Colin Roy Campbell of Genure (abt. 1708 - 1752)

Born about 1708 in Argyll, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Janet (Mackay) Campbell — married 9 May 1749 (to 14 May 1752) in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland

Descendants

Died 14 May 1752 at about age 44 in Lettermore Woods, Ballachulish, Argyllshire, Scotland

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Biography

Colin Campbell of Genure is a member of Clan Campbell.

Colin Campbell was born c. 1708. This estimate is based on his age at his death.

Colin Campbell of Glenure, also known as "Red Colin", was not present at Culloden, in 1746, although he held a commission in Lord Loudens regiment during the uprising. In February 1746 as Cumberland’s army marched north through Perthshire, pursuing the Jacobite army, some of his forces were stationed behind the main army to guard strategic locations. Glenure commanded two companies stationed in Rannoch. In April 1746, Glenure was at Aberdeen, thus avoiding Culloden.

After resigning his commission, Glenure became one of the Factors on the estates of Stewart of Appin who had fled to France and had his lands confiscated. Glenure held the Cameron lands of Lochaber and Stewart lands in Appin.^[1]

Campbell of Glenure was regarded, by his Clan, as a traitor for forsaking the Royalist cause and the zeal with which he carried out the evictions of his "clansmen" from the estates. He was not entirely trusted by the Government Force either. It must have been a difficult path he had to tread. He was generally well liked by his tenant farmers and often found lands close by for some that were evicted.

There were a considerable number of attempts on his life. It was one of these, on 14 May 1752, near Ballacullish (Highland District, Scotland) he was killed in an event which became known as the Appin Murder. He was said to have been 44 when he was killed.

At his death, the estates of Glenure, passed to his brother, Duncan Campbell.

Family

In May 1749 he married Janet Mackay, the daughter of Hugh Mackay of Bighouse and niece of Lord Reay.^[2]

With Janet, he had three daughters, Elisabeth (who died young), Louisa who married a George Mackay and Colin (Colina) who married a James Ballie. Colin was born after her father's murder and seemed to have been named in his honour.

Other Children

Glenure was known to have had, at least, four illegitimate children born before 1749. Those known were all daughters and by four different women. Their names are recorded as MacCalum, Mackilekene, Macpherson and Sinclair.^[3] In 1747, Glenure made provisions for each of them, if they were unmarried at the time of his death. Three of the daughters benefited from the provision.

The fourth daughter, known as Jean Campbell, had married a John MacIntosh prior to Glenure’s death and did not receive the £100 'bond of provision' provided by Colin Campbell in his will for his illegitimate daughters if they remained unmarried at his death..

Sources

Footnotes:

1. ↑ Colin Campbell of Glenure on Electric Scotland;
2. ↑ The Background, Character and Motivation of Colin Campbell of Glenure; Roderick Campbell
3. ↑ The Background, Character and Motivation of Colin Campbell of Glenure; Roderick Campbell

Publications:

• Colin Campbell of Glenure on Electric Scotland; Scottish Journal, August 1999; J. J. Jardine.

• The Background, Character and Motivation of Colin Campbell of Glenure; Roderick Campbell (16th of Barcaldine and 9th of Glenure Baronet). Available as a pdf