John Munro

Notes:

John studied for the church at the University of St. Andrew's, where he graduated M.A. in 1590. In 1591, he was a member of the General Assembly, and in 1599 was presented to the parish of Tain.

Among the emoluments of his charge of St. Duthus, Tain, were the Chaplainries of Newmore, Tarlogie, Cambuscurry, Morangie, and Dunskaith.

He served for several years as Sub-Dean of Ross, and was a distinguished member of the ministry.

In the discharge of his duties, he came into collision with King James VI, who, when he succeeded to the English throne, formed a scheme to effect a complete union between England and Scotland and their respective churches. He attempted to force the Presbyterian Church of Scotland into conformity with the Episcopal Church of England, and to prevent the General Assembly from thwarting his pet scheme, he interdicted its meetings.

Notwithstanding this interdict, a few Presbyteries, Tain included, deputed representatives to the Assembly. Nineteen ministers, one of whom was the Rev. John Munro, met at Aberdeen on 2 Jul 1605, and constituted the assembly. John was one of the three nominated for the Moderatorship on that occasion.

King James declared this assembly seditious and summoned the members to appear before the Privy Council to answer for their conduct.

Seventeen appeared, of whom ten submitted to their Lordships, and declared that they were now persuaded that the Aberdeen Assembly was "altogether unlawful." The remaining seven--one of them being the Rev. John Munro, Sub-Dean of Ross--asserted and firmly maintained, in the presence of their Lordships, that the Assembly was, on the contrary "a verie lawful General Assembly." The Council thereupon ordered these seven faithful ministers to be banished to the wildest parts of Scotland--each as far as possible from his own parish.

The Rev. John Munro was ordered to Kintyre, but was in the meanwhile imprisoned in Doune Castle, Perthshire. From this place he and another minister managed to escape, by the connivance of the constable of the castle, who strongly sympathized with them and afforded them every opportunity to communicate with their friends, and for this dereliction of duty, he was himself subsequently imprisoned.

On 24 Feb 1607, the Rev. John and thirteen others were charged to appear before the Privy Council. They did so on 20 May 1607, but before judgment was rendered, they slipped away to their homes. As a consequence, they were all declared rebels on 28 May and put to the horn.

John made his way to Tain, and resumed his ministrations there among his people. But the stipend, which had formerly been paid to him by the Crown authorities, was now withheld.

Matters continued in this state for three years, during which King James succeeded in putting down all effectual resistance to his will in the Scottish Church; and the General Assembly, while its most faithful men were silenced or absent, acquiesced in the King's proposals.

The King could not stand the continued opposition of even a few ministers, and he directed his Scottish Privy Council to take the necessary steps to compel their submission. The Council accordingly addressed a letter to the Provost and Bailies of Tain ordering them to take John into custody until he "purge himself of his rebellion."

There is no record describing John's life after this, but ref (2) gives documentary evidence that he lived at least until 1630, but probably died shortly thereafter. Ref (1) gives the death date of 9 Jan 1616.

References:

(1) "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - Edinburgh (1978) - p. v-vi, Q/18,
Q/42

(2) "History of the Munros of Fowlis" by A. Mackenzie - Inverness (1898) - p.
284-285, 466-469

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Estimate: This birth date is an estimate based on the birth dates of nearest relatives or contemporaries, or based on other clues such as christening date, marriage date, birth order, etc.

Family/Spouse: Helen Munro. Helen (daughter of Andrew Monro, of Milntown & Dochcouty and Catherine Urquhart) was born about 1571; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Major Hugh Munro was the first of Assynt. He received the lands of Assynt and Inchcoulter, now Balconie, on the north bank of the Allt-Grand, parish of Alness from John Leslie, bishop of Ross. The grant was confirmed by King James VI on 19 Mar 1580. He also had a grant of other lands in Ross-shire. In 1552, Queen Mary granted him the non-entry and other dues of half the "lands of Ferrincosque in Brachat," lying between the rivers Shin and Cassley, namely the half of Inveran, with the half of the mill, multures, and fishing, the half respectively of Linside, Alltbeg, and Achness, with the half of the fishing lying in Queen Mary's hands since "the redemption and lowsing tharof maid be Thomas Dingwall of Kildun, furth of the handis of George Munro of Dochcarty."

In 1577, King James VI granted to Hugh and his wife, a Crown charter of half the lands of the Intown of Easter Aird, in the parish of Fearn, "occupied by Hugh Munro, and alienated in heritage to him and his wife by James Dunbar of Tarbat." In 1584, Hugh bought from George Ross, X of Balnagowan, the lands of Strath-Oykel, Inverchassly, Glenminck, and the wood of Scatwell, "with Lounillodoch, Cromlie, the salmon fishing of the Halfapolmorall, Stronroschir, with the salmon fishing," all in Strath-Oykel and Strathcarron.

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The following is from «u»The Monroe Book«/u» p. 6:

«i»Hugh, third son of Robert, called Hugh of Assynt, married Christane, daughter of Robert Munro of Carbsdale, ancestry not provided but obviously a cousin.
«/i»**********
References:

(1) "History of the Munros of Fowlis" by A. Mackenzie - Inverness (1898) - p.
42, 465

(2) "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - Edinburgh (1978) - Q, Q/18

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Foulis Castle

Died:
Assynt

Buried:
Hugh was buried at Chancery of Ross.

Hugh married Christian Munro. Christian (daughter of Robert Munro, of Carbisdale) was born about 1528 in Bonar Bridge, , Ross and Cromarty, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The identity of Christian's (or Christane's) father is in doubt. Ref (1) says her father was Hector Munro of Carbisdale. Ref (2) says her father was Robert Munro of Carbisdale, who was the son of Hector Munro of Carbisdale.

References:

(1) "History of the Munros of Fowlis" by A. Mackenzie - Inverness (1898) - p.
350

(2) "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - Edinburgh (1978) - M/26, Q/18

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
"Carbisdale, Kincardine, Cromarty, Scotland, (later renamed Culrain)"

Estimate: This birth date is an estimate based on the birth dates of nearest relatives or contemporaries, or based on other clues such as christening date, marriage date, birth order, etc.

Notes:

Robert Munro was served heir to his father on 22 May 1542 before John Cuthbert, Sheriff of Inverness. Later in the same year, King James V granted him the relief of the lands and other property belonging to his deceased father.

In the same year, 1542, a feud broke out between Donald Mackay, Chief of the Clan Mackay, and John, fifteenth Earl of Sutherland, during which Mackay committed several depredations. He was ultimately apprehended, and by order of the Earl of Huntly, Lieutenant of the North, was imprisoned in Foulis Castle, where he was kept for a considerable time in captivity. He managed to make his escape through the connivance of one Donald Mackay, a Strathnaver man. It seems highly probably that Baron Robert knew of the escape plan, because the Mackays and Munros had been on friendly terms for generations.

In 1544, Robert entered into a bond of manrent and friendship, according to the custom of the period, with Alexander Ross of Balnagown, father of Robert's eldest son's second wife. The agreement is dated 1 Dec 1544, and bound the two men for their mutual defense.

In 1546, Angus Macdonald of Glengarry, deponed the patronage of the Chaplainory of Obsdale to Robert Munro. On 1 Mar 1546/7, Robert served as a member of the Assize for serving Archibald Campbell heir to his father, Sir John, in the Barony of Strathnairn. On 4 May 1546, he was a member of the jury in the special service of John Gordon, heir to Alexander Gordon, Master of Sutherland his father, in the Earldom of Sutherland.

Robert was a resolute and magnanimous man, and a most loyal subject. When the English invaded Scotland under the Protector, the Duke of Somerset, all the noblemen, freeholders, and Chiefs of Clans were called upon to proceed to Edinburgh with their friends and followers. The Chief of the Munros responded to the call with alacrity. Calling together the fighting men of his clan, he went to Edinburgh, joined the Scottish army, and marched with it to the fatal field of Pinkie, where he fell fighting bravely at the head of his followers.

It is not known what became of his body. It very probably remained on the field of battle and was buried there along with others.

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The following is from the Rockwell reference:

Robert Munro was also the 14th Chieftan of the Clan Munro, successor to the legendary Donald, the Irish prince from the River Ro region in Ireland (hence the origin of the name Munro) who came to Scotland in 1025 A.D. at the head of an army to assist King Malcolm II in driving the Danes out of Scotland.

Robert's tenure as Baron of Foulis was a short five years. But during that he was noted (as would be his son and successor, Robert Mor Munro, the 15th Baron) for his loyal support for Mary Stuart during her turbulent reign as Queen of Scotland (1542-1567). Robert and Queen Mary were distant cousins as they were both descendents of King Robert II (1371-1390), the first of the Stewart Kings of Scotland. Queen Mary changed the spelling of the Stewart name to Stuart. She was first married to King Francis II of France and it was in France that she adopted the French spelling of the name.

Robert's descendency came through his grandmother, Anna MacLean, wife of William Munro, 12th Baron of Foulis (1490-1505). Anna could claim two lines of descent: One from King Robert's daughter, Princess Margaret (who married John MacDonald, Lord of the Isles) and second, from his son, Alexander, Earl of Buchan ("the Wolf of Badenoch").

Robert and his second son, George Munro of Katewell, were killed at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in which the Scots were defeated by an English army led by Thomas Seymour, Duke of Somerset and Regent of England (for the minority of King Edward VI).
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The following is from William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine - Vol. XIII #4 - p. 231-241

Sir Robert Munro, 14th Baron of Foulis, and 14th in descent from Hugh, the First Baron, succeeded to the Barony on 22 My 1542. He married Margaret dunbar, and was killed on 8 Sep 1547 at the Battle of Pinkie. General Hugh Mercer of the Revolutionary War was a direct descendant of this 14th Baron of Foulis, - Gen. Mercer's mother having been Anne, daughter of Sir Robert Munro, 24th Baron of Foulis.

Sir Robert, 14th Baron of Foulis, left issue, besides his eldest son Robert who became the 15th Baron, several others among whom was George, progenitor of the Katewell branch, who was killed with his father at the Battle of Pinkie in 1547, leaving issue a son George Munro, II of Katewell, who married his cousin Euphemia Munro. They had issue a son David Munro, who married his distant sousin, Agnes, daughter of the Rev. Alexander Munro and his wife Janet Cumming, a descentant of King Henry VII of England and his wife Elizabeth of York, daughter of King Edward IV of England.
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The following is a transcription of RW "Billy" Munro's genealogy notes:

«i»Alexander Munro of Ardullie fl 1547/78 Third son of Alexander Munro of Kiltearn & Janet Maclean; received few charter of Ardullie from Robert Munro of Foulis 1547; said to have been 'banner-bearer to his Chief' in 1547 (Pinkie, 10 Sep 47); fl 1549; m. ------ with issue - Hugh (suc.) & Donald. 'agnamed Crechan' (Chronological & Genealogical Account of the Ancient & Honorable Family of Foulis, Inverness 1805) or 'Ni Cruich' (Munro Tree), but Mackenzie 396 says this was his grandson Alexander. On record 1549 as 'Alex Munro of Ardulle' (Foulis Writs no. 16), also 1552 (Reg. Mag. Sig. ), & prob. also in 1560, 1578, but son Hugh 'of Ardullie' 1581.

Munro Tree M/68; Mackenzie pp. 379, 396; Martine per Chronological & Genealogical Account of the Ancient & Honorable Family of Foulis, Inverness 1805, pp. 19, 28, & Macfarlane's Gen Coll i 38; Ross-shire Journal 5 Jan 1951; Writs nos. 75, 255, no. 16 - should be 1549 (not 1409); Reg. Mag. Sig. iv no. 750 - confirmation of charter by Robert Munro of Foulis 20 Jan 1551/2 at Ardersier (AM of A witness).
«/i»**********
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The following is from «u»The Monroe Book«/u» p. 6:

«i»His «/i»[Hector Munro XIII of Foulis] «i»son Robert, fourteenth Baron, was a loyal supporter of Mary Queen of Scots. He married Margaret Dunbar, daughter of Sir Alexander Dunbar, sheriff of Murray. He was killed in the battle of Pinkie in 1547, defending Scotland against English invasion.
«/i»**********

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

(Medical):See attached sources.

Buried:
Burial place unverified

Robert married Margaret Anna Dunbar in , , , Scotland. Margaret (daughter of Sir Alexander Dunbar and Jean Falconer) was born about 1500 in Cumnock, , Ayr, Scotland; died in in , , , Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Ref: "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - Q

"Robert Barron of Fowlis married Margaret daughter to Sir Alexander Dunbar Sheriff of Murray by whom he had 4 sons and 3 daughters he was slain at the Battle of Pinkie with many of his followers in [? September] 1547."

"...His wife is named Anna Dunbar in 1663 birthbrief to descendant Alexander R/15 (TGSI xii 386, Mackenzie 173); their four sons appear below as Robert R, Hector Q/1, Hugh Q/18 and George Q/45; for dr Catherine see M/4."

Ref: "History of the Munros" by A. Mackenzie - p. 42

"He [Robert] married Margaret, only daughter of Sir Alexander Dunbar of Cumnock and Westfield, Sheriff of Morayshire, by his second wife Janet, daughter of John Leslie of Parkhill, son of William third Earl of Rothes. The Coul MS. says that Lady Dunbar was a daughter of "the Laird of Haggerton Falcken," no doubt meaning the family of Falconer of Halkerton, Kincardineshire, from whom the present Earl of Kintore is descended."

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Notes:

Ref: "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - M/26

"...he married the Abbot of Fearns daughter by whom he had Robert..."

"Hector son of Hugh may be father of Robert of Carbisdale whose dr m Hugh of Assynt."

References:

(1) "History of the Munros of Fowlis" by A. Mackenzie - Inverness (1898) - p.
350

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Estimate: This birth date is an estimate based on the birth dates of nearest relatives.

Notes:

Hector succeeded his father when he was still a child. His estates were managed by some of his relatives until he reached majority in about 1514. At that time, Hector and John Mackenzie of Kintail were temporarily appointed by an act of the Privy Council, Lieutenants of Wester Ross to protect that district from the incursion of Sir Donald Macdonald of Lochalsh, who had proclaimed himself Lord of the Isles.

Donald Macdonald of Lochalsh died before August 1519, and on 2 October 1524, his sister, Margaret Macdonald of the Isles issued a charter granting Hector Munro several pieces of land in Breachatt. These grants were given with the consent of Margaret's husband, Alexander Macdonald of Glengarry and were confirmend by King James V by charter dated at Stirling on 20 Apr 1541.

On 30 Apr 1527, at Inverness, Hector entered into a bond of friendship and mutual defense with the Knight of Cawdor Castle and others. A similar contract was signed by Hector and Hugh, fifth Lord Lovat on 19 Mar 1529.

Hector was married twice, but had children only by his first wife. He also had three illegitimate sons who became heads of large families, and to whom were granted portions of land in Ross-shire.

Hector died at Carbisdale (later called Culrain), in the parish of Kincardine in 1541, when he was about 50 years old. He was buried in the ancestral burying-ground in the Chanonry of Ross.

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The following is from «u»The Monroe Book«/u» p. 6:

«i»William's son Hector had extensive lands confirmed to him as thirteenth Baron by James V a Stirling in 1541 and died in the same year.
«/i»**********

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Died:
Carbisdale was later renamed Culrain.

Buried:
Hector was buried at the Chanonry of Ross.

Hector married Katherine MacKenzie. Katherine (daughter of Sir Kenneth MacKenzie and Agnes Fraser) was born in 1489; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Ref: "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - P

"Hector Munro Baron of Fowlis married first Catherine daughter to Kenneth McKenzie of Kintail by whom he had Robert and Hugh..."

Ref: "History of the Munros" by A. Mackenzie - p. 31, 36

"...in order to a reconciliation, Hector, son to this William of Fowlis, was married to John Mackenzie's sister Catherine...

Hector married, first, Catherine, second daughter of Sir Kenneth Mackenzie, VII. of Kintail, by his second wife, Agnes, second daughter of Hugh third Lord Lovat. This marriage formed a double alliance with the House of Kintail, as Hector's sister was the wife of Alexander Mackenzie, I. of Davochmaluag, second son of Sir Kenneth. By Catherine Mackenzie Hector had issue--"

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Notes:

**********
The following is from «u»The Monroe Book«/u» p. 6:

«i»He «/i»[Sir Robert Munro XIV of Foulis]«i» married Margaret Dunbar, daughter of Sir Alexander Dunbar, sheriff of Murray.
«/i»**********

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Estimate: This birth date is an estimate based on the birth dates of nearest relatives.

Alexander married Jean Falconer. Jean was born about 1479; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Estimate: This birth date is an estimate based on the birth dates of nearest relatives or contemporaries, or based on other clues such as christening date, marriage date, birth order, etc.

Notes:

Hector Munro of Carbisdale was Governor of the Strome Castle in Lochcarron. His second wife was the daughter of the Abbot of Fearn.

Ref: The Munro Tree (1734) M/26

Ref: "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - M/1

"Hugh Munro of Coul married thrice 1 Eve McLean Chieftane of the Shiel Tarlichs daughter mother to John Hector and Andrew...of each of whom came great families."

"...sons...Hector of Carbisdale..."

Ref: "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - M/26

"Hector Munro of Carbisdale Governour of the Strome Castle in Lochcarron married a daughter of Glengarries by whom he had Ferquhard and after her decease he married the Abbot of Fearns daughter by whom he had Robert he had also two natural sons George and Duncan."

"Hector son of Hugh may be father of Robert of Carbisdale whose dr m Hugh of Assynt."

Ref: "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - Edinburgh (1978) - p. iv

Hector was originally of Carbisdale, parish of Kincardine. He served as Captain or Governor of Stome Castle in Lochcarron under Macdonald of Glengarry, who possessed that stronghold. His first wife was the daughter of Alexander Macdonald of Glengarry.

References:

(1) "History of the Munros of Fowlis" by A. Mackenzie - Inverness (1898) - p.
350

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Hector married Fearn. was born about 1480; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She was the daughter of the Abbot of Fearn.

References:

(1) "History of the Munros of Fowlis" by A. Mackenzie - Inverness (1898) - p.
350

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Estimate: This birth date is an estimate based on the birth dates of nearest relatives or contemporaries, or based on other clues such as christening date, marriage date, birth order, etc.