Murdoch Mackenzie, 1st of Fairburn

Biographical Summary

"I. Murdoch Mackenzie, first of Fairburn, who was granted letters of legitimation by James V., dated 1st of July, 1539. On the 16th of March, 1541, there are also letters of legitimation in favour of "Alexandre Mackenze seniori, Joanni juniori, et Roderico bastardis filiis naturalibus, quondam Roderici Mackenze." Murdo for some time lived at Court and was a Gentleman of the Bedchamber to James V. He obtained a charter for his lands, dated 1st of April, 1542, afterwards confirmed by Queen Mary in 1548. He married, first, Margaret, daughter of Urquhart, Sheriff of Cromarty, with issue —

• Alexander, his heir and successor.
• John, I. of Tolly, minister of Dingwall, who married Margaret, daughter of Ballindalloch, with issue, among others — Murdoch, II. of Tolly, who married Catherine, daughter of James Innes of Inverbreakie, with issue.
• Annabella, who married, first, Thomas Mackenzie of Lochluichart and Ord, with issue ; and secondly, Alexander Mackenzie, progenitor of Coul, also with issue.
• A daughter, who married Ross of Priesthill. Murdoch married, secondly, a daughter of Rory MacFarquhar Maclean, with issue
• Roderick, of Knockbaxter, from whom the Mackenzies of Kernsary, of whom presently.
• John, I. of Corry, who married a daughter of Donald Clark, with issue — three sons and four daughters.
• Hector, Chamberlain of Lochcarron.
• Isabel, who, as his second wife, married John Roy Mackenzie, IV. of Gairloch, with issue.
• A daughter, who married Donald Glas Macdonald.
• Mary, who married Wyland Chisholm, Kinkell, with issue — Agnes, who married her cousin, Hector Mackenzie, IV. of Fairburn, with issue.

Murdoch died in 1590, and was succeeded by his eldest son."

SOURCE: History of the Mackenzies, with genealogies of the principal families of the name; Alexander Mackenzie; 1894; page 513