Roderick "Old Ruari" MacLeod, 10th of Lewis

RODERICK MCLEOD OF LEWIS (aka OLD RORY)

Roderick McLeod of Lewis is the son and heir of Malcolm MacLeod of Lewis and his wife Christian Urquart. The History of the MacLeods: 294

Evidence from the Records of the Earldom of Orkney

                   1

7 April 1548: Charter by which Marion Ness, daughter of the deceased John Ness and his wife Jonet Magnus daughter, confirms that she has agreed to exchange her heritage land in Ness for 10 rigs of land at Linxness belonging to Dame Barbara Stewart, lady of Lewis, widow of Sir James Sinclair of Sanda. Records of the Earldom of Orkney, charter number CXXV on pp. 235-36

                   2

16 November 1550: Charter by which Robert Reid, bishop of Orkney, conforms that he has given a nineteen year lease for various islands and lands in Orkney to Dame Barbara Stewart, lady of Lewis, and her daughter Margaret Sinclair, and Margaret's future husband James Tulloch, and their heirs. Records of the Earldom of Orkney, charter number CXXXI on p. 243

                   3

26 August 1566: Instrument of Sasine in favour of Dame Barbara Stewart and Margaret Sinclair, her daughter by the deceased Sir James Sinclair of Sanda. Records of the Earldom of Orkney, charter number CLXVII on pp. 284-85

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

14 February 1571-72: Extract Charter under the Great Seal, granting to Torquil McLeod, son and heir apparent of Roderick McLeod of Lewis, the lands and baronies of Assynt and Cogarch, in the earldom of Ross and sheriffdom of Inverness, the lands, isle and barony of Lewis with castle etc, the lands and isle of Waterness, in said sheriffdom; on said Rodorick's resignation. Reserving said Rodorick's liferent.T o be held by said Torquil and the heirs male of his body, whom failing, Gillecallum Garwie McLeod of Raisay and the heirs male of his body, whom failing, said Torquil's heirs male whomsoever bearing the arms and surname of McLeod, and their assignees, united into the free barony of Lewis as before. Provided that said Rodorick and Torquil remain faithful to the King and commit no treason. Witnesses: Adam, bishop of Orkney, Commendator of Holyroodhouse, James, earl of Mortoun lord Dalkeith, Chancellor, William, earl Marischal lord Keith, Master James McGill of Rankeillor-Nethir, Clerk of the Rolls, Register and Council, John Bellenden of Auchnoull, Kt, Justice Clerk, Master George Buchannan, pensioner of Corsragwell, Keeper of the Privy Council. National Records of Scotland, Register House charters, 1st series, reference RH6/2243

                   2

5-21 April 1572: Instrument of Sasine under the hand of William Cuming, clerk of Moray diocese, notary public and Sheriff Clerk of Invernes, narrating the Sasine given to John Makane Makconill Wikcloid, as attorney (appointed by letters dated at Leytht, 18 Feb A.R. 5 (AD 1571/1572) for Torquil Makcloid, son and heir apparent of Roderick Makcloid of Lewis, of the lands and baronies of Assynt and Cogeache, in the earldom of Ros and sheriffdom of Invernes, the lands, isle and barony of Lewis with castle etc, the lands and isle of Vatyrnes, in said sheriffdom; to be held as in RH6/2243. On Precept from Chancery dated at Leytht 14 Feb 1571/1572, and addressed to the sheriff and bailies of Invernes, and to Alexander Makconyll McNeyll in Rasay, and John McAneroy Makrore Makkenzie, sheriffs of Invernes in that part. At Ulliboll for Cogeache, at Invercherkage for Assynt, at Papill for Lewis and at Todynebane for Vatyrnes Witnesses: Donald McGillecallum Wore in Raisay, Donald Mcane Duemoyr in Garloche, John McConill McAne McMurche in Loch bryne, Ewyr McConyll McKennyth Moyr in Lochbryne, Donald McThomas Due in Lochbryne, Allan, son of Angus Brefe in Abostnys in Lewis, John Gor, son of William McGillipadrik McBref in Lewis, Angus McWilliam McGillipadrik McBref in Lewis, Gillepadryk McAne McIlledparyk in Melbost in Lewis, Roderick McAne McConyll McCloid in Lewis, John, son of Angus Denowne, John Do Frasser, John Roy McRore McLachlyne McOler, Murdo McRore McLachlyne, Donald McAne McFarchyr McAneglas, John Glas McAne McKennyth Eyre, servants of Torquil Makcloid, William McJethe Roy in Lochbryne, Donald McDonald McAnedue there, Chormac Coyr McAne McHee in Papill in Lewis, Gillecallum McNeyl McFarchyr in Papill in Lewis, Allan McGillechallum McNeill McFarchyr there, Chormac McAnedwe there, John McChormac McAnedue there, Alexander McConyll Gallache in [Caithness], Angus McMirche McConyll in Lewis, Kenneth McAne [McGechyn], servant of Torquil Makcloid. National Records of Scotland, Register House charters, 1st series, reference RH6/2247

                   3

4 June 1572: Charter by Roderick Makcleod of Lewis etc to John Mackenzie of (obliterated) and his heirs and assignees, heritably of the lands of Davachnahard Asichnahard, Dorny, Balintarbet Akilvy, Badskalny and others therein mentioned in the shire of Inverness. To be held of the granter and his heirs and assignees in feu and heritage for payment yearly upon the ground of the said lands of 40 pennies Scots in name of blench farm if asked only. This charter contains a precept of sasine and is dated at Stornoway in Lewis. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the MacKenzie Family, Earls of Cromartie (Cromartie Muniments), reference GD305/1/5/1

                   4

4 May 1610: The King gives Letters of Remission to RODORICO McCLOYDE de Hereis for the duration of his lifetime . . . . . Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum. The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1609-1620, charter number 281 on p. 103

Genealogy

1. History of the Macleods with genealogies of the principal families of the name. By Alexander Mackenzie, FSA. Scot. (A. & W. Mackenzie, Inverness, 1889), 463 pp. including indexes

Biographical Summaries

                   1

See http://macleodgenealogy.com/ACMS/D0076/I415.html for a consideration of various pieces of evidence. It gives, as to the wives, partners, and children of Roderick MacLeod: “ He married (1) Janet, illegitimate daughter of John MacKenzie of Kintail and widow of MacKay of Reay. She gave birth to a son: 1. Torquil (Torcall Cononach), Roderick married (2) Barbara Stewart, daughter of Andrew, Lord Avondale, and widow of Sir James Sinclair of Sanday in Orkney, in 1541. They had issue: 2. Torquil (Torcall Oighre), who was drowned at sea off Skye in 1566. Roderick married (3) Janet, daughter of Hector MacLean of Duart, with issue: 3. Torquil (Torcall Dubh), who was executed in July 1597. He married Christina, daughter of Norman MacLeod of Dunvegan, [MGC (I) p. 22.] with issue. 4 Norman, who in the end emigrated to Holland and died there. Roderick had many illegitimate children most of whom were probably born before his lawful offspring. 5.Norman (Tormod Uigeach), whose mother may have been a Morrison, Killed by his half-brother, Donald, in 1576. 6. Murdo, who perhaps also had a Morrison mother. Executed in Saint Andrews in 1600. 7. Neil, married a daughter of Torquil Blair Macleod and had issue: Neil was hanged in Edinburgh in April 1613. 8.Roderick (Ruaidhri Og), who was consigned by Torquil Dubh to the care of MacLean of Duart, but escaped and died "miserably in a snowstorm". [W. C. MacKenzie (1903/1974), p. 163.] He had issue.”

                   2

== Biographical Summary == X. Roderick Macleod. Succeeded to the lands and command of the Macleods of Lewis, in terms of an arrangement arrived at between him and Donald Gorm Macdonald of Sleat, who had married Margaret, daughter of John MacTorquil. In terms of this agreement, Roderick undertook to assist Donald Gorm in driving the Macleods of Dunvegan, who regained possession of Troternish, from that contested district. It is also stated that Roderick bound himself to aid in establishing Donald Gorm in the Lordship of the Isles and Earldom of Ross...

...Roderick Macleod, X. of the Lewis, married, first, Janet, an illegitimate daughter of John Mackenzie, IX. of Kintail, and widow of Mackay of Reay. By this marriage he had issue —

• Torquil " Conanach," so-called from his having been brought up by his mother's relations in Strathconan. Torquil married Margaret, daughter of Angus Macdonald, VII. of Glengarry, widow of Cuthbert of Castlehill, Inverness, by whom she became progenitrix of the famous Charles Colbert, Marquis of Seignelay, Minister of Louis XVI. of France. By her Torquil had issue —
  • John, who died before his father, having been killed near Stornoway by his bastard uncle, Rory Og ;
  • another son, who also died before his father ;
  • Margaret, who, on the death of her brothers, became her father's heir. She married Sir Roderick Mackenzie of Tarbat (second son of Colin Cam, XI. of Kintail), afterwards known as the famous Tutor of Kintail, progenitor of the Mackenzie Earls of Cromarty ;
  • Elizabeth, who married Duncan Bain of Tulloch ;
  • Catherine, who married Colin Mackenzie, third son of George, second Earl of Seaforth, with issue ;
  • Janet, who married Roderick Mackenzie, III. of Fairburn, with issue — four daughters ; and
  • Florence, who married Neil Macleod, IX. of Assynt, eldest son, by the first marriage, of Donald Ban Mor, X. of Assynt, with issue. It will thus be seen that Torquil Conanach, Roderick's only son by the first marriage, left no surviving male issue. His mother, Janet Mackenzie, eloped with John MacGillechallum, brother of Alexander Macleod, II. of Raasay, whereupon she was, soon afterwards, divorced by Roderick Macleod of the Lewis.

Old Rory married secondly, in 1541, Barbara Stewart, daughter of Andrew, Lord Avandale, with issue —

• Torquil " Oighre," so called to distinguish him from his elder brother, disinherited by Roderick, on the ground of his mother's alleged infidelity with Morrison, the Breithedmh, or Celtic Judge of the Lewis. Torquil Oighre, after attaining manhood, predeceased his father, having been drowned, with sixty — some authorities say two hundred — followers, while on a voyage in his birlinn from the Lewis to the Isle of Skye. He left no male issue.

Roderick married, thirdly, a sister of Lachlan Maclean of Duart, with issue, two sons —

• Torquil Dubh, whom his father declared his heir and successor, and who, for a time, maintained possession of the Lewis. He married a sister of Sir Rory Mor Macleod, XIII. of Harris and Dunvegan, with issue, three sons — Roderick, William, and Torquil, all three of whom are said to have died without legitimate issue. Torquil Dubh himself, as we have seen, was killed by his eldest brother, Torquil Conanach, in July, 1597, before the death of his father, Old Rory.
• Tormod, who, in 1608, entered the service of Maurice, Prince of Orange, where he died, without legitimate male issue, when, and in consequence of which, the representation of the Macleods of Lewis devolved upon the family of Raasay, of which presently.

It will have been observed that Old Roderick, the date of whose death we are unable positively to fix, had also five bastard sons — Torquil Uigeach, Murdoch, Neil, Donald, and Rory Og, all of whom, and their sons, took a leading part in the final struggle of the Macleods to maintain their ancient rights to the great Island principality of the Lewis."

SOURCE: History of the Macleods with genealogies of the principal families of the name; Alexander Mackenzie; 1889; page 294-339

References

1. https://www.clanmacfarlanegenealogy.info/genealogy/TNGWebsite/getpe...
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Rory