Macdonell Of Keppoch

**BoldHighlander** · 23rd February 08, 10:28 PM

So without boring you all with a lot of family history, a previously unknown cousin of mine contacted me last night with information regarding another line of my family, the McReynolds, known back in Scotland as the MacRanalds of Keppoch (or MacDonell /MacDonald of Keppoch as modern histories call them now).

I knew about the Keppoch connection, but he provided some very interesting details about my ancestor & the family in both Keppoch & later in Ulster (including involvement in the Siege of Derry) that he's spent 40 yrs researching & is publishing soon in book form..

Anyhow, I had been planning to eventually add to my kilts one made of tartan honoring this linage from Keppoch. Last night while checking out this site: http://www.clandonald-heritage.com/default.asp
I found a Keppoch tartan & during a search came up with the following tartans on this site:
http://houseoftartan.co.uk/house/tfinder.htm

I'm partial to the last two shown, though the last one (my favorite) is a special weave I guess (as is the 3rd one down). It looks like the same sett as the one immediately above it (#511) but larger. I'm not sure if it is larger or not
Perhaps if Matt Newsome is out there he can tell me?

tartan #1401
Source: Old & Rare No 17
Date: 1893

tartan #1506
Source: McIan
Date: 1847

tartan #1507
Source: Highland Society of London.
Date: c.1815
-- special weave --

tartan #511
Source: W & A K Johnston
Date: 1906

tartan #879
Location: Fort William museum
Date: 17th century
-- special weave --

**note**
The oldest sample remaining of an actual MacDonald tartan is possibly a MacDonnell of Keppoch tartan (0511 House of Tartans) the Keppoch chief gave Prince Charles Edward in 1745. This is different from the current Keppoch tartan shown (1401).

**BoldHighlander** · 23rd February 08, 10:34 PM

No, now that I look at them a wee bit closer I can see some minor differences... still I'm wondering about the size of the sett on #879 in relation to the others.
Is it actually larger, as shown?

Originally Posted by BoldHighlander

I'm partial to the last two shown, though the last one (my favorite) is a special weave I guess (as is the 3rd one down). It looks like the same sett as the one immediately above it (#511) but larger. I'm not sure if it is larger or not
Perhaps if Matt Newsome is out there he can tell me?

tartan #511
Source: W & A K Johnston
Date: 1906

tartan #879
Location: Fort William museum
Date: 17th century
-- special weave --

**Jock Scot** · 24th February 08, 03:12 AM

Looks as though we could be related(ish)!My wife was a MacDonell of Keppoch.As you are very interested in our history the last battle to be fought on British SOIL was at Brae Roy near Roy Bridge.It was between the Macdonells of Keppoch and another clan who's name escapes me for the moment but maybe the Grants.There is a cairn to mark the spot.Most people miss the turning to Brae Roy,but it it is in my view one of the finest glens in Scotland.

**BoldHighlander** · 24th February 08, 03:16 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

Looks as though we could be related(ish)!My wife was a MacDonell of Keppoch.As you are very interested in our history the last battle to be fought on British SOIL was at Brae Roy near Roy Bridge.It was between the Macdonells of Keppoch and another clan who's name escapes me for the moment but maybe the Grants.There is a cairn to mark the spot.Most people miss the turning to Brae Roy,but it it is in my view one of the finest glens in Scotland.

Thanks for sharing that!
And at the very least sounds like your wife & I could be "cousins"

**Highland Logan** · 24th February 08, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

As you are very interested in our history the last battle to be fought on British SOIL was at Brae Roy near Roy Bridge.It was between the Macdonells of Keppoch and another clan who's name escapes me for the moment but maybe the Grants.There is a cairn to mark the spot.Most people miss the turning to Brae Roy,but it it is in my view one of the finest glens in Scotland.

The last battle to be fought on mainland British soil was Drummossie Moor, known now as culloden (16 April 1746).

Frank

**Jock Scot** · 24th February 08, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by Highland Logan

The last battle to be fought on mainland British soil was Drummossie Moor, known now as culloden (16 April 1746).

Frank

You are of course, quite right.

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 24th October 08, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by Highland Logan

The last battle to be fought on mainland British soil was Drummossie Moor, known now as culloden (16 April 1746).

Frank

On the 23rd of April, 1778, John Paul Jones landed two boats at the port of Whitehaven. The sailors made their way to the town's fortifications and spiked the cannon (which could have sunk Jones's ship). They then set several small fires about the town, and before leaving set fire to a coal ship in the harbor. On the 24th, having sailed unmolested across the Solway Firth, Jones set troops on St. Mary's Island with the intent of kidnapping the Earl of Selkirk and then exchanging him for American seamen held prisoner by the British. Selkirk was not in residence, and Jones's men carried off several pieces of silver instead. (As an aside, Jones purchased the silver in France and, after the war, returned it to Lord Selkirk.)

Maybe Culloden was the last MAJOR battle...

**macwilkin** · 25th October 08, 05:43 AM

Originally Posted by MacMillan of Rathdown

On the 23rd of April, 1778, John Paul Jones landed two boats at the port of Whitehaven. The sailors made their way to the town's fortifications and spiked the cannon (which could have sunk Jones's ship). They then set several small fires about the town, and before leaving set fire to a coal ship in the harbor. On the 24th, having sailed unmolested across the Solway Firth, Jones set troops on St. Mary's Island with the intent of kidnapping the Earl of Selkirk and then exchanging him for American seamen held prisoner by the British. Selkirk was not in residence, and Jones's men carried off several pieces of silver instead. (As an aside, Jones purchased the silver in France and, after the war, returned it to Lord Selkirk.)

Maybe Culloden was the last MAJOR battle...

Sorry, Rathdown, but JPJ was not the last...ever hear of the "Battle" of Fishguard, Wales on 22 February 1797?

http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK.../Fishguard.htm

The Pembrokeshire Yeomanry still bear the battle honour "FISHGUARD" on their cap badge, although it was a group of pitchfork-wielding Welsh women, led by one Jemima Nicholas, who were the real heroes of the day!

Regards,

Todd

**Jock Scot** · 24th February 08, 03:25 AM

As you history buffs are sticklers for the facts I am told,by a "higher authority" that it was the MacKintoshes not the Grants that fought the MacDonells.The MacDonells won!I am not sure that the battle was the last on British soil now that I think of it.I will stop at the cairn and see what it says.Would you like a photo too?

**BoldHighlander** · 24th February 08, 03:30 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

As you history buffs are sticklers for the facts I am told,by a "higher authority" that it was the MacKintoshes not the Grants that fought the MacDonells.The MacDonells won!I am not sure that the battle was the last on British soil now that I think of it.I will stop at the cairn and see what it says.Would you like a photo too?

Indeed I would if you wouldn't mind

Just as you replied I found this page:
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.u...roy/index.html

With a photo of the cairn & this info:
"Glen Roy has one more claim to fame. A stone cairn half a mile north of Roybridge remembers the nearby site of the Battle of Mulroy. This took place on 4 August 1688 and was the last inter-clan battle fought in Scotland. The memorial notes that the MacDonells of Keppoch defeated the Mackintoshes."

If at all possible I'd love to see a close-up, of sorts, of the plaque upon the cairn.

Thanks again!