Alexander Mackenzie, of Coul & Applecross

Biographical Summary

"The immediate progenitor of this family was Alexander Mackenzie of Coul, so often referred to in the body of this work, and who so greatly distinguished himself in the wars with Glengarry and Macleod of the Lewis. He was a natural son of Colin Cam, XI. of Kintail, by Mary, eldest daughter of Roderick Mackenzie, II. of Davochmaluag, by his wife, Ann, daughter of Donald Gorm Macdonald, VII. of Sleat. Alexander was a great favourite with his brothers Kenneth, first Lord Mackenzie of Kintail, and Sir Roderick Mackenzie of Coigeach. He has a sasine of half the lands of Applecross and others, as a "natural son of Colin Mackenzie of Kintail," dated 10th of March, 1582. He has another, in 1607, from Roderick Dingwall of the lands of Kildun, and one in 1619 of the lands of Pittonachty, now Rosehaugh, and Castleton. It is said that Alexander when quite an infant was sent by his mother to his father, Colin of Kintail, to Brahan Castle, who consulted his wife, Barbara, daughter of John Grant of Grant, as to what he should do with the little stranger. Naturally incensed both at her husband's infidelity and the proposed addition to her family circle, she indignantly replied — "Cuir 'sa chuil e," that is "put him in the ash-hole, or corner." Realising the imprudence of further offending her, but being naturally of a humane disposition, and wishing to act honourably by his innocent offspring, he took the child away, and on his return told his wife that he had carried out her proposal and left him in the Coul. He secretly sent Alexander to the place then and now called "A Chuil," or Coul, to be nursed and brought up by a respectable woman, and thus carried out the letter if not the spirit of his lady's request, and at the same time performed his duty towards his afterwards distinguished son, to whom he gave that estate as his inheritance.

Kenneth's grandson, John, II. of Applecross, who in 1669, wrote the well-known Genealogy of his clan, gives the following account of the progenitor of his family : — " He was happy in his youth by the comeliness of his person, and agility of body, to be looked upon by Kenneth, Lord Kintail, his brother, and all his followers, being then engaged in their hottest feuds with the Clan Ranald and Macleods of Lewis, as the fittest man to command what force his brother was to make use of on these occasions, wherein he failed not their expectations, managing that command (which he enjoyed until the Tutor of Kintail put a period to all these troubles by the transaction with Glengarry, and utter extirpation of the Macleods of Lewis) with so much courage and expedition, that albeit during the whole tract of these broils there passed not any action of moment wherein he was not signally concerned, yet in all of them his constant success brought no less honour to himself than advantage and reputation to his party. This, with his singular industry and upright dealing in affairs, got him so much of the love of his brethren, especially Lord Kenneth, who on his death-bed honoured him with the gift of his own sword in testimony of his esteem and affection for him, and so much of the respect of his friends and neighbours, and the good opinion of the country people, that, without difficulty or the least grudge of any person whatsoever, he in a short time purchased a considerable estate, which he still augmented by the same means during the rest of his life." Among these purchases was Applecross and other lands which exceeded in extent the lands of Coul, which was bestowed on him by his father.

Alexander married, first, Annabella, daughter of Murdoch Mackenzie, I. of Fairburn, and relict of Thomas Mackenzie, I. of Ord, with issue —

• Roderick, infeft by his father in the estate and Barony of Applecross.
• Isabel, who as his second wife married Alexander, V. of Gairloch, with issue.
• Marjory, who married the Rev. William MacCulloch of Park, minister of Fodderty.

Alexander married secondly, Christian, daughter of Hector Munro of Assynt, with issue—

• Kenneth, first of Assynt and afterwards of Coul.
• Alexander, who died unmarried in 1639.
• Hector of Assynt, who married a daughter of Hugh Fraser of Belladrum, with issue. Sasine to him in 1650.
• A daughter, who as his second wife married John Chisholm, XVI. of Chisholm, with issue — his heir and successor.
• Another, who married Sir Alexander Innes of Coxtoune.

He has a charter from James VI., dated 28th July, 1617, in favour of "Alexandre Mackenzie de Coul, et Christians Munro ejus spousse terrarum ecclesiasticarum de Uladil, etc.," in Inverness-shire, and he has a second to him and his second wife, of the lands of Pittonachty, Wester Haldock, Pitfla, etc., in the same county, dated 28th June, 162 1. He has a third, dated 12th July, 1634, to "Alexandero Mackenzie de Coul, et Kennetho ejus filio, terrarum de Urquhart, etc." He was a very prudent man, and besides the large patrimony bestowed upon each of his children, he left a large sum of money for pious uses and for the children of several of his relations. He died in March, 1650, very advanced in years, at Pittonachty, was buried in a tomb which he caused to be built for himself at Chanonry, and was succeeded in the lands of Applecross by his eldest son."

SOURCE: History of the Mackenzies, with genealogies of the principal families of the name; Alexander Mackenzie; 1894; page 595