Shaw, MacDuff, and Rothiemurchus

[dava4444]

Hi all

I am a Shaw from Dumbarton, I was wondering if anybody had any info on the loss of the Shaw lands of Rothiemurchus to the Grants, I know one of my ancestors/relatives killed his stepfather and so we lost the lands, I'm not defending murder, but maybe that stepfather shouldn't of ticked that son off, after all he was taking his fathers bed/place. but then again we have a history of anger in our family so maybe it wasn't the stepfather fault i have the temper too, but have been working all my life to be calm, i think its worked

also at that time were that Shaws still close to the MacDuffs? (the Earls of Fife)

any more info around that time? 1600 to 1700's?

thanks

Dava

[Duthill]

Dave , check this out from the Shaw website .
Is this the issue in question ?

On 22, May 1543, a Clan Chattan Band was signed at Inverness by most of the tribes of Clan Chattan. As Chieftain of Clan Ay, the senior sept of the Mackintosh Shaws, Angus Mac Robert of Tordarroch signed on behalf of his southern cousin, then an infant Chieftain in Rothiemurchus. Meanwhile, from their castle at Freuchie, the powerful Chiefs of Clan Grant had long coveted and plotted to gain the rich Rothiemurchus timber and fertile Speyside farmlands to the south. On 14, July 1567, Iain Grant of Freuchie purchased the Deed of Rothiemurchus from the Earl of Huntly. In February two years later, Lachlan Mackintosh of Mackintosh wrote to the Chief of Grant that he wanted to repurchase his "own native country of Rothiemurchus for which sums of money as he gave for same". His entreaties to Grant ignored, the Mackintosh then threatened to raise the ten tribes of Clan Chattan against him, but to no avail. Indeed, the Mackintosh Shaws, greater Clan Mackintosh, and all of Clan Chattan did much to make life quite difficult for the Grants in Rothiemurchus and elsewhere for nearly twenty years. As the Grants harried and evicted the Shaws with sword and legal writ, the Shaws and Mackintoshes gleefully countered with retaliatory cattle lifting, the occasional assault and roof, grainery and crop burning.

Historical Summary

It goes on

As late as 1645, the last of the Chiefly line of Rothiemurchus, Alan Shaw, 9th of Doune signed a Bond between Grant of Freuchie and many powerful Badenoch Chiefs. As evidence of his local familial stature, Alan signed below Mac Pherson of Cluny and two important Mackintosh Chieftains and above the Shaw Chieftains of Dell and Dalnavert. Sometime later, in a fit of hot-blooded anger, Alan beheaded his cruel stepfather Dallas of Cantray, who legend has it killed Alan's dog. Alan then hurled Dallas's head at his mother's feet. As Dallas was quite unpopular, although now outlawed, local feeling was in Alan's favor. He quickly gathered many kinsmen and friends who enjoyed robbing, raiding and plundering his enemies, primarily of Clan Grant. Eventually, Alan was captured and taken to Castle Grant for ‘trial’ where he mysteriously died as he was being "civilly entertained". To this day, the Grants (still in Rothiemurchus) protest their innocence . . . (We know better! -WSEL.) Up north in Clan Ay country, Robert Shaw of Tordarroch had built a sturdy tower or fortalice on a strategic knoll just west of Tordarroch House. He also surrounded it by a stone wall. A Jacobite supporter of the Marquis of Montrose, Robert and his kinsmen and Strathnairn friends defiantly resisted with bow, pistol and firelock the Cameronians who regularly attempted to capture the fort. By 1691, over the Lairig - in Deeside, Captain Duncan "Riem Aon" Shaw, 2nd of Crathienaird was Chamberlain to the Earl of Mar and Factor to his cousin the Farquharson of Invercauld. Ever a busy man, Duncan also raised, armed and commanded a local "Watch" of 20 men, charged to protect the neighborhood from cattle raiding caterans who descended from their lairs in Glenavon. Duncan later leased Crandard Castle in Glenisla, while his eldest son James lived at Crathienaird. James later lived at Daldownie in Glengairn. Duncan's other sons and grandsons soon settled comfortably throughout upper Glenshee and Glenisla. On 19, May 1711, Alexander Shaw of Tordarroch, Duncan Shaw of Crathienaird and John Shaw of Guislich at Culloden witness a Band and Tack between Lachlan Mackintosh of Mackintosh and James Shaw of Dell.

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From that , it appears that the sale of the land to Grant by Gordon of Huntly , was some time before the beheading .
After murdering his mother's husband , Alan appears to have gone back on his word (the Bond) , and run riot .

How did Rothiemurchus get into Gordon's hands in the first place ?

[Duthill]

Originally Posted by Duthill

.

How did Rothiemurchus get into Gordon's hands in the first place ?

The answer to that may be here

Mr Shaw of Forfar, who is well entitled to speak with authority on the subject, maintains "that prior to 1396, the clan now represented by the Mackintoshes, had been (as was common amongst the clans) sometimes designated as the clan Shaw, after the successive chiefs of that name, especially the first, and sometimes as the clan of the Mac-an-Toisheach, i.e., of the Thane's son. Thus, from its first founder,the great clan of the Isles was orinally called the clan Cuin, or race of Constantine. Afterwards, it was called the clan Colla, from his son Coll, and latterly the clan Donald, after one of his descendants of that name. So the Macleans are often called clan Gilleon after their founder and first chief; and the Macphersons, the clan Muirich, after one of the most distinguished in their line of chiefs. The Farquharsons are called clan Fhiunla, after their great ancestor, Finlay Mor. There is nothing more probable, therefor - I should say more certain - than that the race in after times known as Mackintoshes, should at first have been as frequently designated as Na Si'aich, The Shaws', after the Christian name of their first chief, as Mackintoshes after his appellative description or designation. It is worthy of remark, that the race of Shaws is never spoken of in Gaelic as the 'clan Shaw', but as 'Na Si'aich' - The Shaws, or as we would say Shawites. We never hear of Mac-Shaws - sons of Shaw, but of 'Na Si'aich - The Shaws'. Hence prior to 1396, when a Shaw so distinguished himself as to found a family, under the wing of his chief, the undivided race, so to speak, would sometimes be called 'Mackintoshes', or followers of the Thane's sons, sometimes the clan Chattan, the generic name of the race, sometimes 'clan Dhugaill', (Quehele) after Dougall-Dall, and sometimes 'Na Si'aich', the Shaws or Shawites, after the numerous chiefs who more the name of Shaw in the line of descent. Hence e claim of both Shaws and Mackintoshes to the occupency of Rothiemurchus. After 1396, the term Na Si'aich was restriced, as all are agreed, to the clan developed out of the other, through the prowess of Shaw Mor".

Shaw "Mor" Mackintosh, who fought at Perth in 1396, was succeeded by his son James, who fell at Harlaw in 1411. Both Shaw and James had held Rothiemurchus only as tenants of the chief of Mackintosh, but James's son and successor, Alister "Ciar" (i.e., brown), obtained from Duncan, 11th of Mackintosh, in 1463-4, his right of possession and tack. In the deed by which David Stuart, Bishop of Moray, superior of the lands, confirms this disposition of Duncan, and gives Alister the fen, Alister is called "Allister Kier Mackintosh". This deed is dated 24th September 1464. Allthe deeds in which Alister is mentioned call him Mackintosh, not Shaw, thus showing the descent of the Shaws from the Mackintoshes, and that they did not acquire their name of Shaw until after Alister's time.

Alister's grandson, Alan, in 1539, disposed his right to Rothiemurchus to Edom Gordon, reserving only his son's liferest. Alan's grandson of the same name was outlawed for the murder of his stepfather, some fifty years later, and compelled to leave the country. Numerous Shaws are, however, still to be found in the neighbourhood of Rothiemurchus, or who can trace their descent from Alister Kier.

Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: User Home Page Book: Origins of the Shaw Family : Clan Shaw of Tordarroch

[wullie m]

These shennanigans sound like a Kingussie V Newtonmore shinty match! I believe that Grant only held on to Rothiemurchus, as his father was reluctant to become involved, by sending runners into Perthshire to call upon the services of the Clan Gregor, who turned up in force, and saw off the Macintosh. The fracas is celebrated in a pipe tune, the Muleain Dubh air Turaban, or something! (Black Mill is Rocking?) Glesga Gaelic! Elizabeth Grant of Rothiemurchus' book (paperback) is a good read. Try Google.

[Duthill]

Originally Posted by wullie m

These shennanigans sound like a Kingussie V Newtonmore shinty match! I believe that Grant only held on to Rothiemurchus, as his father was reluctant to become involved, by sending runners into Perthshire to call upon the services of the Clan Gregor, who turned up in force, and saw off the Macintosh. The fracas is celebrated in a pipe tune, the Muleain Dubh air Turaban, or something! (Black Mill is Rocking?) Glesga Gaelic! Elizabeth Grant of Rothiemurchus' book (paperback) is a good read. Try Google.

This one ' '"Memoirs of a Highland lady" the autobiography of Elizabeth Grant of Rothiemurchus ' ?

[wullie m]

That's the one Duthill, I get her mixed up with Mrs Grant of Laggan's "Letters from the Mountains" wullie m.

[Duthill]

I'll have to get down to the library and have a read of it/them again .
Its' be a long while .