Hugh Munro, I Of Assynt

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.

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

1. Janet Munro was born est 1546; and died.
2. Euphemia Munro was born about 1552; and died.
3. Rose Munro was born about 1553; and died.
4. Hector Munro, Of Assynt was born about 1554; died on 14 Oct 1610 in Inveran, , Ross and Cromarty, Scotland.
5. William Munro, of Mid-Swordale was born about 1556 in Evanton, , Ross and Cromarty, Scotland; died in 1616.
6. Catherine Munro was born about 1556; and died.
7. John Munro was born about 1558 in Of, Tain, Scotland; died on 9 Jan 1616 in Tain, , Ross and Cromarty, Scotland.
8. Margaret Munro was born about 1560; died in 1592.
9. Robert Munro was born about 1562 in Of, Meikle Creich, Scotland; and died.
10. Christian Munro was born about 1564; and died.
11. Ann Munro was born about 1566; and died.

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:

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:

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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:

William may have been named after his maternal grandfather. He is the only Munro Chief named William.

He may have been knighted by King James IV for his faithful services to the Crown. He appears as Sir William in a local document of 1503, but not in later national records. He was appointed Justiciar within the sheriffdom of Inverness during the early part of the reign of King James IV, and was present at a Court held at Inverness on 11 Feb 1499.

In the execution of his duties as Justiciar, Sir William came into collision with Hector Roy Mackenzie of Gairloch, resulting in the disastrous battle of Druim-a-chait.

Kenneth Mackenzie of Kintail married Margaret, daughter of Macdonald of Isla, by whom he had a son Kenneth. In consequence of a quarrel with her relatives, he sent her away and took as his second wife, Agnes, daughter of Lord Lovat, by whom he had four sons and two daughters. There was no regular marriage ceremony between the two, and had there been, it would have made no difference, as Margaret of Isla, from whom he had not been lawfully divorced was still alive.

Kenneth, the younger, succeeded his father in 1491, but was killed in 1497 in the Torwood by the Laird of Buchanan. He died unmarried and was succeeded by his half-brother, John, eldest son of his father by Agnes Fraser. The great body of the clan, knowing that Agnes was not regularly married, did not look upon John as the legitimate heir. His uncle, Hector Roy Mackenzie, of Gairloch, also objected to John's succession on the ground that he was the illegitimate sone of Lord Lovat's daughter, "with whom his father Kenneth at first did so irregularly and unlawfully cohabit."

Hugh Lord Lovat took up the cause of his nephew, John, and procured from James Stewart, Duke of Ross and Archbishop of St. Andrews, a precept of clare constat in favor of John as heir to the estates. The document is dated "the last day of April, 1500." However, Hector Roy kept possession of the estates and treated them as his own.

Sir William Munro of Foulis, the Duke of Ross' lieutenant for the forfeited Earldom of Ross, was dissatisfied with Hector Roy's conduct and in 1501, resolved to punish him. Sir William was in the habit of doing things with a high hand, and on this occasion, during Hector's absence from home, he and his Sheriff, Alexander Vass, went to Kinellan, where Hector usually resided, held a court at the place, and as a fine, took away the couples of one of Hector's barns to show his power.

When Hector Roy discovered what had taken place during his absence, he became furious and sent a message to Sir William to the effect that if he were a man of courage he would come and take away the couples of the other barn when their owner was at home.

Sir William, highly incensed at this message, determined to accept the challenge. He promptly collected 900 of his followers, including the Dingwalls and the MacCullochs, who were then his dependents. With this force, he set out for Kinellan, where he arrived much sooner than expected by Hector Roy, who hurriedly collected all the men he could in the neighborhood. Mackenzie had no time to advise his Kintail men, nor those at a distance from Kinellan, and was consequently unable to muster more than a hundred and forty men.

With this small force, Hector wisely deemed it imprudent to venture on a regular battle, but decided on a different stratagem. Having supplied his little but resolute band with provisions for twenty hours, he led them secretly during the night to the top of Knock Farrel, a place where Sir William must pass in his march to and from Kinellan.

Early the next morning, Foulis marched past, quite ignorant of Hector's position, as he expected him to be waiting at Kinellan. Sir William was allowed to pass unmolested. On arriving at Kinellan he found the place deserted, and, supposing Hector had fled, he proceeded to demolish the barn, ordered its couples to be carried away, broke all the utensils about the place, and drove away all the cattle as trophies of his visit.

In the evening, he returned, as Hector had conjectured, carring the plunder in front of his party, accompanied by a strong guard, while he placed the rest of his picked men in the rear, fearing that Hector might pursue him, little imagining that he was waiting ahead.

Hector Roy, from the top of the hill, watched them as they rounded the curve where the highway touched the shoulder of the hill. He allowed them to pass him until the rear was within musket shot. He then ordered his men to charge, which they did with such impetuosity that most of the enemy were cut to pieces before they were fully aware of what was happening.

The groans of the dying in the twilight, the uncertainty as well as the unexpectedness of the attack, frightened the survivors so much that they fled in confusion, in spite of every attempt on the part of Sir William, who was in front in charge of the spoil and its guard, to stop them. Those flying in disorder from the rear soon confused those in front, and the result was a complete rout. Hector Mackenzie's men followed the fugitives, killing everyone they overtook, for it was ordered that no quarter should be given to such a number, who might turn around, attack and defeat their pursuers.

In the retreat almost all the men of the Clans Dingwall and MacCulloch, were slain as well as many Munros. A large number of men were killed at one spot on the edge of the hill where Hector Roy's men were armed with claymores and battle axes. Many heads of the slain tumbled down the hill and into a well, where nineteen heads were later counted. For many decades, the well was called "Tobar nan Ceann," or the Fountain of the heads.

This conflict, which was fought in 1501, became known as the Battle of Druim-a-Chait, or the Battle of Cat Ridge.

Sir William is said to have been killed in the prime of life, in 1505, at a place called Achnashellach or Achnaskellach, in Lochaber, by Ewen "MacAlein Mhic Dhomh'uill Duibh" of Lochiel. The raid is described in "Lochiel's Memoirs" as follows:

"Besides the other wars wherein Lochiel was engaged, he had also a ruffle with the Baron of Reay, Chief of the Mackays, a people living many miles north of Lochaber. What the quarrel was I know not, but it drew on an invasion from the Camerons, and that an engagement wherein the Mackays were defeated and the Laird of Fowlis, Chief of the Munros, who assisted them, was killed upon the spot."

In 1502, a Royal commission had been given to the Earl of Huntly, Thomas fourth Lord Lovat, and Sir William Munro of Foulis to "proceed to Lochaber and let the King's lands of Lochaber and Mamore for the space of five years to true men." This is what probably led to the raid and the collision with the Camerons in which Sir William was slain.

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

«i»He «/i»[John Munro, XI of Foulis] «i»died in 1490 and was succeeded by Sir William, knighted by James IV, who is said to have married Anna MacLean (Anna, daughter of Laird of McLean) and to have been killed in 1505 in a raid assisting the Chief of the MacKays. He had also been in the unfortunate battle of Druim-a-chat in 1501.
«/i»**********

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

Birth:
Fowlis

William married Anne McLean in 1479 in , , , Scotland. Anne (daughter of Lachlan Og MacLean and Catherine Campbell) was born in 1460; died in 1495. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

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

"Sir William Munro of Fowlis married Anne daughter to the Laird of McLean by whom he had Hector William and Margaret being Justiciary and Lieutenant of Inverness and Earldom of Ross he was killed at Achnaselach by Locheal 1505."

"...Martine A 37 & B 6 agrees in calling his Maclean wife Anna but she is on public record as Christian (ER xii 662)..."

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

Notes:

Married:
Fowlis

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.

Kenneth married Agnes Fraser. Agnes was born about 1470; 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.