Donald Munro, III of Foulis

Notes:

Donald is supposed to have built the tower of Foulis as early as 1154, during the life of his father.

In Donald's time, there was a lot of disorder and lawlessness in Ross. William the Lion came into that area with an army in 1179, to restore order. He caused two castles to be built, one at Etherdover called Redcastle, and the other at Nigg called Dunscath or Dunskaith - the castle of dread.

It is said that Donald Munro joined with the King while he was in Ross on this occasion and gave him material assistance in repressing the rebellion and lawlessness.

R. W. Munro believed that Donald was "more or less mythical".

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

Birth:
Foulis Castle

Died:
Donald died at Foulis Castle.

Buried:
Donald was buried at the Chanonry of Ross.

Family/Spouse: DeMoravia. was born about 1127; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

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

"Donald Munro of Fowlis succeeded his father Robert 1164 he is supposed to have built the Tower of Fowlis he married and had three sons Robert who succeeded David of whom the McCays in Tarradale and Allan of whom the McAllans in Ferrindonald are descended he dyed A D 1195."

Ref: "History of the Munros" by A. Mackenzie - p. 7-8

"2. David, from whom it is alleged the family of Mackays, or "Mac Dhaibhidhs," at one time in Tarradale, were 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.

Notes:

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

"Donald Munro of Fowlis succeeded his father Robert 1164 he is supposed to have built the Tower of Fowlis he married and had three sons Robert who succeeded David of whom the McCays in Tarradale and Allan of whom the McAllans in Ferrindonald are descended he dyed A D 1195."

"There were Allansons on record in Dingwall and neighbourhood from 1500 onwards, and McAllan in Swordale 1631 (FW 31 &c, 189). Douglas 80 has 'Maclays of Tarridale', and Mackenzie 7-8 renders the name Mackays or MacDhaibhids."

Ref: "History of the Munros" by A. Mackenzie - p. 8

"3. Allan, progenitor of the Mac Allans of Ferrindonlad."

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:

R. W. Munro believed that the first six named heads of the House of Foulis, including Robert, "may be more or less mythical".

In 1222 Harold, second Earl of Caithness, murdered Adam, third Bishop of Caithness. Harold was "a very wicked and turbulent man who committed vast cruelties." His estates and honors were forfeited because of his crimes.

Robert and his father-in-law, Hugh Freskyn de Moravia were requested by the King to martial their men and capture the Earl of Caithness, which they did.

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

Buried:
Robert was buried at the Chanonry of Ross.

Robert married Freskyn in 1194-1214. (daughter of Hugh Freskyn, Earl Of Sutherland) was born about 1172 in Morania, , Ross-shire, Scotland; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

On a charter granted by William Earle of Sutherland to the Archdean of Murray, George, as a witness, is styled "clarissimo (or carissimo or charissimo) et fidelissimo consanguineo Georgio Munro de Foules"

He succeeded in 1239 as the fifth Baron of Foulis.

He had all his Ross-shire lands confirmed to him by a charter from King Alexander II before 1249. The charter states that the lands were held of old by his ancestor, Donald.

Mackenzie says this is the first Munro Chief who can be confirmed by contemporary records, but R.W. Munro says no trace has been found of the charters that Mackenzie cites.

The Eyre-Todd reference relates a story about George that sounds very like one that Mackenzie tells about George X of Foulis. The two stories could have been mixed up.

Eyre-Todd says:

The friendship that the Munros had with the Earl of Ross got the Munros into serious trouble. "In 1282 the clans Iver, Talvigh, and Laiwe, and others, had rebelled against the Earl, the latter seized their leader and imprisoned him at Dingwall, and the rebels, to safeguard their chief, carried off the Earl's second son from Balnagown, and held him as a hostage. Thereupon, according to Sir Robert Gordon, 'The Munroes and the Dingwalls, with some others, gathered their forces and pursued the Highlanders wthl all diligence, so overtaking them at Beallach na Croig, betwixt Ferrindonnel and Loch Broom. There ensued a cruell fight, well foughten on either side. The clan Iver, clan Talvighe, and clan Laiwe were almost utterlie extinguished and slain, but the Munros had a sorrowful victory, with great loss of their men, yet carried back again the Earl of Ross his son.

"'The Laird of Kindun was there slain, with seven score of the surname of Dingwall. Divers of the Munroes were slain in this conflict, and there were killed eleven of the house of Foulis, that were to succeed one another, so that the succession fell unto a child then lying in his cradle.'"

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

Buried:
George was buried at the Chanonry of Ross.

Family/Spouse: Katherine Stewart. Katherine was born in 1229 in , , , Scotland; died in in , , Ross and Cromarty, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Robert succeeded to Foulis while still a minor, and was placed under the guardianship of the Earls of Ross and Sutherland. He attained his majority in 1282.

During the confusion that reigned after the death of the Maid Of Norway in 1290, Robert joined with the Bruce household in their claim to the throne. Because of his loyalty to Robert the Bruce, Robert Munro suffered much from Bruce's enemies, the Comyns. Munro of Foulis continued steadfast in his support and though advanced in years, in 1314, he raised his clan and accompanied the Earls of Ross and Sutherland to Bannockburn. In that memorable battle, Robert lost his eldest and apparently only son, George, slain along with many of Robert's followers.

Robert escaped unhurt and returned home in safety, though much bereaved by the loss of his son and other relatives. He lived for another nine years and died in 1323, when he was succeeded by his grandson, George.

A charter granted by King Robert I (reigned 1306 - 1329) to Robert de Monro, of Counetis in Strathspeya, the lands of Cupermakcultis or Conneis Cuper McCulty. If correct, this would be the earliest surviving record of the name Munro, but the place-names are too uncertain to do more than speculate on its meaning.

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

Buried:
Robert was buried at the Chanonry of Ross.

Family/Spouse: Lady Anne. Anne was born in 1254 in , , Ross and Cromarty, Scotland; died in in Foulis Easter, , , Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]