part IV
Rulers of Strathspey
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On 7th June 1637, James Grant had been retoured heir to his father, and infeft in the lands of the Crown in the counties of Elgin and Inverness, Retours, Elgin and Inverness; Extract Retour dated 28th July 1637 at Castle Grant; Original Precepts and Instruments of Sasine dated 25th Oct. and 11th Nov. 1637, ibid. Of the church lands of Strathspey he received infeftment in 1638, on a Precept by John, Bishop of Moray, Original Instrument of Sasine, 26th April 1638, and in the following year his right to the possession of all the lands in his own person was completed, by his infeftment by James, Earl of Moray, in the lands and lordship of Abernethy, Original Precept and Instrument of Sasine dated 28th June and 31st July, 1639, at Castle Grant.
He was one of the commission, appointed 24th September 1638, to superintend the subscribing of the Covenant in the Sheriffdom of Inverness, “P.C. Register” Second Series VII p. 77.
He signed the Solemn League and Covenant, and was at the Conference between the Earls of Argyll and Montrose, Lord Couper, the Master of Forbes, and others, held at Perth on 14th March, 1639, “Chiefs” I p. 245; II pp. 67, 68. James, Earl of Moray, his brother-in-law, as Colonel of the Moray Regiment of horse and foot, appointed [98] him as his Lieutenant-Colonel, "Chiefs,” I p. 256; III pp. 236, 237; Commission dated at Freuchie 1st April 1644; see “Memorialls of the Trubbles,” II p. 323, at the same time making him a gift of the whole benefit, profit and pay of his place as Colonel, except only the expense necessarily incurred for supporting the regiment.
[Graphic: signature of John Spottiswood, Archbishop of St Andrews 1641.]
On the 8th September 1640, the Laird’s mother made a formal declaration within Urquhart Castle in presence of James Leslie, Notary Public; Patrick Grant of Glenmoriston, Alexander Baillie of Dunain, and John Grant of Lurg, to the effect that her son “might by word and not by writ” do all things lawful for the furtherance of the cause of the Covenant in Urquhart. To a request also proffered by him that she would permit the lands of Urquhart to be stented for men to be sent south, or give the Laird her written authority to do it himself, she gave a refusal, as she had already given such authority to Major-General Munro, but she said that if the Laird came to Urquhart with the authority of the General or of the Tables, he might do what he pleased, without contradiction from her. Lady Grant also refused concurrence with her son’s request, on the plea that she was not able “in respect of many gryte harms, injureis, and oppressions that my sone has done to me, his mother, unnaturallie.” She adds that should he decline to [99] undertake the work of stenting her lands and collecting the tax without her concurrence, she is willing to do so herself, on receiving proper power and warrant from the Tables, Notarial Instrument 9th September 1640; “Urquhart and Glenmoriston,” pp. 148, 149; “Chiefs” I p. 253; III pp. 231, 232.
On the 16th of May 1644, he was present at an important meeting of the Covenanting Leaders held at Turriff, “Chiefs” I p. 256; “Memorialls of the Trubbles,” II p. 365.
In 1645 the Laird of Grant submitted to Montrose, and promised to serve the King and send Montrose 300 men, “Chiefs,” I pp. 259, 260; “Memorialls of the Trubbles,” II p. 447. This was after the battle of Inverlochy, 2nd February 1645, and Montrose, who was carrying fire and sword into the territories of his opponents, had burnt the Laird of Ballindalloch’s three houses of Ballindalloch, Pitchaish, and Foyness, as well as other houses in the district. The Grants evidently thought it far better to be the plunderers than the plundered, and they took a leading part in pillaging Elgin, Ibid, II pp. 449, 450, and left nothing portable (tursabill) uncarried away, and “brak doun bedis, burdis, insicht and plenishing”. The Earl of Seaforth and the Laird of Grant and some of the other lairds who had submitted, went with Montrose towards the Bog of Gight in the beginning of March, but they were sent back by Montrose to guard their own estates. The Laird of Freuchie had obtained a promise of indemnity, “Chiefs” III p. 237, for the losses he and his clan had sustained by the passage of the opposing armies through their country, and also an assurance that any lands taken by the Covenanting party would be [100] restored if he continued faithful and loyal to the King’s service, signed at Garmoch (Garmouth) 3rd March 1645.
Parties from the Covenanting regiments lying at Inverness came to the Place of Elchies, where the Laird of Grant was then dwelling, and pitifully plundered the same, sparing neither his lady’s apparel nor jewellery, of which she had store, “Chiefs” I p. 261; “Memorialls of the Trubbles,” II p. 450. In his support of Montrose he had the hearty approbation of his mother, “Chiefs” I p. 261; II pp. 81, 82; “Urquhart and Glenmoriston,” pp. 154, 155. With the connivance of the Tutor of Glenmoriston and other gentlemen, a company from Inverness invaded Urquhart about Christmas 1644, robbed her of her household and personal effects, and drove her out of the country. She found shelter at Lesmoir, and wrote from there on the 2nd of April 1645, encouraging her son to persevere in the King’s cause, and to avenge the wrongs which they both had suffered.
[Graphic: signature of James, First Marquess of Montrose.]
Montrose had issued a Proclamation, “Chiefs” I pp. 261, 262; II, pp. 15 and 16 dated at Pennyburn, 9th March 1645, to those inhabitants of Badenoch, Glenlivet, Glenrinnes, and Moray generally, who had declared their attachment to the King’s service, but had not yet risen in arms, [101] desiring them to concur with the Laird of Grant upon all occasions of the appearance of an enemy. On the 30th March 1645, at Muckrach, the Laird entered into a solemn bond of combination with the principal men of his clan, by which they bound themselves to support the cause of the King, and on the 11th April 1645, “Chiefs” I p. 262; III p. 238, he received a Commission, signed by Montrose at Glenmuick, to raise such loyal subjects as were not required at that time by the Marquis himself, and to use fire and sword against enemies and disaffected persons. After Montrose’s defeat at Philiphaugh, the Laird’s zeal for the King’s cause began to cool, Ibid, I, pp. 262, 263.
[Graphics: Signatures of Archibald, Marquis of Argyle, King Charles II, Queen Henrietta Maria.]
[102] Subsequently, however, the Laird appears to have sent renewed testimonies of loyalty and offers of service by the Earl of Crawford to Queen Henrietta and Prince Charles, both of whom were then at St. Germains, and he received grateful letters from both Queen and Prince, (Letters dated 26th and 28th October, 1646) "Chiefs” I p. 263; II p. 889.
From Major-General Middleton, the military commander for the Estates in the North of Scotland, the Laird of Freuchie, with his friends and tenants, among many others, in the beginning of March 1647, received a remission for the part they had taken with Montrose, "Acta Par.” Vol. VI pt. I., p. 670.
[Graphic: signature of George, 2nd Marquis of Huntly].
The Laird was in no way concerned with the engagement for the deliverance of King Charles the First, or with the last attempt made by Montrose to restore the Royalist cause by arms and to avenge the death of that King, though it would appear that one of his brothers was implicated, which gave occasion to General David Leslie, [103] then in Huntly’s territory, to write to the Laird to persuade his brother to withdraw from the rash enterprise, "Chiefs” I pp. 264, 265; II pp. 18, 19.
The Laird of Grant sent Charles II the regiment of which he was Colonel and which he had raised, 1400 strong, under the command of his brother, Patrick Grant of Clunemore and Clunebeg. The regiment shared in the defeat of Worcester, 3rd September 1651, Ibid, I p. 266; “Urquhart and Glenmoriston” pp166, 167; see also “Act. Parl.” Vol. VI pt. II pp. 623-625, 20th and 23rd Dec. 1650.
On 10th February 1657 he received from General Monck a permit for himself and his tenants to retain their arms, “Chiefs” I pp. 266, 267; III p. 244.
On 13th November 1637, he gave a Charter, in terms of a Contract of Alienation, to James Ogilvy, Merchant in Keith, of the six oxgangs of the lands of Toirmoir, Laing’s Charters No. 2227.
In 1644, in return for a sum of money paid to her by the Laird, his mother, Dame Mary Ogilvie, renounced in his favour her life-rent interest in the lands provided to her in the barony of Mulben, “Chiefs,” I pp. 267, 268; Extract Instrument of Resignation dated at Forres, 7th June 1644, at Castle Grant. It seems that she made this renunciation most reluctantly, as she had wished to provide for some of her unprovided children. The Laird himself made provision for his brothers, who all seem to have been satisfied except Alexander, “Chiefs,” I, pp. 269-275; III, pp. 342, 343. He redeemed a number of previous wadsets, and let the lands afterwards on lease, ibid. I pp. 275, 512. Other wadsets he renewed on receiving payment of an additional sum of money. Among [104] his new wadsets were those of Gartenmore in 1647, and Easter and Wester Duthilies or Ballintomb on 6th August, 1656, the latter being granted for fifteen thousand merks to Archibald Grant, great grandson of Archibald, younger son of James Grant, third Laird of Freuchie, who had obtained these lands from his father as a residence. A portion of these lands had been wadset to him in 1639 for £1000, “Household Account,” 1639, at Castle Grant.
By a Charter dated 22nd September 1657, in discharge of a debt for which he was pressed, he sold the lands of Kinminitie to James Sutherland, Tutor of Duffus, "Chiefs I p. 272; “Laing’s Charters,” Nos. 2510, 2511, 2522. Sasine was given on 20th March 1658, recorded at Banff, 12th April, 1658.
James Hay in Auchroisk, the representative of the Hays of Mayne, by an unjust claim, re-opened the Inverallan dispute, “Chiefs” I pp. xxxiii, 276; Original Agreement at Castle Grant; see supra. The Laird paid to him, in 1653, the sum of £800 Scots to denude himself of all title he had to these lands, and agreed to pay him other four hundred merks on the performance of the conditions stipulated, and to give him a four years’ tack of the lands of Cummingston, an estate on the Mulben property in Banffshire. Glenbeg was part of the Inverallan lands, the dispute about which was thus settled.
[Facing page 104: Graphic Grant Hunting (Tartan)]
Allan Grant, son of the tenant of Western Tulloch executed at the close of 1636 for harbouring Gilderoy and a number of his Macgregor band, obtained a Precept for his infeftment from Chancery, after the Laird had disponed the land to a member [105] of the Glenbeg family, “Chiefs” I pp. 236, 276. Ultimately the Laird compounded with Allan Grant for his right, by granting a Bond for £666 13s 4d, but the amount was not paid until after the Laird’s death, ibid, III p. 350. After some protracted disputes with the Grants of Glenmoriston, the Laird also acquired the lands of Wester Elchies and Kinchirdie, which had been granted by the Bishop of Moray to the Grants of Carron, Ibid, I., pp. 276, 277. For a time Wester Elchies was disponed in wadset by the Laird, and so was Kinchirdie, but afterwards the former was left by James Grant to his younger son, see infra, Patrick, and the latter became the inheritance of Mungo Grant, the Laird’s brother see supra.
On 1st November and 16th November 1649, he instructed masons and slaters to put “the great house” (Ballachastell) in repair, "Chiefs,” I p. 279; III pp. 459-461. He leased the “wood of Abernethy” to the Government, 1652. It is described as the best wood in all Scotland for tar, “a red fir and full of sap”. It was to be felled by men sent by the State. Arrangements were made for taking the tar in waggons and carts to the mouth of the Spey. The timber was to be floated down in time of spate; charcoal was also to be made out of the burnt wood, See letter from And. Sandelands to Robert Lillburne, Commander-in-Chief of the Forces of Scotland, dated 14th January, 1652; “Calendar of State Papers,” Domestic Series, 165, and 1652, pp. 103, 104.
He, with the Ministers and Heritors and wadsetter of Strathspey, about 1658, petitioned Parliament to appropriate the byrun stipends of the vacant [106] parishes of Abernethy, Kincardine, Glencarnie, and Rothiemurchus, for the erection of a School in the district, “Chiefs,” I pp. 277, 278; III p. 343. A commission was appointed to examine into the matter, 7th April 1658, Ibid, II pp. 19.
In 1660, the Laird and his wadsetters had to contribute men for the demolition of the Sconce erected near Inverness by Cromwell’s soldiers, out of the material of several religious houses, and called Oliver’s Fort, Ibid I p. 279; III p. 344.
In February, 1661, he was threatened with an indictment for high treason, but his friends succeeded in averting immediate proceedings, Ibid, I p.283; Original Letter, dated 2nd February 1661 at Castle Grant.
In September, 1661, he went up to Edinburgh, accompanied by Lady Mary Grant and his children. He was excluded from the Act of Indemnity till he should pay a fine of £18,000 Scots, Ibid, I pp. 284, 285; “Acta. Parl.,” 9th September 1662 Vol. VII p. 424. See also Account of Expenditure on visit to Edinburgh, 1661, sub-date 21st September, at Castle Grant.
Lady Mary Grant died Thursday 18th December 1662, and was buried on the 30th at Duthil with considerable pomp and ceremony. She had lived and died a Roman Catholic, which fact occasioned the Laird some trouble with the Presbytery and Synod. On one occasion the Synod of Moray decided to excommunicate her, “Chiefs,” I pp. 288-287; Diaries of the Lairds of Brodie; Spalding Club, Aberdeen, 1663, pp. 122, 123, 285; Records of the Presbytery of Forres; Records of the Synod of Moray; Original MS. at Castle Grant. She was also a firm believer in witchcraft.
[107] It was the intention of King Charles II to make James Grant of Freuchie Earl of Strathspey and Lord Grant of Freuchie, but the Laird died in Edinburgh, 1663, before the Warrant was signed, “Chiefs” I pp. 288, 289; Copy Warrant indorsed 1663; “Chiefs,” III, pp. 345-355. The story is told that, when he heard of his Sovereign’s intention, he exclaimed, “Wha’d be Laird o’ Grant?”
He was buried on the 10th October in the Chapel of Holyrood, Account at Castle Grant, Testament dated 21st September, 1663, and confirmed 27th July, 1665; Moray Tests.
From the inventory of his effects we find that the whole amount of the effects and debts due to him was only about eighteen thousand pounds Scots, while he owed seventy-two thousand pounds Scots.
He married, apparently at Elgin, on the 24th or 25th of April 1640, Lady Mary Stewart, only daughter of James, second earl of Moray, and his Countess, Lady Anne Gordon, eldest daughter of George, first Marquis of Huntly, “Chiefs” I pp. 249-252; “Scots Peerage,” titles Moray and Huntly. His courtship of her had evidently begun before her father’s death in August 1638, if not prior to Sir John Grant’s death in the previous year. Her father and her brother, the third Earl, had opposed the marriage, and neither her brother nor any of her friends were present, See Spalding’s “Memorialls of the Trubbles,” I p. 263.
Previous to her marriage Lady Mary executed a deed by which she conveyed to her “very honourable and trusty friend, James Grant of Freuchie,” [108] who, she says, “has undertaken to doe and performe certane bussines and affaires tending to my honour,” her rights to the lands of Overlarust and Dalnazeild, provided to her by her deceased father, James, Earl of Moray, Original Assignation, dated 23rd April 1640, at Castle Grant. All the witnesses to this deed were Grants and servants to the Laird.
On the following day, the 24th April, But from Contract of 19th May 1643, the date of this Bond would appear to be 4th April (see “Chiefs,” III p. 456). This may, however, be a mistake for 24th April, and still before the marriage, the Laird granted a bond to Lady Mary Stewart with regard to her liferent portion.
The marriage was performed by Mr Gilbert Marshall, minister of Abernethy, who, for having performed the ceremony without proclamation, was suspended by the Synod of Moray “from his chairge for the space of three Sabbottis”, Records of the Synod of Moray.
The marriage relations, so far as property was concerned, between the Laird and Lady Mary, his wife, were amicably adjusted with the Earl, her brother, in a Contract made between them at Forres on 19th May 1643, in terms of an earlier Minute of Contract relating to the same subject. “Chiefs” III pp. 456-459. By this Contract both the Bond granted at the marriage by the Laird and the Minute referred to were implemented, and James Grant obliged himself to infeft his wife in liferent in certain of his lands able to yield an annual rent of sixty chalders, or, in money, three thousand merks; also, to provide his estate to the eldest heir male of the marriage, and [109] make suitable provision for any daughters to be born. On the other hand the Earl of Moray paid with his sister a tocher of £22,000 Scots, getting from the Laird a renunciation of the lands assigned to him at the marriage by Lady Mary Stewart. Registered 10th June 1648.
The Charter of Lady Mary’s liferent lands was granted by the Laird the same day, according to Sir William Fraser, but according to the Register of the Great Seal, the date of this Charter was 14th May, 1643, Original Charter, dated 19th May 1643, at Castle Grant; see R.M.S. 13th December 1653, for Confirmation.
A few days after the making of the Contract he granted formal letters of obligation to give his wife twenty chalders of victual in addition to the annual rent of sixty chalders, and on 30th November 1648, he implemented the contract by granting to Lady Mary Stewart the lands of Lethindie and tower thereof, with other lands in Cromdale, the lands of Glenlochy, and the manor place, tower, and fortalice of Freuchie or Ballachastell, all to be possessed by her if she survived her husband, Charter of Confirmation, dated 13th December 1653, at Castle Grant and R.M.S. 13th December 1653. The above two Charters were afterwards confirmed in Edinburgh in 1653 by the “keepers of the libertie of England, by authoritie of Parliament.”
Lady Mary died, as above mentioned, 18th December 1662 see supra.
The oldest family portraits at Castle Grant are those of James Grant and his wife, Lady Mary Stewart, “Chiefs” I p. 212.
[110] They left issue, besides several children who are said to have died young,
[Graphics: signatures of James Grant, Seventh of Freuchie, Lady Mary Stewart, His Wife.]
I. LUDOVICK, who succeeded his father as eighth Laird of Freuchie.
II. PATRICK, who was provided by his father with the lands of Wester Elchies. “Chiefs,” I., pp., 276 277, 289-293, 503.
In 1675 Ludovick Grant of Freuchie, the elder son, and successor of James, calls Patrick Grant of Elchies his brother-german.
He held the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the Laird of Grant’s regiment.
He married Janet, daughter of Forbes of Newton, who survived him. He died in
January 1693, leaving one son and three daughters, all in their minority. He
was the progenitor of the second [111]
family of Grants of Wester Elchies, which became extinct on the death of Lewis
Grant in September or October 1783.
The daughters were
III. ANNA, who married, in 1664, Sir Patrick Ogilvy of Boyne, in the county of Banff, and had issue, “Chiefs,” I, pp. 290, 293, and III, pp. 350, 352, 353; Household Accounts for 1664 at Castle Grant.
An Armorial Stone, originally at Boyne, now at Cullen House, bears the arms of Ogilvie and Grant impaled with the date of 1668.
IV. MARY, who married, before 1669, Sir Alexander Hamilton of Haggs, in the county of Lanark, "Chiefs” I p. 290; III pp 350, 352, 353. In that year Mary Grant, in conjunction with her husband, pursued her brother Ludovick before the Lords of’ Council and Session for her tocher of twelve thousand merks, and obtained decree in her favour, Original Decree dated 6th February 1669 at Castle Grant. They had issue.
It appears that this was the Mary, daughter of the Laird of Grant, who is connected with the romantic story of Domhnull Donn MacFhir Bohuntuinn, Mackay’s “Urquhart and Glenmoriston,” pp. 187-190. Donald was a son of Macdonald of Bohuntin, in Brae-Lochaber, of good family, but who looked upon reiving and cattle-lifting as the proper calling of a Highland gentleman. Domhnull Donn (Brown Donald) was also a Gaelic poet of no mean order. He died with the reputation of never having injured a poor man, or imbued his hands wantonly in human blood. [112] On one of his journeys he met and fell in love with Mary, daughter of the Laird of Grant, who resided at the time at Castle Urquhart. The lady reciprocated his tender feelings; but her father refused to have him for his son-in-law and forbade all intercourse between them. They, however, found opportunities of meeting on the wooded banks of Loch Ness.
Donald had finally to flee, as the Laird of Grant, incensed at his cattle-lifting propensities, had sworn “Bheir an Diabhal mise a mo bhrogan, mar teid, Domhnull Donn a chrochadh" - “The Devil may take me out of my shoes if Donald Donn is not hanged.”
Donald found refuge in an almost inaccessible cave, where for a time he was safe from his pursuers and their sleuth hounds - coin dubh Eadailteach - black dogs of Italy. For some of his songs describing his love, his life at this period, and his capture, see “Urquhart and Glenmoriston,” Appendix E, pp. 487-489. But his place of retreat was eventually discovered by his pursuers, who, unable to approach him in the cave, sent him a message purporting to come from Mary, proposing an interview at the house of a certain individual, who was represented to be her trusted confidant. He was hospitably received by the supposed friend, who promised that the lady would soon appear. The cuach (quaich) was passed round, and in his excitement he drank deeply. At last, at a signal from his treacherous host, his enemies, to the number of sixty-three, rushed in and endeavoured to seize him. He started up and fired on them, but his gun missed fire. Using the butt end of the weapon, he fought his way out of the house, and ran for his 1ife. He [113] slipped and fell, was taken, and lodged in the dungeon of Castle Urquhart. He was convicted of cattle stealing. He begged that he should be beheaded like a gentleman, and not hanged. On being told his prayer was granted, he exclaimed, “The Devil will take the Laird of Grant out of his shoes, and Donald Donn shall not be hanged.”
The short period which passed between his sentence and his execution at Craigmore was occupied by him in composing songs of exceeding sadness telling of his love and capture. To the last his thoughts were of his beloved; and the legend tells that as his head rolled from the block, his tongue uttered the appeal, “Tog mo cheann, a Mhairi" - “Lift my head, O Mary.”
V. MARGARET, who married Roderick Mackenzie of Redcastle, and had issue, “Chiefs” I p. 290; III pp. 350, 352, 353.
A daughter, name unknown, died in 1650.
There is in the Grant charter-chest a document giving the names of the tenants who were each fined £5 Scots “for byding from the Laird’s doghter, hir buriall.” They were appointed to pay their fines within fifteen days after the 23rd December 1650.
The Laird had also a natural daughter, married to Sweyne Grant in Ballintomb, to whom a legacy of £200 Scots was paid on the death of her father, Ibid I p290; III p351.
[114] He bought Pluscardine in 1677, “Chiefs,” I p. 298, his father-in-law, Alexander Brodie of Lethen, providing the purchase money. The estate was to be a provision for the second son of Ludovick’s marriage with Janet Brodie.
It is recorded that he took exception to certain measures proposed while James, Duke of York, was Commissioner to the Parliament of Scotland, Ibid I pp. xx, 301, 302 and in the Legislative Assembly on one occasion desired that his protest might be recorded, on which the Duke of York remarked that the wishes of His Highland Majesty would be attended to. Laird Ludovick was afterwards popularly known as the "Highland King” and the designation was extended to his successors. He was fined by King James VII’s Commissioners the sum of £42,500 Scots as a result of his sympathies with the Presbyterian faith and of his own and his wife’s nonconformity with Episcopacy 11th February 1685, Ibid, I pp. 304-307. On his petitioning against the sentence, the King fully exonerated and discharged him of the fine, 9th January 1686, Ibid III pp. 249, 257, 358. His remission was owing to the promptitude he displayed in raising his clan at the time of Argyll’s invasion.
He was a member of the Convention of Estates called together by the Prince of Orange, which began its sittings on the 14th March 1689, Ibid I pp. 309-312; “Acta. Parl.” IX p. 9 and in his place among the barons he subscribed the Minute which declared the Convention to be a “free and lawful meeting of the Estates,” and their [115] resolution to "continue undissolved until they settle and secure the Protestant religion, the Government, laws, and liberties of the Kingdom”. On the 18th March, the same day as John Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount of Dundee, made his famous exit from Edinburgh, the Laird of Freuchie was nominated as one of a Committee, "Chiefs” pp.10 and 12, to consider the condition of the Highlands and to report. At a previous meeting he had been appointed, with others, to consider what was fit for securing the peace. On the 23rd March he signed a congratulatory address to King William, and on the 26th he was one of those chosen by vote to act as a Committee for settling the Government, "Acta. Parl.” IX pp. 20 and 22. The Laird was, therefore, one of the framers of that resolution of the Estates which declared that King James had forfeited the right to the Crown, and that the throne had become vacant, Ibid p. 33. A perusal of this resolution, which explains the necessity of this action, shows how wicked and tyrannical was James’s government, and that his deposition was absolutely necessary if national liberty and private rights were to he preserved.
The same Committee also framed the Claim of Right and the Offer of the Crown
to the King and Queen of England, in terms of which the Estates proclaimed William
and Mary to he King and Queen of Scotland, Ibid pp. 38-41.
On the 19th April 1689, the Laird of Freuchie is named among those who offered
to levy men for the public service, having volunteered to raise and
[116] equip six hundred men, and three days afterwards he was
appointed colonel of his own regiment, “Acta. Parl.”
IX pp. 50 and 57; see also Cal. of State Papers, Domestic, 1689-90, p. 450 for
his Commission, dated February 8th 1690.
On the 24th April the Laird was appointed, during pleasure, Sheriff-Principal of Inverness, "Acta. Parl.” IX p. 62, and App. p2, in room of the Earl of Moray, a professed Papist, and on the 30th he, in common with other Northern Sheriffs, was commissioned to call together the heritors and other fencible men within his jurisdiction, as well armed as possible, to dissipate any rebel forces in that neighbourhood. The Laird of Grant took part in Major-General Mackay’s campaign against Claverhouse, and in May Mackay took up his quarters at Culnakyle, in Abernethy, “a summer dwelling of Grant’s.”
On 18th May 1689, he was made a member of the Privy Council of Scotland, “Cal. of State Papers, Domestic, 1689-1690”, p. 109; see also ibid, 1691-1692, p. 167.
In consequence of Grant’s capturing and hanging some Camerons, “Chiefs” I pp. 315-317; Mackay’s “Urquhart and Glenmoriston” pp. 198-201; “Memoirs of Sir Ewen Cameron of Locheil” Abbotsford Club, Edinburgh, 1842, p. 244, stragglers from Dundee’s army, who were found annexing “the most portable moveables they could fall upon,” a party of Camerons invaded Glen-Urquhart, dispersed the Grants, and raided their cattle, see also Lord Macaulay’s “History of England,” 1858, Vol. IV p. 355.
After Claverhouse’s death at Killiecrankie, 27th July 1689, General Cannon became the commander of the Jacobite army and in March 1690, he was superseded by Major-General Buchan, “Chiefs” I lxxviii, and pp. 318, 319; Mackay’s “Urquhart and Glenmoriston,” pp. 208, 209. With the [117] young Glenmoriston, known as Iain a’ Chragain, John of the Rock, the men of Glenmoriston and a few others, amounting, all told, to about eight hundred men, he went through Lochaber, Badenoch, and Strathspey, on his way to the country of the Gordons, where he hoped to obtain reinforcements. But his movements were watched by the garrison then posted at Ballachastell (Castle Grant). As his followers lay asleep, on the night of 30th April 1690, they were surprised by Sir Thomas Livingstone and his dragoons, the Reay Highlanders, and three hundred of the Laird of Grant’s regiment, and scattered naked over the moorlands. This battle has been celebrated in the ballad called “The Haughs of Cromdale.”
Ludovick Grant was member for Inverness in Parliament until the Union in 1707. He made considerable additions to and consolidated his estate.
In March 1691, he won a race at Leith, the prize being a plate of £30 sterling. The only other horse running was the Duke of Hamilton’s, which started favourite, odds being laid on it, as it was accounted the best horse in the Kingdom, Cal. of State Papers, Domestic, 1690-1691, p. 312.
Achmonie he acquired from Gillies Mackay, who, about the year 1670, had, when in liquor, slain a Grant, the Laird’s chamberlain, who had been sent from Strathspey to Glen Urquhart to collect the rents, "Urquhart and Glenmoriston,” pp. 191-193. The Laird took no revenge at the time, but some months afterwards, when Achmonie was staying at Castle Grant, the Laird, with an armed band, entered his room, told him he knew of his guilt, and intimated he must yield his lands or his life. [118] Mackay surrendered the estate on the understanding that it should be restored to him as a vassal of the Laird. The surrendered lands were, however, conferred by the Laird on William Grant, of the family of Glenmoriston, who had possession of them in 1677. Mackay barely escaped with his life after all, as he was attacked on his way home at Slochd-Muic by an illegitimate son of the Laird, whose mother had married the murdered chamberlain, and Achmonie and one follower alone escaped.
On the 21st July 1674, the laird excambed with John Grant of Corriemony the lands of Carnoch and Kerrownakeill, for Pitcherrell Croy and Auchatemrach, “Chiefs” III pp. 473-475.
24th March 1691 is the date of an Instrument of Resignation by Sir James Grant of Dalvey of the lands of Gartenbeg, in favour of Ludovick Grant of Freuchie, Ibid pp. 475, 476.
On the 28th February 1694, he received from William and Mary a Charter, Ibid, I pp. xxxix, xl, and lxxxv, 321, 322; III pp. 476-482; Original Charter at Castle Grant, confirmed by Parliament, 12th October 1696; “Acta. Parl.” X p. 93, erecting his whole lands of Freuchie and others into a Regality, to be called the Regality of Grant, and ordaining the Castle and manor-place of Freuchie to be called in all time coming the Castle of Grant; also the town formerly called Castletown of Freuchie, to be called the town and burgh of Grant. From this date the Laird of Freuchie changed his formal designation and became the Laird of Grant.
[facing page 118 Graphic: Castle Grant]
On the 10th July 1695, Parliament took up the Petition of the Laird of Grant, who desired compensation [119] for the losses he, his vassals, and tenants had sustained from the rebels, and also by the quartering of King William’s troops on them in the years 1689 and 1690, “Chiefs,” I pp. 322, 323; III pp. 482-484; “Acta. Parl.” IX pp. 426, 427. The whole sum of the losses sustained by them amounted to £120,486 3s 10d Scots, "Urquhart and Glenmoriston,” pp. 212-214. Besides this, the Laird of Grant declared that, owing to the depletion of his tenants’ stock, he had lost five years’ rents of the barony of Urquhart, amounting to £30,000 Scots. Parliament accordingly recommended the Laird of Grant to his Majesty’s gracious consideration. The ungrateful monarch ignored the recommendation, and notwithstanding repeated applications by successive Lairds of Grant down to the time of George III, no compensation appears yet to have been received for the damages and losses sustained by the Clan Grant. Treated in this niggardly fashion, the unfortunate Clan had to compensate themselves for their losses by plundering in their turn.
Ludovick Grant purchased Abriachan from Alexander Fraser of Kinneras on 10th June 1695. The Instrument of Resignation is dated 12th June 1695, Ibid, p. 227; “Chiefs” III pp. 484, 485.
He also purchased Culnakirk and Clunemore from John Grant of Glenmoriston, 27th June 1696. Sasine took place thereon, 30th July 1696, Ibid p. 227; “Chiefs” III p. 485.
Having thus consolidated his possessions in the district of Loch Ness, he made them over in 1699 to his eldest surviving son, Colonel Alexander Grant, on the occasion of the latter’s marriage with Elizabeth Stewart, Ibid I p501; “Urquhart and Glenmoriston,” p. 227.
[120] On Alexander’s second marriage in 1709, the Laird resigned in 1710 all his estates to him, reserving to himself an annuity of £300 sterling, and a jointure to Jean Houston, his second spouse. “Chiefs” I pp. 326, 327; Charter dated 9th July 1710. At the end of the same year the old Laird handed over, before the whole Clan, who were assembled at the ordinary rendezvous at Ballintome in full dress, the chieftainship to his son MS. Anecdotes at Castle Grant.
He died at Edinburgh, November 1716, and he was buried on the 19th of that month at the Abbey Church at Holyrood, in the same place as his father had been, “Chiefs” I p 328; Burial Register of Holyrood. He was twice married, first (Contract dated 20th December 1671) at Ballachastle to Janet Brodie, only child and heiress of Alexander Brodie of Lethen, “Chiefs,” I, pp. 328, 329. Six days later the marriage took place, Diaries of the Lairds of Brodie, p. 323; Spalding Club, 1863.
[Graphic: Signatures of LUDOVICK GRANT, 8TH OF FRUCHIE and JANET BRODIE]
[121] She died in 1697, and the Laird married, secondly (Contract dated 1st March 1701) Jean, Shaw’s "Moray” I p104; “Chiefs,” I p. 329; Crawford’s "Renfrew” p101; Macleod’s “Dundas of Dundas,” p. xxxviii; Memorandum of Contents of Contract at Castle Grant; Extract Contract between James Grant of Grant and Mrs Jean Houstoun dated 14th and 16th Mar. 1727, at Castle Grant, daughter of Sir Patrick Houstoun, Bart. and widow successively of Walter, second son of Walter Dundas, younger of that ilk, and of Sir Richard Lockhart of Lee. By this marriage the Laird had no issue. In 1727 she entered into an agreement with her stepson, Sir James Grant of Grant, by which she consented to modify the allowance of four thousand merks, to which she was entitled in terms of her marriage contract, to three thousand merks. She died 31st January, 1734, “Edin. Tests.” 9th June 1736.
By his first wife, Ludovick Grant had issue six sons and five daughters.
I. JOHN, who died young and unmarried on 11th April 1682, “Chiefs,” I, pp. 329, 371; Diaries of the Laird of Brodie, p. 467.
II. ALEXANDER, who became a Brigadier-General in the Army, and succeeded his father, See infra.
III. JAMES, who succeeded his brother, Alexander, as Laird of Grant, and became Sir James Grant of Grant, Baronet, Ibid.
IV. GEORGE, described in 1704 as third son of Ludovick Grant, his eldest brother, John, having predeceased his [122] father, “Chiefs,” I p. 329. He became Major George Grant of Culbin, and was for a time Governor of the Castle of Inverness, or Fort-George as it was then called. For surrendering it in the ’45 he was tried by court martial and dismissed the army, "Urquhart and Glenmoriston” p291. In 1733 he acquired the lands of Culbin from his nephew, Mr Ludovick Colquhoun of Luss, afterwards Sir Ludovick Grant of Grant, to whom, after the death of the Major in December, 1755, unmarried, they reverted.
V. LEWIS, who became a Colonel in the Army, “Chiefs” I pp. 329, 330. In a Petition to the King for preferment to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, he states he had had the honour to serve the Crown twenty-nine years, particularly in Scotland during the Rebellion of l715, Draft Petition, undated, at Castle Grant, and that during that time he had been twenty-six years a Captain in the Army, and thirteen years Major in the regiment of foot commanded by the Earl of Orkney. He married an Irish lady, whose name has not been ascertained. After his marriage he purchased the estate of Dunphail from the Dunbars, but with the express intention that it should not be settled on the heirs of that marriage. Letter at Castle Grant; see “Chiefs,” II, pp. 118-120, 129, 139, 429, 430. Having gone to Jamaica, he died at Kingston on 11th March 1742. He left a daughter Anne, who married Mr Patrick Grant, Minister of Logie Easter, but the property of Dunphail, with the rest of his estate, passed to his nephew, Sir Ludovick Grant of Grant.
VI. DAVID born 27th January 1693. [123]
VII ELIZABETH, married (Contract dated 23rd May, 1704) to Hugh Rose of Kilravock, in the county of Nairn, “Chiefs” I p. 330; III p. 492. They had issue.
VIII. ANNE married to Lieutenant-Colonel William Grant of Ballindalloch, a cadet of the Rothiemurchus family. The Contract for their marriage is dated 30th October 1711. Her husband acquired the estates of Ballindalloch, Tullochcarron, and others, from John Grant of Ballindalloch and his creditors, Ibid, I pp. 330, 501, 51l, and III pp. 494, 495; Original Contract at Ballindalloch; see supra. He and his wife were the ancestors of the present family of Ballindalloch. Anne Grant predeceased her husband in 1732. He died in May 1733.
He was succeeded in 1733 by his son, Captain Alexander Grant of Ballindalloch, see infra, who married (Contract dated February 1740) Penuel, the fourth surviving daughter of Sir James Grant of Grant, by whom he had issue. He was succeeded by his own son, Major William Grant of Ballindalloch, who was served heir to him 18th July 1751. He died without issue 12th July 1770, and was succeeded by his uncle, General James Grant of Ballindalloch, who also died without issue, 13th April 1806, aged 86. He was succeeded by a grandson of his second sister Grace, who had married (Contract dated 18th December 1731) George, second son of John Macpherson of Invereshie. Her husband succeeded to the lands of Invereshie and Dalraddie, and became chief of the “Sliochd Gillies”. Their grandson, [124] George Macpherson, was retoured heir of taillie and heir general of provision to his father’s maternal uncle on 28th April 1806. He succeeded, on the death of his uncle, William Macpherson of Invereshie, 12th April 1812, to the Invereshie property also. In 1838 he assumed the name of Grant, and was created, on 25th July of that year, a baronet of the United Kingdom, and was thereafter styled Sir George Macpherson-Grant, first Baronet of Ballindalloch. He was the ancestor of the present Sir John Macpherson-Grant, fourth Baronet of Ballindalloch and Invereshie, who succeeded 1907. He married, 26th June 1889, Mary, daughter of Alexander Dennistoun of Golfhill, and has issue George, born 15th May 1890.
IX. JANET, married before 1716 to Sir Roderick Mackenzie of Scatwell, and had issue, “Chiefs” I pp. 330 and 501.
X. MARGARET, married in December, 1716, amid great rejoicings, to Simon Fraser, the notorious eleventh Lord Fraser of Lovat, by whom she had issue, Ibid, I, pp. 336, 351, 501. She died after child-birth in July 1729 and her husband bewailed her loss in tones of passionate grief, Ibid, II pp. 298. Lord Lovat was beheaded for high treason on account of his share in the ’45, 9th April 1747, see “Scots Peerage,” article Fraser of Lovat.
XI. MARY, born 17th March 1691; perhaps the child buried in Greyfriars Churchyard, 31st December 1691.
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part IV |
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