!SOURCE: Rev. Dr. Donald MacKinnon and Alick Morrison, THE MACLEODS:
THE GENEALOGY OF A CLAN, Section III, "Cadet Families", Edinburgh, The
Clan MacLeod Society, 1970, pp. 267, 268.
John is generally regarded as a bold and violent man, because he was
responsible for the death of his brother-in-law MacAskill of Ebost in a
quarrel probably occasioned by excessive drink. Various versions of this
tragedy are given and probably the most interesting appears in Alexander
MacKinzie''s HISTORY OF THE MACLEODS. The MacAskills of course were
furious and were ready to exact dire vengeance. John MacLeod of Gesto,
on the advice of his wife, sought asylum at Cuidrach, which at that time
was occupied by his father-in-law, the renowned MacDonald warrior,
Domhnall macIain mhic Seumais, whose skilful leadership led to the
defeat of the MacLeods by the MacDonalds at Carinish in Nourth Uist in
1601. Since then, Donald had become a successful drover and his
son-in-law, John MacLeod of Gesto, referred to him slightingly as
Aireach liath nam bo (the grey-headed herd of the cows). None the less,
in his hour of trouble, the old warrior received his son-in-law kindly and
promised to protect him. He stationed himself outside the house with
his broadsword and the sight of him was sufficient to compel the
MacAskills to return home and to desist from their enterprise. John
MacLeod of Gesto was punished by Sir Rory Mor MacLeod, his Chief, for
this tragic event. He had to give up some of his possessions in Glenelg
and Gesto. There was issue of the marriage of John MacLeod and Maria
MacDonald, daughter of the warrior Donald mac Iain mhic Sheumais.