!SOURCE: William Matheson, "The MacLeods of Lewis," TRANSACTIONS OF
THE GAELIC SOCIETY OF INVERNESS, Vol. LI (1978-1980), Inverness,
Scotland, 1981, pp. 320-337 (330).
Torquil (Torcall). He was the recipient of the charter, already
mentioned, which was from James IV, dated at the castle of Kilkerran in
Kintyre, 28th June 1498.
This brings us to the point at which we began the present enquiry, the
object of which was to trace Torquil''s lineage back to the eponymous
ancestor of the MacLeods. It is not intended to follow the subsequent
history of the family in detail, as there is little to add to what has
already been written on the subject. Torquil was forfeited in 1505/6
for his part in the rebellion of Domhnall Dubh, claimant to the Lordship
of the Isles, and, after defeat of the clan in battle, he disappears from
the scene. However, his brother Malcolm had a charter of Lewis and
Waternish in 1511. After his death there was an interregnum during
which Torquil''s son John took possession of the estate without legal
title. He was succeeded by Malcolm''s son Roderick, whose title was
established by grants from the Crown in 1538 and 1541. The quarrels of
Roderick''s sons, legitimate and otherwise, with one another and with
their father, contributed in no small measure to the ruin of the family;
and not only its ruin, but its utter extinction. Strange as it may seem,
since the seventeenth century, no one has claimed tob e descended from
any of Roderick''s numerous brood, so far as known; And the
representation of the family devolved upon his brother Malcolm''s
descendants, the MacLeods of Raasay.
!BIOGRAPHY: Sir Robert Douglas of Glenbervie, Baronet, THE BARONAGE
OF SCOTLAND, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1798, p. 384.
"IX. Torquil MacLeod of Lewes, who got a charter under the great seal,
''Torquilo Macleod filio et haeredi Roderici Macleod de Lewes, et
haeredibus masculis de corpore sus legitime procreat, seu procreand,
quibus deficien. Gillicalmo lie Gillicallum Garve Macleod de Rasay,
haeredibus suis, etc. terrarum baronieae de Assynt, etc. infra
vicecomitat, de Ross, ei terras de insula de Lewes in vicecomitat, de
Inverness, super resignatione dict. quond. Roderici sui patris, in libera
baronia de Lewes, unit. etc.'' 14 February 1571.
"He married a daughter of Donald MacDonald of Slate, by whom he had
one son,
"Roderick, his heir.
"Torquil afterwards, upon his own resignation, got another charter
under the great seal, ''Torquilo Macleod de Lewes et haeredibus suis,
terrarum baron. de Lewes, de Assynt, de Coigach, Waterness, etc. etc.''
dated the 10th of August 1596.
"He was succeeded by his son."
[According to Matheson, Roderick is Torquil''s brother Malcolm''s son.]
!BIOGRAPHY: BURKE''S LANDED GENTRY, Eighteenth Edition, Vol. II, London,
Burke''s Peerage Limited, 1969, pp. 416-417.
!BIOGRAPHY: John Burke, Esq., HISTORY OF THE COMMONERS OF GREAT
BRITAIN AND IRELAND, Vol. IV, Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Co.,
1977, pp. 584-592. Torquil, succeeded his father about 1495, as eighth
Baron of Lewis. He married the Lady Catherine Campbell, sister of Colin,
first Earl of Argyle. He was appointed heritable baillie of Troterness,
which was confirmed to him by a charter, under the great seal, dated
Kilkinan, in Kintyre, 28th June, 1498; but this charter was rendered
null, by a general revocation in 1499, and Troterness was let by the
commissioners of the crown, to Ranald Bane Allanson, of Moydert. Donald
Dubh, whose claims to his inheritance, on the death of his grandfather,
John, Earl of Ross, and Lord of the Isles, were disputed by the
government, found in Torquil a faithful and powerful friend. Indeed, he
was too much so for his own interest, for in the year 1506, being
charged under penalty of high treason, to deliver up the person of Donald
Dubh, and having refused to comply, he was formally denounced a rebel,
and all his estates forfeited. The estates continued in possession of the
crown until 1511, when they were restored to one of the old family, in
the person of Malcolm.
!SOURCE: Alick Morrison, THE MACLEODS: THE GENEALOGY OF A CLAN,
Section IV, "The MacLeods of Lewis", Edinburgh, Associated Clan MacLeod
Societies, 1974, p. 4.
Torquil, the eldest son by the second marriage, succeeded his father.
He warmly espoused the cause of Donald Dubh of the Isles. No sooner
had Donald Dubh escaped from his imprisonment in Inishconnel Castle on
Loch Awe then he made his way to the island of Lewis, and Torquil
became his staunch supporter in the bid to re-establish the Lordship of
the Isles. He encouraged the West Highland Chiefs to rally round the
unfortunate Donald Dubh. Matters were so serious that the King in
person had to lead an expedition to the Isles. While most chiefs
submitted before this overwhelming force, Torquil IX of Lewis failed to
do so. As a result, he was denounced as a rebel. A strong expedition in
1506 led by the Earl of Huntly invaded Lewis, stormed the Castle of
Stornoway and subdued the island. Torquil disappeared; we do not know
what happened to him. His lands were forfeited in 1506.
Torquil IX of Lewis married Catherine Campbell, daughter of Colin, 1st
Earl of Argyle, without issue. He married as his second wife, a daughter
of John Cathanach MacDonald of Islay, and the Glens, who was indeed the
widow of Donald Gallach MacDonald, 3rd of Sleat, with issue, a son, John.
This John, alias John MacTorquil, like his father was excluded from the
succession in Lewis in 1506 and 1511. The estate and title came into
the hands of his uncle Malcolm in the latter year. On the death of
Malcolm X, however, John MacTorquil appears to have recovered
possession of his patrimony, which he held until his death in 1532
despite the forfeiture. He was married with issue, a daughter, who
married Donald Gorm V of Sleat.
!SOURCE: Alick Morrison, THE MACLEODS: THE GENEALOGY OF A CLAN,
Section IV, Revised Edition, "The MacLeods of Lewis", Edinburgh,
Associated Clan MacLeod Societies, 1990, p. 5.
After Torquil and Alexander MacLeod of Dunvegan had paid homage to
King James, Torquil received a charter for his lands dated at Kilkerran
28th June 1498, [RMS (II) n. 2424.] but within a year the king revoked all
charters and so precipitated new insurrections in support of the Islay
family. Donald Dubh, son of Angus Og (murdered at Inverness in 1487),
escaped from confinement and took refuge in Lewis in 1501. Torquil,
summoned to surrender him, refused to do so and supported Donald Dubh
in the insurrection he was fomenting. In 1505/6 Torquil was solemnly
forfeited. [The Acts of the Parliament of Scotland (II) p. 264.] The Earl
of Huntly moved against him, beseiged and took Stornoway Castle.
Donald Dubh escaped, but nothing is known of the fate of Torquil. Torquil
married (1) Catherine, daughter of Colin, 1st Earl of Argyll, without
issue. [MGC (IV) p. 4.] His second wife was daughter to John Cathanach of
Islay and the Glens, the widow of Donald Gallach of Sleat, with issue.
[Ibid.]