Clan MacNab
Encyclopedia
Scottish clan
Scottish clans , give a sense of identity and shared descent to people in Scotland and to their relations throughout the world, with a formal structure of Clan Chiefs recognised by the court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms which acts as an authority concerning matters of heraldry and Coat of Arms...
.
History
Clan Macnab is often said to have been a branch of the Clan Macdonald. However a bond of manrentManrent
Manrent refers to a Scottish mid 15th century to the early 17th century type of contract, usually military in nature and involving Scottish clans...
exists to say that the Clan Macnab was an ally of the Clan Mackinnon
Clan MacKinnon
Clan Mackinnon or Clan Fingon is a Highland Scottish clan associated with the islands of Mull and Skye, in the Inner Hebrides.Popular tradition gives the clan a Dalriadic Gaelic origin. The 19th century historian W. F. Skene named the clan as one of the seven clans of Siol Alpin - who according to...
and the Clan Gregor. The current village of Killin, on the shores of Loch Tay, is the traditional homeland of the Clan Macnab.
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Origins of the clan
The founder of the Clan Macnab is said to have belonged to the clerical profession. In Gaelic, Mac an Aba means "the son of abbot". He is said to have been Abbot of Glendochart. The title Mac an Aba eventually became one of four variations used today: "MacNabb", "McNabb", "Macnab" or "McNab".14th century & Robert the Bruce
The Macnabs were a considerable clan before the reign of Alexander III of ScotlandAlexander III of Scotland
Alexander III was King of Scots from 1249 to his death.-Life:...
. When King Robert the Bruce
Robert I of Scotland
Robert I , popularly known as Robert the Bruce , was King of Scots from March 25, 1306, until his death in 1329.His paternal ancestors were of Scoto-Norman heritage , and...
commenced his struggle for the crown of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
the Clan Macnab along with the Clan MacDougall
Clan MacDougall
Clan MacDougall is a Highland Scottish clan consisting of the descendants of Dubgall mac Somairle, son of Somerled, who ruled Lorne and the Isle of Mull in Argyll in the 13th century...
fought against Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Dalrigh. After this when the cause of Robert the Bruce had prevailed his victorious troops ravaged the lands of Macnab. All of Macnab's family writs were destroyed. Of the Macnab's possessions only the Barony of Bowain or Bovain remained with them when Gilbert Macnab received a charter from King David II of Scotland
David II of Scotland
David II was King of Scots from 7 June 1329 until his death.-Early life:...
. Gilbert Macnab died during the reign of King Robert II of Scotland
Robert II of Scotland
Robert II became King of Scots in 1371 as the first monarch of the House of Stewart. He was the son of Walter Stewart, hereditary High Steward of Scotland and of Marjorie Bruce, daughter of Robert I and of his first wife Isabella of Mar...
.
Gilbert's son, Finlay Macnab was the sixth chief and he died in the reign of King James I of Scotland
James I of Scotland
James I, King of Scots , was the son of Robert III and Annabella Drummond. He was probably born in late July 1394 in Dunfermline as youngest of three sons...
. He is said to have been a famous bard and according to tradition he composed a famous gaelic poem which the Clan Macpherson
Clan Macpherson
Clan Macpherson is a Highland Scottish clan from Badenoch, on the River Spey. It is a leading member of the Chattan Confederation.-Origins:...
attributed to Oaain.
15th century
Finlay's son was Patrick Macnab who in turn named his son Finlay after his grandfather. Upon Patrick's resignation as chief, his son Finlay received a charter of lands in ArdchyleArdchyle
Ardchyle is a village in Stirling, Scotland....
and Wester Duinish in the county of Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
. This charter was received under the great seal during the reign of King James III of Scotland
James III of Scotland
James III was King of Scots from 1460 to 1488. James was an unpopular and ineffective monarch owing to an unwillingness to administer justice fairly, a policy of pursuing alliance with the Kingdom of England, and a disastrous relationship with nearly all his extended family.His reputation as the...
dated January 1 1486.
16th century & Anglo Scottish wars
James IV of Scotland
James IV was King of Scots from 11 June 1488 to his death. He is generally regarded as the most successful of the Stewart monarchs of Scotland, but his reign ended with the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Flodden Field, where he became the last monarch from not only Scotland, but also from all...
dated January 9 1502. His son designated the fifth "Laird" witnessed a charter from the King to Duncan Campbell
Clan Campbell
Clan Campbell is a Highland Scottish clan. Historically one of the largest, most powerful and most successful of the Highland clans, their lands were in Argyll and the chief of the clan became the Earl and later Duke of Argyll.-Origins:...
in 1511.
During the Anglo-Scottish Wars
Anglo-Scottish Wars
The Anglo-Scottish Wars were a series of wars fought between England and Scotland during the sixteenth century.After the Wars of Scottish Independence, England and Scotland had fought several times during the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. In most cases, one country had attempted to...
the Macnab chief's eldest son is believed to have possibly been killed at the Battle of Flodden Field
Battle of Flodden Field
The Battle of Flodden or Flodden Field or occasionally Battle of Branxton was fought in the county of Northumberland in northern England on 9 September 1513, between an invading Scots army under King James IV and an English army commanded by the Earl of Surrey...
in 1513. The 8th chief himself, Finlay, who died in 1525 at Eilan Ran and is buried at Killin, granted lands of Ewer and Leiragan to his wife, Mariat Campbell, for her lifetime.
In turn his son also called Finlay Macnab the sixth "laird" mortgaged a great portion of his lands to Campbell of Glenorchy, ancestor of the Marquis of Breadalbane, as appears by a charter to "Colin Campbell of Glenorchy, his heirs and assignees whatever, according to the deed granted to him by Finlay Macnab of Bovain, 24th November 1552, of all and sundry the lands of Bovain and Ardchyle, &c, confirmed by a charter under the great seal from Mary, dated 27th June 1553". Glenorchy's right of superiority the Macnabs always refused to acknowledge.
17th century & clan conflicts
The 7th laird was also called Finlay Macnab who lived during the reign of King James IV of ScotlandJames IV of Scotland
James IV was King of Scots from 11 June 1488 to his death. He is generally regarded as the most successful of the Stewart monarchs of Scotland, but his reign ended with the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Flodden Field, where he became the last monarch from not only Scotland, but also from all...
. This chief entered a bond of friendship with his cousin Lauchlin MacKinnion of Strathairdle from Clan Mackinnon on the 12th July 1606.
This chief carried on the deadly feud with the Clan Neish
Neish
Neish is a name of Scottish origin. Clan Neish was a sept of Clan Gregor...
or MacNeish. The Clan Neish were also sometimes known as the M'llduys who possessed lands in the upper part of Strathearn
Strathearn
Strathearn or Strath Earn is the strath of the River Earn, in Scotland. It extends from Loch Earn in Perth and Kinross to the River Tay....
and inhabited the lower part of Loch Earn which they called Neish Island.
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Many battles were fought between the Macnabs and Neishes with various success. The last battle between them was fought at Glenboultachan where the Macnabs were victorious. The Neishes were killed almost to a man. However some Neishes survived and continued to live on which they called Neish Island. The Neishes continued to plunder the neighbourhood and feuds continued. http://www.electricscotland.com/history/articles/boultachan.htm
One Christmas the chief of Macnabs sent his servant to Crieff
Crieff
Crieff is a market town in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It lies on the A85 road between Perth and Crianlarich and also lies on the A822 between Greenloaning and Aberfeldy. The A822 joins onto the A823 which leads to Dunfermline....
for provisions however on his return he was attacked and robbed of all provisions. He survived and returned empty handed to the Macnab chief. The chief had twelve sons who were all men of great strength but one above all was exceedingly athletic and the strongest of them all. He was called in gaelic "Iain mion Mac an Aba" or "Smooth John Macnab". The brothers set out carrying on their shoulders a fishing boat. They arrived at Loch Earn where they launched the boat and passed over to Neish Island. Smooth John Macnab kicked open the door of the Neishes house, the Macnabs killed all of the Neishes who were taken by surprise. However two Neishes, a man and a boy survived by hiding under a bed. Carrying off the heads of the Neishes, and any plunder they could secure, the youths presented themselves to their father, while the piper struck up the Pibroch of Victory.
17th century & Civil War
During the Civil War the Clan Macnab supported the Royalist cause of King Charles I. The Macnabs are known to have fought in support of James Graham chief of the Clan GrahamClan Graham
Clan Graham is a Scottish clan who had territories in both the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands.-Origins:Legend has it that the first Graham was one Gramus who forced a breach in the Roman Antonine wall known as Graeme's Dyke in 420 A.D...
and the 1st Marquess of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose was a Scottish nobleman and soldier, who initially joined the Covenanters in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, but subsequently supported King Charles I as the English Civil War developed...
. The Macnab chief with his clan are known to have fought bravely at the Battle of Kilsyth
Battle of Kilsyth
The Battle of Kilsyth was an engagement of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms which took place on 15 August 1645 at Kilsyth. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the battle was another victory for Royalist forces over the Covenanters, and marked the end of William Baillie's pursuit of the...
where they were victorious. They fought together alongside their allies of the Clan Robertson
Clan Robertson
Clan Donnachaidh , also known as Clan Robertson, is one of the oldest of all Scottish clans.-Origins:There are two main theories as to the origins of the Clan Donnachaidh:...
and Clan Ogilvy
Clan Ogilvy
-Origins of the clan:The Ogilvys are one of the most distinguished families in Scotland and take their name from Gillebride the second son of Gille Chriosd, Celtic Earl of Angus...
.
As a result the Macnab chief was put in command of the Royalist garrison at Kincardine Castle
Kincardine Castle (Auchterarder)
Kincardine Castle is a 19th-century manor house near Auchterarder in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. The building lies south-west of the town, on the Ruthven Water. The Gothic house was constructed in 1801–1803, and is a category B listed building....
. The castle was then besieged by a Covenanting
Covenanter
The Covenanters were a Scottish Presbyterian movement that played an important part in the history of Scotland, and to a lesser extent in that of England and Ireland, during the 17th century...
force commanded by General David Leslie of the Clan Leslie
Clan Leslie
Clan Leslie is a Lowland Scottish clan.-Origins:The family name comes from the Leslie lands of Aberdeenshire and was to become famous in Germany, Poland, France and Russia...
. Macnab found that it would not be possible to maintain defense and during the night, sword in hand at the head of 300 men they cut their way through the besieging force. All made it through apart from the Macnab chief himself and one other man who were captured and sent to Edinburgh as prisoners of war. The chief was sentenced to death but he escaped and rejoined King Charles and continued to fight.
Smooth John Macnab who was now much older, was finally killed when he led a number of Macnabs at the Battle of Worcester
Battle of Worcester
The Battle of Worcester took place on 3 September 1651 at Worcester, England and was the final battle of the English Civil War. Oliver Cromwell and the Parliamentarians defeated the Royalist, predominantly Scottish, forces of King Charles II...
in 1651. The clan's lands were again ravaged this time by Covenanters and the clan history and papers were again lost. The chief of the Macnabs married a daughter of Campbell
Clan Campbell
Clan Campbell is a Highland Scottish clan. Historically one of the largest, most powerful and most successful of the Highland clans, their lands were in Argyll and the chief of the clan became the Earl and later Duke of Argyll.-Origins:...
of Glenlyon, and with one daughter had a son, Alexander Macnab, ninth laird, who was only four years old when his father was killed on Worcester battle field. His mother and friends applied to General Monk for some relief from the family estates for herself and children. That general made a favourable report on the application, but it had no effect.
18th century & Jacobite Uprisings
During the Jacobite uprisings part of the Clan Macnab supported the British Government. The Macnab chief John Macnab held a commission in the British Black WatchBlack Watch
The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The unit's traditional colours were retired in 2011 in a ceremony led by Queen Elizabeth II....
Regiment and was taken prisoner at the Battle of Prestonpans
Battle of Prestonpans
The Battle of Prestonpans was the first significant conflict in the Jacobite Rising of 1745. The battle took place at 4 am on 21 September 1745. The Jacobite army loyal to James Francis Edward Stuart and led by his son Charles Edward Stuart defeated the government army loyal to the Hanoverian...
in 1745 where he remained until after the Battle of Culloden
Battle of Culloden
The Battle of Culloden was the final confrontation of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Taking place on 16 April 1746, the battle pitted the Jacobite forces of Charles Edward Stuart against an army commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, loyal to the British government...
in 1746. However his son Archibald Macnab was a Captain in the Loudon's Highlanders
Loudon's Highlanders
Loudon's Highlanders, or the Earl of Loudon's Regiment of Foot, was an infantry regiment of the British Army.The great bravery of the 42nd Highlanders and the admirable service which they rendered at the Battle of Fontenoy in 1745, made the Government anxious to avail themselves still further of...
regiment who supported the British government. He died a lieutenant-general in 1791.
Another branch of Macnabs supported the Jacobites and the House of Stuart
House of Stuart
The House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
. They were led by Allister Macnab of Inshewan and Archibald Macnab of Acharne.
Clan Macnab today
By reason of the burdens accumulated on the estate by the twelfth Chief, the greater part of the possessions of the family passed into the hands of the House of Breadalbane. Then the last Chief who had his home at Kinnell betook himself to Canada. At a later date he returned and sold the last of his possessions in this country, the Dreadnought Hotel in Callander. When he died he bequeathed all his heirlooms to Sir Allan MacNabAllan MacNab
Sir Allan Napier MacNab, 1st Baronet was a Canadian political leader and Premier of the Province of Canada before Canadian Confederation .-Biography:...
, Bart., Prime Minister of the Province of Canada
Joint Premiers of the Province of Canada
Joint Premiers of the Province of Canada were the leaders of the Province of Canada, from the 1841 unification of Upper Canada and Lower Canada until Confederation in 1867....
, whom he considered the next Chief. But Sir Allan’s son was killed by a gun accident when shooting in the Dominion, and the chieftainship of Clan Macnab passed to the Macnabs of Arthurstone.
Sir Allan Macnab’s second daughter, Sophia Mary, married William Keppel, 7th Earl of Albemarle
William Keppel, 7th Earl of Albemarle
William Coutts Keppel, 7th Earl of Albemarle KCMG, PC , styled Viscount Bury between 1851 and 1891, was a British soldier and politician. He served in the British Army before entering parliament in 1857...
who are the ancestors of Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall
Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall is the second wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, and is the current holder of the titles of Princess of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, Duchess of Rothesay and Countess of Chester...
.
The chief memorial of the old Macnab family in Glendochart today is their romantic burying-place among the trees on the rocky islet of Inch Buidhe in the Dochart, a little way above Killin. There, with the Dochart in its rocky bed singing its great old song for ever around their dust, rest in peace the once fierce beating hearts of these old descendants of the Abbot of Glendochart and the royal race of Alpin
Alpin
Alpin may refer to:*Alpin , a weekly supplement of Prothom Alo, a Bangladeshi newspaper*Alpín mac Echdach, two kings of the same name - one the father of Cináed mac Ailpín, the other a king of Dál Riata...
.
The current chief is James Macnab of Macnab.
Septs of Clan Macnab
Septs of Clan Macnab include:- Abbot
- Abbott
- Abbotson
- Cleland
- Dewar (see also: Clan DewarClan DewarClan Dewar is a Lowland Scottish clan who settled near Edinburgh. Legend has it that they won their lands after killing a wolf which had terrorised the area.-Origins of the Clan:...
) - Gilfillan
- Gillan
- Maclellan
- Macandeoir
- MacNair