The chiefs of Grant - Electric Scotland

29G Ll'DOVICK GIIAXT, KIUHTll OF rnErCIUF, AND OF GllANT. [1CG3-
Grant datcil '20tli April IGTio, in \vliieli (lie writer cxpi'e.sse.s a hope Uiai
tlie Act Avill be carried out ayaiust " suspect persoiies or robbers, " with
special reference to goods taken tVoni hini and his tenants, and he promises
that faithfulness on this head will be duly reported to tlie Privy Council.'
In pursuance, no doubt, of this or a similar cunnnission, the Tutor of
Grant had, in ItJGZ, seized three members of the sept of the Macmartins,
and incarcerated them in Ballachastell. The Macmartins were also known
as Camerons of Letter Finlay, and the head of tlieir branch of the
Camerons was foster-father to the famous Sir Ewen Cam(>ron of Luchiel."
But from the locality of their lands, and constant intermarriages with the
Macdonalds of Keppoch, they were under the jurisdiction of the chief of
Glengarry, then Angus or ^Eneas Lord Macdonell. Hence the letter
addi-essed by his Lordship to Lieutenant-Colonel Grant on behalf of the
captive Macmartins.' Lord ]\Licdonell admits that the jirisoners may have
justly deserved their confinement, but that he liad I'cceived information of
extenuatino- circumstances, and he therefore beos that the men may be
liberated on security, promismg to contribute to their correction. The
Tutor of Grant gave effect to Lord Macdonelfs request, and on 19th July
16G7, tAvo of the clan jMacmartin, at Ballachastell, entered into a bond on
behalf of their clansmen, that the latter would Ije forthcoming when
required by justice, on a month's warning. They also came under obliga-
tion to make o-ood whatever loss the Jjaird of Grant had sufiered froni the
men in custody.* What the offence was is not stated, but it would appear
to have been some petty depredation.
The Laird, on 2Gth December 1G71,'' married Janet Brodie, oidy
daughter and heiress of Alexander Brodie of Lethen. A letter from the
yoimg lover to his future bride is ju'inted in the second volume of this
work," and is also reproduced in lithograph. This union brought the Laird
into Intimate relations with the family of Brodie, one of whom acted as
his legal adviser, along with James Grant, advocate, afterwards Sir James
Grant of Dalvey. From the correspondence of these two gentlemen it
' Original Letter at Castle Grant. It is dated * Vol. iii. of this work, p. 24.">.
from Mortlich, aud signed, •' .J. Lyone. "
' i t-v t 41 t 1 f t> 1; , "j.ti
= ' ' ° Diaries of the Laird of r.ri>aie, p AlA.
'' Memoirs of Loeliiel, p. CT.
3 Letter, 20tli June 1007, vol. ii. of thi, work, |..S9. " Vol. ii. of tliis work, p. 00.