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THE MACDONALDS OF OSTAIG AND CAPSTILL
This family derives its descent from
I. DONALD, second son of James Macdonald of Castle Camus. He had the same soubriquet as his grandfather, Donald, 4th Baron of Sleat, and was known as Donald Gruamach Mac James, From the frequency of his appearances on record, he must have been regarded as a man of consequence in the internal economy of the Clan Uisdein. On 16th May, 1578, John Cunningham of Drumquhassal becomes his surety for appearing before the Council as one of the Chieftains of Donald Gorm Mor, a position that he occupied until his death nearly fifty years later. In 1617, Donald Gruamach Mac James is procurator for Donald Gorm Mor in a precept of Seasing of that year, and is referred to as " Donaldus Mac Conal alias Gruamach Mac James de Ostaig Actornatus." In 1619, Donald Gorm seeks to disown liability for Donald Gruamach's compearance before the Privy Council on the alleged ground that he was a tenant of Macleod's — but the plea was disallowed, nor have we any information as to the lands, if any, that he held from the Chief of Dim vegan. He married, and had-
1. James, who succeeded him.
2. Colla, who left no descendants.
3. John Og, of whom the Macdonalds of Balvicquean, and others. See Macdonalds of Rigg & Balvicquean He was succeeded by his son,
II. JAMES. The ascertained facts about him and his descendants are comparatively meagre. On his father's death in 1626, he succeeded him as one of Donald Gorm's principal chieftains available for yearly presentation at the Privy Council. He married Mary, daughter of Archibald, the clerk, and sister of Sir Donald Macdonald, by whom he had—1. James, who succeeded him.
2. A daughter, who married her second cousin, Alexander, son of Donald Macdonald of Cuidreach.He died about 1660, and was succeeded by
III. JAMES of Capstill. He held a command in the Sleat contingent under Macdonald of Castleton at Dundee's Rising for King James in 1689, and was among the gentlemen of Clan Uisdein, cousins of Sir Donald, who perished on that field. Accord- ing to Martin, on the night of the battle of Killie- crankie, his cows in Skye gave blood instead of milk, which was regarded as a serious omen at a time of peril. James of Capstill married, and had a son John, who succeeded.
IV. JOHN of Capstill appears on record in 1686 and 1697, but little further is known of his history. He married, and was succeeded by his son,
V. JAMES, with whom this branch of the Clann Domhnuill Ghruamaich terminated.