!MENTION: Rev. Dr. Donald MacKinnon, and Alick Morrison, MACLEOD
CHIEFS OF HARRIS AND DUNVEGAN, Edinburgh, The Clan MacLeod Society,
1969, p. 27.
!BIOGRAPHY: Sir Robert Douglas of Glenbervie, Baronet, THE BARONAGE
OF SCOTLAND, Edinburgh, 1798, p. 382.
"Married, 1st, Anne MacLeod, by whom he had two sons. 1. Norman
MacLeod of Ulinish. 2. Alexander, captain of the Mansfield Indiaman. He
married, 2dly, Margaret Macdonald, by whom has no issue. 3dly, ____
Macleod, daughter to Donald Macleod of Grishernish, and has issue one
son and a daughter."
!BIOGRAPHY: Rev. Dr. Donald MacKinnon and Alick Morrison, THE
MACLEODS--THE GENEALOGY OF A CLAN, Section II, Edinburgh, The Clan
MacLeod Society, ND, pp. 70-87. Called "The Old Trojan".
Was born in 1692, but the place of his birth is unknown. He was trained
in estate management under his father, the factor and Tutor on the
MacLeod estates. He became tacksman of Unish in Waternish. The house,
which he occupied at Trumpan, is now a ruin but a stone in it bears the
initials D.M.L. and A.M.L., being those of his own name and of his first
wife, Anne, daughter of Roderick, 19th Chief. William MacLeod, Sir
Norman''s second son, who succeeded his mother, Catherine MacDonald of
Sleat, in Berneray in 1706, refused to pay the increase in rents
demanded by Norman the 22nd Chief. In 1730 he gave up the tack of
Berneray, and settled at Luskintyre, Harris, of which he possessed a
wadset (dated 1698). He was succeeded in Berneray by Donald MacLeod
of Unish, who now became the famous "Old Trojan" of that island. He
was tacksman there from 1730 until his death in 1781, a period
extending over half a century. He succeeded Alexander MacLeod, younger
of Luskintyre, as factor for Harris in 1736 and the appointment lasted
until 1745, when Donald decided to come out and assist Prince Charles
Edward Stuart, already in retreat from Derby. His accounts, written in
fading ink is of great value, throwing considerable light on the social
and economic history of Harris at a very interesting period. In 1739, he
is involved in the unsavoury episode of Saoitheach nan Daoine, in which
as we shall see later his son, Norman, was the leader. In 1741, he
visited St. Kilda to ascertain the condition of the captive Lady Grange
for the Chief of MacLeod. He reported she was well provided in
necessities and had an "anker" of spirits. Donald MacLeod resembled "the
men of former times". He took pride in his swordsmanship: he fought
two duels with William MacDonald, Tutor of Valley -- the first of which
he won at Leac Bhan but he lost the second at Dunskellor in North Uist.
He was also prepared to engage Donald MacAulay of Lewis at Meavag in
Harris, but here his henchman, Little Angus MacLeod, insisted on
deputising for him and did so successfully. He was loyal to the House of
Stuart and probably led the contingent of 100 clansmen who fought at
the indecisive action at Sheriffmuir in 1715. When Prince Charles
Edward Stuart landed in Scotland, the Chief of the MacLeods ordered
Donald to come to Dunvegan with 20 men to fight for the Hanoverian
Government. Donald did but addressed the Chief in tones of sturdy
independence. "I place at your disposal the 20 men of your tribe under
my immediate command and in any other quarrel (sic) would not fail to
be at their head, but in the present juncture, I must go where a more
imperious duty calls me". He forthwith set out to join Prince Charles,
who at the time was retreating from England. In the battle of Falkirk,
Donald vanquished a dragoon in hand to hand fighting. He came under very
heavy fire at Culloden Moor and miraculously survived the carnage. When
all seemed lost, he and his friend Norman Og Paterson tried to escape.
They were attacked by two horsemen. In the act of defending himself,
the Old Trojan slipped and his assailant had his hand raised to deliver
the fatal blow. Fortunately another horseman, passing by, stayed the
upraised arm and having killed the owner he exclaimed, "Make haste,
man, you owe me a good day''s work at harvest time". Donald must have
made his way to Gortuleg, the house occupied by the wily Lord Lovat.
Here Donald joined the Prince''s party and accompanied it all the way to
Invergarry. By this time he had also fallen in with his henchman, Little
Angus, son of Donald, son of Angus, a direct descendant of the Old
MacLeods of Berneray, and one of the most redoubtable swordsmen in his
day. Hungry and sore weary, Donald and Angus came to a house which
belonged to an old couple, but was in addition a rendezvous of six
robbers. They asked for lodgings for the night, which they grudgingly
received. Donald, who was desperately tired, was allowed to sleep in an
upper apartment. Little Angus was ordered to assist the six robbers in
the slaughter of a cow in order "to get some supper". Donald the Old
Trojan now asked Angus to get two pints of whisky in order to repay the
hospitality they had received. When Angus asked his surly companions if
a distillery was near, he ws informed that the nearest was at least some
two miles away. Angus now requested if one of the company would act
as his guide. [MORRISON MANUSCRIPTS, Stornoway.] One of the robbers
now burst out laughing, which so infuriated Angus that "he delivered him
a proper box in the ear, by which he fell down". Noting the ugly looks of
the robbers, Angus took hold of his famous claymore which he called "the
Lamb". With sword and shield he drove the six robbers pell mell into an
outer byre, and bolting the door, stood guard there for the rest of the
night. Next morning they left the house but not before the Old Trojan
paid his lodging to the old couple. In course of time the fugitives
reached Loch Arkaig, where Secretary Murray handed over to Donald
MacLeod a sum of £40 for himself as well as a further £50 for MacLeod
of Raasay. It is possible that the Old Trojan called at Raasay before
proceeding to Harris. "Here he secluded himself in the cave of Ulledale,
where he screened himself for a period of two months against both the
fury and ill wish of his enemies." For greater security he now moved
into his own territory in South Harris. Here he hid in a commodious cave
with an exceedingly narrow entrance overhanging the sea at Leabaidh an
Aistear in the Toe of Harris. With his trusty broadsword, the Old Trojan
would have welcomed a contest with a Regiment of Redcoats in this
spot! Here he was served by a young lad of 10 for more than a year. The
INVERNESS COURIER dated 25th March 1846 records the death of John
Martin at the age of 112. "As a boy of 10, Martin had attended MacLeod
of Berneray, when in hiding after the battle of Culloden Moor 1746".
Meanwhile the notorious Black John Ferguson of the FURNACE frigate had
been to Berneray. He trained his guns on Berneray House, plundered it
and slaughtered some of the cattle. Fourtunately General John Campbell
of Maore, after a fruitless search in St. Kilda and Pabbay for the Prince,
landed in Berneray. He ordered Black John to desist from his fell work.
The latter replied, "I will persist in doing more mischief to the rebels as
also to their property". Then General Campbell peremptorily ordered the
Captain and his men to the frigate and warned him, "if he offered any
more insolence to his orders or more violence to either person or
property without his permission, he would nail his ear to the man of
war''s mast". Thereafter General Campbell fully paid Lady Berneray for
all damage caused by Black John and his marines and sailors and
commiserated with her about the unfortunate position her husband was
in. Due to his influence, Donald MacLEod of Berneray was pardoned in
1747. Many years afterwards, the town of Paisley raised an action
against Secretary Murray for the heavy contribution he had levied upon
the town on behalf of Prince Charles Edward Stuart. The Old Trojan and
Sir William MacLeod Bannatyne entered the Court Room, when Lord
Kames was speaking the following words, "My Lord, before prceeding to
the merits of this cause, we should ascertain the proper designation of
the Defender. It appears to me that he should be styled John Murray,
Secretary to Charles Edward Stuart, the leader of certain Highland
banditti, who infested this country in 1745". [GREGORY PAPERS.] Donald
MacLeod the Old Trojan was furious, and turning to his companion and
clenching his fists, he remarked, "If I had yon fellow anywhere but where
he is now, I would teach him to call better men than himself banditto".
His loyalty to the Prince, left him in some financial difficulty after he
was pardoned in 1747. He was however a very able administrator and
within a few years he had paid up all his commitments to the Laird of
MacLeod. He now became the factor of the Harris Estates for the second
time from 1752 to 1754. In addition to Berneray and its pertinents --
the small islands in the Sound of Harris as well as Geocrab,
Bunavineattora, Airdhasaig and Nisabost -- he possessed two valuable
farms, North and South Copebhails (i.e. Caipabhal) in South Harris. He
also possessed the farms of Kylis and Trumisgarry in North Uist for
many years from Sir Alexander MacDonald of Sleat. He became involved
in disputes with Uist tenants in Kylis and Bailemhicphaill over the exact
location of the March between Harris and North Uist. Berneray claimed
that the March consisted of the Kyle between the island of Tahay and
North Uist, Rangas, the Kyle between the island of Grianam and North
Uist could be forded at periods of low tide, and this fact entitled North
Uist to claim not only Grianam but also a wide expanse of rocks and
skerries, with rich seaweed beds to the north and east of it. Wti kelp
now growing in demand, the dispute about the little island of Grianam
blew up into a serious dispute. In the summer of 1765, the factor of
North Uist assisted by a strong force of tenants interrupted a few
Berneray tenants and cottars collecting and burning seaweed in Grianam.
They cut their ropes and warned them to discontinue the work. The case
dragged its weary length through both Courts of Session from 1766 to
1771 and Berneray''s right was vindicated in both cases. Finally, the
case reached the House of Lords, where MacLeod of MacLeod again
triumphed and MacDonald of Sleat had to pay £100 costs. This legal
decision played an important part in the relative prosperity of the island
of Berneray from 1800 to 1820. The island became an industrial estate
and the population increased rapidly. Donald MacLeod of Berneray died on
the 9th December 1781, and not on the 16th December 1783, as written
on his tombstone in the churchyard of St. Clement''s, Rodel. This
tombstone bears the following interesting inscription [MacKenzie:
HISTORY OF THE MACLEODS]:-- "To the memory of Donald MacLeod of
Bernera, son of John, Tutor of MacLeod, who in vigour of body and mind
and firm adherence to the principles of his ancestors, resembled the men
of former times. His grandfather and granduncle were knighted by King
Charles II for their loyalty and distinguished valour in the battle of
Worcester. When the standard of the House of Stuart to whom he was
attached, was displayed in 1745, though past the prime, he took up arms,
had a share in the actions of the period and in the battle of Falkirk
vanquished a dragoon, hand to hand. From this time, he lived at his house
in Berneray, universally beloved and respected. In his 75th year, he
married his third wife, by whom he had nine children and died in his 90th
year, the 16th December 1783." His tombstone, like that of William
MacLeod I of Luskintyre, bears the insignia of mortality, such as the
skull, crossed leg bones, the bell and shears, etc. Donald at the age of
18, married as his first wife, Anne, only daughter of Roderick MacLeod,
19th Chief, and his wife Isabel, daughter of Kenneth, 3rd Earl of
Seaforth. The marriage ceremony was performed in 1709 by the Rev.
Aulay MacAulay, the great-granfather of Thomas Babington, Lord
MacAulay, minister of Harris. By Anne MacLeod, Donald had issue.
Donald MacLeod of Berneray had by his first wife, Anne MacLeod, seven
other children, whose names have not come down to us, and who probably
died in childhood. Thus his family by his first wife numbered twenty.
After Anne MacLeod''s death, Donald of Berneray married, as his second
wife, Janet, daughter of John, son of Donald Gorm MacDonald of Sleat
(Seonaid, nighean Iain mhic Dhomhnaill Ghuirm mac Dhomhnaill
Shleibhte), and, though they lived together for nineteen years, had no
issue.
After Janet MacDonald''s death, Donald of Berneray, at the age of
seventy-five years, married, as his third wife, Margaret (who died at
Killigray on 2nd February 1824, aged seventy-four years), daughter of
the Rev. Donald MacLeod, 3rd of the MacLeods of Greshornish, minister of
Duirinish, with issue.
Donald MacLeod, the father of the [attached] twenty-nine children, died
on 9th December 1781. He was known as the ''Old Trojan'', and his
numerous progeny as the ''Berneray Tribe''.
!MENTION: Rev. Dr. Donald MacKinnon and Alick Morrison, THE
MACLEODS--THE GENEALOGY OF A CLAN, Section II, Edinburgh, The Clan
MacLeod Society, 1968, p. 117.