John Munro, 2nd of Coul

Biographical Summary

"II. John Munro, designated during his father's life as " Mr John Munro of Balcony," a pretty place situated on the banks of the Skiach, near the Established Church of Kiltearn, and at an earlier period the Easter Ross seat of the Earls of Ross one of whom, Earl Hugh, on the 14th of June, 1333, a few weeks before his death at the battle of Halidon Hill, discharges at Balconie an annuity payable to Sir William Rose of Kilravock. John, as the prefix " Mr " implies, studied for the Church, and took his M.A. degree at Aberdeen University. In 1498 he was presented to the " Vicarage of Logie-Urquhard," apparently Logie-Wester and Urquhart in the Black Isle, vacant by the resignation of Sir Dugald Runison. In 1546 "Mr John Munro, Chaplain of Balkny," in the parish of Kiltearn, with consent of Queen Mary, the Earl of Arran, and Mungo or Kentigern Monypenny, Dean and Vicar-General of Ross, lets to John Munro and his heirs-male the Church lands of Fowlis, with the brewhouse and croft called Brewer's croft, in the same parish, for the yearly payment of 5 marks 2 shillings and 8 pence, and a dozen capons wont to be paid, and 4 shillings in augmentation of the rental. In 1550 Queen Mary confirmed the grant. In 1551 the same Queen presented William Munro, second son of Sir William Munro, twelfth Baron of Fowlis, to the Chaplainry of Saint Monan, on the lands of Balconie, vacant by the decease of " Master John Monro," Between 1561 and 1566 this Chaplainry was held by " Mr William Monro," minister and vicar of Dingwall, apparently the presentee of 1551.

He married a daughter of Mackenzie, Strathconon, with issue —

• John, his heir and successor.
• Hugh.
• William.
• Andrew.
• David.
• Donald.

John was succeeded by his eldest son."

SOURCE: History of the Munros of Fowlis: with genealogies of the principal families of the name to which are added those of Lexington and New England; Alexander Mackenzie; 1898; page 343