Records of the clan and name of Fergusson, Ferguson and Fergus

CHAPTER III
FERGUSSONS IN BALQUHIDDER AND
ARGYLLSHIRE
An important branch of the clan Fergusson (clann Mhic
Fearghuis) has been settled in the parish of Balquhidder 1 for
at least the last six centuries. 2 It is a somewhat curious
circumstance that in all parts of Scotland where branches of
this clan have been long established their early settlement is
connected with King Robert the Bruce. Whether this is the
case with the ancient families in Balquhidder it is difficult to
say; but Bruce took shelter here in 1306, after the battle of
Dalree. 3 It is impossible to discover whether this branch
1 Balquhidder signifies ' the town at the back of the country ' — Baile-
chul-tir.
2 ' The more ancient clans inhabiting Balquhidder were the clan Laurin or
M'Larens, the M'Intyres, the Buchanans, and the Fergussons, and more
recently the M'Gregors and the Stewarts. There was also a family of the
name of Alpynsone, at Auchtow, as appears from the Ragman Roll, where we
have " Duncan Alpynsone de Aughtunaghes " mentioned as one of those that
swore fealty to Edward I.' — Rev. Samuel Fergusson in The Queen's Visit,
p. 178.
3 ' Bruce, in his retreat from Dalree, entered the Braes of Balcpdiidder,
pursued by his victorious enemies (MacDougall of Lome and the Macnabs of
Glendochard). Himself last to retreat, and covering the retreat of his men,
he is said to have taken post when hotly pursued on a large piece of rock in
Loch Voil, on its northern shore and near its western end. On this rock the
Bruce was fiercely assailed by the few who were bold enough to follow so far.
His weapon, ever ready at his hand, flashed in its terrible sweep as his
assailants fell in heaps beside the rock, and not until the last of them bit the
dust, or pressed the waters of oblivion, did the King follow his men, who had
retreated to the wild and inaccessible recesses of what has ever since been
known as the King's rock ( Craig- ree). In a cave in this mountain fastness
the King remained in safety for a few days, the Laird of MacGregor, his
staunch supporter and warm adherent, doing all in his power to procure
fitting supplies for the King and his exhausted followers. The cave is still
pointed out to the incuiiring traveller, and the stone in the lake still marks
the spot where the Bruce kept his own against all comers till his men were
safe from pursuit.' — Queen's Visit, p. 163.