Sir John Colquhoun of Luss

SIR JOHN COLQUHOUN OF LUSS

Sir John Colquhoun of Luss is the son of Humphrey Colquhoun of Luss and his wife Lady Catherine Graham. The Chiefs of Colquhoun, i, pp. 109

Death

Sir John Colquhoun of Luss died on 15 January 1574-75, that is 15 January 1575 when the date is adjusted to take account of the change to the Gregorian Calendar. [The Chiefs of Colquhoun, i, p. 134

First Marriage

Sir John Colquhoun of Luss married Christian Erskine. They were contracted on 25 January 1535 and married soon after. The Chiefs of Colquhoun, i, pp. 109 Christian Erskine died soon after 20 May 1564. Ibidem, p. 122

Children of the First Marriage

1. Jean Colquhoun

Second Marriage

Sir John Colquhoun of Luss married, as his second wife, Agnes Boyd.They were married soon after 3 November 1564. The Chiefs of Colquhoun, i, p. 123 Agnes Boyd died on 18 July 1584. Ibidem, p. 136

Children of the Second Marriage

1. Lady Margaret Colquhoun
2. Sir Alexander Colquhoun of Luss
3. Lady Margaret Colquhoun
4. John Colquhoun
5. Jean Colquhoun

Bastard Bairn

1. Gavin Colquhoun

Genealogy

1. William Fraser, The Chiefs of Colquhoun and their Country (Edinburgh 1869), i, 417 pp.
2. William Fraser, The Chiefs of Colquhoun and their Country (Edinburgh 1869), ii, 442 pp. including indexes

Biographical Summary

Lus, Sir_John_Colquhoun_XIII_KT & XV Birth: ABT 1515 Dumbarton, , , Scotland Death: ABT 1574 Dumbarton, , , Scotland Gender: Male

Father: Lus, Sir_Humphry_Colquhoun_XII_& XIV of Mother: Lady, Catherine Graham

Family:

1. Marriage: 15 NOV 1564 , , Scotland Spouse: Lady, Agnes Boyd Death: 18 JUL 1584 Edinburgh, , , Scotland Gender: Female Parents: Father: Boyd, Robert_Boyd 4th Lord

Children:

1. KT, Humphry Colquhoun XIV
2. Colquhoun, John Roy Birth: ABT 1567 Dumbarton, , , Scotland Death: 30 NOV 1592 Edinburgh, , , Scotland Gender: Male
3. Lus, Sir_Alexander_Colquhoun_XV_& XVII of
4. Colquhoun, Jean
5. Colquhoun, Margaret

Family:

Marriage:

1. 25 JAN 1535 Dumbarton, , , Scotland

Spouse: Lady, Christian Erskine 

Death: AFT 20 MAY 1564 Dumbarton, , , Scotland Gender: Female Husband: Sir John (XIII) Colquhoun of Luss Born: 1523 at: Luss, Dunbarton, Scotland Married: 15 NOV 1564 at: Died: JAN 1574/75 at: Luss, Dunbarton, Scotland

notes

From [http://books.google.com/books?id=xOY_AAAAYAAJ&lpg=PA189&ots=NjqoWNs...

data

 Father:Humphrey Colquhoun Mother:Catherine Graham

       Other Spouses: 

  Wife: Agnes Boyd

  Born: ABT. 1551        at: Scotland  

  Died: UNKNOWN          at:   

Father:

Mother:

       Other Spouses: 

CHILDREN

  Name: Humphrey Colquhoun

  Born: 1565             at: Luss, Dunbarton, Scotland  

Married: at:

  Died: JUN 1592         at: Dumbarton, Scotland  

Spouses:

  Name: John (Ian) Colquhoun

  Born: 1567             at: Luss, Dunbarton, Scotland  

Married: at:

  Died: UNKNOWN          at:   

Spouses:

  Name: Jean Colquhoun

  Born: 1572             at: Luss, Dunbarton, Scotland  

Married: at:

  Died: UNKNOWN          at:   

Spouses:

  Name: Margaret Colquhoun

  Born: ABT. 1573        at:   

Married: at:

  Died: UNKNOWN          at:   

Spouses:

  Name: Alexander (Alasdair) Colquhoun, XV

  Born: 1573             at: Luss, Dumbarton, Scotland  

Married: 18 AUG 1595 at: Scotland

  Died: 23 MAY 1617      at: Luss, Dumbarton, Scotland  

Spouses: Margaret Helen Buchanan

The Colquhoun Vs. MacGregor Feud

In 1995 Holywood produced two movies which introduced many people to Scotland's history and heritage. "Brave Heart" portrayed the life of Sir William Wallace, and "Rob Roy" chronicled the life of Rob Roy MacGregor whose entire family was outlawed following a clash with the Colquhoun clan.

Most readers of this newsletter know that Sir William Wallace, the hero portrayed in "Brave Heart," was a cousin of Roger Kirkpatrick. (Wallace's mother was Kirkpatrick's aunt.) Historical Records also suggest that the Kirkpatricks may have played a role in the famous Colquhoun - MacGregor feud which set the stage for the movie "Rob Roy."

According to the "History of The Clan Gregor," serious trouble began in 1527, when Patrick MacGregor of Laggarie, "despoiled the father of the then Laird of Luss of a considerable number of oxen and cows." To obtain redress for the theft of his father's property, John Colquhoun summoned MacGregor on December 27, 1540 to appear before the Lords of the Privy Council who commanded MacGregor to restore to Colquhouns "eight oxen, twelve milk cows, or the price of them with profits of them since the year 1527."

MacGregor, however, did not comply, and on May 30, 1541, was prohibited from selling any "heritable properties" until the bill was paid. Unable to sell anything of value, this prohibition would have caused an impasse. How could MacGregor pay his bill if he could not engage in commerce?!

GLEN LUSS

In 1602 the MacGregors attacked the Colquhouns in Glen Luss, killing two clansmen, injuring others, and stealing livestock.

Rather than respond with violence, the Colquhouns traveled to King James VI seeking redress. Instead of merely presenting a petition, the Colquhouns staged a visual production. About fifty women, each displaying men's torn and bloodied clothing on poles, rode white ponies through the narrow streets that led to the castle. While the effect was compelling, most historians agree that pigs' blood and old garments were used to amplify the effect. The stunt, however, served its purpose and the king responded by granting the Colquhouns permission to pursue the MacGregors with "fire and sword."

GLEN FRUIN

The MacGregors were not show to react. According to one account, Alexander of Glenstrae, the MacGregor chief, went to Luss in 1602 to negotiate on behalf of his clan. The meeting went smoothly and Glenstrae and his men returned home towards Rannach. The Colquhoun chief, however, did not trust the MacGregors and quickly gathered a group of his own followers, which included the Buchanans and the Graemes, and totaled about 500 horsemen and another 300 on foot. The group pursued the MacGregors, who traveled hom by way of Glen Fruin. There being no road, the MacGregors were traveling through the floor of the valley when the Colquhoun forces attacked without provocation.

The MacGregors, however, were reputed to possess "the sight," and are said to have been able to foretell the future. Whether "the sight" played a role in the events that afternoon is anyone's guess. However, Alastair MacGregor most certainly had a premonition of impending trouble and, prior to the attack, divided his men into two groups. The party traveling through the valley floor was not alone. Concealed along the ridge above, the second group watched the mayhem below.

While Alastair maintained combat with his own group on the valley floor, his brother's men made the circuit of the hill and attacked the unsuspecting assailants from the rear. It is said that no fewer than 200 Colquhouns were slain. But although many of the MacGregors were wounded, the only persons killed were the brother of the chief and one other.

The MacGregors, however, were far from being "the winners." When the king learned of the massacre he ordered the entire MacGregor clan outlawed.