Alexander M'Ghie or McGhie (XI.)

THE BALMAGHIE M'GHIES.

Bahnaghie, i.e., the Town of Mackay, Kirkcudbrightshire, was the seat of the family from very early times. Chamber's Caledonia, the Statistical Account, M'Kerlie's Galloway, etc., record a tradition that the lands and church derived their name from a Celtic chieftain, who settled there in the distant past. But in the Cart, of St. Cross the church of Kirkandrew, Balmakethe, is mentioned among various other benefices granted in the 12th century by Fergus of Galloway to the Abbey of Holyrood. The MacEths must, therefore, have been settled in that quarter before that date. Gilmyhel MacEth signed the Ragman Roll in 1296, and in 1339 a Michael Macge submitted to Edward III. (Rot. Scot.). In the Beg. Mag. Sig., 1426, Gilbert M'Gy is styled lord " of Balmage," and from him the descent can be traced for some generations.

I. Gilbert M'Gy, Lord of Balmage, appears in the ExchequerBolls of 1460. He was succeeded by William, of whom follows.

II. William M'Gye, had sasine of Slogarie in 1471, and on the 16 Aug., 1482, had a charter under the Great Seal of Balmage and Slogarie. As this charter bears, he m. Blanch de Levenax, widow of Fergus Macdowell of Spottis. This document is witnessed by a William Makgye of Pluntoun, who had a charter of the lands of Pluntoun, 14 Aug., 1484. William of Balmage had a son

• Nicholas, of whom follows

III. Nicholas, m. Elizabeth Maxwell, who bore him two sons :—

• Gilbert ; and
• William, who succeeded, and of whom follows.

Gilbert, who predeceased his father, left two daus. (Acts & Decreets,149, 315):—Marion, in. John Redick of Balharro ; and Janet, m.Robert Charteris of Kelwood.

IV. William had a charter under the Great Seal of Balmage and Torris, 18 Mar., 1527. He had two sons:—

• Alexander, who succeeded; and
• James (P.C. Reg., 10 Mar. and 7 Apr., 1597), m. Janet, dau. of William M'Ghie, burgess, Kirkcudbright.

V. Alexander of Balmage, had a son Robert (Acts & Decreets, 439, 210), of whom follows.

VI. Robert, m. Grissel, dau. of John Charteris of Annisfield, and by her had a son

• John, of whom follows, and
• a dau. Marie (Acts & Decreets, 492, 155), who m. William Gordon of Airds.

VII. John, for whom his grand-uncle James acted as tutor 1629-37. John, who greatly extended his estate and was knighted, is first on record as Sir John in a sasine of 21 May, 1655 (Dumfries Sas.) He m. Barbara, dau. of Robert Anderson, burgess, Dumfries,by whom he had a son

• Alexr., of whom follows.

VIII. Alexander, m., first, Margaret, dau. of Archibald M'Kie of Myretonn-M'Kie, now Merton Hall, but had no issue by her.

He in., secondly, Elizabeth Stewart, by whom he had

• a son and two daus. The daus. were :—
• Elizabeth, m. John, eldest son of RobertFerguson of Craigdarroch (Dumfries Sas., 1682); and
• Florence, m.first, Roger, son of John Gordon of Airds, secondly, James, son ofRobert Charteris of Kelwood, and thirdly, Thomas M'Lellan ofBalmangan. Of the only son follows :

IX.William (Dumfries Sas., 10 July, 1693). He m. Anna Ballantyne, who bore him two sons:—

• John, who succeeded; and
• Alexander, a surgeon, bailie of the burgh of New Galloway, who had three daus. (Elizabeth, m. J. M'Cournty of Furnistoun ; Mary, in.Robert Macmillan in Barlow ; and Margaret).

X. John McGhie, had sasine of Balinaghie, 10 May, 1704. He m.Isobel Gordon (Dumfries Sets., 17 May, 1712), youngest dau. of Alexander, Viscouut Kenmure, by his third wife, Lady Grissel, dau. of James, Earl of Galloway. He had by her

• Alexander, of whom follows ; and
• William.

XI. Alexander, succeeded in 1732, and left a son, of whom follows

XII. John, succeeded in 1739, and had a son

• Alexr., who predeceased him. Alexander, however, m. Grissel, dau. of Alexander, Viscount Kenmure, and had a dau. Grissel, who m. Captain James Anderson of the Marines, without issue

William M'Ghie, merchant in Edinburgh, and his wife Eleanor M'Dowall had sasine of the estate of Balinaghie on 6 May, 1761, but in 1786 it was sold to Thomas Gordon.

THE BOOK OF MACKAY BY ANGUS MACKAY, M.A. (St. Andrews University) Minister at Westerdale, Caithness EDINBURGH : NORMAN MACLEOD, -25 GEORGE IV. BRIDGE CANADA EDWARD MACKAY, ST. PETER'S MANSE, MADOC, ONT. M DCCCC VI [1906] Pg. 348-350