 73rd Regiment.
· The idea of a Commander being concerned with leave in 1783 from siege worn Gibraltar is odd; I doubt there would have been much chance of leave from such a place as the Battalion was getting ready to return to Britain. Gibraltar was not a holiday spot with regular transport for occasional military personnel.
A Morrison Gunn was gazetted as a lieutenant from the war-office on 24 July 1779 to the Sutherland Fencibles which was raised in February 1779. The Fencibles recruits were from the Sutherland Estates.[304] It was officially formed at Fort George (near Inverness) in February 1779 and then served at Edinburgh. Recruiting originally went poorly; but then ‘the promise of land in return for service’[305] was offered. This offer may well have motivated Morrison to enlist. The Regiment was disbanded in 1783. It was a sort of home guard. I suspect this Sutherland Fencibles lieutenant was Morrison Gunn (11) as there were very few Morrison Gunns, the Sutherland Fencibles came from the Sutherland Estate where Morrison lived, Morrison had the example of his older brother joining the real army (an expensive occupation) and Morrison needed a job as the family no longer owned Estates as money probably had run out especially after William’s (11) commission had been bought. As well, the Sutherland Fencibles makes sense with the being ‘refused leave’ of the original story; you could get leave from Edinburgh or Inverness far more sensibly than from war-torn, isolated Gibraltar. Also, this was the second incarnation of the Sutherland Fencibles, so supporting the use of ‘2nd’ in the original story. It is to be regretted that the records[306] of the 2nd Sutherland Fencibles are minimal.
It is most likely, therefore, that Morrison died from consumption (given the lack of glamour of the death I suspect it may have a real origin) in Scotland sometime after being commissioned on 24 June 1779 but the exact date[307] – and cause - of his death is not known. Given William died 10 September 1780 it is not clear that Morrison was ever the most senior of the MacHamish line.
*****
William and Morrison had a half sister Catherine Ross whose husband was also from the MacHamish line. See David ‘Catchechist’ Gunn (14) son of Robert ‘Sennachy’ Gunn (13,70).
Generation 11, number 27 George, son of George of Corrish[308]
The descendants of George Gunn of Corrish (10,20) are problematic but, on balance, I suspect they existed and have not been fairly dealt with by tradition.
There may have been a William[309] who was brother of this George (11,27) and also brother of Alexander (11,28). This William – if he existed – probably died without issue.
This George had four sons – Alexander (12), James (12), Thomas (12) and William (12). their descendants – if any - are unclear.
Generation 11, number 28 Alexander, son of George of Corrish
Alexander[310] (11,28) married Ann Gunn? of Achinochiel? and had three children.
· William Gunn (12,36)
· Donald Gunn
· Robert Gunn
Generation 11, number 29 Unknown Mackay
Unknown Mackay (11,29), who may have been the daughter of Esther Gunn (10,21) who was daughter of Donald Crotach Gunn (9,15), married John Mackay of Moudale and had seven children
· Lt. William Mackay of Moudale (12)
· Four daughters Mackay of Moudale (12)
· George ‘USA’ Mackay of Moudale (12)
· Major Donald Mackay of Moudale (12)
But, as already discussed in Esther’s (10,21) life, it is not clear that she actually did marry John Mackay of Moudale.
Generation 11, number 30 Margaret ‘Netherlands’ Gunn
Margaret (11,30) was the daughter of Lt. Col. William Gunn (10,22). She was born, lived and died in the Netherlands. She married Johan Friedrich Brocades and had Johannes Wilhelmus Brocades. Descendants exist.
Generation 11, number 31 Alexander ‘Osclay’ Gunn
Alexander ‘Osclay’ Gunn (11,31) descended in two different ways from Coroner Gunn; the first was from his mother Margaret Gunn (10,23) who was the daughter of Donald Crotach Gunn (9,15). The second way was from his father John ‘Houstry Dunbeath’ Gunn (12,54) – yes the generations are correct, that’s how they spread over time and for this Alexander (11,31) I use his mother’s descent number as it shows his real closeness to the Coroner, not his father’s descent number which is a little less close. And I have not used both descent numbers for reasons of simplicity. John ‘Houstry Dunbeath’ (12,54) descended from Donald the Scholar (8,11) of Kinbrace who was a son of William Beag (7,8). See Appendices 1 and 2 for detail.
Alexander ‘Osclay’ (11,15) married Barbara Weir (Wheir). They were buried at the old Parish Church in Latheron. They had nine children of whom the eldest Catherine ‘Osclay’ Gunn (12,38) married Donald Braehour and Brawlbin Gunn (13,65) who descended from John in Navidale of Borroble Gunn (8,10). So, Gunns from the marriage of Catherine ‘Osclay’ Gunn and Donald Braehour and Brawlbin Gunn descend from Coroner Gunn in three different ways, see Appendices 1 and 2.
The children of Alexander Gunn (11,31) and Barbara Weir (Wheir) were
· Catherine (12,38)
· George Gunn (12,39)
· Robert Gunn born 1792 dwi (12)
· Sgt John Gunn (12,40)
· Margaret Gunn (12,41)
· James Gunn (12,42)
· Adam ‘USA’ Gunn (12,43)
· William Gunn (12,44)
· Alexander Gunn who died in Jamaica 1828 (12)
Generation 11, number 32 George Gunn of Acherelate and Strathmore
George Gunn – of Acherelate and Strathmore[311] - was born about 1683, he married a daughter of M McLean of Dulphate. He had one son who became ‘Chief’ Hector Gunn (12,45) with descendants. See Appendix 3 for the ‘Chief’ invention of the early 1800s.
Generation 11, number 33 Alexander ‘Dalnaglaton and Strathmore’ Gunn
Alexander was the younger brother to the preceding George (11,32). Alexander was born 7 January 1685 and died in June 1765. He married Janet Macleod. They had six children -
· John ‘Dalanaha, Strathmore and Braehour’ (12,46) whose son was Donald Braehour and Brawlbin Gunn (13,65) who married Catherine ‘Osclay’ Gunn (13,38). See Appendices 1 and 2.
· Christian Gunn (12,47).
· Angus / Aeneas Gunn (12,48).
· Jean Gunn (12,49).
· George (Dalnaglaton) Gunn (12,50). George Gunn had may have had four children; 1) Betty who married her first cousin Alexander, son of Angus Gunn (12,48), 2) Janet who married John Sinclair of Reay with daughter Janet who married William Gunn in Braehour (13,63) with children including William Gunn of Waranga Basin in Victoria, Australia and the Hon. Donald Gunn of Manitoba, Canada. 3) Donald ‘Dalnaglaton’ Gunn and perhaps 4) ‘Hester’ Gunn.
· Margaret Gunn (12,51). Margaret Gunn (12,51) married Robert Elder. It is believed that through this ‘Elder’ line that Gunn of Banniskirk claimed the ‘Chiefship’ of the ‘Clan’ Gunn in the late 1990s. See the last Appendix.
Generation 11, number 34 William ‘Kinbrace Houstry Dunbeath’ Gunn
William (11,34) was the son of Adam ‘Kinbrace’ Gunn (10,25). They descended from Donald the Scholar of Kinbrace’s (8,11) line; for detail of William’s (11,34) life see Donald’s biography. William (11,34) died in 1740. He had three children –
· Adam ‘Houstry’ Gunn (12,52).
· Robert Gunn (12,53).
· John ‘Houstry Dunbeath’ Gunn (12,54) who married Margaret Gunn (10,22) who was the daughter of ‘Chief’ Donald Crotach Gunn (9,15). See Appendices 1 and 2.
Adam (12,52), the first son, is referred to in The Book of Lybster[312] as ‘Adam C. Gun’ tacksman of Mulbuie;[313] Adam of Mulbuie has been wrongly placed as the first son of Donald Gunn the Scholar of Kinbrace (8,11) in both main Gunn histories and the 1868/70 family trees.[314] Adam (12,52) was actually the great, great grandson of Donald the Scholar of Kinbrace (8,11). This Adam ‘Houstry’ Gunn (12,52) – tacksman of Mulbuie - had the Reverend Robert Gunn[315] (13, 68) –
ROBERT GUNN, born 1750, son of Adam G., tacksman of Mulbuie, Dunbeath ; was tutor in the family of Sinclair of Dunbeath ; licen. by Presb. of Caithness 27th Feb. 1775; ord. 27th Sept. that year ; died 29th Nov. 1819. He marr. (1) 6th June 1778, Mary (died 8th Nov. 1784), daugh. of David Henderson of Stemster, and had issue—Cecilia, born 28th July 1780, died 26th Feb. 1811 ; Adam, born 11th May, died 5th Aug. 1783 ; David, born 19th Aug. 1784, died 5th Feb. 1785: (2) 1st Sept. 1787, Louisa (died 22nd May 1794), daugh. of Colonel Clunes, Crakaig, and had issue—Mary, born 30th Sept. 1788 ; Gordon, born 26th Dec. 1789, died 4th March 1790 ; William, born 30th Dec. 1790 ; Gordon, born 8th May 1792 ; John Hugh, born 14th March 1794 : (3) 31st Aug. 1798, Elizabeth Gun, Forres, who died at Dunbarton, 6th Nov. 1843, and had issue — Thomas, min. of Keiss, born 11th Oct. 1800; Adam, min. of Hope Street Gaelic Church, Glasgow, born 7th Aug. 1802 ; Louisa, born 26th Oct. 1803, died at Greenock, 27th Dec. 1854; Margaret, born 2nd April 1805 ; Robert, born 5th April 1806, died 27th Feb. 1818; James, born 29th Aug. 1807 ; Cecilia, born 8th March 1811 ; Eliza, born 2nd July 1813; William Gordon, born 14th April 1815; John Arthur, born 11th Nov. 1816, died 7th March 1869. Publication—Account of the Parish (Sinclair's Stat. Ace, xvii.).[316]
The above is accurate but dry as dust. The Book of Lybster[317] is more concerned with the man; it records him as ‘a shrewd legally-minded man with much force of character but not very popular as a preacher… (he had) nicknames of Robbie-na-process and Robert McProcess… Mr Gunn prosecuted … for repairs to the church and manse and also for fines imposed by the session … children of (his) … three marriages were residing at one time with the third wife at the Manse…’
I suspect the Reverend Robert – or his father Adam (12,52) - knew his Gunn genealogy well and had the profession to make it known in the area but given the oral nature of the time the idea that Adam Mulbuie Gunn (12,52) descended from the son of Donald the Scholar of Kinbrace (8,11) blurred over time into Adam Mulbuie Gunn being the son of Donald the Scholar of Kinbrace (8,11).
The Reverend Robert Gunn (13,68) had the Reverend Thomas Gunn (14) –
THOMAS GUNN, born 11th Oct. 1800, son of Robert G., min. of Latheron; educated at King's College, Aberdeen, M.A. (March 1818) and Univ. of Edinburgh; elected schoolmaster of Latheron'in 1819; licen. by Presb. of Caithness 19th July 1827; pres. by George IV. 13th July, and ord. 29th Sept. 1829. Joined the Free Church in 1843; min. of Free Church, Madderty, 21st Aug. 1844-86 ; died 8th March 1886. He marr. 11th Jan. 1830, Helen S. Innes Gunn, and had issue — Robert, born 31st Aug. 1833 ; Helen Innes, born 15th April 1843.[318]
The Reverend Robert Gunn (13,68) also had the Reverend Adam Gunn A.M. (14) – born 7 August 1802 and who worked as Minister of Hope Street Gaelic Church in Glasgow in 1851.
Adam Houstry Gunn (12,52) also had the Reverend William Gunn (13) -
WILLIAM GUNN, son of Adam G., tacksman of Milbuie, Dunbeath; educated at King's College, Aberdeen; M.A. (28th March 1771); schoolmaster of Tongue ; licen. by Presb. of Tongue 25th Oct. 1774 ; pres. by tutors of Elizabeth, Countess of Sutherland, in Feb., and ord. 15th Aug. 1776 ; died 28th Dec. 1785, aged about 34, one of the most popular preachers in the North. He marr. 9th July 1779, Anne (died senior annuitant of Ministers' Widows' Fund 3rd July 1841), daugh. of David Henderson of Stemster, and had issue — Cecilia, born 16th June 1780, died 14th Nov. 1785; Adam, born 18th Jan. 1782; Mary, born 14th Nov, 1784.[319]
Stories exist about his godliness; his death was supposedly due to witches. Robert (13,68) and William (13) married sisters.[320]
Generation 11, number 35 Robert Gunn
Robert Gunn’s father was probably William (10,26). They descended from the William of Acheneccan Gunn (8,12) line. Robert had at least William (12,55) who had Robert the Sennachy (13,70). The exact sequence of these Acheneccan Gunns is not totally clear; but their descent from William Beag (7,8) is perfectly clear. Of the family it is said –
‘One Free Presbyterian from Westerdale was the notable Chirsty Gunn. Her grandfather Robert had lived at Achaneccan in Kildonan, and Donald Sage remembered him as "a gentleman-like old man who had been much in good society, and had received a somewhat liberal education". He had the best claim to the disputed chieftainship of the clan Gunn but he had fallen on hard times. David, her father, was his eldest son and had married Catherine, daughter of John Ross (c1733-1775), the minister of Kildonan from 1761 to 1775. Catherine was a woman "as remarkable for her deep piety as for her prepossessing appearance", and David too was an eminently humble and pious man. When Kildonan was cleared, he moved to Strath Beag above Westerdale and became the catechist for the district. John Munro, Halkirk, held him in high regard. On one occasion, shortly before the Communion, his only cow died. The subject at the Fellowship Meeting was the marks of love to the brethren, and Ensign Joseph Mackay gave the meeting a practical turn by declaring, "If we only had among us a little of the love of which we have been speaking and hearing today, David Gunn would not be long until he got a new cow". David died in 1827, while his wife Catherine, who had been born on 12 June 1773, lived to be about 100.
Chirsty Gunn herself died aged 85 on 16 July 1900 and was buried near her parents in the Achreny burying-ground. She in turn had outlived her husband James Bain by 39 years.’[321]
Catherine was half-sister to William (11) and Morrison Gunn (11) – see their lives and see the life of Alexander Gunn of Badenloch, later of Wester Helmsdale (10,19). David ‘Cathechist’ Gunn was son of Robert ‘Sennachy’ Gunn (13,70).
*****
For details of generations 12, 13 and 14 see section 10.2. The more interesting include –
· Hon. Donald Gunn of Manitoba, Canada. See https://www.redriverancestry.ca/GUNN-DONALD-1797.php
· Osclay Gunns. See Appendices 1 and 2.
***
[1] Page 62, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[2] Page 92, Sir Robert Gordon, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland.
[3] We have no firm knowledge of the Coroner’s children’s birth order; it has to be surmised for those Gunns who lived after the Coroner’s death by the estates they held and their place in history. This then means James was the eldest surviving son and Robert the next. Page 320 John Henderson W.S. Notes on Caithness Family History 1884 has James as a possible fifth son but the evidence for that is not given.
[4] Page 92, Sir Robert Gordon, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland. says it is after the Coroner’s death.
[5] Page 142, Thomas Sinclair The Gunns.
[6] Page 110 Thomas Sinclair being but one reference; no place is given in the 1896 tree however.
[7] Page 62. Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.Technically it would have been from Elizabeth de Moravia the 10th Countess of Sutherland who married Adam Gordon, younger son of the second Earl of Huntly. The lands of the Province of Strathnaver were also not owned by Gunns; see M. Bangor-Jones ‘From Clanship to Crofting; Landownership, Economy and the Church in the Province of Strathnaver’ in ed. R. J. Baldwin The Province of Strathnaver.
[8] http://www.nls.uk/catalogues/online/cnmi/inventories/dep313.pdf accessed 14 February 2013.
[9] Page 331, Walter Ross, Lectures on the History and Practice of the Law of Scotland Volume 2.
[10] Page 87, James T. Calder, Sketch of the Civil and Traditional History Of Caithness, from the tenth century etc.
[11] What is meant by ‘followers’ is unclear. Servants from the castle who were no longer employed? Farmhands? Assorted obscure relatives? The source for James Calder is not known.
[12] Burke’s Peerage has him dying in 1496, killed in action, no idea why.
[13] Page 2, Sir Robert Gordon A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland. points out that the inhabitants of Sutherland were called in ‘old Scottish or Irish language’ Cattigh. Page 92 also has William as born and bred in Sutherland. There is a suggestion (Page 37 Thomas Sinclair The Gunns) that it might also mean he was of Caithness origin, which covers both options!
[14] https://blog.findmypast.co.uk/traditional-scottish-naming-patterns-2115646700.html accessed 29 May 2018.
[15] ‘The mean life expectancy of kings of Scotland and England, reigning from 1000 AD to 1600 AD were 51 and 48 years, respectively. Their monks did not fare as well. In the Carmelite Abbey, only five per cent survived past 45. … wealthier people would have a life expectancy of more than forty years.’ http://www.sarahwoodbury.com/life-expectancy-in-the-middle-ages/ accessed 29 May 2018. This detail shows it would have been extremely unlikely that this William Gunn (3,3) would have been alive in 1517, let alone fighting at Torran Dubh. He also would not have killed the Chief of the Clan Keith which Gunn mythology has him doing – see chapter 8.3 and the next life. See also page 166 Mark Rugg Gunn The Gunns.
[16] Page 166, Mark Rugg Gunn, ibid.
[17] Page 374, Donald A. Young, The Book of Lybster.
[18] Origines Parochiales Scotiae Part 1. Page 740. records ‘Early in the sixteenth century ... William Jameson or William Mackames-Wick-Cruner … had part or whole of the lands of Killernan… witness to a seisin of Pronse in 1525 …’ See https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=737lAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA779&dq=Earl+of+Caithness+1556&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjKlcrNnpvXAhXMJsAKHQ9oAB8Q6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=Earl%20of%20Caithness%201556&f=false accessed 31 October 2017. Note there is no mention of him being a ‘Gunn Chief’.
[19] Page 91, Sir Robert Gordon, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland has ‘William Mackames_Wick-Chruner’.
[20] Based on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Torran_Dubh accessed 2 October 2017.
[21] Page 91, Sir Robert Gordon, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland.
[22] Page 168, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[23] Page 91, Sir Robert Gordon, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland.
[24] Also known as Torran-dow and Torran-Du.
[25] The Rev. Gunn of Watten in 1804 quoted an anonymous poem saying Gunns arrived at the fight; but this is a song / poem given three hundred years after the event. It is not history. See https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=B9MRAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA76&dq=john+mackay+strathnaver+1517&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjHk9utndzWAhUMJMAKHfFCCc8Q6AEILjAB#v=onepage&q=john%20mackay%20strathnaver%201517&f=false accessed 6 October 2017. Also see page 147 Thomas Sinclair The Gunns where more of the song is given. One line discusses the ‘columns’ of those fighting in the battle. This shows the fiction – ‘columns’ are heavily associated with trained troops, not civilians.
[26] To restate on wadset. In essence you wadset land for a period of time by paying the owner of that land a sum of money which had to be returned by the owner at the end of the wadset period. If the owner did not return the money then the wadsetter owned the land. The length of a wadset could vary, and it could be for a very long time. For example, a 1786 wadset was redeemable at the death of the original wadsetter or every nine or nineteen years thereafter. See
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ieVCAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA16551&lpg=PA16551&dq=wadset+length+time&source=bl&ots=cwCajZ1pDQ&sig=gHs-8xiEeykDSXWJP6daeuEgI24&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjS_t-x4tnWAhXMXhoKHRYRAy8Q6AEILDAB#v=onepage&q=wadset%20length%20time&f=false accessed 5 October 2017. The wadset of Killearnan was probably given to James, and then passed to his heir and so on. The Sutherland Estate wadsets of this time no longer exist so we do not know the exact conditions of the Killearnan wadset but it is reasonable to assume they would have matched the general wadsets of the time.
[27] See pages 414 on of John Erskine of Carnock, An Institute of the Law of Scotland Volume 1.
[28] Pages 90 – 91, Sir Robert Gordon, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland.
[29] Page 91, Sir Robert Gordon, ibid.
[30] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Torran_Dubh accessed 15 September 2017. As well Sir David Dalrymple has this Alexander Gordon ‘in ward’. See https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=LicAAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA142&dq=Alexander+Sutherland+brother+of+the+Countess+of+Sutherland&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiC6_uS3PzWAhXB7hoKHWfxCnsQ6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=Alexander%20Sutherland%20brother%20of%20the%20Countess%20of%20Sutherland&f=false accessed 19 October 2017.
[31] Page 69, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[32] Page 92, Sir Robert Gordon, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland.
[33] Page 88, James T. Calder, Sketch of the Civil and Traditional History Of Caithness, from the tenth century etc.
[34] Page 82 onwards, Donald Sage Memorablia Domestica, (see also Mark Rugg Gunn page 69 on) embellished Gordon’s story to include a Royal Pardon for the Keith involved at St Tayre’s. But that’s absurd – the Coroner died in the mid-1450s, this supposed killing was after 1517. The Keith involved in the supposed killing of the Coroner was not living seventy years after the ‘murder’ of the Coroner. There is further nonsense about MacHamish being drunk and sobering up, cutting the head of George Keith in two and so on.
[35] Page 386, Barbara Crawford, The Northern Kingdoms; Orkney and Caithness from AD 870 to 1470. Page 122, Ian Grimble Chief of Mackay points out that in 1631 King Charles 1 created the position of Sherriff of Sutherland including Strathnaver and the position was held by the Earl of Sutherland. Again, the idea that the Highlands was totally lawless was wrong.
[36] Adam’s great, great grandmother was Elizabeth Keith whose father was William Keith, Earl Marischal.
[37] Origines Parochiales Scotiae Part 1. See https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=737lAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA779&dq=Earl+of+Caithness+1556&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjKlcrNnpvXAhXMJsAKHQ9oAB8Q6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=Earl%20of%20Caithness%201556&f=false accessed 31 October 2017.
[38] Page 20, Thomas Sinclair The Gunns gives the name of William, seemingly quoting Gordon. But when checked against Pages 107 and 108 of Sir Robert Gordon’s A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland Gordon did not apply a name to the person involved in the battles.
[39] Page107, Robert Gordon, ibid.
[40] Page 108, Robert Gordon, ibid.
[41] Page 135, Robert Gordon, ibid.
[42] Page 740 Origines Parochiales Scotiae Part 1. See https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=737lAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA779&dq=Earl+of+Caithness+1556&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjKlcrNnpvXAhXMJsAKHQ9oAB8Q6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=Earl%20of%20Caithness%201556&f=false accessed 31 October 2017 which records ‘Alexander Jameson in Westir Killernane witnesses a seisin of Doill and Carrell in 1564…’. https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=737lAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA779&dq=Earl+of+Caithness+1556&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjKlcrNnpvXAhXMJsAKHQ9oAB8Q6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=Earl%20of%20Caithness%201556&f=false accessed 31 October 2017.
[43] Page 256 John Leslie The History of Scotland etc. shows that page 77, Mark Rugg Gunn Clan Gunn is not accurate.
[44] Origines Parochiales Scotiae Part 1. Page 779. See https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=737lAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA779&dq=Earl+of+Caithness+1556&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjKlcrNnpvXAhXMJsAKHQ9oAB8Q6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=Earl%20of%20Caithness%201556&f=false accessed 31 October 2017.
[45] Page 257 John Leslie The History of Scotland etc.
[46] For an excellent map see Page 36 of ed. John Baldwin The Province of Stathnaver.
[47] Page 34 Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn as one example.
[48] Page 131-132, Ian Grimble, Clans and Chiefs.
[49] Page 108 A. Mackay The Book of Mackay, page 199 Thomas Sinclair The Gunns and page 361 Sir Robert Gordon A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland.
[50] Page 157, Sir Robert Gordon, ibid.
[51] Pages106-7, A. Mackay, The Book of Mackay.
[52] Page106, Robert Mackay, History of The House and Clan Mackay.
[53] Page 199, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns, ‘Iye Mackay, who died in 1571 had a daughter ‘married to Alexander Davidson’’. Page 64, Thomas Sinclair, ibid., ‘daughter of Iye MacKay, who died in in 1571, was married to Alexander Gunn (Davidson).’
[54] Page106-7, A. Mackay, The Book of Mackay.
[55] Page106, A. Mackay, ibid.
[56] Page 166, Mark Rugg Gunn Clan Gunn is but one of many examples.
[57] Page 361 Robert Gordon A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland. Sir Robert Gordon is geographically poor in this area. He suggests that Alexander Davidson retrieved his ancient possession of Braemore, which traditionally is the land of the Robson / Braemore Gunns from the second son of the Coroner, and that the Robson Gunn got the land of Kinbrace which was by 1638 in the hands of the Donald the scholar MacHamish line. I think Robert Gordon has, at best, reversed who got which land and which would suggest names and people have been wrongly connected – MacRobs got back their Braemore land, Alexander Davidson may have got Kinbrace but we have no record to support the idea. Was Kinbrace a slip of writing for Killernan? This Braemore link is repeated by page 172 Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[58] Page 113, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns. Page 106 A. Mackay, The Book of Mackay.
[59] Page 361, Sir Robert Gordon A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland.
[60] Page 165, Sir R. Douglas, The Scots Peerage ‘William Macalister … succeeded to the lands of Killernan 19 February 1614’ and page 106, A. Mackay, The Book of Mackay.
[61] Uistean’s son Donald Mackay was appointed a Justice of the Peace before 1610; the Highlands were not as totally lawless as many believe. Page 59, Ian Grimble, Chief of Mackay. This was possibly related to the Mackays being Justiciars of the Diocese of Caithness from earlier times. Page 43, Ian Grimble, ibid.
[62] Page 42, Ian Grimble ibid.
[63] Pages 40-43, Ian Grimble ibid.
[64] Quoted on page 44, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[65] See page 41, C. Fleet, M. Wilkes and S. W. J. Withers, Scotland Mapping The Nation.
[66] Page 183, Sir Robert Gordon, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland.
[67] Page 189, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[68] Pages 272-273, Sir Robert Gordon, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland. William Beag (7,8) is viewed by Gordon as ‘Chieftane of the Clangun in Southerland’. As previously said Gordon uses Chief / Chieftain to mean main person, not ‘Clan Chief’. It shows that William Beag is viewed as the main Gunn, not his brother Alexander (7,7).
[69] Page 273, Sir Robert Gordon, ibid.
[70] Page 116, A. Mackay, The Book of Mackay.
[71] Page 273, Sir Robert Gordon, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland.
[72] Page 175, James Hunter Last of the Free. ‘King James wrote Lewis’s colonisers were to proceed ‘not by agreement with (the Lewis people) but by extirpation of thame’. That’s ethnic cleansing…
[73] Page 142, Ian Grimble, Clans and Chiefs.
[74] Quoted Page 14 Ronald Williams, The Heather and the Gale, but being from 1598, Record of the Privy Council, V.
[75] Pages 38-41 Donald MacDonald, Lewis A History of the Island.
[76] This historic absurdity has been made due to the mythic belief that ‘MacHamish’ was a title only held by one Gunn at a time.
[77] Page 242, Sir Robert Gordon, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland. Gordon records the name as ‘of’ Killernan which can be ignored – it is not a legal document of the time but a later history where small confusions can occur.
[78] Page 242 Sir Robert Gordon, ibid.
[79] Page 246, Sir Robert Gordon, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland.
[80] Page 117 and page 167, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[81] Page 117, Mark Rugg Gunn, ibid.
[82] Page 118, Mark Rugg Gunn, ibid.
[83] Of course, many tenants not of the family could also be on such an estate.
[84] NLS Sutherland Estate assorted documents from deposit 313, numbers 276 and 277.
[85] Page 167, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[86] Page 106, A Mackay, The Book of Mackay.
[87] Page 106, A. Mackay, ibid.
[88] Page 378, Sir Robert Gordon, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland.
[89] Page 167, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[90] Page 242, Sir Robert Gordon, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland has the name as ‘of’ Killernan’ which can be ignored – it is not a legal document of the time but a later history where small confusions can occur.
[91] Page 167, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[92] See NRS GD84/1/27/7 for detail.
[93] See page 117, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[94] Page 119, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn being a rough summary of pages 151-153, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[95] See page 152 Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[96] Page 152, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns, also spelt John M’Hamish and Alexander M’Hamish in the document.
[97] Page 77, Keith Brown, Noble Power in Scotland from the Reformation to the Revolution. NRS GD84/1/11/13 for 9 July 1622.NRS GD 139/8 for 23 February 1668. The year also involved Sir Robert Gordon and Gunn Robsons in the burning of corn at Sandside; it is detailed in history texts and is briefly explored in chapter 11.
[98] Page 449, Sir Robert Gordon, A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland.
[99] Page 30, David Dobson, Scots-Scandinavian Links in Europe and America 1550-1850.
[100] Page 167, Mark Rugg Gun Clan Gunn provides detail.
[101] Page 167, Mark Rugg Gunn, ibid. provides detail.
[102] Page 82, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns. And Charles I: Translation; 1646, 3 November, Edinburgh, Parliament; Parliamentary Register; 26 March 1647; Legislation; Act anent the committees of war in the several shires; 1646/11/532.
[103] NRS GB84 /1/20/2B
[104] Charles I: Translation; 1649, 4 January, Edinburgh, Parliament; Parliamentary Register; 15 February 1649; Legislation; Act for putting the kingdom in a posture of defence; 1649/1/133. Pages 84-85, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[105] Sutherland Estate documents deposit 313, number 297.
[106] It seems extremely unlikely that unrelated friends would put up a joint contract in the 1650s, money is too scarce.
[107] Dame Mary seems to have been independently wealthy from her first marriage. See pages 427-428, A. Mackay, The Book Of Mackay. And see page 124 for her marriage and which records John and Kathrine Gunn as her children.
[108] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Hector_Munro,_1st_Baronet accessed 13 December. The date is also that which is commonly given elsewhere for example ‘Hector Monro of Fowlis …died in Hamburgh in Aprile 1635’ page 40, Publications of the Scottish History Society Volume 33.
[109] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Hector_Munro,_1st_Baronet accessed 20 March 2018. See also https://archive.org/stream/historyofmunroso00mack/historyofmunroso00mack_djvu.txt accessed 20 March 2018.
[110] See National Records of Scotland GD84/1/27/7 for detail. People sometimes have him alive later; that is because they are confused with his son Alexander (9).
[111] NRS GD84/1/27/3 see http://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue/overview.aspx?st=1&tc=y&tl=n&tn=n&tp=n&k=alexander+Gunn&ko=a&r=&ro=s&df=1650&dt=1700&di=y
[112] Page 167. Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[113] Charles I: Translation; 1649, 4 January, Edinburgh, Parliament; Parliamentary Register; 15 February 1649; Legislation; Act for putting the kingdom in a posture of defence; 1649/1/133 . Pages 84-85, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[114] Page 167, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[115] Page xlvi, ed. R.J. Adam, Papers on Sutherland Estate Management 1802-1816, Vol. 1.
[116] Donald the Scholar (8,11) had a wadset contract for Kinbrace drawn with the Earl of Sutherland; it is in the NLS.
[117] As already said, this marriage is shown on the 1896 tree. See Appendix 1.
[118] See http://www.lyon-court.com/lordlyon/files/Gunn,%20Michael%20James%20-%20Interlocutor%20and%20Note.pdf accessed 9 November 2017.
[119] This John Gunn (12,54) was only ever ‘in’ Kinbrace - his father William (11,34) clearly gave up the estate as is discussed in his life, so John could never be ‘of’ Kinbrace. However, ‘in’ meant John (12,54) lived there at some time.
[120] Alexander could really have two numbers as he descends from the Coroner in different ways. I have only used one for reasons of keeping hierarchy clear – and used the number appropriate for the more direct descent, in this case being descended from the daughter of ‘Chief’ Donald Crotach Gunn (9,15).
[121] The NLS documents are
1) A 1638 Folio 208 MS Deposit 313 / 302. This document has a Donald Gunn in Kinbrays (Kinbrace) in August 1638. It is signed by Donald Gunn - signed ‘Gune’ with the addition of ‘in my own hand’. This delight in literacy supports the idea he was ‘Donald the Scholar’.
2) A 1658 Folio 208 MS Deposit 313 / 303. This document shows William Gunn of Kinbrace also took on Achnahow of Kildonan in 1658.
3) A 1672 Folio 208 MS Deposit 313 / 204. This document has William Gunn of Kinbrace in 1672.
4) A 1672 Folio 208 MS Deposit 313 / 206. This document clearly states that Adam Gunn was of Kinbrace in 1672, that ‘William Gun of Kinbrace, my father’ and ‘Donald my grandfather’.
5) A 1709 Folio 208 MS Deposit 313 / 207. This document shows that the Adam Gunn of Kinbrace fathered William Gunn.
6) A 1714 Folio 208 MS Deposit 313 / 208. This document is a discharge by William Gunn in Knockfinn to Lord Strathnaver of the lands of Kinbrace and Achnahow. It says he is ‘lawful son of Adam Gunn’ and that ‘William Gunn my grandfather’.
[122] Page 126 Thomas Sinclair The Gunns has William ‘Gun’ of Kinbrace was served heir general to his father Adam Gunn of Kinbrace 7 July 1709.’ .So Sinclair supports the document in the National Library of Scotland and provides the approximate death date for Adam Gunn.
[123] As already discussed, the estate in 1809-1820 also included Shinachy and Achneakans (Acheneccan); did it include these earlier? Page xlvi, ed. by R.J. Adam Papers on Sutherland Estate Management Volume 1.
[124] Page 126, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[125] See page 149, Thomas Sinclair The Gunns. Both Thomas Sinclair and Mark Rugg Gunn have a story about the end of Kinbrace which does not match the NLS document. Kinbrace ends in what would have been a messy divorce if such was available at the time. But ‘Sutherland’ is mentioned in both.
[126] The following is inaccurate but does have the NLS ownership list of Donald – William – Adam - William clearly stated; Thomas Sinclair ‘Supplement 30’, 14. 7. 1903, where he repeats ‘Sage’s manuscript’ From William M’Hamish, the son of James the coroner, were descended two sons, both of them being called William, being by two marriages. The first was called Big William, and the second Little William. The latter were the ancestors of the Gunns of Kinbrace. These formed two branches, the Gunns of Melbuie and Achanakin. The son of Little William, ancestor of the Melbuie family or branch, was Donald the Scholar, whose posterity were William, Donald, William, Adam, William, Adam, and Rev. William and Rev. Robert Minister of Latheron. The other branch of the Kinbrace family is Achinikin. Their ancestor was Donald the Scholar’s son William, who was followed by Donald, William, William, Robert, William, Robert a venerable aged man, and ordained an elder in Achanakin, parish of Kildonan. Little William or his son Donald wadsetted the lands of Kinbrace for 500 pounds Scots...
[127] Page 103, ed. R.J. Adam, Papers on Sutherland Estate Management 1802-1816 Volume 1.
[128] As already mentioned - Captain Gunn, Braehour … is admitted to be, if not the greatest, at least a genuine, living authority on Gunn questions … It were strange if the captain had not been well posted up in all historic points, seeing that his father, Donald Gunn, Braehour, was the acknowledged sennachy or historian of his time … an unusually learned sennachy. Pages 185-186Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[129] See the ‘Australian Dictionary of Biography’ entry on her at http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/gunn-jeannie-6506 .
[130] http://www.lyon-court.com/lordlyon/files/Gunn,%20Michael%20James%20-%20Interlocutor%20and%20Note.pdf Lord Lyon makes reference to a child of this marriage - George Gunn in Dalfridh. Accessed 7 March 2016. There is no support for this idea that I can find; it would be in the 1896 tree as such a George would be a great uncle to the maker of the tree and so would not have been forgotten.
[131] From the ‘Sage Gunn History’, being from Thomas Sinclair’s ‘Clan Gunn History Supplement 31’ 14 July 1903 from the ‘Northern Ensign’.
[132] Page 270, Mark Rugg Gunn, ibid.
[133] Pages 120-121, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[134] Page 204, D. A. Young. The Book of Lybster.
[135] Page 103, Ed. R. J. Adam, Sutherland Estate Management Volume 1.
[136] See, for example http://www.fpchurch.org.uk/publications/the-free-presbyterian-magazine/1998-to-2003/november-2003/the-achreny-mission-3-after-the-disruption-part-1-rev-d-w-b-somerset-698/ accessed 10 November 2017. See http://clangunn.weebly.com/william-in-achanaichan--achaneccan-line-being-the-2nd-son-of-donald-the-scholar.html for detail of descendants accessed 12 November 2017.
[137] Page 137, Rev. Donald Sage Parish life in the North of Scotland (chapter 10, Home and College Life 1804-1805) http://www.electricscotland.com/history/parishlife/chapter10.htm accessed 12 November 2017.
[138] See pages 120-121, 149, 169 and elsewhere in Thomas Sinclair The Gunns. He is not always accurate and can argue against himself. The main point is ‘Little William’s (William Beag (7,8)) … son William (Acheneccan (8,12)) had sons John (wrong – not Acheneccan line – but John Gunn in Navidale of Borroble (8,10)), and Donald (9,18), from the former of whom William and Gunns of Osclay’ pages 120-122. Now, that again shows that the Osclay Gunns – see the first two appendices - certainly descend from the MacHamish line. See, as well, the chart on page 270, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn. It also is again not totally accurate but has the Gunns of Osclay descending from William Beag (7,8).
[139] Caithness County Archives, Wick library, Gunn Mss pages 1-3, retold on page 168 Mark Rugg Gunn, The Gunns.
[140] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Legal_Capacity_(Scotland)_Act_1991 accessed 24 April 2018.
[141] See NRS GD84/1/27/7 for detail. http://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue/overview.aspx?st=2&tc=y&tl=n&tn=n&tp=n&k=&ko=a&r=GD84%2f1%2f27%2f7+&ro=s&df=&dt=&di=y&dc=&dco=s&t=&to=o& accessed 19 March 2018.
[142] See NRS GD84/1/27/7 for detail.
[143] See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Legal_Capacity_(Scotland)_Act_1991 accessed 6 August 2019.
[144] They could be twins, but there is no mention of that in any history of which I am aware.
[145] See NRS GD84/1/27/7 for detail.
[146] Pages 166 and 168, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn for example.
[147] Page 91, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[148] The 1896 tree records her name as Christina, other records give her as Katherine.
[149] See http://www.fionamsinclair.co.uk/genealogy/caithness/Dun.htm accessed 27 February 2018.
[150] See http://www.fionamsinclair.co.uk/genealogy/caithness/Dun.htm accessed 27 February 2018.
[151] Page 167, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[152] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html for detail. Other debts included about £750 to the brother of Lord Duffus, and 500 merks to John Sutherland.
[153] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html accessed 15 March says John Gunn (9,13) and George Gunn (9,16) were brothers german – full brothers. This is an error – they were first cousins.
[154] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html for detail.
[155] Sutherland Estate documents deposit 33, numbers 276 and 277 at the National Library of Scotland.
[156] Page 13, Eds. R.A. Houston and I. D. Whyte, Scottish Society 1500-1600.
[157] Page 575, Robert Mackay, History of the House and Clan of Mackay.
[158] Page 168, Angus Mackay, The Book of Mackay.
[159] Page 143, Angus Mackay, ibid. and NRS GD84/1/27/3.
[160] See NRS GD84/1/27/7 for detail.
[161] NRS GD84/1/21/4B at http://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue/overview.aspx?st=1&tc=y&tl=n&tn=n&tp=n&k=gun&ko=a&r=&ro=s&df=1650&dt=1700&di=y accessed 7 July 2018.
[162] Page 158, Thomas Sinclair The Gunns says Henderson recorded them marrying in 1650; this is obviously wrong. There is an attempt to argue by some that Alexander was first married to Catherine Sinclair with assorted descendants. The dates and titles don’t work; the marriage is too early (1641) and none of the children are ‘of Killernan’ or ‘Navidale’ which they would be if they were the most senior children. Rather the most senior child is of Achintoul, but other places like Knockfinn and Dalnaglaton occur. These descendants are in the 1896 tree down as descending from George Gunn of Borrobol. My suspicion is that in the past Achintoul was misread from Borrobol, or mistranscribed.
[163] Pages 142-143, A. Mackay, The Book of Mackay has her father the 1st Lord Reay marrying three times. Christina is the last child of the third wife. The second wife died in 1637. The third wife had five children.
[164] Page 143, A. Mackay, ibid.
[165] Page 168, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn for example.
[166] Page 168, Mark Rugg Gunn, ibid.
[167] Page 91, Thomas Sinclair The Gunns.
[168] Pages 156-158, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns and the Gunn papers at the Wick archives, Scotland.
[169] NRS GD139/26.
[170] Page 156, Thomas Smibert, The Clans of the Highlands of Scotland.
[171] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html ‘Alexander... The provision he made on his marriage saved the situation’ accessed 7 August 2019.
[172] Pages 156-157, Thomas Smibert, The Clans of the Highlands of Scotland has the document passing over the lands of Navidale and Easter Balnavaliach from Alexander Gunn to his wife Christiana MacKay.
[173] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html accessed 1 March 2018.
[174] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html accessed 3 March 2018.
[175] Pages 140-141 Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[176] See John Gunn’s (9,13) biography.
[177] Page 166, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[178] Burke’s Peerage
[179] See NRS GD84/1/27/7 for detail. People sometimes have him alive later; that is because they are confused with his son Alexander (10,19).
[180] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_maternal_age accessed 5 June 2018.
[181] See chapter 9.1.
[182] In modern documents often spelt Badanloch, such as on OS maps.
[183]http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=u8ArAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA677&dq=gunn+sutherland&hl=en&sa=X&ei=DRK7Utm5EK3H7AbKqoC4DQ&ved=0CDYQ6AEwATgo#v=snippet&q=gunn&f=false accessed 23 March 2018.
[184] Anne: Translation; 1704, 6 July, Edinburgh, Parliament; Parliamentary Register; Saturday 5 August 1704; Legislation; Act anent supply; 1704 / 7 /69. He was not a Commissioner in 1685. https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=u8ArAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA23&lpg=PA23&dq=1685+++sutherland+commissioner++supply&source=bl&ots=st71xquWDi&sig=tM60hmLXlOeuBWAsyZ3tpwW2-NI&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjC2fnt4trZAhXSFsAKHahyBEcQ6AEISDAI#v=onepage&q=1685%20%20%20sutherland%20commissioner%20%20supply&f=false accessed 7 March 2019.
[185] See discussion on his son Alexander (10,19).
[186] Pages 139-140, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[187] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html accessed 1 March 2018.
[188] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html accessed 1 March 2018.
[189] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html accessed 6 March 2018; page 148. Thomas Smibert, The Clans of the Highlands of Scotland.
[190] Gordons of Kilgour in this mid-late1600s time are very hard to find.
[191] Page 169 Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[192] See Appendix, page 64. Chantel Duijvesteijn, The Highland Clans and the ’45 Uprising being a Master’s Thesis for the University of Utrecht, 2009.
[193] See, for example, M. G. H. Pittock The Myth of the Jacobite Clans; The Jacobite army in 1745.
[194] From the1896 tree.
[195] From page 149, Thomas Sinclair The Gunns - ‘(Donald Crottach’s) eldest (he meant elder) daughter Esther married Donald Mackay of Skerray, and was alive in 1723, while the other became Mrs John Gunn of Kinbrace.’ This is from discussion of Aeneas Gunn’s Appendix in the text.
[196] https://scottishkin.com/the-traditional-scottish-naming-system accessed 15 May 2019.
[197] Page 195 Thomas Sinclair The Gunns.
[198] Pages 166 and 269, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn for example. The 1896 tree has George Gunn (9,16) as the elder brother of Donald Crotach (9,15) with John (9,13) as the senior son which is bit more logical than having him as the younger brother of Donald Crotach (9,15) but neither is accurate.
[199] Thomas Sinclair Supplements in the ‘Northern Ensign, 4th Instalment 23.12.1902. ‘In 1803 Hector Gunn Thurso, was by legal inquisition, 31st May, made chief of the clan.’
[200] See pages 170-174, Thomas Sinclair The Gunns.
[201] A factor is a person who manages an Estate for a landowner.
[202] Being a quote from R. Mackay’s History of the House of Mackay in Thomas Sinclair Supplements in the ‘Northern Ensign, 5th instalment, 30.12.1902.
[203] ‘Rhives’ was the Sutherland Estate’s Factor’s House near Golspie; pages 168 -172 Thomas Sinclair The Gunns.
[204] Page 175, Thomas Sinclair. The Gunns. Page 168 notes a letter from Lord Lyon’s office 13 August 1803 saying that Hector Gunn – the above George Gunn’s father – was ‘now the chief of the clan Gunn’.
[205] http://www.lyon-court.com/lordlyon/files/Gunn,%20Michael%20James%20-%20Interlocutor%20and%20Note.pdf accessed 28 March 2013.
[206] See http://clangunn.weebly.com/thomas-sinclair-supplement-8-2011903.html accessed 9 August 2019.
[207] For a brief life see http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/gunn_donald_10E.html accessed 11 April 2018.
[208] This son is sometimes said to be ‘of Kinbrace’; that is wrong. The Kinbrace estate was held by the Gunns who descended from William Beag until 1714 (Sutherland Estate Folio 218 / MS deposit 313/208). The next reference for Kinbrace is in 1734 when it was held by the Wilson family of London.
[209] The 1896 tree gives something like these names; I wish I could better read the handwriting.
[210] Pages 164-167, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[211] The 1896 tree.
[212] Thomas Sinclair ‘Northern Ensign’ Gunn Supplement 12, 17 December 1903. And see http://greyhenswell.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/the-strong-man-rambling-recollections.html accessed 9 July 2019. For a mythic version, see ‘The Strong Man of Dalnaglaton’ chapter in Robert P Gunn’s Tales from Braemore.
[213] NLS Sutherland Estate documents deposit 313, numbers 276 and 277.
[214] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Legal_Capacity_(Scotland)_Act_1991 accessed 8 August 2019, but I am not clear as to the full legal position at this time.
[215] Page 168, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn being one example.
[216] https://gw.geneanet.org/sduggan?lang=en&pz=shayla+nicole&nz=duggan&p=angus&n=mackay&oc=2 provides one version of the family line. Accessed 21 May 2019.
[217] Alexander used ‘Gun’ when signing his name; NLS documents. He was certainly literate and could write letters to individuals.
[218] Page 195, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns, 1896 tree and http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-1531911.html and the 1896 tree.
[219] Assorted NLS receipts for the Badenloch Estate.
[220] Page 167 Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns and http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html
[221] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html accessed 22 March 2018.
[222] See National Records of Scotland GD84/1/27/7 for detail.
[223] Page 149 Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns for much of this detail sourced from the Aeneas Gunn material.
[224] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html accessed 22 March 2018
[225] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html accessed 22 March 2018.
[226] Burke’s Peerage.
[227] The Book of Mackay, page 329 and http://www.thepeerage.com/p42871.htm#i428709 accessed 6 August 2018.
[228] Page 170, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn, the 1896 Family tree and Burke’s Peerage.
[229] ‘MacHamish’, surely.
[230] Page 126, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[231] Page 166, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn, has a chart which gives a death year for Donald of 1723, for example.
[232] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html accessed 22 March 2018 for the full document.
[233] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html accessed 22 March 2018 for the full document.
[233] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-22-21911.html accessed 22 March 2018 for the full document.
[234] Page 195, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[235] Being the origin of the Ku Klux Klan symbol. It is interesting that the rebirth of the Ku Klux Klan at Stone Mountain in Georgia in 1915 is also the place for the main USA Highland Games; is white American interest in Scottish Highlands heritage little more than a (hidden) assertion of white, patriarchal strength? Stone Mountain is also the site of a huge memorial commemorating the Confederate leaders of the USA in its Civil War – the memorial is a 1.2 hectares sculpture on the side of the mountain. Given the Confederacy is most notably known for racism the sculpture further supports the issue of what motivates Scottish heritage / Clan societies in the USA. The Highland Games growth in the USA notably came into its own in the 1960s when Afro-Carribbean consciousness developed strength. At least one book notes ‘The Klan is also increasingly obsessed by its ‘Celtic’ … Scottish roots.’ Page 180 George Rouse Curious Scotland Tales From a Hidden History. Is Scottish heritage nothing more than a form of colonialism, that is, a view of the past which is based on myths to preserve a sense of personal superiority? Or, if you prefer, the interpellation of Gunn myths defines the believer…
[236] Page 171, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[237] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-831911.html for the evidence for this paragraph.
[238] http://clangunn.weebly.com/the-gunn-papers-the-northern-chronicle-831911.html accessed 9 August 2019.
[239] Page 170. Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[240] See Rachel E Bennett’s ’Capital Punishment and the Scottish Criminal Justice system’ for details on the legal system involved with Scottish capital punishment following the 1704 Act of Union. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-62018-3_2 accessed 28 March 2018.
[241] William Sutherland, 17th Earl of Sutherland 1708-1750.
[242] Sutherland Estate papers, National Library of Scotland, Deposit 313, 298 (bundle 24) and 309 (bundle 35).
[243] Page 163, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn.
[244] Page 254, Ian Grimble, Clans and Chiefs.
[245] Page 215, ed. R. J. Adam, Sutherland Estate Papers Volume 1.
[246] Page 90, 96, H. Scott, DD, Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae The Succession of Ministers in the Church of Scotland from the Reformation.
[247] Page 90, 96, H. Scott, DD, ibid.
[248] He died 12 February 1755. Page 241 H. Scott, DD, ibid.
[249] Page 517, R. Mackay, History of the House of MacKay, gives 1753 as death date. But see https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=_lwAAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA108&lpg=PA108&dq=ann+rose+William+Rose+Loth&source=bl&ots=x8bf78QxCp&sig=i-8uVFBEq_Eu0AOFSYKMCujuiEw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjDp8370Z7bAhVMCcAKHfHNDugQ6AEIcjAR#v=onepage&q=ann%20rose%20William%20Rose%20Loth&f=false accessed 25 May 2018.
[250] Burke’s Peerage.
[251] http://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotreg/macleod/1777.htm accessed 24 May 2018.
[252] Page 400, The Scots Magazine, Volume 41.
[253] ‘We think of men joining the army in their late teens … most British soldiers enlisted later than that’. D. N. Hagist ‘How old were the Redcoats? Age and Experience of British Soldiers in America’. https://allthingsliberty.com/2014/05/how-old-were-redcoats-age-and-experience-of-british-soldiers-in-america/ accessed 31 March 2018. For details of the enrolments of William and Morrison in the army see their lives.
[254] Page 8, R. A. Houston, The Population History of Britain and Ireland 1500-1750.
[255] See page 20 ‘Elite women and the Life-Course in Eighteenth-Century Scotland’ being from Katherine Glover’s Elite Women and Polite Society in Eighteenth-century Scotland.
[256] Page 119, I. D. Whyte, Scotland before The Industrial Revolution, An Economic and Social History c. 1050 – c. 1750.
[257] Page 162 Thomas Sinclair The Gunns, the 1896 tree andd Burke’s Peerage for examples.
[258] Burke’s Peerage.
[259] http://clangunn.weebly.com/william-in-achanaichan--achaneccan-line-being-the-2nd-son-of-donald-the-scholar.html accessed 31 March 2018. And see http://www.fpchurch.org.uk/publications/the-free-presbyterian-magazine/1998-to-2003/november-2003/the-achreny-mission-3-after-the-disruption-part-1-rev-d-w-b-somerset-698/ accessed 31 March 2018.
[260] I am not sure of the basis for this law (tradition) claim; I suspect it is hyperbole like the assumption of a ‘Chief of the Clan Gunn’ and the ‘Clan Gunn’. More interestingly I note that on the following page Sage mentions ‘One Lieutenant Gunn lived at Ach-na-h’naighe. He held the place on lease from the proprietor for nineteen years … He married a Miss Bruce of Thurso, a woman of colour, daughter of Mr Harry Bruce, a West Indian planter, by whom he got some money, which was soon dissipated. They had a large family. After the dispersion of the tenantry in 1819, Gunn, for a compensation, resigned his lease and went to reside, first at Thurso, and afterwards at Balfruch, parish of Croy… He died at Inverness in 1814.’ There is no known relationship to the MacHamish family, it’s just too interesting a life to not mention in this text.
[261] Page 209, Donald Sage, Memorabilia Domestica; or, Parish Life in the North of Scotland.
[262] Page 144, David Dobson, Scottish Highlanders on the Eve of the Great Migration 1725-1775 – The Northern Highlanders.
[263] Page 33 Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[264] See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Highland_Companies#endnote_note_a1 accessed 10 July 2013
[265] Page 105, James Brown A History of the Highlands and of the Highland Clans, Volume 3.
[266] Page 334, David Stewart, Sketches of the Character, Manners and Present State of the Highlanders of Scotland with details of the Military Service, Volume 2.
[267] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Highland_Companies accessed 22 July 2013.
[268] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skirmish_of_Tongue accessed 22 July 2013.
[269] Page 194, ed S. Murdoch and A. Mackillop, Scottish Military Experience c 1550-1900.
[270] Page 193 Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn says that Alexander’s ‘financing of his regiment during the Stewart (sic) rising … reduced his finances considerably’ and that explained why the Gunns ran out of money which does not match the facts, not least that it was not a Gunn regiment.
[271] Page 168 Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn, records this George Gunn as being ‘of Borrobol’; this seems to be an error. If it is not an error it would add support to this line being the senior male descent line.
[272] See http://clangunn.weebly.com/george-gunn-of-corrish.html accessed 1 July 2018 for descendants. And http://clangunn.weebly.com/thomas-sinclair-supplement-4-23-12-1902.html and page 3 and page 269 of Mark Rugg Gunn’s, Clan Gunn. Page 146, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns is also of use. And see http://www.melville-connections.co.uk/webpages/gunn.htm and http://www.alannon.freeserve.co.uk/gunn.html accessed 1 July 2018.
[273] Pages 184-185, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[274] The 1896 family tree agrees…
[275] Pages 160- 163, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[276] Page 124, Angus Mackay, The Book of Mackay.
[277] Page 149, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns and http://www.lyon-court.com/lordlyon/files/Gunn,%20Michael%20James%20-%20Interlocutor%20and%20Note.pdf
[278] Page 149. Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[279] Page 572, Robert Mackay, History of the House and Clan of Mackay. There is confusion in the Mackay book as to who Donald Mackay’s parents were, and the four unnamed daughters, as a generation shifts as pages are turned, but they are descended from Esther Gunn no matter how one places them – so long as you accept she did marry into this line.
[280] So who was John Mackay of Moudale who may have married Esther Gunn? One view: ‘A notable member of the Mackay of Aberach family is Ensign John Mackay of Moudale. A cadet of the Mackays of Aberach, he is infamous for leading an independent company of soldiers in support of the British Government during the Jacobite rising of 1745 – 1746. He and his men defeated a Jacobite force in what is now known as the Battle of Littleferry in 1746. Historian Angus Mackay calls John Mackay of Moudale a “hero” as he also captured George Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie. John Mackay of Moudale descended directly from a younger son of Neil MacEan MacWilliam, V of Aberach.’ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mackay_of_Aberach accessed 28 June 2013.
[281] ‘Donald Mackay of Eriboll, son of Ensign John of Moudale, the hero of the engagement of the Little Ferry in 1746; had been Lieutenant in the Duke of Gordon's North Fencibles; resigned 30th November 1796; appointed Major to the Northern Battalion of Sutherland Volunteers in 1803; died at Eriboll.’ See http://archive.org/stream/oldhighlandfenci00scobuoft/oldhighlandfenci00scobuoft_djvu.txt accessed 10 August 2019.
[282] See http://clangunn1.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/concerning-clan-gunn-chief-1.html for details of descendants. And https://www.geni.com/people/Donald-Mackay-of-Skerray/6000000020865869229 accessed 15 March 2018.
[283] Military references give a date of death of 22 June 1768. See https://archive.org/stream/papersillustrat01scotgoog#page/n439/mode/2up/search/231 accessed 4 April 2018.
[284] https://archive.org/stream/papersillustrat01scotgoog#page/n439/mode/2up/search/231 accessed 4 April 2018.
[285] Drawn from ed. John Scott, James Ferguson Papers illustrating the history of the Scots brigade in the service of the United Netherlands, 1572-1782; Volume 2.
[286] http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/_doc003198401_01/_doc003198401_01_0004.php accessed 4 April 2018.
[287] http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/_doc003198401_01/_doc003198401_01_0004.php accessed 4 April 2018.
[288] http://www.lyon-court.com/lordlyon/files/Gunn,%20Michael%20James%20-%20Interlocutor%20and%20Note.pdf accesed 5 April 2018. The 1896 tree provides her name and marriage details.
[289] There are two versions for this descent – the key point is that both descents are MacHamish line. The other requires a different descent from John in Navidale and of Borrobol. I have no evidence to support that version.
[290] As said this is the line from which I descend. I again note my family have always held the surname Gunn from the Coroner.
[291] From 1786 the Regiment was called the 71st Highland Light Infantry.
[292] From Thomas Sinclair’s first supplement, published by the ‘Northern Ensign’ 2.12.1902.
[293] http://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft038n99hg&chunk.id=s1.1.2&toc.id=ch01&brand=ucpress accessed 27 March 2013.
[294] Figures abstracted from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Anglo-Mysore_War accessed 27 March 2013.
[295] There, are of course, all sorts of other stories attached to how William died, none of which have supporting evidence.
[296] Page 278, The United Services Journal and Naval and Military Magazine, 1831, Part III.
[297] Page 193, Mark Rugg Gun, Clan Gunn.
[298] Page 196, Mark Rug Gunn, ibid.
[299] The Great Siege of Gibraltar lasted 24 June 1779 – 7 February 1783.
[300] http://clangunn.weebly.com/thomas-sinclair-supplement-4-23-12-1902.html accessed 2 April 2018.
[301] https://www.archive.org/stream/historyofscottis02kelt#page/596/mode/2up accessed 2 April 2018. Or http://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotreg/macleod/1777.htm accessed 2 April 2018.
[302] http://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotreg/macleod/1777.htm accessed 2 April 2018.
[303] For example, John Drinkwater’s 1785 A History of the Late Siege of Gibraltar. He was a member of the 72nd Regiment.
[304] http://www.electricscotland.com/history/sketches/highlandsketches91.htm accessed 2 April 2018.
[305] Page xxvii, ed R. J. Adam Papers on Sutherland Estate Management Volume 1.
[306] Page xii, R.H. Burgoyne, Historical Records of the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders.
[307] Lord Lyon http://www.lyon-court.com/lordlyon/files/Gunn,%20Michael%20James%20-%20Interlocutor%20and%20Note.pdf accessed 1 April 2018 provides a date of 1 May 1785 for Morrison’s death; this is wrong. If the Gibraltar story had been true then Morrison needed to die before May 1783 when his battalion returned from Gibraltar. The Sutherland Fencibles had been disbanded in 1783.
[308] See http://www.melville-connections.co.uk/webpages/gunn.htm accessed 4 April 2018.
[309] 1896 tree.
[310] 1868 and 1870 family trees. See http://clangunn.weebly.com/george-gunn-of-corrish.html.
[311] According to the 1896 tree.
[312] Page 204, D. A. Young, The Book of Lybster.
[313] Page 204, D. A. Young, ibid.
[314] See page 270, Mark Rugg Gunn, Clan Gunn and pages 120-121, Thomas Sinclair, The Gunns.
[315] ‘Gun’ on Page 204, D. A. Young, The Book of Lybster.
[316] Page 126, H. Scott, D.D., Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae: The Succession of Ministers in the Church of Scotland from the Reformation. The 1896 tree has a different order for the children who reach adulthood.
[317] Page 204, D. A. Young, The Book of Lybster.
[318] Page 124, H. Scott, D.D., Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae: The Succession of Ministers in the Church of Scotland from the Reformation.
[319] Page 128, H. Scott, D.D., Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae…
[320] Being from ‘Notes of my Family History’ by the Rev. George Sutherland. Minister of the United Free Church, Mull. 1903/1909.
[321] ‘The Achreny Mission 3. After the Disruption’ - Part 1 by the Rev D W B Somerset at http://www.fpchurch.org.uk/magazines/fpm/2003/November/article3.php accessed 10 August 2018.