Item 027 - A Memorial History of the Campbells of Melfort

1 volume

History of the Campbells of Melfort and their intermarriages with the Campbells of Achalader, Barcaldine, Lochend, Kinloch, Dunstaffnage, and Duntroon; and MacDougall of MacDougall, MacLachlan of MacLachlan, and Cameron of Lochiel.

1. A History of the Campbells of Melfort, Patronymic, MacNeill, Showing Descent from the Clan Campbell of Argyll (pp.2-29).
2. Campbells of Achalader, Perthshire. These Records are copied from the Private Documents in possession of the Family; also from Historical Sources (pp.30-44).
3. MacDougalls of MacDougall, of Dunollie Castle, Argyllshire, taken from Family Records and Historical Sources (pp.45-53). Chief of Clan – The Chief of Clan was entitled to wear in his bonnet according to usage, an eagle’s feather to mark his rank.Some general history of the clan follows, including an account of the travails of the Brooch of Lorne (pp.47-48). Also mentioned is Lt Seymour C Hale Monro, 72nd Highlanders, (pp.52-53).
4. Campbells of Lochend, formerly also known as Ardeonaig and Kilpunt, Perthshire, arranged from local documents and Private Papers in possession of the family (pp.53-55). There is a header “Pedigree No. X” but it is at the foot of p.55.
5. The Campbells of Kinloch, Perthshire. Showing descent from the Earls of Loudoun, through Sir James Campbell of Lawers. Taken from Family Records and Historical Sources (pp.56-61). There is a header “Pedigree No. XI” but it is at the foot of page 61.
6. The Campbells of Barcaldine (pp.62-64).
7. The MacLachlan of MacLachlan of Strathlachlan, Argyllshire. Arranged from Argyll Charters and MacLachlan Inventories (pp.62a-67).
8. The Camerons of Lochiel (pp.68-70).
9. The Campbells of Dunstaffnage (pp71-77). Includes notes and corrections added in the hand of the 10th Duke.
10. The Campbells of Duntroon (pp78-82). Includes notes and corrections added in the hand of the 10th Duke.

11. Appendix (pp.83-101) – the Charters and Deeds now extant, Relating to the Melfort Property. (Copy of translation) No.II, Lands of Kenmore etc. Includes comprehensive family tree of “the main stem of Kenmore or Melfort” in the 10th Duke’s hand.

    The text corresponds almost exactly with that used in “A Memorial History of the Campbells of Melfort, Argyllshire”, by M.O.C (M.O. Campbell) published in 1882. Margaret Olympia Campbell was a daughter of Frederick Campbell (1780-1866) and a grand-daughter of John Campbell of Melfort and his wife Colina Campbell of Achalader. Pedigree 27 is evidently in her hand. Mention is also made (page 32) of the Mac-an-leister, or Fletcher, connection to Achalader. The Barony of Melfort was granted by King David II to Sir Archibald Campbell, Knight of Lochaw, on 2nd May 1343. Melfort, sometimes known as Kenmore, granted to Sir Archibald’s half-brother, Neil. It records that lineal descent is known, father to son, from Neil to Colonel John Campbell of Melfort, who died in 1861 (he sold all the estate, except Kilchoan, in 1838). There is a header “Pedigree No. 1” on page 21, with notes on this unseen pedigree (which is included in M.O. Campbell’s printed volume) . Narrative ends with Patrick, (the 11th note) who went to India in 1877. Interesting notes on the religious associations of Kilchoan, and the later connection to the MacEwen bardic family (pp8-10). Some notes on the origin of the ancestors of Sir James Campbell of Stracathro (pp12-15), from a letter he wrote to Campbell of Melfort in 1870. Mention is made of the MacOran byname his ancestors used, (“son of an honest man”) and their situation at Inchanoch in Menteith. John, the elder brother of Sir James, settled in New York. 2. The first of the family, Gillespic Dow [Gillesbuig dubh] is acknowledged as a son of Colin, later 6th of Glenorchy, but his legitimacy is not questioned here. There is also a header “Pedigree No. VIII”, on page 32, with notes on the pedigree, also unseen (see printed volume). Surname changes through the narrative are confusing: the printed volume should be consulted to better understand the connections. The notes commence with the ancestry of a Mary MacGregor and her Stewart of Bonspeil and Stirling of Keir connections. The ancestor of the Stewarts of Bonspeil was David, a son of the Earl of Mar [was this Alexander Stewart, Earl of Mar, son of “the Wolf of Badenoch”?] The first Campbell noted was Major Archibald Campbell (pp33-34), who was killed at the Battle of Felinghausen in 1762. There are several Livingstons listed (p35), and there is obviously a connection with the Campbells of Achalader which is not readily explained without seeing the chart. (From printed volume, Patrick Campbell who died in 1811, married Ann Livingston. They were the ancestors of the later Achalader family). With General Sir Alexander Campbell KCB (pp37-38) the family entered the peerage when he was created a baronet in 1815 [Burkes Peerage: he was the grandson of John Campbell of Achalader by his wife Katherine, a daughter of Sir Ewen Cameron of Lochiel]. As he had lost both his sons in war in 1821 he received a renewed patent extending the limits of his baronetcy to the sons of his daughters. He died in 1824.He was succeeded by the only son of his eldest daughter Olympia, who had married Alexander Cockburn. [Editor’s note: they were ancestors of the Cockburn-Campbell baronets of Gartsford, Ross-shire, and latterly residing in Western Australia]. [Editor’s note: His second daughter, Isabella, was a Mrs Malcolm]. On pp39-44 there are notes on the Malcolms of Burnfoot, Eskdale, Dumfries-shire. 3. There is also a header “Pedigree No. IX”, on page 49, with notes on the [MacDougall] pedigree, also unseen “abridged from his own statement”. Lt Seymour C Hale Monro, 72nd Highlanders, who served in the Afghan Campaign of 1878-79, was a kinsman of MacDougall of MacDougall [Editor’s note: also, later, of the last Campbells of Balliveolan]. 4. Covers the descent of Lochend from Para-dhu-more, progenitor of the Campbells of Ardeonaig [on Loch Tay] and a son of Donacha-dhu-na-Curich, or Black Duncan with a Cowl. Also the Campbells of Kilpunt, Linlithgowshire [later West Lothian] who descend from Sir John Campbell of Lawers, knighted at the coronation of Anne of Denmark, queen-consort of James VI, in 1590.Alice, the heiress of Kilpunt, married Captain John Campbell of Ardeonaig and Lochend. Their son John sold Lochend on the Lake of Menteith and bought Kinlochlaich in Appin, which he renamed Lochend [Editor’s note: appropriately enough, it is at the end of a loch!] It was this John’s daughter, Annabella, who married Archibald Campbell of Melfort. The Campbells of Lochend emigrated to New South Wales, Australia. 5. [Editor’s note: this is an interesting, if different, slant on the normally accepted lineage of the Campbells of Kinloch, as laid out in Edith Dalhousie Login’s history of the family, who were her ancestors. There is no doubt they were descended, like the Loudoun earls, from Lawers, but before Sir John Campbell of Lawers married the Campbell heiress]. There is a brief, but inaccurate, ancestry given for Duncan, who married the Crawford heiress and became the first Campbell of Loudoun (p56). This is followed by a brief pedigree of the Loudoun family, up to the 1620 marriage of the heiress Margaret to Sir John Campbell of Lawers, then through to the marriage of the heiress Flora, to Francis Rawdon, Marquis of Hastings in 1804 (pp56-58). The Kinloch Campbells had a Portuguese connection, being in exile in their colonies due to a Jacobite involvement. Charles Campbell, the exile, had two sons, Joseph and John, who were Roman Catholic when they returned to Scotland after their mother’s death. The story related here is that John, who succeeded his elder brother, visited his relative the 5th Earl of Loudoun. Loudoun is reported as telling him “nothing stands between you and the Earldom but this delicate little girl, my daughter (Flora)”. The Melfort Connection is through this John’s marriage to Ann Trapaud Campbell, daughter of Sir Colin Campbell of the Melfort family (p61). 6. The Barcaldine lineage is well known, and included here because of the connections to the other families listed in this volume. Patrick Campbell of Barcaldine married, secondly, in 1707, Lucia, daughter of Sir Ewen Cameron of Lochiel. Their four daughters were: Isabella, who married John Campbell of Achalader; Mary, who married MacDougall of Dunollie; Annabella, who married Archibald Campbell of Melfort; and Jane, who married Campbell of Edinchip (Ardeonaig, Lochend). 7. A concise history of the leaders of the MacLachlan clan from earliest times. Lt-General Archibald MacLachlan (1780-1854) married Jean, second daughter of Captain Neil Campbell of Duntroon and the Oib, 43rd Light Infantry, who died in the Peninsular War, 1809. 8. A history of the Cameron clan from the first recorded ancestor Donald Dhu, recorded here because of the marriages of two of the eleven daughters of the Great Sir Ewen (“Ewendhu” – 1629-1718). The eighth, Lucia, married Patrick Campbell of Barcaldine, and the ninth, Katherine, married John Campbell of Achalader. Interesting note of Colonel John Cameron of Fassifern, who served in the 92nd Highlanders at Waterloo, where he was killed. The dispatches of the Duke of Wellington included: “Amongst others I cannot forbear to mention Colonel Cameron of the 92nd, and (others) to whose conduct I have frequently called your Lordships attention, and who at last fell, distinguishing themselves at the head of their brave troops, which they commanded. Notwithstanding the glory of the occasion, it is impossible not to lament such men, both on account of the public and as friends”. 9. A history of the Dunstaffnage family from Dugald Mor, and the castle of Dunstaffnage (Dun-agus-ta-inish – “the fortified place with the two islands”). 10. A history of the Duntroon family from Duncan Mor, brother of Dugald Mor of Dunstaffnage,and the castle of Duntroon (“the castle of the turrets”). One of Duke Niall's notes, taken from the Chalmers MSS in the Advocates Library, Edinburgh, mentions Duncan Mor being the eldest of “3 or 4 natural sons” of Cailean Iongantach (Duncan, Dougal [sic], Donald [and] Sir John, Parson of Kilmalieu). 11a.Inventory No.5 – Charter by Archibald, [2nd] Earl of Argyll, in favour of Nigel or Niall Campbell, 2nd September 1502.Additional note in the 10th Duke’s hand: “It would be of interest to know what are the items 1 to 4 of this inventory”. 11b. Inventory No. 11 – Precept of Clare Constat by the “Earl of Argyll to Nigel Campbell”, date illegible. The note says this is actually a simple Precept (not CC), sealed at Inveraray on the 21st September 1502: it also adds that this Precept has been numbered 11 by mistake in the inventory. 11c. Inventory No. 6 – Precept of Clare Constat by (Colin 3rd – added in the 10th Duke’s hand) Earl of Argyll, 1514, with additional notes on the signatories by the 10th Duke. 11d. Inventory No. 7 – Sasine, 1515, following on the Precept described in No. 6, which was dated 11th December 1514. 11e.Inventory No. 8 – Precept of Clare Constat by the Earl of Argyll, dated 8th April 1548. 11f. Inventory No. 9 – Charter by the Earl of Argyll to John Campbell (son and heir apparent of Dugald Campbell of Kenmoir), dated 22nd September 1566, with additional notes on the signatories by the 10th Duke. 11g. Inventory No. 10 – Instrument of Sasine following thereupon, dated 6th January 1566. Sasine for Charter described in Inventory No. 9. 11h. Inventory No. 12 – Sasine in favour of Mrs Katherine MacDougall or Campbell, 19th November 1612. Sasine dated 19th November 1612. [Editor’s note: She was a daughter of Alan MacDougall of Raray and widow of Dougall Campbell of Inverawe. She was marrying Nigel/Niall Campbell of Kenmore/Melfort. 11i. Inventory No. 13 - Sasine in favour of John Campbell, 1618, dated 22nd October 1618. This was a precursor to the marriage of John, son of Nigel of Kenmore, to Isabella, daughter of Archibald MacLachlan of Craigenterve (see marriage contract details, Inventory No. 15). 11j. Inventory No. 14 – Sasine, also dated 22nd October 1618, the only addition to No. 13 being conditions to the multures of the mill. 11k. Inventory No. 15 – Charter by Nigel Campbell to John Campbell, dated October 1618. The fulfilment of a marriage contract between Nigel Campbell of Kenmore and Archibald MacLachlan of Craigenterve, taking burden on themselves for son John Campbell and daughter Archibald MacLachlan, whose marriage is to be celebrated. Nigel also reserved the provisions previously made for his (2nd) wife Katherine MacDougall, and mother Janet nayn Donachie McEwir [Editor’s note: she was a daughter of Duncan MacIver of Stronshira]. 11l. Inventory No. 16 – Procuratory of Resignation, Neill Campbell to John Campbell, date blank. In connection with 13, 14, and 15, should have been placed before them in the inventory. 11m. Inventory No. 17 - Procuratory of Resignation by Neill Campbell to his son John, 1633, extracted from the books of Council and Session. [Editor’s note: along the lines of previous documents, but interestingly this is the first to feature Archibald, Lord Lorne, acting on behalf of his absent father, the 7th Earl]. 11n. Inventory No. 18 - Instrument of Resignation in favour of John Campbell, dated 16th June 1634, at Holyrood House, linked to 11m. It confirms a new gift in favour of John and his heirs male and in Tailzie. 11o. Inventory No. 19 – Sasine following thereon (to 18), 5th July 1634, restricting the line of descent to those bearing the insignia and surname of Campbell. The wording of the actual sasine has been added by the 10th Duke. It states that if Neill’s heirs fail the property should go to lawful heirs male descending from his late grandfather Dugald Campbell, but no further back. Failing that, it should revert to Argyll. (General Register of Sasines, volume 40, folio 360). 11p. Inventory No. 20 – Burgess Ticket for Linlithgow in name of Lieutenant Campbell, 20th July 1650. This was Dougall, son of John Campbell and his wife Isabella MacLachlan. 11q. Inventory No. 21 – Tack by John Campbell, [still] fiar of Kenmore, to his lawful son John, half of his lands of Barrahiyill (sic) for the whole of John’s lifetime. Subscribed at Kilmelfort, 17th March 1651. 11r. Inventory No. 22 – Obligation to grant Charter by the Earl of Argyll [Editor’s note: he would have been Marquis by this time] to Dugald Campbell, dated 21st July 1659. Dugald/Dougall (both forms used in this transcript) was still “fiar” of Kenmore, and this document confirms his right to succeed his father. 11s. Inventory No. 23 – Charter by the said Earl of Argyll to said Dougall Campbell, 19th February 1669. (This) Charter was by Archibald Campbell, (9th) Earl of Argyll, Lord Kintyre, Campbell and Lorne. The same format as above Charters, with additional notes on the liferents reserved for Margaret Campbell, 2nd wife of John Campbell of Kenmore, and Isabel, spouse of Dougall. Registered in the Sheriff (Court) Books of Argyll as a Probative Writ, but not until 16th October 1711! Additional note by the 10th Duke, in his hand, giving details of the marriage contract of Margaret, daughter of Dougall Campbell of Kenmore, to Duncan MacCorquodale of Phantilands, dated 7th June 1680 (Argyll Sasines, 2nd Series, volume 1, p340). 11t. Inventory No. 24 – Instrument of Sasine following, 9th April 1669, refers to No. 23 above. 11u. Inventory No. 25 – Precept of Clare Constat by Elizabeth, Duchess Dowager of Argyll and others, all commissioners appointed by John, Duke of Argyll, in favour of John Campbell, dated 21st October 1711.Confirmation of John in his lands of Melfort as heir to his father Dougall, who had died in 1708. 11v. Inventory No. 26 – Instrument of Sasine following thereon (to No. 25), dated 8th October and Registered at Dumbarton, in New Particular Register of Sasines, 6th November 1712.

Catalogued by Duncan Beaton, entry created by A Diamond, 04/01/2020