Clan Stewart of Appin is the West Highland branch of the Clan Stewart and have been a distinct clan since their establishment in the 15th century. Their Chiefs are descended from Sir James Stewart of Perston, who was himself the grandson of Alexander Stewart, the fourth High Steward of Scotland. His cousin Walter Stewart, the 6th High Steward, married Marjorie Bruce, the daughter of King Robert the Bruce, and their son Robert II was the first Stewart Monarch. The Stewarts of Appin are cousins to the Royal Stewart Monarchy.Starforth, Michael (1997). A Short History of Clan Stewart of Appin, 1463–1752, and unfailing loyalty to the Royal House of Stewart. Appin Historical Society. .The Stewarts of Appin. Stewart and Stewart. 1880.
History
Origins of the clan
The Appin Stewarts is the West Highland branch of Clan Stewart, descend from Sir James Stewart of Pierston, 4th son of Sir John Stewart of Bonkill, second son of Alexander, the 4th High Steward of Scotland. Sir James was the grandfather of John Stewart of Innermeath, who, through marriage to Isabel MacDougall, daughter of John Gallda MacDougall, Lord of Lorne, became the first Stewart Lord of Lorne. The Lordship of Lorne passed down for 2 more generations to Sir John Stewart, the third Stewart Lord of Lorne.
Appin is located on the Scottish West Coast between Benderloch to the South and the Ballachulish Narrows to the north in modern-day Argyll. Today the primary towns include Port Appin and Portnacroish. Both are scenic and are surrounded by forests and water. To the west are islands including the island of Lismore, home to the MacLea and the Baron Buchull, keeper of the Buchull Mhòr (the crosier of St. Moluag), adherents of Appin. There are numerous sights of interest including Ardsheal's Cave, Castle Stalker, the Clach Ruric, Cnap a-Chaolais, Eilean Munde and Keil churchyard.
15th century
Tradition tell us that in 1445, while returning to his seat at Dunstaffnage Castle from the great cattle tryst at Crieff, Sir John met and fell in love with the daughter of MacLaren of Ardveich, Loch Earn Balquhidder. Although married, he began an affair with his new love which one year later produced a son. The first son of this union was called Dugald, and went on to become the progenitor of the famous Clan Stewart of Appin. Sir John Stewart was born around 1410, putting him at about 35 when he met the woman that would become his second wife.
After the death of his first wife, Sir John waited for five years before setting up the marriage between himself and Dugald's mother. We do not know why, but it may have been for political reasons. In 1463, Sir John set a wedding date and sent for Dugald and his mother to come to Dunstaffnage. Unknown to Sir John, there was a plot to kill the Lord of Lorn. It is not fully known, but it is thought to have been set up by the Lord of the Isles who was in a power struggle with the King of Scots, and who saw it as being in his best interest to neutralize this powerful and loyal representative of the King in the west highlands. The other plotters, which some feel included Colin Campbell, Lord Argyll, Sir John's son-in-law, were primarily represented by Alan MacCoul, the illegitimate grandson of an earlier MacDougall chief. As the lightly armed wedding party made its way from Dunstaffnage to the small chapel about 180 yards from the castle walls, they were attacked by a superior force led by Alan MacCoul. Although better armed, MacCoul's force was defeated, but not before mortally wounding the Lord of Lorn. Sir John was rushed into the chapel and MacCoul and his henchmen ran into and occupied the deserted Dunstaffnage. With his last breath Sir John married Dugald's mother, legitimising him and making him the de jure Lord of Lorn. After receiving the last rites, Sir John expired and a new chapter in West Highland history opened. Dugald gathered all the adherents of the Lord of Lorn and with the assistance of the MacLarens laid siege to Dunstaffnage, but to no avail. Unbeknownst to Dugald, Colin Campbell, Lord Argyll, who seemed to have been involved in the plot, raised a group of MacFarlanes to aid MacCoul in his struggle against the de jure Lord of Lorn. MacCoul's men with the MacFarlanes met the men of Lorn and MacLaren in what was to be known as the battle of Leac a dotha. It was a fierce battle with both sides leaving the field with very heavy losses.
For the next few years Dugald, who had lost the title of Lord of Lorn through the treachery of his uncle Walter Stewart and the lord of Argyll, but had retained Appin and Lismore, consolidated his power and fortified the hunting lodge of Castle Stalker on the Cormorant's Rock in Loch Laich. He also ensured that the Campbells were in no doubt about his displeasure over the loss of the Lordship of Lorn, by having the Campbell territory surrounding Appin regularly raided by the clan. Finally, in 1468, in a bid to finally destroy the power of Appin, Colin Campbell and Walter Stewart, the latter now recognised as the Lord of Lorn (but with no authority in Lorn), organised a massive raid against Dugald and his clan. Alan MacCoul was again involved and they met at what was to be known as the Battle of Stalc. Though losing many men, Dugald virtually destroyed the military strength of the MacFarlanes (a destruction from which they were never to recover) and personally killed Alan MacCoul, his father's murderer. The battle solidified Dugald's claim to Appin and the surrounding area, which was formally granted to him by King James III on 14 April 1470. In 1497 or 1498 Dugald Stewart of Appin was killed at the Battle of Black Mount fighting against the Clan MacDonald of Keppoch.
It should be noted here, that the only primary source record of the extended traditional narrative supplied above by Michael Starforth and the Stewarts, are two brief recordings, shown below. One the obituary of Sir John Stewart by the Dean of Lismore and the other by the Scots Parliament. Nothing about a wedding party love story of McLarens from Ardveich or anything else along those lines.Chronicle Domini Jacobi M’Gregor, Dean of Lismore
Charters and the murder “In 1451, Sir John M’ Robert Stewart, Lord of Lorn completed a deed granting to his nephew John M'Alan M’Cowle, 11th Chief of Clan MacDougall of Nether Lorn and Dunollie, Argyll, with remainder to the chiefs son, John Keir MacDougall, and his heirs male, the 29 merk land of the island of Carrarry, the 6 merk land of Dunollych, the 8 merk land of Glensellach, the 10 merk land of Gallawnoche and of Colgyn, the 10 merk land of Melliag, and the 8 merk land of Ardnahowe, in Kilbride ; the 8 merk land of Ardnohowe, and the 8 merk land of Dowanchowe, in Kilinver; also, the 8 merk land of Dowach, the 10 merk land of Melrog, the 22 merk land of Degnish, and others in Kilbrandon. Merk land refers to the annual rent value of the property.”, Sir John Stewart, Lord of Lorn also conferred on John M'Alan M’Cowle (MacDougall) and his heirs the office of baillie of all the lands in Lorn which he then had or might have; and, further, gave to John M’Alan M’Cowle, and his son, John Keir MacDougall, the onerous and very noteworthy trust of the guardianship and pupilage (alumniam et nutrimentum) of John Stewart, Lord of Lorn’s heirs, a young son Dugald and other sons whose names are unknown.
Sir John Stewart of Lorn had thus placed his kinsman, the chief of the MacDougall’s, not only in possession of the castle of Dunollie castle, an ancient stronghold of the MacDougalls, and important [strategically] as commanding the Sound of Mull, Loch Linnhe, and the Firth of Lorn, but had endowed him with an ample estate. The extent of the lands in Lorn thus granted to MacDougall contrasts very remarkably with the limited grant to his eldest daughter out of that lordship, and marks in a very decided manner his respect for the position of male heirs.”
Charter by King James II. to John Stewart, Lord Lorn, of the Lordship of Lorn, and the Baronies of Innermeath and Redcastle.“dilecto consanguineo nostra Johanni, Domino de Lorn," and the heirs male of his body, lawfully procreated or to be procreated, whom failing to his brother Walter Stewart, and his heirs male, and failing these to his brother Alan, and his heirs male. In default of these, the charter goes on to enumerate the other male relatives to whom the estates should descend — viz., John's brothers David and Robert, his uncles Sir Archibald and Sir James Stewart, and his kinsman Thomas Stewart, and the heirs male of each in their turn, as named ; and finally, failing all these, to his heirs whatsoever.”Registrum Magni SigUH, Lib. 4, No. 176. Dated 20th June 1452.There was a second Charter to Sir John Stewart of Lorn by King James II., including the lands of Ennerdony, Baldenys, Colndrane, Maw, Coltrane and Kyldeny, in t/ie Barony of Innermeath. ”Origines Parochiales Scotiae, Act of the Scots Parliament
By 1452 , there is still no mention of a male heir named Dugald neither in the Deed to the Castle of Dunolly given by John Stewart of Lorn to his brother-in-law John M’Allan V’Coule (MacDougall) of Dunolie or in the two 1452 Charters from King James II to John Stewart.
It is clear from the Dunolly Deed that Sir John Stewart of Lorn was making John M’Coule (MacDougall) the Tutor (guardian) of his male heirs. Sir John Stewart of Lorn son Dugald M’Iain Stewart, who became 1st of Appin married Isabella M’Coule the daughter of his MacDougall tutor and also first cousin, which solidified the Stewart of Appin and MacDougall alliance.
The dates vary for the death of Sir John Stewart of Lorn and the taking of Dunstaffnage Castle by the MacDougall tutor’s renegade grandson Alane M’Coule (MacDougall).
In the Chronicle Domini Jacobi M’Gregor, Dean of Lismore, Notarii Publici ac Decani Lismorensis, qui obiit circiter A.D. 1542/9 is the following sentence stating that John Stewart, Lord of Lorn died Dec. 2 1463.“— 1463, Dec. 2 — Obitus Johannis Stewart, Domini de Lorne, apud Dunstaffinicht.”In the Cambridge University Library there is the original of an “Act of the Scots Parliament”, dated 1460, recommending the King to besiege Dunstaffnage Castle, for the purpose of punishing Alan M'Coule, who had slain the king's kinsman, John Lord of Lorn.
In the “Acts of Scots Parliament” among the record of their transactions, in 1464, the following can be found:“— item as tueching ye puniciouft of Alane M'Coule quhilk as cruelyft flayn John lord lorn ye kinge cufing The lorde thinke fpeidfull yt alffoun as ye feffion of ye wedd afkis ye king mowe jn propir pfone wt his lorde for ye jnwadfg juftifing and punyffing of ye faide alane and affegeing of ye caftell of Dunftafnich and yt he be furthwith put to ye horfi of party and fyne oplly put to ye kinge home And yt nocht winding ye Ires writti of befor to ye Erle of Rof The lorde ordanis yt new Ires be writtine baith be autorite of ye king and of pliament chargeing hym yt he nothir fupple fupport nor refett ye faide Alanein ye faide dede, vnd all ye heaft pait charge ze quiet z juri agayn ye kinge maiestete."It is therefore certain, from the passages in " Origines Parochiales Scotiae” and the two “Acts of Scots Parliament” that Alane M’Coule took possession of Dunstaffnage Castle after murdering Sir John Stewart of Lorn, sometime between 1460 AD and 1464 AD.
Dugald Stewart of Appin I “Dugald Stewart married a daughter of Macdougall of Nether Lorn, the chief of the Clan Macdougall, they had three sons.
1. Duncan, his successor.
2. Alan, who succeeded Duncan.
3. Robert, who died without legitimate issue. His Appin heirs use the surname MacRaibert.