Macdonell Of Keppoch

[Jock Scot]

Indeed I would if you wouldn't mind

Just as you replied I found this page:
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.u...roy/index.html

With a photo of the cairn & this info:
"Glen Roy has one more claim to fame. A stone cairn half a mile north of Roybridge remembers the nearby site of the Battle of Mulroy. This took place on 4 August 1688 and was the last inter-clan battle fought in Scotland. The memorial notes that the MacDonells of Keppoch defeated the Mackintoshes."

If at all possible I'd love to see a close-up, of sorts, of the plaque upon the cairn.

Thanks again!

When I have remembered how to post pictures, I will post some pictures for you in the picture section--watch this space,but don't hold your breath!The MacDonells of Keppoch were a warlike bunch and came to he fore again in 1745 in the first action of the revolution at High Bridge,only 4 miles or so from the battle of Mulroy.Picture will also be enclosed.

[BoldHighlander]

When I have remembered how to post pictures, I will post some pictures for you in the picture section--watch this space,but don't hold your breath!The MacDonells of Keppoch were a warlike bunch and came to he fore again in 1745 in the first action of the revolution at High Bridge,only 4 miles or so from the battle of Mulroy.Picture will also be enclosed.

Thanks Jock Scot, I greatly appreciate it

Indeed, I have been running across a number of mentions of the Macdonells of Keppoch through out "The Independent Companies 1603 - 1760" by Peter Simpson.
In one chapter where there is discussion about the early Independent Companies (1603 - 1660) and lawlessness in the Highlands, and some rather infamous characters: e.g. Black John (Iain Dubh Cearr), James Grant of Carron, etc; it mentions the following:

Apart from the famous individual robbers already mentioned, there existed a clan dimension in that three main clans, Camerons, Macdonalds of Keppoch and the Macdonalds of Glencoe not only sheltered the caterans but were notorious for raiding in their own right."

Seems those Macdonells of Keppoch were a troublesome crew, eh?

[Streetcar]

Thank you so much for posting this! I too trace back to the MacRanalds. Specifically a "John MacRanald born in the area of Keppoch."

He later relocated to Tyrone County in Ireland, and eventually the line merged with Moran line.

I'm going to follow up on some of those links - and I'll be looking for that book!

[Graywolf]

"This took place on 4 August 1688 and was the last inter-clan battle fought in Scotland."

Interesting, I wonder if they mean a "purely" interclan battle, as the battling in Scotland continued for about 50 more years and are those considered "clan vs government" battles.

[BoldHighlander]

"This took place on 4 August 1688 and was the last inter-clan battle fought in Scotland."

Interesting, I wonder if they mean a "purely" interclan battle, as the battling in Scotland continued for about 50 more years and are those considered "clan vs government" battles.

That I think would be correct (somebody please correct me if I'm wrong).
After all in the later, though you had clans on both sides, it was essentially a rebellion/rebellions against the ruling government & it's forces, not mere clan -vs- clan only.

There was a near thing of it in 1734 between the Macgregors & a combined Maclaren / Appin Stewart force over a land dispute. However, due to the Gregors being out numbered & wishing to avoid considerable casualties, Rob Roy challenged other side to a one on one duel. This was his last battle & he lost to a much younger Alasdair Stewart, thus a clan -vs- clan war was avoided.

[Macman]

That I think would be correct (somebody please correct me if I'm wrong).

After all in the later, though you had clans on both sides, it was essentially a rebellion/rebellions against the ruling government & it's forces, not mere clan -vs- clan only.

I've seen the Battle of Mulroy represented many times as the last clan vs. clan battle, correctly, I think. In fact, there were government troops supporting the Mackintoshes, as the action against the MacDonalds of Keppoch had official support. It didn't help the Mackintoshes, however.

[Jock Scot]

I've seen the Battle of Mulroy represented many times as the last clan vs. clan battle, correctly, I think. In fact, there were government troops supporting the Mackintoshes, as the action against the MacDonalds of Keppoch had official support. It didn't help the Mackintoshes, however.

As I understand it one of the reasons the MacKintoshes lost the battle was that the government troops did not arrive in time!So clan v clan is accurate.

[BoldHighlander]

Hello everyone,
I was skimming through my copy of Peter Simpson's "The Independent Companies 1603 - 1760" and found the following regarding the Battle of Mulroy:

"Meantime, Captain Kenneth Mackenzie was called upon to help the Mackintoshes and their followers the Mac Gillivrays who were given a commission of fire and sword by the Privy Council against Macdonnell of Keppoch, This commission allowed:

'That whatever slaughter, mutilation, blood, fire-raising or other violence' may be done by the persons holding the letters, shall be held 'laudable, good and warrantable service to his Majesty and Government.'

This was to be the last great clan battle, at Mulroy on 4th August 1688, where the Macdonnells were victorious and where Suddie and many of his men had been outnumbered by Keppoch and two of his neighbouring clans, the Camerons of Glen Nevis and the Macmartins of Letterfinlay.
They launched a fierce Highland charge with swords and Lochaber axes -- Suddie was mortally wounded in the affray.*
A soldier in Suddie's company, Donald McBane subsequently wrote:

'The Macdonalds (Macdonells) came down the hill upon us, without either shoe, stocking or bonnet on their heads: they gave a shout and then fire began on both sides and continued a hot dispute for an hour. Then they broke in upon us with sword and target, and Lochaber axes which obliged us to give way."

This was a very matter-of-fact description of what must have been a particularly bloody encounter. In the same vein, Keppoch later described the battle of Mulroy 'the unhappie accident I had with McKintoshe at Millroy.'

*Kenneth Mackenzie of Suddie was a descendant of Kenneth of Battle (blar-na-pairc) and had served in Dumbarton's regiment in France and was described as having 'the character of a fine gentleman and brave officer.'
He was a professional soldier of the highest calibre."

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Sorry I'm coming late to this thread. I just wanted to comment on the original post regarding the sett size of the tartans. The thing to remember there is that the sett size is going to be largely dependant upon the weavers. Any tartan can be woven on a larger or smaller scale. Often times the heavier weight cloths are woven on a larger scale (because they are primarily going to be used to make kilts) whereas lighter weight cloths are produced on a smaller scale (to be made into ties, scarves, etc.).

So if you want to know the exact sett size, you need to get a swatch from the mill weaving the cloth.

What you have there are computer generated images, which can tell you [I]relative[I]sett size, because these images are generated assuming a 1:1 ratio.

The current accepted clan tartan is No. 511, which has 218 threads to the repeat. No. 1506 has 388 threads by comparison. I think these two are the only ones you will be able to find without having the cloth custom woven. 511, the standard version, is the one woven by most all mills. House of Edgar also produces 1506.

Aye,
Matt

[Streetcar]

Boldhighlander -
It appears we are distant cousins after all!

Here's my partial lineage as it was given to me:

John MacRanald, born about 1570 (John's father was born about 1550)

His son, Alexander MacRanald, born about 1600, (who is supposed to have married Princess Margaret Stewart, daughter of King Robert II Bruce. However I've not been able to verify this, as I thought she married the MacDonald, the Lord of the Isles).

His son is "Johne M. McReynolds or Mc Ranald or Mac Rannald", born before 1639 "of Keppech (sic) area, Scotland".

His son is said to be John McReynolds, who was born Aug 1672 in Keppoch (sic), and died 1760, Stewartstown, County Tyrone, Ireland.
In 1687 he went to Ireland in the British Army. After the Willamette wars he married and remained in Ireland.

His oldest son, Joseph, was born 1720 in Killyman, Dungannon, County Tyrone, Ireland. He married Sarah Dixion while in Ireland. They had nine children, one of whom was Roland.

Roland moved to North Carolina, and there raised his family.

His youngest son, John McReynolds, married and moved his family of seven to Kentucky. They lived there two years and moved to Posey Co., Indiana.

John’s youngest child, Melvina McReynolds, was orphaned at the age of ten. She married John Cavett, who died in 1879.

Here the McReynolds line separates from my tree.