House of Alexander

August 31, 2007

I wish to send a “heart-to-heart” message to say that I am aware of several reports via the Internet that an Alexander Alexander (Baron of Menstrie) who was the father of Sir William Alexander of Menstrie (1st Earl of Stirling — life span from 1567 to 1640) also had another son named John of Tarbert and Kintyre.  It has been reported that this John Alexander was the father of Archibald Alexander who married Elizabeth Parks in Donegal County, Ireland.  However, I cannot find any evidence that Sir William Alexander, Earl of Stirling ever had any brothers!

None the less, as covered in my book, A Documentary of Scotch-Irish Alexander Family History, there is evidence that places an  Alexander MacAllister, who was born about 1545 and died about 1587, in Kintyre, Scotland.  He was one of the Chiefs of the “new” Clan MacAllister of Loup.  His father was Angus John MacAllister, a descendant of John Dubh MacDonald (Black John), the forfeited 4th Lord of The Isles.

Please hear me when I say, “Angus John MacAllister was absolutely not the son of Charles MacAllister of the ‘old’ MacAlister Clan. It was soon after Charles MacAllister died, that Sir Colin Campbell brought in his daughter’s father-in-law, John Dubh MacAllister (Black John, son of Alisdair, son of Donald) to head up the leadership of the ‘old’ clan!”

It was this MacAllister branch, starting with Angus John Alexander, who were known as servitors under the control of Clan Campbell.   Please note that there was actually no direct family connection with the existing “old” MacAllister Clan of Kintyre!  Under the power and control of Sir Colin Campbell, they were given back some of the lands that had been taken away from their ancestor, John Dubh, son of Alisdair, son Donald of Clan Donald. Sir Colin Campbell also allowed them their patrimonial positions of leadership (Chiefships). As servitors, it was their responsibility to serve Clan Campbell.

Therefore, it is my firm conviction and conclusion that none other than Alexander MacAllister, or possibly his brother Charles, both sons of Angus John, and on back through Donald Dubh, Angus Dubh and “good old Black John,” known as John Dubh, were the ancestors of our Scotch-Irish Alexander family!  John Dubh’s father was Alisdair, son of Donald. Therefore, John Dubh was a son of Alisdair known as John Dubh MacAllister.

Since it was our branch who were actually servitors for the Campbells of Argyll, I would say that, most likely, it was during that period of time, or shortly after arriving in Ulster, Ireland, that our MacAllister family name changed to Alexander, as well as our DNA from R1a of Somerled to R1b of the Campbells, or the Irish. Don’t forget that the Compbells of Argyll were probably Irish by blood-line, also DNA R1b!

My search goes on!!  After all, some Campbells of Argyll became MacDonalds of Lochaber!  As servitors, they introduced DNA R1b into the formerly DNA R1a MacDonald Clan.

History does repeat itself, so perhaps the “finger of fate” is pointing at us! Hope you find this message helpful.

Sarah

Dr. Sarah Alexander Culton

CLAN CAMPBELL SOCIETY
NORTH AMERICA
www.ccsna.org/jsep60b.htm

SOME UNEXPECTED INCIDENTS: CLAN DONALD AND CLAN CAMPBELL

In 1475-6 John, Earl of Ross and Lord of the Isles, the then chief of Clan Donald, was declared forfeit for making an independant treaty with the English and invading the King of Scots’ lands, among other misdeeds. The Campbell Earl of Argyll was given a commission of fire and sword against him for failing to appear to answer the charges, but the matter was settled by negotiation and not long afterwards John of the Isles’ son and heir, Angus Og MacDonald, was married to Earl Colin’s daughter Isobella Campbell.

In 1481 a Clan Donald historian shows John of the Isles granting Knapdale to Earl Colin of Argyll, but in fact these lands were forfeit and were granted to the Earl by the King. John was in flight from his son in Islay at the time and no doubt made the grant to the Earl out of disdain for Angus Og to whom John’s followers had turned out of disgust for his own mismanagement of the Lordship.

When the Earl of Argyll was granted Knapdale in 1481, and was put in charge of the royal lands in Kintyre, he left the MacDonalds of Largie in charge of their own lands in Kintyre, as they are to this day. The Earl made MacAllister, a local leader of Clan Donald, Constable of the strategic royal Castle of Tarbert, a post that family held for three hundred years until, the castle becoming redundant in the 18th century, they sold out and moved to Glasgow to make a living. Tarbert commands the pass from Kintyre to mainland Argyll. These actions were not those of an arch-enemy but were made and kept in trust.

When Angus Og, Lord of the Isles, was killed at Inverness by his Irish harper, his Campbell Lady Isobella is said to have returned to her father’s castle of Innis Chonnel on Lochawe. Her son was born after his father’s death and, by royal decree, grew up confined to the island of Innis Chonnel. His Campbell grandfather died when he was about three. He is said to have escaped as a boy of about 16 and later attempted unsuccessfully to claim the Lordship of the Isles.

MORE EVIDENCE FOUND:

While at the LDS Family History Center in Salt Lake City, I discovered the publication: KINTYRE RENTALS, 1505-1710, Transcribed by A. I. B. Stewart, C.B.E., B.L. and F.S.C. (Scot) and Andrew McKerral of Campbelltown, Kintyre, Argyll, Scotland: Printed by Argyll Colony Plus, Dallas, Texas, January 1987.

Following is a quote from this publication:

Page 2: “John of the Isles was forfeited in 1476 and Kintyre again passed to the Crown. He got his title and Islay back on the intervention of the Queen but was specifically excluded from his former lands of Kintyre and Knapdale….After the forfeiture of 1493 the Earl of Argyle was appointed Crown Chamberlain.  In 1505 Archibald, 2nd Earl, and David Bishop of Argyll came to Kintyre and at Kilkerran prepared a rental of Crown Lands in Kintyre and Accounts from lst August 1502 to 28 July 1505.”

The above named MACALISTERS of LOUP were indeed, descendants of John of the Isles who was forfeited of his land in 1476, and of his title as the 4th Lord of Isles in 1493. John no longer held claim to any of his former lands after 1476, including his “home base” of Kintyre. King James III appointed Charles McAllester as Stewart of Kintyre in 1581. (R. W. Munro, Kinsmen and Clansmen, page 81)  However, it was that same year of 1581 that the Crown granted Knapdale to Sir Colin Campbell, who was put in charge of the Royal lands in Kintyre.  Charles McAllester was a descendant of Angus Og’s brother Ranold who died back in 1299.  Ranold was the progenitor of the first branch to split off from Clan Donald and form Clan Alisdair.
Sometime after the death of Charles, Sir Colin Campbell of Argyll appointed John of the Isles, a descendant of Ranold’s brother Donald, as Constable of Tarbert Castle. After John’s forfeiture from his title as the 4th Lord of the Isles in 1493, he became the Chief and Laird of the MACALISTERS of LOUP (John of the Isles). He died a natural death in 1498.
At the time of his death, his son Angus Og, who had married Sir Colin Campbell’s daughter Isobella, had been murdered. Angus Og and Isobella’s son (John Dubh’s and Sir Colin Campbell’s grandson), Donald Dubh, was serving a life-sentence in prison. Donald left a known living descendant, Angus, (Angus of the Isles), who was the great grandson of both John Dubh and Sir Colin Campbell.  Angus (Angus of the Isles), was appointed the Laird of Loupe by his maternal great grandfather, the Earl of Argyll on the maternal side of the family after the death of his paternal great grandfather, John of the Isles.
Angus of the Isles (great grandson of John of the Isles) succeeded John of the Isles as Laird of Loupe.  (Not to be confused with a descendant of Charles MacALISTER of Kintyre.  Charles had earlier been appointed Stewart with lifetime rent only of the lands he temporarily occupied. Therefore, there were no hereditary rights.  After his death, none of his descendants were entitled to claim any land or positions as Lairds of Loup, nor were they granted any such claims by the Earls of Argyll.  The Earls of Argyll DID continue to grant land and titles to the patrimonial descendants of John Dubh of Clan Donald, 4th Lord of the Isles, who became known as John Dubh McAlister, and referred to as John of the Isles.

Thanks to my dear husband for his loyal support in helping me to do the things I love to do, I just received this notice:

Dear Sarah Alexander Culton:

Congratulations!  Because of the reference value of your outstanding achievements, Marquis Who’s Who has selected your biographical profile for inclusion in the 25th Silver Anniversary Edition of Who’s Who in the World. This special anniversary edition will feature biographies of more than 50,000 of the most accomplished men and women from around the globe and across all fields of endeavor. It is a testament to your hard work and dedication to success that you have earned a place in Who’s Who in the World. You should be proud of your achievements. On behalf of the entire Marguis Who’s Who Staff, I’d like to wish you continued success, and I’m pleased to have you join us in the very special 25th Silver Anniversary Edition of Who’s Who in the World.

Sincerely, Karen Chassie

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WATCH FOR MY UPDATE ON THE PARENTAGE OF OUR JOHN OF EREDY COMING SOON !

Thank you, Sarah