THE immediate progenitor of this family was Alexander Mackenzie of Coul, so often referred to in the body of this work, and who so greatly distinguished himself in the wars with Glengarry and Macleod of the Lewis. He was a natural son of Colin Cam, XI. of Kintail, by Mary, eldest daughter of Roderick Mackenzie, II. of Davochmaluag, by his wife, Ann, daughter of Donald Gorm Macdonald. VII. of Sleat. Alexander was a great favourite with his brothers Kenneth, first Lord Mackenzie of Kintail, and Sir Roderick Mackenzie of Coigeach. He has a sasine of half the lands of Applecross and others, as a "natural son of Colin Mackenzie of Kintail," dated 10th of March, 1582. He has another, in 1607, from Roderick Dingwall of the lands of Kildun, and one in 1619 of the lands of Pittonachty, now Rosehaugh, and Castleton. It is said that Alexander when quite an infant was sent by his mother to his father, Colin of Kintail, to Brahan Castle, who consulted his wife, Barbara, daughter of John Grant of Grant, as to what he should do with the little stranger. Naturally incensed both at her husband's infidelity and the proposed addition to her family circle, she indignantly replied - "Cuir 'sa chuil e," that is "put him in the ash-hole, or corner." Realising the imprudence of further offending her, but being naturally of a humane disposition, and wishing to act honourably by his innocent offspring, he took the child away, and on his return told his wife that he had carried out her proposal and left him in the "Coul." He secretly sent Alexander to the place then and now called "A Chuil," or Coul, to be nursed and brought up by a respectable woman, and thus carried out the letter if not the spirit of his lady's request, and at the same time performed his duty towards his afterwards distinguished son, to whom he gave that estate as his inheritance.
Kenneth's grandson, John, II. of Applecross, who in 1669, wrote the well-known Genealogy of his clan, gives the following account of the progenitor of his family: "He was happy in his youth by the comeliness of his person, and agility of body, to be looked upon by Kenneth, Lord Kintail, his brother, and all his followers, being then engaged in their hottest feuds with the Clan Ranald and Macleods of Lewis, as the fittest man to command what force his brother was to make use of on these occasions, wherein he failed not their expectations, managing that command (which he enjoyed until the Tutor of Kintail put a period to all these troubles by the transaction with Glengarry, and utter extirpation of the Macleods of Lewis) with so much courage and expedition, that albeit during the whole tract of these broils there passed not any action of moment wherein he was not signally concerned, yet in all of them his constant success brought no less honour to himself than advantage and reputation to his party. This, with his singular industry and upright dealing in affairs, got him so much of the love of his brethren, especially Lord Kenneth, who on his death-bed honoured him with the gift of his own sword in testimony of his esteem and affection for him, and so much of the respect of his friends and neighbours, and the good opinion of the country people, that, without difficulty or the least grudge of any person whatsoever, he in a short time purchased a considerable estate, which he still augmented by the same means during the rest of his life." Among these purchases was Applecross and other lands which exceeded in extent the lands of Coul, which was bestowed on him by his father.
Alexander married, first, Annabella, daughter of Murdoch Mackenzie, I. of Fairburn, and relict of Thomas Mackenzie, I. of Ord, with issue -
1. Roderick, infeft by his father in the estate and Parony of Applecross.
2. Isabel, who as his second wife married Alexander, V. of Gairloch, with issue.
3. Marjory, who married the Rev. William MacCulloch of Park, minister of Fodderty.
Alexander married secondly, Christian, daughter of Hector Munro of Assynt, with issue -
4. Kenneth, first of Assynt and afterwards of Coul.
5. Alexander, who died unmarried in 1639.
6. Hector of Assynt, who married a daughter of Hugh Fraser of Belladrum, with issue. Sasine to him in 1650.
7. A daughter, who as his second wife married John Chisholm, XVI. of Chisholm, with issue - his heir and successor.
8. Another, who married Sir Alexander Innes of Coxtoune. He has a charter from James VI., dated 28th July, 1617, in favour of "Alexandro Mackenzie de Coul, et Christianae Munro ejus spousae terrarum ecclesiasticarum de Uladil, etc.," in Inverness-shire, and he has a second to him and his second wife, of the lands of Pittonachty, Wester Haldock, Pitfla, etc., in the same county, dated 28th June, 1621. He has a third, dated 12th July, 1634, to "Alexandero Mackenzie de Coul, et Kennetho ejus filio, terrarum de Urquhart, etc." He was a very prudent man, and besides the large patrimony bestowed upon each of his children, he left a large sum of money for pious uses and for the children of several of his relations. He died in March, 1650, very advanced in years, at Pittonachty, was buried in a tomb which he caused to be built for himself at Chanonry, and was succeeded in the lands of Applecross by his eldest son,
I. RODERICK MACKENZIE, who shall be described as first of Applecross - his father having been both of Applecross and Coul. He married Finguala, daughter of Murdoch Mackenzie, II. of Redcastle, with issue -
1. John "Mollach" his heir and successor.
2. Colin, I. of Sanachan, who married a daughter of Murdo Mackenzie of Sand, Gairloch, with issue.
3. Sibella, who married first, Alexander Macleod, V. of Raasay, with issue; secondly, Thomas Graham of Drynie, and thirdly, Alexander Mackenzie, VI. of Hilton, with issue - his heir and successor.
4. A daughter, who married Lachlan Mackinnon, eldest son of Mackinnon of Scalpa, Tutor of Mackinnon of Mackinnon, with issue.
5. A daughter, who married the eldest son and heir of William Mackenzie, Shieldaig, Gairloch.
He had the estate of Applecross given him as his patrimony during the life of his father, whom he predeceased on the 6th of July, 1646, and was buried in his father's tomb at Chanonry. He was succeeded by his eldest son,
II. JOHN MACKENZIE, second of Applecross, known as "Ian Mollach," or Hairy John, who married a daughter of Hugh Fraser of Belladrum, with issue -
1. Alexander, his heir and successor,
2. Roderick, who married Isabella, daughter of Kenneth Mackenzie, VI. of Gairloch, with issue. The descendants of this Roderick now represent the Old Mackenzies of Applecross in the male line John Mackenzie, V. of Applecross, having died without issue, when the estates went by will past his brother Kenneth into the possession of his sister Mary's eldest son, James Mackenzie, IV. of Highfield. Several of Roderick's descendants are still alive, male and female - one of the latter being the widow of the late Farquhar Macrae, Strome Ferry Hotel (north side), who has had a fine family - a son and several daughters.
3. Kenneth, I. of Alduinny, who married a daughter of John Matheson of Bennetsfield, with issue.
4. John, called "Ian Og," one of the four famous Johns killed in 1715, serving under his brother Alexander, Lieutenant-Colonel of Seaforth's 1st Regiment, at Sheriffmuir. He married a daughter of the Rev. John Macrae, last Episcopalian minister of Dingwall, with issue; for which, and the issue of Kenneth of Alduinny, see Findon's Tables.
5. A daughter, who married Sir Donald Bayne of Tulloch, with issue.
6. Catherine, who married Simon Mackenzie, I. of Torridon, with issue.
7. Ann, who in 1684 married Charles Mackenzie, I. of Letterewe, with issue.
8. Mary, who married Thomas Mackenzie, III. of Ord, with issue.
9. Florence, who in 1682 married Charles Mackenzie of Cullen, third son of Colin Mackenzie, II. of Kilcoy, with issue.
John has a sasine in 1663. He purchased the Baronies of Tarradale and Rhindoun. In his grandfather's life-time he had a charter under the Great Seal, "Johanni Mackenzie de Applecross, terrarum de Lochslyne, Newton de Lochslyne, etc." He was succeeded by his eldest son,
III. ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, third of Applecross. He joined the Earl of Mar in 1715, and was Lieutenant-Colonel of Seaforth's 1st Regiment, for which he was attainted of high treason, and the estates forfeited to the Crown. He married, first, Anne, daughter of Alexander Fraser, Tutor of Lovat, by his wife Sibella (Elizabeth), daughter of Kenneth, first Lord Mackenzie of Kintail, with issue -
1. Roderick, his heir and successor.
2. Kenneth, a merchant in Inverness, who married a daughter of Rose, Merkinch.
3. Colin, a doctor in Edinburgh, who married Miss Dunbar of Linkwood.
4. Sibella, who in 1697 married the Hon. John Mackenzie of Assynt, second son of Kenneth Mor, third Earl of Seaforth, with issue - Kenneth, who married Frances, his cousin, daughter of Colonel Alexander, without issue.
5. Anne, who in 1707 married first Alexander Mackenzie, II. of Kinachulladrum, with issue - Anne, his only child in life in 1766; secondly, John MacRae, of Dornie and, thirdly, Colin Mackenzie of the Gruinard family, a goldsmith in Inverness.
6. A daughter, who married the Rev. Archibald Macqueen, minister of Snizort, Skye.
7. Another married William Mackenzie, of Shieldaig.
8. Mary, who married Malcolm Macleod, VIII. of Raasay, with issue - his heir and others.
Alexander married, secondly, Margaret, daughter of Mackenzie, of Fairburn, with issue - one son, Simon, in the Foot Guards. He married, thirdly, in 1713, Christian, daughter of Fraser of Belladrum, with issue - a daughter, who married her cousin, Roderick Mackenzie of Achavannie son of John Og, killed at Sheriffmuir.
He was succeeded as representative of the family by his eldest son,
IV. RODERICK MACKENZIE, fourth of Applecross, who has a sasine of Kinachulladrum, of which place he is designed in 1721. In 1724 he re-purchased the estate of Applecross from the Court of Enquiry for L3550. He married, first, Anne, only daughter of Alexander Macdonell, XI. of Glengarry, by his first wife, Ann, daughter of Hugh Lord Lovat, with issue -
1. John, his heir and successor.
2. Alexander, a Captain in Marjoribanks' Regiment, in the Dutch service, who died unmarried.
3. Kenneth, a watchmaker in London, died unmarried. On the 17th of August, 1737, he was entered as an apprentice to Thomas Gordon, clock and watchmaker, for six years.
4. Mary, who married James Mackenzie, III. of Highfield, whose eldest son Thomas, IV. of Highfield, inherited Applecross from his uncle John.
5. Anne, who married, first, Alexander Mackenzie, I. of Lentran; and secondly, as his second wife, Alexander Mackenzie, VIII. of Davochmaluag, with issue - an only daughter, Anne.
6. Another daughter who married the Rev. John Maclean, minister of Kintail.
Roderick married, secondly, Margaret, daughter of Sir Kenneth Mackenzie, first Baronet and IV. of Scatwell, and widow of Aeneas Macleod of Cadboll, with issue - an only daughter, Elizabeth, who married Alexander Chisholm, XXII. of Chisholm, with issue - his heir and others.
He was succeeded by his eldest son,
V. JOHN MACKENZIE, fifth of Applecross, who married Anne, only daughter of Sir Colin Mackenzie, IV of Coul, without issue. He willed the estate of Applecross away from his brother Kenneth [This John, the last of this family, deprived his brother, Kenneth, of the property, and passed it in favour of Thomas Mackenzie of Highfield, his sister's son. In order to set aside the legal succession, and to prevent his brother, Kenneth, from marrying, he allowed only L80 yearly for his subsistence during his lifetime, which small allowance made it inadequate for him to rear and support a family, so that in all probability this has been the cause of making the family extinct. After this Kenneth the succession should have reverted back to Roderick Mackenzie, a descendant of Roderick, second son of John, II. of Applecross, who went to Nova Scotia in 1802, or failing the family of this Rory, next to his brother's family, Malcolm, who died a few years ago in Kishorn, and failing heirs of that family to the other descendants of John of Applecross, viz.: Kenneth of Auldinie, and John, killed at Sheriffmuir in 1715. - "MS. of the Family," written in 1828.] to the son of his Sister Mary, Thomas Mackenzie, IV. of Highfield, by whom he was succeeded as
VI. THOMAS MACKENZIE, sixth of Applecross and IV. of Highfield. In 1781 he sold the estate of Highfield to George Gillanders, Commissioner for Seaforth, and about the same time purchased Lochcarron from Sir Alexander Mackenzie of Delvine, for L10,000 sterling. It was previously bought from Seaforth by Sir Alexander for half that sum. He married Elizabeth, only daughter of Donald Mackenzie, V. of Kilcoy, with issue -
1. John, his heir and successor.
2. James, who died unmarried, in India.
3. Colin, who also died unmarried, in India.
4. Donald, a Captain in the 100th Regiment of Foot. He married Anna, daughter of James Macleod, IX. of Raasay, with issue - two sons and six daughters, John; Thomas; and Elizabeth, who died unmarried Flora Loudon, who married General Sir Alexander Lindsay, H.E.I.C.S.; Jane, who married James Thomas Macdonald of Balranald, North Uist, with issue - Alexander, now of Balranald, and others; Anne, who married Christopher Webb Smith, B.C.S.; Isabella Mary, who married Dr Lauchlan Maclean; and Maria, who married John Mackenzie, the famous piper, "Piobaire Ban," with issue.
5. Thomas, who died unmarried.
6. Jean, who died unmarried.
7. Anne, who married Kenneth Mackenzie of Inverinate, brother to Alexander Mackenzie, XI. of Hilton, with issue - Thomas, who succeeded as X. of Applecross, and others. Catherine, Mary, and Elizabeth, died unmarried.
He was succeeded by his eldest son,
VII. JOHN MACKENZIE, seventh of Applecross and Lochcarron, who in 1787 married Jane, daughter of Alexander Elphinstone of Glack, Aberdeenshire, with issue -
1. Thomas, his heir and successor.
2. Elizabeth, who succeeded to Applecross; John Alexander; and Frederick, all died young.
Thomas made a new disposition of the estates by which, in consequence of a family quarrel, he cut out his only surviving brother, Captain Donald and his daughters - two sons having previously died unmarried - from the succession. The property, under this new settlement, went, first, to his son and heir, Thomas, and his issue secondly, failing these, to his daughter Elizabeth; and thirdly, failing her and her issue, to Thomas, the eldest son of his sister Anne, who, as already stated, married Kenneth Mackenzie of Inverinate, W.S.; and failing him and his issue, to the other children of the same sister.
Thomas was succeeded by his eldest and only surviving son,
VIII. THOMAS MACKENZIE, eighth of Applecross, who was for many years, and until his death in 1827, Member of Parliament for the County of Ross. He died, unmarried, and was, in terms of the abovenamed settlement, succeeded by his sister,
IX. ELIZABETH MACKENZIE, ninth of Applecross. She was in delicate health when her brother died, and continued so until her death two years after him, in 1829. She was never served heir, and, dying unmarried, she was in terms of her brother's settlement succeeded by her cousin-german,
X. THOMAS MACKENZIE of Inverinate, W.S., Edinburgh, tenth of
Applecross, who represented the County of Ross in Parliament from
1837 to 1847. He married Mary, daughter of George Mackenzie of
Avoch, with issue -
1. Kenneth John, his heir and successor.
2. George Alexander, a merchant in Liverpool, who married Elizabeth, daughter of John Cay of Charlton, with issue - an only daughter, Mabel Georgina. He died in 1874.
3. Thomas, W.S., Edinburgh, who died unmarried.
4. Francis James, who died, unmarried, in 1875.
5. Duncan Davidson, who died, unmarried, in 1863.
6. Margaret.
7. Anne Jane.
8. Geddes Elizabeth, who married John Cay, W.S., Edinburgh.
Thomas sold the estate of Applecross in 1857 to the Duke of Leeds, and Inverinate to the late Sir Alexander Matheson of Ardross and Lochalsh. On his death in 1857, he was succeeded as representative of the family by his eldest son,
XI. KENNETH JOHN MACKENZIE, who was born in 1819 and died unmarried in 1868, when he was succeeded as representative of the family by his next brother,
XII. GEORGE ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, who died in 1874, without male issue. He was succeeded as representative of the family by his next brother,
XIII. THOMAS MACKENZIE, Edinburgh, who died unmarried a few years ago, the last male of the Highfield Applecrosses, failing the descendants of Captain Donald, who was disinherited.
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