!BIOGRAPHY: Rev. Dr. Donald MacKinnon, and Alick Morrison, THE MACLEOD
CHIEFS OF HARRIS AND DUNVEGAN, Edinburgh, The Clan MacLeod Society,
1969, p. 11. Alick Morrison, THE CHIEFS OF CLAN MACLEOD, East
Kilbride, Scotland, 1986.
Norman,… settled in the Island of Berneray in the Sound of Harris, and
became the progenitor of a family of MacLeods, known as the ''Old''
MacLeods of Berneray to distinguish them from the later MacLeods of
Berneray, descended from Sir Norman MacLeod, third son of Sir Roderick
Mor MacLeod 15th Chief of Dunvegan.
!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. 247-248.
The island of Berneray in the Sound of Harris was held continuously
from about 1350 to 1807, by two distinct MacLeod families. From 1633
to 1807, it was held by Sir Norman MacLeod of Berneray and his
descendants. From about 1350 to 1633, it was held by the old MacLeods
of Berneray, a family descended from Malcolm, 3rd Chief, who was
styled in the island of Pabbay, ''Gillechalum cas reamhar Mhicleoid'' or
''the stout-legged Malcolm MacLeod''. According to the Genealogy of the
Clan, compiled in 1768, probably by Norman, 22nd Chief, "the second son
of Malcolm (third chief) was called Tormod and of him are descended the
McLeods of Herries, who posses''d Bernera until Sr. Normand McLeod gott
it as his patrimony". More than half a century later, the BANNATYNE
MANUSCRIPT has this to say, "Tormod the second son of Malcolm was
settled in Bernera in Harris where his race continued to the time of Rory
More, who gave Bernera to his son, Norman. In the Island of Pabbay in
Harris there are still several families of this race. They call
themselves CClan vic Gillicallum coss Ravir vic Leod. They were a
high-minded spirited race, and in my time, although poor and powerless,
their pride of Descent had rather increased than dimminished". Norman
MacLeod (1st) displaced Clann mhic Bhaic or Clan mhic Phaice, who had
held the island for some 150 years previously. This ancient family was
descended from an illegitimate son of Paul Mac Bok or Mac Phauck, who
was the Sheriff of Skye -- a man of great power and authority and who
had been the constant friend of Olave the Black, King of Man and the
Isles, in his adversity and prosperity and through whose means chiefly,
Olave recovered his kingdom. Leod the progenitor of the Clan MacLeod
was fostered in his household. When Paul died, he left no legitimate
heirs and he bequeathed his property -- Sleat, the east side of
Trotternish, Snizort and the whole of Harris to his foster son, Leod. It is
interesting to note that South Harris and the Small Isles had originally
belonged to the MacCrimmons -- afterwards the famous hereditary
pipers of the MacLeods. They were deprived of these territories by Paul
MaPhauch''s ancestors. Although Paul had will his properties to his
foster son, Leod, descendants of Paul''s natural son continued for several
generations to hold the lands of Berneray, Ensay and several other places
in Harris from the MacLeods. "In the course of time, they fell into decay
and a few peasants only now remain of a race once numerous and
powerful. They are called Clan Vic Phaick". There are families in
Berneray yet descended from the MacCrimmons and Clann Mhic Phaic or
more correctly Clann Mhic Bhaich.
Of Norman MacLeod, 1st of Berneray, nothing is known beyond the name.
As brother of Iain Ciar 4th Chief, he must have been a man of
considerable consequence in his day and he left issue.