Matheson Collection > Macleods of Dunvegan from the time of Leod to the end of the seventeenth century

IAN, FOURTEENTH CHIEF 151
A curious custom prevailed in the Highlands during
several centuries. This was the custom of fosterage.
As soon as a Chief's son was born, he was given in foster-
age to some distinguished member of the clan, or to
some one whom the Chief thought likely to be a good
foster-father. The child was taken from his home, and
brought up, till he grew to man's estate, in the house of
his foster-father.
This custom accounts for the extraordinary affection
which we so often find existed between a Chief and his
foster-brothers. It meant, not merely that they had
drawn sustenance in their babyhood from the same
mother, but that they had been brought up together,
and were in all, save blood, brothers.
There are several instances of this custom in our own
family history. Leod had been the foster- son of Paal
Baalkeson. Probably William, the son of Alastair Crot-
tach, had been brought up by some unknown foster-
father. A contract of fosterage, dated early in the
seventeenth century, proves that Sir Norman of Bernera
was brought up by a foster-father, and there is in the
charter chest a contract of fosterage dated September 6,
1637, under which Ian, afterwards sixteenth Chief (Ian
the elder's third son) is entrusted to the care of Mr. Neil
MacKinnon, minister of Sleat, and Joan his wife to be
' fosterit, intertenit, and upbrocht, by thame ay and
quhill he be apt for schulis, God alwayes sparing him
dayes and lyfe.' The father was to provide 600 merks,
the foster-father 400. The 1000 merks was to be invested,
and the interest to accrue for the benefit of the young
Ian till he comes to ' perfait aige.'
I do not understand why the foster-father pays any-
thing instead of receiving payment. He undertakes ' to
mentene and upbryng the said Ian Junior in the fear of
God, and in aU maner requisit to his equal, and, with
God's assistance, to saiff him from fyre and watter