Lady Jean Ross

Notes:

Because of the marriage og Robert Munro VIII of Foulis and Lady Jean Ross, who was a niece of Queen Euphemia of Scotland, the Munro coat of arms was changed from a lion rampant to a red eagle's head on a golden shield.

Ref: "History of the Munros" by A. Mackenzie - p. 12

"He [Robert Munro] married, first, Jean, daughter of Hugh Ross, I. of Balnagowan, on record in 1350 and 1366, by his wife, Margaret Barclay, niece of Queen Euphemia, the second wife of Robert II., King of Scotland, with issue--"

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

Jean married Robert Munro, VIII of Foulis in 1350 in Dingwall, , Ross and Cromarty, Scotland. Robert (son of George Munro, VII of Foulis and Lady Euphame Ross) was born in 1320 in Dingwall, , Ross and Cromarty, Scotland; died in 1369 in , , , Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Hugh had charters from William, Earl of Ross, of the lands of Katewell in 1369 and of lands in Lochbroom, Strathcarron and Strathoykell including Carbisdale in 1371. He also had charters from Euphame, Countess of Ross, of the lands of Contulich in 1379, and of the lands of Wester Foulis in 1394.

Hugh appears to have joined Donald, Lord of the Isles, in his contest with the Duke of Albany in the beginning of the fifteenth century concerning the Earldom of Ross. Donald claimed the Earldom in right of his wife, Lady Mary Leslie, daughter of Sir Walter Leslie and Euphemia Countess of Ross. In the course of this contest, the battle of Harlaw was fought on 24 Jul 1411.

After this battle, the Duke of Albany collected an army and marched north determined to bring Donald to obedience. He took the castle of Dingwall in 1412 and then proceeded to recover the whole of Ross. Donald was ultimately compelled to give up his claim to the Earldom of Ross.

Hugh and his father lived during the time of the capture and 18-year imprisonment of James I (1406-1426) and the 1411 invasion by Donald, Lord of the Isles, Chief of the great Clan Donald. The final upshot of these years, as far as the Munro Clan was concerned, was the demise of the Earldom of Ross in Jun 1476, it being declared forfeit to the Crown. Historically, the Munros had operated more or less at the bidding of the Ross Clan, but by 1476 the clan may be said to have come of age. Before 1476, all Munros who were not servants of the Church were vassals of successive Earls of Ross. The Munro Chiefs held their land "for faithful service rendered or to be rendered". At times it was not easy to reconcile this service with the wider loyalty they owed to the Scottish Crown. When the Earldom of Ross became forfeit, the Munro Chief held his lands directly from the Crown.

The Boggs reference adds a generation between Hugh IX and Robert VIII. She says the father of Hugh IX was also named Hugh but he fled from Scotland and never succeeded to the Barony. This Hugh that fled Scotland was supposedly the son of Robert Munro VIII of Foulis.

**********
«i»Hugh Munro, called "well-beloved cousin" by William, Earl of Ross, 1369. Married, first, Isabella Keith, mother of his son George, daughter of John de Keith and Mariot de Cheyne, descended from the Murrays, Lords of Duffus and apparently from the Earls of Orkney. Married, second, Margaret Murray, daughter of Nicholas, son of Kenneth, 4th Earl of Sutherland.«/i»

("The Munro Book" - by Dr. J. S. Guilford)
**********

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

Birth:
Foulis Castle

Died:
Katewell

Buried:
Hugh was buried at the Chanonry of Ross.

Family/Spouse: Isabella Keith. Isabella (daughter of John de Keith and Mary de Cheyne) was born about 1371; died about 1410. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Margaret Murray. Margaret (daughter of Nicholas Murray) was born in 1362 in , , Moray, Scotland; died in 1425 in , , Ross and Cromarty, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

George is said to have been served heir on 17 Oct 1410 to Isobeth Keith, his mother, in certain Caithness lands. He succeeded as Baron of Foulis in 1425 and had a charter from King James I of all his lands dated at St. Andrews on 22 Jul 1426. This charter greatly extended the lands of the Munro Clan. The extension was granted by charters from Euphemia, daughter of William, Earl of Ross, who on her father's death inherited the Earldom.

George's death at the battle of Beallach-nam-Brog, was brought about by a strange series of events. Euphemia Leslie, Countess Dowager of Ross, lived at Dingwall. She wanted to marry Alexander Mackenzie of Kintail, but Alexander was not willing for several reasons. (1) She was not able to add to his estates. (2) She was a turbulent woman and had been in prison. (3) Alexander had already planned to marry Macdougall's daughter.

Euphemia invited Alexander to her court in Dingwall to try one more time to get him to marry her and when he refused, she "converted her love to hatred" and made him her prisoner. She also, somehow, got possession of a gold ring that was to serve as a token between Alexander and Macaulay, the Governor of Ellandonnan. Macaulay had strict orders not to allow anyone to enter the castle without showing the gold ring. Euphemia sent the ring by messanger to Macaulay saying that Alexander was about to marry Euphemia and that he should come to Dingwall. Macaulay, seeing the ring, believed the story and left the castle which was immediately occupied by Euphemia's men.

Macaulay was able to communicate with Alexander, who told Macaulay that to secure his release, he should capture Walter Ross of Balnagown, who was one of Euphemia's close relatives, and then make an exchange. Macaulay returned to Kintail, collected a band of men and made the capture.

The Earl of Ross immediately advised Hugh, Lord Lovat, of the illegal seizure of his relative, and his Lordship promptly dispatched to the north two hundred men who were joined by Ross's vassals, the Munros of Fowlis, and the Dingwalls of Kildun. They immediately went in pursuit of Macaulay to rescue Balnagown.

Macaulay sent Balnagown away under guard and resolved to fight his pursuers in a spot that was between Ferrindonald and Lochbroom. A sanguinary conflict ensued, more than usually aggravated and exasperated by a keen and bitter recollection of previous feuds and ancient animosities. The Kinlochewe men were almost extirpated in the fight. The manhood of the race of Dingwall was literally extinguished, one hundred and forty of their men having fallen, while there were slain eleven Munros of the house of Fowlis that were to succeed one after another; so that the succession fell to a child then lying in his cradle. George Munro of Foulis was found among the dead.

During the battle, the Highlanders defended themselves from the arrows of their enemies by tying their shoes to their chests with their belts. Because of that, the place was named Bealach-nam-Brog, or the Pass of the Shoes.

After his success at Bealach-nam-Brog, Macaulay moved toward Ellandonnan and discovered a detail of men bringing provisions to the castle. He captured the detail and had his own men put on their clothes and carry the provisions. Using this trick, they were allowed into the castle where they easily retook it from the defenders.

In time, Alexander Mackenzie of Kintail and Walter Ross of Balnagown were exchanged and both released.

**********
«i»The tenth Baron of Foulis was George who married a daughter of McCulloch of Plaids. He was killed in 1452 at the Battle of Beallachnam-Brog as was his eldest son. He married, second, Christian McCulloch by whom he had son Hugh of Coul who succeeded to the Barony. It is with George that two lines separate to account for William of Lexington through Hugh, George's third son, and to John of Bristol, Rhode Island and Hugh of Long Island, presumed brothers, through John, his second son...

George Munro, heir to his mother, 17 Oct. 1410; killed at Beallachnam-Brog, 1452. Tenth Baron of Foulis in the traditional numbering, possibly actually fifth Baron.

«/i»("The Monroe Book" - by Dr. J. S. Guilford)«i»
«/i»**********

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

Birth:
Foulis

Family/Spouse: Isobel Ross. Isobel was born about 1412; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

George married Christian McCulloch, of Plaids about 1445 in , , , Scotland. Christian (daughter of John MacCulloch) was born about 1414 in , , , Scotland; died in in , , , Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

John Munro of Milntown was appointed tutor to his nephew John Munro XI of Foulis, in which capacity he distinguished himself.

During his service as tutor of Foulis, the Battle of Clachnaharry was fought. There are a number of conflicting accounts of this battle and some historians, including Eyre-Todd place the battle in 1341 when another John [20714] was tutor of Foulis. The battle was most probably fought in 1454, however. The main points of agreement about the battle are as follows:

John of Milntown had gone to Edinburgh to take care of some business for his nephew, John of Foulis, and on the way back he and his servants fell asleep while resting in a meadow in Strathardale, between Perth and Athole. When they awoke, they found that someone had cut off the tails of their horses.

John was very much angered by this. He returned home and assembled 350 men (other accounts say 200 men) and returned to Strathardale and wasted the area killing some of the people and taking their cattle.

On the way home, the raiding party, with their booty, passed through Mackintosh land and the Mackintosh Chief asked John for a share of the booty, or road-collop which was traditionally paid to a chief for traversing his domain. John offered Mackintosh part of the booty. One reference says he offered 24 cows and a bull, but Mackintosh wanted a third of the booty. John treated his demand with scorn and continued on his way, giving Mackintosh no road-collop at all.

Mackintosh was incensed and rounded up a group of his friends asking them to delay the Munros until he could assemble his fighting men and confront Munro. The Munros were overtaken beyond the river Ness at a place called Clachnaharry. John sent 40 (or 50) of his men on with the booty while the rest of the band stood and fought Mackintosh's men.

A fierce conflict ensued, but different versions disagree on how many were killed. They all agree that John was badly wounded and left for dead. Eventually he was taken to Lord Lovat who helped him back to health. Apparently John lost his hand or arm in the battle and because of that was thereafter called John Baichlich (or Bacilach, or Baclamhach, or Baccalach, or bac-lamhach) which means lame-handed or maimed.

Most versions of this tale say that the Mackintosh Chief was killed in the battle, but this is almost certainly not true. He probably did not even participate in the fight.

The Munros immediately retaliated and sent a force in the dead of night to the Isle of Moy where the chief of the Mackintoshes lived. Using planks which they had carried with them, they put together a make-shift bridge, crossed to the Isle and took their revenge on those living there.

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

«i»John Munro, second son of George, is considered by the Munros to be the eleventh Baron of Foulis. He was a minor when he inherited the title and was under his uncle John Munro of Milntown who led the Clan at Clachnaharry in 1454.
«/i»**********

Ref: "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - L/1
Clan Munro files - Stroud, Anna Margaret

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

Ref: "History of the Munros" by A. Mackenzie - p. 16, 21-27

Ref: "History of the Munros of Fowlis" by A. Mackenzie (1898) - p. 264

-----

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

References:

(1) Clan Munro files - Hall, Barry Earl - Ahnentafel Chart - dated 19 Aug 1997
- p. 2

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

Birth:
Foulis Castle

Family/Spouse: Margaret. Margaret was born about 1402; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Janet married Malcolm og grandson of Malcolm, Laird of Mackintosh.

Ref: The Munro Tree (1734) L

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

"Hugh Barron of Fowlis married...next Margaret daughter to Nicolas Earle of Sutherland by whom he had John the first of Miltown and a daughter Janet..."

"Kinrara says Hugh's daughter Janet married Malcolm og grandson of Malcolm laird of Mackintosh."

Ref: "History of the Munros" by A. Mackenzie - p. 16

"3. Janet. It is uncertain, however, whether she was the issue of the first or second marriage. She is not mentioned in the MS. of 1716, but is elsewhere said to have married Malcolm Og, a cadet of the Mackintoshes of Dunachton, with 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.

Family/Spouse: Malcolm Og Mackintosh. Malcolm was born about 1390; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Ref: "History of the Munros" by A. Mackenzie - p. 16

"4. Elizabeth, who married Neil Mackay, eighth Chief of the Mackays, to whom she bore two sons--Angus, who succeeded his father, and John Roy, from whom descended the "Sliochd-Ean-Roy." From this John Roy the late Captain Robert Mackay of Hedgefield, Inverness, who has several representatives now living, was lineally descended."

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: Neil MacKay. Neil was born about 1392; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

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

«i»The tenth Baron of Foulis was George who married a daughter of McCulloch of Plaids. He was killed in 1452 at the Battle of Beallachnam-Brog as was his eldest son. He married, second, Christian McCulloch by whom he had son Hugh of Coul who succeeded to the Barony.
«/i»**********

Ref: "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - M
Clan Munro files - Andrews, Arlene

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

"George's eldest son by the Ross marriage unnamed in Martine A 37 and B 5 and called George in Mackenzie 21, and 11 other members of the family are said to have been killed at Bealach nam Broig;..."

Ref: "History of the Munros" by A. Mackenzie - p. 21

"George married, first, Isobel, daughter of Ross of Balnagown, with issue--

"1. George, who was killed with his father and other members of the family at Bealach-nam-Brog."

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:

Ref: The Munro Tree (1734) M

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

"George Barron of Fowlis married first a daughter of Balnagowns by whom he had a son William..."

"...identity of William living 1498 is not entirely clear."

Ref: "History of the Munros" by A. Mackenzie - p. 21

"4. William, mentioned along with his brother Hugh (Invernessiana, p. 173.) in a document dated the 26th of October, 1499, but he appears to have died unmarried."

[Note: Munro lists William as a son of Isobel Ross, while Mackenzie says his mother was Christian MacCulloch.]

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

Notes:

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

"George's first wife is thought to be Isobel dr of Alexander Ross of Balnagown who fell at Allt Charrais...they are said to have had a dr who m Neil 'Vass' Mackay.

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: Neil Vass MacKay. Neil was born about 1432; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

It is said that John was a child in the cradle when his father was killed at the Battle of Bealach-nam-Broig, but he was probably actually a teenager at the time he succeeded. Since John was still a minor his uncle, John Munro of Milntown served with distinction as Tutor of Foulis until he came of age. He had reached his majority by 20 Mar 1457.

John, the last Earl of Ross, maintained an almost regal state at his castle of Dingwall. In the early years of his rule, John Munro served as Chamberlain to his Lordship. The Munros were vassals of the Earls of Ross and held Ferrindonald from them.

On 10 Jul 1476, King James III forfeited the Earldom of Ross because of the continued turbulence of its possessors, their many acts of treason and persistent rebellions. From that time on, the Munros held their land directly from the Crown. The rental for these lands was to furnish the Sovereign with a snowball from the slopes of Ben Wyvis at midsummer. This was easily accomplished because the snow never completely melts from the hollows and crevices of that noble mountain.

John served as Crown chamberlain of the confiscated estates.

In 1478, he had a Crown charter granting him the lands of Findon in the Earldom of Ormond.

John seems to have died in 1490, and certainly by 5 Jun 1491, and not in 1496 as some references state.

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

«i»The tenth Baron of Foulis was George who married a daughter of McCulloch of Plaids. He was killed in 1452 at the Battle of Beallachnam-Brog as was his eldest son. He married, second, Christian McCulloch by whom he had son Hugh of Coul who succeeded to the Barony. It is with George that two lines separate to account for William of Lexington through Hugh, George's third son, and to John of Bristol, Rhode Island and Hugh of Long Island, presumed brothers, through John, his second son.

John Munro, second son of George, is considered by the Munros to be the eleventh Baron of Foulis. He was a minor when he inherited the title and was under his uncle John Munro of Milntown who led the Clan at Clachnaharry in 1454. He married a daughter of Knight of Calder and a Crown charter regranted him lands of Findon in the Earldom of Ormond in 1478. He died in 1490 and was succeeded by Sir William, knighted by James IV.
«/i»**********

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

Buried:
John was buried at the Chanonry of Ross.

Family/Spouse: Finvola Calder. Finvola (daughter of William Calder) was born in 1433 in , , Ross and Cromarty, Scotland; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

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

[Alexander Munro] «i»Fourth son of Hugh Munro of Coul (fl 1492), & first by second wife Jane Cattanach; founder of Munros of Kiltearn, or 'Sliochd Alastair Mhic Uistean'; m. Janet, daughter of Farquhar Maclean of Dochgarroch line (?Bishop of the Isles ), with issue - Donald (High Dean of the Isles, fl 1526/1575). Hugh (Ferrytown of Obsdale). Alexander (Ardullie, fl 1547), John (succeeded to south half of Kiltearn), Farquhar (Teanoird), & William (Nether Culcraggie).. Brother-german of Donald (fl 1534-1546), Robert (fl 1539) & George.

Munro Tree M/38; Mackenzie 342, 377-379; Chron. Acc. 27, 28; Ross-shire Journal, 5 January 1951.
«/i»**********
**********
«i»The tenth Baron of Foulis was George who married a daughter of McCulloch of Plaids. He was killed in 1452 at the Battle of Beallachnam-Brog as was his eldest son. He married, second, Christian McCulloch by whom he had son Hugh of Coul who succeeded to the Barony. It is with George that two lines separate to account for William of Lexington through Hugh, George's third son, and to John of Bristol, Rhode Island and Hugh of Long Island, presumed brothers, through John, his second son...

Hugh of Coul ... was on record in 1492...

Hugh Munro of Coul, said to be son of his father's second wife, Christian MacCulloch of Plaids. On record 1492. Said to have married, first, Eva, daughter of Ewen MacLean, of Urquhart and Dochgaroch, by whom his son John; second, Jane, daughter of Dugal Cattanach; third, a daughter of one of the Keiths, Marshals of Scotland.

«/i»("The Monroe Book" - by Dr. J. S. Guilford)«i»
«/i»**********

Error alert: «u»The Munro Book«/u» p. 6 says Hugh of Coul "succeeded to the Barony". I'm not sure what is meant by that statement. Hugh is not recognized as one of the Barons of Foulis.

Ref: Clan Munro files - Andrews, Arlene
Farlow, Donna

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

Ref: "History of the Munros" by A. Mackenzie - p. 21

Hugh's lands were in the parish of Alness.

References:

(1) "History of the Munros of Fowlis" by A. Mackenzie - Inverness (1898) - p. 21, 342

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: Eva MacLean, of Urquhart. Eva (daughter of Ewen MacLean, III of Urquhart and Dochgaroch and MacKay) was born about 1457; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Keith. was born about 1452; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Hugh married Jane Cattanach about 1480. Jane (daughter of Dugal Cattanach) was born about 1460; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

**********
[Andrew Monro] «i»Elder son of John Monro, Tutor of Foulis, (died circa 1475); [built the castle of Milntown and only the vaults remain (1898) at the back of New Tarbat]. Andrew died 1501 having married ----- with at least one son Andrew (died 1519) He or his son Andrew beg may have built the castle of Milntown (Gordon "Earls of Sutherland" p 146) the latter certainly having a 'house' there by 1503 (Foulis Writs # 34) or perhaps builder was George (died 1576).

Munro Tree L/2; Mackenzie 265-6; Inglis 1-2; Celtic Magazine x 55-56; Gordon "Earldom of Sutherland"146 but no date 1500; Fraser "Sutherland Book"pages 126-7; Adam "Calendar of Fearn p 205 for building of castle.
«/i»
(R. W. Munro's genealogy notes)
**********

Ref: "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - L/2
Clan Munro files - Stroud, Anna Margaret

Ref: "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - L/2

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

Ref: "History of the Munros of Fowlis" by A. Mackenzie (1898) - p. 265-266

-----

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

References:

(1) Clan Munro files - Hall, Barry Earl - Ahnentafel Chart - dated 19 Aug 1997
- p. 2

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

Family/Spouse: Unknown. Unknown was born about 1427 in Milntown, , Ross And Cromarty, Scotland; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

John Munro of Kilmorack married the daughter of Urquhart of Daviston.

Ref: The Munro Tree (1734) L/108

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

"...he married and left two sons Andrew and Mr. John Munro of Kilmorack."

Ref: "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - L/108

"Mr John Munro of Kilmorack Urquhart of Davistons daughter he married by whom he had a son Mr Donald."

Ref: "History of the Munros of Fowlis" by A. Mackenzie (1898) - p. 264, 290

I. John Munro, the first of this family, was the second son of John Monro, of Milntown, now known as New Tarbat.

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: Urquhart. was born est 1444; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]