John MacRae, Min. of Dingwall

Rev. John Macrae, was ordained in 1667 and in 1674 he went to Dingwall where he lived and laboured for thirty years. He was the last Episcopalian Minister of Dingwall. He was the Treasurer of Ross. He wrote two important books, “A History of the Mackenzies”, which was called the Ardintoul MS and a

• *“History and Genealogy of the Macraes” on which the present book “History and Genealogy of the Clan Macrae, by Rev. Alexander Macrae is founded, up to page 224 (Page VI). His Grandfather, Rev. Farquhar Macrae died in 1662, when the Rev. John was a young man, who had been brought up near his grandfather in Kintail. The Rev. Farquhar told him about his life and duties, as Constable of Ellandonan, and the Rev. John certainly knew that his father, Alexander of Inverinate, was older than his uncle John. His daughter married a son of the second Laird of Applecross, who was called John Og Mackenzie, and he was one of the famous “Four Johns of Scotland”, killed at Sheriffmuir. Rev. John Macrae is said to have been a great favourite in the family of the Earl of Seaforth, who gave him a wadset of the lands of Dornie, Dronaig, Aryugan, etc., in Kintail, for the sum of seven thousand five hundred marks. It was impossible to settle a Presbyterian minister in Dingwall until 1716, twelve years after his death, and then not by a “call” from the people, but by the Presbytery acting under warrant from the Privy Council. Rev. John died in January 1704.

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Biographical Summary

"John Macrae, son of Alexander M. of Inverinate ; educated at Aberdeen; M.A. (12th July 1660); became schoolmaster of Dingwall ; recommended for licence by Presb. of Dingwall 4th March 1665 ; ord. to Kilmorack in 1667 ; pres. by Kenneth, Earl of Seaforth, and inst. 1st Feb. 1674. Under the Episcopal government of the Church he was Treasurer of Ross ; continued without conforming to Presbyterianism ; died Jan. 1704, and was buried in Dingwall. He left a MS. History of the Mackenzies, known as the Ardintoul MS., and a MS. History and Genealogy of the Macraes. He marr. before 21st July 1673, Janet Bayne of Knockbain, and had issue — Alexander, became a Roman Catholic priest in Strathglass, and founder of the mission still carried on at Dornie in Kintail, died at Scots College, Douai ; John ; Christopher, born 1682 ; Roderick, born 1692; Mary (marr. Roderick Dingwall of Ussie) ; Janet (marr. John Tuach of Logic) ; Agnes (marr., cont. 9th Dec. 1687, John Mackenzie, brother of Alexander M. of Applecross)."

SOURCE: Fasti ecclesiae scoticanae: the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the reformation, Vol. VII, page 33