!MENTION: Rev. Dr. Donald MacKinnon and Alick Morrison, THE MACLEODS
-- THE GENEALOGY OF A CLAN, Section III, "MacLeod Cadet Families",
Edinburgh, The Clan MacLeod Society, 1970, pp. 9-10.
In a statement in 1798 on the family of Ferinlea, it is stated Ferinlea
was occupied by them for 200 years. There is therefore evidence that
Alexander MacLeod of Talisker and Minginish was the first tacksman of
Ferinlea. He was succeeded by his son, William, who is stated in 1641 to
be tacksman "of Ferinlea". William is first mentioned in the Records of
the Scottish Privy Council in 1626. "Johne McCleud (i.e. Iain Mor 16th
Chief) declarit that Allaster McCleud, Neil McTormot and Rory mc Rory
vc Conneil vc Eane, were dead and nominate in their rowmes, William
McCleud, son to Allaster McCleud, his uncle, and Rory McCleud (i.e.
Roderick 1st of Talisker), his owne brother". William, as a young man,
married Isabel, sister of Sir Lauchlan Mor MacKintosh, 17th Chief of the
Clan MacKintosh (Marriage contract dated 30th May 1626) and here he is
described as William MacLeod "of Talisker". It must have been about this
time that William lost the estate of Talisker, which was disponed by Sir
Rory Mor 15th Chief, to his second son, Roderick, progenitor of the
present family who possess that designation. The loss of Talisker,
however, was well compensated for so far as William was concerned. His
bride, Isabel MacKintosh, had been married on two previous occasions (1)
to George Ross of Balnagown and (2) John Munro of Fearn. By her second
marriage, Isabel had come into possession of the estate of Contullich at
Alness as well as other farms in Easter Ross. After her marriage to
William MacLeod in 1626, she assigned to him her possessions without
receiving "any value" solely "from the great fear and awe she had and
still has of her said husband, and to her great loss." She further declared
that William at the time of her marriage "was not worth 1,000 merks
but became more considerable afterwards." William died about 1657
without leaving issue, when he was succeeded by his younger brother
Norman.