Strone and Gask Branch of Clan Mackintosh by A.M. Mackintosh

The progenitor of this branch was Donald “ Glas”, younger of the two natural sons of William 13th chief by a dau. of Paul MacVurich. If the Kinrara MS is correct in stating that these sons were born after the death of William’s wife, Donald could not have been born before 1500, so that if he is the Donald Glasche M’Kintosche concerned in the heirship of Petty in 1513 (p. 100, note) he must have been a mere boy at the time. There is no doubt, however, that he is the Donald mac William vic Lachlan who witnesses the bond of 1521 between Mackintosh and Calder. In 1524 he pursued the murderers of the 14th chief, and in 1528 is denounced, with his brother, as a leader in the proceedings against Lord Moray. Donald had two sons, James and William, both sometimes called “Glas”. The latter, mentioned in 1564 as in Gellovie and in 1568-9 as in Rait, m. the elder dau. of Robert Farquharson of Invercauld. From the Macpherson genealogy Donald appears to have had a daughter, who was wife of Ewen Macpherson and mother of the Andrew in Cluny found 1591-1660.

James, commonly called James M’Conil (or M’Coil) Glas, occasionally James Glas or James Mackintosh alias Glas, (In P.C. Reg. under date 22 July 1611 his sons Lachlan and William are described as sons of James Williamsone M’intoshe - the William of this description of course being his grandfather.) took a leading place in the clan under Lachlan Mor, 16th chief, and was included after that chief’s heirs-male in the destination of Benchar, &c., granted by Huntly 27 June 1568 (p. 149, ante). He first appears in 1564, receiving sasine in Dunachton, &c., on the chief’s behalf, and from this time down to 1603 he is frequently found in the Mackintosh Writs, Privy Council and Sasine Registers and elsewhere, being described variously as “of” or “in” Gask or Strone. These lands, in each case extending to four ploughs (a davoch), and Pitgowan, two ploughs, were obtained by him in wadset from Huntly in 1568; he also had wadsets of Clune and Gellovie from Mackintosh, and held Ettrish on lease, so that he was a considerable landholder. In April 1589 he and the chief are at Aberdeen during the king’s stay there, and on the 28th James finds caution in 5000 marks, through Ogilvie of Findlater and John Grant of Freuchie, that he will enter his son Lachlan before the Privy Council on 20 May as a pledge for keeping good rule under the General Band, and two days later (his “hand at the pen,” being unable to write) he signs a band ordained by the Council to be signed by faithful subjects in defence of the true religion. He is also in the list of “landlords and bailies of lands” required in 1590 to find surety for keeping good rule (p. 163, ante). These entries in the Privy Council Registers, coupled with the fact that he is the only Badenoch man in the caution lists, besides Mackintosh himself, show that he was regarded as the leading man in that district, and it may fairly be assumed that he acted as Huntly’s representative there as well as deputy to the chief of Mackintosh. Although a good clansmen, he was compelled in his later years - like his contemporary Angus Williamson - to give his band of manrent to Huntly, his landlord, after that noble’s reconciliation with Mackintosh. In this band, dated 17 Oct. 1597, he and his sons Lachlan and William give their “faythfull, leill, trew, and honest band and serweis” to Huntly “as thair onllie natywe lord .... aganis all and quhatsumevir”, while the earl receives them in his favour and maintenance as his “proper natyw tenenttis and serwandis, frelie without gruge or querell, as gif thai had newir offendit his lordship” - evidently a reference to their having acted with their chief against him in 1591-4.

James’s wife was Isobel Mackenzie, and his sons were Lachlan and William - the latter, styled “of” and “in Rait”, one of the curators of the 17th chief in his minority. The Rev. L. Shaw in his MS. History gives a Donald as only son of James, and says that he commanded a company at Glenlivet, but this is clearly wrong. James’s last appearance in the Mackintosh Writs is in Nov. 1603, and on 10 Jan. 1605 he is spoken of as deceased - “Lachlan M. son and heir of deceased J.M. of Gask; and William M. his brother.”

Lachlan probably occupied Strone during his father’s later years, as he is styled “of Strone” in the Mackintosh-Mackenzie band of friendship in 1597, his father being styled “of Gask” in the same band. On 23 June 1606 he received sasine in the lands of Ardinsche (or Balnespic) on charter of wadset by Pat. Grant of Rothimurcus, and in 1610 he obtained a fresh wadset of Strone, Pitgowan, and other lands in Laggan and Kingussie parishes, sasine being given 18 Feb. 1627. From this time the family is usually styled of Strone, although the style of Gask is still occasionally found. In 1619 he gives a charter of alienation of Gask, “with that part of land called the Moy of Craigohilzerich”, &c. to William, his lawful son and apparent heir, and Agnes Mackintosh his future spouse, and their heirs-male, whom failing, the heirs whomsoever of William. In 1620 he is infeft in the lands of Laggan, near Grantown, on assedation by John Grant of Freuchie, and in Croftmaluac in Kingussie par., which had been held by his father; in 1634 he receives from the chief a wadset of Dalmagerry in Moy par., with heritable remainder to his son Lachlan by Christina Dunbar, also a lease, to himself and the same son, of Kincraig in Alvie parish.

In the Band of 1609 Lachlan comes next after Angus Williamson of Termit, and takes burden for William of Rait, his uncle, “and remanent of that surname [Mackintosh] descended of that place and house.” In 1620 he gives bond for his “sons, being of perfect age, his men and tenants”, that they will serve and attend Sir Lachlan Mackintosh of Torcastle “at all oistings and huntings and waponshawings as required”.

He m. 1st Jonet Grant, by whom he had William and John (who appears as “lawful son” in 1619-20), and 2nd Christina Dunbar, by whom he had Lachlan, mentioned above and in 1642, who in 1645 (Band of Combination in view of Civil War) is described as brother to William M. of Strone, and in 1656 renounces the wadset of Dalmagerry. (An Angus, brother of William of Strone, is mentioned in 1678. - Ant. Notes, ii. 339.) Lachlan of Strone appears to have been dead in 1644, when his eldest son,

William appears as of Strone in Val. Roll. As already mentioned, he had Gask from his father in 1619, and in 1636 as “of Gask” he had a charter of Keanpoill, Cairnmor, &c. in Rothimurcus from Alexander Dunbar of Grange with consent of John Grant of Rothimurcus. He was married three times - 1st to Agnes Mackintosh; 2nd to Isobel, lawful dau. to Andrew Macpherson of Grange, as appears from a disposition of 24 Feb. 1627 by his father of part of Gask; and 3rd to Mary Robertson (daughter or sister of John Robertson first of Inshes), as appears from the charter of Keanpoill &c. in 1636. He died between 1645 and 1648, leaving by either first or second wife James, his successor, and by the third, Lachlan, of the Balnespick family.

James, who is called “fiar [equivalent to younger] of Strone” in 1645 (Bond of Comb.) but in 1648 “of Strone”, was leader of the Mackintoshes of Badenoch in Montrose’s wars. In 1664 he signs the engagement to accompany the chief to Lochaber. He d. between Ap. 1674 and Ap. 1676. The name of his wife does not appear.

Lachlan, his son, is infeft in Strone, Gask, and Pitgowan 29 Ap. 1676. He accompanied Mackintosh to Brae Lochaber in 1679, in 1687 was appointed chamberlain of the Duke of Gordon’s lands in Kingussie parish, in 1691 is found in Val. Roll, and in 1698 is named in the Act of 22 Feb. as a commissioner against Keppoch. He was an officer in the Mackintosh regiment in the ’15, was taken to London after the surrender at Preston, and on 18 May 1716 was sentenced to death, but was reprieved on the 22nd. To purchase his release and pardon he had to borrow money, and in connection with the transaction he gave a heritable bond for an annual rent of 1000 merks Scots out of the lands of Strone and Pitgowan, in favour of Duncan Mackintosh and his wife Helen Gordon, on which sasine was taken 25 June 1716. In 1722 he renounced the lands altogether in favour of John Gordon of Glenbucket, then appointed chamberlain to the Duke of Gordon, and from this time the family rapidly decayed, apparently ruined by the Jacobite Rising. As one of the principals of Clan Chattan he witnessed the agreement with Cluny in 1724, and was one of those for whose consent to redemption of the wadset granted in 1720 provision was made in the deed. He d. 1730, having been twice married, 1st to Jean Cuthbert, with issue James and Robert; 2nd to the widow of Dallas of Cantray, with issue Duncan, minister of Ardersier (ordained 1729, d. 1736).

James, eldest son, who continued to be styled “of Strone”, obtained a wadset of Clune from Mackintosh in 1729 (sas. 31 Aug. 1731) and in 1732 was present at the unsealing of the repositories at Dalcross on the arrival of William 21st chief. His wife was Anna, dau. of Alex. Macdonald of Tulochcrom, and according to the Rev. L. Shaw he died in Jamaica, leaving two sons, William and Angus, with whom the writer’s information as to the family ceases. The elder son is mentioned in the Mack. Writs in 1756, but in November of the same year his uncle Robert, tacksman of Termit, “eldest son in life of the decd Lachlan Mackintosh of Strone”, signs the consent to the redemption of the Kinlochlaggan wadset, and as the deed of 1726 had provided for the consent of the heirs-male of those named in it, it may be assumed that both William and Angus were dead when Robert signed.

"The Mackintosh and Clan Chattan" by A.M. Mackintosh, Edinburgh, 1903

Arms of William Mackintosh of Dunachton, 13th chief of Mackintosh

1505 William of Dunachton, afterwards 13th chief -

quarterly, 1 three boars’ heads erased; 2 lion passant; 3 lymphad; 4 pine-branch (?) in bend (plate I fig. 2). These arms are on William’s seal attached to his “backbond” of 1505 concerning the Lochaber lands (p.97, ante). The three boars’ heads may perhaps be regarded as “arms of patronage”, being the arms of the Earl of Huntly, from whom William held Dunachton, Gellovie, and other lands. ("The Mackintoshes and Clan Chattan" by A.M. Mackintosh, Edinburgh, 1903)

Mackintosh, William, of Dunachton (afterwards thirteenth of Mackintosh). 1st: Three boar heads erased. 2nd: A lion passant. 3rd: A lymphad. 4th: A (pine ?) branch bend sinisterways. Foliage at top and sides of shield. Legend (Goth. l.c.), on an escroll with a helmet? at top between the two ends: bilelmi mck...h dibuc (?). Diam. 1/16 in. Mackintosh Ch. [about 7 Dec. 1505]. ("Scottish Armorial Seals" by William Rae Macdonald, Edinburgh, 1904)

Official arms of the Strone Branch of Mackintosh

Strone Branch - James Mackintosh

The seal of James “mac Donald Glas” is appended to his letters of reversion of the Badenoch lands dated 15 June 1568 and to the deed of 15 Aug. following (p.150, ante). It bears quarterly, 1 a lion passant; 2 a dexter hand in pale; 3 three fraises or cinquefoils; 4 a lymphad (Plate II fig. 5). It will be observed that his lion, like the lion of his grandfather (13th chief) in 1505, is passant, and that both it and the lymphad occupy positions exactly the reverse of those in that ancestor’s shield, probably in indication of his illegitimate descent. ("The Mackintoshes and Clan Chattan" by A.M. Mackintosh, Edinburgh, 1903)

Mackintosh, ‘ James McConeill Glas’, son of Donald glas, from whom descended the Mackintoshes of Strone, the said Donald being a natural son of William, thirteenth of Mackintosh. 1st: A lion passant. 2nd: A dexter hand, 3rd: Three fraises. 4th: A lymphad. Legend (Caps.): s . IACOBI . M’ . CONIL . GLAS. Diam. 1 4/16 in. Mackintosh Ch. 15 June 1568, do. 15 Aug. 1568. See A.M. Shaw, The Mackintoshes, 177. ("Scottish Armorial Seals" by William Rae Macdonald, Edinburgh, 1904)

Episcopalian Registers at Leith - 1762

Nos. 445, 446, and 447. A.D. 1762, Aug 29. Inverness, 12th Sunday after Trinity. I baptized three of riper years, viz., Jas., Anne, and Christian, son and daurs. of Mr. Robt. Macintosh, Farmer at Termit, in presence of the parents, etc., and in the name of ye Re. Mr. John Stewart, after vespers, he holding the water, and then I confirmed y w y parents and ye brave Alexr. Macintosh of Epech, w ye marks of more than 20 wounds on his Body.

Another Version...

Midlothian: Leith - Registers of Episcopal Congregation, 1733-1775

A Register of those who have been baptized by me.--R. F.

29 Aug 1762 James, Anne, and Christian Macintosh, son and daughters of Mr Robert Macintosh, farmer at Termit. "In presence of the parents etc., and in the house of Rev. Mr John Stewart, after Vespers, he holding the water, and then I confirmed them with their parents and the brave Alexr MacIntosh of Essech with the marks of more than 20 wounds on his body." At Inverness.

Handwritten Genealogies of the Clan Mackintosh and Clan Chattan

[21] Robert M. "second lawful son of Lachlan M. of Strone", Robert M. brother-german to James M. of Strone, a witness to wadset of Clune in 1729; Robert M. "son to the late Stroan and servant to the late defunct" [Chief Lachlan Mackintosh, d. 1731] present at sealup of charter chest at Dalcross in Oct. 1731.

Parish Register for Belfreish

Lachlan, son of Robert M. son to Strone in Belfreish, bapt. 10 dec 1733

Ann, dau. Robert M. & his wife Ann Macqueen in Belfreish born 28, bapt. 29 March 1736

Christian, dau. of Robert M. son to Strone & his wife Ann Macqueen in Belfreish, born 1 May, bapt. 5 May 1738

The Celtic Monthly, 1897

In 1756 William Macbean consents to Mackintosh’s reclaiming the Laggan lands, signing the deed of consent as brother-german, and representative of the deceased Donald Macbean of Faillie. The deed is also signed by Alexander Macphail of Inverernie, eldest son and heir, served and retoured to the deceased, Robert Macphail of Inverernie; by Robert Mackintosh, Tacksman of Termite, eldest son in life of the deceased Lachlan Mackintosh of Strone; by William Mackintosh of Aberarder, heir and representative of the deceased William Mackintosh of Aberarder, his grandfather; by William Mackintosh of Holm, eldest son and heir of the deceased John Mackintosh of Holm; and by John Mackintosh of Culclachie, eldest son and heir of the deceased Angus Mackintosh of Culclachie. All these heads of Clan Chattan signed at Gask, in Strathnairn upon the 27th October, 1756, in presence of Donald Macbean, son to Donald Macbean,, vintner in Inverness; and Alexander Fraser, farmer in the Mains of Tordarroch.

Robert Mackintosh in the Mackintosh Muniments

6 Apr, 14 May 1728

746. Tacks by Lachlan Mackintosh of that Ilk to the following persons, 1727-1731: 11. Tack by Mr. James Maule, gentleman of horses to Charles, Earl of Moray, with consent of the said Earl, to Robert Mackintosh, second lawful son of Lachlan Mackintosh of Stroan [Strone], of the lands of Raigmore, 6th April and 14th May 1728. (pg. 164)

1730-1739

761. Bonds to and by the Laird of Mackintosh, 1730-1739; Robert Mackintosh, son to Stroan [Strone] in Bellfreish [Balfreish] and Anne M'Queen, his wife; (pg. 166)

2-9 Feb 1733

768. Instrument of Sasine following thereupon, dated 2d-9th February 1733; among the witnesses being William Mackintosh, younger of Essich, Lachlan Mackintosh, brother-german of William Mackintosh, now of that Ilk, Robert Mackintosh, lawful son of the deceased Lachlan Mackintosh of Stroan [Strone], and others. (pg. 167)

11 July 1737

766. Tacks by William Mackintosh of that Ilk to the following persons, 1732-1738: 1. Duncan M'Intosh .... March 1732, a witness being Robert M'Intosh, younger of Stroane;

8. Robert M'Intosh, son the Stroan at Bellfreish and Ann M'Queen, his spouse, of the eight auchten parts of Ruthven, 11th July 1737; (pg. 167)

23 March 1741

Robert M. son to Strone at Ruthven...at Moy Hall, 23 march 1741;

15 Nov 1756

817. Disposition by Ann Mackqueen, niece and heir-general served and retoured to the deceased Lachlan Mackintosh of that Ilk, and Robert Mackintosh, tacksman of Termit, her spouse, to AEneas Mackintosh, now of that Ilk, and his heirs and assignees, of all right of reversion which they may have to the lands of Kinloghlaggan [Kinloch Laggan]; dated at Moyhall, 15th November 1756: Also two Discharges by them, to one of which as witnesses appear William M'Intosh, sailor at Inverness, their second lawful son, and William Mackintosh, eldest lawful son to the deceased James Mackintosh of Strone. (pg. 172)

Spelling of Mackintosh

Now before I go any further, I should explain what I've learned about the spelling of the surname Mackintosh. There have been several spellings of this name since it was first given to our first Chief. Most have just been mis-spellings because of the lack of spelling. In gaelic it is Mac-an-Toisch. Toisch being the gaelic word for Thane and Mac is gaelic for son, so, son of Thane.

For the most part, the name has always been spelled as Mackintosh. In Mackintosh histories, and other documents in the early 1700's, you see basically two spellings, Mackintosh and an abreviated form, M'Intosh. I would say, in the late 1700's the spelling McIntosh appears, and later in the 1800's the spelling MacIntosh appears.

I've seen the same individual in the The Mackintosh Muniments 1442-1820 as Mackintosh and as M'Intosh. So it appears to me that the spelling doesn't really matter. And it is not as many would assume as time has went by the name has gotten shorter, from Mackintosh to McIntosh.

So whatever the spelling of Mackintosh, M'Intosh, McIntosh, MacIntosh, or MccIntosh (very rare), we are all Mackintoshes.

Robert Mackintosh, tacksman of Termit

Robert Mackintosh is the son of Lachlan Mackintosh of Strone and Jean Cuthbert. No birth date for Robert has ever been found, but he is believed to have been born between 1690 and 1705. Robert was a tacksman for the Chief of the Clan Mackintosh. It is believed that he was also a personal servent or secretary for the Chief as well.

Robert married Anne Macqueen, daughter of Dougald Macqueen of Polochaig and Elizabeth Mackintosh, daughter of Chief Lachlan Mackintosh of Moy. They had the following children: Lachlan, baptized 10 Dec 1733, Merchant in London; Anne, baptized 29 March 1736, married Alexander Mackintosh of Essich; Christian, baptized 5 May 1738, married William Mackintosh of Tullrich and Elrig; William, baptism unknown, but born about 1735, and it is believed they had one more child, James. Lachlan, Anne, and Christian were all baptized in the Croy and Dalcross parish.

Robert and Anne's death and burial date is unknown.