history of the mackenzies-第110章
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n September of the same year he returned to Stankhouse； Gairloch； where he executed two bonds of provision； one for his second son George； and the other for his younger daughters。
He married； in 1696； Margaret； youngest daughter； and； as is commonly said； co…heiress of Sir Roderick Mackenzie of Findon； but the Barony of Findon went wholly to Lilias； the eldest daughter； who married Sir Kenneth Mackenzie； 1st Baronet and IV。 of Scatwell another of the daughters； Isobel； married Simon Mackenzie； I。 of Allangrange。 There was a fourth daughter； unmarried at the date of Margaret's contract of marriage and the four took a fourth part each of Sir Roderick's moveables and of certain lands not included in the Barony。 At the date of his marriage Kenneth had not made up titles to his estates； but by his marriage contract he is taken bound to do so as soon as he can。 His retour of service was taken out in the following year。
By Margaret Mackenzie of Findon Kenneth had issue
1。 Alexander； his heir and successor。
2。 George； who became a merchant in Glasgow； and died unmarried in 1739。
3。 Barbara； who； in 1729； married George Beattie； a merchant in Montrose； without issue。
4。 Margaret； who died young in 1704。
5。 Anne； who； in 1728； married； during his father's life…time； Murdo Mackenzie； VII。 of Achilty； without issue。
6。 Katharine； who died young。
Sir Kenneth had also a natural daughter； Margaret； who married； in 1723； Donald Macdonald； younger of Cuidreach。 Sir Kenneth's widow； about a year after his decease； married Bayne of Tulloch。 Notwithstanding the money that Sir Kenneth received with her； he died deeply in debt； and left his children insufficiently provided for。 George and Barbara were at first maintained by their mother； and afterwards by Colin of Findon who had married their grandmother； widow of Sir Roderick Mackenzie of Findon； while Alexander and Anne were in even a worse plight。
He died in December 1703； at the early age of 32； was buried in Gairloch； and succeeded by his eldest son；
IX。 SIR ALEXANDER MACKENZIE； the second Baronet； a child only three and a half years old。 His prospects were certainly not enviable； he and his sister Anne having had for a time； for actual want of means； to be 〃settled in tenants' houses。〃 The rental of Gairloch and Glasletter at his father's death only amounted to 5954 merks； and his other estates in the Low Country were settled on his mother； Sir Kenneth's widow； for life while he was left with debts due amounting to 66；674 merks； equal to eleven years rental of the whole estates。 During his minority； however； the large sum of 51；200 merks was paid off； in addition to 27；635 in name of interest on the original debt； and consequently very little was left for his education。 In 1708 he； along with his brother and sisters； were taken to the factor's houseColin Mackenzie of Findonwhere they remained for four years； and received the rudiments of their education from a young man； Simon Urquhart。 In 1712 they were all sent to school at Chanonry； under Urquhart's charge； where Sir Alexander remained for six years； after which； having arrived at 18 years of age； he went to complete his education in Edinburgh。 He afterwards made a tour of travel； and returning home in 1730 married his cousin； Janet Mackenzie of Scatwell； on which occasion a fine Gaelic poem was composed in her praise by John Mackay； the famous blind piper and poet of Gairloch； whose daughter became the mother of William Ross； a Gaelic bard even more celebrated than the blind piper himself。 If we believe her eulogist the lady possessed all the virtues of mind and body but in spite of all these graces the marriage did not turn out a happy one； for； in 1758； she separated from her husband on the grounds of incompatibility of temper； after which she lived alone at Kinkell。
When； in 1721； Sir Alexander came of age； he was obliged to find means to pay the provision payable to his brother George and to his sisters； amounting altogether to 16；000 merks； while about the same amount of his father's debts was still unpaid。 In 1729 he purchased Cruive House and the Ferry of Skudale。 In 1735 he bought Bishop…Kinkell； in 1742 Loggie…Riach and； in 1743； Kenlochewe； which latter property was considered equal in value to Glasletter of Kintail； sold about the same time。 About 1730 he redeemed Davochcairn and Ardnagrask from the widow of his uncle William； and Davochpollo from the widow and son James of his grand…uncle； Colin； I。 of Mountgerald。 In 1752 he executed an entail of all his estates； but leaving debts at his death； amounting to ？679 13s 10d more than his personal estate could meet； Davochcairn； Davochpollo； and Ardnagrask； had eventually to be sold to make up the deficiency。
In 1738 he pulled down the old family residence of Stankhouse； or 〃Tigh Dige；〃 at Gairloch； which stood in a low； marshy； damp situation； surrounded by the moat from which it derived its name； and built the present house on an elevated plateau； surrounded by magnificent woods and towering hills； with a southern front elevationaltogether one of the most beautiful and best sheltered situations in the Highlands； and he very appropriately called it Flowerdale。 He greatly improved his property； and was in all respects a careful and good man of business。
He kept out of the Rising of 1745； and afterwards when John Mackenzie of Meddat applied to him for aid in favour of Lord Macleod； son of the Earl of Cromarty； who took so prominent a part in it； and was afterwards in very tightened circumstances； Sir Alexander replied in a letter dated at Gairloch； 17th May； 1749； in the following somewhat unsympathetic terms：
Sir；I am favoured with your letter； and am extreamly sory Lord Cromartie's circumstances should obliege him to sollicit the aide of small gentlemen。 I much raither he hade dyed sword in hand even where he was ingag'd then be necessitate to act such a pairt I have the honour to be nearly related to him； and to have been his companion； but will not supply him at this time； for which I believe I can give you the best reason in the world； and the only one possible for me to give； and that is that I cannot。 ＇Fraser's Earls of Cromartie； vol。 ii。； p。 230。＇
The reason stated in this letter may possibly be the true one； but it is more likely that Sir Alexander had no sympathy whatever with the cause which brought his kinsman into such an unfortunate position； and that he would not； on that account； lend him any assistance。
Some of his leases； preserved in the Gairloch charter chest； contain some very curious clauses； many of which would now be described as tyrannical and cruel； but the Laird and his tenants understood each other； and they got on remarkably well。 The tenants were bound to sell him all their marketable cattle 〃at reasonable rates；〃 and to deliver to him at current prices all the cod and ling caught by them； and； in some cases； were bound to keep one or more boats； with a sufficient number of men as sub…tenants； for the prosecution of the cod and ling fishings。 He kept his own curer； cured the fish； and sold it at 12s 6d per cwt。 delivered in June at Gairloch； with credit until the following Martinmas； to Mr Dunbar； merchant； with whom he made a contract binding himself； for several years； to deliver； at the price named； all the cod caught in Gairloch。 ＇See copy of lease granted by him； in 1760； of the half of North Erradale； to one of the author's ancestors； printed at length under the family of 〃Alastair Cam。〃＇
Sir Alexander married； in 1730； Janet； daughter of Sir Roderick Mackenzie； second Baronet and V。 of Scatwell； with issue
1。 Alexander； his heir and successor。
2。 Kenneth； who died in infancy。
3。 Roderick； a captain in the army； who was killed at Quebec before he attained majority。
4。 William； a writer； who died unmarried。
5。 James； who died in infancy。
6。 Kenneth of Millbank； factor and Tutor to Sir Hector； the fourth Baronet of Gairloch； during the last few years of his minority。 He married Anne； daughter of Alexander Mackenzie of
