!BIOGRAPHY: Sir Robert Douglas of Glenbervie, Baronet, THE BARONAGE
OF SCOTLAND, Edinburgh, 1798, p. 380.
I. Sir Roderick MacLeod, second son of Sir Roderick of that ilk, was
designed by the title of Talisker. He was a man of parts and spirit, and
invariably attached to the interest of the royal family.
Upon the death of his elder brother, he became tutor-in-law to his
nephew Roderick; and, acting as head of the family during his minority,
engaged his whole clan in the royal cause.
Anno 1650, when king Charles II. came to Scotland, and advertised all
his loyal subjects to repair to his standard, sir Roderick raised a
regiment for his majesty''s service, of 700 men, mostly his own clan, of
which his valiant brother Norman was appointed lieutenant-colonel; but,
as many of them wanted arms, he applied for an order on John Buncle,
then commissary, and obtained them, but was obliged to give his bond for
the value, which cost him much trouble afterwards.
These brave brothers joined the king with their regiment, and
accompanied him to the fatal battle of Worcester, where most of them
were killed on the spot; those who survived were taken prisoners, and
transported to the plantations, so that few or none of them ever got
home again. Sir Roderick narrowly escaped with his life, and with much
difficulty got to his own country, where he continued very active in
encouraging a spirit of loyalty amongst the clans; and, at a general
meeting of the well affected, on 21st April 1653, at Glenelg, it was
agreed to raise a body of 2000 men for the king''s service, and to send a
faithful messenger with proper credentials, signed by the principal
persons of that meeting, which was called a council of war. He was to
give an account of their situation and vigorous resolutions to king
Charles II the king of Denmark, the princess royal, and the states of
Holland.
Colonel Norman MacLeod of Bernera, was entrusted with this important
commission, which he faithfully executed, and, in return brought a letter
from his majesty king Charles II. to Talisker, (still preserved) full of the
most kind expressions, grateful acknowledgments, etc. etc. dated at
Chantilly 31st October 1653.
After the total defeat of the king''s troops, when it appeared there could
be no more done for the royal family by force of arms, the generals
Dalziel, Middleton, and Drummond retired to MacLeod''s estate in Skye,
where Sir Roderick gave them a safe retreat and kind reception. Sir
Roderick''s loyalty, activity and sufferings being well known to these
gentlemen, they thought proper, in justice to so much fidelity, to give an
ample certificate and declaration thereof, recommending him to his
majesty, etc. a copy where is below*.
*Seing it is incumbent on us to do whatsoever may tend to the honour,
safety, and advantage of those whose signally loyal and faithful
adherence to his majesty''s service, have deserved, we do hereby testify
and declare, that this noble gentleman colonel Roderick Macleod, hath not
only given singular proof of his fidelity, prudence, conduct, valour and
industry in his majesty''s service, and suffered much for it in former
times, as is no less known to his majesty than to us; but having been at
expense, charges, and pains, and chiefly instrumental and active in the
enlivening and promoting this late undertaking, hath in the progress of it
behaved himself with such clear honour, integrity, discretion, constancy,
and gallant resolution on all occasions, as became a person of eminent
worth, dignity, and virtue, having not only transcended others in the
common duty of a loyal subject and a good commander, but also
performed many particular and important offices, in order to the
continuance of his majesty''s service, and advantage of his affairs, which
are hardly to be paralleled; and whatever may have been the
miscarriages of any person or persons to the prejudice of his majesty''s
service, and those that are concerned in it, we do, upon our certain
knowledge likewise declare, that the said colonel Roderick Macleod is
not only absolutely freed from any accession to it, and obtained with it,
but also hath been principally instrumental in frustrating all designs and
attempts undertaken to our prejudice, and author of our preservation; by
all which he hath not only deserved that his deportment should by us be
duly represented to his majesty, but that they should be suitably
rewarded, and his honour and merit made manifest to the world; and we
do hereby likewise not only allow and authorize, but do most earnestly
desire him to apply himself to such courses as may be most expedient
for his safety and preservation, by private address, capitulation, or
otherwise. In testimony whereof we have signed and sealed these
presents at Dunvegan, the last day of March 1655. (Signed) John
Middleton, Delilah, W. Drummond.
Sir Roderick after this lived privately at home till the restoration,
immediately after which he waited on his majesty at London, was most
graciously received, and had the honour of knighthood conferred upon
him. And, as we before observed, sir Roderick had given bond for the
arms he had got for his men in 1650, this bond was assigned to William
MacCulloch, upon which ultimate diligence was used against Talisker
during the usurpation, but he was at last relieved from the claim by act
of parliament, anno 1661.
He married, 1st, a daughter of Donald first lord Reay, (omitted in the
Peerage, page 576), by whom he had only one daughter, who died young:
He married, 2dly, Mary, daughter of ____ Mackinnon of that ilk, by whom
he had two sons and one daughter.
1. John, his heir.
2. Magnus, who died unmarried.
His daughter, Isabel, was married to Donald Maclean of Coll, and had
issue.
He died anno 1675, and was succeeded by his only surviving son.
!BIOGRAPHY: Rev. Dr. Donald MacKinnon, and Alick Morrison, MACLEOD
CHIEFS OF HARRIS AND DUNVEGAN, Edinburgh, The Clan MacLeod Society,
1969, p. 24.
!BIOGRAPHY: Alick Morrison, THE CHIEFS OF CLAN MACLEOD, East
Kilbride, Scotland, 1986.
!BIOGRAPHY: Rev. Dr. Donald MacKinnon and Alick Morrison, THE
MACLEODS--THE GENEALOGY OF A CLAN, Section II, Edinburgh, The Clan
MacLeod Society, 1968, pp. 1-5.
According to Rev. Dr. Norman MacLeod, Caraid nan Gaidheal, Roderick
was born in the island of Berneray, Harris, where his father, Sir Ruairidh
Mor had a mansion house. He was probably born about 1606, for he
attended the University of Glasgow in 1624. On the death of his elder
brother, John, 16th Chief, Roderick became the Tutor to his nephew,
Roderick, afterwards 17th Chief. In that year, King Charles I was
executed at Whitehall by the Regicides in England. The Long Parliament
of England had already been ignominiously purged and a Rump survived
claiming that it alone had authority to rule the country, as a
Commonwealth Republic. Real power however lay in the hands of Oliver
Cromwell and his invincible Ironsides. Scotland however was not
prepared to accept these high handed proceedings and forthwith crowned
Prince Charles as Charles II at Scone. Acting on the principle that the
best defense is the best offense, the Scots marched into England hoping
to gain considerable support for the Roay Cause. In this they were to be
very disappointed until they reached the loyal city of Worcester. In this
campaign the MacLeods were destined to play a very prominent part.
Roderick the Tutor and his younger brother, Norman of Berneray, raised a
Regiment of 1,000 men on the MacLeod Estates, of which the former was
Colonel and the latter Lieutenant Colonel. We learn that "one
Macloud-herris hath brought up a regiment from the furthest Highlands
who the most part, bare pieces of rough skins on their feet for shoes".
They fought with the utmost gallantry at Worcester against the
overwhelmingly superior numbers of Cromwell''s invincible veterans.
They might have won the day but for the inexplicably cowardly behaviour
of Leslie and his cavalry. The MacLeods were nearly all killed and the
few who escaped were rounded up and afterwards sold as white slaves
on the plantations of the Carolinas in North America. Roderick managed
to escape after concealing himself in various disguises and eventually
succeeded in reaching the island of Skye. His brother Norman was
captured and imprisoned in the Tower of London. Early in 1652, Scotland
was forcibly incorporated into the Commonwealth Republic of England.
The only hope of overturning this despotic regime and asserting the
honour and liberty of Scotland was to continue the war and to restore
the Monarchy. In this enterprise the Highland Clans were very "forward".
At a meeting at Glenelg in MacLeod territory, the Chiefs decided to send
Lt. Col. Norman MacLeod, who had managed to escape from the Tower of
London, as a special envoy to Charles II in Paris. This mission he
faithfully accomplished and brought back a message to his "faithful
Highlanders", which was addressed to Roderick MacLeod of Talisker. It
expressed grateful acknowledgement of their loyalty and the King''s
determination to reward them for their services and cheerfulness in
conducting the good work upon which the King''s interest and the honour
and liberty of the country and the preservation of the whole nobility and
gentry at the time so much depended.
Unfortunately the enterprise was ruined by the defeat of the Royalist
General Middleton at Lochgarry in 1654. With a price of £200 on their
heads, the Royalist leaders, Middleton, Tam Delilah and Drummond, after
some hairbreadth escapes, were guided to Dunvegan Castle by Lt. Col.
Norman MacLeod. Here under the protection of the MacLeods, the Royalist
Generals stayed for some time and here several Highland Chiefs convened
to meet them. It became obvious that they could hope for little further
help in men, money or arms from the Continent and that continued
resistance to the Cromwellian regime might mean their complete
ruination. From secret sources connected with the Usurper, they advised
that if they submitted, they would be restored to their fortunes and
estates. The Chiefs decided to submit. In these altered circumstances,
Lt. Col. Norman MacLeod removed the Royalist Generals from Dunvegan to
his own residence in the island of Berneray for the sake of greater
security. He also succeeded in chartering a ship which conveyed them
safely from the island of Berneray to the continent of Europe. The
Generals however did not leave Dunvegan Castle without leaving behind
them an appreciation of the devoted loyalty and services of Roderick
MacLeod, the Tutor and indeed of the Clan MacLeod as a whole. This
document is proof, if such is needed, by contemporaries, who knew the
facts, that Highlanders were capable of reaching a degree of
disinterested loyalty and service "which are hardly to be paralleled".
This document, [MacKenzie: HISTORY OF THE MACLEODS, pp. 230-231.] of
which the Clan MacLeod have every reason to be proud, reads as follows:
"Seeing that it is incumbent upon us to do whatever may tend to the
honour, safety and advantage of those whose signally loyal and faithful
adherence to His Majesty''s service have deserved, we do hereby testify
and declare, that this noble gentleman, Colonel Roderick MacLeod, hath
not only given singular proof of his fidelity, prudence, conduct, valour
and industry in His Majesty''s service, and suffered much for it in former
times, as is no less known to His Majesty than to us; but having been at
expense, charges and pains, and chiefly instrumental and active in the
enlivening and promoting this late undertaking, hath in the progress of it
behaved himself with such clear honour, integrity, discretion constancy
and gallant resolution on all occasions, as became a person of eminent
worth, dignity and virtue; having not only transcended others in the
common duty of a loyal subject and a good commander, but also
performed many particular and important offices, in order to the
continuance of His Majesty''s service, and advantage of his affairs, which
are hardly to be paralleled; and whatever may have been the
miscarriages of any person or persons to the prejudice of His Majesty''s
service, and those that are concerned in it, we do, upon our certain
knowledge likewise declare, that the said Colonel Roderick MacLeod is
not only absolutely freed from any accession to it, and untainted with it,
but also hath been principally instrumental in frustrating all designs and
attempts undertaken to our prejudice, and author of our preservation; by
all which he hath not only deserved that his deportment should by us be
duly represented to His Majesty, but that they should be suitable
rewarded, and his honour and merit made manifest to the world; and we
do hereby likewise not only allow and authorize, but do most earnestly
desire him to apply himself to such courses as may be most expedient
for this safety and preservation, by private address, capitulation or
otherwise. In testimony whereof we have signed and sealed these
presents at Dunvegan the last day of March 1655.
(Signed) John Middleton; Delilah; W. Drummond."
On the 29th of May 1655, Roderick the young Chief of the MacLeods had
to submit. The Cromwellians imposed stern punishment. The Chief had
to find security of £6,000 for his future good behaviour, and in addition
pay a fine of £4,000 sterling. From this agreement and amnesty, the
Chief''s two uncles, Roderick of Talisker and Norman of Berneray were
expressly excluded, a remarkable tribute of the respect the
Cromwellians had for them. Indeed, the Chief was bribed to apprehend
them and hand them over to the Cromwellian garrisons at Inverness or
Inverlochy and in return, he would receive their liferents. No doubt the
MacLeod Chief regarded these proposals with the contempt that they
deserved. For a long time, Talisker and Berneray were "so obnoxious"
that they had to live "very retiredly". After two years, Roderick MacLeod
of Talisker succeeded in getting terms on the 4th May 1657 from General
Monk, which enabled him to go about his business. Norman MacLeod of
Berneray would not entertain the idea of coming to any terms with the
hated regime "despite all temptations your foes did offer you". In the
end, he had to go into exile on the continent of Europe.
When to the great joy of the whole nation, the Monarchy was restored in
1660, Talisker and Berneray proceeded to London to meet King Charles II.
The honour of Knighthood was deservedly conferred upon them. Unhappily,
the King was far from grateful to the Chief of the Clan MacLeod and this
was bound to have considerable significance on the behaviour of the Clan
in the future.
Sir Roderick married as his first wife, Barbara, daughter of Donald, 1st
Lord Reay, [MacKay: THE BOOK OF MACKAY (1906), p. 142.] and his wife,
Barbara, daughter of Kenneth MacKenzie, 1st Lord Kintail, with issue: an
only daughter who died young. Sir Roderick married, as his second wife,
Mary, daughter of Lauchlan Og MacKinnon, 13th Chief of the MacKinnons
[THE CHIEFS AND CHIEFSHIP OF CLAN MACKINNON, p. 15. In HISTORY OF
THE MACLEODS (p. 231) she is given incorrectly as the daughter of Sir
Lauchlan MacKinnon, 14th Chief. She was his sister.], with issue.
Sir Roderick MacLeod of Talisker died, in 1675, and was succeeded in
the headship of the family by his surviving son.