_Tormod [Norman] MACLEOD _
_Sir_Roderick Ruairidh_Mor MACLEOD _|_Giles Julia MACLEAN _____
_Sir Norman MACLEOD _|
| | _Donald MACDONALD ________
| |_Isabel MACDONALD __________________|_Margaret MACDONALD ______
_John MACLEOD _____|
| | _Kenneth MACKENZIE _______
| | _John MACKENZIE ____________________|_Anne ROSS _______________
| |_Margaret MACKENZIE _|
| | _Alexander MACKENZIE _____
| |_Isabel MACKENZIE __________________|__________________________
|
|--Donald 'Old_Trojan' MACLEOD
|
| __________________________
| _Sir_Roderick MACKENZIE ____________|__________________________
| _Kenneth MACKENZIE __|
| | | __________________________
| | |____________________________________|__________________________
|_Isabel MACKENZIE _|
| __________________________
| _Walter ROSS _______________________|__________________________
|_Janet ROSS _________|
| __________________________
|____________________________________|__________________________
!BIOGRAPHY: Sir Robert Douglas of Glenbervie, Baronet, THE BARONAGE OF SCOTLAND, Edinburgh, 1798, p. 382. "Married, 1st, Anne MacLeod, by whom he had two sons. 1. Norman MacLeod of Ulinish. 2. Alexander, captain of the Mansfield Indiaman. He married, 2dly, Margaret Macdonald, by whom has no issue. 3dly, ____ Macleod, daughter to Donald Macleod of Grishernish, and has issue one son and a daughter."
!BIOGRAPHY: Rev. Dr. Donald MacKinnon and Alick Morrison, THE MACLEODS--THE GENEALOGY OF A CLAN, Section II, Edinburgh, The Clan MacLeod Society, ND, pp. 70-87. Called "The Old Trojan". Was born in 1692, but the place of his birth is unknown. He was trained in estate management under his father, the factor and Tutor on the MacLeod estates. He became tacksman of Unish in Waternish. The house, which he occupied at Trumpan, is now a ruin but a stone in it bears the initials D.M.L. and A.M.L., being those of his own name and of his first wife, Anne, daughter of Roderick, 19th Chief. William MacLeod, Sir Norman's second son, who succeeded his mother, Catherine MacDonald of Sleat, in Berneray in 1706, refused to pay the increase in rents demanded by Norman the 22nd Chief. In 1730 he gave up the tack of Berneray, and settled at Luskintyre, Harris, of which he possessed a wadset (dated 1698). He was succeeded in Berneray by Donald MacLeod of Unish, who now became the famous "Old Trojan" of that island. He was tacksman there from 1730 until his death in 1781, a period extending over half a century. He succeeded Alexander MacLeod, younger of Luskintyre, as factor for Harris in 1736 and the appointment lasted until 1745, when Donald decided to come out and assist Prince Charles Edward Stuart, already in retreat from Derby. His accounts, written in fading ink is of great value, throwing considerable light on the social and economic history of Harris at a very interesting period. In 1739, he is involved in the unsavoury episode of Saoitheach nan Daoine, in which as we shall see later his son, Norman, was the leader. In 1741, he visited St. Kilda to ascertain the condition of the captive Lady Grange for the Chief of MacLeod. He reported she was well provided in necessities and had an "anker" of spirits. Donald MacLeod resembled "the men of former times". He took pride in his swordsmanship: he fought two duels with William MacDonald, Tutor of Valley -- the first of which he won at Leac Bhan but he lost the second at Dunskellor in North Uist. He was also prepared to engage Donald MacAulay of Lewis at Meavag in Harris, but here his henchman, Little Angus MacLeod, insisted on deputising for him and did so successfully. He was loyal to the House of Stuart and probably led the contingent of 100 clansmen who fought at the indecisive action at Sheriffmuir in 1715. When Prince Charles Edward Stuart landed in Scotland, the Chief of the MacLeods ordered Donald to come to Dunvegan with 20 men to fight for the Hanoverian Government. Donald did but addressed the Chief in tones of sturdy independence. "I place at your disposal the 20 men of your tribe under my immediate command and in any other quarrel (sic) would not fail to be at their head, but in the present juncture, I must go where a more imperious duty calls me". He forthwith set out to join Prince Charles, who at the time was retreating from England. In the battle of Falkirk, Donald vanquished a dragoon in hand to hand fighting. He came under very heavy fire at Culloden Moor and miraculously survived the carnage. When all seemed lost, he and his friend Norman Og Paterson tried to escape. They were attacked by two horsemen. In the act of defending himself, the Old Trojan slipped and his assailant had his hand raised to deliver the fatal blow. Fortunately another horseman, passing by, stayed the upraised arm and having killed the owner he exclaimed, "Make haste, man, you owe me a good day's work at harvest time". Donald must have made his way to Gortuleg, the house occupied by the wily Lord Lovat. Here Donald joined the Prince's party and accompanied it all the way to Invergarry. By this time he had also fallen in with his henchman, Little Angus, son of Donald, son of Angus, a direct descendant of the Old MacLeods of Berneray, and one of the most redoubtable swordsmen in his day. Hungry and sore weary, Donald and Angus came to a house which belonged to an old couple, but was in addition a rendezvous of six robbers. They asked for lodgings for the night, which they grudgingly received. Donald, who was desperately tired, was allowed to sleep in an upper apartment. Little Angus was ordered to assist the six robbers in the slaughter of a cow in order "to get some supper". Donald the Old Trojan now asked Angus to get two pints of whisky in order to repay the hospitality they had received. When Angus asked his surly companions if a distillery was near, he ws informed that the nearest was at least some two miles away. Angus now requested if one of the company would act as his guide. [MORRISON MANUSCRIPTS, Stornoway.] One of the robbers now burst out laughing, which so infuriated Angus that "he delivered him a proper box in the ear, by which he fell down". Noting the ugly looks of the robbers, Angus took hold of his famous claymore which he called "the Lamb". With sword and shield he drove the six robbers pell mell into an outer byre, and bolting the door, stood guard there for the rest of the night. Next morning they left the house but not before the Old Trojan paid his lodging to the old couple. In course of time the fugitives reached Loch Arkaig, where Secretary Murray handed over to Donald MacLeod a sum of £40 for himself as well as a further £50 for MacLeod of Raasay. It is possible that the Old Trojan called at Raasay before proceeding to Harris. "Here he secluded himself in the cave of Ulledale, where he screened himself for a period of two months against both the fury and ill wish of his enemies." For greater security he now moved into his own territory in South Harris. Here he hid in a commodious cave with an exceedingly narrow entrance overhanging the sea at Leabaidh an Aistear in the Toe of Harris. With his trusty broadsword, the Old Trojan would have welcomed a contest with a Regiment of Redcoats in this spot! Here he was served by a young lad of 10 for more than a year. The INVERNESS COURIER dated 25th March 1846 records the death of John Martin at the age of 112. "As a boy of 10, Martin had attended MacLeod of Berneray, when in hiding after the battle of Culloden Moor 1746". Meanwhile the notorious Black John Ferguson of the FURNACE frigate had been to Berneray. He trained his guns on Berneray House, plundered it and slaughtered some of the cattle. Fourtunately General John Campbell of Maore, after a fruitless search in St. Kilda and Pabbay for the Prince, landed in Berneray. He ordered Black John to desist from his fell work. The latter replied, "I will persist in doing more mischief to the rebels as also
to their property". Then General Campbell peremptorily ordered the Captain and his men to the frigate and warned him, "if he offered any more insolence to his orders or more violence to either person or property without his permission, he would nail his ear to the man of war's mast". Thereafter General Campbell fully paid Lady Berneray for all damage caused by Black John and his marines and sailors and commiserated with her about the unfortunate position her husband was in. Due to his influence, Donald MacLEod of Berneray was pardoned in 1747. Many years afterwards, the town of Paisley raised an action against Secretary Murray for the heavy contribution he had levied upon the town on behalf of Prince Charles Edward Stuart. The Old Trojan and Sir William MacLeod Bannatyne entered the Court Room, when Lord Kames was speaking the following words, "My Lord, before prceeding to the merits of this cause, we should ascertain the proper designation of the Defender. It appears to me that he should be styled John Murray, Secretary to Charles Edward Stuart, the leader of certain Highland banditti, who infested this country in 1745". [GREGORY PAPERS.] Donald MacLeod the Old Trojan was furious, and turning to his companion and clenching his fists, he remarked, "If I had yon fellow anywhere but where he is now, I would teach him to call better men than himself banditto". His loyalty to the Prince, left him in some financial difficulty after he was pardoned in 1747. He was however a very able administrator and within a few years he had paid up all his commitments to the Laird of MacLeod. He now became the factor of the Harris Estates for the second time from 1752 to 1754. In addition to Berneray and its pertinents -- the small islands in the Sound of Harris as well as Geocrab, Bunavineattora, Airdhasaig and Nisabost -- he possessed two valuable farms, North and South Copebhails (i.e. Caipabhal) in South Harris. He also possessed the farms of Kylis and Trumisgarry in North Uist for many years from Sir Alexander MacDonald of Sleat. He became involved in disputes with Uist tenants in Kylis and Bailemhicphaill over the exact location of the March between Harris and North Uist. Berneray claimed that the March consisted of the Kyle between the island of Tahay and North Uist, Rangas, the Kyle between the island of Grianam and North Uist could be forded at periods of low tide, and this fact entitled North Uist to claim not only Grianam but also a wide expanse of rocks and skerries, with rich seaweed beds to the north and east of it. Wti kelp now growing in demand, the dispute about the little island of Grianam blew up into a serious dispute. In the summer of 1765, the factor of North Uist assisted by a strong force of tenants interrupted a few Berneray tenants and cottars collecting and burning seaweed in Grianam. They cut their ropes and warned them to discontinue the work. The case dragged its weary length through both Courts of Session from 1766 to 1771 and Berneray's right was vindicated in both cases. Finally, the case reached the House of Lords, where MacLeod of MacLeod again triumphed and MacDonald of Sleat had to pay £100 costs. This legal decision played an important part in the relative prosperity of the island of Berneray from 1800 to 1820. The island became an industrial estate and the population increased rapidly. Donald MacLeod of Berneray died on the 9th December 1781, and not on the 16th December 1783, as written on his tombstone in the churchyard of St. Clement's, Rodel. This tombstone bears the following interesting inscription [MacKenzie: HISTORY OF THE MACLEODS]:-- "To the memory of Donald MacLeod of Bernera, son of John, Tutor of MacLeod, who in vigour of body and mind and firm adherence to the principles of his ancestors, resembled the men of former times. His grandfather and granduncle were knighted by King Charles II for their loyalty and distinguished valour in the battle of Worcester. When the standard of the House of Stuart to whom he was attached, was displayed in 1745, though past the prime, he took up arms, had a share in the actions of the period and in the battle of Falkirk vanquished a dragoon, hand to hand. From this time, he lived at his house in Berneray, universally beloved and respected. In his 75th year, he married his third wife, by whom he had nine children and died in his 90th year, the 16th December 1783." His tombstone, like that of William MacLeod I of Luskintyre, bears the insignia of mortality, such as the skull, crossed leg bones, the bell and shears, etc. Donald at the age of 18, married as his first wife, Anne, only daughter of Roderick MacLeod, 19th Chief, and his wife Isabel, daughter of Kenneth, 3rd Earl of Seaforth. The marriage ceremony was performed in 1709 by the Rev. Aulay MacAulay, the great-granfather of Thomas Babington, Lord MacAulay, minister of Harris. By Anne MacLeod, Donald had issue. Donald MacLeod of Berneray had by his first wife, Anne MacLeod, seven other children, whose names have not come down to us, and who probably died in childhood. Thus his family by his first wife numbered twenty. After Anne MacLeod's death, Donald of Berneray married, as his second wife, Janet, daughter of John, son of Donald Gorm MacDonald of Sleat (Seonaid, nighean Iain mhic Dhomhnaill Ghuirm mac Dhomhnaill Shleibhte), and, though they lived together for nineteen years, had no issue. After Janet MacDonald's death, Donald of Berneray, at the age of seventy-five years, married, as his third wife, Margaret (who died at Killigray on 2nd February 1824, aged seventy-four years), daughter of the Rev. Donald MacLeod, 3rd of the MacLeods of Greshornish, minister of Duirinish, with issue. Donald MacLeod, the father of the [attached] twenty-nine children, died on 9th December 1781. He was known as the 'Old Trojan', and his numerous progeny as the 'Berneray Tribe'.
!MENTION: Rev. Dr. Donald MacKinnon and Alick Morrison, THE MACLEODS--THE GENEALOGY OF A CLAN, Section II, Edinburgh, The Clan MacLeod Society, 1968, p. 117.