Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 5, 1897

THE CELTIC MONTHLY.
11
MINOR SEPTS OF CLAN CHATTAN.
By Chaeles Frasee-Mackintosh, F.8.A., Scot.
The MAcGiLLn-RAYs.
IjF old the Clan Chattan were reckoned under two
classes, the first — nine in number — sprung of the
Chief's own house, and the second — seven in
number— those who had incorporated or attached them-
selves, though of other names than that of Mackintosh,
thus making sixteen in all. Amongst the latter class the
MacGillivrays stood the first and oldest, for according to
the Croy i\IS. history, compiled by the Rev. Andrew
Macphail, who it is understood died minister of Boleskine,
1608, it is said that about the year 12G8 " Gillivray, the
progenitor of the Clan vie Gillivray, took protection ' and
dependence for himself and posterity of this Farquhard
Mackintosh (5th of Mackintosh, who was killed in 1274
aged 36)."
Sir Eueas Mackintosh in his manuscript, privately
printed in 1892 by the present Chief, and 28th of
Mackintosh, gives the date as 1271.
The origin of the name may be looked for in the fourth
or last part of MacGillivray, "for invariably in Gaelic, and
in my yoimger days, elderly people of good position put
the weight on this last portion, and not as is now invariably
done in English, on the second.
Betwixt this first, and Duncan (whom I place as 1st of
Dimmaglass) who Hved about 1500, is a long step, and it
is not the purpose of these papers to do other as a rule,
than deal with facts.
It may be taken for granted that the :\IacGillivrays
came from the west, and have been settled at Dunmaglass,
in the braes of Strathnaii-n, and along the valley of Nairn,
long before we know their authentic history. In the year
1791, one. Farquhar M'Gillivour, aged 82, living on the
banks of the river Nairn, was examined in court, and in
answer to a query what his real name was, said he was
called Farquhar M'Gillivour in every part of the country, and
that the MGiUivours were followers of the MacGillivrays,
ha\'ing come at the same time from the Western Islands!
The descent of the Dunmaglass family was reckoned very
good in the Highlands; and the late John Lachlan the lOth,
who was exceedingly proud, and in his latter days a very
reserved man, used in his cups to declare "he was descended
of Kings."
Dunmaglass, at least one half of it, belonged to the old
Thanes of Kalder, and is first mentioned in the service of