George Munro

Notes:

George married a daughter of Kenneth, Earl of Sutherland.

George was killed at the battle of Bannockburn in 1314 as he fought beside Robert Bruce of Scotland against King Edward II of England.

The following is from "The Munro Tree (1734)":

"George Munro of Fowlis married a Daughter of Kenneth Earle of Sutherland by whom he had a son George who succeeded he was killed in Defence of his King and Countire at the Battle of Bannockburn 1314."

"Individual casualties at Bannockburn are unattested, and lists purporting to name the 'clans' who fought there are quite unreliable."

The following is from "History of the Munros of Fowlis":

"...he [Robert Munro] raised his clan and accompanied the Earls of Ross and Sutherland to Bannockburn. In that memorable battle his eldest and apparently only son, George, was slain along with many more of Robert's followers...His only son George, who fell at Banockburn, had married a year before his death a daughter of the Earl of Sutherland, with issue--"

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

Birth:
Foulis Castle

George married Agnes Sutherland in 1313. Agnes (daughter of Kenneth Sutherland, Earl Of Sutherland) was born in 1286 in , , , Scotland; died in in Foulis Easter, , , Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Error alert: Guilford says George was the son of Robert De Munro "supposed to have married a daughter of the Earl of Sutherland." She also says that George was the grandson of Domnall Abunro, or Donald Munro, the founder ot the ancient Scottish Clan Munro.

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«i»George de Munro, evidently divided into several individuals in the later tradition, killed at the Battle of halidon Hill, 20 July 1333.
«/i»
("The Monroe Book" - by Dr. Joan Guilford)
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George was a steadfast supporter of the Bruce dynasty, and a firm upholder of the true interests of his native country, in opposition to the Balliol faction and their followers.

When King Edward III of England invaded Scotland in 1333, George Munro raised his clan and marched to Northumberland where he joined the Scottish army under the Regent Douglas. At the battle of Halidon Hill on 20 Jul 1333, the Munros formed part of the fourth division, or reserve, commanded by Hugh, Earl of Ross, who, while leading an attack on the wing of the English army commanded by Edward Balliol, was driven back and slain.

This repulse which proved so disastrous terminated in total defeat of the Scots, chiefly owing to the difficulties of the ground and their rash advance against the English troops. The Scottish army lost at the lowest computation fourteen thousand men, among whom, besides the Earl of Ross, were the Earls of Sutherlnd, Lennox, Atholl, and Carrick, and many other Scottish nobles. The Regent was mortally wounded and taken prisoner.

The Chief of the Munros was killed, fighting bravely at the head of his clan, many of whom fell on that fatal field, and the survivors, a sadly attenuated band, were led home by the Chief's brother, John, who, upon his return, took charge of his houng nephew's affairs and continued to do so during Robert's minority.

Ref. (1) says that Munro of Foulis is not named in surviving lists of the Scottish muster or casualties in the battle of Halidon Hill.

The Rohe reference says George was the son of Robert Munro VI of Foulis.

Error alert: The Paula Monroe reference incorrectly confuses the Battle of Pinkie with the Battle of Halidon Hill.

References:

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

(2) "History of the Munros of Fowlis" by A. Mackenzie - Inverness (1898) - p. 10

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

Died:
George died at the Battle Of Halidon Hill.

Family/Spouse: Lady Euphame Ross. Euphame (daughter of Hugh Ross, Earl Of Ross) was born in 1305 in , , , Scotland; died in 1334 in , , , Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

John answered the call when his brother, the Chief, raised the clan to oppose Edward III's invasion of Scotland to aid Edward Balliol, Edward's puppet King. He fought in the disasterous Battle of Halidon Hill, but fortunately escaped unhurt to lead the remaining Munros back to Ferrindonald. Because his brother, George, Chief of Clan Munro, fell in battle, John returned to become guardian of his nephew, George's heir.

John managed the estates carefully and redeemed portions of the ancestral possessions which had been morgaged by his ancestors.

Ref: "History of the Munros" by Alexander Mackenzie - p. 10-11

Ref: "History of the Munros" by A. Mackenzie - p. 10

"John, who became guardian to his nephew...

"At the battle of Halidon Hill...The Chief of the Munros [George Munro] was killed, fighting bravely at the head of his clan, many of whom fell on that fatal field, and the survivors, a sadly attenuated band, were led home by the Chief's brother, John, who fortunately escaped unhurt, and on his return took charge of his young nephew's affairs, and continued to do so during Robert's minority."

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

Notes:

Robert was just a child when his father was killed at the Battle of Halidon Hill. His estates were carefully managed by his uncle, John, until Robert attained majority. John was able to redeem portions of the estate that had previously been mortgaged.

Robert is described as being "a man of abilities and economical habits of life."

He had a charter from William, Earl of Ross, of the lands of Pitlundie and others in which the rental was a pair of white gloves or three pennies Scots, if required, alternately.

In 1364, Robert obtained from William, Earl of Ross (and confirmed by King David II), a charter of confirmation of Easter Fowlis and other lands. Mackenzie claims that this charter mentions that these lands had belonged to his predecessors since the time of Donald, the founder of the family. R.W. Munro says the charter contains no such allusion to Robert's predecessors. This charter was confirmed by King David II later in the same year.

Some evidence suggests that Robert served as one of the Baron Bailies of the Earldom of Ross, a very important office in those feudal times. He was killed in an obscure skirmish in defense of the Earl, probably while acting as his Baron Bailie in the north. He was said to have been pursuing fugitives. Strangely and incongruously, he appears as Robert de Munro in Balnagowan charters of 1341, 1362, 1398 and 1372, despite his death date.

Robert is the first Munro chief for whom there is contemporary genealogical evidence.

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«i»Robert de Munro, appears in charters of the Rosses of Balnagowan, 1341, 1362, 1368. Said to have married, first, Jean, daughter of Hugh Ross of Balnagowan, but chronologically more likely to have been a sister of this Hugh, and daughter of Hugh, Earl of Ross.«/i»

("The Monroe Book" - by Dr. Jean Guilford)
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(1) "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - Edinburgh (1978) - K

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

(Medical):Robert was killed while assisting William, Earl of Ross in an obscure clan fight while in pursuit of a band of fugitives.

Birth:
Foulis Castle

Family/Spouse: Grace Forester. Grace (daughter of Forester, Of Costorfine) was born about 1332; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Robert married Lady Jean Ross in 1350 in Dingwall, , Ross and Cromarty, Scotland. Jean (daughter of Hugh Ross, I of Balnagowan and Margaret Barclay) was born on 29 Nov 1329 in , , Ross and Cromarty, Scotland; died in 1366 in , , , Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Alexander, Earl of Ross, married Lady Stewart, daughter of the Duke of Albany. In 1402, shortly after the birth of his only child, a daughter, the Earl died at his castle, near Dingwall. The Duke took his grandchild under his own immediate care and appointed a man to serve as Governor of Dingwall Castle and Chamberlain of Ross to manage the affairs of the Earldom. This man was popularly called "The Black Captain."

Thomas Munro met the Governor where the village of Maryburgh now stands. After some conversation, threatening words were exchanged, which ended in the drawing of dirks, and a duel ensued in which Thomas killed the Captain.

Fearing for his life, and upon the advice of Robert, Duke of Albany, Thomas fled and took refuge "amongst his mother's kindred at Corstorphine," and to prevent discovery, he changed his surname from Munro to Roach, "which being an Irish (Gaelic) word signifies Munro as well as Bunro. The southern accent corrupted Roach to Rogue or Rollock or Rolls. According to one source, he married the heiress of Duncrub, county of Perth, but that marriage is not confirmed. The origin of the family of the Rolls of Duncrub given by Peerage writers, differs from the above account.

Ref: "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R.W. Munro - K, K/1
"History of the Munros" by Alexander Mackenzie - p. 10-13

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

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

Family/Spouse: Duncrube. was born about 1357; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

John is said to be mentioned in a Crown charter of 22 Jul 1426 where he is called "John, the Elder, uncle to George, tenth Baron of Foulis." The document is not among the Foulis writs nor is it recorded in RMS.

Ref: "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R.W. Munro - K
"History of the Munros" by Alexander Mackenzie - p. 13

"4. John, of whom nothing is known."

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

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.

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«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)
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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]