!SOURCE: Rev. Thomas Whyte, AN HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL
ACOCUNT OF THE BETHUNES OF THE ISLAND OF SKYE, Edinburgh, 1778,
reprinted London, 1893, by Alfred A. Bethune-Baker, reprinted by
ScotsPress, p. 8.
...Peter, who being a famous physician, was called to Argyleshire to
practise his skill there, and from there received an invitation to the Isle
of Sky from the lairds of M''Donald and M''Leod. The Doctor, upon condition
to settle in the country, was promised as much land as he inclined to
possess, rent free; but neither he,nor any of his posterity, could get
lands to purchase heritably, nor to wadset or be impignorated. The
lairds give to their sons, except the heirs, only money for their
patrimony, and a tack or lease of some of the best possessions for rent,
allowing in the payment of it the interest of their money. It was also
promised on the Doctor''s side, that one of his posterity, particularly the
eldest son of the family, if he had a turn for it, should be educated as a
physician, without any expense to him or his successors, whilst any of
them continued in that country and inclined to the study of physic or
medicine. By these encouragements, he was prevailed on to take up his
residence in Sky [Manuscript History of the Bethunes of the Island of
Sky.], which is far from being a disagreeable place. It extends 42 miles
in length, and from 20 to 4 in breadth. It is fruitful both in cattle and
victual,and abounds with the best fishes of all kinds.
Whether he was Pitlochy''s eldest son, or not, is uncertain. He married a
daughter of M''Donald laird of Moydart, captain of Clanronald, descended
of Reginald, son of John Lord of the Isles, who was the seventh
generation of the family. This Reginald, got from his father a
considerable estate, in which the lands of Moydart were included, which
was confirmed to him by a charter under the Great Seal, ''apud Arnelle,
primo die Januarii 1370." [Douglas''s Peerage, page 360.]
There is nothing kept in record of the marriages of his posterity for
some generations, and though, doubtless, they had daughters, yet there is
no mention made of them.
This Peter had a son, Angus, Doctor of Medicine.