Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 5

'W 128 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
first, as his lawful wife, Amy, sole representative and heiress of the Mac-
Euari branch of the Siol Cuinn, and that among his descendants by this
marriage, we must look for the representative of the elder branch, and
therefore for the chiefs of the line of Somerled of the Isles, while it is
equally true that the family of Sleat represent John, last Earl of Eoss
and Lord of the Isles. The controversy which has taken place on this
important question between the families of Glengarry and Moydart is
well known to many of our readers, and we are fortunate enough to pos-
sess copies of it ; but although the question arises chronologically here,
we prefer to discuss the whole subject at a future stage in a special
chapter. There is, however, no doubt that Donald, the eldest son of the
second marriage, although not the chief of the family by right of blood, be-
came the actual feudal superior of his brothers. On this point Gregory is
emphatic, and says "Donald, the eldest son of the second marriage, be-
came, on his father's death, second Lord of the Isles, and in that capacity
was most undoubtedly, feudal superior and actual chief of his brothers,
whether of the full or half blood." We shall therefore follow and treat
the Lords of the Isles as the main, and, unquestionably, the most import-
ant line in this work.
By his marriage with Amy, heiress of the MacEuaries, "the good John
of Isla " had issue —
1. John, who died before his father, leaving one son, Angus, who died
without issue.
2. Godfrey, of Uist and Garmoran, of whom hereafter.
3. Ranald, or Reginald, progenitor of Glengarry, and of all the Mac-
donalds claiming to be Clan Eanalds. These shall afterwards be dealt
with in their order.
4. Mary, said to have married, first, one of the Macleans of Duart,
and, secondly, Maclean of Coll.
He married, secondly. Lady Margaret, daughter of Eobert, High Stew-
ard of Scotland, afterwards King Eobert 11. , and first of the Stewart
dynasty. By this lady he had —
5. Donald, who succeeded as second Lord of the Isles.
6. John Mor Tanister of Islay and Kintyre, and of whom hereafter.
7. Alexander, Lord of Lochaber, known as " Alastair Carrach," pro-
genitor of the family of Kei^poch.
Gregory says that he died in 1380, while Skene has it that he died
about 1386. His death took place at his Castle of Ardtornish in Morven,
and he was buried in the sacred precincts of lona, " with great splendour,"
by the ecclesiastics of the Isles, whose attachment he secured by liberal
donations to the Church, and who evinced their gratitude by calling him
" the good John of Isla," a designation handed down by tradition to
modern times.
He was succeeded in all his possessions, and in the Lordship of the
Isles, by his eldest son by the second marriage.
(To he Continued.)
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