_Peter BETHUNE ________
_Dr. Angus BETHUNE _|_[Daughter] MACDONALD _
_Dr. Ferquhard BETHUNE _|
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_Dr. Angus BETHUNE _|
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|--Ferquhard BETHUNE
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!SOURCE: Rev. Thomas Whyte, AN HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL ACCOUNT OF THE BETHUNES OF THE ISLAND OF SKYE, Edinburgh, 1778, reprinted London, 1893, by Alfred A. Bethune-Baker, reprinted by ScotsPress, pp. 11, 12, 23. Ferquhard the eldest son, was a well looked courageous man, and yet of a quiet and peaceable temper. No less than seven hundred from Sky, were engaged at the unfortunate battle of Worcester, September 3, 1651, who were almost all killed or taken prisoners. Here Ferquhard just now mentioned, behaved gallantly and procured great fame. On which account Sir Norman M'Leod of Bernera, third son of Sir Roderick M'Leod of that Ilk, who had the command of the regiment from that island, conceived such an high opinion of him, as made him continue alwasy friendly to him, and his son after him. His relations advised him, to go in suit of a daughter of M'Lean of Coll; but in his way to wait on her, seeing a young gentlewoman of the surname of Cuy, whose father was then one of the principal men under M'Leod of Glenelg, he fancied her rather than Coll's daughter, for in his opinion she was the most pretty and handsomest of the two. This choice greatly disobliged his friends and relations; and the reason was, they judged he would have fewer friends by ther than the other, though indeed, she had considerable connexions, and had several of her kindred, principal and leading men in the town of Inverness [Manuscript History of the Bethunes of the Island of Sky]. Soon after this, he left Sky, and got a lease of some lands, from the Earl of Seaforth, on the continent of Kintail. This very much chagrined his relations and kindred, and the M'Donalds opposed it with all their might. But he paid no regard to them, and declared openly, he inclined that neither himself, nor any of his posterity, should ever return to live in Sky. After he came to the continent, he was greatly turmoiled, and harrassed by the M'Donalds, who took often the opportunity of the silence of the night, and conveyed over to Sky, the cattle belonging to him and his dependents; but he did not tamely submit to these depredations, nor suffer the authors of them to excape unpunished; he as often collected all the men he could, went to Sky, and made sufficient reprisals. In this way they continued some considerable time, until both parties were heartily wearied, and then they mutually agreed, that every one should enjoy his own peaceably, without any disturbance or molestation. [Manuscript History of the Bethunes of the Island of Sky]. About this time, he had a son born unto him called Kenneth, who soon after his birth lost his mother. He fearing, lest the M'Donalds, who, notwithstanding all their pretences, were not cordially reconciled to him, might take an opportunity to take the child back to Sky, sent him to be nursed at Castledownie, under the protections of Hugh tenth Lord fraser of Lovat. His Lordship was pleased to cause take good care of him while he was on the breast, afterwards brought him to his own house, and kept him until he was twenty-one years of age, during which period, none of his relations kndw what was become of him, except those who were let into the knowledge of it, by the Lord Lovat, whom we just now spoke of. The father, after the death of his first wife, married a gentlewoman of the M'Leods of Lewis, a family descended of the same ancestor with that of M'Leod of that Ilk, and consequently as ancient. They made a great figure for many centuries, and possessed many lands [Douglas's Baronage]. Betwixt these two families, there were various severe and bloody contests, concerning the precedency and chiefship. By her he had a son, whose name was Angus, who lived until he was near eighty years of age, but never married. Ferquhard, the eldest son of the second Dr. Angus, and sixth descendent in a male-line from John Bethune fifth laird of Balfour; and Marjory, third daughter of David Boswel of Balmuto, was reckoned a wise and judicious man. One of the reasons he gave why he did not study physic was, That his father had studied that science for 27 years: That he himself would have spent the best part of his life before he appeared as a physician; and that afterwards, when he settled in such a remote corner as Sky, he would not find encouragement proportionalbe to his pains and improvement. He had six sons, Angus, Peter, Ewan or Eugene, Kenneth, Neil, and John.