!SOURCE: William Matheson, "The MacLeods of Lewis," TRANSACTIONS OF
THE GAELIC SOCIETY OF INVERNESS, Vol. LI (1978-1980), Inverness,
Scotland, 1981, pp. 320-337 (328).
Torquil (Torcall). According to the Bannatyne MS, he led his forces to
Skye to support his cousin of Dunvegan, sorely pressed by the
MacDonalds, whom he defeated in a great battle at Feorlig. We read in
the same source that he was in command of all the MacLeods at the
battle of Inverlochy in 1431, the Skye and Harris contingent being led by
Allan MacAskill. He had a charter of his lands, presumably in Lewis,
from Alexander, Lord of the Isles, dated at Finlaggan in Islay, 7th
January 1432. It would appear that he was knighted, for in a notarial
instrument, dated 9th June 1456, he is styled "Sir Torkell McLoyd of
Leows". He is found as a witness to charters in 1437, 1438 and 1447.
His last appearance as such would seem to be on 10th October 1461,
when he witnesses a charter by John, Lord of the Isles, dated at
Ardtornish.
!SOURCE: Sir Robert Douglas of Glenbervie, Baronet, THE BARONAGE OF
SCOTLAND, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1798, p. 384.
"VI. Torquil MacLeod of Lewes, who made a great figure in the reigns of
king James II and III.
"He was appointed heretable bailie of Troterness, and married lady
Catharine Campbell, daughter of Colin first earl of Argyle, etc. all which
is confirmed by a charter under the great seal, ''Torquil Macleod de
Lewes, de officio balivatus omnium terrarum regis in Troterness, jacen.
infra insulam de Skye, in forisfacturam Johannis, olim domini infularum,
tenend. dicto torquilo et haeredibus fuis inter ipsum et Catharinam
Campbell, sororem Archibaldi comitis de Argyle, legitime procreand.
quibus deficientibus, regi et haeredibus suis revertend. datum apud
novum castrum de Kilkerran in Kintyre, 28vo Junii 1498.;
"He died soon thereafter in an advanced age, and by the said lady
Catharine Campbell left a son."
!SOURCE: Alick Morrison, THE MACLEODS: THE GENEALOGY OF A CLAN,
Section IV, Revised Edition, Edinburgh, The Associated Clan MacLeod
Societies, 1990, p. 3.
The Bannatyne MS is the authority for this chief''s presence at the
battle of Feorlig in Skye whre he fought in support of his minor cousin,
John of Dunvgan, against the intrusive Macdonalds. The date is
uncertain, but must be placed after the death of William Cleireach,
John''s father, in the early 1400s. The same source tells us that he also
fought at Inverlochy in 1431 when Donald Balloch, a cousin of the Lord of
the Isles, surprised and routed the royal forces under the Earls of
Caithness and Mar. [R. C. MacLeod (1927) pp. 62, 65] More precisely,
Alexander, Lord of the Isles, granted him a charter for his lands in Lewis
at Finlaggan in Islay on 7th January 1432/3. [Cromartie MS, p. 511.] In a
notarial instrument dated 9th June 1456 he is called "Sir Torkell McLoyd
of Leows" and is therefore the first known Macleod of either branch to
receive the honour of knighthood. [H. Paton (1903) no. 3.] He was a
witness to charters in 1437, 1438, 1447 and on 10th October 1461 (a
charter granted by John, Lord of the Isles, at Ardtornish. [Hutton
Collections, vol. XI, pt. i, No. 12; Argyll Charters; R. W. Munro (1961) p.
107n.; C. Fraser-Mackintosh (1875) p. 109; the Clan Donald (I) pp. 531,
535; H. Paton (1903) no. 3.]
!BIRTH: BURKE''S LANDED GENTRY, Eighteenth Edition, Vol. II, London,
Burke''s Peerage Limited, 1969, pp. 416-417. Witnessed a charter, 1461.
!BIOGRAPHY: John Burke, Esq., HISTORY OF THE COMMONERS OF GREAT
BRITAIN AND IRELAND, Vol. IV, Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Co.,
1977, pp. 584-592. Torquil, sixth Baron of Lewis, who died in the reign
of James II, leaving a son and successor, Roderick.
!SOURCE: Alick Morrison, THE MACLEODS: THE GENEALOGY OF A CLAN,
Section IV, "The MacLeods of Lewis", Edinburgh, Associated Clan MacLeod
Societies, 1974, p. 3.
According to Sir George MacKenzie, "to Rory succeedit Torkell, in whose
tyme the Lords of the Illes wer of such power and had rooted themselves
to in northern superiorities that none of ther neighbours could obteine
peace or saifty without acknowleidging them as ther Lords ... and
amongst others, this Torkell McLeod did cast himselfe under patrociny to
the Lord of the Illes and to insure it, resigned his lands in the King''s
hands in favours of the Lords of the Illes, and thereupon the Earl
disposed all the lands againe to the said Torkell to be holdin of him for
homadge and service. This Charter is given by Alexander Illa, the 7th
February 1432". According to Gregory, the House of Islay claimed
superiority over Lewis, nearly a cnetury before. It is obvious that only
overwhelming force could hope to keep the feudal Lordship together.
Despite the fact that Torquil was a vassal of Alexander, Lord of the
Isles, we are told that "he made a great figure" in the reign of James II.
He was married, with issue, at least, two sons.