Of the origin and history of the Macmillans, little
seems to be known. According to Buchanan of Auchmar, they are descended from
the second son of Aurelan, seventh laird of Buchanan. According to Mr Skene,
the earliest seat of the Macmillans appears to have been on both sides of
Loch Arkaig, and he thinks this confirmatory of a clan tradition, that they
are connected with the clan Chattan. The Macmillans were at one time dependent
on the Lords of the Isles, but when Loch Arkaig came into possession of the
Camerons, they became dependent on the latter. "Another branch of this clan",
says Skene, "possessed the greater part of southern Knapdale, where their
chief was known under the title of Macmillan of Knap; and although the family
is now extinct, many records of their former power are to be found in that
district". We take the liberty of quoting further from Mr Skene as to the
history of the Macmillans.
"One of the towers of that fine ancient edifice, Castle Sweyn, bears the
name of Macmillan's Tower, and there is a stone cross in the old churchyard
of Kilmoray Knap, upwards of twelve feet high, richly sculptured, which has
upon one side the representation of an Highland chief engaged in hunting
the deer, having the following inscription in ancient Saxon characters underneath
the figure - 'Haec est crux Alexandri Macmillan'. Although the Macmillians
were at a very early period in Knapdale, they probably obtained the greater
part of their possessions there by marriage with the heiress of the chief
of the Macneills, in the 16th century. Tradition asserts that these Knapdale
Macmillans came originally from Lochtay-side, and they were driven by Chalmers
of Lawers, in the reign of David II.
"As there is little reason to doubt the accuracy of the tradition, it would
appear that this branch of the Macmillans had been removed by Malcolm IV
from North Moray, and placed in the crown lands of Strathay. Macmillan is
said to have had the charter of his lands in Knapdale engraved in the Gaelic
language and character upon a rock at the extremity of his estate; and tradition
reports that the last of the name, in order to prevent the prostitution of
his wife, butchered her admirer, and was obliged in consequence to abscond.
On the extinction of the family of the chief, the next branch, Macmillan
of Dunmore, assumed the title of Macmillan of Macmillan, but that family
is now also extinct.
"Although the Macmillans appear at one time to have been a clan of considerable
importance, yet as latterly they became mere dependants upon their more powerful
neighbours, who possessed the superiority of their lands, and as their principal
families are now extinct, no records of their history have come down to us,
nor do we know what share they took in the various great events of the Highland
history. Their property, upon the extinction of the family of the chief,
was contended for by the Campbells and Macneills, the latter of whom were
a powerful clan in North Knapdale, but the contest was, by compromise, decided
in favour of the former. It continued in the same family till the year 1775,
when, after the death of the tenth possessor, the estate was purchased by
Sir Archibald Campbell of Inverniel".
There have been a considerable number of Macmillans long settled in Galloway,
and the tradition is that they are descendants of an offshoot from the northern
Macmillans, that went south about the time the Knapdale branch imigrated
from Lochtay side. These Macmillans are famous in the annals of the Covenanters,
and are mentioned by Wodrow as having acted a prominent part during the times
of the religious persecution in Scotland. Indeed, we believe that formerly,
if not indeed even unto this day, the modern representatives of the Covenanters
in Galloway are as often called "Macmillans" as "Cameronians".
Another account of the Clan
BADGE: Dearcag monaidh (Vaccineum uliginosum)
bilberry.
ACCORDING to universal tradition the Macmillans are of the same
blood as the Buchanans, and Skene in his Highlanders of Scotland derives
both, along with the Monros, from the Siol OCainthe race of
OCain, otherwise OCathan of Clan Chattan. According to Buchanan
of Auchmar, the immediate ancestor of the Macmillans is believed to have
been a certain Methlan, second son of Anselan, seventh chief of Buchanan,
who flourished in the reign of Alexander H., in the first half of the thirteenth
century.
Their original home, to which Skene thinks they
must have been removed from North Moray by Malcolm IV., was at Lawers, on
the north shore of Loch Tay, but from that possession they were driven in
the reign of David II., the middle of the fourteenth century, by the Chalmerses,
Chamberses, or Camerarii, who obtained a feudal charter to the lands, and
who were themselves afterwards forfeited for the part they played in the
assassination of James I. The Macmillan chief who was thus expelled had ten
sons, certain of whom became progenitors of the Ardournag and other families
in Breadalbane; but the chief migrated to Argyllshire, where he obtained
a property from the Lord of the Isles in South Knapdale, and became known
as Macmillan of Knap. Macmillan is said to have had his charter engraved
in Gaelic on the top of a rock at the boundary of his land.
The Macmillans are believed to have increased
their possessions in Knapdale by marriage with an heiress of the MacNeil
chiefs, and there is evidence that they became of considerable importance
in the district. One of the towers of Sweyn Castle on the loch of that name
is known as Macmillans Tower, and in the old kirkyard of Kilmorie Knap,
where the chapel was built by the Macmillan chief, stands a cross more than
twelve feet high richly sculptured with foliage, and showing a Highland chief
engaged in a deer hunt, with the inscription, "Haec est crux Alexandri
Macmillan."
Among traditions extant regarding these Macmillans
of Knapdale is one of a certain Gillespie Ban. This individual was unfortunate
enough while attending a fair to quarrel with a personage of some importance
and to slay his man in hot blood. He fled and was instantly pursued. Managing
to reach Inveraray Castle he rushed in, and making his way to the kitchen
found the cook engaged in baking. Instantly procuring a change of clothes
and an apron, he proceeded busily to kead barley bannocks, and when his
infuriated pursuers came to the castle they took him for a regular domestic
of the earl. The necessary respite being thus allowed him, a composition
was made with the family of the man he had slain, and he was allowed to live
thereafter in peace. He settled in Glendaruel, where his descendants were
known, from the circumstances of his escape, by the patronymic of MacBacster,
or "sons of the baker."
Another tradition runs that the line of the
Macmillans of Knap ended with a chief who had a tragic experience. In order
to defend the honour of his wife from the advances of a too powerful admirer
he attacked and slew the man, and in consequence was forced to abscond.
The main line then becoming extinct, the chiefship
was assumed, rightly, it is believed, by Macmillan of Dunmore, on the south
side of Loch Tarbert. This family also, however, died out, upon which a
contention arose between the Campbells and MacNeils as to possession of the
Macmillan lands. The matter was finally arranged, by means of mutual concessions,
in favour of the Campbells, and in 1775 the estates were purchased by Sir
Archibald Campbell of Inverneil.
Meanwhile, at an earlier day, a branch of the
chiefs house had settled elsewhere. The reason for this occurrence
is the subject of a well-known tradition. A stranger, it appears, known as
Marallach More, established himself in Knapdale and proceeded by his overbearing
disposition to make himself objectionable to the Macmillans. He made himself
especially obnoxious, it would appear, to one of the chiefs sons, who
lived at Kilchamag. The affair came to an open rupture, and at last, either
in a duel or in a general fight, Macmillan killed the aggressor, but in
consequence had to leave the district. With six followers he migrated to
Lochaber, when he placed himself under the protection of Cameron of Lochiel
and was settled on certain lands beside Loch Arkaig.
Another tradition runs that the earliest seat
of the Macmillans was on both sides of Loch Arkaig; that, on Lochaber being
granted to the Lord of the Isles the clan became vassals of that powerful
chief; and that, when the Camerons obtained possession of the district,
the Macmillans became in turn their dependants, in which situation ever after
they remained. This tradition, however, seems to be negatived by the fact
that Macmillan of Knap was recognised as Chief of the clan.
Latterly, according to Buchanan of Auchmar, the
Macmillans in Lochaber, known from the district of their residence as the
Clan Ghille Mhaoil Aberaich, dwelt in Muir Laggan, Glen Spean, and Caillie.
Their military force was reckoned at one hundred fighting men; they were
among the trustiest followers of Lochiel, and were employed by him generally
in the most desperate of his enterprises. One incident is on record which
shows the esteem in which they were held by the Cameron chief. Late in the
seventeenth century some cause of trouble arose between them and the
MacGhilleonies, a sept of the Camerons, and, in a fight with twelve of these
latter, one of the Macmillans was killed. In fear of consequences the
twelve MacGhilleonies fled to the fastnesses of the hills, hoping to maintain
themselves there till the Macmillans could be appeased. But the Macmillans
demanded from Lochiel permission to pursue the aggressors, and threatened
that if this permission were not granted, they would wreak their vengeance
on the whole offending sept. Lochiel perforce gave leave, and the Macmillans
set about the hunting of the fugitives with such energy, that in a short
time, without the loss of life to themselves, though many of them were sorely
wounded, all the twelve MacGhilleonies were either slain or captured.
In more recent times one of the Lochaber Macmillans
returned to the south, and taking up residence at Badokennan, near the head
of Loch Fyne, became ancestor of the Macmillans of Glen Shera, Glen Shira,
and others.
Still another branch of the Macmillans have been
for centuries settled in Galloway. According to tradition they are an offshoot
of the Macmillans of Loch Tayside who went south when the chiefs of the clan
were driven from Lawers by the Chalmerses. These Galloway Macmillans played
a notable part on the side of the Covenanters in the latter part of the
seventeenth century, and their doings are recorded by Wodrow, the chief historian
of that page of Scottish history. The most noted of them was the Rev. John
Macmillan, who published several controversial pamphlets, and was deposed
for schismatic practices in 1703. He was the first pastor of the " Reformed
Presbyterians," and ministered to the "remnant" from 1706 till 1743. Even
to the present time the Covenanters in Galloway are as often called Macmillanites
as Cameronians.
Another noted member of the clan was Angus Macmillan,
who emigrated to Australia in 1829, and discovered and explored the country
south-west of Sydney, afterwards called Gippsland.
Celebrated in yet another way was Daniel Macmillan,
son of a small farmer at the Cock of Arran, who with his brother Alexander
founded the great publishing firm of Macmillan & Co. in the middle of
the nineteenth century, publishing Kingsleys Westward Ho in
1855 and Tom Browns School Days in 1857.
Septs of the Clan: Baxter, Brown, Bell,
MacBaxter
Thanks to
James Pringle
Weavers for the following information
MACMILLAN: The name is derived from the Gaelic
MacMhaolain, or Mac Gille-mhaoil, 'son of the tonsured one', with such indicating
a probable association with the ancient Culdee church. Uncertainty surrounds
the early history of the clan, but the consensus is that they were first
located at Spynie in North-east Scotland from where, it is believed, they
were removed at the behest of David I during his supplantations of the Culdee
Church with Catholicism. They are next found on Loch Arkaigside, in Lochaber,
where they held lands as vassals of Somerled of the Isles. Within the next
century many were again uprooted by the King (Malcolm IV c.1160) and re-settled
in Crown lands on Loch Tayside where they held the lands of Lawers. About
1360, many were again obliged to remove, and this time they went to Knapdale
in Kintyre where their first identifiable chief was 'Malcolm Mor of Knap'
who held his lands by, MacMillan's Right', from the Lords of the Isles. Tradition
relates the the 'Right' was engraved on a stone, but no trace now remains
of the monolith. They erected the great Celtic cross at Kilmory Knap and
increased their property by marriage with a MacNeil heiress. They occupied
much of South Knapdale and Kilchamaig until much was forfeited when the Lordship
of the Isles fell at the end of the 15th century. The remaining lands were
eventually lost to the Campbells. When the old Knap lineage became extinct
in 1665 the chiefship went to MacMillan of Dunmore (Loch Tarbert) who assumed
the title of MacMillan of MacMillan in 1742. In due course that inheritance
was settled on the Laggalgarve branch who were represented by Gen. Sir Gordon
MacMillan of MacMillan, K.C.B., in 1951, who was succeeded by George MacMillan
of MacMillan (Langbank) as Chief of the Clan. Some MacMillans remained in
the lands their kinsmen had been obliged to vacate, while others, in advance
of their cause, settled in other parts of Scotland - notably Galloway (14th
cent) and Ayrshire. Many are still to be found in Knapdale, Lochaber,
Breadalbane, Galloway, Ayrshire and the islands of the Inner and Outer
Hebrides.
Another account of the
Macmillans
Few Scots families can have occupied such varied
and widely separated areas of the country than the nomadic Macmillans. There
are many theories on their origin but the most popular view is that they
are descended from the Siol O'Cain, an ancient Pictish tribe of Moray. The
name Macmillan is ecclesiastical in origin, Mac Gillem-haoil "Son of the
Tonsured servant", and commemorates descent from an old family of Celtic
abbots. An Gillemaol, the Tonsured servant in question was living around
1132 near Elgin where he was listed as witness in the Book of Dear, the oldest
Scots religious record. It is believed the Macmillans were transplanted from
Loch Arkaig to Crown lands on Lawers near Loch Tay by Malcolm IV around 1160.
There they remained for two centuries until once again they were driven from
their home and the clan scattered to many regions of Scotland. The main branch
to Knapdale, others to Lochaber (many of this line emigrated to Canada during
the 19th century), another branch to Galloway spreading later throughout
Aryshire and Dumfriesshire and some to the Western Isles; Harold Macmillan,
Prime Minister from 1957 to 1963, was descended from the Arran branch. Malcolm
Mor Macmillan received Knapdale from the Lord of the Isles in 1360. The charter
is said to have been inscribed on a rock. (This was later destroyed by Campbell
of Calder in 1615). As vassals of the Lord of the Isles, the Macmillans were
caught up in the aftermath of the forfeiture of the Lordship and lost control
of Knap forever. They did however manage to keep the adjoining lands of
Tireleacham. Even so they were still harassed by the Campbells who had supplanted
them. Macmillan of Knap was considered chief of the clan and when the line
became extinct in 1665, the title passed to the Dunmore branch, and from
them to the Lagalgarve branch in which it is still vested. |