Eddrachilles – Mackay & MacLeod Warfare

 

The MacLeods of Lewis were proprietors of Eddrachilles.  The last one Mache a Leister, literally ‘the son of the arrow maker’ had no children to inherit and invited his wife’s nephew James to live with them.  Sadly when James MacLeod did inherit he proved to be a quarrelsome man and fell out with his neighbours in Durness killing many of the Morrison clan.

 

One day he over reached himself.  Sir Hugh Mackay of Farr, Laird of Clan Mackay sent money to Edinburgh but a party of armed men robbed the messenger.  James MacLeod was blamed for the theft and the Morrisons saw their chance to get revenge.

 

It was the custom at this time for a visiting laird to be brought gifts of food and drink by local clan members.  Sir Hugh was staying in a hunting lodge on the island in Loch Stack when he was visited by the wife of a farmer from Loan bearing such gifts.  He took a fancy to her, but she was not willing to betray her husband.  So she was kept a prisoner while Sir Hugh had her husband murdered.  To prove the point, she was presented with her husband’s head.  Not wishing to be killed too she gave in, with Donald Mackay as the illegitimate offspring of the union.  Donald and his mother, however, lived with the Morrisons in Durness. 

 

Sir Hugh Mackay and the Morrisons asked a cousin of James MacLeod, one Donald MacLeod from Assynt to help in return for half of the estate of Eddrachilles.  Donald was a fighter skilled with the crossbow.  Taking a party of men, the two Donalds killed several of James’s supporters by stealth in their beds.  James himself was in an island house in a loch near Scourie.  Flaming arrows set fire to the house and James and his son were killed.

 

Donald MacLeod of Assynt however, was then double-crossed by the Morrisons who said that he could not have his half of the estate.  He went home to Assynt for reinforcements and returned to seize his land.  However the Morrisons met him at Maldy.  Sir Hugh Mackay turned up with 300 men and proposed a compromise.  Donald Mackay should get Eddrachilles and Donald MacLeod of Assynt should have the Davoch of Hope instead.  He accepted, married Donald Mackay’s mother, and lived to a ripe old age despite reputedly being responsible for at least eighteen more murders.  He died in 1619 and was buried in Balnakeil church, having bribed Lord Reay with a thousand pounds to have a special tomb built in the wall to safeguard his remains.  This is the famous Domhnull MacMhurchadth (Donald son of Murdo) whose inscription can still be seen.  His lands eventually reverted to the Mackay clan under Lord Reay.

 

Succession

 

So Eddrachilles came into the hands of the Mackays of Scourie.  Despite this apparent savagery and feuding there was a structured society, whereby Donald was followed by his son Hugh, a Colonel then his son Hugh the Lieutenant General Commander in Chief of the army in Scotland for William and Mary.  Meanwhile, Sir Hugh’s legitimate son Donald Mackay of Farr was to become Lord Reay.

 

All of this tale or none of it could be true but it does not matter.  On such tales or truth the society and reputation of the people of Mackay Country was built.  They were made for military service.