[8] IN STARTING TO WRITE this historical and chronological record, it was found that there is a great deal of conflicting evidence, and discrepancy of dates, concerning the earliest Chiefs. It appears that much evidence has been lost, due to local clan feuds, and, possibly, to lack of writing materials. There is, however, such a mass of information available about the later Chiefs, much being of little interest to the lay person, that it is difficult to decide what to include and what to exclude.
It is not intended here to enter the much argued and rather unfruitful discussion and sifting of evidence to prove whether the Grants emanated from Scandinavia (largely on account of the three ancient crowns on the arms shield) or from Ireland (because there were people there called by a rather similar name) or from Normandy (because there were Le Grants, Le Graunts, Le Grands in England and Scotland after the Norman invasion). Anyone could be right on these questions, and it is unlikely to be clearly proved one way or the other now.
Readers will wonder why there are only 30 Chiefs recorded below, whilst I am regarded as the 32nd Chief. The answer appears to be that the Grants of Freuchie claimed their descent from a Chief before Gregory le Grant, whose sons were Laurence, Robert, Lucas, and Allen. Nothing further is known of him.
Sir Laurence le Grant (fl. 1258–1266)
He is recorded as being Sheriff of Inverness in 1263. At that period of history there was a family of Bisets who held land from King Henry II in England. A daughter of the Bisets called Albreda married a William le Grant, who was possessed of land near the Bisets. The Bisets became possessed of land in Stratherrick and Beauly following on a visit to Scotland by King Richard the Lion in 1174. The Bisets were in the royal train, and it is possible that [9] Laurence and Robert, Gregory le Grant's sons, went to Scotland to seek their fortune, as at that time there was no quarrel between the two countries. (There are also records which state that at least two Grants-William and Thomas-were in the court of King Alexander of Scotland, and, in fact, accompanied him on a tour of England.)
In 1258 Robert acquired land at Coulmony on the Findhorn; Laurence had also begun to take an active part in local public life. His Sheriffdom covered the present counties of Ross, Sutherland, and Caithness, as well as Inverness. He was also responsible for the royal castle of 'Invery', which may have been Blervie Castle, near Forbes. Laurence is reputed to have had two sons, John and Robert I.
Sir John le Grant I (fl. 1296-1325)
I am unable to account for the date discrepancy of time between 1266 and 1296, as available records are silent. John was the first Grant of Inverallen in Strathspey; he bought lands from a Lord John of Inverallen in 1316. Both John and his brother, Robert II, were at the battle of Dunbar, fought on 27 April 1296; they were staunch supporters of William Wallace against King Edward I of England, who was known as 'the scourge of the Scots'. King Edward had attacked and sacked Berwick-on-Tweed, and a number of northern Scottish barons led an army of their retainers to avenge Scotland. They ravaged Northumberland, and there was a dreadful massacre of the inhabitants. A detachment of this force occupied Dunbar Castle, but the Earl of Surrey, at the head of 11,000 soldiers, besieged Dunbar, and the battle of that name followed when the Scots were defeated and many of them slain. John and Robert le Grant were both taken prisoner and held in Gloucester and Bristol Castles respectively. After a year, they were released on bail, on condition that they would accompany King Edward on his military expedition to Flanders. It is not, in fact, clear whether they did go overseas; it is only known that John reappeared in Scotland in 1316 and became lord of lands in Strathspey. He is reputed to have left a son, John.
Sir John le Grant (fl. 1333-1370)
Again an unfortunate discrepancy of dates, I am afraid. Sir John was Castellan of Darnaway Castle in 1346 and Lord of Dunphail, which today is a well-known major estate and house up the Spey valley. William Fraser in Volume I of Chiefs of Grant thinks it possible that your author is descended from him. John was in the Earl of Moray's division of the Scottish army at the battle of Halidon Hill (1333) in Northumberland, and received a knighthood after the battle from King David II of Scotland.
[10] Sir Patrick le Grant (fl. 1345-1362)
Lord of Inverallen and Stratherrick. Very little is known about him as records were largely destroyed in troubles with the Islesmen; all the history about this period is extremely complicated and devious. There are a number of tales about Patrick: one that is of interest is that whilst he was on a visit to the Baron of Kincardine, which place is in Abernethy Forest, near Aviemore, he was attacked and killed by a party of Comyns. A taille of Grants then materialised (most fortuitously) and pursued the murderers, who took sanctuary in Kincardine kirk. (There is an interesting Victorian church there today overlooking the Spey and Kinchurdy Farm to its north.) The Grants could not break the sanctuary, so one of them hit on the bright idea of shooting a fire arrow into the thatched roof. The kirk and the Comyns within were then burnt, except for one tall Comyn, who managed to flee, but was caught by an athletic Grant, who removed his head with a blow from his two-edged sword, possibly a claymore. Patrick left one daughter, Maud, and she married Andrew Stewart, Sheriff of the Isle of Bute, who changed his name to Grant, or so some historians have said. Other evidence says that this is mere supposition; that Patrick's daughter was one Elizabeth le Grant, who married Sir William Pylche, one of the principal Inverness families, and it was her son, Malcolm Grant, who was the next Grant heir. Other evidence again points that Malcolm was Patrick's son and the father of Elizabeth. There are further variations on the foregoing confusion.
Robert Grant, known as the Ambassador (fl. 1380-1394)
Robert Grant was active in public affairs and in the service of his country. He appears to have been well in favour with King Edward III of England, who gave him safe conduct from Scotland in spite of the war between the two countries. As customary there was the usual border strife, but a chivalric contest was arranged on the borders, presumably to try to make more friendly relations on the Marches (the border country between England and Scotland). Robert was one of the contestants for Scotland, by order of King Edward. He drew a contest, wearing all the usual armour and weapons of those days, against an unnamed English champion of great courage and strength, who was vanquished by Robert, our valiant clansman forebear.
In 1384, Robert was sent to France, as Scotland's ambassador, hence his soubriquet. They renewed the truce between England and Scotland on the one hand, and France and her allies on the other, to last until 1392. Robert received £6 13s. 4d. to cover his expenses in his passage to France. In 1391 he received £20 per annum for life, in recognition of his services, from the Deputy Chamberlain of Scotland.
William Fraser says that there is complete lack of evidence regarding the ancestry of Robert except that he has been included in previous records and [11] so must be accepted as one of the Grant pedigree. Clearly he was a great man: it is great to be a Grant because they were great people! He was succeeded by his son.
Malcolm Grant (fl. 1394-1400)
William Fraser seems to omit mention of Malcolm, but jumps straight over to Sir Duncan Grant some 40 years on. However, Malcolm has been recorded elsewhere. There seems to be little information about him, except that he was a gentleman of rank and that he was a member of a convention to settle a dispute between the Earl of Moray and the Lord of the Isles. He was succeeded by his son, Patrick.
Sir Patrick Grant (fl. 1411)
Owing to the dearth of material there is little information, but he is mentioned in the archives as 'Patricius de Grant Dominus de Stratherrick'. He was twice married, lastly to a daughter of the MacLean of Duart, who was killed at the battle of Harlaw in 1411. He had an heir by her, and he considerably increased his family fortunes by active prudence.
Sir John Roy Grant (Chief 1410-1434)
He was a Sheriff Principal of Inverness. A very ornamental and enriched musket of his was in the Grant Castle collection. He is reputed to have married a considerable heiress, Matilda of Glencarnie, who owned lands in Elgin, Rothes and Fochabers; she was of the famous blood of the Earls of Strathern. He left a son, Duncan.