Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 5

HISTORY OF THE l^IACDONALDS. 421
Joannem do Yle, Comitem Ressite et Dominum Insularum, clc data 28
Juiiii 1449, testib\is Donaldo de Insiilis, Domino de Dunnowaig, et de
Glynnis, Celestino de Insiilis de Loclialche, fratre dicti Coniitis, Lach-
lano Macgilleon, Domino de Doward, Joanne Macgilleon de Lochboyg,
Laclilano juvente MacgiUeon, Magistro de Doward, WUlielmo Macloyd do
Glennelg, Eoderico ]\Iacleod de Leoghys, Alexandra Joanuis de Ardna-
miirchan, Joanne Laclilani MacgiUeon de CoUa, et Thoma de Moro, secre-
tario dicti Comitis ac rectore de Kilmanawik, terris triginta mercariim de
Skerehowg, duodecim mere de Benbecila, denariatam de Gergremyniss ex
parte boreale de Uist, duab. den. de Scolpic, quatuor den. de Gremynes,
diiab. den. de TalaAvmartia, sex den. de Oroinsaig, dim. den. de Wanylis,
et dim. den. de insula GiUegerve, una cum terris viginti octo mercarum
de Slete, jacen. in domiuio Insularum, tenend. de dicto Joanne de Yle."*
It will be observed that by this charter tlie lands named therein were
to go to the descendants of Hugh of Sleat and Finvola of Ardnamurchan,
whether legitimate or illegitimate.
Having died in 1498, the same year as his father, John, last Earl of
Eoss and Lord of the Isles, Hugh of Sleat cannot properly be reckoned as
one of the succeeding chiefs even of this line of the Macdonalds. He
never did succeed to that honour. In addition to Sleat, which he occupied
diu-ing the life of his father, Ave have seen by the charter of 1495, above
quoted, that he also possessed lands in Uist and Benbecula, but during
the ride of one of his successors, the whole of these lands are granted by
Precept, dated 23d of August 1505, to the Chief of the Clanranald
AUansons of Islandtirrim.t
We have already seen that the legitimacy of both Celestine of Loch-
alsh and Hugh of Sleat was called in question. At present we shall only
refer the reader to the authorities quoted in jSTo. 54, pp. 218-219 — reserv-
ing full discussion of the whole question for the special chapter which,
later on, shall be devoted to a consideration of the rights to the Chiefship,
according to the jus stuiguimis, or right of blood.
Hugh Macdonald, first of Sleat, married, first, Finvola, daughter of
Alexander Macian (Macdonald) of Aixlnamurchan, and by her had issue,
one son--
1. John, who succeeded hiin as his heir.
He married,('?) secondly, a daughter of Gun, Crowner of Caithness, by
whom he had a son —
2. Donald Gallach, who succeeded his brother John. He had also
3. Donald Herrach, by a daughter of Macleod of Harris, whether
legitimate or not cannot be ascertained, but there is no record, that we
can find, of any marriage which has taken place between Hugh of Sleat
and a daughter of Macleod of Harris. From Donald Herrach descended
the j\Iacdonalds of Balranald and others in the "Western Isles.
4. Archibald, or Gillespie Duhh, an illegitimate son, of whom hereafter.
Hugh of Sleat died in 1498, and was succeeded by his eldest son,
XI. John Macdonald, known as " John Huchonson," or Hugh's
Son, second of Sleat, who is instructed by two charters, the one to Eanald
MacAUan, of the Clanranald AUansons, of lands in Uist, and of some
* Wood's Douglas's Peerage, vol. ii., pp. 11-12 ; Reg. Great Seal, xiii., 150.
t Privy Seal, vol. iii., folio 15.