History Of The Mackenzies [272]
by his eldest son,
VII. RODERICK MACKENZIE, Major H.E.I.C.S., who married in 1836, Katharine, daughter of Alexander Mackenzie, of Millbank, son of Bailie Hector Mackenzie, of Dingwall, a cadet of Letterewe and Gairloch, with issue--
1. Roderick, his heir and successor.
2. Katharine, who died unmarried in 1870.
3. Eliza Jane, who married George Martineau, with issue--George; William; Alfred; and a daughter Katherine.
4. Mary Ann, unmarried.
5. Alice, who married Alexander Edmond, without issue.
Major Roderick died at Kincraig on the 6th of April, 1853, and was succeeded by his only son.
VIII. CAPTAIN RODERICK MACKENZIE, late of Kincraig, who, on the 5th of February, 1867, married Georgina Adelaide, daughter of Roderick Mackenzie, IV. of Flowerburn, without issue.
THE MACKENZIES OF CROMARTY.
THIS family, next to the House of Kintail and Seaforth, played the most important part in the history of the Highlands. They are descended from Sir Roderick Mackenzie of Coigeach, Tutor of Kintail, who in his day took such a conspicuous part in the affairs of the Clan. His career is noticed at considerable length in the history of the Seaforth family, and need not here be enlarged upon. He was the second son of Colin Cam Mackenzie, XI. of Kintail, by Barbara, daughter of John Grant, XII. of Grant. He was a brave and resolute man. On a certain occasion he seized MacNeil of Barra by stratagem, and carried that chief, of whom Queen Elizabeth had been complaining, to the Court of King James at Holyrood. When brought into His Majesty's presence MacNeil, who, much to the surprise of all, was a tall, good-looking man of reverend aspect, with a long grey beard, proved a match for the King.
When asked by His Majesty what could induce him to commit so many piracies and robberies on the Queen of England's subjects, he replied that he thought he was doing the King good service by annoying "a woman who had murdered his mother." James exclaimed, "The devil take the carle! Rorie, take him with you again, and dispose of him and his fortune as you please." On another occasion, when Sir Roderick was passing through Athole on his way to Edinburgh, in the interest of his ward, he was stopped and found fault with by the men of that district for passing through their country without the permission of their lord. The Tutor dismounted and sought out a stone, on which he began to sharpen his claymore, whereupon the Athole men, from a safe distance, asked him what he was doing? "I am going to make a road," was the ready answer. "You shall make no road here." "Oh, I don't seek to do so; but I shall make it between your lord's head and his shoulders if I am hindered from pursuing my lawful business."
On hearing this retort the Athole men retired, and on reaching their master told him what had occurred. "It was either the devil or the Tutor of Kintail," his Lordship replied, "let him have a free path for ever."
That he was severe in his position as Tutor is clear from the following proverb; still current in Ross-shire: --"There are but two things worse than the Tutor of Kintail--frost in spring and mist in the dog days." He married Margaret, daughter and co-heiress of Torquil Macleod, "Torquil Cononach" of the Lewis, Coigeach, and Assynt, with whom Roderick obtained her father's mainland possessions, previously, however, in 1605, granted by Torquil to Kenneth Mackenzie, X. of Kintail, Sir Roderick's eldest brother. He purchased Milton and Tarbat Ness in Easter Ross from the Munroes. He had issue by his wife--
1. John, his heir and successor, afterwards Sir John Mackenzie of Tarbat.
2. Kenneth, I. of Scatwell, of whose family presently.
3. Colin, I of Tarvie, who married Isobel, daughter of Alexander Mackenzie, V. of Gairloch, and widow of John Mackenzie of Lochslinn, with issue.
4. Alexander, I. of Ballone, of whom after Scatwell.
5. James. 6. Charles. Both died unmarried.
7. Margaret, who married
VII. RODERICK MACKENZIE, Major H.E.I.C.S., who married in 1836, Katharine, daughter of Alexander Mackenzie, of Millbank, son of Bailie Hector Mackenzie, of Dingwall, a cadet of Letterewe and Gairloch, with issue--
1. Roderick, his heir and successor.
2. Katharine, who died unmarried in 1870.
3. Eliza Jane, who married George Martineau, with issue--George; William; Alfred; and a daughter Katherine.
4. Mary Ann, unmarried.
5. Alice, who married Alexander Edmond, without issue.
Major Roderick died at Kincraig on the 6th of April, 1853, and was succeeded by his only son.
VIII. CAPTAIN RODERICK MACKENZIE, late of Kincraig, who, on the 5th of February, 1867, married Georgina Adelaide, daughter of Roderick Mackenzie, IV. of Flowerburn, without issue.
THE MACKENZIES OF CROMARTY.
THIS family, next to the House of Kintail and Seaforth, played the most important part in the history of the Highlands. They are descended from Sir Roderick Mackenzie of Coigeach, Tutor of Kintail, who in his day took such a conspicuous part in the affairs of the Clan. His career is noticed at considerable length in the history of the Seaforth family, and need not here be enlarged upon. He was the second son of Colin Cam Mackenzie, XI. of Kintail, by Barbara, daughter of John Grant, XII. of Grant. He was a brave and resolute man. On a certain occasion he seized MacNeil of Barra by stratagem, and carried that chief, of whom Queen Elizabeth had been complaining, to the Court of King James at Holyrood. When brought into His Majesty's presence MacNeil, who, much to the surprise of all, was a tall, good-looking man of reverend aspect, with a long grey beard, proved a match for the King.
When asked by His Majesty what could induce him to commit so many piracies and robberies on the Queen of England's subjects, he replied that he thought he was doing the King good service by annoying "a woman who had murdered his mother." James exclaimed, "The devil take the carle! Rorie, take him with you again, and dispose of him and his fortune as you please." On another occasion, when Sir Roderick was passing through Athole on his way to Edinburgh, in the interest of his ward, he was stopped and found fault with by the men of that district for passing through their country without the permission of their lord. The Tutor dismounted and sought out a stone, on which he began to sharpen his claymore, whereupon the Athole men, from a safe distance, asked him what he was doing? "I am going to make a road," was the ready answer. "You shall make no road here." "Oh, I don't seek to do so; but I shall make it between your lord's head and his shoulders if I am hindered from pursuing my lawful business."
On hearing this retort the Athole men retired, and on reaching their master told him what had occurred. "It was either the devil or the Tutor of Kintail," his Lordship replied, "let him have a free path for ever."
That he was severe in his position as Tutor is clear from the following proverb; still current in Ross-shire: --"There are but two things worse than the Tutor of Kintail--frost in spring and mist in the dog days." He married Margaret, daughter and co-heiress of Torquil Macleod, "Torquil Cononach" of the Lewis, Coigeach, and Assynt, with whom Roderick obtained her father's mainland possessions, previously, however, in 1605, granted by Torquil to Kenneth Mackenzie, X. of Kintail, Sir Roderick's eldest brother. He purchased Milton and Tarbat Ness in Easter Ross from the Munroes. He had issue by his wife--
1. John, his heir and successor, afterwards Sir John Mackenzie of Tarbat.
2. Kenneth, I. of Scatwell, of whose family presently.
3. Colin, I of Tarvie, who married Isobel, daughter of Alexander Mackenzie, V. of Gairloch, and widow of John Mackenzie of Lochslinn, with issue.
4. Alexander, I. of Ballone, of whom after Scatwell.
5. James. 6. Charles. Both died unmarried.
7. Margaret, who married