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THE CLAN OF MACINTOSH.
War Cry: "Loch Moldheidh" ("The Loch of Threatening" A lake near the
seat of the Chieftain).
Clan Pipe Music: Lament "Cumha Mhic an Toisich" ("Macintosh's Lament").
Badge /-Bocsa (Boxwood)J or Lus nan craimsheag, braoileag (Red Whortle).
(HE Macintoshes are a sept of the Clan Chattan, which includes the Farquharsons,
Shaws, MacPhersons, MacBeans, and eleven others. To these races belonged Badenoch
and much of Lochaber. A rivalry has long existed between the heads of the
two chief septs, Macintosh and MacPherson, as to which was the
"
superior ; and,"
says Robertson, "without pronouncing positively, it does look from the proofs
broxight forward for the chief of the latter name by Skene, as affording a strong
presumption in his favour, from the fact of Macintosh calling himself Captain of
the Clan."
The old genealogy (of 1450) makes them descend from two brothers, Muirach
Mhor and Dai Dhu, sons of Gillecattan Mhor, chief of the Confederation. Maepherson
of Cluny, as the lineal representative, is chief of Muirach Mhor, and is chief of
Clan Mhuirach, or MacPherson, says a writer in the "Scottish Journal of Anti-
quities" : "Dhai Dhu, brother of Muirach Mhor, and second son of Gillecattan, left issue, who are
represented by Davidson of Invernahaven. The descendants of Dhai Dhu are called Clan Dhai, or
Davidson. They are the Clan Kay of Sir Walter Scott and Inch of Perth celebrity (1396). The
descendants of Muirach Mhor are called the Clan Mhuirach or MacPhersons."
The chiefs of the Macintoshes have certainly held their chiefship over that name for nearly
500 years. Moy is said to have come into possession of William, seventh Macintosh of that Ilk, in
the year 1836 by a gift from David, Bishop of Murray, according to the Old Statisical Account of
Moy ; but that prelate was dead in 1299, according to Beatson's "Index."
James I. appointed Macintosh of that Ilk Captain of the Castle of Inverness after the battle of
Harlaw in 1411. In 1526 Lachlan, the Laird of Macintosh, was slain by James Malcolmson, who,
with his followers, fled to an isle in the Lake of Rothiemurchus
"
; bot being apprehendit by Mac-
Intoshe's kindred, they were all of them cutt to pieces," records Sir James Balfour. Hector, his
.natural brother, was appointed chief till his nephew should be of age, and in a quarrel with the
Earl of Murray ravaged his lands, till the Earl procured letters of fire and sword against him. The
Macintoshes were routed in battle and 200 of them were taken and hanged. Hector escaped, and
no bribe or torture could induce his followers to reveal the place of his hiding.
William, fifteenth Macintosh of that Ilk, was treacherously beheaded by the Countess of
Hnntly, when on a friendly visit to Huntly Castle in 1550, by the cook's hatchet. She was Elizabeth,
daughter of William, third Earl Marischal.
In 1587 Lachlan Macintosh is noted as "Captain of the Clan Chattan" in the "Geography of
the Clans," 1878.
In 1624 the Macintoshes, to the number of 500, attacked the Earl of Murray's people and
captured his House of Pettie, now called Castle Stuart.
In 1689 Macintosh was kept out of Glenroy and Glenspean, which he claimed in Inverness-shire.
He led 1000 of his people in 1689 to take vengeance upon Keppoch, who defeated him with only 500
at Inverary, and made him prisoner. He died in 1704, and his funeral was one of the most expensive
ever known in the Highlands.
In 1745 the strength of the fighting force was 800 ; but as the chief remained neutral, only 200
took the field, under MacGillivray of Dunmacglas. His countries are Brae Lochaber, Badenoch,
and Strathnairn, Inverness-shire.
Lachlan Macintosh, who died in 1704, was succeeded by bis son Lachlan, who was "out" in
1715, and died without issue in 1731. He was succeeded by his kinsman, William Macintosh of
Daviot, who also died without issue in 1741, and was succeeded by his brother ^Eneas, created a
Baronet by King George III. The Baronet dying without issue, the chieftainship devolved on his
kinsman, the Hon. Angus Macintosh, resident in Canada ; he died in 1883, and was succeeded by hiw
son Alexander, who died in 1801, and was father of Alexander (died 1876) and Alfred, at present
"The Macintosh."