Macdonell Of Keppoch

[BoldHighlander]

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]

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?

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]

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]

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"

[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?

[BoldHighlander]

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!

[Graywolf]

"This took place on 4 August 1688 and was the last inter-clan battle fought in Scotland."

Interesting, I wonder if they mean a "purely" interclan battle, as the battling in Scotland continued for about 50 more years and are those considered "clan vs government" battles.

[BoldHighlander]

"This took place on 4 August 1688 and was the last inter-clan battle fought in Scotland."

Interesting, I wonder if they mean a "purely" interclan battle, as the battling in Scotland continued for about 50 more years and are those considered "clan vs government" battles.

That I think would be correct (somebody please correct me if I'm wrong).
After all in the later, though you had clans on both sides, it was essentially a rebellion/rebellions against the ruling government & it's forces, not mere clan -vs- clan only.

There was a near thing of it in 1734 between the Macgregors & a combined Maclaren / Appin Stewart force over a land dispute. However, due to the Gregors being out numbered & wishing to avoid considerable casualties, Rob Roy challenged other side to a one on one duel. This was his last battle & he lost to a much younger Alasdair Stewart, thus a clan -vs- clan war was avoided.

[Highland Logan]

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]

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.