Andrew (Stewart) Grant, 5th Lord of Stratherrick

Because of the Familytree DNA matching with Grants, and the Big Y 700 test that was done, Charles McKinnis was a descendent of the cheifly line of Grants. The line of Grants we are from is called the Tullochgorm Grants or the Dalvey Grants. It is not clear that the chiefly line is direct from Andrew, but we are said to be possibly from the line of Patrick Grant, 9th Lord of Starthernick, John Grant, 10th Lord, and Duncan Grant, 1st of Freuchie, is where the Tullochgorm splits. Of course this is the Grant line that I have the most exception to, the Patrick Grant is very unclear in most of the documents. This is shown below. Possibly what is not clear is who was really the chief, Patrick or Duncan.

The Grant website on FamilyTreeDNA, https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/grant/activity-feed, says this about our connection:

Geoffrey Grant November 7 @ 10:49pm
My current belief is that the Grants of Tullochgorm break off the Chiefly tree very early, probably in the early 1400's. While there are MANY different histories of the Clan, and many of them are like fantasy novels, it's really hard to say who did and didn't exist before the 15th century. and to prove a genetic connection with these figures is next to impossible. i believe Sir Duncan Grant 1st of Fruechie had a father named John and a grandfather named Patrick. I believe the Patrick in Tullochgorm who started this branch to be a younger son of Patrick grandfather to Duncan. The DNA would support this theory 100%. but is it fact? nobody will ever know, unfortunately. but the lack of data also makes it impossible to prove me wrong on this so I say go with it.

The Grant Project on Family Tree DNA has done extensive work on the DNA markers and what lines match. Here is the details on YDNA
https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/grant/about/results
The definitive marker is Group P312->DF19->DF88->Z17281->Z17274 Chiefs of Grant (subgroup 3). The Z17274, which I have, is a key marker in determining which Grant is being matched, today the most appropriate is Dalvey or Tullochgrom. I do not have the Z21133 marker so that narrows it down to these two branches. The DYS620 was inconclusive, so I need to get that redone to see if Dalvey or Tullochgorm line is more appropriate.

The MacInnes line probably branched from one of the Grant descendents, probably Patrick or that had many kids, and somehow the parents were lost and a MacInnes picked up one of them, or they were illegitimate.  If the family was a large one then the other names I see in my matches could have adopted children.

Probably the MacInnes was mac Angus (mihc Aonghais), as many Angus are in this region.  There are also many Innes around this area so it makes it even more confusing. Some information on mac Angus is here.

Originally it was thought that the McKinnis line descended from Andrew Grant, so much information is listed on him. But the Grant DNA site suggests we descended from a Patrick Grant, 9th Lord of Stratherrick, through John Roy Grant and then branched at Duncan Grant, and this line is from Andrew. So a lot of focus is still on Andrew, as he is the Chief that broke the Norris line to Celtic.

This is a collection of information on Andrew (Stewart) Grant and the Grant line from him. view Andrew Stewart Grant at Geni.
Because of the age of these records, there are many conflicts in the details. This is my best attempt at consolidating the history.

About Andrew Stewart Grant of Ballachastle, Sheriff of Bute (Boot)

Andrew Grant of Stratherrick, alias Stewart (c1295-1335), 5th Lord of Stratherrick. Parents unknown. He married Maud or Marjorie, the Grant heiress and under the terms of the marriage bond took her surname.
I'm leaving the previous work in this section here for now -- the Revisions history and the About Me sections both point to some of the difficulties with this profile, almost all of which have been because THIS Andrew Stewart, who was of unimportant origins but married into the Grants and took their name, has been confused with the Andrew Stewart, son of John the Black Stewart and Janet Symple, who was born almost a hundred years later. They are not the same. Please do not merge them any more.
--------------------------------------------
Problems with this profile:

1. He was born about 1295 and died (about) 1335 and had children.
2. His supposed parents were born 1350 and 1338 respectively.
3. Peerage shows he was born c1376.
4. His wife would have be about 80 and still had no children.
5. No sources provide any wife or children for him.

Sources

Chiefs list from Clan Grant Society, "Complete List of Chiefs"

Validated for the most part by a Google book Genealogical Collections  Concerning Families in Scotland by Walter MacFarlane
Genealogical Collections also on Electric Scotland https://www.electricscotland.com/history/records/genealogicalcollections1.pdf page 103.
This is also known as the Cromdale Text from www.clangrant.org as it was orginally created by Rev James Comdale in 1729, Minister of Chapman.

The most definitive books on Chiefs from Sir William Fraser from the National Library of Scotland. This beautiful collection seems to be images from the real book. But this series has problems in the line at Andrew (Stewart) Grant.
Vol I - Memoirs
Vol II - Correspondence
Vol III - Charters

Also from several texts at www.clangrant.org:  
     Monymusk Text
      Cromdale Text ,(also in Genealogy Collections)
      Tullochgrom Text
      Shaw text
      Baronage text, probably least accurate

Grants by Electric Scotland on Grants a little out of date.

Another interesting book Lectures on the Mountains or The Highlands and Highlanders by William Grant Stewart about Grants

 MacInnes note: A note on  page 125 about a MacLean in the Battle of Harlaw in 1411, being kill and carried off by Clan Innes and Clan vic vilvory of Morvern, buried at I Columkill (Kiel Church).

This is my interpretation of the Chieftains line as presented by Clan Grant and validated mainly by the Genealogy Collections. The other texts have larger gaps in the lines. The Sir William Fraser's Chief of Clans may have been used for the original Chiefs line.

The Chief is listed followed by the children or relative.  The heir tag represents this child assumes the chief position. The wife is listed in parens ().

Genealogical Collections is abbreviated Gen Col or GC. Sir William Fraser's Chief of Grant is WF.

Sir William Fraser dismisses Rev James Chapman as a "strange production". But Sir William Fraser is not very definitve about the lines from 10 to 15, Chapman is. And the two documents match closely for chief names, not as much for wives and children.

There is some disagreement in Chiefs 1-5 but these dates are too old to really confirm.

This is all my theory and nothing concrete to suggest a change to anyone.

The clangrant.org web site starts listing the chiefs from Aulay Grant, but gives this history for the chiefs before him.

From https://www.clangrant.org/index.aspx?pid=4 Adrian Grant:

"DNA evidence established in 2007 has now conclusively vindicated the Grant Seannachies of the past who were unanimous that the original Grant Chiefs were of Viking stock. The Chiefs’ ancestral lines go back to Håkon the Mighty, protector of Norway (970-995), Grig, (“Gregory the Great”) Regent of Scotland (878-889), Heming the Great, King of Denmark (fl. 810) and Alfred the Great of Wessex!

Our patriarch, Olav Hemingsson came North with Malcolm III around 1057. The Clan’s plant badge, the “Seedling Scots Pine, fructed proper”, echoes the Norse origins of the first Chiefly line. The Crowns on the Chief’s Arms represent the Spirit of Victory. In the tinctures (the colours), the vassalage to Malcolm is acknowledged."

Adrian Grant

Family tree of Alexander (Stewart) Grant

Andrew Stewart Grant of Ballachastle,
Sheriff of Bute
Identity of this Andrew
(a discussion thread on Geni)

The following information was on the Geni web site and has a lot of references back to the www.clangrant.org web sites.

 https://www.geni.com/discussions/162132
A while back there was a discussion about the identity of this Andrew Stewart. The discussion must have been private because I don't find it here in the public discussions. (That's the problem with private discussions -- they don't reach a full audience and their content is easily lost.)
At the time I made a note to check the old manuscript histories. It has taken me quite a while to do that.
This Andrew married Maud Grant of Stratherrick, heir of Stratherrick, the heiress of the Grant chiefs.
The Monymusk Text (circa 1710) says "Marjory, or Mald, daughter and representative of Grants, was left by Patrick heretrix of Freuchy, Strathernick, and Glenchernich, to the tuition of his nearest friends, with this Mandate, [p16] that whoever should be joined in marriage to her should of necessity be of the name of Grant." He is described as "Andrew Stuart, Sheriff of Boot, a young man of deserved renown, pursuing his fortune".It tells the story of the lovers then says, "Att length Andrew Stuart and the heiress of Grant are orderly and solemnly married about 1210, and lived quietly and comfortably together for many years".
https://www.clangrant.org/index.aspx?pid=14
The Cromdale Text (1729) calls her Mald, daughter of Sir John Grant of Fruichy and Stratharrick, and says, "he married Andrew Stuart Son to The Sheriff of Bute, who by Articles in The Marriage changed his Name, and was called Andrew Grant alias Stuart."
https://www.clangrant.org/index.aspx?pid=16
The Tullochgorm Text (circa 1770) repeats the Monymusk Text.
https://www.clangrant.org/index.aspx?pid=49
The Shaw Text (1775) mentions miscellaneous early Grants then says, "I cannot, indeed, instruct that these five gentlemen were the successive representatives of the family, although I think it highly probable. But the following descents, from father to son, admit of no question, viz: (6) Maude or Matildis, heiress, married Andrew Steuart, son of Sir John Steuart, Sheriff of Bute, who was son of King Robert II".
https://www.clangrant.org/index.aspx?pid=17
Finally, the Baronage Text (1798) skips over the idea of an heiress, making the entire line father to son. This was the "canonical" version until modern DNA testing showed the Grant chiefs have the Stewart yDNA signature while other branches share a different yDNA signature. This fact makes it likely there was a break in the male line of the chiefs at some point and led to resurrecting the old histories.
https://www.clangrant.org/index.aspx?pid=18
The dates for heiress Mald and her husband are a bit scattered. If I remember correctly, that's why the previous discussion was struggling with his identity. The Clan Grant Society calls him Andrew (Stewart) Grant, 5th Lord of Stratherrick and says he was chief (about) 1320-1335. By implication, Mald would have been daughter of Sir John Grant, 4th Lord, who was chief (about) 1295-1320.
https://www.clangrant.org/index.aspx?pid=19
https://www.clangrant.org/index.aspx?pid=18

Anne Brannen C
11/7/2016 at 6:12 AM
I am quite and very willing to follow this thinking, and add in all sorts of notes.
Thank you so much for providing all this!

Private User
11/7/2016 at 8:04 PM
Any thoughts on where we got his toponym Ballachastle?

Tony Grant, T901888 PRO
11/8/2016 at 1:55 PM
may he was from ballycastle ireland originally?

Anne Brannen C
11/9/2016 at 11:35 AM
Ballachastle seems to be gone now, but was in Invernesshire, in the highlands.

Donald L. Grant
6/19/2017 at 9:51 AM
DNA seems to confirm a break in the male line about the 13th century , putting him in the timeline of the Andrew Stuart ..son on the 5th Stewart and Egidia "Giles" Stewart formerly Burgh aka de Burgh.
There might have been the split in the DNA here.
And or a NPE
But this mystery is close to being solved.
More ppl tested the better.
https://www.clangrant.org/index.aspx?pid=14 Monymusk Text
15. Andrew Stuart and Marjory Grant. Marjory, or Mald, daughter and representative of Grants, was left by Patrick heretrix of Freuchy, Strathernick, and Glenchernich, to the tuition of his nearest friends, with this Mandate, [p16] that whoever should be joined in marriage to her should of necessity be of the name of Grant.
About this time Andrew Stuart, Sheriff of Boot, a young man of deserved renown, pursuing his fortune, coming to Balachastle and visiting the heretrix, their affections are so mutually engaged, that they both consent to promise marriage. The frequency and familiarity of the young courtier Andrew Stuart in Balachastle, occasioned among the friends a supposition of marriage intrigues, and a little time after did confirm them so as to become incensed and irritated against him. Andrew Stuart is at length in great friendship with the Baron of Downan (a place scarce half a mile`s distance from Treachy), who, by this Baron`s persuasions and advice, there is a cave made underground and as yet remaining, and where the young courtier is obliged, for fear of his life, to live for some time, for all the name of Grant were dissatisfied with the match; but yet the affection and inclination of the heiress was so set, that by projects and stratagems both Andrew Stuart and Marjory do meet, and he gets her with child. Yea, after some time she goes away and remains in the cave of Clack Dunan, with her Gallant, till by proxys matters came to the pitch of a treaty, which is that upon condition that this Andrew Stuart should change his name, and be called Andrew Grant; then, and in that case, friends would consent to the marriage. The proposal heard did soon find a satisfying answer to both.
[p17] Att length Andrew Stuart and the heiress of Grant are orderly and solemnly married about 1210, and lived quietly and comfortably together for many years, in the same account with their predecessors; only the Cummines of Glenchernick want envy of their happiness nor a resentment of their heiress Bigla`s marriage.
Andrew Stuart, alias Grant, begat a son and one daughter with his Lady Marjory Grant; the son and representative is called Patrick, and the daughter is called Mary, who at length is married to Simon Lord Lovat, her cousin.
With her he got restored the Lands of Strathenich and the amity still continued betwixt the family of Lovat and Grant.
16. Patrick 3rd. Att length Andrew Stuart alias Grant dying is succeeded by Patrick Grant commonly called Patrick Bag McMald because he was Marjory`s Son and of low stature. Was a Man of good esteem in the World, enjoying the Honors of Inheritance of his father, as being Sheriff Principal of Inverness, Heir of Balachastle Strathenick and Glenchenick, is married to Bathea McDonald, Daughter to the Earl of Ross with whom he begat one Son named John. The envied greatness fomented with the malitious designs of the Cumings occasioned Patrick Grant to call for his friends and proposed his mind as follows: "I find affairs are not so flourishing as of old. I find I am scrimped about Ballycastle with a "number of petty Barrons. I find the Cummings [p18] at a misunderstanding with me and irritated against me. I find some grounds of necessity to dispense with the lands of Strathernick to satisfy my brother in law Lord Lovat in his tochar, and 1 find a remedy for all these my straights, which is, that you, my friends, do unanimously resolve to sell off your possessions in Strathernick and with me come and purchase ane inheritance in Strath Spey, by which means wee are not only united among ourselves, but will also be capable to defend against, yea and be formidable to the envying Cummings" - the which proposal had such impression upon the Laird of Grant`s friends that they all unanimously homologate the same, and therefore do dispose and sell their possessions in Strathanich to Lovat and come with the Laird of Grant to Balachastle and Strathspey where they purchase land, which they called after their old possessions in Strathanich which are remarked to continue to this day, such as Gorten, Archimaron, and the like. And then leaving the County of Strathanick, Patrick Laird of Grant with his followers to the number of sixteen came to Strathspey about the year 1250 where they inherit to this day.
The most remarkable as yet remains - Gentlemen come with the Laird of Grant and inheriting in Strath Spey are Clan Allan who purchased and inherited the Barony which became of the contiguity of the same to the Barony of Freuchy and Ballychastle was complimented by Achachernich [p19] to the Laird of Grant, and my information bears that the Barony of Dunan now properly belonging to the Laird of Grant does hold as yet of Achachernick. The next was Clan Cheran who purchased and inherited the lands of Archinaiors near Dunan in the Parish of Cromdell which they inherited for many years.
Duncan Carrach was next and his two Sons Lucas Lea and Amhra buy, that is gray haired Luky, and yellow haired Humphrey were with all their posterity called Slich Ile Chanick, the most remarkable and principall remaining of these called Slich Ile Chanick are Mc Finlay More in the Muckerach of Abernethy and Donald More, Boat man of Balephort, their principal seat of old was Lettoch of Abernethy, there are not wanting who inform that Duncan Chanick had two Sons Lucas Lea the eldest, of whom say they, Clan Cheran descended and Humphrey the younger of whom Slich Ile Chanich is come.
The next followers of the Laird of Grant to Strathspey was Evan Dornock so called because strong heaved or handed and there descended of him ane called Slich van Dornock, their principal representatives are there called Mc Roberts in Strathspey and one John Cattanach a servant who lived long among the Clan Chatten, their seat of old, was the Barony of Lettoch and Calcoich More in the Parish of Cromdel. He was called Barron Proiss, and his posterity was also called Barron [p20] Proiss. The next was John Riach, so called because of his grim and marled hue or colour - those descended of him are there called Riachs and are termed as yet Slich Ian Riach; they have a desk in the Church of Neverallan of ane old standing, but they are for the most part extinct. There were several other followers whose names time hath so worn out that I cannot mention them here. Thus Patrick with his friends being fully settled in the County of Strathspey, was capable to offend or deffend as occasion offered: yet however weel circumstanced as to the number of his friends, the rancour of his enemies the Cummings did continue, and therefore as Patrick Laird of Grant was for his divertisments visiting the Baron of Kincairne, a barbarous crew of the most remarkable for note of these Cummings, did surround and besett him, and att length did cruelly murder the Laird of Grant; att which horrid action the Country of Strathspey being alarmed they surrounded the murdering Cummings who, finding themselves overpowered, did hasten to possess the kirk of Kincairne, for every Church in those days was reputed a Sanctuary and City of Refuge from the avenging foe. The Grants finding that the Cummings made for the Church are put to a stand how to carry, being straitned for shedding blood within a Sanctuary on the one hand, and suffering their Chieftain`s blood to be shed unrevenged on the other hand; yet the latter so prevailed that no [p21] place should secure the murderers. Att length one, of the name of Grant effectuates the affair and eases his mind as to the shedding of blood in a Sanctuary by falling on the following stratagem - he takes and fires a spunk and fixing the same on his arrow, bent and shot at the roof of the Church, which being all thatched with heather did soon run in flames and utterly consume the Church and all the Cummings there (save one bigg man commonly called for his stature Cumminach More) who with swiftness of feet made his escape, till at length being overtaken by one of the family of Slich Ile Chanich, his head with a two handed sword was severed from his body, which sword lyes yet in the Representative of Clan Cheran`s house. Thus Patrick being hastened to Eternity is succeeded by his only son.
17. John 1st. John Grant of Freuchy and Balachastle, Sheriff Principal of Inverness, a man of good accomplishments, yet wanted not his other infirmities, he being a Man after his father`s death living in Balachastle, about the year 1300, begetteth a young woman living about the family, or as others say his Lady`s maid, with Child of a Son whom he named Duncan; this is the Progenitor and first Man of the House of Gastenbeg, and all descended of him are called Daunachy, of these there are several families in Strathspey, but the most remarkable are Grant of Inverlaidnen, now of Dalvey; Grant of Dalrachny in Duthell.
[p22] John, Laird of Grant is married to Florence, Daughter to the Laird of McLean, and of her begat one Son.
The Laird, as he wanted not a resentment of his Father`s death against the Cummings, so was he much in divertising visits; once lodging in Barron Lamb`s who lived in Tullochlarran, in the Parish of Inverallan, he begets the Barron`s daughter (or others say his wife) with child of a Son whom he called Patrick, after his father, this is the Progenitor or first man of the family of Tulloch gorim and all descended of him are called Clan Phadrich, of these there are several families; and particularly it is observed of this family that such of the name of Grant as cannot instruct clearly what family they are descended from, are of Tulloch-goirms family. Whatever Country they live in, its observable of this Tribe of Clan Phadrich that of all the Tribes and Families of the name of Grant, their Progenitor sticks closest to his Duchus or Inheritance of his Father which no tribe or family of the name can say, for although Tullochgoirm be but a Dauch of land, yet for several hundreds of years their head does inherit the same though there were different Superiors. The families descended of Clan Phadrich are Miltown of Duthel, Grant of Inver Lochy and Glenlochy in Strathdon, John of Grott in Caithness and as some say, Grant of Crichy in Banff there.
[p23] There being an implacable Enmity running in the Cummings` of Glenchenick`s veins against the lands of Grant since the marriage of Heretrix Bigla, John Laird of Grant falls on a project to procure their favour and subjection to himself, which is as follows.
That his father-in-law McLean should send his men and lift and take away all the cattle, by way of Hership, from the Cummings of Glen-chernick, and drive them away, until the Laird of Grant would be seen in person to go and see them.
Att length the Cattle is all driven away, and the plundered Cummings not understanding the design, do come and make their address to the Laird of Grant in a humble manner, beseeching him to return the spoil, and seize on the robbers who plundered them, and upon that condition they should all their days subject themselves under his power, with which humble entreaty the Laird of Grant is prevailed with to follow and turn the spoil, which when the plundering McLeans did behold, by chance one of them (not privy to what passed betwixt the Laird of Grant and McLean as to the design) does at a venture bend a bow and shoot unfortunately John Laird of Grant through the ancle, by which he is so wounded as to have bled to death - and is buried in Forritun, in the Parish of Duthel, remarked with a big Cairn of Stones, called after the Laird of Grant`s name, Carn Jan May.
[p24] The Laird of Grant being thus killed also, the Cummings cattle were returned, yet McLean was so grieved as to have immediately seised upon the actor, and setting up two Dane`s Axes and a cross tree by way of Gallows, hangs him to death in the presence of all the people, and in testimony of friendship and esteem received Grant`s sword, vowing both strictly, that while these two families did remain in the world, they should exchange swords, by giving the defunct`s sword to the surviving, which custom ever since, and as yet is, religiously observed between the families of Grant and McLean.
Thus John Laird of Grant being removed, is survived by one Son, Duncan, and the representatives of the Clan Daunachy and Clan Phadrich - between these two families or tribes there was such a strict union declared, that whoever should violate the name of them, should be stigmatized with a curse and ulula inter avis fucus inter apes. As an owl among birds and a drone among bees; it was observed till of late that these men were two familiars following their two tribes - the one following Clan Daunachy, called Protach Charter, and the little spirit following Tullochgorim, called Meg Mullach or Phronach, a little hairy creature in the shape of a female child - this little familiar spirit followed the family and served for great drudgery to them, till by the blessing of God since the more pure preaching of the Gospel and reformation from [p25] Popery, the same is altogether invisible and extinct.

https://www.clangrant.org/index.aspx?pid=49 Tullochgorm Text

13. Gregory Grant, of Freuchy &c &c, born about the year 1200 succeeded his Father in esteem and inheritance [27] about the year 1230, a man of aspiring inclinations and not satisfied with the narrow bounds of Freuchy &c &c, goes to Court, and where his engaging accomplishments being understood, he is by Alexander the 3rd, 95th King of Scotland, Commissioned and appointed Sheriff Principal of Inverness Shire, a post then both great and difficult, yet his conduct and his other perfections gained him a good match and suitable portion, fitting him for the trust committed to him the more for Mary, daughter to Fraser Lord of Lovat, is wedded to him, with whom he inherited the Country of Stratherrick as his tocher. The alliance thus connected (engaged by Grant’s parts and post) confirmed such amity betwixt [28] Lord Lovat and Gregory Grant, they both being the most potent in the shire, that the trust is discharged with great easiness and satisfying to King and Country.
Gregory Grant begat three Sons with his Lady Mary Fraser, daughter to the Lord of Lovat - the Representative is Patrick, and Andlaw or Allan is the 2nd Son to Gregory Grant of Freuchy and Sheriff Principal of Inverness, and Mary, Daughter to Lovat; this Allan is the Representative and Progenitor to the Family of Acharnick, and all descended of him are called to this day Clan Allan - they are computed to come of Grant about the year 1200 – there are several families of note [29] descended of Clan Allan - the principal ones are Grant of Dalnaboe in Strathdown, Grant of Lettoch in Abernethy, Grant of Gartenmore there, Grant sometime of Congas there, Grant of Achterblair in Duthel, Grant of Blairfindy in Glenlivet, Grant of Nevy, Grants of Slich Ian [Douy] &c.
Lucas, third Son of Grant, was ordinarily called Keran or Kiar, because of his grim or grey colour or hue, is the representative of the family of Achnarrow - now Delachaple in Strathspey, and all descended of him are called Clan Cheran, the principal families are Grant, sometime ago in Glenbeg - Grant Slich Ian [icohon] in Kirktown [30] of Inverallan - Grant of Branchell in Dallas.
At length after living many days in great esteem, Gregory is succeeded by -
14. Patrick Grant of Freuchy and Ballachastle, Sheriff Principal of Inverness, about the year 1200 - a man of no less valuable accomplishments than his progenitors, and wanted only opportunity to extend his grandeur and aspiring mind, which at length by a good he obtained, for at this time the surname of Cumming was strong and numerous in Scotland, particularly Lord of Glenchernick, leaving one daughter called Bigla, whom he tenderly loved, left her as heretrix of Glenchernick and representative of his family, and entrusted [31] her under the tuition of some of the most special trustees of his name, both for preservation and education, the which trustees with all care imaginable endeavoured to discharge the trust committed to them, and, to facilitate the same, did build underground some little mansion for her and her governess, where she remained for some time, because of the alarming account of having her stolen and married to another but a Cumming. Patrick Grant, being well accomplished and duly respected, is advised by his friends to use methods for obtaining Bigla in marriage, and that the matter of the contiguity of the Lordship of Glenchernick to the Barony [32] of Freuchy and Balachastle, which, if both united, would make him great and considerable in means and fortune, as well as in parts and esteem. At length Patrick’s perfections do so engage little Lady Bigla that, without consent of friends, she is married to him, and by her he purchased the great county of Glenchernick, and strong envy of the Cummings; yet the enjoyed satisfaction did encourage under any attempts of the latter, and therefore he lived comfortably with his little Lady (for she was very low of stature), and begat one daughter, whom he named Marjory, or Maud, whom he left heretrix of his fortune, and then died in a good old age.
[33] 15. Marjory, or Mauld, daughter and representative of Grant, was left by Patrick heretrix of Freuchy, Stratherrick, and Glenchernich, to the tuition of his nearest friends, with this mandate, that whoever should be joined in marriage to her should of necessity be of the name of Grant.
About this time Andrew Stuart, Sheriff of Boot, a young man of deserved renown, pursuing his fortune, coming to Balachastle and visiting the heretrix, their affections are so mutually engaged, that they consent & promise marriage. The frequency and familiarity of the young courtier Andrew Stewart in Ballachastle, occasioned among the friends a supposition of [34] marriage intrigues, and little time after did confirm them so as to become incensed and irritated against him. Andrew Stewart is at length in great friendship with the Baron of Dowan (a place scarce half a mile’s distance from Freuchy), and by this Baron’s persuasion and advice, there is a cave made underground and as yet remaining, and where the young courtier is obliged, to live for some time, for fear of his life, for all the name of Grant are dissatisfied with the match; but yet the affection and inclination of the heiress was such that by projects and stratagems both Andrew and Marjory do meet, and he begets her with child. Yea, after some time she goes away and remains in the [35] cave of Clash Downan, with her gallant, till by proxies matters came to the pitch of a treaty, which is that upon condition that this Andrew Stewart should change his name, and be called Andrew Grant; then, and in that case, friends would consent to the marriage. The proposal heard did soon find a satisfying answer from both. At length Andrew Stuart and the heiress of Grant being solemnly married about 1210. They lived quietly and comfortably together for many years, in the same account with their predecessors; yet the Cummines of Glenchernick wanted not envy of their happiness nor a resentment of their heiress Bigla’s marriage.
Andrew Stuart, alias Grant, begat a son [36] and one daughter with his Lady Marjory Grant; the son and representative is called Patrick, and the daughter Mary, who at length is married to Lord Lovat, her cousin; with her he got restored the Lands of Stratherrick and the amity still subsisted betwixt the family of Lovat and Grant. At length Andrew Stuart alias Grant dying is succeeded by his son
16. Patrick Grant commonly called Patrick Beg Mac Mauld because he was Marjory’s Son and of low stature; he was a Man of good esteem in the world, enjoying the honour & inheritance of his father, as being Sheriff Principal of Inverness-shire, heir of Freuchy, Ballachastle, and Glenchernick, [37] he is married to Bathia McDonald, Daughter to the Earl of Ross with whom he begat one son named John. The envied greatness fomented with the malicious designs of the Cumings induced Patrick Grant to call for his friends and proposed his mind as follows:
“I find I am surrounded at Ballachastle by a number of petty Barons. I find the Cummings at a misunderstanding with me and irritated against me. I find some grounds of necessity to dispense with the lands of Stratherrick to satisfy my brother in law Lord Lovat in his tocher, and 1 find a remedy for, all these my straights, which is, that you, my friends, do unanimously resolve to sell off your [38] possessions in Stratherrick and with me come and purchase an inheritance in Strathspey; by which means we are not only united among ourselves, but will also be capable to defend against, yea and be formidable to the envying Cummings."
Which proposal had such an effect on all the Laird of Grant’s friends that they all unanimously resolve to sell their possessions to Lord Lovat and accompany their chief to Balachastle and Strathspey where they purchase land, which they called after their old possessions in Stratherrick which continue the same to this day, such as Garten, Archnarrow, and the like. Leaving Stratherrick, Patrick Laird of Grant with followers [39] to the number of 16 came to Strathspey about the year 1250 where they inherit to this day.
The most & as yet remaining Gentlemen who came with the Laird of Grant and inheriting in Strathspey are Clan Allan who purchased and inherited the Barony of Downan now properly belonging to the Laird which because of its contiguity to the Barony of Freuchy was complemented by Achernick to the Laird of Grant; and my information bears that the Barony of Downan still holds of Achernick. The next was Clan Cheran who purchased and inherited the lands of Achnarrows near Downan in Parish of Cromdale which they inherited for many [40] years.
Duncan Carrach was next and his representative came to Dellachaple & his two Sons Lucas Lia and Amphra Buy, that is gray haired Luky, and yellow-haired Humphrey were with all their posterity called Slich ile Charrich, the most remarkable and principal of these Slich ile Chanick are Mac Finlay More in parish of Abernethy and Donald More, Boatman of Ballafurth, their first and principal seat of old was Lettoch of Abernethy, there are not wanting who inform that Duncan Carrach had two sons of whom  Lucas Lia the eldest, are descended the Clan Cheran and Humphrey is the progenitor of the Slich ile Carrich.
The next followers of the Laird of Grant was Evan Dornock so called [41] because strong heaved or handed and those descended of him are called Slich Evan Dornock, their principal representatives are those called MacRoberts in Strathspey and one John Catanach a servant who lived long among the Clan Chatan, their seat of old, was the Barony of Lettoch and Culcroichmore in the Parish of Cromdale. He was called Baron Proiss, and his posterity was also called Slich Baron Proiss. The next was called John Riach, so called because of his grim and marled hue or colour - those descended of him are there called Riachs and are termed as yet Slich Ian Riach. They have a desk in the Church of Inverallan of an old standing, but they are for the most part extinct except those found in Strathaven. [42] There were several other followers whose names have so worn that I cannot mention them here.
Thus Patrick with his friends being fully settled in Strathspey, was capable of defending or offending as occasion offered: yet however well circumstanced as to the valour and number of his friends, the rancour of his enemies still continued and he was at length most cruelly murdered by them in the following manner. While he was on a visit to the Baron of Kincairn, a barbarous crew of the most remarkable of these Cummings surround and cruelly put to death the Laird of Grant; at which [43] horrid action the country of Strathspey being alarmed they pursued the Cummings who, finding themselves overpowered, hastened to possess the kirk of Kincairn, for every Church in these times was a sanctuary and city of refuge from the avenging foe. The Grants finding that the Cummings made for the Church are put to a stand what to do, being straitned to shed blood in a Sanctuary on the one hand, and suffering their Chieftain’s blood to be shed unrevenged on the other hand; yet the latter so prevailed that no place would secure the murderers.
At length one of the name of Grant effectuates the affair and eases his mind as to [44] the shedding of blood in a Sanctuary by falling on the following stratagem - he takes and fires a spunk on the point of his arrow, and shoots it at the roof of the Church, which being all thatched with heath soon kindles in blaze and utterly consumed the church and all the Cummings within it except one big man commonly called from his stature Cumminach More who by swiftness of foot makes his escape, till at length being overtaken by one of the family of Slich ile Charrich, his head with a blow of a two edged sword is severed from his body, which sword to this day lies in representative of Clan Cheran’s house. Thus Patrick being hastened [45] to Eternity by premature death is succeeded by his son.
17. John Grant of Freuchy and Balachastle, Sheriff Principal of Inverness; he was a man of good accomplishments, yet wanted not his infirmities, being after his father’s death about Ballachastle, in the year 1300, begat with child a young woman about the family (or as some say his Lady’s maid) which proving a son is called Duncan; this is the Progenitor of the House of Gartenbeg, and all descended of him are called Clan Donachy, of these there are several families in Strathspey, the most remarkable are Grant of Inverlaidnan, Grant of Dalrachny in Duthel.