John Campbell

Principal Neil Campbell, the father of Colin, Mary and, Duncan ( and many more ); was born of uncertain parentage, and raised by Lady Jean McIver Campbell heiress of Pennymore, and her 2nd husband Rev Patrick Campbell of Tohbhlaren. Jean when she was younger was the 'lady in waiting' to the Countess of Argyll, in and out of the castle all the time. Some people have suggested Neil was her child with either an Earl or an illegitimate son, ie Major John. Other historians suggest Lady Jean first married an older brother of Major John Campbell of the Clenarray( aka Clenairie / Glenarray ) possibly this is the Earl's illegitimate son ??? Neil inherited the title "of Clenarray" off his uncle ( brother of this Major John Cambpell who Jean issaid to have married )... Never the less, Principal Neil married Henrietta Campbell, who was from a well proved line back to James IV via the MacAlister of Tarbet line. Neil's son Duncan married Rebecca Campbell, who was the grt granddaughter of Lady Jean of Pennymore ... so they are all somehow related to me. They are allso related by blood with the Earls / Dukes etc, whether directly or not is proved.

Archibald 9th Earl of Argyll, married twice. I also think he has a illegitimate son also named John, ( not Hon John of Mamore ). More work needed on this.

Here is an article you may read / share below ... The author is deceased now , as I tried to write her; Principal Neil is my 6th grt grandfather, Duncan 5th and uncle in law to William Bligh.

Any further details you can share about your friends, or if they would like to write me would be great. I only pursue genealogy for my own interest, other family lines back to Robert Bruce or Charlemange etc., have been far more fascinating and less work too !!! .

Thank you once again, David 22 Apr 2012 <davidarathoonstudio@@sympatico.ca> Toronto

MAJOR JOHN CAMPBELL ob. 1685 and PRINCIPAL NEIL CAMPBELL

A.I.B. Stewart

In the grounds of Inveraray Castle near Frews bridge there stands a simple pillar surmounted by an urn.

This monument formerly stood on a site originally known as the Gallows Farland, now the garden of the Bank of Scotland and it marked the spot where some seventeen leading men of Clan Campbell were hanged without trial following the collapse of the disastrous 1685 rising led by Archibald, 9th Earl of Argyll, in his attempt to overthrow the Catholic King James II of England and VII of Scotland.

The monument was removed to its present site in 1983 for ease of access by the public.

The Earl had been in exile in Holland whither he had fled following a death sentence in 1681 and a thrillingly romantic escape from Edinburgh Castle. After the collapse of the 1685 adventure and his capture, the Earl was taken to Edinburgh for execution under the old warrant. The instrument used was "the Maiden", a Scots forerunner of the guillotine. As the Earl laid his head on the block he joked "This is the sweetest maiden that ever I kissed".

The story is told that one of his enemies came to gloat shortly before his death and found the Earl "within an hour of eternity, sleeping as sweetly as ever man did". Visitors to the House of Commons may see in the vestibule the scene depicted in a fresco entitled "The Last Sleep of Argyll".

The Inveraray monument referred to was erected in 1754 by Duncan Campbell of Skipness and the Latin inscription declares that it is:

"Sacred to the memory of Colin, brother-german to Walter Campbell of Skipness, who among others tenacious of Evangelical religion and the liberty of the people, yielded to an unjust death in the year of our Lord 1685. His uprightness, though tried by adverse circumstances, in a sad time, has ground for praise."

There follows a quotation from Ovid:

"Prospera lux oritur?Linguis animisque favete".

"Propitious dawn is breaking,?Give support with word and thought."

Perhaps the most interesting of the victims was Major John Campbell. He appears to have been the tenant on exceptionally favourable terms of several properties belonging to the Argyll family in Kintyre. He had a lease for 19 years from Whitsunday (15th May) 1671 of Crosshill Farm, Campbeltown, and in the same year was shown as tenant of the three merkland farm of Ballegregan. No rent was to be paid during his lifetime. In 1678 he had a house in Campbeltown together with the Maltman's house, aiker and kiln set for 19 years after Whitsun 1671 for "100 merks which is discharged during the tack along with the Bailie's acres set to the said Major for the sd. space."

In 1683/4 he is shown as tenant of the 4 merkland of Cleongart and the 4 merkland of Corputechan, substantial farms on the west side of Kintyre some 11 miles north of Campbeltown.

We do not know who his wife was. There may be a clue in a letter dated 27 December 1706 (Scottish Record Office GD170/641) of Patrick Campbell, writer in Edinburgh, to Alexander Campbell of Barcaldine relating to the call made by the heritors and elders of the West Kirk of Edinburgh to Rev. Neil Mcvicar who is described as "our cusine". Neil was a grandson of the Major and Patrick has been identified as the son of Donald Glass Campbell of Inverinan and grandson of Patrick Campbell of Invergeldie and Barcaldine and his wife Barbara, daughter of Patrick Campbell of Edinchip.

We know that Major John had three daughters. Margaret was married to Lachlan McNeill, Auchensavil, Southend, near Campbeltown; Barbara was the wife of Bailie Patrick Mcvicar of Campbeltown, and they were the parents of Rev. Neil McVicar, minister of St Cuthberts, or West Kirk, home of the Highland congregation of Edinburgh. The third, and presumably youngest daughter Jennet married John McNeill, son to the deceased Malcolm McNeill, Carskey, and their marriage contract is dated at Campbeltown on 25th February 1676 (S.R.O. RD2/62).

In passing it may be mentioned that Rev. Neil McVicar apparently inherited his grandfather's distaste for the House of Stuart and caused a stir during Prince Charles Edward's occupation of Edinburgh when he prayed for King George "and loudly asserted his claim to the throne". His Highland congregation were not all pleased with this approach and their remonstrations produced a promise to do better the following Sunday. The promise was fulfilled when Neil earnestly prayed "Bless the King. Thou knowest what King I mean. And as for this man who has come among us to seek an earthly crown, we beseech thee in Thy mercy to take him to Thyself and to give him a Crown of Glory!"

Several year's research has left me with the impression that Major Campbell's origins and those of Principal Neil Campbell of Glasgow University, said by some to be his son may never be known though he appears to have been accepted as a younger son of Campbell of Claonarigh, a small property to the south of Inveraray, of a branch of the McIver Campbells.

Even Niall Diarmid Campbell, who later, as Tenth Duke of Argyll, had an unrivalled reputation as a Clan Campbell historian was baffled by this family. In a query in the Scottish Historical Review Vol IV p. 106 he asked the following questions:

"Mr Niall Campbell became Principal of Glasgow University in 1728-1761. He is described in the Sasines as nepos (?grandson) of Campbell of Clunaray of which place with Auchendrain he obtained a Charter of Confirmation from Argyll on 22 February 1710. Was he a grandson of Archibald Campbell of Clenarie who was a Commissioner of Supply for Argyll 1702-4, or was he a nephew? Whom did he marry and what posterity did he have?"

An answer appeared under the initials A.W.G.B. at page 234:

"According to the Fasti he was the son of Major John Campbell of Clenary brother of Campbell of Clenarie. Archibald Campbell of Clenarie was probably a son of the latter. Major John Campbell seems to have been a son of Archibald 9th Earl of Argyll. Principal Campbell married Henrietta a daughter of Patrick Campbell of Kilduskland."

As to the definition of "nepos"; it originally meant "grandson" though later was sometimes used as "nephew". I suggest that in the above case it almost certainly meant "grandson". The reference is to Argyll Sasines IV 192.

It seems impossible that Major John Campbell was the son of the 9th Earl who was born 26 Feb. 1628/29. The Major had attained that rank by 1671 and had three married daughters by 1676 which presuambly would make him no younger than the Earl. Could he have been a son of the 8th Earl and only Marquis 1597-1861?

The Fasti states that Neil Campbell after a short spell at Kilmallie and Roseneath, where Argyll had a home and the patronage, was appointed by King George I to Renfrew on 18 July 1716. He demitted the post when he became Principal in January 1728. The Fasti states that he was born in 1678, the son of Major John Campbell of the Clenary family and was educated by his uncle Patrick Campbell, Minister of Glenaray.

The Rev. Patrick Campbell of Torbhlaren, son of Rev. Dugald Campbell of Knapdale, born 1633 was Minister at Glenaray from 1657 till his death in 1700. The Fasti states that his wife was Jean Campbell of the Pennymore family widow of Major John Campbell of the Clenary family.

But this cannot be. Major Campbell survived till 1685 and the third son of the Glenaray manse, Colonel John Campbell of Blackriver, Jamaica was baptised in 1673 (Fasti).

Further, Elizabeth daughter of Rev. Patrick and presumably of his wife Jean entered into a marriage contract in 1680 (Clan Campbell Vol 1 p. 196). Archibald Campbell of Clenarie was a witness to the deed. He survived till at least 1709 when he is mentioned as a juryman at Inveraray.

Archibald was, it would appear, either an older brother, or more probably the son of an older brother of Major John. He presumably died without direct male descendants in 1709/10 since in 1710 as above mentioned the Principal succeeded to Clenarie.

If Jean Pennymore married Campbell of Clenarie, Major John's older brother, then presumably Archibald would have been her son, and a half brother of Elizabeth, whose marriage contract he witnessed.

Rev. Patrick, who brought up the Principal, is described in the Fasti as his uncle. Presumably this means uncle by marriage which would imply that Patrick's wife Jean was Principal Neil's aunt, indicating she had been married to his father's brother.

This still leaves open the question of identity of the Principal's father. It is possible that the Major fills the bill but Neil was born in 1678 whereas the Major's third, and presumably youngest daughter Jennat entered into a marriage contract on 25th February 1676 (S.R.0. RD2/62). It is not impossible, but surely improbable. In passing it may be noted that the Principal had a brother John, designed in 1718 as "brother german to Mr Neill Campbell Minister of the Gospel at Renfrew" (S.R.0. AC9/1185/27) but so far nothing more is known of him. According to the Will of Colonel John Campbell of Jamaica, he also had a sister Jean. There is no mention of Neil, John, or Jean, as children of Major John in any Kintyre papers which have come to my attention.

It is interesting that Wodrow in his Analecta (Maitland Club vol IV pp68/9) applies the rumour of the noble blood to Neil and not to his father. He writes under August 1729: "When he (the Duke of Argyll) came to Glasgow, he stayed in the Principall's whom some call his bastard brother; but I cannot belive it", and Professor J.D. Mackie in The University of Glasagow 1451-1951 (Jackson: Glasgow, 1954) suggests that Neil owed his promotion to the influence of Argyll and his brother Lord Isla. (It is pleasing to record that Mackie also states that the Principal's charming daughter Mally was adored by all.) John, second Duke, born in 1680, was the son of the 1st Duke and grandson of the 9th Earl who led the ill fated rising of 1685, so the dates fit.

Now to revert to Colonel John Campbell of Blackriver. Herbert Campbell, one of the most noted of Campbell genealogists commented on the Colonel's will in Notes and Queries CLVIII (1930) 129-131 which brought him a letter from a descendant and a copy of the Will. This led him on to the mention of the Principal in his kinsman's will which was as follows:

"Testator's niece Jean Campbell, sister of his nephew Rev. Neil Campbell, Principal of Glasgow University. This ought surely to read "daughter of his brother, Rev. Neil Campbell." The Fasti state that this Neil was ordained in 1702... and died in 1761 in the 59th year of his ministry. The Fasti further state that he was the son of Major John C. of Clennarie, who was "the son of the 9th Earl of Argyll" and that he was educated by his stepfather Patrick Campbell of Torblaren minister of Glenaray; and the Auchinbreck genealogies state that this Patrick (who was the father of Col. John of Blackriver) married Jean Campbell "daughter to Pennymore and relict of Campbell of Clennarie". The detail about the Earl of Argyll is, of course, rubbish; for the Argyll Sasines (IV 192) show Neil as grandson of "Campbell sometime of Clennarie". But we may obviously accept it that his mother remarried the above Rev. Patrick C. which would make Neil the testator's half brother, not his nephew."

I am afraid for the reasons given that I cannot make the same assumptions as the respected Herbert Campbell. Neil was younger than Colonel John, whose parents Rev. Patrick and Jean were in life and married when Neil was born; and after all it was the Duke of Argyll, who in granting the Charter of Confirmation accepted Neil as nepos to Clennarie, and the fact that the statement entered the Register does not make it Gospel. I may say I have a copy of holograph notes of Herbert Campbell on the typescript of his Auchinbreck Genealogy but these unfortunately throw no light on the business. If Neil was Major John's son then there was apparently no blood relationship between him and Colonel John of Blackriver who had no Clenarie blood. But Neil would have been Colonel John's mother's nephew, if as suggested she had been previously married to Major John's older brother. But who was Jean? There is no evidence that Neil had a daughter Jean, as suggested by Herbert Campbell, nor indeed that Neil was a brother of Colonel John.

Major John may well have been a younger son of Clenarie and he could have been the father or reputed father of Neil. It would be likely enough, if Neil were orphaned, that his aunt, the remarried widow of the deceased Campbell of Clenarie would take him into her home.

But an air of mystery remains. There was a rather special relationship between Major John and the House of Argyll. The Major had extensive holdings on the Argyll estates in Kintyre at more or less nominal rents. And in death he was selected for special treatment, having had his arms cut off before execution. Moreover after his restoration Argyll pursued the Marquess of Athol for this particular atrocity. The Athol and Tullibardine Chronicles, Appendix vol V p clxx narrates Athol's answer to the Duke's claim:

"As to the additional severity said to be done to Major Campbell in ordering his arms to be cut off after sentence of death was pronounced against him it was part of the sentence nor was the Marquess on the place when it was given and execute. And the Marquess was obliged to allow his deputes to put the laws into execution against him, he being apprehended and sent to him by a near relation of the Earl's whom the Marquess forbears to name and represented to be one of the most active in the rebellion against the Government."

Here is another little mystery. Which near relation of Argyll betrayed the Major and why?

The influence exerted by the Duke on Neil's behalf could have been no more than was due to the son of a clansman of Major John's distinction and service.

The mysteries may never be solved unless the answer is to be found in the archives in Inveraray Castle. But if Duke Niall couldn't solve it and Herbert Campbell so misled himself it is unlikely that a Stewart will provide the answer! It is more probable that we shall never know the true story of this gallant officer who suffered so for his loyalty to his chief and to the Kirk of Scotland.

I am much indebted to Dr Lorne Campbell of London for giving me many references and to Mrs Inez M. McIntyre of Glasgow University Library. Papers which may be referred to are "Alphabetical List of the Campbells of Clenary and Pennymore", W.D. Campbell, 1875 in the Library of the Society of Genealogists (which unfortunately does not go back beyond the Principal) and an "Account of Clan Iver" by Peter Colin Campbell (1873) which states, probably correctly, that Jean Campbell of the Pennymore family married an older brother of Major John and erroneously that Major John succeeded him in Clenarie. We have seen that the successor was Archibald who was followed by Principal Neil.