On the banks of the river Lochy in Lochaber resided a Sept of the celtic race named Clann Chalamain or MacCalmans of whom Murcadhdubh or black Murdoch who occupied the farm of Sroinnaba A.D. 1520 was not the least considerable of the branch.
This Murdochdubh brought up his eldest son John to be a priest of the Episcopalian persuasion who got his first charge in Lochalsh. He built a chapel of unhewen stones on a prominent hill above Ardelve and the ruins of the edifice can be seen at this day.
Here John MacChalmain took his father's Christian name as his surname which is in English Murchison i.e. Murdock Son.
In the harvest of 1537 Donald Gorm MacDonald fifth Baron of Sleat came with a strong party to Kintail hearing that lslandonnan Castle was but weakly garrisoned and a conflict ensued between the assailants and defenders in which John Dubh Matheson the Castellan was killed. At this time there was none in the casle saving the crier and Duncan MacIllechriest MacRae who knew Donald Gorm by his garb and main among some other gentlemen of his party looking where they might easiest make a breach so as to take possession of the castle. Duncan MacIllechriost took the opportunity of shooting the only arrow he had left, which happened to be a barbed one, which lighted in and cut an artery of MacDonald's foot, who being impatient of the pain plucked it out, on which the blood gushed out so vehemantly that it could not be staunched; seeing this, his followers carried him to one of his boats, as he was evidently dying fast; they landed him on a sea bank nearAvernish, where he died. The bank is called Larachtaigh MhicDhomhnuill, i.e. The site of MacDonald's house.
But to return to John MacMhurchaidh duibh MacCalman---after the castellan John duibh Matheson was killed, a dispute arose between MacRaes and MacLennans of Kintail who should have charge of Island Donan Castle. To compromise the debate of these two clans, whom the Laird MacKenzie found Irreconcilable, fearing they should kill one another, the laird of Faiburn advised Sir Kenneth who was the eleventhlaird of Kintail to appoint John MacMhurchaidh duibh as Castellan of Island Donan Castle, he being a stranger in the country. The charge he faithfully discharged. Here we may quote the rhyme of a sarcastic old woman in Kintail who was much against John MacMhurchaidh being appointed
Mhie'Illichalmain a dhuine
A sroin na-ba an Lochbar!
De rinn thus ad fear comhairle
Deagh Mhac Coinnich so thiagainn?

which may be englified literally though not poetically thus

Thou MacCalman 0 Man!
From Snoin na ba in Lochaber
what made thee a counsellor
To the good MacKenzie we have For this trust John MacCalman the Priest was assassinated; for shortly aftarwards Sir Kenneth left the country, and he, coming on a Sabbath Day from the Kirk of Kintail, the MacLennans sent a man in ambush near the road, and as he was passing he was shot with an arrow through the buttocks, so that he fell. The assassin seeing persons coming the way, and fearing he would be captured, made his escape. The priest was carried to a boat where he died. From this Priest are descended all the Murchisons in the Northern countries.

MANUSCRIPT HISTORY OF THE MACKENZIE
TRANSCRIBED BY COLIN MACKENIZIE OF
NEWBURNSIDE 1760
_________________________________________________

John Murchison the Priest was married to a daughter of Evander MacKay, Priest of Achgiurain in Glenshiel, and left a numerous family. One of his daughters was married to Christopher MacDhounchaidh, Chief of the Macraes, A.D. 1578. His eldest son Murdoch studied for the church, and succeeded his father as Priest of Kintail and Castellan of Castle Donan, in which trust he presided until his death, which happened in the year 1618, and he was succeeded by his nephew, Wm. Farquhar MacRae.
The above Murdoch Murchison the castellan of Island Donan Castle commonly went under the name of Maighstir Mor, i.e. Big Master. He had a wad-sett (lease) of Auchtertyre, Lochalsh and left issue Evander, Donald, Mary and Rebecca.
Mary married Murdoch MacKenzie fifth Laird of Hilltown. Rebecca married Maurice MacRae, Kintail, and left issue.
Donald second son of Murdoch had a portion of the Farm of Auchtertyre. He left two sons and .a daughter viz. John, Donald and Ann. Ann married Christopher MacRae Tacksman of Araidhbhuachain. Donald left issue viz. Donald father of Donald og who was an Innkeeper in Kyle of Lochalsh.
John, son of Donald second son of Murdoch, was tacksman of Bundaloch, Kintail and married a daugher of Alexander MacLennan Morvich, Kintail. He left issue two sons and two daughters viz. Donald, Murdoch, Margaret and Christina. Margaret married John Ban MacDomhnuil og MacRae and left issue.
Murdoch married Mary Daughter of Mr. Tulay (Finlay?) MacRae, Minister of Lochalsh. He resided in Brahan and left issue.
Donald Murchison the eldest son of John was born at Bundalach about the year 1687. At his birth he happened to be a weakling and had a squint in one of his eyes. The midwife said of him that if he lived for the space of four and twenty hours he would survive, and would be as brave a man as any in his day or generation. He survived, was sent to school and became a classical scholar, and was afterwards proficient in mliitary tactics.
When William MacKenzie, Earl of Seaforth, raised his tenants in the year 1715 to join the Stuart Standard he chose Donald Murchison to be his Lieutenant Colonel; hence the folIowing stanza by Matheson the Seaforth bard

• *** *** *** ***
• *** ***
• *** *** ***
• *** *** ***

• *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
• *** *** *** *** ***
• *** *** *** *** ***
• *** *** *** *** ***
• *** *** *** *** ***
• *** *** *** *** *** ***
• *** *** *** ***
• *** *** *** *** ***
• *** *** *** *** ***
• *** *** *** *** *** ***

If you shiped across the sea from us,
Thyself and Colonel Murchison
who was faimed in the courts of Albion,
That was the lion celebrated
whose fame was great at every board!

A choice of port I hale to thee
when you cross from Seaforth's sea
The chief of Harris is a friend to thee
From Lochlin come the thousands
On the Minch to the seat of MacLeod.

After the affair in Glenshiel Seaforth fled a second time to France and Government became more anxious to secure the estates of the insubordinate Lairds which were forfeited, and among the most notable of these was the Laird of Kintail whose demains extended from Brahan Castle to Eastern Ross across the country to Kintail and including the Island of Lewis. These lands were chiefly occupied by opulent Tacksmen and cattle grasiers and were difficult of access but by narrow mountain bye paths. Therefore it was hard for the Commissioners of King George whom the people considered as usurpers, to march through the Country, so that they could not survey effectually their fastnesses. The rents of the district were collected without the slightest difficulty for the benefit of the exciled Earl and regularly transmiitted to him. At one time a large sum was sent to him to Spain by a desperate fellow from Lochalsh named afterwards in consequence Donall ban spainteach i.e. Spanish Donald ban. The chief agents in this business were MacKenzie of Fairburn, and Colonel Donald Murchison. In the 1720 the commissioners made a movement for substantiating their claim to the property, and in Williiam Munro of Easter Fearn was found a man bold enough to take the leadership, but Colonel Donald Murchison, and Murdoch Matheson the Bard were the means of rescuing Brahan Castle out of the hands of Munro of Foulis and went round the country encouraging the people to stand out. The high spirited warriors declared they would stand out to a man.
In 1721 the commissioners Factors sent officers to the district, who assured the Tenants of good usage if they would yield. This they sterrnly resented by abusing the officers. The factor endavoured to retaliate by raising his own tenants or servants, and a considerable number of soldiers at Inverness to enforce his claim by force of arms, The commissioners' Factor held a court in Strathglass in which some people made a verbal promise of submission. Their next course was to march west to Kintail through Glen Affaric, but the undaunted Kintail and Lochalsh men headed by Colonel Donald Murchison, being informed of them, he (the Colonel) met them with sixty sturdy men at " Beulath nam Muileach i.e. the Mullmens' fords."
Beyond this at the gorge of the mountain stream which empties into Loch Affaric they concealed themselves in the heather intending to surround the troops which could not come up the pass but two abreast. Here should be mentioned lay the Colonel and the best of his few followers. Others stationed themselves on Toman a Bheatha i.e. bird hillock. The main body of the Royalists made a halt at a long distance and then moved slowly forward, young Walter Munro at their head, equipped in a scarlet cloak and riding a white steed. Whenever the Kintail man noticed him they considered him to be one of the commissioners and Malcolm MacRae and Donald Dearg MacLennan from Morvich scrambled down through a rocky burn where they took good aim and both let go the contents of their muskets by which lovely Walter fell, mortally wounded. After the young leader was shot Munro's party fled, himself taken prisoner. In this skirmish he found himself confronted with Colonel Donald Murchison who made him deliver the Commission he had from King George, besides to swear fealty and that he would not act further as Factor. Munro implored as a favour of Murchisonto got a party to convey his wounded son till they should overtake the fleeing troops. To this request the noble Colonel acceded with his wonted generosity. A litter was constructed the best way they could of birch poles tied together with withes, and broom and heather laidover it. On this the young wounded man was placed and they retraced their steps to Beauly. The gallant convoy performed their duty with fidility and fortitude until they came near Knockfin. Few or none of them could understand English except Murdoch MacRae from Morvich in Kintail: he discerned from their conversation that when they got into the level country they would decoy them into an ambush and kill them, but when they came to Knockfin in the heights of Strathglass, they returned in consequence of MacRea's remonstrances.
A bloody grave for young Walter Munro of Eastern Fearn in the Beauly cathedral was the only print of the abortive attempt to take Seaforth Estates within the scope of the law of King George.
When passing through Beauly with the dead body of young Munroe an old woman met the procession and exclaimed sarcastically "Let pass the Earl of Seaforth's rent thou low mob." She composed some Gaelic stanzas on the occasion which /

• *** *** *** *** ***

After Seaforth was restored, he used to glve the old woman a boll of meal yearly for her loyalty to his cause.
For some time after this affair there were no more demands by the Goverment commissioners for the rents of these mountainous fastnesses till August 1722 when a considerable body of troops, under Captain John Mac Niell left Inverness taking a route through Strath Conan considering it the safest. But Donald Murchison and his gallant band, being informed of their advancing, soon crossed Mam Attadile and posted themselves in the woods below, till the troops arrived at Allan ba Duihh where they were saluted by a volley of musketry by wihich several of them were killed. Malcolm MacRae fractured Captain John MacNeill's arm and the captain being in great pain desisted from further proceedings and the whole party took to flight. After this we learn of no renewed attempts to get possession of the Seaforth's property. The above Malcolm MacRae and Donald MacLennan of Morvich were such good marksmen that they always took deadly aim, and on their return from the skirmish they rested in Glenluinge and noticing some butter flowers growing in a meadow on the opposite side of the River the one said to the other, "try if you can bring one down of the butter flowers". MacRae cut the top of the flower and MacLennan did the same with the stalk with their musket balls.
It may be no digression to mention here that when the Earl of Seaforth was preparing for Sheriffmuir men from ll parts of his extensive lands were summoned, the fires on Tullochard ceased not night nor day and the castle which had a leaden roof was destroyed 1719.
Colonol Donald Murchison used to life the rents of the Earl of Seaforth while an exile in France, and to go himself with them in the habit of a beggar to avoid detection.
Being thus disguised in the year 1724, he happened to take up his lodgings in a cotntry inn in England as he was on his way to Dover. Shortly aifter he entered, The Duke of Argyle came to the house, and on sitting, he enquired of the waiter if there were any guests within. She told him they had none save a mandieant who was sitting at the kitchen fire. He orderedhim to be sent in. The call was at once obeyed, and when thedoor opened, the Duke said, "If I am not mistaken you are Colonel Donald Murchison who headed Seaforth's army at the Battle of Sherrifmuir". Finding that he was recognized (probablyby the squint in his eye), he acknowledged the fact, and threwhimself at the Duke's mercy. That nobleman said: --You areone of the most faithful servants I know in all Scotland, therefore I will let you pass. After the night was spent over theircups the Duke took him up in his carriage and brought him to Dover, whence he got him safely ferried across. When he arrived at his destination, he found the Earl of Seaforth working in a garden for his own and Lady's support.
In the year of 1725, General Wade was waited upon by a body of about one hundred and fifty gentlemen of the name of MacKenzie, headed by Lord Tarbart, Sir Colin MacKinzie of Coul, and Sir Kenneth MacKenzie of Cromarty. The last informed the general that they had come as the representatives of Seaforth's tenants and vassals who would not come in themselves until they knew how they were to be received; that their rents had for several years been uplifted by Colonel Donald Murchison and that they were not able to pay them a second time, but that if they were discharged of these rents, they would pay them in future to the Government, deliver up their arms and live peaceably.
Wade, who according to Lockhart of Carnwath was "a good enough tempered man", at once acceded to his request, and informed the deputations, that if the clan performed what had been promised he would endeavor in the next session of parliament to procure a pardon for Seaforth and all his friends. After being well entertained for two or three days at Inverness the deputation, accompanied by Wade and a small body of dragoons, went to Brahan Castle where the arms of the clan were delivered up, but not until Colonel Donald Murchison had secreted all those of any value.
Shortly after this the Commissioner puts up Seaforth's estates for sale and the Colonel purchased them so that they virtually became his own.
In 1726 through the King's great clemency Earl Seaforth received a pardon and returned home. For his services to the Earl, Colonel Donald Murchison thought he should get either the estate of Lochalsh or Loch Carron, but the Earl went with a party to his house, broke open a trunk in which he kept the title deeds of the estate, and offered him only the insignificant farm of Bundaloch in Kintail or Achadatonalain in Lochalsh. This he sternly refused, knowing his services deserved a much more liberal grant. He took the matter so much to heart that he went to bed. While confined there, Seaforth went to see him and said:-"Colonel Donald, if I have done you any earthly injury, I hope you will forgive me." The noble minded and faithful hero replied, "God may forgive you, but I will not." Soon after this conference, he died in the house of Mr. Morison at Laggy on the banks of the Conan in March 1727. The fidelity and bravery with which the Kintail men stood forth in all cases of emergency when their chief was interested, and their boldness and success in keeping the rents from the Government and sending them to him whom they considered as the lawful owner, are facts of themselves that should shed immortal lustre on their memories.
Evander Murchison the eldest son of Mr. Murdoch above stated was Tacksman of Auchtertyre Lochalsh and married Ann, daughter of Colin MacKenzie son of Sir Roderick MacKenzie of Cromarty commonly called the Tutor of Kintail [my note: I have traced Sir Roderick's ancestry to the nobility of Scotland, England, and France]. He left issue John born 1680, Roderick, Murdoch, Doncan, and a daughter Mary who was married to Farquhar Matheson of Fernaig Duncan, the youngest son, left two sons, John and William, which latter died in Lochalsh leaving issue Murdoch, who left Donald, who left two sons, Murdoch and Duncan, the latter presently at Dunbar and the former resided at Airdinarff in 1840, leaving issue Duncan Donald Roderick Finlay and Catherine. They all emigrated to New Zealand; John, son of Duncan, married Christina Murchison, sister of the Colonel Murchison and left issue Mary, who married Roderick MacKay, Dornie Kintail Murdoch the third son of Evander, was a cattle dealer and married at Dail na spidail in Athol and returned to Caplach in Lochalsh where he left a numerous family of whom were Alexander and Simon and Catherine who married Donald MacRae Cnoc nan carn i.e. hill of Cairns Camusluinie. Simon left a son Mr. Murdoch Murchison Factor to MacLeod who lived in Glenelg a gentleman well known in many parts of Scotland. When Doctor Samuel Johnson and Mr. James Boswell on their Highland tour in 1773 the Doctor says:-Having surmounted the hill (of Ratagan) at last we were told that at Glenelg on the sea side we should come to a house of lime, slate and glass. This image of magnificence raised our expectation; at last we came to our Inn weary and peevish and began to enquire for meat and beds, of the provisions the negative catalogue was very copious: but however we had a very eminent proof of Highland hospitality; along some miles of the way in the evening a gentleman's servant had kept us company on foot with very little notice on our part. He left us at Glenelg and we thought of him no more till he came to us again in about two hours with a present of Rum and sugar from his master. The man had mentioned his company and the gentleman, well knowing the penury of the place, had thus his attention drawn to two man whose names perhaps he had not heard by whom his kindness was not likely to be ever repaid, and who could be recommended to him only by their necessities." This gentleman, according to Mr. James Boswell, was none else than Mr. Murdoch Murchison of Beolary, Glenelg and Factor to the laird of MacLeod. He married a daughter of Murdoch MacRae Morvich Kinttail by whom he left a numerous family. John, his son, was Tacksman of Beolary Glenelg but left no issue. Duncan, son of Mr. Murdoch, married a daughter of MacLeod of Scalasaig and left issue viz. Donald, Magnus and Roderick. The family emigrated to America. Magnus left issue Ludovic Murdoch Murchison sheep manager Inverguseran Knoydort, 1866.
Murdoch Murchison, third son of Evander Murchison of Auchtertyre, left a son Alexander who left Murdoch who married Katherine daughter of Kenneth MacLennan by whom he left issue Duncan and Janet. He married secondly Mary the daughter of Simon Murchison, issue one daughter, Mary who married Farquhar MacDonald Letterfearn. Janet married Alexander Ferguson at Montgerald Easter Ross. Duncan married Ann, daughter of Kenneth MacMillan Dornie issue Murdoch, Alexander, Ann, Catherine, Janet, Margaret, and Jaen. Ann married Farquhar MacRae pensioner Dornie. She was mother of the Rev. Alexander. MacRae, late Priest of Beauly. Both sons jointed the 78 regt. in 1793 Murdoch was a sergeant in the regiment, and on the eve of being promoted, was unfortunately lost in a transport coming from Bengal to Bombay which took fire on the 29th February 1804. Alexander, his brother, returned home from India. He was a strong powerful man and married Margaret MacKarlich, Bundaloch; he left issue Murdoch, John, and Janet who married Donald Mac Lennan, Bundaloch. They emigrated to Australia. Murdoch left issue and died at Bundaloch by his wife Flora MacKerlich namely Duncan, Alexander, and Margaret. John is married to Ann, daughter of Roderick Finlayson Bundaloch and has (1866) issue Murdoch and Janet.
Roderick, second son of Evander Murchison of Auchtertyre, left a son named John who left Roderick and Kenneth. Kenneth left a numerous family, one of them named Duncan was a tenant at Craig of Lochalsh and married to Christina, daughter of Roderick MacLennan, Durinish, issue Kenneth John and John who live presently (1866) at craig of Lochalsh.
Roderick son of John was a tenant at Ardelve Lochalsh where he died about 1840 aged 90. He was married to Margaret daughter of Kenneth Murchison, Achmore issue John Kemeth, Isabella, Mary, and Catherine. Isabella married John Matheson Salacy Lochalsh. and was mother to Dugald Matheson merchant Ardelve. Kenneth married Chirsty, daughter of Duncan MacRae, Ardelve, and left issue. He died at Achmore. John emigrated to South America where he lives in good circumstances.
John Murchison, the eldest son of Evander Murchison of Auchtertyre, comes now to be mentioned. He was very handsome and in bodily strength had very few equals. He went in the Highlands under the name of one of the four Johns of Scotland. He was a major in one of Earl William of Seaforth's three regiments A.D. 1715 and was at the Battle of Sheriffmuir where he fought gaIlantly defending his master's cause. Stimulating his brother soldiers to die on the field of battle rather than yield, he fell mortally wounded when his sword broke, and urging with his latest (last?) breath of life the survivors to continue faithful, he fell a hero in the prime of Iife at the age of 35 years; he was born In the year 1679. Here we may subjoin the poetical effusion so far as concerns him by an eye witness when he fell.

• *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***