Clan Macfie

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Clan Macfie
Plant badge
Scots fir, oak or crowberry
Clan Macfie no longer has a chief, and is an armigerous clan
Historic seatDùn Eibhinn[1]
Last ChiefMalcolm Macfie of Colonsay
Died1623 [2]
CommanderIan McPhee of Halifax.[3]
Septs of Clan Macfie
MacFee, MacAfee, McAfee, MacAffee, McAffee, MacFie, Macfie, McFie, Mcfie, MacPhee, Macphee, McPhee, McPhie, Mcphee, Macafee, Mcafee, Macaffee, Mcaffee, Mahaffey, Mahaffy, Mehaffey, Mehaffy, Mehaffie
"Mac Phee". A Victorian era, romanticised depiction of a member of the clan by R. R. McIan, from The Clans of the Scottish Highlands, published in 1845.
The proposed descent of the seven clans of Siol Alpin.

Clan Macfie is a

Scottish Clan
.

Since 1981, the clan has been officially registered with the

heraldic authority of Scotland
.

The clan is considered an

chief recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the judge of the Court of the Lord Lyon.[4]

The official clan name Macfie is derived from the

Oronsay in the Scottish Inner Hebrides,[5] and today many monuments to various lairds
and churchmen of the clan are found on these islands.

The 19th century

Cináed mac Ailpín.[5]

Little is known of the early history of the clan. However, is certain that the clan served under the

Lords of the Isles—descendants of Somerled, who ruled the Hebrides from the 14th century to the late 16th century.[5] Following the forfeiture of the Lordship of the Isles in the late 15th century, the clan still attached itself to powerful Macdonalds. In the early 17th century the last chief of the clan was executed as Colonsay was lost to the control of a Macdonald. Without a chief of their own to control their home lands the clan was considered a leaderless "broken clan". From this point on the Macfies followed the Macdonalds of Islay, though a branch of the clan was dispersed to lands controlled by Clan Cameron.[6] In the early 19th century Ewen Macphee became a notorious outlaw, "revered and feared by locals and despised by the authorities".[7] Today the modern Clan Macfie is alive with nine associated clan societies located around the world.[2]

History

The 19th-century historian W. F. Skene, stated that members of Clan Macfie were the ancient inhabitants of Colonsay. He also wrote that the clan was one of the seven clans of

Aonghas Mór, Lord of Islay (Sellar describes Aonghas Mór as the first MacDonald).[8]

Oransay and Colonsay & that for his mismanagement & tyranny he was executed by order of that prince".[note 1]

Western Isles in 1549.[12]

According to a manuscript, written in the 17th century, pertaining to the coronation of the

Lords of the Isles, and the Council of the Isles, "MacDuffie, or MacPhie of Colonsay, kept the records of the Isles".[2][13] In 1463 Macfie of Colonsay was a member of the Council of the Isles,[9] listed as Donald Macduffie, a witness to a charter by John of Islay, Earl of Ross, the last Lord of the Isles, dated 12 April at the Earl's castle of Dingwall.[14] After the fall of the Lordship of the Isles the Macfies followed the MacDonalds of Islay.[9] In 1531, the chief of the clan, "Morphe Makphe de Colwisnay", and many other west highland chiefs were cited for treason and summoned to Parliament as supporters of the rebellious Alexander MacDonald of Dunivaig and the Glens.[15] This Macfie chief died in 1539 and his impressive tombstone can still be seen (pictured left).[16]

Donald Munro, High Dean of the Isles, in his A Description of the Western Isles of Scotland Called Hybrides, in 1549, described the island of

Maclean of Duart, Maclaine of Lochbuie, and Macfie of Colonsay.[note 2] In describing the island of Colonsay, Monro wrote that it had once been held by Macdonald of Kintyre, but was then currently ruled by a "gentle capitane, callit M’Duffyhe" — gentle meaning 'well-born', and captain being the old styling of 'chief'.[9][note 3]

By 1587, atrocities committed between warring west highland clans had escalated to such an extent that Parliament devised what is known as the General Band in an effort to quell hostilities. The band was signed by landowners throughout the

MacNeils of Barra, Mackinnons of Strathrodle and the Macquarries of Ulva.[19]

In 1609, "Donald Mcfie in Collonsaye"[20] was present at the assembly of island chiefs and gentlemen, who met with the Bishop of the Isles at Iona, when the nine Statutes of Icolmkill were enacted,[12] which were to bring the Western Isles under the control of the Scottish Parliament.

Fall of the Clan

In 1615 Malcolm Macfie of Colonsay supported Sir James Macdonald of Islay,

Clan Donald South",[9] after Macdonald had escaped from Edinburgh Castle. Macfie was one of the principal leaders in Macdonald's rebellion against the Government, who had promised Islay to the Campbells.[14] The combined forces of Macfie and Donald Gigach MacIan, who was the leading man on the nearby isle of Jura, contributed a total of 64 men to the Macdonald rebellion.[21] When Sir James Macdonald's force of 400 men landed in at Kinloch (Campbelton) in Kintyre, they were made up in part by the "special men" from Islay, Macfie of Colonsay, Donald Gigach of Jura, Allaster MacRanald of Keppoch, and North Islesmen.[21]

The

Privy Council.[14]

For several years both Colla Ciotach and the Macfie chief lived on Colonsay, with Colla Ciotach residing at Kiloran and Macfie at Dùn Eibhinn. During this time the two feuded. Judging by the many hiding places which bear his name, such as leab' fhalaich Mhic a Phì ("MacPhee's Hiding Place"),[22] Macfie was chased from one to another for quite sometime. Finally, in 1623, Malcolm Macfie was chased from Colonsay and pursued to Eilean nan Ròn (south-west of Oronsay). There, on the south-western corner of Eilean nan Ròn, called an t Eilean Iarach, he was spotted and taken by the MacDonalds. Popular lore has it that the Macfie chief was finally discovered when his hiding place amongst the seaweed was given away by a gull. As it hovered over Macfie's position, Colla Ciotach's men were alerted by its cry and spotted the clan chief on a ledge of rock at the edge of the sea.[12] After being apprehended, the chief was then tied to a stone and summarily shot.[2] Colla Ciotach, and several of his followers, appear in the Council Records in 1623 as being accused of killing the Macfie chief.[14] Because of the death of their chief the Macfies finally lost control of Colonsay. The island then passed to the Macdonalds, as Colla Ciotach took the island for himself,[9] and held it peacefully for many years.[12]

The island was later to be absorbed into the

earldom of Argyll, until it was sold in 1701 to McNeill or Crear.[23] Without its own chief the clan became a "broken clan" and for the most part followed the Macdonalds of Islay,[24] with Macfies/Macphees making up only a small proportion of the total population of Colonsay.[6] A branch of the clan, after the collapse of the clan, settled in Lochaber and followed Cameron of Lochiel, chief of Clan Cameron.[14] A Macfie (a Macphee of Clan Cameron)[25] was one of the two pipers at Glenfinnan, when on 19 August 1745 Charles Edward Stuart raised his standard and claimed both the Scottish and English throne in the name of his father James Francis Edward Stuart. The following year Macfies were among the Camerons, who were on the right flank at the Jacobite Army at the Battle of Culloden.[2]

Macphee the Outlaw

"Ewen Mac Phee the Outlaw". An illustration by R. R. McIan, originally appearing in his work: Gaelic gatherings, or the Highlanders at Home on heather, river and loch, published in 1848.[26]

A well-known character in Inverness-shire, in the 19th century, was a Ewan Macphee who lived as an outlaw. Described as Scotland's last outlaw, he recognised no landowner, stole sheep, and raised a family upon a small island.[27][28][29][30] Ewan Macphee was a young man when he was enlisted by his landlord into a Highland Regiment of the British Army.[27] Macphee was said to have been an able soldier but he soon deserted the Army and fled to his native Glengarry, where he hid living in Feddan with his sister.[31][32] For the Fedden in Glengarry, www.clan-cameron.org states "'Crevice Through Which the Winds Blows'. Site of a croft which sat right on a disputed Cameron-Glengarry boundary line, just below Meall an Tagraidh. The elderly woman who lived here managed to divert a stream each time either the Cameron or Glengarry men came to collect the rent. She managed to avoid paying rent for years, claiming her home was on the other side of the boundary stream".[33] His Regiment then sent a troop of soldiers to arrest him for desertion, though just as Macphee was about to be taken handcuffed aboard a steamer at Corpach, he managed to escape and fled his captors.[27] Ewan Macphee lived for two years around the shores of Loch Arkaig before building a bothy on a small island in Loch Quoich, which has since born his name: Eilen Mhic Phee (translation from Scottish Gaelic: "MacPhee's island").[27][28] Macphee then took for his wife a fourteen-year-old girl, who lived across the hill in Glen Dulochan.[27] As time passed Macphee was feared and looked upon by the poor inhabitants of the glen as a seer. Macphee believed himself to have supernatural powers, he weaved charms and cattle were brought to him to be cured.[27] As the years past neighbouring shepherds finally decided to put an end to Macphee's sheep stealing, and the sheriff sent two officers to confront Macphee.[27] As the officers rowed to his island they were fired upon by Macphee's wife and the officers fled.[27] A week later an armed party was then sent and Ewan Macphee was finally arrested and taken to prison, where he eventually died.[27]

The modern Clan

In 1864, the first Macfies to have

derbhfine to choose a successor to McPhie,[36] who had by then decided to step down.[37] Iain Morris McFie was chosen to petition the Lord Lyon, and on doing so was later appointed as Commander of Clan Macfie.[36]

  • Arms of the Macfie Clan Commander Iain Morris McFie of Coulintyre.[38]
    Clan Commander Iain Morris McFie of Coulintyre.[38]
  • Arms of the previous Macfie Clan Commander A. C. (Sandy) McPhie of Townsville.[39]
    Arms of the previous Macfie Clan Commander A. C. (Sandy) McPhie of Townsville.[39]
  • Arms of Macfie of Dreghorn, Edinburgh.[40]
    Arms of Macfie of Dreghorn, Edinburgh.[40]
  • Arms of Macfie of Langhouse, Renfrewshire, and of Airds, Argyll.[40]
    Arms of Macfie of Langhouse, Renfrewshire, and of Airds, Argyll.[40]

Today there are nine clan societies associated with Clan Macfie. The societies are located around the world in

United States of America.[2]

Clan profile

The Oronsay Cross located on Oronsay was carved in around 1500 for Malcolm MacDuffie, lord of Colonsay.[16]

Origin of the name

The origin of name Macfie (and its variations) is from the

monastic community at Iona in the year 1164.[42] [note 6] The name Macfie (and its variations) is rendered as Mac a' Phì in modern Scottish Gaelic.[34]

According to a passage in the

septs of Clan Donald.[note 7]

Genealogy according to MS 1467

In the early 19th century, Skene found and transcribed a 15th-century Gaelic manuscript which gave the genealogies of many Highland clans. He first published his transcriptions and translations of it in the early 19th century Collectanea de Rebus Albanicis, and later with revisions in the late 19th century—in his chief work Celtic Scotland. Today the manuscript, which Skene named MS 1450 and later MS 1467, is stored in the National Library of Scotland. The manuscript was written by Dubhghall Albanach mac mhic Cathail, in 1467 at Ballybothy, County Tipperary.[47] The following is Skene's versions of the genealogy attributed to the chiefs of Clan Macfie in the manuscript; first as in Collectanea de Rebus Albanicis secondly as in Celtic Scotland.

Donald, Niell, and Malcolm the three sons of Gillespic son of ...... son of Gilchrist son of Malcolm son of Dugald mor son of Duffie son of Murdoch son of Finlay the rash, son of Murdoch son of Ferchar son of Cormac son of Oirbertaigh son of Ferchar fada son of Feredach.[48]

— Collectanea de rebus albanicis

Donald and Niall and Malcolm the three sons of, Gillespic son of, Gillchrist son of, Malcolm son of, Dougall mor son of, Dubshithe son of, Murdoch son of, Finlaech cas son of, Murdoch son of, Ferchard son of, Cormac son of, Airbertach son of, Feradach.[49]

— Celtic Scotland

According to Skene in Collectanea de Rebus Albanicis, the Donald first mentioned may be the Donald MacDuffie who is recorded as witnessing a charter by John, Earl of Ross and Lord of the Isles in 1463.[48] In Celtic Scotland, Skene thought it was possible the mentioned Duffie/Dubshithe was identical to the lector of Iona recorded in 1164 within the Irish annals.[50]

Clan symbols (crest badge and clan badges)

heraldic motto. However, in the case of Clan Macfie, which does not have a chief, the crest badge is derived from the coat of arms of Macfie of Dreghorn, who was one of the first Macfies to register a coat of arms in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland.[2] The crest badge of Clan Macfie contains as a crest: a demi lion rampant, proper.[34] The motto which encircles the crest is: pro rege, which translated from Latin means "for the king".[34]

Although today crest badges are more commonly used by clan members, the original badges worn by clansmen were plant badges or clan badges. Clan badges consisted of plants which were worn on a

crowberry (Scottish Gaelic: dearca fithich), also attributed to Clan Maclean and Clan Cameron.[2][51][52]

Tartan

The official Clan Macfie tartan, first recorded in 1906, was registered with the Lord Lyon in 1991.[2][53] It is very similar to the Clan MacIver tartan, yet the colours are said to allude to those of the Clan Cameron tartan.

The clan's official "Clan Macfie Tartan" was registered in the Books of the Court of the Lord Lyon King of Arms on 29 August 1991. It is possible the tartan may date back to about the time of the first Macfie coats of arms were registered in the mid 19th century.

sept (members, or followers) of Clan Cameron.[54]

Associated Clans and names

Today there are many variations of the clan name Macfie, meaning "son of Duibhshíth". People who bear such surnames are considered members of the clan.[2] Clan Macfie also has historical links with other clans, such as Clan Cameron. As already stated, several members of Clan Macfie emigrated to lands controlled by Clan Cameron in the 17th century, and that Clan Cameron considers certain variations of Macfie as septs of theirs.[54] There may be also a link between Clan Macfie and the MacNichols of Glenorchy. These MacNichols are considered a sept of Clan Campbell. The origin of the MacNichols of Glenorchy and Glenshira is unknown. Niall Campbell, 10th Duke of Argyll maintained they were originally MacNaughtons of Dunderave. However, local tradition had it that they were originally MacPhees, descended from Nicol MacPhee who left the Cameron controlled Lochaber region in the 16th century. According to Somerled MacMillan, there were recently (1971) many MacNichols in Lochaber who were supposed to descend from the members of Clan Macfie. Though they were to have held lands in the Lochaber area since before 1493.[55]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ This image was drawn by John Cleveley, junior, from a sketch taken on 8 August 1772. On the back of the drawing is the quotation given above, presumably made by Sir Joseph Banks who travelled to the Western Isles around 1772.[10]
  2. Mac Gullayne of Douard, pairt be M’Gellayne of Kinlochbuy, pairt be M’Duffithie of Colvansay".[17]
  3. ^ "this ile is bruikit be ane gentle capitane, callit M’Duffyhe, and pertened of auld to Clandonald of Kyntyre".[17]
  4. baillies of lands in the hieland and iles, quhair brokin men hes duelt and presentlie duellis".[18]
  5. ^ The company was later taken over by Tate & Lyle.[34]
  6. Cenel-Eogain prevented him".[43]
  7. Clan Donald North".[46]

Footnotes

  1. ^ clanmacfieofamerica.com
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Clan Macfie symbols and history". clanmacfie.co.uk. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  3. ^ clanmacfie.co.uk
  4. ^ "Official Scottish Clans and Families". electricscotland.com. Retrieved 12 April 2008. See also "History of the Court of the Lord Lyon". Court of the Lord Lyon. Archived from the original on 2 August 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2008. See also "The search for clan chiefs". Court of the Lord Lyon. Archived from the original on 23 April 2008. Retrieved 14 April 2008.
  5. ^ a b c d e Skene; MacBain ed 1902: 344.
  6. ^ a b Eyre-Todd 1969: 403–406.
  7. ^ Gilchrist, Jim (12 July 2003). "The last outlaw". The Scotsman. Retrieved 16 November 2007.
  8. W. D. H. Sellar
  9. ^ a b c d e f Moncreiffe of that Ilk 1967: 79–80.
  10. The British Library
    . Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  11. ^ a b A Description of the Western Isles of Scotland (circa 1695). Archived from the original on 13 March 2007. Retrieved 28 August 2007. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  12. ^ a b c d e McNeill 1910: 7–11.
  13. ^ The Iona Club 1847: 296–297.
  14. ^ a b c d e f Maclauchlan; Wilson; Keltie ed 1875: 261–262.
  15. ^ Brown, K.M. et al. eds. "1531/4 (NAS, PA2/8, I, f.78r.)". Records of the Parliaments of Scotland. Retrieved 17 April 2009. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  16. ^ a b "ORANSAY MEMORIALS" (PDF). colonsay.org.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 May 2008. Retrieved 8 March 2008.
  17. ^ a b A Description of the Western Isles of Scotland Called Hybrides; Munro, Donald, 1549
  18. ^ a b The Iona Club 1847: 35–44.
  19. ^ Roberts 1999: 91–92.
  20. ^ The Iona Club 1847: 119.
  21. ^ a b c Gregory 1881: 376–389.
  22. ^ "Nooks and Crannies: MacPhee's Lair". users.globalnet.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 November 2008. Retrieved 14 April 2008.
  23. ^ "Archaeological introduction to Colonsay". colonsay.org.uk. Archived from the original on 3 April 2008. Retrieved 8 March 2008.
  24. ^ a b The Scottish Clans and Their Tartans: With Notes. 2005.
  25. ^ Gibson 2002: 55.
  26. ^ "Ewen Mac Phee the outlaw". ambaile.org.uk. Retrieved 8 October 2007.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g h i McIan; Logan 1900: 212–222.
  28. ^ a b Byars 2007: 231–232.
  29. ^ "MacPhee". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  30. ^ "Ewan MacPhee". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  31. ^ Feddan from the Scottish Gaelic feadan – used in placenames and meaning "reed, canal", "opening", "streamlet".
  32. ^ "Glossary of Gaelic origins of place names in Britain (D to F)". Ordnance Survey. Archived from the original on 24 October 2008. Retrieved 14 April 2008.
  33. ^ "Clan Cameron Reference File". clan-cameron.org. Retrieved 14 April 2008.
  34. ^ a b c d Way of Plean; Squire 2000: 186–187.
  35. Burke's Peerage and Gentry
    . Retrieved 19 September 2007.
  36. ^ a b "McPhee Clan Society of New Zealand, Newsletter December 2008" (PDF). Newsletter linked from www.clanmacfie.co.uk. Retrieved 2 March 2011.
  37. ^ "The Macfie Clan Society of America". The Macfie Clan Society of America. 2009. Retrieved 2 March 2011.
  38. ^ clanmacfie.co.uk - commander
  39. ^ clanmacfiehomepage.org at archive.org
  40. ^ a b The general armory of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales; comprising a registry of armorial bearings from the earliest to the present time; by Burke, Bernard, Sir, 1814-1892, p.639
  41. ^ a b "McPhee Name Meaning and History". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 13 April 2008.
  42. ^ McDonald 1997: 204.
  43. ^ "Annals of Ulster U1164.2 (English translation)". CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts (www.celt.ucc.ie). Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  44. ^ Carmicheal 1900: 328.
  45. ^ a b Lawson, Bill (10 September 1999). "From The Outer Hebrides to Cape Breton – Part II". globalgenealogy.com. Retrieved 14 October 2007.
  46. ^ "Clan Donald Family Names". clandonald.info. Archived from the original on 16 July 2008. Retrieved 13 April 2008.
  47. ^ McLeod 2004: 76.
  48. ^ a b The Iona Club 1847: 54–55, 62.
  49. ^ Skene 1886: 486.
  50. ^ Skene 1886: 363.
  51. ^ a b "Cameron Reference File". clan-cameron.org. Retrieved 16 November 2007.
  52. ^ "Clan Maclean Tartans, Crests, Symbols, Etc". clanmacleanatlantic.org. Retrieved 16 November 2007.
  53. ^ a b Zanek 1998: 82.
  54. ^ a b "Clan Cameron Septs". clan-cameron.org. Retrieved 8 March 2008.
  55. ^ Campbell of Airds 2000: 251. For this Campbell or Airds cites Bygone Lochaber by Somerled MacMillan.

References

External links

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