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About Duncan Macrae, of the Silver Cups
Duncan Macrae, oldest son of Alexander and Margaret was commonly known as Duncan of the Silver Cups, probably because of the magnificence of his table service. He was a man of high character, a poet and a skilful mechanician, and many anecdotes and traditions, illustrative of his attainments are still related about him in Kintail and Lochalsh. When a student at the University of Edinburgh he assisted in forming a plan to bring water into that city. He was given a silver herring, which remained an heirloom in his family for many years for skilfully repairing the mast of a strange ship, which was broken in passing through Kyle Rea. It is also said that oak trees at Inverinate were grown by him from acorns that he brought from France.
But it is as a poet that he achieved his greatest distinction. It has been proved that he was the Compiler of the Fernaig Manuscript and the author of many, if not of most of the poems contained in it. It was begun in the year 1688 and the last date mentioned is the year 1693. Its poems afford an agreeable glimpse of the religion and politics of the Highlands at the time of the revolution. In politics the authors of these poems are Jacobites, in religion they are ardent Episcopalians and they evidently had a clear, intelligent, and comprehensive grasp of the great questions of the day, as they affected the kingdom as a whole. They breathe a kindly spirit of toleration against even political and religious opponents. This keen liberal minded Highland Chieftain, in his scanty intervals of leisure wrested from a useful, honoured, and industrious life, found time to compose Gaelic verse, and to collect the poems composed by his countrymen and neighbours, and he is highly deserving of our affection and admiration.
“He was undoubtedly,” says Professor Mackinon, “A remarkable man and a character pleasant to contemplate. I have no reason to doubt that there were many like minded Highland Gentlemen living in those days ---- cultured, liberal, and pious men; But undoubtedly Duncan Macrae, the engineer and mechanician, the ardent ecclesiastic, the keen though liberal minded politician, the religious poet, and collector of the literature of his countrymen, is as different from the popular conception of a Highland Chief of the Revolution as can well be conceived. Altogether the Fernaig Manuscript is an important contribution to our stock of Gaelic literature; the political and religious intelligence, the devout and tolerant spirit, the strong sense and literary power displayed by the various writers in rude and turbulent times, are creditable to our people, while the enlightened compiler is a Highland Chief of whom not only the Macraes, but all his countrymen, may well be proud.”
Such a man was Duncan Macrae. He was also a practical man of the world and prospered in his affairs. He married Janet, daughter of Alexander Macleod, 5th Laird of Raasay, who also possessed poetic talent, and she composed an elegy on the death of her husband. Duncan was drowned in the Conag river, which was in flood, at Dorisduan, in the Heights of Kintail, some time between 1693 and 1704, but the exact date is not known. By this accident the family lost much property, as Duncan had valuable papers on his person at the time, and among them the title deeds of Affric. Many local traditions have grown round the death of Duncan, and the sad and tragic event has been commemorated both by elegies and pibrochs.
Minister of Lochalsh Finlay MACRAE •Marriage: Margaret MACRAE
picture Finlay married Margaret MACRAE,
daughter of of Inverinte Duncan MACRAE and of Raasay Janet MACLEOD.
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Duncan Macrae, of the Silver Cups's Timeline
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