The Clan

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The Clan

Clan MacTamhais started in the first quarter of the 12th century. The Progenitor TAUSE was born in 1105-1106. The son of Colin MacDwine and a daughter of Swyne the Red.

The land, Dunardry, was Chartered to the MacTavish in the 13th century and remaind in the MacTavish hand till 31 December 1785.

Online Map of Dunardry Argyll

The following is a link to a good online map of the MacTavish lands of Dunardry.

The lands extend: - North to the Add River; - South to 3 miles north of Castle Sween; - West to the Sound of Jura; - East to 2 miles East of present Highway A83. These are all shown on this map (Castle Sween in closeup view).

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?grid2map?x=185000&y=695000&zoom=5&isp=250&ism=10000&arrow=y?91,249

This is a close-up of Dunardry Locks

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?grid2map?X=182500&Y=690500&zoom=3

Closeup of Dunadd http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?grid2map?x=183500&y=693500&zoom=3&isp=200&ism=1000&arrow=y?104,104

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Sept.'s and connected names to Clan MacTavish are:

Campbell, Cash, Fraser, MacCamish, MacCash, MacCavish, MACCOLM, MACCOLMBE, MacCosh, MacELhOSE, McElhose, MacLehose, McElehose, MacHose(s), McHose

MacTammany, MacTavish, MacTeague, Stephens*, Stephenson*, Stevens*, Stevenson*, Stivan*, Tawesson, Teague, Thom, Thomas, Thomason, Thomasson, Thompson, Thomson, Todd**

( * ) Septs

(**) Also a split Clan, MacTavish/Gordon

Here then is documentation on the MacTavish

written by Dr George D. Mathews D.D. L.L.D

The Mactavishes of Dun-ArdRigh

The early years of the Fourteenth Century had seen the overthrow of the de Sweynes and their disappearance from Scottish history, their memory being kept alive mainly by the ruinous building that still bears their name and the waters of the Loch that washes its foundations. Yet the line was not extinct. Succession is continued by blood, whether this flow through a male or a female channel, and so we can now recall the marriage about 1105 A.D., between a daughter of the House of Sweyne and Colin MacDuine of Lochow. The Scottish line of the Sweynes was continued in the two sons of that marriage. Taus or Tavis and Ivor Croumb. (White, p. 18) Heraldry furnishes its support to this claim. 86 87 88 89

The Campbells who came into Argyle in 1221 90 under Alexander's invasion, were from Perthshire and have always used as their crest, the Boar's head, with the motto "Non Obliviscamur", with reference, it is said, to the slaying by Diarmid, one of the Fingallian heroes and from whom that family allege descent, of an animal that had for some time been wasting the district of Glenschee, - in Perthshire, according to one version, but in Argyllshire according to another, the scene of the hunting having been at the Beinn-an-tuire, or the wild boars mountain in Kyntyr. 91 Each of the many houses that are in any way connected with the Argyll Campbells, also use this crest, and among these, we find the Mactavishes of Dunardry, 92 whose motto however is simply "Non Oblitus". 93 94

When one calls to mind the many intertribal conflicts in which the Argyll family took part, together with the numerous confiscatings, and destruction of their mansions by successive monarchs and hostile chiefs, one can easily understand that many gaps must exist among their family Papers. There may thus be among them really no records connected with the early history of the Clan Mactavish, whose individuality would at the same time, be lost in that of the overshadowing Campbells. Still, were the contents of the Charter Chest 94a carefully examined, documents might be found, like that of the Craignish Annals, which would give much interesting information. 95 But not all landowners are willing to let the outside world know much of the early inner history of their family. They seem to think that such concern themselves alone, though there may be much information of national importance in those documents. Sometimes they seem to imagine that the faults of their ancestors or kinsmen who lived a thousand years ago, reflect on the men to-day, or that unwelcome flaws might be revealed in the lines of their holdings. It may be hoped however that some day, the Argyll-shire Lairds will follow the example of the Chiefs in other Countries, and enable us to have what to-day we have not, a History of Argyllshire itself.

In the 14th century, the Clan Campbell was rapidly becoming one of the most powerful Clans in the land 96 so that not a few of the smaller and weaker Clans and Septs soughts it protection against troublesome neighbours. This protection was ever willingly accorded on the applicants consenting to adopt the Clan name, 97 thus enabling such to speak of a relationship as existing between them. This mode of speaking was permitted by the Campbells, but soon became credited to some illegitimate connection, so that the new kinsmen found themselves, in flagrant disregard of the principle of Clan equality, and it might be of the facts in a particular case, placed in a position of social inferiority.

"It is necessary," says Campbell in Hist. McIver Campbells, pg. 3, "to notice the policy and procedure of the House of Lochaw which resulted in its chiefs becoming local sovereigns of Argyllshire. While laying the foundation in the eye of the Court and of the Lay by securing Highlanders, (lands so held more derisively styled "parchment lands"), of feudal Superiority of the lands of ancient proprietors, they at the same time, lost no opportunity of basing this Superiorship on a Celtic feeling, by alleging a remote connection of these descendants with their own family, and inducing them to adopt the name of Campbell." To this method the old Highland custom of handfast marriages gave much plausibility and success, especially as the interests of the family in question and the advantage of securing the protection and favour of the potentates of Lochaw, induced them the more readily to acquiesce in such theories of their descent.

But such, so far as we know, never was the attitude of the Argyll Campbells toward their near kinsmen, the Mactavishes. In there case, there could be no belittling of the de Sweyne lady. She was in every respect assuredly the social equal of Colin MacDuine. Her family was of equal if not greater antiquity and a loftier lineage than his.

Territorially, its possessions were more extensive than his, while few dwellings of Highland Chief could compare Skipnish Castle. There had been nothing out of the way in a Church union between the parties, but as we do not know of any document witnessing either for or against such a marriage, we have to content ourselves in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, with affirming the existence of a marriage, on some ground regular, between the de Sweyne lady and Colin McDuine, leading to the legitimate existence of the Clan or Sept Mactavish. 99

Of the life history of Tavish Corr, the eldest son of this marriage we know nothing beyond the tradition that he was a great warrior and took from the Lamonts a great part of Cowall which was then added to the domains of the Argyll McDuines. 99a Such an achievement would, however, no more be credited to him, than a military success by an army of to-day would be credited to one of its junior officers. The contents of the Argyll Charter chest or room with its documents, once owned by the MacDuines, have not yet been published so that the special services of any particular member are ad majorem gloriam Ergadice, wholly unknown to the general public of Scotland.

From Tavish Corr there are descended, it is held, the three families of Mactavish of Dun-ArdRigh 100 in Knapdale, of Scannish in Cowall, and of Rudal or Rua-duilh in Glasserie. 101 Tavish Coor or his immediate descendants, settled on the edge of the well known Moss of Poltalloch, and at the foot of a high hill, the second highest in Knapdale, called Dun-ArdRigh, from the presence at its base of the home of MacTavish. 102 Every person travelling by the

Crinan Canal when passing through Dunardry lock is within two hundred yards of the site on which once stood this castle. 103 Rudal, within whose former limits is the historic Dun-Add, once the capital of the Dalriad Kings of Argyll, is a few miles to the east, the present Rudal mill being on the roadside and nearly opposite Dun-Add, but the Rudal farm is a little more eastly. This farm has always been regarded as the march or boundary between Lorne and Kyntyr. Scannish has probably anglicised its name and owing to this disguise we are unable to state its locality in Cowall.

Of the families of Rudal and Scannish, we know nothing. As younger sons or brothers of the Chief, they would have no special position in the history of the Clan, but rank simply as Duine Uasail and gradually cease to be of any special note. Their descendants would descend lower and lower in the tribal scale, until finally, they would be merged in the general membership of the Clan, all of whom were "gentlemen". We concern ourselves therefore in this sketch, only with the descendants of Tawes of Dun-ArdRigh, respecting whom we yet know so little.

When or by whom the Castle of Dun-ArdRigh was built, we know not, but find if marked on maps like that of Pont, 1634, 104 as a castellated building, and named simply Dun-ArdRigh. From the line of the present Canal, the estate extended towards the ancient village of Kilmartin 105 but we cannot define its extent northward or southward. Having been included in the forfeiture of the Earl of Argyll in 1686, - sub-feudation not being legal, its superiority must have been vested in him, while, as in 1704 it was restored to Duncan Mactavish it is evident, apart from later mentions, that its legal ownership was in the Mactavishyes. By degrees, the descendants and adherents of Tavish Corr spread throughout Knapdale and northern Kyntyr, but especially over Kilmartin, Glasserie, and Kirkmichael districts. Everywhere in that locality, one met with Mactavishes, and the little churchyard of Kirkmichael-Glasserie, has a large portion of its soil rich with the dust of generations of the Clan. The Chiefs were buried by themselves. A few miles north of Dunardy, is Kilmartin, with a church whose history goes back to remote antiquity. In its churchyard are some seven flat slabs side by side, several of them covered with Celtic sculptures, while another is the cover of a small kist 105a - said to contain a recent internment - with an inscription, which is illegible, the lichens having rooted themselves in the very matter of the stone. The lid of this kist is permanently shut by the building on it of a small cross of brown stone, placed by the family of a late representative of this branch, the late Sheriff Mactavish of Campbelton, with the inscription, - "The burying place of the Mactavishes of Dunardry."

On two of the large stones are inscriptions in Gaelic or Latin letters, but so weathered - and we regret to add, so foot-worn, by the heedless tramping across the rest place of the dead, as to be no longer readable. On another, is a life sized high relief effigy of a mail clad warrior, with the high pointed helmet and armed with the long two handed sword. 105b In comparatively recent times, some one has cut in roughly carved letters, the word MACTAVISH across the chest of the warrior, but on none of them is there any such inscription as might indicate the name of the warrior at rest below or the date of his burial. The last of the slabs is one of considerable beauty. It is divided into three panels or compartments with well preserved sculptures of men and animals, but whose significance we are unable to give. This owes its preservation to its having been covered for a couple of feet by soil that has only lately been removed. 106

The following account of the Mactavish graves in Kilmartin Churchyard is from the pen of Principal Campbell, but he does not give his authority for his statements.

The gaves of the brothers (Taus and Iver) are pointed out side by side in the Churchyard of Kilmartin.

This is, as is well-known, not the only stone among the many fine old Highland monuments in the Churchyard of Kilmartin, the chief buyring place in the 13th and 14th centuries of many great families of Argyll, which has been appropriated and defaced by the inscription on it of the names of a different family in modern characters.

During the couple of centuries that were passing, we hear but little of the Mactavishes. Possibly, their territory was not sufficiently large to enable them in view of the the ceaseless and grasping activity of their kinsmen, the Argyll Campbells, to take front rank among the Chiefs of Western Argyll, or their actual numbers may have been hardly sufficient to allow of their ranking as a fighting Clan, and so, the years would pass by, without their being noted for any special exploits. Once again therefore, we are dependent on tradition for mention of the family, and this time, we hear of a great tragedy, which affected the whole history and social position of the Clan. Had nothing occurred to break up the family unity, the Clan might still have had a recognised place in the history of the Nation, but broken in two, it had no chance of being or of doing what might once have been possible. The tradition to which we now refer, is that at some unmentioned period, but apparently about the close of the Fourteenth century, a quarrel broke out between two brothers, the sons of the then Chief. The ground of the quarrel is not stated but the dispute was decided by force. The elder brother was slain in the fight, when the survivor known as Tavish Mor or Tavish the Great, whether in reference to his physical or his mental qualities is not said, accompanied by a small band of followers, left the ancestral home of Dun-ArdRigh and went northward seeking a home in new territory, of which we shall speak again. The main body of the Clan remained at Dun-ArdRigh - and for the present, we follow their history - its head possessing the Chieftainship. The section that followed Tavish Mhor seems, to have retained an organized existence equally with that of Dun-ArdRigh and to have continued its existence for nearly as long a period among the Families of Scotland, though to it through the forfeiture of 1747, of the Fraser Estates came the inevitable dispersion. 106a

So completely were the MacTavishes of Dun-ArdRigh out of sight, that the first appearance in print of their name, is in the Exchequer Rolls of 1456 A.D. while even in this case, we cannot say with confidence that the individual brought before us, was a member of the Dun-ArdRigh family, though the early ownership of Knapdale by Menteith may almost warrant the belief that he was not only a member of the Clan, but perhaps of the blood of its Chief himself. Singularly enough, this person is found a member of that family of Menteith which in 1267 A.D. had obtained its Knapdale lands from Dufgall the son of Sweyne, and in turn, in 1353 parted with them, in an exchange with King Robert Bruce. The Chamberlain of the Earl of whom we speak (or the Factor, as such an official is generally called in modern times) was a Domine Thome Tawis. Elsewhere when his name is given, he is styled Sir Thome, the title thus given being simply an abbreviation of Sire or Father, the title always given to priests in acknowledgement of their spiritual relationship and connection. Sir Thomas then while in priest's orders, as may have been the case with many others, acted as Chamberlain to the Earl. His name occurs first in the year 1451 A.D., his accounts for that year and reaching down to 1454, being printed in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland. In 1456 a new Chamberlain appears who reports his predecessor as in arrear, his accounts not being correct. On investigation, Sir Thome is found to be in arrear to a very large amount. He had failed to pay into the King's Rental as much as the sharp eyes officials considered due, and so he was reported as "in arrear", - a gentle mode of denoting what a modern accountant might have described otherwise. Nothing is added to account for the unfortunate position of Sir Thomas, as to whether he had been unmindful of the eternal distinction between meum and tuum, or whether he had simply been a bad Bookkeeper, and had thus entangled himself beyond his individual power of explaining. An enquiry into his own financial condition shewed, that he had not been adding to his own wealth by taking from that of his master, and that he possessed nothing in the world that was distrainable except his chaplaincy, an ecclesiastical source of income and that therefore he was a priest. Lord Menteith could forgive the financial deficiency, but as to the chaplaincy, it was added in the report "capellaniam super quo consulendus Rex". The King must needs be consulted, as probably, it had been a Crown appointment. The result of the reporting to the King is not told, and Sir Thomas drops out of sight.

It is a full century before we meet with the name of Mactavish again in any documentary record connected with that period, when on March 18, 1564, Queen Mary confirmed several charters given by the Earl of Argyle to M. Johanni Carswell, rector of Kilmartyne and his heirs, etc. of a large amount of land in different parts of Knapdale and Lorne together with the Keepership of Carnassary Castle, on certain rent payable partly in money and partly in produce and also of maintaining six soldiers, while all these lands should be protected from all scattis, 107 soirning and obligation for the food of dogs and horses." In this same year Duncan McCaws of Dun-ArdRigh is on record as giving lands to John Carswell of Carnassary Castle, an important but now ruined Castle near the village of Kilmartin - probably some of those named in the Argyll Charters. 108 In 1592 (Great Seal) there is mention of a Duncan McCaws and of his brother Alexander, but we do not know their family connection.

Half a century now passes without any mention of the Dun-ArdRigh family until we reach the troubled times of Charles the First, when that King attempted to establish the Episcopal Church in Scotland and to hold in that land an autocratic and despotic civil position such as he claimed for himself in England.

At the General Assembly held in Glasgow in 1638, the Earl of Argyll, who had been and still was the hereditary keeper of Sweyne Castle, avowed himself to be in full sympathy with the Covenanting section of the Church of Scotland, in opposition to the episcopalianising aim of Charles the First. Notwithstanding this opposition, the King retained him as Keeper of that Castle, and in 1641, created him Marquis, hoping thus to secure his service. Montrose however came down to Scotland, to raise the standard for the King in opposition to the English Parliament, when Argyll threw himself into active opposition, and assumed the command of certain Scottish troops to fight against Montrose. In 1644, Sir Alexander Macdonald, son of Colquitto, commonly called in the Highlands, Alaster Macholla Chittich, led a force of some fifteen hundred Irish troops into Argyllshire, to make a diversion in Montrose's favour when Montrose himself entered Argyllshire, whose Earl though commanding the Covenanting Army, had already shown his incompetence as a military leader. "Dividing his troops into three", says Mitchell, History of the Highlands, p 493, "for six long weeks, Montrose and his troops traversed the country, pillaging and destroying what property they could find, and killing every inhabitant, man, woman and child, without mercy. Before the end of 1645, the greater part of Argyll was a desolate waste, and in most places without a single inhabitant. Not a man was found to show himself throughout that wide extended domain. The greater part of Argyll became a dreary waste. Wishart assures us, that Montrose spared none that were able to bear arms, and the Red Book of Clanranald asserts, that the party under Clanranald (one of the leaders in this savagery), slew 900 men, while the body of men under Alexander Macdonald, was still more merciless. After a tremendous defeat of Argyll at Inverlochy, Colquitto swept the country. In the course of this onslaught, he laid siege to Craignish Castle. Campbell, its chief, however, having removed his cattle to the islands, gathered all his fighting men inside the castle and prepared to resist to the last. After six weeks of the siege, the baffled Macdonald pepared to withdraw. This however was not effected without loss. Campbell, noting the preparations for withdrawal, made a vigorous sortie and inflicted serious loss on the erstwhile besiegers. Macdonald, turning southward, laid siege next to Sweyne Castle 109 which was so unprepared, that it almost at once surrendered when it was set on fire, while by sword and fire Macdonald, continued to waste the territory. In 1647, his career was checked at Dunaverty, by an overwhelming defeat at the hands of General Leslie, when he fled to Ireland where shortly afterwards he was killed. On the final defeat of the Royalists, followed by the King's execution in 1649, Argyll changed sides, and threw in his lot with the late King's son, Prince Charles, crowning him King of Scotland at Scone in 1651.

John Mactavish of Dun-ArdRigh, however, whose family had been connected with the Reformed Church since the Reformation, declined to follow Argyll in his change of sides during the Commonwealth, gave valuable assistance to the Reforming party. One is therefore not surprised to learn, that in 1656, John Macuwes, or McTahavis or Mactavish of Tonardry, along with Walter Campbell of Skipness and a number of other Knapdale and Kyntyre proprietors, was appointed by Cromwell a Justice of Peace and Commissionaer of Supply for Argyllshire, an appointment that indicates a certain social position in the district, with no little natural ability. S.H.S. Vol.31, p. 309. 110

The pleasure of this public honour would however be dimmed by a family reproach through the conduct of a reckless son. John Mactavish had married a Marie Campbell 111 and had two sons, Duncan and Hew or Hugh¸ so called from an uncle of that name still of 1677. In October of 1663, Ann Stirling, the Lady of Otter, (an estate on the Cowall side of Loch Fyne, fr. Oitir, a sandbakc of a sloping sea shore), Jean Stirling her daughter, and others complained, that on the last day of September, Alexander Campbell accompanied by Duncan or Dugald McAishe, son of John McAishe of Tonardrie, had come "under silence and cloud of night, followed by a crowd of rascally men", and broken into the house of John McNeil of Thaish where complainant was then visiting, and then into the room in which her daughter Jean Campbell was sitting and by force and against her will, had abducted this latter and taken her over to Castle Sweyne, and there detained her in a sort of dungeon. Summoned to appear, the accused remained absent, when a warrant was issued for their arrest. This was issued on Nov. 10., the young lady being still in Sweyne Castle, whose Constable would treat her with courtesy. Privy Council Rec. 3rd, Series Vol.1., p. 456. What the final issue may have been, we know not but must assume it was amicably settled, for in 1677, Duncan or Donald or Dugall McTavish, "lawful son of the deceased John McTawish of Tonardrie" and "fiar of Dun-ArdRigh" was Trustee of the estate of one John McThamis of Barvolm. On Feb. 20, 1678, Donald died, (see Sasines) and was succeeded by a son of the same name, 113 who in a few years was to come to a violent and untimely end.

But darker days than those already experienced were approaching. Archibald, Ninth Earl of Argyll, had been loyal to Charles the Second during well nigh all his reign, but there were limits to his loyalty, and in 1681, he refused to subscribe the Test Act, with its intolerant and persecuting enactments. On this he had been thrown into prison, but having escaped made his way to Holland. On the accession of James the Second in 1685, Argyll returned to England in the interests of the Protestant religion, supported the claims of the Duke of Monmouth taking part in his rebelling and commanding the troops that had been raised in Scotland on his behalf. Never in all Scottish history had there been a movement so ill planned and so ill executed. It was doomed to failure from the very beginning. After some slight skirmishes, Argyll was taken prisoner and in 1685, beheaded at Edinburgh, while his estates were forfeited to the crown. Already indeed, King James had said that it was dangerous for the welfare of the Kingdom, that any subject should have too many hereditary jurisdictions in his family. In consequence of Argyll's rebellion, he therefore took away from that family, the patronage of the Churches in Kyntyr, and the Constabulariate or Keepership of Castle Swine. Acts. Scot. Par. Ac.t. 54, p. 493. He also issued a proclamation in which, naming the various positions of power and dignity previously bestowed on and enjoyed by Argyll, he said: "that by such help, the family of Argyll did in the last age commit and maintain execrable treasons and oppressions and enslave His Majesty's loyal and faithful subjects. We therefore annex to the Crown, all hiw hereditary offices, etc., etc."

This condemnation of the Argyll family and forfeiture of their estates, was accompanied naturally with a similar forfeiture of these of their assocites. In consquence the property of Donald M'Aveish of Donnardrie, which along with the lands of Inverneil, Ennichan, Kildalbin and others, formed the barony of Muirhall, was annexed by the Crown, the barony being given by the Scottish Parliament (Acta. 18, 1686) to John, Viscount Melfort, a title furnished by the property of that name, which lies in West Argyll and faces the island of Luigi. Shortly afterwards however these lands were bought from Melfort for £266.13.4, soon afterwards exchanged by the Viscount for lands in Ayrshire, while the barony of Muirhall and Melfort was annexed to the Crown.

In the meantime, Knapdale had been invaded by the Marquis of Atholl who had a private grudge to settle with Argyll, and the unfortunate district had to bear the brunt of the trouble. Many traditions are still current, both at Craignish and Skipness, of the barbarity of Atholl's men. Not only do many traditions testify to the barbarities from which the people of Knapdale suffered but judicial repots furnish us with many particulars. Thus in The Depredations on the lands of Clan Campbell by the troops under the Marquis of Atholl, the Duke of Gordon and others, we read: - "Memorial to the Privy Council of Neil Campbell in Sweyne Castle, 114 Knapdale, ane honest man," stating that he had been in His Majesty's service (William the Third) when he had been robbed by persons whom he names.

When matters had quieted down and Queen Ann was on the throne, a Memorial was presented to the Scottish Parliament from Marie or Margaret Campbell, (See Tests. 26 July 1693), relict 115 "of the umqhuhyle John MacTavish of Dun-ArdRigh", the J.P. of the Commonwealth, to the effect that in June 1685 one Donald McDuff of Islay, had "spulzied her of property of a certain value", and asked for redress, but there is nothing to show what compensation, if any, was every received. Another Memorial of Petition was presented in 1690, by Sir Duncan Campbell of Auchenbrack, on behalf of "himself, his distressed friends, tenants and vassals in Knapdale, Glasserie and Kolislait, complaining that, your Petitioners having in 1685, taken arms with the deceased noble Earl of Argyll in defence of the Protestant religion and in opposition to Papacy and arbitrary power, had for a time defended the Castle of Carnassary against the troops of the Earl of Atholl: that after some time the Castle had been peaceably surrendered, when in disregard of the terms of surrender, the besiegers including certain McLaines, had seized Dugall MacTavish, 116 117 fiar of Dun-ArdRigh, and in cold blood hanged him over the gateway of the Castle immediately after its peaceable surrender." 118 Following this, by mention of a number of others murders and therefore they asked the Parliament for enquiry and relief, which, on July 8th 1690, was duly ordered.

The apparent facts were that Dugall or Duncan or Donald McTavish had been very active in opposing Montrose' deputy, Alexander Macdeonald, and in compliance with the direction of Argyll, who had ordered that that Castle, which is near the village of Kilmartin, should be manned and defended, had gone to the assistance of its defenders. MacTavish would naturally be prominent in its defence, and while his position in the County as a zealous defender of the Reformed Church, would be well known, having now fallen into the hands of his enemies, they seized the opportunity of wreaking their vengeance on him by putting him to death in the most ignominious manner.

What special action may have been taken by Parliament, beyond appoint the Committee to enquire, we do not know. Duncan, the son of the victim of Carnassary, 113 (the cousin) died in June 1694 (Argyll Tests.) and was succeeded at Dun-ArdRigh by "his only lawful son" Archibald. In recognition of the loyalty and services rendered it by the MacTavish family, the Government in 1704, appointed this Archibald, then the head of the family, one of the Commissioners of Supply for Argyllshire.

We have no record of the death of Archibald, who in 1712, had given up the inventory of his father's goods (Reg. Arg. Sas. 4, 134) but know that he was succeeded in Dun-ArdRigh by his son Donald, 119 120 who was married to Isabel Maclachlan. Their son was Captain Duncan Mactavish, who about 1760 married Catherine, sister of Colin Mor of Kilmartin, and daughter of Dugald Campbell of Barmaddy, having by her a son, afterwards Lieutenant Mactavish of the 3rd Foot, and a daughter named Margaret. 121

Of Dugald Mactavish we know little, except that in 1760, he purchased for £1750, the lands of Inverlussa 122 and Kilmichael, at the sale of the properties of Sir Dugald Campbell of Achnambreck, Cowall, 71.

Dugald died in 1781, and was succeeded by his son, Lachlan, 123 124 who became a writer and lived in Edinburgh; being in 1790 appointed by the Government Assistant Deputy General Surveyor of window duties in Scotland. Financial matters however were not going smoothly with him, for Dun-Ardry seems to have now passed into the hands of Neil Malcolm of Poltalloch. By him, this property was in April 1797, sold to Simon Mactavish of Garthbeg and Montreal, - "on disposition of Duncan Mactavish W.S. to his father Lachlan Mactavish on Nov. 18, 1798", the long held property of Dun-ArdRigh thus passing from the Mactavishes of that ilk, into the hands of a member of the younger branch of the family, that descending from Tavish Mohr, who six centuries previously had left Dun-ArdRigh and settled at Garthbeg in Stratherrick. 125

Footnotes:

86. CFIS, pg. 6. As a genealogical note, however, it should be pointed out that, especially in Scotland, the tribal following of a chief was often encouraged to take the name of the chief, once surnames came into general use in place of clan names. (NOTE: Iver was the brother of Taus and progenitor of the Clan MacIver - they became the MacIver-Campbells. The MacTavish, steming from Taus, never took the name of Campbell, and, thus, was not a tribal following of Clan Campbell.)

CFIS, pg. 6. This taking of the chief's name was an expression of the old kinship, and was a way for the group to promote their solidarity as a socio-political entity, a phenomenon aided by the relatively late (fourteenth century) general adoption in Scotland of surnames as opposed to clan-names.

CFIS, pg. 10. Another aspect of the Gaelic tribal culture was its heraldry, the symbolism of which is often of very ancient origin, although it did not develop in its medieval importance until the coming of the Normans in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Nevertheless, families often shared common dynastic symbols even though their dynastic connections predated heraldry per se.

CFIS, pg. 11. For other early examples of heraldry, compare the "proto-heraldic" use of boar-crested helmets, golden banners, etc., as described in the Old English (Anglo-Saxon) epic poem Beowolf, a pre-literate oral composition first written down in the eighth century. The boar was considered to be a magical beast, and was famed for its courage.

CSRSH, pg. 7. In A.D. 208, the Emperor Severus invaded Caledonia (died at York in 211 A.D.). A chief seat of the Caledonians at this period seems to have been Dunkeld, and Schiehallion their "fairy mountain". Inverness, however was the military centre of the Pictish monarchs, and rose in importance during the fourth century A.D.. The two leading clans in Alba or Caledonia had by this time come to be the Orcs (the Boar Clan) and the Cats (the Cat Clan). No doubt these had become Royal dynasties and their names would be related to, or represented by, their totem animals. The descendants of the Caledonians, whose ancestors inhabited the seabord, have a considerable strain of Scandinavian blood, attributable to the various Norse invasions and settlements on the coasts of Scotland, from the middle of the eighth century until the final expulsion of the Norsemen in 1266. The Caledonian Picts called their land "Alba," and themselves Albans or Albiones, and they were also termed "Cruithne," a term which was applied by old writers not only to the Caledonian Celts but also the Celts of Ireland.

CFIS, pg. 12; CSRSH, pg. 520. Silver and blue were the ancient livery colors of the Morayshire Picts, and stars are said to have been painted on their bodies, in these colors, as a "war-paint" by which they could be distinguished from other tribes in battle. These colors, silver on blue, also relate to the origin of the Scottish national flag, the cross of St. Andrew.

Coat of Arms: MacSweeney: Or on a fess vert between three boars passant sa. A lizard argent. CFIS, pg. 163

Coat of Arms: Lamont: Az., a lion rampant ar. (CSRSH, pg. 497 has same description) (HGCL, pg. 31, same description)

Coat of Arms: MacLachlan: Quart., 1. Or, a lion rampant gu., 2. Ar., a dexter hand couped in fess, holding a crosslet pair in pale gu., 3. Or, a galley, oars in saltire sa. In a sea proper, 4. Ar., in base of the sea undy, vert a salmon naiant proper. (CSRS, pg. 504 has same description)

THE GENEALOGIST NEW SERIES, A Quarterly Magazine of Genealogical, Antiquarian, Topographical, and Heraldic Research

Edited by H. W. Forsyth Harwood, Barrister-at-Law

Volume XXXVIII - London: G. Bell & Sons, Ltd.,

York House, Portugal Street, Kingsway, W.C.2

Exeter: William Pollard & Co., Ltd., 1922

I append chart pedigree as disclosed by the above writs. I understand that the family used as their arms the simple gyronny of Campbell, but with tinctures of silver and azure. There can be no doubt that they are of the same race as the Campbells, though I believe none of them ever used the name, as did the MacIvers and MacArthurs.

(NOTE: The Extracts from the Poltalloch Writs were done by Herbert Campbell, whom is believed to be the same Herbert Campbell who edited the Craignish MS.)

87. The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, Sir Bernard Burke, Ulster King of Arms, 1884, pg 647:

MacSweeney - Or, on a fess vert betw. Three boars pass. Sa. A. lizard Ar. Crest - An arm in armour embowed, hoding a battle-axe all ppr.

M'Tavish (Scotland, 1793) Quarterly, 1st and 4th gyronny of eight Sa. and Or.; 2nd and 3rd, Ar. A buck's head cabossed gu. Attire Or, on a chief engr. As a cross crosslet fitchee betw. Two mullets of the third. Crest - A boar's head erased Or. Motto - Non Oblitus.

88. SCBA, pg 100

Descriptions of arms illustrated in book:

a. Sween of Knapdale: Or, three boars passant sable.

b. MacSweeney Fanad: Or, on a fess vert between three boars passant sable, a lizard argent.

c. MacSweeney Banagh: Or, two boars rampant combatant sable, on a chief of the second two battle-axes in saltire of the first.

d. Moragh Mor MacSweeney (1267): Argent, a lion in chief and a boar in base both passant gules.

89. What's In a Name? Surnames of America, La Reina Rule, 1977, pg. 293: MacTAVISH (Scot.) r.w. Mac-Tamhais (Gael.) Son of the twin.

90. In his "Records of Argyll", Lord Archibald Campbell apparently accepts Skene's statement that "The first known of the MacCailenmor branch is Gillespoc Cambel, who witnesses the charter of erection of Newburgh by Alexander III in 1266, and who had probably been heritable sheriff of the Argyll sheriffdom erected by Alexander II." The share which Sir Neil Campbell of the forfeited estates of the Comyns, together with the hand of Mary Bruce, the daughter of Robert II, were the foundations of the subsequent position of the house of Argyll.

91. Kyntyr - where the Sweynes were - Coat of Arms: MacSweeney: Or on a fess vert between three boars passant sa. A lizard argent. CFIS, pg. 163 (I believe the or and sable, as well as the boar, comes from our progenitors mother's side, the Clann Suibhne later known as MacSweeney. The father, Colin MacDuine, would not have had a Campbell Coat of Arms at that time.)

92. Dunardry, approximately 1600 acres in North Knapdale parish, Argyllshire. The second highest hill in Kintyre (Cruach Mor) and Dunadd (the ceremonial crowning of the King of Scots) are both located on Dunardry soil.

Not all houses connected to Argyll Campbells used the boar's head crest (i.e., the Campbells of Cawdor, the Campbells of Ludoun), and the MacTavishes were connected to the Auchnabreck Campbells.

93. According to the Latin Instructor at the Catholic Seminary in Kansas City, KS; the Latin Instructor at Sumner Academy in Kansas City, KS; and the Librarian at Rockhurst Catholic College in Kansas City, MO - Non Oblitus means "Do not forget me after death". It is a statement used mostly in connection with funerals. They have never heard it used as "We will not forget."

94. This killing of the Boar and its consequents are recorded in a poem known as "The Lay of Dirmid" a version of which is to be found in the "West Highland Tales" of J. F. Campbell, Vol. 3, p. 60. In this version supplied to Mr. Campbell by Mrs. Mary Mactavish of Ellen, Islay, in Nov 1880, it is said, "that Diarmid was the progenitor of the Clan Campbell still called Slio Diarmid of the Slioch Dwine. Diarmid was never conquered in battle, yet was destroyed by a stratagem. One of his enemies made a bet with him that he could not measure the length of a boar he had killed by pacing its back against the bristles with his bare feet. This he did but the bristles so lacerated his feet that he bled to death. Another much melodramatic version of the death of Diarmid is found in the "Annals of Craignish" to the effect, that Diarmid mortally wounded a boar proceeded to cut off its head. A struggle took place between the dying brute and its slayer during which was wounded by the tusk when inflamed venom poisoned his blood and thus led to his death.

94a. Inverary

95. Mr. Campbell who dres up the Annals of Craignish by the directions of his brother in 1701, says that at the same time he was requested by the Earl of Argyll to arrange all the Argyll family papers. Annals of Craignish

96. The most powerful clan in Argyle and one of the most powerful in Scotland, descend from the issue of the thirteenth century marriage between Sir Gillespic Campbell and the heiress of Duncan Mac Duibhne of Lochawe. The Campbells became infamous for their political pragmatism, which led them to commit acts of brutality and treachery against neighboring clans, notably the MacGregors and the MacDonalds of Glencoe. CFIS, pg. 72

97. As a genealogical note however, it should be pointed out that, especially in Scotland, the tribal following of a chief was often encouraged to take the name of the chief, once surnames came into general use in place of clan names. (NOTE: Iver was the brother of Taus and progenitor of the Clan MacIver - they became the MacIver-Campbells. The MacTavish, steming from Taus, never took the name of Campbell, and, thus, was not a tribal following of Clan Campbell.) CFIS, pg. 6

This taking of the chief's name was an expression of the old kinship, and was a way for the group to promote their solidarity as a socio-political entity, a phenomenon aided by the relatively late (fourteenth century) general adoption in Scotland of surnames as opposed to clan-names. CFIS, pg. 6

98. According to Highland custom, two persons could be "handfasted", which meant living together as man and wife for twelve months and a day. If at the end of that time, the woman was a mother or gave indication of becoming one, the union might be held as a binding marriage even though no church service had been observed. But, if not, either party was at liberty to withdraw from the connection and entitled to marry another person or to be again handfasted. During the transition between the Highland and the Feudal system, this diference of principle often led to clan disputes. A child, legitimate under the Highland system, might not be so under the Feudal, and so the Clans divided as to the person to whom they should render service. The Sween girl and Colin must have been legally married, for one cannot suppose that she was merely a mistress, and in that case, the two sons (Taus and Iver) were legitimate. As they were each the founder of a Clan, there could be and there was not any dispute as the headship between them. See Iona, pg. 119.

In explaining the use of the term 'natural' in Scotland in those early ages, Burton, Hist of Scot, Vol. 1, p. 419 says, - "There was one law for the State and one for the Church on this subject at that period though in the end the Church won", but the victory was long in coming. William the Norman was himself illegitimate; Alexander the First of Scotland married Sibilla, an illegitimate daughter of Henry of England, and the Scottish Malcolm himself was a natural son. But at that date, it was the Church and not the State which held that such persons should be debarred from succeeding to rank and property.

From the "Clans, Septs & Regiments of the Scottish Highlands", Frank Adams, Rev. by Sir Thomas Innes of Learney, Lord Lyon King of Arms, 7th Edition, pg. 55, Footnote 2 - "This is the system of subsidiary left-hand marriages for a year and a day, of which there were three degrees of 'honourable connection' below that of the 'first wife' (J. Cameron, Celtic Law). Their issue had been 'legitimate' under Celtic law, and appear later to have been the natural children, as distinct from bastardi, springing from unformalized connections."

99. CSRSH, Page 301, Page 301 (8):

"MacTavish, Thompson, etc. – The MacTavishes, Tasessons, Thompsons, etc. are said to derive their origin from Taus Coir, an illegitimate son of one of the Lords of Lochow, who lived in the days of King Alexander II. Henry White (“Fionn”) said:

Many of the Argyllshire MacTavishes now make Thomsons of themselves, while others are known as Tawesons. The surnames, MacLehose and MacLaws, are regarded as corrupted forms of Mac-Gille-Thomais – son of the gille or servant of Thomas. There was a strong colony of MacTavishes in Strathglass at an early period.

But these repudiate dependency on Clan Campbell, and MacTavish of Dunardrie is Chief of that clan, whilst Thomson of that Ilk on the Border is regarded as a remotely connected or indeterminate connection of he MacTavishes."

99a. We question Dr. Mathews' reference to Tavish Corr in his conquering lands from the Lamonts, Cowall, and that this land would then be added to the Argyll MacDuines. It would seem to us more logical that these lands would have been added to the Sween lands. We base this premise on the fact that his father (Colin Moal Math - Colin MacDuine) was killed in 1110 at Dunstaffnage (while Tavish was still a very young child) and that his mother then had a union with the Chief of the MacLachlans.

100. PHH, PERIOD I - Before 1100, pg. 11: In order to appreciate the relative power of Irish influence at this time, one must remember that Erin at this period, so far from being a "distressful country", was in an enviable position. She reached a state of political consolidation at a comparatively early date. Although the concept of High King or "Ard Ri" did not become a reality until the twelfth century, the government had tended to become centralised from the fifth century onwards. Niall of the Nine Hostages, living in the early fifth century, had established his dynasty at Tara and the lay-out of the remains, although the structures are simple, indicates the existence of a well developed and centralised society. (The chartered lands of the MacTavish - Dun-ArdRigh - stone fort of the High King.)

101. In 1747 James Campbell of Rudale was on the jury that sentenced Stuart of Ardshiel to death for the alleged murder of Campbell. Antiq. Notes I, 248.

102. J. Browne, History of the Highlands, Vol. 4, p. 401, says: "There were three different tenuries of land and nine degrees. Of these the first tenure was called Maeddir, signifying a person that possessed jurisdiction and included three ranks or degrees: ArdRigh, Righ and Maormor. Tavish then was Ard-Righ, and possessed jurisdiction."

103. The Castle itself has now disappeared. Its ruins were visible till last century when a break having taken place in the Crinan Canal, all loose material in the neighbourhood was hastily collected to fill the gap. The neglected remains of Dun-ArdRigh were ruthlessly fastened on, leading of course to the sweeping away of all architectural remains. There is nothing now to mark even its site, beyond a few fruit trees in the corner of a grassy field which was evidently a postion of what had once been a garden. (NOTE: Chief Dugald MacTavish of Dunardry, in January of 1998, discovered the remains underwater (the foundation stones) of this castle. He contacted an archeological firm - Western Highlands Archeology - in the area and they confirmed with a drawing the size and formation of the castle.)

104. PONT MANUSCRIPT MAPS: PRINTOUTS FROM DIGITAL IMAGES, PHOTOGRAPHS AND PHOTOCOPIES - At present digital images of Timothy Pont's manuscript maps (produced in the 1580s and 1590s) may be viewed in the Map Library, National Library of Scotland. Please telephone first if you wish to view the images in the Map Library, or require advice about technical requirements, to ensure that staff and equipment will be available (0131-226-4531 ext 3413). Different sizes and qualities of printouts are available; prices quoted do not include VAT or postage/packing and apply until the end of March 2000. Diana Webster, Head of Map Library, National Library of Scotland, 33 Salisbury Place, Edinburgh EH9 1SL

105. GS, pg 262 - Village and parish on south border of Lorn district, Argyleshire. 8 miles north-north-west of Lochgilphead. Duntroon Castle, Carnasserie Castle, and a number of large cairns, Kilmartin House.

105a. This kist contains the remains of Letitia Lockhart MacTavish, wife to Sheriff Dugald MacTavish. Letitia died exactly one month to the day after Sheriff MacTavish in 1854. The brown cross was erected with the inscription by William MacTavish, Governor of Assinaboia and Ruperts Land, of the Hudson Bay Company Canada on his first trip back to Scotland after the death of his father and mother.

105b. This stone has now been moved inside a small building and standing erect. It is said to be of the era of 1500 and it is an effigy of a Clan Chief. The three items of coat of mail, pointed helmet and long, two-handed sword (the real claymore) indicated a Clan Chief. The long sword was so heavy (6-7 foot long) and required two hands to handle them - in battle the sword could literally cut a man in two.

NOTE: Taus and Iver are buried in Kilmartin Churchyard.

106. There must have been a class or guild of monastic stone cutters who went about carving stones, having their own patterns, so that "Iona Crosses" does not necessarily mean crosses brought from Iona, but crosses cut either by Iona workmen or after the Iona style. Kilmartin and Strachur present us with such stones, their carvings being of identical patterns.

106a. It is evident that Tavish Mhor (the younger son) was expelled from the family by his father, the Chief, for the act of killing his older brother (the heir). Had this been other than a brother who killed the heir, there is no doubt that the Chief (in those days) would have had him put to death.

107. PHH - Pg. 17: Scat - Norse tax on land.

108. Carswell's father had been Constable or Keeper of Carnassary Castle, within which in 1520, John Carswell had been born. A student at St. Andrews, he took his degree in 1544. After a somewhat troubled early manhood, he went to Iona, and in 1553 became rector of Kilmartin, and was appointed by Parliament Superintendent of Argyll and of the Isles. The pasture seems to have been very lean so that in 1564, he accepted from Queen Mary the appointment of "Bishop of the Isles," holding it till he died though under censure of the Assembly for accepting that appointment. Carswell showed a remarkable zeal in furnishing not merely his own Diocese but the Reformed Church, with evangelical truth, in the number of his translations of such into Gaelic. He translated the Genevan "Book of Order" and thus laid the foundations of Evangelical Presbyterianism in Western Argyll. He may have occupied Carnasserie for a time, but certainly he neither built or owned it. Carswell died in 1575.

109. Sweyne Castle seems to have been to some extent still habitable, for so late as 1685, its keepership was given to the Campbells from whom it had previously been taken away. In 1678, Inventory of Donald or Dougall MacT. "lawful son of the deceased John" - who had died in April 1677 - gave up the Inventory of Donald given by his brother Hew or Hugh.

110. S.H.S. Scottish History Society

111. KSC - p. 50 - Rebellion of 1685 - Among the most tragic sufferers in Knapdale was Marie Campbell, widow of John MacTavish of Dunardry, whose son Dugald had been hanged at Carnassary. (This was the Monmouth Rebellion)

112. McAishe - This name became MacCaishe, MacCash and Cash for the modern day.

113. This is a confusing area of most on the MacTavish Chiefs. Donald MacTavish was not followed by a "son" of the same name, but by a "newphew" of the same name. Going back in ancestry becomes more difficult the farther we go back with so many of the same first name.

In order to work out the genealogy, one must compare sasines and other documentation to find the following. Please note that in the following outline I am using the modern spelling of "MacTavish" rather than the old variant spellings to save on confusion.

Lachlan MacTavish and Mary Loch

Governor General Tax Department, St. James' Court, Edinburgh

d. 1796 - male heir, succeeding his father

Dugald MacTavish and Isobel MacLachlan

d. 1782 - male heir, succeeding his father

Archibald MacTavish and Jean Campbell

male heir, succeeding his father

Donald MacTavish and Ann Campbell, Christian Campbell

male heir, succeeding his cousin

Alexander MacTavish

d. 1685 with the 9th Earl of Argyle in the Mamouth Rebellion

male heir, succeeding his brother

Dugald MacTavish

Officer of the Guard, Canassarie Castle for Sir James Campbell of Auchinbreck

Hung from the highest parapret of Canassarie Castle, 1685, when overrun by the MacLeans (Mamouth Rebellion)

male heir, succeeding his father

Donald MacTavish and Bessie Campbell

male heir, succeeding his father

Eoin (John) MacTavish and Marion (Marie) Campbell

male heir, succeeding his father

When John MacTavish died, his son Dugald was already deceased. The Chiefship passed to his other son, Donald.

When Chief Donald MacTavish died, his eldest son (Dugald) succeeded him, but as stated above, Dugald was hung at Carnasserie Castle and the Chiefship then passed to his younger brother, Alexander, who in the same year was killed while with the Early of Argyle. Since both sons were deceased, the Chiefship passed to a cousin, Donald (the son of Dugald MacTavish, who was the brother of Dugald and Alexander's father, Donald). See the "Chiefly line above".

114. Sweyne being thus named as having still a Keeper, shews that its burning by Colquitto had not rendered it altogether uninhabitable.

115. Main Entry: 1rel.ict

Pronunciation: 're-likt

Function: noun

Etymology: in sense 1, from Middle English relicte, from Late Latin relicta, from

Latin, feminine of relictus, past participle of relinquere; in senses 2 & 3, from

relict residual, adjective, from Latin relictus - Date: 15th century 1 : WIDOW --- Main Entry: 2relict Function: adjective Date: 15th century : of, relating to, or being a relict

116. Kinsman and Clansman, R. W. Munro, pg 143 - By the time of Argyll's rebellion (in association with Monmouth) in 1685, the name MacTavish was spread throughout Knapdale, Kilmichael Glassary and Kilberry, with a few scattered individuals in neighbouring parishes; in the three parishes alone twenty-five MacTavish rebels and forty fencible men of the name were listed. One of the Dunardry family (some say the chief himself or his heir) was hanged by the besiegers of Carnasserie castle, which was held for Argyll by Campbell of Auchinbredk.

117. KSC - p. 48 - The garrison and the beseigers therefore were well known to one another. Despite what one would have expected from neibhbours, Dugald MacTavish fiar of Dunardary was executed in sight of the garrison.

118. Carnassarie was burnt on this occasion and has remained a ruin since then. Probably Kilmartin Castle which at first had been the home of the Campbells of Kilmartin and subsequently the Manse of the parish rector was burnt at the same time.

119. This is the Dugald (not Donald) MacTavish, who was imprisoned by the Duke of Argyll in September 1745, prior to the Battle Culloden for his support of the Jacobites.

120. Archibald of Dunardry was sympathetic to the Jacobites in 1715, and in 1745 some "treasonable" correspondence by his son Dugald with Sir James Campbell of Auchinbreck led to Dugald's arrest (the duke hoped this would "put in end to plotting in Argyll"), and it was not until a general amnesty in 1747 that young Dunardry was released. In 1754, King Charles had correspondence with Argyle suggesting that Dugald MacTavish of Dunardry be made chamberlain, with the office of baron bailie. At the judicial sale of Auchinbreck in 1757 Dugald bought the estate of Inverlussa (Lot 4), to the south of his own lands of Dunardry.

121. This Dugald Campbell had in 1733, run away with Margaret of Kilmartin, eldest daughter of Dugald of Kilmartin, and in consequence, got into trouble - civil and ecclesiastical. The civil court was satisfied with inflicting a fine of 100 merks, which in 1734, the session of Kilmartin summoned Dugald (Campbell) to appear before it. The accused acknowledged his fault, but showed that he and the lady had been at once legally married in Glasgow, when the Session doubtless in accordance with the time honored phrase, "took such action as in the circumstances commended itself to them as fitting." Wimberley's History of Kilmartin, p. 27.

122. GS, pg 262-263 - (1) Inverlussa: On Kilmichael rivulet in North Knapdale, Argyleshire. (2) Kilmichael Glassarie: Hamlet and parish in Argyle-proper district, Argyleshire. Hamlet lies on Add rivulet and was once an important village.

123. KSC - p 84-87. Bankruptcy overtook the Auchenbrecks in 1762. They had been one of the main pillars on which the fabric of local society had rested. The economic collapse of the Auchenbrecks was followed by the disappearance of many smaller houses. While it is true that the same economic difficulties, which had embarassed the Auchenbrecks, worked against these smaller proprietors, there is also no doubt that all these estates had borrowed from Auchenbreck on their own security, and when the crash came, they had not the money to pay their debts.

It was not long before the void which was left by the passing of the Campbells of Auchenbreck and others were filled by two large proprietors in Knapdale. These men were prepared to buy the estates of the MacNeills, the MacTavishes and of the various Campbell families, and by adding these estates together they acquired possessions so extensive as to divide the parish between them.

124. THE GENEALOGIST NEW SERIES. A Quarterly Magazine of Genealogical, Antiquarian, Topographical, and Heraldic Research.

Edited by H. W. Forsyth Harwood, Barrister-at-Law

Volume XXXVIII - London: G. Bell & Sons, Ltd.,

York House, Portugal Street, Kingsway, W.C.2

Exeter: William Pollard & Co., Ltd., 1922

Pages 138-142

12 Oct. 1782. Trust Disposition by Lachlan MacTavish of Tonardarie in favour of James Ferrier, W.S., as Trustee for behoof of said Lachlan and his creditors. Registered in the Books of Council and Session, 10 Dec. 1782.

31 Dec. 1785. Argyll’s confirmation of above Trust.

Same date. Sale of the property by James Ferrior to Major-General John Campbell of Babreck. Registered in the Books of Council and Session, 2 Jan. 1786.

The General sold the lands to Niall Malcolm of Poltalloch, who had sasine on 10 Aug. 1792. Argyll’s confirmation of the sale (through his Commissioner, James Ferrier) was issued on 21 June 1804, and sasine followed on 4 Sept.

125. This episode (1785-1792) regarding the sale and disposition of the Dunardry lands requires further explanation than has been shown in footnotes 123 and 124. Lachlan MacTavish succeeded his father in 1781 to a land that had been in financial difficulty since 1762 as is stated in footnotes 123 and 124. It appears Lachlan was able to maintain Dunardry finally on the advice of his lawyer, James Ferrier & Co., and had to sell by public auction 31 Dec 1785, as stated in the Poltalloch Writs. It has been some uninformed sources that Lachlan MacTavish and family were destitute at this period of time. However, this is incorrect. Prior to the sale by public auction of Dunardry, Lachlan MacTavish had been contacted by the Government in Edinburgh that they required him to take on the duties with the Tax Department. Apparently, the gentleman who was filling that post was quite ill and Lachlan was notified that he would be taking over the position. Lachlan and his family moved to 14 Hill Street; and upon taking over the position with the Tax Department, Lachlan and his family moved to St. James' Court, Royal Mile to a 5-room suite. St. James' Court was the address where dignataries resided. (16 Mar 1790, a letter of congratulations was written from Mrs. Eleonora Wardrope to Mary MacTavish, wife of Lachlan MacTavish, about the appointment of Lachlan.)

Lachlan MacTavish had made arrangements with Malcolm Potalloch and had entrusted 200 pounds for "first right of purchase" on Dunardry lands.

In 1793, Simon McTavish of the NorWest Fur Company traveled from Montreal, Canada, with his new bride to Edinburgh to meet and introduce his wife to his Chief, Lachlan MacTavish. Other uninformed persons have written that Simon went over to purchase Dunardry (which at this time was up for sale) in order to keep Dunardry in the hands of the Clan. However, this has been disputed through research as follows:

Simon McTavish was one of the most wealthy Scots in North America. He certainly had no problem with available funds. He had Lachlan peition for his Arms and register as the Chief of the Clan. This is documented and on 17 April 1793, Lachlan's Arms were Granted by the Lyon, John Hooke Campbell. Searching through the Registers, we find that shortly after that Simon had the same Arms registered to himself with the exception of a brodure. This, when noted, was very strange for at the same time, it is said that Simon told Lachlan and his wife, Mary MacTavish, that he (Simon) was short of funds at the moment and perhaps the following May he (Simon) would re-purchase Dunardry for the Clan.

This never materialized. Lachlan MacTavish died in September of 1796. Again, some uninformed sources have written that Simon McTavish was very beneficial financially to Lachlan's widow and the children. This is incorrect. Simon McTavish did take into employment the younger son, John George MacTavish (who later changed the spelling to McTavish and was in Canada working with the NorWest Fur Company, then with Hudson Bay Company). There is no evidence, whatsoever, of any financial arrangements given to the Lachlan's widow, or the heir (Dugald MacTavish), who went on to become a lawyer and then a Writer of the Signet.

It was in 1797 that Simon McTavish purchased part of Dunardry from Malcolm of Poltalloch, after he (Simon) paid a sum of money to the heir (Dugald MacTavish), whi held the "first right of purchase" that Lachlan had arranged with Malcolm of Poltalloch as referred to above.

It was again strange that not only did Simon, in 1793, have the same Coat of Arms with the difference of a brodure registered to himself, but also he did not buy Dunardry even though it was available for sale in 1793. He did not buy it until 1797 from Malcolm of Poltalloch. Again, uninformed sources have written that Simon McTavish "bought Dunardry and the title". In essence, this is quite correct. However, they are attempting to say that Simon bought the title of Chief. "Uninformed" would be the key word for as most would realize, he bought the land and the title to the land, as one would do here in North America when purchasing land.