Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 7, 1899

l38
THE CELTIC MONTHLY.
rose to a man under the Earl of Mar's Standard,
the Laird of Inverey being Colonel, and his brother,
James of Balmoral, aide-decamp to the Earl of
Mar. In 1745 the Braemar, Strathdee, and Glen-
gairn men, including the M'Hardys, rose with the
Farquharsons, who were then the leading clan in
the district, and those of Strathdon, Corgarft",
Glenlivat, Tomintoul, etc., inider Lord Lewis
Gordon and the Laird of Glenbucket, and not
under The Mackintosh as ha? been erroneously
stated — see position of Highland clans at CuUoden
in '■ Historical Geography of Clans of Scotland," by
F. B. Johnston, Esq., F.R.G.S , etc., and Colonel
Robertson, F.S.A.S., Edinburgh— it being a well-
known rule amongst the clans that where the
powerful or leading clan of a district had to be
raised all the smaller adjoining clans and tenants
bound themselves to join in with the leading clan
for their own safety and protection. After 1715
the Earl of Mar's estates were forfeited, and
M'Hardj's and other tenants who had formerly held
lands off the Earls of Mar had in 1745 become
tenants of Fanjuharson of Invercauld and others.
In no case cau it be shown that the M'Hardys
owned Mackintosh as their chief, so that Mr. Mac-
bain's statement that Donald M'Hardy of Daldownie
owned no other chief than Mackintosh is not correct.
That M'Hardy, Daldownie, claimed to he chief
or head of the M'Hardys is perfectly true.
Daldownie and my father were brothers' sons, and
consequently he was well known to myself and
brothers, five of whom are still living, He was also
uncle to Mr. Peter Coutts of Ballater, who resided
with him from 1827 till his (Daldownie's) death in
1870, and being now 84 years of age and in full
possession of all his faculties can testify, with my
family, that M'Hardy, Daldownie, never owned
Mackintosh as his chief ; but that he adhered most
rigidly to the M'Leod-M'Hardy tradition, both as
to sept and clan tartan. The M'Hardy clan tartan
was worn and preserved by the M'Hardy Buies
and by them only.
There is no doubt but that this Donald M'Hardy's
father, Donald, and his grandfather, Alister Mor,
iilias " Ballochbuie," were recognised leaders, as
several stirring tales are related of this " Balloch-
buie" when acting in that capacity with the Braemar
men on occasions when raids or creachs were made
upon the people in that district. His success in
restoring the creachs to their lawful owners was
often told.
This Alister, " Ballochbuie," had three sons, viz:
(1) Donald, of whom are descended the family of
Daldownie and the family of John M'Hardy at
Invercauld ; (2) Alister of Auchallater, of whom
are descended my own family and the family of the
late Alister M'Hardy of Newe, Strathdon (who was
leader of the Lonach men for upwards of 40 years),
and others ; (3) James of Inverey, of whom are
descended the M'Hardjs of A^iewmount, Braemar,
and that of Braemore and Plockton, Eoss-shire,
and others. Ballochbuie had a brother, George of
Dalchork, who had two sons ; (1) Donald of Glen-
eye, of whom are descended the M'Hardys of
Tomintoul and Croftmicken, etc.; (2) Charles of
Dalvorar, of whom are descended a M'Hardy family
in Dundee.
Another important fact which shows the
M'Hardys owned M'Leod as their chief is that
when the Press Gang Act. as it was called in the
Highlands, became law (which compelled anyone
to enter the army if called upon, even against their
will), my grandfather and his brother Donald,
"Daldownie," happened to be in Perth. Donald
had gone out early in the morning for a stroll, and
was met on the old bridge by twelve men of the
press gang, who demanded him in the King's name
to join them. On his refusal an attempt was made
to compel him by force, which resulted in a serious
melee. Daldownie having succeeded in making his
escape made a hasty retreat over the hills to Mar,
arriving at Gordon's of Abergeldie the same evening,
a distance of CO miles. The Dragoons, who were in
hot pursuit, failed to capture him, and Daldownie
was put to the horn as an outlaw. On this fact
becoming known in Mar, the Braemar men rose in
rebellion against this obnoxious Act, and were led
by James of Inverey, who marched down to Crathie
and took possession of and destroyed all the official
papers found there relating to the Press Gang Act.
On continuing their march towards Aboyne Castle,
with the view of soliciting the Marquis of Huntly's
influence with the Government to have this ofl'ensive
Act cancelled, they were intercepted by the Dra-
goons who had been communicated with. They
met on the Moor of Dinnet, and the result was that
James of Inverey and John Bowman, leaders, etc,
were taken prisoners and lodged in Aberdeen gaol.
On ray grandfather learning what had occurred, he
forthwith went direct to the Chief of the Clan
M'Leod (whom he owned as his chief), and laid the
whole of the facts of the case before him. M'Leod,
" Chief," assured him of his sympathy and support,
and being at the time in favour with the Crown,
used his influence with the Government, the con-
sequence was that James of Inverey and Bowman,
etc. were liberated from prison in due course. This
experience of my grandfather and his brothers was
often told us by my late father ; and there are
people living still to whom my grandfather told the
same tale — repeatedly too — adding that he would
never forget the hearty welcome he received from
the M'Leod Chief at Dunvegan Castle on that
occasion.
It would ill become us, M'Hardy Buies, if we
failed in the least iota in adhering to the old tradi-
tions of the M'Hardy clan, which our forefathers
held so long and true under many trying circum-
stances.
There are many other M'Hardys deserving of
special notice, but I have only referred to the head
of the Daldownie branch and his near relations, as
he happens to be the person specially mentioned in
the paragraph referred to. I trust Mr. Macbain
will now feel satisfied that there are a sufficient
number of Donald M'Hardy, Daldownie's, relatives
still living who are quite willing and able to uphold
and guard the old traditions of the Clan M'Hardy
at all hazards.
Chas. M'Hardy.
Clan Menzies Society. — Lieut. D. P. Menzies,
Hon. Corresponding Secretary, has just received
from Dr. W. F. Menzies, Chedleton, a donation of
Ten Guineas towards the Clan Benevolent Fund
inaugurated by the Chief, which now amounts to
£100. The Society is making e.xcellent progress.