1. Maurice Of Clunes¹ MacRath¹ was born Abt. 1280 in Ireland, and died Abt. 1350 in Scotland.

Notes for Maurice Of Clunes MacRath:

Of a possible migration of the Clan MacRae to Scotland from Ireland, little is known, but their first known home in Scotland was on the lands of Lord Lovat of Clunes (between Beauly and Inverness on the south side of the Beauly Firth) sometime during the mid-13th century. Virtually all sources are in agreement on the location. As evidence, they cite among other things the long and solid friendship between the Frasers of Lovat and the Macraes, and the presence of many Macraes near Dingwall.

The tradition as told by Ella MacRae-Gilstrap is that Maurice MacRath and two others left Ireland as the result of a quarrel after too much celebration at a wedding feast, and came to Lovat country in Scotland, arriving just as a would-be assassin was about to attack Bissett, Lord of Lovat. Having just fled from trouble caused by becoming involved in an argument, the two others declined to intervene. But MacRath killed the assassin and the grateful Bissett invited MacRath to settle on his estates.

The MacRath family remained for some time at Lovat. The Bissetts lost control of Lovat sometime between 1305 and 1333, when with no male heirs, their daughter Mary married a Fraser and the Lordship of Lovat passed to the Frasers. Mary and at least two succeeding generations of Fraser children were fostered (raised) in a MacRath home, and they developed such warm feelings for their foster family that the Frasers inscribed over the door at Beaufort Castle in Beauly the following:

'Fhad 'sa bhitheas Frisealach a stigh, na biheadh MacRath a muigh'
(As long as a Fraser lives within, let not a MacRath remain without.)

Tradition says that Maurice had several sons. He was chief forester for the Lovats, and it was his responsibility to assign starting positions in the forest to the hunters when great hunts were held. On one such occasion, the illegitimate son of the Earl of Lovat objected to his assigned position, and became abusive to Maurice (by then an old man). One of Maurice's sons, John (Ian) of Clunes, came to his father's defense. Words led to blows and finally to the death of Lovat's son at John's hands.

Faye Emily (McCraw) Moore, 1996

Children of Maurice Of Clunes MacRath are:

Generation No. 2

5. Fionnla Mor Nan Gad Of Clunes² MacRath (Maurice Of Clunes¹) was born Abt. 1318.

Notes for Fionnla Mor Nan Gad Of Clunes MacRath:

Finlay eventually wound up in Kintail with his brother John MacRae.

Child of Fionnla Mor Nan Gad Of Clunes MacRath is:

Generation No. 3

6. Christopher³ MacRae (Fionnla Mor Nan Gad Of Clunes² MacRath, Maurice Of Clunes¹) was born Abt. 1350, and died Abt. 1410.

Notes for Christopher MacRae:

Christopher was the first MacRae born in Kintail.

Child of Christopher MacRae is:

Generation No. 4

7. Fionnla Dubh Mac Gillechriosd⁴ MacRae (Christopher³, Fionnla Mor Nan Gad Of Clunes² MacRath, Maurice Of Clunes¹)² was born Abt. 1380, and died Aft. 1427.

Notes for Fionnla Dubh Mac Gillechriosd MacRae:

Fionnla Macrae, known as Black Finlay Macrae, was progenitor of the Kintail family. His descendants from 1520 became the keepers of Eilean Donan Castle, the stronghold of the Mackenzies of Kintail. Like the Maclennans, the Macraes faithfully supported the Mackenzies and were often referred to as the "Mackenzies shirt of mail."

Children of Fionnla Dubh Mac Gillechriosd MacRae are:

Generation No. 5

8. Christopher⁵ MacRae (Fionnla Dubh Mac Gillechriosd⁴, Christopher³, Fionnla Mor Nan Gad Of Clunes² MacRath, Maurice Of Clunes¹)³ was born Abt. 1440.

Children of Christopher MacRae are:

9. John⁵ MacRae (Fionnla Dubh Mac Gillechriosd⁴, Christopher³, Fionnla Mor Nan Gad Of Clunes² MacRath, Maurice Of Clunes¹)⁴ was born Abt. 1442, and died Abt. 1520.

Child of John MacRae is:

Generation No. 6

10. Finlay⁶ MacRae (Christopher⁵, Fionnla Dubh Mac Gillechriosd⁴, Christopher³, Fionnla Mor Nan Gad Of Clunes² MacRath, Maurice Of Clunes¹)⁵ was born Abt. 1466.

Children of Finlay MacRae are:

12. Duncan 'Big Duncan Of The Battle Axe'⁶ MacRae (Christopher⁵, Fionnla Dubh Mac Gillechriosd⁴, Christopher³, Fionnla Mor Nan Gad Of Clunes² MacRath, Maurice Of Clunes¹)⁷ was born Abt. 1470.

Notes for Duncan 'Big Duncan Of The Battle Axe' MacRae:

Duncan greatly distinguished himself with his battle-axe at the Battle of Park, which was fought at Strathpeffer between the Macdonalds and the Mackenzies shortly before the death of Alexander Ionraie, which took place in 1488. Oral tradition says that Big Duncan was nineteen years at the time of the battle. Duncan was a contemporary of the son of Alexander, Kenneth Ionraic (Coinneach a Bhlair), or Kenneth of the battle, knighted by James IV of Scotland. From this, we estimate Duncan's birth date c. 1470. From this date, we have estimated descendants back to Maurice of Clunes.

LAM

"Big Duncan of the Battle Axe" (Donnach Mor na Tuaigh) was a tall, wild-looking young Macrae of 19 who accounted for dozens of Macdonald dead at the Battle of Blar-na-Pairc. At the beginning of the battle, Duncan found himself in possession of a rusty old axe and seemed to be in a world of his own, hanging back at the edge of the fight. He was spotted by Red Hector who asked him why he was not fighting. Pointing to the axe he was holding in his hands, Duncan replied he wouldn't fight and do a man's work unless he got a man's esteem.''Do a man's work, and at once, and you will get a man's esteem,'' said Hector. Duncan charged into the fight and killed a man with his first blow, dragged him to the side and then sat on the body.

Red Hector, spotting Duncan's inactivity once more, asked him why he'd stopped fighting. Duncan replied if he got the esteem of one man's work then he'd only do one man's work. Do two men's work and you'll get two men's esteem, Red Hector shouted out angrily. At this Duncan again plunged into the fight, slew another Macdonald, dragged him back and then sat down again on both bodies. Now more than a little exasperated at the strange antics of the Macrae, a furious Hector ordered him to get to work or he would have him to reckon with instead. At that, Duncan flew into the attack with a savageness credited to have turned the fortunes of the battle, with dozens of Macdonalds swept aside as if they were little more than blades of grass.

Where the fighting was at its thickest, Duncan is said to have met one of the Macdonald leaders, Maclean of Lochbuie (Lachlan MacThearlaich), who by all accounts was proving a particularly deadly adversary. It turned out to be a battle of the giants, with both more than a match for each other in skill and strength, one armed with a sword and the other an axe. But Duncan, with no armor of any kind proved the nimbler, Maclean finding it difficult to move at great speed because of the chain mail he was wearing. The Macrae parried the sword blows with ease but, forced to move back, stumbled and fell into a ditch. Luckily his enemy's sword also became stuck in the ditch, too. Bending forward to withdraw it, Maclean's neck was exposed for just a second, long enough for Duncan to bring his axe down. When the enemy saw their leader's head cut clean off, it proved the beginning of the end, the rout which had been threatening from the word go turning into a headlong flight. Though the battle was now over, the killing continued through the surrounding hills and glens as the Mackenzies pursued their hated enemies without mercy.

Faye Emily (McCraw) Moore, 1996

Child of Duncan 'Big Duncan Of The Battle Axe' MacRae is:

Generation No. 7

15. Christopher 'Gillechriosd'⁷ MacRae (Finlay⁶, Christopher⁵, Fionnla Dubh Mac Gillechriosd⁴, Christopher³, Fionnla Mor Nan Gad Of Clunes² MacRath, Maurice Of Clunes¹)⁸ was born Abt. 1485, and died Aft. 1539.

More About Christopher 'Gillechriosd' MacRae:

Occupation: 1511-1538, Constable of Eilean Donan

Children of Christopher 'Gillechriosd' MacRae are:

Generation No. 8

21. Duncan 'Donnacha Mac Gillechriosd'⁸ MacRae (Christopher 'Gillechriosd'⁷, Finlay⁶, Christopher⁵, Fionnla Dubh Mac Gillechriosd⁴, Christopher³, Fionnla Mor Nan Gad Of Clunes² MacRath, Maurice Of Clunes¹)⁹ was born Abt. 1502, and died Abt. 1560. He married dau. ? Of Glenmoriston¹⁰ Abt. 1536, daughter of Duncan Ban Of Glenmoriston.

Notes for Duncan 'Donnacha Mac Gillechriosd' MacRae:

Duncan (Donnacha Mac Gillechriosd) is progenitor of the Inverinate family.

Duncan, second son of Christopher, was called Donnacha Mac Gillechriosd. He was in his own day a prominent man in the affairs of Kintail, and gained great renown for himself by killing Donald Gorm Macdonald, of Sleat, at the siege of Ellandonan Castle, in 1539.

HCM, p 24

Duncan (5th of Kintail) MacRae fatally wounded Duncan Gorm the chief of the Macdonalds of Sleat in 1539, protecting Eilean Donan castle. Sometime later, Duncan MacRae, Chamberlain of Kintail was granted the estate of Inverinate that remained in the family for over 200 years. The MacRaes as loyal followers of the Mackenzies were not only constables of Eilean Donan Castle, but were also Chamberlains of Kintail and Vicars of Kintail as well as sharing with them their hatred of the Macleods.

In 1539 when Donald Gruamach of Sleat was besieging the (Eilean Donan) castle (at that time commanded by a Matheson), in his effort to restore the lordship of the Isles in his own person, Duncan MacRae, son of a previous constable, shot him in the knee with an arrow fired from the battlements. The would might not have been so bad but Sleat impatiently wrenched out the arrow, and the barbs fatally ripped an artery. There are other tales of the individual military prowess of 'the wild MacRaes,' one of whom, when Cromwellian troops occupied Eilean Donan, slew a soldier with one stroke of his sword.

Scottish Clans & Tartans, Neil Grant, The Hamlyn Publishing Group, 1987, p. 210.

Duncan, 5th of Kintail, whose arrow caused the death of Donald Gorm of Sleat at Eilean Donan in 1539, was granted the lands of Inverinate about 1557, and these remained in the family for over 200 years.

The Clans and Tartans of Scotland, Robert Bain, William Collins Sons & Co., London, 1968, p.230.

Children of Duncan MacRae and dau. are:

23. Finlay Dubh⁸ MacRae (Christopher 'Gillechriosd'⁷, Finlay⁶, Christopher⁵, Fionnla Dubh Mac Gillechriosd⁴, Christopher³, Fionnla Mor Nan Gad Of Clunes² MacRath, Maurice Of Clunes¹)¹¹ was born Abt. 1506, and died Abt. 1550. He married Isabel Mackenzie, daughter of Dougal Mackenzie and dau..

Notes for Finlay Dubh MacRae:

Lived at Aryugan, near Ardintoul.

Notes for Isabel Mackenzie:

Isabel Mackenzie was the daughter of Sir Dougal Mackenzie, Priest of Kintail. Finlay and Isabel had a son, Christopher. Isabel left her husband to make her home with Alister Dubh Chisholm of Strathglass, taking Christopher with her. When he was grown, Christopher settled in Strathglass, became a man of importance and means, and from him there were descended MacRaes of Strathglass. There are no previous instances of MacRaes marrying Chisholms in the recorded MacRae genealogies.

Child of Finlay MacRae and Isabel Mackenzie is:

Generation No. 9

26. Christopher 'MacGonnachie'⁹ MacRae (Duncan 'Donnacha Mac Gillechriosd'⁸, Christopher 'Gillechriosd'⁷, Finlay⁶, Christopher⁵, Fionnla Dubh Mac Gillechriosd⁴, Christopher³, Fionnla Mor Nan Gad Of Clunes² MacRath, Maurice Of Clunes¹)¹² was born Abt. 1537, and died Abt. 1615. He married Isabella Murchison, daughter of John 'Mac Mhurchaidh Dhuibb' Murchison.

Notes for Isabella Murchison:

Daughter of Rev. Murdoch Murchison of Kintail, Constable of Eilean Donan.

SOURCE: Kindred Konnections - 11/18/97 - shows b. 1550 d. 1600 - not a validated source

Children of Christopher MacRae and Isabella Murchison are:

27. John⁹ MacRae (Duncan 'Donnacha Mac Gillechriosd'⁸, Christopher 'Gillechriosd'⁷, Finlay⁶, Christopher⁵, Fionnla Dubh Mac Gillechriosd⁴, Christopher³, Fionnla Mor Nan Gad Of Clunes² MacRath, Maurice Of Clunes¹)¹³ was born Abt. 1538, and died Abt. 1620.

Children of John MacRae are:

28. Christopher Of Strathglass⁹ MacRae (Finlay Dubh⁸, Christopher 'Gillechriosd'⁷, Finlay⁶, Christopher⁵, Fionnla Dubh Mac Gillechriosd⁴, Christopher³, Fionnla Mor Nan Gad Of Clunes² MacRath, Maurice Of Clunes¹)¹⁴ was born Abt. 1510, and died Abt. 1580.

Generation No. 10

30. Farquhar Of Inverinate¹⁰ MacRae (Christopher 'MacGonnachie'⁹, Duncan 'Donnacha Mac Gillechriosd'⁸, Christopher 'Gillechriosd'⁷, Finlay⁶, Christopher⁵, Fionnla Dubh Mac Gillechriosd⁴, Christopher³, Fionnla Mor Nan Gad Of Clunes² MacRath, Maurice Of Clunes¹) was born 1580 in Eilean Donan, Rosshire, Scotland, and died January 1661/62 in Kintail, Scotland. He married Christina Of Park Macculloch December 01, 1611, daughter of son ? Macculloch Of Park, Strathpeffer.

Notes for Farquhar Of Inverinate MacRae:

The Rev. Farquhar Macrae of Inverinate (1580-1662) combined his offices as Constable of Eilean Donan and Chamberlain of Kintail with that of Vicar of Kintail for over 40 years.

SOURCE: THE MACLEODS OF ARNISDALE, compiled by Rev. Donald MacKinnon, Portree, Skye, Scotland, 1929, reprinted by The Clan MacLeod Society USA, Migration Project Publications Series, Number 1, 1984, p. 12.

They (MacRaes) became constables of Eilean Donan castle -- not a hereditary office since it was sometimes held by others -- more-or-less permanently. They also held other honoured posts under Mackenzie of Seaforth, whose chamberlain was at various times a MacRae, and were ministers of surrounding parishes. In the 17th century the same man was constable of Eilean Donan and minister of Kintail. This was Farquhar MacRae (1580-1662) of Inverinate, whose grandson Duncan of the Silver Cups compiled the invaluable Gaelic poetry anthology known as the Fernaig Manuscript, which contained works by himself and other MacRaes.

Scottish Clans & Tartans, Neil Grant, The Hamlyn Publishing Group, 1987, p. 210.

More About Farquhar Of Inverinate MacRae:

Burial: January 1661/62, Kilduich, in Kintail

Occupation: 1618, Constable of Eilean Donan

Education: University of Edinburgh

Children of Farquhar MacRae and Christina Macculloch are:

31. John¹⁰ MacRae (Christopher 'MacGonnachie'⁹, Duncan 'Donnacha Mac Gillechriosd'⁸, Christopher 'Gillechriosd'⁷, Finlay⁶, Christopher⁵, Fionnla Dubh Mac Gillechriosd⁴, Christopher³, Fionnla Mor Nan Gad Of Clunes² MacRath, Maurice Of Clunes¹)¹⁶ was born Abt. 1582, and died Abt. 1650. He married dau. ? Of Balmacarra Matheson, daughter of Dugald Of Balmacarra Matheson.

Notes for John MacRae:

John was governor or tutor to Colin Mackenzie, first Earl of Seaforth, at the University of Edinburgh, and appears to have gained a great influence over his pupil, whose "early and unexpected death (in 1633) did so dispirit him that he afterwards lived in the Highlands more obscurely than was expected of him." He also studied medicine, and left behind him a great reputation among his own countrymen for his skill as a physician.

HCM, p 4-45.

Children of John MacRae and dau. Matheson are:

32. Finlay¹⁰ MacRae (Christopher 'MacGonnachie'⁹, Duncan 'Donnacha Mac Gillechriosd'⁸, Christopher 'Gillechriosd'⁷, Finlay⁶, Christopher⁵, Fionnla Dubh Mac Gillechriosd⁴, Christopher³, Fionnla Mor Nan Gad Of Clunes² MacRath, Maurice Of Clunes¹) was born Abt. 1584.

Child of Finlay MacRae is:

Endnotes

2. History Of The Clan MacRae, 14, According to Rev. John Macrae, the founder of the Clan MacRae of Kintail was Fionnla Dubh Mac Gillechriosd (Black Finlay, the son of Christopher), who was removed by two or three generations from the man who came from Clunes.

3. History Of The Clan MacRae, 16, Christopher, eldest son of Finlay Dubh, of whom very little is known, had four sons; 1. Finlay, 2. Donald, 3. Duncan, 4. Maurice.

4. History Of The Clan MacRae, 15, John, who was educated at Beauly Priory, took holy orders, and became priest of Kintail, in Sutherlandshire.

5. History Of The Clan MacRae, 21, Finlay, eldest son of Christopher, was the contemporary and chief counselor of John of Killin, ninth Baron of Kintail, who fought at Flodden in 1513, and at Pinkie in 1547.

6. History Of The Clan MacRae, 24, Miles or Malmuire was killed at Kinlochewe shortly before 1539 by the followers of Donald Gorm Macdonald, of Sleat.

7. History Of The Clan MacRae, 16-17, Duncan, who was the most noted of Christopher's sons, is known in the traditions of Kintail as Donnacha mor na Taugh (Big Duncan of the Battle-Axe). He was a man of great valour and personal strength, and many legends have been preserved of the brave deeds he performed in the contests of the Mackenzies and Macraes with their common enemies. He greatly distinguished himself with his battle-axe at the Battle of Park, which was fought at Strathpeffer between the Macdonalds and the Mackenzies shortly before the death of Alexander Ionraic, which took place in 1488.

8. History Of The Clan MacRae, 24, Eldest son of Finlay, was appointed Constable of Ellandonan Castle, ..., probably about 1511.

9. History Of The Clan MacRae, 29, The year 1557 was probably the date of Duncan's return to Kintail (from Crochel, in the country of Lord Lovat).

10. History Of The Clan MacRae, 30, Duncan married the widow of John Dubh Matheson, Constable of Ellendonan. She was a daughter of Duncan Ban of Glenmoriston, and was first married to Sir Dougal Mackenzie, ...

11. History Of The Clan MacRae, 24-25, Called Finlay Dubh. He married Isabel, daughter of Sir Dougal Mackenzie, Priest of Kintail, who is spoken of as a very beautiful woman, but of doubtful character.

12. History Of The Clan MacRae, 33, Christopher, eldest son of Duncan, was for some time Constable of Ellendonan Castle. He is said to have been "prudent and solid in counsel and advice, bold, forward and daring when need required, yet remarkably merciful during the bloody wars 'twixt Mackenzie and Glengarry."

13. History Of The Clan MacRae, 30, John, who was "a resolute and warlike man," and took a very active part in the great feud which raged at this time between the Macdonalds of Glengarry and the Mackenzies of Kintail.

14. History Of The Clan MacRae, 25, Christopher settled in Strathglass, where he became a man of importance and means, and from him the Macraes of Strathglass were descended.

15. History Of The Clan MacRae, 171-172, John Breac was married, but it is uncertain who his wife was. He had at least three children, and his eldest son, Duncan, was born before his marriage.