John Munro, Of Achany

Notes:

References:

(1) "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - Edinburgh (1978) - M/79, Q/20,
Q/29, R/2, U3

(2) "History of the Munros of Fowlis" by A. Mackenzie - Inverness (1898) - p.
401, 472, 474

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

Family/Spouse: Janet Corbet. Janet was born est 1626 in Of, Rhynie, Scotland; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Hugh Munro, Of Achany was born est 1645; and died.
2. John Munro, Of Invernald was born est 1646 in Of, Invernald, Scotland; and died.
3. Hector Munro was born est 1647; and died.

Family/Spouse: Margaret Munro. Margaret (daughter of William Munro, of Teanoird and Catherine Munro, of Foulis) was born about 1644; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Kenneth Munro was born about 1645 in Of, Culcairn, Scotland; and died.
2. William Munro, Of Linside was born about 1662 in Of, Linside, Scotland; and died.

Notes:

Robert Munro of Assynt, I of Inveran and Auchness was Montrose's 'chief scootmaster' in the Carbisdale campaign of 1650. Robert had three sons in Montrose's army.

He was a member of the Assize held at Inverness on 4 Jun 1616 where John, eighteenth Earl of Sutherland, was served heir to his father, Earl John. He was also a member of an Assize held in the Tolbooth, Inverness in 1630, when the same Earl John was declared lawful heir to the three previous Earls of Sutherland.

References:

(1) "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - Edinburgh (1978) - Q/19, Q/20,
R/2

(2) "History of the Munros of Fowlis" by A. Mackenzie - Inverness (1898) - p.
61, 470-472

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.

Robert married Margaret Munro. Margaret (daughter of Robert Munro, XVI of Foulis and Elizabeth Rose) was born est 1593; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Margaret was excluded from succession to Foulis by her uncle as heir male, but as heir to her father and grandfather, she had the lands of Kiltearn from David Bishop of Ross.

References:

(1) "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - Edinburgh (1978) - Q/20, R/1, R/2

(2) "History of the Munros of Fowlis" by A. Mackenzie - Inverness (1898) - p.
61, 472

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

Notes:

Hector entered the army and rose to the rank of Major.

He appears to have sold the Assynt estate to his son-in-law, Alexander Mackenzie of Coul, who gave it to his son, Kenneth, who in 1644, appears as proprietor. Hector, however, had purchased for his son, the lands of Inveran and of Achness, from John Gordon of Embo.

References:

(1) "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - Edinburgh (1978) - Q/18, Q/19

(2) "History of the Munros of Fowlis" by A. Mackenzie - Inverness (1898) - p.
69, 71, 470-471

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.

Hector married Isobel Dunbar. Isobel was born about 1556 in Of, Tarbat, Scotland; died on 22 Mar 1612. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Isobel was the daughter of James Dunbar of Tarbat.

References:

(1) "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - Edinburgh (1978) - Q/19

(2) "History of the Munros of Fowlis" by A. Mackenzie - Inverness (1898) - p.
69, 71, 470

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:

There is some controversy over whether Robert actually succeeded his father as Baron of Foulis. Robert and his father died within a year of each other, and some researchers say he predeceased his father.

"The Munro Tree" says that the Foulis estate was conveyed to Robert by his father in 1587 with his father reserving liferent. Then Robert died in Aug 1588 before his father, who died in Nov 1588. Thus "The Munro Tree" says that Robert never really succeeded to the title, but died as fiar of Foulis, that is, possessor subject to the liferent.

Mackenzie says that there is a Royal charter under the Great Seal, dated in 1589, of the lands of Easter Foulis, Daan, Inverlael, and others in the counties of Ross and Inverness, addressed to "Roberto de Foulis," as registered in the public archives. It is claimed that this disproves that Robert predeceased his father. Mackenzie says that Robert died in Aug 1589.

"The Munro Tree" says that the 1589 charter is a confirmation of the 1587 grant that conveyed the estate to Robert pending his father's liferent, and that the confirmation is in favor of Hector, not of Robert, his older brother, who was dead by then.

Robert appears to have married three times. His first wife was Marjory, the youngest daughter of Kenneth Mackenzie of Kintail and Lady Elizabeth Stewart. This marriage was confirmed by a charter granted under the Great Seal on 11 Jul 1574. Marjory died a few months after their marriage without any children.

In 1579, he was engaged to marry Eleanor Gordon, the daughter of John, Earl of Sutherland and Helenor Stewart, Dowager-Countess of Erroll. But Eleanor died at Dornoch on the night before the wedding, so that marriage did not take place.

Later in the same year, he married Janet Sinclair, daughter of George, Earl of Caithness. She also died shortly after their marriage with no children.

In 1587, he married Elizabeth Rose, daughter of Hugh Rose of Kilravock. The marriage contract was dated 31 Aug 1579.

Robert was the target of a strange witchcraft plot. Robert's stepmother, Katherine Ross, wanted to remove Marjory Campbell, the young wife of her brother, George Ross of Balnagowan, so that he might marry Robert's wife. To accomplish this, of course, Robert had to be destroyed.

Involved in the plot were Marjory Macallister, nicknamed Loskie Loutart, a witch from Tain, and William Macgillivray, nicknamed Damh, a wizard from Tain. They formed a clay image of Robert which was to be set up and shot at with "elf arrows." This was supposed to make Robert pine away and die. Also, William sold to Robert's stepmother, a "box of witchcraft", that is of poison, for which he was later sentenced to be burned at the stake.

At a Justice Court held on 28 Nov 1577, several witches were convicted of this plot and sentanced to burn at the stake. They implicated Lady Katherine of Foulis as their employer, but she was not tried until 22 Jul 1590, and was found innocent.

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.

Robert married Elizabeth Rose in 1587. Elizabeth was born est 1555 in Of, Kilravock; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

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

Robert Munro his eldest son married four times 1 Marjory daughter to Kenneth McKenzie of Kintall 1573 2 Eleanor daughter to John Earle of Sutherland 1579 3 Janet daughter to George Earle of Caithness 1581 and last was Elizabeth daughter to the Barron of Kilravock by whom he had a daughter Margaret.

...Elizabeth Rose of Kilravock as his relict and spouse of William Gordon (FW 140) - she m in succession Walter Urquhart of Cromarty (cont 1579), Robert Munro younger of Foulis, ----- Cumming of Earnside, and William Gordon of Cairnborrow, and is said to have had sons to both Cromarty and Foulis though only descendants by dr Margaret R/2 (Family of Rose 73, Macfarlane's Gen. Colls. ii 490-1)

Ref: "History of the Munros" by A. Mackenzie - p. 61-62

In 1587 he married, thirdly, Elizabeth, sixth daughter of Hugh Rose, X. of Kilravock (by his wife, Catherine, daughter of David Falconer of Halkerton), and widow of Walter Urquhart of Cromatry, to whom she was "contracted" on the 31st of August, 1579, with a "tocher of 2000 merks." The contract with Urquhart also states that she is to be infeft in the liferent of the lands of Little Suddie; the Sub-Chanter's croft within the Chanonry of Ross; Wester Balblair; Balakervie; Kinbreachie; nineteen roods of a field lying within the burgage of Rosemarkie; and the wester oxgang of Little Rhynie, within the Abbey of Fearn. She was Walter Urquhart's second wife, and at his death, in November, 1586, there was no surviving issue. By Munro she had one child, a daughter Margaret, who married Robert Munro, III. of Assynt in Ross, with issue.

Robert died in Jul, 1589, and shortly afterwards his widow married as her third husband John Cumming of Ernside, a cadet of the family of Altyre, in Morayshire, descended from John, third son of Sir William Cumming of Altyre.

John Cumming did not long survive his marriage with Munro's widow, and after his death she married as her fourth husband, William Gordon of Carnborrow, afterwards of Rothiemay; "by which husbands," the annalist of the Roses of Kilravock says, "there is none descended of her but Munro of Inveran and Achness, by a daughter."

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

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.

**********
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 was served heir to his father before Alexander Baillie, Sheriff-Depute of Inverness on 11 Jan 1548. He was still a minor and so was placed under the tutorship of his uncle, Hugh Munro of Contullich.

Robert got into a great deal of trouble because his uncle and tutor, Hugh Munro killed two tenants in Little Boath, belonging to the Laird of Balnagowan. The problem was resolved after great expense to Robert including the loss of the lands of Kiltearn.

Robert came to be known as Robert Mor because of his stature. His estates were erected into a barony by 1553. He was a supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots.

He gave to Neil Beaton, a heritable tack of the lands of Culnaskea for serving as surgeon or doctor to his family.

In 1552, he sold to Margaret Ogilvie, widow of William Mackintosh of Mackintosh, the lands of Wester Foulis in liferent, but later regained these lands by marrying Margaret.

In 1560, he regained the lands of Kiltearn by obtaining them from Quinten Monypenny, General-Vicar and Dean of Ross. The charter was registered and and confirmed on 3 Sep 1584. In the same year, he acquired from the Bishops of Ross, the lands of Limlair, Pellaig, Wester Glens, and Mukle Boitt (or Boath).

He attended the Reformation Parliament in Edinburgh on 1 Aug 1560 where he voted for the overthrow of the Catholic Church and for acceptance for the Scottish Confession of Faith. He was among the barons assembled on 24 Nov 1572 in Edinburgh to choose a Regent when the Convention of Estates appointed Morton. In the Edinburgh Parliament of 30 Nov 1581, he is listed as "Robert Monro of Fowlis, bailie and chamberlane of Ros, one of the Justices in that part." He had been appointed to that position by the seventh Parliament of King James VI, held at Edinburgh on 24 Feb 1581, when he was described as "His Majesty's principal bailie of the Earldom of Ross and Lordship of Ardmeanach."

In Robert's time, the Munro Clan was considered by the Crown, of considerable importance, and among the most loyal of the northern clans. When Queen Mary arrived at Inverness on 11 Sep 1562, and found the castle shut against her by the governor, Captain Alexander Gordon, the Munros, under Robert Mor, their Chief, were among those loyal subjects who came to her assistance.

By a charter dated at Scone on 11 Jul 1565, Robert obtained from Sir James Spence, Chaplain of St. Lawrence, and Sir Alexander Douglas, Chaplain of St. Mary, the lands of Mukle and Little Clynes.

On 23 Jun 1567, he served as a member of the jury when John, Earl of Sutherland was served heir to his grandmother, Elizabeth, Countess of Sutherland.

At Edinburgh, on 10 Apr 1569, he and many others signed a bond of allegiance to King James VI.

On 22 Nov 1569, Robert was appointed by the Lord Regent, as a Justice-Depute in the diocese of Caithness for the trial of certain persons.

In 1570 a serious quarrel broke out between the Munros and the Mackenzies. Leslie, the celebrated Bishop of Ross who had been secretary to Queen Mary, dreading the effect of public feeling against prelacy in the north and against himself personally made over to his cousin, Leslie of Balquhain, his rights and titles to the Chanonry of Ross, together with the Castle lands, in order to divest them of the character of church property and so save them to his family. But in spite of this grant, the Regent Murray gave the custody of the Castle to Andrew Munro of Milntown, a rigid Presbyterian, who was in high favor with Murray.

The Mackenzies were by no means pleased at seeing the Munros occupying the stronghold. They purchased Leslie's right to the castle and demanded delivery. The Munros at once refused. Mackenzie of Kintail raised his vassals and, joined by a detachment of the Mackintoshes, garrisoned the steeple of the Cathedral Church and laid siege to Irvine's Tower and the Palace.

The Munros held out for three years, but one day the garrison becoming short of provisions, they attempted a sortie to the Ness of Fortrose, where there was at the time a salmon stell, the contents of which they attempted to secure. They were immediately discovered and followed by the Mackenzies under Iain Dubh Mac Ruairidh Mhic Alastair. The Munros were ambushed and twenty-six of them were killed. The remaining defenders of the castle immediately capitulated, and it was taken possession of by the Mackenzies. Later it was confirmed to the Baron of Kintail by King James VI.

In 1572, as a reward for his faithful services to the Crown, Robert obtained from King James VI a grant of the tack of all the customs due as royalties from the town and Sheriffdom of Inverness, in the counties of Ross, Sutherland, and Caithness. This was registered in a charter under the Privy Seal dated at Edinburgh on 5 Jan 1572.

He was one of the members of a Commission appointed to act as Sheriffs of Inverness for serving Alexander Earl of Sutherland heir to his father Earl John, on 30 May 1573. But Alexander petitioned to be served heir in Aberdeen, as he could not get a jury together to sit at Inverness because there was a deadly feud in progress among the local barons including Colin Mackenzie of Kintail, Lachlan Mackintosh of Mackintosh, and Robert Munro of Foulis.

On 9 Jan 1578, Robert appeared as one of the arbitrators for David Dunbar, portioner of Kinsterrie, concerning the slaughter of two of Dunbar's servants by the tenants or followers of Cawdor.

In 1578, the Lord Regent and Privy Council learned that the Earl of Argyll intended to invade the territories of Donald MacAngus of Glengarry. On 19 Feb 1577-78, their Lordships issued orders to many Highland Chiefs, including Robert Munro of Foulis, to be ready with their whole forces to come the the aid and defense of Donald MacAngus of Glengarry.

Robert obtained various lands in Inverness and Ross by charter dated 11 Jan 1583 under the Great Seal, and later that year, on 10 May 1583, he disponed to his son, George of Obsdale, the lands of Limlare, Pelaig, Wester Glens, and Bothmoir.

In about 1585, a dispute arose between Neil Macleod and Donald Bane Macleod regarding the succession to Assynt. The succession was ultimately awarded to Neil, but Donald Bane complained to Foulis, in whose family he had been brought up. Robert's influence was able to obtain for Donald Bane a part of the lands of Assynt.

On 30 Nov 1586, Robert was denounced by the Privy Council, along with most of the other Highland Chiefs, on the complaint of the United Burghs of Scotland, for obstructing the fisheries in the northern parts and for making extortionate exactions from the fishermen.

On 6 May 1588, King James VI, issued an order of special protection granted to the Earl of Sutherland and his Countess. In it, the King ordered Robert Munro of Foulis and many other local leaders to be ready to raise their followers in arms to assist the Earl of Sutherland if needed.

On 20 Jul 1588, Robert was appointed by the King to be collector of a tax in Inverness-shire, which was to be used for the repair of Edinburgh Castle.

Robert was one of the first of the Highland Chiefs to renounce the Roman Catholic form of religion and to embrace the doctrines of the Reformation. In this decision, he exercised great influence in the county of Ross. He voted in the Parliament of Aug 1560, for the overthrow of the Popish Church, and for the adoption of the Scottish Confession of Faith. The first spot in Ross-shire where the reformed religion is said to have been preached is at Waterloo, midway between Foulis and Dingwall. The preacher is said to have been the Rev. Donald Munro, the well-known High Dean of the Isles.

Robert appears to have profited considerably by the long leases of church lands and forfeitures arising from the changed condition of affairs caused by the Reformation. He is said to have been a wise and good man, and the name "Mor," or great, was not altogether inapplicable to him.

He died at Foulis Castle on 4 Nov 1588 at about the age of 60. By his own direction, his body was buried in the churchyard of Kiltearn, which has ever since continued to be the burying place of the Chiefs of the family. He was the first who made this change from the ancient custom of his ancestors, who had always been interred at the Chanonry of Ross. It is probable that this baron, who was the the first professing Protestant of the family of Foulis, desired by this change, to mark the complete severance of all connection with the Church of Rome and her consecrated establishments.

Error alert: According to the dates in references, Robert remarried about a year before his first wife died. It's possible that his first marriage ended in divorce, but it is more likely that one or more dates in the reference are incorrect.

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.

Robert married Margaret Ogilvy. Margaret was born about 1530 in , , , Scotland; died on 2 Dec 1564. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

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

Robert Moir Munro Baron of Fowlis married Margaret daughter to Ogilvie of Finlater by whom he had 2 sons and 3 daughters 2d he married Catherin daughter to Alexander Ross of Balnagown and had 3 sons 4 daughters.

...His first wife Margaret dr of James Ogilvy of Cardill ancestor of earls of Findlater was former wife of William Mackintosh of Dunachton (beheaded 1550) and mother of Lachlan the next chief (Mackintosh Munts 65, Kinrara MS 223, 231); in 1551 Robert sold to her as 'lady of Moy' lands of Wester Foulis in liferent (RMS conf 13 Feb 1552/3); she is on record as Robert's wife 1557 (FW 71) and d 2 Dec 1564 (Edin Tests 22 Jan 1565)....By first marriage Robert had 3 sons, Robert who seems to have predeceased him, Hugh of Clynes (omitted here, but see FW 77, OPS ii 482, & Retours Ross and Crom 169), and Hector who succeeded to Foulis;...for drs see R/39.

Ref: "History of the Munros" by A. Mackenzie - p. 55

Robert Mor Munro married, first, Margaret, daughter of James Ogilvie of Cardell, Baron of Findlater and Deskford, and apparently widow of William Mackintosh, XI. of Mackintosh, who was born in 1521, and in August, 1550, beheaded at the "Bog of Gight," by order of Elizabeth Countess of Huntly, for conspiracy. This sentence was subsequently declared illegal, and his estates were restored to his second son by Act of Parliament, passed on the 14th of December, 1557. By Margaret Ogilvie Robert had issue--

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.