!SOURCE: George Crawfurd, esq., THE PEERAGE OF SCOTLAND, 1716, pp.
421ff.
...a Person of a martial Spirit, and Man of great Honour and Courage,
carried over a Regiment of his own Name and Followers, to the Service
of the King of Sweden, under whom he serv''d long in very eminent
Commands, with extraordinary Ability and Success.
Upon his Return to England, his Majesty King Charles I. to countenance
his Merit, was pleas''d to make him a Peer, by the Title of Lord Rae
(Charta in Rotulis Caroli I.), June 20th 1628.
Upon the breaking out of the Civil War in England, the Lord Rae repaired
to his Majesty, and heartily and personally engaged in his Service; but
being taken Prisoner at the Surrender of Newcastle to the Scots Army,
he was sent down to Scotland to be tried, but he had the good Fortune to
be relieved by the Marquis of Montrose, after the Battle of Kilsyth, out of
the Goal of Edinburgh; after which he went over to Denmark where he
died in 1649, leaving Issue by Barbara his Wife, Daughter of Kenneth
Lord Kintail, John his successor....
!SOURCE: Sir Robert Douglas of Glenbervie, PEERAGE OF SCOTLAND, 1764,
p. 570.
Donald MacKay of Farre, who got a charter under the great seal, "officii
coronatoris insulae de North Kintyre; also of the lands of Armadall, and
many others, 28th December 1615.
He was a man of great honour and spirit, and had a wonderfull military
genius.
He raised a regiment of his own name and followers, consisting of 1500
men, which he carried over to Germany, to the assistance of the king of
Bohemia.
He afterwards went into the service of the king of Sweden, and had
some considerable commands under that great general. He always
behaved with such intrepidity and conduct, that he acquired the
reputation of a brave and experienced officer.
He returned to England in the beinning of the reign of King Charles I. to
whom he was a most faithful and loyal subject, and hightley esteemed by
his majesty, who first conferred the honour of knighthood upon him,
which appears by a charter under the great seal, "domino Donald MacKay
de Strathnaver, militi," of the lands of Sandfide, Reay, Etc. Etc. all united
into one free barony, to him, his heirs male or assgneys whatsoever,
dated 19th February 1628.
Soon thereafter his majesty was pleased to raise him to the dignity of
the peerage by the title of Lord Reay, by patent, to him and his heirs
maile forever, they carrying the name and arems of MacKay, dated 20th
June 1628.
He went into the king''s service upon the first breaking out of the civil
war, and was taken prisoner when Newcastle surrendered to the Scots.
He was sent to Edinburgh, in order to be tried, and continued close
confined in the tolbooth there, till Montrose set him at liberty after the
battle of Kilsyth, and he was afterwards excepted from pardon ty the
then parliament.
He suffered many other hardships on account of his attachment to the
interst of the royal family. At last, when he could do them no more
service, he retired to Sweden, anno 1649, was made governor of Bergen,
and died there soon afterwards.
He married, 1st, Barbara MacKenzie, daughter of Kenneth lord Kintail,
by whome he had a son, John, and a daughter, Mary. married to Hector
Monro of Clynes, only brother of Sir Robert Monro of Foulis.
He married, 2dly, dame Rachel Harrison, by whom he had two sons,
Robert, Hugh, both designed MacKay Forbes.
This appears by a petition and complaint entered into parliament, or the
committee of estates, by dame Rachel Harrison, lady Reay, for an order
for th3e payment of 2000l. sterling, resting her for the maintenance of
her and her sons Robert and Hugh MacKay Forbes, etc. for which she
obtained a decreet, anno 1641.
He was succeeded by his eldest son, John, second Lord Reay.
!SOURCE: Sir Robert Douglas of Glenbervie, PEERAGE OF SCOTLAND, 1764,
p. 570.
Donald MacKay of Farre, who got a charter under the great seal, "officii
coronatoris insulae de North Kintyre;