I have seen no evidence that Duncan McAusland was the son of Humphrey McAusland from Ireland or that he was descended from William the Conqueror.
The current evidence suggests that Duncan was a younger son of the McAuslands of Inverlauren, and that they were related to the McAuslands of Prestalloch and of Stockidow. Duncan moved from Inverlauren to Blairnyle, then to Auchintilloch Natra, all in the parish of Luss. The family later settled in Greenock in Renfrewshire.
According to an old book from 1891 written by Donald MacLeod, the farms of Prestalloch, Stockidow and Innerlaurin were once owned by three brothers named Peter, James and Humphrey McAuslane .(Historic Families, Notable People, and Memorabilia of the Lennox, by Donald MacLeod, A. Lawrance, Dunbarton, 1891, p234.)
In his 1894 book, Past Worthies of the Lennox, Donald MacLeod mentions a character known as “Baron” Sandy McAusland and it is possible that the information above may have come from him.
MacLeod also mentions in his 1891 book that “The great grandmother of the brothers named (i.e. the Rev Dr Alex. McAuslane, Rev John McAuslane and Wn T. McAuslane LLD), who in her day was celebrated for her beauty, was a daughter of Stewart of Ballachullish, while her uncle, Colonel Charles Stewart of Ardshiel, led the clan in the different battles fought on behalf of Prince Charles Edward Stewart.”
The family tree of the McAuslands has been traced from Alexander Stewart, 4th of Ballachulish, via his daughter Isabelle, the great beauty mentioned in Donald MacLeod’s book, to her great grandsons, Alexander, John and William McAusland.
Lt.-Col. Charles Stewart of Ardshiel who led the Stewart of Appin regiment was actually Isabella’s step-uncle, being the brother of her father’s second wife, Anna Stewart.
Lt.-Col. Charles Stewart of Ardshiel’s younger brother was James Stewart of the Glen who is believed to have been a Captain in the Appin regiment during the ’45. He was arrested and executed on 08 November 1752 as an alleged accessory in the Appin Murder of “The Red Fox”, Colin Roy Campbell of Glenure on 14 May 1752. The Appin Murder features in Robert Louis Stevenson‘s 1886 novel Kidnapped.
What of the statement that “This great grandmother was a niece of the then Marchioness of Breadalbane“? This is more difficult to confirm. John Campbell, 1st Marquis of Breadalbane (30 March 1762 – 29 March 1834) married Mary Gavin, daughter of David Gavin in 1793. Isabella Stewart was born circa 1710 so could not have been the niece of the Marchioness.
If we go back to the great great grandfather of the first Marquis of Breadalbane, Robert Campbell ninth of Glenorchy, we find that his daughter Jean married Duncan Stewart, seventh of Appin. Could she be the Breadablane-Appin connection? Interestingly she was married three times and was the mother of Robert Campbell of Glenlyon – commander at the Massacre of Glencoe – and niece-in-law of Alasdair MacGregor. 11th Chief of Clan Gregor, who lead the clan at the battle of Glen Fruin which took place in the McAusland homeland.
Robert Hall McAslane (later McCasland) was born on 30 November 1822 in Barony, Glasgow, the second child of John McAslane of Newlandmuir and Ann Hall. On 10 February 1863, he received a Grant of Arms as Robert McCasland of Newlandmuir. The document included details of his ancestry, stating that he was:
“Eldest son of John McCausland Esquire of Newlandmuir aforesaid by Anne, his wife, daughter of the later Robert Hall, Merchant in Glasgow, by Bethia his wife, daughter of James Steele Esquire of Inchnauch in the Parish of New Monkland and County of Lanark;
“which John was youngest son of Robert McCausland, sheep farmer in Westrtoun of Ardincaple by Jean his Wife, daughter of Aulay McAulay, Sheep Farmer in Blairnerne, both in the Parish of Row in the County of Dunbarton;
“which Robert was youngest son of Robert McCausland, Sheep Farmer in Stukkidow and Auchingach in the last mentioned Parish and County by Elizabeth Erskine his Wife of that place as evidenced by a Drawing of Tombstones in Row Churchyard, Dunbartonshire produced with the said Patentee’s petition.
“That it was said the Ancestors of the last mentioned Robert McCausland had been in Stukkidow from a very remote period and extending over nine generations as extracted from an old M.S. Book written by the Petitioner’s Father in and previous to the year Eighteen hundred and thirty four.
The McAusland Barons were mentioned in a document of 1395 when John McAuslane of Caldenocht witnessed a charter where Humphrey Colquhoun of Luss granted his brother Robert the lands of Camstradden. (Colquhoun of Luss charters). The fact that John McAusland was described as “of Caldenocht” is crucial as “of” a property implies having possession of a charter to that property, as opposed to simply just living there.
The McAuslands were feudal superiors not just of Caldenocht (also known as Coldenocht, Caldenoth, Caldanacht, Caldenache, Caldonah, Callenach, Calanach, and Cùlanach) but also of Prestellach, Innerquhonlanes and Craigfad as detailed in a 1664 Sasine of £8 land of Caldenoch, Prestellach, Innerquhonlanes and Craigfad, in Dunbartonshire, to Alexander McCauslane as eldest lawful son and heir of the late John McCauslane of Caldenoch, on a precept of clare constat by Sir John Colquhoun of Luss, 20 May 1664. (Campbell: Abstract of Argyll Sasines).
The McAusand ownership of these lands came to an end some time between 1694 and 1718 when Janet McAusland, daughter of Alexander McAusland, last Baron of Caldenoch, Prestilloch, Innerquhonlanes & Craigfad, sold the lands to Sir Humphrey Colquhoun of Luss (1688-1718).
On p31 of Mormon Convert, Mormon Defector: A Scottish Immigrant in the American West, 1848–1861 by Polly Aird it is stated that Peter McAuslan, whose grandfather was the last tenant of Stockidow, believed that his grandfather or great grandfather was a son of the last Baron McAusland, who lost his lands to the Colquhouns of Luss.
