History Of The Mackenzies [273]
Sir James Macdonald, IX. of Sleat, with issue--his heir and successor, and others.
He had also a natural son, the Rev. John Mackenzie, Archdean of Ross, who, by his wife, Christian, daughter of John Wemyss of Lathocker, had issue--the Rev. Roderick Mackenzie, first of Avoch, in 1671 Sub-Chaunter of Ross, and several other children. He died in 1666.
In 1609 Sir Roderick was knighted for the part he took, along with his brother Kenneth, first Lord Mackenzie of Kintail, in pacifying the Lewis and civilising its inhabitants.
He died in 1628, and was succeeded by his eldest son,
SIR JOHN MACKENZIE of Tarbat, created a Baronet of Nova Scotia on the 21st of May, 1628. He married Margaret, daughter of Sir George Erskine of Innerteil, a Lord of Session, with issue--
1. George, his heir and successor.
2. John, who died young.
3. Sir Roderick, who has a sasine as third son in June, 1654. He was M.P. in 1700 for Cromarty, and in 1703 for the Burgh of Fortrose. He was subsequently raised to the Bench as Lord Prestonhall, and married, first, Margaret, daughter of Dr Burnet, Archbishop of St. Andrews, with issue--Alexander Mackenzie of Fraserdale, who, in 1702, married Amelia, eldest daughter of Hugh, Xth Lord Lovat, with issue--several sons and daughters. Alexander's representation was proved extinct in 1826. Lord Prestonhall married, secondly, Margaret, daughter of Haliburton of Pitcur, widow of Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh, without issue.
4. Alexander, I. of Ardloch, whose representatives became heirs male to the Cromarty titles.
5. Kenneth, who married Isobell Auckinleck, with issue--Kenneth, who died without issue.
6. James, M.D., who died unmarried.
7. Margaret, who married, first, Roderick Macleod, XV. of Macleod, without surviving issue; and secondly, Sir James Campbell of Lawers, Perthshire.
8. Ann, who married Hugh, IXth Lord Lovat, with issue.
9. Isabel, who married Kenneth, third Earl of Seaforth, with issue --his heir and successor, and others.
10. Barbara, who married Alexander Mackenzie, VII. of Gairloch, with issue.
11. Catherine, who married Sir Colin Campbell of Aberuchil, with issue.
Sir John died in 1654, when he was succeeded by his eldest son,
I. SIR GEORGE MACKENZIE, created first Earl of Cromarty, who made a distinguished figure in the history of his country during the reigns of Charles II., James II., and William III. In 1661, at the early age of 31, he was made a Lord of Session. He subsequently held the offices of Lord-Justice-General and Clerk-Register of Scotland. When Maitland got into favour Sir George shared the fall of his patron, Lord Middleton, but on the death of the Duke of Lauderdale he again got into favour, and, until the close of the reign of King James, he held the principal sway and power in Scottish affairs. He was accessory, if not the principal, in putting Spence and Carstairs to the torture of the boot and thumb-screw after the rebellion of Argyll. In 1685 King James ennobled him by the title of Viscount Tarbat, Lord Macleod and Castlehaven. During the reign of William III. his influence became much diminished, but he afterwards got into power, and, on the accession of Queen Anne, he again became a Royal favourite, and was by her in 1703 created Earl of Cromarty, and made Secretary of State for Scotland. He subsequently resigned this office and took up his old post of Justice-General, and recompensed Her Majesty's favours by strongly advocating with voice and pen the Union between England and Scotland, of which he was the original proposer. In 1710, after 60 years of the most active public service, he retired into private life.
That he possessed ability of a very high order is undoubted, though as a politician he held very loose and changeable principles. Sinibert says that "as a judge, he was addicted to the old practice of considering the litigants rather than their causes"; and Carstairs goes the length of saying that "he habitually falsified
He had also a natural son, the Rev. John Mackenzie, Archdean of Ross, who, by his wife, Christian, daughter of John Wemyss of Lathocker, had issue--the Rev. Roderick Mackenzie, first of Avoch, in 1671 Sub-Chaunter of Ross, and several other children. He died in 1666.
In 1609 Sir Roderick was knighted for the part he took, along with his brother Kenneth, first Lord Mackenzie of Kintail, in pacifying the Lewis and civilising its inhabitants.
He died in 1628, and was succeeded by his eldest son,
SIR JOHN MACKENZIE of Tarbat, created a Baronet of Nova Scotia on the 21st of May, 1628. He married Margaret, daughter of Sir George Erskine of Innerteil, a Lord of Session, with issue--
1. George, his heir and successor.
2. John, who died young.
3. Sir Roderick, who has a sasine as third son in June, 1654. He was M.P. in 1700 for Cromarty, and in 1703 for the Burgh of Fortrose. He was subsequently raised to the Bench as Lord Prestonhall, and married, first, Margaret, daughter of Dr Burnet, Archbishop of St. Andrews, with issue--Alexander Mackenzie of Fraserdale, who, in 1702, married Amelia, eldest daughter of Hugh, Xth Lord Lovat, with issue--several sons and daughters. Alexander's representation was proved extinct in 1826. Lord Prestonhall married, secondly, Margaret, daughter of Haliburton of Pitcur, widow of Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh, without issue.
4. Alexander, I. of Ardloch, whose representatives became heirs male to the Cromarty titles.
5. Kenneth, who married Isobell Auckinleck, with issue--Kenneth, who died without issue.
6. James, M.D., who died unmarried.
7. Margaret, who married, first, Roderick Macleod, XV. of Macleod, without surviving issue; and secondly, Sir James Campbell of Lawers, Perthshire.
8. Ann, who married Hugh, IXth Lord Lovat, with issue.
9. Isabel, who married Kenneth, third Earl of Seaforth, with issue --his heir and successor, and others.
10. Barbara, who married Alexander Mackenzie, VII. of Gairloch, with issue.
11. Catherine, who married Sir Colin Campbell of Aberuchil, with issue.
Sir John died in 1654, when he was succeeded by his eldest son,
I. SIR GEORGE MACKENZIE, created first Earl of Cromarty, who made a distinguished figure in the history of his country during the reigns of Charles II., James II., and William III. In 1661, at the early age of 31, he was made a Lord of Session. He subsequently held the offices of Lord-Justice-General and Clerk-Register of Scotland. When Maitland got into favour Sir George shared the fall of his patron, Lord Middleton, but on the death of the Duke of Lauderdale he again got into favour, and, until the close of the reign of King James, he held the principal sway and power in Scottish affairs. He was accessory, if not the principal, in putting Spence and Carstairs to the torture of the boot and thumb-screw after the rebellion of Argyll. In 1685 King James ennobled him by the title of Viscount Tarbat, Lord Macleod and Castlehaven. During the reign of William III. his influence became much diminished, but he afterwards got into power, and, on the accession of Queen Anne, he again became a Royal favourite, and was by her in 1703 created Earl of Cromarty, and made Secretary of State for Scotland. He subsequently resigned this office and took up his old post of Justice-General, and recompensed Her Majesty's favours by strongly advocating with voice and pen the Union between England and Scotland, of which he was the original proposer. In 1710, after 60 years of the most active public service, he retired into private life.
That he possessed ability of a very high order is undoubted, though as a politician he held very loose and changeable principles. Sinibert says that "as a judge, he was addicted to the old practice of considering the litigants rather than their causes"; and Carstairs goes the length of saying that "he habitually falsified