Sir Robert Munro, XXIII of Foulis, 5th Baronet

Notes:

Sir Robert succeeded his father becoming the 23rd Baron of Foulis and the 5th Baronet. King William III granted him a charter of confirmation of the lands and Barony of Foulis and all his other estates on 22 Jan 1698.

Like his father, Sir Robert was a strenuous upholder of the Protestant succession, and a zealous supporter of the Presbyterian system of church government and its principles. He represented the County of Ross in Parliament from 1697 to 1702. He apparently lost his sight at a fairly early age and so became known as the Blind Baron.

Sir Robert, his son, Robert Munro, yr. of Foulis, the heads and eldest sons of almost all of the major Munro families, and other important people of the shires of Ross and Sutherland, signed an address to King George I in Dec 1714, imploring his Royal mercy for Simon Lord Lovat on his return from France at the instigation of Major James Fraser of Castleleathers.

A letter written by Sir Robert to John Forbes of Culloden on 17 Feb 1715 shows exactly where his loyalties lay as the rising of 1715 approached. It says in part:

"I find the Jacobites are very uppish, both in Edinburgh and in England, so that if you go to Parliament, as I hope you will, recommend to some trusty, faithful friend to take care of your house of Culloden,...The vanity, insolence, arrogance, and madness of the Jacobites is beyond all measure insupportable. I believe they must be let blood. They still have a trick of presuming upon the levity of a moderate Government. It seems God either destines them for destruction, or infatuates others to allow them to be pricks in our sides and thorns in our eyes. I have account from very good hands from Edinburgh, that to their certain knowledge saddles were making in that city for Dragoons to serve the Pretender, and that all the popish Lords and very many popish and Jacobite gentlemen are assembled there now; so that all friends and loyal subjects to his present Magesty are advised to be upon their guard from thence against an invasion or insurrection which is certainly expected, which the Jacobites pretend will interrupt the meeting of Parliament."

On 26 May 1715, the Earl of Seaforth, in the Chevalier's name, requested Sir Robert to deliver up to him all his defensive weapons. This Sir Robert refused to do. Instead, he garrisoned his house and sent the remainder of his men with his son, Captain George Munro at their head, to the general rendezvous called at Alness, and sent a message to Lord Strathnaver that he had done so.

On 18 Jul 1715, two days before the 1715 rising was formally announced to Parliament, Sir Robert wrote to Lord Strathnaver asking for assistance in case he should be attacked by the Jacobite clans. In the letter, he reminded Lord Strathnaver that in the past, the Munros had always responded in times of danger and had sent assistance whenever asked. He briefed his Lordship of the precautions that he had already taken in defense of his own territories and clan, and asked that a number of fighting men be made ready in case he needed them. His request was honored, and at the same time, the Munros, the Grants, and the Rosses were mustered by their respective Chiefs.

On 13 Oct 1715, the Earl of Sutherland was informaed that the enemy intended to invade Sutherland with 2000 men. He dispatched his son at the head of an opposing force to reinforce the passes and gathered his fighting men to defend the territory. But the rebels did nothing but plunder and destroy the goods and estate of Sir Robert Munro of Foulis and other Munros in the area.

In the meantime, Lord Duffus, with Loard Seaforth and his main body of men in support, marched into Tain with about 400 or 500 men of the Mackenzies, Chisolms and Macdonalds, and proclaimed the Pretender there. Duffus found it impractical to penetrate further, and Seaforth was under great pressure to march to Perth to releive the Earl of Mar, so Duffus marched back to Inverness taking Foulis Castle on his way with about 200 stands of arms. He remained for two days at Inverness and then on 22 Oct, he continued his march to Perth.

Seaforth levied heavy fines on the Munro territories before he left the area and the Munros retaliated with interest within the Mackenzie borders at every opportunity. At one point, Sir Robert and the Earl of Sutherland were encamped near Seaforth's house. That night they vented their vengance by destroying everything they could. The force of 1500 men ate well from Seaforth's stock for dwo days, and took as much booty and supplies with them as they could carry when they left.

On 9 Jun 1725, King George I rewarded Sir Robert for his family's loyalty to the House of Hanover by appointing him Sheriff-Principal of Ross-shire, a high and important office. He held that post until his death four years later. He also served for a time as a Captain in the army.

Sir Robert was a pious and benevolent man. He was an earnest and active elder in the Kiltearn Parish Church and his name appears regularly in the Session records of the parish. He regularly addended the Session meetings and when not present, as on 6 Dec 1709, his absence is noted as an unusual incident in the minutes of the meeting.

Sir Robert's name also appears frequently in the Dingwall Presbytery records. He was repeatedly appointed by that Presbytery as one of their Commisioners to the General Assembly, the last occasion on which he represented them being at the Assembly of 1724.

On 14 Apr 1726, the Synod of Ross wrote to him as Sheriff-Principal of the county, asking him to interpose his authority in order to give Mr. James Fraser access to the church and manse of Alness. He had been assigned as Minister of Alness, but most of the heritors opposed his assignment. Sir Robert summoned all parties to appear before him on 22 Apr, and after hearing their arguments, he ordered the heritors to give Mr. Fraser the keys to the church and manse, which they did.

Sir Robert, the Blind Baron, died in 1729, and was buried at Kiltearn Churchyard.

At the time of his death, his character and funeral were described as follows:

"The Baron of Fowlis was a very ancient gentleman, and chief of a considerable clan, who died in the enjoyment of general esteem. Four counties turned out to show their respect at his funeral. There were six hundred horsemen, tolerably mounted and apparelled. The corpse was carried on a bier betwixt two horses, fully harnessed in deepest mourning. A gentleman rode in deep mourning before the corpese uncovered, attended by two grooms and four running footmen all in deep mourning. The friends followed immediately behind the corpse, and the gentlemen (strangers) in the rear. The scutcheon were the handsomest I ever saw; the entertainment magnificent and full."

References:

(1) "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - Edinburgh (1978) - Y

(2) "History of the Munros of Fowlis" by A. Mackenzie - Inverness (1898) - p.
96-103, 113, 117

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 Jean Forbes about 1684. Jean was born about 1661; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Col. Sir Robert Munro, XXIV of Foulis, 6th Baronet was born on 24 Aug 1684; died on 17 Jan 1746 in Falkirk, , Stirling, Scotland; was buried in Falkirk, , Stirling, Scotland.
2. George Munro, Of Culcairn was born on 18 Sep 1685 in Of, Culcairn, Scotland; died on 31 Aug 1746 in Locharkaigside, Scotland.
3. Dr. Duncan Munro was born on 19 Sep 1687 in Of, Obsdale, Scotland; died on 17 Jan 1746 in Battle Of, Falkirk; was buried in Falkirk Church, Falkirk.
4. Anne Munro was born in 1693; died in 1768; was buried in Kirkmichael Chur.

Notes:

On 23 Jan 1661, before his father's death, John entered into a bond of friendship and manrent with Kenneth, Earl of Seaforth. An old manuscript record, which gives a sketch of the character of Sir John, says:

"He lived in good correspondence with his neighpours, for there was mutual condescendence passed between Kenneth, Earl of Seaforth, John Munro, younger of Fowlis."

In a document dated 7 Dec 1668, it is mentioned that John served as one of the Deputes in the Sheriffship under the Earl of Caithness and the Earl of Argyll.

The lands of Foulis had been appraised from Sir John's father and granted to others, and so even though his father died in 1668, it was not until 1676 that Lovat's rights over the estate were extinguished and the lands adjudged to belong to Sir John as 22nd Baron of Foulis and 4th Baronet.

Sir John was a member of the Convention of the Estates of Scotland at the Revolution in 1688 and 1689. He was a very zealous promoter of that change in the government of the kingdom, and was also very strenuous in assisting Presbyterianism.

During the period between the Restoration and the Revolution -- 1660-1688 -- his eminent piety and zeal exposed him to great sufferings in the cause of religion. He was imprisoned for long periods of time for his religious beliefs. His estates were harassed by fines and confiscations, and burdened and reduced in value.

He was present along with his mother, the Dowager-Lady Munro of Foulis, in her house at Obsdale, near Alness, in Sep 1675, when the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was dispensed by Mr. John Mackillican, minister of Alness, assisted by the Rev. Hugh Anderson of Cromarty, and Alexander Fraser of Daviot. Sir Roderick Mackenzie of Findon, at the urging of Bishop John Paterson of Ross, sent a party of soldiers to apprehend Mr. Mackillican, but before their arrival, the communicants had dispersed themselves and concealed the ministers.

According to tradition, Mr. Mackillican escaped capture by a clever ruse. Sir John Munro was a man of Falstaffian proportions, which with his strong attachment to the Presbyterian religion, had earned for him the nickname of "The Presbyterian Mortar-piece." When the officer in command of the military burst into his apartment in search of Mr. Mackillican, Sir John pleaded indisposition, and on that ground begged the intruder to excuse his inability to rise from his chair. The soldier retired without taking the liberty of looking among the ample skirts of the Baronet's dressing gown, and consequently without discovering that the Mr. Mackillican was hidden there.

During the period of the Prelatic persecution, multitudes of pious and honest people found sanctuaries in Ross and Sutherland. The Earl of Sutherland, Lord Reay, and Sir John Munro of Foulis, showed them much kindness, and their wives, pious and amiable ladies, vied with their patriotic and sympathetic husbands in harboring the poor persecuted fugitives.

It is said that once when Sir John Munro and Archbisiop Sharp were together on some occasion in the Privy Council Chamber, Sharp accused the Baron of Foulis of permitting his wife to harbor so many of those "wandering families." It was generally known that Sharp was skeptical about the fidelity of his own wife, and Sir John retorted that "they could not be responsible for all the foibles and weaknesses of their wives, but those whose wives were religious had one great advantage--they believed that all the children they brought them were their own."

On 8 May 1683, the Privy Council ordered the Munro Chief to be confined to his own house in Ross-shire and a mile around it, for withdrawing from the parish church. He was now old, and this was all the privilege which his friends were able to procure for him. In 1685, he was heavily fined for his non-conformity and was imprisoned in the jail of Inverness, while his son, Robert, was confined in the tolbooth of Tain.

Sir John served as Commissioner to Scots Parliament for the County of Ross-shire from 1689 until his death in 1697. In 1689 it appears that Sir John was a candidate for the job of Sheriff-Principal of Ross to succeed Colin, Earl of Seaforth, who had been removed from that office because he was a professed papist. In the end, Ross of Balnagown was appointed to the office. Sir John was appointed Commissioner of Justiciary for Peace of the Highlands on 30 Mar 1697.

He died at Foulis Castle on 29 Sep 1697 and was buried at Kiltearn.

The Munro Tree says that Sir Kenneth Mackenzie of Coul was Sir John's son-in-law (p. ii), but X (p. 20) says Sir Kenneth was Sir John's father-in-law. It is thought that the latter is correct.

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The following is a transcription of RW Munro's genealogy notes:

«i»Alexander Munro of Katewell fl 1687/8 Son of David Munro of Katewell & Agnes Munro; described as David's eldest lawful son 15 Jan 1687, date of charter by Sir John Munro of Foulis under which Alexander was given Sasine of 2-1/2 oxgate lands of Katewell (David had been called 'portioner of Katewell' 1641); as Alexander of Katewell gave disposition of 2-1/2 oxgate lands of Katewell to George Dallas of St. Martins, W.S., 8 Sep 1688; MacKenzie says Alexander was tenant of Teachait & had at least 2 sons - George (Teachait & Kellaig) & John (d. 1724).

Munro Tree Q/47; Mackenzie, 480, 481; Foulis Writs nos. 276, 277, 279; Register of Deeds 1687 - National Archives of Scotland, ref RD 67/252 ; RWM, The Munros of Katewell (1983) note 17.«/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 or contemporaries, or based on other clues such as christening date, marriage date, birth order, etc.

Died:
Dingwall Church

John married Anne MacKenzie about 1660. Anne was born about 1641; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

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

Sir John Munro of Fowlis married Anne daughter to Sir Kenneth McKenzie of Coul by whom he had Robert Andrew Jean Christane Anne and Margaret he dyed at Fowlis 15 October 1696.

...m prob 1660 Anna or Agnes Mackenzie (Invss Sasines, Mackenzie 94n)...

Ref: "History of the Munros" by A. Mackenzie - p. 94

Sir John married Agnes, second daughter of Sir Kenneth Mackenzie, first Baronet of Coul, by his first wife, Jean eldest daughter of Alexander Chisholm, X. of Chisholm, with issue--

There is a Sasine, dated the 26th of June, 1660, to "Agnes Mackenzie, lawful daughter of Kenneth Mackenzie of Coul, and affianced spouse of John Munro, apparent of Fowlis, on a charter to her by Robert Munro of the lands of Drummond."

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:

Robert was the second son of Colonel John Munro of Obsdale. Because he did not expect to inherit, he entered the army early in life. In 1626 he became an officer in Sir Donald Mackay's regiment, serving with it first in the Danish service, and afterwards in that of Sweden.

Sir Robert highly distinguished himself on the Continent during the Thirty Years' War. He returned home soon after, if not shortly before, the Peace of Westphalia was proclaimed by the Treaty of Munster, on 24 Oct 1648.

On 26 Aug 1643, during the minority of the former Chief, Robert Munro, Tutor of Foulis, was appointed Commissioner of War for the Sheriffdom of Sutherland and a part of Inverness-shire. He was appointed again on 24 Jul 1644.

Sir Robert served heir to his father, Colonel John Munro of Obsdale, after the death of his elder brother, John. He became tutor-at-law to his second cousin, Hector in 1639 when he, himself, reached 25 years of age. In 1651 when Sir Hector Munro of Foulis died, Sir Robert was the nearest male heir, so he succeeded and became the 21st Baron and 3rd Baronet of Foulis.

Before he succeeded to Foulis, he married his cousin, Jean, eldest daughter and co-heir of Colonel Sir Hector Munro, 1st Baronet.

On succeeding as head of his house and clan he took up his residence in his ancestral home at Foulis. He was the means of getting the famous Rev. Thomas Hogg to Kiltearn, and suffered much from fines and imprisonment for non- conformity to Episcopacy. As long as Mr. Hogg lived, Sir Robert sent him his share of the stipend of Kiltearn annually.

In 1649, the Scottish Parliament divided the Sheriffdom of Inverness-shire and erected the Sheriffdom of Ross. Sir Robert had been elected Member of Parliament for Inverness-shire in 1649 and for his own County of Ross after it was separated from the County of Inverness that same year. He was also appointed the first Sheriff of the County of Ross. He held office for eight years under the Commonwealth.

In 1654 he was imprisoned by the royalists and his lands and tenants suffered under their hands. The lands of Foulis were taken from him and granted to others. He was fined 3600 pounds at the Restoration.

He died 14 Jan 1668 at Foulis Castle and was buried at Kiltearn. (Ref. (2) is in error when it says he died in 1666. Ref. (1) cites a document which proves him to be alive in Sep 1667.)

He was succeeded by his son, Sir John, in 1676 when the lands of Foulis were returned to his possession.

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

Robert married Jean Munro. Jean (daughter of Col. Sir Hector Munro, XIX of Foulis, 1st Baronet and Mary MacKay) was born est 1620; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Ref: "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - U & W
Clan Munro files - Stroud, Anna Margaret

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

Collonel Sir Hector Munro succeeded his brother Robert A D 1633 and married Mary daughter to Hugh McKy of Strathnaver by whom he had Hector Jean Margaret and Catherine he dyed at Hamburgh.

Jean married Sir Robert Munro of Fowlis second son to Collonel John Munro of Obsdale and nearest aire male to Sir Hector Munro of Fowlis the estate being Tailzied to aires male.

Sir Robert Munro of Fowlis succeeded as the nearest aire male 1651 and married Jean daughter to Coll: Sir Hector Munro by whom he had John Hector David Andrew William Joseph and Daniel and a daughter Rebecca.

Ref: "History of the Munros" by A. Mackenzie - p. 85, 89, 92

2. Jean, who married her cousin, Robert Munro of Obsdale, who ultimately succeeded his brother-in-law as third Baronet and Chief of the clan.

He married, before he succeeded to Fowlis, his cousin Jean, eldest daughter and co-heir of Colonel Sir Hector Munro, first Baronet, with issue--

He [Sir John Munro of Foulis] was present along with his mother, the Dowager-Lady Munro of Fowlis, in her house at Obsdale, near Alness, in September, 1675, when the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was dispensed by Mr John Mackillican, minister of Alness, assisted by the Rev. Hugh Anderson of Cromarty, and Alexander Fraser of Daviot. Sir Roderick Mackenzie of Findon at the instigation of Bishop John Paterson of Ross, sent a party of soldiers to apprehend Mr Mackillican, but before their arrival the communicants had dispersed themselves and concealed the ministers.

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

Notes:

Ref: "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - 1978 - R/3, R/4, R/25, T, V

"History of the Munros" by A. Mackenzie - 1898 - p. 68, 74-75, 169-171, 211, 284

Clan Munro files - Stroud, Anna Margaret

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

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.

John married Catherine Gordon. Catherine was born about 1592; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Ref: "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - R/4

"Collonel John Munro of Obsdale married Catherine daughter to John Gordon of Embow by whom he had John Robert George Andrew Alexander and David and daughters Janet and Christane he was killed at the [? Closter] of /illegible/ March 11 1633."

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 was originally trained for the church, but at an early age he decided on a military career. He went with his brother to join the army in Denmark and served as an officer with distinction in Sir Donald Mackay's regiment. Sir Donald was Hector's brother-in-law.

When the services of this famous corps were transferred to the King of Sweden in 1629, Hector accompanied his brother officers and subsequently served in the German campaign under Gustavus Adolphus. There, because of his courage and bravery, he rose to the rank of Colonel and had the command of a regiment.

On the death of his brother the Black Baron, Colonel Hector temporarily returned to Scotland to take possession of the family estates and assume his position as head of his house. While in London, on his journey to the North, he waited upon King Charles I, by whom he was graciously received, and was shortly afterwards in 1634, created a Knight Baronet in the order of Nova Scotia, with a nominal estate of 16,000 acres. The Royal patent, or diploma, conferring the title is dated 7 Jun 1634.

Having arranged his family affairs--all sadly dilapidated by his brother's expensive habits--Sir Hector returned to Germany to resume his military career in the civil war still carried on there. He "took shipping from Cromarty," and safely landed at Hamburg, in April, 1635, but died the same month in that town. He was buried at "Buckstchood [or Buxtehude], in the Old Land," on the River Elbe, in his forty-third year, about the same age as his brother when he died, the lives of both being much shortened by the hardships which they had endured in the various and arduous campaigns in which they served with so much distinction.

Hector was succeeded by his only son, Hector.

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The following is a transcription of RW "Billy" Munro's genealogy notes:

[Alexander Munro] «i»Eldest son of Hugh Munro of Ardulle (d. 1659) & Ellen Clunas; went to German wars (1626) with Col. Sir Hector Munro of Foulis, & killed there; unmarried, predeceasing father [MacKenzie shows him as succeeding, but Munro Tree does not]. (No Alexander Munro mentioned in Col. Robert Mokro, «u»His Expeditions with the Worthy Scots Regiment«/u», but some are given without Christian names.)

Munro tree (M/51) MHM pp. 396, 397; Chron Acc ( p. 29).
«/i»**********

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

Hector married Mary MacKay in Jul 1619 in Tongue, , Sutherland, Scotland. Mary was born about 1594; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

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

Collonel Sir Hector Munro succeeded his brother Robert A D 1633 and married Mary daughter to Hugh McKy of strathnaver by whom he had Hector Jean Margaret and Catherine he dyed at Hamburgh.

...He [Sir Hector] m 1619 Marie dr of Hugh Mackay of Farr and sister of Donald 1st Lord Reay (Suthd EM. 360, SP vii 167), who later m Alexander Gun of Killearnan (SRO Reay Papers).

Ref: "History of the Munros" by A. Mackenzie --p. 84-86

Sir Hector married in July, 1619, at Tongue, Sutherlandshire, Mary, youngest daughter of Hugh Mackay of Farr and sister of Sir Donald Mackay, afterwards Lord Reay, his future Colonel-Commandant in the German wars...Her mother was Lady Jane gordon, eldest daughter of Alexander, fifteenth Earl of Sutherland, by his second wife, Lady Jane Gordon, Countess of Bothwell,

By his wife, Mary Mackay, Sir Hector had issue--

Lady Munro survived her husband for several years, and possessed a portion of his estate in life-rent.

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.