Ranald MacDonald, of Morar

Biographical Summary

"III. Ranald. Ranald fought at Killiecrankie, and afterwards at Sheriiimuir as Major in the Clanranald Regiment. He married Margaret, only daughter of John Cameron of Lochiel, and had by her:

• Donald, who succeeded him.
• John, a doctor of medicine, who fought with his father at Sheritthmir, and was afterwards implicated in the affairs of the '45. While in hiding in Eigg, after the Battle of Cnlloden, Captain Ferguson of the "Furnace" went in search of him, but Dr Macdonald gave himself up. He was then taken on board the "Furnace," stripped of his clothes, and " barrisdaled " (the instrument of torture so called was invented by Barrisdale) in a dark dungeon. He afterwards lived at Kinlochmoidart. He married the widow of Æneas Macdonald of Belfinlay.
• Ranald. In 1730, Clanranald gave him a tack of the lands of Daliburgh, in South Uist. He was one of the first to join Prince Charles. It was he who, on board the Prince's ship at Lochnanuagh, when he saw his brother Kinlochmoidart and Young Clanranald hesitate, turned to the Prince and said---" Though no other man in the Highlands should draw a sword, I am ready to die for you. Ranald received a commission as Captain in the Clanranald Regiment, and accompanied the Prince's Army to England, taking part in all the engagements. He was fortunate in not being excepted from the General Pardon. In 1749, Clanranald gave him a tack of the lands of Irine, where he spent the rest of his days. He was known in the West Highlands as " Captain Ranald Macdonald of Irine." He married Marcella, daughter of Angus Macdonald of Dalelea, and had, it is said, 21 children, one of whom, Ewen, was a priest. The rest of the family who grew up are believed to have emigrated to America.
• Aeneas. He went to France at an early age, was educated there, and afterwards became a banker in Paris. He was one of the " Seven Men of Moidart " who accompanied Prince Charles to Scotland in 1746. Holding the commission (dated June 1, 1745) of the French King appointing him Commissary in England and Scotland of the French troops then intended to be embarked for Scotland, he followed the Prince's fortunates till the Battle of Culloden. He then procured Donald Macleod to act as guide to the Prince, but was obliged to surrender himself to General Campbell on May 13, 1746. He was committed to Dumbarton Castle, whence he was conducted to Edinburgh Castle in the latter end of August, and the week after to the Duke of Newcastle's Office at Whitehall, when he was immediately committed to the custody of a messenger. He was committed to Newgate on May 27, 1747, and was expressly excepted from the Act of Indemnity. He was found guilty of high treason on July 3rd, having the day before attempted to escape from Newgate. On July 10th he was again arraigned, and, finally, on December 10th, 1747, the jury found him guilty, but recommended him to mercy. On the 18th of December he was sentenced to death. The case was, however, considered a hard one, as Aeneas was virtually a French subject, and he therefore received the King's pardon under the Great Seal on condition of his retiring from His Majesty's dominions, and continuing abroad during his life. It was only, however, on December 11th, 1749, that he regained his liberty, a creditor having brought an action against him for debt whilst under sentence, which resulted in his being detained a prisoner for two years. He subsequently returned to France, and was killed during the French Revolution. He was never married.
• Allan. He also fought for Prince Charles, being a Captain in the Clanranald Regiment. He it was, with Young Clanranald, who was sent by the Prince, shortly after his landing, to Sir Alexander Macdonald and Macleod to solicit their aid, but in vain. After the defeat at Culloden he went to France, where he married, and had (a) Clementina Jacobina Sobieski (born 1768, died 1842), who married Francis Schnell, with issue. (b) Allan Og, who married, and had a son who was killed with his father during the Revolution, and a daughter, who married the Marquis Daringcour.
• James, who held a commission in the Prince's Army, He was captured after Culloden, but appears to have escaped and gone to America. He was expressly excepted from the General Pardon in 1747.
• Alastair, who emigrated to America.
• Archibald, who died immarried.
• Margaret, who married James Macdonald of Aird, with issue.
• Anne, who married Angus Maclean of Kinlochaline, without issue.
• Mary, who married Alexander Macdonald of Morar.
• Flora, who died unmarried.

Ranald Macdonald of Kinlochmoidart died in 1725, and was succeeded in the estate by his eldest son."

SOURCE: The clan Donald; by the Rev. A. Macdonald, minister of Killearnan, and the Rev. A. Macdonald, minister of Kiltarlity; Vol. III; 1896; page 299