!BIOGRAPHY: Rev. Dr. Donald MacKinnon, and Alick Morrison, MACLEOD
CHIEFS OF HARRIS AND DUNVEGAN, Edinburgh, The Clan MacLeod Society,
1969, p. 21. Alick Morrison, THE CHIEFS OF CLAN MACLEOD, East Kilbride,
Scotland, 1986.
Alexander, styled ''of Minginish'', having received these lands after their
former occupant, Iain Dubh, fled from Dunvegan on the return of Norman
to assume the chief-ship. Alexander was the progenitor of the family of
Ferinlea.
!BIOGRAPHY: Rev. Dr. Donald MacKinnon and Alick Morrison, THE
MACLEODS -- THE GENEALOGY OF A CLAN, Section III, "MacLeod Cadet
Families", Edinburgh, The Clan MacLeod Society, 1970, pp. 7-9.
This is one of the important MacLeod families omitted by Aleander
MacKenzie in his HISTORY OF THE MACLEODS.
Alexander MacLeod, the progenitor of the family, was the youngest son
of Norman 12th Chief and therefore the brother of Sir Ruairidh Mor 15th
Chief of Harris and Dunvegan. He first came into prominence in 1600.
"In 1600 Donald Gorm (of Sleat) invaded Rory''s lands in Skye, Sir Rory
then in Argyle seeking help of Argyle. Alexander, his brother, gathered
his tryb of Sioll Tormod and with some of the Sioll Torquill fought the
MacDonalds at Binquhillin. All day they fought with great stubborness,
fury and ferocity. The MacLeods were defeated, Alexander was wounded
and taken prisoner, together with Neill Mack Allister Roy and 30 others
of the choysest men among the Seill Tormot. John Mack Tormod and
Tormod Mack Tormod (two of Sir Rory''s McLeod, his near kinsmen) were
slain with divers others." Shortly afterwards, peace was restored
between the two Clans and Alexander MacLeod was liberated. In 1608,
he is found in the hands of the Duke of Argyll at a time when the
Scottish Privy Council was panting to get their claws on Sir Ruairidh of
Harris and Dunvegan, who had only too clearly demonstrated to them that
he was the wariest eagle in the Hebrides. Hence it was decided that the
''entrie'' of his brother, Alexander, would make Rory answerable and
obedient. Accordingly Argyll was commanded to convey Alexander to the
Castle of Stirling. Argyll replied to the Privy Council in October "quhen I
came to Striviling with Allaster McLeod, according to your Lordshipis
directions, and thair finding my Lord of Mar, not willing to resave him,
becaus the King''s pallace is not fitt for wardouris, I deiring to leave in
ane uncertainetie hes taken with me him, quhair he salbe assuiredlie
unto such tyme that your Lordships sall call him which he hopes will be
soon".
The Privy Council warned Argyle to be sure and not allow Alexander to
escape. In November 1608 Alexander was taken to Edinburgh and
imprisoned in Tolbooth. He petitioned to be released from this thieves''
hole "in respect of the disease and sickness ctonracted by him there" and
he craved to be imprisoned either in the Castle of Edinburgh or in the
Blackness. The Lords ordeained him to be conveyed to the latter in
December, but in June in the following year, he is a prisoner in Edinburgh
Castle. The Privy Council, desperate to reduce Sir Ruairidh Mor to
obedience, agreed that "allaster McCleud", brother of the said Rory,
should be relieved at the suit of the Earl of Argyle from his ward in the
Castle of Edinburgh in order that he may concur with the Earl in bringing
the said Rory to obedience. Two days later, Rory McCleud of Dunveggane
being "minded" to render his obedience and to come in and offer surety to
that effect, and the Lords Commissioners being willing to receive him
and give him good conditions, so that others of the Islesmen may be
encouraged to imitate his example, "the said Lords grant to the said Rory
full liberty to come and go at his pleasure between the Isles and
Edinburgh till November next, without risk of apprehension or detention
for any cause whatsoever". The Earl of Argyle, who had been fined for
the non-appearance of Alexander MacLeod before the Council in
November, was no doubt glad that Roderick Mor MacLeod had now to
relieve him of his bond of caution of £4000.
In 1613 Alexander was active in the island of Lewis, where he
apprehended "malcome and William McRorie, McLeudis brether sones to
umquhill Neill McCleud, Murdo McEan vc Antaggart, Malcolm McEan vc
Antaggart and Donald McAngus". Rorie MacKenzie, Tutor of Kintail,
advised the Privy Council to have these Lewismen delivered to Edinburgh
and to take specila care to deal "hardlie" with Sir Rory Mor, lest he
might be minded "to put the limmeris to libertie". In 1616, "Rory
McCleud of Dunveggane" callit "McCleud of Hereis", submitted to the
Privy Council and was ready to surrender and exhibit periodically before
the Privy Council in Edinburgh eight of the principal men of his clan as a
guarantee of his readiness to obey the laws of the realm. Among these
we find Allaster McCleud, his (i.e., Sir Roderick Mor''s) "bruther", who
was exhibited in 1617 and 1621. In 1626 Alexander MacLeod of Talisker
or Minginish was dead.
He married his first wife, Marjory MacKenzie, but it is not state who
she was. He married, secondly, Margaret, daughter of Sir Lauchlan
MacKinnon, 14th Chief of the Clan MacKinnon.