John de Keith

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.

Family/Spouse: Mary de Cheyne. Mary (daughter of Reginald de Cheyne and Mary, Lady Of Duffus) was born about 1335; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Daughter of Nicholas (son of Kenneth, fourth Earl of Sutherland, and brother of William, the fifth Earl) by his wife Mary, daughter and co-heiress of Reginald de Cheyne and Mary, Lady of Duffus.

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: Hugh Munro, IX of Foulis. Hugh (son of Robert Munro, VIII of Foulis and Lady Jean Ross) was born in 1352 in Dingwall, , Ross and Cromarty, Scotland; died in 1425 in Evanton, , Ross and Cromarty, Scotland; was buried in Fortrose, , 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.

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«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:

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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.

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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:

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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»**********
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«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]